Page 3200 – Capsule Computers

ACTIVISION PUBLISHING, INC. LAUNCHES TORN BANNER STUDIOS’ CHIVALRY: MEDIEVAL WARFARE ON PLAYSTATION®4 AND XBOX ONE

Press Releases

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December 2, 2015

ACTIVISION PUBLISHING, INC. LAUNCHES TORN BANNER STUDIOS’ CHIVALRY: MEDIEVAL WARFARE ON PLAYSTATION®4 AND XBOX ONE

Chivalry: Medieval Warfare Ultimate Edition, Bundled With Four DLC Sets, Also Available Today

SANTA MONICA, Calif. – Dec. 1, 2015 – Activision Publishing, Inc. has brought Chivalry: Medieval Warfare, the competitive action game from Torn Banner Studios, to the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Xbox One. This updated release arrives with 24-person online multiplayer, over 25 maps, dedicated server support, and a new horde mode for teams of up to six.

Chivalry: Medieval Warfare is out today in North America for $19.99 MSRP on the PlayStation®4 via the PlayStation®Store and Xbox One through the Xbox Games Store. In addition, Chivalry: Medieval Warfare Ultimate Edition – which includes the Barbarian Character Pack, Marauding Arbiter Pack, Inquisitive Dreadnaught Bundle and Barbarian Weapon Pack – is available on both platforms for $29.99 MSRP.

These cosmetic DLC sets may also be purchased separately for $7.99 MSRP each. The Barbarian Character Pack includes intimidating barbarian skins for each of the game’s four classes. The Marauding Arbiter Pack offers new skins and helmets for the Vanguard class. The Inquisitive Dreadnaught Bundle features new skins, helmets and special weapons for the Knight class. The Barbarian Weapon Pack holds a collection of five brutal weapons of war.

Chivalry: Medieval Warfare’s deep melee fighting system makes combat fast and visceral, delivering precision control with every strike in either first or third-person view. Choose one of four distinct classes – Knight, Vanguard, Man-at-Arms and Archer – to conquer or defend castles and villages in ruthless battles across a multitude of solo and team-based game modes. There are over 60 period-authentic swords, axes, maces, javelins, bows and more to use, as well as armors, helmets and siege weapons, including catapults, ballistae, boiling oil and battering rams.

These titles are rated M (Mature) by the ESRB. For more information, please visit www.tornbanner.com/chivalry, and follow the game on Facebook.

About Activision Publishing, Inc.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading global producer and publisher of interactive entertainment. Activision maintains operations throughout the world. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company’s website, www.activision.com, or by following @Activision.

About Torn Banner Studios

Torn Banner Studios is an exciting independent video game company located in Toronto, Canada. Passion and innovation are the core elements of everything that Torn Banner creates. For more information visit TornBanner.com or follow @TornBanner.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in this press release that involves Activision Publishing’s expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future, including statements about Chivalry: Medieval Warfare, are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause Activision Publishing’s actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release include unanticipated product delays and other factors identified in the risk factors sections of Activision Blizzard’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to Activision Publishing and Activision Blizzard as of the date of this release, and neither Activision Publishing nor Activision Blizzard assumes any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of the future performance of Activision Publishing or Activision Blizzard and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond its control and may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.

© 2015 Torn Banner Studios, Inc. All rights reserved. ‘Chivalry: Medieval Warfare’, ‘Torn Banner Studios’ and logos are registered trademarks by Torn Banner Studios, Inc. ©2015 Activision Publishing, Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective owners.

SIERRA™ PLANS TO RELEASE THE SECOND CHAPTER OF KING’S QUEST™ WORLDWIDE ON DEC. 16

Press Releases

Philip Federico

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December 1, 2015

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SIERRA™ PLANS TO RELEASE THE SECOND CHAPTER OF KING’S QUEST™ WORLDWIDE ON DEC. 16

King’s Quest’s Debut Chapter Is Free On PlayStation®4 With PlayStation®Plus This Month

SANTA MONICA, Calif. – Dec. 1, 2015 – Sierra™ has announced today that King’s Quest™: Rubble Without a Cause, the second chapter of the new King’s Quest, is expected to launch worldwide on Dec. 16 on the PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and Windows PC via Steam. In North America, the versions for the PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 systems will be available late afternoon on Dec. 15.

In this latest page in the acclaimed reimagining of the classic adventure gaming series, King Graham takes players back to his first test as ruler of Daventry. When a band of goblins holds the kingdom hostage, a newly crowned and ill-equipped Graham must lead a daring rescue to free his people and prove himself the leader they deserve. But the choices he makes along the way may have dire consequences for those most counting on him.

In addition, King’s Quest’s first chapter, King’s Quest™: A Knight to Remember, is free to download on the PlayStation®4 system from the PlayStation®Store throughout December starting today for PlayStation®Plus members in North America.

Developed by The Odd Gentlemen, the new King’s Quest is a five-chapter journey that rekindles the timeless spirit of curiosity and wit the series was founded on over 30 years ago. As an aging King Graham looks back on a life of trials and triumphs with his precocious granddaughter, Gwendolyn, players will experience firsthand the untold puzzles, places and personalities of his incredible life.

King’s Quest: A Knight to Remember, King’s Quest™: The Complete Collection (a bundle* including all five chapters and a bonus playable story epilogue), and the King’s Quest™ Season Pass (a bundle* containing Chapters 2-5) are now available through the PlayStation®Store, Xbox Games Store and Steam. King’s Quest is rated E10+ (Everyone 10 and Up) by the ESRB. For the latest information, please visit www.sierra.com, and follow Sierra on Facebook and Twitter.

*Subsequent chapters and epilogue may be downloaded in-game upon individual release.

About The Odd Gentlemen

The Odd Gentlemen are a small team of gentlefolks based in Los Angeles. Founded in 2008, they create games that are humorous and charming with fantastical worlds, quirky characters, and compelling stories that highlight creative and innovative gameplay. Striving to create experiences that all ages can enjoy, they want to bring classic charm and wonder back into games. For more information or updates about The Odd Gentlemen, visit www.theoddgentlemen.com or follow them on Twitter.

About Sierra

Developer-led and player-focused, Sierra publishes highly curated titles that embody best-in-class efforts from indie developers. From providing development funding and deep first-party relations to marketing and retail distribution, Sierra caters to the individual needs of each indie studio. Sierra will primarily publish on digital distribution platforms including Xbox Live, PlayStation®Network and Steam for PC. For more information, please visit www.sierra.com.

About Activision Publishing, Inc.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading global producer and publisher of interactive entertainment. Activision maintains operations throughout the world. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company’s website, http://www.activision.com or by following @Activision.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in this press release that involves Activision Publishing’s expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future, including statements about King’s Quest, are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause Activision Publishing’s actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release include unanticipated product delays and other factors identified in the risk factors sections of Activision Blizzard’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to Activision Publishing and Activision Blizzard as of the date of this release, and neither Activision Publishing nor Activision Blizzard assumes any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of the future performance of Activision Publishing or Activision Blizzard and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond its control and may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.

©2015 Activision Publishing, Inc. SIERRA, SIERRA with mountain design and KING’S QUEST are trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc. All rights Reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Naruto Storm 4 Demo and New Trailer

Nathan Farrugia

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December 1, 2015

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A brand new trailer and demo announcement have been released for Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4. You can watch the trailer below which features a wealth of new announcements and summarising of old ones. Most important to mention in terms of gameplay are the new leader change system that allows you to rotate your main, playable character with anyone else on your team, elemental effects depending on the stage (eg. water jutsu will do more damage if you are standing on water) and clothing damage.

In other announcements from the trailer the story mode will feature many huge boss battles against the final enemies of the Naruto manga and there will also be an adventure mode where you walk around the Naruto Universe doing missions once you complete the main story, much like the past few entries in the series. The online mode also seems to be better then ever, featuring all the old features you know and love such as league, tournament and ninja card customisation but also adding limited timed events that seem to offer exclusive rewards.

Players can expect a demo worldwide on December 17th for the PS4 and Xbox One only, with Bandai Namco not currently planning any type of demo release for Steam according to their Facebook page. For those PS4 owners who are well coursed in getting into the Japanese PlayStation Store, you can play the demo right now as it was released over there a few days ago. The demo will focus on the boss fight between Hasirama and Madara and does not feature any versus mode gameplay.

Storm 4 will also be the first game in the series to feature extensive DLC, with a Season Pass being introduced. The Season Pass layout has been detailed below but specfics have yet to be mentioned.

Naruto Storm 4 DLC Pack 1: Another Scenario Pack #1

1 New 3-Hour Scenario
1 New Costume
4 New Combination Ultimate Jutsu
1 New Ninja Treasure Set with items that can be exchanged in-game for costumes, etc.
10 New Ninja Info Cards to represent players online
10 New Matching Voices
10 Costumes From Previous Storm Games

Naruto Storm 4 DLC Pack 2: Another Scenario Pack #2

1 New 3-Hour Scenario
1 New Costume
3 New Combination Ultimate Jutsu
1 New Ninja Treasure Set with items that can be exchanged in-game for costumes, etc.
10 New Ninja Info Cards to represent players online
10 New Matching Voices
10 Costumes From Previous Storm Games

Naruto Storm 4 DLC Pack 3: Playable Character Pack

4 New Playable Characters
3 New Combination Ultimate Jutsu
1 New Ninja Treasure Set with items that can be exchanged in-game for costumes, etc.
10 New Ninja Info Cards to represent players online
10 New Matching Voices
10 Costumes From Previous Storm Games

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 was scheduled to release in September 2015 but was delayed. The full game will release on the PC, Xbox One and PS4 on the 4th of February, 2016 (5th in Europe and Australia). Those that preorder the game will receive exclusive content including Boruto and Sarada as playable characters.

Star Wars: Battlefront – Battle of Jakku Available Now

Andrew Day

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December 1, 2015

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I sense a great disturbance in the force, like millions of players cried out in joy and were suddenly moved to a brand new planet. Star Wars: Battlefront has been out for a little while now, and while we here at Capsule Computers have been enjoying it, there is definitely room for more. Enter EA’s Battle of Jakku free update.

Set in the time between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens, the Battle of Jakku mission puts the new republic (formerlly rebel) soldiers against the last remnants of the Galactic Empire on the desert planet of Jakku.

Players who pre-ordered Battlefront have access to the new Battle of Jakku content now while everyone else will be able to join in on the action on December 8th. If you are stuck waiting then check out the launch trailer below, and remember to stay tuned to Capsule Computers for all the awesome Battlefront news as it becomes available.

Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon Review

Dustin Spencer

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December 1, 2015

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Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon Review
Developer: Spike Chunsoft
Publisher: Nintendo
Platforms: Nintendo 3DS
Release Date: November 20, 2015
Price: $39.99 USD – Available Here – $59.95 AUD – Available Here

Overview
Over the years, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon has evolved from what could have easily been a one-off Pokemon title to an entire series that has its own loyal following. Those who crave rogue-likes and dungeon exploring can definitely get their fix here, and since the series has moved to the 3DS, we have also seen a large improvement in the way of storytelling. Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon allows players to do more and see more Pokemon than ever before, featuring 720 Pokemon on the roster as well as a lot of new narrative to sink into. How does it fare? Lets find out!

Story
For the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon series, the narrative has usually remained close to the same for the overall experience. The player mysteriously wakes up as a Pokemon and quickly gets thrown into a new world with talkative friends who are Pokemon that live in their own little world. This time around, a Nuzleaf finds the player (who will become one of the entire roster of starters or mascot Pokes) and brings them back to a small town, quickly trying to enroll them into a school for Pokemon. It sounds silly enough, but there is another plot involving legendary Pokemon coming to Earth, as well as other Pokemon mysteriously turning to stone. At first, you will be doing very innocent little rescues that are mainly used to flesh out the characters within the game. As you progress however, the large and meaty plotline begins to unfold, tying everything together perfectly for what in my opinion is the strongest this story has ever been.

Its not just about the story – even though that alone is fantastic. The writing is marvelous in Super Mystery Dungeon. Every Pokemon has their own little personality, with some even having accents as well as other little quirks that really bring out the charm to the roster within, making every interaction memorable. I still remember the Pokemon from the start, middle, and end of the game due to their little quirks, like how Pancham and Shelmet are brainless bullies, and Deerling has had it up to “HERE” with their antics. There are so many Pokemon that just keep coming that you would think it would be hard to keep up, but this title has a way of making them all fit despite having an average sized home base. The themes are also important as Gates to Infinity definitely brought out more mature dialogue with its stories of death and growth, and this title takes that writing and twists it a bit – delivering excellent lessons within the narrative that make it feel as if the player is watching a great Saturday morning cartoon. I am sure this entry could have gotten away with being shallow in terms of story as the gameplay does a lot, but it really shows how much value this title has once you are thinking more about what is next in terms of cutscenes than the Pokemon infested dungeons that lie ahead.

Gameplay
Dungeons. Yes, there will be dungeons. The core gameplay has not changed much – and still works better than ever with the player having to go into dungeons and find the next staircase to move to the next floor – usually with a friend attached. If you are playing a story mission, the game will select your team for you. If you are doing a standard dungeon, you can recruit any Pokemon in the roster. Yes, all 720 can eventually be recruited- but do keep in mind that takes a bit of time to unlock. Like other Mystery Dungeon titles, the player moves one square at a time at a speed of their choosing, but they also must keep in mind to choose their direction carefully as enemies also move at your pace, meaning you will definitely run into some foes based on the path you take. By holding down the shoulder button, the player can choose from one of four moves on the fly, launching an attack that works by type and distance. For instance, a razor leaf can hit a straight forward target from a few spaces away, while something like tackle requires close combat. Your team also attack when you do, with AI that is allowed to be altered to best fit the players own liking.

Items are a big deal as well – as managing the stuff you find plays a large role in survival. Apples and other food items fix your hunger stat, which drains based off of every step you make. Once the hunger is depleted, your HP will follow unless you use a healing item such as a berry. Other items boost PP and other stats, ensuring you can continue to use those effective move while also keeping the main strategic elements in check by not keeping a heavy load of those items in the dungeons themselves. Blocks can be found on the floor to eliminate status effects that the enemy has bestowed on your team, so finding these before heading into a new area is usually a good idea even though most status effects disappear on the next floor.

It wouldn’t be a new entry without something new to hang onto as well. Players can now take advantage of “Looplets”, which act as a belt or an accessory of sorts that can hold gems known as “emeras”. Each emera you find has a special power that can boost a stat, or even cause Mega Evolution later in the game. The drawback of these little items is that they are timed upon finding and if you are pacing the floors you will more than likely see one shatter in front of you and be forced to gather up the remains in order to get a power. Its a nice little addition that definitely encourages exploration, as later in the game the difficulty ramps up and these Looplets are nearly a requirement to ensure the player will make it out in one piece. Yeah, this is still Pokemon and isn’t punishing on many fronts, but I definitely was surprised with the challenged this title had compared to the more lax difficulty of Gates to Infinity.

If the player fails a dungeon, they can call for help from other players with passwords, QR codes, and so on – keeping that natural communication with other players in tact that had me running to forums over ten years ago in Blue Rescue Team everytime my beloved Pokemon fell. The main town is also a joy to explore and even though it takes a long time to get away from the story – one could easily sink in at least sixty to seventy hours in this experience due to the very high amount of replay value. Yes, this is still a Pokemon game at heart and it beats boldly with everything that the fans could ask for.

Visuals
Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon is a weird title to me, but I will say that however misplaced those words are, there is still a stunning game underneath. The 3D models look exceptional as Nintendo are not trying to shove the 3D elements down our throat – but instead polishing every color and environment in order to make some great eye candy for the player to feast on. I will say it again that this title really has the look and the feel of a cartoon that you would wake up and watch as a kid, and with the chipper and emotive pictures and animations, its very easy to immerse yourself into this wonderful spin-off.

Audio
The music is also exceptional. Every track is just happiness in a bottle, ready to break and spread joy to all those that hear it. I don’t want it to sound like the game is overly cheesey, but the music is so chipper that is makes the player feel good and upbeat despite the fact that more serious situations are featured, in turn letting the light-hearted atmosphere take hold. The Pokemon don’t have voices or cries but the written dialogue is much preferred, and most will not even think about those classic cries once they dive into all of the many characters’ personalities.

Overall
Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon is a shining gem on the 3DS that honestly took me by surprise. I usually enjoy this line of games to start with, but this entry seemed to go above and beyond – setting a new mark with its excellent narrative, sharp writing, and solid gameplay. It isn’t often when a spin-off can stand right beside its originator on its own two feet, but Super Mystery Dungeon does just that, stepping out of the shadow of the much loved RPG franchise and into the limelight where it finally feels like the series has come full circle with its own identity. Those who love Pokemon and are looking for a lot of gameplay in a fresh and imaginative world, look no further as Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon may just be one of the finest Pokemon titles to ever hit a handheld.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Just Cause 3 Review

Jamie Laike Tsui

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December 1, 2015

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Just Cause 3
Developer: Avalanche Studios
Publisher: Square Enix
Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows (Reviewed)
Release Date: 1 December 2015
Price: $79.97 AUD (PC), $99.97 AUD (PS4/Xbox One) – Available Here / $59.99 USD – Available Here

Video Review

Overview

It has been several years since Rico Rodriguez, the dictator disposal specialist, parted ways with The Agency. Now Rico is putting back on his parachute and returning home to the Mediterranean island of Medici to put his skills to good use. General Di Ravello has ruled the country with an iron fist that would make a South American dictator proud. Armed with an improved grappling hook and a new wingsuit, Rico is ready to destroy Di Ravello’s strongholds and take him down.

Story

Rico is bringing his many skills he’s learned while working for The Agency home in hopes of setting Medici free. Reunited with his childhood friend Mario and his old mentor Sheldon, Rico plans on systematically blowing up General Di Ravello’s strongholds one by one to help support the rebellion. While previous games were more focused on the island, Just Cause 3 spends a little more time focusing on Rico as a character and the relationships he has developed over his lifetime.

Just Cause 3 plays out like an explosive summer action flick. Avalanche Studios shows quite a bit of self-awareness on how over the top and ridiculous the whole premise of Rico’s skillset is and has created a plot to match. They have taken the classic American action hero and have gone a step further, with Rico riding missiles and generally blowing up nearly everything in sight. While the plot won’t win any Oscars anytime soon, Just Cause 3’s quirky cast of characters will likely win your heart. Like Rico, many characters fill in a standard action movie role, but almost all have some twist to them that makes them incredibly endearing and likable. The writing is top notch for the most part, though some of the lines for the civilian populace are a bit odd. For example, when Rico pulls a civilian out of a car to “liberate” it for the rebellion, it is rare for the civilian to express any outrage. Instead, gamers are met with comments like “careful, it sticks on 2nd.”

Gameplay

Just Cause 3 is an open world action game that build on the series’ signature grappling hook/parachute combo with the new wingsuit. The nation of Medici is actually composed of a main island with two smaller islands and a series of tiny rock outcroppings. The islands are split into provinces, each composed with military bases, military bases, and oppressed towns. To liberate the provinces and kick Di Ravello out, Rico will need to systematically destroy Di Ravello’s military hardware. Of course, as Rico wreaks more havoc, the alert level steadily rises and more powerful enemies are hurled in his direction. The rest of the game is all pretty standard open world fare. There are tons of collectibles scattered across the world to collect, challenges to complete, vehicles to ride around in, and missions to complete.

Rico starts out with a pretty basic arsenal. The first three slots are for weapons and the fourth weapon slot is an unlimited supply of Bavarium powered explosive charges. Rico is able to use flares to fast travel around the map or call in supply drops, but they are limited in number and must be replenished. As military bases are conquered and collectables are found, more special weapons are unlocked. For every challenge the player completes, they are awarded up to five gears based on their performance. The gears go into a pool that unlocks mods for weapons and vehicles. These mods can turn the simple time based grenades into more complex behemoths or provide a better zoom on weapons. The mods can be enabled or disabled instantly at will, which encourages players to experiment. The mod system is a great way to give players a chance to equip themselves based on their personal play style without overloading the game with too many weapons and equipment serving very specific niches.

Just Cause 3’s movement system is excellent. Rico switches between the grappling hook, the parachute, and the wingsuit smoothly. It is incredibly easy to zip around the map, blazing away with weapons one second then grappling onto a helicopter and hijacking it the next. The fact that Rico handles so well is what makes it so jarring when things go wrong. The game sometimes has a bit of problems with shooting the grappling hook at high objects and some ledges. Sometimes Rico struggles to jump up onto the ledge, other times, the grappling hook hits the completely wrong area. The controls are extremely responsive on both controllers and mouse and keyboard combos. The mouse and keyboard struggles a bit with the wingsuit controls, as the wingsuit is much better suited for an analog stick versus the binary nature of movement keys. The PC controls are missing a separate slider for camera sensitivity in vehicles, as vehicle turrets seem to be set at half the sensitivity as the on foot camera.

I had a blast with the story missions. Avalanche Studios has created some epic moments with the story missions that are really enjoyable. Things aren’t nearly as rosy outside the main storyline. Just Cause 3 suffers the same problems as most open world games these days, as it can get really repetitive. Play through some of the challenges, liberate the first island, find a few collectibles, and you have pretty much gotten the gist of the entire game.

Just Cause 3’s map is designed with the movement system in mind. There are plenty of high spots to leap off, making it easy to wingsuit around. The mountainous terrain also makes for interesting driving conditions, with plenty of winding roads to challenge high speed daredevils. The towns tend to look the same after a while, but the military bases provide some interesting layouts.

Visuals

Medici is a beautiful Mediterranean island. The environment feels like it is torn out of a travel magazine with the shimmering seas and beautiful Italian style villages that dot the coastline. The world is colourful, vibrant, and very lively.

Just Cause 3 is a next-gen only game and clocks in with one of the highest minimum specs for PC games this year. Even at the lowest graphic settings on the PC, Just Cause 3 looks fantastic. The animations are incredible smooth, with Rico transitioning between the parachute, grappling hook, and wingsuit smoothly. The destruction in the game is procedurally generated and results in some visually impressive explosions that behave quite naturally. On the flip side, sometimes Rico’s ragdoll animations seems a little unnatural at times, especially when hit gently with slow moving vehicles. The game does struggle a little with some clipping in busy sea fights and some lag when loading demo videos during challenges, but otherwise delivers a solid technical performance.

Audio

Just Cause 3 delivers an excellent audio experience. The sound effects are top notch and the voice acting is excellent. The music is excellent; I really love how the Spanish guitars kick in during combat, which suits Rico’s combat style nicely.

Overall

Just Cause 3 takes the best of the series and then brings it to the next level. The game’s high speed movement system is responsive and a pleasure to use. As expected of an AAA title, the audio/visual experience is solid. The game’s plot is worthy of a summer blockbuster and has a cast of loveable characters. Although Just Cause 3 can’t escape the repetitive nature that plagues many open world games these days, the game is still incredibly fun.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Indie Gala Every Monday Bundle #88 Now Available

Jamie Laike Tsui

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December 1, 2015

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Indie Gala Every Monday Bundle #88 Now Available

Start Cyber Monday off right with a brand new indie bundle. The Indie Gala Every Monday Bundle #88 packs six indie games for only $1.89 in the first 24 hours of the sale.

Retro Game Crunch – Seven games inspired by classic NES games.

Out There – A rogue like game that challenges players to survive deep space.

Princess.Loot.Pixel.Again – A retro styled platformer that mixes rogue-lite mechanics with a combo-based combat system.

Miracle Fly – A puzzle platformer packed with more than a hundred unique levels.

Fine Sweeper – A reimagining of the classic computer game Minesweeper.

Shutter – Played completely through the eyes of a CCTV camera and a RC surveillance unit, Shutter is inspired by old school horror games like Resident Evil.

For the first 24 hours of the sale, the bundle is only $1.89, so grab your bundle at Indie Gala today.

No Game No Life: Complete Collection Review

Travis Bruno

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November 30, 2015

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No Game No Life: Complete Collection Review

No Game No Life: Complete Collection
Studio: Madhouse
Publisher: Sentai Filmworks
Format: DVD, Blu-ray (Reviewed)
Release Date: July 28, 2015
Price: $69.98 – Available Here

Overview
The concept of bringing people from a normal world into a fantasy land is nothing new and in recent years it has been on a big rise in the anime industry as the many light novels that have taken this approach are starting to be created. No Game No Life happens to be one of these but puts a bit of a twist on things and when it first aired back in 2014 many people were pleasantly surprised by what the series had to offer. So now that it has been released in English, is No Game No Life worth your time?

Story
While many series using the hero from another land premise gift their summoned or reincarnated hero a special power in order to save the world, No Game No Life starts with two people as far from functional as possible. The eighteen year old Sora and his eleven year old sister Shiro are self-proclaimed NEETs that have become known as the ruthless gaming group known as Blank. No matter what type of game they play and no matter how their opponents may cheat or how outnumbered they are, the pair have always overcome the odds as long as they work together and have remained undefeated in the world.

Unfortunately this gaming prowess hasn’t translated into a successful life for these siblings as they refuse to participate in the game such as normal life. Calling it a “crappy game” where people are punished regardless of what they do, the two shut themselves away and spend all of their time online gaming. That all changes when they are suddenly invited to an online chess match and sent an email asking if they are happy with their current world.

After spending quite a bit of time winning the chess match, their opponent reveals himself as a god named Tet. Tet extends an invite to the world of Disboard where all no one is allowed to kill anyone and all violence has been outlawed after Tet found himself the only god left standing after an extended period of war. In Disboard everything is upheld by ten pledges and all types of conflict are resolved through games.

In a world such as this, Sora and Shiro find themselves taking a liking to the concept and although they find themselves confronted with a number of challenges right off the bat, such as finding a place to eat and sleep, their gaming prowess allows them to quickly overpower practically anyone who stands in their way. After taking part in a number of games and taking over the last bastion of humanity in the world of Disboard where sixteen total races reside, the pair find themselves eager to take on the rest of the world, even if it means betting everything to do so.

Taking a pair of characters and dropping them into a situation where they are unbeatable may not make for the most enthralling of series but No Game No Life handles this situation perfectly thanks to two elements of the story. The first happens to be that despite Shiro and Sora being geniuses in their respective fields, the two turn into nonfunctioning train wrecks when separated for a fairly good reason that is actually explored, and that their personalities create an absolutely hilarious combination that shines throughout this season as the two experience the various elements of the fantasy world, especially whenever Sora’s ego takes a bit of a beating when he starts to fantasize about the girls and is knocked down a peg by Shiro.

Put their personalities alongside a cast of side characters that are similarly well handled, with the prideful but airheaded daughter of the previous king of humanity Steph and an angel-like being with powers created to eliminate god but simply adores learning anything she can while also seeking to please make up the usual present cast of characters that keep everything feeling fun, though the ecchi requests of Steph does become a quick running joke that some may not like at first even though it is worth noting that she does have a number of shining moments in this first season.

The serious approach that Sora and Shiro take to winning and the delight from crushing their opponents through incredibly well planned out events involving various manipulations and some rather twisted thinking at times makes up the other part of what makes No Game No Life work so well. Although viewers are given very little doubt that Sora and Shiro will win their games, the way they go about it makes for an enthralling experience. The pair state that a “game is won before it starts” and this becomes a running theme as players see them compete in games ranging from simple rock-paper-scissors set to extremely fantastical games that see chess pieces responding to a player’s charisma, a world destroying word-chain game against an unstoppable being, and even a Galgun referenced game against a tiny warbeast.

While I will not go into more detail about how exactly the pair manage to win these games, they are all handled in unique and well thought out ways that are spectacularly over the top in nature making it impossible to look away while also never being able to guess what will happen next. Put together the way these games are handled with the outstanding humor and colorful cast of characters and you’ll find No Game No Life to be a series that is as fun as it can get when it comes to this premise, though a few may find the lack of development for the core cast a bit lacking.

Visuals
I must say that while there are options to purchase No Game No Life in DVD format, the approach that the animation studio Madhouse took towards No Game No Life practically requires that the series is seen on Blu-ray. This is due to the fact that the series is packed with bright coloration in every aspect of the world with only the environments occasionally taking on a slightly dulled down look to the color saturation in every other aspect of the series which I find to be an absolute treat that I would like to see more of down the road from other series willing to take such a vibrant and colorful risk.

The characters are very well designed with a number of unique looking appearances to be found here and there is a surprisingly high level of quality to be found during the action sequences that occur during the final game in the season as the characters find themselves partaking in the aforementioned shooting game where the many fast paced shooting scenes never take a drop in quality. It is worth noting that although the title does try and get a bit of fan-service in here and there, it is extremely limited to the point that Sora mentions that their friend steam is there to block all the naughty bits and even in a separate game this manner is handled in a way that sticks true to the rules laid down before the game began.

Audio
This release of No Game No Life features both the original Japanese voice track as well as the new English voice track recorded by Sentai Filmworks. The English voice cast does a great job fitting into the personalities of their characters though it is worth noting that a few aspects of Izuna’s dialogue have been altered to fit the English track but for the most part viewers will find themselves pleased with the way that the English dub handles the series.

As for the soundtrack, background music is used impressively well at times as it is usually used either to help make a dramatic moment all that more impactful or to add comedic tone to a humorous scene. The opening theme for this release is “This Game” by Konomi Suzuki which is an excellent theme that I found difficult to skip past at times while the ending theme is “Oracion” and is performed by Shiro’s Japanese voice actress Ai Kayano. The ending theme is a bit softer in tone and does reflect certain changes that occur during the series, especially during a certain set of episodes to play up the fact that something has gone amiss.

Extras
With the release of No Game No Life on standard Blu-ray Sentai Filmworks has included a few standard bonuses as well as a collection of shorts for the series. The standard features of course are things such as clean versions of the opening and ending theme, Japanese promotional material, trailers for other series from the company, and the rare inclusion of Japanese commentaries for a select few episodes.

As for the collection of shorts, we have six on offer with this release. These six shorts run around three to four minutes each and take various stylized approaches to side-events that take place throughout the series’ storyline with a heavy emphasis placed on humor and unique designs.

Overall
No Game No Life may have been a series that people had overlooked back when it aired as it’s basic premise didn’t make it sound overly special due to the number of titles with the same approach coming out recently. Thankfully this title has proved itself to be truly exceptional thanks in part to the personalities of the characters and the humorous scenes that come out of their interactions with one another but primarily due to the handling of the games that Sora and Shiro play against the other residents of Disboard. No Game No Life is presented in gorgeous fashion and those who pass on this series will be doing themselves a rather large disservice as this is a series that will leave you asking for much more after the last episode wraps up.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Game of Thrones – A Telltale Game Series: The Ice Dragon Review

Travis Bruno

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November 30, 2015

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Game of Thrones – A Telltale Game Series: The Ice Dragon Review

Game of Thrones – A Telltale Game Series: The Ice Dragon
Developer: Telltale Games
Publisher: Telltale Games
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One (Reviewed)
Release Date: August 18, 2015
Price: $4.99 – Available Here

Overview
After waiting for nearly four months fans of Game of Thrones have finally been able to see how the story of House Forrester will come to a head in the final episode of the season. With five episodes already under our belts and with Game of Thrones: A Telltale Game Series: The Ice Dragon now available has Telltale Games managed to find a proper conclusion for this episodic series?

Story
Now before reading further I will note that there will be spoilers discussed in this review for events that took place during the previous episode, A Nest of Vipers, since a certain decision does play a major role in the way events unfold in The Ice Dragon. That and since this is the final episode of the series means that only those who are caught up with the series at this point should continue to read on.

For the entire season players have been following the members of House Forrester as they’ve struggled to stay alive after the turbulent events that saw the previous lord of Ironrath fall during the Red Wedding. We’ve seen many deaths and now only three playable characters have been left standing in The Ice Dragon. Gared who has seen his journey take him to The Wall and beyond it in order to find the mythical North Grove, Mira who is stuck in the capital of political backstabbing Kings Landing, and either Rodrick or Asher depending on your decision in A Nest of Vipers who now must face off against Ludd and the rest of the Whitehills in order to defend Ironrath and protect House Forrester from falling to ruin.

Though these story segments are broken up over the course of the episode in true Game of Thrones fashion, I’ll be going through them by most satisfactory to least and starting off we have the events that take place at Ironrath. Telltale Games dropped a major choice on player’s last episode that saw either Asher or Rodrick fall to an ambush and the surviving character escaping from Whitehill clutches to continue home. While this choice could have been something that only resulted in cosmetic changes, there are a number of sequences and events that are exclusive to each of these two characters.

Certain combat sequences and plans of attack are locked to either Asher or Rodrick which helps encourage players to experience the story more than once for, if nothing else, to see these differences. Of course, since the battles with the Whitehills serve as the biggest highlight of the season it also means that the climactic battle sequence plays out the same way regardless of who was actually chosen as it serves as a way to get player’s back on track for the Forrester storyline.

North of the Wall we find Gared’s journey for the North Grove come to an end as he finally manages to arrive. Unfortunately players are given barely any explanation as to why the North Grove is important nor are any of the actual decisions made during his sequence carry any weight for this season. There is only a small reveal about the North Grove and the hint that it is indeed powerful, but other than an “emotional” choice to be made about a comrade and the fate of the North Grove, none of it has any weight since players are given no closure or are even shown the outcome of their choices here.

Unfortunately Mira’s storyline isn’t handled any better in The Ice Dragon. While her storyline has seen players having to politically maneuver and outtalk certain main characters in the series while playing politics to stay alive, it all eventually turns out pointless, though not before players are given the option to betray or assist a close friend. Mira’s story does culminate in the reveal of yet another enemy of House Forrester but depending on player’s choices here it also serves as a method that will either bring her story to an end or leave it to continue on in a potential second season. In fact, Mira’s influence on the aforementioned battle at Ironrath is only mentioned briefly in passing, making her part of the Telltale’s Game of Thrones feel miniscule at best.

Of course in the end players are treated to one hell of a climactic scene that features the most violence and gore that Telltale Games has ever used in a series. Players will witness many characters falling in battle one after another in true Game of Thrones fashion but in the end practically every storyline is left open for a continuation, again depending on player choice, in another season which only ends up hurting The Ice Dragon’s impact due to Gared’s story lacking any solid pay off and Mira’s sputtering out at the end.

Gameplay
The gameplay throughout The Ice Dragon remains the same as what fans can expect from Telltale Games as they make various dialogue choices while talking with characters and then partaking in intense combat sequences that make use of quick time events to either dodge or attack an enemy. As mentioned before some fight sequences are locked to certain characters which is a nice touch to encourage replay value.

Visuals & Audio
It is interesting to note that The Ice Dragon is perhaps the most brutal episode of Telltale’s Game of Thrones so far. Not only are certain player actions rather gross looking but the battle sequences result in some very gory deaths for those involved. The entire oil painting aesthetic remains a key point in this episode though this time around it is more hit and miss as some environments turn out rather gorgeously here while others are either blurred or look terrible thanks to the art style choice.

The voice work and soundtrack continues to be fairly impressive as the voice actors handle their roles perfectly at this point and the numerous dramatic moments are portrayed well.

Overall
It has been a fairly long wait and now that the wait is over, Game of Thrones: A Telltale Game Series: The Ice Dragon closes out the series with an impressive action sequence that unfortunately puts too much stake into hoping that the series will continue into a second season resulting in many story elements lacking impact. The developers have really nailed the universe of Game of Thrones quite well with this series and we can just hope that if a second season does come about, that these hanging threads can be wrapped up then.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Captain America: Civil War Trailer #1

Andrew Day

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November 30, 2015

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Right when you thought it was ok to take a breath and recover from the epic saga that was Jessica Jones, Disney and Marvel have decided to hit us with their hype-train immediately after with the official trailer for next year’s HUGELY anticipated superhero flick; Captain America: Civil War.

Civil War, based on the comics event of the same name, follows on from the events of Age of Ultron and sees our favourite heroes and villains squaring off against one another over a very divisive issue. How this will play out in the Marvel Cinemativ Universe, we have to wait until May to figure out but for now let us watch the trailer below and speculate endlessly!