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Sword Art Online – Volume 1 Aincrad Part 1 Review

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January 17, 2014

Sword Art Online – Volume 1 Aincrad Part 1 Review

Sword Art Online – Volume 1 Aincrad Part 1
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Publisher: Madman Entertainment
Format: DVD (Reviewed), Blu-Ray
Release Date: 18th December 2013
Price: $29.95 – Available Here

Overview

Slowly but surely we’ve made it into the age of videogames. Many years ago playing video games was something only certain people did and, for the most part, it was quite a niche market…not anymore. “Sword Art Online” is an Anime that originally began as a light novel series written by the very popular novelist Reki Kawahara (Fumio Kunori), it eventually became popular enough to warrant an Anime adaptation and from then on in the popularity of the series soared to even greater heights. With its videogame-based storyline (which is quite appealing in this day and age) and its semi-relatable characters, it is easy to see how and why this Anime has become such a favoured series in the hearts and minds of many Anime fans around the world. Madman Entertainment has only recently released this series “down under” and luckily for me I’ve been given the chance to review it. I think it’s about time we “log-in” and see what all the fuss is truly about.

Story

Sword Art Online is based in the land of “Aincrad”; a virtual world that exists within the world-famous game “Sword Art Online”, which is a virtual reality MMORPG that uses the most cutting edge of technology to “physically” bring gamers from around the globe into the world of the game. The series begins with the official release of the game which, up until that point, had only been in beta testing stages. Players all gathered to begin their “next gen” gaming experience but were met with some odd yet terrifying news; there’s no way you can logout of the game.

After being met with the almost God-like vision of the games creators, the mass of players online at the time were confronted with their unfortunate, yet virtual, reality: Players who are currently logged in cannot log out until certain conditions are met, either you die in-game and an electric shock runs through your virtual reality unit and fries your brain (killing you in the process) or you collectively complete all 100 levels in the game, doing so will have the entire “Sword Art Online” community released but no-one has ever made it past double-digit levels at that point in time so what hope do they have of ever getting out…alive?

Enter a young boy named Kirito, he was one of the original beta testers so he has a fairly good grasp on what the game is like and it seems as though he may be the only hope of players actually getting out of this hell hole. He embarks on a quest to become stronger while defeating levels and bosses, meeting other players along the way, making parties, making friends and ever-striving to save the people of the “Sword Art Online” community.

The first volume of “Sword Art Online” covers the first eight episodes of the series and, from what I’ve seen, it looks as though it is an Anime that has a storyline which is made up of smaller storylines, allow me to explain: As I’ve just mentioned the aim of Kirito is to escape “Aincrad” alongside every other player but, after certain events transpire, he chooses to be a lone wolf and take off on his own because he believes that would be the most effective way to go about it, now the continuing storyline is always there yet every couple of episodes we’re met with a new character and a new problem which Kirito must face head on, something that is quite reminiscent of an actual MMORPG and the quest systems that a majority of them have running and I’d like to think that it was done like that entirely on purpose.

The story in general is highly engaging, I feel as though any storyline that puts humans into the world of videogames is, but what I really enjoy about the series so far is the actual characters, most notably Kirito himself, I can’t help but look at him like he is a good lead character. The boy is somewhat antisocial but puts it behind him for the sake of others, yes that inevitably ends in death for the people around him when they start to get cocky and begin to take the game for granted which he blames on himself. That’s another thing I like about the series; it also deals with characters’ mental state and how they’re coping with being in such a dangerous world, it gives great insight and makes for some interesting characters.

He’s a character that feel constantly grows, he goes from cheery to angsty within a matter of minutes depending on the situation he’s in and he deals with the idiotic characters in much the same way you or I would, to me that is good writing. He’s a character that is both kind-hearted and deceptive but for all the right reasons; he’s essentially a guy who would lie to somebody good to help another good person and you really see that throughout. It seems as though it has a great story that will only continue to grow and get deeper as the series goes on, I’m actually fairly excited to see what happens next and that’s the sign of a great series.

Visuals

When it comes to aesthetics in “Sword Art Online” I really feel as though they hit the mark. The team behind the designs of the environments and the actual characters themselves somehow captured the feel of an MMORPG fantasy world and threw it into the Anime medium with the transition between the two mediums having nothing lost in-between. I’m not just talking about the health bars above players’ heads or the way the menu pops up at their finger tips, that’s fantastic and quirky but what I really want to focus on is the outstandingly beautiful environments. Half the reason I’ve ever wanted to play an MMORPG title is because of the way the game looks aesthetically rather than the way the game looks like it players and I truly believe “Sword Art Online” has captured that. Characters, weapons, equipables and items all look great and I do hold them in the same regard as the rest of the visuals.

The animation is of extremely high calibre, it bumps up a fair bit during fight scenes and even though they’re few and far between you still get a certain rush of excitement when you know one is coming. They do use a small bit of CGI animation within the series that doesn’t quite hold up as well as I’m sure the development team thought it would but not every aspect of a show can be perfect. They used that style of animation on a fairly large boss monster and, although it really didn’t take the spotlight for too long, it was noticeable and it really wasn’t that great. It was the second boss monster they had shown, the first one was animated traditionally but this one was CGI animated, which showed an odd comparison that didn’t entirely work in its favour.

Audio

The one thing “Sword Art Online” does the best auditorally is music, I will give it a fair bit of credit for choosing some great and varying music tracks to fill in the background of the Anime. It has a fairly large range of music it seems, it can switch from an uplifting rock track to a whimsical, fantasy-style harp track in a matter of scenes but luckily they all play off of each other quite well and make for sequences that keep audiences engaged. The voice acting is actually quite varied throughout the first eight episodes; some of the actors and actresses do an amazing job yet some of them miss their mark big time, luckily for us the main cast have great voice actors and actresses that can properly show emotion. “Sword Art Online” deals with real humans living in a fantasy world so you can imagine that they’re not all entirely on solid grounds mentally.

There are a lot of characters who need to be shown to have conflicting ideals and emotions and it seems as though a lot of the voice actors/actresses are perfect for the job because they relay a message full of hurt or full of anger so well, at times it even had me empathising with characters I’d never thought to connect with. The one thing I’m not too fond of is dialogue choices, sometimes what characters say really seem cheesy and a simple change of words or phrases could turn particular underwhelming statements into those of awesome volumes. “You have to…beat the boss…for everyone” is a paraphrased quote from a dying character that made his appearance somewhere within the first two episodes, yes, there were fighting a boss and, yes, they needed to beat it but it seemed so corny to have a character who is on the brink of an actual death say those words, it was far to literal for the situation and took away from that characters death in a big way. Just as a note I’m speaking of the English dub and not the Japanese dub though the series can be watched that way if you so choose to.

Extras

“Sword Art Online” volume 1 actually didn’t feature any on-disc extras apart from the very typical textless opening and closing sequences though it did feature a few cool and quirky little physical extras. First off there is a nice piece of art on the flip side of the cases cover but the real focus goes to the set of seven postcards each with “Sword Art Online” artworks that seem to depict the character featured in the stories of the episodes on the discs in different art styles, almost as if they were each drawn by a different artist, it’s quite an interesting extra and, granted become a big enough fan of the series by the end, I feel as though they will eventually find a place to be displayed somewhere around my room. If you’re a fan of the series or just a fan of Anime art in general you’ll definitely be into these postcards. Despite its lack of on-disc extras it is still a better release than most other Anime titles so I’ll give it points for trying that little bit harder.

Overall

“Sword Art Online” is an Anime for all Anime fans because, let’s be honest, if you’re into Anime chances are you’re also into some form of gaming so to have these two mediums come together in such a way is brilliant and actually fairly exciting. It hosts great characters in a fantastic-looking fantasy land and it also deals with a lot more than just what is on the surface. Yes, it does lack certain things in the voice acting and dialogue department which does occasionally break your focus on the Anime but it greatly makes up for what it lacks with its incredible visuals and great story-driven scenarios. It’s a fantastic Anime and I can absolutely see why it has become so popular within the last year or so, deffinitely one not to miss out on!

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Blue Exorcist Volume 5 Review

Kane Bugeja

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January 17, 2014

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Blue Exorcist Volume 5
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Publisher: Madman
Format: DVD, Blu-Ray – Reviewed on DVD
Release Date: 15th Januray 2014
Price: $24.95 – Available Here

Overview
No matter what people say, they fear that which they don’t understand. And being half-human and half-demon is a pretty difficult concept to wrap your head around. Now if that causes some minor issues, like fear and caution, that’s bearable. But when fear inspires bold action, then there’s a problem. So Rin Okumura must, as always, fight to prove that his very existence is not a plague on humanity. Sounds easy enough…

Blue-Exorcist-Volume-5-02 — **What is it this time?**

Story
With Rin’s secret out in the open, the students of the Cram School continue to harbour fear and trepidation to the Satanic child. With their entire identities wrapped up in demon hunting and their hatred of the Devil, it’s a tremendous task for them overcome their own painful emotions. Konekomaru learns this the hard way when his own negative emotions threaten to damage not only himself, but each relationship he has forged at True Cross. Naturally, this serves as a source of conflict and yet another situation where Rin must do his damnedest just to prove that he isn’t a threat to his friends.

Volume 5 also contains a break episode in the form of a birthday party. Having used his “fortune-telling” abilities, Shima discovers that Kamiki’s birthday is approaching. Deciding that a party is in order, the class decides to celebrate her special day. Naturally they set out with the intention of holding a surprise party and Kamiki, being her usual paranoid self, begins to assume the worst when her friends hide their activities from her. Her suspicions begin to get the best of her and lead to some embarrassing situations and humourous misunderstandings. That being said, and this being Blue Exorcist, the episode also contains some hard hitting emotional moments that relate to the plot. It is revealed that Rin and Yukio, along with having no memory of their mother, don’t know where or when they were truly born.

Blue-Exorcist-Volume-5-03 — **A man of many talents**

As demons continue to attack, Rin and Yukio’s relationship is strained further and further as the brothers clash. Rin’s act now, think later attitude serves as a constant source of stress for Yukio, who wants only to keep his brother alive. Yukio also begins to break under the pressure, showing anger more openly than he has before and acting less like his usual self. The by-the-books Yukio also continues to carry a secret that he hides from everyone, a secret sure to cause problems if it ever sees the light of day.

In the final episodes of the Volume, the final story begins to kick into gear. With the introduction of new characters and more screentime from the Vatican, all the pieces are set for one hell of a showdown.

Blue-Exorcist-Volume-5-04 — **What lies under the mask?**

Visuals
In contrast to Rin’s previous outbursts, his flames are quite visually different. As they always have they serve as an obvious representation of his emotional state and the chaos within him. As opposed to the raging inferno that consumed him in the forest, there’s a greater sense of control as he continues to train his abilities. As his proficiency increases they shift to a calm, haunting burn, softer than they have ever burned before.

During the numerous fights that occur during the Volume, the animation continues to exude an excellent sense of flow. Even when characters continue the tradition of mid-battle exposition the visuals remain interesting, rather than becoming stagnant. Each example of combat is also unique in their approach, with no fight being visually the same as the last, in no small part due to the diverse nature and physical form each demon takes. Rin’s combat style when dealing with said demons is also very acrobatic and involves a high degree of movement, something that requires impressive animation in order to be visually palatable. Which it is.

Blue-Exorcist-Volume-5-05 — **He’s right behind me isn’t he?**

Audio
As always, Shira continues to be a source of inspiration and colourful language. During one of her patented pep talks to Rin, she simply asks him if he’s “Gonna let the bad guys jerk us around for ever?” Which is enough to inspire anyone into action. On the subject of voices, and harking back to some of the earlier episodes, the Guru demon Rin faces has a rather heavy voice filter. This serves to distort and garble the monster’s voice, inspiring fear when it does so much as ask a question. Nothing scarier than a giant shadow with reverb is there?

During the more intense moments of episodes, a lack of sound can prove to be just as important. By opting to not overlay a backtrack, focus is placed completely on the dialogue. It’s a little jarring, as the sudden lack of peripheral sound serves to sever the moment from the others in the episode, adding to its memorability.

Extras
Once more the extras bring an episode of Ura-Ex, everybody’s favourite glimpse into the less than dramtic daily lives of characters. This time around: Mephisto’s Dog Day. In an odd painted style, the daily canine routine of one Sir Pheles is expressed, shedding new light on not only him but also a conversation from way back in Volume 2. The alternate previews are, this time, performed by Gufu, Obarion (some kind of rock demon), Mechichi (who will “Kill you for reals”) and the masked demon. Plus your standard fare anime trailers are included as well.

Blue-Exorcist-Volume-5-06 — **And he’s the nice one…**

Overall
Blue Exorcist Volume 5 is a much more personal affair than Volume 4 was. Opting to focus more on the close relationships between characters, and putting the grand plot to the side for a moment, a lot more depth is added to the cast. Whether it be under the light of humour or tragedy, characters continue to evolve and show a greater understanding of the world in which they live. Though that knowledge might become obsolete in the coming finale. With the very foundation of society undergoing a shift, how will the world they’ve all come to accept change? When the Son of Satan holds a greater sense of compassion than the revered and sanctimonious Vatican, who knows what could happen next. A fight between good and evil? Most likely. But which is which?

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

EDGE OF REALITY’S LOADOUT LAUNCHES JANUARY 31st

Press Releases

Philip Federico

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January 17, 2014

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EDGE OF REALITY’S LOADOUT LAUNCHES JANUARY 31st

BILLIONS of Weapon Configurations Provide a Completely Over-the-Top Shooter Experience

AUSTIN, TX (January 16, 2014) – Edge of Reality, developers of the upcoming Free-to-Play shooter Loadout, today announced that the game will officially be available on Friday, January 31, 2014. The development team has spent the last three years fine tuning the mechanics and embracing the maniacal and addictive nature of Loadout’s gameplay, ensuring their debut title will be ready for its highly-anticipated launch.

“After spending the last two decades contributing to the development of some amazing franchises, like Mass Effect, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, The Sims, and Dragon Age, Loadout is our studio’s first original IP, and we couldn’t be more excited to open it up to the masses,” said Rob Cohen, CEO of Edge of Reality. “We started this as a passion project, working on it when we could, and trying to create something original and truly player friendly. What we’ve got now is a game that’s a blast to play, quick and easy to get into, and empowers players with insane amounts of customization.”

In fact, Loadout’s weapon-crafting system runs so deep that there are over 44 billion possible creations to assemble, enabling players to transform weapon behavior in extreme ways, thereby defining their own class and play style. Combining weapon-crafting with acrobatic movement and over-the-top comedic violence, Loadout is packed with personality and style that deliver a fresh and satisfying alternative to the vast array of modern combat shooters.

Loadout is currently in beta via Early Access on Steam. Loadout will officially be released for the PC on January 31, 2014. For more Loadout mayhem, visit www.loadout.com and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

To check the game out now via Early Access, follow this Steam link: http://store.steampowered.com/app/208090
About Edge of Reality
Edge of Reality is an independent, world class game development studio based in Austin, Texas. Throughout its 16-year history, the studio has released 15 titles on 8 platforms, selling over 20 million units worldwide. The company is entrusted with some of the biggest brands in the industry, and the team works with passion to deliver high-quality entertainment. More information about Edge of Reality and its products can be found on the company’s website, www.edgeofreality.com.

SpellForce 2 Comes to an End in ‘Demons of the Past’

James Mapley

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January 17, 2014

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SpellForce 2 Comes to an End in ‘Demons of the Past’

Austria-based game publisher, Nordic Games, announced today that the final expansion to the RTS/RPG crossover game, SpellForce 2: Shadow Wars, is now available in both boxed and digital format for PC.

Despite the release being delayed from its original October 2013 target, long time fans of the SpellForce saga will finally have the chance to dive back into the land of Eo in this new, standalone adventure. Take up the sword and discover the source of the mysterious new evil that has fallen upon the land as our young hero and his sundry band of companions.

Demons Of The Past can be played solo or with friends in campaign, co-op, skirmish and domination modes. This expansion is also the first to include a Survival mode in which heroes will need to work together to carve their way through seemingly endless waves of enemies, culminating in a final boss battle. With 5 new worlds and 25 hours of gameplay this last hoorah for the SpellForce 2 series promises to bring the story to an epic conclusion that will seal the destinies of our heroes and all those whose lives they touched in their journey forever.

SpellForce 2 – Demons Of The Past is available now on digital platforms and in game stores for £17.99/€19.99/USD$19.99. Check out the release trailer below.

GO KICK SOME DIGITAL BOO-TAY WITH NEW DLC FEATURING PEPPERMINT BUTLER, GUNTER, AND KING OF MARS IN ADVENTURE TIME: EXPLORE THE DUNGEON BECAUSE I DON’T KNOW!

Press Releases

Philip Federico

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January 16, 2014

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Go kick some digital boo-tay with new DLC featuring Peppermint Butler, Gunter, and King of Mars in Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I DON’T KNOW!

D3Publisher (D3P) and Cartoon Network Enterprises (CNE) today announced downloadable content (DLC) for Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I DON’T KNOW!, that features three new playable characters including Peppermint Butler, Gunter, and King of Mars. The DLC is available for Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft at £1.29 per character, and on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Nintendo´s Wii U™ system, at £1.59 per character.

Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I DON’T KNOW! is a brand new action adventure game from the creative minds of Adventure Time series creator Pendleton Ward and game developer WayForward.

For more information on Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I DON’T KNOW!, please visit http://www.namcobandaigames.eu

About Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I DON’T KNOW!
The adventure begins with a completely new storyline staged in the Land of Ooo as players help Princess Bubblegum save the Candy Kingdom by exploring the mysteries surrounding a massive Secret Royal Dungeon. In Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I DON’T KNOW!, play as multiple fan-favorite characters from the show with up to four players, including Finn, Jake, Marceline, Ice King, and more and showcase your best attack moves with special abilities and skills to defeat baddies throughout the dungeon.

[Printable press release]

Stronghold Crusader 2 Exclusive to Steam

Press Releases

Philip Federico

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January 16, 2014

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London, UK – 16^th January 2014 – Firefly Studios has announced that Valve’s Steam platform will be required to install and play Stronghold Crusader 2 at launch. Ahead of the game’s planned release in Spring 2014, Marketing Manager Nick Tannahill revealed the news in a blog post on the game’s official website at www.strongholdcrusader2.com. Here he explains the developer’s reasons behind their decision:

“As an independent developer our resources are limited. For the majority of the Crusader 2 project we have had two full-time programmers and two artists working on the game… That said we still want Crusader 2 to have all the cool and convenient features players expect from a modern RTS and a true sequel to the original Stronghold Crusader. We can handle much of the game just fine on our own, so the game’s skirmish mode, AI, single-player campaigns and other core gameplay systems such as co-op have been tailor made by Firefly. However secondary features like achievements, game invites and gameplay stats will be powered through Steam, where the majority of our players come from.”

Listing the benefits of releasing on Steam, both for the development team and players, Nick goes on to confirm a list of Steam features intended for inclusion in the game either at launch or through free post-release updates:

Achievements
Voice Chat
Cloud Saving
Workshop Support
Game Invites
Gameplay Stats
Trading Cards

The main motivation behind Firefly’s decision is keeping development of the game on time, which has been a priority for all Stronghold titles since the company was founded in 1999. “The time required to create our own bespoke tools and systems for such features could end up delaying the game, which is something nobody wants… It sounds clichéd but this is win-win, we get to include the features fans of the genre expect without delaying the game or taking our focus away from core gameplay.”

Despite plans to integrate Crusader 2 with Steamworks, fans hoping to purchase a physical boxed version of Crusader 2 at launch can rest easy. Boxed copies of Stronghold Crusader 2 will be available at retail in a number of different regions, although they will require Steam to install and play.

The full news post can be found at www.strongholdcrusader2.com.

About Firefly Studios

Firefly Studios is an independent PC game developer specialising in real-time strategy and MMO titles. Formed in 1999 by Simon Bradbury and Eric Ouellette, the company has brought to market a number of high profile and commercially successful strategy games, including the Stronghold series with lifetime sales of over six million. Firefly has offices in the UK and US. For more information please visit their website at www.fireflyworlds.com or follow @fireflyworlds on Twitter.

GAMEVIL launches casual endless runner, Kiwi Dash, on Google Play and App Store

Press Releases

Philip Federico

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January 16, 2014

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GAMEVIL launches casual endless runner, Kiwi Dash, on Google Play and App Store

LOS ANGELES, CA- January 16, 2014- Leading mobile games publisher and developer GAMEVIL has today announced the launch of its latest title, Kiwi Dash, on App Store and Google Play. The free-to-play game is a casual endless runner, which features a cast of lovable Kiwis and some not-so loving cats.

Kiwi Dash takes place moments after a totem is stolen from the tranquil Kiwi haven. Players will need to help our Kiwis jump, dodge, dash, and fly through dangerous obstacles to retrieve the stolen totem from the mischievous cats.

By collecting kiwi fruits along the way, players can unlock new Kiwis, items, and power-ups to go farther than ever. Players can also complete daily and weekly missions to level up their Kiwis for higher bonuses and scores. Featuring Facebook connect, skills can then be put to test against friends and family for weekly ranking honors.

“We feel fortunate to have partnered with such a large mobile games publisher in GAMEVIL,” stated David Hahn, CEO of Vanilla Breeze. “Their know-how has enabled our game to evolve from a simple, single-play action game into one more social and competitive with long term vision.”

Kiwi Dash will be run as a service with new characters, content, and events introduced regularly. Players are invited to join the community at www.facebook.com/PlayKiwiDash.

“We’re excited to launch Kiwi Dash as it marks our first take on the casual, sideways runner,“ stated Kyu Lee, President of GAMEVIL USA. “We’ve learned a lot collaborating with Vanilla Breeze, and we feel confident that the game will appeal to a wide casual gaming audience around the world.”

Kiwi Dash is now available for free on App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch at https://itunes.apple.com/app/kiwi-dash/id687554907?ls=1&mt=8 and on Google Play for Android devices at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gamevil.kiwidash.free.

For more details, please visit http://www.gamevil.com

About GAMEVIL

GAMEVIL®, with over 330 million game downloads and experience publishing hundreds of games on multiple platforms, is one of the most active and innovative mobile game companies in the world. Established in 2000 and with offices in Los Angeles, Tokyo, Beijing and Seoul, GAMEVIL is an experienced global mobile game publisher working with more than 70 top studios around the world.

With deep industry and regional knowledge, GAMEVIL has been able to craft numerous award winners through a diverse portfolio of games. Backed by unparalleled expertise in mobile, GAMEVIL continues to lead the sector with a commitment in establishing mobile gaming as a way of life.

GAMEVIL is currently listed on the KOSDAQ Market (Ticker: 063080, Bloomberg: 063080:KS, Reuters: 063080.KQ)

Follow the Twitter feeds at http://www.twitter.com/gamevil and Facebook Pages at http://www.facebook.com/gamevil

Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster Hands-on

Zac Elawar

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January 16, 2014

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Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster Hands-on

Now this is a remaster I can get behind. Final Fantasy X was beloved by fans back in 2001 when it came out for the PlayStation 2. Final Fantasy X-2, well, not so much… at least from many fans’ perspectives. Let’s just say it wasn’t as universally loved. Either way, the two are being released together as a compilation for the PlayStation 3 and PS Vita, entitled Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster. Our Square Enix Showcase coverage continues with a hands-on preview of the remaster… sort of. You see, the build only included a portion from Final Fantasy X HD, and it was quite short to boot.

Now, you guys are reading this because you are fans (most likely), so gameplay-wise, I’m sure you’re familiar with the game. Even if you weren’t, this is sadly not the place to find a detailed look at gameplay since our time was, as mentioned, brief and, well… Square Enix have always been fond of long cutscenes. You remember exactly what I’m talking about. Instead, what’s deserving of the spotlight in this piece are the graphical enhancements and the additions and differences that constitute a HD remaster. The section playable was the opening sequence set in the high-tech, futuristic metropolis of Zanarkland, leading off from that familiar intro of Tidus and his party sitting by a campfire outside a ruined city, retelling his story. There’s also a fleeting segment from the Baaj ruins that immediately follows.

Right off the bat, it is evident to anyone who has played or seen footage from the original, that this HD remaster is crisper, with incredibly enriched color depth and sharper lighting. Once we enter Zanarkland and see Tidus – being the talented and popular ‘blitzball’ player that he is – greeting his fans, what becomes even more noticeable are the improved textures, not just in the environments, but the characters as well. The game is also displayed in a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio. With all that being said, character models and objects, as enhanced as they may be, still look rather blocky so do not expect that to change. The developers would need to practically redo every model from the ground up and rewrite a significant amount of code, in which case it becomes a flat-out remake, not a remaster. X-2 understandably fares much better in this respect.

The visuals aren’t the only element being reworked, with upgraded audio quality and, apparently, 60 remastered tracks in the full release. As I played through the run where Tidus and Auron are ambushed by Sinscales, I noticed small revisions to the camera angles, or at least my brain was tricked into thinking as much. With the new aspect ratio, that’s what could be making that impression. I also wouldn’t have recognised this at all if I hadn’t taken a trip back down memory lane before attending the preview event. Almost a dozen years is a long time. Wow, it just hit me… nigh on 12 full years and we’ve only gone from Final Fantasy X to Final Fantasy XIV. All spin-offs considered, if you needed an example of just how much lengthier development cycles become with every successive generation, look no further.

After getting sucked up into the Sin and experiencing a vision of his father, we as Tidus awaken, attempting to take refuge in a small watery temple ruin before being attacked by a school of Sahagin. Inciting nostalgia yet? Dispatching of them leads to the emergence of the Geosgaeno. Fighting him off to a scripted near-death scenario, Tidus makes his razor-close escape and the demo concludes. To close, I feel it is important to mention exactly what you would be getting in this package: Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy X: Eternal Calm, Final Fantasy X-2 and Final Fantasy X-2: Last Mission, plus a special 30-minute audio drama called Final Fantasy X -Will-, set one year after the events of Final Fantasy X-2. Of note, the versions included are the “International” ones, which include extra options, abilities, optional boss battles and more which the majority of PAL and North Americans players never received.

Seeing as you’re just the right audience, why not check out our hands-on preview of Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII while you’re here. Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster is scheduled for release on March 20 here in Australia.

Blackguards Video Guides Released

Mateja Simovic

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January 16, 2014

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Daedalic Entertainment has released the first video of a planned series to show punters some of the mechanics behind their roleplaying turn-based strategy game, Blackguards, with the first installment dealing with character creation. The game itself is an adaption of a popular European pen and paper roleplaying game called ‘The Dark Eye’ (woo!) with the narrative following the infamous (and the eponymous) group of rogues known as the ‘Blackguards’. Through the process of said adaption the developers have admitted to streamlining the mechanics from the original (Extremely complex) source into a more manageable format for those players who come completely fresh to the series. This is highlighted in their first video guide for the game with the narrator taking us through the basics of character creation.

Although your character will always start off as some manner of criminal scum (probably brought in for lollygagging), there are three classes to initially choose from with your choices limited to a ‘fighter’, ‘mage’, and ‘hunter’. All three appear to have their own specialisations but due to the use of a non-linear character upgrade system, there is much wriggle room to play a character with a wider range of abilities. In this system, character progression does not occur at set points when characters obtain ‘x’ amount of experience points, but rather each encounter awards ‘adventure points’ which can then be used to upgrade stats and skills/spells. This appears to be a similar system to that of Shadowrun’s ‘Karma points’… in case you needed a frame of reference. This free form character customisation will be available to players from the get go, due to the feedback received during the early access phase of the game’s development cycle.

Speaking of early access we covered the launch of this game’s early access period here, and the first four chapters of the game are still available via Steam’s early access program. The full game itself will be released on January 24th. The aforementioned video guide can be found below.

Unity Comes to Playstation Vita

Andrew Day

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January 16, 2014

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Last year, Unity Technologies announced a new partnership with Sony to provide support for games on each and every one of Sony’s gaming platforms. Today, that partnership takes it to the next level with the announcement of Unity 4.3 for Playstation Vita.

Now available to the public, and to the million plus Unity users; developers who have a license agreement with Sony can now create and launch games directly to the platform. Doing so gives a few awesome benefits and console-specific features such as;

Motion sensors
Front and rear cameras
Dual analog sticks
Rear Touch pad

Not only that, but the collaboration will mean that Unity developers will be able to implement PSN services into their games. So from now, look forward to seeing Unity titles that feature online matchmaking, friends list and most importantly – trophies.

This is a pretty big step in the right direction for the gaming industry. Let us know your thoughts about the partnership in the comments below and remember to stay tuned to Capsule Computers for all the Sony and Unity news as it becomes available.