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Women’s Group Demands Steam Marketplace Halt Sales of “Super Seducer” Video Game

Women’s Group Demands Steam Marketplace Halt Sales of “Super Seducer” Video Game

Level Up Warns Super Seducer ‘Offers Masterclass in Sexual Harassment, Not Seduction’; Urges Steam to Follow PlayStation’s Lead and Take Down ‘Toxic’ Video Game

Level Up, a new UK-based feminist organisation, has launched a campaign calling on leading gaming retailer Steam to take down the “Super Seducer” video game, created by pick-up artist Richard La Ruina. The petition urges Steam to follow Playstation’s lead and block the sale of the game on its platform.

VIEW THE PETITION HERE: https://act.welevelup.org/campaigns/super-seducer

Super Seducer was released on March 6th, and offers to show men how to “Take Their Seduction Skills to the Next Level.” The game has courted controversy ever since a crowdfunding campaign to support its launch was taken down from the website KickStarter, citing offensive content. PlayStation, which was initially planning to release the game on PS4 decided not to approve the game for sales on their platform.

Carys Afoko, Executive Director of Level Up, labelled the game “toxic,” explaining:

“Super Seducer is offering men a masterclass in sexual harassment, not seduction. This toxic game is training up the next generation of Harvey Weinsteins. Steam needs to follow PlayStation’s lead and take it down.

“Steam should not be selling lessons in how to harass women. The company has withdrawn games before for encouraging violence, and it’s time they took a similar stand on violence against women.”

 

DARK SOULS: REMASTERED NETWORK TEST AND SOLAIRE OF ASTORA amiibo ANNOUNCED

DARK SOULS: REMASTERED NETWORK TEST AND SOLAIRE OF ASTORA amiibo ANNOUNCED

Praise the Sun and Engage in Jolly Cooperation This Spring

SANTA CLARA, Calif., (March 8, 2018) – BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. today confirmed that a free network test will be available for DARK SOULS™: REMASTERED prior to the game’s launch as well as an amiibo™ figure based on Solaire of Astora to be available on launch day. DARK SOULS: REMASTERED, the remaster of the genre-defining and beloved original DARK SOULS game will be available on May 25, 2018 for the PlayStation®4 system, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch™, and STEAM® for PC.

The DARK SOULS: REMASTERED network test will be available for the PlayStation 4 system, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. This free network test will give players the ability to play a part of DARK SOULS: REMASTERED prior to its launch and test the game’s unique online features. More information regarding the DARK SOULS: REMASTERED network test will be available soon.

On May 25, 2018, Nintendo Switch fans can harness the power of the sun with the Solaire of Astora amiibo figure, available exclusively at participating GameStop locations in the United States. By tapping this amiibo on the Joy-Con™ or Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, the popular “Praise the Sun” gesture can be used with reckless abandon from the start of the game (gesture can also be obtained through regular game play). The Solaire of Astora amiibo carries a MSRP of $15.99.

DARK SOULS: REMASTERED will be available May 25, 2018 for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 system, Xbox One, and STEAM for PC for a MSRP of $39.99. 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

Press Release © 2018 BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.

SOUTH PARK™: THE FRACTURED BUT WHOLE™ IS COMING TO NINTENDO SWITCH

SOUTH PARK: THE FRACTURED BUT WHOLE IS COMING TO NINTENDO SWITCH

Players Can Join the Battle to Save South Park on April 24 

SYDNEY, Australia — March 9, 2018 — Ubisoft® and South Park Digital Studios have announced that South Park™: The Fractured But Whole™ will be available on Nintendo Switch on April 24. Created, written and directed by Trey Parker and Matt Stone and developed by Ubisoft San Francisco, South Park: The Fractured But Whole is an outrageously offensive superhero adventure that players can now experience anywhere, anytime on the Nintendo Switch.

In addition to the base game, the first two pieces of add-on content, “Danger Deck” and “From Dusk Till Casa Bonita”, will be available for purchase either separately or as part of the season pass. The third piece of add-on content, “Bring the Crunch”, will also come to the Nintendo Switch when it releases later this year.

In The Fractured But Whole, crime is on the rise in South Park, and the streets have never been more dangerous. As the sun sets on the quiet Colorado town, terror, havoc, and chaos are unleashed as the seedy underbelly of the city comes alive. The town needs new heroes to come to the rescue. Eric Cartman seizes the opportunity to save the town and create the best superhero franchise ever, his own Coon and Friends, with himself, The Coon, as the leader.

In Danger Deck, players will be teleported to never-before-seen locations throughout South Park to fight enemy encounters custom-crafted by the Freedom Pals. These increasingly difficult encounters will test and push the limits of any superhero.

In From Dusk Till Casa Bonita, Mysterion’s sister is in trouble. She’s fallen in with the Vamp Kids of South Park, who have descended upon Cartman’s favorite restaurant, Casa Bonita. Players will need to fight darkness with darkness and embrace the new Netherborn class, which offers four new occult powers. Enter the battle alongside a new buddy, Henrietta the Goth.

For more information about South Park: The Fractured But Whole, please visit southparkgame.com, and for the latest on all Ubisoft games, please visit ubiblog.com.

ABOUT SOUTH PARK DIGITAL STUDIOS

South Park Digital Studios is a joint venture between Viacom and Matt Stone and Trey Parker, the creators of the Emmy and Peabody Award–winning series South Park. South Park Digital Studios is a digital animation and development studio dedicated to creating mobile and digital applications, digital goods and video gaming products, as well as overseeing social networking and digital syndication for South Park. South Park Digital Studios owns and operates the website southpark.cc.com and three international versions of the site. South Park is a registered trademark of Comedy Partners, a wholly owned unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA and VIAB).

ABOUT UBISOFT

Ubisoft is a leading creator, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and services, with a rich portfolio of world-renowned brands, including Assassin’s Creed, Just Dance, Tom Clancy’s video game series, Rayman, Far Cry and Watch Dogs. The teams throughout Ubisoft’s worldwide network of studios and business offices are committed to delivering original and memorable gaming experiences across all popular platforms, including consoles, mobile phones, tablets and PCs. For the 2016–17 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of €1,460 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoft.com.

2018 South Park Digital Studios LLC. All Rights Reserved. South Park and all elements thereof © 2018 Comedy Partners. All Rights Reserved. Comedy Central, South Park and all related titles, logos, and characters are trademarks of Comedy Partners. Game software © 2018 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Ubisoft and the Ubisoft logo are registered or unregistered trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the US and/or other countries.

The Super Smash Bros. Series Heads to Nintendo Switch in 2018

The Super Smash Bros. Series Heads to Nintendo Switch in 2018

Nintendo Direct Presentation Highlights Many Upcoming Games for Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo 3DS Family of Systems

REDMOND, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– During its latest Nintendo Direct presentation, Nintendo announced that the Super Smash Bros. franchise is coming to Nintendo Switch this year. The video also showcased more than a dozen upcoming games for both the Nintendo Switch system and the Nintendo 3DS family of systems, with many of the featured games coming from third-party developers, including SQUARE ENIX, Capcom, Grasshopper Manufacture, From Software and Ubisoft.

The Super Smash Bros. series comes to Nintendo Switch in 2018. The teaser trailer featured recognizable faces like Mario, Link and the Inklings from the Splatoon series.

“Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS are being propelled through 2018 with an energized lineup of games of all kinds,” said Doug Bowser, Nintendo of America’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “These games contain a solid mix of first-party franchises starring some of Nintendo’s most recognizable characters, acclaimed third-party titles and promising indies.”

To view the Nintendo Direct video in its entirety, visit http://www.nintendo.com/nintendo-direct. Some of the highlights revealed in the video include:

Nintendo Switch

  • Nintendo Switch Super Smash Bros. (working title): The Super Smash Bros. series comes to Nintendo Switch in 2018. The teaser trailer featured recognizable faces like Mario, Link and the Inklings from the Splatoon series.
  • New Single-Player Expansion Coming to Splatoon 2: The first paid DLC is coming to Splatoon 2 this summer. Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion adds a hefty new single-player mode that lets players play as new character Agent 8, an Octoling (!) with lost memories. The new single-player campaign features 80 missions, as well as new stories that shed new light on beloved characters. Players that complete the Octo Expansion campaign will unlock the ability to play as Octolings in multiplayer battles. While Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion launches this summer, players can pre-purchase the DLC starting today in Nintendo eShop to immediately receive Octo-themed in-game gear to use in battle right away. (The full version of the game is required to use DLC.)
  • Major Splatoon 2 Update: In April, Splatoon 2 is getting a major free update (Version 3.0) that contains 100+ new pieces of gear, more stages rolling out throughout spring (Piranha Pit, Camp Triggerfish and Wahoo World) and a new rank (Rank X). Rank X is an extreme rank, even higher than S+.
  • Mario Tennis Aces: Unleash an arsenal of shots and strategies in all-out tennis battles with friends, family and fan-favorite Mushroom Kingdom characters. With up to four-player local (additional accessories may be required and are sold separately) and online* multiplayer, and a story mode that even includes creative boss battles, Mario Tennis Aces is one of the most robust Mario sports games yet. The intuitive and deep gameplay allows for exciting competitions in the living room or, really, anywhere using the power of Nintendo Switch. In Swing Mode, players can use their Joy-Con controllers like a tennis racket, swinging them to initiate the tennis swings in the game. Mario Tennis Aces launches exclusively for Nintendo Switch on June 22.
  • Mario Tennis Aces Pre-launch Online Tournament: More details will be revealed in the future, but a free Mario Tennis Aces demo is coming soon. For a limited time, players can try out online* tournament matches in the game before it launches. To participate, players just have to download the Pre-launch Online Tournament in Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch.
  • Kirby Star Allies: Kirby is coming to Nintendo Switch for the first time next week! As players make their way through the robust adventure, they will reach dream palaces where fan-favorite legacy characters can become Kirby’s Dream Friends. Eventually, more Dream Friends will be added to the game through free updates. The first such update hits March 28 and adds classic characters Marx, Gooey and character set “Rick & Kine & Coo” to the game. Kirby Star Allies launches exclusively for Nintendo Switch on March 16. A free demo for the game is currently available in Nintendo eShop.
  • Octopath Traveler: Producer Masashi Takahashi from SQUARE ENIX revealed new details about the upcoming RPG, including the final game name, Octopath Traveler, two more main characters (Tressa the Merchant and Alfyn the Apothecary) and the ability to equip multiple jobs per character for use in battle. Octopath Traveler launches exclusively for Nintendo Switch on July 13. Octopath Traveler: Wayfarer’s Edition, a special edition bundle that includes a stylized pop-up book, a helpful cloth map, the Octopath Traveler: Sound Selections CD and a replica coin based on the in-game currency, launches the same day.
  • Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker: Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, which originally launched for Wii U, is coming to Nintendo Switch. The new version includes new miniature courses based on various Kingdoms in the Super Mario Odyssey game. Also, anyone can play with a friend or family member by sharing a pair of Joy-Con controllers. While one player controls Captain Toad, the other can assist with things like turnip cover fire. Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker launches for Nintendo Switch on July 13. A Nintendo 3DS version of Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, which includes stereoscopic 3D visuals and touch-screen controls, also launches on July 13.
  • Crash Bandicoot Crashes Nintendo Switch: Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, which includes remastered versions of the first three Crash Bandicoot games, launches for Nintendo Switch on July 10.
  • Okami HD: The gorgeous and ethereal remake of classic action-adventure game Okami is coming to Nintendo Switch. In the Nintendo Switch version of the game, players can use the touch screen in Handheld Mode or the Joy-Con motion controls in TV or Tabletop Mode to control the Celestial Brush to defeat enemies and solve puzzles. Okami HD launches in Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch this summer.
  • South Park: The Fractured But Whole: The South Park gang is back in an outrageously offensive superhero RPG adventure. And with Nintendo Switch, players can now drop into South Park anytime, anywhere. In addition to the main game, all of the game’s add-on content will be available for purchase. South Park: The Fractured But Whole launches for Nintendo Switch on April 24.
  • Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido: Originally announced for Nintendo 3DS at last year’s E3, Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido is also coming to Nintendo Switch! The action puzzle game finds players devouring conveyor-belt sushi, matching plates and then throwing them to defeat enemies. The basics are simple, but the gameplay is deep … and tasty! In the game’s multiplayer mode, players can even compete locally or online* against other players in intense matches. Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido launches for both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS on June 8.
  • DARK SOULS: REMASTERED: The remake of the genre-defining and beloved original DARK SOULS game launches for Nintendo Switch on May 25. On the same day, an amiibo figure based on Solaire of Astora will also be released. By tapping this amiibo, the popular “Praise the Sun” gesture can be used with reckless abandon from the start of the game. (The gesture can also be obtained through regular gameplay.) Players who want to take the game for a spin can participate in a “network test.” The free network test launches in Nintendo eShop, and will allow players to download and play a part of DARK SOULS: REMASTERED before it launches to try out the gameplay and unique online features. More details about the network test will be revealed soon.
  • Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes: When Travis Touchdown wanders into the game world, he goes on a rampage of epic proportions. The latest title in the cult classic No More Heroes series contains a total of seven game titles, including an action game, racing game and puzzle game. By using another Joy-Con controller, two players can team up for co-op multiplayer action. Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes launches exclusively for Nintendo Switch this year.
  • Little Nightmares: Complete Edition: From award-winning developer Tarsier Studios comes Little Nightmares, a charmingly horrific puzzle-platforming adventure. The Complete Edition contains the two haunting tales of Six and The Runaway Kid in one package. You can even tap the PAC-MAN amiibo figure (sold separately) to unlock the Pakku Mask when playing. Little Nightmares: Complete Edition launches on May 18.
  • UNDERTALE: The million-selling role-playing game in which nobody has to die is headed to Nintendo Switch. Launch details will arrive at a later date.
  • Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition: The definitive edition (it’s in the title!) of Hyrule Warriors brings together dozens of characters from the Legend of Zelda series in an over-the-top action game. The game launches for Nintendo Switch on May 18.
  • ARMS US & Canada Online Open Tournament**: Players who want to show off their ARMS skills will be able to enter the ARMS US & Canada Online Open Tournament, which takes place in the Nintendo Switch game’s Ranked Match mode now through March 18. The eight top players in these preliminary rounds will have an opportunity to move on to the online finals on March 31. The finals will be streamed live from Nintendo of America HQ at https://arms.nintendo.com/videos/.
  • ARMS Testpunch: A new global Testpunch for the ARMS game, which lets Nintendo Switch owners try out select modes for free, will be running for three days starting on March 31. To participate, players just have to download the Testpunch in Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch.

Nintendo 3DS

  • WarioWare Gold: The frenetic WarioWare series is back, and for the first time it’s on Nintendo 3DS! With 300 fast-paced microgames that can be controlled by pressing buttons, tilting the system, tapping the touch screen or using the microphone, WarioWare Gold is the biggest entry in the series. And for the first time, the game includes fully voiced characters. WarioWare Gold launches exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems on Aug. 3.
  • Luigi’s Mansion: The original Luigi’s Mansion, which was a launch game for the Nintendo GameCube system in 2001, is coming to Nintendo 3DS. This remake has an updated look and new features, like a map that displays on the bottom screen and a boss rush mode. Luigi’s Mansion launches exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems this year.
  • Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story + Bowser Jr.’s Journey: In this Nintendo 3DS remake of a classic Mario & Luigi action RPG adventure, fans can replay (or play for the first time) Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story, one of the most critically acclaimed games in the Mario & Luigi series. It features new graphics and a new mode that tells the behind-the-scenes story of Bowser Jr. Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story + Bowser Jr.’s Journey launches exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems in 2019.
  • Dillon’s Dead-Heat Breakers: Action meets tower defense in Dillon’s Dead-Heat Breakers. In this new game, players take on the role of armadillo ranger Dillon, who teams up with an animalized version of the player’s Mii character to help stop enemy invasions and save the post-apocalyptic frontier. Dillon’s Dead-Heat Breakers launches exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems in Nintendo eShop on May 24. A free demo for the game will be available to download on May 10.
  • Detective Pikachu: Starting today, this new detective adventure game starring self-proclaimed “great detective” Pikachu is available for pre-purchase on Nintendo eShop and Nintendo.com. The game, as well as an extra-large Detective Pikachu amiibo figure (sold separately), launches on March 23. (The game is playable in 2D only.)

Remember that Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo 3DS family of systems feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about other features, visit https://www.nintendo.com/switch/ or https://www.nintendo.com/3ds/.

*Nintendo Account is required. Online services and features, including online gameplay, are free until the paid Nintendo Switch Online Service launches in September 2018.

**NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to legal residents of US and CAN; high-speed internet required. Qualifier Period begins 3/8/18 at 5PM PT and ends 3/18/18 at 4:59PM PT. To participate, play at least 50 matches in Ranked Matchduring Qualifier Period (Ranked Match only available after you beat Grand Prix). Based on ARMS in-game ranking system and winning percentages during Qualifier Period, 8 Finalists and 4 Alternates will be selected to be available to participate in Finals to be held 3/31/18. Winner of Finals will get 1 color artwork (ARV $125). Other Finalists and Alternates will get 1 artwork (ARV $50 each). Odds of winning depend on no. of participants. Restrictions apply. Visit https://arms.nintendo.com/rules.pdf and https://arms.nintendo.com/fr/rules.pdf for additional details and full rules. Sponsor: Nintendo of America Inc.

About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Nintendo Switch system and the Nintendo 3DS family of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System, Nintendo has sold more than 4.5 billion video games and more than 710 million hardware units globally, including Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo 3DS family of systems, as well as the Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS family of systems, Super NES, Nintendo 64, Nintendo GameCube, Wii and Wii U systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names, such as Mario, Donkey Kong, Metroid, Zelda and Pokémon. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Americas. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company’s website at https://www.nintendo.com/.

MORE INSIGHT INTO NI NO KUNI II: REVENANT KINGDOM’S CHARACTERS

MORE INSIGHT INTO NI NO KUNI II: REVENANT KINGDOM’S CHARACTERS

Leading to the launch of Ni no Kuni II: REVENANT KINGDOM on March 23rd 2018, BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe will reveal several videos about its characters. The first video will reveal a glimpse of Evan and his journey to become to King. The next videos will highlight Roland, Tani and their relationship with Evan. Be sure to check out the Official Facebook page to view these character videos!

Ni no Kuni II: REVENANT KINGDOM will be available on the PlayStation®4 and PC on March 23rd 2018. To learn more about BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe’s other products go to: http://www.bandainamcoent.com or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoEU  or join the conversation at https://twitter.com/BandaiNamcoEU.

Join the journey on:

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About BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe S.A.S.

BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe S.A.S. part of BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc. is a leading global publisher and developer of interactive content for platforms including all major video game consoles, PC and mobile.  The company is known for creating and publishing many of the industry’s top video game franchises, including PAC-MAN™, TEKKEN™, SOULCALIBUR™, DARK SOULS™, NARUTO™, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™, Dragon Ball, GALAGA™, RIDGE RACER™ and ACE COMBAT™. For more information please visit www.bandainamcoent.eu

Meet Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom’s Protagonist King Evan in the Latest Trailer

Bandai Namco and Level-5 have released a brand new trailer for their upcoming RPG Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom. The video stars King Evan Pettiwhisker Tildrum, the former ruler of Ding Dong Dell and the game’s protagonist. The young man is forced to step up to greatness and reclaim his birthright after being deposed by the mouse tribes. To do so, he will need to rebuild his kingdom, lead his people, and forge new alliances with his neighbours.

Set 900 years after the Wrath of the White WitchNi no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom will launch on March 23 for PlayStation 4 and Windows.

https://youtu.be/6feP4P2PRDM

Warhammer: Vermintide 2 Launches on Steam

Fatshark announced that Warhammer: Vermintide 2 has launched on Windows today via Steam. The melee co-op title is set during the apocalyptic End Times in the Warhammer universe. The game pits five heroes against the Skaven horde and the new Chaos faction. Each of the five heroes have three careers based on different weapons and their own unique talent trees.

Groups of four players will wade into levels with a limited amount of ammunition and plenty of cold steel to dispatch their foes. Each playthrough will always be unique thanks to the Heroic Deeds system that generates a new set of challenges, enemy compositions, and level settings with every game.

Warhammer: Vermintide 2 is available now on Steam for $29.99 USD. A PlayStation 4 and Xbox One release is planned, though a release date has yet to be confirmed.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 to be Launch on October 12, Reveal Coming May 17

As consistent as a FIFA game, the next Call of Duty title will launch in its usual October window. This year is Treyarch’s turn, and they will be returning to their Black Ops universe with Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. The new game is set to launch on Friday, October 12 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows.

Treyarch and Activision are currently being stingy with details about the game, but have promised a full reveal during a community event on May 17th.

The announcement came with two videos, a longer one consisting of metalworkers cutting out the Black Ops 4 logo out torches and a shorter teaser trailer. The teaser trailer makes reference to a nuclear first strike within 24 hours and a state of DEFCON 2. Viewers can get a glimpse of the numbers that plagued Alex Mason in the first game. The teaser trailer also features shots of Nazi zombies, an RC-XD blowing up some unidentified soldiers, and some footage of near future soldiers in the style of Black Ops 3. How this all adds up will likely be revealed in May.

Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 Announced

Massive announced today that Tom Clancy’s The Division will be getting its inevitable sequel. While the new shooter/RPG hybrid does not have a release date, Massive has revealed the logo for Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 and a few details. The new game will use an updated version of the Snowdrop engine, which currently powers the original The Division. Additionally, a full reveal is planned for E3 2018 in June.

While The Division 2 is in active development, Massive still has plans for The Division. Two more patches and monthly events are planned until September. Shields achievements will be added to the game starting in June. These special achievements will unlock content in The Division 2.

SENRAN KAGURA Peach Beach Splash Review

SENRAN KAGURA Peach Beach Splash

Developer: Tamsoft
Publisher: XSEED Games, Marvelous USA
FormatPlayStation 4PC (Reviewed)
Release Date: 7 Mar 2018
Price: $39.99 – Available Here

Overview

It’s not unusual for certain game franchises to step out of their comfort zone and launch well-received spin-offs. Sometimes, such titles gain more popularity than original releases. To this day, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon is one of my favorite entries from the series. And now I got my hands on SENRAN KAGURA Peach Beach Splash. It replaces the familiar setting of ninja girls fighting each other with katanas & shurikens to fighting each other with…..water guns in scantily dressed bikinis. Oh, should I also mention that the game has a separate mode when you can grope the girls as much as you want? Soakable outfits that reveal more as you spray girls with more water? Yep, welcome to the Senran Kagura games. Take a seat and you might want to read the rest of this review in incognito mode.

Story

The story focuses on the Peach Beach Splash water gun tournament, which female ninjas from various factions are invited to, and where the winning team gets any reward they want. You assume the role of any of the four ninja schools (Crimson, Gessen, Hanzo, and Hebijo) and enter the water soaking tournament. Defeat various opponents by soaking them up with water guns and maybe the grand tournament prize will be yours. There are four singleplayer campaigns in the game for each of the factions. Each campaign contains 10 missions and honestly, there’s nothing interesting about them. Most of them boil down to defeating waves of opponents and progressing onto the next chapter. The missions are there merely as connecting pieces to the story cutscenes. In fact, you’ll have more fun paying attention to the cutscenes and what’s happening to the girls instead of pushing through the generic story missions.

Gameplay

Another thing I have to note is that there are huge gaps in game difficulty. This being my first entry in Senran Kagura series, I opted in for the easy difficulty in the first few missions. Boy, was that a mistake. The enemy AI would just mindlessly run around focusing on my AI team and only sometimes trying to attack me. Switching up to the normal and hard difficulties balanced things out and provided a decent challenge. While the game leaves a lot to be desired on the front of singleplayer, it makes up for it with other game modes and tons of bonus content. I managed to jump into a few online 3 vs 3 matches and the fun factor went up sky high. Human opponents were a different story, providing an intense challenge and making each water splashing battle unpredictable till the last few seconds. Now let’s talk more about that bonus content. Your arsenal is huge ranging from water pistols, water gatling guns, water assault rifles (beginning to see a pattern here), skill cards with various defensive abilities and companion pets providing some help in the battle. After every match, you win a card pack containing the random character or skills cards and a handful of coins. Duplicate cards can be refined into experience points for your character or a weapon or a skill to level up. There is a huge choice of skill cards and weapons allowing for almost infinite experiments until you find a perfect skill deck and a weapon combo. On the other hand, coins can be used to purchase various costumes, hair ornaments and…….wet see-thru clothes. But wait, the weirdness doesn’t stop there! There is also a special “Intimacy” option in the menu that takes you to a screen where you can splash water on the girl of your choice, fondle her boobs or slap her butt until she is happy enough to reward you with a kiss. Yeah. Either way, the game teases you well with a “carrot on the stick” method since it takes a whole lot of in-game dosh to unlock every piece of art, clothing, and various hairstyles. Next, we have a diorama mode where you can set girls in different poses, choose a fitting background and marvel at your scantily dressed pieces of art. These things might not be to everyone’s liking, but they provide a nice intermission when you feel like taking a break from a story campaign or a tournament.

Visuals

SENRAN KAGURA Peach Beach Splash is presented in cell-shading style and it works rather well….once you crank up every setting on high. Luckily, the game is well optimized so it won’t have too much strain on your GPU. Anything other than high will result in some rather low-quality textures, jagged edges, and blurry backgrounds. There is an impressive level of detail in tournament arenas and some story levels. Although, the game often gets too intense and hectic to notice most of them (unless you’re playing on easy difficulty).

Audio

The voice acting is well done and after a short while, you can tell a certain girl by voice alone. Considering how most of the girls in the game are eerily similar, aside from hairstyles, it’s nice that at least characteristic voices can give them some personality. When it comes to background music, nothing here that particularly stands out. Most tunes are generic as they come, made out of frantic instrumental pop and serving only to shift focus to something else other than girls commentary and water splashing noises.

Overall

SENRAN KAGURA Peach Beach Splash is a strange one. While it succeeds in providing a piece of originality in this spinoff, it also comes with a rather uninspiring singleplayer campaign(s). However, the unpredictability and intensity of multiplayer are what saves it from ending up in mediocrity. I honestly hope this release ends up with a strong and dedicated multiplayer community cause it is a great party game. The tons of unlockable content and customization is sure to keep you glued to the screen for many hours. There are games that give you the opportunity to beat up your friends, run them over, blow them up but how many of them offer you a chance to soak them up with your water gun until all of their clothes is see-thru. SENRAN KAGURA Peach Beach Splash is there to take care of that.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.