Those with keen ears would have no doubt picked up on the impressive music heard so far in the Final Fantasy XV trailers, and keener ears still would recognise the score by composer Yoko Shimomura of Kingdom Hearts fame.
It’s been revealed on the official website that her upcoming 25th anniversary album, titled memoria!, will include the track Omnis Lacrima from Final Fantasy XV as part of a set of bonus tracks. Omnis Lacrima is also said to be music that we’ve already heard from the trailers.
Releasing on March 26 for 3,000 yen, the album will contain music from titles such as Kingdom Hearts, Legend of Mana, Front Mission and Super Mario RPG. Square Enix’s Final Fantasy XV, on the otherhand, currently has no release date.
Car-culture has enjoyed a resurgence in the film industry thanks solely to the Fast & The Furious franchise. However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for another racer. Enter Need for Speed, based on the best-selling racing game franchise of all time, with more than 140 million units sold in total to date. Starring Aaron Paul of Breaking Bad fame, Dominic Cooper (An Education, My Week with Marilyn) and Imogen Poots (Fright Night, Jane Eyre), Need for Speed weaves a tale of revenge and dangerous, live-action stunt-work together to create a film that aims to bring an intensity and level of authenticity to the genre, much like its forefathers of the 60’s and 70’s did.
Story
Tobey Marshall (Paul) is a blue-collar mechanic who runs his own struggling automotive workshop with his friends Joe (Ramón Rodríguez), Pete (Harrison Gilbertson), Benny (Scott Mescudi) and Finn (Rami Malek). Not only are these men his good pals, but they also act as his street crew – his eyes and ears during the illegal races he joins in order to make a little extra cash on the side, to invest back in the business. Coming up is a big one at Mt. Kisco, with a winner’s purse of five grand. At the spot, the viewer is introduced to Dino Brewster (Cooper), an ex-NASCAR driver who is back in town for mysterious reasons. With him is Tobey’s old flame, and sister of Pete, Anita (Dakota Johnson). Young Pete joins the race, which begins at the horn of a passing train. As they flow into the streets, Benny navigates the night skies in a helicopter, alerting the duo to any upcoming obstacles. Tobey manages to pull out the victory, but the team’s celebrations back at the garage are spoiled by Dino’s arrival. Dino has an offer to extend, even whilst exuding pure arrogance. He needs the crew to complete a build, and in return they receive 25% of the profits once the auto-mobile in question is sold. Oh, but it’s not just any old car we’re talking about here…
We’re talking about the Mustang that Ford and Shelby were in the midst of building when the latter died. While at the disapproval of his buddies, Tobey accepts, revealing the true financial debt the shop is in. We flash forward to the successful reveal, where Julia (Poots), an exotic car dealer, shows an interest in connecting the group with a wealthy business man willing to purchase the car. Although Dino’s $3 million price tag proves too steep, Tobey impresses the client at the tracks (without permission from Dino), and sells the masterpiece for a cool $2.7 million. Fuelled by jealousy, Dino challenges Tobey and Pete to a race in his three Koenigssegg Ageras. Tragically, what was heavily foreshadowed – even during the introductory race of the film – occurs and whilst approaching a bridge at almost top speeds, Dino succumbs to his frustration at losing to both men, clipping the rear bumper of Pete’s Agera, and causing him to crash in spectacular and fiery fashion. Driving off without a care as Tobey is devastated, Dino soon reports the two “missing” Ageras stolen from his estate, pinning Pete’s murder on Tobey in the process.
Our protagonist does the 2 year sentence, immediately looking to avenge Pete’s death upon release by making a name for himself in hopes of entering the De Leon – the “Super Bowl of underground racing” run by the reclusive Monarch (Michael Keaton) – shaming Dino and clearing his name. It may seem like a corny storyline to most, and in many ways it is, but its execution is commendable. With a runtime of 2 hours and 10 minutes, the film (surprisingly) rarely drags, keeping its viewership entertained with intermittently breathtaking practical stunts. The question of the third Agera that has conveniently vanished, the dramatic irony of Anita’s ignorance as to the truth behind her brother’s passing and the budding relationship between Tobey and Julia – who ensures Tobey doesn’t take off with the Mustang after borrowing it for entry in the De Leon – add layers to the story that keep the viewer invested beyond what they normally would be in a film of the same genre, even though the film is also guilty of being considerably predictable. And while Keaton may be the biggest name cast, he thankfully also has the least screen-time, yet it’s still too much if you ask me. He constantly aggravates, interfering with the flow of the film as he is cut to and fro, most grievously during the climax of the picture.
Visuals & Audio
Need for Speed has a very sharp, and often striking façade; its visually rich presentation accepts a boost of colour from the various supercars featured in the film, which are given the star treatment, each being meticulously rebuilt for production… so that they could be destroyed in what is truly a case of beautiful destruction for auto-enthusiasts. The director Scott Waugh frames the car-chases and races with skill, even utilising a video game trademark first-person camera angle effectively (awful flashbacks of Doom are not warranted here). He also lets the cars sing – most of the time – by allowing the roar of engines and screeching of tires to fill the soundscape. Sadly, when the inevitable score does kick-in, you will immediately wish it didn’t. The composer Nathan Furst scores this high-octane cinematic experience with overly-dramatic, triumphant horns that you would expect in some epic Disney hero’s journey. It is inappropriate for the context of the film and took me out of any state of immersion rather quickly.
Overall
Need for Speed is not a franchise people have exactly been clamouring for a film adaptation of, and that’s putting it nicely. Sceptics wrote it off before they even saw any footage, but I’m pleased to say that the film is better than it supposedly has any right to be. The performances are solid all around, although there’s something I just can’t quite put my finger on when it comes to Aaron Paul. I think he may suffer from the audience viewing him as Jesse from Breaking Bad no matter what role he takes for some time to come. That is, unless he takes on a character who is radically different and unique, which isn’t the case here. The humour of the film – the responsibility of which is largely given to Mescudi’s Benny – is very hit and miss, but is appreciated, when it works, for bringing some levity to proceedings and preventing the film from taking itself too seriously. Scott Waugh proves himself a competent director, capturing the high velocity racing well and turning what could have been a cheesy addition in the first-person view into an effective camera technique.
The car chases and stunts are thrilling, especially because of knowing the fact that there was no CGI involved, as opposed to a Fast & The Furious movie which is outlandish for going too far into the realm of CGI-supported, make-believe “stunt-work”. There is also a lot of reverence for the source material, with the presence of cops who use various, familiar methods in stopping the racers, and a healthy focus on the cars themselves. Unfortunately, what the movie is really held back by is a sorely misplaced “Disney-esque” score and an extremely annoying and, quite frankly, almost entirely pointless character in Monarch, who would much rather interrupt the film with inane platitudes than add any substance. I would love to watch a cut of the film with possibly only 3-4 scenes featuring the character on screen, excising his interruptions of the final race completely. The latter two elements hurt the film greatly in my opinion, and turned Need for Speed from a potentially great racer flick into a merely solid one.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Unity Games (publishers of the upcoming Space Noir) and independent developer Mimimi Productions, have announced that their award-winning platformer title The Last Tinker: City of Colors, will debut in Summer 2014. The game will see a release in console form, as well as on PC, Linux and Mac via Steam.
In a world where creativity has given way to conflict, a young street kid living in the slums of Colortown seeks to restore the spark of imagination to his hometown. As Koru, you must harness the power of color to defeat the Bleakness and make Colortown vibrant once again. A charming blend of modern platforming and multicolored style, The Last Tinker is a one-of-a-kind adventure.
The game itself possesses numerous features that create a unique world, jam packed with vibrant colourful environments. The game even features a mode for players with red-green colour blindness, allowing them to enjoy the majesty of this colour heavy land. Playing somewhere around 8 hours, the game depicts a story that deals with issues on culture and the unfortunate problem of racism that plagues the world. So allow these strange hand drawn characters to take you on a ride that may just leave you richer for the experience.
Such a cheerful little fellow
On a more technical side, the PC/Linux release for the game will come with full Xbox 360 controller support, the Mac version supporting DualShock 3. Being connected with Steam, trading cards, badges, emoticons and profile backgrounds will also factor in to your gaming experience. All of which can be enjoyed in Big Picture mode, so you don’t miss out on any of the visual fun. Also don’t forget to utilise Cloud Saving, wouldn’t want that progress to be lost.
Johannes Roth (CEO of Mimimi Productions said, “Early feedback from our players, press and YouTubers honored us with numerous references to the all time such as Jak and Daxter and Banjo Kazooie. We aim to pass on the legacy of these classics because we believe gamers of all ages will enjoy the unique blend of visual styles and the accessible modern gameplay of The Last Tinker: City of Colors.”
Oren Tversky (VP of Unity Games) also admitted that he and his team, “have been blown away by how a small indie team can create such an ambitious 3D platform adventure. The Last Tinker: City of Colors, heralds everything we look for in a Unity Games release – solid gameplay, intuitive controls and most of all – originality.”
Visit the official site and Facebook page to stay in the know on all things Tinker. But while you’re her, check out the screenshots and trailer below and enjoy the beautiful of the world…also the gameplay stuff is cool.
Ever since NIS America stepped into the anime business back in 2011 by licensing Toradora! for release in North America, they have been one of only two companies that would always provide subtitle only releases. Well now it seems they might be starting to buck that trend and they are going back to the title that started it all to do it. Today NIS America has announced that they will be releasing Toradora! once again but this time it will be given an English dub and it will be available on both Blu-ray and DVD.
This is the company’s first time handling an English dub and fans can choose to jump in to the “premium edition” of Toradora! that will include four Blu-rays and four DVDs containing the entire series, an OVA and a hardcover art book at a price tag of $129.99 or they can go for the more standard option which will be released in two separate sets that cost $59.99 each.
Both releases are slated to drop on July 1st and the company has also revealed who will be voicing the members of the core cast with Cassandra Lee Morris taking on the role of Taiga Aisaka, Erik Scott Kimerer handling Ryuji Takasu, Christine Marie Cabanos as Minori Kushieda, Johnny Yong Bosch as Yusaku Kitamaru, and Erika Harlacher as Ami Kawashima.
As you may already know, NIS America is offering a nice little bonus for everyone who picks up Demon Gaze when it is released in April. They will be offering free launch day DLC which will allow players to bring the Disgaea characters Etna, Flonne, Asagi, Sicily, and Prinny, into the game and use them as characters in their party.
At the time of the announcement the company did not have any images to show off but today they have released a number of new screenshots that show the characters being used in the game to fight against some enemies. Expect to see Demon Gaze out in North America on April 22nd and on April 25th for Europe.
The day when gamers will be able to experience both Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2 in HD is growing ever closer and to help remind fans of this fact Square Enix has released the launch trailer and some new English screenshots for Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster.
In the trailer and screenshots which can be found below both games are shown off and it is clear that the company has put a lot of care into many of the scenes. Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster will be released in North America on March 18th while gamers in Europe will be able to pick it up on March 21st.
It’s been a while since the last time we were given an information dump in this anime but in case your brain was getting a little bored, here’s another one! Lots of revelations in episode 22 and just as the title suggest we finally discover what Manaka has really lost since waking up from her slumber. And no, it’s not her wallet.
There’s been this gnawing, awkward atmosphere during the last few episodes that has made the series almost uncomfortable to watch. Not only have the characters’ not been communicating well, but there’s something not quite right with Manaka.
From where we left off, our friends are stumped about what to do next. The saltflake snow is falling more and the world continues to change. They need more info and they feel that the only one with answers is the elusive Lord Uroko. The girls come up with plans on how to get his attention.
Meanwhile, Hikari is still mulling over why Manaka didn’t answer his question when he asked her what she wanted to tell him before the Boatdrift Ceremony. The situation becomes worse when she reacts in a similar way when he brings up how she lied that the fish on her knee was still there many episodes ago. Again, Manaka brushes the topic over without acknowledging what he said.
I find the weird relationship between Chisaki and Kaname the most interesting right now. He finally brings up his old confession to her, jokingly saying he should confess again. Chisaki clearly wasn’t comfortably with it and stops dead in her tracks. The whole time she’s been trying to ignore the fact that the guy loves her, possibly because she likes Tsumugu instead. Or not, we don’t really know yet. Anyway, this awkward remark was overheard by Tsumugu and Sayu who must be feeling some pity for poor old Kaname right now.
It seems all the unwanted romance is coming to haunt our friends as Miuna comes across the random guy who confessed to her a while back. Sayu meanwhile ponders to herself about confessing, possibly getting an idea. While Hikari and Manaka are alone, Hikari takes the chance to ask Manaka if she remembers key moments before the catastrophe happened. Most importantly, whether she remembers when he confessed to her.
It turns out Manaka remembers nothing about those moments and has been trying to keep it a secret so not to worry anyone. Overcome with rage and confusion, Hikari runs away. Miuna follows him and together they come across a shrine with none other than Uroko. Here is where we find out about Manaka.
To make it short, the Sea God has not only taken away her ena but her ability to love. That’s right, if he can’t wife her than nobody can. Hence why she can’t remember anything from her past that’s related to love. This is why she has these souless eyes sometimes and a childlike personality that strays from the topic of love.
Uroko also gives more information regarding the old legend of the Sea God among other things, but more importantly he divulges the fact that the world will now accelerate to disaster because Manaka was taken away from the Sea God.
Thus, only a few episodes away from the end and we have what seems to be a conundrum that can’t be fixed. The weather will continue getting worse and Manaka can’t fall in love with anyone for ever and ever. At least now the love triangle should be simplified, right? Somehow, I think they’ll find a way and Manaka will overcome whatever limits the Sea God put on her by episode 26. But part of me also thinks there’s bigger sacrifices ahead.
Burden, a game that was announced to be in Pre-Alpha at last year’s PAX Australia, has just had its first trailer début online. You can watch it embedded at the bottom of this article. The game will be coming to Steam an an Early Access title in the next two months, published by Surprise Attack Games. Developed by PixelPickle Games, Burden is a tower defense game set on a colossal mechanical beast.
The player must defend against onslaughts on multiple battlefronts simultaneously, placing shields and artillery towers on the exterior of their Colossus whilst also juggling defences on numerous nodes where enemies will attempt to board and penetrate. The land the beast journeys across throughout has been ravaged by a civilisation called the Mhoroa, who are themselves on the verge of extinction. The Colossi were built by ancient ancestors of this civilisation, and prior to being discovered by engineers, were thought to be a myth. It would seem the key to saving the world from self-destruction is guiding these beasts to key locations, although the player is met with some opposition bred by fear. Chris Wright, Managing Director of Surprise Attack Games, and Rob Dowling, Director at Pixel Pickle Games, said of the game;
Tower defense with a twist is enough of a cliché that someone somewhere is probably planning a game jam about as we speak. But if its a cliché to want to play a tower defense game set on a 200ft tall mechanical beast then colour me clichéd and call me Susan. – Wright
Everyone talks about standing on the shoulders of giants, but they never consider those shoulders have towers that can kill you. – Dowling
Burden has been developed for the PC, with Mac and Linux versions planned. Once listed as an Early Access title on Steam and available on other digital platforms, Burden will cost $15 before that cost rises to $20 for its full launch later in 2014. Surprise Attack and PixelPickle are planning an open, community driven development through to the final release and have launched a community-focused website to act as a hub for community engagement. And for those who are attending GDC Play, Burden will be playable at the Surprise Attack Games booth (#PL113) at the showcase from March 17-21. Check out the following gallery of screens.
Fans of Gust’s Atelier series will be happy to hear that they can now head out to stores in North America and pick up a copy of the latest game in the series, Atelier Escha & Logy: Alchemists of the Dusk Sky. While the title was released last week in Europe, the game has now become available for physical purchase and digital download here in the States.
For those who haven’t been keeping up with the game, Atelier Escha & Logy features a brand new system where players can choose to play as one of two protagonists with each character having a slightly altered story and different gameplay elements related to their alchemy. A launch trailer for the game was released by Tecmo Koei a couple of weeks week and can be found here.
An all-star cast of evil dudes…and one evil babe. (Click For Larger Image)
Just today, the good people over at Namco Bandai games released some more awesome information regarding the upcoming Naruto game “Ultimate Ninja Storm Revolution” which will make fans of the series that are more interested in the “dark side” of the Naruto franchise extremely excited. Released was some news that the new game will feature a never-before-seen anime sequence which details the events that transpired before the “Akatsuki” – a band of rogue ninjas all with the same mentality and overall goal – was officially formed.
You, as the player, follow the story of Pain and Konan as they journey through each of the different ninja villages in search for like-minded and powerful ninjas to join their “evil” crew. Players are given a chance to walk a mile in the nefarious shoes of these ninja as they play through the actual story of the “Akatsuki”, slowly but surely unlocking the new animation sequence as they meet the younger versions of certain characters and as they bring them over to their side.
Kakuzu and Sasori both in story-based costumes. (Click For Larger Image)
Sasori, Kakuzu, Itachi, Kisame, Orochimaru, and all of the rest make an appearance sporting new costumes designed by series creator Masashi Kishimoto himself. Some more good news for all you fans is that Namco Bandai have also released a great deal of art assets/screenshots from the game that show both the anime sequence and the in-game action that you’ll be experiencing once the action/adventure title is released so head down below to check out the gallery of images and start getting excited for “Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Revolution” coming to all good stores near you for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 sometime this year. Believe it!
