Game developers’s GriN has finally accomplished their Kickstarter crowdfunding target of $50,000. The project they can now can get underway is the amazing title, Woolfe: The Red Hood Diaries. It is a highly cinematic platform game that packed with dramatic action, stunning characters, beautiful art and dark twists.
As a celebration for their reaching the target, GriN is providing a new reward for every single backer of their project, which is a Woolfe: The Red Hood Diaries tabletop fantasy RPG. Fans will be able to download it as a digital PDF so they can continue the adventures of Red Riding Hood offline. GriN will be revealing more details on the tabletop RPG in the coming weeks. Also, there will be extra physical add-ons to an already impressive roster of digital rewards, including a poster pack, an 80-page hardcover art book, a boxed copy of the game, a soundtrack and a deluxe 3D printed boxed copy of the game.
There is still a couple days left on their Kickstarter clock, though 100% of the target is complete. So for you interested readers, head over to GriN’s Kickstarter page and check out it out as there is still time to become a backer. This twisted fable of Little Red Riding Hood’s odyssey, from victim to badass heroine, will be available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One in 2015.
Not everyone can wear #23 like Michael Jordan. For those who can’t, Indie Gala and Capsule Computer’s Every Monday Bundle #23 is just the solution. For a single price, buyers will get six great indie games.
Victim of Xen– An RPG starring Will, a young man who has been turned into a girl. He is on a quest to reverse the spell cast by the royal witch Xen, but soon finds himself in the middle of a war.
Jet Gunner– Inspired by NES run and gunners like Contra, Jet Gunners features six stages, a challenge mode, and plenty of weapons shoot.
Al Emmo and the Lost Dutchman’s Mine– Al Emmo is a loser looking to prove to his parents that he is a real man by heading out to the Wild West to make his mark. His glory might just lay at the bottom of the Lost Dutchman’s Mine in this point and click adventure.
Gold Rush! Classic – This classic adventure is brought to modern PCs from the 1980s. Choose one of three possible routes for Jerrod Wilson as he travels from New York to California in time for the Gold Rush.
Spate– Former Disney artist Eric Provan explores the dark side in this trippy absinthe based platformer. The hero is an alcoholic detective looking to find some missing people in the X Zone while he drowns the pains of his past.
Space Tank– A 3d shoot ’em up set in space featuring 180 levels, 9 weapons, and plenty of enemies to destroy. Be sure to vote for the game on Steam Greenlight.
Grab your copy of the Every Monday Bundle #23 at Indie Gala before the price rises! The price is only $1.89 for the first 24 hours of the sale.
Overview Over the course of The Walking Dead Season Two Telltale Games has managed to tell a story with a very different tone than that of the first season. With the focus shifted from protecting a young girl as Lee, to surviving with a new set of strangers as Clementine, Season Two has managed to pull together an impressive story in its own right. However with No Going Back being the final episode, does the second season feature a fitting finale?
Story As mentioned in previous reviews, the following review will contain some minor spoilers for the events that happened in the most recent episodes, though the actual details of the story will be kept to a minimum. With that said No Going Back picks up immediately after the events of Amid the Ruins, meaning Clementine and her group are in the middle of a shootout.
Screenshot from “Amid the Ruins”
Right off the bat players are immediately forced to make decisions that involve the group’s survival and put Clementine’s safety at risk. However while the episode might start full of danger, it slows down to a crawling pace which feels strange considering the fact that this is the final episode that must wrap things up. While the story takes these slow moments to try and develop the fraying connections holding the group together, players are given very little reason to care about two of the members of the group which makes one certain event feel like a disappointment as well as a poignant betrayal.
Of course the fact that you can feel betrayed by a character does wonders for Telltale’s writing; it also lacks credibility, even if the splintering of the group has been hinted throughout the last few episodes. It is also interesting to note that while this is Clementine’s journey, the main focus has been Kenny’s descent into darkness. Players have watched the downfall of Kenny throughout the season and his interactions with the rest of the group bring things to a head, often making players have to decide between agreeing with Kenny, trying to help the group, or attempt to stay neutral.
Although the story may begin to drag in the middle and lacks a fair amount of the drama found in the first season’s ending, there are still twists to be had and emotions can run raw due to the various events that occur throughout the episode, especially during a certain sequence. At the same time though, many of these emotions come from other characters whereas Clementine simply seems like she is along for the ride as she listens to their problems.
That being said, the weight of these characters’ emotions plays heavily into expanding them in the final episode, allowing players one more look at what they are struggling with. Nowhere do they run higher than at the conclusion where three different endings, and variations of those endings, are presented to the player. In a way that is a far cry from the first season, each of these endings feels satisfying in its own right, even if the meaning behind each ending is quite sad, but it will be very interesting to see exactly where Telltale will go from here.
Gameplay It is interesting to see how Telltale has managed to take a very simplistic set of mechanics and evolve them over time to give certain actions extra meaning. While the core gameplay still remains the same, it is in this episode where the mechanic involving slow actions helps give a scene extra meaning as players tend to someone instead of simply clicking a button and watching events unfold.
As mentioned above, player choice does play a role in how events unfold in the final endings which is an improvement over the first season where the ending was the same, only the journey in the final episode was altered. This gives players a chance to really feel like they are forming Clementine’s personality and resolve as they choose how she will respond and what actions she will take when she is forced to decide.
It is also worth noting that the series’ standard Rewind feature is also a very nice feature considering the game’s multiple ending options. While players may wish to simply stick with the ending that they originally received because they went with their gut feelings, it really helps give players an option to not only alter the way they wish the story to end, but also find out what else might have happened if they chose a different option.
Visuals & Audio With winter closing in and snow blanketing everything, Telltale has chosen a different overall environment for players to navigate through but the standard comic book art style persists throughout No Going Back which continues to work wonders given the art style and the subtle emotions the developers can still draw from the characters.
Screenshot from “Amid the Ruins”
The voice work continues to be as impressive as ever, especially with tensions running as high as they do in this final episode, showing that Telltale has an eye for good voice actors.
Overall
By placing players in control of Clementine Telltale Games gave us a game with a tone far different from that of the first season and they have managed to tell a successful and different story with a satisfying set of endings. By building tension over the past few episodes and having it pay off with No Going Back, players are in for quite an emotional experience. Even though this finale has its high points and low points, it concludes with Telltale being placed in an interesting position as they have hooked an audience that will be waiting to see how and if things will continue in the next season.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Atari announced that Dreampainters, the team behind the highly regarded indie horror title Anna, is the team behind the latest Haunted House game. Haunted House: Cryptic Graves is a first person adventure horror game that puts players inside the haunted Abbadon Grange Estate. The house is filled to the brim with ghosts and deadly traps. The player have nothing but their wits and psychic powers to protect them. To drive out the ghosts and monsters that creep through the halls, players will use their potent psychic abilities to solve the many puzzles hidden in the house.
Haunted House: Cryptic Graves will be released for the PC. Learn more at the official Haunted House: Cryptic Graves website.
Atari revealed a new addition to the venerable Alone in the Darkhorror franchise at PAX Prime with a teaser trailer. Developed by the new studio Pure FPS, Alone in the Dark: Illumination is a four player co-operative horror title which draws inspiration from H.P. Lovecraft. Four unique characters must synergize their abilities to overcome The Darkness. Two of the characters trace their lineage back to two major characters from the original Alone in the Dark. The only safe place in Alone in the Dark: Illumination are the illuminated spots that are scattered across the town of Lorwich and created by players.
The game will launch for PC and runs on the Unreal 4 engine. Learn more at the official Alone in the Dark: Illuminationwebsite.
Nintendo is looking to end 2014 on a high note with a strong list of titles and there Skylanders/Disney Infinity like Amiibo figures due before the years end. We now have an official price for Amiibo figures in Australia as well as the launch line up which will consist of 12 characters including Mario, Peach, Link, Samus, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Pikachu, Kirby, Fox, Marth, Villager and Wii Fit Trainer, with each Amiibo retailing for $17.95. More figures will be available in the future and Super Smash Bros. will be the first title to fully cater for Amiibo.
We still don’t know the exact functionality or even have a release date for Amiibo yet (we are guessing it will launch alongside Super Smash Bros. which is set for a December release), but we do know that in the Smash Bros. series you will be able to level them up and let them fight for you in battles to earn experience. You can also battle against your friends Amiibos in this way. Check out the gallery below for all the official hi-res shots of the initial Amiibo launch figures.
Other notable game releases from Nintendo before the years end include (click on each title for more information):
Hyrule Warriors – Releasing on September 20th, this Zelda/Dynasty Warriors cross over title will see gameplay from the Dynasty Warriors series set in the world of Zelda featuring all the famous locations and characters you know and love. Over 14 characters are playable from Link, Zelda and even enemies such as Ghirahim and Ganondorf. Nintendo is supporting this title with a variety of add on content, the first pack being free and arriving with the games launch, adding a fun new mode, weapon and the option to select music.
Super Smash Bros. – Coming to 3DS on October 4th and Wii U sometime in December, those who purchase both versions and claim them on Club Nintendo will receive a free soundtrack packed with songs from the game. Shulk, the main protagonist from Xenoblade Chronicles was recently revealed to be the latest new comer to the roster.
Bayonetta 2 – Featuring over the top battles, wild weapons, crazy locations and an all new story, Bayonetta seems to be the greatest action games heading to Wii U this year. In one of the best bonuses ever from Nintendo, the original Bayonetta will be included in the retail package giving you two games for the price of one. The game has been fully remade and optimised for the Wii U and will also feature bonus costumes such as Samus and Peach outfits for the main heroine to don. If you are purchasing this digitally, the two games will be available as a standalone purchase however pricing details have not been announced. EB games is currently offering Bayonetta 2 for $99 while JB Hifi has the title at the more standard Wii U title price of $79.
Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric for Wii U & Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal for Nintendo 3DS – This branching path of the Sonic franchise will see both titles launching on 29th November. Both games introduce a unique and epic adventure as Sonic and team work together to stop the evil villain Lyric. Players can play as multiple characters, each with their own abilities, as they explore, fight and speed through an undiscovered land. Both games will feature unique stories, locaations and even different playable characters, with the 3DS version allowing you to play as new team mate Styx.
Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire – Coming to 3DS and the eShop on November 21st, the most requested remakes of the original third gen Game Boy Advance games are finally being realised, featuring all the best features of those titles like super contests and secret bases to new features such as brand new mega evolutions and online features.
Ultimate NES Remix – Available in stores and on Nintendo eShop for Nintendo 3DS on 8th November, the game features rapid-fire challenges and mash-ups from a selection of 16 of Nintendo’s finest 8-bit games. Regional online leaderboards will let players see how they stack up against others in their area, and Championship Mode offers a gauntlet of challenges from three different games.
Fantasy Life – Available in stores and on Nintendo eShop for Nintendo 3DS on 27th September, Fantasy Life lets players become the masters of their destinies as every choice they make determines their unique Fantasy Life. Players can easily change their Life Class at any time and experience how each offers a new perspective on the world. Local and online multiplayer options let friends share the adventure, the exploration and the bounty. An add-on content pack called Origin Island offers a whole new area home to an ancient culture and powerful enemies, additional story content, new ranks to achieve in Life Classes, access to even more powerful equipment and two new varieties of pets to adopt: birds and dragons.
A great selection of indie titles are also coming to the Nintendo eShop by the end of the year including:
Stealth Inc 2 from Curve Digital combines the best elements of puzzle solving, action platforming and stealth gameplay into a game that’s all about hiding in the shadows. The game launches exclusively on Wii U in Q4. The game includes a two-player co-op mode, level editor, off-TV play and Miiverse integration.
Swords & Soldiers II is a side scrolling action strategy game from Ronimo Games launching in Q4 2014 exclusively on Wii U. The game includes 20 story missions and lets players buy units, cast spells and build structures to overwhelm enemies on a 2D battleground.
Azure Striker GUNVOLT from Inti Creates launches this summer exclusively on Nintendo 3DS. Featuring the talents of Keiji Inafune, the creator of the Mega Man series, the game takes the best aspects of Japanese 16-bit classics and updates them with new play mechanics and slick graphics. For a limited time, the game comes with a free digital copy of the 8-bit nostalgia-fuelled Mighty GUNVOLT as well.
Shovel Knight from Yacht Club Games, coming to Nintendo eShop for both Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. Head to the link to check out our review of the PC version.
And don’t think Nintendo will be stopping there with the company already planning a strong line up in 2015 for the Wii U featuring such titles as Star Fox, Kirby, Yoshi’s Wooly World, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, Splatoon, Xenoblade Chronicles X, Devil’s Third, Mario Maker, Project Giant Robot, Project Guard, Mario vs Donkey Kong, Mario Party 10, Art Academy and probably the most anticipated, the newest installment in The Legend of Zelda series which is said to be an open world epic.
The 3DS is not to be left out, with Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, Code Name S.T.E.A.M, Fossil Fighters: Frontier and the reveal of purchasable themes that you can apply to your home screen that will be available after a planned system update in October. This is alongside the announcement of the New Nintendo 3DS that will also have specific titles such as the port of Xenoblade Chronicles from the Wii.
So it definitely looks like the next year and a bit are going to be very strong for the Big N who really struggled to get their home console off the ground this generation. Hopefully these upcoming titles will be a success so we can continue to see what the company releases for years to come. Let us know in the comments below what your most anticipated upcoming title is and what you think of the Amiibos. We look forward to reading and replying to them.
If you played the lovely and wonderous Kirby Triple Deluxe (review can be found here, you happy readers), you probably noticed the two mini-games of sorts that were featured within the cartridge. The first was Kirby Fighters, which was a Smash clone with only Kirby hats, and the other was a odd little rhythm-action romp titled Dedede’s Drum Dash.
Without anyone having to put in a request, Nintendo have added a ton of content to each and made them both available for the eShop separately at just $6.99. Kirby Fighters Deluxe features new abilities, a new team battle mode with double team attacks, and new stages, while Dedede’s Drum Dash Deluxe adds seven new stages and new modes. If you think you don’t need these two due to your ownership of Kirby Triple Deluxe, well – you need to open that mind and also know that your Streetpass data will gain you exclusive goodies with each. Check out both trailers down below and you can find each title on the 3DS eShop as of today.
I know. I myself am rather tired of seeing every website in existence covered with these videos of people dumping water on themselves. I almost didn’t want to post this, but hey – its rather decent. Reggie Fils-Aime has answered the challenge from Microsoft’s Phil Spencer, and the results are pretty awesome.
Along with a lot of familiar faces from Nintendo, Reggie had ice water dumped on his head in order to raise awareness for ALS, as well as to actually donate. Mario is even cheering Nintendo’s leader on with claps, so yeah, the video is worthy of a watch if you are wanting a nice chuckle. Watch the clip down below and dump water on you head afterwards if you must.
Many people are probably familiar with Touhou Project, or if you aren’t familiar but have spent any time on the internet, then you have probably seen at least one or two characters from the long running franchise. Unfortunately many people have never played any of the Touhou shmup games simply because they have never been released in English nor on consoles as they have always been PC exclusives.
As such it came as quite a surprise last night when Sony revealed that Touhou Project would be coming to the PlayStation 4 and PS Vita. Now series creator Zun has revealed a few more details by saying that the games that will be heading to the Sony platforms are not developed by him but fan made projects that he will be encouraging.
The slogan for this project is currently “Touhou fans will create and grow it, together with PlayStation.” While no release date was announced, three games have so far been announced, with more planned, and they are called Mystery Gensokyo 3, The Genius of Sappheiros, and Touhou Sky Arena Matsuri.
Earlier today during Sony’s press conference, the first trailer for Resident Evil HD was released in Japanese and you can check it out below. Capcom also announced that the game would feature professional voice actors this time around, which might sound a bit strange until you realize just how bad the original voice work for the game was.
Currently it is unknown if the Japanese voice overs will be available in the Western release of the game, or if the voice work will also be redone for the English release, but we can expect some sort of announcement before the title is released in early 2015.
