The teaser website that Nippon Ichi Software created last week has been fully revealedand with it comes the announcement of a PS Vita title called Great Edo BlackSmith which is set to be released in Japan on November 27th. Great Edo Blacksmith will see players spending the last year of their life working as a blacksmith who is trying to earn money as well as earn the love of a girl.
Players will be able to mine dungeons for materials to forge swords and other items and players will be able to hire assistants to fight against enemies in these dungeons. Similar to Criminal Girls, which is being released in the West by NIS America, Great Edo Blacksmith will make use of the Vita’s touch screen for a touching aspect, but the exact details about this were not fully revealed.
Focus Home Interactive’sSherlock Holmes game is very much alive as we finally see a lengthy look at its gameplay via a 23-minute video which sees the famous detective begin the mysterious case of “Black Peter”. See it for yourself below.
The video shows off a small part of the first of six cases the game will have players solve and is thankfully devoid of spoilers with only one of multiple endings shown.
Developed by Frogwares studios and built with Unreal Engine 3, Crime and Punishments will have players take part in varied game mechanics (up to 14) from dressing up in disguise to throwing harpoons at dead pigs in a test of strength.
The game is due for release sometime at the end of September on PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and PC. Check out the E3 2014 trailer released earlier HERE.
Today Nintendo and Level-5 have revealed the opening video for Fantasy Life, the life simulation role-playing game which is set to be released in Australia and Europe on September 27th and in North America on October 24th.
For those who don’t know, Fantasy Life is set in the fantasy world of Reveria where players will be able to choose from twelve different life classes to choose from and then play the game at their own pace as the title offers a large open world to explore full of items to collect and craft and numerous characters to meet across the land.
Overview What is good and what is evil? If someone were to do something many consider evil to put a stop to something far worse what does that make that person? A hero? A villain? While many series tend to focus only on a hero who can do no wrong must put a stop to an evil mastermind’s plan, Code:Breaker looks to offer a different perspective. That being said, is Code:Breaker unique and entertaining enough to be worthwhile?
Story Sakura Sakurakoji is an extremely popular girl who is a martial arts expert in high school who lives a normal life. However that changes when one day on a bus ride home she witnesses a group of people being burned alive by blue fire with a young man standing in the center unharmed. After witnessing this event, Sakura tries to report it to the police but the only thing they find are scorch marks with no evidence left behind.
Believing she might have just imagined it, Sakura attends school the next day only to find that a new transfer student is joining the class and it just so happens to be the young man from last night. His name is Rei Ogami and despite Sakura questioning him about the incident, he plays innocent. That is until, once again on the way home, Sakura stops to try and protect a homeless man that is being beaten by gang members only to find herself outnumbered and outmatched.
On the verge of being killed, Sakura sees that Ogami has appeared and after committing a horrible act in front of her eyes, he proceeds to kill every single one of the gang members with blue flames before trying to kill Sakura as well. Once she wakes up again, Sakura tracks down Ogami and learns that Ogami is a member of the Code:Breakers, a group of assassins who have been organized to deal with evil that is outside of the laws reach by killing anyone they are assigned to.
After threatening to kill her if she says a word about this secret organization, Ogami allows her to continue observing him, even as Sakura ends up getting pulled along for assassination missions where she tries to prevent him from committing any more murders. However when an old Code:Breaker who has gone rogue surfaces and threatens their way of life, Sakura finds herself meeting with the rest of the Code:Breakers as they deal with this former ally.
The beginning of Code:Breaker feels like it was created with someone checking off boxes of clichés that had to be filled and unfortunately that feeling pops up far too often in the series which is full of cliché elements that you find in almost every other action drama. The only saving grace for Code:Breaker’s story are the various plot twists and revelations that occur throughout the series. The world of Code:Breaker is one of moral ambiguity where performing heinous acts to put a stop to evil plans seems justified in a world filled with terrible people.
However the feeling of a dark story is hindered by the fact that not only does the story have numerous tonal shifts from serious drama to cornball comedy, but also due to the fact that Sakura’s feelings of good and evil and about how no matter who they are and what they done, everyone deserves a second chance. While she does make a few good points in some cases and her view on good and evil creates an interesting contrast to what Ogami and the rest of the Code:Breakers are used to doing, her idealistic and naïve nature ends up being more of a hindrance than anything else.
Ultimately Code:Breaker does tell a mildly interesting storyline that is littered with clichés and poor attempts at comedy with its only saving grace being the fact that it is an action series with a decent amount of drama. That being said, the ending also feels as generic as possible which was probably intentional due to this being an adaptation of a fairly long manga series, but due to how mediocre the story still ended up being, the type of ending used only makes things worse.
Visuals The artwork and animation on Code:Breaker is something of a mixed bag. While the characters are all rather polished looking, they are also very bland and generic. Those watching the series will find it very hard to find anything really unique looking about the characters that populate Code:Breaker as they are all designed to fit into a very typical visual style.
The same can be said for standard scenes where characters are talking to one another, as there is little to no actual animation in these sequences. This is an odd problem as the background details are fairly impressive and the action sequences where the Code:Breakers use their special abilities are a highlight of the series.
Audio FUNimation has chosen to give Code:Breaker the English dub treatment so viewers will be able to choose whether they wish to listen to that or the original Japanese voice track. The English voice cast perform admirably considering the characters they had to work with and they also do a nice job following the wild tone shifts that the series makes.
The background music has a decent amount of variety and is actually not half bad when compared to the way the artwork is. That being said, both the opening theme “Dark Shame” by Granrodeo and “White Crow” by Kenichi Suzumura, the Japanese voice actor for Toki, are as standard as action theme songs come, making neither memorable in any particular way.
Extras As far as bonus features are concerned, Code:Breaker comes with a standard array of on-disc FUNimation content. There are two commentary tracks, one for episode 7 and another for episode 12, Japanese promotional material, clean versions of the opening and ending theme, and trailers for other FUNimation releases.
Overall Code:Breaker has a unique sounding concept and while it tries to run with this dark and philosophical story, it simply falls apart in the process. While the story may have a number of different twists here and there and the fights are impressive, the story begins to feel as generic as they come while Sakura’s sense of justice should have been used differently instead of making viewers feel like she is simply naïve. Code:Breaker might be interesting for those who are fans of darker themed action anime, but everyone else should pass this one by.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
The latest faction in Mordheim: City of the Damned was unveiled today through a series of new screenshots. The Sisters of Sigmar are the is third faction in Mordheim. While the other three factions fight for greed, the Sisters of Sigmar seek to hide away the Wyrdstones in hopes of protecting the Empire from their effects. As their name would suggest, the Sisters of Sigmar are comprised entirely of women.
Mordheim: City of the Damned is a turned based strategy/RPG set in Games Workshop’sWarhammer universe. Mordheim has plunged into chaos after a comet slams into the city, scattering Wyrdstone fragments into its neighbourhoods. The game will feature four factions and launch in late 2014.
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.
