WARSAW – Turn-based action platformer RONIN has completed its intense Early Access training and emerged from the shadows better, stronger, faster and ready to bust out some sweet ninja action on Steam, GOG, and Humble (http://ronin-game.com).
Through the brief Early Access period, developer Tomasz Waclawek worked directly with the RONIN community to polish and tweak finer points of movement, combat and flow in the unique turn-based action game. Additions like UI indicators, jump arc modications and more open-ended progression through levels came from community feedback to ultimately evolve a good game into a great one.
RONIN and the RONIN Digital Special Edition are now available on Steam, GOG, and other digital services with 25% off the $12.99 / £9.99 / € 12.99 price for the standard game and $19.99 / £14.99 / € 19.99 price for the Digital Special Edition for the first week after launch. That’s how ninjas do business.
For more information about RONIN, hit up www.devolverdigital.com and follow us on Twitter @RoninGame and @DevolverDigital.
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About RONIN
Laying out an unrelenting path of retribution, RONIN follows the exploits of a vengeful heroine determined to strike down five prominent figures of a powerful corporation. Plot your strikes via cunning use of razor wire or your deathly katana, or avoid combat via a holographic replicator and grappling hook until you locate your most advantageous position for an all-out assault.
RONIN takes you through more than 15 complex missions as you stalk your targets with silent steps and soaring leaps – but be careful, your enemies are carefully guarded and part of a secret, destructive conglomerate. Taking them out will be no easy task.
ANIME AND MANGA WORLDS COLLIDE FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN BANDAI NAMCO ENTERTAINMENT’S J-STARS VICTORY VS+
Celebrate 45 Years of Shonen Jump and 20 Years of V-Jump Magazine with an All-Star Blowout of Famous Anime and Manga Characters
SAN JOSE, Calif., (June 30, 2015) – Leading digital entertainment company BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. today announced that J-STARS Victory VS+ has launched in the Americas for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, and the PlayStation®Vita handheld entertainment system. The game features an eclectic mix of well-known anime and manga characters from 32 different Shonen Jump and V-Jump franchises including One Piece™, Naruto™, Bleach, Dragon Ball Z®, Fist of the North Star, Assassination Classroom, and other popular titles.J-STARS Victory VS+ is the most ambitious anime and manga focused fighting game to ever reach Western videogame fans.
Developed by Japanese videogame studio Spike Chunsoft, J-STARS Victory VS+ delivers an incredibly robust roster of characters to stage epic battles through a variety of anime and manga worlds. Players can choose to begin their J-STARS Victory VS+ adventure from a multitude of game modes including; J-Adventure Story mode where players battle in different anime and manga environments to determine who is the strongest character, 2-vs-2 Online Battle mode that allows up to four players to form teams to battle for bragging rights, and an exclusive Arcade mode for Western fans that will deliver quick classic arcade style Team-vs-Team matches.
“In the realm of anime and manga based videogames, J-STARS Victory VS+ is one of the most unique and ambitious undertakings ever.” said Eric Hartness, Vice President of Marketing at BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. “The fantasy of pitting so many anime characters from different worlds in one arena of battle has finally come true. The fates of the J-STARS Victory VS+ characters are now in the hands of Western anime and manga fans.”
J-STARS Victory VS+ is rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB and is available now in North and Latin America and will be available in Brazil on July 3, 2015 in retail packaged form for the PlayStation®4 system and PlayStation®3 system. J-STARS Victory VS+ is available digitally through the PlayStation®Store for the PlayStation®Vita handheld entertainment system.
About BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. 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
Let’s travel back to the future, through the present and into the unknown. The Terminator franchise has no limits and the fifth installment, Terminator Genisys proves to be no different. However, this time we are under the wings of director, Alan Taylor and a new stunning cast; Emilia Clarke, Jason Clarke and Jai Courtney. With the obsolete force back to terminate, Arnold Schwarzenegger, is it possible that Genisys will revolutionise the events from the original Terminator?
Story
The voice of Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney) eases viewers into the beginning of the film, a time before his existence and Judgement Day. Skynet is at the frontline of warfare, a computer programming directive that is responsible for destroying the universe and exterminating the human race on August 29th, 1997. The nuclear explosion kills three billion people, and gives rise to the machines to take over the world. During the war, Kyle is brought into the broken world and is forced to grow up alone, without his parents. It is the leader of the human Resistance, John Connor (Jason Clarke), who protects Kyle and brings him into the Tech-Com facility of his mission.
In 2029, the Resistance declares an attack on Skynet’s main defense grid and the Colorado Unit are successful in overtaking the system. But a tactical weapon was sent out to protect the future of Skynet, the T-800 is going back to 1984 to kill Sarah Connor (Emilia Clarke) and erase the life of her son, John Connor. Out of respect and honour for his saviour, Kyle volunteers to travel back in time to save Sarah. Unaware of the consequences of entering the time machine, the future timelines shift and Kyle glimpses into the year 2017 and has a vision of his alternate fate.
During the time travelling scene, the audience are drawn to the surprise appearance of Matt Smith, best known as the Eleventh Doctor from the Doctor Who BBC Series. The mystery man approaches John from behind and attacks him, when Kyle is in the time machine and close to fading away. This event is mind-boggling to say the least, but a key element that is developed further into the film.
The real terminator action kicks off in Los Angeles on May 12th, 1984. The visibly younger, T-800 is challenged by the an ageing T-800, reprogrammed as ‘Guardian’ to protect Sarah. It doesn’t take long for the indestructible team, Sarah and Guardian to tear apart the Terminator Assassin. Meanwhile, Kyle is faced with the T-1000 in a general clothing store. The deadlier model, similar to the one in Judgement Day, is made of liquid metal and can form razor sharp knives for arms. Unfortunately for Kyle, two police officers arrest him for breaking and entering, endangering their own lives in the process. At this point in time, the storylines intertwine when Sarah and Guardian pick up the soldier and leave behind the officer, O’Brien (J.K. Simmons).
As the mission changes, the characters relationships become stronger and more revealing. The audience become more understanding of the Guardian’s fatherly role as “pops” in Sarah’s life. Whereas, the pre-ordained feelings that Sarah has for Kyle changes overtime, and becomes one of choice. By travelling together to 2017, Sarah puts her trust into Kyle’s vision that the only way to destroy Skynet is to prevent it from launching. Needless to say, Guardian is skeptical about leaving Sarah with the newcomer, but has no choice as the injury he sustained in the sewers needs time to regenerate his arm.
The pair arrive stark naked in the middle of a freeway in San Francisco, 2017 (yep, travelling through time requires not wearing any clothes). Sarah and Kyle are arrested for indecent exposure, and have trouble explaining who they are without any evidence of identification. While they are held in custody for homeland security to question them, John comes in the nick of time to lead them to safety. With it being a different timeline, there is something noticeably different about Sarah’s son and his urgency to and take them to Skynet.
I’ll have to stop myself here, from spoiling the ending.
Visuals and Audio
With the vast amount of time travel in Terminator Genisys, it is imperative that each timeline is presented with the utmost accuracy; including detail in the atmosphere, scenery and lighting. Thanks to the incredible work of Cinematographer, Kramer Morgenthau and Production Designer, Neil Spisak, the team seamlessly captured the roaring 1980’s from the original film and created a hauntingly authentic post-apocalyptic Future War.
The most visually appealing sequence in the film, is the 3D deathmatch between the eerily young, T-800 and the older T-800. The double vision sensation that came from seeing two Arnie’s battling on screen, was incredible to watch. It’s fair to say that Terminator Genisys would not feel the same without Arnold Schwarzenegger, the iconic figure is the largest and greater part of the franchise. By the end of the movie, it’s hard to forget the hilariously terrifying and adorable smile that Arnold brings to his character.
Lorne Balfe produces a powerful original score, that reignites the struggle of rising and creating change in a doomed world. The main theme in Terminator Genisys composed by Lorne, is suitably titled ‘Fate and Hope’. Famous for his compositions with Hans Zimmer for Inception, Lorne boldly reawakens the franchise in his soundtrack with his own ‘musical terminator’.
A memorable song from the film, although only featured briefly, is Inner Circle’s ‘Bad Boys’. The chorus plays during a solo photo montage of each of the criminals, Kyle, Sarah and Guardian. The trio were caught on a bridge in San Francisco in 2017, after causing a large-scale traffic accident. The bad-ass scene involved Guardian’s head smashing through a police car windshield, and a bus tipping over the bridge, with Sarah, Kyle and John inside.
Overall
Terminator Genisys is an impressive movie on its own accord, that delivers on intense action, sufficient comedy, gripping 3D visual effects and an engaging storyline. If you haven’t watched all of the previous Terminator films, do not let that deter you from seeing the fifth installation. Based on the ‘Reset the Past’ tagline from Terminator Genisys , one could even go as far to say that the events from Terminator 2: Judgement Day and beyond cease to exist . . . but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Director Alan Taylor, gives fans a justifying close in the latest film and opens the door for further speculation. Of course, the original Terminator can never be replaced – but it can be revolutionised!
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
SIERRA™ WILL RELEASE THE FIRST CHAPTER OF KING’S QUEST™ ON JULY 28
King’s Quest™: The Complete Collection, Containing Five Chapters and a Bonus Playable Epilogue, Is Now Available for Pre-Order
SANTA MONICA, Calif. – June 30, 2015 – Today Sierra™ revealed that the first chapter of the new King’s Quest™ – titled King’s Quest: A Knight to Remember – will launch as a digital download in North America on July 28 for $9.99 on the PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems, as well as Windows PC. It will arrive on July 29 for the same price on Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, and the Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft. It is rated E10+ (Everyone 10 and Up) by the ESRB.
In addition, Sierra today announced that a bundle* of all five chapters, including a future bonus playable story epilogue, of the new King’s Quest – named King’s Quest: The Complete Collection* – is now available to pre-order on the PlayStation®Network and Steam for $39.99. Xbox One pre-orders on the Xbox Games Store will begin on July 7 for the same price.
Developed by The Odd Gentlemen, King’s Quest rekindles the classic feelings of exploration, wit and wonder that have always defined this family-friendly series since its introduction over 30 years ago. The first entry in a planned five-chapter arc, King’s Quest: A Knight to Remember sets the stage for an unforgettable journey to come with original places, puzzles and personalities to discover. As an aging King Graham reflects on a life of adventure with his granddaughter, Gwendolyn, King’s Quest transports players back to the untold tales of Graham’s youth to experience a story that bridges generations.
For the latest news on King’s Quest and more, please visit www.sierra.com, and follow Sierra on Facebook and Twitter.
*Chapters and epilogue can be downloaded in-game upon individual release throughout 2015 and 2016.
About Sierra
Developer-led and player-focused, Sierra publishes highly curated titles that embody best-in-class efforts from indie developers. From providing development funding and deep first-party relations to marketing and retail distribution, Sierra caters to the individual needs of each indie studio. Sierra will primarily publish on digital distribution platforms including Xbox Live, PlayStation®Network and Steam for PC. For more information, please visit www.sierra.com.
About The Odd Gentlemen
The Odd Gentlemen are a small team of gentlefolks based in Los Angeles. Founded in 2008, they create games that are humorous and charming with fantastical worlds, quirky characters, and compelling stories that highlight creative and innovative gameplay. Striving to create experiences that all ages can enjoy, they want to bring classic charm and wonder back into games. For more information or updates about The Odd Gentlemen, visit www.theoddgentlemen.com or follow them on Twitter.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in this press release that involves Activision Publishing’s expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future, including statements about King’s Quest, are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause Activision Publishing’s actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release include unanticipated product delays and other factors identified in the risk factors sections of Activision Blizzard’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to Activision Publishing and Activision Blizzard as of the date of this release, and neither Activision Publishing nor Activision Blizzard assumes any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of the future performance of Activision Publishing or Activision Blizzard and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond its control and may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.
London, UK – June 30, 2015 – Today, Ubisoft® and Blue Byte® celebrate the summer with this year’s Midsummer Night event, a brand new in-game seasonal event for The Settlers® Online. This special event gives players renewed access to rare items that were only available during previous seasonal events. A new PvP leaderboard enables players to compete with each other in three different ranking tiers.
During the next three weeks, former event resources can be converted in the Provision House into tokens. These tokens allow players to purchase popular buffs, specialists or buildings from previous events that aren’t otherwise available.
Securing placement on the new Leaderboard feature will automatically award players a rank in Efficiency (a player’s won/lost unit ratio), and placement on the Average Time and Fastest Time Leaderboard section based on their performance in the Expedition map.
The Water Castle is also given to PvP players as a reward, providing a visual bonus to indicate their experience status. Upgrades to the Water Castle are unlocked with every second PvP level.
Players are invited to view the newest Blue Byte Backstage Episode, offering a preview of the Midsummer Night special and the additional PvP content: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSup9XE_qRk
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.
About Blue Byte, a Ubisoft studio
Having opened their doors in 1988, Blue Byte’s first hit came in 1991 with Battle Isle, followed by the ever-popular development strategy game The Settlers® – which celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2013. Following their acquisition by Ubisoft in 2001, the studio continued to work on The Settlers® series, and began overseeing the production of ANNO® in 2007. Winner of 2012 “Best European Studio” award (European Games Awards), Blue Byte expanded in 2014 with the acquisition of a new branch in Mainz. The teams are developing and operating HD, browser-based and mobile games, including Might and Magic® Heroes® Online, ANNO® Online and The Settlers® Online, captivating millions of players worldwide. In 2014 the studio successfully launched ANNO®: Build an Empire on mobile devices. The Settlers®: Kingdoms of Anteria for PC and Assassin’s Creed® Identity for smartphones and tablets are currently in development at Blue Byte’s Düsseldorf studio, while the Mainz teams are working on ANNO® 2205, which will bring the acclaimed city-builder series into space. To learn more, please visit http://www.bluebyte.com.
Overview
Darker than Black is certainly not new to the realm of anime, as the series made its debut nearly eight years ago, quickly becoming a household name and inspiring a good amount of serial dramas that would follow later. Funimation have finally brought fans a new update to the first season, with all twenty-six episodes releasing on a three disc Blu-ray set. The question now is has Darker than Black aged well enough to still be deemed relevant, or is this set one to skip altogether? Let’s find out.
Story
Darker than Black is a bit of action, mystery, and drama, all wrapped into several arcing stories that eventually intertwine. Truthfully, this why first viewing of the show, which made it a bit difficult to just plunge into. Darker than Black takes place in a world where there was an anomaly that took place years prior, and the current citizens are dealing with the aftermath. It literally is dubbed “Heaven’s Gate” vs “Hell’s Gate” in reference to this event, as beings known as Contractors were birthed – with their purposes and even existence being largely unknown by the general public.
A Contractor in a way is a lot like what you would see in X-Men. Each character who is a Contractor has a special ability, but must pay a price – or a contract in order to utilize it. Some characters are forced to succumb to human like vices such as smoking or drinking, while others carry a greater weight and suffer for their own craft physically. Hei is a contractor and our main protagonist, but does not have a contract to pay, so he and his team spend their lives carrying out assassination missions via the Syndicate so these beings do not put humans on Earth in danger with their power and other motives. As I mentioned, this series takes its time with pacing and I found myself halfway into disc two before I finally felt fully invested. New characters are introduced often, and Darker than Black has a bad habit of establishing a character in a two-part just to drop them a quick minute later- as if they never existed prior. I get that some anime and other forms of entertainment do this to add layers and experience to other characters, but there were a couple faces that got far too much screen time and did little to nothing to add any further depth into the plot.
That gripe aside, the writing actually is superb within the show as a whole. Individually, episodes try to reinforce the characteristics of the cast and do well at actually building up to a greater payoff. Hei is a great lead who the lives a double life. By day he is a student with a snarky cat and by night, he dons a mask to hunt Contractors with his power of electricity. Yin is a Doll, which is sort of like a medium or specter as she uses water to track and observe contractors. Instead of being a boisterous female sidekick however, Yin is completely emotionless and it takes a while to find out her own background, which definitely adds to the mystery of this team. Huang acts as an older leader who simply assigns and adds some comedy, while Mao rounds off the group as a talking cat that has had his own experience as a contractor. These four make up the core of the series and while there is plenty of other interaction with enemies and allies alike, the plot truly builds off Hei and his journey – even with the detailed build-up of the characters on the side.
If you haven’t been able to piece it together by now, Contractors that are in the wild such as the MI6 use their powers for other agendas and partake in evil affairs with dangerous organizations, and Hei and his small group are tasked by Syndicate to simply take them out before chaos ensues. The show always maintains its dark tone and while that atmosphere sets it apart, I also felt it hurt it just a bit. There is a little bit of comic relief thrown in, but Hei is a cold main protagonist that takes a long time to warm up to. I was literally eight episodes in before I realized the true side he was on in terms of motives, and I feel more time spent on his story at the start (rather than the middle) could have made myself as the viewer warm up to him overall. I will say though that once Darker than Black sinks its teeth into you, it is hard to stop watching and a bit of randomly timed viewing for this series quickly turned into a marathon to the fantastic finish by the start of the third disc.
Visuals
You are purchasing a Blu-ray set here, so a slight visual upgrade of the Darker than Black that you knew should be expected. That being said, the picture quality is this anime does not differ much aside from additional softness to the color tones, but the 1080p upgrade is sure to be welcomed from fans who have already obtained the season 2 set that is already on Blu-ray.
As I stated, this is a dark show in terms of dialogue and narrative alike, and the dimly lit setting definitely reflects that in every way possible. Nearly the entire frame of every sequence features rich animation, with even the facial features of background faces standing out and making a scene come to life.
Audio
Fans of the Japanese dub will be elated to know that the full product can be utilized here with English subtitles that are automatic. The English dub has also been retained and is the default of the set, and the voice actors do a superb job of capturing the personalities that are portrayed. I know that is a small compliment, but I have encountered many aged products that did not have great quality, and even though it was just a bit since Darker than Black received a dub, I still feel it is worth mention of the cast’s voice work here.
The music and soundtrack definitely captures the aura of the show as well, with the quick and snappy credits preparing us for a more serious anime, with the ending credits containing a light and airy Japanese tune.
Extras
The special features are a bit of a mixed bag. Some of the episodes contain commentaries that are fairly interesting, but not all are covered with this bonus audio. We do get some clips from the audition process as well as several trailers and other Easter Eggs however, and while there have been better sets for popular anime, Darker than Black offers just enough to appease new and longtime fans with a bit of fan service and extra viewing for this release.
Overall
Darker than Black is a great anime that definitely has aged well despite being eight years old. Is the price point too high for the set? Well, that really depends on the fan as “standard fare” is a good term to describe what is on display here. That aside however, you still are getting over six hundred minutes of entertainment as a whole in this package. Sure, it takes Darker than Black’s first season a bit to get off the ground, but once its off and the skies are clear, this is one show that takes viewers for an unforgettable ride and is as of now the definitive version of a great series.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
As you may know, live action Attack on Titan films have been in the works for a while and it will soon be released to theaters in Japan starting in August but given the popularity of the series, it seems FUNimation has decided that they are going to jump on the boat early with this one.
The company announced earlier today that they have licensed the films for North America as well as Central and South America with the license including the theatrical, digital, home video, and broadcast rights to the films. In fact, the company even announced that they will be holding the world premiere of the first film at Los Angeles’ Egyptian Theater on July 14th, almost a full month before the movie premieres in Japan on August 1st.
The massive Summer 2015 anime season will start later this week and FUNimation has drawn first blood with the streaming announcements by announcingthat they will be streaming thirteen brand new titles this summer season. This includes the continuing streams of One Piece, Fairy Tail, Ninja Slayer, UltimateOtaku Teacher, and The Heroic Legend of Arslan.
The list of the new thirteen titles can be found below:
Snow White with the Red Hair
Rampo Kitan
Gangsta.
Seiyu’s Life
Bikini Warriors
Prison School
Hetalia: The World Twinkle
Aquarion Logos
Sky Wizards Academy (Kusen Madoshi)
Junjo Romantica 3
Overlord
Castle Town Dandelion
SHIMONETA: A Boring World Where the Concept of Dirty Jokes Doesn’t Exist
The company has stated that they will be streaming a total of twenty shows this season so this means that there are still two titles that have yet to be announced and that announcement will likely come later this week and probably involve Dragon Ball Super in some form.
You may not have heard of Mr. Tired Media before but you have likely played games that the two members of the team have worked on in the past as it consists of NIS America’s marketing manager Ryan Philips and the company’s localization editor Nick Doerr. Well since leaving the company they have been working on a few things and they have just announced their very first internally developed game that monster girl fans will likely be keen on checking out. The title is called Undead Darlings ~no cure for love~ and is a visual novel dungeon crawling RPG that takes place in an apocalyptic world where a zombie plague has swept the land.
Despite sounding fairly generic, Undead Darlings ~no cure for love~ is described as taking place in the “funpocalypse” for you see, players take on the role of Reginald “Reggie” Happenstahnce who happens to be the son of the scientist who managed to create a cure for the zombie plague. The only problem is, he must try and deliver the cure to a place where it can be mass-produced and he is fairly wimpy on his own.
Thankfully, it seems that a small number of girls, including one of Reggie’s closest friends, seem to be partially immune to the disease. While it is true that they are indeed dead and have returned as zombies, all of the girls have managed to retain parts of their humanity and are willing to help Reggie on his journey through post-apocalyptic dungeons where the girls will fight against the undead in turn-based battles.
Throughout their journey Reggie will be interacting with these girls and making various dialogue choices during visual novel segments that will allow him to grow closer to the girls and potentially learn more about them. If the player manages to get close enough to one of the girls she might even volunteer to be the first test subject for the cure. Currently Undead Darlings ~no cure for love~ is seeking funding on Kickstarter where they are asking for $50,000 to fund a PC version of the game though PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita stretch goals are included in the list for $100,000 and $225,000 respectively.
A new visual novel by the name of How to Take Off Your Mask now has a set release date on Steam. Publisher roseVeRte has announced that the visual novel will be released on Steam, where it will be available for PC and Mac, on July 10th. The story of How to Take Off Your Mask follows a female protagonist named Lilia who thought she was an ordinary baker living in Leezera, the capital of Eroolia. That is until one day when she woke up she found herself transformed into a cat-girl known as a luccretia.
After panicking about her new situation, she runs into a city guard named Ronan. Despite being childhood friends with a clumsy boy named Ronan long ago, she is unsure if this man is actually him. How to Take Off Your Mask features only one romantic interest but the character’s personality will change depending on the type of decisions players make throughout the game. You can check out a promotional trailer for the game below as well as an early demo here.
