If you recall back to about midway through last year you may remember news regarding Ubisoft’s release of a brand-new kids TV show starring the ferocious and flamboyant “Rabbids” who, as you may know, began as minor characters of the “Rayman” series of video games but in recent times have become stars of their own. The show – titled “Rabbids Invasion” – took audience members on some wild rides as they joined the little troublemakers every week for new adventures.
It’s popularity level rose to great heights and that seems to have sparked something within Ubisoft, once again, who have just announced they’re next “Rabbids” video game title; “Rabbids Invasion: The Interactive TV Show”. Now while the name doesn’t exactly make it sound like a video game, Ubisoft have assured audiences it is exactly that. Players/watchers will have their choice of twenty “Rabbids Invasion” episodes, within each of the episodes are a whole bunch of minigames that players can participate in, all of which actually tie in with the show.
“The Rabbids Invasion TV series is very popular amongst kids and their families so we wanted to merge the success of this TV show with the studio’s expertise in creating fun and original gaming experiences…With Rabbids Invasion: The Interactive TV Show, we’re introducing an innovative way that people can interact with their favourite characters. This is not only TV you can watch, but TV you can play.”- Xavier Manzanares, Brand Producer.
This Ubisoft Barcelona, Paris and Casablanca collaboration project will allow for players to jump straight into the quirky action of a “Rabbids Invasion” episode. This is the next big thing for the “Raving Rabbids” series and it couldn’t be more exciting! Ubisoft have said that the game will be getting a release in November of this year but no specific date was mentioned.
That’s fine though because I’m sure we’ll be getting word on that in the near future. “Rabbids Invasion: The Interactive TV Show” will be getting a release on the Xbox One, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 4 so, parents, start saving up some of that sweet cash because you know your kids are going to want to get in on this!
Today NIS America revealed the release date for Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair alongside giving us the “Ultimate” names of the characters and an English trailer for the title. Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair is set for release on September 2nd in North America and a few days later on September 5th in Europe.
The game will be available both at retailers and as a digital download, plus a special collector’s edition priced at $59.99 is available through NIS America’s online store. This collector’s edition comes with a copy of the game, a softcover art book, the game’s original sound track, a monocoin, a sticker, a pair of sunglasses, and the package itself.
Well it looks like the gang’s back together…though not in the way you’d expect. With last episode ending on two former/current friends ready to duke it out WIXOSS style, you wouldn’t be alone in expecting one heck of a battle this episode…you’d be disappointed of course, but you wouldn’t be wrong in expecting.
Lady of White
In the white corner, weighing in at one crap ton of emotional burdens, the protagonist we’re not sure what to think of: Ruko! (Applause) And in the red corner, weighing in with a lonely backstory, the girl we all feel sorry for: Hitoe! (Applause) Let the match begi-huh? It’s over already? Alright…well, there you have it folks. A new record for shortest WIXOSS battle. It would seem that, despite the emotional tension between Ruko, Hitoe (unknowingly) and the newly LRIGed Yuzuki, WIXOSS is stronger. More specifically, Hitoe’s continuing curse is stronger. Upon hearing Yuzuki explain the transformation she has undergone, Hitoe’s memories briefly resurface and render her unconcious from the pain. Poor girl. Now, while this makes perfect sense given the previous displays of Hitoe’s curse in effect, it also seemed like an easy way to get of having Ruko defeat Hitoe, or vice versa. I get it, we don’t want to see one of the good guys lose, especially if we can’t hate the opponent, but come on. Why even initiate a battle in the first place? Yuzuki straight up explains that she wants Hitoe to give up on battling altogether. So why not just talk to Ruko? You know, in the real world. It just doesn’t make any sense. Also why hasn’t any other LRIG ever tried what Yuzuki did? The rules say a LRIG can’t explain the truth of WIXOSS to their Selector. Loopholes are a very powerful force after all, utilise them.
Despite Hitoe being the one who wound up unconscious and hospitalised, this episode is undoubtedly about Yuzuki. As she talks to Ruko, we learn about life as a LRIG and how difficult it can be. Having essentially lost her life for a dream she will never experience, the only thing Yuzuki can do is think about the two options that lay before her: remain a LRIG forever or hurt a friend who has already been traumatised. So sayeth the rules. Unable to speak the truth, the LRIG must sit back and watch whilst their Selector struggles hopelessly for a wish that will never be. Should a LRIG defy the rules and try to help their Selector, they will lose their opportunity to escape the card, remaining trapped forever. Honestly, what otherwordly force invented this game? I honestly can’t see any point to it other than “Let’s mess with as many teenage girls as we can”. Which is messed up. Especially since we know that, despite receiving no benefits from victory, a Selector will suffer the consequences of loss. Seriously, if WIXOSS ever becomes real, do NOT play it. It will not end well for you.
It’s only weird if you put it in context
Just in case you were worried that you were going to miss out on your weekly does of semi-incestuous anime love, Yuzuki/Hanayo and Kazuki make a brief, and unnecessarily saccharine, appearance. Alright, first things first, Yuzuki and Kazuki actually live with their parents. You know, those characters who have never been mentioned before. Every time we’ve seen them at home, it’s just been the two of them awkwardly interacting. I honestly thought they lived alone. At the very least that lended some credence to Yuzuki’s emotions. I figured that they’d been alone since a young age and Yuzuki wound up admiring her brother for keeping their lives together. Nope. Guess it was just me trying to justify the situation. Anyway, the two wind up sharing an umbrella in the snow because that way it doesn’t look weird that they’re so close to each other (Yuzuki’s idea of course). Plus, they are lovers after all…they’re words, not mine. Oh yeah, the real Yuzuki also had front row seats to this little exchange, just to really drive home the fact that her wish came true for someone else, which is literally what she has been trying to avoid the entire series. Honestly, this entire situation is a mess. If it wasn’t bad enough to begin with, Hanayo and Yuzuki switching places somehow made this relationship worse. Essentially, Kazuki is dating somebody (which is fine) who is merely possessing his sisters body (which is not fine). I know I talk about this every week, but come on. You all know it’s weird.
Apparently twisted card games are trending right now
Well it looks like things are building up in the world of WIXOSS. Yuzuki’s romp into the backend of the card game revealed that their is a mysterious girl known as Mayu who holds a great deal of influence over the LRIGs. Mysterious. Meanwhile, in the real world, Iona has sent out a summons for all Selectors via totally-not-Twitter. Of course Ruko discovered this invite, so only time will tell if she decides to battle once more, knowing full well the consequences of such and action, or leave it all behind and lead a normal life with two talking cards as friends. Unfortunately, my vote’s on the former…
Check out more selector infected WIXOSS Impressions HERE.
Focus Home Interactive and Cyanide Studio (Of Orcs and Men) are getting ready for the biggest gaming event of the year by releasing three new screenshots for the upcoming stealth game Styx: Master of Shadows. Cyanide Studio will be showing off the game at the Focus Home Interactive Booth located at the West Hall Booth 5512.
Styx: Master of Shadows mixes RPG mechanics with stealth gameplay. Styx is a goblin assassin infiltrating the Tower of Akenash in an attempt to steal The Tree and discover his mysterious origins. The Tree produces Amber and an unlimited supply of riches for its owner. In Styx’s way are humans, elves, and the mystical creatures that need to be avoided or silently dispatched.
Styx: Master of Shadows will be released for PC. No word on when the game will be released or for what operating systems. Learn more about the game at the official Styx: Master of Shadowswebsite.
Today Tecmo Koei released a new video, the first of many scheduled to be released over the next couple of weeks, for Atelier Shallie: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea. In this video we see what a regular battle will look like in the game as well as the return of an older and more mature Wilbell.
In the video you can see how Atelier Shallie: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea’s gameplay has been refined to allow for burst attacks, swapping out allies, and performing assist attacks. In case you haven’t been following the game, the characters shown in combat are Shallote, Shallistera, Wilbell, Miruca, and Homura.
Recently Aksys Games and Arc System Works released the first in what will probably be a series of “making of” videos for XBlaze Code: Embyro. Since this is the first developer diary, it features Toshimichi Mori, the game’s writer and executive producer.
In this video Mori discusses the connection between XBlaze Code: Embyro and the Blazblue series and how those familiar with Blazblue will probably get the most enjoyment out of the title, though those who haven’t played it might also get into it as well. Currently XBlaze Code: Embyro is set to be released on June 24th in North America and a demo is currently available on the PlayStation Store.
Even though E3 is less than a week away, there will be so much news next week that some developers don’t want their title to be lost in the pile. As such it makes sense that Techland and Warner Bros. chose to release their E3 trailer for Dying Light early.
You can check out the video below where the trailer shows off the game’s “natural movement” system as well as a look at how the parkour and combat system go hand in hand. Currently Dying Light is set to be released for the PS4, PS3, Xbox One, 360, and PC in February 2015.
While Team Ninja has been teasing a new character for Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate over the past few days, it looks like Famitsu has decided to drop the news a bit early for them as they have released a gameplay trailer showing off a female version of the Tengu character.
The character is being described as a trickster style fighter and as you can see in the footage below she will be able to make use of her wings in combat and perform a number of outlandish looking attacks. Tecmo Koei is currently planning on releasing Female Tengu for the arcade and console versions of Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate sometime in the future.
My.com, a subsidiary of Mail.Ru Group, has revealed a new trailer for the premium massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), Skyforge, which is currently being developed by the Allods Team, an in-house studio of Russian Internet giant Mail.Ru Group, with westernisation from US game maker Obsidian Entertainment. Skyforge will launch as an immersive MMORPG gaming experience for PC and registration is currently open for the Closed Beta at www.skyforge.com.
This new trailer does not only provide insight to the unique world of Skyforge, but also to the lore of the planet Aelion, one of Skyforge’s most beautiful and amazing planets. It is under siege by invading demons, the minions of other planets’ gods. They took advantage of the sudden mysterious disappearance of the god Aeli, the protector of Aelion, to conquer the defenceless planet. But mighty defenders rose from Aelion’s population. They fought valiantly, but each attack destroyed countless lives. Each leaves its mark on the planet.
But death has no hold over a special few, immortal heroes, who return time after time to stand for their planet. Aelion’s heroes are worshiped for their sacrifices, and this faith endows them with god-like powers. Are you ready to join the ranks of these immortal heroes? Are you strong enough to overcome all perils and take your place among the gods?
Register now for the closed beta of Skyforge at www.skyforge.com, which will begin in 2014 for PC. To get more information on Skyforge, please visit the official page atwww.skyforge.com, the official feed at Twitter and Facebook, as well as the official channel atYouTube.
2K and Gearbox Software have announced the release date for Borderlands: The Pre-Sequelas October 14 in the States, and October 16 in Australia and New Zealand. Releasing for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC, the standalone entry is set – as you may be able to tell by the title – between Borderlands and Borderlands 2.
Co-developed by Gearbox Software and 2K Australia, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel brings the series’ shoot ‘n’ loot gameplay to Pandora’s moon, featuring new weapons, characters, vehicles and jetpacks! Gamers will contribute to the rise of Handsome Jack, experiencing his origin story and witnessing his transformation into the megalomaniacal tyrant they loved to hate in Borderlands 2. They’ll also have four all-new character classes to play around with in local split-screen or online co-op, each with their own unique skill trees, as expected. Randy Pitchford, president of Gearbox Software, said about the title;
It’s incredibly exciting that an all-new Borderlands experience is as close as this October. If you’ve played any of the Borderlands games or if you have a friend who hasn’t yet, the opportunity to blast off as a new set of playable characters in a whole new campaign experience, including shooting and looting on the moon, is just around the corner.
Tony Lawrence, general manager of 2K Australia, added;
We are huge fans of the Borderlands franchise and are thrilled to have this opportunity to show what we can bring to the Borderlands universe. We can’t wait for fans to play as Athena, Wilhelm, Nisha and Claptrap and experience the new low-gravity gunplay with awesome new guns to freeze and smash enemies, all in the name of Handsome Jack.
Alongside the release date announcement, pre-order bonuses have also been detailed. Those who pre-order the game (do so here) will receive access to the ‘Shock Drop Slaughter Pit’ content, in which one of Dahl’s military recruiters, TR4-NU, hosts the pit inside an old Dahl facility, and gives valuable loot to those who prove themselves against the moon’s toughest challenges.
So gear up for anti-gravity action this October. And in the meantime, check out the ‘Moon Dance’ trailer accompanying the announcement, embedded below.
