Dethklok has produced a new album. It is shipping around the world on water, an analog format that carries a higher quality sound according to the band. The master copy of the album is destroyed along with all retail copies of the album, forcing Dethklok to record a new album underwater. Tensions rise during the month of recording before the conspiracy surrounding Dethklok is finally revealed.
Story
This season marks the return to the 11-minute format that has been used throughout the majority of the series. A lot happens in this short season, including a significant amount of plot progression and even some unexpected character development. The members of Dethklok act nastily towards each other most of the time, but they have rare moments of compassion. The show was entertaining before when it was almost entirely satirical, but it is more engaging now that the writers have begun developing the main characters.
Despite the the increased amount of drama, satire is still present. The opening episode features an over-the-top satire of what can happen when a fan dates a hugely successful celebrity, while at the same time grossly exaggerating what fan obsession is like. Events become strange and overly dramatic as this situation comes to a conclusion, but the dark humour does not end there. Accusations of racism come into play in another episode, and that episode has an even more shocking ending than the last. Terrorist threats are even parodied just for the sake of shock value. The writers seem to be trying to outdo the dark humour with each episode, but they avoid turning Metalocalypse into a show that is just about shock value, which is exactly what has happened with many other North American animated series over the years.
Tensions have often been high between members of the band, but they rise to a fever pitch towards the end of this season. They may be unaware of the conspiracy surrounding them, but the individual band members have their own problems to deal with. Having to spend a month recording with just one woman in their company, the band’s new producer Abigail, drives some of them mad. Unsurprisingly, two of them compete for her attention with predictable results. As the season draws to a close, the series finally beings to show its emotional side. It ends on a major cliffhanger, but the plot is now well and truly underway.
Visuals
There is a reliance on visual humour in this season. Unlike with season two, however, the visual humour is based on shock value rather than pop-culture references or in-show references. There are multiple sex scenes, as well as visual references to the Ku Klux Klan and Adolf Hitler. One episode also satires the popular trend for people to get plastic surgery in order to ‘improve’ their appearance. This has predictably disastrous and grotesque results. There is still a lot of blood and gore, so fans who particularly enjoy the violent aspects of the show will continue to find a lot to enjoy even as the story gradually moves towards its dramatic conclusion.
Audio
The music is as the same as ever, but there are less Dethklok songs featured than usual. This is not just because of the smaller length of this season in comparison to previous seasons. It is also because Nathan has writer’s block and because of the issues that the band has during and after their month of recording. Those who particularly enjoyed the musical elements of the series may find the significant shift in tone towards the end of season to be a disagreeable change, but this season ultimately does not suffer because of its relative lack of Dethklok songs.
Extras
This set does not contain any hidden extras. Nathan Explosion’s reading of Shakespeare’s A Comedy of Errors can be found in the special features menu on the first disc. Several extras can be found in the special features menu on the second disc. These include: “Pickles Flyby,” “StaresDown” Parts 1-3, “MurderThoughts,” “The Prophecy,” “Dr. Rockzo’s Greatest Hits,” “CFO Raps,” Dethklok fan art and “The Dethgame.” As always, the entertainment value of the extras will vary. It would have made more sense for the fan art to be included as a gallery instead of as a video, but viewers can pause the video if they want to look at a certain image more closely. The previous videos featuring Nathan Explosion reading Shakespeare’s plays have been somewhat entertaining and interesting despite the limited animation, but even the most dedicated fans will have issues with this fourth reading. It is monotonous and extremely tedious to watch; the PAL version has a runtime of over 84 minutes. This means that it is technically a feature film according to the scrolling text at the end. If the production did not seem so poorly planned, then the length might not have been a problem, but the final version could have several whole minutes cut out of it and not suffer at all. Sounds and even whole dialogue segments are looped for minutes at a time. This extra features an attempt at humour through repetition, and although it is successful on a few occasions, the repetition is taken so far that it seems as if the existence of this extra is a cruel joke. The scrolling text in all of Nathan’s Shakespeare readings may sarcastically suggest something to that effect, but this time around, it is difficult to believe that this was produced sarcastically.
Overall
This season is significantly shorter than the previous ones. In spite of this, however, the satire is as clever as ever. The two story arcs in this season are well-paced and well-written. It is difficult to see how the series could conclude with just a single television special, but it will be worth finding out what happens next.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Studio: Titmouse
Publisher: Madman Entertainment
Formats: DVD (reviewed) / Blu-ray
Release Date: October 21, 2015 / Original Release Date: December 1, 2010
Price: $34.95 AUD (DVD) – Available Here / $34.95 AUD (Blu-ray) – Available Here / Complete Series Box Set $89.95 AUD – Available Here
Overview
Following the attack on Mordhaus, Dethklok has to live without the help of Charles Offdensen. The members of the band have no idea how to manage money and subsequently find themselves in even more trouble when their lack of legal knowledge puts them at great risk. Meanwhile, the mysterious Falconback Project commences in the shadows.
Story
All episodes in this season are 21-minutes long. The previous format did not allow for particularly in-depth plots or character development, so this format provides an opportunity to alter the tone of the show. The shift towards plot-driven drama began with the previous season, but this shift is so far proving to be nothing but a positive change. Metalocalypse may not be exactly the same show it started out as, but the episodes are more meaningful and engaging than ever before now that they are longer.
One of the more meaningful events in this season is the band’s decision to start acting like a group of normal people instead of a bunch of celebrities. They learn what life is like for people less successful than themselves, although this unfortunately does not result in them learning what sympathy is. They are still as incapable of looking after themselves as they were before; despite being incredibly successful, they still need Offdensen as a guardian figure in their lives. One episode deals with Skwisgaar’s father abandonment issues surprisingly seriously and carefully, although the drama is still interrupted by grotesque humour. The character development that occurs in this season makes it possible to see the band members in a different light. While this development may have added a level of depth to the show, very little plot progression actually occurs. The mystery of Charles’ death is left unintentionally unanswered by the end of this season. This suggests that the reveal of the true nature of the conspiracy involving Dethklok is being saved until quite late in the series, and it is clear that the band members have a long way to go before they work out exactly how to sort out their lives regardless of what comes their way.
Visuals
The episodes are now animated within the 16:9 aspect ratio. Additionally, the visuals are now uncensored, excluding a brief shot in which Murderface imagines that he is surrounded by two topless women. There is still plenty of violence, death and destruction, but there are fewer visual gags than before. Although they were an entertaining touch to the series, this season does not suffer as a result.
Audio
The swearing is no longer censored. The writers seem to have recognised this in the fourth episode, based on an intentional attempt to avoid swearing in this episode. There is still just as much variety in the music as before, so fans who have enjoyed the music so far will continue to enjoy what is on offer here. Fans of Dr Rockzo in particular will enjoy hearing a song performed by his old band Zazz Blammymatazz.
Extras
Once again, there are many extras included. The music videos for the songs “Bloodlines,” “Burn the Earth,” “Black Fire Upon Us” and “The Gears” are available in the ‘Special Features’ menu on the first disc, as is Nathan Explosion’s reading of Shakespeare’s Othello. There are numerous pop culture references and even North American sports references in this 38-and-a-half-minute extra. The animation is extremely limited; the sound of pages turning can be heard despite Nathan’s hands remaining motionless. There is no possibility of gaining an understanding of the play from this reading, but Nathan does make a couple of interesting critiques of it. This long video may not interest people who are not interested in Shakespeare’s works, but it may otherwise be entertaining for viewers. There are two hidden extras on the first disc. A chilling teaser for General Crozier and the Falconback Project can be found by pressing up four times when the ‘Special Features’ button is highlighted. Another video featuring Offdensen ‘palling around’ can be found by pressing up or right when the previous hidden extra is highlighted.
There are several extras in the Special Features menu on the second disc, the majority of which are extended scenes from various episodes. They include: “Dimmu Burger Drive Thru,” “Places,” “House Cleaning,” “Furniture,” “Immortal Records,” Klokateer Recruitment videos 1-4, “Escort Services,” “Drunk,” “Snacks” and “Two Swedish Dads Extended Cut.” Most of these extras are of a reasonable length, but the extended scene of Pickles’ drunk nonsense is tedious to watch due to its long length, pointless dialogue and both limited and repeated animation. There are three hidden extras on the second disc. A strange and poorly animated three-and-a-half-minute dance sequence featuring three Murderfaces can be found by pressing up four times from the ‘Special Features’ button. An eight-minute video of a janitor cleaning a room for the Tribunal can be found from the previous hidden extra by pressing up or left to highlight a window on the left building. Very little happens during the first three minutes of this video, and there is no incentive to watch the rest of it. A whack-a-clown video can be found by pressing up or right from the previous window to highlight a different window on the same building. The entertainment value of the extras included with this season will vary for each individual.
Overall
The style of the show has changed, but it is clear that the writers know what they are doing. The members of Dethklok are still as ignorant and immature as ever, yet there are moments when they exhibit human qualities and almost seem like normal people. That they are not in fact normal people is a point that is driven home on multiple occasions, but the clever satire of fame and other topics such as religion, drugs and political tensions makes the series feel as if it could somehow take place in the real world. It will be interesting to see how the plot progresses with just twelve episodes and one television special left, but the series has been going strong thus far and shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Studio: Titmouse
Publisher: Madman Entertainment
Format: DVD (reviewed)
Release Date: October 21, 2015 / Original Release Date: December 3, 2008
Price: $34.95 AUD – Available Here / Complete Series Box Set $89.95 AUD – Available Here
Overview
The Metalocalypse has begun, but the members of Dethklok remain unaware of everything that is going on around them. The mysterious organisation seen in the first season is still participating in some kind of conspiracy involving Dethklok, but they are waiting patiently until it is time to enact their plan. Characters previously thought to have been kidnapped and held hostage at Mordhaus reappear as the plot thickens.
Story
As opposed to the majority of the episodes from the first season, individual episodes are now relevant to the overarching plot. Many episodes of the first season ended ambiguously, and it is now clear why those endings were inconclusive. Characters who previously appeared to be insignificant return to play a more important role. This generally means trouble for Dethklok even if they do not realise it, but not every returning character is an antagonist. The therapist, Dr. Twinkletits, returns with robotic arms and is much calmer now, for example. Things are more serious and the stakes are higher, but Dethklok rises above all hardships they face, usually through sheer brutality. Certain scenes are more grotesque than they are humorous. However, some of these sequences are important to the plot. There is even a very small amount of character development; Toki is given an opportunity to be as brutal, if not more so, than his fellow band mates.
It was not uncommon for television series to satire illegal music downloads during the time of original broadcast. The third episode of this season takes this issue and combines it with a satire of the way in which celebrities seem to be somewhat exempt from the law. This season may be more plot-driven than the first season, but it maintains the same level of satire and ramps up the grotesqueness that is characteristic of animated Adult Swim series. It may become too creepy for some, but the satire of politics, drug rehabilitation services and charity, among other things, helps make Metalocalypse more meaningful and engaging.
Visuals
Visual humour is abundant in this season. At least one pop culture reference makes it way into the visuals, and Toki’s manner of speaking also makes its way into the visuals when Toki is seen reading a fictional book titled “Hows to Records.” Although the product information states that the episodes are in the 4:3 format, they display in a format close to the 16:9 aspect ratio.
Audio
Individual band members get a chance to play their instruments on their own and even sing on their own in this season. The style of the Dethklok songs is the same, but the band does step outside of its comfort zone in an episode about the blues.The variety of music makes each episode equally worth listening to and watching.
Extras
There is no special features menu on the first disc; all extras are hidden. Rapidly pressing down four times from the ‘Episodes’ button will reveal a menu from which the episodes “Dethecution,” “Dethvengeance,” “Dethdoubles,” “Dethfashion” and “Cleanso” can be viewed with uncensored audio. The production information does not mention that any uncensored episodes are included in this set, and the same problem occurs with the original release of this season in 2008. An extended version of the boat-pulling scene from “Dethcarraldo” can be found by pressing up three times from the ‘Episodes’ button or by manually highlighting the Dethklok logo. An extended version of the scene from “Dethcarraldo” in which a group of Klokateers clear the area for the Dethboat can be found by going left from the Dethklok logo or by highlighting Pickles’ right eye. A video featuring the members of Dethklok listing all of the band names they remember can be found by going up from Pickles’ eye or by highlighting Skwisgaar’s right eye. An 11-minute video of Offdensen making telephone calls can be found by going right from Skwisgaar’s right eye or by highlighting his left eye. A video featuring Facebones showing various items from around Mordhaus can be found by going up from Skwisgaar’s left eye or by highlighting Nathan’s right eye. A news report about the Klokateers can be viewed by going right from Nathan’s right eye or by highlighting his left eye. An eight minute video of Murderface’s trip to an opera can be found by going right from Nathan’s left eye or by highlighting Murderface’s right eye. The “Murmaider” music video can be found by going right from Murderface’s eye or by highlighting Toki’s right eye. A short clip of Toki playing an arcade game can be found by going right from Toki’s right eye or by highlighting his left eye.
All of the extras on the second disc are hidden as well. As with the first disc, rapidly pressing down four times from the ‘Episodes’ button will reveal a hidden menu featuring the episodes “The Revengencers,” “Klokblocked,” “Dethsources” and “Dethdad” with uncensored audio. The “Bloodrocuted” music video can be found by pressing up three times from ‘Episodes’ or by highlighting the Dethklok logo. This video is letterboxed and presented in the 4:3 aspect ratio. A video featuring Dethklok watching a NASCAR race can be found by going left from the Dethklok logo or by highlighting Skwisgaar’s left eye. A video of Offdensen ‘palling around’ with the band can be found by going up from Skwisgaar’s eye or by highlighting the left unicorn’s legs. A video of fans dying violently can be found by going up from the unicorn’s legs or by highlighting the left unicorn’s eye. “Klokateers: In Memoriam” can be viewed by going right from the left unicorn’s eye or by highlighting the right unicorn. A video featuring Edgar Jomfru training in a swimming pool can be found by going right from the right unicorn or by highlighting Nathan’s left eye. Nathan Explosion’s reading of Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus can be found by going right from Nathan’s eye or by highlighting Murderface’s left eye. A video featuring Dethklok producer Dick Knubbler interviewing Murderface and Toki about their song “Takin’ It Easy” can be found by going down from Murderface’s eye or by highlighting Toki’s right eye. A video featuring a couple of people editing a video can be found by going right from Toki’s right eye or by highlighting his left eye.
Overall
This season has a more serious tone than the first one, but it is still entertaining and just as hilarious as before. Shows that try to become too serious and do away with their comedic roots tend to rapidly decrease in quality, however, so whether or not that fate falls upon Metalocalypse remains to be seen. So far, the balance between drama and comedy is being maintained. The only major issue with this release is the lack of important product information on the back cover.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Studio: Titmouse
Publisher: Madman Entertainment
Format: DVD (reviewed)
Release Date: October 21, 2015 / Original Release Date: December 5, 2007
Price: $34.95 AUD – Available Here / Complete Series Box Set $89.95 AUD – Available Here
Overview
Dethklok is the biggest death metal band in the world. Nathan Explosion is the lead vocalist and lead songwriter. Skwisgaar Skwigelf is the lead guitarist. Toki Wartooth is the rhythm guitarist. Pickles is the drummer. William Murderface is the bass player. Charles Foster Offdensen is the band’s manager and CFO. They do not always get along, even though they all live together. The members of Dethklok are ignorant of the fact that a mysterious conspiracy surrounds them, the details of which are only known to a select few.
Story
Metalocalypse presents many exaggerated stereotypes of music fans. One scene features fans signing a waiver that releases Dethklok from any responsibility or liability in the event that anyone dies at their concerts, and this is not the only way in which the series takes the term ‘die-hard fan’ literally. Many fans commit suicide after having to wait for what they consider to be too long for the next Dethklok album to come out, an hyperbolic representation of fans who demand that there is always more content for them to enjoy.
The childhood experiences of the Dethklok members are unusual and violent, but the writers make an interesting point about what it is like to raise children. Therapy and psychological validation are explored comically in one episode while the effects of drugs are explored seriously in another. Religion in particular is the subject of harsh satire in one episode. There is a lot of satire present, much more than what is outlined here. Some scenes are simply random or dramatic, but this series is more than just mindless entertainment. The satire is generally used for humour, but there are times when it is chillingly accurate about certain things, including how children are raised.
A mysterious organisation is introduced at the beginning of the series. This organisation remains nameless throughout the first season, but actively engages in secret missions to uncover information about Dethklok. Although some members of this organisation do pose a significant threat to Dethklok, it is not until the last episode of this season that there is any plot progression. At the same time, the final episode of this season is the first in which there is any continuity between episodes; nothing that happens in the first 19 episodes seems to be particularly significant in regards to the plot.
Visuals
Metalocalypse features a significant amount of violence and grotesqueness. All nudity is censored in this season, but uncensored versions of scenes featuring nudity are included as hidden extras. The episodes are letterboxed, but if they are zoomed in, they can be viewed in a format close to the 16:9 aspect ratio.
Audio
Given that this is a series about a death metal band, death metal songs are featured prominently. It can be difficult to make out the lyrics on certain occasions, so it is recommended to listen them at a higher volume if possible. There are many guest stars from real bands, some of whom appear in multiple episodes, and all voice actors do a fantastic job of bringing their characters to life. All swearing is censored.
Extras
The extras included on the first disc include the Murderface Bass Solo, an extended version of a scene from the episode “Birthdayface,” and the Skiwsgaar Skiwgelf instructional video. There are also several extras hidden in the main menu. Nathan’s reading of Shakespeare’s Hamlet can be viewed by going up from the ‘Play All’ button or by manually highlighting Skwisgaar’s eyes. An extended and uncensored version of Murderface playing the fictional game “Wheelchair Bound” can be viewed by going up from the ‘Episodes’ button or by highlighting Nathan’s eyes. A 90-second video featuring Ravenwood playing an acoustic guitar while watching Skwisgaar’s instructional video can be found by going down from the ‘Set Up’ button or by highlighting the Dethklok logo. Uncensored outtakes from Skwisgaar’s music video “Thunder Horse” can be found by going up from the ‘Extras’ button or by highlighting Toki’s eyes.
The extras included on disc two include nine band interviews, all of which appear to play at a lower volume than everything else, a Mordhaus Tour given by Facebones and the Murder Reel, a compilation of the most violent scenes from this season. There are also hidden extras in the main menu. The uncensored version of the scene featuring Toki’s ‘codpiece’ from “Murdering Outside the Box” can be found by going up from the ‘Play All’ button or by highlighting the inside of the ‘D’ in ‘Dethklok.’ The food menu for Burzum’s can be found by going up from the ‘Episodes’ button or by highlighting the Dethklok logo. A Selatcia teaser can be viewed by going up from the ‘Set Up’ button or by highlighting the ‘o.’ A video featuring Pickles incoherently rambling about various things while drunk can be found by going up from the ‘Special Features’ button or by highlighting the top-right tip of the second ‘k’ in ‘Dethklok.’ An uncensored version of the scene featuring Nathan’s groupies from the episode “Girlfriendklok” can be found by going down from the ‘Extras’ button or by highlighting the tip of the right axe in the Dethklok logo. The entertainment value of these extras will vary for each individual viewer; they are not all worth watching.
Overall
It is commonly believed in western culture that animated series are only for children. There are a few animated series produced in North America that are aimed at adults, but except for few exceptions such as South Park, most of them are just a collection of crude jokes and are pointlessly random. Metalocalypse may feature some crude humour, and may occasionally be a little random, but many episodes do have a purpose. There is a moral point to be found in the crazy things that happen because of and to the members of Dethklok. Similarly to South Park,Metalocalypse is hilariously entertaining because it offers a harsh satire on many aspects of western society and of human nature. It may be censored and too violent and grotesque for some, but its brutal satire and clever jokes make every episode entertaining.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Recently Sentai Filmworks announced their March 2016 release slate and with it came a few new details about some of the series they have licensed. First and foremost, the company has confirmed that their upcoming release of Wizard Barristers will be given an English dub and their recent license, the Utawarerurmono OVAs, will also be given an English dub.
The company is also planning on releasing Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-Kun on Blu-ray, DVD, and Limited Edition where it will also feature an English dub. A number of other series are getting released with English subtitles only and you can check out their full list of March 2016 releases below as well as some temporary box art for each of the series.
Title: WIZARD BARRISTERS COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 300 min.
Street Date: 3/1/2016
Format: DVD, BD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $59.98, $69.98
SYNOPSIS: When the laws of magic are broken, it’s the duty of the Police Department’s deadly Section 1 to enforce them. But, since even craven maven mages and nefarious necromancers have the right to a fair trial, the job of defending them belongs to the Benmashi, the Wizard Barristers! It’s a tricky profession, requiring both arcane ability and a judicious sense of jurisprudence, and at just seventeen, Cecil Sudo is the youngest Benmashi that Butterfly Law has ever employed. That means a lot of late nights burning the midnight brimstone, summoning up summaries, parsing phrases with paranormal paralegals and cutting deals with opposing counsels from hell. And when a young Benmashi starts to discover that her own charm may be more magically-based than she realized, there’ll be a hex-tra incentive to work wonders outside the courtroom as well! Every trial is a witch trial as the most enchantingly Adept Attorney ever becomes a Master of the Art of Defensive Spells in WIZARD BARRISTERS!
Title: WOLF GIRL & BLACK PRINCE COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 300 min.
Street Date: 3/8/2016
Format: DVD, BD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $49.98, $59.98
SYNOPSIS: Everyone knows that lies can come back to bite you, but when Erika makes up a fake boyfriend to impress her new classmates, the results may literally end up hounding her forever! Yes, it was dumb, but what were the odds that the random guy whose picture she used would turn out to be a student at her own school? Or that said faux-boyfriend’s silence would come with such a horrible price? Now Erika doesn’t just have to run and fetch at Kyoya Sata’s command, she has to bark too! Because he’s literally treating her like a dog, and she just has to roll over and take it, or he’ll tell everyone the truth! But that’s not the worst part, because even though this wolf in hunk’s clothing has Erika collared, she may be starting to have REAL feelings for him anyway! Is she barking up the wrong tree, or could true love be unleashed in WOLF GIRL & BLACK PRINCE?
Title: THOSE WHO HUNT ELVES COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Selects
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 600 min.
Street Date: 3/15/2016
Format: DVD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $39.98
SYNOPSIS: Tales of traveling to alternate dimensions are fun to watch in the movies, but when you get stuck in one yourself, it’s not quite as much fun. So when strongman Junpei, actress Airi, and teenage gun fanatic Ritsuko find themselves transported to a world populated by elves and other mystical beings, all they want to do is go home. Unfortunately, after putting their trust in the scatterbrained sorceress Celcia, the spell to send them back to Earth ends up getting scattered to the winds, with different parts attaching themselves to the bodies of Elves all across the planet. Now the only way to put it back together is to travel around the world, convincing elves to take off all their clothes for a “spell check”! Fortunately, the team also has access to a T-74 tank, so it’s time for the weirdest road trip ever. Warning! There are naked elves ahead as the ultimate fanboy fantasy is launched in THOSE WHO HUNT ELVES!
Title: WAITING IN THE SUMMER COMPLETE COLLECTION BLU-RAY
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 325 min.
Street Date: 3/15/2016
Format: BD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $59.98
SYNOPSIS: When a group of friends decide to make a movie over a long summer holiday, they end up learning a little about filmmaking and a lot more about each other and themselves. What begins as a simple way to avoid the summer doldrums quickly turns into something much more complex, intimate, and downright revealing. As the summer heats up, so do the maturing relationships between the young cast members, taking some new, and sometimes unexpected, turns. Get ready for a whole new look at summer romance as hidden emotions get captured and secrets meant to be kept hidden inside young hearts instead spill off the screen for your viewing pleasure in WAITING IN THE SUMMER!
Title: WHEN THEY CRY SEASON 1
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 650 min.
Street Date: 3/15/2016
Format: DVD, BD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $49.98, $69.98
SYNOPSIS: Moving to the picturesque town of Hinamizawa is going to be a big adjustment for Keiichi. For all its beauty, it’s also tiny… so small that there’s only one school, one where most of the students have known each other all their lives. Fortunately, he soon meets four girls… Rena, Mion, Satoko, and Rika, who’re willing to let the new guy in town join their afterschool club. And for a while, things seem wonderful. Until Keiichi starts discovering strange things, like the project manager for a controversial dam project being found dismembered five years ago. As he digs deeper, there are whispers and rumors of other murders and disappearances, stories of a town curse, and mysterious rituals. And then people he knows start to die. What secrets have the people of Hinamizawa kept hidden from the rest of the world? And could his new friends somehow be involved? The shocking answers will be revealed WHEN THEY CRY!
Title: CELESTIAL METHOD COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 325 min.
Street Date: 3/22/2016
Format: DVD, BD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $49.98, $59.98
SYNOPSIS: It’s been seven years since Nonoka Komiya last lived in Lake Kiriya City. However, while she knew that there would be changes in the town, she’s still unprepared for what she finds upon her return: A giant saucer hovers over the entire city, as it has since shortly after she and her family left. Stranger yet, a girl she doesn’t know, Noel, is waiting for her, claiming that they have met before. Confused, Nonaka tries to focus on reconnecting with her old friends, but odd memories, suppressed in the wake of her mother’s death, begin to float to the top of her consciousness. Can it be that she has met Noel before? And how does this connect with the appearance of the saucer itself? To solve the riddle, Nonoka must join with her friends and rediscover the events that occurred before she left Lake Kiriya. Because there’s more than a mystery that must be solved: there’s a promise that has to be kept in CELESTIAL METHOD.
Title: MONTHLY GIRLS’ NOZAKI-KUN COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 300 min.
Street Date: 3/29/2016
Format: DVD, BD, COMBO
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $59.98, $69.98, $129.98
SYNOPSIS: You know how the story goes: girl crushes on guy, girl confesses feelings to guy, guy mistakes confession for a job application. Okay, maybe that’s not how it usually goes, but that’s what happens when Chiyo Sakura finally gets up the nerve to tell her classroom crush Nozaki how she feels. Since she doesn’t know that he’s secretly a manga artist who publishes under a female pen name, and he doesn’t know that she doesn’t know, he misunderstands and offers her a chance to work as his assistant instead of a date! But while it’s not flowers and dancing, it is a chance to get closer to him, so Chiyo gamely accepts. And when Nozaki realizes how useful Chiyo can be in figuring out what girls find romantic, he’ll be spending even more time with her “researching” while remaining completely clueless. Could Chiyo’s romantic frustration possibly get any more drawn out of proportion? The answer will be profusely illustrated in MONTHLY GIRLS’ NOZAKI-KUN!
Title: UTAWARERUMONO OVA
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 85 min.
Street Date: 3/29/2016
Format: DVD, BD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $29.98, $39.98
SYNOPSIS: You may have thought the saga of the mysterious masked warrior Hakuoro was over, but the fight for justice and honor never ends. Even in a world filled with sorcery and epic battles, there’s always time for a few adventures on the side! Journey back to the world of UTAWARERUMONO and discover three amazing new stories: Can the priestess Urutori find a way to solve the problem of an abandoned infant, or will she end up raising the child herself? Can healer Eluluu resolve a situation that involves youth potions, some unusually well-intentioned kidnappers, and a very unorthodox romance? And finally, learn just how much trouble a couple of girls can get into on a simple afternoon fishing trip. (Because when it involves magic fish, and two of the girls are Touka and Aruruu, the answer is… plenty!) The tales may be a little shorter, but the fantasy is every bit as fantastic as all the characters you love return in UTAWARERUMONO – THE OVA COLLECTION!
Title: VAMPIRE PRINCESS MIYU COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Maiden Japan
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 650 min.
Street Date: 3/29/2016
Format: DVD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $49.98
SYNOPSIS: She may use the name Miyu Yamano when dealing with mortals, but the truth is that not even Miyu knows who she really is. What is certain is that she was born of Vampire and Human; the human half granting her the ability to walk by day, while her craving for the blood of the living brands her forever as a creature of the night. Now, together with her sole companion, the Shinma known as Larva, she exists in the twilight realm where the worlds of light and shadow overlap, trapped in the body of a teenager forever. Her task: to serve as Mankind’s last defense against the forces of Darkness. To hunt down those who would seek to harm the human race, and to cast them back into the depths from which they came. Prepare to stalk the night as the death-dance of undead predator and prey begins in the anime classic VAMPIRE PRINCESS MIYU – THE SERIES!
Ubisoft released a new trailer entitled “The Breach” ahead of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege’s launch in a couple of days. Set to Act III, Scene I of Shakespeare’s play Henry V, the trailer shows the multinational Rainbow Six team in combat and plenty of the game’s signature destructible walls. A majority of the footage appears to be from the game’s co-operative Terrorist Hunt mode.
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege is running an open beta this weekend. Everyone can download the open beta and check out the new Kanal map and several operators that were not available during the closed beta session. The open beta is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Uplay on Windows until November 30th. The game launches on December 1st, 2015.
Close out an Awesome Year with December’s Games with Gold
December is bringing a new batch of games for the Xbox Games with Gold program. Gamers can snag the following titles next month:
The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing ($14.99 ERP): Available from December 1-31 on Xbox One
Thief ($39.95 ERP): Available from December 16-January 15 on Xbox One
CastleStorm ($9.95 ERP): Available from December 1-15 on Xbox 360
Sacred 3 ($29.95 ERP): Available from December 16-31 on Xbox 360
Bonus: Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising ($14.95 ERP): Available from December 16-31 on Xbox 360
Microsoft is throwing in Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising this month as a holiday bonus to Xbox Live Gold subscribers. Xbox One owners should note that only Sacred 3 isn’t backwards compatible; however, with full Xbox 360 backward compatibility promised, it is only a matter of time before Sacred 3 will be up and running on Xbox One.
The 14 Coolest Xbox Live Arcade Games That You Can Now Play on Xbox One
If you skipped out on the Xbox 360, you missed out on a lot of great Xbox Live Arcade Games. Ranging from classic games ported to modern consoles to indie gems, the Xbox Wire team put together a list of their 14 favourite games that can now be played on Xbox One thanks to Xbox One Backward Compatibility. Personally, I highly recommend Beyond Good & Evil HD from that list. The much anticipated sequel is still in development, so the HD remake should get gamers up to speed before the release.
Overview Very few games can be announced less than six months before release and then given only the bare minimum of promotion and manage to excite gamers around the world as much as Fallout 4 has. Bethesda has kept Fallout 4 very close to their vest and with fans eager to see what the company can do with a new generation of consoles after the enjoyable Fallout 3’s release years prior; does Fallout 4 manage to deliver on expectations?
Story Anyone familiar with the Fallout series roughly knows what to expect when it comes to the setting of the title but Fallout 4 starts things off a little differently. Players will begin by picking either the husband or the wife of a couple with a baby boy and customizing the look of both characters if they wish. The thing is, the bombs haven’t dropped yet and your family is currently living a happy life with your baby in alternate USA where the threat of potential nuclear annihilation is indeed real.
Shortly after accepting an invitation to enter Vault 111, the bombs indeed start to drop and players find themselves running for safety with their family. Unfortunately as many know, Vault-Tec is far from clear when it comes to what is going to happen in these vaults and after entering, players find their brief reprieve from danger come to an abrupt end as they are cryogenically frozen for over two hundred years.
Without spoiling things, due to events that occur after this process players will find themselves thawed out and alone in a world that is far different from the one they previously knew. By placing players in the role of a character that existed before the war and showing how life once was, they have created an interesting sense of loss and displacement that we’ve never been able to experience before. Even with past Vault Dwellers it was known that something had happened, but for the player character it feels like yesterday their home was vibrant and full of life and today it is a dilapidated ruin surrounded by danger.
Of course stating more about the core storyline would spoil things but let’s just say that the main story path in Fallout 4 is better constructed than previous titles as it does set a number of clear mark posts for players to aim for if they wish to head down that path as fast as possible though doing so would be something of a disservice. I say that as there is still plenty of room for players to wander around and take on various side-jobs around the Commonwealth and joining up with the various factions and investigating the numerous locations around the map.
Like many of their past games Fallout 4 also offers plenty of replay value as both the storyline decisions you make at some points will end up turning certain factions against you as well as potentially lock you out of certain locations and the impressive amount of companions that you can find in the Commonwealth mostly all have a certain charm to them, a few of which can only be kept depending on certain choices the player has made. Not all of these companions are handled well but many of them will make numerous remarks about the places you’re exploring, certain actions made, and even offer their own mini-stories as they grow to like your character through their actions in the field. Though be careful, what one character likes may infuriate another, even if it is as simple as hopping into a suit of Power Armor.
It is worth noting that the storyline with some of these factions does appear to be rather weak at its core which is a bit of a disappointment but thankfully nearly every place that players explore in the densely packed Commonwealth will have its own small story based around it, with even a small shack by a pond having something for inquisitive players to investigate if they so wish. Fallout 4 also marks the first time that players will be taking on the role of a voiced protagonist which does mean that some of the more hilarious dialogue options do take a bit of a step back this time around but the conversation system, which is now handled via a four button wheel, works well and still provides an open enough feel to give your “Lone Survivor” their own personality.
Gameplay Now while Fallout 4 may be using a modified engine of what fans are familiar with and many aspects may still seem familiar at first glance, Fallout 4’s mechanics have all been changed either for the better or streamlined in a way that may frustrate some hardcore fans. The most streamlined aspect is the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. system that has been a long standing feature in the series. Standing for Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility, and Luck players will be able to assign an allocated number of points into each of these categories when they create their character as before but now leveling up is handled in a far different manner than before.
Rather than featuring separate skills that are leveled up separately in order to increase the player’s efficiency, leveling provides the player with a skill point that can then be spent either increasing the point value of one of your S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stats or unlocking certain perks. Previous aspects such as hacking or unlocking Advanced, Expert, and Master level puzzles must now be obtained through this system. For example, this means that players will need to have at least 4 Perception to be able to access the Lockpicking perk and then three levels invested into said perk to be able to pick Master level locks.
This system is spread around throughout all of the mechanics of the game, with perks to increase the amount of damage done by certain weapons, sneakiness, pickpocket chance, and even the ability to craft fancier items contained in one streamlined system that may seem a bit overwhelming at first, since it is entirely possible, if not a bit crippling at the start, to invest ten points into a certain stat and then immediately gain access to high level perks, though even this is usually gated behind a level requirement, but it is rather easy to understand after putting a few hours into the game.
With players being able to build up their character in a variety of ways and the way of doing so being a bit more streamlined, I am pleased to say that the gunplay and the VATS system are better than ever. Fallout 4 plays a bit more like a standard shooter now than an RPG shooter, allowing players to have much more control over whether or not they’ll actually hit enemies they are aiming at in basic combat. This allows players to actually use basic aiming as a viable tactic and one that is well-honed while the VATS system no longer freezes time and makes player’s something immortal, instead time flows at a slower pace. This means that enemies can head for cover, attack the player, and even take a bullet for someone else rather than simply letting the player pick away at them as they wish.
This creates a far better combat system than what was previously offered, though some may be a bit disappointed to hear that basic critical hits are now far rarer as players are instead offered a critical meter that fills up every time the player does damage in VATS. When filled this allows players to make use of a manual critical hit that can be used to get out of a bad situation or simply to quickly eliminate a single enemy.
Another element that has been changed, which some may find issue with as it does change up the lore of the armor a bit, but I find a suitable change considering what it is, comes in the form of Power Armor. Rather than simply being equipment that is strapped on, Power Armor is introduced early as something of a miniature mech-suit that is powered by fusion cores. This makes Power Armor a strong but limited item that requires the constant use of fusion cores that can be found in the Wasteland or purchased from vendors, but provides players with plenty of bonuses as every piece of a Power Armor suit can now be upgraded or modified in some way to provide a special bonus and even various types of armor can be mixed and matched depending on what players can find in the Commonwealth, as certain enemies also have managed to track down their own special suits.
By removing the level cap in Fallout 4 Bethesda has made it possible to create vastly different characters as well as something of a Jack-of-all-Trades if you wish. There are also various Bobbleheads and magazines scattered throughout the Commonwealth that increase various stats and add new bonus perks while raising your bond with companions can also reward players with a unique perk. This allows for a massive level of character customization and that level of customization doesn’t end there.
Previously it was possible to gather plenty of junk around the Wasteland and its primary purpose was either to sell it for Caps or fire it out of a Junk Jet. Now every item in the game serves some purpose. Previous trash such as empty Nuka Cola bottles can be broken down into glass, cigarette cartons which usually were only for a quick buck now contain a number of elements that can be used to craft useful items and equipment.
You see, every element of the player’s arsenal is now customizable and numerous items can be crafted from seemingly nothing. Players now have the ability to craft numerous types of drugs using materials gathered from the dirt or enhancing other drugs such as Jet to create Jet Fuel, cook meat gathered from enemies to rid it of radiation as well as provide useful temporary buffs, and much more.
I have only touched upon the surface of customization however as what was previously seen as junk can now be used to enhance your equipment since most equipment players will find is now modular. While it is possible to wear a basic suit of clothing, there are also numerous types of clothing that provide basic stat boosts that can then have additional equipment worn on the chest, arms, and legs. Each of these pieces can then be customized to resist more damage, weigh less, add pockets to increase how much players can carry, and more. Weaponry is treated the same way as literally every gun and melee weapon in the game can be customized in one way or another, even rare legendary weapons.
Most weapons can be modified almost entirely, as players can change the type of barrel used, the stock, the trigger, the firing mechanism, even the types of bullets used, to craft a weapon that suits their purpose and melee weapons often can be made even more vicious by adding serrated edges, jet boosters, elemental damage, and much more. As mentioned before, with the occasional legendary enemies often dropping special legendary gear, which is usually standard gear that has a special perk on it, players can transform even the most basic laser rifle into something absolutely devastating if they choose to invest into the Gun Nut and Science perks.
Outside of creating things for yourself players will also find themselves gathering tons of junk items to secure a better place for themselves to live. You see, Fallout 4 now features a settlement building system where players can secure certain locations and then use a workbench to clear out destroyed buildings and create their own mini-villages. Using primarily wood, cloth, steel, and other basic materials players will find themselves constructing either pre-made houses or attempting to create elaborate structures using an unfortunately poorly explained building system that allows for quite a bit of creativity.
Each settlement requires players to build up its defenses, either through creating turrets or assigning settlers to constructed guard posts, plant various vegetables for food, establish sources of water, power to supply energy to certain items that are built and to turn on higher level machinery, and of course beds for everyone to sleep in. There is far more to this mode than many would expect as players can construct houses filled with luxury items and working lights to help increase the happiness of the villagers and establish a base of operations.
This helps give players an exceptional level of customization as well as a massive time sink in an already huge game, though it is also entirely possible to mostly avoid this mechanic if you so wish since certain elements do require players to dig through help menus as the game gives very few explanations regarding certain systems in settlement mode.
As many know, Bethesda’s open world games are well known for having a number of bugs at launch and Fallout 4 hasn’t dodged this bullet but from what I’ve experienced in over eighty hours of playtime is far less than any of my time in past Bethesda games. Enemies and companions clipping through the environment remains something that occurs more often than one would like but never did I experience any quest locking bug, though a few times I did need to reload my save or knock down an ally AI in order to make them move and properly activate a door that required their involvement. Companion AI also is a bit iffy at times but far less than before as they will regularly move to the side when trying to navigate through a doorway or can simply be told to move across the room.
Visuals Fallout 4 marks the first time that one of Bethesda’s open world sandbox titles has appeared on the latest generation of consoles and it does show a noticeable improvement here, though probably not as much as some would like. There are plenty of rough looking textures that can be found in the game and unfortunately only a few new enemies are introduced in the Commonwealth but many old enemies have been modified and given new characteristics, making Feral Ghouls a truly frightening fight at times.
That being said, the world is densely populated with a number of areas to explore as well as a decent variety for what can be seen. I never noticed a direct layout copy for any of the locations I explored and with a wider color spectrum gives the Commonwealth a fresh appearance from what many have been used to in past games. Of course this does mean that there are some moments where the frame rate will take a bit of a dive but it never appeared to last longer than a couple of seconds.
Audio As mentioned before, this marks the first time that players will be taking on the role of a voiced protagonist in the game. This does remove some of the more ridiculous dialogue choices but the voice work found in Fallout 4 is very impressive as the developers have gathered quite a large number of actors to make sure that players won’t be hearing the same voices over and over again. It is worth mentioning that because of this, some NPCs do seem to have issues where they aren’t given actual voice work for certain generic lines, such as ones that are assigned from the randomly generated quests, meaning that players must make use of the subtitles to actually hear what they are saying.
The soundtrack is unfortunately something of a disappointment this time around. There are a wealth of catchy tunes found in the Pip-Boy’s radio but the disappointment comes from the fact that the majority of these songs are simply ones that have been recycled from the past two games. Only a handful of new songs are actually included in the radio stations and while they do add some freshness to the soundtrack, it would have been nice to see more tracks added in.
Overall Keeping a game under wraps and limiting the details about a game such as Fallout 4 must have taken a lot of effort from Bethesda but it has certainly paid off. Although a few elements in the story could have used some more fleshing out, bugs remain an issue, and certain elements are poorly explained, this title offers a massive experience that players can easily sink over a hundred hours into the game and still find more to explore and customize making Fallout 4 an experience that is simply too great to pass up and easily lives up to expectations. Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Overview Rhythm games have certainly been on the rise lately with a number of high profile titles being localized over the course of the year but a certain series of games known as DJMax had long held a place in many hearts thanks to being one of the few great rhythm titles being released in the West. Unfortunately once the developers shut down many were disappointed that they would never have the chance to play such a game again, but thankfully many of the team has reassembled to create Superbeat: Xonic. So, now that a few years have passed, does this spiritual successor still have what it takes to be worthwhile?
Gameplay As with many rhythm games, Superbeat: Xonic employs the style of having notes appear at the middle of the screen and then slide towards the edge of the screen with the player having to hit the note at the proper time or end up missing it entirely, resulting in lost power (health), a broken combo, and of course the chance to score points. With proper timing players will often result in “Super Beat” (Perfect) hits as well as Good hits that will keep their points going and contribute to a higher letter grade at the end of the song.
Now while Superbeat: Xonic may use a very standard formula, it does spice things up a bit by offering a number of challenging note types as well as the ability to play the title using two different styles. The standard notes can be hit by either simply tapping on the touch screen or using their pressing the corresponding face button as there are modes that feature four areas, called 4TRAX, that notes can slide through as well as modes that introduce six areas, simply called 6TRAX.
There are then buttons that require the player to either swipe the screen in a certain direction or slide the analog stick in that direction, hold notes which are self-explanatory, hold and drag notes that are by far the iffiest of the set, and at the hardest difficulties even the shoulder buttons get worked into things. While it is entirely possible to play Superbeat: Xonic using either method or a mix of both, the game feels specifically designed with touch screen in mind as forcing the player to switch between buttons and then sliding the analog stick can often result in an easily missed note, especially since even on the most basic difficulty the dragging notes register extremely poorly regardless of what input method the player chooses.
The difficulty level does grow to be rather extensive at times as even the basic 4TRAX difficulty does have a number of songs that require very rapid presses at times and if you aren’t careful it can be easy to fail here. This of course becomes even more challenging when you enter into the 6TRAX difficulty and eventually the much harder 6TRAX FX that can only be unlocked after the player hits level twenty, requiring the player to play quite a bit and familiarize themselves with everything the game will throw at them.
Of course there are some modifications that players can use at times, with players being able to change the speed that notes appear. This allows players to slightly adjust how fast the notes will fly from the center of the screen with the highest values offering an extreme challenge and the slowest allowing players to familiarize themselves a bit with a song’s patterns.
Now onto the gameplay modes on offer, players will find themselves only being able to partake in Stage Mode and World Tour. Stage Mode offers players a chance to play through a set of selectable songs that they must complete in order to pass at the aforementioned difficulty levels with various letter grades ranging from the obvious F to the best S++. Songs that are unlocked and then played in Stage Mode are then added into the Free Style mode that allows players to have a bit more choice when it comes to what they play and earn the best score possible to try and grind away at their DJ Level, which is also used to unlock songs and various elements of customization.
The World Tour mode places players in the same style of play as Stage Mode but this time the songs are all chosen for the player and on top of simply clearing them, the player must now meet a certain task at the same time. This starts off as simply being “60 Combo” to being far more difficult and not completing a task will result in failure even if you did great with the songs, though generally doing great and completing a task are one in the same.
Other than that there is unfortunately very little depth to what Superbeat: Xonic has to offer outside of those two modes. There are some very minor customization elements such as selecting a DJ image, comparing your ranking with other player’s in the game, a stat tracker, and options to change what tone is played when hitting a note, there really isn’t much more depth to this rhythm game.
Visuals & Audio Generally most rhythm games aim for a nice mixture of songs to keep the soundtrack fresh and allow a wide variety of songs for people with different tastes to enjoy. Unfortunately in Superbeat: Xonic‘s case they have casted that net a bit too wide as there are a wide variety of genres here with songs from Metal, Easy Listening, Latin, various styles of Pop, R&B, and much more. This means that while there is something for everyone, there are also plenty of songs that players will absolutely dread, forcing them to either avoid them entirely or begrudgingly play through when forced in World Tour.
At the same time the player’s also will find that outside of some rather enticing looking artwork for many of the songs covers, Superbeat: Xonic offers a very simplistic stylized visual experience. The minimalistic style chosen mostly features various colors and shapes in the background to provide a simple aesthetic experience to not detract from the notes. This is a nice change from rhythm games that can be far too busy in the background and may cause a missed note.
Overall Superbeat: Xonic is a polished title that sets itself apart from many of the other rhythm games currently on the market but also lacks the same type of attraction that those games offer. Although it may not offer a wide depth of modes or impress visually, Superbeat: Xonic does offer fairly solid gameplay mechanics and a wide range of songs that offer a wide range of genres that will please many fans of rhythm games while also annoying those who are looking for a more targeted collection. Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Ten years after the release of Star Wars: Battlefront II, EA and DICE have brought us back into the world of Storm Troopers, Jedi, TIE-Fighters and Imperial Walkers with the rebooted Star Wars: Battlefront. The multiplayer-centric title has the look and feel of the Star Wars universe, all perfectly bundled up. This title is definitely the epitome of “Style over substance,” as many of the nuanced mechanics that define FPS games have been stripped away for a more accommodating game. While it has its fair share of flaws, Star Wars Battlefront is one of the more enjoyable FPS experiences I have had in some time.
Story
Star Wars Battlefront foegoes the traditional story-based campaign in favour of its multiplayer aspect. Normally if there is no campaign or story-mode we will cut out this section of the review, but I wanted to take a second and discuss it because I feel that the lack of single-player (or even co-op) campaign has really held this game back. While there are still plenty of “Missions,” these don’t form a cohesive story and are more of a way to give players the ability to play offline.
The focus on multiplayer isn’t exactly a surprise; games like Titanfall, Black Ops III and even Need for Speed: Rivals were centered around their online multiplayer but managed to integrate a narrative campaign into it (Need for Speed less so), but Battlefront has opted to forgo this and instead is a game that is purely about the multiplayer skirmishes. This results in a game that feels like it is missing a key part, a soul if you will. I want to be able to sit down and play through an epic Star Wars saga with my buddies instead of just having to go into battle against hordes of enemies with them.
Gameplay
Star Wars: Battlefront is an FPS through and through. I’ve said before that I’m not the biggest FPS guy. This is normally because there is such a wide divide between the friendly players and the serious ones, which normally leaves people like me in the dust. Let’s be real; winning is fun, and getting killed 15 times in a row isn’t. Well much to the chagrin of others I have discussed with, Battlefront seems to forego the more complex mechanics that you usually see in the genre in favor of a more free and accessible approach. Now, don’t get me wrong there is still a bit of a learning curve present in the game but it pales in comparison to the likes of Titanfall or the Call of Duty franchise.
The lack of depth may come back to haunt Battlefront though if players get bored in a few months and put the games down forever, but I am betting that the opposite happens and even if there are no dedicated esports events run around the game, that it will continue to prosper purely on the fact that players can hop into the game for the first time and still have a better than decent chance of getting a few kills in.
Battlefront offers possibly the most diverse range of multiplayer modes that I have seen in a game in a long time. With nine distinct modes, each that completely change the way you play the game – there is a tonne of content available for those looking for it. Going from a 7 vs 1 “Hero Hunt” mode, to an epic 20 v 20 full-scale battle almost feels like you are playing a completely different game and I absolutely love that.
Since this is a Star Wars game, vehicles are an incredibly important part of the action. As you might expect, the type of vehicle you can pilot is determined by your faction, the planet you are playing on, and whether you can get to one or not. Hoth Snow Speeders, X-Wing Fighters and TIE-Fighters are just some of the vehicles you will be able to jump into and fly around in. The flight controls are all really smooth and responsive, although I did have to tweak a few settings to get them juuuust right for how I like to play, but once I did I wouldn’t have hoped for a more fun experience in the air.
The game (currently) features 12 playable maps and while these all feel awesome to fight on (or fly through, lets be real – that’s what we all wanted to do anyway) I could have done with a few more. As time goes on will will be getting more maps and planets to explore so hopefully these will satisfy my hunger for more.
Visuals & Audio
Star Wars is undeniably one of the biggest cultural icons of the modern era and every piece of media that is released under its banner; be it movies, cartoons, books or video games represents this world-beloved franchise, and that means some things are sacrosanct when it comes to the Star Wars brand. One of the most important things that makes Star Wars what it is, is the presentation – to fans young and old the look, the feel, the sound it all has to be just right or things start to fall apart at the seams. While it is very easy to screw up this aspect, especially when creating a video game, Star Wars Battlefront while not perfect, is undeniably impressive and the developers really should be commended for the care and love they have put into their game.
Visually, Battlefront manages to perfectly capture the look and feel of the Star Wars universe. From the massive, sweeping maps that look like they are the film sets themselves, to the suits of the Storm Troopers or the intricate detailing on the X-Wing fighters; everything looks fantastic and while this may sound cheesy – really makes you feel like you are in the middle of a Star Wars film. Beyond that, the high level of detail in the characters and the worlds themselves makes Battlefront not only the best looking Star Wars game around, but one of the best looking games period.
While the look of the game is something to write home about, the audio is a little more lacking. While there are some iconic sound effects present, like those of a blaster rifle being fired or the unique sound a TIE-Fighter makes as it whirls past, there are some audio choices that feel a bit hollow and lacking. The best example of this is the voice of Darth Vader. While Vader’s voice actor, Matt Sloane has played the character several times (including this year’s Disney Infinity 3.0) his performance here just feels shallow. The same can be said for other characters like Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker. It creates this weird disconnect when those characters sound… unusual while others like C-3PO, Yoda and Palpatine sound far more authentic and true to the rest of the Star Wars media.
Overall
There is no arguing that Battlefront ops for “style over substance,” stripping back some of the more complex and nuanced mechanics that you usually see in the FPS genre in favor of creating an almost cinematic Star Wars experience is likely to create a bit of a divide between the casual shooter players and those looking for a game to play competitively. Many multiplayer games are kept alive by their online communities and I’m not sure if the lack of depth will cause fans to get tired and jump ship in a few months, or whether the inverse will happen and this will become one of those games that you can log into 12 months from now and still find a match within seconds.
I’m far from a competitive FPS gamer, so in the end the most important factor to me was whether or not I had fun with the game, and I have to be honest – I’m having a tonne. The wide variety of game modes is keeping me interested and the fact that I don’t immediately die as soon as I start playing is awesome. Not only that, but it is clear to see the painstaking efforts that DICE have gone through to make this feel like a Star Wars game, and it has absolutely paid off. If only a well-crafted campaign had been added as well, then this would be an absolute must-buy game, but without it we have an epic, enjoyable albeit imperfect shooter.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
