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UBISOFT® ANNOUNCES NEW ACOUSTIC UPDATE FOR ROCKSMITH® 2014 EDITION – REMASTERED

UBISOFT® ANNOUNCES NEW ACOUSTIC UPDATE FOR ROCKSMITH® 2014 EDITION – REMASTERED

Ubisoft® has announced that Rocksmith® 2014 Edition – Remastered will now feature all-new acoustic instrument support, allowing acoustic players to join the four million people who have learned to play guitar and bass through the award-winning Rocksmith® method, the fastest way to learn guitar.*

The free update comes with three new modes including Microphone Mode, Disconnected Mode and Endless Replay Mode in Guitarcade. With Microphone Mode, players can go acoustic. They will be able to plug in a dedicated USB microphone to a console or computer that will detect the notes played on an acoustic instrument. By placing the microphone near their acoustic guitar or bass, players will be able to take full advantage of Rocksmith without plugging in their instrument.

Disconnected Mode enables players to learn songs without plugging in an input device. With this mode, note detection is deactivated and players can read the notes on the screen for more casual practice sessions. Now with Endless Replay Mode, players are able to immediately restart their session in Guitarcade rather than starting back at the game menu after each round.

“We’ve been looking for a way to bring Rocksmith to aspiring acoustic players for a long time, so we’re thrilled to unveil today’s updates,” said Nao Higo, executive producer, Ubisoft San Francisco. “This year our song catalog grew to more than 900 tracks, and we added new features for all players with the free remastered upgrade.  Now, millions of acoustic guitarists can enjoy Rocksmith too. We’re focused on providing our players with the best guitar learning experience possible and will continue looking for ways to grow and support our community.”

 

Along with these new modes, players can now edit their song lists from the Learn a Song menu, as well as the Nonstop Play menu. There is also the added ability to choose other arrangements in Score Attack and the ability to replay the Welcome to Rocksmith introductory lesson, as well as an updated Calibration sequence for greater accuracy. The new update will be distributed as a free patch for users on all platforms.

For more information about Rocksmith 2014 Edition – Remastered, please visit rocksmith.com. For the latest on all of Ubisoft’s games, please visit ubiblog.com.

*Research Strategy Group Inc. – March 2013 – US nationwide in-home placement study

 

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 2015-16 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of €1,394 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.

EMBARK ON A PERILOUS JOURNEY IN MINECRAFT: STORY MODE – THE COMPLETE ADVENTURE, COMING TO NINTENDO eSHOP ON Wii U THIS WEEK

EMBARK ON A PERILOUS JOURNEY IN MINECRAFT: STORY MODE – THE COMPLETE ADVENTURE, COMING TO NINTENDO eSHOP ON Wii U THIS WEEK

The Holiday sales begin now! Enjoy deals on Ubisoft titles for Wii U along with indie games for up to 80% off

 

15th December, 2016Check out this week’s newest downloadable offerings on Nintendo platforms:

New Releases:

TitlePlatformAvailable onPrice Point on Nintendo eShop*
Minecraft: Story Mode – The Complete Adventure

(Telltale Games)

Wii U
(Disc)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$52.95 / NZD$56.95
Game description: Embark on a perilous quest across the Overworld, to the End, and beyond. With a team of friends at your side, and a troubled land in need of heroes, your decisions – what you say and do – drive the story around you, so choose wisely! Features fan-favourites Stampycat, DanTDM, CaptainSparklez, StacyPlays and LDShadowLady.
Pikmin™ 2
(Nintendo)
Wii
(Disc)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$26.00 /
NZD$34.00
Game description: Captain Olimar has just returned home, and is pleased to be in one piece. After crash-landing on an alien planet, he quickly learned that the only way to escape was to utilise the talents of the Pikmin: the cutest little creatures that under his command sought out the scattered components of his beloved spacecraft. With only 30 days to complete the mission before his emergency oxygen supplies ran out, Olimar will never forget the Pikmin who aided him in his hour of need. The NEW PLAY CONTROL! series features Nintendo GameCube classics updated for Wii! New features, new experiences and, most importantly, new ways to control the games are waiting for you, whether you’re new to the titles or have played the originals on GameCube.
Breakout Defense
(nuGAME)
Wii U
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$10.00 / NZD$10.00
Game description: Breakout Defense is a breakout game for one or two players. Play single player against the AI and aim for a high score or two player mode competing against a friend. Supports Off-TV Play mode. This title cannot be played with the Wii Remote only.
Scribble
(Bear Box Media)
Wii U
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$2.99 / NZD$3.99
Game description: Think you’ve played a game like this before? Think again! Play in Versus, Teams, Elimination, Barricade or even Tug’O’Draw mode, and find out who is the best artist! Introducing optional ‘Mutators’ that change how you play. Too good at drawing? How are you at drawing when you can’t see the page? What if the ink travels in the opposite direction to your pen? Mutators can really switch up the game, adding that random element to the game. Child friendly words! Players can toggle easy mode on and off for individuals, enabling younger players to take part in the same game as everyone else! Don’t think our list of over 1500 words is quite enough? No problem! Add your own with the Word Creator!
Teslapunk
(klutzGames)
Wii U
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$12.99 / NZD$14.99
Game description: Teslapunk is a classic 2D shoot-em-up with fast-paced arcade gameplay. You have to defend Earth against an invasion from Mars lead by Emperor Zangórax, who back on Mars is a popular DJ by night and a frantic invader by day. The Invasion takes you through 6 different levels each uniquely designed. Additionally there is a Survival Game Mode where you can level up your ship and buy helpful items. This title cannot be played with the Wii Remote only.
Test Your Mind
(XenoHorizon)
Wii U
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$2.99 / NZD$2.99
Game description: Trick questions, puzzles, tests of memory, and more! This game full of mini-games will test your ability to think outside the box and use the Wii U GamePad to solve various problems. Rules come and go as they please and it’s up to you to decipher the solutions to the problems… and maybe even what it’s asking in the first place! If you manage to pass the test (don’t worry, it’s fair), have a friend or family member try it and you might struggle to hold in your laughter as THEY struggle to figure out what they’re doing! When you’ve figured out all the problems, play a fast-paced memory game in local multiplayer and see who can win a battle of brains. Just don’t hurt your mind—we only want to test it!
Demon’s Crest™
(CAPCOM)
New Nintendo 3DS
(Virtual Console – Super Nintendo)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$10.40 / NZD$13.60
Game description: From a lowly enemy in the Ghosts ‘n Goblins series, to spin-off Gargoyle’s Quest, Firebrand the demon now finds himself fighting to restore peace in the demon realm. Firebrand must recover the six stones of the powerful Demon’s Crest before they fall into the claws of his nemesis Phalanx. As well as being able to breath fire and fly, Firebrand can transform into six unique guises with special abilities that will prove invaluable to his quest. With three different endings to discover, can you save the realms from total anarchy?

 

This is the US version of the game.

Johnny Dynamite
(Twofivesix)
Nintendo 3DS
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$1.95 / NZD$2.55

until 05.01.2017 23:59 UTC

Regular price

AUD$2.60 / NZD$3.40

Game description: The diabolical Doctor Osmium, tired of being known as the world’s second most evil genius, has hatched a devious plan to seek revenge on all who mock him! He has rigged famous world landmarks with explosives and left his loyal mutations to guard them! Enter Johnny!! Grab your jetpack and trusty sticks of dynamite and thrust your way through 60 stages of explosive action! But be quick….failing to defuse the explosives within the time limit will cause a chain reaction!

 

Dodge or destroy Osmium’s abominations, zip through portals and navigate past spikes, mines and laser gates. 60 levels for hours of fun. A powerful yet simple level editor lets you create your own levels. Export and import levels as QR codes and share them with your friends.

Kutar Apple
(CIRCLE Ent.)
Nintendo 3DS
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$1.65 / NZD$1.75
Game description: What is Kutar? Kutar is the character who has incredible expressionless emotions that can’t be distinguished by laughing or crying. Kutar is not a dog, cat or bear. Kutar is always Kutar no matter where he is going or what he is doing. Though being so expressionless, when Kutar wants to laugh, cry, love or be angry, all feelings are still very ordinary. No matter what happens, the emotions will not change. Even if a desperate situation arrives, Kutar will just inflate his body and overcome. What a wonderful Yuru-chara. The lovely and funny Kutar game series is everywhere! Just finish the quest’s challenges with simple controls.

 

This time Kutar is catching apples under the tree freely, but be careful not to catch the mushrooms!

Kutar Burger Factory
(CIRCLE Ent.)
Nintendo 3DS
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$1.65 / NZD$1.75
Game description: This time Kutar is making burgers, you only need to place the bread. But any mistakes will not be tolerable!
Kutar Concert Staff
(CIRCLE Ent.)
Nintendo 3DS
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$1.65 / NZD$1.75
Game description: This time Kutar joins the staff of a live audience, and keeps pushing the audience away from the lines!
Kutar End Credits
(CIRCLE Ent.)
Nintendo 3DS
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$1.65 / NZD$1.75
Game description: This time Kutar performs as the stuntman and challenges his limits, to raise your rating, you must ride through the explosives found on the road.
Kutar Jump Rope
(CIRCLE Ent.)
Nintendo 3DS
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$1.65 / NZD$1.75
Game description: This time Kutar is jumping rope with his friends. How many times will you jump?
Kutar Magic Ball
(CIRCLE Ent.)
Nintendo 3DS
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$1.65 / NZD$1.75
Game description: This time Kutar will strike the baseball, you have to be cool and hit all the magic balls in a row from the pitcher!
Kutar Powder Factory
(CIRCLE Ent.)
Nintendo 3DS
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$1.65 / NZD$1.75
Game description: This time Kutar works at the powder factory. He must catch the powder from the tubes above very carefully.
Kutar Quiz
(CIRCLE Ent.)
Nintendo 3DS
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$1.65 / NZD$1.75
Game description: This time Kutar joins the TV quiz show, anyway you cannot answer with any mistakes, because the rival will win with the last question.
Kutar Ski Lift
(CIRCLE Ent.)
Nintendo 3DS
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$1.65 / NZD$1.75
Game description: This time Kutar will ski! Before that you have to take lifts in the order and sit down at the right time.
Kutar Tube Rider
(CIRCLE Ent.)
Nintendo 3DS
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$1.65 / NZD$1.75
Game description: This time Kutar joins the tube riding match on the snowy field, the tires can only go ahead by bumping the convex ground to bounce.

 

Add-on Content Releases:

TitlePlatformAvailable onPrice Point on Nintendo eShop*
Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse – Lore 1: Parellel Universes
(Deep Silver)
Nintendo 3DS
(Add-on Content for Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016

Not available in New Zealand

Free
Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse – Lore 2: Observation Explained
(Deep Silver)
Nintendo 3DS
(Add-on Content for Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016

Not available in New Zealand

Free
Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse – Extra Difficulty Levels
(Deep Silver)
Nintendo 3DS
(Add-on Content for Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016

Not available in New Zealand

Free
Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse – The Inverted Pyramid
(Deep Silver)
Nintendo 3DS
(Add-on Content for Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016

Not available in New Zealand

AUD$2.60
Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse – A Godslayer Needs Jewels
(Deep Silver)
Nintendo 3DS
(Add-on Content for Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016

Not available in New Zealand

AUD$3.90
Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse – A Trip to Hawaii
(Deep Silver)
Nintendo 3DS
(Add-on Content for Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016

Not available in New Zealand

AUD$3.25
Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse – Explosive Epidemic in Mikado
(Deep Silver)
Nintendo 3DS
(Add-on Content for Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016

Not available in New Zealand

AUD$2.60
7th Dragon III Code: VFD Quest: Code: Lucifer!
(Deep Silver)
Nintendo 3DS
(Add-on Content for 7th Dragon III Code: VFD)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016Free until 22.12.2016 19:59 UTC

Regular price

AUD$2.60 / NZD$3.40

7th Dragon III Code: VFD Quest: To My Beloved Unit 13
(Deep Silver)
Nintendo 3DS
(Add-on Content for 7th Dragon III Code: VFD)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016Free until 22.12.2016 19:59 UTC

Regular price

AUD$1.95 / NZD$2.55

7th Dragon III Code: VFD Quest: Allie’s Death March
(Deep Silver)
Nintendo 3DS
(Add-on Content for 7th Dragon III Code: VFD)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016Free until 22.12.2016 19:59 UTC

Regular price

AUD$1.95 / NZD$2.55

Special Offers:

TitlePlatformAvailable onPrice Point on Nintendo eShop*
Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag
(Ubisoft)
Wii U
(Disc)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$24.97 / NZD$29.97
until 29.12.2016 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$49.95 / NZD$59.95
Assassin’s Creed® III
(Ubisoft)
Wii U
(Disc)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$14.97 / NZD$18.97
until 29.12.2016 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$29.95 / NZD$37.95
Just Dance® 2017
(Ubisoft)
Wii U
(Disc)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$47.97 / NZD$47.97
until 29.12.2016 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$79.95 / NZD$79.95
Rabbids® Land
(Ubisoft)
Wii U
(Disc)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$14.97 / NZD$18.97
until 29.12.2016 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$29.95 / NZD$37.95
Rayman® Legends
(Ubisoft)
Wii U
(Disc)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$21.97 / NZD$28.47
until 29.12.2016 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$43.95 / NZD$56.95
Sports Connection
(Ubisoft)
Wii U
(Disc)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$11.98 / NZD$15.18
until 29.12.2016 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$29.95 / NZD$37.95
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist
(Ubisoft)
Wii U
(Disc)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$14.50 / NZD$18.79
until 29.12.2016 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$43.95 / NZD$56.95
Watch_Dogs™
(Ubisoft)
Wii U
(Disc)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$22.48 / NZD$24.98
until 29.12.2016 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$89.95 / NZD$99.95
ZombiU™
(Ubisoft)
Wii U
(Disc)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$11.98 / NZD$15.18 until 29.12.2016 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$29.95 / NZD$37.95
Child of Light™
(Ubisoft)
Wii U
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016 AUD$6.58 / NZD$8.23
until 29.12.2016, 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$19.95 / NZD$24.95
Darksiders® II
(Nordic Games)
Wii U
(Disc)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$13.99 / NZD$17.99
until 29.12.2016 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$69.95 / NZD$89.95
Legend of Kay Anniversary
(Nordic Games)
Wii U
(Disc)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$9.99 / NZD$13.99
until 29.12.2016 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$49.95 / NZD$69.95
The Book of Unwritten Tales 2
(Nordic Games)
Wii U
(Disc)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$5.20 / NZD$6.80
until 29.12.2016 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$26.00 / NZD$34.00
3Souls
(Red Column)
Wii U
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$2.75 / NZD$2.97
until 08.01.2017, 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$5.50 / NZD$5.95
Alphadia Genesis™
(Natsume Inc.)
Wii U
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$10.99 / NZD$11.49
until 29.12.2016, 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$21.99 / NZD$22.99
Brave Tank Hero™
(Natsume Inc.)
Wii U
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$3.99 / NZD$4.99until 29.12.2016, 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$7.99 / NZD$9.99
Ninja Strike™: Dangerous Dash
(Natsume Inc.)
Wii U
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$3.99 / NZD$4.99
until 29.12.2016, 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$7.99 / NZD$9.99
Dracula’s Legacy
(Joindots)
Wii U
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$8.99 / NZD$8.99
until 29.12.2016, 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$11.99 / NZD$11.99
Grand Prix Rock ‘N Racing
(EnjoyUp Games)
Wii U
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$6.44 / NZD$8.43
until 12.01.2017, 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$10.40 / NZD$13.60
Gravity+
(Nitrolic Games)
Wii U
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$4.22 / NZD$5.50
until 05.01.2017, 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$8.45 / NZD$11.00
Inside My Radio
(Seaven Studio)
Wii U
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$7.59 / NZD$9.99
until 05.01.2017, 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$18.99 / NZD$24.99
Mahjong
(Sanuk Games)
Wii U
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$5.20 / NZD$6.80
until 29.12.2016 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$6.50 / NZD$8.50
Solitaire
(Sanuk Games)
Wii U
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$5.20 / NZD$6.80
until 29.12.2016 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$6.50 / NZD$8.50
PictoParty
(Retroid Interactive)
Wii U
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016€3.99 / £3.50 / CHF 5.50
until 05.01.2017, 23:59 UTC
Regular price €7.99 / £7.00 / CHF 11.00
Shadow Puppeteer
(Snow Cannon)
Wii U
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$13.65 / NZD$17.85
until 05.01.2017, 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$19.50 / NZD$25.50
Soul Axiom
(Wales Interactive)
Wii U
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$12.75 / NZD$19.75
until 12.01.2017, 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$19.50 / NZD$25.50
Stone Shire
(Finger Gun Games)
Wii U
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$1.95 / NZD$2.55
until 31.12.2016, 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$2.60 / NZD$3.40
Super Destronaut 2: Go Duck Yourself
(Petite Games)
Wii U
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$2.08 / NZD$2.72
until 29.12.2016, 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$2.60 / NZD$3.40
The Quiet Collection
(Nostatic Software)
Wii U
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$5.59 / NZD$5.99
until 22.12.2016 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$6.99 / NZD$7.49
Farming Simulator 14
(Focus Home Interactive)
Nintendo 3DS
(Card)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$12.49 / NZD$17.49
until 29.12.2016, 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$49.95/ NZD$69.95
3D Game Collection
(Joindots)
Nintendo 3DS
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$5.24 / NZD$5.99
until 29.12.2016, 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$6.99 / NZD$7.99
A-Train™ 3D: City Simulator
(Natsume Inc.)
Nintendo 3DS
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$19.97 / NZD$29.97
until 29.12.2016, 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$39.95 / NZD$59.95
Brave Tank Hero™
(Natsume Inc.)
Nintendo 3DS
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$3.49 / NZD$4.24
until 29.12.2016, 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$6.99 / NZD$8.49
Adventure Bar Story
(CIRCLE Ent.)
Nintendo 3DS
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$7.00 / NZD$7.40
until 05.01.2017, 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$8.75 / NZD$9.25
Ambition of the Slimes
(CIRCLE Ent.)
Nintendo 3DS
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$5.05 / NZD$5.30
until 05.01.2017, 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$8.45 / NZD$8.85
Witch & Hero 2
(CIRCLE Ent.)
Nintendo 3DS
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$4.90 / NZD$5.25
until 05.01.2017, 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$6.55 / NZD$7.05
Kingdom’s Item Shop
(CIRCLE Ent.)
Nintendo 3DS
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$6.75 / NZD$7.05
until 05.01.2017, 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$8.45 / NZD$8.85
Castle Conqueror EX
(CIRCLE Ent.)
Nintendo 3DS
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$3.50 / NZD$3.65
until 05.01.2017, 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$7.05 / NZD7.35
Goosebumps: The Game
(GameMill)
Nintendo 3DS
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$19.97 / NZD$29.97
until 12.01.2017, 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$39.95 / NZD$59.95
Gotcha Racing™
(Natsume Inc.)
Nintendo 3DS
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$3.99 / NZD$4.99
until 29.12.2016, 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$7.99 / NZD$9.99
Reel Fishing® 3D Paradise Mini
(Natsume Inc.)
Nintendo 3DS
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$2.64 / NZD$3.40
until 29.12.2016, 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$5.29 / NZD$6.80
Infinite Dunamis
(KEMCO)
Nintendo 3DS
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$6.50 / NZD$8.50
until 29.12.2016, 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$13.00 / NZD$17.00
Journey to Kreisia
(KEMCO)
Nintendo 3DS
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$6.50 / NZD$8.50
until 29.12.2016, 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$13.00 / NZD$17.00
Sssnakes
(EnjoyUp Games)
Nintendo 3DS
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$2.57 / NZD$3.36
until 12.01.2017, 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$3.90 / NZD$5.10
Super Strike Beach Volleyball™
(Natsume Inc.)
Nintendo 3DS
(Download)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$3.49 / NZD$4.24
until 29.12.2016, 23:59 UTC
Regular price AUD$6.99 / NZD$8.49

 

Permanent Price Drop:

TitlePlatformAvailable onPrice Point on Nintendo eShop*
Gravity+ – Level Editor
(Nitrolic Games)
Wii U
(Add-on Content for Gravity+)
Nintendo eShop from 12/12/2016AUD$2.60 / NZD$3.40
Previously AUD$5.20 / NZD$6.80

 

Theme Releases:

TitlePlatformAvailable onPrice Point on Theme Shop*
Amanojaku
(DWANGO)
Nintendo 3DS
(Theme)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$2.60 / NZD$3.40
Theme description: An incredibly popular track that combines a cool sound and a Vocaloid performance with heartbreaking lyrics.
Bad∞End∞Night
(DWANGO)
Nintendo 3DS
(Theme)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$2.60 / NZD$3.40
Theme description: “Now, let’s get started. A crazy night with you as the star.”  A mysterious story, sung by eight Vocaloids.
Karakuri Pierrot
(DWANGO)
Nintendo 3DS
(Theme)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$2.60 / NZD$3.40
Theme description: Now clearing 2.9 million views on Niconico! A heartrending love song from the Vocaloid Hatsune Miku.
Aa, Subarashiki Nyan-Sei
(DWANGO)
Nintendo 3DS
(Theme)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$2.60 / NZD$3.40
Theme description: A charming love song about a feral cat and a domestic cat. A super-popular track with more than a million views on Niconico.
Tale of the Deep-sea Lily
(DWANGO)
Nintendo 3DS
(Theme)
Nintendo eShop from 16/12/2016AUD$2.60 / NZD$3.40
Theme description: The Vocaloid Hatsune Miku sings over a charming melody. A super-popular track with more than 2.5 million views on Niconico.

 

Keep up to date with all the official Nintendo announcements and exclusive new game information by following the official Nintendo Australia Twitter feed @NintendoAUNZ.

UBISOFT ANNOUNCES CLOSED BETA COMING JANUARY 2017

UBISOFT ANNOUNCES CLOSED BETA COMING JANUARY 2017

Join the Closed Beta and Help Determine Which Faction Reigns Supreme in War of the Factions Cross-Platform Competitive Metagame

To download all assets please visit the press extranet: ubisoft-press.com | Register for closed beta: forhonor.ubisoft.com/game/en-AU/register

Ubisoft® has announced that the For Honor Closed Beta will be available in January 2017. Players will be able to step onto the war-torn lands of Ashfeld, Valkenheim and Myre with brand new multiplayer experiences that showcase the age old war between Vikings, Samurai and Knights.

Players will learn why these brave heroes have gone to war with one another in the new campaign trailer that dives deeper into the world of For Honor and Apollyon, the main antagonist of the game, who seeks to incite war amongst the various factions. The new trailer details the motivations of the three factions including the Knights of the Iron Legion, the Warborn Viking clans and the Samurai of the Dawn Empire. Players will unravel the harsh and unforgiving world of For Honor as they play through the thrilling story campaign in single player or online co-op.

Coinciding with the closed beta, Ubisoft will launch War of the Factions, a pre-launch limited time event that will answer the question: When the might Vikings, Samurai and Knights finally collide on the same battlefield…who will reign supreme?

War of the Factions will track all multiplayer activity across all platforms in the closed beta launching January 2017. Rewards will be given to warriors participating in the beta as well as the winning faction.

Players can charge into battle with a cast of 12 unique heroes across the three Factions. Ubisoft revealed two new Heavy heroes – the Samurai Shugoki and the Viking Warlord, as well as a new Assassin hero – the Knight Peacekeeper. All three offer even more depth to the competitive multiplayer experience:

  • Shugoki: Once the guardians of the Samurai, they have become as family. Massive and fierce, their weapon of choice is the kanabo, a huge stick that they only can wield efficiently. The Shugoki might not have the same agility as the other Samurai, but their rock-like resistance and demon-like strength make them an unavoidable force on the battlefield.
  • Warlord: Warlord is a name from an ancient Viking tradition, a name that is earned by only the true leaders in combat, those who are ready to spend their whole life servicing all who need it. Warlords’ shields are as versatile as they are strong and their sword, while simple in design, is sharp and deadly.
  • Peacekeeper: Selected from the desperate, the humbled or the devoted, they are sworn to secrecy by unbreakable oaths. Quick and lethal, they fight with a short sword in one hand and a dagger in the other. Peacekeepers are the deadliest duelists of all Assassins, capable of winning a fight before their enemy even knows they are here.

Ubisoft also debuted its brand-new metagame, Faction War, the persistent cross-platform conflict between the Knights, Vikings and Samurai. Players begin by pledging their sword to the faction of their choice. Every multiplayer battle in For Honor impacts the world as players earn War Assets based on their personal performance in matches. These War Assets can be deployed and spent helping players conquer and defend territories. Every match makes a difference as all players contribute to the glory of their faction during each 10-week competitive multiplayer season. Once the season ends, all For Honor players will receive rewards based on the rank of their faction. At the end of each season the Faction War resets and resumes after an off-season period.

Players can get a taste of what For Honor has to offer by registering for the Beta at forhonor.ubisoft.com/game/en-AU/register. For more information about For Honor, please follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ForHonorGame and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ForHonorGame. For the latest on all of Ubisoft’s games, please visit www.ubiblog.com.

Developed by Ubisoft Montreal in collaboration with other Ubisoft studios*, For Honor offers an engaging campaign and thrilling multiplayer. Players embody warriors of the three Great Factions – the bold Knights, the brutal Vikings and the enigmatic Samurai – fighting to the death on intense and believable melee battlefields. The game’s innovative combat system puts players in total control of their warriors, allowing them to utilize the unique skills and combat style of each hero to vanquish all enemies who stand in their way. For Honor will be available on February 14, 2017.

*Associate studios are Ubisoft Quebec, Ubisoft Toronto, Blue Byte, a Ubisoft studio.

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 2015-16 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of €1,394 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.

Yooka-Laylee Release Date & New Trailer Announced, Wii U Version Cancelled

Yooka-Laylee got a huge update from the developers over at Playtonic Games recently, revealing the final release date, confirmation of a physical release and final pricing, a brand new casino themed world with a trailer and some bad news for sole Wii U owners.

Yooka-Laylee will be available on Xbox One, PS4, PC, Mac and Linux platform on April 11, 2017. The recommended retail price will be £34.99 / $39.99 / €39.99, so if you backed it smart move as you effectively get the game half price. Playtonic also confirmed that participating stores will see physical box copies of the game and you can preorder now both physically and digitally. Digital pre-orders on all platforms will receive the Toy Box demo backers received four months earlier.

If you backed the game for a digital copy and want to go physical a way to do that will be revealed soon but Playtonic have stated they want all those who backed a physical copy originally to get first priority. You may have noticed the Wii U was not mentioned in the that extensive platform list and that is because that version has been straight up cancelled with the devs having this to say.

The Playtonic team is sad to confirm that despite our best efforts and exploring every possible avenue, we’ve encountered unforeseen technical issues that unfortunately mean it will be impossible for us to release the game on Wii U as initially planned.

However Nintendo fans need not cry as they mention they are working very close with Nintendo to bring this new duo to the Switch and should have more details on that early next year. Of course backers of the Wii U version are getting the option to switch their console of choice to any other version or upgrade to the Switch version when further details are announced. A way to do this should be coming in January.

Now let’s check out some new gameplay. A brand new level called Capital Cashino was revealed where players must compete for casino tokens and exchange them with the banker to receive their Pagies (the equivalent of the Jigsaw Pieces from Banjo Kazooie). You can expect oversized roulette tables, slot machines and other casino propaganda scattered all over the level.

This glamorous, marble-floored playground has our buddy-duo navigating the casino floor, discotheques and oversized roulette tables in search of delicious golden bounty. But there’s a twist; players must now compete to win casino tokens, and exchange them with the banker for the pivotal Pagies! Like with all worlds you can expand Capital Cashino to unlock new areas. If you find Dr. Puzz (the equivalent of Mumbo Jumbo) she will transform you into a ‘head-spinning transformation’.

Check out the new trailer below as well as a special developer diary video that focuses on all the improvements made to the first level since its reveal.

Capital Cashino Trailer

Kickstarter Dev Focus: Tribalstack Tropics

Torment Tides of Numenera Release Date | Pre-orders Now Available

Torment Tides of Numenera Release Date | Pre-orders Now Available

December 14th, 2016 – Wroclaw, Poland / inXile Entertainment and Techland Publishing have announced the release date for Torment: Tides of Numenera – February 28th, 2017.

The “Day One Edition Release Date” trailer can be viewed here or downloaded in various languages here.

Torment: Tides of Numenera is set one billion years in the future, using the science-fantasy setting created by pen and paper RPG luminary, Monty Cook. Players will experience a game of intricate choices and consequences with thousands of meaningful decisions that will make every playthrough unique.

The game is created and developed by inXile Entertainment, which consists of industry icon Brian Fargo and many other veteran creators of the original Planescape: Torment – one of the most critically revered cRPGs in gaming history.

Pre-orders for the Day One Edition and The Collector’s Edition are also now available. For a full list of what is contained in the Collector’s Edition along with pre-order incentives, see the official trailer here.

For more info on Torment: Tides of Numenera and the various edtions available, check out the tormentgame.com website. Torment: Tides of Numenera will be available on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

About Techland
Founded in 1991, Techland is a renowned independent game developer, distributor, and publisher. The Poland based company is best known for the original Dead Island games, the Call of Juarez series, and Dying Light. Thanks to its proprietary game engine technology, Techland develops top-tier entertainment content for Windows PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Linux, Mac OS X, Android, and iOS. Comprised of four offices in Warsaw, Wrocław, Ostrów Wielkopolski, and Vancouver, Canada, the company is committed to delivering unforgettable experiences and using the latest technology for innovative entertainment. For more information about the company, visit the official website at: http://techland.pl/

About inXile Entertainment
Founded by long-time industry veteran @BrianFargo in 2002, inXile Entertainment develops interactive entertainment software for all popular game systems, personal computers and wireless devices. Following the critical and commercial success of Wasteland 2, inXile crowdfunded and is currently developing Torment: Tides of Numenera and The Bard’s Tale IV. For more information about inXile Entertainment visit: www.inxile-entertainment.com .
Torment is a trademark of inXile Entertainment. Numenera is a trademark of Monte Cook Games LLC.

All product titles, publisher names, trademarks, artwork and associated imagery are trademarks, registered trademarks and/or copyright material of the respective owners. All rights reserved.

MYTHICAL ACTION ADVENTURE GAME, TROLL AND I, SET TO LAUNCH ACROSS CONSOLES AND PC ON MARCH 21, 2017

MYTHICAL ACTION ADVENTURE GAME, TROLL AND I, SET TO LAUNCH ACROSS CONSOLES AND PC ON MARCH 21, 2017

New Trailer from Maximum Games Gives First Glimpse of Unlikely Friends on a Quest for Survival

December 14, 2016 – Walnut Creek, CA – Video game publisher Maximum Games, in partnership with developer Spiral House, has today announced that its upcoming action adventure game, Troll and I, will be releasing on March 21, 2017 in North America and on March 24, 2017 in Europe for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, and PC platforms.

Troll and I is a heroic adventure that tells the story of a teenage boy named Otto and his unlikely friendship with a massive, mythical Troll. When a ruthless hunter in search of Troll rips through Otto’s homeland, utter chaos and devastation ensues. Otto’s small Scandinavian village is destroyed, and the boy finds himself alone and on the run from the evil forces that have pervaded his once peaceful land. To his surprise, he locates and befriends the wanted beast who has taken refuge in a secret lair in the Nordic mountains. In doing so, a unique bond is formed and the friends find themselves on an epic and memorable adventure.

Players will harness the ability to switch seamlessly between both Otto and Troll as the two outcasts struggle to survive. Together, they must fight, strategize and sneak through a dangerous wilderness with a band of hunters and deadly creatures on their trail. Troll and I features a combat system that allows contrasting abilities for each character: Troll and his highly damaging attacks can crush enemies in one blow while Otto incorporates more quick and nimble moves. Troll and Otto can also cohesively act as one to fight off rivals, solve puzzles and complete missions. Each employs their own distinct presence and gameplay functionality.

Utilizing cooperative split-screen multiplayer, play locally with a friend as teamwork is absolutely pivotal to stay alive. With a dynamic duo like Otto and Troll, the local co-op feature allows for shared collaboration between two gamers, creating an experience equally captivating for both players.

Troll and I is currently in development from Spiral House and will be published by Maximum Games. The game will be available on March 21, 2017 in North America and on March 24, 2017 in Europe for the PlayStation®4, Xbox One and PC platforms. This title has been rated “T for Teen” by the ESRB.

Troll and I is available to pre-order now for $49.99. Please visit http://www.trollandi.com for more pre-order and product information.

For the latest news on Troll and I, please follow the official Facebook and Twitter pages.

For more information on Maximum Games, please visit: http://www.maximumgames.com.

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 two 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 http://www.maximumgames.com.

About Spiral House

Spiral House is a UK based developer of interactive entertainment, focused on developing for all major home entertainment consoles, mobile devices and PC, for the global market. Established in 1999 by seasoned game developers Bobby Earl and Kevin Oxland, Spiral House traditionally followed the ‘work for hire’ business model developing partner’s IP, including various AAA and handheld titles for Sony (EyePet, MotorStorm, Wipeout Pulse, Vita Pets, and Little Big Planet), Activision (PC Blur) and many others. Now developing their own IP, with the first in a line of exciting titles being ‘Troll and I’, they have built a reputation within the industry for building creative games that focus primarily on game-play, unique features with depth and originality, whilst maintaining tight controls on the development process. For more information on Spiral House, visit the developer website at http://www.spiralhouse.co.uk.

DURANGO, REVOLUTIONARY MOBILE MMO BEGINS LIMITED BETA

DURANGO, REVOLUTIONARY MOBILE MMO BEGINS LIMITED BETA

Innovative Sandbox Mobile MMO with Primitive Dinosaurs and Massive Player Versus Player Battles from Developers of Vindictus Opens Worldwide Limited Testing for iOS and Android

Seoul – Dec. 14, 2016 – Registered fans from around the world will be the first to roam, explore and conquer the immensely beautiful, but dangerous world of Durango, the latest sandbox massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) from NEXON Korea Corporation, subsidiary of NEXON Co., Ltd. (“Nexon”) (3659.TO), a worldwide leader in free-to-play online and mobile games. Durango is a pioneering MMORPG with an endless number of islands, full of primitive dinosaurs awaiting player discovery. The Durangolimited beta testing will continue from now to Jan. 4, 2017. Eager Android users wishing to join the limited beta test can still register on the Durango website:https://i.nx.com/0Ux.

Developed by Eunseok Yi, developer of ‘Mabinogi’ and ‘Vindictus’ and director of What! Studio, players participating in the Durango limited beta tests will be propelled into an unknown world where dinosaurs still roam around freely. Players will get a glimpse into a beautiful, but dangerous world where survival is the number one priority. Jampacked with a fully-immersive and interactive experience, players will lead their characters as they learn to build communities, hunt, scavenge and battle to keep their clan alive in the foreign land plagued by rival clans and dinosaurs.

During this round of limited beta, MMO fans from all around the world will:

  • Be a pioneer in an endless open world: Endless numbers of islands in Durango‘s seamless open world awaits player discovery;
  • Building an empire: Players can develop their settlement from scratch with fellow players from around the world, and prosper by trading goods;
  • Hunt or tame dinosaurs: Learn to tame, ride or hunt down a diverse set of vicious and iconic dinosaurs;
  • Engage in epic clan versus clan battles: Battle against other clans to protect one’s homeland in massive clan battles;
  • Develop specialties with emergent crafting and skill training: Find various ways to master activities through Durango’s innovative system.

The Durango limited beta is available in the US, Europe, Australia, Canada, South America, and other select territories, excluding mainland China and Japan.

About NEXON Co. Ltd.
NEXON Co., Ltd. (“Nexon”) (3659.TO) is a worldwide leader in free-to-play online and mobile
games. Founded in Korea in 1994, Nexon developed one of the world’s first graphics-based
massively multiplayer online games. Nexon also pioneered the concept of microtransactions
and the free-to-play business model, setting a new standard in which play is free, and users
have the option to purchase in-game items to enhance their experience. Nexon currently
services nearly 100 titles in more than 190 countries. The Company is headquartered in Tokyo,
Japan and its shares are listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

About WHAT! Studio
What! Studio (“What Studio”) is one of the leading development teams of NEXON Korea Corporation, led by the director Eunseok Yi, a developer of Mabinogi and Vindictus.
Fun and innovation are the core values, and their mission is to provide players with a unique and memorable experience through distinctive and sophisticated games. What Studio is currently working on their very first project, Durango, which is a challenge making themselves as true pioneers as developers; and hope the game will also inspire players to become true pioneers as well.
###

Dishonored 2 Review

Dishonored 2

Developer: Arkane Studios
Publisher: Bethesda
Platforms: PC, Xbox One (Reviewed), PlayStation 4
Release Date: Available Now
Price: $59.99 USD – Available Here $99.95 AUD – Available Here

Overview

Stealth based games in general tend to be a very rare thing in today’s gaming world and titles that can balance this stealth aspect while also delivering a satisfying combat system for those who prefer a non-stealthy approach are even rarer. When Arkane Studios released Dishonored back in 2012 they pleasantly surprised fans with a supernatural powered assassin and numerous routes to tackle most challenges. Now four years later they have released Dishonored 2 but does the unique and enjoyable feeling from the first title still hold true in the sequel?

Story

Set fifteen years after the events of the first game players find that Corvo Attarno, the protagonist of the first game and Emily Caldwin who has now taken on the title of Empress have helped bring Dunwall and the rest of their domain into prosperity. The problem is, those who have been questioning her rise to power have been mysteriously slain by someone that has been dubbed the “Crown Killer.” Many believe that Corvo, who is now apparently Emily’s father, has returned to his old ways of killing those who stand up against him or his daughter and things only get more dangerous when a visiting monarch delivers a bombshell.

With Emily thrown off the seat of power and her claim to the throne called into question, players must select to play as either Corvo who has had his powers drained by the overthrowing power or Emily with the character they don’t choose being imprisoned in stone. With the city of Dunwall in danger and nearly everyone an enemy, the selected character flees to discover the truth behind the mysteries surrounding them and try to reclaim what was once theirs.

In interesting fashion, players will spend most of their time away from Dunwall in Dishonored 2 as they will instead be finding themselves located in the coastal city of Carnaca and coming across a large number of interesting side characters. In fact, the actual world and the various tidbits that players learn from side conversations and various collectibles help flesh out the world far better than one would expect.

This is a plus considering the actual storyline is handled in a rather rough manner as players are given heavy dumps of information that is spread between only the bare minimum, meaning players will often feel like they are simply being told the main story rather than playing an influencing role in major events. It also doesn’t help that while Corvo and Emily will have some unique pieces of dialogue here and there, the major story scenes don’t change much between the two characters making the unique viewpoints of the story somewhat limited outside of the familiar high or low chaos routes.

Gameplay

One of the best elements of the first Dishonored was that players had numerous ways to tackle any obstacle that they came across and in Dishonored 2 the variety has been ramped up and made to feel far more natural than before. Almost every situation you come across will have a variety of ways to get around them, such as sneaking through an abandoned building you might have heard the townsfolk talking about while you were exploring, using the environment and each characters respective teleporting ability to simply bypass it, or flat out disabling or brute forcing your way through.

Players will find that these numerous routes have also been amplified thanks to the numerous tools that they have at their disposal. The weaponry has been given numerous ways that they can be upgraded to best fit your current playstyle and turn yourself into a killing machine if you so please but those who prefer a non-lethal route will find that there are now a larger pool of non-lethal attack methods and takedowns available, even giving players in open combat a chance to try and subdue their foe without killing them.

Taking the variety even further is the fact that players can choose between Corvo and Emily. Now while the story may not alter much depending on who you play as, the unique powers that both characters have make the title well worth playing through a second time. Corvo makes use of his familiar special abilities that have to be unlocked once again due to being drained and this time around many of his skills have been given extra steps that make them even more entertaining to use. Emily on the other hand offers an almost entirely new experience as she can hypnotize her foes, teleport with “Far Reach,” move incredibly stealthy with “Shadow Walk,” create a copy of herself, and even link enemies together with the “Domino” skill so that what happens to one target will happen to everyone linked up.

Each of these characters offer a variety of lethal and non-lethal ways to take on any challenge the game may throw at you and with numerous customization abilities players will be able to play through this title numerous times and still find something new as they explore the largely open environments that most of the levels are set in. This is a major plus given the fact that the enemies you face off against can be just as deadly once you are caught in the open.

Standard guards will openly attack the player and will attempt to parry, kick stun, and even flank them if they are in open combat. Since these enemies deal so much damage it does tend to be rather difficult at times with how intelligent the AI can be but thanks to the tools at your disposal, plus the options to use skills such as sprinting attacks and brutal execution methods that literally slice an enemy in half, once you get the hang of the game’s combat system every encounter outside of stealth feels just as exhilarating and rewarding as subduing or sneaking through an entire area with no one being the wiser.

That being said, players shouldn’t expect the stealth route to be as easy either as guards in this entry aren’t quite like your standard grunts. While standard tricks may work on them from time to time, they will often make various changes to their behavior that can catch a player off guard if they expect them to react the same way every time.

It is worth noting that similar to the first entry, Dishonored 2 makes use of the various Runes and Bone Charms scattered throughout the massive hub areas that make up each level stage. Hunting these down using the same method as before, a certain heart with the same haunting commentary, often takes players down interesting paths they may have missed and generally the reward for obtaining these is worth the effort though be prepared for some of these collectibles/power-ups to feel like they ended up being more trouble than they were worth.

Visuals & Audio

The change in location for Dishonored 2 comes as a pleasant one as the new city that players spend most of the game in offers the developers a chance to build a new massive area to explore and they have done this in amazing fashion. Each area feels lived in and believable with some especially noteworthy levels appearing later in the game.

Along those same lines, the actual change doesn’t feel all that different since characters are basically the same looking as the original entry though the gore level has been knocked up a notch. These character designs also damage certain emotional moments of the story as the way that their facial structures are handled hamper the expressions they are meant to make. That being said, the voice work and atmospheric noise in the game work incredibly well and help build a living world.

Overall

Although the story may lack a real hook to keep players enthralled outside of the standard power-grab and revenge mission, thanks to the powers and approachable options given to the player they will almost always feel like they have control over the situation though don’t expect the enemies to simply roll over for you as they are not only quite intelligent when searching but rather adept in battle. With this challenge and an amazing open feeling world to explore during missions, Dishonored 2 manages to expand upon the world and help refine the mechanics of the first entry to an even better level, making it worthwhile sequel to a game that surprised many years ago.

Grand Theft Auto Online’s Import/Export Update Launched

Maybe your criminal organization’s portfolio in Grand Theft Auto: Online needs a little diversification. As CEO of the company it’s up to you to break into new territory with the new “Import/Export” update. Players will now be able to steal high end luxury vehicles and sell them for a nice tidy profit. If sweet sweet GTA$ wasn’t enough to convince you to expand your enterprise, the update introduces a few special vehicles that can help players in future heists with guns and armour plating attached to them. These vehicles are all stored in the new vehicle warehouse buildings.

The update are introducing the following new vehicles:

Special Vehicles

  • BF Ramp Buggy
  • JoBuilt Phantom Edge
  • Karin Technical Aqua
  • Nagasaki Blazer Aqua
  • Brute Armored Boxville
  • MTL Wastelander
  • Imponte Ruiner 2000
  • Coil Rocket Voltic

Vehicles

  • Principe Diablous and Diablous Custom
  • Annis Elegy Retro Custom
  • Pegassi Tempesta
  • Ocelot Penetrator

Of course the biggest customization addition is likely the biggest one yet for Grand Theft Auto Online. Chose a nose you regret deeply? Or maybe the eye colour seemed really edgy and cool at the time. Characters can finally go under the knife and change their appearance. If you’re happy with your character’s appearance, then new stunt props are being added for Rockstar Editor’s Director mode and Play Together support for PlayStation 4 is now live. In case you needed more encouragement to start playing Grand Theft Auto Online, the game is currently the Midweek Madness sale on Steam, dropping the price down by 50%.

Finally, a new adversary mode is being added in “Import/Export.” Turf Wars pits two to four teams in a new car arena game. Players must drive over tiles to claim it from their team and the one with the most tiles wins. Of course, there’s an explosive twist to the game. The cars are armed with rockets and ammunition is scattered around the arena.

Grand Theft Auto Online “Import/Export” is now live for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-FsWvc_DIk&feature=youtu.be

The Last Guardian Review

The Last Guardian

Developer: genDESIGN, SIE Japan Studio
Publisher: Sony
Platform: PlayStation 4
Release Date: 7th December, 2016
Price: $59.99 USD – Available Here $99.95 AUD – Available Here

Overview

The Last Guardian is developed by the same team behind ICO and Shadow of the Colossus, two critically acclaimed games with cult followings, both of which I have always wanted to try out but just never got around to. Their newest title follows a similar theme, pairing an unnamed boy and a mythical beast named Trico (who I will refer to as him in this review although a gender is not implicitly implied) on an adventure to find answers. With a 10 year development cycle that sees The Last Guardian placed amongst the greatest of video game delay legends, is it possible for this game to live up to the hype? Our full spoiler free review is below.

Story

The story of The Last Guardian plays out slowly over the course of the game as you traverse your surroundings. A voice that is heavily hinted to be your future self narrates certain moments, mostly describing the current events or how he and the beast felt at any particular moment. Beautifully composed cutscenes jolt the story forward and fill in some blanks, particularly in the strong final act, but they are rare within the 10 or so hour long adventure. While events are shown to you they are often lightly detailed, leaving a lot of the story open to your own interpretation, an ideal that goes hand in hand with all the mystery this game shrouds you in. Where are we? What is Trico? How did the boy get his markings? These are all questions I had to stop myself from spoiling before I beat the game and I am glad I waited as almost all of my burning questions were eventually answered to some degree.

The deepening bond between the boy and Trico serves as a narrative in itself and it’s one I became invested in despite not really caring for the boy in this story. The boy doesn’t really get any development in the story but I feel the reasoning for this is the developers wanting you to project yourself onto the boy so that you are the one building a relationship with Trico, hence not giving the boy a name. Rest assured that overall the story is unsettling, intriguing and emotional throughout, with enough big story moments along the way to shock you and lay down a memorable and heartfelt tale with a satisfying ending.

Gameplay

The Last Guardian is not an action game despite many retail listings, I would place it in the puzzle/platforming genre personally. The closest comparison I can make is that the entirety of the game is like one massive dungeon from a 3D Legend of Zelda game with a large focus on puzzles and some platforming. You enter a new area, take in your surroundings and figure out how to advance, whether that be pulling levers, finding barrels to feed Trico, or dragging a box to the right location to use as a ledge. That all sounds rather par for the course for a game like this and honestly a lot of it is, but The Last Guardian seldom reuses any puzzles or solutions and remains mentally stimulating enough to not become boring. Not to mention you have the lovable Trico at your side who puts a unique twist into the games challenges with his ability to reach new places and take out the suits of armour that the boy can not combat on his own for the most part.

The game never gets too difficult, finding a very nice balance between simplistic and challenging even though I did get stumped a couple of times. Honestly this felt like it was mostly due to some poor design choices as I would seem to have the solution worked out but the game wouldn’t let me perform said solution. A perfect example of this is when I came to this half destroyed bridge. In a couple of similar situations before Trico would easily clear that with a jump, however because the game is strictly linear and wants you to do it a certain way, Trico will just sit there and not jump. Trico not listening to you is both a part of his charm as a real beast and frustrating, more so frustrating when it’s several minutes before he finally carries out the command you have been screaming at him to perform. I love Trico but the weakest puzzle solutions in The Last Guardian involve you simply waiting for Trico to activate a large switch or jump to the next area as it makes the game extremely passive.

The voice of the future boy provides tips on how to advance if you ever get stuck for too long (or that I later found out if you meditate using the L3 button, this game does have an issue with not telling you some of these helpful commands), which was an appreciated feature in my play through as sometimes your next goal can be unclear, particularly at the beginning on the game. The hints aren’t too on the nose either, still allowing you to figure out a part of the puzzle for yourself. Unfortunately they become near useless towards the end of your adventure as when I used it later on I was just given an old irrelevant hint on an area I had long passed or a story explanation instead. Luckily Trico steps up here as your bond strengthens, often leading you to your next goal if you observe him long enough.

Now let’s dedicate an entire paragraph to how amazing Trico is. This beast is the most realistic and advanced (in terms of being believable not purely intelligence) partner AI I have seen in a game to date. The dog/cat inspirations are obvious here as Trico whimpers, growls, scratches at doors and even rolls over in puddles of waters just like a family pet. Trico has so much personality and interacts with the world incredibly naturally, even behaving well in tight environments. I couldn’t help but smile as he sat down to scratch his ears or sat at the edge of a cliff looking at the boy while he swam in the water below, only coming down when there was a barrel of food as a reward. Trico is the best part of this game hands down. His design, his actions, his story, his evolution throughout the game both physically and in his bond with the boy and his implementation into most of the gameplay puzzles is near perfect. If you don’t get attached to Trico then you might need to see a doctor to check if you have a heart.

What you might not love as much are the controls which are a bit of a mess here. Movement doesn’t feel precise as it should be and climbing or trying to jump off Trico or a rope in a particular direction can be a real task sometimes. The Last Guardian seldom requires precise movement but when it does you may find the controls lacking. Luckily the game is very forgiving with it’s checkpoint system meaning you shouldn’t have to replay anymore than 30 seconds of game time if you do die, an occurrence that was very rare for me outside of high falls caused by the controls or when an impromptu cutscene would take away control of the main character only to give it back at a really awkward time. The unchangeable obscure button layout doesn’t aid the situation and the fact that the controls constantly have to pop up in the corner of the screen to remind you of what buttons to press to perform an action is a testament to that. Having the circle button perform multiple tasks can be a pain at times, with the biggest example of this being if you’re trying to pat Trico and there are a bunch of items on the ground the boy can pick up.

The camera doesn’t help the control issue and sad to say it’s a bit of a mess as well. At times the camera does a great job capturing the perfect angle to show off the massive size of this games world, but put the camera in a small windowsill between two rooms or up against your back when Trico is nearby and you’re going to have problems. One time my screen went completely black and nothing I did got me out of it for a while leading to a small panic. The game also handles the ‘camera reset’ in a very jarring way, with a quick fade to black before it happens instead of just cutting straight to the new shot. This leads to multiple occasions where the screen repeatedly fades to black as the camera tries to adjust itself. These issues will pop up but you can get past them easily with a bit of patience.

I know I’ve probably made the controls seem absolutely awful here but I stress that they are manageable and after an hour or so you will get used to them. The game does enough right to make putting up with these technical issues worth it. The majority of the puzzles are fun and while the platforming is rather basic for most of the game, figuring the correct way to scale a tower or make it across a gap is just as satisfying as solving a puzzle, especially when Trico helps out. Gameplay isn’t The Last Guardian‘s strongest card by any means but it’s decent enough that it won’t hinder your enjoyment of everything else it brings to the table.

Graphics

The Last Guardian is beautiful. Once again Trico is the star of the show here, with the amount of visual fidelity in it’s fur, whiskers and feathers being nothing short of amazing. The way Trico fits in with the environment is technically impressive, only once did I ever notice Trico ever glitch out graphically or even clip any other objects and that was in a rather poorly designed water section. The environments are well designed and detailed outside of a couple of low quality textures, keeping a mostly monochrome colour palette that makes areas with lots of flora feel refreshing. The light cel shader applied to the game gives it a whimsical feel which suits the gameplay, story and environments perfectly. At times the light saturation effect might be applied too strong but this seems to be a distinct visual choice by the developers. The lighting is generally a high point but there are some odd times where it completely shifts tone unrealistically when entering a new area.

Those graphics obviously take a toll on performance here though, with a frame rate that fairly frequently dips below it’s 30 FPS cap, sometimes to a crawl, mostly moments where Trico is on the move or during cinematics. It’s not a game breaking issue by any stretch, but it does occur frequently enough to take a little wonder out of the games impressive visuals and can really take you out of the moment when it happens during a big story scene which sucks. This was played on a basic PS4 but if you have a PS4 Pro available to you I recommend using that as I have heard most Pro users are getting a consistent 30 FPS using the 1080p mode.

Audio

The orchestral soundtrack consists of a low number of tracks and is used sparingly in The Last Guardian, but considering the games length and theme that all works wonders here, really adding emphasis to each moment where music is applied. Whether you’re getting chased by one of those animated guards or clinging to life on the edge of a cliff the soundtrack adds a new dimension to the tension or emotion felt by the player. Discovering a wide open area for the first time with a track that compliments that new found feeling of freedom and wonder was a great memorable moment.

Outside of the music all the sound effects, the fictional language and any sound associated with Trico from his roars to his whimpers round out the games atmosphere perfectly in crystal clear quality. Top marks for the soundtrack and audio design in The Last Guardian.

Overall

I can’t say The Last Guardian was worth a 10 year wait but this is still a strong, unique experience that will appeal to gamers who have patience and can appreciate games as an art form and story telling method rather than just as entertainment. The beautiful, intriguing story paired with the gorgeous graphics, masterful audio and all the love that is put into every ounce of Trico’s being is something I hope a lot of gamers will try and then appreciate. The meat of the platforming and puzzle based game play may be rather generic outside of Trico’s involvement but it remains challenging enough to dispel boredom for the games duration. Controls, performance and minor camera issues aside, The Last Guardian is an unforgettable experience.