Going against everything that I criticised them for in 2013, Kyoto Animation surprised a lot of people today by announcing that they would be animating ‘Amagi Brilliant Park’. Not only is this light novel not one of the winners of an honourable mention in the Kyoto Animation Awards, but it doesn’t seem to be selling itself on the back of a gimmick whatsoever. From what little we know, Amagi Brilliant Park looks like a fairly standard, generic romcom, something that KyoAni have only really done 2 of in the past. One of which, by no coincidence, is the classic military romcom, Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu, by the same author.
Amagi Brilliant Park is being described as a, “slapstick drama,” or in Layman’s terms, a romcom with relationship issues and most likely a tsundere to provide the slapstick. It will follow Seiya Kanie, and as you would expect he is a highschool boy that somehow ends up going on a date with a beautiful transfer student. Sound familiar? Well I am glad to say that after that textbook introduction it seems to stray a little from the generic and starts sounding more like a workplace comedy when he is asked to become the manager of an unsuccessful amusement park in the middle of suburban Tokyo.
In a year that will consist mostly of sequels to their massively successful series from 2013 like Free! and Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai, it is good to see that KyoAni have not gotten completely lost in the shimmer of sparkling water running down washboard abs. For more anime announcements and much more from the land of Japan, head on over to our Anime News page.
Ready for round two? To re-live Lara Croft’s hellish tale of survival on the mysterious, mystical island of Yamatai like some horrific, but beautiful nightmare? Or for those who never played the original release – to definitively experience the rebirth of a gaming heroine and industry icon?
Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition is releasing on January 31 for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, and as part of a Square Enix Showcase, we at Capsule Computers received the opportunity to get re-acquainted with Lara in all her hair-flipping and polygonally enhanced glory. Our time with the Definitive Edition was half demonstration, half hands-on, as we jumped around multiple chapters for a few minutes at a time. The purpose for this format, as per the developer Crystal Dynamics’ behest, was to show off the absolute best examples of the new technologies and improvements found within. We’re not going to go into specific gameplay or chapter details because this version has left the gameplay practically untouched and, frankly, we jumped around quite quickly and frequently as mentioned.
What this package essentially presents is a visually upgraded experience that has more of an impact than you’d expect. See, it’s not just about the added TressFX tech that PC gamers have enjoyed for a year already, or the new facial model that many might feel a little inconsequential. It’s also about the physics, the particle effects, the lighting and more that truly increases the tension and sense of life and movement in this dangerous world. The mood and tone that the team originally set out to portray can now be fully realised. Yes, every individual strand of hair on Lara’s head has simulated motion, blowing with the wind, but the feel, the believability of these surroundings and this dire situation she finds herself in… that’s what’s most important here, and the communication of which benefits most from this Definitive Edition.
The lighting system and shaders have been reworked entirely, and it is immediately apparent; this is next-gen lighting. Combined with sub-surface scattering, Lara’s skin more accurately refracts light and glosses over, reflecting when she is wet by rain or drenched in sweat. Okay, geez, her hair also looks Pantene shiny – stop asking about the hair! Anyway, the light of a naked flame also casts dynamic shadows, which just adds to the overall realism. Flashes of lightning are much more striking, and additional fog and weather effects really build upon the already strong atmosphere. Speaking of fire earlier, the resulting smoke rises above and, if in-doors, pools at the ceiling before slowly dissipating. The attention to detail is staggering, to the point where draw distance has been improved – something many didn’t even bat an eyelid at given the game so cleverly masked it in the first place. Plus, it’s no GTA, but Crystal Dynamics wanted to make it better regardless.
A lot was said about the new face of our title character, now with approximately 15 times the polygon count, but I honestly didn’t feel that there was any more effectiveness in the expressions made by Lara. That being said, we did only witness a miniscule fraction of the total number of cutscenes in-game, with some of the more wide-range, nuanced moments still unseen. Lara isn’t the only one to get some touch-ups either, as members of the Endurance crew and all enemies have enjoyed visual enhancements, as subtle as they may be at times. The melee finisher animations have also been tightened up, but that’s about all in the animation department. Leading on from the aforementioned, all resolutions have been maxed out by 4x, and at any given time there is between 4 and 15 times the particle count on-screen compared to the last-gen release. Oh, and did I fail to mention its rendered in 1080p, natively? An already great-looking game is now even more stunning.
The most impressive visual element of this Definitive Edition has to be the physics additions. From the now rarely static pick-axe, bobbing as Lara climbs and (gingerly) runs, to the realistic cloth movement, greatly increased destructibility and denser, reactive foliage, Yamatai exists in the mind as a real place. Things like shrubbery bending to your will (and boot) and debris flying all over the place a whole layer of texture to the environment, and again, realism. As a little aside, do those of you who’ve previously played through Tomb Raider remember the deer cutscene? You know, when she guts her first kill? It always occurred in the same scripted place in the map, no matter where you actually killed the animal. Now, it plays out with slightly different camera work, and from wherever you trigger it in the physical space, which is a nice touch of consistency and continuity.
I may have incited a small glimmer of hope in your hearts that there are alterations to the layout of the levels themselves, just to add some freshness to that aspects or switch things up perhaps, but – even though the visual changes truthfully had me fail to recognise certain areas – they are fundamentally, design-wise, untouched. Along with all the enhancements mentioned, the Definitive Edition could not have earned its namesake had it not been packaged with all previous DLC. Not only that, but new concept art, digital versions of the Brady mini-artbook and the Tomb Raider: The Beginning comic by Dark Horse, along with the soundtrack and hardcover artbook packaging (if pre-ordered) make this release well worth it for newcomers. The question is whether this will sell to repeat customers. It really depends on how much you loved the game, and whether the graphical appeal is there for you personally. At first, I admit, I had little interest in it… but now I’m definitely feeling the itch to raid some tombs once more. So preeetttyyyy…
A slew of awesome titles have made their way to the Nintendo eShop this week. Leading the charge is the highly anticipated Dr. Luigi. Help Luigi follow in his brother’s footsteps as he uses brightly coloured capsules to cure the world of terrible viruses. You can grab Dr. Luigi for $19.50 starting from the 16th of January.
Codemasters are also releasing their F1 Race Stars: Powered Up Edition on the 17th of January. Taking the great racing experience and loading it up with a bunch of Wii U exclusive content makes for a fun, exciting racer. Download F1 Race Stars: Powered Up for $39.95
An old SNES classic joins the Wii U’s virtual console lineup this week – The Legend of the Mystical Ninja ]combines Zelda-esq action/RPG gaming with an awesome Japanese backdrop. take Goemon and his pals through the streets of Japan and use their unique skills to save the world. The Legend of the Mystical Ninja is available from the 17th of January for $10.40
The Wii U eShop is also getting a nice discount this week – Trine 2 – Director’s Cut is dropping down to $7.99 (down from its usuall 19.99) until the 30th of January. If you haven’t played it yet, you wont want to miss out on the sale.
Moving on to the 3DS where there are two notable launches. The first being the awesome NES classic – Castlevania II Simon’s Quest is available from the 17th of January for the usual price of $5.20. Do you have what it takes to face Dracula? Only one way to find out.
Rounding off this week’s Nintendo downloads is a very exciting game. Mario and his pals have been rolling dice and blasting through mini-games for years, but now that fun is finalls available on the 3DS. Mario Party: Island Tour is available from the 18th of January for the price of $59.95. Check it out now and show your friends who really is king of the Mario Party.
A great handful of games for Nintendo console owners out there. Some heavy hitters in the form of Dr. Luigi and Mario Party, as well as some old classics. Be sure to check them out and remember to stay tuned to Capsule Computers for all the Nintendo news as it becomes available.
Jack Ryan is a character that has stuck around for a long time. Since his first movie appearance in The Hunt for Red October, Tom Clancy’s stalwart secret agent has been portrayed by the likes of Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford and Ben Affleck. Now it is Chris Pine’s time to step into the world of espionage in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit. The film serves as a reboot of the franchise, and brings it into the modern era. The film is an enjoyable espionage-laden romp but does suffer from some action and spy movie cliches and some plot points that feel like wasted opportunities.
Story
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit is unique among the other Jack Ryan movies. Not only is it a reboot of the franchise, but it is the first film featuring the character to not be based off one of the late Tom Clancy’s novels. Shadow Recruit is an original story that ticks all the right boxes for an espionage thriller, but sadly uses some cliche and overdone plot points throughout.
The film kicks off in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks against the United States. Doctoral candidate Jack Ryan drops out of his prestigious school in order to take up arms for his country. While on deployment, his helicopter is shot down and he is left cripped – with doctors unsure if he will ever walk again. His intellect, especially in areas considering economics and numbers draws the attention of the CIA, who want to hire him as an undercover agent in some of the biggest banks on Wall Street.
10 Years later, Jack uncovers a bunch of hidden Russian accounts that house large sums of money. From here, Jack’s life is turned upside down as the CIA send him into Russia in order to get a first hand look at the accounts. Our protagonist quickly finds himself way out of his depth – he was never specially trained as a field agent, so when he is forced into the thick of it, he has a couple of very real brushes with mortality. The trials and tribulations of a first-time field agent are made all the more complex when his girlfriend, Cathy Muller (Keira Knightley) surprises him in Moscow, thinking he is having an affair and trying to catch him in the act.
This is one of Shadow Recruits biggest flaws – the almost forced love story between these two characters. It is such a cliche of the genre nowadays to have the unsuspecting partner be convinced of an affair or other nefarious doings. While it is perfectly reasonable to be a little concerned why your partner is a little distant at times, Muller’s actions are a little bit on the clingy side. She finds a ticket stub in the pocket of Ryan’s pants and creates an elaborate ruse to coerce out of him why he saw a movie without her. Not to mention the fact that the two had agreed to meet in Paris after Ryan’s trip to Russia, only for her to just show up in the snow-laden capital and wait for him at his hotel.
As the story continues, Ryan uncovers a terrorist plot that would cripple the United States’ financially, and topple its economy forever. Without going into too many details, the plot involves the film’s villain, Viktor Cherevin who owns a series of shell companies, to sell off massive quantities of the US Dollar, sending the market into collapse. Economists among you will bicker back and forth about the likeliness of a plan such as this ever working, but it really does come off as a bit comical. If not for the stellar performance of Branagh in role, the whole concept might come off a bit outlandish.
From Othello to Harry Potter and now Jack Ryan, Kenneth Branagh shows that he is still one of the most charismatic, compelling and oftentimes downright frightening villains in Hollywood. The film’s central plot of Russia trying to cripple the United States economy should feel outlandish and comical, but Branagh’s stern portrayal of Viktor Cherevin – the businessman behind it all really makes it seem that much more real.
So we have Branagh as the imposing villain, Keira Knightley as the over-attached girlfriend, then in comes Kevin Costner doing what he does best – playing an older, level-headed mentor to the young and eager Jack. However, you have got to give it up for Chris Pine, who is completely in his element here as the younger Jack. The eager, cocky, ambitious, intelligent action star is in his blood, and aside from a few silly moments he really manages to make you believe he is Jack Ryan. Fans of the franchise can rest easy in the fact that the legacy of not only Tom Clancy, but one of his most popular characters remains completely in tact.
Visuals
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit has an interesting mix of visuals. Most of the shots look great, and you really feel like you are in the midst of Moscow’s bustling business district, or in a rickety barn in Pensylvania. However, it is not without its faults.
Some shots were interesting to say the least. There is a particular scene where Ryan is in the back of a car and his driver is talking about the beauty of a landscape in the distance. Unfortunately, we don’t get to see the building as the camera pans around in such a way that the thing is blurred the entire time. The whole shot can really break the immersion of the scene. There are a few other instances of similar scene-breaking shots but overall it is nice and tightly filmed.
My favourite part is that many of the action scenes are shot without too much ‘camera wobble.’ It has become such a mainstay of Hollywood now to shake the camera around during an action scene or climactic battle/chase. Thankfully this isn’t the case here, and everything is tight, straight and completely unobscured.
Audio
The supporting cast needs to be commended for their impressive voice work. Keira Knightley manages to completely hide her British accent and come off sounding like an authentic American doctor. The same can be said for Branagh and his impressive grasp of the Russian dialect. The acting is all crisp and clear, and there is never a case of “what did he say?”
The music plays a big role in Shadow Recruit. The film’s composer; Patrick Doyle (whom frequently works alongside Branagh) has created a score that manages to near-perfectly capture the feel of the scenes, while also remaining completely unobtrusive to the plot or any of the dialogue. A lot of films that are set in European nations have the problem of the score making it difficult to understand the dialogue, but Doyle has managed to avoid this completely.
Overall
Tom Clancy has left behind a huge legacy and legions of fans. Luckily they can all rest easy as Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit definitely delivers. This is a new Jack Ryan for a new age. Some slight character tweaks have been made to bring him more in line with what we would expect from a man in his position, but this is still the Jack Ryan we know and love. The cast all give their all to this production and it really shines through. From the great dialect work through to the action scenes towards the end of the movie, the spirit and feel of an espionage film is captured perfectly. Although the movie suffers from some cliche spy movie tropes, and some of the characterisation is off (especially for the female lead), it is still safe to say that this is a movie worth watching.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Overview What lies inside a child’s mind is something that many look at with a sense of wonder, much like the sense of wonder that a child views the world with. The littlest things can become the greatest of journeys. An everyday object can come alive in the mind of a child.
What makes Rugrats such a special cartoon, one that has undoubtedly withstood the test of time, is the way that it conveys the child’s eye. The wild imagination of children which makes up the foundations of this unforgettable Nicktoon and it all began with its phenomenal first season.
Story A baby’s gotta do, what a baby’s gotta do! That just about sums up the entire Rugrats series in one single phrase. These babies find the greatest wonders in the smallest of things, but no matter what may come their way, the curiosity in their souls moves them. Once more a baby’s gotta do, what a baby’s gotta do.
The first season of Rugrats is undoubtedly the stuff of legend. If you’ve ever tuned in to Nickelodeon no doubt you’ve caught a number of these episodes in syndication at one point or another. With classic adventures for Tommy Pickles and friends forging hours upon hours of cartoon history, the historical significance of Rugrats is immense to say the very least. But underneath all of that is a simple warm heart.
Rugrats much like other cartoons that have aired on Nickelodeon features primarily an ensemble cast. Each member of the cast is just as important to the series alchemy as the last. Whether it be the chemistry between the babies or their silly old parents, the series has a great character dynamic that works in a multitude of situations and combinations, a true showcase of ensemble story-telling at its finest.
The magic of Rugrats is its universality. For a series that is over 20 years old, it hasn’t missed a beat. The imagination of a child is something that can very easily be related to by people of all ages, even today. We all wish we could be free like a child, without a care in the world, free to let our imaginations run wild. Its a bit of escapism for adults, and a lot of fun for kids who aren’t familiar with the classic series.
Rugrats bridges the gap between older audience and younger audiences. Those who grew up with the series will no doubt find great nostalgia in this release, today’s generation of kids will no doubt fall in love with it just like we did back in the day. It is the universal themes of the series that unite generations, the imagination and wit that the series is built upon that make it unforgettable.
Visuals and Audio As one could expect after more than 20 years, aesthetically and aurally, Rugrats has aged. The artwork is somewhat sloppy compared to today’s more perfected animation styles. Instead it features a hand-drawn art style that hearkens back an oldschool feel that modern cartoons just don’t have anymore. There is a soul to hand-drawn art that is really under-appreciated nowadays. With a primarily pastel colour palette the series has a distinctive look that can only be described as uniquely Rugrats.
The cinematography is actually quite genius here in Rugrats. With the usage of first-person shots puts viewers into the eyes and minds of the babies, giving a sense of immersion that most cartoons struggle to accomplish, all the while Rugrats makes it look easy.
Rugrats soundtrack is a mash up of plucky tunes and some fast paced energetic little numbers that make for an all around great score, capturing the perfect balance and backing the action on screen superbly.
As for the voice acting, this is easily one of the best voice acted cartoons ever on Nickelodeon. The cast captures the child-like wonder of the babies in great fashion, giving life to each and every one of them. It is a great effort all around from all involved.
Extras As far as bonus features go on this first season collection, Beyond Entertainment haven’t packaged any in. This is a pretty bare-bones release in regards to extra content. It is simply the first season from start to finish, nothing more and nothing less. While this is surely no issue for most, those looking for a little more bang for their buck will be sorely disappointed in the lack of extras. However if you are simply looking for this season and nothing more, you’ll be more than satisfied with the quantity and quality that this release provides.
Overall Rugrats is an iconic cartoon that many grew up with. Here we stand over 20 years since it originally graced our televisions way back in 1991. The series has aged like a fine wine, it has gotten better with age. In a day where clever story-telling and treating a child audience with a level of intelligence are few and far between, the oldschool style of Rugrats is a godsend.
Whether you’re a nostalgic fan of the series looking to rekindle that love or looking for something for the kids, Rugrats will not disappoint you. It still stands up today as one of the greatest children’s cartoons ever made and easily one of the best Nicktoons ever.
This first season is where the legend of Rugrats began and with a season as good as this it is no surprise that the series became the phenomenal success that it did. I couldn’t recommend Rugrats any more, it is pure brilliance, a genius kids cartoon the likes of which are sadly few and far between in this day and age. They say a baby’s gotta do what a baby’s gotta do, well what you gotta do is pick-up Rugrats season 1 on DVD, it is a classic in every sense of the term. So why not sit down for a spot of fun with the kids? Well the fun begins with Rugrats.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
You may remember that Aksys Games said that they would be releasing the DLC for Muramasa Rebirth at the start of 2014 and they are sticking true to their word as the company has just announced that the first piece of DLC for Muramasa Rebirth, “Genroku Legends – Fishy Tales of the Nekomata” has been released in North America today while Europe will be getting it on January 22nd.
In this DLC players will play as Okoi, a girl who has been possessed by a nekomata named Miike and must battle to avenge Miike’s master with two possible endings. Players will fight using a completely different style as Okoi will use her claws and demonic powers to deal damage to her enemies that cross her path. Players will also be able to test their skills against the bosses from the main storyline of the game.
I would be. Russians are the most intimidating villains in movie history, and there’s a reason for that – the mob. Like the Italian Mafia, or the Yakuza, do not mess with a Russian, period! Jack Ryan (Chris Pine) apparently never learned that life lesson. In a new clip from Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, he visits Viktor Cherevin (Kenneth Branagh) for a “routine audit”.
You can watch the clip embedded at the bottom of this article. Also released by Paramount Pictures is a new featurette introducing the character of Cathy Muller (Keira Knightley). That can be found directly below. And if you haven’t seen the ‘Mega Clip’ we recently shared – featuring the opening sequence plus more – check that out here.
Our review will be live in mere hours so keep it locked on Capsule Computers for our opinion of the film. Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruitcomes out tomorrow in cinemas nationwide.
Australian anime distributor Madman has shared a tribute video to the famed Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki. The short video, viewable below, covers his work from 1979’s The Castle of Cagliostro all the way to the upcoming The Wind Rises.
Madman will be releasing Miyazaki’s purportedly “final” film, The Wind Rises, in Australian cinemas on February 27. The film follows Jiro, a young man inspired by an aeronautical designer and dreams of flying. Unable to become a pilot due to his nearsightedness, Jiro turns to a major engineering company in 1927, becoming one of the world’s most accomplished airplane designers.
Despite entering retirement earlier last year, there are signs that this may not be end for Hayao Miyazaki just yet. For more info on The Wind Rises, visit the official Australian website.
Can you feel it? The fires of Lordran are spreading. Dark Souls II is nearly here, and today we have the newest trailer for you to check out. The trailer, titled The Cursed shows a bit of the game’s plot, as well as a whole bunch of gameplay footage. Judging from what we see in the trailer, and our previous hands-on experiences with the game, we can safely say that Namco Bandai don’t look to be dropping the ball on this one.
Check out the video below and let us know your thoughts in the comments. As always, make sure you have an Estus Flask ready, and stay tuned to the Capsule Computers bonfire for all the Dark Souls news as it becomes available.
Playdek and Legendary Game Designer Yasumi Matsuno Announce Kickstarter Campaign to Bring Unsung Story to Multiple Platforms
Playdek and Matsuno turn to crowdsourcing to bring new RPG tactics game to PC and Mac
Carlsbad, Calif., Jan. 14, 2014 – Playdek, known for its award-winning mobile games, announced today a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to bring its new RPG tactics game Unsung Story: Tale of the Guardians to PC and Mac. Playdek originally joined forces with master designer Yasumi Matsuno to develop a series of mobile games based on Matsuno’s creative vision. The overwhelming fan response to its partnership with the legendary designer encouraged Playdek to turn to Kickstarter to help it raise $600,000 to develop the game across multiple platforms, deepen the content and add to its creative “dream” team.
Famous for designing the classic games Final Fantasy® Tactics, Vagrant Story® and Final Fantasy® XII, Matsuno is known for creating vibrant and immersive worlds and intense, tactical game play. He will design the original story, characters and game world of Unsung Story on all platforms.
“The tremendous outpouring of fan support for our partnership with Yasumi Matsuno and the new creative property Unsung Story prompted us to turn to the Kickstarter community to bring the game to as many gamers as we can with a cross-platform launch plan,” said Joel Goodman, CEO, Playdek. “The Playdek team has a long-history of video game development with AAA titles launching on every major platform, so we’re well positioned to take on this challenge. We’re hoping to enlist our huge fan support and let our audience be a part of something really special.”
With the Kickstarter funds and stretch goals, Playdek also hopes to add well-known composer Hitoshi Sakimoto and translators Alexander Smith and Joseph Reeder to its creative dream team. Additional stretch goals include developing the game for PS Vita and Nintendo 3DS.
“I’m very excited to be creating Unsung Story with Playdek,” said Yasumi Matsuno. “Tactical RPGs are a genre close to my heart, and I look forward to bringing this new experience to gamers everywhere.”
The next step in the evolution of the RPG tactics game Unsung Story presents the epic sweep of history from the eyes of those who make history but are never recognized for it. It represents a fundamental twist on the hero’s story by featuring ordinary individuals who bring about great changes by the small choices they make in life.
Unsung Story introduces players to the fantasy world of Rasfalia where knights, wizards, archers and creatures roam a lush landscape that holds the secret stories of more than half a century of bloody war. Players discover and relive the hidden tales of heroic deeds and uncover the sources of legends.
To see images and more information about Playdek’s Kickstarter campaign for Unsung Story, please visit Kickstarter. For more information, visit our Facebook page.
About Yasumi Matsuno
Yasumi Matsumo is one of few video game designers to have two games receive a perfect score by Famitsu magazine: Vagrant Story and Final Fantasy XII were critically acclaimed with 40 out of 40 points.
Rounding off this week’s Nintendo downloads is a very exciting game. Mario and his pals have been rolling dice and blasting through mini-games for years, but now that fun is finalls available on the 3DS. 
You may remember that 
