Dark Souls II will soon be here. In just a few short months, gamers around the worlds will be gripping their controllers, trying not to throw them through their TV screens as they die again and again and again. Well until then, to tie us over, Namco Bandai have been providing us with a bunches of screenshots from the upcoming game that tease certain aspects, and today that time has come again.
The latest screenshots, which you can check out below give a little hint as to how the Covenant (see: PVP) element of the game will work, including things like the blue and red phantoms. Check out the screens and let us know in the comments whether or not you were big on the PVP element of Dark Souls/Demon Souls and if you will be participating in it for Dark Souls II. As always, be sure to stay tuned to Capsule Computers for all the Dark Souls II news as it becomes available.
A big complaint I often hear people crying about video games is a huge lack of creativity these days – everything is a clone of something. Ironically, the titles that attempt to do something truly unique these days often don’t get that much exposure and don’t get much praise outside indie circles. Perhaps it all comes down to what the player is used to and what they expect. Meet Darklings, a creative and unique title delivering intense arcade action to mobile devices. I need to be honest – Darklings is certainly worth checking out for those looking for something fresh and it’s getting praise left and right, but this reviewer can’t get his head around it. Perhaps it all comes down to a matter of taste.
Gameplay
When you strip Darklings down to it’s core, it basically comes down to the childhood game of Simon Says. Players step into the shoes/Casper-ghost-tail-thingy of Lum, the game’s hero defending against various forms of beasts. The catch is Lum can’t move and must fight back by teleporting in the enemies’ position which kills them…or something. It doesn’t make much sense, but just go with it. To do this, players must use their finger to draw patterns which appear above the enemies heads. Waves of villains increase and the numbers quickly grow larger and larger and the swift, arcade-styled action can get pretty intense. Think Typing of the Dead, but drawing patterns instead of typing and you’re pretty much there. Power ups can also be collected and improved upon through a shop, where a currency can be earned by dragging stars towards Lum from fallen foes. Boss battles are also a nice touch where players must draw the patterns quick enough to avoid certain death. The theme for Darklings (besides spooky darkness and stuff) is to think simple. Simple concept, simple controls, simple gameplay. But personally I’ve found everything comes across as tricky. The difficulty can be a little much, the learning curve will have you stumbling for a bit and sometimes the game won’t register your drawing as the correct pattern, leading you to certain death. That’s the biggest problem with Darklings – it can be frustrating and not in the good way. If you suck at a game that’s fine, but if you’re doing something and the game isn’t responding to that you have a huge problem on your hands. It’s not that the game is broken, it just has a very small margin of error. Also the game is a little difficult, which doesn’t help much either. That being said after a while if you get good at it, it gets enjoyable and sometimes addictive, you just got to give it a chance. Ok, maybe a couple chances.
Audio & Visual
Filled with artistic shadows and lots of black and white, Darklings is a very aesthetically pleasing game very reminiscent of titles such as Limboin some degree. Animations are nice and assist in making the gameplay feeling smooth as well. Swipes are also accompanied with colourful, fluent animations reminiscent of Fruit Ninja as well which really pop amongst all the black and white. As for audio, sound from Lum and the other creatures have unique screeches that burst with personality and the creepy yet cartoonish soundtrack help the gamer to engage with the game as well. When it comes to presentation, it’s a no brainer that the audio & visual aspects of Darklings are the biggest highlights of the game as they make everything much, much more enjoyable.
Overall
Darklings is far from being a perfect game, but it is a refreshing one. The concept is engaging although it’s execution can be hit and miss at times. While the gameplay is simple it’s learning curve is far from it. It looks and sounds beautiful but the gameplay won’t hook in some gamers straight away as many of it’s flaws are evident from the start. If you stick around, you’ll find something special. But it’s one of those titles you’ll need to give time before realising it’s true potential.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
In the coming months, the NIDA Parade Theatres are going to be very busy. Here’s a breakdown of all the events you can expect.
The NIDA Independent Program provides emerging artists and theatre companies with access to the outstanding facilities of the NIDA Parade Theatres to assist in the development of new work and the production of innovative theatre. The program offers two opportunities for artists and companies to explore new work and theatrical creativity:
The Production Program, offering access to the Parade Studio to present a season of work.
Creative Development Residency, offering access to the Parade Studio to develop a new idea, work, script or performance concept.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to join the NIDA Independent Program in 2014. Click here for more information and to apply today.
Oprah is a household name, and the richest, most successful African-American woman of our time. She’s also extremely influential, especially with the female demographic… to them, she’s basically a God! Now, fans in Australia can experience a hilarious portrayal of the icon in Oprahfication.
Throughout her illustrious career as actor, news anchor, and host of her own TV talk-show, Oprah has delivered to us the most interesting celebrities, politicians, royals, medical specialists, spiritualists and some of the greatest thinkers of our time. Her ability to never shy away from the tough questions and controversial topics led the Wall St. Journal to coin the term ‘OPRAHFICATION’ – a public confession used as a form of therapy.
This side-splitting, multi-award winning piece is brought to you by Rachel Dunham (Rock of Ages) whose extraordinary portrayal of the fading talk-show queen coupled with an unforgettable original score by Shanon Whitelock, guarantees to have you screaming for more.
Runs from the 25th of February to the 2nd of March.Click here to book your tickets.
Truman Capote was one of the United States’ most controversial authors, and the new one-man show entitled TRU – presented and directed by Vel Subra and performed by Jay Presson Allen from the words and works of the titular author – takes a confessional look into the man himself.
Set in 1975 at his New York apartment, Capote has fallen out with his elite socialite gadabouts after he published their most intimate secrets through fictionalised characters in Esquire magazine. Soothing himself with pills and booze, Truman muses over his checkered life, novels and friends. A gutsy, confessional one-man show plentiful with wit, comedy and turns, TRU will have you laughing in bouts and moved to tears by the end of the show.
Runs from December 9-10. Click here to book your tickets.
Is economic growth forever sustainable? What impact would a stagnant or declining population have on GDP? Can mathematical models guide policy makers in answering these questions? What is the strategic plan for planet Earth?
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to see some of the world’s leading thinkers address these questions next week.
Graciela Chichilnisky (Professor of Economics, Columbia University),
Ross Gittins AM (Economics Editor, Sydney Morning Herald)
Clive Hamilton AM FRSA (Professor of Public Ethics, Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics)
Peter Harper (Deputy Australian Statistician for the Population, Labour and Social Statistics Group at the Australian Bureau of Statistics)
Ken Henry AC (Economist, Former Secretary of the Department of Treasury)
Graeme Maxton (Economist, Fellow of the International Club of Rome)
Jørgen Randers (Professor of Climate Strategy, BI Norwegian Business School)
Peter Victor (Professor in Environmental Studies, York University).
Tickets are $50 (transaction fee may apply). Click here to book.
Need for Speed Rivals Developer:Ghost Games Publisher:EA Platforms: Xbox One (Reviewed), PS4, Xbox 360, PS3, PC Release Date: Out Now Install Size: 40GB (Xbox One), 16GB (PS4) Price: $79.00 – Available Here
Overview
For many people video games are about escapism and racing games, especially the Need for Speed franchise embody that perfectly. I probably wont ever drive an emerald-green Aston Martin Vanquish down windy country roads, ducking police cruisers and dropping mines behind me – but in Need for Speed: Rivals I feel like I am. Not only does the latest installment in the arcade-styled racer let you dream big, but with its amazing visuals, top notch audio and two intertwined career paths that offer up far more depth and moral ambiguity than you would expect from a racer, Need for Speed: Rivals carves out its place as one of the most fun racers I have ever played.
Story
Set in the fictional Redview Country, Need for Speed Rivals features the escalating war between street racers and the police. The two have been at odds for years, with the police feeling that the racers pose a threat to the society at large, while the racers believe it is the officer’s harsh tactics that are pose the real danger.
The two campaigns intersect nicely and show both opposing sides of the ongoing conflict. Neither side sees themselves as the “villain,” and each believe that the other is the true menace to society. It is actually a really cool way to present the story, as each side feels that they are in the right and that their rivals are dangerous. Showing us both sides of the coin really presents a moral ambiguity that you don’t usually see out of racing games. This gives the story a lot more depth than you would initially expect.
The campaign itself although thought provoking is only fleetingly referenced during actual gameplay. The last mission of any chapter is usually tied to the campaign and will have you performing the actions that were mentioned in the previous cinematic, but other than that there are no real strong ties between the two. This works in the game’s favor as it allows you to freely choose your path as you play.
Gameplay
Need for Speed: Rivals has more under its hood than your typical racing game. First and foremost is separates itself from most of its kin by staying as a true arcade style racer instead of the hardcore racing simulator that has become popular in recent years. This includes having access to weapons, scoring points for sweet air time after jumps and even being rewarded for ramming your opponents head-on.
The game is split into two different campaigns: Police or Racer. Each follows the same fundamentals, but has some serious differences that put them apart from one another. It can be broken down to the obvious – racers race and cops try to bust them but of course it runs a lot deeper than that.
Racers have three unique events that only they can compete in – races, time trials and hot pursuits. Races are your typical race from Point A to Point B before anyone else does, and time trials are the same but without the stress of other racers on your tail the whole time. Where the game gets really interesting is the hot pursuits – they are effectively races featuring multiple drivers with the added twist of cops chasing you from the start. This adds an extra element to the game where the officers are trying to ram you and your buddies off the road while you are trying to concentrate on the sharp turn ahead.
Racers also have the option of triggering head to head events against other racers. Driving near enough to another racer offers you the prompt to start a head to head race, which is a one on one event. These can be started anywhere, anytime as long as you find yourself near enough to another racer. They can even be triggered while you are running from the cops.
Racing, completing events, avoiding the cops and other activities will earn you SP, which serves as the game’s currency. The amount of SP you earn is determined by your Heat Meter, which is a steadily increasing multiplier that affects how you race. The higher your Heat Meter the more the cops will try to relentlessly hunt you down, but it will also improve the amount of SP you earn, so there is a massive risk vs reward element to the game.
Adding to the risk vs reward is the fact that if you are busted by a cop or your car is wrecked, any SP accrued since you last checked into your home base is completely lost. Knowing that at any second a cop car can T-bone you and you will lose all the SP that you spend ages collecting adds a real sense of tension to the game. Checking into a home base is the only way to bank your SP but doing so will reset your Heat Meter and multiplier back to neutral, so there is incentive to keep pushing yourself. However, I can tell you there is nothing more stressful than having over 100,000 SP collected, with a 6 Heat Rating, battling off cop cars and helicopters while your car is at critical damage. There is an absolute adrenaline rush that can’t be ignored – and making it back safely can be the greatest feeling in the world.
SP is primarily used in the purchasing and upgrading of cars. Everytime a racer completes one of their Speed Lists, they will be given another car that they can choose to purchase. Once they do, they can customise the colour, stripes, liveries, wraps, license plate and performance of their beautiful machine. Aside from performance upgrades, you will also find yourself buying and equipping Pursuit Tech (vehicle upgrades). This is where the arcadey nature of the game comes in; you can give your cars EMP blasters, stun mines and a whole wealth of other abilities that will make you more formidable on the race track, and make it easier to escape the fuzz.
Cops have a much easier time in Redview County. They have similar events, but mostly their job is to cruise around and bust racers. This means that everything you do is at your discretion, nobody is going to come around the corner and flick their lights at you to start a chase. If you don’t want to chase someone down then just don’t chase them. In much the same way that racers can trigger Head-to-Head challenges against other racers, Cops can flick a button to turn on their siren and from there the chase begins.
Cops also earn SP a little differently than the racers. Completing objectives, events and busting racers all give cops SP, but these are really only used to purchase additional Pursuit Tech (vehicle weapons). Cops get cars gifted to them from completing their Speed Lists, and never have to spend a cent on their rides. The downside is that you can’t upgrade the cop cars, aside from adding new pursuit tech. Their strength, steering, acceleration etc are all set. This further helps to separate the cops from the racers in terms of how they play.
In addition to the division between cop and racer, there is a further split within each faction that determines how you play the game and progress through the story. This split is in the form of your Speed List Objectives or Assignments. Each Speed List has a group of different objectives for you to complete and when you do you will unlock the next car and progress through the campaign. Each of the Speed Lists deals with a certain play style, so you can pick the missions that suit yourself.
The map itself – Redview County is a racer’s dream. Long stretches of open road, sharp twists, wicked S-bends and forest laden areas are all here. You can drive for hours and still accidentally end up in areas of the map you didn’t expect. I found that typically you will pass through some areas far more often than others, which allows you to become more acquainted to those areas while still finding new areas to explore. I found myself driving on the wings of an old abandoned plane that I randomly came across. I can’t even remember quite where it was, and that is part of the thrill.
The game integrates multiplayer into the single player experience, and tries to do so as seamlessly as possible. However sometimes it falls a little short of the mark. The game features the brand new All Drive system that puts you into a pre-existing game with other players either from your friends list or strangers from across the internet. If you want to interact with them you can, but often you wont even encounter them (unless you are playing as a cop, who wants to be a total jerk). This is a pretty cool feature, but it can sometimes take a considerable amount of time to find a game, and even when you are in-game you will randomly have to migrate host. Host migration is a pain in of itself as it takes you out of whatever you were doing at the time.
Visuals
Need for Speed: Rivals is an absolutely beautiful game. Running natively at 1080p and frame-locked to 30fps means that everything runs smoothly and elegantly, no matter how intense the on-screen action is. Even when I was surrounded by 5 police cruises, with a helicopter flying overhead, there was no slow-down, lag or input delay. The game just worked and ran smoothly.
As for the visuals themselves, Need for Speed: Rivals is a treat to look at, and really shows how far the jump between generations really is. Not only are the cars magnificently drawn and detailed to perfection. Cars look how they do in the real world, and while they aren’t quite on-par with the insane amounts of detail that go into some of the racing sim games out there, there is nothing to complain about here. They all look wonderful as they zoom through the game’s winding roads and various terrains.
Redview County is a driver’s paradise. It looks and feels like a map made to be driven on. All of the game’s various environments from the barren deserts through to the lush forest-like foliage and even the incomplete on-ramps all look amazing. The versatility means that there is a heap to see and there is enough detail for it all to catch your eye without it ever becoming distracting. Although, it is some of the more subtle visual cues that really make the game pop. Things like leaves rolling across the road, and being swept up in your slipstream as you rocket through at 180mph or the way that the rain droplets form condensation on your windscreen all combine perfectly. Although it should be noted that although Redview County is a driver’s paradise, it is by and large a barren wasteland with only a few houses at all filling the landscape, so while it works as a great setting for a game where you drive cars really fast, it doesn’t ever feel like a real location.
The audio does have one hiccup though, and it is the fact that sometimes when entering the map or returning to your base of operations, textures can take a while to load up. I spent a few moments driving around in a dull, lifeless looking box for a car while it was slowly built around me. It didn’t take took long, and it was an infrequent enough occurrence that it wont impede on your gameplay experience too often, but when it does happen, it is really noticeable.
Audio
Audio in racing games is always so hard to talk about. The roar and hum of an engine sounds great to me as a casual fan, but I am sure it means a lot more to die-hard racing enthusiasts or motor-junkies out there. All I can tell you is that I know the sound a high-end car makes as it speeds up, and Need for Speed seems to have nailed that perfectly. The way the engine hums at you as it picks up speed really adds to the immersion and the escapism of the game, and lets you for those brief fleeting moments feel like you are actually driving your dream car.
In addition to your engine roaring under the hood, you also are treated to police radio communications (no matter which side you are on). These provide context for the high-speed chases, letting you know what is happening and how close you are to victory. These can get a little repetitive if you play for a long period of time, but in small bursts they are a fun way to let you in on what’s going on around you.
While the roar of the engine and police radios communication can be fun, they quickly grow monotonous. Luckily, Rivals has you covered there and provides a killer soundtrack filled with licensed music to help you get into gear. The tunes are all relatively high tempo and make you want to put pedal to the metal and floor it through Redview County.
Overall
The racing game genre to me has always felt like it fits that niche market. Sure lots of people will flock to grab the latest and greatest game, but just as many will never be interested in picking up a racer. Well Need for Speed: Rivals aims to do away with that – its split campaign lets you play far more open-endedly and free than most modern racers (with the cop campaign not being about racing at all – just destroying people who want to race). With its impressive visuals, strong gameplay and a map that any driver would kill to take a spin on, Need for Speed: Rivals defines itself as one of the most fun racers in recent times.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Welcome back for this week’s iOS Game Suggestions. If you missed last week’s, or are new to the suggestions, click on the link below and check out what cool games you should be picking up for your iOS device along with the introduction on how the suggestions work. (suggestions 1 has how it all works)
A great week on iTunes! As always, it started slow and but ended with a bang! There are many must-buy games this week in all departments, FREE, 99c and over 99c. This week I’ve suggested a total of 25 great quality titles. Make sure you check them all especially… Double Dragon Trilogy, The Wolf Among Us, Space Hulk, Assassin’s Creed Pirates, Dokuro, Lawless, Heroes Of Dragon Age just to name a few.
Break down below :
12 – FREE Games
3 – $0.99c Games
10 – Over $0.99c Games
As always for this week’s suggestions are all new titles that you should take a look at and consider spending your hard earned iTunes cash / time on. Well the Free games just below certainly should all be given a shot as they won’t cost you anything!
For The Cheapskates – FREE GAMES
MASTERABBOTT’S FREE GAME PICK OF THE WEEK!
Heroes Of Dragon Age – Price : FREE – Publisher – EA (COLLECT THE HEROES. BECOME A LEGEND! Build a party of famous warriors and epic monsters from Dragon Age lore. Battle other players in strategic, CCG-inspired 3D combat. Fight bosses on engaging quests from the award-winning, dark fantasy RPG games.) on iPad & iPhone. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
Lawless – Price : FREE – Publisher –Mobage (Lead your own crew of professional criminals and make them the best there is! Lawless is the epic 3D arcade-style shooter that blows the competition away! It’s 1990’s LA. You are just out of jail and not intending to go back! Your time inside was not wasted, you made contacts, mastered your trade and now you are back on the streets. Sure you are starting from nothing but you have big ambitions. It’s all about the big scores and getting away with it. Anyone who attempts to cross you or get in your way are going down. Now is your time. Steal what you can and make your fortune. That big final score is always just around the corner.) runs on iPad & iPhone. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
Zya – Price : FREE – Publisher –Chillingo (Become a star with Zya, the ultimate music game. Mash-up world-famous songs like Blurred Lines, Hall of Fame and Poker Face. Just pick your favorite genre of music, lay down a beat, and mix your own vocal melodies into a surefire hit… all at the touch of a finger. ) runs on iPad & iPhone. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
Gas Station – Rush Hour Free – Price : FREE – Publisher –Microids (Your Uncle Tony needs you now more than ever! He’s just spent all his savings on his lifetime dream: running his own gas station! Serve the most hurried customers as quickly as you can. As the saying goes, time is money! ) runs on iPad & iPhone. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
Conquest Age – Price : FREE – Publisher –Marvelous Games (Choose from three epic characters – each with their own unique traits and abilities – and set forth as a soldier of the great city of Tri. Hone these skills in a unique real-time battle system as you, the humble soldier, spearhead War Conquests and unite the seven regions of the Dracon Peninsula! Recruit thousands of fellow Tri City warriors and lead them into battle to wreak havoc amongst your enemies online. And, if your skills and the gods allow it, discover and unlock the fabled War Machine of the Dracons!) runs on iPad & iPhone. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
Pretentious Game – Price : FREE – Publisher – Bulkypix(Have you ever realized how words are important? And how they can drive our emotions? Enjoy the uncluttered and peculiar aesthetics of Pretentious Game and plunge wholeheartedly into a poetic and deep story. Follow the adventures of a blue square passionately in love with his pink sweetheart, and help him bring his feelings to light. ) on iPad & iPhone. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
Hay Day – Price : FREE – Publisher –Super Cell (Get back to nature and experience the peaceful, simple life of working the land and rearing chickens, pigs, cows and sheep. Make a name for yourself by harvesting crops and building bakeries, sugar mills and dairies that turn your fresh produce into wholesome goods you can trade with your friends at your very own Farmer’s Market.) runs on iPad & iPhone. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
War Of Dragons – Price : FREE – Publisher – Fire Mocha (Match and swap magical runestones to battle your enemies and unleash powerful combos! Battle alongside mighty allies in this War of Dragons, defeating formidable foes on your quest to become the supreme Summoner!) on iPhone & iPad. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
Createrria – Craft Your Games – Price : FREE – Publisher – Incuvo (Createrria turns making games into a game itself! Become famous Game Designer and create games you always wanted to play! Want to tell a story? Create awesome action game? Clever puzzler or platformer? Createrria offers you quick and super easy (no tech skills required!) game creation ready to kick-start your imagination. With just a few taps you can craft your own games and share with your friends!) on iPhone & iPad. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
Hurricane Rush – Price : FREE – Publisher – Dutch Melon (Challenge your friends to a race in the eye of a hurricane! Find out who´s the fastest and best in avoiding obstacles. In a tight situation? Use the slow-motion feature to get you out.) on iPhone & iPad. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
MonsterCrafter – Price : FREE – Publisher – Naquatic (The sequel to Guncrafter has arrived! Craft your own pet monster. Train and care for it. Adventure through harrowing, boss-filled dungeons. Battle online against your friends, your enemies, or anyone in the world. MonsterCrafter is crafting + digital pets + monster battling…and there has never been anything like it. ) on iPhone & iPad. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
League Of War – Price : FREE – Publisher – MunkyFun (Become a modern day mercenary in League of War, an epic new 3D strategy game! Battle forces around the world, compete in weekly tournaments and crush your enemies to win powerful new units. In the League of War, blood is money, and war is coming.) on iPhone & iPad. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
For The Bargain Hunters – 99c Games
Dokuro – Price : $0.99 – Publisher – GungHo Entertainment (Arise, lowly skeleton, and rescue the Princess from the Dark Lord’s castle! You are a nameless skeleton in the Dark Lord’s army. After a chance encounter with the Princess, who was abducted to become the dreaded Dark Lord’s wife, you found yourself setting her free. Guide the Princess from the shadows in Skeleton Form, switching to Hero Form when it’s time to mount a gallant offense! Can you spring the Princess from the castle?) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
KingHunt – The Next Generation Slicing Game – Price : $0.99 – Publisher – Mountain Sheep (After centuries of silence Evil Kingmaker has returned. Together with his ten puppet kings he has invaded Heart Island and shattered the once beautiful place. Delicious but ruthless Muffin King has been placed in guard of the Southern Kingdom and the foul stench of Count Cheese in Castle Grave makes living in the surrounding forest unbearable. ) runs on iPad & iPhone. BUY NOW
Galaxy Run – Price : $0.99 – Publisher – Spiel Studios (Suit up to join a crazy adventure to help get Rez home from the deep and dark mysteries of Space on his one way trip to adventure and fun. Rez while getting back to Earth in his space craft gets trapped in an asteroid belt and crashes on an unknown planet. Can you help get Rez back home?) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
For The Millionaires – All games over $0.99
MasterAbbott’s over 99c Pick Of The Week!
Double Dragon Trilogy– Price : $2.99 – Publisher – Dotemu (Enter Double Dragon Trilogy, a compilation specially optimized for mobiles and which includes all three installments of the beloved arcade series: Double Dragon, Double Dragon 2: The Revenge, and Double Dragon 3: The Rosetta Stone. The first one begins with Billy and his brother Jimmy, two martial arts experts, in a mission to rescue Billy’s girlfriend, Marian, who’s been kidnapped by the Black Shadows Gang. All your favorite moves are here: punches, kicks, elbows, knees, head-butts and an assortment of not-exactly-street-legal weapons.) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
The Wolf Among Us – Price : $5.49 – Publisher – Telltale Inc (As Bigby Wolf – THE big bad wolf – you will discover that a brutal, bloody murder is just a taste of things to come in a game series where your every decision can have enormous consequences. An evolution of Telltale’s ground-breaking choice and consequence game mechanics will ensure the player learns that even as Bigby Wolf, Sheriff of Fabletown, life in the big bad city is bloody, terrifying and dangerous.) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
Space Hulk – Price : $3.99 – Publisher – Full Control Studios (Get the original board game experience with this digital version of the iconic game. Space Hulk is a difficult, yet rewarding, tactical turn-based game set in Games Workshop’s Warhammer 40,000 universe. This digital version of the board game features a single player campaign, set in a beautiful 3D environment, and comes with cross platform multiplayer functionality, which recreates the classic claustrophobic board game experience.) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
Assassin’s Creed Pirates– Price : $5.49 – Publisher – Microids (Become one of the most feared pirates of the Caribbean in this exclusive Assassin’s Creed adventure on smartphones and tablets! Play as Alonzo Batilla, a young and ambitious captain, a pirate eager to take on the fiercest of enemies… Break all the rules, challenge empires and make your own fortune!) runs iPad & iPhone. BUY NOW
Elixir: The League Of Immortality – Price : $5.49 – Publisher – G5 Entertainment (Uncover a chilling plot in this pulse-quickening mystery! Something is scaring your small town to death, but the police deny that anything’s out of the ordinary. Now the mayor has been found dead, and there are strange claw and teeth marks all over his body. Not surprisingly, everyone is terrified and on edge. The only good news? One of the best detectives in the country has agreed to take the case. Help the investigation by searching for clues and interrogating suspects. Learn the incredible truth about an immortality elixir and an eerie secret league in this head-spinning tale of beasts and betrayal!) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
Dracula 4: The Shadow Of The Dragon – Price : $4.99 – Publisher – Microids (The Museum sends the art restorer Ellen Cross to authenticate the painting. She would never have guessed that this mission would take her all across Europe, on the trail of the portrait of the famous prince of Wallachia, Vlad Tepes.
The young woman is afflicted with a serious illness. From Budapest to Istanbul, she follows the trail of the painting and plunges into a conflict between the first vampire and the “Shadow of the Dragon”—a secret order which dreams of producing a new lineage of creatures, free from Dracula’s grasp. ) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
Wurdy – Price : $1.99 – Publisher – Marvelous Games. (Wurdy is the NEW fast and frantic party game – you have 60 seconds to describe as many words as you can to your friends! There’s just one catch – you can’t rhyme, mime, or spell them out!) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
Clash Of Puppets– Price : $2.99 – Publisher – Crescent Moon Games (Help Charlie getting out of his own nightmares! Clash of Puppets is a full 3D hack’n’slash platformer, featuring classic b-movie style. Adventure through 3 worlds of frantic levels. Use tons of devastating weapons and traps against hordes of puppets!) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
Division Cell– Price : $1.99 – Publisher – Evgeni Gordejev (In Division Cell, your task is to restore harmony and symmetry to an array of disorganized shapes. Take a trip with us to Flatland! Challenge yourself and your friends in an infinite world of shapes. Explore digital origami in the form of colorful and symmetrical patterns.) runs iPad & iPhone. BUY NOW
Blek– Price : $2.99 – Publisher – Denis Mikan (The goal is simple: shape a line that collects all colored circles avoiding black holes on its route. Through beautiful and elegant design Blek reminds you that all you need to do is to play [with] it. There are no specific moves that you need to master. To every level countless solutions exist, from delightfully simple to exceptionally deep and complex, yet always elegant.) runs iPad & iPhone. BUY NOW
There you have it folks these games should keep you busy for quite some time well until next week at least. I’ll be back next week for another dose of iOS goodness, in the meantime if you would also like to suggest your own suggestions, please feel free to share them in the comments section below or in the iOS forum section on the site here.
New Zealand will soon be seeing Skullcandy gaming headsets in stores. Bluemouth Interactive has secured the distribution rights for the PLYR 1, PLYR 2, and the SLYR headsets in the island nation. David Provan, Managing Director at Bluemouth Interactive said:
“We are incredibly excited to add the Skullcandy Gaming headset range to New Zealand. Skullcandy is one of the most distinctive brands in the world. We are delighted to bring their unique style and exceptional performance to gaming audio. What may not be so well known is that the same expert team that built the best-in-class ASTRO Gaming headset range are behind the Skullcandy Gaming product. The authentic gaming DNA that created ASTRO is very apparent in Skullcandy Gaming headsets.”
Check out our review of the Skullcandy PLYR 2 and the SLYR headsets.
Zya is Music Mastermind’s attempt at “the ultimate music game”. The California based studio opened its doors in 2008, and is headed by CEO Matt Serletic – an extremely successful, Grammy Award-winning producer for the likes of Matchbox Twenty, Carlos Santana and Aerosmith. That’s an impressive pedigree, and backed by millions of dollars from multiple investors, Serletic and his team put all their efforts into this iOS title, acquiring the rights to use samples from huge hits such as ‘Blurred Lines’ by Robin Thicke and Lady Gaga’s ‘Poker Face’. So, does Zya live up to its promise?
Gameplay
In Zya, you construct a song by selecting your band members from a set and then choosing the beat/hook/vocal they will perform, before adding effects. Personalities such as rock drummer Bruno and rock vocalist Screams McDuffy are unlocked from the beginning, although you can purchase more a la cart, or via the Pop and Hip-Hop bundles. Once you’ve run through your initial stash, the in-game currency of coins are scarce, unless you produce a boatload of songs and share every last one of them across all of your social media channels. But if that was the case, I’m pretty sure the majority of your friends/followers would get rather annoyed at the sheer quantity appearing on their feeds.
A custom drum beat loop can be entered, as can the vocals if you are so inclined. The game likes to think it can cover your shoddy singing abilities with auto-tune, but those who know about the software argue it only highlights your imperfections. Various other microphone effects can be applied though, with some even transforming your recording into synth notation or a metal guitar riff if you purchase the appropriate instrument. As your catalogue increases in size, so too will your fame and level, which enables the purchase of extra artists and unlocks further sounds. If you don’t mind parting ways to acquire a couple licensed tracks, you can also use them in your remix and create a mash-up.
The feature that aims to maintain your interest is ‘Hitmaker’, which is comprised of 9 combo lists. They are filled by experimenting with combinations of performers and sounds, and reward you with a decidedly paltry amount of coins and fame. Having crafted almost a dozen songs, and following the hints provided, I still only managed to find one secret combo, and had wasted my coinage buying artists in the process. That last point hints at the crux of my problems with the game: the micro-transactions. I’ve rarely seen such blatant, overt consumer manipulation… there are even timed “sales”, that last 30 mins or more, to instigate and incite your spending habits. I feel like it’s near impossible to get far into the experience without needing to dip into your wallet.
Visuals & Audio
Zya has a very colourful presentation with characters, backdrops and objects almost taking on a cel-shaded graphical look. Some of the “artists” are pure genre caricatures, but all fit well within the art style. The interface is extremely simple and easy to read/navigate. Oh, and the music executive you are trying to please with your latest smash hit? A dog… sitting in a producer’s chair… adjusting sliders and hitting record… named Snarlz Barkley! He’s so adorable! With all that considered, along with the screenshots featured in this review, I think you can get a sense for the visual language and tone of the game.
Zya‘s included superstar tracks range from Pop, Rock and Hip-Hop hits of the 80’s to today, although at launch, there are only 19 available. Aside from those mentioned above in the Overview section, there is Maroon 5’s ‘She Will Be Loved’, ‘Ms. Jackson’ by Outkast and Cyndi Lauper’s ‘Girls Just Want to Have Fun’ to name a few. And if you’d love to explore more genres, you’ll be out of luck. The original vocals, beats, riffs and hooks recorded for the game all seem to work in harmony with each other quite well, no matter the combination. I encountered a single glitch where one vocal option of pop vocalist Alexa Dark’s (yes, cartoonish names as well) was blank, and when you record your own vocal accompaniment, it takes some significant to load the effects afterwards.
Overall
The Zya musical experience is disappointing because it shows so much potential, yet its all buried underneath layers of micro-transactions. I’ve personally never had an issue with them, except when you are practically being forced to make them in order to progress, like in Zya. Paying for “Famous Songs”, I understand, but skimping on rewarding coins (although you do get a daily sum should you play on a consistent basis) in order to bottleneck progression and influence users to buy them instead I can not support. You’re even charged a certain amount of coins to buy new save slots, only being able to save three songs at any one time. Also, songs consist of an intro, a single verse, chorus and outro, generally lasting just over a minute. A game about creating and sharing music should be more accommodating.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Overview
It is the world’s most popular manga series of all time, reaching all corners of the globe and even trouncing the legendary Dragon Ball series. It is none other than One Piece and it all began with the dawn of a romance. After all the root of all things One Piece is romance – a love – a passion for dreams and the adventure to them.
One Piece’s romantic tale that has resonated with millions around the world since it began serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine way back in 1997. Now just over 15 years later we have One Piece: Romance Dawn for the Nintendo 3DS, a game that draws its title from the original chapter of the One Piece manga.
After all these years it is only fitting that we get a game like this. One Piece: Romance Dawn is a glorious retrospective on the legendary series, allowing players to revisit the series story from Chapter 1 all the way up to the New World. This is the game One Piece fans have long dreamed of, a true trip down memory lane, or even a journey into uncharted waters for those uninitiated into the wonderful world of One Piece. Whether you are in the know with One Piece or not, One Piece: Romance Dawn is all kinds of fun.
Gameplay
This may very well be the most truest RPG experience that One Piece fans have ever seen. In the past One Piece games have tended by and large to be beat-em-up style fighting games, few actually implementing an RPG style of gameplay. None have been so very much ingrained in the RPG style as this one though. One Piece: Romance Dawn is a turn-based RPG game that chronicles the story of One Piece in grand fashion.
While the story of One Piece is a real hook in and of itself, the true highlight of One Piece: Romance Dawn is its addictive gameplay. In particular the turn based battles are a rip-roaring lot of fun. Over the course of the game you will encounter a plethora of battles against marines, pirates and other manner of enemy. There is a fair amount of strategy involved in the combat portions of the game that at first may not be immediately apparent. Attack choices and movement decisions can prove to be critical in certain battles against tough enemies and boy oh boy are there some difficult bosses in this game.
With the strategic side of the battles you come to see that character progression isn’t something that happens naturally but rather something that you need to put attention towards. This does mean that some grinding is necessary in order to be strong enough to take down some particular tough bosses. Thankfully the combat gameplay is so intuitive and addictive that it hardly feels like a grind at all.
As you level and progress your party you will come to discover that there is a fairly complex level of customization for each character and the stat-building component of the game is quite deep as far as what type of characters you are looking to shape for battle. All in all the combat mechanics are the real highlight of this all around fun game.
There are a few problems in terms of the story aspects however. The most apparent is the hit and miss translation work on the game. There are times where there is some flat out broken English in lines of dialogue and even out of character remarks. It is stiff at the best of times and it is undoubtedly something that dampens an otherwise enjoyable experience. The dialogue clearly needed a bit more work on it but it is hardly a deal breaker for long time fans who will understand the situation at hand regardless. Those new to the series may be left somewhat puzzled at times however.
For the most part the story is accurately portrayed and hits the right emotional notes when it needs to. It is just somewhat disappointing that more effort was not put into the dialogue to fit the feel of the characters and story. Be it something lost in translation or whatever, it is a sore point for the game.
All in all One Piece: Romance Dawn will surely please fans of the series by providing a great nostalgia-filled retelling of the story in an RPG format. However it may be lost of those new to the series.
Visuals and Audio
Aesthetically One Piece: Romance Dawn is quite impressive, featuring some superb 3D visuals that are simply bursting at the seams with the flavour of One Piece. The characters and world are represented brilliantly in this game, bringing them to life on the 3DS. Unfortunately the game does not make use of the 3DS’ 3D function whatsoever, opting for a non-3D experience. As a 3DS owner who is more inclined to not use the 3D function this doesn’t bother me, however those who do use it may be left a little disappointed that the world of One Piece isn’t represented with the full 3D stereoscopic display.
The soundtrack featured in One Piece: Romance Dawn brings the full spectrum of the One Piece world into musical form. There is songs of adventure, tunes of heartbreak and the tense sounds of fierce battle. It is very much a One Piece soundtrack and it does a great job at backing the action on screen.
Overall One Piece: Romance Dawn is a love letter to the series in a way that no game before it was. One Piece’s grand tale of romantic adventure is captured brilliantly in this RPG epic. While there is a few hiccups with dialogue and translation, it is an all around great representation of the series and without a doubt the game that many One Piece fans have dreamed of. It may not be for everyone, but this is certainly a game for One Piece romantics.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
A new puzzle game is making its way to Steam’s Early Access called Particulars, blending science, offbeat storytelling and arcade-action gameplay. Check out the trailer and screenshots below.
Developed by the Aussie based SeeThrough Studios, Particulars is set in the surreal world of subatomic particles where players take control of a single quark that must find its way through the universe. Other particles push and pull on you, risking destruction, while the story of a young physicist named Alison is unravelled.
The indie title has won multiple awards including Best Narrative and Best Audio Design at Freeplay 2013 as well as Best Game at Sydney iFEST 2013.
Here’s the game’s proposed feature list:
EARLY ACCESS FEATURES
Master compelling, physics-based mechanics built on real-world science and research
Overcome 50+ challenging levels across four chapters
Taste the beginnings of a deep, character-driven narrative
Be captivated by the hypnotic, meditative soundtrack
FUTURE PLANS
Development of Alison’s thought-provoking story, which will unfold in a subtle, non-linear fashion
Emotive voice acting and comic-style cutscenes
70+ levels over five chapters – with more to follow – introducing fresh elements and techniques to master
Examination Mode” and “Particlepedia” will put information about gameplay at your fingertips!
Improved and polished user interface, sound effects and music
Steam achievements and trading cards
Those that want in on the early access can buy Basic for $9.99 which includes Alpha access and the full game once completed or Supporter for $19.99 which adds a soundtrack, wallpapers and digital art book. If you’re devoted you can buy the Devotee pack which adds even more including in-game developer commentary, a collection of the developer’s earlier games and a special thanks in the credits.
Particulars is due for a full release in Q1 2014 for the PC, Mac and Linux platforms with tablet versions to follow after.
Perfect World Entertainment Inc. and Cryptic Studios recently released Module 2: Shadowmantle, a new update for Dungeons and Dragons: Neverwinter, our review of the vanilla version of the game can be found here. The update introduces a large amount of features and changes that is sure to entice old and new players alike.
The Hunter Ranger class has been released, giving players the chance to roll a new playable class whose skill with a bow and dual-wield blades can deliver a quick kill from anywhere on the battlefield.
A Hunter Ranger Booster Pack has been introduced, providing budding Hunter Rangers with the necessary gear and tools to kick off their adventure.
A new adventure zone has been added to the game. The “Dread Ring” sets players against entirely new foes and leads them to Valindra’s Tower, a new dungeon delve that will bring adventurers face-to-face with Valindra Shadowmantle.
New bonus stats that players get when they have an active companion out and about.
New collection system that helps players track their loot and what they’re missing from completing their gear sets.
New Paragon Paths have been implemented for every playable class, introducing new skills and builds into the game.
Artifacts have been added to Neverwinter. Artifacts are permanent items that you level with your character, providing powerful bonuses and stats to the character.
Changes and improvements to the fusing system in Neverwinter.
For more information on each of these features in the free-to-play MMORPG, click here.
What do you think about these changes? How’s the Hunter Ranger going to hold up in the current state of the game? Let us know in the comments section below.
