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TIME OF VIRTUAL REALITY RELEASES “INTO THE ICE” DLC FOR CO-OP ACTION TOWER DEFENSE GAME ANCIENT AMULETOR ON PLAYSTATION®VR

Philip Federico
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TIME OF VIRTUAL REALITY RELEASES “INTO THE ICE” DLC FOR CO-OP ACTION TOWER DEFENSE GAME ANCIENT AMULETOR ON PLAYSTATION®VR

Two new maps, a new playable hero and more available for free for a limited time

BEIJING – Aug. 29, 2017 – Time of Virtual Reality (TVR) has released “Into the Ice,” the first DLC for the co-op action tower defense game Ancient Amuletor on PlayStation®VR. “Into the Ice” has a regular retail price of $2.99, however this DLC is free for anyone who owns the game to purchase for the next two weeks from the PlayStation®Store.

“Into the Ice” Highlights:

  • Two new maps: Ice Cave, a frozen stage set in the game’s new Nordic theme, and The Void, a new level set in Egypt.
  • A new playable hero, Kane the Viking, a fierce warrior from the northern realm who throws weapons at his enemies. Kane is Ancient Amuletor’s fifth hero and the first to arrive post-release.

Ancient Amuletor has also received an update for all users featuring left-handed control support, improved online play and leaderboard functionality, and an assortment of bug fixes.

Created for VR with Unreal Engine 4 by developer TiGames, Ancient Amuletor throws players into the ancient world to battle challenging waves of magical creatures, monsters and more. Fight against the armies of darkness alone in single-player, or join forces with up to two friends in online cooperative play. Ancient Amuletor’s larger-than-life characters and environments come alive with beautiful color and comic-inspired art design.

Ancient Amuletor is out now on PlayStation®VR via the PlayStation®Store for $19.99. It is also in development for HTC Vive and Oculus Rift. This game is rated T (Teen) by the ESRB.

For the latest updates, visit http://amuletor.com, and follow TVR on Twitter.

About Time of Virtual Reality

Founded in 2014, Time of Virtual Reality (TVR) is an independent game studio developing content for emerging virtual reality and existing video game platforms. http://time-vr.com

MAXIMUM GAMES RELEASES TEAM-BASED SHOOTER DEAD ALLIANCE™ ON PLAYSTATION®4, XBOX ONE AND WINDOWS PC

Philip Federico
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MAXIMUM GAMES RELEASES TEAM-BASED SHOOTER DEAD ALLIANCE™ ON PLAYSTATION®4, XBOX ONE AND WINDOWS PC

Seize the Dead With Zombie-controlling Weapons in Single-player and Multiplayer Firefights

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. – Aug. 29, 2017 – Leading video game publisher Maximum Games has officially launched Dead Alliance™, the fast-paced shooter that lets players unleash flesh-hungry zombies against one another in battle. The game is available today at major retailers and digitally on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One and Windows PC for $39.99. The “Rapid Dominance” Day One Edition is available today at major retailers only, and contains three bonus loadouts featuring unique multiplayer weapons and perks.

Players can also pick up Dead Alliance™: Multiplayer Edition, containing only the game’s multiplayer content, for $24.99 via the PlayStation®Store, Xbox Games Store and Steam.

Developed by Psyop Games and IllFonic, Dead Alliance raises the stakes of competitive shooters with zMods, zombie-controlling tech that turns the undead into powerful weapons. Set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland where warring military factions fight for control of humanity’s last resources, zombies can swarm, flank, block, distract and surprise opponents, swinging a fight in the blink of an eye. The game includes a variety of single-player and 4v4 multiplayer modes, including Team Deathmatch, King of the Hill, Capture and Hold, Free for All, the MOBA-inspired Attrition mode, and Solo Survival.

Dead Alliance is rated M (Mature) by the ESRB. For the latest game updates, visit www.DeadAlliance.com, and follow Dead Alliance on Facebook and @DeadAllianceMG on Twitter.

PlayStation®Store: http://bit.ly/2wJRXPT
Xbox Games Store: http://bit.ly/2xgtI9V
Steam: http://store.steampowered.com/agecheck/app/626200/

About Maximum Games

Maximum Games ranks as a top 15 global video game publisher of interactive digital entertainment spanning all genres and supporting multi-platforms. The company’s mission is to provide a proven and strong hands-on approach to publishing, marketing and distribution. Established in 2009, the company is led by female entrepreneur Christina Seelye, a seasoned executive of digital consumer products and channel marketing. Under Seelye’s leadership, the company has been recognized with numerous awards such as “Fastest Growing Tech Company” by American Business Awards, and has made the Inc. 5000 list of Fastest Growing Private Companies for the past three years. Maximum Games has offices in both the US and UK, and continues to expand its scope of global publishing and distribution via direct reach and strategic partnerships. For more information on Maximum Games, visit the company’s website at www.MaximumGames.com.

About Psyop Games

Psyop Games is a new independent game development studio launched by media and arts pioneers Psyop. Based in Los Angeles, Psyop Games is led by industry veterans hell-bent on making incredible gaming experiences for a core audience. www.psyop.com/games

About IllFonic

IllFonic is an independent video game studio committed to delivering AAA games digitally to consoles and PC at an affordable price. IllFonic utilizes many avenues in pop culture to cross-brand its products in film, television, sports, music and clothing. With a studio in downtown Denver, Colorado, IllFonic has built a team of artists, developers, producers and musicians that believe providing fun gameplay means conveying the highest level of visual awe, an immersive environment and a sick soundtrack. www.illfonic.com

South Park™: The Fractured But Whole™ HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED R18+ IN AUSTRALIA

Philip Federico
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South Park™: The Fractured But Whole™ HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED R18+ IN AUSTRALIA

Ubisoft’s upcoming South Park release will be 100% uncut and uncensored 

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — August 29, 2017 — Today, Ubisoft® announced that South Park™: The Fractured But Whole™ will be rated R18+ when it is released in Australia on October 17 and will be completely uncut and uncensored. From the creators of South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, and developed by Ubisoft San Francisco, The Fractured But Whole™ is an outrageous sequel to 2014’s award-winning title, South Park™: The Stick of Truth™ and will be available on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One and Windows PC.

With crime on the rise in South Park, the streets have never been more dangerous. As the sun sets on the quiet Colorado town, havoc and chaos unleash a reign of terror and the seedy underbelly of the city comes alive. The town needs new heroes to rise! Eric Cartman seizes the opportunity to save the town and create the best super hero franchise ever, his own Coon & Friends with himself as the leader, The Coon. Continuing in their role as The New Kid, players will become a member of Coon & Friends and fight for fame and their place beside the other kids.

Players must harness their fart based powers to fight crime and become part of the most marketable superhero franchise of all time. Every superhero has an origin, and Coon & Friends are no different. Players will discover their backstory, assemble their unique costumes, and mix and match powers from numerous hero classes to create their own original hero.

Developed from the ground up using Ubisoft Massive’s proprietary engine, Snowdrop™, The Fractured But Whole has expanded with more places to explore and greater freedom to customize each players’ character. An all-new combat system offers unique opportunities to master space and time while on the battlefield, and a revamped looting and crafting system gives players the freedom to craft their own equipment to aid them in battle.

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.ubisoftgroup.com.

©2017 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Tom Clancy’s, Rainbow Six, The Soldier Icon, Ubisoft and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the U.S. and/or other countries.

Castle Town Dandelion Review

K. Roberts
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Castle Town Dandelion Review

Castle Town Dandelion

Studio: Production IMS
Publisher: Hanabee
Platforms: DVD (reviewed) / Blu-ray
Release Date: August 10, 2017
Price: $49.99 – DVD – Available Here / Blu-ray – Available Here

Overview

The nine siblings of the Sakurada family live in a normal house with their loving parents, but this is no ordinary family. They are royalty, and each sibling has a special power! The King has called for an election to determine which of his children will succeed him, so they must campaign in order to gain the votes necessary to take the crown. They do not all want to become the next king, however. Akane is extremely shy and hates the unwanted attention she receives. To make things worse, there are 200 surveillance cameras across the kingdom recording and broadcasting her every move from the moment she sets foot outside of her house. Akane’s campaign promise is to remove all of them.

Story

After countless adaptations of four-panel manga series, Castle Town Dandelion is an unusual breath of fresh air. The time we live in is a significant contributing factor to its ability to be entertaining. When it first aired in 2015, it would most likely have seemed stupid. In 2017, its core premise seems less farfetched and more believable. With idol elections in Japan and people becoming the stars of their own personal reality web-series in China, it almost seems like it could really happen somewhere in the world.

The characters are presented as more than just their special powers. Many of the Sakuradas receive enough character development to make it possible to forge an emotional attachment to them. Most episodes are split up into two or more parts; each section focuses on 1-3 characters, and this formula makes sense given the series’ origins. Enough is revealed about most characters and their thoughts and feelings to make this more emotionally engaging than western superhero stories are. Some of the siblings are nothing more than unoriginal archetypes, but they care about and are supportive of each other, even if they sometimes keep their true intentions to themselves. Older sister Kanade often seems antagonistic towards Akane, but she does care about her younger sister deep down. None of the jokes about Kanade trying to escape Akane and her near-crippling social anxiety in public are funny, however. When it is revealed why Kanade is so intent on becoming the next king, at least, she starts to appear as a well-rounded character instead of an uninteresting rival. Her ability to instantly materialise any object she can afford, albeit useful, is more of an interesting ability than a defining trait, and the same can be said about Akane.

Akane’s ability to control how gravity affects her and anything or anyone she touches is useful, but her journey towards becoming less shy and more confident is the real highlight of this series. Unfortunately, the 200 cameras that watch her every move outside of her home cause her a great deal of anxiety. The series’ origin as a four-panel gag manga and the way Akane is treated are the only things that hold these twelve episodes back. She is often treated in about as distasteful a way as could unfortunately be expected from modern anime. The original author evidently thought that making the public see her underwear on television would be amusing, but seeing her suffer through her embarrassment is extremely unpleasant. She is by far the best character in this series, and it is easy to root for her, but it is sometimes impossible to believe that the original author wants her to be taken seriously. Some episodes featuring her are completely ruined because of this, but the character-driven moments and character development are enough to save this series.

The impact of being born into a royal family can also be seen in a few other characters. When Satou, a classmate of the eldest brother, Shuu, confesses her feelings to him, he states that he cannot reciprocate her feelings during the election campaign. His reasoning comes across as contrived more than anything else, but he eventually realises that he should accept her into his life. The scenes depicting the two supporting each other during the final stretch of the campaign are sweet, even if Satou is somewhat nervous about becoming a public figure. Younger sister Hikari has a hard time boosting her popularity, so one day, she decides to become an idol. She initially hides the fact that she is a member of the royal family, and once she realises that she actually needs to put effort in to succeed, she does her best to seem like an idol and not a princess resorting to cheap tricks to boost her popularity.

The winner of the election may not be your favourite Sakurada. The next king takes advantage of an emergency situation on election day and wins almost by luck as a result. Older sister Aoi’s moment in the spotlight ends up being the only interesting scene before Akane’s narration of what everyone does after the election. Despite a final episode that largely plays it safe, seeing how each sibling approaches their life as a prince or princess and watching them grow is far more interesting than knowing how the kingdom will be managed in the future.

Visuals

The setting is average for an anime focused mostly on middle and high school students, and the character designs are too. What matters is that the siblings all stand out from one another. Younger sister Misaki has the ability to create seven clones of herself, and while there is rarely any need to distinguish between the various clones, their expressions help give away what part of Misaki’s personality they are supposed to represent. One of the clones appears to have an incestuous interest in Misaki’s twin brother Haruka, but this is never taken too far compared to the way Akane is treated. Akane is often embarrassed by stupid and pointless situations and is extremely shy whenever she is in public. Fortunately, she is given the opportunity to shine when she becomes Scarlet Bloom, the ‘mysterious’ defender of justice. There are some great action scenes, but the animation supports the series rather than being its most outstanding component, and there is nothing wrong with that.

Audio

The opening song and ending song are both typical J-pop songs. They are not annoying, but are utterly forgettable. The background music tends to hit most of the right notes, although it too fails to be memorable. The English dub is also great for the most part. Bryn Apprill is the highlight of the dub; she portrays Akane’s extremely shy but sometimes confident nature excellently. Jad Saxton also delivers an entertaining performance as Misaki and her clones, providing them with a subtle nuance. The only real problem with the dub is the way in which the characters’ names are pronounced. The ‘a’s are consistently mispronounced by everyone; Hikari’s name is pronounced more like ‘hickory’ than the Japanese word for ‘light’, giving a bizarre feel to the dub.

Extras

The textless opening animation sequence and textless ending animation sequence are included on the second disc. The opening animation may be useful for you if you want to learn the names of the characters a little more quickly than by watching the show itself.

Overall

With a unique premise and a lovable cast of siblings, Castle Town Dandelion manages to stand out as an enjoyable character-driven look at adolescence and what growing up as a member of a royal family is like. Its attempts at humour often fall completely flat and have the opposite effect to what was intended, however. This may be one of the first examples where an adaptation of a four-panel gag manga would have been better off without the comedy aspect; it is unnecessary and unnatural to the point of being off-putting. The election campaigning is interesting, at least, but this series is primarily worth watching to see its characters interact with each other and grow. The final episode is significantly less interesting than it could have been, and some episodes early on are basically unwatchable, but the core premise of the story turns out to have a lot of potential.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

HUMAN HEAD STUDIOS ANNOUNCES OPEN-WORLD VIKING RPG RUNE: RAGNAROK FOR PC

Philip Federico
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HUMAN HEAD STUDIOS ANNOUNCES OPEN-WORLD VIKING RPG RUNE: RAGNAROK FOR PC

MADISON, Wis. (Aug. 28, 2017) – Human Head Studios has revealed Rune: Ragnarok, a sandbox, open-world RPG set in a dangerous Norse universe during the end of days. A highly anticipated follow-up to Rune, the team’s hit action-adventure game, Rune: Ragnarok places players in the middle of an epic battle where gods, beasts, and the last remaining humans struggle to survive.

By pledging allegiance to one of the Norse gods, players gain favor and special abilities to aid them as they raid enemy villages, fight the undead in brutal melee combat, sail to new lands, and craft powerful weapons to complete the goals of their god and conclude Ragnarok.

From Project Director Chris Rhinehart: “After seventeen years, we are thrilled to finally announce a new Rune game. In the spirit of the original, Rune: Ragnarok has intense and brutal combat in a world steeped in Norse mythology. We can’t wait to show you what we’ve created.”

https://youtu.be/1bViPhnt9Rk

Development of Rune: Ragnarok is being funded by ESDF Management, a video game production and finance company.

“Rune: Ragnarok is the first video game we’ve committed to financing. We’re incredibly excited to support the vision that our partners at Human Head Studios have offered for long-time fans and newcomers to Rune alike,” said ESDF Managing Partner, Matt Candler.

For the latest updates, follow Human Head Studios (@HumanHeadGames) on Twitter, Rune: Ragnarok on Facebook, or visit www.runeragnarok.com.

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About Human Head Studios

Headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, Human Head Studios is an independent studio with more than 20 years of experience designing and developing commercial video games. Having worked on almost two dozen projects, the studio is best known for its critically acclaimed, award-winning titles Rune and Prey. Human Head has also contributed to the development of mega hits Bioshock Infinite, World of Tanks, and Batman: Arkham Origins. The studio is currently hard at work on multiple projects for PC and next-gen consoles. For more information, visit www.humanhead.com. 

About ESDF Management

ESDF Management is a California-based video game production and finance company, led by a veteran team with experience in fundraising, development, and marketing. Backed by some of the best partners and investors in the industry, ESDF is focused on working with top creative talent to make fun, high-quality games and world-class intellectual property. For more information, visit https://esdfmgt.com.

Time Recoil Launching for Xbox One on September 15th with Preorder Available Now

Philip Federico
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Time Recoil Launching for Xbox One on September 15th with Preorder Available Now

Tampere, Finland, August 28th 2017 – Time Recoil, the latest action game by 10tons Ltd, is now available for preorder on Xbox One via the ID@Xbox self publishing program. The game’s list price is $13.99 USD, and a 20% preorder discount is in place. The game will be released on September 19th.

”PC gamers have played Time Recoil for a couple of weeks now, and it’s been great hearing everyone say the game reminds them of Hotline Miami, SUPERHOT, and/or Mr. Shifty. Each of those great games inspired Time Recoil in some way, while we obviously have tons of experience in top-down shooters.” says Sampo Töyssy, Vice CEO of 10tons and Time Recoil team lead.

Time Recoil is an explosive slow motion top-down shooter. The player is given a super power: Kill to slow time. Killing triggers time slowdown, and additional kills extend the slowdown period and charge a special move. The more the player is able to kill, the more powerful the special move becomes, all the way to full time freeze.

Time Recoil is a story of rebellion and revenge. The player is a member of a rebel organization fighting against a mad scientist dicator, Mr. Time. The rebels use a time machine to travel through time to locate and eventually kill Mr. Time – before he finds the rebels and destroys them.

Features:

  • Kill to slow time – every enemy you kill will grant you more time in slow motion.
  • Earn special moves: The longer your kill-combo, the more powerful your ability.
  • Travel into the past with wormholes and finally kill Mr. Time!
  • Try to earn all the stars and climb the leaderboards in Time Attack mode.

Time Recoil for Xbox One: https://www.microsoft.com/store/p/time-recoil/bx7c7lm4x8mq

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EA SPORTS Madden NFL 18 Delivers Madden Like Players Have Never Seen Before

Philip Federico
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EA SPORTS Madden NFL 18 Delivers Madden Like Players Have Never Seen Before

Longshot Story Mode and Frostbite Debut Mark a Year of Firsts for the Franchise 

SYDNEY, Australia – August 28, 2017 – Last weekend Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) launched EA SPORTS Madden NFL 18, providing fans a deeper Madden NFL experience than any previous edition of the storied franchise. Madden NFL 18 touts a long list of new enhancements including its debut on the celebrated Frostbite™ gaming engine, and features such as the first-ever story mode “Longshot™” and exciting new ways to team up and play with friends in MUT Squads. This year’s title truly has something for everyone.

It’s fitting that five-time Super Bowl Champion and widely considered “G.O.A.T.” Tom Brady serves as the cover star of both the G.O.A.T. Edition of Madden NFL 18, released earlier this week and the standard edition, launching today. The game has stacked up rave reviews and praise from fans and the gaming community, with Sports Illustrated hailing Madden NFL 18 as “The best in a generation,” and GameSpot calling it “A terrific football game.”

Fans new to the Madden NFL franchise, as well as those who enjoy a movie-like story, can check out “Longshot,” the franchise’s first-ever campaign mode. Longshot takes players through an emotional, immersive and cinematic gameplay experience where players will determine the fate of Devin Wade, a forgotten NFL prospect, on his journey to the Draft—on and off the field. The brand-new mode features branching dialogue, high school and 7v7 football play, and new gameplay mechanics. It also features recognisable, big name Hollywood talent like Oscar® award winner, Mahershala Ali, and Friday Night Lights star, Scott Porter. IGN calls Longshot “Fantastic,” while also commenting that it “Has me glued to my TV.”

“With Madden NFL 18, old fans, new fans and casual fans alike will all find something that appeals to them in this year’s edition of the game,” said Madden NFL 18 Executive Producer, Seann Graddy. “Every year we try to push Madden NFL further than we did the year before and this year with Tom Brady on the cover who has embodied the Longshot story in his career, Frostbite, MUT Squads, new gameplay mechanics and more, we’re giving fans the greatest NFL gaming experience ever.”

With the transition to Frostbite, EA’s proprietary gaming engine, Madden NFL 18 delivers the most photorealistic visuals in Madden NFL to date. From stunning cityscape views, stadium exteriors, player details, lighting and exciting player run-outs, players will feel like they’re in a real NFL broadcast every time they play.

Fans looking for a competitive team experience will enjoy MUT Squads, which brings online teamplay to Madden NFL 18 via Madden Ultimate Team™. Players can combine rosters to create the best lineups of current NFL stars and legends, choose their role and team with up to two other players to conquer the gridiron. In addition, new gameplay mechanics bring a richer on-field experience with more accessibility and added control, making it fun to play any position.

Additional new features include Play Now Live, where players can play the best real-world NFL matchups throughout the season and continue their season in Franchise mode with updated rosters and records. Madden NFL 18 also features three new game styles; Arcade, Simulation, and Competitive. Game styles lets players decide their gameplay experience and customise the game just the way they like.

Those who like to play on the go can get their football fix as well with EA SPORTS Madden NFL Mobile, which recently launched its fourth season. Madden NFL Mobile features its biggest update ever, including competitive tournaments, player leveling, enhanced visuals, and its first-ever story mode. Madden NFL Mobile is free-to-download* and is available on the App Store and Google Play.

Madden NFL 18 is developed in Orlando, Florida by EA Tiburon and is available now for Xbox One and PlayStation®4 EA SPORTS Madden NFL Mobile is free-to-download* and is available for download on the App Store and Google Play.

To learn more about Madden NFL 18, visit http://www.easports.com/madden-nfl.

EA Access members receive a 10 percent discount when they purchase a digital version of the Madden NFL 18 on Xbox Live.**

All player participation has been facilitated by NFL Players Inc., the licensing and marketing subsidiary of the NFL Players Association (NFLPA).

The EA SPORTS brand is one of the leading sports entertainment brands in the world, with top-selling videogame franchises, award-winning interactive technology, fan programs and cross-platform digital experiences. The EA SPORTS studios create connected experiences that ignite the emotion of sports through videogames, including Madden NFL football, EA SPORTS FIFA, NHL® hockey, NBA LIVE basketball, Rory McIlroy PGA TOUR® golf, SSX™ and EA SPORTS UFC®.

For more information about EA SPORTS games, including news, video, blogs, forums and game apps, please visit http://www.easports.com to connect, share and compete.

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company delivers games, content and online services for Internet-connected consoles, personal computers, mobile phones and tablets. EA has more than 300 million registered players around the world.

In fiscal year 2017, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $4.8 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognised for a portfolio of critically acclaimed, high-quality blockbuster brands such as The Sims™, Madden NFL, EA SPORTS™ FIFA, Battlefield™, Star Wars™ Battlefront™, Need for Speed™, Dragon Age™ and Plants vs. Zombies™. More information about EA is available at www.ea.com/news.

EA SPORTS, Longshot, Frostbite, The Sims, Dragon Age, Plants vs. Zombies, SSX, Battlefield and Battlefield 4 are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. and its subsidiaries. John Madden, NFL, NHL, NBA, PGA TOUR, UFC and FIFA are the property of their respective owners and used with permission.

Xbox and Xbox One are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. “PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

*NETWORK FEES MAY APPLY.

**CONDITIONS, LIMITATIONS AND EXCLUSIONS APPLY. SEE EA.COM/EAACCESS/TERMS AND EA.COM/EAACCESS FOR DETAILS.

ELIVE A CLASSIC ADVENTURE IN SECRET OF MANA REMADE WITH UPDATED VISUALS AND SOUND

Philip Federico
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RELIVE A CLASSIC ADVENTURE IN SECRET OF MANA REMADE WITH UPDATED VISUALS AND SOUND

Experience the Legendary Tale in Full 3D in February 2018 

SYDNEY, 28th August, 2017 –  Square Enix Ltd., have announced that the classic action RPG adventure Secret of Mana® will return for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, the PlayStation®Vita and STEAM on 15th February 2018.

In Secret of Mana, the memorable and fan-favourite adventure of Randi, Primm and Popoi is reborn with revamped 3D visuals and upgraded gameplay to bring new life to the much-loved volume in the Mana series for both returning and new players alike.

Originally released in 1993 and widely regarded as one of the greatest RPGs of all time, Secret of Mana invites players on an action-packed adventure taking on the role Randi, along with his two companions, Primm and Popoi, as they battle a perilous empire to reclaim the magical power of Mana and bring the world back to order.

Whilst faithfully retelling the beloved story of Randi, Primm and Popoi, Secret of Mana will also include a host of new features and exciting updates for players to enjoy, including:

  • Audio Updates – including a newly arranged musical score and voiced characters
  • 3D Graphics – revamped visuals for the entire game; a vivid, Mana-filled world rebuilt in 3D for the first time
  • Upgraded Gameplay – the original system has been reworked in an effort to realise a modern action-RPG with improved gameplay
  • Dialog scenes added – several core scenes from the original story now newly visualized in-game

Secret of Mana will be available digitally for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, the PlayStation®Vita and STEAM on 15th February 2018. Those who pre-order on the PlayStation® Store will receive special character costumes (Moogle Suit for Randi, Primm and Popoi, Tiger Two-Piece for Primm and Tiger Suit for Randi and Popoi) as well as a selection of character avatars.

Those who pre-purchase the game and purchase the Day 1 Edition, which will be available until 1 week after the launch on STEAM, will receive the three character costumes as well as a custom downloadable wallpaper.

Uncharted: The Lost Legacy Review

Dustin Spencer
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Uncharted: The Lost Legacy Review

Uncharted: The Lost Legacy

Developer: Naughty Dog
Publisher: Sony
Platform: Playstation 4
Release Date: August 22, 2017
Price: $39.99 USD – Available Here

Overview

Now and then, a combination of extra assets and a little elbow grease can create a fantastic side experience for fans of a finished franchise, as some seem to respect spin-offs even more than the original adaptations they were based on. Uncharted: The Lost Legacy attempts to capitalize on the success of A Thief’s End, taking what was essentially built for Nathan Drake and lending it to the familiar and loved characters Chloe and Nadine. Yes, it’s an old yet new cast for the namesake, but does this fresh installment manage to entertain? Let’s find out.

Story

The story for The Lost Legacy on paper is actually really decent. The player sets off as Chloe Frazer, who has enlisted the help of Nadine Ross in order to find the Tusk of Ganesh in a lost city of India. While the mission would surely bring wealth to the two, Frazer sees this as a way to finally redeem her father, who was absolutely obsessed with finding the rarity – while Ross has her own motives that are mainly financially driven. Add in a new baddie by the name of Asav, and you have the gist of the story for this title.

Though the game isn’t nearly as long as the rest of the franchise, it does bring out the best of the characters included. The best that is, before being buried by the first three or four chapters of the game that are seriously so boring and stale – the player could fall asleep. I hate saying that as the last half is exceptional when it comes to storytelling – but I felt so disinterested and tired before the story finally took a spike that I seriously was convinced this title was made by another developer entirely. Sure, Chloe and Nadine try to get over that boring hump with some dialogue while the player is driving around a semi-open map, but it does little to create any excitement or attachment for the experience happening that some players could lose interest after an hour or two if they are not satisfied quickly.

You can’t just say the words “Nathan Drake” or “Treasure” and expect fans to stay with you if nothing is going on. Now that being said, this title does shift gears and become the Uncharted we know and love after a bit of drudge, but I feel like this could have been a much richer and fulfilling experience if there was no downtime involved overall.

Gameplay

The gameplay in Uncharted: The Lost Legacy is brilliant. If you are used to the franchise, you should be able to adapt quickly as Chloe plays almost no different than Drake, with Nadine acting as an extra set of hands that only come into play when needed. Yes, this is a missed opportunity to add co-op (much like Resident Evil 5), but since everything plays fluid and fine here, there really isn’t a lot to complain about as if it isn’t broke, well – you know.

Players start out playing a linear map that leads to some exciting chases and scenes, right before being dumped into a zone where they must search for tokens in order to solve puzzles and access a secret city. The game then opens up to a large map, and has the player drive from tower to tower, fiddling with puzzles until one large temple opens itself up. During this portion, there is a lot of familiar platforming, but there is also a hefty sense of boredom as this world you stick around in for a hunk of time is lifeless and dull. I think it’s funny that two areas in the latter half of the game have more immersion and mystique than a whole over world that never offers much reward for actually exploring. Often, exploration is punished as only specific areas are climbable – living the player restricted and bumbling if they attempt to indulge in such a beautiful locale.

It wasn’t just a lack of narrative that made this so drab for me, it was the feeling that I was doing side quest junk that was just inserted to lengthen the game as a whole. Maybe that is just a personal feeling only I will share, but since I am reviewing the game – I have to bring up why I felt so disappointed during the first bit of my experience. Moving back into the positives, there is almost non-stop action during the last half of the game and the execution is nearly flawless. While not a lot of gameplay will feel new, the level of polish and shine that come though when Uncharted is a more focused product is top of the line, as the streamlined combat and gun battles were meant to take place in a linear world. Uncharted just seems to be one of those series that needs to stay within the boundaries that make it so great as if it breaks away, it becomes a lesser product as a result. It is like adding a Pikachu to Schindler’s List. Sure, it still is Pokemon, but it will never fit.

Overall, the latter half makes up for my own issues with the first half of the game, as from around chapter five on, the combat is fluid, the game goes fast, and there is so much fun to be had that one will not regret their check with these two divine heroines.

Visuals and Audio

Visually, this world looks incredible. That should come as no surprise to many, as this game is an extension of sorts to Uncharted 4 – which is hands down one of the best looking games of this generation. It is really nice seeing the small details of wet clothes, dirt, and mud applied to the character models to give them a more realistic gruff, and Chloe’s own admiration with the world kind of shows how visually appealing the brightly colored fauna is in terms of eye candy for the player.

As far as sound goes, the voice acting is absolutely superb. Two actresses have returned to lend their talent yet again, and aside from some filler script at the start, I can say that the passion each put into these ladies will have the player hooked on Nadine and Chloe throughout. The music is a bit forgettable but fitting – aside from one beautiful score that involves a slow, gentle ride on an elephant, which is one of the finest scenes in the game, period.

Overall

Uncharted: The Lost Legacy is an awesome addition to the franchise. The big deal here is that there is a bit of a slump before you take off running and that the price tag is a bit steep for what essentially feels like a DLC pack with a new character. With that said, there still is a lot of meat on the bone here, with treasure to find, a great story to experience, and moments that will assist fans in building a better perspective for two females that I would be happy to see again. For The Lost Legacy, I would be proud to tell Naughty Dog that I would love another helping, but with a little less filler and a lot more of what makes this such an important series in Sony’s library.

GRAND PIRATE ADVENTURES AWAIT AS ONE PIECE®: UNLIMITED WORLD RED DELUXE EDITION LAUNCHES FOR PLAYSTATION 4 SYSTEM AND STEAM

Philip Federico
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GRAND PIRATE ADVENTURES AWAIT AS ONE PIECE®: UNLIMITED WORLD RED DELUXE EDITION LAUNCHES FOR PLAYSTATION 4 SYSTEM AND STEAM

Set Sail with Your Favorite Straw Hat Pirates in a Fully Re-Mastered Adventure

SANTA CLARA, Calif., (August 25, 2017) – BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc., the leading publisher and developer of interactive anime entertainment, has released ONE PIECE®: Unlimited World Red Deluxe Edition for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and PCs via STEAM®. Sail the high seas with Monkey D. Luffy and the rest of the Straw Hat pirates in this action-adventure title remastered for the current generation of consoles with 1080p resolution*, higher frame rate, and over 40 pieces of DLC included to create the most definitive One Piece Unlimited World Red experience yet. ONE PIECE: Unlimited World Red Deluxe Edition will also be available digitally for the Nintendo Switch on September 29, 2017.

The ONE PIECE franchise celebrates its 20th anniversary this year and is the best selling manga of all time, with over 400 million volumes sold to date due to its cast of stellar characters and riveting storylines. ONE PIECE: Unlimited World Red Deluxe Edition brings that level of quality to the video game realm with a game-exclusive storyline and original characters designed by Eiichiro Oda, the creator of ONE PIECE.

In ONE PIECE: Unlimited World Red Deluxe Edition, players will join the Straw Hat pirate crew as they set their sights for the Forgotten Island with their new mysterious raccoon friend Pato. After landing on the island the Straw Hat pirates are kidnapped by The Red Count; a powerful pirate who escaped the depths of Impel Down, an infamous underwater maximum-security prison for the most dangerous criminals the world has seen. Luffy must explore the Forgotten Island, accept quests from residents, and take on enemies as he attempts to save his kidnapped friends. Console players will be able to use local co-op mode to enjoy the main story with a friend or battle bosses together in Battle Coliseum. Players will be able to select from a large roster of popular ONE PIECE characters, each with their own unique attacks which fans of the show will instantly recognize.

“We are excited to have ONE PIECE: Unlimited World Red make its way to the current generation of video game consoles and PCs,” said Randy Le, Associate Brand Manager at BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. “ONE PIECE: Unlimited World Red Deluxe Edition provides a treasure trove of content for gamers seeking an exhilarating action-adventure game.”

ONE PIECE: Unlimited World Red Deluxe Edition is rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB and carries a MSRP of $39.99. For more information regarding ONE PIECE: Unlimited World Red Deluxe Edition and additional titles from BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc., 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.

*720p screen resolution when in handheld mode for Nintendo Switch

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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

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