You may remember that in the Japanese release of Valkyria Chronicles Remaster, which was released a couple days ago in Japan, would include a battle demo for the upcoming Valkyria: Azure Revolution.
Well now that the demo is in the wild Sega has decided to release a number of new screenshots from the demo as well as a couple of official gameplay videos showing off how the action in Valkyria: Azure Revolution will unfold and how things have changed from the original series. Currently Valkyria: Azure Revolution is set to be released on the PlayStation 4 sometime this winter in Japan.
Sometimes bigger does not necessarily mean better, especially when it comes to armour. The latest Battlefleet Gothic: Armadatrailer shows off the fast and heavily armed Chaos Fleet. The Chaos Fleet features ancient ships that have been twisted by the Chaos Marks from the four Gods of Chaos. Unlike their Imperium counterparts, the Chaos Fleet does not just tank hits and grind their opponents slowly into dust. Instead, the Chaos Fleet likes to ambush enemy ships with the Stasis Bomb and then deliver the finishing strike before the enemy can get their systems back online.
Battlefleet Gothic: Armada is a ship to ship space RTS based on Games Workshop’s tabletop game. Battlefleet Gothic: Armada will launch on PC sometime in 2016.
The original Zoolander film is one of my guilty pleasures. I’m not normally a fan of these types of American comedies, but I found that the film had some very silly and funny moments which I could get behind. With the sequel out and about, it was time to see whether Zoolander 2 could live up to the moments of its predecessor.
Story
The film opens up with the almost pornographic depiction of the violent death of Justin Bieber. The shots and editing go to great lengths to depict his death in almost fetishistic detail as he’s gunned down on the streets of Rome. Following a quick selfie; Bieber expires and the driving point of the main plot is introduced; attractive celebrities the world over are being assassinated.
At this point we catch up with the protagonists of the first film; Hansel (Owen Wilson) and Zoolander (Ben Stiller) have gone into self-imposed exile after the events of the first film. Following a horrific accident at the “Zoolander Centre for Kids who can’t Read Good and Wanna Learn to do Other Stuff Good too”, Zoolander’s wife dies and Hansel suffers a scar upon his once immaculate face. Alongside this; Zoolander’s son Derek Jr. is taken away by child services. Following a visit by Billy Zane, they’re both convinced individually to reprise their positions in the fashion world as male models in order to attempt a comeback. From there, they become embroiled in a mystery involving the highest level of the fashion industry and a significant number of the world’s celebrities.
The film’s narrative is largely a retread of the last film’s main plot points with the two protagonists bumbling their way through to solving and thwarting the evil scheme of the villains. Along the way, they’ll engage in comedic hijinks with an eclectic cast of celebrities to varying degrees of comedic success. The jokes of individual scenes feel less like cut-away sketches and instead come together in a fairly coherent narrative across the entire film. Nonetheless, there weren’t really any moments which particularly stuck out for me in terms of narrative and it was largely forgettable for me.
Stiller and Wilson do a good turn in their performances of Zoolander and Hansel respectively. My main problem with the original Zoolander was the obnoxious stupidity of the protagonist characters. In this sequel, I feel that this has been lessened and although they’re both still as dense as bricks… they’re not completely incompetent when navigating the world. This might be a side-effect of the fact that the world that they inhabit has in turn become a lot more zany and nonsensical, which allows them to play their jokes a bit straighter. My favourite running joke in the film is that Hansel is in a committed long-term relationship with an orgy group composed of members including a Maori warrior, a chimney sweep, and Kiefer Sutherland… who are all also pregnant. Penelope Cruz puts in a good performance as Melanie Valentina, a member of Interpol’s fashion police, and lands the punchline of a couple of jokes here and there… the lion’s share went to Stiller and Wilson however.
Will Ferrell returns as Jacobim Mugatu, the villain from the original film, and Kristen Wiig as Alexanya Atoz do well as the antagonists. Wiig gives an excellent performance as a heavily botoxed, eccentric, and indeterminately Eastern-European fashion designer. Ferrell brings a more manic and over-the-top Mugatu to match the more over-the-top world that the film presents. Both their performances are strong, but for whatever reason I felt that Ferrell landed more of the gags allotted to him.
Most productions relying on a celebrity supporting cast can be hit and miss when it comes to the cameo appearances. I feel that the jokes each of these celebrities had to play with varied widely in both quality and the respective ability of the performer to hit the punchlines. Overall, in this instance, I felt that there were more hits than misses and there were a couple of cameos which did make me laugh out loud. Although there are a couple of zingers which might bring back a chuckle when remember them… there isn’t anything quite as quotable as some of the dialogue from the original Zoolander.
One cause for concern for me going in was the portrayal of trans individuals as seen by trailers showcasing Benedict Cumberbatch’s role as ‘All’. The trailers paint a rather egregious picture of the interaction between the protagonists and All but I can now report that there was more to that dialogue than was shown to us which very much changed the tone. Unfortunately, trans individuals still become the butt of a joke. If this was a point of concern for you, you’re probably best off to give this film a miss.
Visuals & Audio
The direction and visual design throughout the film is largely solid but doesn’t feel particularly inspired. The film attempts to deliver its kicks more through the dialogue and performance of its actors rather than through any particularly humorous visuals. There are a couple of sight gags here and there with special effects but as I’m not particularly a fan of slapstick; I didn’t get as much of a kick out of them. The costume design is quite vibrant and eccentric to parody the more out-there designs of high concept fashion.
The Audio is similarly solid but ultimately doesn’t leave a lasting impression. The orchestral score does its job of punctuating the action but doesn’t force its way into your conscious attention all that much. There were a couple of pop songs which had an interesting placement in the scene but ultimately didn’t stand out.
Overall
This film evoked conflicting opinions within me. It has elements which are an improvement from the original Zoolander, and the zany humour present in the story does appeal to me more… but there aren’t as many quotable moments which will stick with you this time around. The celebrity cameos throughout are generally used quite well with almost everyone pulling off a quick joke with their limited screen time. The visuals and audio largely pull through on supporting the film’s story beats but are largely unremarkable otherwise. It was a film which I enjoyed, for the time that I spent watching it, but it is not one which I consider particularly memorable or worth endeavouring to see again. If you’re a fan of the original film and its style of humour, you’ll probably enjoy this film as well. If you aren’t, then I don’t believe you’ll be missing out on much.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Taichi Panda Gets New Character Customization Systems and More in Valentine’s Update
Los Angeles – February 12th, 2016 – Snail Games will release a major content update on February 14th for mobile action RPG Taichi Panda. In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, the new update introduces new romantically-themed outfits, as well as exciting new gameplay features including Character Enhancement, Skill Customization, and a brand new battle companion in the form of living, upgradeable Talismans!
Amore in Avzar – Valentine’s Update
The New Valentine’s Update includes a number of new game features as well as bug fixes and optimizations to core game mechanics:
New Character Enhancement system with transformative skins and customizable stats
New Talisman System designed to broaden character upgrade and customization choices
New Enhancement and Awakening Skills added to a number of existing Pets
Exclusive Valentine’s Day-themed outfits for all six characters
Bug fixes and optimizations to Relic Rumble and King’s League
To learn more about the Valentine’s Update and the new features, please visit Taichi Panda’s official website: http://panda.snail.com/en/
Along with the announcement, Snail has also released a new official trailer showcasing some of the exciting features fans can expect in the new update: https://youtu.be/j5IhsaPj2Bs
The update will go live on Sunday, February 14th. Players will need to update the game from their respective app store before they are able to access new content.
About Taichi Panda
Taichi Panda is a free-to-play action dungeon crawler for iOS, Android, and Amazon devices featuring fast-paced action combat rendered in vibrant 3D graphics. Players enter a fantasy world, bashing their way through enemies as one of 6 unique heroes. Taichi Panda features numerous online multiplayer options, including PvP, Team PvE, and Guild competitions.
About Snail Games
Founded in 2000, Snail Game has been a pioneer in new online gaming experiences for over 15 years. With dozens of titles in over 60 countries, including Ministry of War, Bounty Bay Online, and flagship martial arts MMO Age of Wushu, Snail Games continues to push the frontier of gaming through game development, publishing and hardware.
Haven’t thought of a gift for Valentine’s Day yet? Get your favourite gamer the gift of games! The Indie GalaFriday Special Bundle #28 contains 12 great indie games for one low price of $2.49.
For a minimum purchase of $0.99, buyers will get:
Goodnight Butcher – Make sure that the meat is ready for tomorrow’s customer at the local meatshop, but beware, you’re not the only thing alive in here.
Cubicle Quest – Spice up your life a little with this retro styled RPG that pits players against all the doldrums of every day life.
Miner Mayhem – Avoid the falling rocks and mine as fast as you can in this casual arcade game.
For a minimum purchase of $2.49, buyers will also get:
NotGTAV – A satirical Snake-like game starring Daffyd, Darren, and British Prime Minister David Cameron.
KRUM – Edge Of Darkness – A hack’n slash RPG that is simple to learn, but difficult to master.
Energy Cycle – A simple but challenging puzzle where you will need to change all of the cells to the same colour.
Eternity’s Child – An hand drawn platformer featuring a fairy tale by Luc Bernard.
I, Gladiator – A comic-book style action game that plunges players into the Roman Coliseum.
Muffin Knight – A 2.5D platformer featuring 18 unique characters and epic boss battles set in a colourful hand drawn world.
Kick Ass Commandos – Leave the bubble gum at home, it’s time to kick ass and save your comrades in this retro style top-down shooter.
Bloodsports.TV – If you like MOBAs but not the competition, then it’s time to brawl in this game set in the Krater universe.
Io-Interactive invites players to join Agent 47 on his very first assignment for the International Contract Agency this weekend on PlayStation 4.
Scheduled to start at 11:00 CET today and ending on February 15th at 11:00 CET. In North America, the PS4 Beta is scheduled to start at 08:00 PST on February 12th and ends on February 15th at 08:00 PST.
Labeled “The Prologue”, the Beta takes place twenty years before the Paris Showstopper mission. Set in a secret ICA training facility, the Prologue features a pivotal moment in Agent 47’s life – his introduction to the ICA and very first meeting with his future handler Diana Burnwood. The Prologue features two free-form training hits, which will introduce players to the features and mechanics of the upcoming HITMAN game. The Prologue will also be available as part of the first episode of HITMAN releasing March 11th, 2016.
The only way to guarantee your access to the HITMAN Beta this weekend is to pre-order the game digitally on PlayStation 4 via PSN. Alternatively, you can pre-order the Collector’s Edition.
Access to the HITMAN Beta is available for the pre-orders of the Full Experience, Intro Pack and Collector’s Edition.
HITMAN will launch on March 11th for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, and Windows PC. The HITMAN beta starts on February 12th through February 14th on PlayStation 4 and February 19th through February 21st on PC. Players can guarantee access to the beta by pre-ordering the Full Experience or the new Intro Pack.
All pre-orders will also include the ‘classic’ REQUIEM pack which includes exclusive in-game digital items inspired by Hitman: Blood Money including the Requiem Legacy white suit, Blood Money shirt, tie and gloves, silenced ICA-19 chrome and white rubber duck explosive.
PlayStation users exclusively will also gain access to The Sarajevo Six. 6 Bonus Contracts, one of which will be released with each location and sees Agent 47 travel the world in pursuit of six former members of a paramilitary unit called CICADA in this self-contained side-story exclusive for PlayStation 4 users.
The Witness is one of those rare breeds of game that really tries its hardest to stand out from the crowd. Sure, at its core it is a simple puzzle game but its setting, lack of any sort of confrontation mechanics and a gorgeous art style really make it something worth talking about. However just because something is worth talking about, doesn’t mean it is great and The Witness while compelling for a while quickly fades away into being a series of simple puzzles all set against a beautiful backdrop.
Gameplay
The Witness is such a hard game to quantify. Is it a puzzle game with adventure elements or an adventure game with puzzle elements? Either way, The Witness is definitely a unique game in the current climate; one that has no violence but is still about the journey.
The puzzle element of The Witness boils down to a very simple but well executed mechanic: the Player has to draw a line through a maze, reaching the goal points and all without ever crossing over itself. It is like a version of that old mind twister where you had to draw a house with a X in the middle of it, but on a much more complex scale (and in 650 different varieties).
Many games claim to be “open-world” but there are some huge caveats to that phrase. Typically, you are locked to certain areas until you progress far enough or get good enough gear. Here the entire island is your playground and you are free to wander it at your absolute leisure. While there is a sense of progression present with the language of certain puzzles, player freedom is still very much encouraged here and I love it.
For everything I love about this game though, I seem to find something I hate and it is sad to say thig but I am not a big fan of the actual puzzles in the game. The line puzzles seem like a cool idea at first, especially with how the clues are presented to you but after about an hour and a half with the game I kind of got tired with the concept and just wished there was something else to break it up a little bit. When you use the same mechanic or element over and over again eventually it turns from fun into repetitive and I definitely found that to be the case here. Don’t get me wrong, the way in which the puzzles are presented and the clues given is nothing short of genius and I had some definite “ah haaaaaaa!” moments as I figured them out, but in the end it was just a fancy wrapping on the same present every time.
Visuals & Audio
While the line-puzzle elements of The Witness left me a little bored and over it, the game’s presentation was a whole other story. To put it bluntly, The Witness may be one of the most visually striking games I have ever played, and one that I really did enjoy every minute looking at. The soft cell-shaded animation style was reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker but cranked up to 11.
The way light pierces through tree branches, or the sound of waves gentle crashing on the shore really help The Witness come alive. This is a world that has been so carefully and lovingly created that you cannot help but stand and state in awe at everything around you. Many of the game’s puzzles rely on visual clues to help you solve them, which works well because it just means you are spending more time flicking through the tremendous game world.
The fact that the player is the only tangible character should invoke this sense of loneliness or isolation, but with the well-recorded motivational quips and little audio logs scattered through the island, I never felt alone. Instead I would liken it more to that youthful exploration that I did as a kid when I would walk through the park and see new things every few feet. It is a great feeling and I just wish that the gameplay was really able to capitalize more on that instead of making me feel like it was a chore that got in the way of my exploration.
Overall
The Witness is such a unique game that the closest comparison I can make with it and anything else would have to be Journey, and even that isn’t doing justice to either franchise. The Witness is a game that makes me mull over and question the entire gaming landscape – and that is a good thing. However, I can’t help but think of it as the video game equivalent of “Oscar Bait.” The presentation, way it stands out from the norm and production values make it seem like something that critics would fawn and gush over while general audiences may not get all the hype. That isn’t to say that The Witness isn’t a good game; it is fun, engaging and a unique way to present the puzzle game format. However, the fun of the game as well as its ability to engage me dropped off rather quickly and no number of cleverly placed clues with a brilliant backdrop can hide the fact that I was basically just drawing houses with crosses in them.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
It’s a crazy week this week on the Xbox and Windows 10 front. This week’s Xbox Newsbeat is crammed full of news from Quantum Break, Rocket League, and more.
Quantum Break Coming to Xbox One and Windows 10 on April 5
Huge news for PC gamers this week. Remedy confirmed the swirling rumours that their upcoming game Quantum Break will receive a Windows 10 version. The game will launch on both platforms on April 5th. Those who pre-order the game on Xbox One will be able to snag a copy of Quantum Break for Windows 10, Alan Wake, and Alan Wake’s American Nightmare for free. The Windows 10 offer is only for digital pre-orders, but the two Alan Wake titles will be distributed to participating retailers, too. More information on the Windows 10 launch can be found at the official FAQ.
No major Xbox One release is complete without a special bundle. The A 1TB Xbox One bundle will be released for $549 AUD on March 29th that will come with digital copies of Quantum Break, Alan Wake, and Alan Wake’s American Nightmare.
The Halo World Championship Tour: Sydney Recap
It’s been a wild ride, but two qualifiers has been named for the ANZ region. Team Immunity and Team Exile5 will be advancing to next month’s Halo World Championship. ESL has put together a great recap of the day’s matches at their blog. Best wishes to Team Immunity and Team Exile5, do us proud!
Rocket League is Coming to Xbox One on February 17
The indie darlings that has absolutely stolen the sales chart with simple yet addictive gameplay that mixes soccer and remote control cars is coming to Xbox One. Rocket League will launch on February 17th for $19.99 USD. The game will come exclusive Xbox One items from popular Xbox One IPs like Halo and Sunset Overdrive. The following paid DLCs that were launch on PC will come bundled for free on Xbox One:
Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition Beta & Minecraft: Pocket Edition Explode with Mechanical Possibilities!
A major update has gone out that finally adds redstone components to Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition Beta and Minecraft: Pocket Edition. Suddenly, wild things like basic computers and automated machines have become possible! The new features are as follows:
Finally make more advanced mechanical contraptions for your world with additional redstone components. Comparators, repeaters, dispensers, droppers, hoppers, trapped chests and various additional Minecart types will all be available. Invent all the things!
Tangle with spooky witches and their huts during your adventures. Witch huts found while exploring swamps also now contain an exciting new feature – their cauldrons will be filled with a randomly generated potion that you can snag for your own if you’re feeling sticky-fingered.
Speaking of cauldrons, they can now be used to dye your armour an array of beautiful colors.
Display your coolest loot in your home with Item Frames – or mount your maps on the wall to plan your adventures with a world overview.
Other gameplay elements new to Pocket Edition and Windows 10 Beta are slime blocks, wearable pumpkins, red sandstone as well as improved chicken jockey mobs.
Even beyond gameplay elements, we’re also now introducing the ability to import and export maps into the Windows 10 Edition Beta, making it easier for you to share your favourite worlds with friends.
New DLC for Rise of the Tomb Raider
The “Wilderness Survivor Pack” is out for Rise of the Tomb Raider. It adds the Nightshade outfit, Deathsong bloody hatchet, and a card pack guaranteeing two rare cards and three cards with increased chance at being rare. The pack is available on the Xbox One store for $3.95 AUD.
Unravel: What Makes this Puzzling Platformer Unique?
EA isn’t all about publishing giant AAA titles. Unravel is their new platformer developed by Coldwood Interactive. The game stars Yarny, a little red creature made of yarn. As traverses the winter wonderland, he slowly become unraveled, allowing him to swing through the levels. Check out Xbox Wire’s preview of the game. Unravel is out now for Xbox One and Windows.
Hitman Brings Episodic Assassinations and Endless Options
The Hitman reboot is an episodic title coming out on Xbox One and Windows on March 11. Buyers have the option of just trying out the first episode and buying the rest of the game if they like it or buying the whole shebang at once. Ahead of the beta kicking off on February 19th on PC, Xbox Wire put together a short preview of what fans can expect from the new game.
Getting Up to Speed with Rainbow Six Siege’s “Operation Black Ice” DLC
The first major content drop for Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege is out. “Operation Black Ice” adds the new map Yacht set in the frozen over Boffin Bay. Additionally, two Canadian JTF2 operators have been added. Buck is a Quebecois assaulter rocking an underbarrel shotgun attached to his C8-SFW and CAMRS marksman rifle. Frost is the JTF2’s defender, packing a nasty bear trap that is so thin, it looks like a welcome mat. Inattentive enemies that step on it will be immediately incapacitated and will need a revive from a teammate. Additionally, a ton of polishing has been done behind the scenes with the latest update. Check out the full details at Xbox Wire.
When it comes to making music getting a mangaka involved is always a good option; they can design an album cover like the Evangelion author did for Eric Clapton, or they can create a short manga to be included in an upcoming single like Takako Shimura.
The creator of Wandering Son and Aoi Hana has created a short series which will accompany the latest single from voice actress/signer Kana Hanazawa, the song is titled “Tōmei na Onna no Ko” and is going to be on sale in Japan within the next two weeks.
Hanazawa has made three studio albums and released eight singles, you may recognise her voice in Oreimo as Kuroneko or as Mayuri in Steins; Gate. The single is being produced by Yukari Yamazaki, band member of pop rock group Kukikodan, the band has been involved with Shimura before as they provided the opening theme for the Aoi Hana (Sweet Blue Flowers) anime.
If you are someone who is waiting for Sega 3D Classics Collection to land on the 3DS, you now have another reason to get pumped. Sega have announced that the game will come with a set of decals, providing a look back at old logos and mascots of the past.
It is kind of rare to see official decal stickers in the west for the most part, so this is quite the collector’s item to go with an already awesome set of games. April 26th marks the physical release for this set – and even though these are on the eShop right now separately – the exclusive Puyo Puyo and Power Drift are sure to even the scale just a bit (The original Sonic however is still the main draw being the definitive version to play). Stay tuned, as this cart is coming soon.
