Page 3032 – Capsule Computers

Sailor Moon R Part One Limited Edition Review

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May 26, 2016

Sailor Moon R Part One Limited Edition Review

Sailor Moon R Part One Limited Edition
Studio: Toei Animation
Publisher: Madman Entertainment
Format: Standard Edition DVD / Limited Edition DVD (reviewed)
Release Date: April 13, 2016
Price: $69.95 AUD – Available Here / Standard Edition $59.95 AUD – Available Here

Overview

After their final battle against Queen Beryl and the Dark Kingdom, the Sailor Guardians have lost their memories and returned to being normal 14-year-olds. Usagi and Mamoru go back to their insignificant name calling, neither of them remembering that they are long-lost lovers. Due to the appearance of new enemies, Luna must restore Usagi’s memories so that she can transform into Sailor Moon and save the day once again. Despite still having no recollection of being Sailor Guardians, Ami, Rei, Makoto and Minako meet each other thanks to a remarkable coincidence.

Story

Having gone through what she has, it is no wonder that Usagi would rather be a normal person instead of a Sailor Guardian. Her group of friends once more consists of just Naru Osaka and Gurio Umino, as well as a non-talking Luna. When a new type of monster known as a Cardian attacks Naru, Luna realises that she has no choice but to restore Usagi’s memories and ask her to transform into Sailor Moon to save Naru. With her memories back, Usagi finds herself longing for Mamoru again. She also wants to be with her other friends again, but it is not until the other Guardians’ lives are at risk that Luna finally decides to restore their memories as well. Usagi’s wish to just be a normal 14-year-old was explored poignantly in the second half of the last season and it is obvious that it hurts her to know that she and her friends are risking their lives instead of always having fun like everyone else. It is this theme that really separates this series from other magical girl series, which often engage viewers through imitation of other series or attract viewers with gimmicks such as sheer cuteness instead of depicting genuine emotions.

The intriguing enemies have always been one of the many excellent features of Sailor Moon. An enemy that is only evil and completely lacks any human qualities can only ever be annoying, but the new enemies Ail and An never end up being like that. In their human forms, Ail develops a sort of romantic interest in Usagi and An develops a sort of romantic interest in Mamoru. Although they masquerade as siblings when they transfer to Usagi’s middle school, they are in fact deeply in love with each other. Unsurprisingly, Usagi and An frequently get into conflict over their love interests, and while it is slightly repetitive, the plot is always interesting enough to make it easy to look past this. In the Black Moon arc, Chibi-Usa starts out as a rather annoying character and the Four Spectre Sisters tend to fight a lot. Their fighting is immature and not helpful to their ultimate cause, but their arguments accurately reflect human issues of body issue and identity. Sailor Moon is at its most profound when it is making a point about friendship or love, but each and every episode is interesting and engaging no matter what. Fan opinion seems to be divided about Chibi-Usa, but it is worth giving her a chance in this adaptation.

Visuals

The only noticeable difference between the animation in this season and the first one is that there is a somewhat decreased reliance on lighting effects to enhance the atmosphere. Character designs remain consistent and the designs for the new characters are all distinct. Ail and An’s normal and human forms are distinguished, and the design of the new hero Moonlight Knight makes for a positive albeit temporary change from Tuxedo Mask. One of many things that Toei Animation’s animation team has always been extremely talented at is conveying emotions through expressions; the emotions actually seem real in this adaptation. The opening animation sequence used in these episodes does not have the same feel that the first opening sequence did, but it shows off the characters in a beautiful way. The ending sequence for these episodes is a fun piece of animation featuring Usagi, but as with the previous ending sequence, there is little happening on most of the screen.

Madman’s remastering process continues to be very effective, resulting in a high quality DVD release. The quality may not be 100% perfect, but that is understandable seeing as this is not a Blu-ray release. The quality of this release is undoubtedly up to the standard that fans demand from a DVD release, especially one of this series.

Audio

The new background music is not quite as memorable as the music composed for the first season, but it still helps give the series that magical feel that has been present since the beginning. Perhaps what stands out the most is Ail’s flute. He frequently plays a short melody, one that sounds both mysterious and pleasant at the same time. It is a shame that it will most likely never be heard again in the series, but it is enjoyable while it lasts. The new ending theme song is decent for a pop song and does succeed in being memorable.

The voice acting in the original Japanese version is fantastic, but it is still impossible to say the same about the voice acting in the English dub. The voice actors do put a lot of effort and energy into the English dub, but they just do not suit the characters they are voicing. Chiba-Usa’s voice actor Sandy Fox does a surprisingly decent job, as does Gurio Umino’s voice actor Ben Diskin, but none of the voice actors in the English dub are a match for the Japanese voice actors. Viz Media’s translation of the dialogue is excellent for the most part, although a few Americanisms and other problems make their way into the subtitles again. The issue of romaji being used in the subtitles for “Moonlight Densetsu” is still present as well.

Extras

The on-disc extras include the textless opening and ending animation. The box art is fantastic, as is the booklet included in the limited edition set. The booklet lacks the majority of the pages included in Viz Media’s booklet, but it does include the most important parts: the character biographies and the fantastic artwork. The artwork alone makes this booklet worth getting.

Overall

The Makai Tree arc is relatively short, lasting just 13 episodes. Despite all of the fighting between Ail and An and between Usagi and An, it is an excellent story that is used to explore many themes delicately and effectively. The twist that stealing energy is not actually the main goal of the enemy is particularly refreshing after nearly 46 episodes featuring members of the Dark Kingdom stealing energy from the citizens of the Juuban district in Japan. The monster-of-the-day formula may still be used in most episodes, but it never gets old in this series, due in part to the unique and comical design of each of the Cardians.

There is a difference of opinion about Chibi-Usa, who appears in the Black Moon arc. She is portrayed as both good and bad, and she can be rather annoying. It is much easier to feel sympathetic towards Usagi, who has to deal with Chibi-Usa and her monopolising of Mamoru, but the gradual revelation of her past does make it somewhat easier to understand how she feels and why she is doing the things she does. The series was more fun without a nine-year-old character in every episode, but by no means does she ruin the series. Whether you like Chibi-Usa or not, it will be worth seeing how this arc concludes.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

CHRONICLE: RUNESCAPE LEGENDS IS A WHOLE NEW ADVENTURE FOR STRATEGY CARD GAMES AND LAUNCHES TODAY ON STEAM FOR PC

Press Releases

Philip Federico

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May 26, 2016

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CHRONICLE: RUNESCAPE LEGENDS IS A WHOLE NEW ADVENTURE FOR STRATEGY CARD GAMES AND LAUNCHES TODAY ON STEAM FOR PC

Fight your own cards in a new chapter for online strategy card games as Chronicle arrives on Steam for PC

Thursday 26^th May 2016, Cambridge, UK – Chronicle: RuneScape Legends, a new generation of action-packed online strategy card game, has launched today and is now available from Steam for PC (http://store.steampowered.com/app/205890/), Jagex Games Studio has announced.

A unique twist on the card game genre, which combines tactical PvE with strategic PvP gameplay, Chronicle sees players fighting against their own cards as well as their opponents, and crafting adventures in a quest for supremacy over their rival.

Having spent the last six months in beta, Chronicle’s full launch on Steam brings with it new ranked sessions (the first of which is now live until 31^st June) more than 400 cards, support for seven languages^1-, over 40 Steam Achievements, Steam Trading Cards, and dozens of additional enhancements and improvements for the game’s full launch.

Additionally, current players can continue to enjoy their Chronicle adventure directly through the game’s client. Crucially, there is no progress wipe for players who have been enjoying the game during the open beta period.

CHRONICLE: RUNESCAPE LEGENDS features at Steam launch:

Unique new generation card game – The cards are both a player’s greatest weapon and weakness, as they battle their own decks and trying to defeat their rival standing the other side of the Chronicle

Master five Legends – Learn the unique tactics and strategies of each Legend and strive for victory. A sixth Legend, the slayer master Morvran, will join existing characters during this summer

Multiple modes – Draft to victory in Dungeoneering mode and quest for coins, gem shards and platinum; learn the ropes in Solo Play and Casual modes; play against friends; or fight to the top in the competitive Ranked mode

Skilling & Customisation – Players can customise their account by unlocking new titles and badges through levelling up in-game skills, or purchase new card backs

Said James Sweatman, lead designer, Chronicle: RuneScape Legends:
“From prototyping Chronicle as a paper-based card game two years ago, through to iterating its digital form, today’s launch of Chronicle: RuneScape Legends on Steam for PC marks the biggest milestone for the game to date. Chronicle delivers a step-change in traditional CCG gameplay, where almost every predictable card game mechanic has been thrown out the window in favour of our unique twist on the genre and we are eager to see players develop and master new tactics and strategies for supremacy.”

“The open beta proved to be supremely useful, with players providing invaluable feedback and insight as to how we could make Chronicle the best it could possibly be for launch. We’re looking forward to watching the race to the top of the ranked leagues unfold, as well as continue our development plans to bring the game to iOS and Android platforms next!”

Watch the Chronicle: RuneScape Legends launch trailer at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCCKjO3QbhY

About Jagex
Established in 2001, Jagex Games Studio today stands as the UK’s largest independent game developer and publisher and is the home of the flagship online adventure game, RuneScape. Celebrating its 15th Year anniversary in 2016, RuneScape has welcomed over 245 million players to its world and more than two million of them play every month, while millions more watch avidly through social channels. In addition to RuneScape, Jagex is developing new RuneScape-branded games as it enters additional genres, including Chronicle: RuneScape Legends, an adventure strategy card game, and RuneScape: Idle Adventures created in partnership with Hyper Hippo, the developers of cult hit Adventure Capitalist. Jagex employs over 320 people at its Cambridge headquarters. Career information can be found atwww.jagex.com .

About Chronicle: RuneScape Legends
Chronicle: RuneScape Legends is an online strategy card game from Jagex, the studio behind the award-winning fantasy MMORPG, RuneScape. Set within the pages of a magical book where the world of Gielinor unfolds before your eyes, Chronicle: RuneScape Legends offers a unique strategic twist on card games. Craft your quest with a deck of cards, battle enemies for gold and bonuses, and then face the final challenge of player vs. player combat. Chronicle: RuneScape Legends is now available for PC and is scheduled for release in 2016 on Mac, tablet and mobile. For more information visit: www.rschronicle.com .

DOOM Review

Travis Bruno

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May 26, 2016

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DOOM
Developer: id Software
Publisher: Bethesda
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One (Reviewed), PC
Release Date: Available Now
Price: $59.99 US – Available Here $99.95 AUS – Available Here

Overview

DOOM is the type of title where people still talk about how great the very first iteration was and how it helped open up the world of gaming to brand new avenues. As such it was questionable whether or not that same type of brutal magic could be found once again in a modern day DOOM. Even with id Software managing to create an extremely satisfying Wolfenstein, many were skeptical if DOOM 2016 could meet expectations. Well thankfully I can say that after tearing my way through the single player campaign and seeing what else the game had to offer that it actually exceeds these expectations.

Story

The story for DOOM begins with the main character, simply called the Doom Marine, waking up chained to a table where he apparently has been imprisoned for an unknown length of time, though a quick hologram shows that he was being kept in a stone sarcophagus of some kind and was being worshiped before hell broke loose. I say that because almost instantly a deformed creature begins to attack and is quickly and brutally taken care of.

It becomes apparent that the UAC research facility on Mars has fallen to demonic invasion and that its time for the Doom Marine to do what he does best. After obtaining the Praetor Suit, the story kicks into gear by literally having the main character throw the plot to the side. It is quite evident that id Software knew that they should embrace the ultra-violence aspect of the series and while there are moments where the game’s narrative does slow things down a bit and lock the player into a cut-scene, most of the time the Doom Marine simply rips and tears his way through everything in his path.

There is indeed a story here and some elements of lore to be explored through collectibles that unlock bonus text but for the most part the game provides just enough of a storyline to set up the situation where the demonic forces of hell coming up against the Doom Marine and that it is up to players to put them down by any means necessary and thankfully this comes in the form of extremely fast paced visceral combat.

Gameplay

After spending plenty of years with your standard first person shooters, it may come as a bit of a surprise at how fast everything is in DOOM. Players are given an initial pistol with an unlimited ammo capacity and the ability to charge a single fire shot and then thrown into the gory flames of arena combat. Demons often fill the rooms and the only way for players to progress past them is to slay everything in sight and with the enemies being just as quick as the player is, meaning that movement and constant action is key to survival.

Nearly every weapon in DOOM that players come across will have two weapon mods that can be swapped between allowing for various types of alternate fire modes and players will find that they will have more than enough variety when it comes to firepower. In fact, as players progress through the game they will discover various points and tokens that can be used to upgrade your weaponry, provide your Praetor Suit with new abilities, and even upgrade your health, armor, or ammo capacity. All of these mechanics are introduced fairly quickly and are then left to the side for players to pick and choose at will. This means that these mechanics have been designed in such a manner that they do not draw attention away too much from the actual action.

There are even little elements such as runes that players can equip to provide various boosts to the player and challenges for certain levels that you can undertake but these types of mechanics are all optional and serve as a fun little way to see just how brutal you can be, especially since many of these challenges are designed to give players an incentive to approach fights a certain way rather than simply running and gunning.

As mentioned, there are numerous weapons in DOOM and every one of them, perhaps minus the initial starter pistol, is designed in a manner that makes it extremely satisfying to use in combat. Thanks to the fast paced movement speed, the incredibly impressive enemy AI that will take advantage of multi-level terrain and side paths to attempt to flank you or attack from above, and a new “Glory Kill” system, every fight is an adrenaline fueled blood bath.

These Glory Kills are violent executions that are performed by pressing the melee button near an opponent that is near death. When shooting your foes they will begin to glow orange and turn blue when you approach, meaning that they are ready to be finished off in bloody fashion. These Glory Kills result in a burst of healing items and occasionally ammunition which is essential since players will always need to be on the move and running through a wounded force, ripping off arms, stomping skulls, and performing other acts of violence while gaining much needed health is essential.

As you can likely tell, DOOM features a standard health system where players will need to rely on either killing enemies to gain health or finding med packs scattered throughout a stage while also picking up pieces of armor at the same time. The thing is, this is a game that isn’t ready to hand anything over on a silver platter unless you are playing on the easiest difficulty, there will likely be times that you will suffer quite a large amount of damage from an unseen enemy as damage notifications are kept at a minimum and it is possible to be killed outright if you aren’t paying attention on higher difficulty levels.

In true DOOM fashion, the levels that players will be traveling through are filled with little nooks and crannies that can be explored. Players can have their standard objectives pointed out to them but finding secrets is where the true challenge lies. These secrets harken back to the time where players would deliberately have to go out of their way in order to find something special and sometimes these rewards might be a simple upgrade, collectible, rune, or even a fun little easter egg while other times it might even be a special weapon that doesn’t show up until much later in the title.

While DOOM’s single player runs as a thirteen to fifteen hour example of how great a first person shooter’s campaign mode can be by delivering players satisfying gameplay mechanics, the multiplayer mode is a bit of a different story. Players will find that the game features your standard modes such as Team Deathmatch, Warpath, and Domination though a few new options such as Freeze Tag, where players must thaw out team mates that are frozen by the other team and Soul Harvest requires the gathering of souls from defeated enemies to boost your team score, help change things up. That being said, with a loadout system, various “Hack Modules” serving as perks, and fairly basic maps the multiplayer mode might be worth sampling but is something that you will likely be passing up rather quickly.

The other side feature to the game’s single player mode is SnapMap and this is a feature that actually comes out quite well. Creative minds will find quite a lot of options at their fingertips as they can create their very own levels by snapping together rooms, setting up monsters, adjusting their abilities, and even more. There are quite a few creative creations already available such as flat out recreations of levels from the original game to arcade style levels, jumping challenges, and more. This community driven aspect of the game is simple to learn for those who want to try their hands at it and is something that I can imagine will result in some really spectacular creations in the future.

Visuals & Audio

I must say that id Software has managed to really capture the heart of the DOOM aesthetic. The company has paid close attention to detail to creating a truly industrial/hellish looking environment for players to venture through, filled with atmospheric lighting that really helps set the mood for the violence, as they slay their way through highly varied and detailed demons. This type of aesthetic is all the more impressive when you realize that not only does this game look absolutely gorgeous, but that it also never suffers from any type of slowdown no matter how fast or how much action ends up occurring at once on the screen.

This title features an extremely fitting soundtrack that slowly evolves over the course of the game as players travel through the game. This means that players will be experience plenty of variety here that always seems to fit the atmosphere of the current situation and the level of intensity that players will be fighting with. Combine this satisfying choice of soundtrack with the impressive sound effects from the game and you have a winning combination.

Overall

There was some trepidation when DOOM was growing close to release but thankfully almost all of those concerns can be put to rest. Sure the game’s multiplayer mode is fairly standard and feels like a tacked on effort that could have been forgone entirely but the creative SnapMap opens up plenty of possibilities on the side while the single player campaign delivers in every way imaginable by giving players addictive gameplay mechanics that will keep players tearing through the demonic forces of hell in what is one of the best single player first person shooters in years.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Valkyria Chronicles Remastered Review

Travis Bruno

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May 26, 2016

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Valkyria Chronicles Remastered
Developer: SEGA
Publisher: SEGA
Platforms: PlayStation 4
Release Date: Available Now
Price: $29.99 US – Available Here $39.95 AUS – Available Here

Overview

Originally released two years after the launch of the PlayStation 3, the original Valkyria Chronicles was met with some measure of success and was even given a set of sequels for the PSP. Unfortunately the second game did poorly enough in the West that the third title in the series was never even localized. For years after fans of the original Valkyria Chronicles strategy RPG have been hoping for the series to be revitalized and after first bringing the game to the PC, Sega has now delivered Valkyria Chronicles Remastered to the PlayStation 4. The question is, does this that originally debuted back in 2008 still hold up?

Story

The story of Valkyria Chronicles Remastered primarily follows Welkin Gunther, the son of a great general, and Alicia Melchiott, a determined girl who first meets Welkin while serving as a member of the town watch and suspecting him of being an enemy. You see, the town of Bruhl exists on the border of the neutral Principality of Gallia and although they may not have aligned themselves with either of the two giant nations that exist in Europa, the Federation and the Empire, it isn’t long before they are dragged into the war that begins between these nations over the precious resource Ragnite.

When Bruhl is invaded by Federation forces, Alicia and members of the militia hold off the invading force while the civilians escape with the help of Welkin, his adopted younger sister Isara, and his father’s prototype tank, the Edelweiss, before evacuating themselves. Left with nowhere to turn, Welkin, Alicia, and Isara join up with the Gallian Militia and thanks to his father’s name and his actions in the previous battle, Welkin is assigned as the Lieutenant commander of a brand new Squad 7.

Valkyria Chronicles Remastered’s storyline holds up incredibly well by today’s standards and is almost entirely told through scenes that are spread out between the various storyline battles that will take place. This means that there are certain times that the game ends up delivering quite a bit of development while leaving the actual fighting off of the table for upwards of a half hour depending on how fast you can read.

Thankfully, as mentioned before, the storyline manages to deliver a satisfying storyline of an alternate World War scenario following a small band of fighters that grow close as they struggle against a dominating force. Outside of the main story development, players can spend a bit of in-game currency to unlock side-story content for their squad and the more the various members of your team take part in battles the more information about their histories are revealed, encouraging players to learn about their squad mates even if they might eventually fall in battle.

Gameplay

At its core Valkyria Chronicles Remastered remains untouched as far as the gameplay is concerned. This is a strategy RPG that features a turn based battle system with some real time elements mixed into the fray. Every battle players will choose which units they wish to bring into a fight, with each unit falling into a certain class type such as scouts, shocktroopers, lancers, engineers, and snipers. A few special units even add an extra “Action Point” to the player’s total. With every move taken by a unit costing one AP, these units, which are usually the characters focused on in the story such as Alicia, are often quite vital to your success.

When choosing a unit to move, players are presented with an overhead view of the battlefield through a map and when a unit is chosen, they are given direct control over that character. This allows them to move a certain distance, taking an action such as attacking, healing, etc., and then potentially moving back into cover if they still have movement points left. The thing is, whenever players move around the field they run the risk of being targeted by enemies who will begin shooting when the unit is too close to them. Generally only tanks, scouts, and shocktroopers can deal out this bonus damage but this means players will need to be extremely careful not to overextend their forces or risk losing valuable fighters.

Players can choose to select the same character multiple times though the character will have a smaller movement meter and will not have any additional ammo for their weapons. This means that while it is entirely possible to select your favorite sniper (Marina) for multiple actions, she is only given three bullets at any given time, meaning at best you’ll only have three shots in a round and any extra selections will just be used to either move her into cover or into a base.

Speaking of cover, players will need to keep a real close eye on how their characters are managed. Both allies and enemies can take cover behind sandbags and even hide in tallgrass which eliminates the option for critical headshot damage. This means that although an enemy might have been killed with two shots to the head, if they are in cover even ten headshots might not drop them. Of course using your tank or even grenades to destroy or flush them out of cover is always an option.

In fact, the versatility of Valkyria Chronicles Remastered’s battle mechanics remain as wonderful and punishing as ever. This is a game that players will need to play smart in order to succeed and it is entirely possible to have a series of bad luck ruin an entire battle for you. This is especially true since this is a game that features possible permanent death. Any time a unit is downed in the field, if an enemy touches them or they are not touched by an ally within three turns, they will die and no longer be accessible. The game does alleviate this issue slightly by allowing players to, by reaching a fallen ally, call in a medic to evacuate them, multiple times in a fight and by allowing every unit to be trained by class rather than individually trained.

Outside of combat, players can spend their earned experience points to level up the aforementioned character classes, recruit more units (who come in at the same level of your current units) to replenish a weakened squad, research better weaponry, and even partake in skirmishes to grind if you find yourself butting up against a wall. You can even challenge yourself with the various bonus content that is now included in the game, though these are extremely challenging. This is a game filled with various complex elements that will come into play and learning how to tackle them is an extremely rewarding experience and is that combat system that helped make Valkyria Chronicles so memorable.

Visuals & Audio

It is rather doubtful that back in 2008 when the original title was created that the developers believed that the art style would be still benefitting the game eight years later. By choosing to go with a watercolor anime styled presentation this title continues to look amazing by today’s standards. There are very few instances where players will notice any kind of issue with the graphics, though a few stages are a bit standard looking. The main upgrade for this release comes in the form of a constant sixty frames per second as well as the 1080p graphical upgrade and thankfully both of these help make this great looking title all the better.

As far as the soundtrack is concerned this title features quite a memorable one and as for the voice work, Valkyria Chronicles Remastered features a satisfying voice cast with plenty of voiced dialogue throughout the many cut-scenes that play throughout the game and the ruckus that is raised on the battlefield sounds great.

Overall

Valkyria Chronicles Remastered may not have much in the way of new content outside of some challenging Trophies to aim for, in reality the only new content for most will be the included DLC missions, but that doesn’t diminish the fact that this is a strategy RPG that stands the test of time and thanks to its art style and smooth gameplay mechanics, it is also one that any fans of the genre must try out. The original release may have slipped under the radar for some but now that it has arrived on the PlayStation 4, there is little reason to pass up on this title.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Trapped in another Dimension: Beautiful puzzle game Warp Shift out now on the App Store

Press Releases

Philip Federico

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May 26, 2016

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Trapped in another Dimension: Beautiful puzzle game Warp Shift out now on the App Store

As of today, Deep Silver FISHLABS’ and ISBIT Games’ relaxing yet challenging puzzle game Warp Shift, which centers on the young girl Pi’s adventures in a parallel universe, is available for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch as a premium app. An Android version follows soon.

Hamburg, Germany – May 26, 2016 – Hamburg-based publisher Deep Silver FISHLABS and Stockholm-based developer ISBIT Games celebrate the release of Warp Shift on the Apple App Store. With beautiful visuals and unique gameplay, the app adds a refreshing twist to puzzle gaming on mobile. Due to the absence of timers and countdowns, playing Warp Shift is both relaxing and absorbing. For the fixed price of USD 2.99 / EUR 2.99 / GBP 2.29, the game allows its players to embark on an audio-visual journey that stimulates the senses and challenges the mind.

Warp Shift on the App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/app/warp-shift/id1087286731
Official Story Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pC6DFf6WDVM

The premise of Warp Shift follows a little girl called Pi, who is drawn into the interior of a magical construct, in which time and space no longer exist. She needs to be brave, determined and forward-thinking to break out of her prison and return back home. The players support Pi in this undertaking by reshaping the world around her on their fingertips – opening passages, creating shortcuts and removing obstacles that block the heroine’s way.

Warp Shift’s fabulous features:

A work of art: Enjoy a mesmerizing game that stimulates your eyes, ears and brains
• Help Pi to get out: Traverse maze-like environments that change at your fingertip
• A unique kind of puzzler: Alter your surroundings to open new paths and opportunities
• From one realm to another: Explore 5 unique worlds with 15 levels each
• Ease of access: Reach your destination via taps and swipes
• No stress or hurry: Play to relax, escape and clear your mind

Warp Shift is available for download on the Apple App Store for USD 2.99 / EUR 2.99 / GBP 2.29. The game will be released on the Google Play Store in the near future.

HACHETTE KICKS OFF A NEW CHAPTER IN STORYTELLING, AS NEW STAR SOCCER G-STORY IS RELEASED

Press Releases

Philip Federico

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May 26, 2016

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HACHETTE KICKS OFF A NEW CHAPTER IN STORYTELLING, AS NEW STAR SOCCER G-STORY IS RELEASED

App combines gameplay and narrative to provide an exciting and innovative new format to engage readers and gamers

Life is all about choices…
Good or bad, right or wrong…
We all have to make them…
Every choice you make alters who you are – and what you might become…

Book publisher Hachette UK today reinvents the story-telling process, fusing gameplay with narrative to create an innovative new app that will engage even the most reluctant of readers.

Hachette has joined forces with leading game developers New Star Games and Insight Studios, plus award-winning children’s authors The2Steves, to release New Star Soccer G-Story.

The app is based on the BAFTA-winning and multi-million selling PC and mobile game New Star Soccer. It’s released today, May 26th, on iOS, with the Android format following next week – coinciding with the excitement building around the Euro 2016 tournament.

New Star Soccer G-Story is priced at just £4.99 but will be reduced to £2.99 for the launch period. It is available to download via the App Store.

The G-Story format mixes traditional (written) story narrative with real gameplay challenges. The written story takes different narrative paths, depending on how the user performs in each game segment. As a result, there are multiple plot threads and multiple endings.

These numerous plot threads and endings mean that New Star Soccer G-Story features some 180,000 words of text, across 18 chapters. This is interspersed with 240 segments of gameplay, including shooting, dribbling, passing, tackling, penalties and more, which each change the whole course of the story.

Similarly, all the choices the reader makes – from picking an agent, to how much they train, to which sponsorship deals they sign – will alter the plot.

The story takes the reader from playing a game of football in the park, being spotted by a talent scout, to signing for a leading Club and playing in a Cup Final – or not, depending on the decisions made by the reader and their success during the gameplay challenges.

Working alongside the game development talent at Insight Studios and New Star Games, respected authors Steve Barlow and Steve Skidmore (collectively known in the children’s book publishing world as The 2Steves) have created the compelling storyline.

They said: “We firmly believe that New Star Soccer G-Story will encourage kids – particularly the reluctant ones, especially boys – to read.

“Games obviously compete with traditional books for readers’ time and attention. Instead of moaning about that, why not exploit it? Study after study from the Literacy Trust, the Reading Agency and similar bodies show that uncommitted readers are more likely to be motivated by reading from a screen than from paper. Add the elements of competition, gameplay and choice in New Star Soccer G-Story, and you have a narrative that is bound to capture the attention of even the most die-hard refusenik.”

The launch of the new G-Story format is part of Hachette’s on-going drive to encourage children to read and enjoy books more. Boys in particular are more reluctant to read, with latest research from the National Literary Trust (Children’s and Young People’s Reading in 2015) revealing that 61.2% of girls enjoy reading, versus 47.8% of boys.

This initiative, and the launch of New Star Soccer G-Story, has been praised by the teaching community.

“This is a genius idea. It’s a simple concept, but will be so effective at hooking those reluctant readers,” enthused Tim Redgrave, Head Teacher at Esgob Morgan School in Denbighshire and founder of the Patrons of Reading schools initiative.

“I’m really excited about it being released. It’s a great way to get kids – or anyone interested in football – to read. The way the gameplay determines the storyline narrative is brilliant. I’m sure this will encourage more children to read.”

Damian Horner, Brand Development Director at Hachette offered: “The G-Story is one of a number of initiatives Hachette is taking to reinvent the storytelling process. We have something very unique here – a fusion of the best gameplay with the best storytelling. It is an entirely new kind of product and we are very excited about its potential.”

To download the app for iOS visit: https://appsto.re/gb/CTQCcb.i

To view the trailer, visit: https://youtu.be/mLjyAgH7tRE

About Hachette UK
Hachette is one of the UK’s leading book publishers and is made up of several companies and imprints, including Headline Publishing Group, Hodder & Stoughton, John Murray, Quercus, Orion Publishing Group, Octopus Publishing Group, Hachette Children’s Group, Little, Brown Book Group and Hodder Education. Hachette UK is owned by Hachette Livre, the world’s third largest trade and educational publisher.

About New Star Soccer
20 million units of the BAFTA-award winning New Star Soccer have been downloaded across all formats since its release. It boasts 2.2 million active users each month and has enjoyed huge critical acclaim. Eurogamer called it “the best football game on mobile and tablets”, with The Sun and The Sunday Times awarding it a score of 5/5.

About Insight Studios
Insight Studios (formerly Insight For Hire) is a specialist independent consultancy for a range of digital video game enterprises; developers, publishers and investors. Insight Studios manages all commercial and publishing activities for New Star Games. It is headed up by video games veteran Martyn Brown.

About New Star Games
New Star Games is a British independent video games developer specializing in sports titles. It was founded by Simon Read in 2003.

About The 2Steves
The 2Steves are acclaimed authors Steve Barlow and Steve Skidmore. Collectively they have written over 150 books for children and young adults including Action Dogs, Challenger, iHERO, iHorror, Monsters Like Us, Vernon Bright and The Dark Forest. They have also written many non-fiction books and TV scripts.

Useful Statistics
• A recent report by Galaxy Quick Reads revealed that around 27 per cent of people fear that reading could become a ‘forgotten pleasure’. The research also found that, while a number of the population would like to read more, 35 per cent said they are often distracted from reading by their phone or watching TV.

• Research by the National Literacy Trust shows using ebooks increases boys’ reading progress and makes them keener, more confident readers. Their latest research report shows that using ebooks to read can help boys to make significant progress with their reading and get the most reluctant readers to enjoy reading more.

• Research by GameTrack into UK device ownership (Q1 2015) revealed that 44 per cent of households own an iPhone and 46 per cent own an Android phone.

• Over half of the £500m UK app market is spent on games (Research2Guidance).

• 30 per cent of the total UK game revenue was generated via apps games in Q3 2015 (GameTrack/ISFE/Ispos MediaCT)

• GameTrack estimates that there are 20m people of the 6-64 year old population playing games in the UK.

• On average the 11-64 old player population spends 8.9 hours per week on games (GameTrack Q2 2015).

RPG Classic ROMANCING SAGA 2 arrives on mobile devices today

Press Releases

Philip Federico

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May 26, 2016

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RPG Classic ROMANCING SAGA 2 arrives on mobile devices today

LONDON (26^th May 2016) – Square Enix Ltd., today announced that its RPG classicROMANCING SAGA 2 is now available on iOS and Android devices in Europe and PAL territories. While maintaining the feel of the original 1993 release, the second entry in the beloved Romancing SaGa series has been fully revamped for mobile devices – with updated background and battle graphics, optimised touch screen controls and an auto-save feature to support on-the-go play, anywhere at any time.

Now, a new generation of gamers can experience Romancing SaGa 2 with new classes, original dungeons and the “New Game+” function which allows players to carry over character attributes and items into a brand new game, enabling them to enjoy the story and obtain items they may have missed, or save lands and companions that were sacrificed originally.

Romancing SaGa 2 enables players the ability to freely explore with freeform scenarios, and fuses it with the imperial succession system that provides players the ability to adventure while taking command of a variety of protagonists and experience the history of a nation as it grows and changes.

Additionally, the game introduced what has now become classic gameplay features of the SaGa series. Adventurers can learn new techniques with the Glimmers feature by using weapons and martial arts in battle, and also utilize Battle Formations to vary the attributes of characters depending on where they are placed within a particular formation.

Romancing SaGa 2 is available now in Europe and PAL territories for £13.49 / €17.99 on the App Store and the Google Play Store.

About Romancing SaGa 2:
The epic tale of Romancing SaGa 2 spans multiple generations of rulers of the Vareness Empire, fighting to bring an end to a brutal war across the ages. Players play as of a series of royal rulers in a valiant struggle against the Seven Heroes.
Romancing SaGa 2 is one of the many titles in the lauded SaGa roleplaying game series. In this popular entry, released for the Super Famicom in Japanese only in 1993 and boasting sales in excess of one million copies, the player’s struggle spans multiple generations as he assumes the role of a series of rulers of the Varennes Empire in a valiant struggle against the Seven Heroes. A free scenario system—a hallmark of the SaGa series—enables the player to take command of a variety of protagonists along the line of imperial succession and experience the history of a nation as it grows and changes. This freedom of choice provides a compelling narrative that served as the cornerstone of the title’s success on its initial release.

About Square Enix Ltd.
Square Enix Ltd., a part of the Square Enix Europe business unit, 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. 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 boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY, which has sold over 110 million units worldwide, DRAGON QUEST® which has sold over 66 million units worldwide and 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.
More information on Square Enix Ltd. can be found at http://www.square-enix.com/eu/en/ .

ROMANCING SAGA, FINAL FANTASY, the FINAL FANTASY logo, DRAGON QUEST, SQUARE ENIX, the SQUARE ENIX logo, SPACE INVADERS and TAITO are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Square Enix Group. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.

Bigpoint teams up with global media brands to launch new puzzle adventure Hocus Puzzle

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Philip Federico

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May 26, 2016

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Bigpoint teams up with global media brands to launch new puzzle adventure Hocus Puzzle

Leading global online game developer and publisher Bigpoint announces Hocus Puzzle, coming to IOS and Android on May 26th.

Hamburg, May 26, 2016 – Bigpoint GmbH, a global leader in free-to-play online and mobile gaming publishing today announced Hocus Puzzle, a bewitching puzzle adventure.

Hocus Puzzle follows the adventures of Serena as she embarks on a spellbinding adventure to defeat the evil that has drained the magic river dry. Expanding upon popular match-3 gameplay, Hocus Puzzle adds a magical twist by incorporating path-drawing mechanics. On top of this, in-game characters are not just purely cosmetic – they play an intrinsic part in both obstructing your path and solving the puzzles, adding a new layer of strategic depth.

Backed by a substantial, global marketing push that demonstrates the confidence Bigpoint has in its new casual puzzle title, Hocus Puzzle launches with strategic partnerships with major media outlets across Europe and MENA. This includes RTLII, Deutsch Telekom and Mobilcom in Germany, Publitalia in Italy, Publiespaña in Spain, Turkcell in Turkey, Onet in Poland and MBC group for the MENA region. Consumers will be engaged through major TV, online, radio, print campaigns and more.

Khaled Helioui, CEO Bigpoint said: “We are thrilled to announce the launch of Hocus Puzzle for iOS and Android.” He continued, “Our carefully selected strategic partners across Europe and beyond understand our motivation and vision for the game and see the level of potential it has.” says Khaled Helioui, “The target groups of these media powerhouses fits the tone of Hocus Puzzle perfectly, which enables us to convey the intended message and gameplay experience to the audience we target, including non-gamers that we believe are going to be compelled by the game experience we have to offer.”

Gameplay features:

Defeat evil forces:
Connect potions to cast powerful spells and defeat the Master Wizard and his evil minions.

Collect costumes:
Give yourself an advantage with unique and assorted powers.

A variety of challenges:
Using clever spell runes & boosters.

Play with friends:
Challenge your friends on the leaderboard, follow their progress in restoring the river’s magical flow and share mystical gifts to gain powerful rewards!

About Bigpoint
Bigpoint is a leading global online game developer and publisher. Headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, Bigpoint designs high-quality games for all gamer segments for browser, client and mobile. They are published on bigpoint.com, as well as by more than 2,000 international distribution partners and media companies. Employees from 35 countries use state-of-the-art technology to transform the industry with innovative gaming concepts, while setting international standards to fulfill the expectations of more than 350 million gamers in over 200 countries.

KONAMI to premiere PES 2017 alongside the 2016 PES League World Finals in Milan

Press Releases

Philip Federico

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May 26, 2016

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KONAMI to premiere PES 2017 alongside the 2016 PES League World Finals in Milan

Sydney, May 26^th 2016 – Konami Digital Entertainment B.V. will use this year’s UEFA Champions League Final in Milan to host the 2016 PES World Finals of the UEFA Champions League eSports event and showcase the next addition to the Pro Evolution Soccer Franchise, PES 2017, for the first time.

“Exclusive to Pro Evolution Soccer, it is fitting that we use the UEFA Champions League Final, the world’s greatest club competition, and the culmination of another hugely successful PES League season to reveal PES 2017,” said Tomotada Tashiro, President at Konami Digital Entertainment B.V. “As 32 of the world’s best PES players gather to compete, our commitment to reaching new heights of realism and fun will also be demonstrated. May 27^th and 28^th will be a celebration of all that is great about football – and the first showing of PES 2017 will elevate the series to a whole new level.”

The top PES players from around the world will head to Milan for a two-day competition across May 27^th– 28^th, where KONAMI will also debut an early version of PES 2017. With the previous two iterations securing the coveted gamescom ‘Best Sports Game’ accolade, KONAMI returns to the field with a game that builds on the strong on-field performance of its predecessors and with a detailed focus on control and reproducing the skills and possibilities afforded in a top-flight match.

KONAMI’s ground-breaking FOX Engine again delivers the power for a game set to hit new heights with a host of key gameplay advances. The focus of PES 2017 is the fun in playing against another player, and all the new features support this ethos. Central to the new game is ‘Real Touch’, which authentically reproduces a wealth of ways to receive and control a pass. Different players use varying techniques and Real Touch mimics these using complex ball physics and subtle control nuances as the pass is met. The new system is then complemented with the advent of the new ‘Precise Pass’ system. Precise Pass extends the Real Touch basis of using the ability of the player with the ball to determine the accuracy of each pass. The movement of the ball in relation to the position of the player and the intended target for the pass all contribute towards its accuracy, adding a genuine feeling of excitement when a defence is split with an inch-perfect ball. For a full listing of features and details on the newly announced PES 2017, please visit: https://www.konami.com/wepes/2017/

Taking place on May 27^th– 28^th, the 2016 PES World Finals of the UEFA Champions League eSports event give two finalists an incredible opportunity to play a match pitch-side at the Stadio Guiseppe Meazza (otherwise known as San Siro) stadium, ahead of the UEFA Champions League Final. The initial heats between all 32 entrants take place at the Terrazza Martini located near the UEFA Champions League festival area. Entrants are competing for a total prize pot of 23,000 Euro, with the winner receiving 15,000 Euro and tickets to the UEFA Champions League Final, with second and third place receiving 5,000 Euro and 3,000 Euro.

Following huge growth during the 2014/15 season, PES League is truly a global tournament opening the competition to players from Peru, India, and Saudi Arabia, and hundreds of thousands of people have entered this season. French reigning champion, Rachid Tabane, will return to defend his title, having emerged victorious in Berlin last year.

PES League originally started in 2001 by KONAMI as a national tournament in France, and later broadened its scope to become a full-scale global tournament. With the PES World Finals taking place on the same weekend as the UEFA Champions League Final, it’s one of the biggest football spectacles in the world and draws a great deal of attention each year.

KONAMI will be revealing more at E3, held from June 14th. Stay tuned for more information.

About Konami Group

KONAMI HOLDINGS CORPORATION was established in 1973, and became a holding company of the Konami Group on March 31, 2006. KONAMI HOLDINGS CORPORATION covers the fields of “Digital Entertainment Business”, “Health & Fitness Business”, “Gaming & Systems Business” and “Pachinko & Pachinko Slot Machines Business”. KONAMI HOLDINGS CORPORATION went public on Tokyo Stock Exchange in 1988 and the London Stock Exchange in 1999. Home Page URL: www.konami.co.jp. Konami Digital Entertainment B.V. is a wholly-owned subsidiary, responsible for popular franchises like Metal Gear Solid, Silent Hill and Pro Evolution Soccer amongst other top sellers. Konami Group is also the manufacturer of the wildly popular Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME, which has sold more than 25 billion cards worldwide. For more information concerning Konami Digital Entertainment and its products, please visit www.konami-europe.com.

About UEFA

UEFA is the governing body of European football. UEFA’s mission is to promote, protect and develop European football at every level of the game, to promote the principles of unity and solidarity, and to deal with all questions relating to European football. For more information, please visit UEFA.org

Dragon Ball Fusions gets TV Spot and Release Date

Nathan Farrugia

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May 26, 2016

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Dragon Ball Fusions gets TV Spot and Release Date

Dragon Ball Fusions for the Nintendo 3DS now has a confirmed Japanese release date of August 4th, which is much sooner than anticipated. No international release is on the cards yet, however it is likely an announcement will be made soon after the release of the game if one is to be made at all. An international version of Dragon Ball Z Extreme Butoden was announced roughly a week after the games Japanese launch.

A new commercial for Fusions was also released, revealing a surprisingly large character roster of what appears to be at the least, 95, regular non-fused characters. First pressed releases of the games will include a download code for Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan Goku and a Gohanks EX card for Dragon Ball Heroes, a popular card based arcade game in Japan.

As in the picture at the top of this article, we can see many extremely strange fusions including Majin Buu x Mr. Satan, Krillin x Piccolo and even Bra x Pan from GT! The possibilities seem endless with such a large roster and the ability to fuse what seems like most characters together.

The commercial shows a number of the roster characters, the fusion screen as well as the main character travelling around the fused Dragon World, walking around shops and even Super Saiyan 4 Goku launching a gigantic Kamehameha.

You can watch the short TV spot below and let us know who will be your first fusion in the comments below!