This movie looks like it will be absolutely badass! Not only that but with the likes of JK Simmons and Matt Smith joining the ranks, the star power behind it is tremendous!
The first episode of Life is Strange (full review here) was a pleasant surprise in the episodic narrative genre, focusing on relatable issues such as bullying and friendship with a touch of supernatural elements in an awesomely detailed world. Episode 2: Out of Time has now been released and I’m happy to say it manages to continue the fine example set by the first game as well as throw in some shocking surprises and fun gameplay twist. This review contains no spoilers.
Story
Episode 1 introduced us to the ‘small town’ vibe of Arcadia Bay, the school of Blackwell and Max Caulfield’s new time bending powers. Episode 2 expands on everything established in the first episode, delving deeper into the lives of other students as well as Max, your best friend Chloe and even the town itself. This world is so full and lovingly crafted and really feels lived in, a very important aspect of this game to help ground it and make the world feel believable. The game world is also littered with intractable objects you can make, all accompanied by Max’s thoughts, literally giving you insight to how Max thinks and interprets the world in her head.
Max is a very fleshed out character and best of all, she’s your character. The choices you make in this episode have some pretty big impacts on the world around you and the choices you made in the last episode really seemed to matter here, especially during character interactions. It might be the whole illusion of choice thing but it does seem like some parts of the game you hear or play through would never have taken place if you didn’t make some of the choices you did earlier in the game.
It’s hard to talk about the story further without spoiling it but there is an excellent, relatable tale to be told in Life is Strange. Themes many people have experienced in their life such as friendship, bullying, fitting in etc. are present here and it’s great you get to call some of the shots as you might not have had that ability in high school. Episode 2 doesn’t further the main threat we learned about at the end of the first episode or delve much deeper into Rachel Amber’s disappearance, but it deepens character relationships, expands on Max’s character and powers while also setting up a few more mini story lines that will most likely come to a head over the coming episodes. There’s also some big moments that bring the whole episode to a close.
The dialogue isn’t perfect as there are a few times that lines don’t really make sense within the context of the conversations they are spoken in or the writing seems out of place for that character however these instances are pretty sparse within all the dialogue in the game.
Like in the first episode, a fantastic addition to Life is Strange is all the optional story you can read up on through text messages, diary entries and character biographies. The game does a great job at providing you with the necessary information to understand the main story upfront, but for those who are interested in really delving into character histories and past events and Max’s thoughts on everything you can do just that. The journal is presented in this cool scrapbook style, really making it feel like an art students diary.
Gameplay
Life is Strange will rightfully have many people drawing comparisons between itself and Telltale games, as well as titles like Heavy Rain and Beyond: Two Souls. Life is Strange and those games are for the most part very similar, perhaps being more similar to the latter titles as you can freely move around your environment to interact with objects, people or move on to a new area. A small appreciated touch in Life is Strange is the ability to perform a light jog to help you move faster as opposed to being stuck in a slow walk all the time.
You make choices from up to four options in conversations (normally just two), some of which look like they will have a major impact on the story. The options you have in these conversations often change depending on past actions and you can often rewind them if you are not happy with your answer. While there are a lot of smaller decisions that simply alter dialogue or make your tree grow instead of shrivel (which are still fun in there own right), there are also some big decisions to make here and this is where your emotional investment comes into play and you get to feel like a big shot making all the calls.
When you’re not walking around interacting with the world, you’ll be using your time powers to solve puzzles that are well implemented into the story. There are a few of these sprinkled throughout episode 2 and I solidly enjoyed them. Some are challenging and will require you to rewind to remember something or pay more attention to a specific detail you may have glossed over earlier. There is no limit to the amount of times you can rewind time in these instances and some puzzles have multiple solutions allowing different approaches. There are also moments your powers will fail you and these moments are some of the most tense as you can’t rely on retrying. The game does a great job of making you become dependent on your time powers, so you really feel it when it isn’t there.
The time functionality has been implemented excellently by Dontnod. It is not only used to solve puzzles but allows players to reverse decisions they may wish to take back (within reason). People that love to see every possible dialogue option play out will love this feature. If you do rewind through a conversation, next time you have that conversation you can simply use the skip button so you don’t have to listen to the same line again. Another nice touch is an auto rewind for your most recent function you can activate with a simple button press. Also there is a big scene in the game where this feature is really fun to play with but I won’t spoil that for you.
Visuals
The visuals in this game are kind of like a 3D water colour painting with lots of soft tones and visible brush strokes. It looks great and details on characters and the environment are impressive for an art style that appears simplistic on the surface. Environments are incredibly detailed and have just as much personality as the characters within them. The PC version has plenty of options for visual settings and my version suffered no performance issues with my time in the game.
The interface is very clean and has this whole ‘Juno’ feel to it for those familiar with the film. White squiggly line drawings pop up to represent objects you can interact with and also when the game is saving or you have made a consequential decision. When you perform a rewind the visual effects used are really powerful, user friendly and aren’t slow or clumsy. The same can be said about performing a fast rewind or skip and put polish on the already near perfect time control system. The freedom of the camera movement is fun to play with and allows you to set up screenshots in lieu of a proper photo mode which seems like an odd omission for a game based around a photography student.
One big negative that is not easy to overlook however is the lip syncing. It does seem slightly better (or maybe I just paid it less mind this time around) than in episode 1 but is still a big issue for the game, especially as there are a lot of moments where the camera is focused on someone’s face a lot of the time. This is a ‘budget’ title but it doesn’t stand up to the standard set by similar story based titles such as Heavy Rain.
Audio
The game doesn’t have a big soundtrack, with most of the games music being diegetic and playing through headphones or a CD player, however the licensed tracks that accompany the games opening and closing scene as well as some parts in between is perfectly melded to the visuals. I mentioned Juno as a reference before and the audio here also takes some inspiration from the film, with the indie acoustic songs heard here giving off a pleasant, relaxing vibe that compliments the game perfectly.
The voice acting is really good for the most part, with lines delivered well and character’s voices matching their personality from the shy Max to the hard ass veteran security guard or creepy janitor. No sound effects are out of place and complete the wonderfully detailed world.
Overall
Episode 2 takes the great world and characters established in Episode 1 of Life is Strange and continues to expand upon them. The story has a great balance between intense moments and exploration with the highlight of the story definitely coming with this episode. The choices you make feel impactful to crafting your own story as well as the character of Max and the time bending tasks the game lays out for you are both challenging and fun to complete. Complete with beautiful graphics and a perfectly fitting soundtrack, Life of Strange manages to place itself right up there with some of the best of the episodic narrative genre. If you liked Episode 1 definitely pick up this one.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
MangaGamer‘s latest localized visual novel, Princess Evangile, is now available for purchase, or download if you happened to pre-order it. There are two versions of the title available, an All-Ages version that is currently available on Steam for $34.99 where it is temporarily on sale for $31.99 and an Adult version featuring uncensored nudity and sex scenes that can be purchased on MangaGamer’s website (18+ Only) for $44.95.
This PC visual novel is described as a “massive” title that features twenty six different chapters with numerous event CGs as the story follows an entire year of school where the protagonist is enrolled in Vincennes Private Girls’ Academy as the school’s first ever male student as a test to see if they can integrate boys into the student body with there being a vote at the end of the year to determine whether or not the boy can stay in the school or if he will be removed from the premises.
Considering we haven’t seen anything about The Legend of Zelda for the Wii U in a long time, it should come as no surprise that the game has now been delayed. While no exact release window was ever set, Nintendo’s Eiji Aonuma has revealed through a post on the company’s Facebook page that the game will no longer be released in 2015.
No new release window was announced though it should be noted that he went on to say later in the day that the game would also not be appearing at this year’s E3 in any form. It should also be worth noting that most Legend of Zeldagames have suffered delays in the past so this is rather predictable.
Now that Idea Factory International has announced that they plan on releasing Omega Quintet in North America on April 28th and in Europe on May 1st for the PlayStation 4, they have now revealed that a special limited edition will be sold exclusively through their online store.
Pre-orders for the $74.99 / £59.99 limited edition will open on April 2 at 6 p.m. PDT / 12 p.m. GMT and those who purchase the copy will receive a copy of the game, the “Symphony of Art” hardcover art book, the “Symphony of the Verse Maidens” 21-track soundtrack CD, an autograph book, a set of six idol pins, a Collector’s box and a reversible cover sleeve.
Another week has passed and now we have a new character trailer forPersona 4: Dancing All Nightand this time around the trailer is focusing on Chie Satonaka and her unique dancing style where she implements various Kung-Fu techniques into her dance moves to create her own original style to try and captivate the audience.
In the trailer we see Chie in a number of different outfits as she dances to the song “Pursuing my True Self.” You can check out the trailer below while the game itself is set to be released in Japan on June 25th for the PlayStation Vita.
As the release window for Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold: The Fafnir Knight grows closer, Atlus USA has announced that anyone who either pre-orders a copy of the game or picks up a first print copy will be given a number of special launch bonuses. This includes a 22 page art book and a soundtrack CD all contained in a special outer box.
The full details about both bonuses can be found below:
The Official Staff Book – 22 pages of art, including early drafts of character concepts, introductions to the characters, with both explanations of their individual back stories as well as developer insight to the character creation process, and QR Codes that will unlock some beginner-friendly Grimoire Stones.
The Fafnir Knight Rough Sketch Soundtrack – CD soundtrack of early versions of the Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold music by series composer, Yuzo Koshiro. It also has a brief foreword by both Koshiro and Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold director Shigeo Komori. The CD packaging also has an Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold mini-comic!
A new English gameplay video for Operation Abyss: New Tokyo Legacy has been released by NIS America and this time around it focuses on introducing players to the dangers in the dungeons and how even if things look safe, you’ll need to keep an eye out for dangerous traps and swarms of enemies that can appear, especially since they grow stronger the longer you spend in a dungeon.
You can check out the trailer below and be sure to keep an eye out for Operation Abyss: New Tokyo Legacywhen it is released for the PS Vita in North America on June 9th and Europe on June 5th.
Visceral Games wanted to take the venerable Battlefield franchise in a new direction, so DICE took the Dead Space developers up on the deal, bringing the Battlefield Hardline to life. Battlefield Hardline takes the battle to the mean streets of Los Angeles and Miami that puts an explosive twist on the classic childhood game of cops and robbers. The game features a single player campaign with a star studded cast and some serious changes to Battlefield’s multiplayer formula.
Story
The single player campaign stars Detective Nick Mendoza (Nicholas Gonzalez), the newest member of Miami’s drug squad. Mendoza is the good cop who believes in justice and doing the right thing by the book. Unfortunately, his new unit is full of cops who would prefer to do things in a not so legal manner in hopes of keeping the peace. With his partner Khai (Kelly Hu), Mendoza dives into the murky waters of street justice, corruption, and drugs.
Visceral Games sought to create a cop show in a video game with Battlefield Hardline’s single player campaign. The cast packed with TV actors, the short “next time on Hardline,” and the arc like pacing of each episode calls for a hearty mission accomplished! Battlefield Hardline hits all the TV cop show tropes and would fit right in on prime time TV with the likes of Hawaii Five-0 and Chicago P.D. The writing is solid and hits the right tempo of intensity interspersed with some genuine laugh out loud moments.
Gameplay
Battlefield Hardline makes it clear Visceral Games is experienced at making gripping single player games. Although this may irritate a lot of Bad Company fans, Battlefield Hardline is possibly the best single player Battlefield campaign in the franchise. Unfortunately, the campaign is more like a Netflix season than a full prime time TV season, as it only clocks in at ten episodes plus a short prologue.
The solid story is backed up by some interesting new mechanics, including a new emphasis on stealth and non-lethal takedowns. The entire game can be played with a body count that barely pushes past a hundred dead, quite a low number for modern first person shooter. Players are encouraged to arrest enemies or incapacitating them with non-lethal weapons by enticing players with extra goodies from Expert Points. The stealth mechanics are well done, though not too difficult for any player patient enough to methodically lure enemies away. The only thing I could find wrong with the stealth mechanics was the occasional issue when an enemy could hear a brass shell through a thick cement wall.
There are plenty of collectibles in the single player campaign. Evidence collected throughout the game solves a few extra mini-stories that is separate from the main plot. The player’s cellphone will ring throughout the level to remind them to scan the area for evidence. Additionally, an arrow on the scanner will help guide players to the general direction. The other collectible is a little more hands on. Before each level kicks off, players are given a list of open warrants of wanted criminals. Enemies scattered across the level can be scanned and once a wanted criminal is found, players are encouraged to either arrest or execute a non-lethal takedown for a heaping bonus of expert points. I really enjoyed these warrants, as they added an extra challenge to the single player campaign.
Multiplayer serves as the unfortunate counterpoint to the strong single player campaign. Although the game uses a modified Frostbite 3 engine used in Battlefield 4, the game doesn’t feel like a Battlefield title in all the wrong ways. There are some great ideas that I hope to see implemented in Battlefield, but the overall feel of Battlefield Hardline just feels sloppy.
The four Battlefield 4 classes have come back with some serious shuffles. The classes have been rebuilt with a new focus on infantry combat. Machine guns and rocket launchers have been given the boot in favour of zip lines and grappling hooks that players have been drooling about since Battlefield 2: Special Forces. The Assault class is now known as the Operator and refocused as purely a medic. This is probably my favourite change and one begged for by Battlefield players, as the loss of the grenade launcher severely cuts down on the number of selfish Assault players who refuse to carry any sort of team oriented gadget. The grenade launcher has shifted to the Engineer class, now known as the Mechanic. The 40mm launcher replaces the rocket launchers, which now only spawn as special pick-ups scattered across the map. The Mechanic has also taken over the mobile spawn point from the Recon/Professional class and the PDW type weapons that were previously available to all classes. The Support/Enforcer class has largely remained the same, serving as an ammo mule packed to the ears with explosives. Except now, the Enforcer can haul around a ballistic shield. The Recon/Professional class has probably seen the most disappointing changes overall, as they now have no close quarter options with the loss of cross-class weapons.
Weapons and gadgets are now purchasable with cash earned by playing the game. No longer are players forced to play a class to unlock some later weapon in a specific order. Instead, certain weapons are locked to one faction and a certain number of kills must be reached to unlock it for the other faction. Weapon accessories are also locked behind a kill counter. Personally I’m rather fond of this system gives player a lot more flexibility to play the game how they want to sooner, versus grinding things out.
Commander mode makes a return as Hacker mode. It is possibly the best commander implementation in the series so far. Hackers have been given access to more tools to support their respective teams. The traditional UAV and jammers are back, along with a much needed tweak to the orders system. This time, squad leaders do not have to explicitly accept their orders. Instead, the point of interest automatically show up on the squad HUD and give the hacker bonus points when followed. Cameras, weapon drops, gas valves, and power transformers are scattered across the map. Dueling hackers will fight for control of these points to give their squad the strategic upper hand. These can range from damaging and dazing enemies from the gas and power transformers, intelligence from cameras, or access to heavy weaponry. The only problem with the mode is the unintuitive controls from Battlefield 4 have carried over, with left clicks handling all the selection, right clicks immediately clearing the current selection, and an annoying menu that blocks the screen. I would have preferred a control scheme a little more familiar to RTS players.
Visceral Games has brought back the classic Conquest and Team Deathmatch modes to complement their new game modes. Blood Money lets the two teams to fight over one pile of money. Players load up their bags and hustle off to their vault to stash their cash; however, crafty enemy players can circumvent the intense firefight near the stack of money by raiding the enemy vault. The mode is possibly the best of the new modes, but it isn’t saying much. Games often end in a team deathmatch style dog pile over the cash pile, which isn’t really inspiring. Hotwire is possibly the most disappointing of the bunch. It is billed as a high speed version of conquest where players need to drive special vehicles at high speeds to gain conquest points, while being relentlessly chased by the enemy. In actuality, the game mode is a rather boring exercise in driving around until the player hits an ambush and gets blown off the road. Heist is a slight twist on Rush mode, where the attacking team must plant their bombs on a safe and then run the contents back to their base. The two final modes will come as the biggest shock to Battlefield veterans. Crosshair and Rescue removes ability to respawn, instead favouring round based combat ala Counter Strike. Crosshair is a VIP-based mode while Rescue will see cops attempting to rescue a hostage. These two modes are not particularly popular, but are a refreshing new take on the franchise.
Battlefield Hardline refocuses the franchise on infantry combat. A vast majority of the vehicles now serve as transportation, with the exception of one or two vehicle spawns per map. Instead, players are encouraged to poke themselves out of the window and serve as their vehicle’s firepower. It’s a great idea, but does little to recreate the epic vehicle battles the series is known for. Mixed in with the game modes that either encourages bottlenecked infantry combat or general wandering around, the multiplayer mode feels like it is lacking some depth.
The new maps are decent, though it lacks a stellar map that will be forever cherished to the point that remakes are demanded in every future Battlefield game. I give credit to Hollywood Heights as being the best demonstration of the Frostbite 3 engine’s destruction capabilities. By the end of the game, the lines of fire are completely different due to the extensive destruction of the walls.
The dreaded net code issues with Battlefield 4 feel like they have been largely fixed in Battlefield Hardline. Hats off to Visceral, as the hit registration feels pretty darn good to me. It is worth a mention that a lot of Visceral’s work on the net code will be reflected in Battlefield 4 in a future patch.
Visuals
Battlefield Hardline looks great. Great care has been taken to recreate the TV experience, including camera angles and the new report type intros for the loading screens. The maps scream LA and Miami. Since the game is running on Frostbite 3, the system requirements shouldn’t come as a shock to any players, as they remain largely the same.
Audio
The single player voice acting is stellar, thanks to the star studded cast Visceral landed. I only wish they used some of that studio time to have the cast record some lines for the multiplayer gamer, as there are spots of weak voice acting showing through at times. The soundtrack is spot on, with plenty of urban tracks to compliment the game’s setting and the in game radio in the multiplayer cars. The sound effects are solid, with Battlefield Hardline continuing the tradition of strong surround sound audio effects.
Overall
My feelings with Battlefield Hardline are pretty mixed. On one hand, it delivers the best single player experience in the franchise, on the other hand, the multiplayer doesn’t feel worthy of the franchise name. For Battlefield players who frequent infantry only servers, Battlefield Hardline may be the game they have been waiting for all this time. The major changes to the class system have some hits and misses. Hats off to Visceral for taking a huge gamble with the franchise, I genuinely hope they handle all future single player campaigns. Unfortunately, the big draw of a Battlefield game is the multiplayer. It feels pretty hollow due to the focus on infantry combat and the uninspiring game modes.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
The latest game in the Asteroidsfranchise hits Steam Early Access today. The new game is a far cry from its classic arcade roots. Instead Asteroids: Outpost is a open world survival sandbox game from Salty Games.
Players take on the role of a space miner looking to strike it rich, all while battling other miners, dodging asteroid showers, and managing life support systems. Asteroids: Outpost features a full technology tree that will allow players to build technically complex bases, mine asteroids, and go toe to toe against hostile claim jumpers.
Salty Games has not given a date for Asteroids: Outpost to leave Steam Early Access. The game currently has all the base mechanics in place, with more content being added in a near monthly release cycle.
Atari is celebrating the game’s launch by knocking the price down to honour the original launch date of the Asteroids arcade game. Asteroids: Outpost will be $19.79 USD until April 2nd on Steam and runs on Windows only.
