SEKIRO: SHADOWS DIE TWICE KILLS IT WITH MORE THAN 2 MILLION COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE IN LESS THAN 10 DAYS!
Newest Videogame from
the Developers of Bloodborne and Dark Souls*
Realizes 90+ rated
review score across all platforms and Hits Highly Coveted
Santa Monica, CA – April 11, 2019 – Sekiro™: Shadows Die Twice has
shinobi-death-blowed its way into fans hearts and the top of the
charts! With a “Must-Play” status on Metacritic that only one percent of
all games achieve each year1 and 90+ rated review score across all
platforms on Metacritic, the highly-anticipated game sold more than 2
million copies worldwide2 across PlayStation, Xbox
and PC in less than 10 days.
“Sekiro: Shadows Die
Twice has brought something very special and unique to Activision’s
portfolio of games. It’s been an honor to work with FromSoftware to help
introduce a brand-new franchise to gamers around the world,” said Michelle Fonseca, Vice President of
Product Management and Marketing at Activision. “The fans have made
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice one of the most incredible game launches of
2019 thus far. The game has performed well on all platforms including PC and
we’re excited by the continued support from gamers and critics alike. It has
been gratifying to see the enjoyment from fans when they overcome each
challenge.”
On launch day, Sekiro:
Shadows Die Twice was the #1 viewed game on Twitch3. With more than 631 million minutes
watched on Twitch3 during launch weekend, players could not get
enough of the intense combat and thrilling opportunity to escape
death. The game also had 1.1 billion minutes watched on Twitch within one
week3.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice introduces players to a
beautifully-dark world filled with brutal enemies, intense sword combat, and
engrossing vertical exploration. Fans of FromSoftware will find familiarity in
the gritty gameplay found in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice where combat
reigns supreme. Players will enjoy combining new features, such as prosthetic
arm tools, with visceral head-to-head battle to fulfill their destiny in a vast
world filled with beautiful vistas, unique weaponry, and larger-than-life
foes. Published** by Activision, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Activision
Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI), Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is available
now on PlayStation®4; PlayStation®4 Pro; the family of Xbox One devices from
Microsoft, including the Xbox One X; and PC via Steam. The game is rated M for
Mature (Blood and Gore, Violence). For more information, please visit www.SekiroTheGame.com and follow @SekiroTheGame on Twitter,
Instagram, and Facebook.
About FromSoftware
Game developer based in Tokyo, Japan.
Known for the Armored Core series, Dark Souls series and Bloodborne amongst
other titles. More information can be found on the official homepage: http://www.fromsoftware.jp/
About Activision
Headquartered in Santa Monica,
California, Activision is a leading global producer and publisher of
interactive entertainment. Activision maintains operations throughout the world
and is a division of Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI), an S&P
500 company. More information about Activision and its products can be
found on the company’s website, www.activision.com or by
following @Activision.
###
*Bloodborne is a trademark of Sony Interactive Entertainment
LLC. Dark Souls is a trademark of BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment
Inc. Sony and Bandai Namco are not the publisher of SEKIRO: SHADOWS DIE
TWICE. Activision has no affiliation with Bloodborne or Dark Souls.
Utilise Unique Weapons To Take
On An All-New Threat!
Hertfordshire,
11th April 2019 – KOEI TECMO Europe released a plethora of information today regarding the
new gameplay Systems and playable characters featured in their upcoming title, A.O.T.
2: Final Battle. The latest entry in their colossal action game series,
based on the worldwide anime phenomenon ‘Attack on Titan’, is slated for release
on the 5th July 2019 for the PlayStation®4 Computer
Entertainment System, Nintendo Switch™,the Xbox One family
of devices including the Xbox One X, and digitally on Windows PC via Steam®.
A.O.T.
2: Final Battleoffers
aspiring commanders the chance to create their own corps, and fight to recover
the land outside of the walls, in the action-packed Territory Recovery Mode.
As players start, they’ll be able to customise their corps’ name and emblem; as
well as assign a commander from any of the game’s playable characters –
including their custom-made Scout from A.O.T. 2. Territory Recovery Mode
features two rounds. The first is a ‘Base’ phase where players can freely roam
around to socialise with allies, use materials to prepare and upgrade
equipment, and prepare themselves for the battle ahead. Once that phase is
complete, the ‘Outer Campaign’ phase begins; Scouts will venture outside of the
walls in this thrilling section in the hopes to claim land back for humanity.
A range of
remarkable new gear is provided to Scouts for their battles against titanic
foes. The standard ‘Slashing Gear’ returns; where they will equip blades with
their ODM to quickly slice body parts, alongside the powerful ‘Shooting Gear’
action, where blades are replaced with guns. Shooting Gear provides the choice
between One-Handed Attacks, allowing for easy targeting and evasion of Titan parts
in exchange for faster gas consumption and lower damage attacks, or Two-Handed
Attacks which deal massive damage while making it harder to evade incoming
hits. Scouts are also provided a revolutionary weapon in the fight against the
Titans; the Thunder Spear, which sports the greatest power in their arsenal and
can completely wipe one out in a single blow.
Scouts
eager to join the action are able to pre-order now to get their hands-on bonus
content for the ultimate ‘Attack on Titan’ experience. Those who
purchase A.O.T. 2: Final Battle, physically or digitally, on
PlayStation 4 and Xbox One during the first month of launch will receive the
“Queen of Historia” costume for Christa, “Young Male Coat” for Kenny, “Plain
Clothes (Underground City)” for Levi, and “One-piece Dress” costume for Mikasa.
PlayStation 4 players will also receive early access to playable characters
‘Kenny’ and ‘Zeke’ when purchasing in the first month, whilst Xbox One players
that pre-order the game ahead of launch will be able to unlock these two
characters early for their roster. Pre-orders on Nintendo Switch will start in
the coming weeks; stay tuned to the official site and social channels for
further information.
KOEI TECMO
Europe also released two
new trailers today to showcase these exciting gameplay features, as well as
a first look at five new playable characters; Scout Regiment member, Nifa, 104th
Training Corps cadet, Floch, First Interior Squad Captain, Kenny Ackerman,
First Interior Squad member, Traute, and a mysterious man, Zeke – which might
know more to the mystery behind the walls than he lets on.
KOEI TECMO EUROPE
LTD. is a publisher of interactive entertainment software for current
generation consoles, handhelds and digital download content based in
Letchworth, Hertfordshire, UK. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of KOEI
TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD., headquartered in Yokohama, Japan. KOEI TECMO’s best
known for their signature ‘one versus thousands’ Warriors series, the
fan-favourite Ninja Gaiden and fighting entertainment title Dead or Alive.
Through collaboration with strong existing franchises, such as A.O.T. Wings of
Freedom (Attack on Titan), has brought fan-favourite shows to life in video
game form. The company’s desire for innovation and diversity has seen the
creation of the critically acclaimed dark-samurai action title Nioh, which
takes on new and unique gameplay styles. The company’s acquisition of GUST,
developer of a variety of heart-warming titles, has seen their flagship Atelier
series span generations of consoles and fans alike. More information about KOEI
TECMO EUROPE LTD and its products can be found at www.koeitecmoeurope.com
Koei Tecmo America has released a plethora of new information as well as a slew of new screenshots and artwork today for Attack on Titan 2: Final Battle. Players can now become aspiring commanders that can create their own corps to fight and recover the land outside the walls through the brand new action-packed Territory Recovery Mode.
As players start, they’ll be able to customize their corps’ name and emblem; as well as assign a commander from any of the game’s playable characters – including their custom-made Scout from Attack on Titan 2. Territory Recovery Mode features two rounds. The first is a ‘Base’ phase where players can freely roam around to socialize with allies, use materials to prepare and upgrade equipment, and prepare themselves for the battle ahead. Once that phase is complete, the ‘Outer Campaign’ phase begins; Scouts will venture outside of the walls in this thrilling section in the hopes to claim land back for humanity.
A range of remarkable new gear is provided to Scouts for their battles against titanic foes. The standard ‘Slashing Gear’ returns; where they will equip blades with their ODM to quickly slice body parts, alongside the powerful ‘Shooting Gear’ action, where blades are replaced with guns. Shooting Gear provides the choice between One-Handed Attacks, allowing for easy targeting and evasion of Titan parts in exchange for faster gas consumption and lower damage attacks, or Two-Handed Attacks which deal massive damage while making it harder to evade incoming hits. Scouts are also provided a revolutionary weapon in the fight against the Titans; the Thunder Spear, which sports the greatest power in their arsenal and can completely wipe one out in a single blow
While the Utawarerumono series has always been something of a strategy RPG series it looks like the next game to be released in English is branching out a bit. NIS America has announced plans to bring the action brawler Utawarerumono: Zan to North America and Europe this fall where it will be released on the PlayStation 4 with English subtitles accompanying the original Japanese audio.
Utawarerumono: Zan is a reimagination of the story of Haku, a man with no memories, and the great conflict that consumes the land he calls home. Players will be able to control of over 12 legendary heroes from the world of Utawarerumono, and utilize their unique strengths and abilities to engage hordes of enemies in ferocious melee combat.
SNK has released what will be the first in a series of character based trailers for Samurai Shodown with this first one focusing on introducing Nakoruru. This young Kamui warrior is a long running staple of the series and she is prepared to show you her nature-inspired move set along with the help of her trusty pet hawk Mamahaha. Nakoruru will do anything to protect her beloved Mother Nature, and that includes death for those who dishonor her.
Samurai Shodown is currently set to be released on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in June in North America and Europe and then sometime this winter for Switch and PC.
A new video has been released for AI: The Somnium Files that teases a bit of gameplay for the upcoming mystery game. In this video, Spike Chunsoft‘s own net idol A-set travels to the world of dreams where players will search within a person’s subconscious to find clues for their investigation. To find these clues players will need to solve mental locks that block the way but since you can only have six minutes within the dream realm of Somnium to interact with the environment players will be limited on time, especially since every action they take will spend some time.
You can find the video for AI: The Somnium Files below and keep an eye out for the game when it is released on July 25th for the PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
In what may be a bit of an odd placement this week’s issue of Weekly Famitsu has revealed that the barista simulator visual novel Coffee Talk will now be releasing on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One sometime this fall in Japan alongside a PC release. This means that the game, which is currently has a demo on PC through Steam, will now likely be released on consoles worldwide.
Coffee Talk is set in an alternative-Seattle where the city is occupied by elves, orcs, mermaids, and many other fantasy races that live alongside humans in a modern world. Players work as a barista that listens to people’s various problems and serves them various warm drinks made out of the ingredients they have in stock with branching storylines that depend on how you serve your customers.
The latest game from producer Yoshinori Terasawa and game designer Takayuki Sugawara, the creators of the Danganronpa series, has now been released in the West as Zanki Zero: Last Beginning is now available for both the PlayStation 4 and PC. With the world destroyed players take control of one of eight protagonists in each chapter as they must explore through dungeons and towers across the island in an attempt to uncover the deadly sins of the past.
With every life cycle only lasting for thirteen days, players must make sure their clone’s make the best of their time as they hunt for materials and food while fending off monsters though be wary, each clone’s stats, abilities, and capabilities differ as they grow from youths to old age. Depending on how you die, you can even earn bonus upgrades for your next life cycle.
Although the Ace Attorney series first began on the Game Boy Advance it wasn’t until it made its way to the Nintendo DS that fans in the West had a chance to experience the courtroom dramedy that the series was capable of delivering. Throughout the years the first three games in the series have appeared on various Nintendo platforms and even on mobile devices but this marks the first time that the game’s have appeared on anything related to Microsoft so now that Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy has been released on Xbox One, does the series still hold up all these years later?
Story
After suffering from so many lengthy cases that were bogged down with countless technicalities the court system has undergone a reform where all trials can only last for a few days at a time before a guilty or not guilty verdict is handed down. Phoenix Wright is a rookie defense attorney who has been working for his mentor, Mia Fey and has now been assigned his first case. Unfortunately for him, it just so happens that the first case happens to involve defending his childhood friend from being accused of murder. What starts out as a seemingly slam-dunk murder conviction is quickly picked apart by Phoenix and his mentor Mia but just when one case comes to a close, one that hits even closer to home arrives alongside Mia’s younger sister Maya.
Designed as a visual novel with investigative elements and puzzle solving, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy features three separate games in the form of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, Justice For All, and Trials and Tribulations with each of these three games offering their own unique set of trials that eventually tell an overarching storyline tying Phoenix together with the Fey family line that is mixed in with a variety of cases that are also seen as one offs. One thing every case does see is Phoenix having to deal with hostile prosecutors willing to break the law to get a guilty conviction, uncooperative witnesses, and of course true suspects that are trying to keep themselves hidden.
While the court cases are incredibly interesting and feature a variety of twists and turns that some may see coming but others will be caught entirely off guard, some of the best parts of the Ace Attorney Trilogy come from the colorful cast of characters and quirky writing that accompanies them. Phoenix is usually accompanied by his helpful side-kick Maya but a number of other assistants help along the way and chime in with various puns or jokes depending on what the player is looking at or who they are talking with at the time. The wide-ranging personalities of the various suspects and witnesses also make for a great time since a player will never quite know just who, or what, may be called to the stand to testify and it is almost always a blast to see how they react as they are cross-examined.
That doesn’t mean that every case is great though, there are a few that feel a bit weaker than others but considering there are so many available in this trilogy that is only a small weak point as they will quickly be forgotten about next time through. Of course the localization really hasn’t been touched up since the original so player’s can expect plenty of odd localizations but at this point that has become part of the series’ charm.
Gameplay
Every case that is introduced in the game is broken down into two key components, investigation and the courtroom. Phoenix’s job as a defense attorney also sees him playing a detective as he must explore the various key areas surrounding a crime scene and searching high and low for various clues while also talking to witnesses that may have seen or know something about the crime. Listening to these witnesses, asking questions, and using pieces of evidence to extract more information from them all prepares Phoenix with additional evidence and more ammunition that can then be used in the courtroom.
Initially, once in the courtroom Phoenix must then contend against a prosecutor and worry about keeping the judge happy as well. As the prosecutor brings forth witnesses to give their statement it is up to Phoenix to either press their individual statements for more information at no cost, or present evidence to prove that they are lying or have forgotten a key detail. It is worth noting that presenting evidence incorrectly does lower a “health bar” that when empty immediately declares Phoenix’s client guilty and ends the trial with a game over. More often than not players will find themselves going through multiple stages of examining new locations and finding additional evidence as the trial progresses and new information comes to light so be prepared for a little bit of back and forth to locations that may have been examined before but now have a little bit of new info to be gleaned from the area.
After the first game players will be introduced to a newer mechanic in the form of psyche-locks where, with the use of a Magatama, players must break the locks that keep a witness from hiding the truth and can do this by presenting evidence or proving certain statements are incorrect. This additional feature does make the courtroom sections a bit more complicated but not by much. It is worth noting that the issue of presenting the proper evidence at the wrong time or during the incorrect statement is still a problem that will see the player lose health despite it actually proving the statement to be false since the game’s puzzle solving remains strictly linear in this regard.
It is also worth noting that players should make frequent use of the game’s multiple save slots and the ability to save at any time you wish. This not only allows for a bit of “trial and error” when it comes to presenting evidence but also as a way to make sure you don’t miss any important dialogue. Unlike more recent games in the series there is no way to access the text log in any of the three games in this trilogy. While re-examining, repeating a question, or even presenting a piece of evidence again during exploration sequences generally will repeat the same dialogue there is no way to repeat dialogue in the trial area outside of cross-examination, meaning if you miss a statement you are out of luck.
Visuals & Audio
It is a bit difficult to believe that, even though they have already been touched up over the years, that these games originally were released on the Game Boy Advance. Even compared to their DS counterparts the new high-resolution graphics present in the Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy are crisp in design with plenty of charm. Exploring the various crime-scenes and talking to the colorful cast of characters that make up the series are a visual delight.
The soundtrack also remains as classic as ever with all of the classic tunes returning but it is worth noting that outside of signature catchphrases that are shouted out in the courtroom, these games do not feature any actual voice work.
Overall
To this day Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy remains a classic that begs to be played by anyone who enjoys visual novels, puzzles, or even simply a bit of courtroom drama as this set of games offers an amazing compilation of games featuring splendidly written characters and court cases that easily stand the test of time. It is a bit bare bones as far as new content goes for anyone who may have played the original games but with some touched up graphics and easily over fifty hours of content across all three games, the Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy delivers a well-written storyline that newcomers will adore.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
BnB M SPLASHES
HILARIOUS, SUPER-SOAKED ENTERTAINMENT ONTO MOBILE GAMING
The Crazy Arcade series’
latest installment teams up with LINE FRIENDS for more wacky content on iPhone
and Android
Seoul –
April 11, 2019 –
The notorious Crazy Arcade crew is back in action for zanier mini-games in BnB
M, the all new mobile arcade game from NEXON Korea Corporation, subsidiary
of NEXON Co., Ltd. (“Nexon”) (3659.TO), a worldwide leader in free-to-play
online and mobile games. Players in Australia, New Zealand, and select regions
of Southeast Asia and Latin America can dive into the latest update today on
the App Store and Google Play.
For over a
decade, the Crazy Arcade franchise has entertained players with kooky
mini-games. The latest installment BnB M furthers the action with
remastered 3-D gameplay that has been perfectly reimagined for mobile devices.
Today, Nexon teams up with LINE FRIENDS, one of the world’s fastest growing
global character brands to bring the loveable characters from LINE messenger
into BnB M. Players can now dive into super-soaked gameplay as the
recognizable ‘MOON’ and ‘BROWN’ characters. Both characters have three
individual outfits ready to be unlocked and customized to further the wacky
antics of BnB M.
In addition
to today’s collaboration, several new features have been added to BnB M,
including the latest Waterfly SuperSkill. Players can utilize the power of
Waterfly in BnB M’s myriad of unique game modes to release a hive of
insects and trap all surrounding characters. Additional various silly costumes
have also been added for more customizable fun.
Today’s
collaboration update arrives after BnB M’s historic milestone of 8
million downloads worldwide. The game was also recently featured in the App
Store’s games section in over 40 countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia and
Vietnam.
BnB M is available now to download for
free on the App Store and Google Play in Australia, New Zealand and select
regions in Southeast Asia and Latin America. Additional information for members
of the press:
Check out the official Facebook page here Visit the official website here
About NEXON Co. Ltd. NEXON Co., Ltd. (“Nexon”) (3659.TO) is a
worldwide leader in free-to-play online and mobile games. Founded in Korea in
1994, Nexon developed one of the world’s first graphics-based massively
multiplayer online games. Nexon also pioneered the concept of microtransactions
and the free-to-play business model, setting a new standard in which play is
free, and users have the option to purchase in-game items to enhance their
experience. Nexon currently services nearly 100 titles in more than 190 countries. The
Company is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan and its shares are listed on the Tokyo
Stock Exchange.
About LINE FRIENDS
LINE FRIENDS is a global character brand featuring 11 characters which
were originally created for use as stickers for leading mobile messenger
application LINE and its 200 million active worldwide users. The company has
emerged as a global creator by introducing new Intellectual Property (IP) like
BT21, characters created together with global boy band BTS, in addition to
Animation Running Man and Usamaru. LINE FRIENDS also has collaborated with a
number of renowned brands including LAMY, Bang&Olufsen and
Brompton, all aligned with the company’s philosophy and values to showcase
premium character products. More recently, LINE FRIENDS has operated more than
140 stores globally in a total of 11 markets worldwide, in trend-leading cities
such as Seoul, Tokyo, New York, and Shanghai, and became an independent company
in January 2015. For more information please visit www.LINEFRIENDS.com.
