Square Enix has revealed that those who choose to pre-order Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix in Europe and North America will be given a free upgrade to the “Limited Edition” version of the game that will come with an exclusive Disney collectable pin that features Sora and Mickey Mouse and can be seen above and that is it.
To go along with this announcement the company also revealed a number of new screenshots showing off the HD cinematics taken from Kingdom Hearts Re:Coded. As for the game itself, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix is set to be released in North America on December 2nd and in Europe on December 5th.
Today Microsoft has revealed their first trailer for the upcoming Ridley Scott produced series Halo: Nightfall. For those who haven’t been following the series, Halo: Nightfall is set to bridge the gap in story between Halo 4 and Halo 5: Guardians as well as tell the story of how Jameson Locke becomes the man that he is in the fifth game.
Microsoft describes the series as such:
Halo: Nightfall introduces a pivotal new character, Jameson Locke, a legendary manhunter and agent with the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI), Earth’s most powerful and secretive military branch. When he and his team are caught in a horrific biological attack, they unravel a plot that draws them to an ancient, hellish artifact, where they will be forced to fight for their survival, question everything, and ultimately choose between their loyalties and their lives.
Overview While zombies might be the greatest threat to any survivor in a zombie apocalypse, it has been shown time and time again that other survivors are just as dangerous and the events that took place during the last episode are prime examples of that. After bearing witness to the cruelty of Carver and making numerous decisions along the way, what is next for Clementine in Amid the Ruins?
Story It should go without saying that this review will contain some spoilers for the events that happened in the last episode and as such, if you have yet to complete In Harm’s Way then you will wish to do so before reading on.
Now Amid the Ruins actually drops players right into the middle of things as it picks up where players left off last episode and depending on the difficult choice you made at the end of In Harm’s Way, events will play out differently, with one sequence requiring a number of quick and horrific decisions as Clementine and the rest of the group continue to escape from Carver’s compound through the zombie horde.
After escaping, the story slows down a bit as everyone tries to recover and the focus then turns to the characters in the group and how they are handling things, especially with Rebecca drawing near to labor. Throughout this episode we learn more about the standoffish Jane as she begins to open up to Clementine about her past and her philosophy for survival. Jane’s straight-forward survivalist nature makes her similar to Molly from the first season except for the fact that she never seems to open up to anyone outside of Clem.
While the main story here might be centered on Rebecca and how bringing a baby into the world as it is now is not only going to be a challenge but also a threat, the focal point is placed on Kenny instead. When Kenny was brought back in episode two, fans rejoiced. However since then we have seen Kenny enter a dark territory with Carver and as he continues to experience loss, his suffering mind can only take so much and it is beginning to show.
That being said, there is a certain lack of emotion in this episode in regards to some characters. Not only does the rest of the group quickly dismiss the events that occur at the beginning of the episode, but two other characters players have grown familiar with are summarily dismissed. While death comes at unexpected times, having it occur randomly off-screen in one case and another requiring two attempts, feels like a cheap copout where the writers just felt like dropping some baggage.
With Clementine having to make a number of choices throughout this episode, the drama and tension levels are high. High enough that they reach a breaking point once new characters are introduced and players are left with a sudden cliffhanger with no preview after the credits.
Gameplay While players may be forced to make a number of decisions right off the bat in Amid the Ruins, the rest of the episode is a pretty simplistic affair with a few action sequences scattered throughout an episode based more around developing characters and progressing the story than anything else. There is one moment where players will need to solve a simple puzzle through a sequence of events, but it is fairly standard.
One thing that is disappointing however, are the choices you make in The Walking Dead Season Two: Amid the Ruins. Despite players seeming to have an option when it comes to certain events, upon reflection and seeing if things can turn out differently, there really isn’t much players can actually change depending on what they choose, as the end results and emotions are still the same.
Visuals & Audio The comic book art style featured in Telltale’s telling of The Walking Dead continues to be the best way that the series could be presented. The amount of gore that can be shown feels just about right without going overboard and the emotions portrayed on the characters’ faces is just detailed enough to leave a memorable impression when certain events unfold.
The voice work throughout The Walking Dead Season Two: Amid the Ruins continues to be impressive as each of the returning characters are voiced expertly, with one horrible highlight really standing out depending on where it occurs. A nice touch is added with the new characters at the end of the episode which will clearly raise tension and confusion next time.
Overall The Walking Dead Season Two: Amid the Ruins slows things down a bit but also focuses on the growing darkness and tension within the group. Although it has its faults, this episode continues to build on the downfall of Kenny and the splintering of the group only to leave players off with a major cliffhanger; it will be very interesting to see how things will unfold in the next and final episode of The Walking Dead Season Two.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Overview
Nintendo have been thinking out of the box for the past year or two, bringing titles to the west that we thought we would never see. From fan-demanded favorites like Xenoblade, to the lesser desired and more niche fare that await a home on the eShop, there isn’t much doubt that this age old company is finally ready to expand past their red and green mascots. With the massive success of Animal Crossing: New Leaf and other portable fare of the same variety, we now have a true black sheep in the simulation family in the form of Tomodachi Life. Instead of playing pre-designed characters, this title begs the player to utilize the Mii Maker and tap into their own creativity while using a bizarre playground. How does this little sim fare? Let’s find out.
Gameplay
Animal Crossing’s main gimmickry is the real life time clock. The Sims focuses on life management. While still in the same genre, Tomodachi Life is all about interaction and observation. After the player either imports or selects their Mii, they can set out in their self-named world and start harboring residents. Sure, you start with your own Mii and in ways, they will be the focus, but this title demands friends, which means you better get that Mii creation tool and camera ready to get the most potential out of the experience. Your Miis can come from the AR codes found everywhere, and are able to be shared with a quick capture. You can also start from scratch, allowing for endless possibilities of celebrities, heroes, villains, and friends.
I said the word observation earlier, and that is true in many ways with this game. Your Miis will want food, shelter (they get an apartment that houses a great number of them at the start of the game), and the basics, but it really isn’t essential to do any of that with them at a given time. The objective of Tomodachi is simply to fulfill requests and make choices for your Miis, where their humorous results then play out before your eyes. It kind of sounds like a stale concept, but the results are very interesting due to the wide variety of options within the game. For example, my Will Smith resident greeted Dustin, who is of course my own Mii – and then proceeded to play a simple mini-game where we tried to guess a zoomed in image of a taco. When Peppermint Patti moved next door, she proved to be a divider in our friendship as a love triangle began, with new events happening everyday between the three. As you add more Miis, you can really see these in game personalities expand as they attempt to fulfill their wildest dreams while you play the puppet master, conducting a symphony of whimsical proportions.
It isn’t all about apartment life, as the more you interact with your cast of Miis, the more other locations open up. Now, these locales are not too special, as they usually just offer a place to spend money on outfits, food, and activities, but there are some nice backdrops that do add new life to the game with area exclusive events, so this is indeed a world worth exploring. The large variety of items, pets, and even songs add a lot to the entertainment factor as well, as every item seems to have a different use depending what your Mii’s personality is. In a way, it is like watching a more charming version of Big Brother, but you get to help the residents this time as they get sick, fall in love, and beg for the cure for boredom.
While this title is deep in terms of charm and interaction, it does lack a lot of what most would call core gameplay. Sure, there are mini-games, but they are very shallow and forgettable aside from the dialogue that comes out of the Mii’s mouths. Personally, I don’t consider that to be a negative however as this is a personality simulator and isn’t meant to be much more that a very lengthy distraction from the real world. There is a ton to do and see and it is almost all randomized, but the novelty only lasts for short bursts after a while, but yet still manages to keep the player coming back just to see what new chaos is infecting these booming little souls. I also must say that it is more exciting than ever to get a streetpass with this title, as that new resident is sure to have just as much fun as you as they watch a new drama unfold due to their presence.
Visuals
There isn’t a lot to say about Tomodachi Life visually, as it uses Miis and well, we all know what they look like. A long time ago, I thought Miis looked basic and rather boring. Since then though, we have seen very creative people do great things in terms of creation, and your own imagination will determine how much fun you will have staring at these loving faces. That being said, the game is still from Nintendo, so the color, quirky features, and other hilarious animations run a muck throughout the game, aimed at bringing a smile to your face as you participate in a random activity.
Audio
The sound is a crowning jewel in Tomadachi, and gives it a heart bigger than the Mushroom Kingdom. Sure, these text-to-speech voices sound generic upon first listen, but with the ability to change speech options such as gender, age, and so on, you will have a great time simply typing words to hear come out of your Mii’s mouth. I know, we have seen this on PCs for years, but this is the first place in the video game world where text-to-speech makes sense, and beats the squeaking and grunting that most simulation titles bring to the table every single time. Conversations feel more real, and I would even say I felt more connected to the game, which in turned made me play with every single Mii more often – just because they could talk on a human level.
Overall
We have heard a lot about Tomodachi Life for the wrong reasons. Is it groundbreaking? No, not really. It is however everything a portable title should be, which is a fun distraction from the real world that will entertain you or die trying. This is the kind of game you take out of your pocket and show to anyone of any age, making for a sharp conversation piece as well as a special experience on a personal level for the player. Wanna have a push up contest with Zach Morris? How about a dance off with Diddy Kong? As long as you have the imagination and the will to create and interact, all of that and more is possible in Tomodachi Life. After eight years, this is the title that will finally give your Mii the voice and the strong personality they have always deserved.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
We have known since earlier this year that XSEED Games was planning on releasing Akiba’s Trip: Undead & Undressed later this year and today the company has not only confirmed when the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita versions of the game would be released, they also announced that they have plans to be bring the recently announced PlayStation 4 version of the game to North America as well.
The company has announced that they are planning on releasing it sometime this holiday season while the other two versions will be released in a few weeks on August 12th. To go along with this announcement a number of new screenshots from the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita versions of the game and an announcement trailer were released and you can find them below.
Those who have been paying attention to Persona 4 Arena Ultimax before it was announced for Western release are already familiar with the new characters that will be available in the game but now Atlus USA has released some English trailers to show off each of the new fighters.
As such you can find English gameplay footage of Rise Kujikawa, Yukari Takeba, and Junpei Iori below. Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is still lacking a solid release date in North America, though Atlus is planning on releasing the title sometime in the fall.
Today Koei Tecmo announced that the PlayStation 4 version of Samurai Warriors 4 will be given a “Special Anime Pack” in both North America and Europe. This version of the release is to commemorate the series’ 10th anniversary and includes a number of bonuses, including an anime special. The Special Anime Pack includes the following content:
Samurai Warriors: Legend of the Sanada anime (Blu-ray Disc)
Samurai Warriors 4 game (PlayStation 4)
Samurai Warriors 4 Official Soundtrack (CD)
Digital Content:
Special Costume Pack 4: Garcia, Ina, Nene and Oichi (DLC)
Old Costume Pack 1: Yukimura, Mitsuhide, Nobunaga, Noh, Oichi, and Ranmaru (DLC)
Edit Parts Pack 1 which allows facial and Western themed armor customization (DLC)
Alongside that special announcement the company went on to detail what type of pre-order bonuses fans can expect when the game is released. Those who pre-order the title at GameStop in the US or GAME in Europe will be given Scenario Pack 1 and extra costumes for Mitsunari Ishida and Toyohisa Shimazu. As for those who pre-order from Amazon or Best Buy in North America, they will be given a Weapon Pack and costumes for Keiji Maeda, Kenshin Uesugi, Kunoichi, and Shingen Takeda.
To go along with these announcements the company also released a slew of brand new screenshots and character art, all of which can be found below.
“We’re the Guardians of the Galaxy.” Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is about to hit theaters, and hype couldn’t be higher. With its all-star cast and a completely different look at the Marvel Universe, it is a recipe for success. Well as if taking over the silver screen wasn’t enough, Star-Lord and his cohorts are making their way to video games everywhere. Earlier this week, the mobile game Guardians of the Galaxy: The Universal Weapon launched, and now we have confirmation of a Guardians of the Galaxy Play Set for Disney Infinity 2.0: Marvel Super Heroes.
We heard rumors of the Guardians Play Set and figures last month, but the guys over at Disney have now officially confirmed the line-up. The Play Set follows Star-Lord and his fellow Guardians as they arrive at Knowhere, having just stolen a powerful cosmic object from the villainous Ronan the Accuser. Players will guide the team as they race to protect Knowhere from Ronan and his attacking Sakaaran fleet while keeping their newly liberated item safe from the villain’s evil grasp. The Play Set will come with Star-Lord and Gamora, while the additional guardians; Drax, Rocket Raccoon and Groot are available as separate figures. The Play Set will also allow cross-over characters Iron Man and Nova.
In addition to the characters and Play Set, there will also be several Power Discs that feature the Guardians themselves. The set and all of its figures will launch in Spring, but to keep you excited until then, we have an awesome trailer that you can check out below, which shows the Guardians in action. Disney Infinity 2.0 will be released this September, so make sure you stay tuned to Capsule Computers for all the news as it becomes available.
Overview There are few manga series that can be considered classic but one that is mentioned often is Naoki Urasawa’s Monster. Originally published back in 1994, the series ran for a total of eighteen volumes before concluding in 2001 and eventually started being published in English in 2006. However after the full series was published in English by Viz, copies slowly became hard to come by as the series had gone out of print.
Thankfully Viz has chosen to revive Monster and breathe some new life into the volumes by giving them some upgrades and releasing the series as two-in-one ‘Perfect Editions.’ Now that Monster: Volume 1 Perfect Edition has been released, is it worth purchasing?
Story Monster begins in 1986 Düsseldorf, Germany where a young and talented doctor has earned quite a name for himself at Eisler Memorial Hospital. This doctor, named Kenzo Tenma, transferred to the hospital from Japan and has quickly risen up the ranks due to his exceptional surgical skill and willingness to follow the director’s orders. Not only is he set to be promoted further up the chain, but he is even engaged to marry the director’s beautiful daughter Eva.
A man can only obey orders for so long however and after witnessing the way that the hospital prioritizes famous or wealthy individuals over common folk who came first and usually suffer from worse injuries, Tenma’s struggle with his feelings and beliefs comes to a head when he disobeys direct orders to abandon a young boy shot in the end to work on the city’s mayor. Choosing instead to work on the boy and save his life not only causes Tenma’s world to collapse around him as he is demoted and those he thought loved him turn away, but his actions have caused something far worse to continue living.
Generally when it comes to manga releases, especially ones such as Monster: Volume 1 Perfect Edition that is 422 pages long, I usually would go deeper into the story but doing so would be a disservice to those who have yet to read the series. I say that because what makes Monster so great are all of the various twists and moments of drama and suspense found within the story.
While this first volume of the Perfect Edition serves mostly to introduce us to Tenma, those around him, the villain, and establish the entire scenario once readers get past the first few chapters they will find themselves hooked and be unable to put the book down until they finish. You see, the first few chapters of Monster are presented in a way similar to a standard hospital drama where various policies and connections make or break the doctors. While this may be interesting for some, what the series transitions to past that point becomes a murder mystery story packed with drama and potential.
A lot of heavy themes are at play in Monster’s first volume such as the worth of a person and although many of the characters we are introduced to might be side-characters, it is evident which ones will play a major role already. The leading man Tenma is not only likable but also a realist with a sense of duty and we are given some extensive detail on him throughout this release. Considering this is only the initial release of what is going to be a two-in-one volume run, this first release does an amazing job drawing readers into the story thanks to the author’s compelling writing style.
Artwork Monster: Volume 1 Perfect Edition is part of Viz’s Signature line-up which means that the volume comes in at 8.2” x 5.8” which as you may expect, is larger than the original release. This increase in size is both a good and a bad thing however. The enlarged size does allow for some extra details to be shown off and the artwork is still extremely crisp looking with unique looking character designs that help make every character unique.
But after comparing this release to the original English print release, every so often there are times where a bit of the art is cropped off, which is odd considering the extra space the larger book. That being said there is also an overabundance of blank white backgrounds used throughout the release, which is similar to the original, but a drawback nonetheless. The translation of the book is nicely handled and the fact that Viz left in a handful of German words and terms in the release is a nice touch considering the series’ German setting.
Extra Content With the release of Monster: Volume 1 Perfect Edition Viz has put a few extra touches into the volume to try and draw in readers. There are now a number of color pages included in the release, though they are printed on the same material as a standard page, and the book also features a faux dust jacket design where the cover features large French flaps that have no writing on them and actually end up getting in the way at times.
Overall While Monster: Volume 1 Perfect Edition may not offer a whole lot for those already picked up the series back when it was originally released, as the increased size is an improvement but also a hindrance, those who have yet to pick up the series will be in for quite a treat. This first volume of story is clearly only a sample of a larger and more intriguing piece of work that will probably only get better as it progresses.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Deconstructeam and Devolver Digital present the almighty, Gods Will Be Watching, a trivial game designed to challenge the strongest of players; in terms of empathy, ethics and survival instincts. The original idea for the game has manifested since Ludum Dare in 2013, raising the stakes for players to overcome the perils of making judgement calls, as to who lives and who dies. While the stakes may be higher, does Gods Will Be Watching excel beyond the prototype?
Story
The end of the world is near approaching, or so it is for planet Sineicos where the deadly “Medusa virus” exists. A paralysis of the mind and body that is expected to destroy 4 billion lives (yep, that’s genocide), unless the Everdusk Company for the Universe Knowledge (E.C.U.K) can prevent the bioterrorist, Xenolifer. Under the command of Sargent Burden, the E.C.U.K research team consists of; Br4nd-On (Robot), Donald (Engineer), Sarah (Therapist), Dr Zenész, Jack (Soldier) and Marvin (Dog). The primary objective of the game is survival, with the minor flaw of all characters (aside from Sargent Burden- as you control him) returning in following chapters after being killed off. Therefore, players should not feel the need to mourn, no matter how tragic the circumstances.
Gods Will Be Watching Concept Artwork for the Everdusk Team
Over six bloodthirsty chapters in Gods Will Be Watching, players must conquer Xenolifer by stealing back their research and creating a cure for the Medusa virus. While the mission is clearly outlined in the introduction, the real challenge is “playing God”. There are no specific guidelines on how to approach each of the infuriating puzzles, so players are encouraged to run countless trials and errors to determine which method is the most successful for moving forward.
The first chapter, ‘Self-Justified Sacrifices’ demands players to use tactical thinking and effective time management. By assuming the role of a guard in a hostage situation, where Xenolifer are holding Burden’s crew hostage to hack information about the virus, your priority is to decide how to handle the hostages, monitor the transferal of data, and tap into security footage to prevent E.C.U.K from hijacking the room with explosives.
The second ordeal ‘20 days of Empty Words’ introduces players to the disturbingly pleasant, Irving and Alexander Show. The macho men from the Holistic Empire take Sargent Burden and Jack captive in a chamber, to interrogate them about the organisation they work for and how they broke into their lab at the Matriarch. The impossible and torturous situation will come at cost, to suffer physical abuse (and Russian roulette) and lie over 20 days, until their enemy – Xenolifer – can save them.
In the third operation, ‘Everdusk’, the team are sent to planet Sineicos to create a cure for the Medusa virus, however Xenolifer interfere with their plans by barricading them in their research cave. With only 32 hours left to live, players need to divide tasks between the research team over 30 minute intervals; digging their way out, conducting research to create an antidote, as well as adrenaline and sedatives, and resorting to human experimentation for analysing components of the correct formula.
The fourth task, ‘Gods Will Be Watching’ is very similar to one-screen simulation, where the E.C.U.K team are left stranded on Sineicos to survive a set period of days. What makes this chapter particularly challenging, is that Sargent Burden is restricted to five decisions per day – whether to create a campfire by collecting wood, having Br4nd-On fix the radio, Dr Zenész create an antidote, Jack and Marvin hunt for food- with the rifle or spear. Players can only hope that they’ve made the best decisions before the sun sets.
The final chapters are best described as a major “suicide mission”, although Sargent Burden isn’t one to complain. When told there is a 32% chance of surviving a crash in a one-man cruiser, headed towards the matriarch, Burden says:
“32%. That’s a gift from the Gods, in the face of saving 4 billion lives”.
Without the trace of humour in Gods Will Be Watching, the story would not have the same impact on players. When faced with dire situations, comedic relief is all that remains on Gods playlist.
Visuals & Audio
The pixel art animation is beautifully illustrated, with a minimalistic structure designed to limit the gruesome horrors that await players. The cinematic features enhance the gameplay, and players who perform exceptionally well in each chapter receive the original concept artwork (featured above) and alternative soundtracks for the game. In addition, a visual map of online statistics allows players to view their results and gain insight into the decisions that others made.
The eerie soundtrack in the game blends in well with the rising tension and offers players great background music for pure concentration. However, for the dialogue, there were a few grammar issues that made most conversations feel awkward in the players’ minds. (For example: “You fools WHERE trying to understand the deadly virus”). While the dialogue helps lighten the mood, it would have been better if voice actors were incorporated in the game. My favourite quote was from chapter three, where Jack says to Sargent Burden, “You should update your resume and put specialist in fucked up situations”.
Overall
Gods Will Be Watching is one-of-a-kind, a unique point and click thriller that will simultaneously drive you insane and make you all the more appreciative of life. The adventure centres on despair, commitment and sacrifice, teaching players that playing the role of “God” is not all that it’s cracked up to be. The decisions you make are what you must live with, and that hard truth is what makes Deconstructeam and Devolver Digital’s work so masterful.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
“We’re the Guardians of the Galaxy.” Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is about to hit theaters, and hype couldn’t be higher. With its all-star cast and a completely different look at the Marvel Universe, it is a recipe for success. Well as if taking over the silver screen wasn’t enough, Star-Lord and his cohorts are making their way to video games everywhere. Earlier this week, the mobile game
