Last week Inti Creates announced that Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night would have a playable demo on the E3 floor at Microsoft’s booth and that said demo would eventually be released for PC users who backed at a certain level. Well thankfully it seems that fans won’t have to wait to see exactly what that demo will entail as off-screen footage of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night‘s E3 demo has made its way online.
You can check out the roughly nine minutes of gameplay footage below and as for the game itself, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is in development for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Wii U, PS Vita, and PC.
After taking a small break to focus on an E3 trailer that showed off a bit more of what The King of Fighters XIV will have to offer SNK and Atlus USA have continued their series of “Team Gameplay” videos for the game. This latest one happens to focus on the Villains team that is made up of Xanadu, Chang, and Choi.
You can check out the villains team gamepaly video below and as for the game itself, The King of Fighters XIV is currently set to be released on the PlayStation 4 in North America on August 23rd, in Japan on August 25th, and finally in Europe on August 26th.
Today during a Square Enix Presents stream at E3 2016 Platinum Games showed off a new style of boss battle that will be appearing in NieR: Automata. As you can see in the video below, the boss battle is something of a mix between action and a “bullet hell” as it fires multiple projectiles that players will need to learn the patterns of in order to dodge and counterattack effectively.
NieR: Automata tells the story of androids 2B, 9S, and A2 and their battle to try and reclaim the mechanoid-driven dystopia overrun by powerful weapons known as “machine lifeforms” and is currently set to be released sometime in 2017 as a PlayStation 4 exclusive.
Focus Home Interactive and Deck13 released a brand new trailer for their upcoming action RPG The Surge. It is the first time we are meeting the hero of the game. We haven’t been given a name yet, but it seems like he has a slight drawl from the southern US. The trailer features several exo-suits, equipment that is central to the game’s plot, and several weapons, such as a forearm mounted blade, a large two handed morning star, and a large double bladed energy weapon.
The Surge is set in a dystopian future after climate change ravages Earth. Humans have been split into two groups, those in power and those who spend their lives in exo-suits performing menial labour for CREO. The game is set to launch in 2017 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows.
Ashes of the Singularity Turtle Wars DLC Adds New Scenarios, Maps, and More
Plymouth, MI. – June 16, 2016 – Stardock released the Turtle Wars DLC for Ashes of the Singularity today. With new single player scenarios focused around the player building up defenses against impossible odds and additional new maps to keep multiplayer matches fresh, this update brings challenges for both newer and older players.
The Turtle Wars DLC pack contains scenarios such as “Implosion”, “Mountaintop”, and more, plus new maps that offer a wider array of options for multiplayer matches.
“Our goal is to continue to create a variety of maps with open possibilities,” said CEO and President of Stardock, Brad Wardell. “Some of these new maps are ideal for things like a 2v1 match, even a 4v1. We’ve also made sure to include a large-sized 1v1 skirmish map, which will encourage players to build much bigger armies for more epic battles.”
The new scenarios in Turtle Wars focus on having the player build up and maintain their defenses against mounting enemy pressure. In the “Eruption” scenario, the player has the command of a single Hyperion Dreadnought and a handful of defensive structures and must somehow hold out against enemy siege while trying to turn the tides of battle.
In another scenario, “Turtle Wars,” the player is faced with several indestructible factories that are mass producing swarms of frigates. In order to win, they must hold off against the enemy and take control of the factories before the rest of the army makes it through the mountains to finish them off.
“These new scenarios add a different type of challenge and call upon a certain playstyle,” said Wardell. “We know that players will enjoy trying something new and then comparing their scenario scores against others’ in our Hall of Fame.”
The Turtle Wars DLC is now available for purchase on Steam or through Stardock. For more information about Ashes of the Singularity, please visit www.ashesgame.com.
Stardock is a developer and publisher of PC games and desktop software founded in 1991 by nationally recognized technology expert Brad Wardell. Located in Plymouth, Michigan, Stardock is a powerful leader in the video gaming and software development world. Its PC games include Sins of a Solar Empire, the critically acclaimed Galactic Civilizations series, and Ashes of the Singularity. Stardock puts the user experience first through software that enriches the Windows experience for everyone from casual computer users to highly technical professionals. Products offered by Stardock include Start8, Start10, Fences, WindowBlinds, Multiplicity, and more at www.stardock.com.
About Oxide Games
Oxide Games is an independent digital entertainment studio focused on delivering revolutionary leaps in PC and console gaming. Its groundbreaking Nitrous engine provides industry-leading visuals and powers its first game, Ashes of the Singularity. Oxide Games is based in Timonium, Maryland. Learn more at www.oxidegames.com.
EXPERIENCE THE THRILL OF THE BAKU STREET CIRCUIT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN F1™ 2016
FIRST GAMEPLAY VIDEO SHOWS DANIEL RICCIARDO AND JOLYON PALMER DRIVE THE CIRCUIT IN GAME
F1 2016 TO RELEASE ON 19TH AUGUST
SYDNEY, 18TH June 2016 – Codemasters® have released the first gameplay video for F1 2016, the official videogame of the 2016 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP™, showcasing Daniel Ricciardo and Jolyon Palmer taking on the thrilling Baku street circuit which will host the 2016 FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE. Codemasters has also announced that F1 2016 will release onto PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One and Windows PC (Digital) on 19th August 2016 across Australia & New Zealand.
The new video features Red Bull Racing’s Daniel Ricciardo and Jolyon Palmer from Renault Sport Formula One™ Team as they enjoy their first virtual laps of the Baku City Circuit and give their impressions on the challenging street circuit. The circuit itself is said to thrive on Baku’s very attractive urban atmosphere and its great combination of history and 21st century style. The historic city centre, the beautiful seaside promenade and the impressive architecture all combine to provide the perfect backdrop for the spectacular new track.
Speaking about his experience, Daniel commented: “I can’t think of anything like Baku… For the corners it looks like you want to have maximum downforce but I don’t think you can afford to run it because of the long straight. I think we will have to sacrifice some grip in the corners to keep up on the straight.”
Talking about Baku’s soon to be famous Turn 5, Jolyon Palmer, said: “There’s some crazy corners and maybe the craziest there is in FORMULA ONE with the up the hill left and then straight into a blind right hander… It’s going to be easy to hit a wall. It’s very high speed. The challenge is huge!” Jolyon also said that practising on the new circuit in the new F1 2016 videogame before the race itself meant that he now knows “…probably more than most others, maybe everyone in the field so, it’s going to give me a little advantage.”
Both Daniel’s and Jolyon’s laps have also been released as separate videos:
Codemasters also announced that there will be a Limited Edition of the game to pre-order which includes the F1 2016 ‘CAREER BOOSTER’ DLC PACK, which will give players a head start in their F1 career. It gives the user a ‘Research and Development boost’ that applies a percentage increase to all research and development credits earned by the player in each session in the new career mode. Exclusive Career Helmet and Laptop designs are also included. Once the player has selected their choice for their career helmet, this design is then applied to the laptop located within the Career hub.
F1 2016 features the most in-depth career mode ever seen in the series, allowing players to create their own legend over the course of ten seasons dealing with life and drama both on and off the track. The recreation of the sport will be enhanced by the addition of the sport’s iconic Safety Car and Virtual Safety Car and also includes the new American Haas F1 Team. A number of yet to be announced features are also due to be unveiled in the coming weeks.
New KINGDOM HEARTS adventure available now on mobile devices
KINGDOM HEARTS Unchained χ Sheds New Light on Narrative for KINGDOM HEARTS III
LONDON (16th June 2016) – Square Enix Ltd., announced that the next KINGDOM HEARTS chapter in the beloved series begins now as SQUARE ENIX and Disney launch KINGDOM HEARTS Unchained χ in Europe today!
Available from the Appstore and Google Playstore for free now, KINGDOM HEARTS Unchained χallows players to embark on a journey that will uncover story elements from the highly anticipated KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue and KINGDOM HEARTS III, as well as the earliest parts of the series’ epic history.
For the first time in the series history, players will create their very own Keyblade wielder and adventure through Disney worlds to battle armies of Heartless while interacting with a rich cast of memorable Disney characters. Along the way, players can collect, fuse and evolve hundreds of medals that contain the power of Disney heroes and villains to customise the attack style of their Keyblades, partner with other players in guilds to take down Heartless bosses and much more.
About the KINGDOM HEARTS Series
KINGDOM HEARTS is a series of role-playing games created through the collaboration of Disney Interactive and Square Enix. Since the first KINGDOM HEARTS was released in March 2002 for the PlayStation®2 system, the series has expanded to several additional entries. The series celebrated its 10th anniversary in March 2012, and has shipped over 21 million units worldwide.
About Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media
Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media (DCPI) is the business segment of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) that brings our Company’s stories and characters to life through innovative and engaging physical products and digital experiences across more than 100 categories, from toys and t-shirts, to apps, books and console games. DCPI comprises two main lines of business: Disney Consumer Products (DCP), and Disney Interactive (DI). The combined segment is home to world class teams of app and game developers, licensing and retail experts, a leading retail business (Disney Store), artists and storytellers, and technologists who inspire imaginations around the world.
About Square Enix Ltd.
Square Enix Ltd. develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX®, EIDOS® and TAITO® branded entertainment content in Europe and other PAL territories as part of the Square Enix group of companies. Square Enix Ltd. also has 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 Ltd. is a London-based, wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
HYPERX AND ALIENWARE PARTNER TO SUPERCHARGE GAMING
Alienware Aurora Desktop PC Configured and Optimized with HyperX FURY DDR4 XMP Memory for Maximum Performance
100-Percent Tested and Guaranteed Compatibility
Fountain Valley, CA – June 16, 2016 – HyperX®, a division of Kingston® Technology Company, Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, today announced a partnership with the ultimate gaming system provider Alienware. HyperX will be the exclusive memory upgrade partner for their newly launched Alienware Aurora mid-tower desktop PCs. Designed to deliver maximum performance, Alienware Aurora offers gamers an ultra-wide variety of upgrade options including a stylish DRAM upgrade to HyperX FURY DDR4 XMP memory for higher performance and great looks.
HyperX FURY DDR4 memory features Intel® XMP-ready profiles optimized for Alienware Aurora and is 100-percent tested and guaranteed compatible. Users who upgrade to FURY memory will be able to choose between two XMP profiles with speeds up to 2400MHz for faster speeds and lower latencies. This provides a great option for gamers to increase their system performance from the factory default when equipped with a 6th Generation Intel® Core™ unlocked processor.
HyperX system memory powers over 30 professional eSports teams and is utilized in large scale global tournaments such as IEM, ESL One, DreamHack, among others. It is the memory of choice among enthusiasts, gamers and eSports professionals. This trust is due, in part, to HyperX memory, such as FURY DDR4 XMP, being backed by legendary support and reliability. This collective experience and pedigree of over a decade of designing memory for enthusiasts has made HyperX uniquely positioned to join together with Alienware to now unleash the ultimate gaming PC’s power.
“Everything we do at Alienware is tailored around making each gamer’s experience with our systems the best it can be. That means we need to prioritize performance to ensure gameplay and everyday-use runs as intended by our partners. Our partnership with HyperX is all about delivering powerful and reliable memory maximize gaming and everyday performance,” said Joe Olmsted, director of product management, Alienware.
“As the world’s largest gaming hardware brand, the collaboration of technologies between HyperX and Alienware into ultimate gaming machines means we can push the envelope together and further define enthusiast gaming,” said Lawrence Yang, global business manager, HyperX.
HyperX is the high-performance product division of Kingston Technology encompassing high-speed DDR4 and DDR3 memory, SSDs, USB Flash drives, headsets and mouse pads. Targeted at gamers, overclockers and enthusiasts, HyperX is known throughout the world for quality, performance and innovation. HyperX is committed to eSports as it sponsors over 30 teams globally and is the main sponsor of Intel Extreme Masters. HyperX can be found at many shows including Brasil Game Show, China Joy, DreamHack, ESL One and PAX.
Steven Universe is half-human and half-gem. He lives with the Crystal Gems, a trio of humanoid Gems that now live on Earth permanently following a war between the Gems’ home planet and Earth. The trio is comprised of Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl. Garnet prefers solitude and possesses the ability to predict the best course of action to take in every situation. She is often the most supportive of Steven and his ideas. Amethyst is characterised as a free spirit, and in some ways is similar to Steven’s father, Greg. She can be patronising towards Steven, but occasionally struggles to deal with her past and the way in which others perceive her and treat her. Pearl possesses the most common sense out of the Gems, but often believes that Steven is too young to join them on their missions. Together, the four of them complete dangerous missions with strength, wisdom and the use of household items.
Story
Steven Universe has a fun feel to it. Steven’s energy and characterisation contribute to this, but there are so many elements that make this series what it is. Many episodes follow the same formula, but nothing ever gets old in this series. Said formula can be summarised as follows: Steven goes out on a mission with the Crystal Gems, Pearl worries about him, he gets into trouble, the Gems save him and he may or may not contribute to the success of the mission. As has been demonstrated by many anime series, it is not about the formula a series follows but rather how it is used. This is where the members of the creative team show off their skills.Many episodes are, possibly intentionally, reminiscent of adventure video games such as The Legend of Zelda. Steven is made to think outside of the box to solve a puzzle on multiple occasions, much like a video game player would. The solutions may seem obvious once they have been revealed, but it is always fun watching Steven trying to figure out the solution while simultaneously trying to work it out with him.
The plot of each episode tends to be predictable at first, especially with any plot point involving Steven, but the plots become progressively complex and surprising as the series progresses. All characters are created for a reason, even the bizarre and annoying Onion, but the characterisation of Connie in particular adds an extraordinary level of depth to the series. Although she is introduced in the opening animation sequence of the first episode, Connie does not appear until several episodes later. She and Steven become friends by the end of her introductory episode, and it is in every episode that she appears that the plot is truly special, meaningful and unpredictable. She is used to explore the themes of loneliness and social anxiety to great effect. Steven Universe is one of the best series to happen to the world of western animation; Connie is one of the best characters to happen to western fiction.
Humour is a fundamental part of most Cartoon Network shows, but aside from Adventure Time, rarely do they contain such clever humour as this one does. There are jokes for people of all ages, something that used to be rare in CN’s productions. Garnet in particular gets some of the most hilarious dialogue; her characterisation and Estelle’s delivery of her lines make the series that much funnier. The other aspects of the writing also demonstrate the accessibility of this series to wider audiences. There are references to forum debates about anime, unpopular blogs and, more importantly, to one of the major problems with the rock music industry. Western series tend to focus on male protagonists, but all female characters are given active roles in this series. Traditional gender roles and attitudes are not portrayed here, and Steven’s father Greg Universe, who used to travel and perform at rock concerts, illustrates this simply but powerfully when he tells his manager that “women are people”. This series does not marginalise any group of people, and it even, albeit subtly, promotes LGBTI themes through the fusion of the gems.
Visuals
The animation is above average for a Cartoon Network series. It has the same feel that other CN series do in terms of the animation style, but shots are often more detailed than in other CN series. The character designs are unique and pleasant to look at, showing that a lot of effort has been put into the visual aspects of this series. It is clear throughout the season that the production team are fans of Japanese media, and this can be seen through depictions of figurines of iconic characters from Japanese series, such as Cloud Strife from Final Fantasy VII.
Audio
There are several vocal songs throughout this season. Many of them are random songs that Steven sings or others sung by his father, but the Gems have a few vocal songs of their own. Perhaps the most noteworthy song of the entire season is Garnet’s “Stronger Than You”. Not only is the instrumental track fantastic, but the lyrics and vocals all come together to create one of the most powerful moments in the series so far. The background music also stands out, something that is rare for music in a western animated television series to achieve. The composers Aivi and Surasshu take their inspiration from video game music, and it seems that they have been inspired by some of the best music that Japanese video games have to offer. It contributes significantly to the atmosphere of the scenes it accompanies, giving some scenes a mystical feel while giving others a real sense of wonder.
Extras
The pilot episode is included on the first disc. There are some minor differences between the pilot and the 52 episodes of the first season, but many of the series’ key concepts were already established before it got the green light to enter full production. Steven alone sings the series’ theme song in this episode, for a different purpose than in the rest of the series.
Overall
Steven Universe is sweet and thoughtful, which is not something that can often be said about animated productions to come out of North America. Adventure Time has something special about it that allows it to be continually entertaining, but this series is perpetually entertaining and meaningful. It is a joy to watch right from the first episode, and the brilliant writing and characterisation result in a beautiful and often touching series that never fails to amaze. The music is constantly impressive and worth listening to over and over again, which is possible thanks to the composers sharing their music online. The only disappointing thing about the first season of Steven Universe is that it ends.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
NIS America has released a new English trailer for Grand Kingdom and this one focuses on introducing a new batch of classes that will be in the game when it is released on the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita later this month. The trailer, found below, introduces the Shaman, Lancer, Rogue, and Gunner classes in Grand Kingdom.
This title is set in a land where after the fall of the once-prosperous Uldein Empire over one hundred years ago, the Four Great Nations now wage war to claim dominion over the Resonail continent. As the leader of a mercenary squad, players will assemble a team to lead across a battle-scarred continent to complete contracts for each nation. Players may also hop online to form an exclusive contract with one of the Four Great Nations, and participate in war with other players for the future of Resonail.
