It has been surprisingly quiet since the launch of the King’s Quest reboot. The first chapter entitled “A Knight to Remember” launched back in August, earning 9 Capsules out of 10 in our review. Since then, it has been pretty much radio silence from Sierra and The Odd Gentlemen.
Today, the silence is finally broken with the announcement of King’s Quest Chapter Two, “Rubble without a Cause.” The game leaps a few years into the future, with the young Graham now crowned king. He is now facing his first serious challenge as leader. Goblins have invaded the kingdom and taken the people hostage.
King’s Quest “Rubble without a Cause” launches on Playstation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Windows on December 16, 2015. For those needing to catch up to the story, Sierra is offering the first chapter for free on PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 for PlayStation Plus members in North America.
DUNGEON DEFENDERS II GETS ‘LOOT & SURVIVE’ UPDATE ON PLAYSTATION®4
New Hero Levels, Gear, Stats, Game Modes and Evolving Pets Arrive Today via Pre-alpha Access
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Dec. 1, 2015 – Trendy Entertainment has released a massive content update for Dungeon Defenders II, its action tower defense game, on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system. The ‘Loot & Survive’ patch significantly improves character progression in the pre-alpha access title by raising the Hero level cap from 25 to 50, expanding the loot and pet systems, and adding new gameplay and difficulty modes. It also sets the stage for the upcoming arrival of story in Dungeon Defenders II by introducing talking NPCs (though they may not make much sense for now).
‘Loot & Survive’ adds a multitude of varying gameplay and difficulty features, including a tutorial mode, new daily missions with better rewards and monthly missions with rare prizes. There are new mini-bosses in the campaign, and completing the campaign unlocks both the endless survival test of Onslaught Mode, as well as Adventure Mode, which lets players tackle base maps at harder settings. Truly fearless champions can take on the challenges of Nightmare Modes I-IV, which open at level 40.
In addition to increasing the level cap, ‘Loot & Survive’ gives players special rewards, like skill spheres, as they advance. Players can unlock bonus slots in the Hero deck (up to four) as they progress, and hitting the level limit with one Hero will provide an experience boost for the rest of the deck. There are also new costumes available for the Pirate Monk, Tiger Monk and Farmer Apprentice.
Finally, ‘Loot & Survive’ upgrades companion pets. Not only are there even more pets to collect, but they can now evolve, too, acquiring new active abilities and even distinct appearances as they grow. Players can also reroll pets they own for more desirable stats.
Set in the magical world of Etheria, Dungeon Defenders II is a third-person action-strategy game brimming with classic role-playing elements like loot, leveling, pets and more. Build the ultimate champions and defenses from one of four unique Heroes and an arsenal of towers to defend against the overwhelming minions and bosses of the nefarious Old Ones in single-player or cooperative multiplayer. Dungeon Defenders II supports controllers and two-player local co-op, which can be combined with online co-op, on the PlayStation®4 system.
Dungeon Defenders II is now in pre-alpha access on the PlayStation®4 system for anyone who purchases a Dungeon Defenders II currency bundle through the PlayStation®Store. Currency bundles contain unique assortments of gems, accessories, skins, character slots and more, sold in increments of $14.99, $24.99 and $74.99. From Dec. 8 to 22, players can purchase these bundles at a special 25% discount (33% off for PlayStation®Plus members).
Trendy Entertainment is an independent video game development studio based in Gainesville, Fla. Created by veterans of the video game industry, Trendy Entertainment is focused on developing fun and innovative video games across multiple platforms. The company believes digital distribution deserves the same AAA-quality releases as retail.
ROCKET LEAGUE ENTERS THE WASTELAND WITH CHAOS RUN DLC
Premium Battle-Cars and Customization Items Now on Sale, Joined by FREE “Nonstandard” Wasteland Arena
SAN DIEGO, CA – December 1, 2015 – Rocket League has survived the apocalypse! Independent video game developer and publisher, Psyonix, announced today that its previously-confirmed “Chaos Run” DLC is available starting now, on both the PlayStation™Network and Steam PC for $3.99 USD (or regional equivalent).
The Chaos Run DLC includes a badass dose of all-new goodies, including two new Battle-Cars (Ripper and Grog), 12 new Decals (six for each new vehicle), and several new Paint Types, Wheels, Rocket Trails, Toppers, and Antennas.
Psyonix is also simultaneously releasing a FREE new arena entitled “Wasteland.” Based on the popular map from the original Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars, Wasteland is the first “non-regulation” Rocket League stadium to hit the game — boasting a completely-sloped perimeter, entirely different Boost placements, and a much more prominent, physically-wider pitch. It’s the first of many “unusual” map designs Psyonix plans to introduce as the game continues to grow.
Several other FREE items, including new music from Kevin Riepl and new community-driven Garage items are also slated to appear.
3 New Antennas (Bomb Pole, Radioactive, Retro Ball – Wasteland)
5 New Trophies (PS4) and Achievements (Steam)
The Rocket League Free Update Includes:
The new, non-standard “Wasteland” Arena
New, post-apocalyptic theme music, “Scorched Earth,” by Kevin Riepl
Several new Garage item surprises
Rocket League is one of the most critically-acclaimed games of the summer, boasting a community that is already more than 8 million players strong. Available digitally on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system via PlayStation™Network and on PC via Steam, Rocket League brings gamers a high-powered hybrid of arcade-style soccer and vehicular mayhem.
Offering easy-to-understand controls and fluid physics-driven competition for 1-8 players, Rocket League boasts more than 10 billion possible garage customizations, giving players the opportunity to distinguish their Battle-Cars in either local or online play, while showing them off in a broadcast-quality replay viewer that perfectly complements the video-editing capabilities of PlayStation® SHAREfactory™.
To learn more about Rocket League, please visit www.RocketLeagueGame.com, “Like” it on Facebook, and follow it on Twitter @RocketLeague for all the latest developer updates and news.
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ABOUT PSYONIX
Based in San Diego, CA, Psyonix is a critically-acclaimed independent video game developer and leading experts in Unreal Engine technology. For more than a decade, the studio has been a driving force behind some of the most successful games in the industry, including Gears of War, Mass Effect 3, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, Bulletstorm, Unreal Tournament III, Unreal Tournament 2004, Nosgoth, and the recently-released futuristic Sports-Action hit, Rocket League.
THE INCREDIBLE ADVENTURES OF VAN HELSING ARRIVES ON XBOX ONE GAMES WITH GOLD
Let the Mad-Science Monster Hunting Begin for Free in the Month of December
Budapest, Hungary – December 1, 2015 – NeocoreGames is proud to announce that the popular PC action RPG The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing is available now on Xbox One for $14.99 and is FREE for all Xbox Live Gold members in December, as part of the Games With Gold program.
In collaboration with Microsoft, NeocoreGames’ first chapter of the beloved trilogy has arrived on Xbox One with a multitude of additions and changes sure to delight hungry action RPG fans. Van Helsing, set in a gothic-steampunk world filled with monsters, weird science, humor and pop-cultural references, offers gamers overhauled controls and user interface specific to the Xbox One, a deep, story-driven single-player adventure, the two- to four-person multiplayer mode offered in either cooperative or competive modes, and more.
Additionally, starting Tuesday, December 1, all Van Helsing DLCs will be available on Xbox One for $3.99 each. Both ’Thaumaturge’ and ’Arcane Mechanic’ add loads of new content, challenges, and narrative to the base game, including gear, weapons, skills and story-driven missions.
“We’ve been working very hard to bring The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing to the Xbox One,” said Zoltán Pozsonyi Producer, NeocoreGames. “We are delighted to introduce our Action-RPG to a brand new audience and we hope that they are going to have as much fun with playing the game as we had creating it.”
Full Features from NeocoreGames’ Van Helsing include:
An Incredible Adventure – Play through a refreshingly unique story, spiced up with wry humor and snappy dialogue.
New Interface and Controls – Completely overhauled controls and user interface, made especially for Xbox One.
Detailed Level-up System – Customize your character through and decide which skills and abilities you’ll need for the hunt.
Multiplayer – You can team up with your friends in a four-player cooperative mode and become the greatest monster hunter of all time in competitive multiplayer modes.
Tower-Defense Mini-Game – Build and develop your hideout and place traps to defend it from waves of terrible monsters.
Rage System – Modify your skills on the spot with a unique power-up system.
Unique Companion System – Use the special abilities and tailor the skills of your remarkable follower, Lady Katarina.
Put on your wide-brimmed hat, grab your weapons and embark on an incredible adventure in the gothic-noir world of Borgovia, where mad science threatens the fragile peace between monster and mortal. Be Van Helsing and save the day with your beautiful companion, Lady Katarina, the charming ghost. Explore the savage wilderness in the mountains and the soot-stained brick distrcicts of a grim metropolis twisted with weird science.
The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing is available now on Xbox One for $14.99 and is FREE for all Xbox Live Gold members in December, as part of the Games With Gold program.
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ABOUT NEOCOREGAMES Founded in 2005, NeocoreGames is an independent development studio aiming to create high quality products. Best known for The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing series and Deathtrap, NeocoreGames also developed King Arthur – The Role-Playing Wargame series. NeocoreGames passionate group consists of professionals from diverse backgrounds including game development, graphic arts, programming and acting. NeocoreGames continues to use this energy and commitment in the future to create popular titles that people will enjoy.
ACTIVISION PUBLISHING, INC. LAUNCHES TORN BANNER STUDIOS’ CHIVALRY: MEDIEVAL WARFARE ON PLAYSTATION®4 AND XBOX ONE
Chivalry: Medieval WarfareUltimate 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 3spends 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.
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