Another game with its inspiration in the 40K universe also being released by Focus Home Interactive is the tactical, first-person shooter Space Hulk: Deathwing. The basic premise of Space Hulk is that you play as a space marine (super soldier) in terminator armour (heavy duty protection) exploring and clearing a space hulk (Space shipwreck) of whatever scum infest it. Space Hulk has had another series recently released with a more direct adaption of the original boardgame developed by Full Control. Deathwing however, developed by Streum On Studio,is completely different kettle of Tyranid fish which I was able to attend a demonstration for at E3. Here are a number of elements which I noted during the playthrough and discussion with the devs there:
-The game will feature a single and multiplayer (up to four players) experience wherein you play as the eponymous Deathwatch terminators as they investigate a space hulk. Each player plays as their own class and fulfill their own role within the fire team. Choices include classes like the psychic Librarian and the healing Apothecary.
-Classes will unlock skills and equipment through play which they’ll then be able to equip in their loadout before deployment on each level. They appear have a large selection of the space marine arsenal slated to be available including lightning claws, force weapons, stormbolters, assault cannons to equip.
-Before the level starts, you are given overview of the map of the level. However, this is based on the old schematics of the ship before it became a hulk and so the map might be drastically different to the level you’ll actually walk through. You also be able to seal doors behind you to prevent enemies from attacking from your rear, but these doors will not be able to be opened again except by being smashed open.
-The enemies that you’ll be using these weapons against will largely be variations of the Genestealer enemy. There will be various genestealers who have mutations which alter their attacks in a number of ways to keep things fresh but largely they will be trying to eviscerate you. There will also be genestealer cultists who will be armed with less melee-orientated weaponry… but will nonetheless not be a match for you in your tactical dreadnought armour.
-The gameplay itself is very reminiscent of the Left 4 Dead series with the Space Marines working as a team to get to their objective and then possibly fight a final big boss for the level. The 40k universe is thoroughly ingrained throughout however as during one sequence whereupon the team had to wait for Mechanicus prayer to complete it’s sequence to open a door. The Mechanicus prayer in this instance sounded like the noise of an old dial-up internet connection as it was performed in binary (as is in keeping with servants of the Omnissiah).
-Upon death in multiplayer, the player swaps teams and plays as an adversary genestealer. I was not able to see anything of this mode in the demonstration so I cannot comment more.
In the current build, which is VERY early, there was a lot to see but also a lot which needed to be worked on. I would like to see what other levels the team are working and what they’re planning on putting in to keep the game fresh after a couple of levels.
Overview Creating a story where magically gifted students attend a school to teach them how to handle their abilities has become something incredibly common in the anime world and is growing increasingly common in Western media as well. As such, Tokyo Ravens has a bit of a hill to climb to try and set itself apart from the rest of these series. While Tokyo Ravens is an anime adaptation of a fairly long running light novel, is the first half of the series worth picking up?
Story In the world of Tokyo Ravens onmyo mages are commonplace and often serve as a police force as they have to deal with numerous spiritual disasters, rogue mages, and the concept of using familiars as weapons is seen as common practice. While large cities may see quite a lot of onmyo activity the countryside is usually a calm place. Here is where the series’ protagonist Harutora Tsuchimikado spends his time lazily attending classes and spending time with his friends Touji and Hokuto.
Despite being a member of one of the most famous families of onmyo mages, Harutora is from a branch family and has always slacked off since he never had any talent for magic. The only time he thinks about the main family is when his childhood friend Natsume appears. Natsume is the star of the Tscuhimikado family and is set to take the leadership of the house eventually so all of the pressures of being an heir have been placed on her shoulders. While visiting, Natsume attempts to convince Harutora to travel back to Tokyo’s Omnyo Academy with her but he declines.
This all changes when Suzuka Dairenji, the youngest of the Twelve Divine Generals (the highest class of mage) arrives in the village and drags Harutora, Touji, and Natsume into a whirlwind of trouble resulting in the loss of someone close to Harutora’s heart and a bit of mystery that must be solved. Due to these events, Harutora agrees to become Natsume’s familiar and travels with her to Omnyo Academy alongside Touji.
Only problem is, once he arrives there he learns that not only is he far behind everyone else but that Natsume must act like a guy due to family tradition. To make matters worse, because of her lineage Natsume is being stalked by a large number of people who see her as the reincarnation of Yakou Tsuchimikado, perhaps the most powerful onmyo mage of all time due to his actions in the past who is seen as something of a god despite certain actions that he took. With Harutora having only his friends and a new cute fox familiar named Kon to help him out how will things unfold?
Tokyo Ravens is the type of series that would have had a hard time gathering viewers at the start of its broadcast simply due to the fact that the first story arc is incredibly slow and feels like the worst part of the presentation. While it does serve as a way to introduce viewers to various aspects of onmyo magic and serve as a set-up to bring Harutora and Touji to the school, these initial episodes are quite slow but thankfully the series becomes far better once it shifts to Onmyo Academy and kicks the story into the next gear.
Few series are capable of taking the time to make viewers feel accustomed to the world and allow the supporting cast and main characters to develop as early as Tokyo Ravens does. Perhaps it is due to the twenty four episode run length, but once arriving at school viewers are treated to some excellent writing and pacing. We see Harutora adjust to school and deal with new acquaintances who think he is holding back the class only to then have to handle the first of the stalkers targeting Natsume serving as the proper introduction of the series only for things to escalate form there.
Touji’s darkness and ties with Harutora are explored to a believable level which helps turn the character from simply being the “cool background friend” into someone viewers will keep an eye on and even one of the very first enemies in the series returns to try and find some form of redemption in the eyes of Harutora, even if it becomes more about torturing him with purposeful misunderstandings instead. This is another aspect of Tokyo Ravens that shines throughout this first half as we see a fine balance established between drama, development, and humor since there are plenty of light-hearted moments mixed in and appropriate times.
It is worth noting that viewers will have to keep a close eye on all of the characters presented in Tokyo Ravens as nearly every side character and adult is more than they seem. There are different secrets whirling around the cast and many characters appear to be far more capable or dangerous than they initially seem. Though the first half does end on a bit of a light-hearted note, there are still many dangers floating around Natsume and with numerous dark groups in motion and growing closer to taking open action, it will be interesting to see where things go from here.
Visuals As far as the series’ artwork goes, 8-bit did a decent job with the series but unfortunately there is very little in the series that actually stands out. Most of the character designs are largely unremarkable with the only exceptions being Kon and Suzuka’s unique looking wardrobe giving her a different look from the rest of the cast.
That being said, at least the background designs are rather enjoyable and the fights are cleverly animated with plenty of nice looking special effects when the characters use magic spells or whenever a familiar is close to defeat and phasing out of the world. It is worth noting though that the blend of CG elements for most of the familiars in the series so far is rather awkward looking as it does a poor job blending with the rest of the artwork.
Audio While some people may still prefer to choose the original Japanese voice track over FUNimation’s freshly recorded English dub, I must say that they should try out the English dub first. This is due to the fact that the company has done an excellent job selecting voice actors for Tokyo Ravens and the voice actors do an amazing job making these characters sound as impressive as possible.
It also is nice to note that the background music is quite enjoyable with there being a nice mix of simplistic tunes and orchestral songs to fit the mood. As far as the opening and closing themes go, “X-encounter” by Maon Kurosaki was one of my favorite themes from 2013 and it continues to impress here while the ending “Kimi ga emu Yuugure” by Yoshino Nanjou is somber but ultimately forgettable.
Extras With this release of Tokyo Ravens Part One, FUNimation has included clean versions of the opening and ending theme, trailers for other anime series, two audio commentaries, a video commentary, and two short specials called “Kon Explains it All!”. The specials featuring Kon are presented in Japanese and feature her character going into detail about various aspects in the world of Tokyo Ravens that weren’t really explained over the course of the series and if it didn’t include footage from the series, would be great to watch first for a little bit of background knowledge.
As for the commentaries, the first standard commentary is for episode 5 and features Monica Rial, the voice actress of Kon, Clifford Chapin, the voice of Harutora, and Ian Sinclair who voices Touji while the second commentary is for episode 12 and includes Jad Saxton as Suzuka, Leah Clarke who voices Kyoko, and Caitlyn Glass, the voice of Natsume. Both of these commentaries are fairly standard fare as far as FUNimation commentaries go with a few details about the show and casting discussed but mostly include the cast laughing and making jokes. Finally the video commentary, something I always see as a nice inclusion in a set, features ADR director Colleen Clinkenbeard, Monica Rial, Clifford Chapin, and Ian Sinclair as they talk about episode 7 with plenty of actual discussion on the episode and how intricate the series’ story can be.
Overall Tokyo Ravens could easily have fallen into the rut that many series do by falling back on tired clichés in order to get itself over for a little bit before coming to a halt but thankfully it has done the opposite of that. While the initial episodes in Tokyo Ravens Part One are indeed slow, the story only grows from there as we continue to see fairly consistent character development and steady story progression. With trouble brewing around Harutora and the group and plenty of possible ways for the story to continue, it will be interesting to see how things progress from the end of Part One, especially since “Stupidtora” seems to finally have realized a certain something he has been missing throughout the series.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
We recently confirmed that the Nintendo 3DS title Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butoden would be releasing worldwide and we now have an all new English trailer and an awesome looking 3DS bundle to look forward to as well. We also have some answers to some previous questions although they might not be what you wanted to hear. Countries outside of Japan will be receiving the Super NES title Super Butoden 2, but only if they pre-order or purchase the New Nintendo 3DS bundle.
While that may sound O.K., the bad news is that the game will be completely faithful to the original game, Japanese text included. Yes, no English translation at all which is very disappointing in my eyes. Extreme Butoden will feature translated text, but not voice overs.
Players that pre-order will also gain access to 6 support characters early including Super Vegito, Garlic Jr. and even Baby Goku. Extreme Butoden is a 2D fighter and is being developed by Arc System Works, the studio responsible for the Supersonic Warriors games for the GBA and DS as well as the Blazblue games, so you can expect really solid 2D sprites and classic gameplay. The game features over 20 playable characters and over 100 support characters known as Z-assist. The game will launch in Europe and Australasia on the 16th of October and the Americas on the 20th of October. Will you be picking up this latest Dragon Ball title or that amazing looking New 3DS bundle? Let us know in the comments below.
Noir is an anime unlike most on the market. I’d classify it as a serious title, focusing on real people as opposed to the more common shounen anime. Realism is the theme of the day, and watching it gives the feeling that this could have been a live action drama. Cowboy Bebopis in a similar vein, attempting to focus on the extraordinary living among the mundane, though in a sci-fi world as opposed to Noir’s grounded reality. In fact, Starz optioned Noir at one point, with intent to release a live action rendition of the series. While the project was shelved (likely due to complexities in the plot), it’s still striking that such a lesser known anime could have been a studio produced live drama.
Where the realism starts to break down is the basis of the plot; Noir follows two female assassins working as mercenaries, before delving deeper into members of Les Soldats. Noir is an exploration of the ‘girls with guns’ genre, but unlike later series by the same creator, Noir is firmly grounded in reality. What the main characters Kirika Yuumura, Mireille Bouquet, Altena, and Chloe explore throughout the series is the criminal underground, centering around an Illuminati-esque organization called Les Soldats (in French, The Soldiers).
Story
It would be a disservice to the viewer to spoil the twists and turns of Noir, so I’ll keep this somewhat brief. Noir follows Mireille and Kirika as they carry out assassination missions as their own private mercenary force, the eponymous Noir. The first half of the show is a slow burner, being what boils down to a flavor of the week where Mireille and Kiraka have to figure out then handle a different assassination each episode. However, this serves more as a vehicle for the two characters to grow to learn about each other, and for the watcher to learn about the protagonists motivations. There’s not too much to say about this, although it is very different from episode to episode; it’s just the girls doing various assassination missions in different ways.
The second half of Noir is where the plot shifts to focus more on the shadowy organization Les Soldats. As we find out, the attacks against Mireille and Kiraka are tests from Les Soldats to ensure that they’re worthy to be called Noir. As often as they are fighting against Les Soldats, the protagonists are working under contracts for them. Viewers are introduced to Chloe who is an assassin for Les Soldats, who carries out her missions with sharp efficiency, and is considered a rival for Mirelle, hoping to partner with Kiraka some day. We are also introduced to Altena, who is a powerful member of Les Soldats, working towards mysterious purposes.
Much of Noir follows the overarching plot of Mirelle and Kiraka trying to understand their past, and how Les Soldats is involved. One of the major issues is that Mireille has lost her memory, and the pair team up to try to figure out why they’re connected. By the end of the series, secretive rituals and a mess of a situation devolve, including many reveals to Les Soldats and where they lie in the power of the world. The story definitely amps up from the slower paced beginning, but by no means does it ever reach Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann or Kill la Kill levels of speed. It is a much more sedate anime, though this hardly means it’s not action filled. It’s just a different type of action then many viewers will be accustomed to.
Visuals
The animation for Noir might appear muted next to modern more colorful anime, but this is in line with it’s theming and genre. As a more grounded and realistic show, aiming for the looks of the noir genre the color palette is much more muted, the designs much more subdued. Even so, the dazzling landscapes and excellently done European scenes draw the eye in their own way. While the art, even remastered, shows it’s age quite heavily, Noir still has a classic look to it. Details are done extremely well, with guns and uniforms clean and clearly recognizable.
Much can be said about details in modern anime, with guns having become extremely screen-accurate to their real-world designs for example. However, Noir did so in a time where this wasn’t as expected. The animation is clean and crisp, with motion and choreography done exceptionally well for a show released in 2001. And more then anything, the action feels real; there’s no crazy comic-book style stunts of endless running and acrobatics. The visuals ring true because they feel real and feel accurate. If the plot is something you find yourself intrigued by, give Noir a shot regardless of it’s visuals. The animation may be dated, but it’s a prime example of quality animation from it’s era.
Audio
This is one of the areas in which I feel that Noir truly excels. Not in either of the voice casts, though neither is particularly egregious. The English voice cast is a bit stilted, but perfectly acceptable to listen to. It’s not going to blow you away with perfectly matched characters like Cowboy Bebop managed to do (though that of course is the rare exception). The Japanese cast isn’t entirely exceptional either, though for me it was more enjoyable then the English vocalization.
Where the audio blows me away is the long-time critically acclaimed soundtrack. It’s scenic, and sets the emotions and mood of the show more then any script can even dream to do. Choirs and solitary pianos are a major focus, as are violins and even electronic music. The soundtrack is the soul of the series, evoking pain and tragedy in some of it’s tracks, and setting more tone then hours of vocalizations could even hope. The sound effects are exceptional as well, and I get the feeling that the sound was a major focus from the production crew.
Extras
Noir features a number of extras with it’s release, most of which are fairly typical for modern anime releases. There are the textless openings and closings, as well as some commentaries (though only with the English cast on a few episodes). Additionally, a few character focused music videos, featuring Mireille, Chloe, and Kirika, are here as well. Various Japanese promo ads are on here as well.
The nicer addition are the interviews, not only with the English cast and crew, but with some of the Japanese cast as well. We get an interview with each of the original voice actors for all four girls, Mireille, Chloe, Kiraka, and Altena. There is also an amusing short featuring sock puppets called Noir: The Unsoled Story. This large number of extras is a great addition to the updated release.
Overall
Overall, while Noir was a well-produced show, with clean animation and great sound, I did not find myself entranced by the story. Perhaps my error was watching Burn Notice and Arrow around the same time, but the assassination storyline and early slow pacing did not grab me. While the show’s realism is unexpected in anime, it wasn’t exceptional to me. The slow pacing of the early episodes in an “assassination of the week” pattern was very off-putting in my opinion, and it took me far longer then I expected to get through this anime.
And in the end, that’s my biggest issue with Noir. While it’s a good show, with a plot that picks up in later episodes, I treated it as “getting through this.” When I watch anime, I want to be grabbed and entranced. The realism and real world accuracy of Burn Notice made Noir‘s assassins pale in comparison. It’s a good show, and one that may grab your interest. However, the slow pacing and older animation was definitely a negative in my book. I’d not put Noir on my must watch list, but if you have a liking for the girls-with-guns sub-genre, and you like your anime realistic, Noir is an excellent catch. The audio, music, and some of the animation/design is gorgeous and entrancing, even if the plot lagged behind.
NIS America has released their first gameplay trailer for Rodea: The Sky Soldier which is set to be released in North America on October 13 and in Europe on October 16. This trailer, that can be found below, introduces fans to Ion and shows a few of the beginning areas in Rodea’s journey to fulfill his promise.
From the footage below, which is presented in English, we see how Rodea will be able to quickly maneuver through the sky and across the ground in a way that is very familiar feeling. When released Rodea: The Sky Soldier will be available for both the Nintendo 3DS and the Wii U.
Today XSEED Games announced that the release date for Onechanbara Z2: Chaos has been set for July 21st in North America. When released on the PlayStation 4, Onechanbara Z2: Chaos will be available digitally for $39.99 and physically through a limited “Banana Split” retail release that is priced at $49.99. Besides getting a retail copy of the game, the limited edition comes with almost eighty minutes of the game’s soundtrack on one CD, an eight page softcover artbook called “Behind the Bikini,” and a download code for the “Strawberries & Banana” DLC costumes.
To go along with the release date announcement XSEED has released a new batch of screenshots for the game that you can check out below. As for the game itself, Onechanbara Z2: Chaos follows the story of two sets of “buxom vampire sisters” through over a dozen stages filled with zombies and various other undead that have arisen in various worldwide locations that can only be defeated with high-octane swordplay filled with acrobatic maneuvers and even some powerful demon transformations to mix things up.
In case you still have money after blowing it all on new expensive toys in the first part of the update, “Ill-Gotten Gains Update: Part 2” for Grand Theft Auto Online will be launching on July 8th. The update lets players flaunt their wealth with even more guns, vehicles, and clothing.
The new vehicles will be the classy Dinka Vindicator sports bike, the custom low rider Vapid Chino, the sleek and sexy Progen T20 sports car, the retro styled Invetro Coquette BlackFin, the luxury off-roader Coil Brawler, and the expensive Lampadati Toro speedboat.
Those needing new weapons to get those ill-gotten gains will be able to purchase the one-shot wonder, the Marksman Pistol. It may look like a rifle or a shotgun from the old west, but taking a hit from this puppy will land you flat on your butt, if you even survive. For the folks who prefer getting up close and personal, the golden knuckledusters leave quite the impression, literally.
Rockstar is bringing “The Lab” radio station to all consoles with this update. The station was previously a PC exclusive and features tracks from the Welcome to Los Santos soundtrack.
Finally, if you missed the Independence Day festivities last year, then you are in luck. Rockstar is bringing back the Independence Day Special on July 4th (for us non-Americans). Log in and check out some classic Americana guns, vehicles, and gear. On July 10th, Rockstar will be hosting the second Ill-Gotten Gains Social Club Event Weekend. More information will follow as we draw closer to the date.
BANDAI NAMCO ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA LAUNCHES RISE OF INCARNATES NOW AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON STEAM FOR PC
Round Up Dynamic Duos to Rise as a Legend in this Free-To-Play, Strategic Co-Op Battle Arena
SAN JOSE Calif., – July 1, 2015 – BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America today launches an all new free-to-play competitive co-op battle arena game, Rise of Incarnates. Available now exclusively on STEAM for PC, Rise of Incarnates features a 2-versus-2 (2v2) competitive hybrid game that blends element of both fighting and third person shooting. Teamwork is key for players to dominate opponents.
Rise of Incarnates is set in a shattered timeline amongst the desolation of what were formerly Earth’s most iconic cities. A phantom galactic intellect has brought super-powered champions together to form teams and battle to determine the fate of the universe. All champions have the ability to summon a deity or transform into one by awakening the unique powers of mythical gods, elevating their strengths and bolstering the team dynamic.
“Rise of Incarnates’ detailed 3D cityscapes, narrative and focus on camaraderie propels the game to a deeper level than the standard fighting game,” said In Joon Hwang, Director of Digital Games. “The diverse set of characters with varying play-styles will challenge and engage players to bring an unparalleled gameplay experience.”
Featuring 3D combat gameplay, players can choose from a number of powerful warriors, and must work in tandem with their partner to combine character strengths while covering their teammates vulnerabilities. Partners fight two-by-two to take down other champions who have strayed from their comrade’s side. In a world with lethal symbiotic teams and a ravaged landscape, the only option left is to fight, and a strong partnership is vital as players utilize the abilities of their chosen characters and develop strategies for combat.
To celebrate the launch of Rise of Incarnates, all returning early access players will receive an exclusive customization accessory for the character Zeus “Olympus” along with 7-day LP and experience (EXP) boost tickets. For players new to Rise of Incarnates, a welcome bonus for those playing in the month of July will receive a 2-week LP and EXP boost ticket, which will expedite leveling up and unlock characters.
Additionally, a special live stream featuring Mike Ross and the Evil Geniuses team of JWong, Kbrad, and PR Balrog will take place today July 1, 2015 at 2:00pm PT via Twitch [http://www.twitch.tv/riseofincarnates]. Players can tune in and join beloved pro fighting gamers to get a first look at interesting game features, interviews, tips and strategies.
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc., part of BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc., is a leading global publisher and developer of interactive content — including all major video game consoles, iOS, mobile and online. The company is known for creating and publishing many of the industry’s top video game franchises, including PAC-MAN®, TEKKEN®, SOULCALIBUR®, NARUTO™, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™, Dragon Ball®, GALAGA®, RIDGE RACER® and ACE COMBAT®. More information about the company and its products can be found at www.bandainamcoent.com or www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS.
Introducing New Historical Era of Tanks, Battle Trophies, Endless Battle Mode and First Winter Map For Ground Forces
(MOSCOW, RUSSIAN FEDERATION) – July 1st, 2015 — Gaijin Entertainment today announced that its 1.51 Update for the award-winning MMO WWII online game,War Thunder, is now live. Titled the ‘Cold Steel Update’, War Thunder’s ten million players worldwide now have access to an even larger, unrivaled selection of content as Gaijin Entertainment introduces even more vehicles and functionality into the game. To see the full list of new improvements and features, visit the War Thunder developer’s blog: http://warthunder.com/en/game/changelog
War Thunder has now been implemented with the first winter map for ground forces, set in Finland. The snow covered map will prove a challenging sub-zero combat environment for players within an abandoned Finnish village as they negotiate deadly ambush points and a frozen lake. When moving across expanses of open ice players must pay attention to their tank’s weight as well as the possibility of artillery or bombing strikes – all of which could quite literally take the ground out from under them.
A new game mode ‘Enduring Confrontation’ is introduced for realistic and simulation based battles. Players will have an unlimited number of respawns so potentially the game can last for hours, until a team completes the victory objective announced at the beginning of battle. Each time a player leaves the battle, a new user will take his or her place.
The Cold Steel Update also introduces more modern tanks into War Thunder, the Soviet T-10M, the German Leopard-1 and the American M60, opening up a new historic era of tanks from the Cold War. The youngest of the three – the German Leopard 1 – joined the ranks of the German army in 1965. It was the first tank, developed in Germany since the end of World War II. Unlike aircraft, which made a huge leap in development with the advent of jet engines, the tanks of the 50’s and 60’s were not significantly stronger than their predecessors of the late 40’s. The evolution of ground forces went towards strengthening the weapons and increasing the mobility rather than further increasing the armor.
The 1.51 update adds 20 new vehicles, including both ground forces and additions to War Thunder’s aircraft roster with a top-up of the TF Mk IV Firebrand, the A-36 Apache – a ground-attack/dive bomber version of the North American P51 Mustang – and Japan’s formidable J2M5 which was build for speed and climb performance and packed a deadly punch to high altitude threats.
Gaijin Entertainment will also be adding an Order System to War Thunder. Now any player in Arcade and Realistic battles can also become a commander. At the beginning or during a battle, an “Order” can be activated, allowing players the chance to win a reward for fulfilling the “Order”. Orders can be completed when a player meets the required criteria e.g the “Jack of All Trades” Order. Gamers can strive to be first to destroy three enemy vehicles of different classes: fighter, bomber, attacker, light/medium tank, SPG and AA gun.
War Thunder is a free-to-play, cross-platform, massively multiplayer military masterpiece for PC, PS4, Mac, Linux and Android with more than ten million players worldwide, that allows players to fight their way across air and ground with access to almost 600 historically accurate planes and armored vehicles from WWII and Korean War. Fans can expect hundreds more added as Gaijin Entertainment commits to ongoing development via regular updates. For more information, please visithttp://www.warthunder.com
About Gaijin Entertainment
Gaijin Entertainment is the developer and publisher of the online games War Thunder and Star Conflict, as well as PC, Mac, Linux, PS4, PS3, Xbox 360, iOS and Android titles across several genres. The company’s diverse portfolio has received a range of mass media and game industry awards including such as KRI Awards, Gamescom Award and many more. Official website: http://gaijinent.com
XY—Ancient Origins introduces all-new Special Energy cards, Ancient Traits, and awesome Pokémon-EX!
London, UK— July 1, 2015. The Pokémon Company International announced today the latest expansion in the Pokémon Trading Card Game franchise. The Pokémon TCG: XY—Ancient Origins expansion transforms ancient secrets into modern battling techniques, with new Special Energy cards, Ancient Traits, more Pokémon-EX, and special Shiny Pokémon! Booster packs and two theme decks—Stone Heart and Iron Tide—will be available in stores on August 12, 2015, introducing more than 90 new cards to collect and play.
Ancient Traits were first introduced in Pokémon TCG: XY—Primal Clash and give various advantages in battle. Separate from attacks and Abilities, they provide powerful new effects that can change the course of a game! New Ancient Traits arriving in XY—Ancient Origins include Θ Stop, Θ Max, and Θ Double.
Making its debut in the Pokémon TCG, the Mythical Pokémon Hoopa brings new power to the Pokémon world as Hoopa-EX. This Pokémon is a must-have for decks loaded with Pokémon-EX—with its Scoundrel Ring Ability, you can search your deck for three other Pokémon-EX when Hoopa-EX comes into play.
Mega Rayquaza-EX, Primal Groudon-EX, and Primal Kyogre-EX return in XY—Ancient Origins as Shiny Legendary Pokémon with brand-new Ancient Traits! These cards sport artwork that has never been seen before and bring a darker shade to the Pokémon TCG, making them highly sought after by players and collectors.
Key Features of the Pokémon TCG: XY—Ancient Origins expansion
· 11 New Pokémon-EX, Including 3 New Mega Evolution Pokémon, and 14 New Full-Art Pokémon-EX Cards—Including Mega Tyranitar-EX, Mega Ampharos-EX, and Mega Sceptile-EX, plus full-art Shiny versions of Primal Kyogre-EX, Primal Groudon-EX, and Mega Rayquaza-EX!
· Half Art Cards— Many Pokémon with Ancient Traits have half art cards, where the art extends into and behind the text box.
· 14 Trainer Cards— Many brand-new Trainer cards, a full-art Trainer card, and two new Special Energy cards add new depth and tactics to the Pokémon TCG.
· Booster Packs—Packs of 10 additional cards selected from the expansion.
· Two New Theme Decks—These 60-card preconstructed decks are designed to introduce players to the Pokémon TCG by enabling them to play right away.
XY—Ancient Origins theme decks and booster packs include an in-pack code card that unlocks virtual cards from the XY—Ancient Origins expansion for play in the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online at www.pokemon.co.uk/tcgo . This online version of the Pokémon TCG is also now available on iPad via the Apple App Store. The rules are the same for both the paper and online versions, so the Pokémon TCG Online is a great way to continue the fun when your friends aren’t around.
The Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) is a collectible and competitive trading card game. In the competitive Pokémon TCG, each player constructs a deck of 60 cards and uses it to battle against other players in fast-paced, strategy-oriented play. Since the debut of the Pokémon TCG in 1996, more than 21.5 billion cards have been shipped to 74 countries around the world.
Play! Pokémon Leagues and Championships
Play! Pokémon provides opportunities for Pokémon TCG and video game players to enjoy their favourite games together—from casual Pokémon League gatherings to competitive events that make up the Pokémon Trading Card Game and Video Game Championship Series. The Championship Series culminates each year with the Pokémon World Championships, where players from more than 30 countries battle for the title of Pokémon World Champion in three different age divisions. There are more than 400,000 entrants in Pokémon events worldwide each year.
New to Play! Pokémon? Check out a Pokémon League in your area! Pokémon Leagues are strong communities of Pokémon TCG and video game players around the world, and groups can be found in cities and towns in many countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Italy, Germany, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Pokémon Leagues are a great way to play casually and trade with others! For more information on Play! Pokémon or to find a Pokémon League in your area, please visit pokemon.co.uk/play.
About Pokémon
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, visitPokemon.co.uk.
