When an anime slips through the cracks and isn’t picked up by any of the North American anime companies, there is one company that fans can usually count on to pick up a hidden gem or two, and that company is NIS America. Today they have continued that trait by announcing that they have acquired the first season of Haiyore! Nyaruko-san, which originally aired back in 2012, and will be releasing it under the name Nyaruko: Crawling with Love! on Blu-ray on April 15th.
The release will be given NIS America’s Premium Edition treatment which means it will come with a “Nyarlathotep-tested alien-approved” hardcover art book and a collectible slip case. Currently it is unknown if the company has acquired the second season of the anime as well.
For those who don’t know, the story of this hilarious comedy follows Nyaruko, a Nyarlathotep from the Cthulhu mythology who has taken the shape of a silver-haired girl to protect a normal high school boy named Mahiro Yasaka after aliens attack him and more aliens continue to show up in his life.
Shuisha’s Jump magazine has announced some new characters for the playable roster in CyberConnect2‘s latest title Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Revolution. The Fourth Kazekage, the Second Mizukage, the Third Raikage and the Second Tsuchikage are set to join the list of over 100 playable characters, having appeared only as enemies in the previous title Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3.
It has also been revealed that the game will feature a new “Combination Ultimate Jutsu” gameplay mechanic. Players will be able to, as implied, combine various Jutsu together in order to create more powerful techniques. Perhaps this may be useful when the “legendary three ninja” band together once more and recreate Team Seven. Who can say?
The game is set to ship in Japan later this year. Namco Bandai has announced that the game will receive a release in Europe and North America as well, so keep an eye out and get ready to join some good ol’ fashioned ninja combat. Believe it.
Even though us over here in Australia have already had our hands on Bravely Default for quite some time now it seems as though our friends over in North America are still waiting for its release, luckily for them Square Enix and Nintendo have released a brand-new trailer for the game and this time it focuses on all the different classes that are unlockable and playable throughout the game.
The class system within Bravely Default is quite extensive and it is an aspect of the game that makes the entire experience all the more enjoyable. You may recall a few of these classes or jobs from previous Final Fantasy games such as the White Mage, Monk or Warrior. Bravely Default takes a lot of what Spuare Enix has learnt from past Final Fantasy games to make this title as good as they possibly could so it is definitely not one to miss!
Anyway, enough out of me, head down below to check out the brand-new Bravely Default class trailer and let us know what your favourite class is in the comments section below.
Chillingo and their game development partners at Black Wing Foundation are extremely excited to announce that their brand new game “In Fear I Trust” has been slated for a release on the iOS App Store on the 23rd of January which falls on the Thursday of next week. This horror/puzzle game sports some incredible graphics as well as interesting and immersive gameplay style which puts fans of thrillers and horrors into the shoes of a man that wakes up in what seems to be some sort of cell, with nobody around and the terror of being in such a place slowly taking over his mind you’re tasked with finding out what exactly is going on in this facility and how you’re going to get out of it…alive.
The game will be released in episodes that will come with every update but dont fret because the game comes with the first two chapters already built in so you have a great deal of story to get through before the next update drops. “In Fear I Trust” will be sold for $2.99/£1.99 and, once again, it will be released on Thursday of next week (23rd of January) so keep an eye out on the iTunes App Store and this site right here for when that happens.
In a collaborative effort between Microsoft, EA and Respawn Entertainment, fans of the Titanfall game will now be able to get their hands on a commemorative Titanfall controller for the Xbox One, only for a limited time of course.
The game which is set for a release on March 13th, 2014, has made major waves among the gaming community eager to get into a mecha and shoot things. The Titanfall controller will launch for a limited time on February 13th, 2014, just in time for the release of Titan Fall a month later.
You can check out the Titanfall controller in the image above. Be sure to let us know what you think of this in the comments section below.
Fans of Assassin’s Creed who are desperate for something to scratch the itch left by Black Flag should be overjoyed today because they finally have an excuse to don the white hood once again. Retire the Jolly Roger and dock on the shores of America once again as we revisit the world of Assassins Creed Liberation.
Earlier today, Ubisoft announced that Assassin’s Creed Liberation HD is now ready to be downloaded on PS3, Xbox 360, and PC for a mere £15.99. This remastered version of the original game that was released in October 2012 boasts enriched graphics, upgraded audio, and a number of all new missions that elaborate on the original story.
Liberation gives players the opportunity to take control of the first playable female assassin in the AC universe in a story unrelated to the Desmond Miles saga. Set in the heart of Central America, this interesting take on the original Assassin’s Creed formula received mixed reviews, but for £15.99 you could definitely do a lot worse for your money.
Check out the launch trailer below and don’t forget that Assassin’s Creed Liberation HD is available right now for download on PS3, Xbox 360, and Steam.
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.
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. 
