Nintendo seem to be on an interesting path these days. They have listened to the fans countless times to bring titles over to the U.S. that we might not have gotten otherwise. We have also seen an influx of demanded titles, such as Majora’s Mask on the 3DS. Now, expect to see another demand met with more cinematic adaptations.
In a recent interview, Shigeru Miyamoto explained that Nintendo is finally ready to open up the idea of having more mascots in film, and it seems Pixels was the first attempt that worked just enough to get Ninty off the ground. Right now there are no announcements, just confirmation that this will eventually happen. It is fun to think about a Pikmin or Splatoon movie though, isn’t it? Or even dare I say it – a Super Mario Bros. sequel?
Overview
Mega Man has earned his status as a legend in the industry more so than a lot of the mascots who are still around today. While the franchise is known for its great difficulty, the fans have stuck by his side through the worst – with two cancellations of new titles occurring back to back during the past few years. Well, Capcom are ready to celebrate Mega Man on new consoles with Mega Man Legacy Collection – placing a collection on current generation systems that feature the first six titles in the main series. With some nice special features and fan service, is this collection enough to appease its audience? Let’s find out.
Gameplay
I guess I should start by telling you that the six ports of the original Mega Man titles play wonderfully, but you would expect that considering the age of the selection and power of the consoles playing it. That being said, there really is something special about each one of these titles, as while the difficulty does change a bit, these games hold their rewards in the form of progress for those who can piece together each platform and enemy in order to get through to the next area. Yes, this is where Dark Souls gets its gimmick folks, as Mega Man was doing this before many of today’s gamers were born. As for little annoyances that have risen in ports of Mega Man games, you should also know that there is no input lag or any grievances on that front either (or none that I found), meaning the emulation is rather flawless from Capcom – who are getting good at this port thing.
To those who have never played Mega Man, the games pretty much all work the same. The player starts at the front of the level and must work their way through the stage, eventually getting to a themed boss, where their weapon can be obtained and used for the next stage. As I am writing this, I can definitely see how influential the franchise has been on the industry as so many developers use these mechanics for current titles, but I don’t think they have nearly as much finesse or originality as most of the collection here.
Legacy Collection offers remixes of stages as well that come connected through portals. Once you clear one area, a portal takes you to the next. Its not at easy as clearing one little segment though, as think of this as the best of the best of Capcom’s design choices for the franchises, utilizing all of the six titles’ best segments to not only test the player, but to treat them to an ingenious walk-through of history. There is also a ton of fan service to be found as extras within this package, such as art and images of every enemy you encounter, a full jukebox featuring the game’s music, concept art, and so on. Unlike Rare Replay (which is an outstanding collection in and of itself), you really don’t have to play the games right off the bat to unlock all of this as I think Capcom realize that fans don’t need to prove their worth in Mega Man in order to get rewarded.
There are a lot of memories on this disc that those who are around 25 or older are certainly going to enjoy. Getting to fight Metal Man all over again (which in my opinion is the best boss within 2), seeing Rush for the first time in Mega Man 3, and so many other moments are able to be revisited all over again. Sure, these titles are generally similar in story, but each have a very different approach in terms of gameplay and you can definitely tell that 5 and 6 were fighting a newer market of mascots and platformers as the additions and design seemed to take more risks with new additions to the series. That doesn’t mean that they are lesser titles, its just something I found interesting when going through and testing each title all over again.
Visual
Expect 8-bit. There isn’t a lot to say about these games that haven’t been said regarding the graphical look. This is as raw as old-school visuals look, and thanks to a lot of color and some brilliant character design, its an absolute treat to see so much variation over six titles. I will admit that the menus are bland for Legacy Collection, but it seems they are trying to capture the more simple stylings that these titles are known for. I mean, I think the Legends series were the flashiest out of the Mega Man lot, so yes – its understandable to see some simplicity. You can also customize the look of the games by stretching to widescreen, or playing at the original format with some black or themed borders.
Audio
As for the audio, wow. I am so happy they included an option to listen to the music from the start, as I feel I could live in Mega Man 3’s soundtrack. Each title has a superb set of tunes, and it should also be said that this audio is what has inspired so many artists to pick up instruments. We have seen a ton of Mega Man cover bands out there, and these tunes are why so many feel the need to celebrate such a rich and storied franchise endlessly.
Overall
Its not an easy thing to review six titles that separate mean so much to so many gamers. Everyone has a favorite boss, a favorite game, and Mega Man Legacy Collection does a great job of showing fans why we love Capcom to this day. I wasn’t even much of a Mega Man kid compared to most, but I still smiled going through my favorite (Mega Man 3) as soon as I was on Gemini Man’s stage I was put back into a different time and place with that one title. This package is jammed full of nostalgia, with enough special features to keep fans busy for a while. Capcom have yet again crafted a collection to celebrate, but I do hope they know that the more newer generations revisit these titles – the more they are going to demand new installments to keep such a legend alive.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Cliff Bleszinski has been working on a free-to-play game that has so far only been known as Project BlueStreak but it seems that we will be learning more about the title and perhaps see an official announcement for the game sometime this week.
Bleszinski has launched a countdown teaser website that has so far only a teaser image and promises more updates over the next few days. At the moment all we know is that Project BlueStreak will be a sci-fi arena shooter that takes place in Los Angeles. You can check out the teaser website here where more information will be revealed at 12PM Eastern Standard Time for the next couple of days.
Overview Telltale Games has had their work cut out for them throughout most of 2015 as they’ve had to juggle fans of both Game of Thrones and Borderlands expecting to see a new episode released for their respective series. While they may have stumbled at the start, the company has found a solid pace and now that the penultimate episode of Tales from the Borderlands has been released, does Escape Plan Bravo continue to be as enjoyable as the last three have been?
Story
It is worth noting that since this review is for the fourth episode of Tales from the Borderlands, that there will be story elements from the third episode of the series discussed in this review so if you haven’t managed to complete Catch a Ride yet then you should do so before progressing.
Anyways, at the end of the last episode Rhys and Fiona were in a bad way. With Athena defeated and dragged away by Mordecai and Brick, the pair as well as Sasha (and potentially Vaughn depending on how you handled certain situations in the past) have been captured by Vallory and her men. With the only other choice being death, Fiona agrees to help Vallory find the Vault of the Traveler but in order to do so they must find the last missing upgrade for Gortys.
As we previously found out, this upgrade isn’t simply sitting in some isolated location on Pandora, it is on Hyperion’s Helios base. With August and Vallory’s two main men joining to make sure that the pair don’t try to alter the deal, Rhys and Fiona must find a way to go to space and through the help of Scooter and another familiar character to build a rocket ship to take them there. Of course it wouldn’t be Borderlands if something like a rocket launch was taken seriously and one of the best moments in the episode involving plenty of slow motion moments with well-timed facial expressions set to a dramatic song makes this intro sequence the best yet.
It is easy to make a player laugh with some well-written jokes but using facial expressions like in the aforementioned sequence is just great. Of course that is far from the only funny moment in this episode as there are plenty of great jokes scattered throughout the episode such as Fiona’s sarcastic nature leading to many great quips, the adorably naïve Gortys, and of course plenty of jokes coming from everyone’s favorite holographic psychopath Handsome Jack. There is even a ridiculously nerdy air gun fight that has to be seen to be believed as it is practically impossible to explain other than being chock full of visual gags.
It isn’t all fun, games, and references to past events however, as there are still plenty of story developments that take place over the course of Escape Plan Bravo including a major decision at the end that will likely play a large role in how things unfold in the next episode. Of course Rhys and Fiona’s mysterious masked captor still remains an unknown meaning that he/she will likely be revealed in the next episode but there is more than just that.
So far Tales from the Borderlands has appeared to be nothing more than a side-story that may bridge the gap between the second and possibly third game in the series. That changes in Escape Plan Bravo as it solidifies itself as part of the cannon by delivering a heartbreaking loss right in the player’s lap with there being nothing the player can do. Swinging from comedic highs to emotional loss and then trying to bring players back to laughing is a difficult task but Tales from the Borderlands manages to pull it off here in a splendid way.
Gameplay It is worth noting that players will be spending only a small amount of time actually exploring anything in Escape Plan Bravo as most of their time will be spent simply selecting dialogue responses as well as taking part in some quick time events. That being said, this episode does move at a much slower pace than past episodes as there is only one major action sequence and even then it is played entirely for laughs.
This slow pace doesn’t really damage the title too much but don’t expect much customization either. Players can choose once again to use money to alter Fiona and Sasha’s appearances, though this time it is required. Rhys’ enhanced Echo Eye continues to be a delight as all of the updated descriptions of environmental objects and people from Handsome Jack are littered with great jokes and references, especially since one moment does signify how this AI was created before certain events in Borderlands 2.
Visuals & Audio As with past episodes Escape Plan Bravo continues to look great thanks to the Borderlands aesthetic blending in well with what Telltale is used to. A number of different customization options in the past will show up once again here depending on what you selected which means that there may be a few cosmetic differences here and there. Some great facial expression animations really help make the aforementioned slow-motion sequence stand out which could have fallen flat otherwise and these expressive faces continue to delight throughout the episode.
The voice actors perform their roles well and really help serve up some great jokes in this episode thanks to proper delivery while the soundtrack is fairly standard fair for a Borderlands title minus of course the exceptionally well-fitting song performed during the intro slow-mo sequence.
Overall Attempting to create something new and entertaining within an ongoing storyline that the company usually has no control over has given some of Telltale’s past titles noteworthy limitations. However with Tales from the Borderlands taking place in an area where the company isn’t’ shackled by another work such as a television show, the company has so far managed to expand on Borderlands’ lore a bit and now that Tales from the Borderlands: Escape Plan Bravo they have likely made a change that will play a significant role if a third game is ever made. While the story may slow down a bit this time around, it takes players on an emotional roller-coaster and has left me excited to see how everything will wrap up in the end.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
LOST DIMENSION COMING TO AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND ON 10th SEPTEMBER 2015 FOR PLAYSTATION®3 AND PLAYSTATION®VITA!
NIS America is very excited to announce that the turn-based tactical RPG, Lost Dimension, is set for release on September 10 for PlayStation®3 and PlayStation®Vita as both a physical and digital release!
About the game:
To subdue the threat The End poses to the entire planet, several countries create a special forces group called S.E.A.L.E.D., which is comprised of eleven psychics with superhuman abilities. Each soldier has their own talents and skillsets to use in combat, which can be expanded after gaining enough experience in the field. Bonds of friendship will form amongst the members of S.E.A.L.E.D., but be mindful of which allies to keep close, as The End mandates the player must begin eliminating teammates. Make sure to accuse the right teammate of being a traitor though–once the final battle with The End begins any remaining traitors will fight the main character alongside him.
Key Features:
A Cataclysmic Whodunnit!–Not only will players have to keep their eyes focused on strategically defeating the enemies laying in wait on the field of combat, but they need to carefully watch party members’ tendencies in order to expose the traitor. At the end of every floor, players will be forced to vote and eliminate one of their trusted allies, and the consequences for choosing incorrectly could be dire…
Spoiler-Free Zone – In addition to a variety of game mechanics to help assess teammate loyalty, Lost Dimension‘s traitor system is randomly determined, assuring that no two players will be faced with the same playthrough. Sorry, kiddies, but it’s impossible to look up the answers this time around.
Psychic Warlords – Each character in the party is a master of a different sphere of powers. There’s the girl who controls molecular behavior to burn or freeze anything/anyone in her path. There’s the guy who can teleport all around (also with the bonus superpower of being satisfyingly cocky). And there’s even someone with an identity crisis because all he knows how to do is steal everyone else’s powers!
Keep Your Friends Close… – In between battles, players will have the option to chat with teammates and develop closer bonds with them. Juggling these friendships and keeping track of who participates in battle will be the key to sussing out the traitors and assuring that, by the time you reach The End, it won’t be…the end…for you and your allies!
HEAR YE, HEAR YE: THE GRAND TOURNAMENT™ HAS BEGUN!
Second Hearthstone®: Heroes of Warcraft™ expansion adds over 130 cards
SYDNEY, Australia—August 25, 2015—The Grand Tournament™, the second expansion for Blizzard Entertainment’s award-winning online strategy card game, Hearthstone®: Heroes of Warcraft™, is now live, and players around the world are invited to join in on the fun. This expansion brings over 130 knightly cards to the (round) table, along with exciting new game mechanics that will delight duellists and inspire creative new deck strategies.
The Grand Tournament takes players to the frost-covered continent of Northrend, where the heroes of the Argent Crusade once held a prestigious tournament to select the bravest and mightiest champions in all the land. Though the evil that once held this realm captive has been vanquished and order restored, the jousting continues in the spirit of fun and friendly competition!
This expansion presents duellists with powerful new tools for their arsenals, allowing them to motivate their brave champions through the Inspire mechanic or challenge an opponent to single combat in its most honourable form—the joust. Inspired minions, which are triggered by using a Hero Power, can grow in strength, restore health, and even call for reinforcements. Jousts are one-on-one contests between random minions drawn from each player’s deck. The stakes are high—if the initiating player wins a joust, they’ll earn a substantial bonus.
“With the new Inspire and Joust mechanics, and over 130 new cards to play with, The Grand Tournament brings a fun medieval-tournament vibe to Hearthstone,” said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. “We can’t wait to see what players come up with now that they have their hands full with tons of new deck and strategy options.”
The Grand Tournament is available now for Windows® and Mac® PCs, iOS and Android™ tablets, and mobile phones. Card packs can be purchased individually or in discounted bundles from the in-game Shop for gold or real-world currency (same pricing as all other Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft card packs). Players now also have the chance to win TheGrand Tournament card packs as rewards in Arena Mode, or craft cards from the expansion by using Arcane Dust, which is collected from disenchanting unwanted cards.
For more information on all things related to The Grand Tournament, visit www.thegrandtourney.com.
“Oh what a day! What a lovely day!” Well it’s not a lovely day YET but in just a few days when Warner Bros. Mad Max game hits store shelves. The open-world, action game puts you in the role of Max as you struggle to survive the barren wastelands.
After a litany of trailers, news pieces and impressions we are now a week away from the game’s release, and for the next week you will see a brand new trailer playing on your TV screens.
Check out the TV spot below and make sure you grab Mad Max when it drops on September 2nd.
FINAL FANTASY XIV European Data Centre to arrive in October 2015
LONDON (24th August 2015) – After announcing plans at the first ever European FINAL FANTASY® XIV Fan Festival in London last year, Square Enix Ltd., announced over the weekend that the European Data Centre for FINAL FANTASY XIV Online will commence operations in October.
Speaking during the latest ‘Letter from the Producer LIVE’, which took place as part of a 14-hour Japanese Livestream to commemorate the second anniversary of FINAL FANTASY XIV, Producer and Director Naoki Yoshida, announced the arrival of the European Data Centre in October this year.
In order to prepare for the start of operations of the European Data Centres, Worlds subject to transfer to the new data centre are scheduled to undergo maintenance for three to five days. Further information regarding World transfers, and the details of the maintenance will be shared via the Lodestone at a later date;http://eu.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodestone/.
Recently surpassing 5 million registered accounts globally, FINAL FANTASY XIV: HEAVENSWARD is available now on the PlayStation®3 system, PlayStation®4 system, Windows PC. A free 30-day trial is included for new accounts, with monthly subscriptions starting at £7.69 / 10.99 €. For new comers to FINAL FANTASY XIVOnline, an all-in-one bundle including both the award-winning FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn and FINAL FANTASY XIV: Heavensward is also available now.
Release date officially announced for post apocalyptic rogue-like journey to hell.
Austin, USA – Monday 24th August, 2015 – Independent developer Skyshine in partnership with indie publisher Versus Evil, today confirmed that the release date for Skyshine’s BEDLAM will be Thursday 17th September, 2015. The game will be available for digital download on PC.
Built on the foundations of the Banner Saga engine, Skyshine’s BEDLAM is a fast paced rogue-like turn-based strategy game with a unique art style, tons of character and hours worth of replayability. Set in a post-apocalyptic world inspired by 1980 action movies such as Mad Max, Skyshine’s BEDLAM puts players in the role of the revered and mysterious Mechanic, whose mission is to safely escort a Dozer full of paying passengers and crew across the vast wastelands of BEDLAM to reach a distant utopia known as Aztec city. Except, in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, with rogue factions threatening you at every turn, it’s not going to be easy.
“The world of Skyshine’s BEDLAM was really born out of the best possible places, the stuff we loved when we were kids. The games, graphic novels and movies we experienced in the 80’s like Mad Max, Heavy Metal and Judge Dredd were all inspirations.” said John Mueller, Art Director at Skyshine. “We loved games like FTL and XCOM and the rogue-like genre was a perfect fit for what we wanted to accomplish. “We have made a game our 14 year old selves would have loved, complete with vomiting monsters, killer robots and gruesomely funny deaths!”
The team also confirmed that the game will be playable on the Versus Evil booth #6608 at the forthcoming PAX Prime event in Seattle which runs from Friday 28th August through to Monday 31st August at the Washington State Convention Centre.
Skyshine’s BEDLAM is available for pre-order now through Steam and other trusted online digital retailers.
Skyshine games are an independent video game developer specializing in creating fun and captivating role-playing games. Skyshine was founded in 2014 by three industry veterans from various high-profile studios whose gaming credits include Darksiders 1 & 2, Unreal Championship, Unreal Tournament and NBA Hangtime.
About Versus Evil
Versus Evil, LLC is a global independent video game publisher based in the US. The company was founded on the principles of helping independent game developers be financially and creatively successful in the highly competitive video games market. Led by group of AAA games industry veterans, Versus Evil’s services include the full suite of publishing support such as brand marketing, community, social, PR, creative, production, QA, legal, distribution and other general business support. As a global publisher, the Versus Evil team is strategically placed around the world with presences in California, Texas, Maryland, New York, and London and works with indie studios in North America, South America, and Europe. The partnership with Skyshine Games makes BEDLAM the latest addition to an impressive and growing 2015 roster of indie games including Afro Samurai 2: Revenge of the Bear, Armikrog, The Banner Saga 2, Toren, Kyn, Habitat, Guild of Dungeoneering and more.
