Mai Shiranui Joins the Dead or Alive: Last Round Roster on September 13

-

September 7, 2016

Mai Shiranui Joins the Dead or Alive: Last Round Roster on September 13

Two months ago Koei Tecmo announced that they would be bringing Fatal Fury and The King of Fighters‘ most familiar face, Mai Shiranui, to Dead or Alive: Last Round sometime soon and now we know exactly when she will be released for the game.

With the below trailer, where a couple of outfits that Mai will be released with are also shown off, the company revealed that she will be released on September 13th but it is worth noting that the company did not announce how much she will cost, though previous DLC characters have been priced at $5.99 a piece.

FINAL EPIC CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS III DLC PACK, SALVATION, AVAILABLE NOW ON PLAYSTATION 4

Press Releases

Philip Federico

-

September 7, 2016

0

FINAL EPIC CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS III DLC PACK, SALVATION, AVAILABLE NOW ON PLAYSTATION 4

Fourth Black Ops III DLC Brings It Home, Concluding Treyarch Zombies Saga via Grand Finale, and a Quadruple Threat of Thrilling Multiplayer Maps

Salvation Completes an Epic Season of Content for the Best-Selling Console Video Game on Next Generation Platforms*

September 7, 2016 – The monumental fourth and final DLC map pack for Call of Duty®: Black Ops III, the best-selling console video game on next generation platforms*, Salvation, is now available on PlayStation 4, with other next-gen platforms to follow**. Published by Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. [Nasdaq: ATVI] and developed by Treyarch, Salvation delivers the thrilling climax of the Zombies Origins saga plus four exciting multiplayer maps.

“The team at Treyarch has worked tirelessly to make this an incredible year for Call of Duty: Black Ops III players and we hope fans have as much fun playing it as we had making it,” said Mark Lamia, Studio Head, Treyarch. “The release of Revelations has a great deal of sentimental value: it has been an adventure eight years in the making, and a very special journey that we’ve taken with our fans.”

Salvation features Revelations, the finale of the Origins Zombies saga. In Revelations, this final chapter of the Zombies experience, Richtofen, Dempsey, Takeo, and Nikolai – having traveled through space and time – finally discover the identity of the mysterious Doctor Monty in The House. As the heroes face-off against an ancient evil, they must hold the zombie horde back in the ultimate battle between human and undead.

Salvation also includes four new action-packed multiplayer maps set within the ancient walls of a medieval fortress, to the dusty streets of an old-west town.

Citadel: Once home to a powerful medieval army, this ancient castle now sits broken and abandoned. Tight corners force close-quarters engagements, while the moat and drawbridge allows for unique player movement opportunities in this mid-sized map.
Micro: What’s better than a BBQ on a hot summer day? A miniaturized war zone that takes place on a well-stocked family picnic table. Navigate this bite-size battlefield for a larger-than-life experience.
Outlaw: Gear up for a showdown in Outlaw; a western-style re-imagining of the fan favourite map Standoff from Call of Duty®: Black Ops II. This rough-and-tough medium-sized map brings classic engagements, flanking routes and strategic positions for long and medium ranged combat.
Rupture: The Call of Duty®: World at War classic Outskirts is re-imagined as a high-tech facility, designed by a futuristic society desperate to repair the Earth’s atmosphere. Take control of one of the facility’s mechs to unleash a barrage of heavy machine gun and rocket destruction.

Salvation is now available for pre-order on PlayStation 4 at a discounted rate via the Call of Duty: Black Ops III DLC Season Pass***, which also features the three DLC Map Packs already released this year, as part of the discounted bundle offered at a suggested retail price of AUD$64.95. Individual purchase of DLC Map Packs, including Salvation, is at a suggested retail price of AUD$19.95. Starting today, pre-order Call of Duty: Black Ops III Salvation for PlayStation 4 to receive an exclusive Revelations dynamic theme. Call of Duty: Black Ops III is rated R18+ for High Impact Violence and Online Interactivity by the Australian Classification Board.

Call of Duty: Black Ops III Salvation is out now for PlayStation 4 games and entertainment system from Sony, with other next-gen platform availability to follow**.

*Based on North American physical game sales as of April 1, 2016.

**Salvation DLC content not available on PS3 or Xbox 360.

***Season Pass content not available on PS3 or Xbox 360. Downloadable content in the Season Pass may be sold separately. If you purchase the DLC Season Pass offering, do not also purchase these standalone DLC Map Packs, as you will be charged for them. DLC Season Pass and DLC Map Packs may not be available on all platforms or in all territories. Pricing and release dates may vary by platform. Call of Duty: Black Ops III game required; sold separately.

About Treyarch

Treyarch is an award-winning video game studio, driven by the desire to create epic gameplay experiences that are enjoyed by as many video game fans as possible. It is an approach that has helped to make the studio behind the Call of Duty®: Black Ops series of games, an industry-leading developer. Call of Duty: Black Ops set an entertainment launch opening record upon its release in 2010 and continues to be one of the best-selling games of all time, according to NPD and GfK Chart-Track; Call of Duty: Black Ops II set world-wide launch day records; and the studio’s most recent Call of Duty: Black Ops III had the biggest entertainment opening weekend of 2015, and was the #1 console game globally for the calendar year. Additionally, Treyarch is the birthplace of Call of Duty’s Zombies. Treyarch is wholly owned by Activision Publishing, Inc.

About Activision Publishing, Inc.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading global producer and publisher of interactive entertainment. Activision maintains operations throughout the world and is a division of Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI), an S&P 500 company. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company’s website, www.activision.com or by following @Activision.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in this press release that involves Activision Publishing’s expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future, including statements about the expected Call of Duty: Black Ops III Salvation release on other platforms, are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause Activision Publishing’s actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release include unanticipated product delays and other factors identified in the risk factors sections of Activision Blizzard’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to Activision Publishing and Activision Blizzard as of the date of this release, and neither Activision Publishing nor Activision Blizzard assumes any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of the future performance of Activision Publishing or Activision Blizzard and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond its control and may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.

THE LEGEND OF HEROES: TRAILS OF COLD STEEL II BLAZES A PATH TO LAUNCH IN NORTH AMERICA, OFFICIALLY RELEASED TODAY

Press Releases

Philip Federico

-

September 7, 2016

0

THE LEGEND OF HEROES: TRAILS OF COLD STEEL II BLAZES A PATH TO LAUNCH IN NORTH AMERICA, OFFICIALLY RELEASED TODAY

Continue the Journey That Began in the Critically Acclaimed ‘The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel’ on PlayStation®3 and PlayStation®Vita, Courtesy of Publisher XSEED Games

Torrance, Calif., – September 6, 2016 – XSEED Games, the independent-minded console publishing brand of Marvelous USA, Inc., today announced that The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II has officially launched for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and PlayStation®Vita handheld entertainment system in North America both physically at retail and digitally on the PlayStation®Store for a suggested retail price of $39.99. Series fans can pick up right where they left off in The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel, receiving bonus stats and items as well as additional dialogue options for carrying over their save data. It’s also the perfect time for new players interested in the series to pick up the first game, on sale digitally for 50% off on the PlayStation®Store for $19.99 through September 13. DLC outfits for the first game are also on sale for 50% off during this time.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II picks up one month after the decisive collision which changed the fate of the entire nation at the conclusion of Trails of Cold Steel. Speedy, tactical turn-based combat with the newly-developed “ARCUS” system returns with all the bells and whistles players fondly remember alongside a new Overdrive mode, new means of transportation across both the land and sky, new allies, new dangers, and a renewed sense of hope as Rean tirelessly works to right the wrongs that have led the country to disarray.

Cross-Save functionality between the game’s “PS Vita” and PS3™ editions remains supported, and save data from the first game grants bonus stats and extra items. In addition, relationships cultivated during the earlier time players spent at Thors Military Academy affect future story elements and allow for more personalized conversations throughout the game.

For more information on the game and where it can be purchased, visit the official site for The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II at: www.trailsofcoldsteel.com/cs2. Additional insight into the game and the “Trails” series in general can be found at XSEED’s official Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/XSEEDTrails/

Developed by Nihon Falcom and published by XSEED Games in North America, The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II is now available both physically and digitally for PS3™ and “PS Vita” systems for a suggested retail price of $39.99. The title has been rated “T for Teen” by the ESRB.

For more information on XSEED Games products, please visit www.xseedgames.com. Fans can also follow XSEED Games on Facebook at www.facebook.com/XSEEDGames and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/XSEEDGames.

Batman: Return to Arkham Comparison Trailer and New Release Date

Nathan Farrugia

-

September 7, 2016

0

Batman: Return to Arkham Comparison Trailer and New Release Date

There’s no doubting the Batman Arkham games were some of the highlights of the previous generation so it’s no surprise both Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City would receive the ever popular remaster treatment. After a fairly hefty delay with no release date in sight, it has now been officially announced Batman: Return to Arkham will now launch on October 18th, 2016 in NA and on the 21st in Europe. The game will be available for the both the PS4 and Xbox One.

Benefits of this remastered version include redone graphics, including a move from Unreal 3 to the Unreal 4 engine which allows for betting lighting effects, higher quality character models and higher resolution textures. Both games on both platforms will also include all previously released DLC, this includes pre-order bonuses such as being able to play as the Joker for select challenge maps in Arkham Asylum for the PS3. It is confirmed the games will run at 1080p at 30FPS.

You can form your own opinion of the improvements yourself by watching the latest trailer below. Personally both these titles rank among the best games I have ever played but given how much time I’ve put into their original GOTY versions, the improvements here don’t really warrant a repurchase for me. However if you have not checked out these games yet I strongly encourage you to do so even if you’re not a Batman fan.

The Batman license is seeing a healthy amount of new game additions this year, with the launch of the Telltale Batman series and Batman:Arkham VR exclusively for the PS4.

New Pokemon, Photo Mode and More Sun & Moon News in Latest Trailer

Nathan Farrugia

-

September 6, 2016

0

New Pokemon, Photo Mode and More Sun & Moon News in Latest Trailer

New Pokemon Sun & Moon information seems to have become a weekly occurrence and this week was no exception with the Pokemon YouTube Channel dropping another 3 minute video containing more new Pokemon, a new group of people and some other interesting side quests and game modes. I’ll break everything down with as much information as we currently have to make it easier to digest everything revealed within the video.

Let’s start with the new Pokemon. We got three completely new Pokemon here and a visual of the Alolan form or Raticate. The first is probably the most interesting of the new lot. It’s name is Type: Null (yes that’s the actual name). Despite the name the Pokemon itself is pretty unremarkable, it’s a Normal type with Battle Armour ability which doesn’t let the opponent land critical hits on it. Extra information from the Pokemon website mentions the mask is extremely heavy slowing this Pokemon down, meaning it will probably have low speed but very high attack or defences.

The next new Pokemon is a small Dragon type that will probably evolve. It’s name is Jangmo-o and has the ability Soundproof or Bulletproof. Alolan Raticate was also revealed, maintaining it’s type and ability from Alolan Ratatta. It is a Dark/Normal type with the ability Gluttony or Hustle.

The Pokemon shown at the very end of the trailer was referred to as an Ultra Beast. The name given was simply UB01, so we don’t know if that’s a tentative name or just another wierd name like Type: Null. No type or ability was revealed for this Pokemon which seems to be some sort of legendary or at least on par with them. My educated guess is that the Ultra Beast are the trio of this generation, similar to the Legendary Birds Zapdos, Articuno and Moltres and all the trio’s that came after them. The Pokemon site mentions multiple Ultra Beasts exist, each of them called by a code name. The newly revealed team which I’ll discuss later are researching these powerful Pokemon. It is also possible that the Ultra Beast are not Pokemon at all, with the website not listing it under the Pokemon section unlike every other Pokemon revealed.

Alright Pokemon Snap fans get hyped. It seems Sun & Moon will feature a photo taking mode however only in specific photo spots. You can then capture a picture of whatever Pokemon is in that area. The pictures you take will be evaluated, and as you take better pictures, more features like the ability to zoom in will become available.

The trailer went into a bit of detail about what some of the differences between Sun and Moon will be. One big difference is that the games will be set 12 hours apart, so except for a few key scenes, Pokémon Sun will operates on the same time as your Nintendo 3DS system, but time in the world of Pokémon Moon will be shifted ahead by 12 hours. Apparently this will cause some events to play out differently. Totem Pokemon will also differ between versions, for example the first Totem Pokemon in Sun will be Yungoos, while in Moon it will be Alolan Raticate. Lastly, as usual, different Pokemon appear exclusively to each game.

Now for more on the Aether Foundation which I mentioned earlier. The Aether Foundation has constructed an artificial island called Aether Paradise, with the main goal being to protect injured Pokemon and protect them from Team Skull. There, they not only provide shelter for Pokémon, but also conduct various research projects. The main character will also be able to visit Aether Paradise during the adventure. The Foundation is made up of three main members and a bunch of generic employees.

Speaking briefly of Team Skull, a new Enforcer level member named Gladion has been revealed. His main partner is the newly revealed Type: Null.

Closing off the news is the reveal of a Zygarde side quest that will allow you to collect Zygarde Cells and Zygarde Cores. After receiving the Zygarde Cube from Sina and Dexia who are actually returning characters from X & Y, you will then have to travel around Alola, keeping an eye out for shiny items on the ground which are Zygarde Cells or Cores. The website says that collecting lots of Cores and Cells may make the path to obtaining Zygarde become clear.

All this information comes after recent news in a Nintendo Direct that there will be a special Munchlax distribution for those who buy the games and access the Mystery Gift feature before January 11th 2017. This Munchlax is special in that it will come with a Snorlium Z, which allows Snorlax to perform his special Z Move Pulvering Pancake. This is very important as it confirms that some Pokemon will have character specific Z moves. Another confirmed Pokemon to have a unique Z move is Alolan Raichu, with Stoked Sparkedsurfer. Alolan Rattata was also confirmed with Alolan Raticate being shown off in this latest batch of news.

Europe and Australia are also receiving a special light blue Nintendo 2DS with either Pokemon Sun or Moon preinstalled. The 2DS has an Australian launch date of December 1st, while the New 3DSXL Limited Edition featuring Solgaleo and Lunala on the cover will release on November 3rd. Pokemon Sun and Moon releases on November 18th for the Nintendo 3DS. You can watch the brand new trailer below. I’ve also included the Japanese one below as it features fairly different footage and shows off some other announced Pokemon in action for the first time.

English Trailer

Japanese Trailer

CC Weekly #7 – Epic New Titan’s & Hitman’s Full Release!

Victor Zanta

-

September 6, 2016

0

CC Weekly #7 – Epic New Titan’s & Hitman’s Full Release!

It’s a huge week of announcements this time around with release dates for games like Hitman Season 1 and Metal Gear Solid 5 Definitive Experience release dates. As well as the most epic 1 Minute and 11 seconds of the last week in a special trailer.

Review

– Livelock Review

News

– Titanfall 2 Trailer Introduces the Titans
– Hitman: The Complete First Season Releasing on January 31
– Deus Ex: Mankind Divided ‘System Rift’ DLC Arrives on September 23
– Metal Gear Solid V: The Definitive Experience Officially Announced
– Battlefield 1 Beta Let’s Play

Leon the Professional Review

Mateja Simovic

-

September 6, 2016

0

Leon the Professional

Studios: Les Films Du Dauphin, Gaumont
Publisher: Buena Vista International
Platforms: Cinema
Release Date: Out Now

Overview

I’ll be honest and say that before I was called upon to watch Léon the Professional for work, I did not know much about Luc Besson’s work besides The Fifth Element. Leon was his immediate directorial project previous to Fifth Element and that it apparently had some pretty great work by Gary Oldman which earned him a spot as the villain in the sci-fi spectacle. With some basic research behind me, I donned my trench coat and beanie (to not catch a cold) and headed down to George st cinemas for the In the House screening.

Anthony Kierann and David ‘Quinny’ Quinn were the hosts for the evening and set about warming up the audience. After a quick game of ‘heads or tails’ with the entire cinema, with the winner getting a prize, the two MCs sat down for a quick chat about the film’s trivia. In particular they spoke about some of the film’s more controversial elements and how the film’s director, Luc Besson, worked with the actors. A tidbit that I found quite amusing for instance was the fact that Portman’s parents had some pretty stringent stipulations about what her character would and would not do… down to the specific number of cigarettes her character would smoke and the fact that she would quit by the end of the film.

Story

The film follows the work and life of the eponymous Léon (Jean Reno), who works as a hitman for the Italian mafia in New York. His existence is a lonely but exciting one as he expertly and viciously works to complete his contracts. Although he is brutally efficient and possibly downright psychopathic in his work, he still has a kind heart for the young daughter of his neighbour named Mathilda (Natalie Portman). When Mathilda’s family are killed off by corrupt cop, Norman Stansfield (Gary Oldman), Léon is the one who makes the fateful decision to take her into his care. An unusual bond forms between the pair as Léon teaches Mathilda the ways of the hitman. As this new bond forms, Mathilda still hungers to avenge her family and take down Stansfield.

The performances from the leads was absolutely top-notch in this film with Reno, Portman, and Oldman all pulling out stellar performances with actually quite nuanced depth. Oldman in particular is absolutely terrifying in his unerring portrayal of the drug addicted Stansfield. His every movement onscreen is a frightening mixture of barely restrained impulses as he twitches and menaces his way through the film. It’s a performance which is at once over-the-top melodramatic villainy as he charges into an apartment to the tune of an orchestral score only he can hear (I kid you not) alongside more plain intimidation as he waves a gun around non-chalantly at other characters.

Portman does an excellent turn as the streetwise but still very young Mathilda. Portman gives the character a nuanced depth as someone who has experienced more than fair share of life’s troubles but is ultimately still naïve about much of the world. She’s strong but also quite emotionally vulnerable, which makes her character both compelling and confronting. Jean Reno is a master of facial expression and contortion. I don’t believe I’ve seen an actor who, in the same film, could exude the cool, calm and collected demeanour of a mafia hitman alongside the goofy expressions of a very awkward middle-aged man when the film called for it. Both these characters are played charmingly awkward by the actors which helps to endear you to them even as they wantonly commit murder.

I’m going to address the elephant in the room and admit that this film was not an entirely comfortable viewing experience for me. The presence of sexual tension between the two protagonists was deeply unsettling for me… purely from the fact that one of the characters is a pre-pubescent child. I definitely recommend viewer discretion if this material is something which you’re sensitive to as, although it isn’t as bad some other cinematic examples, I know its presence alone can cause severe distress in some viewers. To be fair, the film does lampshade this quite often with Léon’s humorous reactions to Mathilda’s advances, which I feel defuses some of this tension for the audience… nonetheless, seeing an 11 year old girl proposition a grown man is a bit jarring. I enjoyed the experience of the film all the same, but I feel that this is worth mentioning here.

Visuals

The visual direction in this film certainly has some wonderfully crafted sequences. Besson’s mastery of the cinematic frame is on full display here as we go from wonderfully composed shots of close-ups of Reno and Portman to wide shots of the city. The imagery is striking and powerful with the film cutting these shots in amongst moments of action and awkwardness with ease. My particular favourite occurs at the start of the film where Léon reaches out from the shadows to threaten his target with a knife. It’s a cool shot to see Reno’s hands and face appear suddenly from the shadows which we then see in reverse as he recedes away from the light after his job is finished. It’s menacing, it’s visually captivating, and it shows you how much of a professional the eponymous Léon truly is. Its camerawork like this which reminds you of the artistic possibilities of the cinematic medium.

Audio

The soundtrack is decidedly Mediterranean with a distinct French feel to it which I enjoyed. There’s plenty of classical guitars accordions throughout which give the film a somewhat exotic vibe. Other than reinforcing the Mediterranean and foreign origins (from an American’s point of view) of Léon, it also has a melancholy feel to a lot of the tracks. Shape of my Heart by Sting as the closing piece of the film certainly exemplifies this musical tone which the film uses. It’s certainly different to what I’m normally used to in these sorts of films and it helped to reinforce the narrative themes of the story.

Overall

I very much enjoyed this film, despite my own discomfort, and was very happy to see it on the big screen. The characters are all nuanced and intriguing with the actors pulling out wonderful performances throughout. The visuals are compelling with a strong sense of a talented auteur at the helm. The audio design is also similarly of a high quality with a strong thematic tie to the film’s narrative. I have no problem recommending this film to others… as long as I am certain that they are not going to be upset by the subject material. Kudos to the folks at In the House for being brave enough to screen this film!

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.

The Walking Dead: A New Frontier to Launch in November

Travis Bruno

-

September 5, 2016

0

The Walking Dead: A New Frontier to Launch in November

Over the weekend Telltale Games announced at PAX West that the upcoming third season of their The Walking Dead series now has an official name and that it will be premiering in November. The third season will be called The Walking Dead: A New Frontier where it will be available for consoles, PC, and mobile platforms digitally and eventually will be available at retail as part of a “Season Pass Disc.”

Telltale went on to detail that players will continue to follow the story of Clementine who is now a teenager and tries to keep secretive about her past while trying to protect herself and described a bit more about the new character Javier who is a man struggling to keep his family together in the new world.

Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary World Tour Announced for October

Travis Bruno

-

September 5, 2016

0

Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary World Tour Announced for October

Gearbox Software has announced that in order to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the release of Duke Nukem 3D that the company will be releasing Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary World Tour for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on October 11th. The title will feature the classic 1996 title plus a new episode featuring eight levels designed by Allen Blum III and Richard “Levelord” Gray.

The game will also feature new music and new one liners from Duke Nukem’s original voice actor, Jon St. John. You can check out the announcement trailer as well as some screenshots of Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary World Tour below.

MeiQ: Labyrinth of Death Final World Building Trailer Released

Travis Bruno

-

September 5, 2016

0

MeiQ: Labyrinth of Death Final World Building Trailer Released

Over the past couple of weeks Idea Factory International has been releasing simple world building trailers for MeiQ: Labyrinth of Death and now they have released the third and final video focusing on giving players a small sample of what they can expect from the challenges that the Machina Mages and Estra will face off against on their quest as the being narrating these videos believes in their power.

The full video can be found below while MeiQ: Labyrinth of Death is set to be released on September 13th in North America and Europe for the PS Vita.