If you happen to be a fan of the BanG Dream! anime airing this season then you’ll soon have the chance to read the manga in English. Shogakukan Asia has announced hat the first volume of the manga will be released in English on March 30th and you can see an example of what the translation will look like through a preview here.
Currently the only areas that BanG Dream! volume 1 will be released physically are in Japan where buyers will be given a special illustrated photo card and on March 30th in Singapore bookstores with plans to eventually bring the volumes to Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Thailand, and The Philippines though the company does state that they are exploring options to release the manga in other territories as well.
For those unfamiliar with the series, BanG Dream! follows the story of first year high school student Kasumi Toyama, who is determined to start a band despite being an absolute beginner.
Those who wish to see what happens to Gladiolus during his time away from the rest of his friends in Final Fantasy XV now have the chance to do so as Episode Gladiolus is now available for purchase as DLC for the game. By placing players in the shoes of Gladiolus they will be able to experience a very different style of play as he is a heavy hitting character that puts a lot of emphasis on blocking and counter attacking opponents.
You can check out a trailer for this episode below as well as a small preview of what to expect from the next piece of DLC to be released for the game, Episode Prompto. It is also worth noting that the update that is meant to enhance Chapter 13 has also been released by Square Enix, giving those who want to replay the game a chance to experience it in a different way.
FUNCOM’S THE SECRET WORLD RELAUNCHING AS SECRET WORLD LEGENDS THIS SPRING
Acclaimed game to be reborn as shared-world action RPG with new gameplay systems and 100+ hours of stories and quests playable for free
OSLO, Norway – March 29, 2017 – Funcom is excited to announce that their acclaimed story-driven game The Secret World will be relaunched this spring as Secret World Legends, a shared-world action RPG with completely revamped combat, a newly designed progression system, and updated visuals. The game’s full collection of missions and mysteries will be free to play, with over 100 hours of mature storytelling and surprises. Players can sign up for Secret World Legends’ beta at www.SecretWorldLegends.com.
“Over the course of five years, The Secret World has created a truly memorable RPG universe that stands out to this day for the uniqueness of its dark setting and tone, the depth of its quest design, and the high quality of its voice acting throughout,” said Rui Casais, CEO of Funcom. “Secret World Legends uses that foundation to mark a new era for the game, offering a fresh start for newcomers and long-time fans alike, delivering a captivating journey that can be enjoyed entirely on your own or with friends.”
Secret World Legends plunges players into a shadowy war against the supernatural in an adventure that crosses our world with the realms of ancient myth and legend. As players traverse the globe unraveling complex investigations into the unknown, they’ll need to uncover clues and use their own wits as much as their characters’ abilities. A highly extensive and customizable arsenal of firearms, weapons, gear and otherworldly powers will give players the strength to battle the forces of darkness as they dig deeper into these vast and mysterious lands. Players can go at it alone and enjoy the over 100 hours of story at their own pace, or team up with others as they explore the world and unravel its mysteries.
“One of our biggest goals in relaunching the game has been to reimagine the core gameplay experience in a way befitting a modern-day action RPG,” said Scott Junior, executive producer. “Secret World Legends features combat that feels more natural, deep systems that are more intuitive, better structuring of the early game for new players, and improved mission flow to strengthen the pace of progression for players.”
For more information on Secret World Legends, including a detailed breakdown of the game’s features, visit www.SecretWorldLegends.com.
CI Games has released three new screenshots and details about the safe house for their upcoming FPSSniper Ghost Warrior 3. The safe house is a place for protagonist Jon North to rest up and prepare for his next mission. Players can use the safe house to sleep until a designated time, allowing North to strike under the cover of night. The safe house’s weapon cache contains all of North’s weapons and equipment. The weapon cache also serves as a shop where Jon can exchange Trading Goods currency for items. The workbench can be used with resources collected from the world to craft bullets, med kits, and gadgets or add modifications to weapons.
CI Games also released the full list of special bullets Jon will be able to use.
Luring Bullet: Can be used to lure enemies into desired spots while not raising an alarm. Players can easily dispose of enemies that can be seen by others. Simply lure them out of sight and take them out. It can also lure enemies out from behind obstacles and into view.
Tagging Bullet: Extracts a pulse that locates enemies through obstacles. It allows players to tag enemies in places where flying the drone would be too risky or would take too much time.
Armor Piercing: Can be used to take out targets hiding in cover, so thin walls, fences, and even metal will no longer stop shots. It’s very effective against armored vehicles.
EMP: Emits an electromagnetic pulse that disables vehicles and electronic devices within a small radius. A well-placed shot can ensure enemy reinforcements won’t arrive on the location, disable CCTV cameras, or can lure enemies by frying a power generator.
Explosive Bullet: If you no longer care about stealth, then this is your bullet of choice for one-shot, one-kill sniping.
DARPA: Experimental homing bullets that allow players to ignore wind and gravity, making these severe-condition shots much easier to execute.
It is the final days before the launch of the Ghost in the Shell live action film. Paramount Pictures has released the last trailer for the movie before the film hits cinemas in Australia on March 30th. The trailer kicks off with Major attacking her target while cloaked before the video swings into a quick background on Major.
Ghost in the Shell is a live action remake of the classic anime of the same name. The film stars Scarlett Johansson as Major, a woman saved from a horrific car accident with advanced cybernetics. Now serving as the leader of the elite crime fighting unit Section 9, Major’s reality is shattered when she discovered she was not saved from the car accident. There are more people like her. Major is now on a quest to regain her past and prevent her creators from doing this ever again.
EXPLORE NEW STRATEGIC POSSIBILITIES IN UPCOMING EXPANSION PACK FOR ROMANCE OF THE THREE KINGDOMS XIII
Enter a New Age of Conflict and Drama in the Expansion to Latest Instalment in the Renowned Strategy Series from KOEI TECMO, Also Headed to Xbox One for the First Time
Hertfordshire, 28th March 2017 – KOEI TECMO Europe today announced the upcoming western release of Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII: Fame and Strategy Expansion Pack, an extensive content expansion for the historically-inspired strategy epic set in second century China. Arriving on the 25th April 2017 for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, and Windows PC via Steam®, the add-on will offer players a variety of new strategic options as they witness the tale of a collapsing dynasty and fight to unify China. An assortment of screenshots was released to showcase the new War Council, Fame System and Event Editor features of the expansion alongside a selection of artwork depicting the new Officers whom players will be able to utilise in the game’s epic battles.
The upcoming expansion’s release also marks the first time that the grand-strategy experience will be available on Xbox One! Gamers on Xbox One will be able to experience the renowned strategy series as a digital bundle including both Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIIIand the Fame and Strategy Expansion Pack. This bundle option will also be available for the digital PlayStation®4 and Windows PC versions of the game.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII: Fame and Strategy Expansion Pack introduces new mechanics to the series that allow for greater strategic possibilities. One of these additions is the Fame System, wherein players work towards receiving bonuses for their characters by completing achievements, which range from battlefield objectives to peacefully resolving disputes. Players can also earn a Prestige title for their character through the Fame System, which will unlock new actions based on their Prestige level and ultimately shape life as an officer.
Also arriving with the new expansion is the War Council, which is held before engaging in battle. With this feature Generals are able to choose which Officers will follow them into combat and which strategies they will apply to outsmart their opponent. Furthermore, players will now be able to create their own scenarios with the Event Editor. This tool allows unique narratives to be crafted within second century China and offers full control over when Events take place, which officers are affected and whether there will be multiple outcomes.
On top of these engaging gameplay elements, players will be able to utilise a wide range of strategic options and kinds of warfare from the base Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII game. Players can partake in open field, narrow pass and naval battles, duels, or exchange weaponry for words and enter debates. Each battle is brought to life with stunning detail alongside environments that provide better views of the field and support quick and efficient changes to battle strategy. Outside of combat, the Civic Development system provides the option of developing Commerce, Farming and Culture, which can give a variety of boosts to an army’s loyalty and strength. Finally, securing allies and forming strong relationships through the Bond system is key to receiving aid in tight situations, allowing the tides of battle to be turned in the player’s favour.
DARK SOULS™ III: The Ringed City™ opens its gates today on PlayStation 4, Xbox ONE, and Steam!
Download the Latest Thrilling DARK SOULS III Downloadable Expansion Today and Experience the Complete Story with DARK SOULS III: The Fire Fades Edition on April 21, 2017!
Leading interactive entertainment publisher and developer, BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe, released today DARK SOULS™ III: The Ringed City™, the final downloadable content expansion for DARK SOULS III, for STEAM™ and on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Xbox One. This new adventure has players chasing after the Slave Knight Gael to the literal end of the world as he searches for the Dark Soul of Humanity.
At the close of the Age of Fire, as the world ends and all lands converge upon themselves, a lone adventurer descends into the madness of the earth and uncovers the secrets of the past. As players make their way to the fabled Ringed City they will encounter ancient beasts, a new cast of characters teetering on the edge of insanity, new armor, weapons, magic, and at the bottom of it all, a long lost city filled with new horrors for players to overcome.
Team up and take down fellow players with updates to Undead Match, a dedicated multiplayer mode first found in DARK SOULS III: Ashes of Ariandel™. DARK SOULS III: The Ringed City also features two additional maps and an all-new feature enabling players to team up with up to two other friends have been added for fans who enjoy battling each other in feats of wits and strength. DARK SOULS III players who own either Ashes of Ariandelor The Ringed Citywill be able to play the new content found in Undead Match.
DARK SOULS III: The Ringed City is now available digitally for the PlayStation 4 system, Xbox One, and PC via STEAM. DARK SOULS III: Ashes of Ariandel is also currently available digitally on the systems listed above. A season pass for DARK SOULS III, which includes access to Ashes of Ariandel and The Ringed City, is available for purchase digitally. DARK SOULS™ III: The Fire Fades Edition™ will be available for the PlayStation 4 system and Xbox One physically and digitally on April 21, 2017. To learn more about BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe’s other products go to: https://www.bandainamcoent.eu or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoEU or join the conversation at https://www.twitter.com/BandaiNamcoEU.
There is probably no prohibition era gangster more famed in popular culture than the ostentatious Al Capone. He was the crime kingpin who organised the infamous Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre where he had all of his rivals killed off in broad daylight. Although Capone was flying high and mighty during his heyday in the roaring 20s and 30s, he was ultimately brought low by the American Internal Revenue service for not paying taxes on his (illegal) income. The man who is most often associated with bringing Capone in was special prohibition agent Elliot Ness who wrote a book about his exploits titled The Untouchables. Although it was ultimately the tax man who brought Capone down, the exploits of Ness and his team of law enforcement agents still make for some interesting stories. I put on my best suit and spats and I moseyed on down to George St cinemas to watch the In the House screening of The Untouchables.
The MCs for the evening were Jason ‘Jabba’ Davis and David ‘Quinny’ Quinn and unfortunately I arrived too late to be able to tell you what they got up to. I won’t be able to tell you about Quinny doing something adorably geeky like he did at the Serenity screening where he recited lines from the series with the entire cinema audience. I won’t be able to tell you about Jabba making an off-colour joke which made me belly laugh (which I’ll freely admit is hard to do). I won’t be able to tell you about the crazy, off-the-cuff competitions they run such as the time they gave out awards to Marlon Brando impressions at the Godfather screening. I won’t be able to you tell you about the interesting people which In the House invites to their screenings such as when they brought in Don McAlpine to talk about the behind-the-scenes on Predator. These are the small things which I very much enjoy about the live format of the In the House screening experience and I consider it a real shame that I missed out on this week’s shenanigans.
Story
The narrative is set in prohibition era America and follows the exploits of Elliot Ness (Kevin Costner), a government prohibition agent, trying to bring the crime lord of Chicago, Al Capone (Robert De Niro), to justice. His first hurdle in attacking the criminal empire of Capone is that the city is so corrupt that even the police are in Capone’s pocket. Through chance he comes across a streetwise beat cop, Jimmy Malone (Sean Connery), who agrees to help Ness take down Capone only if he’s willing to pull out all the stops to catch him. They set up a team of cops they know aren’t susceptible to bribery, the eponymous ‘untouchables’, and take to the task of finally bringing down Capone. We see the lengths these men will go to finally bring justice to Chicago as the peril they encounter increases with every step closer they get to their quarry.
Kevin Costner isn’t particularly interesting in his portrayal of Elliot Ness just because it’s so blandly wholesome. Ostensibly his character arc throughout the film sees him go from a righteous and honourable man who follows the letter of the law to one who pursues justice irrespective of the cost. The film makes overt reference to this but the narrative never actually lets him make any decisions which show us this change beyond the one at the climax of the film. Perhaps this is an aspect of the film showing its age and the protagonists of contemporary films and television have spoiled me with moral complexity. Nonetheless, Costener was only really able to do one note as Ness and, unfortunately, it wasn’t a particularly interesting one.
On the other hand, Connery does an alright turn as the jaded and world-weary cop to Costner’s idealist. His character has a wonderful complexity to it compared to the straight man Ness but that doesn’t really seem to be too tall an order in this film. My personal favourite in this film is Robert De Niro as Al Capone. Every moment he’s on the screen, he pretty much steals the limelight as he blusters through his lines with a bravado befitting a king of the underworld. It was fun to watch him be a villain who enjoyed being villainous and I have no doubt that the character would have been a fun one to play.
One thing I was impressed with, in regards to the film’s script, is its ability to build and maintain a sense of suspense even though we ultimately know the film’s narrative. It is a foregone conclusion that Ness will get his man because that’s simply the way the history unfolded. What is uncertain, however, is the fate of the ancillary characters around Ness and that’s where the film builds its tension by putting these characters in the line of fire. They aren’t protected by the shield of history and so are able to die at the capricious will of the film’s narrative.
Visuals & Audio
The visual direction is par excellence with director, Brian De Palma, creating beautiful cinematography as the way he frames his shots gives you beautiful imagery even with some pretty macabre stuff. During one of the film’s infamous scenes where Al Capone beats a man to death with a baseball bat (which apparently is true to the history), as the camera pans out over the macabre scene we’re shown the amazing contrast between the tuxedo mobsters around the table and the bloody mess in the corner of the shot. It’s a haunting analogy for the bootleg empire which Capone runs which has a veneer of class mixed with casual brutality. I only wish that some of this nuanced visual imagery was given to Costner as Ness…
The film’s is soundtrack is expertly composed and does a good turn at punctuating the film’s emotional arcs. The main theme especially, composed by Ennio Morricone, plays with sweeping orchestrals to give a sense of grandiosity to the action. There are smaller more intimate tracks for the many suspenseful moments which are more intimate and nerve-wracking. It’s a strong score but unless you are a hardcore fan of the film, I doubt you’d be able to point it out outside of the couple of hours of runtime this film has.
Overall
Overall, I enjoyed this film and had a good time while watching it. Costner does a fairly bland Ness but Connery and De Niro really make the picture a cut above. The direction features some beautiful cinematography and helps to make this film stand out as something more than a run-of-the-mill gangster movie. The film’s orchestral soundtrack does a fairly good job of reinforcing the story but ultimately didn’t make too much of an impression on me. I wouldn’t this film to be a cult classic, but I can see why some people would and I don’t regret watching it.
For other films which In The House is screening, feel free to check out their schedule here.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
This Tuesday, the 28th of March, 2017, is the release date of Diabolik Lovers II: More Blood in separate DVD and Blu-ray editions and Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? in standard DVD and Blu-ray and premium combo pack editions. However, some of these products are not currently available to be shipped to customers.
The release of Diabolik Lovers II: More Blood will include an English dub, as well as the option to view the episodes in Japanese with English subtitles. The textless opening and ending animation sequences will be included as on-disc extras.
All 13 episodes of Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? will be presented with dual audio options and English subtitles. The textless opening and ending animation will be included as on-disc extras with all editions. The premium edition box also comes with the following physical items: a poster, Hestia’s ribbon, a hard cover booklet, a hard cover grimoire, seven static clings and a lenticular card.
Sentai Filmworks advised that the standard Blu-ray edition of Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? is out of stock and is not expected to be available again until the end of April 2017. Orders made before March 16, 2017, should not be affected by this. Additionally, due to a shipping delay, customers who pre-ordered the premium edition release should expect to receive it by April 10, 2017.
Mirage: Arcane Warfare Release Date Announced; Pre-Orders and Closed Beta Go Live Today
To Celebrate, the Developer is Giving “Chivalry: Medieval Warfare” Away for Free, March 27-28
TORONTO, March 27th, 2017 – Torn Banner Studios, creators of Chivalry: Medieval Warfare, will today officially launch the Closed Beta for their upcoming magic ‘n melee multiplayer combat game Mirage: Arcane Warfare. Today starting at 10:00 AM PDT, players who pre-order Mirage: Arcane Warfare get instant access to the Beta, which is live until close to the game’s release date. Plus, Chivalry owners get 10% off.
Mirage: Arcane WarfareRelease Date: May 23rd, 2017
For more about the game mechanics in the Closed Beta for Mirage: Arcane Warfare, check out the new Walkthrough trailer.
To mark this important occasion in the game’s development, Torn Banner Studios is pleased to reveal the release date for Mirage: Arcane Warfare: May 23rd, 2017. Pre-orders begin today at 10:00 a.m. PDT on the game’s Steam page, and early adopters will gain instant access to the Beta by ordering the Standard or Special Edition. Pre-order customers are also granted one additional “Friend Key” of the Closed Beta. More details on pre-orders for Mirage: Arcane Warfare can be found here.
Beta players will experience the most complete version of Mirage: Arcane Warfare to date – under no Non-Disclosure Agreement; all broadcasting is allowed. Featuring all six character classes and two tiers of swappable magic abilities, the Closed Beta will rotate periodically through a total of eleven different environments and five gameplay modes. Players will also be introduced to a new character called the Entropist, a burly mage with a penchant for bar fights, wine and vulgarity. He can heal allies and summon a flying carpet – see his reveal in the final moments of the Walkthrough trailer.
“Mirage is at a crucial state of development, so we’re really looking forward to sharing what we’ve been so proud to work on in the Closed Beta,” said Torn Banner Studios President Steve Piggott. “Seeing and reading real reactions from gamers will help us tune the final product to make the ultimate skill-based combat game.”
Chivalry: Medieval Warfare Free for a Day
Torn Banner Studios is also making their hit game Chivalry: Medieval Warfare available for free for a day on Steam. With over 5 million players, Chivalry: Medieval Warfare was a cult hit thanks to its immersive, bloody medieval theme and complex combat system that caters to a high skill ceiling. From March 27th to 28th players will be able to download the game and permanently add it to their library for free, while taking advantage of the 10% off bonus that Chivalry owners get when pre-ordering Mirage: Arcane Warfare.
Learn more about Mirage’s character classes in the new Instruments of Death video series. The Vypress, Taurant, Vigilist, and Tinker have been presented in videos so far, with remaining class trailers to follow in the lead up to the May 23rd, 2017 launch of Mirage: Arcane Warfare. For more information please visit MirageArcaneWarfare.com. Like their game’s Facebook page and follow it on Twitter @MirageGame for future news and updates.
About Torn Banner Studios
Torn Banner Studios is a small indie games studio that makes BIG games. Based in Toronto Canada, Torn Banner Studios was founded in 2012 by a group of passionate game developers who are dedicated to creating powerful and unique games for a dedicated audience of fans. The nucleus of the team first came together from a group of modders who created a well-known Half-Life 2 mod called Age of Chivalry. Their first full game, Chivalry: Medieval Warfare, was a critical and commercial success and has driven the dedicated team at Torn Banner to continue to develop great games and ongoing content for their passionate community of fans. For more information visit TornBanner.com or follow @TornBanner.
