Ladies and gentlemen, the sun is shining, the birds are chirping and as if today wasn’t lovely enough the guys over at Titan Comics have bestowed upon us a brand new preview! We recently shared the announcement of the new comic book; 13 Coins from the creative team of Martin Brennan & Michael B Jackson (the screenwriters of Hitman: Absolution) and now we have some sweet new preview pages and an official synopsis to show you!
From Eisner award winning artist, Simon Bisley, and the screenwriters of Hitman: Absolution (Martin Brennan & Michael B Jackson), comes the story of a new superhero… The story of John Pozner, a tormented ex-con on a quest for vengeance, when he discovers that he is descended from angels, and is the living key to Earth’s future, or Heaven’s fall.
The concept looks pretty sweet, and the guys behind it have some real credibility going into it after the success of Hitman: Absolution, so this looks like it might be one of those books that is worth your while to check out. We have a few preview pages below so you can take a closer look at what you will be getting when the book hits store shelves on October 8th. As always, make sure you stay tuned to Capsule Computers for all the 13 Coins news as it becomes available.
ATLUS have today released another two character spotlight trailers for their upcoming “Persona” fighting game “Persona 4 Arena Ultimax” and those two fighters just so happen to be, well, let’s call them…archenemies. Yu Narukami and Tohru Adachi both take center stage in the latest pair of gameplay trailers with each of them showing their super cool, “Persona-style” skills. The two definitely walk on common ground and these trailers show that it goes a little deeper than just similar looking “Personas”.
Yu continues to look stylish as he slices and dices enemies while Adachi just seems downright out of his mind…the way it should be. Head down below to check out the two new trailers and don’t forget to hit up our comments section to let us know what you think. The game is set for a Japanese release on the 28th of August with a North American and European release to follow. “Persona 4 Arena Ultimax” is a PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 title.
Bandai Namco Games Japan have today released a brand-new trailer for their upcoming PlayStation Vita title “Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth“. This new trailer gives audiences a nice look at the game’s design as well as it’s dungeon-crawling gameplay mechanic and it’s RPG-style battle mechanic.
So far only announced for Japan, “Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth” is a newly announced game for the PlayStation Vita that, once again, takes audiences on a digital adventure alongside some awesome monster pals, the likes of which a great deal of the target audience grew up with.
It takes place in what looks to be the “real world” but as the trailer goes on you soon see that elements of the “Digital World” have started to seep in. The trailer features series mascot Agumon as well as fan favorites like Terriermon and Angewoman. It has been said to play similar to older “Digimon” RPG titles and will feature a leveling system reminiscent of classic JRPGs.
The game has only been announced for a release in Japan in 2015 with no word being heard about a Western release. The “Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth” gameplay trailer can be seen in our featured video section below so head down there now to check it out.
ATLUS only just released their new “Persona” 3DS title “Shadow Of The Labyrinth” over in Japan and already they’ve announced the first paid DLC for the new game, luckily for players…it’s pretty cheap. The game’s initial DLC release came in the form of two free Personas (Kaguya and Orpheus) that can be “equipped” by character and used in battle.
This time around is a little different only because this time you can’t just charge it to ATLUS’ tab. Thanatos of Persona 3 and Magatsu Izanagi of Persona 4 have just been announced as the two latest DLC items, each of which will go for ¥200 which roughly equals about US$2.00. Thanatos comes to you at level 70 with the “Gates Of Hades” skill while Magatsu Izanagi comes to you at level 92 with the “Calamity Seed” skill. Both these Persona are extremely powerful and would be a great addition to any team.
This DLC has so far only been announced for Japan with the game being released in North America and Europe sometime this Fall/Autumn. ATLUS have also teased an upcoming DLC which has something to do with the three “Velvet Room” companions. That is said to be unveiled on the 25th of this month so stick to the site for when that comes about.
Well here it is folks, the semi-conclusion to what has been a rather strange series. With last episode ending on yet another Hitoe related breakdown, it’s time to see if this group of tormented friends can ever enjoy the simplicity of a life without WIXOSS. But once all is said and done, as Ruko’s final confrontation against Iona comes to pass, one question will be answered: Who’s wish is greater?
Selfish Desire
Ok, so I feel like a bit of a broken record by this point, but man has Hitoe had it rough. What with the losing her memories and the searing mental pain that arose when recollection turned to her friends. But such is the cost of WIXOSS…at least that’s what they told us. I have to say this series isn’t very consistent in its depiction of consequence. I recall, in the early days of the series, somebody explaining that a loss would render a Selector devoid of all memories related to said vocation. Yet both Hitoe and Akira, who has remained notably absent from the series, both remembered it all. Which is especially jarring for Hitoe, who was purposely stripped of specific memories. However, yet another conflict has arisen in regards to these so called rules: Hitoe remembered her friends. You know, those people whom she was to never be able to recall, or touch, or connect with in any way. Well she’s done all of those now and she’s completely fine. Seriously, recalling her lost memories did cause her pain, but she was able to fight through it like she had a fever. I mean, it’s sweet and all that she knows her friends once again, but what was the point of her entire character arc if she was just going to undermine her penalty? It just seems a little rushed which, especially considering how every other plot thread was handled in this anime, undermined the emotional impact of the entire endeavour. On top of all this, Hitoe also gained information that she shouldn’t have. I also seem to remember Yuzuki saying that a LRIG could never divulge the secrets of WIXOSS to their Selector. I suppose she could’ve learnt it from someone else, but Hitoe really isn’t the type to socialise and with her aversion to Ruko, Yuzuki becomes the only place she could’ve acquired the information. Oh well, it’s just another question left unanswered at this point.
Now we come to the heart of the matter: Iona. That Selector who we all know is bad news, despite the fact that her screentime has been noticeably limited. Though her usual demeanour would present her as cold and calculating, which she is, her true self reveals a much more sinister joy bubbling below the surface. Oh and good news, her twisted emotions are directed at Ruko…for some reason. At this point in time we honestly have no idea why she is so obsessed with Ruko, or why the final condition for her wish was watching Ruko fail, or be emotionally crushed, or something messed up like that. The fact that she called Ruko “Ru” for the entirety of the battle didn’t lessen the creepy factor, nor did her exclaiming that her opponent was “My Kominato Ruko”. What is that all about. My only though is that they’re related somehow, but that’s a plot point straight out of left field with no previous indication. Either way, we’re not going to find out for a while. Though Iona will certainly make another appearance in the future, what with her becoming Ruko’s new LRIG. Not that she lost her old one mind you, Tama just kinda…vanished. Iona also seemed as if she knew she would be reincarnated as Ruko’s LRIG, almost as if she planned it. Along with Yuzuki becoming Hitoe’s LRIG, I’m starting to think WIXOSS runs on coincidences as much as it does ill defined card games.
On a wing and a prayer
While I’m on the topic, what the heck is going on in the White Room? Ruko must’ve stumbled onto a terrifying wish if the apparent goddess behind WIXOSS mentally assaulted Tama in order to prevent it. I assume that freeing all of the LRIGs would have a negative effect on Mayu, whilst also destroying the concept of Selectors, but that doesn’t make it any less cruel. Especially considering that Mayu apparently has a deep connection with Tama. Enough so that she was upset by the wounds Tama had sustained and, on the other side, Tama recalled Mayu’s voice as one she knows better than Ruko’s. Mysterious…ish. I mean, they’re both luminously white LRIG beings, they’re probably related. I mean it explains Mayu’s desire to protect Tama, though the mental anguish just seems abusive. Yet again something we do not know, nor shall we for a while. Also, thoug I understand her desire to protect her friend, Tama pretty much condemned every LRIG in existence by refusing Ruko’s wish. After all, there’s not many people going around desiring change in the WIXOSS world. So good job Tama, things really worked out for the better…
Though decidedly cool, Ruko and Iona’s confrontation raised a number of questions regarding WIXOSS battles, namely: The barrier can break? Apparently, if two decks are strong enough I guess, again I still don’t have a grasp on this game, they can shatter the dimensional barrier that separates them from Earth. Now, when you really consider it, is terrifying. Two LRIGs duking it out in the real world would be detrimental to their surroundings to say the least. We already saw Tama and Ulith clash and shake the foundations on the ridiculous building on which their battle took place. Of course, this event could be limited to the conflict between a Black and White deck, or just Tama and Ulith. We don’t know. Is the dimension shattered permanently? Will the battles change? Can regular humans now see WIXOSS? Did anyone notice the giant explosion caused by Tama? Who knows? Not us.
To a future made bleak…
So you may have picked up on a theme throughout this impression: Questions. As WIXOSS drew to a close, it raised a number of questions and added them to the ones we already had. We’ve got missing allies, villains who won, problems left unsolved and more emotional strife than you can shake a LRIG at. So regardless of whether you like or disliked selector infected WIXOSS, it is not a complete story unto itself. To that end, I turn you to the future when all will hopefully be revealed in selector spread WIXOSS. May we yet learn the answers that we seek…and maybe the actual rules of WIXOSS.
Check out more selector infected WIXOSS Impressions HERE.
V-Jump Magazine always delivers the goods whenever a new Dragon Ball game is on the horizon and this time the magazine is giving us a front on look at the mystery fighter we saw in action in the game’s first official trailer. The character’s face may no longer be a mystery but his purpose and identity still is for the most part, only being referred to in the scans as ‘Future Fighter’ and being said to have come back in time to intervene in history’s biggest battles. We can also see him firing off a signature Kamehameha and a Special Beam Cannon.
Perhaps the biggest reveal in this scan is that Trunks is present, but not wearing his usual Capsule Corp. attire and there is a reason for that. This appears to who is known as Time Patrol Trunks who was a main character in a Korean only release MMO titled Dragon Ball Online. In that game his mission was to send you back in time to pivotal moments in Dragon Ball history so you could relive them as your custom character and it looks like he might serve a similar role here as we can see both this new Trunks and the time travelling ‘Future Fighter’ conversing. Maybe Trunks might be trying to stop this mystery character from messing with the events of the past?
The temple like location teased in previous screenshots has been labelled as the Time Storage Vault and the scan says this vault is a key part to the story in Xenoverse. Another random screenshots shows Krilling running with two Namekian Dragon Balls tucked under his arms while Guldo and the Future Fighter seem to be fighting which pretty much confirms Guldo will be playable and possibly suggest fights may sometimes have more than two people on the battlefield. Another screen shows Goku fighting Dr. Gero with a scanner overylay and another shows Gohan over Piccolo while he lays injured on the ground after being hurt by Frieza.
Some other information on the game from Bandai Namco was also revealed. Dimps is aiming to make the game run at 60fps/1080P on both next gen consoles, but has said that this goal is closer to being reached on the PS4 at the moment. The previous gen versions were also confirmed to not be lesser in terms of content and the experience, with graphics being the major difference between the generations. Xenoverse is definitely shaping up to be the most interesting Dragon Ball game we have had in over 5 years. We will update this article with clearer images as they become available so check back with us as we bring you the latest on Dragon Ball: Xenoverse as it is revealed.
Many team members at Ubisoft Montpellier have relatives or ancestors who went to battle during World War I. To honor their family member’s sacrifices, historical accuracy became an important task in the development of Valiant Hearts: The Great War. The development team partnered up with CC&C in France and IDEACOM International in Canada to access the historical databases that helped create Apocalypse, World War 1, the documentary series, and Apocalypse 10 Lives, an iPad and web app.
Thanks to this partnership,players will be able to access historical information that ties into Valiant Hearts: The Great War, providing gamers with a chance to be both educated and entertained. A new developer diary released by Ubisoft provided the developers a chance to talk about integrating history into their game.
Valiant Hearts: The Great War is an adventure game that follows four strangers as they seek to find true love for a young German soldier. The game is available for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Windows.
EA Mobile has three major announcements this week. The Sims FreePlay received a carnival themed content update that allows players to build their own carnivals for their Sims to enjoy. Carnivals can be filled with Ferris Wheels, kissing booths, bouncy castles, and more. Additionally, the entertainer personality and juggling hobbies have been added to the game. The Sims FreePlay can be downloaded for free on iTunes App Store, Google Play, and Amazon AppStore.
Heroes of Dragon Age also received a major content update. Consume has been redesigned to allow heroes to earn Fortify slots. Fortify is the new mechanic that will bind characters to heroes, which will provide bonus stats based on the rarity, tier, and faction of the bound units. Finally, players will get special rewards for referring their friends to the game. Heroes of Dragon Age is available for free on iTunes App Store and Google Play.
Not a PC gamer? Don’t despair! EA Mobile is making sure mobile gamers aren’t left out of the fun with the EA Mobile Summer Sale. A slew of premium titles have been knocked down to only $0.99. Gamers can now pick up games like Need for Speed Most Wanted and Tetris for less than a cup of coffee.
Nintendo seems to be stepping up its game with its online presence this generation and is releasing patches much more frequently to bring improvements and user requested features to its titles. Update 1.03 for Wii Fit U brings with it a very highly anticipated feature that was present in Wii Fit Plus for the Wii but questionably left out of Wii Fit U on release, that feature being for the game to automatically advance through user routines. Previously the user would have to grab the control and press a to advance through the routine and menu screens. While this seems like a minor issue, it increased the time of workouts and made it much more annoying to complete your daily routine so the update to streamline this is much appreciated.
The update also brought with it a few more walking and climbing challenges to complete and some other updates. Full update notes as released by developer Matunaga are available below, you can view the original Miiverse post and all the user comments by following the link.
Adds new headgear for your Mii character after you complete the new walking and climbing challenges.
Adds automatic progression between activities in My Routines, removing the need to use a Wii Remote or Wii U Gamepad to advance.
Increased support for posting screenshots to Miiverse.
Can display individual dates to the Graphs screen when viewing weight changes over one year.
Adds ability to check altitude data in more detail from the Fit Meter Data screen.
Additional enhancements to improve user experience.
Overview Just when you thought that Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic couldn’t get any more intriguing, the series throws out the Balbadd arc, a real game changer in every sense. This second collection of the first season of Magi, is made up almost entirely of the famous Balbadd arc, which fans of the series will tell you is one of the high points of the series. As such there is some pretty lofty expectations here for A-1 Pictures to stick the landing and by and large they do just that, but that’s not to say there isn’t any hiccups along the way.
Story As previously mentioned this collection revolves primarily around the Balbadd story arc and features a plethora of new and colourful characters as they all become entangled in the web that is Balbadd. It goes without saying that the real show-stealer is Sinbad, a character that is just impossible not to like. However the cast really comes into its own in this part of the series and finally begins to feel like a true ensemble, something that the first part of the series was laying the foundations for.
It is pleasing to see that Alibaba comes back into focus here in the Balbadd arc after having a bit of a disappearance for a fair part of collection 1. His character is so genuine and natural, the show is always better when it focuses on him. Alibaba is really just the most human character in Magi and therefore the most relatable. While Aladdin is a cool character with a bit of a dark past, he is rarely a character that the audience can relate to. So it comes as a breathe of fresh air to have the very human Alibaba back in the playing field in a big way this time around.
The story dives heavily into the darker themes the series has pondered, in particular it explores the notion of freedom through the rampant slavery that afflicts the world of Magi. The series does a good job at conveying differing opinions of what freedom truly is, but it generally always falls into the more black and white ‘slavery is bad’ ideology. Magi could do with some shades of grey, but it treads more firmly in black and white, good and evil, light and dark.
While the plot and characterization is generally on point throughout this collection, I must admit that there is some very odd pacing choices and there are moments the feel rushed when they really should have gotten more time. It is hard to say whether this is just the way the manga was originally or if A-1 Pictures have adapted it this way, but there are moments that should be truly emotionally affecting that fall flat due to poor timing and structure. In spite of that however the series does remain highly engaging even though some moments just don’t land the right way.
Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic collection 2 is an intense second cour for the series and it builds upon the intriguing world and cast that we were introduced to in the first collection. Magi is a very interesting shonen series and with the Balbadd arc we are now beginning to see why the series has millions of fans across the globe.
Visuals and Audio Continuing on from collection 1’s impressive aesthetic outing, A-1 Pictures have employed a remarkable visual style in this second collection, with a crisper look that comes off as a smoother and more detailed art style than that used in the earlier episodes of the series. The character designs become a bit more ludicrous but all look quite good and fit well within the world of Magi.
The audio portions of this release are equally as good and much like the visuals the soundtrack continues the strong showing of collection 1. The English dub is also rather noteworthy as it features some really incredible performances that must not be missed. Of course if you aren’t into the English dub option there is always the option of the original Japanese audio track.
Extras Much like the first collection, Madman Entertainment have gone all out with Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic collection 2. Like the first release, this one also features an guide and art book inside the packaging, detailing all of the episodes on the release as well as compiling some stunning artwork from the series. The book alongside the on disc special features of clean opening and ending themes as well as trailers makes for an all around blockbuster release that more than earns the price tag associated with it. This is the closest thing to a collector’s edition release we will likely get down here and it is something special no doubt about that.
Overall Although there may be some pacing issues here and there, Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic collection 2 continues to build upon the strong foundations set in collection 1 of the series. Not only does it build upon it but it provides a satisfying pay-off to the seeds planted as far back as episode 1. It is clear that Magi is designed for long-form story telling and it does benefit by having a 25 episode count, but you just can’t escape the feeling that this should have been an ongoing series in the same vein as Fairy Tail or One Piece. The idea behind this world is so immense, that there is so much left unexplored by the time episode 25 rolls around. Thankfully there is a second season, but when exactly it will see an English language release is anyone’s guess.
All in all, Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic subverts the tropes associated with the shonen genre and ultimately becomes something truly unique. Although it would benefit from better pacing and a continuous ongoing serialization, the series does a superb job with the time it has and provides a somewhat cathartic conclusion however teasing it may be.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
