Indie Gala released the Every Monday Bundle #37 containing six indie games for Linux, Mac, and Windows. The following games are part of this week’s bundle:
Deadlings – Rotten Edition – A platformer that mixes strategy elements and tons of zombies. The game consists of 70 levels and four different zombies to control.
Crimsonland– A hyper gory top down shooter featuring 30 weapons and 50 perks.
Nom Nom Galaxy – From the creators of PixelJunk Eden, Nom Nom Galaxy is a brightly coloured exploration title currently in Steam Early Access.
Retro-Pixel Castles– A village simulator that features massive maps, constant danger, and a orchestral-retro soundtrack. The game is currently part of Steam Early Access.
Muffin Knight– An arena based action platformer with beautiful 2.5D graphics, 18 playable characters, and multiplayer support.
Super Trench Attack!– A comedic twitch shooter featuring a unique targeting system and four huge maps packed with secret areas to discover.
For the first 24 hours of the sale, all six games can be purchased for just $1.89. Head on over to Indie Gala to pick up your copy.
The official Japanese site has updated with some new screenshots for Bandai Namco‘s Dragon Ball Xenoverse from the Saiyan Saga showcasing Nappa, Tien, Yamcha, Piccolo, Raditz, Goku and Vegeta as well as the custom character. You may recognize some of the famous scenes such as Goku and Piccolo teaming up to take down Raditz, Yamcha and Tien in peril against a fearsome Nappa, Goku confidently arriving to take Nappa out and the stand off between Goku and Vegeta. Dragon Ball Xenoverse is surely looking like it will have some great looking cutscenes, it might even rival Budokai 1 for Dragon Ball Z game cutscene king.
We are not sure how exactly your custom character will be involved with these events however one could guess they will be protecting the Z-warriors until Goku makes his grand entrance. You can check out the 11 new screenshots below and why not let us know in the comments below how you feel about this games unique, anime graphics style. I myself am particularly impressed by the shading and battle damage.
Following their announcement at The Game Awards, Stoic has announced that The Banner Saga 2 will be coming not only to PC, but to the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4. Stoic has also stated that the game will be released sometime in early 2015 for PC and consoles. There has also been confirmation that the game will be coming to mobile platforms, although no announcement was made as to devices or dates. No announcement was made that The Banner Saga 2 would be coming any portable consoles.
Stoic stated that The Banner Saga 2 will continue the story of the original Viking-themed game, though little more was said than that. More details for the strategy RPG are expected to come in early 2015, but you can read our review of the original here. Some early screenshots can be seen below, and you can watch the announcement trailer here.
At the beginning of the year NIS America announced that they had picked up the license for Kitakubu Katsudō Kiroku and would be releasing it in North America under the name Chronicles of the Going Home Club and today they have revealed exactly when anime fans can expect to pick up the title.
The Chronicles of the Going Home Club Complete Premium Edition will be released on March 3rd for $51.99 on NIS America’s online store. This release contains the entire series on two blu-ray discs as well as the Going Home Club Miniature Theater video clips as on-disc features, a sixty four page hardcover art book that contains an episode guide, character info, interviews with the cast, and full color illustrations all contained in a collectible slipcase.
It is interesting to note that this is now the third premium edition released by NIS America that does not feature the company’s signature longbox slipcase so this will likely be the case from now on.
It looks like the wait for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has just gotten a bit longer than it already has been. Today CD Projekt RED sent an open letter out to their fans stating that they are now delaying the title twelve weeks from February 24th to May 19th.
The company admitted that they were a bit too hasty setting a release date and that these extra twelve weeks will be used to fix bugs that they have come across and to try and release the best game possible for their fans. Considering the bug riddled games that consumers have had to deal with throughout the month of November, this delay to actually polish a title is certainly understandable. Especially when you consider the large sprawling nature of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
If you want to check out the full open letter, you can read it in its entirety below:
Dear Gamers,
Ever since we started working on The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, we knew it would be an ambitious game. We wanted, and still aim, to give you an incredible experience, an epic adventure in a vast, completely open fantasy universe.
The sheer size and complexity of The Witcher, key features of the title, have had a decisive impact on production. Now, nearing the end of our work, we see many details that need to be corrected. When we release the most important game in our studio’s history, we must be absolutely sure that we did everything we could to limit any bugs to a level that will allow you to enjoy the game thoroughly.
With this in mind, we took another look at current workloads and what they mean for the team. Even though everyone is working at full speed, we concluded that we need another 12 weeks, so we are shifting the release date of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt to May 19th, 2015.
We owe you an apology. We set the release date too hastily. It’s a hard lesson, one to take to heart for the future. We know what we want to do to make Wild Hunt one of the best RPGs you will ever play. And we continue to work hard to achieve just that. So, we apologize and ask for your trust.
Thank you for the all support you show us on a daily basis. We truly do appreciate it. It has fueled us in our passion since the start and will continue to do so.
It looks like the PlayStation 4 might be getting a double dose of Hyperdimension Neptunia next year. Recently it was discovered by Gematsu that the German ratings board, the USK, has rateda title called Hyperdimension Neptunia Hypercollection for the PlayStation 4.
Currently Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory II is set to be released on the PlayStation 4 next year but if this rating is anything to go by, we could see a collection featuring all three of the original Hyperdimension Neptunia titles make their way to the PS4 as well.
Considering the fact that all three of these titles have already been remastered with updated features for the PS Vita, it will be interesting to see whether or not this collection just contains the old versions of Hyperdimension Neptunia and Hyperdimension Neptunia mk2 or the upgraded versions.
That being said, the rating does state that it was submitted by NIS America, the publisher that handled the original trilogy. The remasters on the other hand have all been published by Idea Factory International so currently it seems this rumor may just be a collection of the original trilogy.
Can you feel it in the air? It is that special time of year where kids start writing their letters to Santa, and people start asking that inevitable question of “So…. What do you want for Christmas?” It can be a trying time to figure out the perfect gift for that special gamer, geek or nerd in your life so we here at Capsule Computers thought we’d help out a bit with our suggestions of some of the best gaming and pop culture themed gifts you can grab this holiday season.
Pop Vinyl Figurines ($16.00)
Funko’s range of Pop Vinyl figurines has exploded in popularity recently and it is easy to see why. With their iconic, cutesy art style and the fact that just about every comic book, video game, television or movie character is represented means that there is literally a figure for everyone.
It is no surprise here at Capsule Computers that I love Disney Infinity. All bias aside, Disney Infinity 2.0 is actually a damn near perfect gift for just about anyone. The Starter Set and the Toy Box Starter Set are at the high end of the price range, but are great introductions to the series and each provide hours upon hours of entertainment on their own. Aside from that you can also grab additional Play Sets (for about $30 each), figures (for about $17 each) or even just Power Disc Packs (about $5 each) as stocking stuffers. The addition of the Marvel Super Heroes has really helped spread the brand’s appeal out to a wider audience and the figures alone will look great as set pieces on a shelf or display cabinet.
If Nintendo does one thing right, it is make games for big groups of people to enjoy, and this year the biggest most crowd-pleasing game has to be Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. Bringing Nintendo‘s impressive roster of characters into HD and pitting them against one another is as fun as it sounds. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U also allows for eight player simultaneous brawling, so even if you have a massive family, this will ensure that everyone gets a turn.
Nintendo’s new line of Amiibo figures are some of the most impressive, highly detailed mass-produced figures on the market. Featuring a wide range of Nintendo Characters, the Amiibo figures will look great on a shelf, but if you own Super Smash Bros. for Wii U then their true use becomes apparent. Placing them onto the Wii U GamePad allows the figure to learn from you, becoming a better fighter.
Last year’s Animal Crossing: New Leaf for 3DS is an almost perfect gift this Christmas as it has a nearly endless supply of content. Building and decorating your dream home, collecting a near-endless supply of items and leisurely running your own town are the name of the game here. It’s no-stress, relaxing atmosphere is great for kids and adults (although just a heads up that the game is quite slow for the first 24-48 hours). I bought this game on release last year and am STILL playing it, so you definitely get your money’s worth.
Magic players are pretty easy to buy gifts for. A booster pack here, a pre-built deck there. However at Christmas time, I like my gifts to be a little bit grander than usual. Enter the Magic: the Gathering Holiday Box. Able to store 2500+ cards and including 4 booster packs, 20 basic lands and a foil promotional card, this box is the perfect gift for that spell-slinging card player in your life.
Best place to get it from: Local gaming or hobby stores
PlayStation Plus Membership(1 month: $10, 3 months: $20, 1 year: $50)
Normally I like to shy away from digital presents or gift cards, but the value you get in a PlayStation Plus membership is hard to ignore. Available in 1, 3, or 12 months subscriptions – the membership gives PlayStation console owners access to a tonne of free games. Whether your loved one has a PS3, PS4 or a PS Vita they will get a tonne of utility out of this gift. If you are spoiling someone with a new console this Christmas, the PS+ membership also serves as a great little add-on, and nice way to jump-start your new game library.
Best place to get it from: Playstation Network
Batman: Complete Series DVD($125.00)
Na na na na na na na na Batman! After decades of legal battles and licensing issues, fans can now own the great TV classic 1966 Batman on Blu Ray* and DVD, and it is coming out just in time for Christmas. Adam West and Burt Ward star as the dynamic duo and now you can relive all three seasons of their adventures. Beautifully remastered, this is the perfect gift for just about anyone who has ever enjoyed the adventures of the Caped Crusader.
*At time of writing, the Blu Ray seems to be sold out just about everywhere
While admittedly not my favourite Doctor Who series in recent history, Peter Capaldi has done a great job stepping into The Doctor’s shoes and taken us all on a wild ride. Featuring the 12 episodes from Series 8, any Whovian will love this gift and be dying to add it to their collection. Also note that there is a Doctor Who Christmas Special airing on Christmas night, so watching a few eps of series 8 is the perfect way to get the family into the spirit.
With a new movie 12 months away, Star Wars has become a really hot product again (not that it ever ISN’T a hot product). What better gift is there for that Lightsaber-wielding nerd in your life than a game that ostracizes people and ends relationships. If your bond is strong enough to withstand a game of Monopoly, then geek out with discussions of characters and place names while you try to bankrupt everyone around you.
Coming to us from ThinkGeek.com(so you might want to order soon) is a screen-accurate Saiyan Scouter straight out of Dragon Ball Z. Read the power levels of your friends, or just look like a badass.* The scouter also comes with a couple AR cards that you can only read while wearing the device.
*You might not look like a badass, but we won’t judge.
Grand Theft Auto games provide hours of mayhem and entertainment, and GTAV is no exception. Having recently been released on next-gen consoles, this new and very pretty looking version of GTAV comes complete with all of the content you would expect, including the awesome Grand Theft Auto Online, as well as a new first-person mode that lets you see the world through the eyes of its three protagonists.. Though be mindful that this is NOT a kid’s game, it has an R18+ rating for a reason.
Best place to get it from:EB Games, JB HiFi, Big W. Oh, but you can’t buy it from Target…
Arcade Machine
So, this is little bit pricier and a lot harder to come by than anything else on the list so far, but the geek in your life will love you forever for this one. A classic Arcade machine can be the perfect cornerstone to your man-cave, game room or rumpus area and you can get these bad boys pre-loaded with a tonne of old games. Want to reminisce about the days in your youth when you took your sweetheart out and played Pac-Man together, or just want to know what all the fuss was about? Then definitely keep this on your radar.
Oh boy, we are hitting the seriously old-school stuff now everyone! The precursor to the Game Boy, Nintendo used to make these awesome little hand helds that contained simple games that you could play on the go. Their simplistic nature belied their devious difficulty. Usually playable with only two or three buttons, these are prefect retro pieces for gamers, historians or hipsters. I have seen these in just about every GameTraders in the country, so they aren’t too hard to find and the retro appeal will definitely help you win someone over.
So there is our little list of holiday gift ideas. Hopefully we have alleviated some of your Christmas stress. Do you have anything that we might have missed? Let us know in the comments below and we will update our list! Until then, have a great holiday, no matter your faith!
Overview Telltale Games has made a name for themselves over the last few years by adapting comic book series such as The Walking Dead and Fables into episodic video games. As such when it was announced that they would be working on an episodic Borderlands game, many people wondered how they would manage to take a brand known for its crazy powers and firefights and tell a story with their own unique spin. Well, now that the first episode of Tales from the Borderlands has been released, is Zer0 Sum worth downloading?
Story
What makes Tales from the Borderlands interesting right off the bat is that this time around, the story is being told through two different characters that come from a far different upbringing and situation. The first protagonist is named Rhys, a man working in management up on Hyperion’s base of operations Helios.
With the story taking place three years after Handsome Jack’s death, Rhys has managed to make his way up near the top of the company with the help of a few close friends and he now sports a cybernetic arm as well as an implanted “Echo Eye” that allows him to scan objects and people for information.
The other character is a woman who has survived as a petty thief on the world of Pandora. Fiona has always tried to scrape by without drawing much ire from the world and thanks to her wit as well as her helpful sister, she has managed to escape many dangerous situations without even firing a shot.
After a hostile takeover of a position he was aiming for and a pitiful demotion, Rhys travels to Pandora in order to take revenge on one of his co-workers by stealing an extremely valuable deal. Little does he know that Fiona has her own hand in this deal. The interesting aspect of Tales from the Borderlands is how the narrative swaps between Rhys and Fiona as the two meet up, are separated, and have to work together despite how hostile they are towards one another.
The idea that the story so far is being told through a flashback by these two unscrupulous characters may be a bit strange but it does help create a narrative that fits perfectly with Borderlands’ style of humor. There are many moments where it is clear that one of the characters is embellishing the facts to make their side of the story sound more epic only to be called out on their lies shortly after.
In fact the writing has been handled extremely well so far as Zer0 Sum has managed to capture the comedy that many Borderlands fans enjoy. In fact, thanks to the condensed nature and the feel that nothing is forced, Zer0 Sum might be the funniest part of the Borderlands series to date. Almost every joke and reference hits the mark which is quite an accomplishment as Borderlands 2 featured plenty of groan inducing terrible jokes.
From what we have seen so far in Tales from the Borderlands: Zer0 Sum, Telltale Games has managed to craft an interesting narrative that sees players interacting with familiar looking enemies and of course a certain titular character all while trying to talk their way out of situations. Of course when everything goes south, there is plenty of violence and action to help pad out the events.
Gameplay Anyone familiar with how Telltale Games handles their titles recently will not find a whole lot of surprises here. Players will spend their time mostly watching characters walk around and talk on their own while selecting dialogue choices from time to time, some of which may have effects on certain aspects of the game. When they aren’t watching people talk, they will either be exploring an area looking around for clues or taking part in quick time events during the interactive cutscenes.
A few things that have been added this time around are Rhys’ aforementioned Echo Eye which allows players to scan the area for extra tidbits of information. While this information is not needed, it is a nice touch that allows players to get a few extra laughs from self-referential information. Fiona on the other hand has a money system which is a bit rough around the edges.
Throughout Fiona’s side of the story she can obtain some small amounts of cash which can be used either to help bribe your way through a situation or later on a fancy looking piece of equipment. This system is a bit strange as it really doesn’t seem to have any point at the moment other than to give players an extra mechanic to work with. Especially since the only difference the most expensive piece of equipment makes is to give players a slightly smaller challenge later on in the episode.
Currently Tales from the Borderlands: Zer0 Sum also makes a poor choice of giving the player much in the way of choice. While some small things are noted down, almost everything you choose to do, including whether or not to save a single shot pistol Fiona receives at the beginning of her story, seems to boil down to nothing as the outcome remains the same. In fact, one moment where the player may be able to determine a specific event happening, it only turns out to be an extra bit of embellishment that is quickly squashed.
It is also worth noting that there is very little in the way of exploration this time around as nearly everything unfolds either through quick time event action scenes or in dialogue sequences. There is the very simple task of searching for an item with Rhys and choosing what type of weapons you want to put on his Loader. Meanwhile Fiona only has a minor memory game with no real consequences attached to it.
Visuals & Audio Thanks to the bright comic book nature that Borderlands already made its own, Telltale’s standard set of character designs look like they fit in perfectly with the world. The new characters have a unique enough look to them and the returning enemies we see are all exactly how Borderlands fans will remember. There are plenty of action sequences to be had and these hold up well, though I did notice that most of the characters in the game suffered from a strange issue where their pupils would constantly vibrate in their eyes as they speak.
The voice work features a fitting cast of characters, including a certain celebrity that I will leave unnamed for now while the soundtrack features tunes that would fit in perfectly with the main Borderlands games.
Overall Tales from the Borderlands: Zer0 Sum is off to a great start here. There are a few strange choices made as far as currency and the lack of puzzles and exploration in the game, but otherwise everything fans of either Borderlands or Telltale Games could want is in here. The writing remains consistently funny throughout the story of the unlikely duo we find ourselves following in a narrative that fits perfectly with everything we know about the planet Pandora and the people that live on it.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Presented through PlayStation LiveCast, Thekla Inc have released gameplay footage of their upcoming puzzler ‘The Witness’, which can be seen below. This may be a case of Déjà vu for some, the game was in fact playable back at the Penny Arcade Expo in 2010. The game has jumped around the console platforms a little (expected to release on ps3 and 360, now transferred to current gen), but a release in 2015 will be expected, although no date has been pencilled in.
The Witness is a 3D puzzle game from the first person perspective. Set on a large island, the player must solve puzzles and navigate to reach his primary objective, a large mountain located in the centre. Additional information about the narrative will be presented through audio recordings that are hidden throughout the environment.
Jonathan Blow, the game designer, provides commentary throughout the demonstration and some information about the mechanics and puzzle elements that are to be found in the game. The video shows the player solving puzzles in the form of mazes, that unlock doors allowing the player to progress.
As aforementioned, the game will be available in 2015, on iOS, Windows and the PlayStation 4. There is speculation that the game might also make an appearance on the Xbox One.
Last week, Paramount Pictures gave us a little tease of what’s to come in their forthcoming film Terminator: Genisys. Well, if you haven’t seen it already, we have the official full-lengthed trailer for you to check out, and it looks freaking awesome:
Wow. I have been a bit let down by the Terminator franchise as of late, but this trailer was enough to have me ready to buy my tickets and go on another wild ride with Arnie!. As an extra special treat, we also have the first full poster for the movie, which you can check out below. Remember to always stay tuned to Capsule Computers for all the Terminator news past, present and future.
Retro-Pixel Castles – A village simulator that features massive maps, constant danger, and a orchestral-retro soundtrack. The game is currently part of Steam Early Access.
