KINGDOM HEARTS III COMING TO XBOX ONE AND PLAYSTATION®4 ON 29th JANUARY 2019
New E3 2018 Cinematic Trailer Reveals Beloved Disney World of Frozen
SYDNEY – 13TH June 2018 – In advance of the E3 2018 at the KINGDOM HEARTS Orchestra – World Tour – in Los Angeles, Square Enix Ltd., and Disney announced that the highly anticipated action-RPG, KINGDOM HEARTS III will launch on the 29th January 2019.
“With the release set for next January, I apologize for having to ask for a little more time than what was previously announced” said Director, Tetsuya Nomura. “The entire development team is pouring their love for the franchise into KINGDOM HEARTS III and is striving to create a game that all players will enjoy. We are currently at the last stages of development but will work tirelessly until the end to deliver the very best KINGDOM HEARTS game to date”.
During the Xbox E3 briefing, SQUARE ENIX also showcased the enchanted world of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Frozen.
“I have been so impressed working with the KINGDOM HEARTS’ team. Their artistic commitment and attention to detail creating the world of our films is truly extraordinary. It’s been a great partnership,” said Roy Conli, Academy Award®-winning producer, Walt Disney Animation Studios.
“In KINGDOM HEARTS III, we are excited that players will have a chance to explore an entirely new adventure set in the world of Frozen,” said Peter Del Vecho, Academy Award®-winning producer, Walt Disney Animation Studios. “It has been such a pleasure to work alongside their creative team to painstakingly recreate the look and feel of our world and watch them bring our beloved Frozen characters to life.”
In addition to the Frozen announcement trailer, SQUARE ENIX released an additional gameplay video, showcasing new footage from the previously released Toy Story, Hercules and Tangled areas: https://youtu.be/GWlKEM3m2EE
KINGDOM HEARTS III will be available for the Xbox One family of devices, including Xbox One X, and the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system on the 29th January 2019. The game will be available with English Voiceover and English, French, Italian, German and Spanish text. For more information on KINGDOM HEARTS III, visit: http://www.kingdomhearts.com/
SQUARE ENIX REVEALS NEW SHADOW OF THE TOMB RAIDER VIDEO AT E3 2018 SHOWCASE
New Video Available Now
SYDNEY, 13th June 2018 – Square Enix®, Eidos-Montréal™, and Crystal Dynamics® delivered a new, never-before-seen video for Shadow of the Tomb Raider™ at the Square Enix E3 Showcase 2018. Featuring new gameplay and developer insights, the new footage showcases the high-octane action, conflict, and challenges that will lead to Lara Croft®’s defining moment.
E3 attendees will have the opportunity to experience Shadow of the Tomb Raider firsthand with playable demos at the Square Enix booth and the Xbox Experience at the Microsoft Theatre. Meanwhile, the NVIDIA booth will host a behind closed doors, first time playable demo of Shadow of the Tomb Raider on PC.
In Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Lara must master a deadly jungle, overcome terrifying tombs, and persevere through her darkest hour. As she races to save the world from a Maya apocalypse, Lara will ultimately be forged into the Tomb Raider® she is destined to be.
Created by a team of veteran TOMB RAIDER developers at Eidos-Montréal, in collaboration with Crystal Dynamics, the game will be available on September 14, 2018 for the Xbox One family of devices including Xbox One X, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, and Windows PC/Steam®.
SYDNEY, 13TH June 2018 – During the company’s E3 showcase earlier today, Square Enix Ltd.,announced that THE QUIET MAN™ will be released digitally for the PlayStation®4 and STEAM (PC).
THE QUIET MAN takes players beyond sound to deliver an immersive story driven cinematic action experience, which can be completed in one sitting. Seamlessly blending high-production live action, realistic CG and pulse-pounding action gameplay.
THE QUIET MAN will be available digitally on PlayStation®4 and STEAM (PC). Look out for more information on the game in August.
Square Enix Ltd. develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX®, EIDOS® and TAITO® branded entertainment content in Europe and other PAL territories as part of the Square Enix group of companies. Square Enix Ltd. also has a global network of leading development studios such as Crystal Dynamics® and Eidos Montréal. The Square Enix group of companies boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY®, which has sold over 141 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 76 million units worldwide; TOMB RAIDER®, which has sold over 66 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix Ltd. is a London-based, wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
SQUARE ENIX REVEALS NEW COLLABORATION WITH PLATINUMGAMES – BABYLON’S FALL
New Project Coming to PlayStation®4 System and STEAM in 2019
SYDNEY, 13TH June 2018 – At the company’s E3 showcase earlier today, Square Enix Ltd., revealed a brand-new, ground breaking project being developed in partnership with PlatinumGames Inc., titled BABYLON’S FALL™. It will release on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and STEAM® in 2019
About Square Enix Ltd.
Square Enix Ltd. develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX®, EIDOS® and TAITO® branded entertainment content in Europe and other PAL territories as part of the Square Enix group of companies. Square Enix Ltd. also has a global network of leading development studios such as Crystal Dynamics® and Eidos Montréal. The Square Enix group of companies boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY®, which has sold over 141 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 76 million units worldwide; TOMB RAIDER®, which has sold over 66 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix Ltd. is a London-based, wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
THE FEARSOME RATHALOS OF MONSTER HUNTER: WORLD COMES TO FINAL FANTASY XIV ONLINE THIS SUMMER
Developers from Square Enix and Capcom discuss Collaboration at E3
Sydney, Australia – June 12, 2018 – Today, at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), SQUARE ENIX® and Capcom unveiled an upcoming collaboration between FINAL FANTASY® XIV Online and Monster Hunter: World™. A new trailer revealed during the SQUARE ENIX digital press conference provided fans a first glimpse at exciting new crossover content coming to FINAL FANTASY XIV Online this summer, featuring the “King of the Skies,” Rathalos, from Monster Hunter: World.
At a special Letter from the Producer LIVE stream during SQUARE ENIX Presents at E3, Producer and Director Naoki Yoshida will be joined by special guest Ryozo Tsujimoto, Producer of Monster Hunter: World, to further discuss the collaboration. The live stream is scheduled for Tuesday, June 12 beginning at 7 PM BST.
The partnership unites two beloved and wildly successful titles, with FINAL FANTASY XIV Online currently boasting over 10 million registered players worldwide and Monster Hunter: World shipping over 8 million copies since its release in January 2018. This special collaboration event will bring new challenges to players of FINAL FANTASY XIV Online featuring characters from Monster Hunter: World to the world of Hydaelyn.
Additional details and future updates on the crossover event will be available on a special collaboration website: http://sqex.to/3sI
FINAL FANTASY XIV Online is one of the world’s most popular Massively Multiplayer Online RPGs and continues to deliver on the promise of bringing the best of the FINAL FANTASY experience to the online realm, ushering in new adventurers to its ever growing game world through regular free update content and premium expansions including FINAL FANTASY XIV: Heavensward and FINAL FANTASY XIV: Stormblood. FINAL FANTASY XIV Online is currently available for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, PC for Windows, and Mac OS.
In Monster Hunter: World, players take on larger-than-life monsters in a variety of vast living, breathing ecosystems either solo or with up to three other hunters via online co-op. With the most accessible and seamless gameplay experience in the series to date, players can take on quests to slay increasingly more challenging and dangerous monsters in the food chain in order to earn materials that can be used to craft stronger weapons and armor with unique abilities based on their fallen foes. Monster Hunter: World is currently available for the PlayStation 4 computer entertainment system and Xbox One.
Square Enix Ltd. develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX®, EIDOS® and TAITO® branded entertainment content in Europe and other PAL territories as part of the Square Enix group of companies. Square Enix Ltd. also has a global network of leading development studios such as Crystal Dynamics® and Eidos Montréal. The Square Enix group of companies boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY®, which has sold over 135 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 75 million units worldwide; TOMB RAIDER®, which has sold over 63 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix Ltd. is a London-based, wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
STORMBLOOD, the FINAL FANTASY XIV STORMBLOOD logo, CRYSTAL DYNAMICS, EIDOS, EORZEA, FINAL FANTASY, the FINAL FANTASY logo, THE LODESTONE, SPACE INVADERS, SQUARE ENIX, the SQUARE ENIX logo, TAITO and TOMB RAIDER are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Square Enix group of companies. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.
About Capcom
Capcom is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment for game consoles, PCs, handheld and wireless devices. Founded in 1983, the company has created hundreds of games including ground-breaking franchises Resident Evil®, Street Fighter®, Monster Hunter™, Ace Attorney®, Mega Man® and Devil May Cry®. Capcom maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, U.K., France, Germany, Tokyo, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Korea, with corporate headquarters located in Osaka, Japan. More information about Capcom and its products can be found at www.capcom.com or www.capcom-unity.com.
Capcom, the Capcom logo, Ace Attorney, Devil May Cry, Mega Man, Monster Hunter and Resident Evil are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Capcom Co., Ltd., in the U.S. or other countries. Street Fighter is a registered trademark of Capcom U.S.A., Inc. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
Start Practicing Your Best ‘ATATATA!’ Because Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise Launches in Australia Later This Year
Localisation Includes a Full English Voiceover, Dual-Track Audio and Extra Carnage
Sydney, Australia – 12th June 2018 – SEGA of America is proud to announce that “You’re already dead.”… We would also like to announce that Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise will be launching in Australia on PlayStation®4 on October 2, 2018!
Brought to you by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, the development team behind the acclaimed Yakuza series, Lost Paradise is a high-intensity action-adventure RPG based within the world of the beloved Fist of the North Star manga. Players take control of Kenshiro as they progress through an alternate universe of the original story, explore the post-apocalyptic wastes of the Earth in a customisable buggy, and tear through groups of thugs using Kenshiro’s signature Hokuto Shinken techniques. Lost Paradise will launch exclusively on the PlayStation®4 on October 2, 2018.
As you might expect from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, Lost Paradise’s world is packed with character-developing and world-building side missions, as well as a collection of hilarious minigames. From buggy races and rhythm-based Hokuto Shinken chiropractic therapy sessions to managing a nightclub and more, there are plenty of adventures that explore the world outside of battle in new and creative ways. Combat and character progression also play major roles in Lost Paradise. Kenshiro fights using classic Hokuto Shinken assassination techniques unlocked with experience earned throughout the story, by defeating enemies, and completing side missions and minigames.
A hands-on playable demo of Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise is available at the ATLUS / SEGA booth at E3 2018, which runs from the 12th to 14th of June in California, Los Angeles.
Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise Key Features:
Become the Fist of the North Star – Explore an alternate version of the Fist of the North Star canon; take control of Kenshiro as he searches for his lost love Yuria in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. For anyone unfamiliar with the original story, Lost Paradise can be enjoyed as a completely standalone experience.
“You’re Already Dead” or “Omae wa Mou Shindeiru?” Why Not Both? – Lost Paradise features English / Japanese dual-track audio, so you can ‘ATATATA!’ in the language of your choosing.
Master the Hokuto Shinken Style – Kenshiro’s ultimate assassination techniques, the Hokuto Shinken, are at your disposal in battle. After building up the Seven Star gauge, you can demolish enemies from the inside out with dozens of brutal and iconic Hokuto Shinken techniques, faithfully recreated from the original manga. More lethal techniques will be available as you progress through the story and battles. Keep your fists up!
Explore a Lost Paradiseand the Wasteland Surrounding It – Even Kenshiro needs the occasional break from beating up thugs. Luckily, even in the dilapidated city of Eden, there’s no shortage of engaging side missions and minigames to take part in. Use the power of Hokuto Shinken to prepare drinks at a bar, manage a struggling nightclub, customise a buggy and race through the barren desert, play retro games at the arcade or your hideout, including the original Fist of the North Star game, and more! Tired of the city? Head out into the wasteland in your buggy to collect materials and complete side missions, but be careful of hidden dangers lurking beyond the dunes!
Extra Carnage – Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise features everything available in the original Japanese version, plus enhanced violence for the localised version! For the first time, witness the full effects of Kenshiro’s brutal Hokuto Shinken on the lowlifes and thugs of the post-apocalyptic wastes.
NINTENDO SMASHES E3 WITH 2018 LINE-UP, DETAILS ABOUT SUPER SMASH BROS. ULTIMATE
Fortnite arrives today for Nintendo Switch; new Super Smash Bros., Pokémon games and many more all launching this year
13th June, 2018 – Nintendo opened its activities for the annual E3 2018 video game trade show with a bang – and a smash. Showing world-first footage of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Nintendo shared details about the latest entry in a series with sales of more than 40 million worldwide. A new game built for Nintendo Switch, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate lets up to eight players square off in action-packed battles that are all about smashing beloved video game characters off the screen. Legendary game worlds and fighters collide in the ultimate showdown at E3 2018, which runs through 14th June at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Nintendo made its announcements during its Nintendo Direct: E3 2018 video presentation, which can be viewed at https://e3.nintendo.com/*.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will include every single fighter ever featured in the series’ nearly two-decades run, making it one of the biggest crossover events in gaming history. Fans can enjoy returning favourites like Ice Climbers and Pokémon Trainer, as well as newly announced fighters like Ridley from the Metroid series and Inkling from the Splatoon series. The game supports a variety of controller options, including Nintendo GameCube controllers (original or newly designed), Joy-Con, or the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. With Nintendo Switch, players can throw down whenever and wherever they like in handheld or tabletop mode while enjoying online play.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate combines many stages and new items with gameplay that makes it easy for players of all skill levels to jump in. All Super Smash Bros. series amiibo figures are compatible with the game, and any fighter’s amiibo figure from other series will also be supported. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is set to launch on 7th December, exclusively for Nintendo Switch. It is being developed by Nintendo, Sora, Ltd., and BANDAI NAMCO Studios, and is directed by Masahiro Sakurai.
Nintendo also announced that Fortnite, the Battle Royale phenomenon from Epic Games, will be available for Nintendo Switch from 7:00am AEST today. Players can download it for free from Nintendo eShop, then test their mettle in thrilling crucibles of combat. The action never stops with Fortnite on Nintendo Switch, where players can build and battle together anytime, anywhere. Team up online with friends in the same room or around the world. Weekly updates and new gameplay modes will keep the action fresh for seasoned Fortnite players and newcomers alike.
At its E3 booth this week in the Los Angeles Convention Center, Nintendo will give attendees their first chance to play Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee!, two Pokémon games launching for Nintendo Switch on 16th November. Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! are a new way to experience Pokémon that lets players adventure with their partner Pokémon in the vibrant Kanto region, discover fresh and exciting Pokémon encounters and Trainer battles, as well as share the adventure cooperatively with a friend anytime, anywhere on one Nintendo Switch console. Players can even transfer Kanto region Pokémon into the game from the Pokémon GO app. These games serve as an entry point to the Pokémon series for newcomers, but they also provide fun and engaging experiences for Pokémon fans of all ages. A new controller, called Poké Ball Plus, comes with Mythical Pokémon Mew and is sold separately from the games. Poké Ball Plus includes a pressable analogue stick and button, so players can control the new games entirely with the controller, if they want. Nintendo also announced two bundle versions of the games, in which players can purchase either Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! or Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! with one Poké Ball Plus.
Other upcoming items announced during the Nintendo Direct include:
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Expansion Pass owners also will gain access to Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna – The Golden Country to be released on 14th In this new story mode, players uncover the full history of Jin and the fall of his homeland, Torna, which existed 500 years before the events of Xenoblade Chronicles 2. This new storyline will also be available as a stand-alone packaged version on 21st September.
Super Mario Party: Inspired by classic Mario Party board game play, the beloved series is coming to Nintendo Switch with new mini-games and play styles that make use of the Joy-Con controllers. Super Mario Party includes features like character-exclusive Dice Blocks that add depth to players’ strategy. Up to four players take turns rolling the dice, and individually race across the board searching for Stars. In Toad’s Rec Room Mode, new gameplay links two Nintendo Switch consoles for side-by-side fun. The game launches on 5th
Fire Emblem: Three Houses: A new episode of the Fire Emblem series comes to Nintendo Switch for the first time in autumn 2019. The player can manoeuvre the main character freely and interact with other characters to build relationships and gather information at various points within the game. This turn-based tactical RPG will put new strategic twists on battling, with formations of troops supporting individual units on the battlefield. Players will get to know three main characters – Edelgard, Dimitri, and Claude – who play key roles in the story.
DAEMON X MACHINA: A new fast-paced mech action game from Kenichiro Tsukuda is coming to Nintendo Switch in 2019. Players take their fully customisable Arsenal powered suit on a variety of missions to thwart the enemy at all costs. They can choose and equip their Arsenal with a multitude of weapons, obtain more from downed enemies, and swap them on the fly to suit their strategy in the face of ever-changing threats.
Overcooked! 2: The kitchen mayhem returns in this sequel from Team17 and Ghost Town Games that’s brimming with even more recipes, characters, kitchens and co-op madness. Bake, barbecue or broil with up to three other players in wireless local and online play modes. Save the world from clumsy cooking when the frantic food-juggler arrives on 7th
Killer Queen Black: Redesigned from the ground up, the acclaimed arcade extravaganza that became a multiplayer phenomenon is coming to Nintendo Switch. Players can hop on a snail, hoard berries or wipe out the enemy’s queen to claim victory for their team in Liquid Bit and Bumblebear Games’ Killer Queen Black, when it launches first on Nintendo Switch later this year.
Hollow Knight: Venture through the beautifully hand-drawn, mysterious landscapes of a vast forgotten kingdom in Team Cherry’s Hollow Knight, an action-adventure filled with gripping combat and haunting secrets. Hollow Knight on Nintendo Switch also includes the new items, areas, characters and bosses from the currently released content packs – all available today.
Octopath Traveler: Players can take another early look at Square Enix’s upcoming fantasy epic when the Octopath Traveler Prologue Demo arrives on 14th June in Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch. Play the demo, then use the save data transfer feature to carry your choices into the main game, once purchased, where players can live the stories of each of the eight travellers and freely explore the world of Orsterra. Octopath Traveler is scheduled to launch on 13th
More great games are coming in 2018, including EA Sports FIFA 19 from Electronic Arts, Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate from Capcom, Dragon Ball FighterZ and Dark Souls: Remastered from BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment, Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus from Bethesda Softworks, and Starlink: Battle for Atlas from Ubisoft, which includes characters and content from Nintendo’s Star Fox franchise that are exclusive to the Nintendo Switch version of the game.
To celebrate E3 2018, Nintendo eShop will offer savings on select digital games that helped make some of the fighters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate famous, as well as other digital games on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS family systems. The sale kicks off on Thursday 14th June at 11:00pm AEST and runs until 23.59 AEST on Thursday 21st June. The full line-up will be announced at 11:00pm AEST on Thursday 14th June. All titles can be purchased directly from Nintendo eShop.
As always, people can keep an eye on https://e3.nintendo.com/* throughout the show for all of Nintendo’s latest E3 updates, including today’s Super Smash Bros. Invitational 2018 finals and the final round of the Splatoon 2 World Championship, and lots of gaming details on Nintendo Treehouse Live | E3 2018.
Vampyr is set in London in 1918. It is the tail end of World War I and the Spanish Flu epidemic is tearing across the city once again. Fresh from the trenches, Dr. Jonathan Reid is a newly created vampire on a quest for knowledge about his new undead condition and the epidemic that plagues the city. Along the way, Dr. Reid will meet the citizens on London and learn their stories as he copes with his thirst for blood. Players will get the opportunity to decide who lives and who dies, but every death will come at a cost for the community.
Story
While some may describe Vampyr as an action RPG, I think the game is better described as part adventure game and part action-RPG. Vampyr’s mix of gameplay mechanics is similar to how L.A. Noir mixed adventure-style investigation segments with an open world shooter. As such, Vampyr’s writing is thrust front and centre for the gamer to experience. Every friendly NPC in the game’s four districts have personalities, back stories, and secrets that Dr. Reid will tease out as he speaks with them. Players are incentivized to learn about characters, even if the player plans on murdering them all for experience points, as revealing NPC secrets will yield more experience points in the end.
The writing in Vampyr is excellent. The world is meticulously crafted. The writers create a complex view of London, capturing things like the despair of a war-weary nation wracked by the Spanish Flu, the challenges of being a refugee in 1918, and the excitement of scientists in a world on the cusp of some of the great advancements. The multifaceted version of London serves as an excellent way to ground the supernatural elements of the story, as the writers fill the city with secret societies and mythical beasts.
Vampyr’s cast of characters is one of the game’s strengths. The characters run the gamut, giving thirsty players options if they feel like becoming the fangs of justice. At the same time, I find players trying to kill or spare every NPC they meet will feel emotionally challenged, as there are characters that are easy to love and hate. Characters have deep ties with each other. Digging up their secrets will often require speaking to their neighbours or finding the odd letter scattered around the neighbourhood. These relationships breathe life into Vampyr’s take on 1918 London.
The game’s plot is intriguing, though it can fall to the wayside at times with the total information overload that comes with so many characters in a game. The writers have taken classic vampire lore and given it their own twist, mixing in new vampiric lore ideas with actual history. Dr. Reid can sound like a bit of a broken record at times with his repeated introductions as a doctor and a World War I veteran, but some depth comes out slowly and surely as the story progresses.
Gameplay
Vampyr’s combat is a slower paced affair, more along the lines of Dark Souls than the Batman Arkham series. Dr. Reid is able to use close ranged weapons, firearms, and a variety of vampiric abilities. Attacks and dodging is always limited by stamina and blood pool. Players are given a large number of options to build their characters, from a blood hungry mage to a close up brawler. In early game, I found dodging to be necessary. As the game progressed, different builds allowed for alternative methods of negating or soaking damage.
In the end, I found the combat to be rather dull and repetitive. Each enemy type has two or three attack patterns. Bosses generally are harder hitting versions of basic enemies. As such, combat just boils down to kiting enemies around and getting in the odd hit until they die.
Vampyr’s mystery adventure mechanics work well. Players are incentivized to learn and care about London’s citizens. Each citizen has a base amount of experience but learning their secrets and doling out medicine to ensure they are healthy increases the potential amount of experience that can be culled from killing them later. Vampyr is billed as a challenging game that constantly forces players to decide whether killing a story NPC for their blood is worth the power boost. Frankly, I did not find the game hard enough that I ever felt the urge to feed for a quick boost of experience. Once a player learns the basic enemy attack patterns, it is quite easy to tackle enemies several levels above the player.
Vampyr’s controls are decent. The controller and mouse and keyboard are on par in my testing. The menus are laid out well for the most part, though I would prefer some better information in the menus on where story characters can be generally found. While the vampiric sense has a long range, it’s hard to memorize the location of the fifteen or so characters that inhabit each district. Combat controls are solid for the most part, though I find the camera can sometimes get stuck at bad angles unless the player uses the lock on feature.
The PC port of Vampyr is decent but could use some improvements. The game comes loaded with plenty of visual options to adjust but is locked at 62 FPS. Some tinkering with config files can unlock the frame rate, but it would have been better have that option in-game. I also found some areas had severe frame rate drop in my testing. I ran at or near the 62 FPS cap most of the time, but some areas could easily trigger a 25-30 FPS drop.
Visuals
Vampyr is an excellent looking game. While I’m not sure if Dr. Reid’s modern fades is era accurate, the developers generally do an excellent job of bringing 1918 London to life. The game’s dark, gritty look interspersed with crimson blood fits perfectly with its vampire theme.
Audio
Vampyr delivers a solid audio experience. The sound effects are good, although some of the animal sounds feel a little canned. The music is dark and subtle, which makes for a perfect accompaniment to Dr. Reid’s late-night wanderings. While all of London’s accents sounds the same to my Canadian ears, the voice acting in general is excellent. The quality stays high even though every character’s lines are fully voice acted.
Overall
Vampyr is a solid adventure game with a decent action-RPG attached to it. The audio-visual experience is extremely polished. The story is enjoyable, and I found myself growing attached to my in-game neighbours. Combat is a bit dull and feels too easy once a general pattern of dodges, stuns, and heals are established. If you can look past the combat, Vampyr is absolutely worth a try. Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Unearth the Secrets of The Forgotten City on PC 2019
MELBOURNE – 12 June, 2018 – As announced by PC Gamer during its press conference today at E3, The Forgotten City, a time travel murder mystery from Modern Storyteller, will invite players on an epic mythological adventure on PC in 2019.
A re-imagining of the award-winning, critically acclaimed mod played by more than 1.6 million gamers, The Forgotten City will retain all the elements that made the original beloved while improving every aspect and adding plenty of surprises for gamers who enjoyed the mod. The Forgotten City will feature a new city brought to life in Unreal Engine, redesigned characters and dialogue, original lore, fresh twists and endings, added combat and wall-climbing mechanics, an all-new orchestral score, professional voice acting and motion capture animations.
Deep underground in an ancient Roman city, twenty-six trapped explorers lay dead because one of them broke a mysterious law. Within, a portal leads back into the past, allowing one person to change their fate – or witness their deaths in a time loop for eternity.
Fortunately, hope remains. The Forgotten City offers incredible freedom, inviting players to manipulate the timeline, Groundhog Day-style, so events play out differently. Talking with diverse characters, making tough choices in moral dilemmas, and thinking laterally can unlock vastly different endings.
Understanding the residents’ motivations and prejudices are key to escaping this purgatory. Social and economic inequality, moral relativism, fascism, extremism, and the psychosocial effects of mass surveillance are among the issues that influence the city’s fate. Save the people of The Forgotten City by getting to know them and helping them help themselves – or sacrifice them to save yourself. It’s all up to you.
“When designing The Forgotten City, I wanted to respect players’ intelligence and grant them autonomy in solving the mystery,” said Nick Pearce, writer and creative director, Modern Storyteller. “Mind-bending time loops, fully realized NPCs with interwoven lives, and themes rarely touched by games set The Forgotten City apart from other narrative adventures.”
The Forgotten City will be available in English for $19.99. Localized subtitles and text will be available for additional languages.
For more information, please explore Modern Storyteller’s official site, visit The Forgotten City’s Steam page or follow Modern Storyteller on Facebook and Twitter.
About Modern Storyteller
Modern Storyteller began as Nick Pearce’s one-man modding team. After creating a wildly successful mod which won an Australian Writers’ Guild Award in 2016, Nick took a break from his ten year legal career and formed Modern Storyteller to create games telling emotionally engaging, intellectually stimulating stories in a way that helps gaming reach its full potential.
To learn more about Modern Storyteller, please visit the official website.
DEVOLVER DIGITAL GOES ALL IN WITH FANCY REVEALS AND FIRST-LOOKS AT E3 2018
Serious Sam 4, SCUM, Metal Wolf Chaos XD, and My Friend Pedro Party at the Devolver Digital E3 Parking Lot of Food Truck Awesomeness and also Video Games
THE VERY BACK PARKING LOT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE LOS ANGELES CONVENTION CENTER AND BEHIND THAT HOOTERS RESTAURANT – June 10, 2018 – Independent game label Devolver Digital has pulled back the nachos-cheese-stained curtain on a myriad of new games during their 2018 Big Fancy Press Conference ahead of this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo. Introduced by the seemingly indestructible CEO Nina Struthers, Devolver Digital revealed a remaster of From Software’s 2004 mech opus Metal Wolf Chaos, a new look at Gamepires’ supermax survival sim SCUM, and the wildly frantic gun ballet My Friend Pedro.
Metal Wolf Chaos XD is a rearmed and modernized release of From Software’s legendary mech shooter Metal Wolf Chaos, previously release in 2004 as an Xbox exclusive only in Japan. For nearly 15 years, From Software fans have asked for an updated global release with their prayers finally answered in a collaboration between Devolver Digital, From Software, and General Arcade. Metal Wolf Chaos XD brings updated visuals, refined gameplay, and support for 16:9 4K displays to Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC later this year [mechamericagreatagain.com].
SCUM is the next era in open-world survival sim games, developed by Gamepires in cooperation with Croteam, set to enter Steam Early Access this summer. Prisoners–turned-livestream contestants will struggle to survive against the elements, wildlife, and fellow contestants – both live and undead – in a strikingly rendered world. Hardcore survival gameplay is seamlessly mixed in with versus mode ‘network events’ put on by broadcaster TEC1 as players volunteer to enter ongoing clashes against one another in enclosed areas of the terrain in hopes of winning top tier loot and weapons[scumgame.com].
My Friend Pedro is a violent ballet about friendship, imagination, and one man’s struggle to obliterate anyone in his path at the behest of a sentient banana. No, you totally read that right. The strategic use of split aiming, slow motion, and the ol’ stylish window breach create one sensational action sequence after another in an explosive battle through a violent underworld. My Friend Pedro will launch on Nintendo Switch and PC in early 2019 [deadtoast.com].
Serious Sam 4: Planet Badass reignites the classic series on a brutally bigger scale and takes fans on a new adventure full of bullets, guts, and…one-liners. Croteam will be demoing the newest entry in their storied FPS series to media and partners during E3 with first-looks at gameplay all week.
Devolver Digital is celebrating this year’s selection of games alongside highlights from previous trailer park features in the Devolver Digital E3 Steam Sale event where players can get featured games for up to 75% off [e3.devolverdigital.com] so buy those sweet games so we can make more heads explode in next year’s press conference.
