Anime distributor Madman announced two new acquisitions from the floor of the Supanova Pop Culture Convention in Adelaide. The virtual MMO anime Log Horizon and the live action film Lupin the Third.
Easing off on the acquisition accelerator a bit, Madman opted for just two new titles this time. Log Horizon follows the popular online game genre of anime with the world of Elder Tales and 30,000 players finding themselves trapped in the online world. NPCs come alive and players have to get used to their avatars and abilities. (Psst, I heard this is for those who weren’t a fan of Sword Art Online). The anime will be released on DVD/Blu-ray in March 2015.
Lupin the Third is based on a classic manga starring the world’s greatest gentlemen thief and his partners in crime. The movie revolves around a heist to steal The Crimson Heart of Cleopatra. Directed by Ryuhei Kitamura and lead by actor Shun Oguri, the film will be both screened and released on DVD/Blu-ray in 2015.
Madman is a company known to many anime fans and have been responsible for bringing all our favourite anime to us in DVD and Blu-ray form for a long time now. Beginning in 2015, Madman Entertainment will be stepping up their game to bring official collectible merchandise to fans in Australia and New Zealand. The deal that involves a partnership with Bandai Namco Games Australia will see figures brought over direct from Japan from popular brands such as Tamashii Nations, Banpresto, Megahouse and more.
The first wave of merchandise will be Tamashii Nations’ new range of Dragon Ball Z ‘Tamashii Buddies’ figurines which are exclusively offered through Madman Entertainment. The four figures include Super Saiyan Goku, Super Saiyan Vegeta, Super Saiyan Trunks and Piccolo. Each figure stands at 9cm tall and is greatly detailed with perfect head to body proportions which is great if you’re not a fan of Pop Vinyl like figures. Each figure also has a unique background and case that allows you to arrange the figures in any way you like. Tamashii Buddies will be landing in Australia and New Zealand on January 15 and are available to pre-order now direct from the official Madman site at $24.95ea. New items from Tamashii Nations, as well as Banpresto, Megahouse and others will be available throughout 2015 and beyond from the merch section of Madman’s site.
We recently reported on the latest Dragon Ball Xenoverse scans to come out of V-Jump Magazine in Japan this week and as per usual, the official Dragon Ball Z Games Facebook page has now translated most of that information but have also released a heap of new screenshots not previously seen before. Some of the new screens focus on the Battle of Gods storyline which appears to be included in the game albeit slightly altered to fit in with the whole storyline alteration concept of Xenoverse. If you look carefully there is a screenshot of Super Saiyan Vegeta grabbing a pudding cup. Maybe he managed to save some for Beerus who will finally get to eat some pudding!
Bandai Namco also shared that the Tenkaichi Budokai mode will allow the company to create special tournaments that people all over the world can participate in. In some bad news, Giant characters such as Great Ape Vegeta are confirmed to be sidelined to boss battles only, however you can verse them solo in story mode or with other people in the Parallel Quest co-op mode. Check out the 61 new screenshots below and let us know what you think about them in the comments below.
Days after releasing the first details and screenshots of the new Game of Thrones game, Telltale Games has released a teaser trailer on their YouTube channel. The trailer (displayed below) specifically centers around Episode one (named ‘Iron From Ice’) of the six part series.
Upon viewing the trailer, you might immediately recognise the female voice narrator of the trailer, as Emmy award nominee Lena Headey, who portrays Cersei Lannister in the popular HBO show. Lena Headey gives a general preview of the story, setting a sinister tone for House Forrester, the family who are entangled in the War of the Five Kings. The trailer displays several scenes with some familiar characters within and a brief glimpse of combat.
At the time of writing, no release date has been confirmed for the game, but is expected to be released by the end of the year.
Overview Anime movies that summarise an entire show’s worth of content into two hours are a fickle thing. To put it bluntly, I’m hardly a fan. History shows us that they straddle a very fine line between offering newcomers an everything-you-need-to-know yet still coherent story and collapsing in a jumbled, poorly-paced heap.
Despite being a 12 episode TV series, hit magical girl anime Puella Magi Madoka Magica, known as “Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica” in Japan, still received the movie summary treatment in the form of two films. It was almost inevitable. The show has garnered so much fandom in recent years that to suggest it’s the new-age Evangelion wouldn’t be so far-fetched. Whether it deserves that status is debatable yet here we are. Does this collection of two films serve as a worthy supplement or should newcomers and fans alike just stick to the TV episodes?
Story
If you aren’t familiar with the Madoka Magica story, it’s not your typical magical girl anime. If you’re coming into this show expecting a new age Sailor Moon I suggest you stop and take a deep breath before proceeding. At this point it’s hardly a spoiler discussing the nature of this beast when the blurb itself mentions something along the lines of “strange warning”, “impending loss” and “drastic change”. Not too subtle, is it! Especially when this is the work of Gen Urobuchi, the writer behind Fate/Zero which funnily enough also has an ill-fated, wish-granting plot line.
Madoka Kaname is a typical, kindhearted 14 year old girl with loving friends and family going to school like anyone else. It’s when transfer student Homura Akemi arrives when things start to get just a little strange. A person Madoka has never seen before seems to know her well, a fluffy white creature appears hated by some but loved by others and the existence of Magical Girls and their enemy, Witches, are revealed.
Known as Kyubey, the white animal has the power to turn any young girl into a magical one and grant them one wish they desire while they’re at it. Sounds like a Nigerian scam right? Well the forlorn atmosphere and dark undertones of the anime from the start has all signs pointing to “yes”.
The plot sucks you in right away as you’re left wondering where this train is going to go. Other than the pure Madoka, each character has some kind of flaw woven into their personality which they must overcome or risk falling into an abyss. The writing steadily becomes more and more sophisticated and by the second film you’re left with conversations of existentialism, the universe and what it means to be human. It is during the second film that the flaws of summarised anime films rears its ugly head.
Plot points and explanations start moving faster than your ears (or eyes, if you’re reading subtitles) can keep up with. It’s still hauntingly dark and positively gripping at times, but this is information originally stretched across 12 episodes with slow build ups to shocking revelations. Here it’s just in your face leaving newcomers more than a little bewildered and scratching their heads wondering just what that ending was the heck about. Mind you even some of us who have seen the series like myself have no idea what’s going on with the ending, much like the notorious End of Evangelion film by Hideaki Anno which almost acts like a spiritual precursor if the writers of Madoka were to have their way.
It’s no doubt “cool”, in the epic, cosmic sense and you do come away from the experience shell-shocked and dribbling like a baby, but it feels like too much at once with too little progression. A subjective complaint, perhaps, but I do feel like the ending tried too hard to end, rather than let the pieces fall into place. Then again, this was probably the intention all along. Nevertheless, a continuation managed to spawn from the madness in the form of a third film which we reviewed HERE.
Visuals
Aside from an engrossing plot you also get some of the most unique visuals we’ve seen in anime currently on store shelves. The animators of SHAFT have done a great job in creating an unorthodox art style that makes every scene, and I mean every scene, have some kind of interesting feature or background you wouldn’t normally see. It’s a mad mixture of refined architecture, creative design and, at times, raw emotion.
The compilation movies could also be considered a remaster of the TV series. Many scenes have been retouched, altered or improved in some way compared to the original TV series. SHAFT has a history of having OCD tendencies, changing things around in their home video releases sometimes down to the smallest frame.
Audio
The audio that makes the experience in a show like this. The voice acting in Madoka is superb. Emotions constantly run high in this tragic, Shakespearean epic and the voice actors have gone above and beyond their job description. For me, Madoka’s highlight has always been the beautiful soundtrack by Yuki Kajiura known for her work in anime such as Tsubasa Chronicles, Fate/Zero and, more recently, Sword Art Online. The haunting melodies and violent orchestra grabs your attention from start to finish.
Extras
I almost forgot this was a limited edition release, and as such you get a very nice art box housing the two Blu-ray discs as well as a booklet containing art work from the series. If you managed to grab the box with the original Madoka Magica TV release, this suits it well. Unfortunately it’s nothing too sumptuous, being more for fans who like to have their anime organised in a box rather than play around with loads of goodies.
Overall Madoka Magica is definitely an experience, one that explores the classic tragedy theme all too well, if a little by-the-book. If you always dismissed magical girl anime as being too “girly” then this is the one to watch. It’ll turn your world upside down. For newcomers these two films are a great and powerful digest of the series, if only a little rushed towards the end. This collection is probably the most well done summary I’ve seen of a TV anime.
However, I’ve always preferred to just watch the series instead for more depth and character development. It is after all only 12 episodes. For existing fans there’s very little new content in this recap collection and all but the most ardent fans would drop the extra cash for another viewing. Ultimately though, this fact does little to detract from the quality of the release on offer.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Nintendo enjoyed a massive turnout in Australia and New Zealand for the launch of Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, with thousands lining up at midnight to go embarking on their Hoenn adventure. The area might be familiar in name, but the new 3D engine provides a makeover to the original titles that creates an all-new experience.
Melbourne – Over 1000 attend the midnight launch at The Nintendo Experience, EB Games Swanston St.
New to the series are Primal Reversions, transforming legendaries Groudon and Kyogre back into their primal forms, and granting them unique powers. Additionally, a new HP called Soar allows users to hop on the backs of either Latias or Latios and discover hidden regions of the map never before explored. Secret Baes also make a return, while the new PokéNav Plus lets players find Pokémon in the city, in the wild or even high up in the sky; when near a Pokémon, the PokéNav Plus shows vital information about that Pokémon. Players can even sneak up on Pokémon in the wild, making it much easier to catch them.
In regards to the story, the mysterious origins of Primal Reversion is the focus, bringing to light new aspects of Pokémon lore and potentially changing the future understanding of these magical creatures. Along with the launch of the games, two new members of the Nintendo 3DS were also released – the New Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 3DS XL.Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are now available in stores and on Nintendo eShop at a suggested retail price of AU$59.95 each, and from December 4, Nintendo 2DS Transparent Red and Nintendo 2DS Transparent Blue will release in Australia and New Zealand together with either of the latest Pokémon titles pre-installed in two new bundles for a suggested retail price of AU$179.95 each.
Overview
Five years ago, Platinum Games brought us Bayonetta. She was stylish, fast, and over-the-top, but at that time, that little title hit the spot and set a bar in the action genre, instantly cementing the female figure as a mainstay within the industry. Even though the game performed well, a lot of companies lacked the faith to back a sequel, so Platinum turned to the unlikely source of Nintendo for publishing rights. The Wii U itself seems like an unlikely home to such a wild beauty, but oddly enough, this sequel feels right at home on the platform. The big question for Bayonetta fans is what did we want out of a sequel and how much can be delivered this time around compared to the first game, which turned the knob up to the top and then proceeded to break it off completely. Let’s find out.
Story
Bayonetta was one of my favorite titles of the last generation. While the gameplay was great, the narrative was so much in its own world that it was a bit much to just jump into. You had a plot about an Umbran Witch who was extremely confident and killed angels, but there was not a lot of background on the characters – and the backstory we did get mainly painted a portrait of supporting faces, rather than Bayonetta herself. This sequel fixes that issue completely, as the true Cereza has been fleshed out entirely as the player goes on a ride to save Jeanne, who served as a strong ally and rival and ally during the first title. After Jeanne’s soul is taken to hell, Bayonetta aims to go on a rescue mission to repay the debt she owes the white haired witch, and this time, there are plenty of flashbacks and side narratives running parallel to the journey that give us a better look at Bayonetta’s motives and vulnerabilities.
Loki is a new character that players run into rather early in the game, and serves as the plot device that ties everything together. Sure, we get a lot of great dialogue between Bayonetta and Loki as the immature kid deals with the protective and snarky witch, but there is a layer of humanity underneath their chemistry that brings new insight to the namesake. Yeah, Bayonetta is a sexy witch that kills “naughty little angels”, but the sequel takes us a bit further this time and shows that she still has depth and a caring spirit to boot underneath those flashes of skin and sexual gazes. I honestly enjoyed every single cutscene within the game as the writing is on point for the entire experience. It is hard for any title to keep an upbeat, sense of self when it peels back layers of its characters, but Bayonetta 2 does it with grace and still manages to capture that light and airy atmosphere of the first title, where its hard not to crack a smile while underneath the most extreme pressures.
Gameplay
No matter how entertaining the narrative is, it will never be able to compete with the main course of this title as a whole, which is the gameplay. For returning players, you will be greeted with a game that feels a great deal like the first, as the gameplay is still fast and fluid, never missing a beat when it comes to excitement. Bayonetta has retained her trademark guns strapped to her feet, and still performs her stylish acrobatics while dodging enemies to go into “witch time”. Witch Time was a large part of the combat system of the original game, and that statement is even more true within the sequel, as proper timing is key to victory in order to temporarily slow down time and unleash intense combos and attacks on foes. Thankfully, the Wii U meets its expectations to pull off all of this chaos at once, as even though Bayonetta already felt highly polished, the sequel adds a couple of extra coats just for quality’s sake.
All is not old in this follow-up when it comes to the combat as well. The “Wicked Weaves” have gone infernal, and have a much larger area of effect when players manage to activate their Umbran Climax mode. Bayonetta now can switch styles of combat instantly as well this time around. When I say that, I am not speaking of the panther or other animal transformations that are still available, but more of the environmental changes that now explode onto the scene in the blink of an eye and greatly change the way the player has to control our female hero. One minute you will be on land, battling a few angels. The next the whole ground can rise up underneath the player and take you and the enemy to the skies as you sprout demonic wings. Interestingly enough, the combat still manages to maintain its feel, even though you may be in the sky or even underwater, so while it feels fresh – it still keeps a familiar essence to keep the player in a comfortable place.
Even though the first title received critical praise, there were a few little features that some fans felt slowed down such a fast-paced title and it seems Platinum have listened to those voices. Remember the little mini-games that required us to dodge a lightening bolt in order to open a door or activate a switch? Those moments have been greatly reduced this time around and when one does show up, its nothing more than a trickle of nostalgia. Boss battles also feel a lot more immersive this time around as the number of quick-time events has shrunk, meaning most of the damage an enemy takes is by your own skillset, and not at the hand of a button. These are just minor changes, but they do a lot to keep the game flowing freely. It also helps that the Gamepad works well as a main controller, as I completed the main story two times with the device, and felt comfortable right from the start.
Whats great about Bayonetta 2 is that it gives the player a choice. You will beat this enemy in front of you. The challenge is a bit lighter and you are one of the toughest women in existence, so that will be a given. However, you can decide to take whatever route needed to defeat an enemy. Want to go through a stage and only use standard combos? Have at it. Feel like attaching trinkets to provide a handicap? That is ok as well. This title constantly rewards the player with medals after every battle, so no matter how you play, there is always another peg in the ladder to climb up and get better. With every chapter feeling completely distinct from the next, its very hard to feel bored as the gameplay doesn’t just change in this sequel, but constantly evolves so the player constantly improving as the challenges grow and new toys are unlocked for this witch to play with.
Those looking for a little something extra will be able to go back with a friend and try the new Tag Climax mode, which allows you to team up and take out enemies to earn halos. This mode has each player make a wager, where the winner will get the entire pot. Yeah, its not something you will play a lot, but it is a well crafted distraction and with AI partners possible, something anyone can participate in and garner more halos to unlock even more goods within the main game.
Visuals
Aside from the blue textures and shorter hair, Bayonetta 2 doesn’t look too much different from the first at a quick glance. As you begin to play however, you will notice the changes as the framerate is higher and the animations are even more fluid. There is something about just holding a button to shoot a watching Bayonetta walk with one hand on her hip that speaks volumes about this experience, as you can really tell how much attention to detail went into development. I would also say that Bayonetta 2 is a much brighter title, as the locales feature a ton of color, compared to the more brown and dark hue of the first adventure. No matter how much action was going on – be it the television or gamepad, I never once had slowdown or drops of framerate, and that alone is a testament in days where publishers are putting out titles that can barely handle walking animations.
Audio
The soundtrack is absolutely phenomenal. Featuring new vocal tracks that still have a nice pop music twang, Bayonetta 2 has replaced the “Fly me to the Moon” with melodies that fit this new world perfectly. There are also orchestral tunes that set the stage for some larger-than-life boss battles, and bring hell to life by setting an intense atmosphere through song. Fans of Enzo, Luka, Jeanne, Rodin, and Bayonetta herself will be thrilled to know that the voice team have remained the same, and the actors do a superb job of bringing these characters to life. Our characters in this journey take on a wide variety of emotions, and it was nice to see that every one came across as legitimate.
Overall
Bayonetta 2 could best be compared to the likes of The Ocarina of Time, Metroid Prime, and even Super Mario 3. Sure, none of these titles have anything to do with Platinum Games’ follow-up, but in the same way that those sequels defined their franchise, Bayonetta 2 delivers nothing but perfection to send a strong message to the industry, proving that you don’t have to sell out to gimmickry to deliver a top of the line product. Bayonetta is a proud female hero that has earned her spot as a top mascot of her genre, and I can easily say that with the quality of this sequel, this is just the beginning of great things to come for the stylistic witch. While all of these other franchises on other consoles try to re-brand and change themselves to fit in with the current image of today, Platinum hit it out of the park and sent a wink to the other kids in the park by allowing Bayonetta to simply be herself in what is sure to go down as one of the greatest sequels of all time.
The first screenshots for the Xbox One version of Project CARS, developed by Slightly Mad Studios, have been released. Check out the gallery below for the screens made available.
Project CARS caught every racing gamer’s attention for its stunningly accurate and realistic recreation of their favourite automobiles upon reveal. And these screenshots show off the vehicular beauty perfectly. Accompanying their release, Bandai Namco also confirmed that Project CARS will play at 60 fps on Xbox One, with the following press release excerpt:
You’ve played it in Dubai, London, Madrid, and Paris, but for those that couldn’t jet-set around the world, sit back and take a more leisurely look at Project CARS on Xbox One, running at 60 frames per second!
Project CARS is scheduled for release on March 20, 2015 for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC.
21 teams entered Razer’s HackFest at AppsWorld this year. Teams were challenged to create apps using the Razer Nabu in just 36 hours. 15 functioning apps were completed at the end of HackFest. First place went to the Gamers Everywher app that let Razer Nabu users find fellow gamers and share their profiles with a high five. Second place went to the real-time game New Frontier that has players turning local places into their play space.
Many of the 15 apps will go on to become public apps when the Razer Nabu finally launches. No word when the Nabu will launch, as the device has missed its projected October release date. The Razer Nabu recently passed FCC testing in late October and a brand new site has been unveiled, which hints that the launch may be imminent.
Ubisoft announced The Crewopen beta will kick off on November 25, 2014 and end on 27th for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One players. The open beta will have the entire United State map open for exploration. PvP and challenges will only be available in the Midwest and the East Coast. The Open Beta will be free to All Xbox Live and PlayStation Network members, though the usual online restrictions for those who are not subscribed to Xbox Live Gold or PlayStation Plus will apply.
For those who haven’t been following The Crew and are interested in checking out the beta, Ubisoft released a length 101 video that will catch players up to all the basics. The Crew launches on December 2nd for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
New to the series are Primal Reversions, transforming legendaries Groudon and Kyogre back into their primal forms, and granting them unique powers. Additionally, a new HP called Soar allows users to hop on the backs of either Latias or Latios and discover hidden regions of the map never before explored. Secret Baes also make a return, while the new PokéNav Plus lets players find Pokémon in the city, in the wild or even high up in the sky; when near a Pokémon, the PokéNav Plus shows vital information about that Pokémon. Players can even sneak up on Pokémon in the wild, making it much easier to catch them.
