Watch this brand new trailer and get to know the five eccentric Champions who want to free the magical lands of Anteria from a nasty horde of enemy factions. Vargus, Brother Anslem, Nusala, Oona and Baltasar are impatient to put their combat skills and magical abilities to the test.
In an unfortunate series of events, a bloodthirsty horde of enemies decides to make Anteria their home sweet home, enslaving its people and plotting deeds more evil than you can imagine. This epic tactical real-time strategy extravaganza invites you to unleash the powers of five Champions to defeat the enemy, reclaim the kingdom, and make it back home in time for dinner. Champions of Anteria will be available digitally for Windows PC on August 30, 2016.
Fans awaiting the Champions’ arrival can pre-order now to receive an exclusive Weapons Starter Pack including one weapon for Vargus, Brother Anslem and Nusala. Players will get to choose between two different editions:
Standard Edition – Choose your Champions, infiltrate the enemy territories and free the enslaved people of Anteria using the elemental powers of fire, water, nature, lightening and metal. Use active pause mode to change your tactics on the fly and deliver punishments strong enough to make a grown monster cry.
Gold Edition – Includes the Standard edition plus Season Pass content and the original soundtrack of the game in digital format. Players also get access to three Dungeon DLCs revealing rich background stories about the characters encountered in the game.
By completing these new campaigns, players will get exclusive rewards including:
CELEBRATE THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF NINTENDO eSHOP WITH UP TO 50% OFF SOME OF ITS BIGGEST HITS FROM THIS FRIDAY
Discounts available on select Nintendo 3DS and Wii U download software and
Virtual Console titles until June 23
7th June, 2016 – Nintendo eShop first launched on Nintendo 3DS on June 7, 2011, and to celebrate its fifth anniversary, some of the most popular download-exclusive titles for both Nintendo 3DS and Wii U will be available at up to 50% off from June 10 to June 23 in Australia and New Zealand.
Those who wish to enjoy great adventures while on the go will be able to get 50% off classic Link adventures like The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX, The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages, and The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons. Pokémon fans meanwhile can get 50% off Pokédex 3D Pro and Virtual Console title Pokémon Trading Card Game. Indie game enthusiasts should also keep an eye on Image & Form’s SteamWorld Dig and Hörberg Productions’ Gunman Clive, which will both have discounts of 50% off.
For anyone who wants to discover – or rediscover – some classic Wii titles, both Metroid Prime Trilogy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 are available at half price on Wii U. Those looking for a futuristic racing experience can put their pedal to the metal and enjoy 25% off Shin’en Multimedia’s FAST Racing NEO and 50% off F-Zero. Players seeking a truly retro experience can enjoy NES™ Remix and NES™ Remix 2, both on sale at a half price discount, as is SNES Classic Earthbound, which made its debut in Australia and New Zealand via the Wii U console’s Virtual Console service.
Celebrate five years of Nintendo eShop with discounts on select Nintendo 3DS and Wii U Nintendo eShop and Virtual Console titles from June 10 until June 23 in Australia and New Zealand.
KOEI TECMO EUROPE LAUNCHES ATELIER SOPHIE: THE ALCHEMIST OF THE MYSTERIOUS BOOK
Celebrated ‘Atelier’ Series from GUST Debuts on PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®Vita with a Heartwarming Entry, Featuring a New and Improved Synthesis System
Hertfordshire, 7th June 2016 — KOEI TECMO Europe are proud to announce the upcoming release of Atelier Sophie: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Book on the 10th June 2016 for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and digitally for the PlayStation® Vita handheld system.
The Atelier series’ latest standalone installment follows the adventures of young novice Alchemist Sophie Neuenmuller, who discovers she is the owner of an enigmatic book imbued with a soul. This Mysterious Book seems to hold all the secrets to the art of Alchemy, even going on to become Sophie’s mentor. As Sophie experiments with Alchemy throughout the story she unravels the book’s forgotten memories, and eventually sets out to uncover the strange tale of its origin.
Experience a pleasant journey alongside Sophie, her friends, and a diverse cast of townspeople that help with their adventuring needs. Uncover the multitude of mysteries of Alchemy that have been hidden away and forgotten alongside Plachta, the Mysterious Book. Experiment with the brand new Synthesis system to uncover Platcha’s memories and learn new alchemy recipes at any pace!
In a series first, two key illustrators were involved in the making of Atelier Sophie: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Book – NOCO and Yuugen. Their distinctive work brings the in-game world to life and creates a dynamic environment where time, weather, and relationships play a key role in the adventures of the young new Alchemist and her trusted allies.
A variety of new screenshots, and a gameplay video, were revealed today showcasing the Dollmake feature, where players are able to create new bodies for Plachta, the Mysterious Book. Also released was a delightful new trailer, featuring the game’s heart-warming opening song, to celebrate its upcoming launch.
KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD. is a publisher of interactive entertainment software for current generation consoles, handhelds and digital download content based in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, UK. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD., headquartered in Yokohama, Japan. TECMO is best known for the Dead or Alive® and Ninja Gaiden®series. KOEI is best known for its Dynasty Warriors® and Samurai Warriors® franchises. On April 1, 2009, KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD was established as a result of the TECMO, LTD. and KOEI Co., Ltd. merger. More information about KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD and its products can be found at www.koeitecmoeurope.com
The “PS” Family logo, “PS4” and “PSVITA” logo are trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. “PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
Madman Entertainment is releasing a new collection of Adventure Time episodes on DVD in Australia tomorrow. This is the tenth collection of individual episodes. It has been given the subtitle “The Enchiridion”.
The set contains 16 episodes. Madman’s website does not state which episodes they are. It is likely that they are all contained on one disc. The collection has a suggested retail price of $19.95 AUD (Australian Dollars). It can be purchased from Madman’s official online store here.
For those who are unfamiliar with Adventure Time, a review of the box set collection of the first five seasons can be read here. A review of the miniseries, Stakes!, can be read here.
Madman Entertainment is releasing several highly-anticipated anime titles on home video in Australia tomorrow. The following list details all of those releases.
Assassination Classroom Part 1 – Standard and Limited Edition DVD and Blu-rays. Episodes 1-11 will be featured with dual language options. On-disc extras include episode commentaries, an interview with the cast, episode 0 “Meeting Time”, the textless opening and ending animations, episode previews, the U.S. trailer and trailers. Physical extras included in the Limited Edition box include art cards and a Kunugigaoka Academy student handbook and diary.
Black Butler: Book of Circus (Season 3) – DVD and Blu-ray. All 10 episodes are featured with dual language options. On-disc extras include episode commentaries, the U.S. trailer and trailers.
Code Geass: Akito the Exiled Episode IV: From the Memories of Hatred – DVD only. The episode is featured with Japanese audio and English subtitles. On-disc extras include the Japanese trailer and promotional videos.
Fairy Tail Guild Collection 4 – DVD only. Episodes 143-175 are featured with dual language options.
Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie – DVD and Blu-ray. The film is featured with dual language options. Trailers are included as on-disc extras on both sets. The following features are only included as extras on the Blu-ray disc: “Inside the World of Ghost in the Shell Part 2″, Special: “Arise Explained in 25 Minutes” (Extended Director’s Cut), Special: “25 Years Reviewed in 25 Minutes” (Extended Director’s Cut), the promotional video and the teaser.
Kamisama Kiss Season 2 – DVD and Blu-Ray. All 12 episodes are featured with dual language options. On-disc extras include episode commentaries and the textless opening and ending animation.
Maken-Ki! Two – DVD and Blu-Ray. All episodes are featured with dual language options. On-disc extras include episode commentaries, the OVA episode and the textless opening and ending animation.
Mekakucity Actors – DVD only. All 12 episodes are featured with Japanese audio and English subtitles. The textless song animations are included as on-disc extras.
Naruto Complete Collection – DVD only. All 220 episodes are featured with dual language options.
Re:_Hamatora: The Animation – DVD only. All 12 episodes are featured with dual language options. On-disc extras include the textless opening and ending animation.
Sailor Moon R Part 2 DVD only. Episodes 69-89 are featured with dual language options.
Wizard Barristers Complete Series – DVD only. All episodes are featured with dual language options.
The first collection of Sailor Moon Crystal episodes will be released on DVD and Blu-ray in Australia this September. No release date has been announced for the home video release Sailor Moon S.
Xbox One is getting another major update to its user experience. As usual, those part of Xbox Preview programs will be able to get an early look at the upcoming changes this week on Xbox One and later in the month for the Windows 10 Xbox app. Microsoft has announced this is the first of a two part update that will continue to blur the line between Xbox and Windows gaming.
The Xbox and Windows Games stores will be merged into one and PC games will be featured side by side with Xbox titles on the Game Hub. Additionally, the update will bring Cortana to Xbox One in the US, UK, France, Italy, Germany and Spain. The rest of us in the English-speaking Commonwealth nations will have to wait a little longer. Improvements have been made to the GameDVR app on both Xbox and Windows 10, particularly the addition of 60 FPS recording and full screen Windows Game bar support for six new games.
The change list is a pretty beefy one and is worth a peek at the official Xbox blog.
Running since 1997 and showing no signs of stopping anytime in the near future, the One Piece manga has is a massive property and one of the most popular series to date. This means that it is of course a great source for video games to pull from but only in recent years have many of these games been released in the West. Now with a fresh fighting game in the form of One Piece: Burning Blood arriving overseas, does this anime fighting game offer more than just a colorful cast?
Story
One Piece: Burning Blood ’s storyline is designed a bit different from past One Piece titles. Rather than try and provide a glimpse at larger story arcs while progressing through various stages, this title focuses entirely on one of the most memorable, character action packed arcs of all, the Marineford Arc. Titled The Paramount War here in the game, this features material right from when Luffy arrives with the freed prisoners from Impel Down in order to put a stop to Ace’s execution alongside the Whitebeard pirates and many others who have joined their cause.
The story follows the battle from four viewpoints, with each one being unlocked after completing the previous one, as the pirates battle the Marines and the Shichibukai. This includes three from the pirate’s side as well as one Marine. I must say that although the story mode progresses through fights that range from being incredibly simplistic to spiking the difficulty to a massive scale, the actual content is told in an incredible manner.
Every story node either features cutscenes that completely recreate the story as it was presented originally with the character models replacing the manga/anime models in a fashion that fits perfectly. This means a story node might begin with two cutscenes, allow the player to fight and complete a battle, and then enter another cutscene before being considered complete. This is then extended a bit by dialogue and still images from the anime portraying smaller events that aren’t highlighted through the aforementioned cutscenes.
The intense focus on creating the emotional Marineford Arc shows as the quality is exceptional. Unfortunately this focus is also something of a downfall as the game provides barely any extra content outside of this arc. In fact, the only way players will gain any extra story knowledge of events before or after this arc (that just so happens to be exactly where the English dub of the anime is currently in the middle of), is from the small bits of character dialogue that occur when certain fighters are selected to either team up or fight one another.
This limited focus means that although there are fighters and support characters from all the way up to the conclusion of the Dressrosa arc that are given little context so those who aren’t completely caught up with the Japanese version of the series will find themselves lost regarding some of these characters.
Gameplay
When beginning the game the only option available from the start will be the Paramount War story mode. As previously discussed, this story mode follows the Marineford arc through a number of different perspectives with battles ranging from simply defeating your opponents or surviving an onslaught of attacks for a certain period of time. Certain battles will contain special conditions such as winning with a certain percentage of health left and completing these will unlock a bonus fight.
Each of the story stages range from being incredibly simplistic to incredibly difficult depending on what characters are being paired off against one another, though it is worth noting that bonus fights do have a much harder level of difficulty compared to the standard fights. This unfortunately means that players will find themselves occasionally butting up against a difficult fight with little recourse other than to continually attempt to win the fight or take advantage of a few exploitable mechanics to clear a level. Unfortunately even if you do get caught up in a difficult battle you can expect to clear this game’s story within four hours.
The combat in One Piece: Burning Blood appears far more complicated than it really is, at least for the most part, as it features a few standard mechanics such as a basic combo chain for every character that culminates in a flashy move that launches your opponent, three special attacks that are taken from the character’s repertoire of moves, a few unique attacks that can be combed together, a standard guard break, an easy to exploit heavy guard break, the ability to “Awaken” when the “Burning Gauge” is filled and then unleash a “Grand Impact” finishing move, and finally the Special button. Players can also make use of the aforementioned Burning Gauge to call in a partner for either a Unity Assist to break up an opponent’s combo, Unity Attack to swap and continue a combo, or Unity Clash to prevent their opponent from performing either of the former two and dealing a large amount of damage at the same time.
In One Piece: Burning Blood the focus of the game is combat and with a roster filled with Logia users that are otherwise incapable of being harmed, there are also many Haki users, including a few that possess Conqueror’s Haki, that are capable of damaging them. When using a Logia user, players can press the special button to cause normal attacks to pass through them, doing no damage to the user unless the opponent also activates their Haki ability. Thankfully this is balanced out through the use of a special gauge that, when depleted, means that the fighters cannot enter their special forms and the fact that even non Haki users can still activate their special and hit these opponents.
That being said, One Piece: Burning Blood is far from a balanced game. Although the title does make an effort to limit the way characters are balanced out by placing a price on each fighter, with the best costing up to 3000 and the weaker ones only priced at 1000 and most modes only allowing 9000 in total, the moves of many of these fighters can easily sway a fight with little effort. With every battle outside the story mode allowing for players to bring up to three fighters and three support characters with them, there are a lot of combinations available to those who wish to delve into the roster but thanks to the aforementioned balance issues, many lesser characters will likely be passed over unless you decide to simply stick with your favorites.
This is primarily due to the fact that battle and support characters that aren’t unlocked in the story mode must be purchased using Beli earned through fighting. The primary way to do this is to take on the other modes that are available in the game, the single player Wanted Versus that places players up against various Wanted posters featuring certain characters that must be defeated and reward the player with money, and fight online through the Pirate Flag Battle and standard online fights through ranked and player matches.
The standard online fights are about what would expect from a game like this and thankfully I can report that after taking part in a large number of battles I never noticed any form of slowdown, though attempting to find a player match can take a bit of time even at launch. As for the Pirate Flag Battle, players can select various factions that they wish to join and then fight for that faction over the course of a season, attempting to gain as much territory as possible in that time frame in order to help their faction win.
Visuals & Audio
As mentioned before, the story in One Piece: Burning Blood has been taken directly from the manga and anime and recreated in executional form. With traditional cel-shading styles that fit the source material and characters appearing exactly as fans remember them, these fights can turn into completely ridiculous looking battles since many of the attacks these characters can unleash are extremely large and flashy and thankfully I never noticed any slowdown despite the amount of action going on at any given time.
The stages in the game are rather large, to the point of almost being too large if you don’t account for the fact that certain fighters, such as Usopp, require a larger arena to be effective, and although there are only nine in total, these stages are taken from the Marineford arc and beyond to provide some variety. The voice work in the game is presented entirely in Japanese and thankfully all of the voice actors from the original cast continue to reprise their roles in the game and considering the large amount of voiced cutscenes in this game, this will be quite a boon for fans of the series.
Overall
One Piece: Burning Blood presents players with a massive roster of fighters to choose from and support characters to mix things up as well as a flashy combat system that appears complicated but is easy to learn once you grow comfortable with the mechanics. That being said, the limited focus of the story results in a short experience only padded with the Wanted posters and online fights to extend longevity and while the roster may be vast, the lack of balance in certain characters is quite evident.
As such, One Piece: Burning Blood is a great game for fans who want to witness the most memorable arc in the story once again but be prepared for a flawed experience that only truly shines thanks to its fiery fighting mechanics creating an experience that truly captures the chaos that many of these fighters can bring to a battle. Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
SAVE PLANET POPSTAR FROM A ROBOTIC ARMY WHEN KIRBY: PLANET ROBOBOT LAUNCHES ON NINTENDO 3DS THIS SATURDAY
New Kirby Collection amiibo and game launch June 11 in Australia and New Zealand
7th June 2016 – Planet Popstar is being mechanised by sinister forces, and it’s up to Kirby to put a stop to their evil schemes when Kirby: Planet Robobot releases exclusively for Nintendo 3DS family systems this Saturday in Australia and New Zealand. This time around, Kirby has help saving the day in the form of Robobot Armour that can also make use of his Copy Abilities, allowing our hero to use the enemies’ weapons against them in order to save the day!
By making use of his new Robobot Armour, Kirby can now explore Planet Popstar in brand new ways by moving scenery, accessing new areas, and uncovering secrets using its handy Wrench. By scanning enemies to copy their abilities, the Robobot can change the action in brand new ways. Analysing an enemy with the “Jet” Scan Spec will engage Jet Mode, allowing Kirby to fly across the screen shoot-‘em-up style, while the “Wheel” Scan Spec will turn Kirby’s Robobot Armour into a car that can race between the foreground and background.
Kirby can also make use of new Copy Abilities, some of which will be familiar to avid players of the Super Smash Bros. series. Swallowing certain enemies will allow Kirby to use pills and clipboards as part of his arsenal as “Doctor” Kirby, whilst the “ESP” ability unleashes the power of Kirby’s mind. Additionally, other Copy Abilities can be awarded once a level via any currently available amiibo, often bestowing Kirby with an ability based on the character that was tapped*. For instance, by scanning in the Kirby amiibo from the Super Smash Bros. Collection our pink hero can become “Smash Bros.” Kirby, able to unleash the attacks that make him such a formidable fighter.
The Kirby Collection amiibo will also release alongside Kirby: Planet Robobot, consisting of Kirby, Waddle Dee, King Dedede, and Meta Knight. The latter three amiibo, when tapped, will bestow Kirby with a unique ability and a change of costume based on the character scanned. Meanwhile, the new Kirby amiibo will give our hero the “UFO” ability, which lets Kirby float indefinitely and unleash powerful beam attacks upon unsuspecting foes. Fans eager to get their hands on this ability can also choose the Kirby: Planet Robobot – amiibo Bundle, which includes a copy of the game and a Kirby amiibo from the new Kirby Collection.
It’s the rise of the Robobots when Kirby: Planet Robobot unleashes mechanical fury on Nintendo 3DS family systems as it launches in Australia and New Zealand on June 11 (SRP AU$59.95). The Kirby, Waddle Dee, King Dedede and Meta Knight amiibo will also launch on the same date (SRP AU$17.95 each), as will a bundle containing a copy of the game and a Kirby amiibo from the new Kirby Collection (SRP AU$69.95).
* Using the NFC functionality on New Nintendo 3DS or New Nintendo 3DS XL systems, or by using the NFC Reader/Writer accessory for other Nintendo 3DS family systems.
TOUHOU GENSO RONDO: BULLET BALLET COMING TO EUROPE AS A PHYSICAL RELEASE THIS SEPTEMBER!
NIS America is happy to officially confirm that the competitive shoot ‘em up Touhou Genso Rondo: Bullet Ballet will be coming to Europe on September 9 as a physical and digital release for PlayStation®4! The game will also be receiving a retail limited edition which will include an art book, soundtrack, art cards and bonus in-game DLC.
About the game:
Developed by CUBETYPE, Touhou Genso Rondo: Bullet Ballet is a shoot ‘em up that takes place in the Touhou universe. Select from 10 playable girls and dive straight into bullet-hell! Reminiscent of a fighting game, TouhouGenso Rondo takes the traditional shoot’em up genre and infuses it with a 1v1 battle scenario, allowing for a unique gameplay experience. Learn more about the Touhou characters in Story Mode as you progress through the game, blasting your opponent with a barrage of beautiful bullets. Or if you are feeling confident, jump into online battle mode and showcase your skills to players on PSN™.
Key Features:
Touhou to the Masses — As the first physical release of a Touhou title on consoles, players will be introduced to the expansive and delightful Touhou universe through the PlayStation 4’s HD graphics.
Multiple Combat Options! — Force your enemy into oblivion by customizing your projectiles and inventing your own beautiful bullet patterns! Or read your enemy’s patterns and sneak in close for a powerful melee attack!
You are the Boss!? — Say goodbye to the days of feeling helpless in boss battles! Touhou Genso Rondo kindly equips the player with powerful attacks and the strength of a boss!
Spell Cards! — Collect power-ups and unleash maximum damage to your enemy by casting spell cards – but use them only at the best of opportunities!
WORLD OF FINAL FANTASY’S EPIC JOURNEY COMING TO PLAYSTATION®4 AND PLAYSTATION®VITA THIS FALL
The Wonderful World of Grymoire Shines in New E3 Trailer
SYDNEY, 7TH June 2016 – Welcoming a new generation of gamers, SQUARE ENIX®’s WORLD OF FINAL FANTASY™ is set to release across Australia & New Zealand for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and PlayStation®Vita handheld entertainment system on October 27, 2016.
The newly released English-language trailer offers fans a fresh glimpse of the game, featuring iconic FINAL FANTASY® monsters and adorable heroes. The trailer expands the FINAL FANTASY universe for a new generation of players while also providing long-time players a nostalgia-filled journey to the series’ roots.
In WORLD OF FINAL FANTASY, players lead a pair of twins, Reynn and Lann, through the land of Grymoire on a search to rediscover their lost memories. Throughout their adventure, players will collect, raise and battle adorable beings of classic FINAL FANTASY lore, including cactuar, chocobo® and behemoth, to create customizable, strategic tower combinations to take on the most challenging of opponents.
