Not only did Sony show off some of the first footage of Gravity Rush 2 during their Paris Games Week press conference they also opted to release some of the first screenshots showing off how Gravity Rush Remastered will look when it is released on the PlayStation 4.
The company also stated that the title will include all of the original downloadable content that was released for the PS Vita version of the game and will be released both digitally and at retail for the PlayStation 4 in Japan on December 10th and Europe on February 10th. Oddly enough the North American version of the game will only be released digitally for $29.99 on February 9th and this choice is already the focus of backlash from fans of the series in that region.
Overview From initial doubts about how a game such as Borderlands would play in Telltale’s format to those same fans anxiously waiting to hear when the second episode would finally drop after a delay from the excellent kick off episode Tales from the Borderlands has been one hell of a ride ever since it was first announced. So now that with that ride coming to an end in the fifth and final episode of Tales from the Borderlands, does Escape Plan Bravo manage to provide a satisfying conclusion to what may be one of the best series that Telltale has produced?
Story If you couldn’t tell already, since this is the review for the fifth and final episode of the series, those who have yet to play through the game at this point will likely run into a few spoilers that have taken place over the first four episodes and if you haven’t played through the game yet then you really should.
That being said, depending on how Rhys reacted to Handsome Jack’s offer at the end of Escape Plan Bravo creates a different start off to his side of the story though regardless of what you selected, this is Handsome Jack we are talking about and even in digital form he has always had his best interests in mind. As such once he turns on Rhys or continues to force Rhys into his plan depending on your previous choice kicks off a story that has had many questions still to answer and manages to answer practically all of them.
Things such as who the Stranger is that kidnapped Fiona and Rhys, what happened to the pair to put them in their current state, where some of our old friends that have disappeared are, what happened to Gortys, and more are all handled in expert fashion, especially in the case of the Stranger who many will be caught completely by surprise in a good way since not only does it make sense given the story’s perspective but also provides a great continuation to the story that moves beyond Rhys and Fiona recalling past events through flashbacks and moves forward into current events where the two find themselves teaming up with a number of others once more.
In fact, this teaming up aspect, which I don’t want to go into as it will spoil some of the best moments of the game, gives Tales from the Borderlands the best argument for a second playthrough that I’ve seen so far in the series. The title takes into account a large number of choices that players have made over the course of the previous four episodes and, depending on what you selected, will determine who you will be able to invite with you to make up your team.
This means that if you opted to never mention your intentions as a Vault Hunter means Zer0 never paid attention to you or if you managed to play frugally with your cash then maybe you will be able to afford a certain character’s price tag to join up with the duo for the final battle. This creates a climactic finish that will certainly please fans of the Borderlands series and also those who wish to put together a team of some of their favorite surviving characters to see how certain actions and pieces of dialogue change in this sequence.
Speaking of choices, since this is the final episode, we see mostly immediate results to the various decisions made this time around but there is one sequence that is easily one of the highest points of the entire series and it comes with Rhys confronting Handsome Jack. Everyone’s favorite charismatic sociopath has always been a source of dark delight since his reappearance and this unsettling and emotional conclusion to his part in the story does seem to be left open a bit depending on what players choose to do, especially since the story itself leaves plenty of room for either a remarkably changed landscape for Borderlands 3 to step in or for a second season of Tales from the Borderlands.
As mentioned, the writers have done an excellent job answering many of the questions fans still had in a satisfactory way and to top that off they also managed to provide some wonderfully humorous dialogue and banter that fans have come to love from our favorite characters. Thanks in part to the fact that The Vault of the Traveler moves at a brisk pace, players will be laughing one moment, dealing with a serious situation the next, despairing over a certain event, only to laugh afterwards. This does mean that there are very few slow moments but this is certainly high praise for a title that could easily have been wrapped up in a mediocre manner and instead chose to go all out.
Gameplay Unlike past episodes of the game, Tales from the Borderlands: The Vault of the Traveler gives players almost no time to actually explore or look around an environment. Instead everything is presented through action packed scenes full of tension or pieces of dialogue that are placed between these moments.
This may be something of a disappointment for fans who are hoping for a bit of puzzle gameplay mixed into the finale but instead The Vault of the Traveler focuses on providing plenty of quick time event moments that keep players focused on staying alive or partaking in an arcade style fighting sequence where players need to enter fighting move combos in a sequence that is easily one of the best I’ve seen in a Telltale game and refuse to spoil.
Visuals & Audio Since this series is choosing to close out on an action packed conclusion players can expect to see quite a lot of movement in Tales from the Borderlands: The Vault of the Traveler but unfortunately the title does seem to have issues keeping up with the action. Especially during the last half hour of the episode I found the title lagging severely which is problematic considering the scenes that the slowdown occurred during. Thankfully the rest of the episode played itself off well and certain reveals, and a particularly gruesome moment, come off really well thanks to some great facial expressions and character animations used by the developers.
The voice work continues to be quite stellar in the final episode; with the actors nailing certain lines perfectly and making certain emotional scenes pack an extra punch while the comedic timing remains as golden as ever. The soundtrack also features a mix of fresh tracks as well as an extremely fitting opening theme that fits the despairing situation that Rhys and Fiona find themselves during the sequence.
Overall There were many doubts coming into the announcement of Tales from the Borderlands but now with the release of the final episode of the series, The Vault of the Traveler, I can say that, by sticking with the series’ dark comedy while also placing players on a roller coaster of events that never seem to slow down during this final episode that wraps up most of the loose ends and leaves hints for more to come in the future, that Telltale has managed to produce one of their best series yet.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Street Fighter V Release Date, New Challenger and Post-Launch Details!
Revealed today during the Sony press conference at Paris Games Week, a host of brand new information for Street Fighter V was shared. Yoshinori Ono took to the stage to confirm that the title will be launching across Australia and New Zealand on February 16th, 2016! Additionally, everyone’s favourite yoga-inspired fighter, Dhalsim, has stretched his way into the Street Fighter V roster. Attendees at Paris Games Week will have the opportunity to play the first ever demo build featuring Dhalsim, as well all of the previously confirmed characters: Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li, Cammy, Vega, M. Bison, Birdie, Charlie Nash, Necalli, R. Mika, Rashid, Karin, Zangief and Laura.
Also during the conference today, new details were shared regarding post launch support plans for Street Fighter V. Over the course of 2016, six new characters will be added to the title, bringing the total roster up from 16 at launch to 22 by the end of next year. Additionally, gameplay content, costumes, new challenges and balance system updates will be continually made available throughout 2016 and beyond.
All gameplay related updates, including the new characters, will be available for players to purchase for free by earning the in-game reward currency called Fight Money. Fight Money can be earned by players through in-game activities such as undertaking daily goals and leveling up individual characters. For those who just can’t wait to unlock each piece of new content, content can also be purchased instantly using real in-game money, named Zenny. All gameplay updates and balance changes will be made available to all players at the same time for free. This new release strategy means that for the first time ever, the initial purchase of Street Fighter V is all that players will need to make in order to stay current with the game and enjoy all future content.
About Dhalsim
Debuting in Street Fighter II, Dhalsim’s yoga fighting style means that using his long range limbs and slow projectiles will frustrate even the most aggressive of his World Warrior opponents. Although he’s a pacifist, Dhalsim is always saving others whether it’s helping to raise money for the poor or destroying dams that are keeping water from reaching his village. In Street Fighter V, Dhalsim joins the fray again with some new training under his rope belt and new yoga skills to unleash, including his V-Skill (Yoga Float) and V-Trigger (Yoga Burner).
About Street Fighter V
The legendary fighting franchise returns with Street Fighter V on February 16th, 2016! Stunning visuals depict the next generation of World Warriors in unprecedented detail, while exciting and accessible battle mechanics deliver endless fighting fun that both beginners and veterans can enjoy. Challenge friends online, or compete for fame and glory on the Capcom Pro Tour.
Through a strategic partnership between Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. and Capcom, the next generation Street Fighter experience will offer cross-platform play that will unite PlayStation 4 and PC fans into a centralized player base for the first time ever. The path to greatness begins here: RISE UP!
NEW SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR SUPER MARIO MAKER ON Wii U WILL BRING MID-LEVEL CHECKPOINTS AND NEW COURSES
Super Mario Maker Cover Plates for New Nintendo 3DS systems coming in November
28th October, 2015 – On November 5th, a free software update for Super Mario Maker will bring new content to the hit title for the Wii U console, including the ability to add mid-level checkpoints to courses, and additional Course World categories highlighting new levels from Nintendo and partner creators outside Nintendo. More than 3.3 million courses are now available to play globally, and these new features add even more ways to play and create in the game than ever before.
With the addition of mid-level checkpoints, users now have the option to add up to two flags to their courses, allowing players to resume from the last checkpoint passed if they lose a life – rather than having to start over at the beginning of the course. Players can choose to edit and re-upload their own courses, or create new courses from scratch using this feature.
Following the update, players can also insert power-ups that are dependent on Mario’s status. For example, by attaching a Super Mushroom to a Fire Flower and placing it inside a block, Mario will receive the Super Mushroom when he is small, and the Fire Flower when he is large.
The software update also introduces Event Courses in the game’s Course World online hub. Event Courses will feature levels from partner creators outside Nintendo. One of the first Event Courses will be “Ship Love,” the winning level from the “hackathon” event that was held at Facebook headquarters in Menlo Park earlier this year in co-operation with Nintendo of America*.
New Event Courses will be globally available and will be added to the listing on an ongoing basis, some of which may even feature new Mystery Mushroom transformations. Additionally, a new Official Makers section in Course World will be added after downloading the update, featuring specially selected courses, including some created by Nintendo.
Last but not least, owners of a New Nintendo 3DS system will be able to display their love for Super Mario Maker with a brand new set of Cover Plates for their handheld system, coming to shops on November 28th.
The free software update for Super Mario Maker on Wii U is planned to go live on November 5th. For more information about Super Mario Maker, visit:
*Facebook is the first outside partner in the US to design a course for Super Mario Maker. Employees had the opportunity to design and present their creations to a panel of judges before the winning course was selected.
During Sony‘s Paris Games Week press conference Sony delighted those in attendance by showing off some of the first gameplay footage for Gravity Rush 2. The footage includes not only a look at how the game will appear now that it will be released as a PlayStation 4 exclusive in 2016 but also a look at Kat using different kinds of gravity techniques in combat.
Kat will be able to use the normal style from the original game, a Lunar style that will make her lighter and faster, and finally a Jupiter Style that will make Kat heavier and more powerful in combat. You can check out some new gameplay footage as well as new screenshots below:
Available exclusively in Australia from the 2nd November, ahead of the launch of
Call of Duty: Black Ops III on the 6th November
Sydney, Australia – 28th October, 2015: To celebrate the upcoming release of the highly anticipated Call of Duty: Black Ops III on the 6th November, three young Aussie craft brewers from the Gold Coast have created a world first, limited edition Call of Duty: Black Hops III – Midnight Pale Ale. The beer will be available to purchase in limited quantities, exclusively in Australia through www.beerbud.com.au/BlackHopsIII from the 2nd November.
Gold Coast trio, Michael McGovern, Eddie Oldfield and Dan Norris started Black Hops Brewing on the 2nd November, 2014. In just 12 months they have gone from home brewing in their garage and selling their beer in local pubs, to partnering with Activision to create Call of Duty: Black Hops III Midnight Pale Ale.
“This is a dream partnership. We love Call of Duty, so when the idea of creating Black Hops III to celebrate the launch of the new game came up, everyone was excited, the rest is history.” Said Michael ‘Govs’ McGovern, Head Brewer and Co-Founder of Black Hops Brewing.
Black Hops Brewing has been making waves in the Australian craft beer industry, sharing every step of their ambitious startup business online via their blog and social media channels. “Black Hops Brewing is an ironic name because we’re intentionally the least covert operation; we even put our business plan online to help others learn how to get started. We love the craft brewery scene and hopefully we can help grow it by making it easier for others to get involved. We’re massive Call of Duty fans too, so our name is also a subtle nod to the Black Ops franchise.” Said Black Hops Brewing Co-Founder, Eddie Oldfield.
Govs, Eddie and Dan wanted to create a unique beer that reflected both the creativity of the brewery and Call of Duty: Black Ops III, so they set about using a combination of special ingredients sourced from around the world and their knowledge of unique craft brewing techniques to take a classic American-style pale ale and paint it black.
“The beer is black in colour, but light and refreshing like a traditional pale ale, perfect for the Aussie summer. It’s made with an ingredient new to the market from the U.S. called “midnight wheat” a roasted de-husked wheat grain that provides a rich dark colour without the bitterness you would expect from a dark beer. It messes with your mind, a bit like the Black Ops storyline I guess.” Said Govs.
With a rapidly expanding business, Black Hops Brewing are excited to release Call of Duty:Black Hops III – Midnight Pale Ale on the 2nd November. “We’re not used to being covert but we kept this project a secret for the past 6 months, so we’re stoked to get it out there. Hopefully this will bring the up and coming Gold Coast craft beer scene some well-deserved attention too”. Said Black Hops Brewing Co-Founder, Dan Norris.
Call of Duty: Black Hops IIIMidnight Pale Ale will be available in limited quantities, exclusively via www.beerbud.com.au/BlackHopsIII in both six packs and 24 bottle cartons from 1:00pm on 2nd November, 2015.
Call of Duty: Black Ops III is in development at Treyarch for PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, the all-in-one game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PC.
To learn more about Black Hops III watch this video: Link
The Official Call of Duty®: Black Ops III – Launch Gameplay Trailer can be viewed here: Link
KOEI TECMO DETAILS PLAYSTATION®VITA SPECIFIC FEATURES FOR DYNASTY WARRIORS 8: EMPIRES IN NEW TRAILER
Release Date and New Information Revealed; PlayStation®Store Early Purchase Bonus Content Confirmed
BURLINGAME, Calif. – October 27th, 2015 – KOEI TECMO America released today a bundle of new information and assets, including a brand new trailer, for the digital only, PlayStation®Vita handheld entertainment system release of the famed tactical action title DYNASTY WARRIORS 8 Empires on November 24th.
Specifically, players will be able to enjoy exhilarating Warriors action on the go, using new intuitive touchscreen controls for actions such as calling their faithful steed or activating the powerful ‘Rage’ state! The touchscreen can also be used to select and activate special skills called Stratagems, allowing the player more accurate control of the battlefield.
Since even the most powerful warriors need allies, 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 title is compatible with PlayStation®TV, meaning gamers can enjoy the game on large screens. For those already in possession of the PlayStation®3 and PlayStation®4 versions, Cross-Save and Cross-Play functionality is enabled across all versions, and content downloaded for the PlayStation®3 and PlayStation®4 can be downloaded on the PS Vita version free of charge.
Lastly, KOEI TECMO announced downloadable early-purchase bonus content, available to those who purchase the game during its first month of release on the PlayStation®Network! Specifically, this ‘Special Edit Parts’ pack includes equipment and costumes based on fan favorite KOEI TECMO characters: Guo Jia and Guan Yinping from Dynasty Warriors 8, Date Mashamune from the (Japan-only) social game Nobunyaga no Yabou, and a very special Tenko costume from the sensational demon-hunting action title Toukiden!
The most feature-rich and customizable Empires title ever to be released, DYNASTY WARRIORS 8 Empires was originally released for PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems and Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft earlier in 2015. DYNASTY WARRIORS 8 Empires boasts 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 NPC officers.
Warriors are called to fight not only against enemies, but also the forces of nature as the changing seasons and the passing of time alter fighting conditions on more than 40 battlefields. Additionally, the game’s ‘Custom Scenario’ mode adds the ability to control events across the vast Chinese continent, allowing players to adjust every last detail to form a brand new Three Kingdoms world. Finally, in ‘Empire’ mode, players can choose to adopt one of many distinct roles or to experience the epic history and its outcomes through a different methodology of warfare.
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.
Super Mario Maker is getting a free software update that includes a few nifty features including one that was heavily requested and even mentioned in my review as something that was missing, checkpoints! Users can place up to two checkpoints in their level once the update is implemented. To use a checkpoint, all you will have to do is shake the arrow object until it turns into a flag.
Other new features include stacking power ups (so that for example, Tiny Mario will receive a Mushroom while if Mario is already Super he will receive a Flower) and a harder version of Gnat attack if you keep shaking a muncher. In addition, official courses created by Nintendo will have their own slot online and ‘event courses’ are also being added to the main menu, which are said to be used during special world events. You can check out the full trailer for the update below. Super Mario Maker is out now exclusively for the Wii U.
In related news, these above pictured sweet looking New 3DS cover plates will be made available in Australia from November 28th.
Many would have thought Gran Turismo 7 would be the next step for the long running driving sim franchise but Sony and Polyphony Digital have thrown us a bit of a curve ball announcing GT Sport for the PS4. GT Sport has partnered with the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) to push the boundaries of racing games and will even be introducing an online racing series that will be recognised alongside real world motor racing by the FIA.
The first trailer for GT Sport is below. It has been announced the game will be entering into Beta testing in 2016. You can check out our review for the last game in the series, Gran Turismo 6, by following the link.
Two of my favourite PlayStation 3 games were the story driven adventures created by Quantic Dream, Heavy Rain and Beyond: Two Souls. Now that magic is coming exclusively to PS4 with Detroit, a story about an Android named Kara trying to make sense of her existence in the world around her set in what appears to be the near future. You can check out the beautiful trailer below which is said to be crafted entirely from in game footage.
Some people may actually remember Kara from a 2012 PS3 tech demo created by Quantic Dream where Kara was created and then was about to be disassembled before making a plea to her creators to let her live. The Kara here looks almost identical apart from the hair colour so were guessing that will serve as a little prequel to this larger story. Detroit currently has no release date. Heavy Rain and Beyond: Two Souls are also making their way to PS4 via a remastered collection with a release date expected to be announced soon.
