As we get ever closer to the release of Dark Souls II, FROMSOFTWARE and Bandai Namco just keep piling on the surprises, and today is quite a big one; Peter Serafinowicz has been announced as the voice of a new character in the upcoming grueling RPG.
Wow his name is a mouthful, I had to triple check that one to make sure I spelled it properly. Regardless, Peter Serafinowicz is a voice that you are probably familar with, even if his name isn’t. He is the voice behind none other than Star Wars: Episode 1’s Darth Maul. Trading in his Sith-robes for a set of ragged cloth, Serafinowicz will be playing Mild-Mannered Pate. Players will run into Pate a few times during their journey through Drangleic, and he may just teach you a thing or two.
This is a pretty big name to join the cast, but does it make you more excited for the game? Let us know in the comments below, and get ready to go beyond death on Marth 13th in Australia (for Xbox 360 and PS3 owners, with PC following soon after). As always, be sure to stay tuned to Capsule Computers for all the Dark Souls news as it becomes available.
HANDS ON IMPRESSIONS NAMCO BANDAI Games SF (US) New Year Showcase – 1/28
On January 28, 2014, Namco Bandai hosted a small showcase in San Francisco USA, highlighting all of their upcoming titles. One the biggest things they promoted during their New Year Showcase event was Dark Souls 2, the sequel to the popular title Dark Souls. It was actually nominated for Most Anticipated Title in our own Capsule Computers Game Of The Year Awards 2013.
Namco Bandai was generous enough to allow us an hour or so of hands-on gameplay each. To start this off, the cinematic introduction was pretty amazing. I’ve only had a bit of experience with Dark Souls, but the cinematic intro really sets the tone for the gameplay. Watching the story unfold of how you, the main protagonist, becomes cursed. Your goal is to seek a cure to your unending agony, which is pretty difficult. I tested this game on a PS3, and the controls were pretty crisp and responsive. Movement in the game was pretty easy to get used to, though some of the options and interfacing were troublesome. I had to mess around with every button a few times before I actually figured out what I could do with my character. After you figure it all out though, it’s very simplistic and terribly easy to get used to.
The character creation segment of it allowed a large variety of customization in appearance and class. There were a lot of different classes that the player could choose between, each with unique stats and weapon sets representative of their unique class. I chose the Knight archetype and decided to play with the character customization. You’re allowed to change the way your character looks, whether you want him/her to be short, fat, tall, or skinny, the player is given the power to choose what they look like. While there are pre-set models, they give a huge selection of sliders for you to prod around and play with. When you’re first thrown into the game, there is a small tutorial zone where you get to learn the buttons and how to handle combat in the game. The first foes I met were a couple of zombies. The game allows you to choose between Light attacks or heavy attacks, either on your right hand or left hand. The combat, while a little clunky at times, felt a bit more fluid when using certain weapon sets. I had a sword and shield equipped and would cut through the zombies in two swipes. I figured ‘Well this game’s really scaled down compared to the first one huh?’. WRONG.
As I looked around and tried to uncover new gear and zones, I landed upon a tunnel that opened up into a huge landscape that resembled an old ruin. In front of my stood a huge, hulking behemoth covered in armor from head to toe. He was wielding a sword and shield, both of which were probably larger than my body. Of course, I did the only sensible thing there is to do in a situation like that. I ran in head-first. Now throughout the game, you’ll find bonfires, and when you activate it, it acts as a spawning point for if you die. I didn’t know that at the time, but as I ran towards the armored guard, I kept thinking what it would do. It attacked me with its huge sword and sliced me three times. I got lucky with my first dodge as I rolled under him, but he connected with the next two attacks. Just like that, my health was down to about 25%. If players were worried about the game being too easy, don’t be. The game provides a difficult challenge. While do-able after a few goes at it, you’ll really have to come up with a strategy for the gameplay, and I’m sure that’s what From Software was going for. There are ways of regenerating your health. You can acquire Lifegems throughout the levels that will slowly regenerate your health. While it does help your survival, the use of it will not prevent death. The health regen slowly trickles in, so it takes more than just spamming your use key to save yourself. The game requires planning and a slight knowledge of the mechanics of the foes you’re facing.
After a few more tries, and finally getting through the blockade of mobs that were hell-bent on destroying me, I arrived to a misty portal. I entered, hoping that I would be finished and entering a new level, but instead, I was put in front of a huge red armored monstrosity, wielding a halberd. Needless to say, he killed me within a few seconds of my engagement, and I was put back to the beginning. Dark Souls II is everything I hoped it would be. The graphics are downright stunning, the gameplay and mechanics were well-thought up and it allowed a lot of customization in the game, whether it’s through character customization or gameplay-wise. Players should look forward to the steep learning curve and embrace the fact that you may not be able to fully grasp the game during your first run through. The game will be released in March, and will be available for the PS3, Xbox 360, and the PC. You check out their site here to pre-order. 2014 is going to be a good year.
RAZER PARTNERS WITH MICROSOFT ON UPCOMING XBOX ONE ACCESSORIES
CARLSBAD, Calif. – Razer™, the world leader in entertainment devices and software, today announced its ongoing partnership with Microsoft will include development of new products for Microsoft’s record setting Xbox One™ console.
A suite of products for the Xbox One, including a controller, arcade stick and more, will be made by Razer, which also produced a popular line of premium accessories for the Xbox 360.
“Razer is dedicated to improving the overall experience from the games themselves to the player, be it console or PC,” says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder, CEO and creative director. “By working with a company as prestigious as Microsoft on a system as sought-after as the Xbox One, we’ll be able to accomplish just that. This is an exciting time for the hundreds of millions of gamers all over the world, and we’re thrilled to be a part of it.”
Products, pricing and release dates will be unveiled in the coming weeks. For more information, visit www.razerzone.com.
All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
About Razer:
Razer™ is the world leader in devices and software platforms that enable, connect and entertain a worldwide community of electronic entertainment enthusiasts, 24/7.
With a rich history in gaming, music and design, Razer’s award-winning technology includes voice-over IP and other social applications and devices; programs for music production, performance and enjoyment; cloud-based solutions for customizing and enhancing computer systems and related product performance; and a wide array of award-winning laptops, tablets, audio products, hardware and accessories, and apparel.
Razer applies its design and engineering resources to develop products that support the on-the-go lifestyle inherent to its contemporary, global, technophile community, fulfilling their immediate wants and needs wherever they are. At Razer, everything it does resonates with the company credo: For Gamers. By Gamers.™
NAMCO BANDAI GAMES EUROPE REVEALS PETER SERAFINOWICZ$B!G(BS PARTICIPATION IN THE CAST OF THE PRAISED DARK SOULS™ II
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – 30th January 2014 – NAMCO BANDAI Games is pleased to announce today that Peter Serafinowicz will lend his voice to a brand new character in DARK SOULS$B!!(BII. DARK SOULS II is still scheduled to launch in Australia and New Zealand on March 13, 2014 for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360® games and entertainment system from Microsoft. DARK SOULS II for PCs will launch in Australia and New Zealand shortly after in 2014.
Peter Serafinowicz amazing work includes his well-known dubbing as the voice of Darth Maul in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, but that$B!G(Bs not it. Having more than one trick up his sleeve, he has appeared in a variety of excellent British and American comedies such as Shaun of the Dead, Parks and Recreation and South Park and will be part of the cast of this year awaited big movie Guardians of the Galaxy. He also has a great experience in voice acting for video games like Star Wars: Battlefront II or Lego City Undercover.
In addition to being a very talented comedian, Peter Serafinowicz is a huge fan of DARK SOULS. When asked about the game, Peter said $B!H(BDARK SOULS is the most engrossing game I$B!G(Bve ever played. For me, it$B!G(Bs the best game of all time$B!I(B. DARK SOULS lovers can be sure that with Peter$B!G(Bs excellent and unique career as an actor and his strong appeal for the game, he will be a great asset to the DARK SOULS II cast in order to bring you not only the most challenging game of this year, but also the most immersive experience the DARK SOULS franchise has ever offered to its survivors.
Peter will dub a new character named Mild-mannered Pate. Players will encounter this mysterious man during his journey in search of treasure. He may teach players a few tricks of his own in order to survive during their quest. Will they dare to trust this enigmatic character?
$B!H(BWe cannot wait to have players all around the world experiencing the challenging yet addictive universe of DARK SOULS II$B!I(B said Hiroaki Ochiai, Senior Vice President of IP Strategy at NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe. $B!H(BOn top of that, everyone is eager to witness the awesome work the cast of actors -and especially Peter Serafinowicz- made to create the great game that players deserve!$B!I(B
NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe S.A.S., part of NAMCO BANDAI Holdings Inc., is a leading global publisher and developer of interactive content for platforms including all major video game consoles and PC, with marketing and sales operations in 50 countries across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Australasia. The company is known for creating and publishing many of the industry$B!G(Bs top video game franchises, including PAC-MAN™, Tekken™, SOULCALIBUR™, NARUTO™, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™, Dragon Ball®, GALAGA™, RIDGE RACER™ and ACE COMBAT™. More information about the company and its products can be found at www.namcobandaigames.com.au or www.facebook.com/namcobandaigamesau
Today NIS America has released a patch for a game that players can sink hundreds of hours into and still find more to do, Disgaea D2: A Brighter Darkness. This patch not only fixes a number of bugs but also adds a few extra things into the game free of charge.
The full list of things added and fixed in the patch can be found below:
Patch Notes
22 new save icons
Summer Greetings (1): No requirement for obtaining.
Ending Images (4): Obtainable from the toy vending machine after clearing each ending.
Preview Images (17): Obtainable from the toy vending machine after watching each preview.
Bug Fixes
Fixed a freeze that occurred during skill animations.
Fixed the window size of a warning message that pops up when the install data is corrupted.
Fixed the activation of certain conversation flags after creating the maximum number of characters.
Fixed an issue where Laharl’s (Prinny’s, during Prinny Day) HP becomes 1 when a stage is cleared and there are no more characters to dispatch in the Base Panel.
Fixed an issue of the wrong voice playing when Marona uses her Confine skill with the English voices selected.
Fixed audio issues during the Dark Assembly and Item Assembly
If you happen to be a die-hard fan of Titanfall and can’t wait to play it when it is released on March 11th, then you’ll be happy to hear that you will also be able to buy a whole slew of merchandise featuring the Titanfall brand as EA has announced a bunch of tie-in merchandise for the game, including an Xbox One headset that, considering it is made by Turtle Beach, people will probably jump on.
While no images of the merchandise have been shown as of yet, the following licensed products have been announced:
Turtle Beach Xbox One headset
MadCatz PC gaming peripherals including keyboard, Xbox 360 headset, Windows PC, Mac, smart device headset, mouse and mouse pad
Prima Standard and Collector’s Edition strategy guides
Today Tecmo Koei has announced that they are planning on releasing both a special edition of Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z which will be available in limited quantities once the game is released on March 18th in North America and March 21st in Europe with the special edition being available in both regions.
The special edition includes a copy of the game, a full-color comic book from Dark Horse Comics, an Original Soundtrack that will be a digital voucher for the PS3 version of the game and an actual CD on the 360, and a code that will unlock exclusive Yaiba themed DLC costumes for Ryu and Momiji to wear in Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate.
To go along with this announcement the company also released a number of screenshots for the game which show Yaiba fighting against Ryu Hayabusa and Momiji can even be spotted in the background of one of the images.
Ok brawlers, it is time to grab your Pokeballs, throw them into the air and call out “I choose you, Lucario!” That’s right, the world famous fighting/steel type Pokemon has officially joined the battle in the upcoming Super Smash Bros for Wii U and 3DS.
Lucario joins the ranks as another veteran fighter, having first appeared in Super Smash Bros. Brawl on the Nintendo Wii. Back then he used his Aura to wipe his opponents out. He really stood out from the pack due to the fact that the more damage he had taken, the stronger his aura attacks became. If you looked up Risk vs Reward in the gaming dictionary, you would see Lucario’s picture.
Although we can’t say for certain, it looks like the fighting/steel Pokemon will be retaining a lot of his attacks and aura abilities from the past game. Now that we know Lucario is joining the battle, do you think his ultimate smash attack will still be his original Kamehameha-style energy beam, or will Nintendo introduce MegaLucario into the game? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below and remember to stay tuned to Capsule Computers for all the Smash Bros news as it becomes available.
I love a good sale. Nintendo seem to love throwing some good sales as well. Today it was announced that until February 13th, a handful of quality eShop titles for the Wii U will be on sale, in a buy one get one at 60% off promo. Already have one? Even better, as you automatically qualify for the large discount.
The games are: ‘Toki Tori 2+’ by Two Tribes, ‘Mighty Switch Force’ by WayForward, ‘Runner 2’ by Gaijin Games, ‘Spin the Bottle: Bumpie’s Party’ by Knapnok Games and ‘Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams’ by Black Forest Games. Yes, that is quite a list, and making matters sweeter is the awesome creation going on behind the scenes in order to promote such a sale. You see, each developer involved created a trailer for another developer’s title, and got quite creative while doing so. Check out all five below, and snag your titles up today while you can!
Black Forest Games promoting WayForward‘s Mighty Switch Force:
Knapnok promoting Runner 2 By Gaijin Games:
Two Tribes promoting Black Forest Games’ Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams:
Gaijin Games promoting Toki Tori 2:
WayForward promoting Spin the Bottle: Bumpie’s Party:
Overview
The Might & Magic franchise has been around for thirty years. Much of the formula that gained popularity with fans around the world is still intact, but the last proper entry released over a decade ago. Does the franchise’s newest entry, Might & Magic X: Legacy, have the chops to give players what they’ve craved for so long or is it dragging dead old mechanics along, one tile at a time?
Story
The Agyn Peninsula is in in a state of turmoil. Karthal, a city once considered a proud colony of the Holy Falcon Empire, is on the verge of secession. Four adventurers have journeyed to the port town of Sorpigal-by-the-Sea at the behest of their recently departed master, though they have no idea what twists and turns their expedition has in store for them.
Gameplay Might & Magic X: Legacy stays true to its roots. Designed with role playing and combat mechanics that have been around for several decades, it places its bets on the idea that fans will still appreciate it like a fine vintage wine.
Few games of renown seem to make it mainstream with classic RPG systems in place. With western RPG design taking a more action-oriented approach and Japanese developers continuing with their own style of turn-based combat, Legacy is left somewhere in the middle. The team at Limbic Entertainment, however, has done a solid job working to keep Legacy both fun and relevant.
The world of Legacy is a series of 2-D grids, which you traverse one space at a time. You move your party around with standard WASD keys, using ‘Q’ and ‘E’ to turn. The direction you face on a square can give you surprisingly varied results, occasionally rewarding you with treasure if you look in the right place. To the unfamiliar, it feels somewhat jarring at first, but quickly becomes second nature.
Placed throughout the Agyn Peninsula are various towns, dungeons, and other attractions. Major hubs provide various shops, inns, and the like. Unlike most classic first-person RPGs, though, Legacy gives players with a large open world to explore. It almost feels like a grid-based Elder Scrolls title, granting freedoms that similar titles like Legend of Grimrock can. That means you can quickly find yourself in over your head, but the risk is your choice to make.
When you start the game, you can create your own party or roll with a pre-determined group (which, I’ve realized, are the characters on the boxart). There are four races, each with four classes, so you can vary the design of your party as much as you want. It provides a wonderful sense of customization, allowing room for experimentation and replay.
As you complete quests and conquer foes, each member of your party will gain experience. When they level up, you’re given points to divvy up between things like Might, Magic, Perception, and more. On top of increasing your stats, you’re also given points to upgrade or learn completely new skills, such as dodging or earth magic. This feels like the real meat of party customization, letting you choose how each character behaves in combat and beyond. The game is also packed with scads of weapons, armor, and accessories to discover and equip.
The combat in Legacy feels old-school in a pure, refreshing manner. Your party takes turns in a left-to-right fashion. You can change character order, allowing a welcome fluidity to the cadence of combat. With limited sight comes limited attack range, in a line straight in front of you. This can be anything from a melee swing or ranged bow shot to spells that reach as far as your sight line. Just like a tabletop RPG, though, every attack is based on a virtual dice roll, occasionally leading to a frustrating misses beyond your control.
The difficulty in Legacy feels ok, but hits occasional bumps. You’ll start off against spiders, wolves, and bandits, working your way up to some nasty foes. Unless you spent time grinding or doing side quests, you’ll quickly discover you’re too weak to even continue the storyline without some extra work. You’ll have to work on other quests and beef up your team before you’re able to continue. It can be a frustrating blockade, but it encourages branching beyond the story, which can be rewarding itself.
Enemy variety is welcome throughout the game. They boast over 60 enemy types to fight, with six boss encounters. In this day and age, to hear that only six bosses exist in the world feels like a poor offering. Rest assured, though, those few encounters are fun and exciting, though difficult. You’ll have to analyze and formulate your strategy, but overcoming them is just as adrenaline-inducing as any tense first-person shooter moment.
Though Legacy does a great job invoking love for old-school game mechanics, it’s not perfect. General user interface layout can be frustrating at times, with on-screen prompts blocking buttons that should be easily accessible. The inability to easily sort your inventory is maddening as well, forcing you to scrawl needlessly over dozens of items when it could have been much more usable.
Visuals & Audio
For a game modeled after something thirty years old, Legacy does a wonderful job giving you some eye candy to gawk at. Though you may only think of the world as a grid, monsters and environments are great looking 3-D constructs accented by bright, colorful textures. Though constrained by the the UI tropes of its genre, Limbic has done a fantastic job of keeping the game both inviting and relevant with their visual design.
The sound design in the game does a fair enough job of accompanying the story and on-screen action. Sound effects help deliver crushing blows to foes with minimal visual queues, keeping the action engaging despite a lack of animation. Hearing a character repeat “Who forgot to take a bath,” every time you get in range of an enemy quickly grows tiresome, though.
Overall
Overall, Might & Magic X: Legacy is a great RPG for fans willing crack open the time capsule. Character progression and customization provide a great sense of ownership while the combat delivers in spades with vintage appeal. Striking visuals and an open-world help keep the game interesting as well. A few design choices that should’ve been updated can be frustrating, though they never really hamper the experience. The game will likely attract a niche audience given its nature, but RPG fans willing to wade into Legacy will find a deep, rewarding experience.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Wow his name is a mouthful, I had to triple check that one to make sure I spelled it properly. Regardless, Peter Serafinowicz is a voice that you are probably familar with, even if his name isn’t. He is the voice behind none other than Star Wars: Episode 1’s Darth Maul. Trading in his Sith-robes for a set of ragged cloth, Serafinowicz will be playing Mild-Mannered Pate. Players will run into Pate a few times during their journey through Drangleic, and he may just teach you a thing or two.
