This War of Mine On Board – Tabletop Game Announced
11 bit studios is teaming up with veteran board game designers to bring This War of Mine to the tabletop, adapting the drama and tension of distraught civilians trapped in a war-torn city.
This War of Mine The Boardgame features a multiplayer experience for up to 6 players, as well as a solo variant. You will be able to play as the well-known characters from the video game and face hundreds of new challenges and difficult choices.
The boardgame significantly broadens the original game’s universe and emphasizes the depth of the plot, yet its main focus will be on human interactions driven by survival instinct and group decision-making.
All we can say thus far is that this project will be extremely ambitious because it aims to omit the usual boardgame threshold – This War of Mine the board game will be an INSTANT-PLAY game, with no need to read the manual before starting the adventure.
This War of Mine The Boardgame is in the hands of an experienced team, consisting of a veteran board game designer – Michal Oracz (designer of Neuroshima Hex, Earthcore: Shattered Elements, Neuroshima RPG, Theseus: The Dark Orbit, De Profundis and more) and Jakub Wisniewski (translator and story designer for Earthcore: Shattered Elements, Dying Light and others).
The additional app with digital content will enrich the player’s experience with features like the soundtrack, live story updates, scenario-triggered scripts, cutscenes, game-related puzzles, mini-radio plays, hidden secrets, unlockable content, hand-drawn concept art for in-game locations and much more.
The story of This War Of Mine will be continued in 2016.
Pokémon the Movie: Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction Now Available as Digital Download and iBook
The Pokémon Company International is excited to announce that Pokémon the Movie: Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction is now available for digital download from iTunes and Amazon and Pokémon Super Story! Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction, an interactive companion to the movie, is available on iTunes. The movie is also available on Google Play.
This animated adventure takes place in the underground Diamond Domain where the Mythical Pokémon Diancie rules over the Carbink. The land is beginning to fall apart and Diancie is not strong enough to stop the destruction. Ash and his friends must help Diancie discover its true power and save the Diamond Domain.
The 48-page, A Pokémon Super Story! Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction interactive iBook will contain 15 video clips from the movie and features a dynamic layout so fans can easily explore the book. It’s the first Pokémon digital reader of its kind, with exciting animated action featured alongside the beautifully illustrated story. A Pokémon Super Story! Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction can be viewed on any device that supports iBooks, including Mac, iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch.
Pokémon the Movie: Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction can be downloaded here:
The Pokémon Company International, a subsidiary of The Pokémon Company in Japan, manages the property outside of Asia and is responsible for brand management, licensing, marketing, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the animated TV series, home entertainment, and the official Pokémon website. Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996, and today is one of the most popular children’s entertainment properties in the world. For more information, visit www.pokemon.co.uk .
PLAYSTATION®4 (PS4™) SALES SURPASS 30.2 MILLION UNITS WORLDWIDE
Content and Network Services Expand Based on the Record Growth of the PS4 system
Sydney, November 25, 2015 – Sony Computer Entertainment Australia today announced that the PlayStation®4 (PS4™) computer entertainment system has cumulatively sold through more than 30.2 million units*1 worldwide as of November 22. PS4 continues to demonstrate the fastest and strongest growth in PlayStation® hardware history.
PS4 is a uniform system on which gamers everywhere can enjoy the same high-quality digital entertainment experiences. The rapid expansion of the PS4 platform further reinforces the foundation of delivering compelling entertainment experiences. Customers can choose from multiple offerings available on this most favored platform that ranges from games on discs or through digital download to a variety of services available on PlayStation™Network, including PlayStation®Plus membership service, apps for streaming video, music and TV content. The 30.2 million PS4 owners around the world are spending more time playing games and enjoying entertainment content as the company further enriches content and services.
“We are sincerely grateful that gamers across the globe have continued to choose PS4 as the best place to play since launch two years ago,” said Andrew House, President and Global CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. “We are committed to bringing engaging games and entertainment services to users worldwide. Thanks to the support of our partners, PS4 continues to be the premier platform for game and interactive entertainment innovation.
The PS4 system’s games portfolio will continue to broaden this holiday season and beyond with highly anticipated titles such as DRAGON QUEST BUILDERS (SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.), Ryu Ga GotokuKIWAMI (SEGA Games Co., Ltd.), Bloodborne The Old Hunters Edition, Gravity Rush Remastered, and Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End (SCE Worldwide Studios). The independent development community will also continue to deliver innovative new titles for PS4 including GALAK-Z (17-BIT) and Super Time Force Ultra (Capybara Games).*2
SCE will continue to expand the world of PS4 to deliver entertainment experiences that are only possible on PlayStation. Michael Ephraim, Managing Director of Sony Computer Entertainment Australia said “We are really excited to continue to make PlayStation the best place to play and be entertained with our ever growing suite of endless entertainment options such as Stan, Netflix, Spotify, ABC iview, PLUS7, SBS On Demand and Quickflix. This Xmas will have something for everyone in the PlayStation eco system and our plan is to expand our entertainment offering throughout next year”.
The PS4 system is currently available in 124 countries and regions*3 worldwide.
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*1 Number of retail sales to consumers is estimated by SCEI. PS4™ sales data in Japan collected 2/22/2014 – 11/22/2015, in North America collected 11/15/2013 – 11/21/2015, in Europe and Latin America collected 11/29/2013 – 11/21/2015, and in Asia collected 12/17/2013 – 11/22/2015.
*2 Title line-up as well as the number of titles differ by region.
*3 Number as of 11/16/2015.
About Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
Recognized as a global leader and company responsible for the progression of consumer-based computer entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) manufactures, distributes, develops and markets the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, the PlayStation®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system, and the PlayStation®Vita (PS Vita) portable entertainment system. SCEI has revolutionized home entertainment since it launched PlayStation® in 1994. PlayStation®2 further enhanced the PlayStation® legacy as the core of home networked entertainment. PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) broadened the entertainment experiences into the portable arena. PS3 is a computer entertainment system that incorporates the powerful Cell Broadband Engine and RSX processors. PS Vita is a portable entertainment system that offers a revolutionary combination of rich gaming and social connectivity. PlayStation®4 redefines rich and immersive gameplay with powerful graphics and speed, intelligent personalization and deeply integrated social capabilities. PlayStation™Network, that includes PlayStation®Store, delivers unparalleled online gaming experience to PlayStation users. PlayStation™Now, a streaming game service that leverages cloud-based technology, enables users to instantly enjoy a wide range of PS3 games on numerous Internet-connected devices they use every day. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, SCEI, along with its affiliated companies, Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd., and its division company, Sony Computer Entertainment Japan Asia, develops, publishes, markets and distributes hardware and software, and manages the third party licensing programs for these platforms in their respective markets worldwide.
“PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.. “PS4” is a trademark of the same company.
All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
Ubisoft® Announces New Content for Just Dance® Unlimited
Meghan Trainor’s “Better When I’m Dancin’” Available
Sydney, Australia — November 25, 2015 — Today, Ubisoft® announced the latest batch of new content for Just Dance® Unlimited, the new subscription streaming service available on new-gen consoles. Starting on November 25, subscribers will be able to enjoy a suite of fresh content including:
One exclusive track – “Better When I’m Dancin’” by Meghan Trainor
New Dance Quests and avatars
Six classic Just Dance tracks:
“Rock N’ Roll (Will Take You To The Mountain)” by Skrillex
“Starships” by Nicki Minaj – Alternate Charleston version
“Jailhouse Rock” by Elvis Presley – Alternate Line Dance version
“Mashed Potato Time” by Dee Dee Sharp
“Prince Ali” by Disney’s “Aladdin”
“Turn Up The Love” by Far East Movement Ft. Cover Drive – Fanmade version
More exclusive content will be added to Just Dance Unlimited this year, bringing players additional new tracks and fan-favourite hits from previous Just Dance games.
Just Dance® 2016 is now available on Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Wii™ and Wii U™. Standard editions of Just Dance 2016 on new-gen consoles include a free one-month trial of Just Dance Unlimited.
For the latest information on Just Dance 2016, please visit: www.justdancegame.com. Follow Just Dance on Twitter.com/JustDanceGame and use hashtag #JustDance2016.
About Ubisoft
Ubisoft is a leading creator, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and services, with a rich portfolio of world-renowned brands, including Assassin’s Creed, Just Dance, Tom Clancy’s video game series, Rayman, Far Cry and Watch Dogs. The teams throughout Ubisoft’s worldwide network of studios and business offices are committed to delivering original and memorable gaming experiences across all popular platforms, including consoles, mobile phones, tablets and PCs. For the 2014-15 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of €1,464 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.
JUST DANCE UNLIMITED is an online streaming service that grants you unlimited access to an ever-growing catalog of more than 150 songs, playable via JUST DANCE 2016 for the duration of your subscription.
Just dance 2016 offer on Wii U™, PlayStation®4 and Xbox One includes JUST DANCE 2016 game + 1 month subscription to JUST DANCE UNLIMITED.
The Crew launched towards the end of 2014 to mixed reception. The map was highly praised for its gigantic size and variety but much of the games other aspects fell flat among reviewers and the game was often mocked for being hard to find people to play with despite the “Never Drive Alone” tagline. Now The Crew Wild Run expansion has been released, focusing on extreme specs such as Drift, Monster Truck and Drag as well as adding Motorbikes and all new Summit event along with some other new features but does this expansion do enough to bring people back to The Crew? Please note, this review will focus largely on the contents of the Wild Run expansion only. For our full review of the initial game which still largely reflects the quality of the game even a year on, head here.
Story
The Crew: Wild Run does not contain any new story elements outside of a few tutorials provided by the lead female undercover agent from the original title. This is a bit of a missed opportunity to expand upon the 510 faction story and maybe focus on some of the other characters that were introduced, but considering anyone coming back to The Crew after a long break probably doesn’t remember a thing about the story I’m sure this isn’t an issue for most.
Gameplay
Wild Run adds a decent amount of new content to The Crew and perhaps the most exciting one is The Summit, a multi-day timed event that pits players against one another over eleven different events for a chance at a substantial reward. The Summit was exactly what The Crew needed to bring players back, encouraging real life constant competition and gameplay variety in the events. I can’t praise it enough. To compete in the monthly summit you have to earn a qualifier medal from at least one weekly qualifier event. If you manage to earn enough medals from the monthly Summits, you will be invited to participate in the Finale Summit which will take place in one year from now. Each summit seems to take place in a different section of the map, which is a great use of the games best asset.
The game encourages you to compete in each of the different events at least once, however if you’re a fan of say time trials you can continue to run that as even shaving off a second could see you jump several 100 spots on the leader board and each event also has it’s own positional leader board. A constantly updated leader board provides you with your current medal rank which will ultimately decide your chance of getting a reward, with the ultimate reward being an exclusive car not yet released in game for the top percentage of players, each rank lower then that gives you a lower chance to win the car but the other rewards aren’t that bad either. A nice bonus of The Summit is that it has made finding multiplayer matches much easier as a lot of people are gathered around the event.
Unfortunately there are a couple of obvious hackers who have stolen top places on the leader boards but most of it is legit. A few exploits in the events also attempts to ruin the fun, I for instance am currently ranked 39th out of 10,000 or so players in the Monster Truck event, basically because I figured out sitting in front of a ramp constantly doing back flips was the most efficient way to earn points. This is the first summit so hopefully problems like this will be ironed out in the future.
The other major addition to the game with the Wild Run expansion was new vehicles. We now have several new motorbikes to choose from which fit into the games five previous specs such as dirt and performance. The bikes are a welcome breath of fresh air to the experience and while I would have liked them to handle a little “looser” they are very fun to drive and allow you to do things you couldn’t in cars such as jump from a waterway onto the freeway for example. My only problem with the bikes is the way they are handled in some situation. Most crashes just result in you unrealistically stopping dead as there don’t seem to be any crash physics implemented for the bikes. Also when coming down mountains with tight turns, riding the barriers is by far the most efficient way to turn the corners as it comes with no speed drop what so ever which is ridiculous in a racer.
In addition to bikes three new specs have also been introduced which all vary wildly. Easily my favourite is the Monster Truck spec. Nearly every car, even a small hatchback can be turned into a Monster Truck and while these are pretty boring to drive around the world (you can’t crush other cars sadly), they are heaps of fun to drive in the designated arena area which is full of ramps, half pipes, steps and raised areas which are all as fun to drive up as they sound. The Monster Truck spec really shines in PvP, where the Crown game mode challenges you to hold on to a crown to gain points while everyone chases you trying to steal it for themselves.
The Drag Spec is next best and has a huge focus on going extremely fast in straight lines. These cars top speeds will easily pass even your best performance or circuit spec and are fun to drive although a little limited because of their unique functionality. The actual drag races are executed well, with what is basically a combination of two mini games testing your reaction time and accuracy to get that perfect run. These are good fun the first few times but do get repetitive quickly. You can also take these cars out in to the real world to get some massive speed and do awesome jumps such as the ramp that has been added to the grand canyon so you can try and replicate that moment from The Simpsons where Homer tries to jump the gorge.
Easily the worst new spec in my opinion is the Drift Spec. The Drift Spec basically makes it so your car’s tyres are made of ice in what should really be called Slide Spec. This is a long, long way from the satisfying and challenging to pull off drift’s seen in the recent Need for Speed game. The gameplay creates it’s own sense of challenge as there is some slight skill in maintaining a drift but it just looks and feels wrong and it’s too long before you come completely bored with the spec.
Apart from the big ticket items a few new cars, some new skills and Freedrive Stunts and Freedrive Challenges have been added to the game. Freedrive Stunts can be activated at anytime during free roam and challenge you to a random task such as drive in oncoming traffic for 2km or overtake a certain number of cars. These are fun distractions you can partake in while free roaming around the map and you have a Freedrive Stunt level you can increase although
Freedrive Challenges finally give players a much requested feature and that is the ability to create their own race. Users simply place checkpoints anywhere on the giant map and then challenge their crew or anyone around to the track (unfortunately you can’t race these on your own for whatever reason). You get rewarded with an appropriate amount of cash dependent on the races length once you complete it which gives some reason for you to do this outside of fun which is a nice bonus. You are limited to sprint races but could probably make a circuit race if you got creative. Like the summit, both these Freedrive additions play to the games greatest strength in it’s awesome world map.
Apparently the physics and car handling have been adjusted with the expansion although I can’t honestly comment on how different they are from before as it has been a while since I played the basic game. The handling system we have now though feels pretty good and I seldom struggled to feel like I was in complete control of my car at all times. There is some questionable and glitchy physics bugs that pop up every now and then but they are seldom seen and more during moments when you were probably driving poorly anyway.
In my original review I mentioned the evil of the games stingy economy and Crew Credits, the games form of alternate currency which is purchased with real dollars. Wild Run does little to alleviate this problem and in fact adds to the problem, with the new extreme specs costing around $500,000 per spec, per car making it very hard to just jump in a drag spec car and start enjoying it. For veteran players who have acquired some good means of making cash through rep and perks it isn’t too bad, but I feel sorry for new players just starting out as most of this new content on the games cover will be many hours away from being accessible. The game does let you choose one extreme spec starter kit at least so there’s that at least. The new way loot is distributed also makes it much harder for new players to gain max level parts as players only get slightly better parts (or now even stickers or visual car customisation parts which you didn’t used to get before) each time they complete a skill or mission. Be prepared for a lot of grinding if you want the best parts for your car.
Graphics & Audio
Like the physics the graphics have also received an overhaul with the Wild Run expansion and this time the difference is a little more noticeable. Everything has a more realistic feel to it, most in part to what appears to be a new lighting system. The graphics aren’t at the level of say Driveclub or Forza but I stand by the fact they are very good considering the size of the world and can still look superb at times, especially during sunset when the light catches the puddles that have been left on the road after a sun shower.
A big addition was the inclusion of dynamic weather. While it is rather limited to what seems to be sunny, raining, sun shower or cloudy this adds to an already impressive amount of variety with the world map. Weather isn’t just cosmetic as rain effects both paved surfaces and off road making driving a different experience in the conditions.
As for audio nothing of note has really been added here. The Monster Trucks sound mean and the bikes sound like bikes. I think Need for Speed spoiled us a little bit with it’s excellent sound design making the car sounds in The Crew seem underwhelming. Party tracks play while your in The Summit making it feel like a music festival car meet mash up which helps set the atmosphere but isn’t anything to write home about. No new music tracks have been added which is a shame as the track list was very weak to begin with.
Overall
The Summit is the key feature of this expansion and a very strong draw card, but if you’re not interested in multiplayer or competing for whatever reason then you can easily skip the Wild Run as the other features, while strong distractions, mostly center around The Summit and give you very little more to actually do in game. That being said if you’ve been wanting to get back into this massive open world racer then I think now is the time to do it as the game has more content then ever. The Crew has come a long way since it’s initial release and most of the games teething problems have been ironed out, offering a very solid open world, arcade racing experience. The price is one of my biggest problems here with the amount of new content here really pushing the value of $40 AUD, but if that is not an issue for you and you want to compete in the monthly Summit events then The Crew Wild Run is a solid and worthwhile expansion.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment announced the next series of add-ons for Batman™: Arkham Knight. The latest update includes the free 2016 Batman v Superman Batmobile Pack, and will be available beginning today for fans who have purchased the Batman: Arkham Knight Season Pass for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, or PC, and are connected to the Internet. The content can also be purchased separately beginning today on the PlayStation®Network, Xbox LIVE online entertainment network from Microsoft and STEAM.
Season Pass holders receive early access to the 2016 Batman v Superman Batmobile Pack, which includes the Batsuit and Batmobile from the highly anticipated Warner Bros. Pictures film “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.” Owners of the game who do not have the Season Pass can download the pack beginning Dec. 2.
Also available today are two new Arkham Episodes, which give players the ability to control two of Gotham City’s most well-known characters, Catwoman and Robin. Catwoman’s Revenge takes place after the events of Batman: Arkham Knight and puts players under the cover of darkness as they seek revenge on the Riddler. Flip of a Coin lets players take control of Robin as he looks to take down Two-Face’s lucrative money laundering operation. Both Arkham episodes also include two AR challenge maps.
To view the new Batman: Arkham Knight November Update Trailer click here
Additional downloadable content available today:
Crime Fighter Challenge Pack #4: Get this Crime Fighter Challenge Pack to receive various challenge and invisible predator maps featuring Batman, Nightwing, Robin, Catwoman and Azrael. This expansive challenge pack allows focused training in Freeflow Combat and Invisible Predator stealth incursion.
Arkham Episodes AR Challenges: a collection of six new AR challenges including Freeflow Combat and Invisible Predator, taking place in environments from the Arkham Episodes GCPD Lockdown, Catwoman’s Revenge, and Flip of a Coin.
WayneTech Track Pack: Test your skills behind the wheel with these two cutting edge WayneTech themed racetracks.
Robin and Batmobile Skins Packs: Get this Robin and Batmobile skins pack to don the original Tim Drake Robin costume and speed through Gotham City with the Robin themed Batmobile skin.
Riddler Themed Batmobile Skin: Puzzle your enemies with this Riddler themed Batmobile skin.
Free Update: Character Selection in AR Invisible Predator Challenges.
Batman: Arkham Knight is based on DC Comics’ core Batman license and is available now for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft and PC.
Batman: Arkham Knight brings the award-winning Batman: Arkham trilogy from Rocksteady Studios to its epic conclusion. Developed exclusively for the new generation of consoles and PCs, Batman: Arkham Knight introduces Rocksteady’s uniquely designed version of the Batmobile. The highly anticipated addition of this legendary vehicle, combined with the acclaimed gameplay of the Batman: Arkham series, offers gamers the ultimate and complete Batman experience as they tear through the streets and soar across the skyline of the entirety of Gotham City. In this explosive finale, Batman faces the ultimate threat against the city that he is sworn to protect, as Scarecrow returns to unite the super criminals of Gotham City and destroy the Batman forever.
Just Cause 3launches next week on December 1st, so Avalanche Studios is slipping in one last dev diary before the game launches. Episode 4 features Avalanche Engine which powers the game. The video gives players a look at the nuts and bolts that make video games work.
The Avalanche Engine leverages the more powerful next-gen consoles to run the game’s advanced features like the procedural destruction system and more complex AI, which means PC gamers will also need a pretty beefy rig to keep up with the Avalanche Engine’s demands. The final minimum and recommended PC specs have been revealed as:
ESTSOFT, INC. INTRODUCES ALL NEW CHALLENGE MODE FOR CABAL 2
IRVINE, CALIF.– Nov. 24, 2015 – Beware and be thankful, as the dungeons in CABAL 2 have been revitalized with a vengeance with a new update, live today!
ESTsoft, Inc. revealed details for the latest free content update for CABAL 2, offering warriors the chance to take on waves of bosses in familiar dungeons with added twists and difficulty.
With the new Challenge Mode, players will go toe-to-toe with waves of even more powerful bosses in timed battles. After defeating each boss, time is added to the clock, giving warriors the ability to slay multiple bosses as they work to beef up their ranking in their fight for survival.
Along with rankings, players will be rewarded with the introduction of Runes as they complete each Challenge Mode dungeon. Runes offer players an increase in player stats and are upgraded to become even more powerful and useful through the Rune Transformation System. Additionally, warriors can earn Runes through challenge points, which are also given as a reward for completing Challenge Mode dungeons. Claim victory in the Challenge Mode dungeons to build a collection of Runes and gain the strongest of attributes.
The familiar Calm Snowy Fields, Hall of the Recluse, Heavenly Citadel and Lupurs Excavation Site dungeons each return as Challenge Mode dungeons, now with a level-45 requirement to enter and dominate. To secure the best rewards, players will need to conquer their enemies in record time.
CABAL 2 features combat that is fluid and skill-based, but also offers all the depth and strategy players would expect from a genuine MMO experience. Designed by passionate MMO gamers for fans of the genre, the game’s fast-paced combat and focus on role-playing game (RPG) elements harken back to classic MMOs.
Evolving from the wildly-successful CABAL Online, which hosts nearly 30 million users from more than 60 countries around the world, CABAL 2 is a high-fantasy MMO for PC which combines deep, immersive RPG elements with epic skill-based battles. This next chapter in the CABAL series bring a unique style of gameplay sure to appeal to players who are both nostalgic for the classic MMOs of the past, but also still enjoy the technical advancements of modern PC gaming.
ESTsoft Inc. is the North American publishing and operations arm of ESTsoft Corp, a leading Korean software company since 1993. ESTsoft delivers essential software products and innovative online games around the world. ESTsoft has been a KOSDAQ listed company since 2008.
DYNASTY WARRIORS 8 EMPIRES LAUNCHES FOR PLAYSTATION®VITA
BURLINGAME, Calif. – November 24, 2015 – KOEI TECMO America today announced that DYNASTY WARRIORS 8 Empires is now available digitally for the PlayStation®VITA handheld entertainment system in North America for $39.99 SRP. Players will now be able to enjoy exhilarating Empires action on the go, using new intuitive touchscreen commands for more accurate control of the battlefield. A Special Edit Parts pack is available as an early-purchase bonus for those who purchase the game during its first month of release on the PlayStation®Network.
The most feature-rich and customizable Empires title ever to be released, DYNASTY WARRIORS 8 Empires includes an array of new elements and upgraded modes, including a vast selection of 83 unique playable characters, the option to create original characters through the Edit Mode, as well as the ability to customize horses, banners and officers. Fight not only against enemies but also the forces of nature as the changing seasons alter fighting conditions on more than 40 battlefields.
Since even the most powerful warriors need allies, the PS®VITA version of DYNASTY WARRIORS 8 Empires encourages two-player ad hoc cooperative multiplayer, allowing nearby friends to join together and survive the fierce battles of Empire Mode, or overcome the challenging scenarios in Free Mode.
Furthermore, the game is compatible with PlayStation®TV, meaning gamers can enjoy the game on large screens. For those already in possession of DYNASTY WARRIORS 8 Empires for the PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems, Cross-Save and Cross-Play functionality is enabled across all versions, and content downloaded for PlayStation®3 and PlayStation®4 can be downloaded on PS®VITA version free of charge.
For more DYNASTY WARRIORS 8 Empires news please visit the official website at www.koeitecmoamerica.com/dw8e, Like KOEI TECMO America on Facebook at www.facebook.com/koeitecmous, and become part of the #KTfamily by following KOEI TECMO America on Twitter at @KoeiTecmoUS. DYNASTY WARRIORS 8 Empires has been rated T for “Teen” by the ESRB.
ABOUT KOEI TECMO AMERICA CORP.
KOEI TECMO AMERICA CORP. is a publisher of interactive entertainment software for current generation consoles, handhelds and digital download content based in Burlingame, California. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD., headquartered in Yokohama, Japan. KOEI is best known for its Dynasty Warriors® and Samurai Warriors® franchises. TECMO is best known for the Dead or Alive®, Ninja Gaiden®, Tecmo Bowl®, and Fatal Frame® series.
“PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
Clandestine is a co-operative stealth game that is a throwback to old school stealth games from the early 2000. Unlike modern stealth titles, players are not the predator lurking in the shadows. Instead, the player is no tougher than the average guard and must sneak their way to success. Set in 1996, two players will work together as the spy with the boots on the ground and as the hacker providing overwatch to stop an intelligence leak that is killing veteran spies around the world.
Story
It is 1996. The Cold War may have been over a few years ago, but spying is still alive and well. Unfortunately, spies from both the former Eastern Bloc and Western Bloc states are dropping dead without warning. With assets getting their covers blown, the American CIA and the Russian FSB have decided to take matters into their own hands by creating an off the books joint venture known as the Kingbridge Executive to try to stop the leaks. The organization is desperately underfunded and understaffed due to the unofficial nature of their work, leaving relative new comers Katya and Martin to spearhead the fieldwork.
Clandestine’s plot feels pulled out of a good spy film. The story isn’t groundbreaking and runs into a few tropes, but it is enjoyable. I like the fact that the game is aware of the player’s performance, such as complimenting players on clean stealth runs. I also appreciated the game’s unique setting, as there gap between Cold War-era spying and modern day settings that is underserved by both film and video games.
Gameplay
Clandestine is designed with two players in mind. Each player takes on a unique role and are dependent on the other for success. Katya is the main point of infiltration, sneaking her way through levels to accomplish her mission. She is armed with a variety of weapons and tools to assist her, but her best skill is to avoid combat and detection all together. Assisting her is Martin, who provides guidance, intel, surveillance, and help through digital based barriers. While Katya plays from the third person perspective, Martin has access to surveillance cameras and a Pac-Man like map that represents the target’s network. He must dodge the network administrator to discover find keycodes for doors, blackmail opportunities to help Katya talk her way into restricted areas, and necessary intel to complete the mission, all while providing overwatch for Katya. Katya is essentially blind as she lacks access to the map. Armed with only a general sense of where her next objective is, Katya relies on Martin to temporarily disable security cameras and guide her in the right direction. Martin also has access to a limited number of special abilities to support Katya, such as disabling triggered alarms or removing bodies from the scene.
For better or for worse, Clandestine is an old school stealth game from the days of Metal Gear Solid and Splinter Cell. Players who lack experience in the early days of the genre may be surprised by missing modern features like moving bodies into the shadows. More importantly, Clandestine is not a combat oriented stealth game. Instead of striking from the shadows without mercy, players need to treat guards with a certain level of fear as Katya lacks regenerating health and can only take a few gunshots before she dies. Her fragility emphasizes Martin’s role as overwatch, as his view of the bigger picture can guide Katya out of potentially dangerous situations. The close knit relationship makes for a great co-op game, especially when paired with VOIP software. It is a real shame that no VOIP option was built into the game, because voice chat turned the game into an immersive experience.
While focused on co-op, Clandestine can be played solo. In this mode, players are able to switch back and forth between Martin and Katya. Katya is also given the ability to order Martin to help her out, which eases some of the more complex maneuvers that normally would require two players to complete. It’s workable, but solo play is definitely clunky and nowhere near as fun or as immersive as having a buddy’s help.
The default difficulty level in Clandestine is at a good level. For those struggling or needing a bigger challenge, the developers have provided very detailed difficulty sliders that keep the game’s co-op nature in mind. A player who is struggling with Katya can lower the difficulty of the stealth gameplay, while their partner can raise the difficulty of Martin’s hacking to keep things interesting. It is a great system that more co-op games should consider implementing.
Clandestine spent some time in Steam Early Access, but is still suffering from serious some bugs. The most common bug I ran into was Clandestine having problems with keeping the mouse locked with multi-monitor set ups. Slightly less common but just as annoying bugs included problems with tutorial windows not disappearing and Katya disappearing from Martin’s map. As of the publishing of this review, three patches have gone out, but there is still some bug-stomping left to be done.
Visuals
Clandestine feels pretty retro. The game’s low-poly models and almost cel-shaded like textures work in the game’s favour, creating a modernized interpretation of the graphic style of the 2000’s. The art direction is very 90s, with the era’s fashion and technology featured prominently throughout the game. The animations are not the best. Martin’s movement animations are the same as Katya’s, which makes Martin look a little silly as he wiggles his hips around when walking. The speech animations are especially awkward on females, with lips being stretched into position instead of moving naturally. On the technical side, Clandestine ran without any noticeable issues or hiccups in my testing.
Audio
Clandestine boasts good sound effects and soundtrack. The game is fully voice acted, though not very well. Boss Josiah Gray’s voice actor is the best of the bunch, providing a high quality and professional performance. The voice acting for the other roles are definitely weaker, with Katya’s English lines feeling the most amateur of the bunch. I give credit to Logic Artists’ attention to detail when it came to foreign voice acting. They are not shy about putting in roles that speak in a variety of different languages, which helps create an immersive experience.
Overall
While it lacks some polish, Clandestine is a great re-interpretation of the early days of the stealth genre. The game does struggle with some weak voice acting and poor animations. However, it is worth looking over these shortcomings for Clandestine’s great asymmetrical gameplay, immersive experience, and tense stealth gameplay.
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