SKYFORGE INTRODUCES NEW CAMPAIGN MAP FOR ASCENSION EXPANSION
New Update Will Streamline Player Progress and Consolidate Systems
Amsterdam, The Netherlands – September 9, 2016 – Developer Allods Team and global publisher My.com are proud to reveal more details about Ascension, a massive expansion for Skyforge. The brand new campaign map is an interactive map of Aelion and the interface that will be the key location for character development! All the current systems in the game for progression and development of characters (symbols, ascension atlas, divine specializations) will be represented on the Campaign map. Here players will be able to unlock new classes and explore new skills and symbols which were previously spread across multiple interfaces. The map will let players choose their own rewards on their journey through Skyforge. Progression will now be represented by opening up regions you play through towards your goals – currencies will be a thing of the past. The Ascension expansion will be available to all players as soon as this fall!
The updates and enhancements in the Ascension expansion for Skyforge include the following:
Extended Combat Mechanics: Combat will become even more interesting thanks to an extended combat system. When you defeat monsters, players can take their weapons or even part of their bodies to use them against other enemies! Battles will become more diverse and tactical through the ability to kite enemies and dodge attacks more consistently.
New Politics System: The Council of Gods is a completely new political system. From now on, immortals can elect who the world of Aelion will answer to for a few weeks. In their hands, the leaders will hold power, resources, and the fate of the people. Players will be able to elect or be elected, and take control!
A New Raid for All Gods: Another great danger awaits: the menacing Tol-Monter, great god of the Oceanids, has sent his ships to Aelion! Tol-Monter is an unusual avatar, therefore gods who confront him can expect serious challenges. However, it is not just the strongest immortals that can fight him. Anyone who has received their Divine Form can go into battle against this great god – and win!
Brand-new Class: The Outlaw: A charismatic, daring and dangerous hero, who expertly wields two pistols and also, when necessary, dynamite. Enemies would do well not to underestimate this new combatant.
Skyforge is a free-to-play MMORPG set in a universe where mortals and immortals use cutting edge technology to fight for survival against mythical creatures and invaders from space. Players start as immortals, newly reborn into the world and vie to become gods themselves.
To learn more about Skyforge and to download for free today, visit sf.my.com. ‘Like’ the game on Facebook and follow the game’s development on Twitter @GodsofSkyforge for all the latest developer updates and news.
KOEI TECMO AMERICA ANNOUNCES PRE-ORDER BONUSES FOR NOBUNAGA’S AMBITION: SPHERE OF INFLUENCE – ASCENSION
Series-First ‘Officer Play’ Revealed, Placing Players in the Boots of a Warring States Officer; New Trailer Showcases Warfare and Strategic Options
Burlingame Calif. – September 9, 2016 – KOEI TECMO America today announced new information on the bonus content available to those who pre-order Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence – Ascension prior to its upcoming release on October 25, 2016. Fresh screenshots and a new trailer have also been released today, which showcase various types of warfare and strategic options available to players in Ascension. The standalone follow-up to the critically-acclaimed historical simulation title will be available on the PlayStation® 4 computer entertainment system and digitally on Windows PC via Steam®.
Players who pre-order Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence – Ascension from Amazon, Best Buy, EB Canada and GameStop will receive the Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII 30 Face CG Set, providing players with 30 CG portraits of legendary and fan-favorite characters from Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII, as well as the William Adams and Megohime Officer Data which unlocks the historic characters for use in gameplay. Alternatively, purchasing through the PlayStation® Store will grant Officer Data for the key retainer of the Sanada clan, Oyamada Shigemasa, and the wife of Shigemasa, Lady Muramatsu.
In Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence – Ascension, players can experience all aspects of the life of a Warring States officer in Sengoku Era Japan. For the first time in the long-running series, players can advance from a retainer to a Daimyō – a feudal lord – with Officer Play. This mode opens a world of possibilities in which players can rise through the ranks by conquering the land, following orders and advancing in status, allying with and receiving aid from other clans, or by claiming independence and leaving their own mark on this chaotic yet compelling period of Japanese history.
The exciting new Officer Play mode also affects the way battles are experienced, as players will have the opportunity to witness thrilling and historic battles first-hand through the eyes of an officer. Aiding in victory or defeat, every command made will affect the outcome of battle, and bonuses are awarded for successful deployment of a new strategy. This installment also introduces Combat Quests: extra missions that appear during the course of battle and provide extra rewards upon completion. These dynamic objectives change based upon the tide of war and allow for more in-depth and dramatic battle experiences.
Players will be able to exploit the entire breadth of strategic options available to them in Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence – Ascensionwith the introduction of two new types of warfare: Siege and Naval battles. Full-scale Siege battles create strategic situations that allow blockades to be deployed as a defensive mechanism, as well as the use of tunnels and cannons to gain an advantage over a defending opponent. Naval battles provide the option to carry out skirmishes and strategic blockades on oceans to overcome the enemy from every angle.
For more information and to stay up-to-date on the latest news for Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence – Ascension, including detailed descriptions of the historical personalities that shaped Sengoku Era Japan, please visit the official site at www.koeitecmoamerica.com/ascension, Like KOEI TECMO America on Facebook at www.facebook.com/koeitecmous, and become part of the #KTfamily by following KOEI TECMO America on Twitter at @KoeiTecmoUS.
ABOUT KOEI TECMO AMERICA CORP.
KOEI TECMO AMERICA CORP. is a publisher of interactive entertainment software for current generation consoles, handhelds and digital download content based in Burlingame, California. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD., headquartered in Yokohama, Japan. KOEI is best known for its Dynasty Warriors® and Samurai Warriors® franchises. TECMO is best known for the Dead or Alive®, Ninja Gaiden®, Tecmo Bowl®, and Fatal Frame® series.
TRAVEL TO THE PAST TO SAVE THE WORLD’S FUTURE WHEN DRAGON QUEST VII: FRAGMENTS OF THE FORGOTTEN PAST ARRIVES ON NINTENDO 3DS ON 17TH SEPTEMBER
The classic RPG adventure arrives in Australia and New Zealand for the first time, rebuilt from the ground-up in 3D 9th September 2016 – When Auster and Prince Kiefer are determined to prove there’s more to life than their island home, they soon stumble into a quest that will see them travelling through time in order to save the fate of their world in DRAGON QUEST VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past, coming to Nintendo 3DS family systems on 17th September.
Making its debut in Australia and New Zealand, DRAGON QUEST VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past is the latest in the long-running Dragon Quest RPG series. This instalment of the series has been rebuilt from the ground-up in 3D, and represents the latest in a great line-up of RPGs on Nintendo 3DS family systems this year, including Bravely Second™: End Layer and Fire Emblem Fates.
In this handheld re-imagining, DRAGON QUEST VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past begins when, in their quest to prove their island isn’t alone in the world, life-long friends Auster, Prince Kiefer and Maribel find themselves embarking on a journey that will see them travel through time and rescue civilisations long-forgotten in order to save the future. By collecting fragments of tablets and putting them back together again, the intrepid heroes can travel to new places and past dungeons in order to restore the world in this truly massive adventure.
To aid in their fight against evil forces, Auster, Prince Kiefer and friends can be customised with over 50 different vocations, allowing them to specialise in a wide variety of classes that allow players to take more control of the battlefield. From Warrior to Mage to Martial Artist, each brings new strategies to the fight, and through the use of special items, heroes can even take on Vocations that allow them to fight as monsters, such as Dragon Quest’s memorable slime enemy.
During their travels, adventurers can not only fight as monsters, but will also be able to discover, befriend, and collect over 200 types of monsters to help grow their personal Monster Meadow. By populating the Meadow with monsters found throughout time, players can eventually send monsters out on scouting missions into special caves that can’t be explored by humans in order to find traveller’s tablets that grant access to special new dungeons. In addition, players can connect to the internet to download exclusive tablets that provide additional dungeons where extremely powerful monsters and rare weapons are waiting to be discovered.
As well as the Monster Meadows, monsters can also be invited to live in the player’s Haven. By inviting people and monsters into their Haven that they’ve met through their travels or via special dungeons, heroes will eventually be able to develop new buildings and settlements in their quest to cultivate the best civilisation and make their village the ideal place to live.
Travel to the past to save the world’s future when DRAGON QUEST VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past launches for the first time in Australia and New Zealand on 17th September for Nintendo 3DS family systems.
2K today revealed “Who’s Next?,” the debut WWE 2K17 gameplay trailer for the forthcoming release in the flagship WWE video game franchise. Set to “Bad Boy for Life” from the game’s executive soundtrack producer, Sean “Diddy” Combs a.k.a. Puff Daddy, “Who’s Next?” provides an extended look at a variety of WWE and NXT Superstars in action across entrances, in-ring and backstage areas, including WWE Universal Champion Kevin Owens, WWE World Champion Dean Ambrose, Raw Women’s Champion Charlotte, Raw Tag Team Champions The New Day, NXT Champion Shinsuke Nakamura and NXT Women’s Champion Asuka.
Developed collaboratively by Yuke’s and Visual Concepts, a 2K studio, WWE 2K17 is rated PEGI 16. WWE 2K17 is currently scheduled for worldwide release on October 11, 2016 for the PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems, as well as Xbox One and Xbox 360. Consumers who pre-order WWE 2K17 at any participating retailer will receive two playable characters of legendary WCW® and WWE star Bill Goldberg, well as playable WCW Monday Nitro and Halloween Havoc arenas, at no extra cost on launch day.
To learn more about the WWE 2K17 roster – Suplex City Census – and experience the interactive maps revealing residents of Suplex City’s neighborhoods, as well as all roster members announced to date, visit wwe.2k.com/suplexcity.
For more information on all aspects of WWE 2K17, visit wwe.2k.com. In addition, fans can check out WWE 2K17 on Facebook, follow the game on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #WWE2K17 or subscribe on YouTube.
With the release of The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel late last year began a trilogy of games that started out incredibly strong and now after leaving off with a cliffhanger to an amazing game. Now English fans have only had to wait nine months to see how the story will continue in The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II. So now that this sequel has been released, will this series manage to still deliver the same quality we loved from the first entry?
Story
Where some sequels tend to simply take place in the same world as the first game and might only feature cameo appearances from past characters, The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II is an almost direct sequel to the first game. This means that while it is not necessarily required to play through the first game to understand what is happening in the sequel, it is if you want to get the most out of the experience.
I say this because while this sequel does provide small pieces of information about events that happened in the past, this is meant to be a refresher course for fans who played the game less than a year ago and not newcomers and also since one of the most enjoyable parts of the series comes from the character interactions, players will want to see the more personal interactions that are only available with data from the first game instead of the more generic versions that come from playing the title on its own.
That being said, The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II picks up about a month after the cliffhanging events of the first game where, after a massive event left the main character Rean and his compatriots stunned and sank the country into a civil war. In an effort to avoid going into spoiler territory let’s just say that Rean finds himself separated from the rest of his classmates and allies but just so happens to be near his hometown.
With his goal being to reunite with his missing classmates and do whatever they can to put an end to the war tearing the nation apart the story this time around takes a bit of a heavier tone than the first game in the series as there is a bit more focus on the political aspects and numerous moving pieces in the world. There is always more than meets the eye with this series and this is especially true when it comes to the events that transpire throughout the course of the storyline, helping to keep players on their toes as much as possible, though it does have a rather slow start as well as a long drag towards the middle of the game that players will need to power through.
Thankfully one of the best aspects of the first game remains as tried and true as ever in The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II and that is the fact that the title puts so much emphasis on story development and crafting character arcs that are incredibly memorable. As those who have played the first game know, this is a series where nearly every character you come across will have a personality of sorts and various interactions that will change over the course of the game, making the title one where you’ll always want to speak with people that you come across.
With this type of attention to detail put into even the most basic NPCs players can expect the great character interactions between the core cast and new characters introduced in this entry to be as entertaining as before and it is through these interactions that even the slowest parts of the game manage to hold together so well. As mentioned before, the tone is a bit darker this time around so many of these interactions will involve certain aspects of war and how things are being affected by the battles but the title never really enters dark territory as many of these horrors are only mentioned and never shown. There is also still plenty of humor to be had, especially when the localization of the game continues to serve as a real example of just how well a massive title like this can be translated for a Western audience.
Gameplay
In many ways The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II features the same style of gameplay as before as players will find themselves using mostly the same systems as before when it comes to combat and customization with player freedom in this aspect being as open as ever when it comes to trying out various builds. Enemies are visible on the field and can be targeted by the player or avoided flat out while the combat is a turn based affair where normal attacks, Arts (magic attacks), and special Craft moves that rely on a CP meter that is filled by dealing and receiving damage can be utilized to defeat foes.
Characters in combat can still be linked to one another allowing them to perform follow-up attacks to off-balance enemies but this time around there is another aspect to the link system that has been added to the game. This is called overdrive mode and allows players to attack multiple times with linked characters and even use arts with instant cast times, something that can be rather essential at times since this game is no walk in the park in certain areas and this feature will likely turn the fight in your favor against some of these particularly difficult areas. Outside of the standard battles mentioned above there are also fights that involve Rean taking control of a certain giant mech and battle against other mechanized foes. These battles are a bit different from your standard and help spice up the action from time to time but are hardly as exciting as one would think.
If it sounds like a lot of what The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II offers in terms of combat and customization is the same as before then that is indeed the case as only the aforementioned modifications have really been made to these systems so things can feel a bit repetitive at times due to these un-enhanced mechanics but considering how satisfying the combat in the first game felt, only making a few tweaks was for the best.
One of the more impressive, albeit somewhat predictable, additions in this title happens to be the unlocking of an airship that can be outfitted with shops and used as a way to move quickly from place to place though players also eventually unlock a special motorcycle like vehicle. It is worth noting that with this faster pace of travel available to players after a certain point that it might be possible to miss smaller aspects of the game but thankfully the game offers small warnings when players reach points in the story where certain events will close out side quests, giving players a chance to revisit and examine areas they otherwise might have blown past.
Visuals & Audio
Although developed a year after the original game, there really isn’t too much of a noticeable improvement in The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II’s designs and it is sad to say that while the game does look rather impressive for what it is, it does show its age. That being said, this is by no means a game to scoff at as the character designs are still nicely detailed with a wide-variety of designs on display and colors used with the various environments and towns that players explore given the same level of detail.
As far as the soundtrack for the game is concerned, fans will be pleased to hear that the title continues to excel in this department by featuring a wide variety of tracks that sound fit perfectly for this type of game and utilize numerous tones to keep from sounding too familiar to one another.
Overall
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II is an excellent follow-up to an incredible RPG and one that fans will be more than delighted to hear advances the story in an enthralling way that very few developers and writers manage to, especially when the story can last for well over sixty hours in one run. With small tweaks to the enjoyable combat mechanics and other small additions to this great game players will notice that there are quite a few similarities between this title and the first, but with such a detail driven storyline and fantastic characters to pick back up with, these are only small complaints in the face of such a grand title.
With Fallout 4’s DLC we’ve seen the arrival of new robotic forces, plenty of new objects that can be crafted and set up in various settlements, journeyed to the misty shores of Far Harbor, and have even been appointed the head of a vault. Now that the final piece of DLC, Fallout 4: Nuka-World, gives players a chance to be a bit more sinister than before and drops them into an amusement park of all things, is it worth picking up?
Story
After receiving a radio transmission on the Pip-Boy, players will find that a new area has been discovered by the name of Nuka World and that the only way to get there is through a tram system. Upon arriving and clearing away the initial group of Gunners that were also investigating the signal, players will meet with a hardly trustworthy man who warns them that Nuka World is far from the happiest place on Earth and is instead home to three bandit gangs all ruled over by a leader named the Overboss.
Despite these threats players head to Nuka World and are run through a gauntlet of challenges before coming up against and taking down the Overboss in a boss fight with a fairly unique gimmick that requires the use of a water gun to drop his shields before unloading with your standard weaponry. As one would expect with bandit gangs, eliminating the previous leader now crowns the player as the new Overboss and with the help of the new companion Gage they are well on their way to trying to take Nuka World to a whole new level.
Unfortunately this level is rather rudimentary in nature as players will find that they have very little control over things despite being the boss. Instead they will need to talk with and go on little side-quests for the three bandit gang leaders, clear out each zone in the park and claim it for these leaders, and eventually lead your gang back to the Commonwealth as a new force to be reckoned with. Even Gage, who comes across as a wise but potentially back-stabbing companion never really develops beyond his initial story arc which is a big disappointment considering the possibilities of his character.
This bare minimum storytelling is helped a little bit by the various tid-bits of information players can find in the various terminals in Nuka World that describe just how bad things were at the park before the bombs fell and their reckless abandon for safety in the eyes of profit. There are a few decisions throughout the game that can determine just how bad you really want to be in Nuka World and although the real story involves going through with everything and being the Overboss, there is an option to simply slaughter every bandit in the park and liberate the traders that once used the park as a hub, but this really isn’t developed in any way other than a way for players to feel like they aren’t forced in only one direction, though considering only Preston really takes notice of the Lone Survivor’s actions in taking the gangs back to the Commonwealth, your choices here don’t really affect much.
Gameplay
There is one thing that a theme park can offer as a setting that very few other locations can, at least realistically, offer and that is compacting a large amount of new and strange areas in one spot. Players will find that Nuka-World offers a large amount of content to chew through with the park offering five different themed hubs that each have their own unique feel and generally unique enemies that players will spend up to two hours in each location as they attempt to clear the area of all threats and make the park habitable again.
These areas include a Galactic Zone filled with special rides and robotic enemies all with Nuka Cola themed paint-jobs and attacks and the only way to power them down is to gather various pieces of machinery scattered through the area, a western area called Dry Gulch that is perhaps the shortest of the bunch but gives players a chance to act out a spaghetti western or simply hack through it using robotics perks while taking down new worm enemies that bury underground and burst out of corpses, face off against spliced Gatorclaws while interacting with a Tarzan-like human in the Safari Zone, dealing with neon painted ghouls and tricky obstacles in the irradiated Kiddie Kingdom, and more.
The fun of each of these areas allows players to constantly feel like they are experiencing something new as they go from area to area while facing off against new enemies, generally acquiring new loot that is unique to that spot, and finding plenty of collectibles that are scattered throughout the park as Nuka-World’s DLC offers twenty new crafting recipes that transform Nuka-Cola into a variety of boosting affects that provide various buffs such as recovering large amounts of health, restoring AP, boosting stats, and more. Where Nuka-Cola would generally be ignored unless it was a Nuka-Cola Quantum, players will be eager to pick up anything they see especially since a number of new standard types are also introduced.
As you’ve probably noticed, the lack of real story development or giving your choices any worthwhile impact means that Fallout 4: Nuka-World is the type of DLC that is all about combat and taking what you want by force, though as mentioned there are a couple of choices you can make to not be quite so evil while on this path. This means while there can be a few humorous side-quests to undertake, the majority of your time here will simply be spent gunning down the mutated creatures and robots in the park while doing little else so those hoping for a bit more roleplaying or story elements like Far Harbor will be disappointed.
Once you’ve taken the park over, players are given the option of taking and attacking the Commonwealth with a bandit gang of their choice. Attacking and taking over settlements while also subjugating others to serve your gang by providing them food and water makes for a unique little twist on the settlement option of the game though there really isn’t much depth here other than the ability to negotiate and threaten the settlers off their land rather than simply plow through them like the monster you want to be, though that tends to be the more enjoyable option.
This being a Bethesda title, one can expect various bugs to raise their heads but it is worth noting that throughout my time with Fallout 4: Nuka-World I encountered a particularly nasty one that forced me to start the entire DLC over from scratch as an NPC required to advance the story refused to say anything more than his initial praise for liberating every area of the park. This issue appears to be quite common and, at the time of writing, hasn’t been fixed so those who do wish to take on Nuka-World will need to keep an eye out. Other glitches such as gang leaders refusing to offer additional quests or talk in any form appeared fairly often as well but resolved themselves with simple reloads unlike the aforementioned problem.
Visuals & Audio
The world present in Fallout 4: Nuka-World is far more colorful than many fans of the game will be familiar with as the various areas all feature unique structures and designs in an effort to help make every area fresh feeling. Even though most enemies tend to simply be reskinned, they are exotic enough looking to work well with this theme and players will be pleased that a number of new pieces of strange armor is available for use, even the special Nuka-World suit worn by the poster girl.
The voice work throughout this DLC is fairly standard and fitting considering the gruff nature of the bandits that players will be dealing with though it is nice to note that the soundtrack does feature a number of unique themes that fit the hubs that players explore.
Overall
Fallout 4: Nuka-World offers a densely packed experience that constantly throws new experiences at the player thanks to the fresh designs and enemies in each hub area. With plenty of collectibles to gather, new abilities with settlements, and new items to craft and gather, players will be spending a lot of time fighting through the heavy hitting enemies in Nuka-World, though since combat is the focus be prepared for a forgettable storyline and very little consequence to your actions.
Just a few months ago fans of the Hakuoki series were able to pick up the first in a pair of films that would cover and alter the events of the first two seasons of the anime. While the first film delivered a fairly solid storyline that had its faults but now that the second film has been released, is Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom – Warrior Spirit of the Blue Sky worth picking up?
Story
It is worth noting that since this is the second movie in a pair, and that certain events are slightly altered, even those who are familiar with the way things unfold in Hakuoki should watch the first film before continuing on with this second film, even if the film begins after a time skip. The film begins with the Koufou castle being lost and the dangerous Furies appearing to no longer be limited by the sunlight. The constant pressure on all sides has forced the Shinsengumi members, even the strongest of the group, to struggle for survival and in some cases leave the group entirely in an effort to follow their own path or transform into Furies themselves in order to fight to the last.
Where the first film, Wild Dance of Kyoto, served as a way to introduce the various characters and the plot elements that come into play in the series, the focus of Warrior Spirit of the Blue Sky is more on the actual battles and personalities of the previously introduced characters coming into play as they fight according to their own personal code, even if it might mean their death. The large number of battles that are portrayed throughout this second film serve as both a way to keep fans interested in the action and also to help reveal the emotions of characters that generally were more reserved.
This does mean that, due to both death and leaving, the number of characters that viewers follow throughout the story does diminish quite a bit but considering the series focuses on Chizuru this is for the best as we see how each departure affects her and her feelings for the group, especially since the previous film worked so hard on showing how much of a bond she had developed with the various members of the Shinsengumi.
This also allows for more interaction between Chizuru and Hijikata and gives the plot a more stable ground to stand on rather than trying to abruptly force everything on the viewer in the time allotted like in the previous film. Instead, outside of the aforementioned time skip that might throw a few people off to start with, the story progresses rather smoothly this time around by building up the villain without dealing with nearly as much drama as before while also revealing additional details about events in the world before coming to a fairly satisfying conclusion that will leave most fans pleased by the time the credits run.
Visuals
Once again viewers can see that, thanks to the extra budget that is allotted to a movie, Studio Deen has produced an exceptionally well drawn show that features plenty of tiny details for every main character and even most side characters to help create a rather impressive looking series. This is especially true when it comes to the many battle scenes that come into play throughout this film as the action scenes are fluidly animated and while they may not be quite as bloody as one would expect, there still is some blood here for those who are looking for some samurai combat with the series’ romance factor.
The wide array of colors used throughout the series return to help present a number of striking scenes and nicely detailed backgrounds and scenery that really helps draw attention to how great the film looks most of the time with the only noticeable drop in quality coming with the basic appearances of most of the standard enemies that are confronted by the cast.
Audio
Similar to the first film, Sentai Filmworks has released Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom – Warrior Spirit of the Blue Sky with both the original Japanese voice track as well as their own English dub for the series and the same quality found in the first film is delivered here. This means that while some fans will likely prefer to listen to the Japanese voice work simply due to the film’s aesthetic and setting, the English voice cast handles their characters incredibly well.
The soundtrack remains fairly simplistic in nature which continues to be a disappointment considering the high quality of the animation budget but it is worth noting that the ending theme that is used during the credit sequence is rather incredible sounding, though it unfortunately never appears in the film proper.
Extras
Sentai Filmworks has included the original Japanese trailers for the second film as well as a small insert in the case featuring small details about certain locations, groups, and events that are mentioned or shown in the film.
Overall
Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom – Warrior Spirit of the Blue Sky’s tighter focus and emphasis on emotions being portrayed through combat and the struggle of the Shinsengumi as they are on the decline helps deliver a more stable storyline that fans will appreciate seeing in its more condensed nature, though a few might be thrown by the initial time skip. With high quality animation those who are eager to see how these pair of films wrap up will find themselves quite pleased while even those who are unfamiliar with the franchise will likely find themselves satisfied thanks to the extra details revealed in this half and the way events unfold.
CELEBRATE SONIC’S 25TH ANNIVERSARY AND MASTER THE ELEMENTSIN SONIC BOOM: FIRE & ICE, COMING TO NINTENDO 3DS FAMILY SYSTEMS ON 1st OCTOBER
Join Sonic and his crew as they race through his world using the power of fire and ice
9th September, 2016 – Comedy, action, adventure, speed and plenty of platforming awaits in the latest chapter of the Sonic Boom universe: Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice, coming to Nintendo 3DS family systems in Australia and New Zealand on 1st October. Releasing as part of Sonic’s 25th anniversary celebrations, this fast-paced title sees Sonic the Hedgehog, his faithful sidekicks Miles “Tails” Prower, powerhouse Knuckles, Amy Rose and Sticks the badger, all join forces again as they prepare to do battle with the dastardly villain D-Fekt.
The trouble begins when Dr. Eggman discovers a new supercharged element called Ragnium, mining it as a powerful fuel source for his robots, making them ultra-fast – even matching Sonic’s famous speed! Not only that, but all the waste that’s created as a result of Dr. Eggman’s mining is sent to nearby islands, completely covering some areas with fire and ice. When things go array with Dr. Eggman’s mining robot D-Fekt, it’s up to Sonic and his friends to save the world.
Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy and Sticks have all reunited, and players can seamlessly switch between them in-game to use their unique abilities. Teamwork has never been more important: only by using Sonic’s speed, Tails’ flight, Knuckles’ brute strength, Amy’s hammer and Sticks’ boomerang, do they have a chance of putting D-Fekt on ice. It won’t be easy though: when they’re face to face with giant bosses that fill both screens, things really start to heat up.
Brand new to this title is the unique ability to switch between fire and ice to reach new areas, destroy objects and solve puzzles. Sonic and his friends can melt icy obstacles to reach hidden areas, freeze water spouts to slide speedily across gaps and much more, for a fresh take on the series’ exploration-based platforming. Players can explore at their own pace as they search out hidden secrets, or race to set their fastest times, but however they play, using fire and ice is the key to discovering new routes and areas.
Fans of the Sonic Boom TV series will already be familiar with the hilarious dialogue between Sonic and his friends, and those comic quips come to life in this third Sonic Boom game with high-quality CGI animation clips between levels, bringing the game and TV series closer than ever before.
Also included alongside the single-player adventure, Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice introduces the two-player Bot Racing mode that’s purely about racing and speed, with players unlocking character-themed Bots to challenge their friends on the track.
Comedy, action, adventure, speed and plenty of platforming awaits in the latest chapter of the Sonic Boom universe: Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice, coming to Nintendo 3DS family systems in Australia and New Zealand on 1st October, releasing as part of Sonic’s 25th anniversary celebrations.
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided joins the PlayStation®4 Pro launch line-up
MONTRÉAL, CANADA – 8 September 2016 – Today, Square Enix® and Eidos®-Montréal announced that Deus Ex: Mankind Divided™, is coming to the PlayStation®4 Pro (PS4®Pro) computer entertainment system. The game will be available on November 10 with the new console from Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE).
With PS4 Pro, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided has had a whole new layer of detail added to it: overall resolution increased, aliasing reduced, reflective surfaces improved, and more detailed lighting effects implemented, all without compromising the frame rate or the gaming experience.
“We are always working to push ourselves to the very limit in regards to the art direction of our games, and the PS4 Pro, along with the strong and ongoing collaboration between SIE and Eidos-Montréal, helps to further break down the barrier between our ambitious artistic vision and the end-result you see in-game.” said David Anfossi, Head of Studio at Eidos-Montréal.
With more than 100 awards and nominations, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, the sequel to the critically acclaimed Deus Ex: Human Revolution®, builds on the franchises trademark choice and consequence, action-RPG based gameplay, to create a memorable and highly immersive experience. Players will once again take on the role of Adam Jensen, now an experienced covert agent, and will gain access to his new arsenal of customizable state-of-the-art weapons and augmentations. With time working against him, Adam must choose the right approach, along with who to trust, in order to unravel a vast worldwide conspiracy.
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided will be available for PS4 Pro on November 10 2016.
About Eidos-Montréal
Since its creation in 2007, Eidos-Montréal has embraced the philosophy to always pursue excellence in game development, aiming to create immersive and captivating experiences for players. In 2011, the studio made its mark with the critically acclaimedDeus Ex: Human Revolution®. Its sequel, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided™, is scheduled for release in 2016. This latest entry into the franchise features the studios newly developedDawn Engine™, designed to support Eidos Montréal’s creative vision for both current and future game development. The studio also provides technical support for other Square Enix teams ranging from R&D, QA, and playtesting. Eidos-Montréal is part of the Square Enix group of companies. For more information on the studio, please visithttps://eidosmontreal.com/, their Twitter account, or their LinkedIn page.
About Square Enix, Inc.
Square Enix, Inc. develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX®, EIDOS® and TAITO® branded entertainment content throughout the Americas as part of the Square Enix group of companies. Square Enix, Inc. is affiliated with a global network of leading development studios such as IO Interactive™, Crystal Dynamics®, and Eidos Montréal. The Square Enix group of companies boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY, which has sold over 115 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 68 million units worldwide; TOMB RAIDER®, which has sold over 45 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix, Inc. is a U.S.-based, wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
More information on Square Enix, Inc. can be found at http://www.na.square-enix.com .
Square Enix Limited is a company registered in England & Wales under the number 01804186 whose registered office is situated at 240 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8NW, United Kingdom.
DARK AND LIGHT – MEDIEVAL FANTASY SANDBOX MMO – COMING SOON TO STEAM EARLY ACCESS
Official Teaser Site and Video Now Live
Santa Monica, CA – September 8, 2016 – Snail Games announced today that its fantasy survival MMO, Dark and Light, will be coming to Steam’s Early Access program this fall. Dark and Light is set in a giant fantastical sandbox with a focus on exploration and discovery in a magical world without limits.
Re-created from the original 2004 MMO of the same name, the Snail development team is now focused on gaining feedback from players in the upcoming weeks in order to hone game mechanics such as questing, leveling, dungeon design, and PvP mechanics.
Today Snail Games has launched a teaser Website www.playdnl.com and a gameplay video to give fans a first look at the in-game world.
Dark and Light‘s massive sandbox world takes the storyline beyond the traditional MMO, delivering a unique blend of MMO and survival mechanics. Players have the freedom to develop settlements, unlock magical abilities, fight for their tribes, or just enjoy exploring the world’s many distinct environments. Dark and Light‘s use of Unreal Engine 4 guarantees superb visual fidelity and advanced physics, providing players with a rich and stimulating gaming experience in an ever-changing virtual world.
Rich, Skill-Based Combat
Dark and Light is a persistent, living world, with a heavy focus on combat where movement and battle have shifted from third-person tab-targeting to an action-based FPS-style system. The game features active participation through dodging, where precise aiming along with managing skills and magical abilities are the keys to victory. Players need not enter the fray alone, as many of the world’s creatures can be tamed and used as mounts to gain a tactical advantage in battle.
Realistic Fantasy World
Dark and Light features environments inspired by real-world locations, including volcanoes, snow-capped mountains, swamps, plains, forests, jungles and more. Additionally, Dark and Light showcases beautiful fantasy biomes, such as a series of floating islands where players will encounter more than 50 unique species of creatures as they traverse the landscape. These aren’t just mindless, cut-and-paste mobs either – each has been meticulously designed to fit seamlessly into their respective habitats and will behave as though they had naturally evolved in the world.
Character Development in Dark and Light
Dark and Light is a departure from the traditional MMO with unique progression mechanics including:
Mysticism and Magic – No matter which path a player chooses, they will incorporate magic into their skill set as they develop. A limited pool of skill is allocated to level up, making it crucial for players to plan early to ensure they end up with a character they’re satisfied with.
Free Sandbox Exploration – Cut scene-driven storytelling and instances are emphasized over questing. After siding with a faction (which determines the player’s starting city), the world opens up, enabling players to develop their character the way they want. They can take the role of a skilled artisan, ferocious warrior, a happy-go-lucky explorer, or anywhere in between.
No “I” in Team
While it’s possible to survive as a lone wolf, it’s a long and hard path that many players won’t be able to handle. Dark and Light’s survival aspects can be extremely draining, as hunger, fatigue, illness and attacks from other players and wild creatures will take their toll. There will be no quests or tutorials, so learning about the world quickly is vital if players want to thrive. It is extremely important to support each other and grow together in order to progress.
More will be revealed about Dark and Light before the Early Access launch. Stay up to date with the game’s development on our official Website, ‘Like’ us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.