Atlus has released what will likely be a series of gameplay videos for their upcoming Omega Force developed brawler Persona 5 Scramble: The Phantom Strikers and the first focus is of course on the protagonist of the game with the codename Joker.
The video, found below, shows off various in-game cinematics before continuing on and showing off what Joker is capable of while fighting against the numerous Shadows that players will need to beat down. Persona 5 Scramble: The Phantom Strikers is currently set to be released in Japan on February 20, 2020 for the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch with a Western release surprisingly not yet announced.
A few weeks back Bandai Namco released some screenshots for My Hero One’s Justice 2 focusing on Mirio as well as a few other characters and now the company is focusing on the other two members of U. A. High School’s “Big 3” by releasing screenshots showing off Nejire Hado and Tamaki Amajiki.
These images show Nejire using off her “Wave Motion” quirk that allows her to fire blast waves form her hands and feet at the cost of her own vitality as well as Tamaki who can transform parts of his bodies into things that he has eaten recently through his “Manifest” quirk. The screenshots can be found below and My Hero One’s Justice 2 is currently set to be released worldwide next year on the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
It can be a bit hard to believe that it has been over ten years since the Dragon Age series made its debut but despite the changes over the years and now five years since Dragon Age: Inquisition it seems that BioWare hasn’t forgotten about the series. After a bit of a teaser last year it seems that the company is once again teasing something this year as the company has tweeted out not only a tenth year anniversary celebration but also has mentioned that they may have something special on December 4th.
Today marks 10 years of Dragon Age! This year we’re excited to join the community’s party on December 4th and celebrate a decade together in the world we all love. See you on 12/4 for Dragon 4ge Day!
Of course, this may be much ado about nothing especially since the developer’s last game, Anthem, met with less than stellar results but perhaps that may have been the bump that was needed to bring the company, and EA, back around to working on RPGs. Either way, we have a bit under a month to wait and see.
Arc System Works has released a new trailer for the currently untitled New Guilty Gear and just like last time the company has revealed a new fighter, but unlike last time they have doubled down with two characters this time around. The company has shown off that both Chipp Zanuff as well as Potemkin will be joining the game’s roster as playable characters.
Alongside this news the company announced that a closed online beta test will be occurring on the PlayStation 4 sometime in spring 2020. At the moment New Guilty Gear is still set to be released on the PlayStation 4 sometime next year.
The wait is finally over for PC gamers. Red Dead Redemption 2marks the first time a Red Dead title has officially graced the PC. The PC version isn’t a straight port of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions. Much like the work that was put into the PC version of Grand Theft Auto V, Red Dead Redemption 2features improved graphical features like increased draw distance, higher frame rates, and improved textures to leverage the more powerful hardware available on PC.
The PC version is also adding some extra Story Mode content as a way of saying thanks for waiting. Three new bounty hunter missions, two gang hideouts, two treasure maps, and an extra story mission are available for PC gamers. Screenshot artists will also have some built in tools with the new Photo Mode that offers free form cameras, filters, stickers, and text input.
Unlike the console version, Red Dead Online is available at launch. PC gamers can partake in pursuits, story and free roam missions, competitive showdowns, and Texas Hold’em poker.
Slow and steady wins the race for indie developers Rockfish Games as their Kickstarter campaign for Everspace 2managed to meet their funding goal with only 22 hours left in their campaign. In the end, 7979 backers came together to raise €503,478 to help expand the game and provide feedback for the developers.
Everspace 2is a space sim loot shooter. Players will dive into deep space filled with both hand made and procedurally generated locations. The galaxy is full of places to mine, enemies to destroy, and most importantly, loot to claim. Ships stand in for the traditional RPG class, offering plenty of equipment, customization, and perks. Rockfish Games is planning a 20-30 hour campaign that picks up after the events of Everspace.
Everspace 2 is currently scheduled to launch on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows PC in 2021. a Steam Early Access release is planned for September 2020.
Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain is a new spin off the
long running Japanese shooter series Earth Defense Force. Like previous
spin offs, Sandlot has passed off the development responsibility to a different
studio. Yuke’s is handling development this time around after being axed from WWE2K’s
development team. Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain introduces new classes,
52 missions, and character creation options.
Story
Almost 20 years has passed since the aliens have invaded our
planet. The Earth Defense Force is still locked in battle against Aggressors,
but the unity between humanity has crumbled. The EDF is in a tense three-way
battle between the Aggressors and the rebel faction that attempted a coup
several years back.
The story is markedly different compared to the previous
titles which paid tribute to kaiju films and old B-movies. Earth Defense
Force: Iron Rain feels more like a war movie with its grizzled cast of soldiers
that tick off all the archetypical roles. The writers try to retain some of the
silliness from previous titles with some of the banter between squad mates, but
the humour feels dull and corny without the B-movie homage.
I am not a fan of the chosen hero archetype the writers
opted for in Iron Rain. Some of the charm from the previous title was
being some nameless soldier caught up in an insane war. The constant fawning
over the player’s ability during gameplay quickly becomes tiresome.
Gameplay
Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain tightens up some of the franchise’s mechanics significantly. The game is still all about players shooting massive aliens with a large variety of weapons while grinding away at an absurd amount of levels. Yuke’s has addressed many of my complaints about Earth Defense Force 5. The gear grind is still very much there, but item drops have been completely revamped for a more pleasant experience. Instead of equipment being a random world drop, weapons and equipment are made available for purchase after specific requirements are completed. Players simply need to cough up some money and turn over the appropriate number of energy gems picked up from the missions to pay for the unlock. The gem system is a lot less frustrating when it comes to missing a few drops at the end of the level compared to the constant fear of missing out that plagued 5.
The new class system feels a lot cleaner. All classes can now
sprint, making the slower classes more tolerable to use. The Air Raider class
has been dropped in favour of the Prowl Rider, who mixes the engineer’s vehicle
abilities with a Spiderman style grappling hook. The Prowl Rider is a lot more
flexible compared to the Air Raider as the Prowl Rider’s mobility gives them more
survivability in an all-out brawl, making them much less dependent on teammates
for survival. The Heavy Striker is also a significant improvement over its
Fencer predecessor. The Heavy Striker can pair up any weapon for double the
mayhem and can use its E-Shield to stay in the fight longer. The Jet Lifter
simplifies the Wing Diver class, uncoupling the weapons from the energy bar.
The only class that hasn’t seen major changes is the Trooper, which is a
testament to its simple but solid class design.
All classes now have an overdrive ability. This is a once
per level boost that makes the player faster, stronger, and deadlier. If one
boost isn’t enough, players can purchase items that will allow them to pay
money to trigger extra boosts during a level. The levels are designed around
the boost, so it’s inevitable that players will be swarmed at some point.
Harder difficulties will often require players to know the level well enough to
know when to use up the boost, as the level is extremely difficult to complete
without it.
The weapon design is excellent. There is a large variety of
weapons ranging from swords to sniper rifles. Each weapon class plays differently
enough that every player should be able to find a two weapon combo to fall in
love with. I like that high ranked weapons aren’t always a clear upgrade, so weapons
acquired early on can still be used if players simply like how they handle.
The friendly AI is not the greatest. It is permanently
leashed to the player and will slowly plod along. It isn’t too effective at
killing aliens on its own and it has a habit of getting in the way at the most inopportune
times. Frankly, I found they were most effective as a distraction or a meat
shield, buying some time for faster classes by thinning the monster density.
The level design in Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain isrough. The pacing of the levels is not well balanced. Some are so long that
dying part way is an absolute chore. Others are gone in a blink of an eye. The
levels are usually the same boring open layout. The dreaded tunnel levels are fewer
in number and tend to be straight forward compared to 5, so there’s no
more issues with being lost. The bosses are lacklustre as the mechanics tend to
be dull or non-existent. The franchise is famous for its huge list of levels.
In this regard, Iron Rain falls short at only 52 levels. Considering D3
Publisher is pricing Iron Rain at the same price as 5, 52 levels fall
short of expectations.
Visuals
Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain looks solid for the
most part. The art style doesn’t stray far from the series, looking like a high
resolution take on Japanese shooters from the PlayStation 2 era. Character
customization is a long overdue addition, though some will dislike the fact it
takes out some of the fan service models out of the game. The animations for distant
monsters seem to be running at a significantly lower framerate than nearby
enemies, so it looks strange.
Audio
The sound experience is not good. The sound effects and
music are decent. The voice acting is the same B-movie quality acting found in
previous games. Since Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain aims to emulate western
war films instead of the traditional B-movie horror film, the acting is just
terrible instead of appropriately campy.
Overall
The
Earth Defense Force franchise has a lot to learn from Iron Rain,
both good and bad. The improved mobility, class system, and loot mechanics are worth
keeping in future titles. They address some of the most annoying issues with 5,
such as low mobility making item collection a pain. On the other hand, Yukes
has made some clear missteps. The level design is dull, and the game is relatively
short. Additionally, ditching the campy B-movie feel at the expense of the
story and voice acting was a terrible decision. Earth Defense Force fans
should pick up Iron Rain to get an idea at how future games should look,
but the full price is a tough sell.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Epic Games Launch Fortnite: Darkfire Bundle
The Biggest Fortnite Content Pack Ever is Available Now with 13 New Items
Warner Bros.
Interactive Entertainment and Epic Games have announced that the Fortnite:
Darkfire Bundle is now available as part of a worldwide retail
distribution partnership for the gaming phenomenon Fortnite. The
all-new retail version of the Fortnite: Darkfire Bundle is on
store shelves now with a RRP of $44.95
and players can pick it up for PlayStation®4 computer
entertainment system, the Nintendo Switch™ system, and the Xbox One family of
devices, including Xbox One X. Players can also purchase the Fortnite:
Darkfire Bundleand download digitally through the in-game store
and first-party digital marketplaces.
The Fortnite:
Darkfire Bundle comes with 13 new items, including:
BATTLE. BUILD. CREATE. Fortnite is the free, always
evolving, multiplayer game where you and your friends battle to be the last one
standing in 100 PvP mode or collaborate to create your dream Fortnite world.
About Warner Bros. Interactive
Entertainment
Warner Bros.
Interactive Entertainment, a division of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Inc.
is a premier worldwide publisher, developer, licensor and distributor of
entertainment content for the interactive space across all platforms, including
console, handheld, mobile and PC-based gaming for both internal and third party game titles.
About Epic Games
Founded in 1991, Epic Games is the creator of Fortnite, Unreal,
Gears of War, Shadow Complex, and the Infinity Blade series of games. Epic’s
Unreal Engine technology, which brings high-fidelity, interactive experiences
to PC, console, mobile, AR, VR and the Web, is freely available at
unrealengine.com. The Epic Games store offers a handpicked library of games,
available at epicgames.com. Follow @EpicGames for updates.
Published and Distributed by Warner Bros. Home
Entertainment Inc.
Experience an innovative new world uniting the best elements of strategy gaming with a strong focus on teamplay
HAMBURG, Germany – Nov. 7th, 2019: Developer Daedalic
Entertainment releases the ambitious new team RTS A Year Of Rain onto
Steam Early Access for Windows PC today. A Year Of Rain unites classic
strategy elements like expansive base building and deep campaign storytelling with
full cutscenes and voiceover, as well as a strong focus on hero units and co-op
teamplay. For a limited time, A Year Of Rain is available for 20%
off the regular RRP and will be available at £17.19/ €19,99. Additionally, A
Year Of Rain will be available in a 2-player pack on Steam at a 40% discount, again this is for a limited time.
Find out what A Year Of Rain is all about in the game’s new launch trailer:
A Year Of Rain’s story and multiplayer modes are
built from the ground up with teams of two in mind, whether the second player
is human or AI. At launch, early access features an expansive story campaign,
fully playable in either single-player or two-player co-op. The classic 2v2
“Skirmish” mode is made to encourage competition – and teamwork – across the
entire spectrum of skill levels. At the beginning of a match, both teammates
choose between three different roles: Tank, Damage, and Support. Each comes
with different bonuses for the respective armies and the overall team, allowing
for a multitude of strategic combinations and synergies.
Set in a world of fantasy and danger, A Year Of Rain
features three playable factions. The wealthy House Rupah is eager to stake its
claim to uncharted lands in the name of civilization. The unliving Restless
Regiment is a bloodthirsty army of warlords, soldiers, beasts and souls driven
by mindless obedience and zealous devotion to their dark leader. And the Wild
Banners are an amalgam of fierce survivalists, reclusive nomads, monstrous
humanoids and more ready to fight for every scrap of their harsh domain.
Features:
The ultimate Team RTS. Play
together across all game modes
Ambitious campaign,
designed for co-op experience
A 2v2 skirmish mode that is
truly designed for team play
Unique asymmetric 2v2
multiplayer mode “Against All Odds”: Two heroes face two entire armies!
(To be added during Early Access)
Three unique factions:
House Rupah, the Wild Banners and the Restless Regiment
A compelling, multi-layered
story spanning all factions
About Daedalic Entertainment
Daedalic Entertainment publishes and develops high-quality games for all
platforms. The company has a diverse line-up of high-quality titles, including
classic adventures, RPGs, and strategy and multiplayer games. With more than 80
employees, Daedalic is currently developing a new line-up of innovative games
across consoles, PC and mobile platforms.
Among the AAA titles in production at the studio are the team-RTS A Year of
Rain (PC), as well as The Lord of the Rings – Gollum
(multiplatform). A Year of Rain combines classical elements like
base-building and a comprehensive story campaign with hero-focused and
team-oriented gameplay. The Lord of the Rings – Gollum is an
action-adventure that tells the story of Gollum from a perspective never
witnessed before in any storytelling media, all the while staying faithful to
the legendary books of J.R.R. Tolkien.
Based in Hamburg, Germany, Daedalic is one of Europe’s most acclaimed
publishers and developers. With a total of 32 awards in the German Developers
Award (including multiple accolades for ‘Studio of the Year’) and 12 German
Computer Game Awards for genre-defining games such as Deponia, Edna
& Harvey, Silence, Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun, Ken
Follett’s The Pillars of the Earth, The Long Journey Home, and State
of Mind, Daedalic is a record holder for the two most prestigious games
awards in Germany.
Square Enix External Studios and DONTNOD Unveil Details Around Innovative Choice & Consequence System
SYDNEY, 6th
November 2019 – The Diaz brothers’ journey towards a new life in Mexico is
nearing its end! In preparation for the explosive finale of Life is
Strange 2 on December 3rd, and to kick off the #JourneysEnd season
finale celebration, the team has prepared an in-depth look at the innovative
system that drives the development of Daniel, the impressionable younger
brother that players guide throughout Life is Strange 2.
When Sean and Daniel Diaz have to flee their home in suburban Seattle after the death of their father and manifestation of an incredible supernatural power, the brothers face a life-changing journey, full of danger, excitement, friends, foes and new experiences.
Young and impressionable, but
incredibly powerful, Daniel is always watching Sean. Daniel grows and learns
from his brother throughout every episode of Life is Strange 2 and can
become a very different person depending on your actions. What Daniel learns,
and how he grows, determines which of the multiple endings you will experience
at the conclusion of their journey.
Your choices and actions as Sean
gradually inform and change your younger brother over time, affecting two core
values that determine his behaviour and the way he interacts with you –
Brotherhood and Morality. This dynamic system determines Daniel’s sense of
justice, his trust in Sean and the player.
Daniel isn’t just affected by the
major choices that you make as Sean or the things you try to teach him, but
also from your actions as you are playing. This forms the core of an advanced
character development system, meant to represent the responsibility of being a
role model. Your young companion learns from you at all times, not just when
you want him to.
Through the first four episodes,
there are over 50 moments where your decisions shape the mind of Daniel. You
are an example to him in everything you say and do.
But above all, in Life is
Strange 2, there is no right or wrong choice: there is only your choice.
From Square
Enix External Studios and the Life is Strange team at DONTNOD Entertainment, the thrilling finale to Life is Strange 2 arrives
on December 3, 2019, for XBOX ONE®, the
all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®4
computer entertainment system and Windows PC/Steam.
The
boxed edition will be
available across Australia & New Zealand on December 3rd, the
same date as the exciting culmination of the Diaz’ brothers journey in the Life
is Strange 2 Season Finale.
