The Japanese translation team for Katawa Shoujo will be returning to Comiket this year, and hard copies of the game will be available for purchase at their table. If you can get to Tokyo Big Sight on Sunday, August 16, consider checking out Comiket 88 and heading over to east hall 2, space T-30a.
Four Leaf Studios announced on their official blog a couple of weeks ago that version 1.3.1 of Katawa Shoujo has been released. This update contains several script updates for the Japanese translation, and is available for free download for Windows, Mac and Linux at their official website. This will be the finalr release of the game; official support for it has ended. Four Leaf Studios will still be contactable via email, social media, forums and IRC.
Overview
Street Fighter V is a little ways off right now and before the release of Ultra Street Fighter IV, gamers had to keep their older consoles hooked up to get their fix (unless they had a PC of course). Capcom is still Capcom however, and love to ensure their most valuable titles stay relevant for as long as possible – which is exactly why we now have Ultra Street Fighter IV out on the Playstation 4. This re-release acts as a reminder of what we should expect in terms of quality, as the fourth edition of this franchise has lived for over seven years and is still ready to show off with a lower price-tag on a brand new platform. Do the extra features and full package prove to be enough? Let’s find out as we peel away some layers from Ultra Street Fighter IV.
Gameplay
Being honest, its hard to review a title that has been reviewed so many times. You guys know about the story, you know about the gameplay, so the only things left to talk about are age and relevancy – as well as the features that are new. Well, thankfully, Street Fighter IV has aged well and still is as fluid as ever in this release. When Capcom first posted this to the Playstation Network, there were a few flaws but as of this review – the company has proved to be on top of it completely and I have currently had no problems whatsoever since the last update with graphical bugs or any gameplay intrusions. That being said, I am not a hardcore, tournament player, so my own preferences are sure to be different than others who may notice every little detail within this remake.
If you have played Ultra Street Fighter IV, you were already accustomed to the additions that greeted us during the previous generation. Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition was my last crack at the namesake, so I was very pleased to get to dabble with all this upgrade had to offer. Starting off, five new characters have been added in since the last iteration, with Decapre (one of M. Bison’s dolls modeled after Cammy) leading the pack. The other four come from Street Fighter X Tekken – bringing Poison, Hugo, Elena, and Rolento to the battle. Their inclusions fit in just fine to the jam-packed roster, which is actually even larger than it appears as you can choose from any iteration of a character when fighting an opponent outside of the Arcade mode. For instance, if you want to compare balance tweaks between Chun-Li from Street Fighter IV vanilla and the Arcade, the game is more than happy to let you do so as every version has been included in terms of characters. You can also utilize every costume every added to date (which is a ton, by the way), slapping on Ultra costumes onto previous versions of specific characters. There is a lot of customization in that aspect, providing the fans with nearly everything they could possibly ask for.
If I had any complaint, it would be that the menus are massively dated. I know, this is a port of a game that came out last year for older consoles – but why not update it a bit for convenience to the player. It is really frustrating that the touchpad was not put to use more here, as pressing down on that big button would have been a great way to just pull up Ultra and Super combos for quick reference. The netcode for online play is fine for the most part, and the game is organized on this front as players can easily upload clips into their own specific sections based on the characters that are participating to watch later. That said, while actually playing there has been a bit of lag on several occasions during the matches I partook in. Again, this isn’t a deal breaker and will probably be ironed out later on, but when your game focuses on timed inputs, a tight connection is everything.
Visuals
I suppose as with every remake on the newer systems, visuals would be everything. Ultra Street Fighter IV is a beauty in terms of visuals, running animations at sixty frames per second in 1080p without any hiccups whatsoever. The upgrade is noticeable due to a newfound crispness that each character model has, making the already bright and bold colors pop just a bit more for some nice eye candy. Outside of that, the game doesn’t really look too different – to be honest. Street Fighter IV chose an art style from the start that could stand the test of time so even if the models were still from the original version, it would probably still look just as good – so it really is hard to do comparisons. For twenty five bucks you are getting a port with a bit more fluidity – and not much more. The massive amount of content makes up for anything else that a consumer would feel entitled to.
Audio
The music and general audio also sounds spectacular. Again, you know this if you have played any version of Street Fighter IV. The soundtrack has a weird way of placing a smile on my face as soon as I hear it though, as this title was truly one of the most decorated from the prior gen, and certainly keeps its legacy moving forward by taking no shortcuts in terms of how it maintains its strong theme music and sound effects that capture every single character’s larger than life personality.
Overall
Ultra Street Fighter IV by all means didn’t need to happen. We have enough Street Fighter from last generation to last us a lifetime, yet Capcom slapped this port onto the Playstation 4 so old and new fans can continue its legacy. Sometimes I am against remakes, but anyone denying this title’s entry into the next generation would be doing a huge disservice to an installment that has become nothing short of legendary. For the low price-tag, you truly can not ask for anything more with Ultra, and with the continuous updates and patches, Ultra Street Fighter IV is poised to take back its lead in the genre yet again and show the industry how high it set the bar.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Right Stuf announced today that Warner Home Video is delaying their upcoming release of the first season of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure on DVD until September 30, 2015. It was originally scheduled for release on July 28, 2015. In addition to including both Japanese and English audio and English subtitles, the North American release will also include Spanish subtitles. Pre-orders can be made here for $39.99 USD.
Anime Expo announced last week that the world premiere of the English dub for this season will be hosted at this year’s Anime Expo, which will be followed by a panel. This event is scheduled for Friday, July 3 from 1:45pm to 3:15pm. Episodes 3 and 10 will be presented with English audio. The guests for the panel include Naokatsu Tsuda, animation director at David Production and the director of the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure anime, and Ben Diskin, who is the voice of Joseph Joestar.
Well, David Cage should be fairly pleased. During the chaos that is E3, Sony has announced that Beyond: Two Souls and Heavy Rain will be receiving a bundle for the Playstation 4 featuring both titles in an upgraded format of sorts. I guess we can call it a “HD-HD” remaster as lets face it, the games looked fine to start with as the visuals were the strengths of both titles.
Those who only liked one or the other should still be happy – as each will be available for purchase at time of release in a digital format. I am sure there will be special features and even a release date soon, but that is all we have right now on this new announcement from Quantic Dream. Stay tuned, as more E3 2015 news will be coming as this week winds down.
Gunnar Optiks and Razer announced their new partnership today. Gunnar Optiks will be releasing two eyeglasses frames designed by Razer. RPG Designed by Razer has a dual railed design with rectangular lenses. Cerberus Designed by Razer features a more traditional design single armed design and wider more square-like lenses.
Both frames are made from lightweight aluminum-magnesium alloy and are designed to work well with headsets and fit well on Asian faces. The colouring is black with Razer green accents. The glasses are available in a slight amber tint for computer use and a dark tint for outdoor use. Those of us with prescription lenses will be able to order the glasses in an RX range of +5.00 to -3.00 for RPG Designed by Razer and +5.00 to -6.00 for Cerberus Designed for Razer.
Prices of the Designed by Razer range from $99.99 USD for non-prescription glasses up to $349.99 USD with prescription lenses.
Can you hear the iconic Jurassic Park fanfare playing in your head, because if so you might…. wait, no? It’s only me? Well then… anyway! Whether you are obsessed with Triceratops or have nightmares about Velociraptors then you are in luck! Today’s the day, the Jeep has rolled up to the gates and the park is open, LEGO: Jurassic World is here.
Spanning the events of all four films, LEGO Jurassic World lets players relive some of the greatest moments in dinosaur history. Stick your hands into some Lego dino droppings as Dr. Sattler, chase down a T-Rex through the streets of San Diego as Ian Malcolm, traverse through Isla Sorna as Alan Grant while Raptors chase you down for their eggs or take on the role of Owen Grady as he REMOVED DUE TO SPOILERS.
As if taking on the events of the films wasn’t exciting enough, LEGO Jurassic World also lets you create your own plastic brick dinosaurs and set them leash on the islands of Isla Nubar and Isla Sorna. Not only that but the islands are completely open worlds for your to explore and of course since this is a Lego game, there are thousands of secrets and collectibles to find.
To mark the game’s release, Warner Bros. have put up not only a cool new launch trailer (which you can check out below), but also a couple new pics from the game. So check them all out and let us know in the comments below if you have already picked up the game, or if you are planning to over the next week, and as always make sure you stay tuned to Capsule Computers for all the awesome dinosaur news as it becomes available.
LEGO Dimensions is one of the more interesting video games set for release this year. Combining the beloved toy and video game combination that has been popularised by the likes of Skylanders, Disney Infinity and Amiibo, and expanding it to encompass just about every franchise imaginable, Warner Bros. are surely onto a winner with this one. While the game itself is still a few months away, we have some new footage to show off that features some of the functions of the Toy Pad aside from importing characters into the game. There’s also a new franchise confirmation that I think many of you out there will really enjoy, so check out the trailer below:
So… yeah, that happened, and it was AWESOME! Portal is officially making its way to LEGO Dimensions, with GLaDOS, Wheatley and Chell. Not only that but there is an Apature Scientist Test Facility world to play in. The video also showed off the fact that the Toy Pad can change the size of your current characters, as well as a few more elements that allow you to really interact with the world in a way that has never been seen before.
To go with the trailer, we also have some new screenshots that show off the Toy Pad and level packs in action, so check them out below and let us know your thoughts on kind of a new Portal game being included as part of the LEGO Dimensions experience, and as always make sure you stay tuned to Capsule Computers for all the awesome Lego news as it becomes available.
BadLand Indie has announced that Anima Project Studio’s Anima Gate of Memories has been Greenlitfor release on Steam which means that within the next few months the title will be released on PC with an eventual Linux, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 release planned for Fall 2015. For those who may never have heard of the title, Anima Gate of Memoriesis a third person action RPG focused on combat and exploration.
Players will be able to enjoy a “deep and multifaceted story where their choices and actions directly impact the journey and decide the fate of the characters as they travel through the tower of Arcane and through the world of Gaia, fighting numerous formidable opponents on the way.
The developers have released a story synopsis for the game and you can check it out below:
The story of Anima Gate of Memories is one of its most absorbing features. The game focuses on The Bearer and Ergo, agents of an ancient society called Nathaniel which for centuries has protected mankind from the darkness. Both receive the order to recover an old artifact called The Byblos that has been stolen by a renegade of the order. After a long pursuit, crossing areas ravaged by war, they are able to corner the fugitive in the middle of an ancient construction.
However, suddenly the entire area is swallowed by light. Our protagonists awake inside a strange structure where they are no longer alone; strange beings are also summoned there. Soon, both will discover that something darker than they could imagine is about to begin, a war in the shadows in which they will have a leading role.
Bandai Namco might have had few announcements at this years E3 but they still want to let the world know the strong lineup they have coming for gamers this year and early into the next. A strong list of titles coming for both next and current gen from a huge variety of genres. Find below some small details for each game along with their release period and any accompanying new trailers that have been released during E3.
DARK SOULS III(Action-RPG (role-playing-game) genre for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC via STEAM) – Available early 2016
The next chapter of the Dark Souls lore is back with Dark Souls III. FromSoftware returns to create a new blighted world for players to discover. The embers of a once proud kingdom set the stage for this new adventure. Players will battle against fearsome enemies and bosses with a variety of weapons and magic through a mysterious land riddled with secrets.
Naruto Storm 4 will feature over 100 characters including many never before seen in the Storm games as well as a host of new features such as being able to swap your current team leader at any time seamlessly in the heat of battle as this new trailer from E3 demonstrates below. Fans of more technical fighters will be happy to find jump cancels making their return as well as other combo attacks. In an interesting move, the original Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese cast for the Naruto anime will lend their voices to the game, allowing for a more authentic experience for Latin American fans.
J-Stars Victory Vs + (Fighting genre for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita [digital only]) – Available June 30, 2015 (North & Latin America), July 3, 2015 (Brazil)
J-Stars Victory Vs + is a video game celebration of 45 years of Jump Magazine. Featuring an incredible roster of over 50 different characters spanning 32 popular anime and manga franchises including Dragon Ball Z, Naruto, Bleach, Fist of North Star, and more; J-Stars Victory Vs + is one of the most comprehensive and over-the-top crossover fighting games ever developed. Gamers in the West will also enjoy an exclusive Arcade Mode that will pit players in arcade style bouts for ultimate anime bragging rights.
One Piece Pirate Warriors 3 (Action genre for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3 [digital only], and PS Vita [digital only]) – Available August 25, 2015 (North and Latin America), August 28, 2015 (Brazil)
Hoist sails, and weigh anchor the Straw Hat pirates are ready to set out for their next adventure to the Kingdom of Dressrosa and engage in epic battles against enemy pirates from faraway lands. Utilize each crew’s unique and outlandish abilities to take out the enemies in this fast-paced action-brawler title that takes players on an One Piece adventure filled with nonstop action.
Saint Seiya Soldiers’ Soul (Fighting genre for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3 [United States and Canada digital only/Mexico and South America physical and digital], and PC via STEAM) – Available fall 2015
Developed by famed Japanese video game developer DIMPS Co. Ltd., Saint Seiya Soldiers’ Soul is the next video game chapter for the storied anime and manga franchise. The storyline in Saint Seiya Soldiers’ Soul follows the Twelve Zodiac Temples arc to the battle against Hades. It will also follow the new animated series Saint Seiya Soul of Gold and will feature the grand return of the Gold Saints donning new God Cloths. The game will also feature further refined gameplay, new character moves, and feature the original Japanese, Mexican and Brazilian voiceover cast as well as additional language support with Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese subtitles.
Based on the popular Sword Art Online light novel and anime series, Sword Art Online Re: Hollow Fragment is a fully remastered console version of last year’s bestselling digital PlayStation Vita game and has players take on the role of Kirito to fight though all the levels of Aincrad to break free from being locked within the virtual game world.
Project X Zone 2 (Strategy-RPG genre exclusive for Nintendo 3DS) – Available this winter
Bandai Namco, Capcom and Sega join forces to bring some of their most well-known franchises together in a Strategy RPG that defies space and time. Players will take the role of characters from fan-favorite series including Tekken, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, Streets of Rage, and many more in fast-paced strategic battles. Check out the all new trailer below.
TALES OF ZESTIRIA (RPG genre for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PC via STEAM) – Available October 20, 2015 (North and South America and October 23, 2015 (Brazil)
A brand new adventure awaits in a fantasy world filled with magic, knights, dragons and mystery in TALES OF ZESTIRIA. Follow the exploits of Sorey on his mission as the Shepherd as he explores a vast world with seamless transitions between exploration and the trademark TALES OF real-time battle system skirmishes.
Godzilla (Action genre for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3 [digital only]) – Available July 14, 2015 (North & Latin America), July 17, 2015 (Brazil)
The King of Monsters returns as the world’s most destructive savior. No city is safe from devastation as players take on the role of Godzilla to battle against his most fearsome and gigantic foes across the franchise’s 61 year history. Armchair movie directors will have fun using the game’s Movie-Style Camera Angle System that allows players to switch between special camera points and control Godzilla as if he was in a scene from one of his classic movies.
F1 2015 (Racing genre for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC via STEAM) – Available July 21, 2015 (North & Latin America), July 24, 2015 (Brazil)
Race like a champion. F1 2015 puts you in the heart of the action with a stunning new game engine that recreates the blisteringly fast and highly responsive racing cars of FORMULA ONE™ and features all-new ‘broadcast presentation’ that immerses you in the unique race day atmosphere of a GRAND PRIX™.
MotoGP 15 (Racing genre for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and PC via STEAM) – Available fall 2015
MotoGP 15 is the newest entry in the acclaimed motorcycle racing simulation series that captures the intensity and discipline of the legendary MotoGP Championship. Offering the deepest bike, rider, and team customization in franchise history, MotoGP 15 builds on the reputation of its predecessors by enhancing virtually every aspect of the game to be a more authentic, thrilling experience for MotoGP fans.
Sébastien Loeb Rally Evo (Racing genre for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3 [digital only] Xbox 360 [digital only], and PC via STEAM) – Available fall 2015
An uncompromising off-road simulator created in collaboration with one of the most iconic figures in the history of rally sports. Sébastien Loeb Rally Evo places racers deep into the competitive world of rally with advanced physics and environmental effects, a huge variety of popular rally cars, advanced artificial intelligence, comprehensive career mode and multiplayer online gameplay to create a completely compelling and immersive racing experience.
Supernova (MOBA genre for PC [Free-to-Play]) Open beta begins fall 2015
Supernova is a Free-to-Play Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game with real-time strategy (RTS) elements for PC. Supernova takes place in an exciting sci-fi universe and offers upgradeable minions, crafting from drops, the mysterious “Supremacy” ability and an unparalleled line-up of hero commanders. Supernova is currently in its Alpha phase of development and will be available in open beta later this year.
Attractio (Action-Puzzle genre for PlayStation 4, PS VITA, and PC via STEAM) – Available digitally in fall 2015
Attractio is a new mind-bending action puzzle game from Mexico based indie developer GameCoders Studios. Set in the future on the stage of Attractio, the most popular and dangerous reality TV game show in the solar system; three strangers volunteer for the chance to change their lives. Players will solve deadly physics-based puzzles with never-before-seen gadgets that manipulate gravity, time, and reality itself. Attracio’s unique gameplay will surely bend players’ perception of physics and reality.
Stay with Capsule Computers for all your E3 2015 information including recaps on all the major conferences that have happened so far complete with opinions, information and all the latest game trailers.
Activisionhave been very busy at E3 this year. They had a bit of time in multiple conferences, and are ready for the year to move forward with a bunch of heavy hitters. Let’s look back at all of the big news out of E3 for Activision.
Call of Duty: Black Ops III is big news for multiple reasons. The first is of course the fact that Sony has acquired the DLC rights – meaning while map packs will post to all platforms, Microsoft no longer is the first brand to see them. Interesting how console sales effect things, eh?
Here are some nice details and a shiny new trailer for those who want to see the game in action:
The game is set in the year 2065, where bio augmentation and Cybernetic enhancements have given rise to a new breed of Black Ops soldier. Through Direct Neural Interface (DNI) technology, players are now connected to the intelligence grid and their fellow operatives during battle. This elite squad consists of men and women who have enhanced their combat capabilities to fight faster, stronger, and smarter. Black Ops III also offers the deepest, most rewarding multiplayer ever offered in Call of Duty, and, a mind-blowing Call of Duty Zombies experience that, for the first time, features its own XP progression system. Call of Duty: Black Ops III is in development for the PlayStation® 4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, and PC; a PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360 version are also in development.
Keep in mind that Beenox are developing for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, not Treyarch. That said, Beenox do well with the Spider-Man franchise, so I would think they can do just as good with Call of Duty.
Next up is Guitar Hero Live. Much like Rock Band, Guitar Hero is also shining at E3 and poised for its own unique reboot. FreeStyleGames – who created DJ Hero 1 and 2 are working on this beast, which features GH Live, a new feature that gives players a more immersive, first-person experience. There is also a interactive music video network with the game titled GHTV. Let’s look at these details, shall we?
GH Live is a live-action experience that delivers the full emotional roller coaster of being on stage and performing in a real band, in front of real crowds, who dynamically react to how well or poorly you play. As the lead guitarist, you play an array of songs in a variety of venues, ranging from the smallest club stage to the massive main stage of an outdoor festival. GHTV is a 24-hour, always-on mode that lets fans play along to a continually-updated collection of official music videos – across a wide variety of genres – from the newest releases to favourite hits. Fans can pick from multiple channels and themed shows, discovering new songs as they play, and can also choose songs to play on-demand. In GHTV, fans can also play with their friends in the same room or against players from around the world, while completing challenges along the way for sweet rewards. Guitar Hero Live will be available October 20, 2015, and on October 23 in Europe, on the PlayStation®4 system, PlayStation®3 system, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Nintendo’s Wii U™ system and select mobile devices to be announced soon. Through a one-of-a-kind partnership, fans can pre-order their copy at select retailers worldwide and get access to bonus content from multi-platinum artist Avenged Sevenfold, which includes premium shows, custom note highways and more.
You got me excited at Wii U and lost me at Avenged Sevenfold. Either way and in all seriousness – it looks great and I truly am happy to see the Wii U receive more love from Activision.
I don’t want to be “that guy” who pumps something up when he has given up on it. Destiny is fun but not my personal cup of tea. That being said, a TON of people still play the game and enjoy it immensely, so this announcement of the largest expansion ever made – Destiny: The Taken King, should be more than enough to put a smile on fans faces.
Featuring a new story campaign and quests, new enemies to fight, new locations to explore, new Strikes and Crucible maps, and an all-new Raid, Destiny: The Taken King will put player’s skills to the ultimate test. To stand up to the challenge, players will have access to three new devastating Guardian subclasses, and a massive arsenal of weapons, armour, and gear. The game will be available for the PlayStation®4 system, PlayStation®3 system, Xbox One, and Xbox 360. At launch PlayStation® gamers will also get access to a host of additional content for The Taken King, including a Strike, a Crucible map, three sets of gear and an exotic weapon, exclusive until Spring 2016.
Another strong statement about the Playstation 4 with that exclusivity.
Finally, who can forget Skylanders Superchargers? This is the next big game in the Skylanders line and is throwing vehicles into the mix. If you saw the Nintendo event, you also noticed that Bowser and Donkey Kong were included. Yes, that is awesome, but there is more for those who want it on other platforms.
Rev your engines! Skylanders®, the #1 kids’ console franchise worldwide¹ is taking to Land, Sea and Air with Skylanders SuperChargers this fall. Skylanders SuperChargers is an unprecedented high-octane, action-adventure videogame where fans can speed across Skylands’ roads in vehicular combat, race down roaring rapids and engage in aerial dogfights as they barrel-roll through enemy swarms. The new game features a brand-new class of heroes, called SuperChargers who are distinct with fresh moves, powerful attacks and all-new weapons. The trailblazing vehicles-to-life innovation of the game is realized when players take helm as Skylanders of powerful, tricked-out land, sea and sky vehicles. Not only are the vehicles playable via the Portal of Power® in the game, but also many feature moving parts, making them fun to play with outside of the game. Portal Masters will also have the ability to customize all vehicles in-game with super cool modifications and upgradeable weapons.
Additionally, Activision and Nintendo announced a landmark creative collaboration today that brings major star power to Skylanders SuperChargers with the introduction of iconic Nintendo characters to the game – Turbo Charge Donkey Kong and Hammer Slam Bowser. Each character will have their own signature vehicles and will be available exclusively in Skylanders SuperChargers Starter Packs for the Nintendo platforms.
TAKE THAT SCALPERS! That is how you handle Amiibo, Nintendo. Watch and learn.
It has been a spectacular E3. The news keeps coming, so stay tuned for more E3 2015 coverage. Good job, Activision!
