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Focus Home Interactive unveils its E3 2018 line-up

Philip Federico
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Focus Home Interactive unveils its E3 2018 line-up

Focus Home Interactive is happy to unveil its exciting E3 2018 line-up! With closed-door presentations and hands-on demos, here is the full list of titles showcased at the Focus Home Interactive booth, West-Hall #4512, June 12-14:

  • Insurgency: Sandstorm: play the sequel to the multi-million selling FPS Insurgency with the developers from New World Interactive, in a dedicated multiplayer session!
  • Farming Simulator 19:  Shown for the very first time, see the newest entry in the farming phenomenon from GIANTS Software – including an exciting surprise to be announced at E3!
  • The Surge 2: Check out 30 minutes of never-before-seen gameplay of the hardcore Action-RPG from Deck13, with an ambitious level design and combat more brutal than ever.
  • A Plague Tale: Innocence: Meet orphan siblings Amicia and Hugo – as well as the hordes of rats hunting them – in a new gameplay walkthrough by developers from Asobo Studio.
  • Call of Cthulhu: Lovecraft’s twisted universe comes alive in an exclusive walkthrough guided by the developers from Cyanide.
  • GreedFall: Dive into the latest RPG from Spiders to discover a unique world shaped by the player’s political diplomacy, character relationships and critical choices.

Space Hulk: Tactics will be playable for the first time in face-to-face sessions with Cyanide developers in our Public Area, alongside hands-off sessions of Necromunda: Underhive Wars with developers Rogue Factor detailing all the new features. Developers from Vostok Games, the studio behind Fear the Wolves, will also attend E3 this year to answer all your questions during exclusive interviews.

Finally, you’ll be able to get your hands on some of our most recent and imminent releases – playable stations will be available for both journalists and the public to try out Vampyr (DONTNOD Entertainment), The Surge – Complete Edition (Deck13), and Spintires: MudRunner (Saber Interactive).

To see the complete E3 line-up of Focus Home Interactive with more info, please click here.

About Focus Home Interactive

Focus Home Interactive is a French publisher based in Paris, France. Known for the quality, diversity and originality of its catalogue, Focus has published and distributed original titles that have become benchmark titles worldwide, available both in store and for download across the world. Focus publishes games on all major platforms, consoles and PC. The publisher’s catalogue will get even richer the coming months and years with eagerly awaited games such as Vampyr, Call of Cthulhu, Farming Simulator, Insurgency: Sandstorm, Necromunda: Underhive Wars, A Plague Tale: Innocence, The Surge 2, Spintires: MudRunner, Fear the Wolves, GreedFall and many more.

More information on the website: www.focus-home.com

INTELLIVISION® TO RELEASE NEW FAMILY VIDEO GAME CONSOLE 

Philip Federico
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INTELLIVISION® TO RELEASE NEW FAMILY VIDEO GAME CONSOLE

Industry Veteran Tommy Tallarico Named President of Intellivision Entertainment and Joins Forces with Original Intellivision Team Members
IRVINE, CA, May 29, 2018 – Intellivision® Entertainment is proud to announce that it will bring the concept of SIMPLE, AFFORDABLE, FAMILY & FUN back into homes across the world with the introduction of a brand new home video game console.  The original Intellivision system generated many “firsts” in the video game industry including the first 16-bit gaming machine, the first gaming console to offer digital distribution, the first to bring speech/voice to games, the first to license professional sports leagues and organizations and the first to be a dedicated game console and home computer.  Originally released in 1979, due to its popularity it was remarkably retailed across 3 decades and quickly sold millions of units.  The new Intellivision system (name TBA) will carry on the company tradition of “firsts” with its new concept, design and approach to gaming.

Video Games Live™ creator and 30 year video game industry veteran Tommy Tallarico has been named President of Intellivision Entertainment as the company turns its focus on a rebranding and reimagining for the 21st century while still paying homage to its legacy roots.  “I grew up playing Intellivision with my parents and younger brother,” says Tallarico.  “It was always my favorite system because the games were cutting edge, yet fun and simple to play so our entire family could enjoy them together.  I find those important elements to generally be lacking from our industry with the current modern gaming consoles.  Our goal is to change that by focusing on bringing all age groups and levels of gamers and non-gamers together while introducing new generations of people to the legacy success of the Intellivision brand.”

Original Intellivision team members will also play important roles in the creation, development, software and design of the new platform.  Intellivision Entertainment Chairman Steve Roney and Intellivision Entertainment Vice President of Technology Bill Fisher have been involved with Intellivision since 1981.  Both Steve and Bill were programmers and designers for some of the first home video games to ever have voice/speech (Space Spartans© & B-17 Bomber©).  Other Intellivision members include original Game Design & Development Group Leader David Warhol, known for designing and producing over 25 Intellivision titles as well as designing, programming and composing for the first home console video game to ever have wall-to-wall continuous music (Thunder Castle©).  Eight year Intellivision veteran and Vice President Emily Reichbach Rosenthal will be heading up the Licensing Division, and longtime Intellivision contractor, tech guru and historian Paul Nurminen has been named Vice President of Product Development.

Details of the new console will be released on October 1, 2018 and followers can subscribe to updates at www.IntellivisionEntertainment.com.  The first 100,000 people to sign up on the website will get the exclusive opportunity to purchase a special and unique Limited Edition version of the console which will not be made available in stores.  An interactive Facebook Live event to answer questions from fans is scheduled for Thursday, May 31st at noon pacific at: www.facebook.com/IntellivisionEntertainment.  Interviews about the new console can be scheduled by contacting [email protected].  In-person interviews will take place in the National Videogame Museum – South Hall Booth #701 during the 2018 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles.

INTELLIVISION FACTS & FIRSTS

  • Intellivision was the first 16-bit game console, a full 2 generations before it became the industry standard.
  • The original Intellivision system was so popular that it sold across 3 decades (1979 – 1990).
  • The Intellivision control disc was the predecessor to what later became the industry standard directional pad (D-Pad).  It was also the first game console to allow for 16 directions while offering 4 action buttons and a 12-button keypad, which opened up greater game play options and control.
  • The Intellivision was the first video game console that had a built in PAUSE feature.
  • The very first video game to have speech/voice was the 1979 Intellivision release of Major League Baseball.
  • Intellivision was the first console which incorporated professional sports licensing for its sports games, the boxes were emblazoned with official logos from Major League Baseball (MLB), National Football League (NFL), National Hockey League (NHL), National Basketball Association (NBA),  Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA), North American Soccer League (NASL), Professional Bowlers Association (PBA), American Backgammon Players Association (ABPA), the United States Chess Federation (USCF) and the U.S. Ski Team.
  • Intellivision had the largest home console software library in the world with the release of their cross-platform “System Changer” device that allowed Atari® 2600 games to be played on the Intellivision system.
  • 30 years ahead of its time, the Intellivision was the very first game console to offer digital distribution of video games through the PlayCable service.  The PlayCable adapter connected to the Intellivision cartridge port and allowed the downloading of games through a cable TV subscription.  New York Yankee legend and Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle was the TV and print ad spokesmen for the product which was released in 1981.
  • With the release of the Keyboard Component, Intellivision became the first video game system that was able to be used and turned into a home computer.
  • The Intellivision game Utopia© was the very first “real time strategy” and city building/god game.
  • Intellivision was responsible for the first “Console War” when it launched a national ad campaign against then rival Atari®, by using side-by-side comparisons with journalist George Plimpton as its spokesman.

WEBSITE
www.IntellivisionEntertainment.com

RUNESCAPE’S TOUGHEST BOSS YET EMERGES FROM THE LOST GROVE

Philip Federico
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RUNESCAPE’S TOUGHEST BOSS YET EMERGES FROM THE LOST GROVE

Groups of up to seven players can take on the challenge of facing Solak, while the Guardian of the Lost Grove comes to life with new AR codes

Cambridge, UK – May 29, 2018 – The tormented ‘Guardian of The Lost Grove’, Solak, has today returned to the RuneScape world of Gielinor after many millennia. The first new group boss to launch in RuneScape since January 2017, Solak is a high-level, end-game character that can be fought against in a couple of ways, allowing either a challenging or accessible experience: a two-player mode and a group mode for between one and seven players.

While no specific level requirements are needed to battle Solak, adventurers looking to take on the Guardian should ensure they gather together a strong team with high-level combat gear. Should Solak be released from the evil elf spirit that controls him, players will be rewarded with new, powerful crossbows and access to new pets – the creatures of the grove.

Solak has also debuted in the real world thanks to a brand-new AR experience, with the release of two Snapcodes that bring the Guardian of the Lost Grove to life!

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About Jagex

A leader in creating deep and engaging live games, Jagex’s flagship MMORPG, RuneScape, has welcomed over 250 million player accounts to its world. Today the RuneScape franchise exists beyond running games in live operations; our titles are living games that connect and inspire millions of players, with content and experiences both inside and outside of inexhaustible game worlds. Both RuneScape and Old School RuneScape, on PC and coming to mobile, offer ever-evolving, highly-active worlds and our community-focused development ethos empowers players to have a real say in how each game is shaped. Now we’re expanding and extending our portfolio with fresh franchise titles and new IP to bring life to the living games of the future. Jagex employs over 320 people at its Cambridge headquarters. In 2016 Jagex became part of Fukong Interactive Entertainment, a global games group publicly listed in China. Career information can be found at www.jagex.com.

About RuneScape

Step into a medieval fantasy world that’s packed with epic adventures, fascinating characters and a passionate community that helps to mold the game itself. Unashamedly British in humor, RuneScape embraces an unconventional world where you’re free to play and explore the way you want to. An MMO unlike any other – become the hero you were born to be at www.runescape.com.

Moonlighter Review

Markus Janßen
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Moonlighter Review

Moonlighter

Developer: Digital Sun
Publisher: 11 bit studios
Platforms: PlayStation 4 (Reviewed), Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch
Release Date: May 29th 2018 (PS4, XB1, PC) / Q3 2018 (Switch)
Price: $19.99 USD / $29.95 AUD – Available Here

Overview

Publisher 11 bit studios and the developers from Digital Sun Games want us to work day and night shift in Moonlighter. We took a closer look at the Action-RPG with rogue-lite elements and tell you what we think about trying to be a hero at night while following our job as a shopkeeper during the day.

Story

We are playing Will, a shopkeeper who wants to become a hero one day. The village Rynoka is known for heroes and merchants but Will wants to be both at the same time. One of the reasons for this is being the last family member alive who can continue the legacy, the Moonlighter shop. He takes the decision to explore dungeons, fight monsters at night and sell artifacts together with other items during the day. Will’s goal is to get stronger and stronger until he can prove he’s a hero, but a long and dangerous road lies ahead of him.

Gameplay

The developers mentioned, that they drew inspiration for Moonlighter from titles like Rogue Legacy, The Binding of Isaac and The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap. If I’d have to describe the game, I’d call it a mix between Hometown Story and The Binding of Isaac. Our adventure starts with Will having a broom in his hand, which he uses to fight the first monsters. We have access to only one of the five dungeons at the beginning and as we collect items and advance through the different levels of it, we notice that it’s getting more and more difficult. This is the moment where we have to take a decision: Do we continue and risk our life or shall we return to the village? If we die, then our items are lost and we have to start from the beginning. As the dungeons are randomly generated we can then enter again from scratch. This element really helps to create tension while at the same time it can quickly put you in a frustrating situation.

To make life in the dungeons a bit easier we can make use of a teleporter at a certain point, which allows us to continue where we left. This can be helpful if our inventory is full with quality items and we don’t want to risk losing them. If we don’t want to come back and instead start all over again, then we can use a special pendant to get out of the dungeon. Both of these helpful options come at a cost and so we have to make sure to always carry enough cash. This job is done by a magic mirror, that allows us to transform items into gold on the go, as we’ll find a lot of stuff compared to our limited inventory slots, which can not be expanded throughout the game. Another interesting feature is the positioning in our inventory where we have to find the perfect solution. Some items are cursed and can for example only be placed at the top or bottom. There’s even the possibility that another item is getting destroyed if we pick up a cursed one. On the other hand we can also use the curses to our advantage as some give us the chance to teleport items directly into our chest located in the shop. Personally I found this a very interesting mechanic regarding inventory management, as you normally loot whatever drops on the ground without even taking a look at it, right?

Equipment also plays an important role in Moonlighter. We can craft a bunch of different potions with the right ingredients and of course a variety of different weapons and armor sets. While a bow gives us the advantage to attack from the distance, we can also use a big sword or a smaller one with a shield to block attacks. During combat we can only switch between two weapons and as different enemies are waiting in the dungeons, preparation is key. Effects like poison damage can be very helpful, but as we have to enter the five different dungeons various times you might want to get used to the different enemy types in there first. As everything in Moonlighter comes with a cost, I found myself doing a lot of hit and run action, to avoid getting hurt. At the final level of every dungeon there is a boss fight waiting for you.

As soon as we are arriving in the village with our loot, we take on the role of the shopkeeper. Value and demand are the two things, that we have to balance. We can place the products, set a price for them and the expressions of our clients will help us to define the right amount. To give you a more specific example: If there’s a high demand for a special item we have to take care not to oversell it, as this reduces the value. As we don’t know the value of an item before we see the first expression, it can also happen that we sell items with a higher value too cheap. Besides adjusting our prices we have to keep our eyes on every client as Rynoka is also home of some sneaky thieves. An indicator shows us if someone is trying to escape with an unpaid item and we have to catch him before he reaches the exit. During our adventure we can purchase upgrades and even get an assistant, who allows us to fight monsters during the day without having to close the shop. Villagers are still telling stories that there’s a higher chance to find better artifacts at night though. So in the end, you choose between quantity or quality and play Moonlighter the way you want!

Visuals & Audio

Moonlighter uses pixel art, which gives the whole game a nostalgic touch. The villagers and enemies are nicely detailed. Still I have to admit, that I can totally imagine playing Moonlighter with 3D graphics! The soundtrack from David Fenn, who also composed the music for Titan Souls, fits the title very well. While usually some melodies in games can get annoying after hearing them over and over again, he did a great job avoiding this in Moonlighter. I would even go this far and call the soundtrack my personal highlight.

Overall

Moonlighter combines a dual nature but you’ll find yourself quickly in a position, where the gameplay is getting very repetitive. The dungeons differ visually from each other, but I would’ve liked to see more enemy types and some environmental puzzles. I also miss more life in the village and maybe some events. The story is unfortunately only a minor matter. Moonlighter offers so much potential but what remains is an interesting idea that lacks depth.

Starship Troopers Review

Mateja Simovic
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Starship Troopers Review

Starship Troopers

Studios: Touchstone Pictures; Jon Davison Productions
Publisher: Buena Vista International
Platforms: Cinema
Release Date: Out Now

Overview

Paul Verhoeven is a staple of sci-fi geeks everywhere with Robocop and Starship Troopers being his two most beloved works. I’m already a big fan of Verhoeven and of Starship Troopers, so I jumped at the chance to watch it up on the big screen. I strapped myself into my power armour and marched on down to George St cinemas to watch the In the House screening of the film.

Our MCs for the evening were Jason ‘Jabba’ Davis and David ‘Quinny’ Quinn who opened the proceedings by offering people cake because it was Quinny’s birthday (of which yours truly took up the offer). After a quick of rendition of “Happy birthday” the two settled down to discuss some of the film’s trivia. A funny little titbit that I remember from their exchange was that during the film’s production, Neil Patrick Harris (yes, that one!) appears in the film dressed quite noticeably in a costume that resembles the uniforms of Nazi SS officers and earned himself the nickname of “Doogie Himmler” on set.

Story

The story follows idealistic and fresh-faced high school student couple, Johnny Rico (Casper Van Dien) and Carmen Ibanez (Denise Richards), as the leave high school and join the military to fight for the federation. We see Rico undergo a gruelling time through basic training for the mobile infantry while Carmen has a somewhat more idyllic experience at flight school training to be a pilot. Their lives both turn upside down when a meteor from a planet populated by giant insectoid creatures crashes into their home town of Buenos Aires and the federation is kicked into war. As each contributes to the war effort, will they survive the confrontation between a fascist humanity and an insectoid alien foe?

Straight up, I will tell you now that this film features some of the hammiest performances and dialogue I have ever seen. The film really kind of has two aspects to it’s story; one side is high school melodrama with characters getting into vapid relationships, love triangles, and the highs and lows of navigating a social hierarchy. The other side of the story is a sci-fi military action film with buckets gore, guts, and ichor. If you think that this is a bit of a mismatch, then you have not fully grasped the unholy fusion of these two completely disparate genres with the action elements far outshining the teen melodrama. The writing comes into its own with the little worldbuilding propaganda vignettes intermittent throughout the film (but more on that just a bit later).

There is almost not a single moment of anyone’s performance which was believable or nuanced in any way. Van Dien does all right as a fresh-faced teen but really doesn’t have the gravitas to pull off any kind of growth beyond that when he assumes command of a squad. Alongside Richards, we find that the main romantic couple are a pair of the film end up coming across as empty and vacuous shells of human beings… which may have been the reason they were cast. The two exceptional performances come from Michael Ironside and Clancy who lean into the absurdity enough but do it so straight-faced that it straddles the line between farcical and badass with aplomb. The reason that the film’s performances and screenwriting are so stilted may in fact have been a feature instead of a fault…

The main draw for this film is not it’s threadbare narrative or two-dimensional characters but rather it’s multi-faceted fictional world which forcefully captures the imagination. The society of this film is basically the utopian ideal of Star Trek but with a distinctly fascist overtone throughout. In terms of science fiction, the film doesn’t want to explore the complexities of technology or grapple with the philosophical dimensions the human condition beyond; rather, Verhoeven wants to explore fascist society when taken to a logical (and farcical extreme). The Federation of Starship Troopers is a vile, xenophobic and cruel society which features some of the worst excesses humanity is capable. Most of the comedy comes from these frankly ridiculous extremes in the film’s various propaganda vignettes where we might see an infomercial where children gleefully play around with assault rifles while in another we’re given the outcome of a failed military venture where over a quarter of a million humans lost their lives.

Depicting an entirely alien society, however, would probably not have given the film the lasting appeal it has enjoyed for the last two decades. What gives this film it’s unique flavour is the way that it works to make the reprehensible jingoism and militarism of this society seem completely mundane. For an audience, you are distant enough away from these excesses so that you hopefully them funny in line with the film’s very dark gallows humour (my favourite kind). But in that laughter, you will find that there is an element of recognition as well as the film draws upon every cliché from every war film under the sun. Characters will recite one-liners as heroically and this is enough to get the blood pumping as well as action movie which you might see playing in the cinema today… but there is the ever-present knowledge in the back of your mind screaming that our so-called heroes are fascists; the gung-ho action you’re watching is fascist propaganda; the film is simultaneously jarringly alien and yet eerily familiar.

The film’s ultimate thesis is not simply to ridicule the excesses of fascism but also to hold up a mirror to our own culture and society and point out some similarities which are more concerning than funny. I’d argue that this is what makes this film a great satirical piece and how it’s popularity and relevance remain despite the march of time.

Visuals

Verhoeven’s style as a director shines through brightest in the incidental details that he puts in to the film to really hammer home the fact that the federation are fascists, and this is a terrible timeline. These flourishes can be as small as just the costume design of the characters evoking Nazi uniforms, or the more in-your-face war propaganda newsreel feel of the vignettes that appear throughout the film. It’s great visual direction but it’s often a slog to get to these moments through otherwise visually uninteresting film. Unfortunately, the film’s CGI effects have not particularly stood up well against time’s advance. It’s not something which particularly broke my enjoyment of the film as an already established fan of the film… but more astute newcomers might notice some pixilation in some of the effects (especially if you’re watching it on a big screen).

Audio

The film’s orchestral soundtrack largely plays up the themes of militaristic fervour with all the uplifting pomp that entails. A lot of the film’s soundtrack plays with this militaristic theme with plenty of marching drums and brass to pump up the action and evoke the feeling of a military parade. Although this certainly plays into the film’s themes and punctuates most of it’s action beats; it doesn’t really leave much of an impression on you after the film’s run time. The couple of exceptions to this are several pop songs used in sections where the film veers towards teen melodrama more than the military action. The songs feel a bit of place in the same way that these sequences in general feel out of place in the film but, as I’ve mentioned before, this film makes hay out of its eclectic choices which ultimately work together in spite of it all.

Overall

Overall, I had a really good time with this film and I’m glad I was able to see it up on the big screen in the cinema. Part of the film’s lasting appeal is that it’s capable of being so many things simultaneously which it ultimately is able to bring together in an interesting but unusual way. Verhoeven’s attention to detail ensures that the film’s visuals (both subtle and not) give you plenty of cues as to the tongue-in-cheek nature of the film’s satire. The orchestral and pop song soundtrack are similarly odd pairings that ultimately add to the film’s off-beat tone and charm. All these disparate elements come together in a way that I can describe as inspired; this film will no doubt be relevant for some time to come and I heartily recommend it to anyone who appreciates dry and dark satire. 

For other films which In The House is screening, feel free to check out their schedule for the season here.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

SABER INTERACTIVE RELEASES NEW MOSCOW GAMEPLAY TRAILER FOR WORLD WAR Z

Philip Federico
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SABER INTERACTIVE RELEASES NEW MOSCOW GAMEPLAY TRAILER FOR WORLD WAR Z

Unleash Traps, Barricades and Raw Firepower to Survive the Undead in This Fast-paced, Action-packed Co-op Shooter for PlayStation®4, Xbox One and Windows PC

MAPLEWOOD, N.J. – May 25, 2018 – Saber Interactive has released the latest exciting gameplay trailer from World War Z, the new four-player cooperative game inspired by the heart-pounding fear and action of Paramount Pictures’ blockbuster film franchise. World War Z’s massive swarms of fast-moving zombies will overwhelm your defenses if you’re not prepared for their gruesome onslaught.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK4ni-Dc9eI&feature=youtu.be

From Moscow to Jerusalem to New York, World War Z’s action-packed co-op campaign delivers unique survivor stories and missions around the world. Make tactical use of traps, barriers and the environment to slow down the relentless hordes of the undead, then team up with friends to stay alive by unleashing a storm of firepower from all directions with a variety of heavy-hitting weapons and explosives.

World War Z is in development for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One and Windows PC. For more information, visit www.WWZGame.com, and follow the game on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWZGame, on Twitter @WWZTheGame, and on Instagram @WWZGame.

About Saber Interactive

Based in the U.S., Russia, and Spain, Saber Interactive is an independent developer whose credits include Quake Champions, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo: Master Chief Collection, and others. Saber’s most recent release, NBA Playgrounds, is one of the best-selling digital console titles of 2017. The company has multiple development studios across the world making great games and bringing fun interactive experiences to life.

About Paramount Pictures Corporation

Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Television, Paramount Players, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.

DARK SOULS™: REMASTERED NOW AVAILABLE FOR PLAYSTATION®4 SYSTEM, XBOX ONE, AND STEAM®

Philip Federico
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DARK SOULS™: REMASTERED NOW AVAILABLE FOR PLAYSTATION®4 SYSTEM, XBOX ONE, AND STEAM®

Delve Into the World of DARK SOULS Like Never Before with PlayStation 4 Pro System and Xbox One X Enhancements

SANTA CLARA, Calif., (May 25, 2018) – BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. invites players back to the treacherous land of Lordran with DARK SOULS™: REMASTERED, now available on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, and STEAM® for PC. Re-experience the genre-defining title that kicked off a worldwide gaming phenomenon in stunning high-definition detail.

In DARK SOULS: REMASTERED players will come face-to-face against all manner of beasts, demons, traps, and wizardry as they attempt to undo a curse plaguing the land and usher in a new age of Fire or Dark. Included in the game is the Atorias of the Abyss DLC, which finds players being sent into the past and uncovering the hidden history of Lordran as well as the fate of Knight Artorias.

DARK SOULS: REMASTERED enables players to explore the twisted ancient land of Lordran in the first title of the critically acclaimed action role-playing series like never before.  Experience the rich world of DARK SOULS in Dynamic 4K resolution when playing on a PlayStation 4 Pro system, Xbox One X, and STEAM.  From their first timid steps to absolute mastery, players will build their characters by strategically adapting to daunting foes, exploring haunting locations, and amassing a large collection of weapons, armor, and magic spells to wield for a truly unique playstyle.

Hidden in the world of DARK SOULS: REMASTERED are nine online covenants to uncover that will motivate your online interactions. Collaboration or confrontation, support or betrayal – which allegiance will you choose? Up to six players can join together online to help, or hurt, each other throughout their quest.

DARK SOULS: REMASTERED is now available for the PlayStation 4 system, Xbox One and STEAM for PC with a MSRP of $39.99 and an ESRB rating of ”M” for Mature. DARK SOULS: REMASTERED for the Nintendo Switch™ will be available Summer 2018. Fans who already own DARK SOULS: Prepare to Die Edition on STEAM can purchase DARK SOULS: REMASTERED for a loyalty price of $19.99. For more information regarding DARK SOULS: REMASTERED and other titles from BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. please visit https://www.bandainamcoent.com, https://www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS, or join the conversation at https://www.twitter.com/BandaiNamcoUS.

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About BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc.

BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc., part of BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc., is a leading global publisher and developer of interactive entertainment for all major video game consoles, iOS, Android, and online platforms. The company is known for creating and publishing many of the industry’s top video game franchises including PAC-MAN®, GALAGA®, TEKKEN®, SOULCALIBUR®, and ACE COMBAT®. BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. is the premier publisher in the Western hemisphere for anime based video games including NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™, DRAGON BALL Z®, and ONE PIECE®. More information about the company and its products can be found at http://www.bandainamcoent.com or www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS

NEW BATTLEGROUND, DUNGEON AND MORE IN LATEST CONTENT UPDATE FOR MAPLESTORY BLITZ

Philip Federico
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NEW BATTLEGROUND, DUNGEON AND MORE IN LATEST CONTENT UPDATE FOR MAPLESTORY BLITZ

Popular Mobile Trading Card Game Continues to Deliver New and Challenging Content for iPhone and Android

Seoul – May 25, 2018 – The battle-card universe of MapleStory Blitz expands today with the all-new Temple of Time update, including a unique battleground, new abilities, cards and more for players to learn and master. MapleStory Blitz is a competitive trading card game (TCG) set within the beloved world of MapleStory from NEXON Korea Corporation, subsidiary of NEXON Co., Ltd. (“Nexon”) (3659.TO), a worldwide leader in free-to-play online and mobile games. The Temple of Time update goes live today and is available for download on iPhone and Android.

MapleStory Blitz combines tactical challenges and strategic gameplay that pits players against each other in real-time battle sequences with “cardified” Maple World monsters and skills. The Temple of Time content update further intensifies the thrilling PvP combat by providing novice and veteran players alike with more in-depth features to master, including:

  • Fierce Temple of Time Battleground – The all-new Temple of Time battleground features a randomly-appearing “Rock of Time” that can be damaged to fill its lane’s gauge in the enemy’s direction;
  • Powerful Temple Guardians – The player who controls the Rock of Time may summon one of three exclusive guardians to fight by the summoner’s side, including “Lyka,” who stuns enemies, “Dodo,” who eliminates one enemy monster, and “Lilynouch,” whose individual power is unrivaled;
  • Challenging Dungeon – Dungeon Mode allows players to enter the new Temple of Time dungeon with Mesos or NCoins to battle the perilous Pink Bean;
  • Exclusive Cards – 44 brand-new monster cards are available for players to use, including the legendary “Pink Bean” card, which turns all ally monsters into Pink Beans;
  • Other Updates – The new Copy Deck function allows players to copy and replay previously-used decks, and some existing cards have had their stats adjusted for balance.

Players also are invited to participate in the MapleStory Blitz Temple of Time Celebration Event from today’s launch through Thursday, June 7. Prizes include Dodo and Lilynouch portraits and NCoins for completing quests.

MapleStory Blitz is free-to-play and rated E for Everyone (ESRB). Additional information for members of the press:

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.

EVERYDAY AUSTRALIANS REACT TO THE INTRODUCTION OF ANDROID HELPERS IN DAILY LIFE

Philip Federico
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EVERYDAY AUSTRALIANS REACT TO THE INTRODUCTION OF ANDROID HELPERS IN DAILY LIFE

PlayStation Australia runs social experiment to mark the launch of PlayStation®4 exclusive, Detroit: Become Human

SYDNEY, May 25, 2018 – In celebration of the highly anticipated launch of Detroit: Become Human™, only on PS4™, PlayStation Australia has conducted a social experiment that shows everyday Aussies are distinctly wary when it comes to potential introduction of android helpers in daily life.

The relationship between humans and artificial intelligence is already becoming increasingly complex, and it’s only going to get more complicated as it evolves beyond making haircut appointments.

For the experiment, a realistic-looking Android was created modelled on the in-game CyberLife Android protagonists designed by the game’s creators, Quantic Dream. The appearance and character of the CyberLife Android were brought to life using a trained actor and prosthetics by an internationally renowned and award-winning Australian special makeup effects studio.

Genuine reactions from the public and their pooches were captured on video in response to the Cyberlife Android completing simple tasks in two scenarios – walking a dog and ordering a coffee for its owner.

The test showed an overwhelming response of mistrust and concern around the prospect of Android helpers in everyday life. People’s powerful, and often hilarious, reactions reinforced the principle of ‘Uncanny Valley’; when robots look close to, but not quite, human, people develop a sense of unease and discomfort.

As the first phase of the experiment, PlayStation Australia created a callout on AirTasker for someone to help test a CyberLife Android. In contrast to in-person reactions, the callout received over 250 applications and with a majority of positive responses.

Detroit: Become Human, is an interactive neo-noir thriller, set in the near-future metropolis of Detroit during the year 2038. The city has been revjuvenated by the invention and introduction of androids into everyday life, but when androids start behaving as if they are alive, events begin to spin out of control. As the PS4 player steps into the shoes of three distinct playable android characters, their decisions will dramatically alter how the game’s intense, branching narrative plays out.

Exclusive to PlayStation 4, Detroit: Become Human is available now on PlayStation Store and via select Australian retailers with a recommended retail price of $99.95 AUD.

Find imagery and downloadable footage here and head to the press site for additional assets – www.siee-press.com.

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About Sony Interactive Entertainment Australia Pty Ltd 

Sony Interactive Entertainment Australia (SIEAU) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe (SIEE). SIEE, headquartered in London, UK, is responsible for the PlayStation® brand and family of products and services within the 109 territories serviced by SIEE as a regional headquarters for Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE). PlayStation has delivered innovation to the market since the launch of the original PlayStation in Japan in 1994. The PlayStation family of products and services include PlayStation®4, PlayStation®VR, PlayStation®Vita, PlayStation®3, PlayStation®Store, PlayStation®Plus, PlayStationTMVideo, PlayStationTMMusic, PlayStationTMNow and acclaimed PlayStation software titles from SIE Worldwide Studios.

Gal*Gun 2 Review

Travis Bruno
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Gal*Gun 2 Review

Gal*Gun 2

Developer: Inti Creates
Publisher: PQube
Platforms: Switch (Reviewed), PlayStation 4
Release Date: Available Now
Price: $59.99 – Available Here

Overview

Whenever a fan-service heavy game is released in Japan there is always a question on whether or not we will see the game released in English. For some time the answer was no, then for a bit it would lean towards maybe, only for that progress to falter in recent years. Thankfully there are still publishers willing to bring these types of titles to the West and with a game like Gal*Gun 2 that has already seen other titles released in English it seemed like a sure thing. Now with this rail-shooting title available on the portable Switch, is it worth picking up?

Story

Players take on the role of a relatively normal boy attending school where he spends most of his time with his friend Nanako and taking care of his nextdoor neighbor turned shut-in named Chiru. One day a strange app appears on his smart-phone that refuses to be deleted. After opening the app an angel calling herself Risu appears and says that she needs your help to eliminate a demonic threat that has invaded the school.

You will do this through the use of Pheromone Goggles and a Pheromone gun that has been installed with a Demon Sweeper upgrade. This allows the user to suck up any mini-demons that appear attached to girls though they can simply be shot with the gun. Because of these goggles any female around the character will immediately become infatuated with the wearer, meaning that to hunt these demons the player must also avoid the numerous confessions and occasionally sadistic tendencies of the girls of the school.

The story doesn’t really go too far into detail regarding the situation that players are placed in, with it hoping that players are at least familiar with the premise of the series at this point. In fact, returning players will notice quite a few bonuses as a familiar set of twins appear and the main antagonist happens to be a familiar problematic demon girl. There are a variety of endings to be unlocked and each of the main girls; Risu, Chiru, and Nanako, have different storylines to be revealed but it is worth noting that if you happen to unlock an ending opportunity, it will close you out of other possible endings until you start over in a New Game +. This is a bit annoying but given the fact that players are given the opportunity to jump to the final day if they so choose, it shouldn’t be too much of an issue.

Gameplay

The majority of your time in Gal*Gun 2 will be taking part in rail-shooter style missions that involve the player surviving waves of girls while traveling through various parts of the school such as the courtyard, gymnasium, pool, and more. As you make your way through these levels you’ll need to shoot these girls a handful of times, or once if you hit their “ecstasy” point, to make them collapse in pleasure and leave the area.

Occasionally girls with mini demons attached to them will appear and not only are these girls impervious to normal shots until the demons are shot off of them they are far more aggressive than their counterparts. These demons can then be either shot and destroyed or sucked up using the Demon Sweeper for extra points. As you progress through the game it is possible to gain various upgrade parts for your main equipment, allowing the Demon Sweeper to even tear the clothing off of the girls, also eliminating them from the stage.

Outside of this standard mission type players can also be given missions where they will need to track down various items hidden around a room while eliminating girls and demons in the area or simply defending a girl or group of girls from swarms of demons hoping to drain them of their energy. Players are given a chance to select two of these missions a day with a special “rendezvous” option available at night (though this is also available during the day). It is interesting to note that there are a handful of boss fights in the game though these battles tend to follow a similar pattern no matter what boss you happen to be fighting.

In fact, outside of the relatively difficult item finding missions, this game tends to be a rather easy one to complete. Rarely will players feel like they are about to lose a level as not only is it easy to stun girls by temporarily using the Demon Sweeper or by using the sweeper to suck up long range confession attacks, but the amount of damage done by their confessions and affection is rather minimal in the long run as advancing through a stage or absorbing a “Mr. Happy” plush will restore some of your health.

As mentioned before players will have the opportunity to “Rendevous” with characters by using their smartphone. All of the girls in the game can give the player their phone number when completing side-missions where they ask for help and when you meet with them you can learn various bits of their backstory and their personalities. It also happens to be where you can raise their affection by giving them plenty of candy with the hopes of having them like you enough to take part in a “Doki-Doki” mini-game fantasy that is taken from the core characters of the game or see what they say when you get a little too close to them.

This candy is obtained through simply completing missions and is also the best way to raise affection with both Nanako and Chiru to unlock more of their story paths. All of these paths will feature the aforementioned Doki-Doki mode and other fan-service heavy scenes that involve finding demons hidden within their body and purifying them, often by stripping the girls down to their underwear in the process.

Perhaps one of the elements that does make Gal*Gun 2 a bit of an easier game is the fact that the Switch version will provide players better aiming if they happen to play it as a handheld. Players can choose to aim however they wish with the analog sticks but if you want to be extra accurate, especially when it comes to picking apart far away mini-demons, then you can also zoom in and take precise aim using the motion controls of the system. This control system is adjustable if you don’t like to use this function but it does make the game a bit easier.

Visuals & Audio

With Gal*Gun 2 being released on the Switch players should expect a relatively solid looking game that doesn’t do a whole lot to impress but does run at a nice speed throughout most of the environments in the game. Your room can occasionally get a bit rough depending on how many decorations you happen to have placed around but for the most part this title runs smoothly. The character designs are nicely handled and unique enough for each girl, especially in the cases where some characters happen to be related to one another, and there is more than enough titillating details to please fans looking for heavy fan-service.

It is interesting to note that there is only the original Japanese voice track to work with in this game but that isn’t too much of a problem as nearly every element of the game is given solid subtitle work, even with the main enemy’s verbal tic given a unique twist in the dialogue.

Overall

Gal*Gun 2 makes for a very solid, albeit very easy, on-rail shooter that knows exactly who its target audience happens to be and does its best to please them. With a number of different endings with a decent storyline provided with most of them and more than enough fan-service to please anyone knowing what they are looking for, this game ends up being more than satisfying.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

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