A universe of exploration begins with early access to space-based dog-fights and dynamic trading in the new title from renowned browser MMO developer, Artplant
Oslo, Norway, 10th December, 2013 – Artplant, the award-winning studio behind Battlestar Galactica Online, has once again reached to the stars with its latest MMO, Entropy. Exclusively available through Steam’s Early Access program from today, Entropy’s persistent, open-universe experience brings fast, real-time, player-controlled space combat to the space MMO genre for the first time, along with player-driven dynamic trading and sandbox gameplay.
Set in a future where humanity is desperately working to maintain a crumbling interstellar civilisation, Entropy unlocks more than 100 detailed star systems for early access players to explore. In addition to fighting in space-based dogfights, players also have to work together and manage trade, mining, travel and more, controlling both the direction and fate of the entire galaxy. The decision to provide players with Early Access to Entropy during this phase of development will allow crucial feedback to be gathered, enabling gameplay to be enriched as it progresses towards full launch.
A selection of Founders packs are now available to purchase, providing players with immediate access to Entropy, as well as a raft of extra benefits. These include starter ships, in-game currency, multiple character slots and exclusive player avatar items. Players who purchase either of the top two packages also receive the extra benefit of not having their experience and wealth reset when the game comes out of Early Access.
“We’re really excited to finally unveil Entropy to MMO fans; it’s an ambitious title for us and we can’t wait to see how players react to engaging in player-controlled, intergalactic dogfights for the very first time in a space-based MMO,” said Jack Wulf, Chief Executive Officer of Artplant. “Launching through Steam’s Early Access programme will help ensure Entropy connects with its emergent community and utilise crucial feedback from players, enhancing the incredible gameplay experience we’re building.”
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About Artplant
Artplant was founded in 2001, and has developers in Norway, Russia and England. Artplant is one of the world’s leading online developers, and the company has won a range of awards. The company is led by managers with over 20 years’ experience in creating Triple A titles, while the developers have hundreds of years of game development expertise between them. The company’s biggest success to date is ‘Battlestar Galactica Online’, which was played by more than 15 million gamers. Artplant continues to work with some of the world’s top online publishers, and have a range of project in development.
We live in the great, yet dwindling, age of loveable cartoons. Cartoon Network was once a juggernaut in the industry with its extensive roster of toon shows, all of which were fan favourites and while they’re still in the game now I feel, as a fan of old-school “cartoonery”, that they just don’t live up to the reputation they once wore with pride.
Fortunately enough it is shows like Adventure Time that keep Cartoon Network in high regard of all its viewers and I think the same types of shows will bring us out of what I’m calling the “dark age of toons” and into a brand-new age where series’ like Adventure Time and the Regular show can prosper and inspire new cartoon creators. Adventure Time has been on the air for a while now with its popularity only ever rising, never dipping, and if that’s not an indication of a superb show than I don’t know what is, what I do know though is that it has fans of all ages and never ceases to amaze them.
Story
The fact that Adventure Time episodes, apart from a handful of select ones, never really continue off of each other is a good thing for those out there who want to try the series out to see what it’s like but it’s not good for someone like me that has to review it because now I don’t know exactly what to talk about in this section. Obviously I’m only kidding with you all, I know exactly what I want to talk about when it comes to Adventure Time and it’s no single episode, what I feel like you should all know about is Adventure Time in its entirety, only then can you get a true feel of what this release is going to be like.
If you’ve never heard of Adventure Time at all, let me give you the basics: Finn the Human and Jake the Dog are brothers (through adoption) that live in the wonderful yet mysterious land of Ooo, they fight mystical monsters while going on amazing adventures across the land. Each episode is like a brand-new adventure and while there are certain elements that carry over from previous episodes, you can pretty much understand what’s happening in an episode at anyyime, I use the word “understand” lightly because, yes it is easy to follow but the duo get themselves into some crazy situations which you could accurately compare to the hallucinations of a drug-user.
Adventure Time: Jake The Dad is the fifth collection of the series, the only real reason it’s called “Jake The Dad” is because that’s the name of the first episode on the list, the episodes on the disc are mostly from season 5 of the series but they aren’t set out in the same order as they were released and aired which, as I noted above, isn’t a bad thing at all because there’s no connection from episode to episode.
I have to say though, if you’re just getting into Adventure Time maybe start with the earlier episodes just to familiarise yourself with these characters, Jake become a dad isn’t going to mean that much to a person who is watching Adventure Time for the very first time. What attracts me to Adventure Time is how free the stories and adventures seem to have been written, it’s almost like there is no such thing as a bad idea to the writing staff and no matter what happens in the episode, big or small, they always find a nice way to wrap things up and end the episode in almost the same way as it started; with Finn and Jake.
There is a great deal of comedy written into each and every story within Adventure Time and nothing really gets lost when put across to such a large and diverse audience. Much like a Disney or Pixar animated movie there are just as many jokes for adults as there is for kids and I’m extremely envious of people who can write this way because it is a very intelligent thing to be able to do, it tends to continuously prove that the show isn’t just a bundle of fart sounds and silly talks about “butts”.
The stories are all very clever and they also have a lot to offer, this goes for all Adventure Time episodes, I’ve never really seen one that I didn’t particularly like and when one of those came about it wasn’t because the stories were bad it was maybe because I certain favourite character of mine wasn’t present, something incredibly simple like that. Adventure Time: Jake The Dad, much like any Adventure Time release, is full of the most pure form of adventure and delight, and a few of these episodes even show a deeper side to the characters, it really has so much to offer.
Visuals
Much like a great deal of “traditional” cartoons, Adventure Time has a very simple style to it, characters twist and turn in abnormal ways simply for the sake of comedy, it’s an extremely effective technique that has been employed since the days of Bugs Bunny, why fix what isn’t broken? What Adventure Time does better than any other cartoon in circulation at this present time is walk the extremely thin line between cute and creepy, having a character like Finn who can go from being cute to grotesque in a matter of seconds is something that is just so funny and so amusing, while others like Spongebob Squarepants do this I feel as though they don’t do it to the same degree as Adventure Time, at least these characters can still look semi-adorable while looking incredibly gross.
Adventure Time seems like it has a good grasp on using colours, the entire world is populated with this immensely vivid colours that conflict in incredibly attractive ways, mix that with some very smooth animations and a very unique style and you’ve got yourself one hell of a good-looking animated series.
Audio
Adventure Time’s audio is very similar to that of its visuals, each character is extremely unique-sounding (as well as looking) and the music is just…nice, that would actually be the best way to put it; nice. First and foremost the voice-acting in the series is nothing short of perfect, each character has a distinct way of talking and each character is funny in their own little ways, the voice actors and actresses really know how to put their characters across and how to execute their lines with a high level of professionalism and an even higher level of confidence.
The music is an odd one to pin down, I can’t exactly say that each track fits under a genre unless there was a genre or sub-genre called “Wacky Fantasy Stuff” which, to my knowledge, does not exist…yet. Adventure Time music plays jumprope with genres, in one episode it could be entirely 8-bit, in another episode it could be a twisted version of what you’d hear in medieval movies, it’s an ever-moving target and it connects well to the series in its entirety.
Extras
Jake The Dad is a fairly usual release, it comes with the standard extras like some nice artwork on the flip-side of the DVD cover and a groovy-looking disc that is meant to look like one of Jake’s puppies, I have to say…it’s very cute. On-disc extras are fairly normal too; there’s the usual trailers there but there’s also a selection called “Little Did You Know” which, on this release, gives information on all of Jake’s puppies.
Overall
Adventure Time is an absolutely fantastic show that so many people from all walks of life and all ages will enjoy. I can see a small percentage of people being turned off by its, seemingly, mindless visuals and idiotic characters but it isn’t a show that can be judged at first glance and Adventure Time: Jake The Dad is a real testament to that fact, the episodes go from heart-warming to pulse-pounding in the span of 10-minute episodes, it packs all it can into as short a time as it can and it always comes across flawlessly. Adventure Time (Collection 5): Jake The Dad, is a great addition to the many Adventure Time releases that have come out so far and does justice to the very awesome and incredibly crazy Adventure Time name, add it to your collection now!
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Overview
During the past few years, Nintendo have been releasing a new Mario game every single year. Sure, we love the plumber, but the last few we have seen – while great, have been very similar to eachother. When I first seen promotion for Super Mario 3D World, I was excited, but the gameplay seemed to be about the same aside from the cat gimmickry. Four players? Check. “Retro” 2D elements? Check. It was like seeing Nintendo hit repeat all over again. While still cautious, I had to give the man with the mustache another try as even a so-so Mario experience still beats many other titles on the market. After playing and completing the game, I get it. I get it all now, and every brick in the path to this particular game makes sense. Super Mario 3D World is amazing, and here is why.
Story
This lovely tale takes place in the familiar landscape of the Mushroom Kingdom, but it isn’t about saving the Princess. A small fairy-like entity by the name of Sprixie makes her debut this time around, and before she can even show her magic to Mario and company, Bowser jars her up and takes off. Yeah, I know – it is not too much of a contrast from the standard hijinx, but it is enough to feel a bit of freshness in a territory traveled far too many times.
The Super Mario Bros. 2 crew decide to make chase and save Sprixie and her gang of fluttering friends, with all new powers and locales on the road to Bowser’s many castles. The story isn’t exactly Citizen Kane, but its Mario we’re dealing with here, and taking in the warmness of the cute and endearing cutscenes is all one needs to get the most out of the experience.
Gameplay
Solid gameplay. That is what Super Mario 3D World is all about. Over the past 25 plus years, we have seen Mario push the envelope time and time again for multiple genres. This time is no different, but the limits are instead pushed in terms of quality, rather than on new concepts alone. Now, don’t get me wrong. There are plenty of fresh ideas at work within Nintendo’s second Wii U title for the plumber, and they all work well. Rather than push just one as the focus however (much like we seen in Super Mario Sunshine), this game utilizes the best ingredients from all previous entries in the franchise to make what could arguably be the best installment to date.
That is a bold statement, but let me break down all of the gimmickry at work in order to explain that little opinion. Mario and his pals now have new abilities, which you will be seeing a lot of as you make your way through the large and varied worlds within. The first to speak of is the catsuit, which is the primary power-up for this adventure. While giving our heroes the obvious ability to sound and look like felines, this power also allows the player to climb walls, jump higher, and perform a fierce scratch attack to enemies. Sure, we have seen some interesting techniques in the past, but the catsuit feels more layered due to all of its many uses, and comes off as far more varied and enjoyable than the older (and also included) Tanooki and Fire Flower power-ups as a result. That isn’t to say that the other power-ups don’t fit, as they do. Nintendo seemed to want to stamp that paw print as an insignia of 3D World’s future legacy though, and with Goombas and bosses alike also getting catty this time around, one can quickly tell the goal was achieved.
Another new power-up may be my favorite thus far. After snagging a cherry, Mario then receives a clone to follow him to the flagpole. If your clone dies, you can still continue on, but that in itself is punishment due to how wonderful this little ability turns out to be if you can keep your army growing. As more cherries are obtained, new clones are summoned, and the player must use all focus to control the squad. Luckily, it is rather easy to navigate with six or more clones at once, and lining them up correctly can result in producing massive damage to a foes. The duplication technique is also utilized with environmental puzzles to obtain stars and to weigh down platforms in order to open new areas, so much like the catsuit – it is far from a one-trick pony. There are other abilities from the past games included as well such as the Propeller Block, Boomerang, and so on, and thankfully each get their own little moments to shine when it comes to progression. Ever wanted to become a Goomba? Super Mario 3D World even has that down, with an ability that allows the player to trick the famed foe in a game of stealth. Yes, this title may indeed have the most techniques ever seen in a Mario game, and the level design provides an open canvas for players to run wild with them.
Speaking of level design, if you have had the chance to play Super Mario 3D Land, you should have an idea of what to expect. When I say the word “idea”, I am using a term that honestly defines 3D Land compared to the much larger world here, as even though a lot of mechanics have carried over, they now feel more complete and fluid in true console form. Much like the handheld predecessor, I guess you could say that 3D World is a “2.5D platformer”, as there are a good amount of sidescrolling stages, but to call it that alone is cheating the game out of its main attributes. At the turn of a camera angle, the entire stage can open up and become something that feels related to titles such as Super Mario 64 and Sunshine due to the scope, but with a great deal of extra polish applied. The transition is so seamless that switching perspectives becomes second nature, and the exploration aspects shine when hunting for those much-needed stars. Controlling Mario and the gang still feels familiar and highly accessible to all comers in these vast locales, as the standard “ice, fire, desert, water” themes are in tact to provide the usual change of fauna without making the player feel like they are playing any other franchise. That said, the execution of these environments are handled differently, with inventive and simply brilliant methods of progression that invigorate the experience with each new location entered.
Each level is found on your basic overworld which can now be freely explored, with the next stage opening up after a castle is beat. Collect the stars, save the Sprixie, move on to the next area. The general objective is simple, but the many secrets and bonus collectibles give this title a ton of replay value, opening up a ton of passages and secrets that can offer assistance or simply provide a nice change of pace from the norm. The Gamepad plays a large role in this, as at times, the player will need to tap switches to open up walls or blow away a hazard with the built in microphone. This Gamepad gimmickry doesn’t feel obtrusive, only adding to the usual solid control scheme and allowing an audience to fully utilize every aspect of their platform.
Another great use of the Gamepad is the Captain Toad stages. These areas just have a stiff little toad who is weighted down, and the player must explore the cube-like arena by using the motion control, built in on the Gamepad. As Toad moves, you as the player must shift the device in different directions in order to view new perspectives of the world. Is it groundbreaking? No, not at all – as we have seen it before. This however is a new idea for the Wii U however, and a concept that was executed to perfect, allowing a nice change of pace with some star-collecting puzzle mechanics attached.
We all know after quite a few 2D Mario titles that Nintendo can easily fit more than four on a screen, but in a 3D Mario title, the risk was greater. Thankfully, Peach, Toad, Mario, and Luigi all feel welcome while on the screen at the same time, and the camera performs like a champion amongst all of the chaos. Yes, this is the mode where you can screw over your closest of allies and still get a ton of laughs and entertainment, and even though online is missing from this wonderful addition, no Mario game has ever made co-op feel more right than 3D World. There is honestly an unlimited amount of playtime to be had within this installment, as with all of the stars, secrets, and paths in the game, one could go on for a lifetime trying to beat times and collect everything. Mario knows how to capture an audience by doing the smallest of things, and this is yet another title that takes those little moments and layers them until they stack up to the moon with charm and joy.
Visuals
Nintendo have done one other title in this historic franchise in HD, and even though it looked great, it still seems weak compared to everything within Super Mario 3D World. Nintendo have used the Wii U’s power to pump this title full of color and lively animation. Sure, it isn’t a realistic Mario, but it never needs to be. The environments are gorgeous, with details running a muck in the bright and chipper locales. Mario and his squad also look great, but don’t seem too different aside from the times they are running around in their catsuit. More enemies than every before can be on the screen at once, and all of the animation never drags its feet for a second. Making matters sweeter is the backdrops that bring everything together wonderfully, and make this feel like the largest plain we have ever seen in the series thus far. The ghost houses, the ice stages, the little details when it comes to jumping…there are just so many elements running together this time around, and not since Mario hit the Gamecube have I ever felt so in awe with the full package painted out on the screen before me.
Audio
This soundtrack is an absolute masterpiece. I have moments when I play games and I get excited just by hearing a nice tune. Duck Tales and its moon theme, Kirby’s Gormet Race, and several other songs don’t need lyrics to put a smile on one’s face due to their excellent composition. Super Mario 3D World has that with its music, but in every single level. The soundtrack is magnificent and varied, with a range of jazzy beats to Christmas-themed jingles that deserve a ton of praise. Some of these tunes were borrowed from 3D Land, but they have been upgraded and remixed to flow with the gameplay – and since the beginning, that has been one attribute of Mario titles that no other namesake has been able to duplicate in the same manner. The voice acting is minimal but cute, with little meows added in as the bell is obtained and that catsuit takes effect. The excellence of sound can even be found with Boo houses, which actually feel a tad unnerving as Mario’s light footsteps are heard among the creaks and cynical laughter that roam in the background of an already spooky beat. Mario may have the most famous theme of all time, but this title’s own originality surpass the nostalgia and give us the treat of another set of beautiful scores that are utterly timeless.
Overall
Take a long look at that picture above these words. Done? That picture is a timeline of how far Mario has come as a mascot for Nintendo, up to the last console release of Galaxy 2. The very character who has shaped the company into what it is today, kicked gaming off into the mainstream, and saved platforms time and time again when they might have been struggling. I posted that picture as that is the best way to describe Super Mario 3D World. This title takes the best elements from the finest platformers of all time, adds a great deal of new ideas, and blends it all up to make the perfect experience. I have personally played every single mainline Mario game to date, and none have hit a chord as high as 3D World for myself. The multiplayer could have been the main selling point. The nostalgia will be the main selling point. None of that matters though, as this title is a balled-up fist from Nintendo aimed straight for its competitors who forgot just who paved the way for gaming as we know it. Super Mario 3D World is a triumph from the company that has been the heart of the industry for nearly 30 years, and a sign that Nintendo have finally entered the Wii U into the next generation.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
To celebrate the success of Bloodmasque, Square Enix are giving players another chance to play the action-RPG for free on iOS devices, until midnight on December 16. Bloodmasque follows a Vampire Hunter and their dark journey against lords of the night, within an alternative version of 19th Century Paris.
With Christmas approaching soon, a special holiday edition of the Hunter’s Gauntlet will be available until December 25, for Vampire Hunters to pursue two unique foes; Rudolf the Red and Holly Mistletoe. Those willing to take on the master or legend level of difficulty, have a higher chance of finding their prey and winning the hunter gear and gifts on offer.
Bloodmasque is playable on iPhone4S and later, iPod touch generation 5 or later, iPad 2 or later and can be accessed for free here. Also check out the official game soundtrack, with 34 original and un-edited tracks, downloadable hereon iTunes for $11.99.
If you ask any Xbox One owner what their most highly anticipated upcoming game is, you will probably get the same answer; Titanfall. Ever since EA announced the game at E3 this year, Titanfall has been stealing spotlights and bashing down the competition with its giant robotic fists – and so it should, the game looks amazing!
I have never been the biggest fan of FPS games, but it is impressive to see how far they have come since the days of Doom, Duke Nukem 3d and Goldeneye 64. They have become truly competitive and despite the differences between the major franchises, the skills and mechanics have been so consistent and well-refined, allowing you to jump from Call of Duty to Battlefield and have a fairly good understanding of what you are doing. Titanfall takes these core, refined and competitive mechanics and applies them while simultaneously turning the genre on its head.
The simplest, yet most game changing mechanic that is introduced in Titanfall is the double jumping and wall running. The way these are implemented really shakes up the entire combat experience. Double-jumping lets you reach areas quicker and easier, while wall running lets you maneuver yourself around the map in ways that would be impossible otherwise. Not only that, but the longer you wall run, the faster you go which means you can run across the entire map in a few seconds flat, to either join the fray or get out of the line of fire.
Wall running is one thing, but it is really the Titans that change up the way the game truly plays. During battle you can call down the namesake Titans, hop in and go to town. Titans have different skills depending on their class, and you can load them out with different weapons and secondary skills. You may find yourself as a long-range sniper while on foot, but you can change your play style entirely by creating a close-range, melee based Titan to stop your enemies into oblivion. This kind of mid-battle shake up offers a lot more versatility than we see in other FPS games, and makes the Titans more of a strategical choice, rather than just being “giant robots.”
It is easy to see why the whole world is excited for Titanfall and how that anticipation keeps growing with every newly released snippet of information. Titanfall looks to change the way we view the FPS genre in this new generation, and I for one couldn’t be more excited. The past weekend’s announcement of the Ogre-Type Titan already has me thinking of loadout and play style choices for a game who’s genre I have never been particularly interested in, and that is still months away from release.
The 8th entry in the Video Game Quiz series by Undercoders has been released. Video Games Quiz – SNES Edition is now available on the iOS App Store. How well could you recognise these 16-bit classics?
You’re given an image from a old school title and simply asked to type in the name of said game. If you are fast enough, and feeling competitive, you can earn your high scores and make strides in beating your friends and becoming top of the GameCenter leaderboards. Win the global console wars against rival Sega Genesis/Megadrive fans as they also test their own knowledge. If you ever get stuck on any of the 10 levels, featuring over 300 games and ascending in difficulty, then you can use coins to buy hints, or ask co-operative buddies for help via Facebook and Twitter.
Check out some screens below, and if you’re interested, download the quiz right here, for free.
PopCap, the folks behind the monstrously successful Plants vs Zombies 2: It’s About Time, announced today that Peggle 2, the sequel to their much-beloved casual juggernaut, launches on the Xbox One today, December 10, 2013.
Peggle 2 is going to be available exclusively as the first digital-only game for the Xbox One. It features all of the fun of the original but with a plethora of new features. The game will come out swinging with 60 levels, 60 trials, multiplayer gameplay, and four completely new Peggle Masters and power-ups.
The game is now available for $15.96 (Au) on the Xbox Live Games Store. You can check out the official website here.
Last time we had heard about Halo: Spartan Assault was simply that it would be making the leap from Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 to consoles for both the Xbox 360 and the Xbox One. Unfortunately, Microsoft hadn’t revealed any exact release date back then, but the news today coming out on 343 Industries’ 343 Day has told us just that.
It looks like 343 Industries and Vanguard Games will be giving gifts just a bit early as Halo: Spartan Assault will be going live onto Xbox One on December 24th, 2013, though anyone that hasn’t made the console switch will be forced to wait another month before it releases onto Xbox 360.
Those wanting to check out the twin-stick shooter action of Halo: Spartan Assault will be able to download it for the Xbox One for $14.99, but as a bonus treat to those that have purchased the previous Windows 8 version before December 15th will be able to get at a reduced price of $4.99. Though pricing or similar discount information has not been given yet for the Xbox 360 version.
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag has had a fantastic release and has been seeing some pretty good review scores, but since it has been out for sometime Ubisoft has gotten its Multiplayer DLC ready for release this week. The DLC, titled “Blackbeard’s Wrath” will be adding in 3 new characters to the multiplayer experience of Black Flag for players to utilize.
Including the dread pirate Blackbeard himself with his twin cutlasses, the Orchid a Chinese military adviser during the Quing Dynasty with her katana, and the Jaguar an Aztec warrior from Mexico named Cuali that makes short work of his foes with his axe. Those wanting to see what these killers will look like going at it in multiplayer can check out the new screenshots release by clicking on the images in the gallery below.
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag is available now for Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U, Xbox One, PS4, PC, but “Blackbeard’s Wrath” will be releasing on Tuesday for Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC, then on Wednesday for PS3 and PS4, with no word of it coming to Wii U.
Thief is looking to give players plenty to think about, with all the planning going into heists and avoiding the guards, so Square Enix and Eidos-Montreal are planning themselves to offer a way for players to access and utilize information from the game with the companion app they have on the way. From maps and digital comics, to personal stats and an Official wiki, the companion app will be chock-full of useful info.
While the full app wont be coming out until the Thief officially releases, a lite version will be coming out later this month, which will let players access character bios, trailers, artwork, and screenshots. But, when it is up to the full version the information it will provide is sure to be invaluable. Thief, and the full version of the companion app, is set to release February 2014 for the Xbox 360, PS3, Xbox One, PS4, and PC.
