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Assassination Classroom Volume 2 Review

March 9, 2015

Assassination Classroom Volume 2
Author: Yusei Matsui
Artist: Yusei Matsui
Publisher: Viz Media
Release Date: February 3, 2015
Price: $9.99 – Available Here

Overview
Despite the large amount of manga series that take place in a school setting, very few series actually take the time to create a story utilizing an entire class. We’ve already seen how different Yusei Matsui’s Assassination Classroom tackles the concept of a school in the first volume and now that the second volume of this unique comedy manga has hit stores, is the story worth continuing?

Story
Despite the best efforts from some of the students of Kunugigaoka Junior High’s Class 3-E, only one has even come close to harming Koro-Sensei, their super powered teacher who is promising to destroy the world by the time they graduate. As such, a new teacher named Irina Jelavich has been assigned to Class E under the guise of a language teacher while her true nature is that of a merciless assassin that uses her feminine wiles to eliminate her target.

Even with the introduction of this new teacher, Class E must also deal with upcoming midterms that they are woefully unprepared for while also planning for an upcoming school trip. Class E already has experienced a far different classroom experience than everyone else throughout the first volume but in the second volume things only get better.

As you may surmise, there are three mini-arcs that take place throughout the second volume of Assassination Classroom though the final arc does not reach its conclusion in this volume and leaves readers at a cliffhanger. In many ways this makes the second volume of Assassination Classroom better than the first as the first volume that would lose momentum anytime a new classmate was introduced only to be relegated back to being a side character immediately after the events.

Thanks to the back to back story arcs in volume two this is no longer an issue and it seems that Yusei Matsui has found a relatively perfect length for these mini-arcs as they run three to four chapters in length depending on their importance to the overall story. The first arc features the introduction of Irina Jelavich who believes that she is more than capable of taking down Koro-Sensei and thanks to her hostile attitude and unwillingness to teach the students, Class E quickly turns on her but once this issue is resolved not only does the class receive an interesting new teacher that has issues adapting to a normal life style and still readily uses her beauty to get what she wants but a fresh set of jokes stemming from her.

The real highlight comes from the midterms as we see just how revolting Kunugigaoka Junior High is. Previously readers were introduced to Class E being the worst class in school and were treated poorly because of this, but in this arc pulls back the curtain on why Class E exists and how it became that way and it is all thanks to the principal of the school, Gakuho Asano. Asano serves as an all seeing enemy that forces even Koro-sensei to obey his whims and utilizes various cruel and dirty tricks to ensure that his learning system, one that uses the mistreated members of Class E as an example of what can happen to them if they choose to not work their very hardest, stays in place, even if it means that everyone in Class E must suffer.

With the introduction of a truly evil principal that is pulling the strings to keep Class E in line and a well-established new teacher, who is called Ms. Vitch once the students are on friendly terms with her as opposed to Hellabitch, the story continues to move at a strong pace as we the school experience continues on with the addition of these new faces and small developments with the rest of the cast, including Karma and Koro-sensei as he does his best to help his pupils grow and teach the students who see no way out of their current lives other than to assassinate him.

Artwork
The artwork throughout volume two remains similar as before as it features a very clean look that with simplistic but memorable character designs for the core cast of students. There is a certain element this time around that really does deserve mentioning and that is the way the students visualize the tests they take. As the class takes their midterms they visualize various questions as monsters that need to be slain which is a real unique take on the situation. It also should go without saying that Koro-sensei remains a highlight throughout the volume thanks to his humorously drawn expressions and attitude.

Extra Content
Assassination Classroom Volume 2 begins with two pages that describe the story so far as well as a brief introduction to the various characters that have been focused on so far. Following this, at the end of every chapter there is both a sketch and brief description for a character or extra little pieces of information about either the school or a matter mentioned in the chapter while the start of most features artwork of the members of Class E. Finally to close out the volume there is a mini chapter featuring a crossover with the non-localized manga The Mishaps of Kusou Saiki that is then followed by some brief character design notes and a message from the author.

Overall
With the addition of the smart but also immature professional assassin Jelavich and the viciously evil Principle Asano forcing Class E down, Assassination Classroom Volume 2 manages to outperform its predecessor by relying on interesting min-arcs and introducing new characters to keep things fresh. Despite how serious things can be at times, especially with the midterm arc, there is still plenty of humor to be found here, mostly thanks to Koro-sensei, Jelavich, and Karma. It does feel like the whole assassination element is taking a bit of a backseat for now as very few characters try to take Koro-sensei down but this Assassination Classroom seems to only be getting better as it goes on.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse Review

Dustin Spencer

March 9, 2015

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse
Developer: HAL Laboratory
Publisher: Nintendo
Platforms: Nintendo Wii U
Release Date: February 20, 2015
Price: $39.99 USD – Available Here

Overview
Kirby may have had a great number of releases, but Nintendo have waited a bit before having the lovable mascot debut on the Wii U. Maybe the reasoning behind that was due to the development of Smash, but its also because Kirby titles have to have nothing but quality before releasing – and while the platforming is great, HAL have always enjoyed putting our pink hero in new situations with gimmicks galore. After Return to Dreamland and Triple Deluxe brought us more foundation for the franchise, Kirby and the Rainbow Curse calls for something more unique. Utilizing the same mechanics as Kirby’s Canvas Curse and Yoshi’s Touch and Go, this release is out to please visually, with a bit of a sturdier challenge than before. How does it fare for the Wii U? Let’s find out.

Story
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse starts out like most Kirby titles, with our little hero innocently playing with Waddle Dee in the fields of Dream Land. Just a few moments later, the sky opens up and a new villain by the name of Claycia drains the world of its color, sucking the life out of every living thing in sight. That is where we meet Elline, a magical little paintbrush who falls into the world, restoring Kirby and Waddle Dee so they can put a stop to the menace once and for all. That is the little plot that awaits, and its quite charming. Sure, it doesn’t take any risks for the series or deliver much outside the norm, but Kirby fans will be pleased as the same atmosphere is completely in tact, inviting the players yet again on a memorable little adventure that is played in a brand new way of sorts.

Gameplay
Rainbow Curse is very similar to Canvas Curse in many ways, but the two titles really shouldn’t be compared. Instead of copying abilities from enemies, Kirby has to smash into them at a certain speed, gaining momentum from your magical little stylus controlled paintbrush. Yes folks, you will be just using the Gamepad for this title, as everything you do is stylus controlled, with the gimmick being a rainbow colored rope that the player must create for a ball-shaped Kirby to roll on. Making ramps, loops, and allowing Kirby to gain speed is how stages are finished, with a great number of little puzzles to figure out throughout each stage. For instance, water may be pouring down to slow Kirby to a halt, but with your rope you can get the little guy moving and also paint another rope to block the waterfall entirely to keep everyone nice and dry. Another scenario you will see are spikes that can take out Kirby quickly unless you draw a path to keep him protected. Its a simple mechanic, but one that requires the player to pay attention to every piece of the stage so they get the most out of the playthrough.

It isn’t all about rolling along your own thread though. While that works fluidly and the stylus is very responsive, the player also gets to take part in vehicular stages of sorts, with Kirby transforming into a Rocket, Tank, and Submarine. We saw these types of vehicles before in titles such as Epic Yarn, but with the gimmick on display, it does give a new way to enjoy them. Those wanting a little something extra will be happy to know that Kirby does obtain a power-up, allowing him to grow and shoot at a very fast speed, destroying anything in his path for a short amount of time. It only costs 100 stars to perform this tactic, which gives players a better reason to collect every star they see throughout each stage as the maneuver is very useful as a good number of secrets and collectibles can be found using the extra power.

Exploration is something that is rewarded, and those who take the time to toy with their surroundings will find a prize in every corner. Collectibles such as figurines can be found in treasure chests, which are hidden well in every stage. Sure, this is a Kirby title and it is not going to be a sturdy challenge, but when you set out to obtain everything such as stars and chests in a particular area, the difficulty does go up greatly as there are plenty of items that are placed in dangerous areas. Boss battles end each area well enough and are done in a great way. For instance, a standard bout with Whispy Woods is not exactly what the player will find as new obstacles make themselves very present to make for a more unique take on something we have experienced in just about every Kirby game to date. I still don’t know how that stupid tree gets himself on the opposing side of Kirby every time, but its a quirk that assists in providing familiarity to an already blissful experience.

Those who want a bit of extra meat can look towards the multiplayer, where local players can assist through Wiimote control, taking the roles of Waddle Dees. The Dees don’t do alot other than pick up Kirby and attack enemies, but it is a fun little extra. Challenge mode brings a lot of content with it, as these short stages allow players to collect medals by quickly creating a rope to solve an environmental puzzle. I’ll be honest, a good number of these are tough – which makes me wonder why HAL didn’t add that difficulty to the story mode. With that said, hardcore fans wanting to test themselves will find a lot to do after beating the main game through this mode. Amiibo support is rather minimal as it just gives Kirby power-ups, but that is just fine as the little bonuses act as a way to make the game easier and allow for more interesting second visits to each stage.

Visuals
The clay aesthetic bodes well in Kirby and the Rainbow Curse, giving us a world full of color. Cutscenes appear to use stop-motion animation, with doors stretching out frame by frame to lay out the next area and Kirby literally making a splat when falling from a long jump. Its different, but quite endearing. Personally, I never was a fan of clay in the art world, but it works with Kirby’s universe, giving this particular release a gimmick to call its own. Every bit of this world really is made of clay and while the mechanics never bring that into the mix really, the stages are definitely beautiful little art pieces from beginning to end. I guess I also should bring up that you are required to look at the “non-HD” Gamepad for this adventure, but honestly, this title is made for the Gamepad. Sure, you can look up and see it in a better format, but the mechanics are more important than the visuals here, and you can enjoy them all the same on the smaller screen.

Audio
The soundtrack for Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is very pleasant. I wouldn’t say it was the best set of music for Kirby ever as most seems to be tracks that have been remixed to better fit in this world, but fans will enjoy what they hear and be whistling to the tunes in no time. The sound effects are also well crafted, with Kirby’s little yells and environmental noises bringing Dream Land full circle. Its all about the same as before, but again, the gameplay is so much of the forefront of this title that the rest, while great – simply paints a more complete picture of a world much traveled.

Overall
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is a fine debut for the pink mascot on the Wii U. While it doesn’t provide an entirely original experience, it still is refreshing and a joy to play. Nintendo seem to use Kirby to test the waters for other titles, and with this being the first real touch-screen only adventure for the platform, I must say that what we have here is an effort that paves the way for the merging of the handheld and console market for Nintendo. Rainbow Curse is a charming and fulfilling game that slides right into that “hidden gem” category, giving yet another high mark for a franchise known for its consistency.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Xbox Newsbeat: March 9th, 2015

Andrew Day

March 9, 2015

Did you guys all know that it is a pretty big time of the year for games? GDC and PAX East just wound up, which means there were a tonne of new game announcements and updates. Of course Microsoft was leading the charge with their ID@Xbox programme, so we here have banded together to bring you a special GDC-centric episode of Xbox Newsbeat. So kick back, put your feet up and catch up on all the latest goss from GDC.

Phil Spencer Announces Developer Tools to Bring Games to Billions

Microsoft boss Phil Spencer took to the stage at GDC to announce the company’s next steps. More specifically, Spencer detailed how the company would be putting a strong emphasis on game development by giving developers the tools they need to succeed. Below is a summary of the details shared with the game developers at GDC:

Xbox Live SDK Available for Windows 10: Xbox Live SDK for Windows 10 is currently in the hands of managed partners, who will use it to create new games, but soon it will be available to a broader set of developers. This SDK will provide access to the vast majority of Xbox Live services currently available on Xbox One, under a shared set of APIs, integrated with the Windows Store.

Windows Universal App Platform: Windows 10 brings together one core operating system, one application platform, one gaming social network, one store, and one ingestion path across all Windows PCs, Tablets, Phones and Xbox One consoles. It will be easier than it has ever been for developers to bring content to PCs, tablets, phones, Xbox consoles, and future Windows 10 devices like Microsoft HoloLens.

Windows Store: For developers, the promise of one store across devices means they will now have the ability and flexibility to deliver content across PCs, console, tablets, and phones, easily and quickly. Similarly, by enabling new experiences such as cross-buy, developers now have more flexibility on the features they deliver to gamers across Windows devices.

Universal Development Centre: The Universal Development Centre is the developer portal for building and delivering games to the Windows Store. It provides fast, lightweight game submission and update capabilities within the developer’s direct control, as well as access to key metrics to help understand their games performance.

DirectX 12: DirectX 12 enables PC developers to have a new level of power and control. It is a single API developers can access across Windows devices.

Accessories: All wireless Xbox gaming accessories will be designed for and supported on both Xbox One consoles and Windows 10 PCs moving forward. Later this year, Microsoft will be delivering a Wireless Adapter that will allow consumers to use current Xbox controllers and future devices wirelessly on a PC.

Elite: Dangerous is coming to Xbox One: Elite: Dangerous will be coming to Xbox One this summer. Developed by famed designer and Frontier CEO David Braben, Elite: Dangerous combines elements of space adventure, resource trading, and combat simulation to create a wholly unique experience that’s quite literally out of this world.

ID@Xbox Program Comes to Windows 10: Many ID@Xbox games have shipped, hundreds of games are in development, and more than 1,000 independent studios have Xbox One development kits in hand. Microsoft revealed that ID@Xbox will be expanding to help developers succeed by reaching gamers on Xbox One and Windows 10.

Gigantic Comes to Windows 10 and Xbox One: Microsoft announced a partnership with Motiga to bring its first game, Gigantic, to Windows 10 and Xbox One. Gigantic is a five-on-five third-person battle arena game with a beautiful fantasy art style where you select from an array of heroes with distinctive powers and play styles and wield your way through areas to defeat your opposition’s Guardian.

Microsoft HoloLens: As announced on January 21, Microsoft HoloLens is the world’s first fully untethered holographic computer running Windows 10. Developers in the Windows ecosystem will be able to create games to reach the masses through a system where they can designate their games distribution even for future devices – devices like Microsoft HoloLens. The reaction to Microsoft HoloLens has been incredible. While there are going to be many uses and industries that take advantage of Microsoft HoloLens and everything that holographic computing has to offer, gaming is a huge opportunity.

New ID@Xbox Games Storm GDC

While game developers are getting some pretty new toys for the future, us gamers are getting some right now! Below is a list of some (but far from ALL) of the games that Microsoft announced as coming from their ID@Xbox program in the coming months:

Bedlam (RedBedlam)
Beyond Eyes (Team17)
ClusterPuck 99 (PHL Collective)
Cuphead (Studio MDHR)
Earthlock: Festival of Magic (Snowcastle Games)
The Flame in the Flood (The Molasses Flood)
Fortified (Clapfoot Games)
Game 4 (The Behemoth)
Goat Simulator (Double Eleven)
LA Cops (Team 17)
Magic Duels: Origins (Wizards of the Coast)

Mighty No. 9 (Comcept)
Pixel Galaxy (Serenity Forge)
R.B.I. Baseball 15 (MLB.com)
Rivals of Aether (Dan Fornace)
Shadow Blade: Reload (Dead Mage)
Shovel Knight (Yacht Club Games)
SMITE (Hi-Rez Studios)
Submerged (Uppercut Games)
Super Dungeon Bros (React! Games)
SWORDY (Frogshark)
The Sun and Moon (Digerati Distribution and Marketing)
ZHEROS (Rimlight Studios)

So you can expect the Xbox Live Marketplace to be filled with a tonne of games over the next few months. Some of the big hitters to look out for are Magic Duels: Origins, Goat Simulator, Shovel Knight and Mighty No. 9.

Phew, that is a lot of info to digest under two short headlines. I hope we didn’t burn you all out on the sweet gaming news. Which of the upcoming ID@Xbox games excite you the most? Let us know in the comments below and make sure you stay tuned to Capsule Computers for all the awesome Microsoft news as it becomes available.

Ghost in the Shell: Arise Borders 1 & 2 Review

Brandon Postal

March 8, 2015

Ghost in the Shell: Arise Borders 1 & 2 Review

Ghost in the Shell: Arise Borders 1 & 2
Studio: Production I.G.
Publisher: Funimation
Format: Blu-Ray/DVD
Release Date: 28 October 2014
Price: $34.99 USD – Available Here

Overview

Ghost in the Shell: Arise is an OVA series telling the story of how Motoko Kusanagi, a military specialist cyborg, came to work for Public Security. The series is heavy on cyberpunk themes with a focus on transhumanism and what it means to be human. These episodes take place before the original manga and are a prequel of sorts. The story starts off before Major Kusanagi leaves the military, and the circumstances thereof. This set is a four-disc set of two OVA’s, with each OVA on two discs, Blu-Ray and DVD. We have also reviewed the first OVA, Ghost Pain, in it’s Australian release here.

Story

The story of Ghost in the Shell: Arise follows the overall series main protagonist army Major Motoko Kusanagi. In this iteration of the series we follow a young Katsuragi still working for the army in an investigative role. The ensemble cast of the main series hasn’t been assembled at the start of this OVA series, though that quickly changes as they all run into each other. The cast begins to fall into place during the investigation which takes place in the first OVA as an investigation brings them all together. This is more or less completed in the second OVA by the ending.

The actual stories of Arise are thrillers, but ultimately somewhat formulaic. In the first OVA Ghost Pain, the story follows a number of different individuals investigating the murder of a member of the military. Batou and Kusanagi investigate as well as a city detective. The plot goes through numerous twists and turns causing characters to question themselves and motives. As a cyberpunk story we’re led to question what is real and what is fake when all you have is a digital memory that can be hacked and altered. Ultimately the story brings everything full circle, but to me it was a bit of a letdown. It seems to have been needlessly complex in parts where simplicity would have sufficed.

We see the same issue in the second story. In Ghost Whispers, the Major is investigating another crime, only this one is in progress. This episode of Arise features much more action, and to me felt like a better story. The first OVA struggled to get it’s pace down as it got hampered by the constant introduction of all the characters which the show needs us to meet. Ghost Whispers is able to trim much of that out and focus on the crime in progress which is a large scale hacking event that freezes the city in it’s tracks. Ultimately the hacking attack leads us again to question what is real and fake, which is somewhat disappointing that they would go for such similar storytelling two episodes in a row.

In these two OVA’s Arise is still struggling to find it’s place and figure out what it wants to bring the viewer. The struggle of Kusanagi and the struggle to define what is real and what isn’t is done well. However, the lack of strong narrative to bind both OVA’s together is a flaw. It’s nice that the general thematic elements are present in both, but I felt that in Ghost Whispers this could have been handled better. If you slow down and stop trying to look for the deeper cyberpunk themes and questions of morality, it’s still a solid pair of OVA’s, though perhaps a bit slow for today’s thrill-seeking viewer. Ultimately I enjoyed the military complex themes and ideas, as well as Kusanagi’s struggle to find her place.

Visuals

As with most Production I.G. works, the visuals of Ghost in the Shell: Arise are stunning. The title was released in Japan in theaters prior to it’s Blu-Ray release. Generally OVA’s tend to have much more put into anime, and watching Ghost in the Shell: Arise on Blu-Ray clearly demonstrates this. This isn’t to say that the DVD copy’s are bad, but they’re in no way as crisp and clear. Some parts of the OVA were a bit of a letdown in visual quality, but overall the artwork is excellent. Best of all are the action scenes, with crisp fluid movements.

The majority of character designs and environment are beautifully done, with the environment feeling like a near-future metropolis. The mixture of scenes such as Motoko visiting a robotic hospital to viewing dirty back alley’s evokes the aesthetic of Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner. As is becoming typical in modern anime CG is mixed in with the more traditional artwork. It’s well-done in Ghost in the Shell: Arise, and the CG doesn’t feel intrusive to me.

I don’t feel like these are movie quality OVA’s, but they’re still well-executed and drawn. I’d like to make a special note of the cyberspace scenes. I found the different natures and designs of different cyberspace areas to be quite beautifully done. Of note is the hacking of the primary antagonist in Ghost Whispers. I found his layered world and different areas to be excellently done and the visualization of his hacking of the city was quite nice.

Audio

The audio may come as a bit of a shock to long time Ghost in the Shell fans. Both the English and Japanese voice actors were recast for the series, bringing on new actors in place of longtime favorites. Regardless, the actors do a fine job bringing the characters to life on the screen. Personally while I don’t prefer English dubs the voice cast assembled by Funimation was well chosen.

The music for the OVA’s is excellent. It’s very well composed, and I found myself enjoying all the various background tracks. The music during the fights is exceptional, and well worth listening to even beyond it’s role as background music. Both audio tracks were done in 5.1 surround, which is nice for people who have it and not really a detraction if you don’t.

Extras

For Ghost in the Shell Arise the extra’s are a bit of a letdown. While opening the extras menu gives the viewer a vast number of options many are ultimately pointless. The large majority are trailers and teasers as well as promotional videos. There are a couple of shorts which were nice to include, as well as a commentary track from the English cast and crew for Ghost Whispers. Additionally there is a featurette of the promotion for Ghost in the Shell: Arise from Anime Expo 2013. There are a couple of shorts from the production crew at I.G. talking about the film for the premieres as well. On this release as far as content goes, you don’t get too much beyond the actual OVA’s themselves.

Overall

While Ghost in the Shell: Arise isn’t a bad release, it’s also not a great one. The limited extras and the fact that you’re really only recieving two hours of content from this set hurt a lot. The actual stories are acceptable, but far from the legendary quality that Ghost in the Shell has built up in the years. I enjoyed these episodes, but unless you’re a huge Ghost in the Shell fan seeking more content, I would advise steering away from this set until you’ve torn through Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex or the original Ghost in the Shell films.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Pen Meets Paper Looks at Eidolon: The Electrodyne Opera

Mateja Simovic

March 8, 2015

Pen Meets Paper Looks at Eidolon: The Electrodyne Opera

It’s been a while since I’ve done an article on good ol’ pen and paper role-playing games and, since the last one appeared to be quite popular, I jumped at the chance to provide an opinion on a friend’s sourcebook. I have personally met the author, Angelus Morningstar (yes, that is his name), and he has personally kicked my ass in a variety of tabletop and roleplaying games. The copy of Eidolon: The Electrodyne Opera I received was complimentary to write this article and I trust that you, dear readers, can see that the opinion I give below is a fair and critical assessment. This is not a review and I will not be providing a score at the end.

Allow me first to tell you what this book is not. It is not your stock-standard RPG guide with which you simply roll up characters, pick monsters, and roll dice to resolve conflicts. It is not a manual with easily digestible, compartmentalised entries. What you will find instead are pieces of a fractured, steampunk world written in some very eloquent prose that will inspire you in creating your own adventures.

The strength of this book isn’t in the mechanical system it brings to play, because there aren’t any (as I’ve clearly stated), but rather in the world that it builds. You might find the author’s voice to be flowery and verbose but, if you’re willing to listen, he will paint you a world that is both exotic and familiar.

The universe which Morningstar creates is at its most basic a high-fantasy steampunk world. This description does not do it justice however, as he creates societies, ideals, and an entire universe which cosmically encourages player characters to seek out stories of their own. This is essentially what pen and paper RPG games are all about and although some do their best to obscure this central tenet, this universe embraces this fundamental aspect. Eidolon makes the creation of stories and dramatic arcs a part of its in-game universe and therefore it becomes a crucial aspect of your character to seek out their place in the Skein (Destiny).

The setting of Eidolon is a great mix of high fantasy and recognisable elements from established mythic lore. The entire universe is an interesting deconstruction of how human perception requires that we build abstract ideas onto concepts we already understand. The world itself is a massive orrery as the universe takes on a very distinct steampunk feel as planetary bodies themselves are a part of a gigantic clockwork system.

The world’s history (or mythology) is especially a joy to read through. Morningstar has altered commonly known tales (such as the legend King Arthur or the twelve labours of Hercules) and real historical figures into something familiar but uncanny. Through changes (both subtle and not) the universe takes a shape which reflects more progressive ideals and a world which isn’t bound by such phenomena as patriarchy. My personal favourite alteration is the steampunk version of Nikola Tesla as an electric wizard who duels with the steampunk version of Thomas Edison.

These changes are surprisingly refreshing in the realm of fantasy and fiction in general. If an author could make a world which has working alchemy and dragons, it becomes a distinct choice to create a society which replicates traditional patriarchy, homophobia, and racism. A choice which is all too common in fantasy as tropes used by writers to create a sense of verisimilitude and the impression of mature content. The fact that Eidolon refuses to go down this path is certainly a refreshing step away for fans of fantasy (or at least, yours truly).

The book goes into great detail about the current state of affairs within the Eidolon setting and provides much fertile ground for players to craft their characters. Particular attention is paid to the nobility of the humans in the world, who have extensively fleshed out backstories for various clans and houses within those clans as they exist within a steampunk empire. Each of them draw upon the central inspiration of storytelling and each clan is based upon an in-universe ‘muse’. Although they are a varied bunch with a wide breadth to choose from alongside ‘archtypes’ to play with, I do wish that there was a greater amount of detail into the fae beings and the “Takwin” (the in-universe name for elemental beings).

The book also sports some generally quite pleasant artwork to accompany the prose. A lot of the images I found to be an excellent addition to the words I was reading. The artwork was generally dynamic and fantastical, which presented a style I thought fit with the general aesthetic of the book. There are a number of pictures I did find to be largely under-done and these felt out of place when compared to the awesome art which does hit the mark.

I also feel that the book should have undergone one more edit to give the writing another look over. Although there aren’t too many grammatical mistakes to be found in Eidolon, they become jarring when presented alongside considered prose. The above are fairly small gripes, but do put a certain blemish onto the body of work and will no doubt infuriate the grammar fascist and art snobs amongst you. This book is more art than it is a game manual, and it is a shame that small mistakes become so noticeable because of this.

This world is also not particularly suited to the types of players who are looking to play campaign as typical hack-and-slash combat heroes (or ‘murder-hobos’). The universe and lore are much more interesting in creating a campaign of courtly steampunk intrigue and I would compare it more to Houses of the Blooded and Vampire: The Masquerade than I would the ever popular Dungeons and Dragons.

Overall, I enjoyed Eidolon: The Electrodyne Opera and the world that it painted for me. It’s a place which is both uncanny and strangely accommodating. The book earns the praise I give it for its writing and unique setting. I would gladly recommend it to fans of literature and GMs who are looking for a setting which is drastically different to the conventional sci-fi/fantasy of most mainstream pen and paper RPGs. I feel that it is certainly, however, more intriguing for players who are experienced and hungry for stories beyond the traditional dungeon crawl and monster slaying especially as it does not have a dedicated ruleset as fleshed out as other books do.

You can find the book online here as well as a working document for simple rules on playing a game yourself. Feel free to voice your opinion of the book below in the comments.

More Character Trailers Released for The Awakened Fate Ultimatum

Travis Bruno

March 7, 2015

Over the last few days NIS America has released four new character trailers for their upcoming title The Awakened Fate Ultimatum. The characters introduced this time are Phyllis and Hien both of which are enemies players will need to deal with in the game as well as the friendly characters Eri and Mariel.

In the videos below you’ll be able to sample more of The Awakened Fate Ultimatum‘s English dub as well as catch a few new snippets of gameplay. Those interested in the game can look forward to picking it up later this month when it is released on March 17th in North America and March 20th in Europe.

Update: Additional character descriptions for the four characters have been added.

Phyllis Introduction

Phyllis is the leader of the Celestia Annihilation Force in the Netherworld. Although she may look like a child, she is remarkably talented at military tactics, and puts most adults to shame. However, because she often acts inhumanely, she is considered dangerous by not just the angels, but also from the devils who are supposed to be her allies.

Hien Introduction

Hien is a human who was turned into the “Vile God” by the Fate Awakening Crystal in the Netherworld. His goals are to heighten his own power, and face those who are even more powerful than he is in fair-and-square fights.

Eri Introduction

Eri is Shin’s classmate from before he awakened as God. Because of her family situation, she doesn’t always exercise her best behavior, and she tends to stand out from her surroundings.

Mariel Introduction

Mariel is Jupiel’s older sister. She has assumed the duties of the Archangel, the chief executive of Celestia. Her top priority is to “defeat the devils and guide Celestia to victory,” and she doesn’t hesitate to make level-headed decisions.

Parasyte -The Maxim- Anime Licensed by Sentai Filmworks

Travis Bruno

March 7, 2015

Parasyte -The Maxim- Anime Licensed by Sentai Filmworks

It may come as something of a surprise, but despite being twenty one episodes in and being an extremely popular series Parasyte -The Maxim- has only just been licensed for release in the West. Sentai Filmworks has announced that they now own the license rights for Parasyte -The Maxim- in North American, South American, UK, Australian, and New Zealand.

A teaser trailer for the series can be found below and the first twelve episodes of Parasyte -The Maxim- are currently available for streaming on hulu. For those who haven’t been watching the series, Sentai Filmworks has provided the below plot description.

Unbeknownst to mankind the world is quietly being invaded. Alien beings known as “Parasytes” begin infiltrating humans one by one, burrowing into their brains to take complete control of both their bodies and their identities. With an insatiable hunger for human flesh these cold and calculating creatures mutate into grotesque monsters who feed on the unsuspecting when they’re not hiding behind the faces of everyday people. Only Shinichi Izumi, a lone high school boy, is aware of the terror lurking in plain sight.
After one Parasyte’s attempt to take over his brain ends in failure, Shinichi’s right arm is instead possessed by this monster with a mind and an agenda all its own. As Shinichi and his unwanted cohabitant, “Migi,” struggle for dominance of his body, the alien infection continues to grow and so does the trail of bodies in its wake. Now Shinichi and Migi must become more than host and parasite if they hope to not only protect themselves, but Shinichi’s loved ones as well. As Shinichi and Migi’s symbiotic bond deepens, will Shinichi be able to hold on to his humanity, or will he evolve into something more than he ever imagined?

Unlock Gold Monster Skins by Playing Evolve This Weekend

Travis Bruno

March 7, 2015

It looks like Turtle Rock Studios and 2K Games are going to offer fans a chance at earning an in-game skin for Evolve without having to shell out money for some of the hundred dollars worth of cosmetic DLC they have already released for the game. This is in fact a special Gold Skin that has previously only been available for developers.

Starting yesterday March 5th from 9:00 PST to 9:00 PM PST March 8th players will be able to unlock the skin by simply playing a match of Evolve online. It is worth noting that the skin will not automatically be unlocked as it will instead be released to players on March 14th. The developers do note that to properly unlock this skin that players will need to link your my2K account to Evolve in order to get the Gold Skin.

Rodea the Sky Soldier’s Latest Trailer Introduces Enemy Types

Travis Bruno

March 7, 2015

Now that NIS America has announced that not only will they be releasing Rodea the Sky Soldier in the West but they will also be including the original unreleased Wii version with all first print copies of the Wii U release of the game, Kadokawa Games has released a new Japanese trailer featuring six minutes of gameplay showing off the type of enemies that Rodea will have to face off against including a flying boss called a Guardian.

Currently Rodea the Sky Soldier is set to be released on the Wii U and 3DS in Japan on April 2nd while the Western release will come sometime later this year during the fall season.

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