As someone who walked into their local store to pick up a pre-ordered copy of the Record of Agarest War’s Really Naughty Limited Edition, the one with a steamy box covered in girls that contained a boob mouse pad and a pillow cover, I wouldn’t have had any issue picking up a physical version of Senran Kagura Burst if it was released like that in North America.
However not everyone has embraced themselves as much as I have and Marvelous AQL has released two promo videos for the soon to be released European physical version of Senran Kagura Burst highlighting those that might be too concerned to pick up a physical copy of the 3DS game. You can check those videos out below and if you are curious to see if the game is worth your time you can find our review of the North American release here.
Since NIS America is bringing Kadokawa Games’ Demon Gaze over to North America they are adding a bit of a spin to the game by offering some of their signature characters as extra party members. Today the company has announced that they will be offering free downloadable content for the first month after Demon Gaze is released which will allow players to bring some of Disgaea’s most iconic characters along with them.
The characters that will be offered are Etna, Flonne, Sicily, Asagi, and a Prinny. Currently Demon Gaze is set to be released in North America on April 22nd and Europe on April 25th.
Overview An anime about making a manga that will go on to become an anime based upon a manga about making manga, that is Bakuman in a nut-shell, but it is so much more than just that. Bakuman is a story about passion, dreams, hopes and love, it just happens to also be about making manga. What we have here is something incredibly unique, but simultaneously niche, the series details the ins an outs of the manga industry with a splash of romantic comedy on the side, if you aren’t all that interested in the behind the scenes workings of the manga world than you’re likely going to have a hard time with Bakuman. It is a pretty even 50/50 split of manga industry exploration and story of following your dreams and loves. However on top of all that Bakuman is 100% fun.
Story From the creator’s of Death Note, this is hardly the kind of series you’d expect. This is a romantic-comedy slice-of-manga-making-life anime that really is the furthest thing from Death Note. It follows Moritaka Mashiro the nephew of a once famed mangaka who died not long before the events of the series. Moritaka has a knack for drawing and is recruited by fellow student Takagi Akito to make a manga, the pretense being that Takagi would write the story and Moritaka would draw it. Things roll from there.
While the centerpiece of Bakuman is undoubtedly its journey through the manga industry of Moritaka and Takagi, the love story that accompanies it is given its fair share of spotlight as well. Moritaka has always had a crush on classmate Azuki and one discovering her goal of becoming a voice actress, vows that his manga will become an anime and that she will voice the lead in it. To top that off he then essentially proposes to her which she agrees to under the condition that they don’t see one another until their dreams come true.
The love story here is a bit tried and true and not unlike something that these two budding mangaka would have read before. There are times when this aspect of the story feels a little hollow and the love between the two seems to be misplaced. It is hard to believe in this kind of love and because of that it does end up being one of Bakuman’s weaker elements.
Bakuman’s strong suit is its rich exploration of the manga industry and the challenges of being a mangaka. The sleepless nights, the tireless toil that could likely be for naught and the chance that your hopes and dreams could be crushed in an instant. The life of a mangaka is truly rough and it makes for some compelling drama.
The cast here is quite well defined, in particular our two male leads. There is an interesting bit of characterization that tends to be pounded into audiences here though. That being that women and men are utterly unable to understand one another solely because they are a different gender. I personally found this to be very questionable and the consistent treatment of women as a different creature all together verged on offensive at times. Women are frequently portrayed as nagging, lacking any level of understanding and only valued on whether they are cute or not. It is a hard part of Bakuman to overlook but it is only a minor part of a rather solid character effort.
All in all Bakuman season 1 is quite an interesting look into the world of manga, it details the ins and outs of daily life for a mangaka and the challenges that they must face. The romance elements of Bakuman unfortunately fall flat for the most part due to weak characterization of the female cast. If you are intrigued by the idea of the behind the scenes look at manga making then Bakuman is more than worth your time as there has never been a series that details this topic in such length and realism.
Visuals and Audio J.C. Staff have done a decent job animated this manga about making manga, bringing it to life in vibrant colour. It isn’t the most consistent animation effort with drops in quality noticeable here and there. However when Bakuman is at its visual best it proves to be some of J.C. Staff’s greatest aesthetic work to date. The character designs are each distinct and memorable. The quality of the animation overall is above average but sadly it does have some down times although they are very minor.
Bakuman’s soundtrack is a great composition through and through with plenty of standout tracks. The music elevates the scenes to great heights and turns what would otherwise be a flat moment into a truly moving one. The theme song ‘Blue Bird’ is also worth noting, it opens every episode on a hopeful uplifting note and perfectly captures the series tone. This release from Madman Entertainment unfortunately doesn’t feature an English dub, so it is Japanese audio only with subtitles and it is very good though in its own right.
Extras As for special features, Madman Entertainment’s release of Bakuman season 1 is pretty bare-bones. The release doesn’t feature an English dub and instead simply features subtitles only. On top of that there are the usual clean opening and ending themes as well as trailers. It is a simple no-frills kind of release but it collects the entire first season in one release which is a plus.
Overall Bakuman is an anime for manga fans. It homes in a specific audience and gives them all they could ask for and more when it comes to exploring the manga industry. As for a story in and of itself, Bakuman is a passionate journey of identity and dreams. These two young mangaka dream big and in the quest to accomplish those dreams they find themselves. It is a classic tale if there ever was one and Bakuman does a solid job at it. While there is some issues with this series that can be hard to overlook, if you are interested in manga and the industry for it, this will prove to be well worth the watch. Bakuman is a solid anime series, but an even better manga industry exploration.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Earlier this month it was hinted that the next episode of Telltale’s The Walking Dead would be arriving sometime soon and it turns out that soon just so happened to be a month away. Today Telltale Games has announced that they will be releasing The Walking Dead Season 2 Episode 2 ‘A House Divided’ onto the PlayStation Network and on the PC in North America on March 4th for $4.99.
Currently the company has not set a release date for Xbox 360 version of the episode, nor the PlayStation 3 release in Europe, or the iOS version but they do expect to have dates confirmed shortly. Until then, you can check out the first official trailer for the episode below.
As we know, Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends will feature five new characters that will be added to the already bursting roster of 78 playable characters. Today Tecmo Koei has released screenshots, gameplay footage, and information about all five of these new characters so players will be familiar with them when the game is released on March 25th in North America and April 4th in PAL regions.
Lu Lingqi
A brave warrior princess, and daughter of Lu Bu, who possesses great fighting ability much like her father, she uses her courage to stand in the front lines of any battle.
Yu Jin
An invincible general promoted by Wei leader Cao Cao. He places a strong emphasis on military discipline, and his unyielding personality causes him to be feared by friend and foe alike.
Zhu Ran
A fledgling warrior who has since been promoted within the Wu ranks. Although young, he distinguished himself in the suppression of a group of mountain bandits and during the Battle of Ruxukou.
Chen Gong
An ambitious and humorous strategist for Lu Bu, he is willing to make any sacrifice to see himself rise to the top. He once served under Cao Cao, but switched sides when he realized his ambitions would not be satisfied.
Fa Zheng
A strategist without morals and a key figure in Liu Bei’s efforts to take over the land of Shu. He is a brilliant tactician who has pacified Yi Province with his strategies, and participated in the invasion of Hanzhong. He strongly believes in repaying his debts, whether it be for good or ill.
Warner Bros, WB Games Montreal and The LEGO Group have announced announced the launch of LEGO Legends of Chima Online for iOS. Already out of it’s beta and available for PC and Mac, the game focuses on extending the Chima Universe and providing players with an immersive experience.
Louis Lamarche (Creative Director for Chima Online at WB Games Montréal) said:
“We are very excited to bring the expansive world of Chima Online to iOS players. Now players can seamlessly pick up and play right where they left off in the game from their PC or Mac to any of their iOS devices.”
In Chima Online, players take on the role of an animal warrior in the Lion, Eagle, Gorilla or Bear tribe, and set forth on missions to help protect a vast and magical world. After customising their character, players they may explore the various landscapes that compose the land of Chima, such as the Forest of Falling Leaves. Within these environments, players will team up with friends and unleash the power of Chi, granting them great strength that will aid them in battle. As well as creative missions, side challenges and puzzles. It’s a rich world.
LEGO LEgends of Chima Online is available now on the App Store. To see what all the fuss is about, check out the trailer below and take a glimpse into a new land. The battle for Chi builds on in the world of Chima!
The Pokémon Company and Netflix have announced that, beginning Saturday March 1st, Netflix members can now instantly stream some more of their favourite Pokémon episodes. Watch as Ash, Pikachu and the rest of the gang travel across the land, searching far and wide for adventure and Pokemon.
Pokemon: Black and White chronicles Ash’s adventure through the Unova region and his quest to defeat every Gym Leader along the way. You know, standard Trainer MO. Also to be added to the Pokemon cache are Pokemon the Movie: Black – Victini and Reshiram along with Pokémon the Movie: White—Victini and Zekrom. Though these films follow the same plot, the roles of the legendary dragons are reversed in their respective titles. So choose whichever one you want and enjoy. Or just watch both. If you’re in the mood to get a little nostalgic, Netflix also announced that (within the US, Canada, Ireland and the UK) Pokemon: Indigo League will also be available for streaming. See Ash’s adventure from day one and learn how his friendship with Pikachu has evolved over the years.
To get you in the Poke-mood, check out the screenshots below. If that isn’t enough to sate you, bust out the 3DS and just play Pokemon until March 1st arrives and Pokemon takes to the Netflix stage. It’s a whole new way to see.
Nintendo has just announced that they will be terminating all online services for Pokemon titles that were released for their previous generation gaming consoles; the DS and the Wii. Starting on May 20th no Pokemon games brought out specifically for those consoles will be able to access any online features despite what console they’re played on, this means that even playing an old DS game on a new 3DS console will still have you unable to reach those online services.
Luckily for everyone, including myself, a list of Pokemon games that will seice to have online capabilities have been provided so we don’t have to figure it out ourselves and they are as follows: Pokémon Diamond, Pokémon Pearl, Pokémon Platinum, Pokémon HeartGold, Pokémon SoulSilver, Pokémon Battle Revolution, Pokémon Black, Pokémon White, Pokémon Black 2, Pokémon White 2, My Pokémon Ranch, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky, Pokemon Ranger: Guardian Signs, Pokemon Ranger: Shadows of Almia & Pokémon Conquest.
I’m going to go ahead and say that this may be a good move for Nintendo and Game Freak who develop the game, it seems as though they’re leaving the past behind and are ready to focus more of their time and funds on the future of Pokemon games and I can’t be more excited for that, I’m sure most of you will agree. Now that the news is out I suggest you do everything you have to or need to regarding online features for the older games before the services are finally cut, whatever they may be.
Compatibility: Requires iOS 6.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. This app is optimized for iPhone 5.
Description
The popular Bus Driver game is now available for iPhone and iPad. Bus Driver puts you in the driver’s seat of a selection of single and double-decker rigid buses. Your job and responsibility – to transport passengers from pick up to destination safely and on time. While your routes are pre-determined, road challenges cannot be foreseen. Manage your routes. Follow safety and traffic laws and rules. Avoid other drivers, pedestrians, bikers and other obstacles throughout. Most importantly, your passengers are your top priority.
GAME FEATURES:
• Meridian4 brings the popular and classic driving simulator Bus Driver to iPhone and iPad
• Determine and follow safe and efficient bus routes
• Transport passengers from one place to another while operating your bus. Stop and go action, drive through various City streets, obey traffic laws and maneuver and avoid moving and fixed obstacles
• 12 bus types to operate – all modeled after real-world buses including London’s double decker bus, an American school bus, European low floor buses and more
• Duties range from driving kids on a school bus to transporting tourists on sightseeing tours and even more dangerous tours that include carrying prisoners from one location to another
• 35+ routes and destinations broken down into 6 missions each with varying challenges and difficulty levels
• Different cityscapes will test your skills and knowledge from modern to old town scenes, suburbs, airports, harbors and more.
• From novice to expert, key your hands on the wheel, feet on pedals and eyes on the road.
• Perfect for drivers of all ages
If you have suggestions, comments, questions or if you are stuck and just need a little help, contact us: [email protected]
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-Tier 2 is now unlockable! Contains 6 new missions
-Improved NPC traffic behavior
-Traffic lights now cycle faster
-Bus no longer slides sideways at the start of some missions
-Can no longer drive through lamp posts
MERIDIAN4 BRINGS FAN-LOVED PC SIM BUS DRIVER TO iOS
Bus Driver: Pocket Edition Now Available for $2.99 on iPhone, iPad
MONTREAL – Feb. 27, 2014 – Publisher Meridian4 and developers Twisted Oak in collaboration with SCS Software today announced Bus Driver: Pocket Edition is pulling up to the station and now available worldwide on the App Store for $2.99 USD. Bus Driver: Pocket Edition takes all the fun gameplay of the fan-favorite PC sim and brings it to iOS devices.
Players can expect challenge and variety in gameplay, as driving a bus is very different from blazing through a racing circuit. In Bus Driver: Pocket Edition, players follow a sophisticated system of traffic rules and game-play related bonuses as they transport passengers from pick up to their desired stops safely and in a timely manner.Passengers depend on the driver to get them to their destinations on time; as such, the schedules and timetables are strict! There are large cities to drive in, dynamic roads with intelligent traffic controlled by AI and numerous obstacles including other motorists, bikers, pedestrians and more. The result is a challenging, enjoyable driving game where players must manage their routes, obey safety guidelines and street laws all while drivers, distractions, and detours bring new challenges to every shift.
Bus Driver: Pocket Edition puts players in the driver’s seat of a selection of single and double-decker rigid buses—detailed models inspired by real-world buses—including London’s double-decker bus, America’s school bus, Europe’s low floor buses, and more. At launch, players will enjoy twelve different routes with different challenges and difficulty levels. More than 20 levels will be unlocked for free in future updates. With Bus Driver: Pocket Edition, players take on different roles such as driving a school bus, giving sight-seeing tours to tourists and even transporting prisoners. There are large cities to drive in with several districts of varying styles: modern, old-town, suburb, airport, harbor and more with day/night cycles and realistic weather conditions.
“As fans of classic PC games, we are thrilled with the opportunity to bring Bus Driver to mobile,” said Andy Sher, CEO at Meridian4. “Both the timing and the platform are perfect for a game like this. And whether you’re new to the franchise or a fan, Bus Driver: Pocket Edition delivers all of the intensity, the challenge and the rewards that Bus Driver is known for.”
“Fans have been clamoring for a mobile version of Bus Driver for years,” said Pavel Sebor, chief executive officer of SCS Software. “Our partnership with Meridian4 has given us an opportunity to reward fans with a product that respects the franchise in quality, graphics and most importantly, fun. We’re very pleased with the work Meridian4 and Twisted Oak have done and look forward to seeing how much the fans and those new to Bus Driver enjoy the game.”
About Meridian4 Meridian4 is an interactive entertainment publisher for today’s popular video game platforms. Supported by a network of international developers, the company’s growing catalog of games is distributed digitally.
