Home Blog Page 2565

ARK: Survival Evolved’s Second Expansion Aberration Released

Studio Wildcard has released “Aberration,” the second expansion DLC for their dinosaur filled survival game ARK: Survival Evolved. “Aberration” is set in the dark underground of a malfunctioning ARK, where a powerful sun has scorched the surface into a radioactive wasteland incapable of supporting life. Instead, the wildlife and the survivors have adapted to live in the multitude of underground caves. Players will not only have to survive the usual dangers of hostile creatures and other players, they will also need to survive a wide range of environmental hazards like earthquakes. In addition to the new map, “Aberration” also adds over 50 new creatures to the game that are based on the new setting.

While the new expansion is playable offline, official servers for “Aberration” are going live soon for PlayStation 4 and PC according to the latest tweet, with Xbox One servers coming soon.

ARK: Survival Evolved “Aberration” is part of the Season Pass. It is also available alone for $19.99 USD on PC via Steam, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One

https://youtu.be/-5naNxf4NRs

Meet Ngoc Lan Tran in Latest Downsizing Trailer

Paramount Pictures is sneaking in one last trailer for Downsizing to celebrate their breakout star Hong Chau as Ngoc Lan Tran. Chau has already won critical acclaim for her performance, earning a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the 2017 Golden Globe Awards before the film has even hit cinemas. Previously, she was best known for playing Linh in Treme.

Downsizing stars Matt Damon and Kristen Wiig as a lower middle class who decides to join the affluent by participating in a program that shrinks them down to a fifth of their size. Paul’s (Damon) world soon comes crashing down when he discovers his wife (Wiig) has backed out at the last second, leaving Paul 5 inches tall and trying to learn how to live life again. Paul soon discovers that Ngoc Lan Tran is part of the hidden dark side of the idyllic, shrunken community.

Downsizing hits cinemas on Boxing Day.

OKAMI HD Review

OKAMI HD

DeveloperCapcom
Publisher: Capcom
FormatPlayStation 4Xbox OnePC (Reviewed)
Release Date:  12 Dec 2017
Price: $19.99USD – Available Here

Overview

It’s been a decade since the last time I played original Okami and fell in love with it. When PS2 era came to a stop, I made a transfer to PC and stayed there, occasionally trying out some console exclusive every now and then. Still, I never forgot about Okami. My PS2 was no more so there was no way to replay it. The game would soon become my holy grail of potential PC remasters. Some of those later turned out to be real (like Final Fantasy IX and Bayonetta) and some are still nothing more than fantasies (like XIII, The Suffering and its sequel). But lo and behold, just a couple of months back Capcom announced that Okami is coming in December for Xbox One, PC and PlayStation 4. Sometimes, dreams do come true.

Story

The game starts with a narrator telling us how, a hundred years ago, swordsman Nagi with his white wolf Shiranui fought and sealed the eight-headed demon Orochi, thus saving the Kamiki village. Fast forward to present day and we meet Susano, a descendant of Nagi who doesn’t really believe in the heroics his ancestor did. So in a great act of defiance and stupidity, he frees Orochi who escapes and drains all color and life from Kamiki Village, as well as the rest of Japan. Sakuya (a wood spirit and protector of Kamiki Village) summons the sun goddess Amaterasu and her comic relief bug-sized companion Issun in order to defeat Orochi. Again. Amaterasu takes over the form of white wolf Shiranui and that is how most of the characters in the game will see you and recognize you as. In order to defeat Orochi, Amaterasu has to locate 13 Celestial Gods all over Japan and receive their powers. And thus begins our adventure.

Gameplay

The powers we get from Celestial Gods are a big part of Okami’s gameplay and the reason what makes the game so extraordinary. Amaterasu wields the power of a Celestial Brush, a tool that can shape reality and helps us in battle. By pausing the gameplay, we can bring up the brush and draw shapes on the screen that will come to life. Let’s say you’re fighting some demons currently. Amaterasu has a decent number of attacks at her disposal but after you chip away some health from the enemies, you can also freeze the screen and do a swift brush stroke across the enemy (like you would cut him). And it only gets better from here! Aside from using the brush as finishing move on enemies, you can also directly impact the environment. Drawing an O shape in the sky will result in the Sun suddenly appearing, C shape would be the Moon aka night time and doing this /// will summon rain (cause it looks like rain falling, duh). In the end, the game is an exciting mix of platforming, original way of fighting and dispatching enemies and exploration of the world that’s instantly shaped by your actions. But wait, there’s more! Let’s step into the next section of this review and learn about another thing that makes Okami so good.

Visuals

Saying that the game carries a cell-shaded appearance would be true, but also a huge understatement. The said rendering technique in Okami is backed by incredibly detailed characters and environments with a soft, dream-like color palette. This results in being rarely aware that you’re playing a game but more like you’re traversing through a constantly evolving, watercolor stylized painting. The whole approach was made in an attempt to emulate Japanese Sumi-e art aka ink wash painting. All of that sometimes creates a rather peculiar side effect of playing Okami. Often I’d find myself running across the meadows and stopping in my tracks because I noticed the Sun is setting. And just like that, you’re observing something in the game that you wouldn’t miss for anything. Even though it is scripted and artificial like hundreds of next sunsets you’ll see, it doesn’t make any of them any less real. It’s just you, a big fluffy white wolf looking at the setting sun and being in the moment. This time in HD. And as an added bonus, now I have the luxury of spamming that screenshot key and uploading a bunch of them in Steam feed until everyone there eventually block me.

Audio

The soundtrack features many veteran composers from Capcom’s audio department, notably Akari Groves and Masami Ueda from Resident Evil fame. However, you won’t find any of the tranquil and ominous sounds from RE here. The music in Okami is influenced greatly by Japanese classical tunes with a more dynamic and upbeat sound, resembling the works of Yoshida Brothers.  It’s always there to tastefully complement the game aesthetics or amp up the adrenaline in you during boss fights.

Overall

On top of being a great game by default, with unique gameplay mechanics and visuals, we also get some goodies with an HD release. Okami now offers 4K resolution support and you can also choose between modern widescreen format or the original release’s 4:3 ratio (for that old school feel). The only thing I could write as negative is a bit of pacing issue later in the game. There is a certain boss that you have to fight three times over in the same way and it feels like it there only to artificially inflate the game’s length. But even then, I feel like it’s more me nitpicking because it’s really hard to find a genuine flaw here. The game was good ten years ago and now it’s only better. The one thing that kept me on the edge was the fear that they would somehow screw up the port. Well, I’m happy to report that none of that happened. 30 fps lock is there but everything runs incredibly well with no bugs, glitches or any hitches (hey, that rhymed!). Only thing I’d recommend in the end is for you to fast forward the clock on your PC two weeks ahead, pretend it’s Christmas and reward yourself with a copy of Okami.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Nintendo Switch Sells 10 Million Worldwide

Nintendo Switch Sells 10 Million Worldwide

Nintendo’s Video Game System Passes Major Milestone in Just Nine Months

REDMOND, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Despite launching in March, a month not usually reserved for home console launches, and with the busy holiday shopping season still in full swing, the Nintendo Switch system has already sold 10 million units to consumers around the world, according to Nintendo’s internal sales figures.

Nintendo Switch is a home console that can be played on a TV, and also taken instantly on the go – it lets people play their favorite games anytime, anywhere and with anyone. (Photo: Business Wire)

Nintendo Switch is a home console that can be played on a TV, and also taken instantly on the go – it lets people play their favorite games anytime, anywhere and with anyone. And since every Nintendo Switch system comes bundled with two Joy-Con controllers, players can easily share the fun of compatible multiplayer games with friends and family* right out of the box.

The robust and diverse library on Nintendo Switch features two of the most acclaimed video games of all time in Super Mario Odyssey and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. At The Game Awards last week in Los Angeles, Super Mario Odyssey won the award for Best Family Game. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was honored with the awards for Game of the Year, Best Action/Adventure Game and Best Game Direction.

Nintendo Switch is also home to fun multiplayer games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Splatoon 2 and ARMS that can be played online** or with friends and family in the same room, as well as an ever-growing list of great third-party games like Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, FIFA 18, Rocket League, L.A. Noire, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Golf Story and Stardew Valley, Nintendo Switch is truly for any player.

“As you can see in people’s living rooms, on a plane or riding the subway, fans all over the world can enjoy playing Nintendo Switch wherever they go,” said Nintendo of America President and COO Reggie Fils-Aime. “The response from fans has been great, and we’re doing our very best to satisfy demand during the holiday shopping season.”

After a record-breaking 2017, Nintendo Switch will continue its momentum in 2018. The system will see the launch of Nintendo-published games like Kirby Star Allies, Bayonetta, Bayonetta 2 and a new game in the beloved Yoshi franchise, in addition to big third-party games like Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus from Bethesda, Mega Man 11 from Capcom, PROJECT OCTOPATH TRAVELER (working title) from Square Enix, Shovel Knight: King of Cards from Yacht Club Games and Runner3 from Choice Provisions.

Nintendo Switch is available at a suggested retail price of $299.99. For more information about Nintendo Switch, visit https://www.nintendo.com/switch/.

Remember that Nintendo Switch features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/switch/.

*Additional games, systems and accessories may be required for multiplayer mode and are sold separately.

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

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 http://www.nintendo.com.

Resident Evil 7 biohazard Gold Edition, ‘Not a Hero’ and ‘End of Zoe’ contents available today!

Resident Evil 7 biohazard Gold Edition, ‘Not a Hero’ and ‘End of Zoe’ contents available today!

Resident Evil 7 biohazard Gold Edition contents are available beginning today on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Windows PC, alongside the remaining DLC for the game – Not a Hero and End of Zoe. The definitive version of the highly acclaimed survival horror title of 2017 includes all the contents from the release earlier this year along with all three pieces of downloadable add-on content, in one ultimate horror package. The previously released DLC packs – Banned Footage Vol. 1 and Banned Footage Vol. 2 are included as well as the final DLC release End of Zoe. Not a Hero is available as a free download for owners of any version of Resident Evil 7 biohazard.

End of Zoe is a shocking instalment of the Resident Evil 7 biohazard saga where players discover what Zoe’s fate will be. In this chapter, players will take on the role of a new mysterious woodsman character, face off against new enemies and explore new swamp-filled areas. End of Zoe is included in Gold Edition or available to download as an update if you are a Season Pass owner. Owners of the original release will also able to purchase the content as a separate download for £11.99 /€14.99 / $14.99.

The free Not a Hero update sees the return of Resident Evil fan favourite and veteran BSAA soldier Chris Redfield. Taking place after the horrific events that befell Ethan Winters in Resident Evil 7 biohazard, Not a Hero brings a brand new experience playing as Chris on the hunt to find the menacing trickster Lucas Baker and face new threats not met in the main game. As a member of Umbrella, Chris and team quickly set up a strategy to counter this latest threat. Will Chris once again solve the mystery and make it out of the plantation’s dungeons alive?

Nearly all content for PlayStation 4, including End of Zoe and Not a Hero can be enjoyed on PlayStation VR for a more thrilling and immersive horror experience.

ONE PIECE IS BACK IN AN OPEN FIELD GAME WITH ONE PIECE WORLD SEEKER 

ONE PIECE IS BACK IN AN OPEN FIELD GAME WITH ONE PIECE WORLD SEEKER 

New ONE PIECE game as part of the ONE PIECE Big Projects to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the manga.

This year is an amazing year for ONE PIECE fans as our beloved pirates celebrate their 20th anniversary in manga. BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe is extremely pleased to announce ONE PIECE WORLD SEEKER on PlayStation ®4, Xbox One and PC for 2018 as part of the ONE PIECE Big Projects.

Previously revealed with the code name DAWN, ONE PIECE WORLD SEEKER is the most ambitious ONE PIECE game ever with an open field to roam around freely. In a new scenario, players will be able to explore the world as Luffy with seamless action and open environments!

ONE PIECE WORLD SEEKER will be available for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC in 2018. For more information regarding products from BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe please visit: https://www.bandainamcoent.eu, https://www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoEU, and join the conversation at https://www.twitter.com/BandaiNamcoEU

Continue the adventure on:

###

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

©Eiichiro Oda/Shueisha, Toei Animation

Game ©2018 BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.

Avast! New Open World Adventure Appears Over the Starboard Bow, as ONE PIECE: World Seeker Comes to PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Steam in 2018

Avast! New Open World Adventure Appears Over the Starboard Bow, as ONE PIECE: World Seeker Comes to PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Steam in 2018

New Open World Action-Adventure Title Features a Story Based on the Massively Popular Anime Series

Santa Clara, Calif., (Dec 11, 2017) – BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. is excited for anime and video game fans to set sail in ONE PIECE®: World Seeker, an upcoming open world action-adventure game set in the popular world of the ONE PIECE anime series. The title will be available for PlayStation®4, Xbox One and Steam for PC in 2018.

Featuring the swashbuckling spirit of the beloved series, ONE PIECE: World Seeker lets fans explore a brand new world from the perspective of series protagonist, “Straw Hat” Luffy. In ONE PIECE: World Seeker, players experience and wage battles in an expansive and seamless world filled with castles, cities, beaches, and more exciting and diverse locations.

“2017 marks the 20th anniversary of ONE PIECE, one of the world’s most popular manga and anime series which has riveted millions of fans since it started. We’re proud to help usher in a new era with ONE PIECE: World Seeker, an ambitious new entry in the legendary series,” said Randy Le, Brand Manager at BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. “With an expansive open world and story, Luffy will travel through a huge variety of locales in a new adventure that’s as vast as the seven seas.”

Assets for ONE PIECE: World Seeker can be found at our new press room site at: http://bneapressroom.com or the following FTP location:

 

 

For more information regarding ONE PIECE: World Seeker, please visit https://www.bandainamcoent.com or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS or join the conversation at https://twitter.com/BandaiNamcoUS

###

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.

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen Remastered Review

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen

Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Platforms: Playstation 4 (Reviewed), Xbox One
Release Date: October 3, 2017
Price: $29.99 USD – Available Here

Overview

Five years ago, Capcom brought us Dragon’s Dogma. Despite a few flaws, the game did well on the market, and opened the publisher to a new genre they had not really dabbled in before. Even with the success that lead to an expansion and quite a bit of fanfare, this game still lived in the shadow of Skyrim, which came out the year before. Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen was and still is the better of the two, but that is just my opinion and an argument for another day. The current discussion that needs to be had now is how well this beast holds up. With the pawn system in tow, can Dark Arisen still stand tall in this current generation, or is it a relic that is best left in the past? Let’s find out.

Story

The story of Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen is really rather simple at its core. The player is the Arisen, a being who survives having their heart removed by a dragon. As the game progresses, The Arisen takes to beaten paths, performing quests for citizens while slowly learning more about themselves and their general purpose as the chosen one. The story is serviceable, and certainly will entertain throughout. Personally though, retreading this adventure has kind of been an experience, where I found myself soaking up more knowledge about this world as my own little character and pawns came together to make this narrative feel more pointed and centered around my own experience that I was creating, rather the standard one that the game put forth. That is what makes Dragon’s Dogma so special, though. Sure, you can go out and do everything as it is supposed to be done, but there is enough freedom and leeway to be creative and customize your story based on who you may have created.

Gameplay

As for gameplay, I am elated to say that Dragon’s Dogma still has a very polished battle system, with level progression that ensures players are always working towards their next piece of armor. The amount of customization within the game could put most recent fare of the similar blend to shame, as from serious to comedic, no one should have any trouble adding a little piece of themselves to the main protagonist. The game also rewards those explore with rare pieces, which can be sold or equipped as soon as its obtained. Now, this the definitive version, so the DLC is also in tow – however, one can sell off everything and make a small fortune to kickstart their adventure, or keep it for the sheer sake of collecting if need be. Either way, that boost makes a big difference overall.

Sure, there are moments of rust or tedious battle systems coming into play. I had a bit of frustration of my own due to stubborn AI that seemed to get themselves killed in what should have been very easy escort quests. That said, The random battles, sense of immersion, and arcadey feel overall that Dogma is able to provide the player is simply not comparable, as this title keeps its unique formula held close, allowing players old and new to get that full experience from the time their heart is ripped from their chest. The stamina system can also get a bit tiring to deal with, but again – the right equipment, pawn selection, and item can ease the burden of running out of breath.

The pawn system is something I was personally concerned about. For those new, this allows players to rent up to two companions for their travels and fight alongside them until the pawn is too weak by default, meaning you would have to go back, trade for a new pawn of a higher level, and continue on. Players can go online to rent other pawns, and reward their short tenure with a gift to send that pawn back to their creators with. The only pawn that can actually progress in level is the one player’s pawn, so while equipment can be shared, it is best to think of these extra faces as temporary. I was actually concerned that not enough pawns would be online, or that the variety would be limited due to it being a new generation. However, the servers are rather active for this port, and those who still can’t find the right pawn can use a randomly generated one found within the main world of the game.

Visuals and Audio

I guess this is the most important part, isn’t it? The visuals for Dragon’s Dogma were never really dated. I never felt that there was a lack of polish, and never felt like this game felt lackluster when I played it years ago on the Xbox 360. That is the same product you’re getting this time around, except now Capcom have evened out the framerate, allowing for a much smoother experience with a steady 30fps. Sure, it isn’t reinvention, but the game is colorful and looks amazing anyway, so most will have no issue when it comes to presentation, as the only flaws I really found were cases of minor clipping and the occasional slowdown that really did not hurt much of anything.

The sound in Dragon’s Dogma is superb. With haunting, original melodies, enchanting battle hymns, and lovely overworld tunes, I must say this game’s soundtrack is superb. The voice acting also is quite nice, as while the non-playable characters can definitely grind a bit, their dialogue is all spoken and certainly makes everything feel top tier.

Overall

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen is more than welcome on modern consoles. The entire game has not lost its touch or unique offerings, and is just as addictive as it was five years ago. Sure, there are a few little nuances that don’t click as hard as they used to, but the game functions well and even has minor corrections to make the experience more definitive and fluid. Those who are looking for the next great game to play should step back and give this gem a go, as while it is ready for continuation, the original product still stands on its own as one of the greatest titles of last generation.

Star Ocean: The Last Hope 4K & Full HD Remaster Review

Star Ocean: The Last Hope 4K & Full HD Remaster

Developer: tri-Ace
Publisher: Square Enix
PlatformPlayStation 4Windows (Reviewed)
Release Date: 28 November 2017
Price: $19.99 USD – Available Here

Video Review

Overview

Star Ocean: The Last Hope is the latest game to be remastered in Square Enix’s campaign to update their greatest hits. The game features real time battles and an epic story about the last hope for humanity’s survival. The remastered version delivers visuals upgraded to full HD with 4K support and a revamped control scheme for both PlayStation 4 and Windows PC.

Story

The story for Star Ocean: The Last Hope is enjoyable. The plot touches upon some interesting themes of technological progress and leadership. The Private Action system is an excellent method of character development, giving players extra opportunities to dive deeper into the story through positive interactions between Edge and his crew. The dialogue is generally quite good, though there are a few rough spots in the translations. The writers have done an great job with breaking up the serious tone of the game with some laugh out loud comic relief.

Gameplay

Star Ocean: The Last Hope is a classic JRPG with a real-time battle system. Players control one character at a time and can either manually handle all four characters on the battlefield or have the AI take care of them. The friendly AI is programmed well and can handle itself in a fight. There are several AI tactics to choose from to help fine tune the flow of battle. The names are playful, which means they aren’t the clearest things in the world. Player controlled characters have the usual trappings of a JRPG, with plenty of items and spells to fling around. The main difference is that basic attacks, dodging, and special attacks are handled in real time combat. Specific to Star Ocean: The Last Hope is the Rush gauge and the blindside attacks. Overall, I enjoy the combat system. It’s responsive and a lot more interactive than the old school turn based system. My only complaint is the blindside attack system, which takes too long to trigger. It’s just way more efficient to keep attacking or to just jump out of the way, unless a player needs to specifically drop aggro.

The overworld gameplay for Star Ocean: The Last Hope gives player a slightly more active role. Instead of the random monster battles, enemies wander around the map. When the player gets in the line of sight, the enemy will scurry over to engage. If either the player or the enemy touches the opponent’s back, they are given a better starting position in the upcoming battle through a pre-preemptive strike. To assist players, Edge can dash a short period of time, helping players avoid combat in low level areas or ambush a mob. I’m not a huge fan of the short dash system as I find myself spamming the dash button just to get around the map faster anyways. I think a stamina bar and longer dash times would have been a better choice.

The crafting system in Star Ocean: The Last Hope is rather novel. Players group their characters into brainstorming groups to come up with new recipes. Each character has their own skill points in a variety of crafting disciplines, so players need to mix and match characters based on what type of items they are looking to craft. Brainstorming costs skill points that are also used to level up character skills, but the points are given quite generously from looting chests and harvesting nodes. Once the recipe is brainstormed, players simply need to buy or harvest the materials they need to craft.

The PC port for Star Ocean: The Last Hope is bad. While the controller works well, the mouse and keyboard experience fall short. Binding keys is an awkward endeavour. Some keys can’t be bound at all, while other functions cannot be rebound to new keys. There is also no option to modify mouse sensitivity. Support for basic functions like Alt-F4 or switching the UI automatically between keyboard and controller icons is absent. Quitting the game is really awkward. Players need to load a save first and then quit, instead of quitting from the main menu. Furthermore, if Window’s audio output settings are set higher than 48000Hz, then the game will automatically crash to desktop. Worst off, the game’s speed is tied to the FPS, but the game itself is FPS uncapped. Anyone with a monitor running higher than 60Hz will find the game running at warp speeds. Luckily the community has stepped up to make up for tri-Ace’s clear inexperience with developing for PC. Kaldaien has created a version of his SpecialK tool to at least cap the game at 60 frames and implement some quality of life features that are desperately missing on the PC. It’s a must use for anyone running this game on PC.

Visuals

The art style of Star Ocean: The Last Hope is excellent. It merges traditional JRPG fantasy with science fiction beautifully. There are a lot of creative monsters in the game, alongside the more traditional fodder of werewolves and trolls. Like many JRPGs, the game even manages to throw in a little fan service from time to time. The HD remastering of the visuals are done well for the most part. The game looks sharp in full HD. The models and most of the textures are excellent. There are a few textures that full HD has not been kind to, most notably Edge’s arms, but they are generally quite rare.

Audio

Star Ocean: The Last Hope delivers a solid audio experience as long as you switch the voice acting to the original Japanese actors. The English voice actors swing between cast in the wrong role to downright awful. It’s a good thing that the original Japanese voices are included with the game. Otherwise, the sound effects and soundtrack are excellent.

Overall

Star Ocean: The Last Hope is a solid JRPG. The story is fun mix of classic JRPG tropes and science fiction. The gameplay is enjoyable, with an entertaining combat system and a novel crafting system. Unfortunately, the game is really hobbled by the poor quality of the port. While it’s great that the community has stepped in to fill the gap, a lot of the problems are small details things that can snowball into big problems. The developers are clearly not familiar with the need of PC gamers.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

AMAZING KATAMARI DAMACY™ IS NOW AVAILABLE ON iOS AND ANDROID DEVICES

AMAZING KATAMARI DAMACY™ IS NOW AVAILABLE ON iOS AND ANDROID DEVICES

Crazy world of Katamari is now within a finger’s reach with the global release of AMAZING KATAMARI DAMACY on App Store and on Google Play Store. Roll your Katamari into a ball of galactic proportions in this cosmic endless runner!

The King of All Cosmos needs you to win back the Queen’s heart and, by the way, save the universe from impending doom in AMAZING KATAMARI DAMACY. Roll, roll and roll again to help The Prince in this amazing adventure to collect thousands of objects and team up with royal cousins on a mission to restore the galaxy. But be careful, many enemies will stand on your way such as black holes, charging cows, parade of zoo animals and even cats on skateboards!

Developed by Paladin Studios, AMAZING KATAMARI DAMACY is now available on the App Store and on Google Play Store. Ready to run? To learn more, head up to the Official Website and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

 

###

About BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe 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 Europe 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/BandaiNamcoEU.

About Paladin Studios

Paladin is an independent game developer based in The Netherlands. The studio was founded in 2005, and is home to a team of 30+ developers. Paladin aims to create Magic Moments through beautiful, innovative games with a worldwide appeal. www.paladinstudios.com