Newly-Formed Unbroken Studios Challenges Players to ‘Ride or Die’ with New First-Person Shooter Fractured Lands
Sign Up Now and Test Drive the Closed Beta Beginning 8 June
LOS ANGELES – 30 May, 2018 –Fractured Lands, a new first-person shooter, last-one-standing game, will be available on PC in paid Steam Early Access this summer 2018. Developed by Unbroken Studios, a team of senior industry veterans, instrumental in developing successful franchises including Battlefield, Medal of Honor, and Call of Duty, Fractured Lands is an intense, drive-to-survive deathmatch where the sound of your heart pounding is drowned out only by the roar of a sea of engines.
Strewn across a harsh, post-apocalyptic wasteland lie the weapons, gear, and fuel you’ll need to earn a blood-soaked victory. Beat down, gun down, and run down the competition to be the lone warrior standing. A closed beta for Fractured Lands is slated for the weekends of 8 June, 22 June, and 29 June. Interested players can register on the official website, fractured-lands.com.
Rise from the ashes of a post-apocalyptic world gone mad and become a deadly road warrior. Out-drive and out-gun a myriad of survivors in high-octane multiplayer manhunts where vehicular warfare injects a breakneck sense of speed and strategy into the Battle Royale landscape. Your vehicle is your greatest weapon, strongest armor and lifeline out in the wastelands. It can be mounted with scavenged upgrades, carry surplus inventory, and be used to mow down the competition. This makes it as integral to the experience as conventional arms, so stick to your ride, or even steal someone else’s wheels if you have to!
In a broken world, danger comes from all directions. Stay alert to the rev of distant engines, gunfire, and the fall of approaching footsteps. Savage wastelanders hunt you down from every angle. You’ll need to keep an eye and ear out to take them on before they take you out. Knowing when to put pedal to the metal or jump out on foot is a calculated risk you must make. Scavenge weapons, armor, upgrades, and fuel. Stalk your enemies or make for cover and lay in wait. But don’t overlook the radioactive storm raging on the horizon. It closes in with each passing minute and will choke out even the toughest competitor.
“Fractured Lands is an experience that epitomizes our passion for this genre but also exemplifies both our experience in developing some of the best shooters in the world and our craving for something innovative, intense and gritty,” said Paul Ohanian, Chief Executive Officer, Unbroken Studios. “We’ve got so much on the horizon in terms of new content and features, including other last one standing modes, but most of all we’re excited to have gamers join the beta and directly impact our development.”
Whether battling the elements or other wastelanders, the objective remains the same: stay alive by any means necessary in this every-man-for-himself demolition derby.
Based in Los Angeles,Unbroken Studiosis comprised of veteran video game developers with proven expertise in the Action/Shooter category, responsible for developing multi-billion-dollar franchises including Medal of Honor, Battlefield, Call of Duty, God of War, and more.
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe today revealed a new trailer of ONE PIECE WORLD SEEKER the most ambitious ONE PIECE game so far.
The story takes place on a mysterious island of the New world devasted by war. Jail Island used to be called Jewel Island because of the value of its minerals, used for technological wonders, it allowed the Island to grow and prosper but this blessing quickly poisoned the life of the residents … Robbers, Pirates and Invaders quickly heard of this safe heaven and made it a difficult place to live.
Countless lost their lives and homes before the World Government brought back order to the island but at what cost… A gigantic underwater installation and growing presence of the marine forces seem to confirm that something odd is going on.
However, some still have hope, and the arrival of the Straw Hat Crew might change everything.
Players will be able to play Luffy, using his Gomu Gomu no Mi (Gum-gum fruit) to investigate the island. In addition to his Devil Fruit power to travel faster, different types of Haki will be available. The Kenbunshoku-no-haki (observation haki) to see the enemies from afar or the Busoshoku-no-haki (armament haki) to make Luffy’s attacks even more devastating.
Different foes will try to stop Luffy, from the Vinsmoke family to the vice-admiral Smoker and his crew, the battles promise to be epic!
ONE PIECE WORLD SEEKER will be available in 2018 on PlayStation®4, Xbox One and PC as part of the ONE PIECE Big Projects.
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
READY? Mega Man 11 Charges Up with New Features for an October 2018 Release
May 30th, 2018 – Capcom confirmed today that in celebration of the Mega Man series’ 30th anniversary the iconic hero will return in brand new release Mega Man 11. Blending classic side-scrolling action gameplay with new features and a fresh new look, the Blue Bomber’s latest adventures will arrive on October 2, 2018 for PlayStation®4 system, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Windows PC.
In the events of Mega Man 11, long-time mustachioed series villain Dr. Wily is back to his mischievous ways and has had a true flash of evil genius, deciding to invest in an ambitious idea from his time at Robot University where he studied alongside Dr. Light, Mega Man’s benevolent creator. Dr. Light, who also recalls this inventive idea, decides to upgrade Mega Man with this powerful prototype known as the Double Gear system, installing it into his circuits and expanding his abilities for the greatest fight yet for everlasting peace. In a new trailer released today, available on the Capcom Press Centre, fans can get a first look at the all-new Double Gear system as well as formal introductions to two of the game’s new Robot Master bosses: the egotistical brick-building Block Man and the electrifying speed demon Fuse Man.
The veteran development team behind this new entry has retained the series’ core gameplay gamers have come to know and love. Jump, slide, shoot, and more through challenging stages and Robot Masters. Defeating them and absorbing their powers is the heart of the game and swapping between all the new powers is now easier and faster than ever through a useful weapon wheel. The Double Gear system in Mega Man 11 adds a unique new twist on the satisfying platforming action, offering options to enhance Mega Man’s speed and power on the fly.
Speed Gear – Introduces the ability to slow the flow of time, a useful tool for many situations such as navigating tricky platforming sections or avoiding fast-moving enemies or obstacles.
Power Gear – Allows players to charge the Mega Buster to a new level, and weapon-based abilities become even more robust.
Double Gear – When at critical health, Mega Man will gain access to a hidden ability to activate both gears simultaneously, unleashing maximum power and allowing for deft maneuvers in the direst situations.
In addition to Mega Man 11, fans of the Blue Bomber have a lot to look forward to in this mega year with MegaMan Legacy Collection 1 + 2 on Nintendo Switch newly released this month, with all 10 of the original series now playable on the platform.
About Capcom
Capcom is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment for game consoles, PCs, handheld and wireless devices. Founded in 1983, the company has created hundreds of games including ground-breaking franchises Resident Evil®, Street Fighter®, Monster Hunter™, Ace Attorney®, Mega Man® and Devil May Cry®. Capcom maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, U.K., France, Germany, Tokyo, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Korea, with corporate headquarters located in Osaka, Japan. More information about Capcom and its products can be found at www.capcom.com or www.capcom-unity.com.
Celebrate 30 years of Street Fighter with the launch of Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection Today
May 30th, 2018 – Hadoken your way through gaming history with Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection, available today for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. This collection of 12 arcade-perfect Street Fighter games encapsulates a walk down memory lane with the video game phenomenon that impacted arcade culture, established the fighting game genre, and paved the way for esport events such as Capcom Pro Tour.
Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection marks the first time many of these arcade essentials are playable on consoles and PC. Street Fighter players can recreate the classic arcade gaming experience by competing against the CPU and friends locally or challenge an opponent online in four online-supported games. An ultimate tribute to Street Fighter arcade legacy, this all-in-one package includes 12 classic titles with arcade-perfect balancing including:
Street Fighter
Street Fighter II
Street Fighter II: Champion Edition
Street Fighter II: Hyper Fighting*
Super Street Fighter II
Super Street Fighter II: Turbo*
Street Fighter Alpha
Street Fighter Alpha 2
Street Fighter Alpha 3*
Street Fighter III
Street Fighter III: 2nd Impact
Street Fighter III: Third Strike*
*Online play and Training Mode supported
While the collection stays true to the original arcade experiences, Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection also includes some new features and options. New since the original arcade versions is a robust Training Mode that offers numerous options for players to customize their experience and train more effectively for their next match. Some of the options that are universal amongst all four games are the ability to turn on damage display, input display, dummy controls, and more.
When players need a break from the action, the collection invites fans to explore the franchise’s history with early game design documents, see how their favorite characters have evolved through character bios and sprite viewers, and even listen to some of its most memorable soundtracks via the game’s built-in music player.
About Capcom
Capcom is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment for game consoles, PCs, handheld and wireless devices. Founded in 1983, the company has created hundreds of games including ground-breaking franchises Resident Evil®, Street Fighter®, Monster Hunter™, Ace Attorney®, Mega Man® and Devil May Cry®. Capcom maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, U.K., France, Germany, Tokyo, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Korea, with corporate headquarters located in Osaka, Japan. More information about Capcom and its products can be found at www.capcom.com or www.capcom-unity.com.
Horror Game Agony Now Available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Steam
Walnut Creek, Calif. – May 29, 2018 – Madmind Studio today opens the gates of hell to those brave enough to seek redemption in Agony’s beast-ridden vision of the underworld, as the studio’s highly-anticipated debut is now available on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC.
Agony hurls players into the depths of hell, challenging them to survive encounters with its twisted inhabitants while solving the riddle surrounding the Red Goddess, hell’s rumored architect and the sole entity with knowledge of how to escape eternal damnation. Enduring Agony’s nightmarish environments and encounters isn’t as hopeless as it seems however; perseverant sinners who prove stealthy enough to slip past their first meetings with hell’s guardians will gain the ability to possess demons and other souls, improving their chance of survival and making them a formidable opponent.
About Agony Agony features a full-fledged story mode as well as an open challenge system that randomly generates levels for players to explore and survive to gain new Highscores. In addition to featuring in countless “Most anticipated Horror Games 2018” lists, the kick starter financed title is set to challenge players with its brutal and malevolent environments. Agony throws players in the midst of hell where they strive to stay alive and solve the riddle behind the mysterious Red Goddess; architect of this place of sorrow and pain, and the sole entity with knowledge of how escape… but there is more to the story than it seems. Haunted by nightmare creatures, players gain the ability to possess demons and other souls to find their way out of hell.
About Madmind Studio Madmind Studio is a game development studio created in 2016 by Tomasz Dutkiewicz. We are the team of game developers who are working for more than ten years in the video gaming industry. Our studio comprises veteran game developers, who have worked on numerous AAA titles, such as Witcher 3, The Division, Sniper: GW2, Alien Rage, Enemy front and more. The invaluable experience we have gained with these titles allows us to use this knowledge not only to translate it into high-quality titles but also to help and train new, passionate people who are just beginning their adventure with the gaming industry. At first, our studio only had nine people. The dynamic development of the company allowed us to double the number of employees employed. We are determined to create best possible, visually stunning games with a unique atmosphere.
Focus Home Interactive unveils its E3 2018 line-up
Focus Home Interactive is happy to unveil its exciting E3 2018 line-up! With closed-door presentations and hands-on demos, here is the full list of titles showcased at the Focus Home Interactive booth, West-Hall #4512, June 12-14:
Insurgency: Sandstorm: play the sequel to the multi-million selling FPS Insurgency with the developers from New World Interactive, in a dedicated multiplayer session!
Farming Simulator 19: Shown for the very first time, see the newest entry in the farming phenomenon from GIANTS Software – including an exciting surprise to be announced at E3!
The Surge 2: Check out 30 minutes of never-before-seen gameplay of the hardcore Action-RPG from Deck13, with an ambitious level design and combat more brutal than ever.
A Plague Tale: Innocence: Meet orphan siblings Amicia and Hugo – as well as the hordes of rats hunting them – in a new gameplay walkthrough by developers from Asobo Studio.
Call of Cthulhu: Lovecraft’s twisted universe comes alive in an exclusive walkthrough guided by the developers from Cyanide.
GreedFall: Dive into the latest RPG from Spiders to discover a unique world shaped by the player’s political diplomacy, character relationships and critical choices.
Space Hulk: Tactics will be playable for the first time in face-to-face sessions with Cyanide developers in our Public Area, alongside hands-off sessions of Necromunda: Underhive Wars with developers Rogue Factor detailing all the new features. Developers from Vostok Games, the studio behind Fear the Wolves, will also attend E3 this year to answer all your questions during exclusive interviews.
Finally, you’ll be able to get your hands on some of our most recent and imminent releases – playable stations will be available for both journalists and the public to try out Vampyr (DONTNOD Entertainment), The Surge – Complete Edition (Deck13), and Spintires: MudRunner (Saber Interactive).
To see the complete E3 line-up of Focus Home Interactive with more info, please click here.
About Focus Home Interactive
Focus Home Interactive is a French publisher based in Paris, France. Known for the quality, diversity and originality of its catalogue, Focus has published and distributed original titles that have become benchmark titles worldwide, available both in store and for download across the world. Focus publishes games on all major platforms, consoles and PC. The publisher’s catalogue will get even richer the coming months and years with eagerly awaited games such as Vampyr, Call of Cthulhu, Farming Simulator, Insurgency: Sandstorm, Necromunda: Underhive Wars, A Plague Tale: Innocence, The Surge 2, Spintires: MudRunner, Fear the Wolves, GreedFall and many more.
INTELLIVISION® TO RELEASE NEW FAMILY VIDEO GAME CONSOLE
Industry Veteran Tommy Tallarico Named President of Intellivision Entertainment and Joins Forces with Original Intellivision Team Members IRVINE, CA, May 29, 2018 – Intellivision® Entertainment is proud to announce that it will bring the concept of SIMPLE, AFFORDABLE, FAMILY & FUN back into homes across the world with the introduction of a brand new home video game console. The original Intellivision system generated many “firsts” in the video game industry including the first 16-bit gaming machine, the first gaming console to offer digital distribution, the first to bring speech/voice to games, the first to license professional sports leagues and organizations and the first to be a dedicated game console and home computer. Originally released in 1979, due to its popularity it was remarkably retailed across 3 decades and quickly sold millions of units. The new Intellivision system (name TBA) will carry on the company tradition of “firsts” with its new concept, design and approach to gaming.
Video Games Live™ creator and 30 year video game industry veteran Tommy Tallarico has been named President of Intellivision Entertainment as the company turns its focus on a rebranding and reimagining for the 21st century while still paying homage to its legacy roots. “I grew up playing Intellivision with my parents and younger brother,” says Tallarico. “It was always my favorite system because the games were cutting edge, yet fun and simple to play so our entire family could enjoy them together. I find those important elements to generally be lacking from our industry with the current modern gaming consoles. Our goal is to change that by focusing on bringing all age groups and levels of gamers and non-gamers together while introducing new generations of people to the legacy success of the Intellivision brand.”
Details of the new console will be released on October 1, 2018 and followers can subscribe to updates at www.IntellivisionEntertainment.com. The first 100,000 people to sign up on the website will get the exclusive opportunity to purchase a special and unique Limited Edition version of the console which will not be made available in stores. An interactive Facebook Live event to answer questions from fans is scheduled for Thursday, May 31st at noon pacific at: www.facebook.com/IntellivisionEntertainment. Interviews about the new console can be scheduled by contacting [email protected]. In-person interviews will take place in the National Videogame Museum – South Hall Booth #701 during the 2018 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles.
INTELLIVISION FACTS & FIRSTS
Intellivision was the first 16-bit game console, a full 2 generations before it became the industry standard.
The original Intellivision system was so popular that it sold across 3 decades (1979 – 1990).
The Intellivision control disc was the predecessor to what later became the industry standard directional pad (D-Pad). It was also the first game console to allow for 16 directions while offering 4 action buttons and a 12-button keypad, which opened up greater game play options and control.
The Intellivision was the first video game console that had a built in PAUSE feature.
The very first video game to have speech/voice was the 1979 Intellivision release of Major League Baseball.
Intellivision was the first console which incorporated professional sports licensing for its sports games, the boxes were emblazoned with official logos from Major League Baseball (MLB), National Football League (NFL), National Hockey League (NHL), National Basketball Association (NBA), Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA), North American Soccer League (NASL), Professional Bowlers Association (PBA), American Backgammon Players Association (ABPA), the United States Chess Federation (USCF) and the U.S. Ski Team.
Intellivision had the largest home console software library in the world with the release of their cross-platform “System Changer” device that allowed Atari® 2600 games to be played on the Intellivision system.
30 years ahead of its time, the Intellivision was the very first game console to offer digital distribution of video games through the PlayCable service. The PlayCable adapter connected to the Intellivision cartridge port and allowed the downloading of games through a cable TV subscription. New York Yankee legend and Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle was the TV and print ad spokesmen for the product which was released in 1981.
With the release of the Keyboard Component, Intellivision became the first video game system that was able to be used and turned into a home computer.
Intellivision was responsible for the first “Console War” when it launched a national ad campaign against then rival Atari®, by using side-by-side comparisons with journalist George Plimpton as its spokesman.
RUNESCAPE’S TOUGHEST BOSS YET EMERGES FROM THE LOST GROVE
Groups of up to seven players can take on the challenge of facing Solak, while the Guardian of the Lost Grove comes to life with new AR codes
Cambridge, UK – May 29, 2018 – The tormented ‘Guardian of The Lost Grove’, Solak, has today returned to the RuneScape world of Gielinor after many millennia. The first new group boss to launch in RuneScape since January 2017, Solak is a high-level, end-game character that can be fought against in a couple of ways, allowing either a challenging or accessible experience: a two-player mode and a group mode for between one and seven players.
While no specific level requirements are needed to battle Solak, adventurers looking to take on the Guardian should ensure they gather together a strong team with high-level combat gear. Should Solak be released from the evil elf spirit that controls him, players will be rewarded with new, powerful crossbows and access to new pets – the creatures of the grove.
Solak has also debuted in the real world thanks to a brand-new AR experience, with the release of two Snapcodes that bring the Guardian of the Lost Grove to life!
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About Jagex
A leader in creating deep and engaging live games, Jagex’s flagship MMORPG, RuneScape, has welcomed over 250 million player accounts to its world. Today the RuneScape franchise exists beyond running games in live operations; our titles are living games that connect and inspire millions of players, with content and experiences both inside and outside of inexhaustible game worlds. Both RuneScape and Old School RuneScape, on PC and coming to mobile, offer ever-evolving, highly-active worlds and our community-focused development ethos empowers players to have a real say in how each game is shaped. Now we’re expanding and extending our portfolio with fresh franchise titles and new IP to bring life to the living games of the future. Jagex employs over 320 people at its Cambridge headquarters. In 2016 Jagex became part of Fukong Interactive Entertainment, a global games group publicly listed in China. Career information can be found at www.jagex.com.
About RuneScape
Step into a medieval fantasy world that’s packed with epic adventures, fascinating characters and a passionate community that helps to mold the game itself. Unashamedly British in humor, RuneScape embraces an unconventional world where you’re free to play and explore the way you want to. An MMO unlike any other – become the hero you were born to be at www.runescape.com.
Publisher 11 bit studios and the developers from Digital Sun Games want us to work day and night shift in Moonlighter. We took a closer look at the Action-RPG with rogue-lite elements and tell you what we think about trying to be a hero at night while following our job as a shopkeeper during the day.
Story
We are playing Will, a shopkeeper who wants to become a hero one day. The village Rynoka is known for heroes and merchants but Will wants to be both at the same time. One of the reasons for this is being the last family member alive who can continue the legacy, the Moonlighter shop. He takes the decision to explore dungeons, fight monsters at night and sell artifacts together with other items during the day. Will’s goal is to get stronger and stronger until he can prove he’s a hero, but a long and dangerous road lies ahead of him.
Gameplay
The developers mentioned, that they drew inspiration for Moonlighter from titles like Rogue Legacy, The Binding of Isaac and The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap. If I’d have to describe the game, I’d call it a mix between Hometown Story and The Binding of Isaac. Our adventure starts with Will having a broom in his hand, which he uses to fight the first monsters. We have access to only one of the five dungeons at the beginning and as we collect items and advance through the different levels of it, we notice that it’s getting more and more difficult. This is the moment where we have to take a decision: Do we continue and risk our life or shall we return to the village? If we die, then our items are lost and we have to start from the beginning. As the dungeons are randomly generated we can then enter again from scratch. This element really helps to create tension while at the same time it can quickly put you in a frustrating situation.
To make life in the dungeons a bit easier we can make use of a teleporter at a certain point, which allows us to continue where we left. This can be helpful if our inventory is full with quality items and we don’t want to risk losing them. If we don’t want to come back and instead start all over again, then we can use a special pendant to get out of the dungeon. Both of these helpful options come at a cost and so we have to make sure to always carry enough cash. This job is done by a magic mirror, that allows us to transform items into gold on the go, as we’ll find a lot of stuff compared to our limited inventory slots, which can not be expanded throughout the game. Another interesting feature is the positioning in our inventory where we have to find the perfect solution. Some items are cursed and can for example only be placed at the top or bottom. There’s even the possibility that another item is getting destroyed if we pick up a cursed one. On the other hand we can also use the curses to our advantage as some give us the chance to teleport items directly into our chest located in the shop. Personally I found this a very interesting mechanic regarding inventory management, as you normally loot whatever drops on the ground without even taking a look at it, right?
Equipment also plays an important role in Moonlighter. We can craft a bunch of different potions with the right ingredients and of course a variety of different weapons and armor sets. While a bow gives us the advantage to attack from the distance, we can also use a big sword or a smaller one with a shield to block attacks. During combat we can only switch between two weapons and as different enemies are waiting in the dungeons, preparation is key. Effects like poison damage can be very helpful, but as we have to enter the five different dungeons various times you might want to get used to the different enemy types in there first. As everything in Moonlighter comes with a cost, I found myself doing a lot of hit and run action, to avoid getting hurt. At the final level of every dungeon there is a boss fight waiting for you.
As soon as we are arriving in the village with our loot, we take on the role of the shopkeeper. Value and demand are the two things, that we have to balance. We can place the products, set a price for them and the expressions of our clients will help us to define the right amount. To give you a more specific example: If there’s a high demand for a special item we have to take care not to oversell it, as this reduces the value. As we don’t know the value of an item before we see the first expression, it can also happen that we sell items with a higher value too cheap. Besides adjusting our prices we have to keep our eyes on every client as Rynoka is also home of some sneaky thieves. An indicator shows us if someone is trying to escape with an unpaid item and we have to catch him before he reaches the exit. During our adventure we can purchase upgrades and even get an assistant, who allows us to fight monsters during the day without having to close the shop. Villagers are still telling stories that there’s a higher chance to find better artifacts at night though. So in the end, you choose between quantity or quality and play Moonlighter the way you want!
Visuals & Audio
Moonlighter uses pixel art, which gives the whole game a nostalgic touch. The villagers and enemies are nicely detailed. Still I have to admit, that I can totally imagine playing Moonlighter with 3D graphics! The soundtrack from David Fenn, who also composed the music for Titan Souls, fits the title very well. While usually some melodies in games can get annoying after hearing them over and over again, he did a great job avoiding this in Moonlighter. I would even go this far and call the soundtrack my personal highlight.
Overall
Moonlighter combines a dual nature but you’ll find yourself quickly in a position, where the gameplay is getting very repetitive. The dungeons differ visually from each other, but I would’ve liked to see more enemy types and some environmental puzzles. I also miss more life in the village and maybe some events. The story is unfortunately only a minor matter. Moonlighter offers so much potential but what remains is an interesting idea that lacks depth.
Paul Verhoeven is a staple of sci-fi geeks everywhere with Robocop and Starship Troopers being his two most beloved works. I’m already a big fan of Verhoeven and of Starship Troopers, so I jumped at the chance to watch it up on the big screen. I strapped myself into my power armour and marched on down to George St cinemas to watch the In the House screening of the film.
Our MCs for the evening were Jason ‘Jabba’ Davis and David ‘Quinny’ Quinn who opened the proceedings by offering people cake because it was Quinny’s birthday (of which yours truly took up the offer). After a quick of rendition of “Happy birthday” the two settled down to discuss some of the film’s trivia. A funny little titbit that I remember from their exchange was that during the film’s production, Neil Patrick Harris (yes, that one!) appears in the film dressed quite noticeably in a costume that resembles the uniforms of Nazi SS officers and earned himself the nickname of “Doogie Himmler” on set.
Story
The story follows idealistic and fresh-faced high school student couple, Johnny Rico (Casper Van Dien) and Carmen Ibanez (Denise Richards), as the leave high school and join the military to fight for the federation. We see Rico undergo a gruelling time through basic training for the mobile infantry while Carmen has a somewhat more idyllic experience at flight school training to be a pilot. Their lives both turn upside down when a meteor from a planet populated by giant insectoid creatures crashes into their home town of Buenos Aires and the federation is kicked into war. As each contributes to the war effort, will they survive the confrontation between a fascist humanity and an insectoid alien foe?
Straight up, I will tell you now that this film features some of the hammiest performances and dialogue I have ever seen. The film really kind of has two aspects to it’s story; one side is high school melodrama with characters getting into vapid relationships, love triangles, and the highs and lows of navigating a social hierarchy. The other side of the story is a sci-fi military action film with buckets gore, guts, and ichor. If you think that this is a bit of a mismatch, then you have not fully grasped the unholy fusion of these two completely disparate genres with the action elements far outshining the teen melodrama. The writing comes into its own with the little worldbuilding propaganda vignettes intermittent throughout the film (but more on that just a bit later).
There is almost not a single moment of anyone’s performance which was believable or nuanced in any way. Van Dien does all right as a fresh-faced teen but really doesn’t have the gravitas to pull off any kind of growth beyond that when he assumes command of a squad. Alongside Richards, we find that the main romantic couple are a pair of the film end up coming across as empty and vacuous shells of human beings… which may have been the reason they were cast. The two exceptional performances come from Michael Ironside and Clancy who lean into the absurdity enough but do it so straight-faced that it straddles the line between farcical and badass with aplomb. The reason that the film’s performances and screenwriting are so stilted may in fact have been a feature instead of a fault…
The main draw for this film is not it’s threadbare narrative or two-dimensional characters but rather it’s multi-faceted fictional world which forcefully captures the imagination. The society of this film is basically the utopian ideal of Star Trek but with a distinctly fascist overtone throughout. In terms of science fiction, the film doesn’t want to explore the complexities of technology or grapple with the philosophical dimensions the human condition beyond; rather, Verhoeven wants to explore fascist society when taken to a logical (and farcical extreme). The Federation of Starship Troopers is a vile, xenophobic and cruel society which features some of the worst excesses humanity is capable. Most of the comedy comes from these frankly ridiculous extremes in the film’s various propaganda vignettes where we might see an infomercial where children gleefully play around with assault rifles while in another we’re given the outcome of a failed military venture where over a quarter of a million humans lost their lives.
Depicting an entirely alien society, however, would probably not have given the film the lasting appeal it has enjoyed for the last two decades. What gives this film it’s unique flavour is the way that it works to make the reprehensible jingoism and militarism of this society seem completely mundane. For an audience, you are distant enough away from these excesses so that you hopefully them funny in line with the film’s very dark gallows humour (my favourite kind). But in that laughter, you will find that there is an element of recognition as well as the film draws upon every cliché from every war film under the sun. Characters will recite one-liners as heroically and this is enough to get the blood pumping as well as action movie which you might see playing in the cinema today… but there is the ever-present knowledge in the back of your mind screaming that our so-called heroes are fascists; the gung-ho action you’re watching is fascist propaganda; the film is simultaneously jarringly alien and yet eerily familiar.
The film’s ultimate thesis is not simply to ridicule the excesses of fascism but also to hold up a mirror to our own culture and society and point out some similarities which are more concerning than funny. I’d argue that this is what makes this film a great satirical piece and how it’s popularity and relevance remain despite the march of time.
Visuals
Verhoeven’s style as a director shines through brightest in the incidental details that he puts in to the film to really hammer home the fact that the federation are fascists, and this is a terrible timeline. These flourishes can be as small as just the costume design of the characters evoking Nazi uniforms, or the more in-your-face war propaganda newsreel feel of the vignettes that appear throughout the film. It’s great visual direction but it’s often a slog to get to these moments through otherwise visually uninteresting film. Unfortunately, the film’s CGI effects have not particularly stood up well against time’s advance. It’s not something which particularly broke my enjoyment of the film as an already established fan of the film… but more astute newcomers might notice some pixilation in some of the effects (especially if you’re watching it on a big screen).
Audio
The film’s orchestral soundtrack largely plays up the themes of militaristic fervour with all the uplifting pomp that entails. A lot of the film’s soundtrack plays with this militaristic theme with plenty of marching drums and brass to pump up the action and evoke the feeling of a military parade. Although this certainly plays into the film’s themes and punctuates most of it’s action beats; it doesn’t really leave much of an impression on you after the film’s run time. The couple of exceptions to this are several pop songs used in sections where the film veers towards teen melodrama more than the military action. The songs feel a bit of place in the same way that these sequences in general feel out of place in the film but, as I’ve mentioned before, this film makes hay out of its eclectic choices which ultimately work together in spite of it all.
Overall
Overall, I had a really good time with this film and I’m glad I was able to see it up on the big screen in the cinema. Part of the film’s lasting appeal is that it’s capable of being so many things simultaneously which it ultimately is able to bring together in an interesting but unusual way. Verhoeven’s attention to detail ensures that the film’s visuals (both subtle and not) give you plenty of cues as to the tongue-in-cheek nature of the film’s satire. The orchestral and pop song soundtrack are similarly odd pairings that ultimately add to the film’s off-beat tone and charm. All these disparate elements come together in a way that I can describe as inspired; this film will no doubt be relevant for some time to come and I heartily recommend it to anyone who appreciates dry and dark satire.
For other films which In The House is screening, feel free to check out their schedule for the season here. Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
