NAMCO BANDAI Announces its Saint Seiya: Brave Soldiers DLC Extravaganza!
Classic anime fans that are in-the-know have been enjoying Saint Seiya: Brave Soldiers since its November 26th launch in North America, Latin America, and Brazil. Since the game’s initial launch, DLC content has been sent from the cosmos to add new dimensions of fun for Saint Seiya fans via the PlayStation®Network and today we’ve got news of another DLC delivery from the cosmos to share.
Last week we launched DLC of Seiya in his Odin Robe from the Asgard episode along with Kanon, Mu, Camus, Julian and Shura wearing their Plain Clothes and Shun in his Virgo Cloth from Elysium Episode!
This week we’re offering the powerful “God Cloth Seiya – Original Cloth”; with this exclusive Cloth, gamers will be able to play as Seiya dressed in his God Cloth! Also available this week is the “Bronze Saint Plain Cloth Set”, allowing Saint Seiya fans to select Seiya, Shun, Hyoga, Ikki and Shiryu in their Plain Clothes. The final DLC set becoming available this week is the “Bronze Saints Final Bronze Cloth Original Color Set”, which contains Seiya and his close friends, the Bronze Saints, in their Original Cloth!
All of these DLC items along with the Saint Seiya: Brave Soldiers game are available for download purchase via the PlayStation®Network.
MULTIMEN BRING NEW COMBAT SKILLS AND THRILLS TO HIT GAMES DOFUS AND WAKFU
Ankama’s popular MMORPG titles get a major boost for the holidays with new Multiman brothers in arms and tons of extra features
Roubaix, France – 10 December 2013 – Leading international online game developer and publisher Ankama today announced the release of a major update to its two internationally successful massively multiplayer online role-playing games, DOFUS and WAKFU. At the top of the bill are the Multimen, powerful new in-game companions that bring a whole new dimension to the gameplay with their ability to completely change the course of battle.
Also from today, players of both games can make the most of a ton of other new features, including new quests, characters and dungeons, plus a host of fun festive content created especially for the holiday season.
The Multimen are here Every hero needs a brother in arms on the hard road to justice. Now players of DOFUS and WAKFU can call on the Multimen to fight alongside them, bringing a thrilling new dimension to the gameplay. Lumino, Shadow, Trank, Skale, Beelzebug and Krobax each bring their own characteristics and fighting style to the party to turn the tide of battle.
Players of DOFUS can receive two Multimen free via achievements, with two more available to purchase in the DOFUS shop using the Ogrines virtual currency. Four Multimen are available to buy in the WAKFU shop. Subscribers to DOFUS and WAKFU will receive two Multimen as a gift, and can also try out one new Multiman each week for free.
About DOFUS DOFUS is an MMORPG set in a vast, colorful universe loaded with enchanting characters and thrilling encounters. With its vivid, anime-inspired art and comprehensive yet accessible gameplay systems, DOFUS is a perfect game for MMORPG newcomers and seasoned players alike.
Eight years and countless updates after its international release, today DOFUS has a massive 2.5 million monthly active players worldwide and a passionate community of fans. The game is so far localized in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Russian and Portuguese. The DOFUS animated TV show has aired in France and Poland and is coming soon to Italy. A brand new animated DOFUS movie is also currently in pre-production, and will be the first ever based on the hit franchise.
About WAKFU Based in the same universe as DOFUS but set some centuries later, WAKFU was released in 2012 and rapidly developed a loyal global following that is still growing today.
The anime-style universe of WAKFU is infused throughout with humor, from the charming interactions to its tactical combat, belying the complex political and economic systems at its heart. The game is currently available in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. Several WAKFU comic book series have been released in French, and the animated TV series has been broadcast in France, Spain, Italy, Morocco, Portugal, Poland, Turkey and on TV5Monde around the world.
Try the games for free With both DOFUS and WAKFU, players can journey through part of the game universe for free with no time limit. Access to the full games is available with monthly or annual subscriptions.
The Ankama group is the creator of properties including DOFUS and cross-media brand WAKFU, and employs nearly 450 people in France and at its offices around the world.
Capsule Computers is back with yet another indiebundle, this time in partnership with Bundle Stars. For the low price of $3.50, buyers can snag Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet, Blood of the Werewolf, Slender: The Arrival, And Yet it Moves, Plain Sight, Doc Clock: The Toasted Sandwich of Time, and Snuggle Truck.
The bundle marks the launch of both Bundle Star’s redesigned website and the removal of Games for Windows Live from Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet. Michel Gagné and Joe Olson, creators of Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet said “With Microsoft announcing the demise of the service earlier this year, we’ve been itching to make the transition to Steamworks. Now that this is done, we couldn’t think of a better way to launch the updated release than to be part of a charity package such as Bundle Stars. Hopefully, this will be the beginning of a new lease on life for ITSP and a chance for players to discover the two co-op multi-player modes, Lantern Run and Shadow Hunters.”
As usual, a portion of the profits goes to support the good charitable works of the Australian Red Cross. Snag your copy of the Indie Capsule Bundle at Bundle Stars today!
InnoHub: InnoGames Supports Local Start-ups with Business Center
Space availability starting March 2014 – information is now available under innoHub -hamburg.de
Hamburg, December 10, 2013. By entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs: from March 1st on, InnoGames will begin a unique local project – InnoHub, a start-up business center. Within the new InnoGames headquarters in central Hamburg, over 1,000 square meters will be dedicated to both single workstations, as well as small office spaces for freelancers and start-ups. In addition to fair conditions and cool new space, InnoHub offers a consulting program with external mentors that aids founders in business set-up. Future tenants can receive all information about the project from now on at www.innohub -hamburg.de.
“As founders, we know about opportunities, but also risks and pitfalls of starting up a business from our own experience,” explains InnoGames founder Michael Zillmer. “Collectively, we have a wealth of experience we want to provide creative new entrepreneurs. The InnoHub is not an additional business model for InnoGames. The aim is to support entrepreneurs from various industries in business development and growth. ”
Besides the fully furnished, newly renovated and internet equipped office rooms, counseling and contacts will help the tenants become successful entrepreneurs. The InnoHub is aimed not only at brand new start-ups, but also those who have been active for several months or a few years. Achim Quinke, managing director of Hamburg-based agency Quinke Networks, is working with InnoGames as a consultant and supports with contacting mentors, partners, academic institutions and universities.
With more than 110 million registered players, InnoGames is one of the most successful games industry start-ups in Europe. The company was founded on the success of classic browser game Tribal Wars in 2007, and now employs about 300 people from 22 nations at its Hamburg headquarters. In addition to Tribal Wars, InnoGames has had major successes with games such as Grepolis and Forge of Empires
Uprising 1.7 Update Comes to DUST 514, Delivering Improved Vehicles, New Weapons and Heightened Conflict in Factional Warfare!
Today CCP deployed the latest in a series of monthly updates to DUST 514. The Uprising 1.7release delivers all-new content to DUST 514that includes innovative weapons, an overhauled vehicle system, a fiery new battlefield mood and major changes to Factional Warfare that will strengthen the free-to-play shooter’s connection to EVE Online and the wider EVE Universe.
See below for more details on just a few of the additions Uprising 1.7 brings to DUST 514:
New Weapons
Uprising 1.7 brings new and powerful weapons to the battlefield. The Minmatar Combat Rifle is a gas-operated, short-barreled semi-automatic weapon that’s well-suited to both short and medium range combat, and the Caldari Rail Rifle is a precision weapon designed for field operations where power and range are critical. These new rifles round out DUST 514′s first full set of faction-aligned weaponry, opening up new tactical battlefield opportunities for the mercenaries of New Eden. Read more here.
Overhauled Vehicles
The vehicles of DUST 514 have also been modified with Uprising 1.7to amplify their role in the terrestrial conflicts of New Eden. The development team has overhauled the vehicle system for better handling and implemented a new process for streamlining vehicle fitting. This approach lays the foundation for new and exciting vehicle variations planned for the future. Full details can be found here.
New Volcanic Mood
The ever-expanding battle zones of New Eden now feature a new volcanic mood, adding more diversity and variety to the maps of DUST 514. Mercenaries will battle for dominance as volcanos spew magma in the distance and the ash-choked sky rains debris on the battlefield.
Factional Warfare Upgrade
Factional Warfare, where DUST 514 players choose sides in the ongoing conflict among the factions of New Eden, has gotten an upgrade, raising the stakes and deepening the bonds between DUST 514 and EVE Online. In the revamped Factional Warfare, Orbital Strikes, once initiated from the ground in DUST, must now be earned by capsuleers in EVE by securing satellites in orbit above the contested planet. Players participating in Factional contracts will be rewarded with Loyalty Points to be redeemed for exclusive Faction-aligned weapons. Friendly fire has also been implemented, heightening the action and danger. More details on the recent modifications to Factional Warfare can be found here.
DUST 514brings intense infantry combat, large-scale warfare and deep character advancement to the PlayStation 3 in an exclusive free-to-play massively multiplayer shooter. Set in, and integrated with, the massive universe of EVE Online, players wage war in the next generation of first-person shooters, where a single victory could prove the crushing blow to a galactic empire of thousands of online gamers. For more information, visit www.dust514.com
Revolutionary Girl Utena: Part III Studio:J.C. Staff Publisher:Hanabee Format: DVD Release Date: 4th December 2013 Price: $59.99 – Available Here
Overview Do you know? Do you know? Have you heard the news? After defending her Rose Bride against countless foes (as seen in Part I and Part II), Utena is about to encounter the greatest threat she has ever faced: herself…also more duellists. Faced with budding emotions that confuse her, our noble Prince to be finds herself contemplating her own desires. Caught in a system where those fuelled by their own perceptions vie for her defeat, can Utena afford to doubt? Will our hero succumb and lose the spark that makes her unique? Or will she manage to retain her identity amidst a chaotic world populated with people too confused to see past themselves?
Head for the End of the World in style
Story Having defeated the Black Rose Duelists and putting Mikage out of commission, it’s time for Utena to relax and enjoy a regular, peaceful school life…yeah right. With End of the World speaking to them louder than ever, the School Council has decided to take up arms once again against our Prince to be. Though not all members are immediately receptive of the idea of taking up their sword once more, Touga appears to each of them and reminds them of their original motivations, manipulating them into trying again. He implores them to listen for the “Sound that races through the End of the World”, a sound they can only hear if their soul still longs for eternity. When they accept their own desires, a red convertible appears, driven by none other than Anthy’s older brother: Chairman Akio. As they speed down the highway, Touga and Akio reveal to their “passenger” the End of the World, placing a new Rose Crest Ring on their finger. Akio then does a stylish flip and majestically lounges on the front of his car…because he can.
In contrast to the Black Rose Duellists of the previous arc, those who challenge Utena this time around bring with them willing Rose Bride’s of their own. Naturally, this creates a number of strange dynamics throughout the episodes. A lot of scorned lovers going around Ohtani Academy. Also, as it has been before, the title of Rose Bride isn’t exactly gender specific. Nanami chooses her brother Touga as her bride, not that that wasn’t entirely expected. For the first time in the series, challengers attempt to best Utena and Anthy’s bond, rather than just Utena as a duellist. Utena’s own connection to the Rose Bride is called into question when, during her duel with Seonji, the sword of Dios vanishes from Utena’s grasp. With no sword to defend herself, Anthy leaps to her defence and reverses roles by drawing a blade from Utena’s chest. Just as with everything else in the series, this has a far greater meaning than originally appears. The sheer fact that Utena can manifest a sword at all expresses the emergence of her inner strength and the ability to fight on her own. Anthy’s reaction to Utena in peril, along with her desire to aid Utena in realising her power also disperses the idea that Anthy is a mindless doll with no will of her own, a theme that has been present since the beginning of the series.
A New Challenger Appears!
As the episodes progress, we learn more about the rather mysterious Akio. A controlling force who pulls the strings of countless people, Akio is inextricably connected to every major player in the Rose Duels. To maintain his hold over people, he utilises seduction…with no exceptions. He honestly doesn’t care who it is, if he can manipulate them, he will. Everyone from Utena, to Touga, even his fiancée’s mother. Quite the playboy, which, in a school filled with impressionable and naive schoolgirls is a rather dangerous trait. Akio’s mere presence brings out a new side of the generally tough Utena. As she develops feelings which she herself tries to quell, she becomes more like shy, nervous girls she normally stands out from. Though not inherently a bad thing at the outset, after a while Utena’s more reserved persona begins to lead her away from the goal she has chased her entire life: to become a prince.
The finale of the Akio Ohtori saga sereves as a recap of the duels thus far. These flashbacks are bordered by Akio driving through the streets in his symbolic convertible, listening to the Shadow Girls host a radio show. Throughout the episode, the Shadow Girls present Akio with a series of multiple choice questions thematically relevant to each duel. They ask of the definitions for eternity and miracles, the answers being left ambiguous as Akio never provides any. The episode also features Utena talking to somebody off screen, musing about the day they’ve had and the fun they shared. During what seems like a normal discussion about lunch however, Utena becomes more and more distressed as she struggles to make a decision. This seemingly simple moment actually houses one of the largest character developments of the series and shows Utena at one of her most vulnerable points.
The final few episodes focus intensely on the ever evolving relationships between Utena, Anthy and Akio. As these three continue to interact in various way, emotions become confused and each begins to reveal new aspects of themselves. Utena continues to express a more feminine side, so much so that Jury and Miki note that there’s something almost “lesser” about her. Anthy on the other hand reveals a darker nature as jealousy and guilt rise within her. Only Akio seems relatively unfazed as his manipulation continues and he strives for his one true goal: power.
Well that’s one way to enter a duel
Visuals Just as in the previous arc, the arenas in which characters duel are lined with objects relevant to the current conflict. However, unlike the previous battles, each duellist does not receive their own unique item. In each and every duel, multiples of Akio’s car rise from the arena. Not only the physical example of the same force that gathered the duellists, it serves to represent their drive (for once no pun intended). When Utena ultimately bests her opponent, the car crashes in representation of their inability to proceed along their course, as well as the personal damage caused by their loss.
Along with this new batch of duels, comes a new transformation sequence for Utena and Anthy. Rather than ascending the spiral staircase as she has before, Utena instead rides the newly revealed elevator, along with Anthy. As the two ascend, Anthy transforms Utena’s outfit as she has before, after which she herself dons her Rose Bride gown. In addition to this, Anthy’s own school uniform lies on the ground beneath them, surrounding an infant plant. The further Utena’s transformation progresses, the larger the sprout becomes, eventually filling out the uniform and blooming roses. More symbolism. Speaking of…
As per usual, the series also contains a plethora of symbolic visuals that consistently appear throughout the episodes. In one particular episode, eggs become very symbolic to the story of Nanami, serving as the representation of puberty. In another, candles depict the loss of innocence as they are slowly put out. Stars, a baseball match, injured ankles also appear too often to be a coincidence. Each serves to lace every moment of the series with extra meaning that you can construe in whatever way you so desire. It’s just one of those shows.
The Prince and Bride
Audio Just as it has since the beginning, the choral rock tune “Zettai Unmei Mokushiroku (Absolute Destiny Apocalypse)” continues to play before each duel begins. The dramatic nature of the song serves to express the intense nature of the conflict along with the fantastical elements of the entire rose competition set-up. Similar tunes throughout the series also support the epic nature of symbolism, their lyrics providing yet another layer of meaning to each moment.
Though the English dubs continues to be…less than stellar, these final sagas are not nearly as grating as the earlier episodes. Due to the much more subdued and intense nature of the dialogue, the character’s overall lack of emotive volume is concealed. The voicing actually lends rather well to the introspective narration each character employs. This is beneficial to the series as these sombre moments tend to be the most powerful and plot relevant.
A softer side of Utena…
Extras Like those before it, Part III includes a book filled with extras. Episode commentary and an interview from director Kunihiko Ikuhara Part 3, the making of Be-Papas Studio Part 2, along with a number of crew interviews and art galleries. The book also contains some information regarding the Utena movie and a section devoted to answering question that fans of the series posed to Ikuhara himself. The final disc of the collection features a number of interviews with the crew and cast of both the Japanese and English versions. Also included is another animated art board, the Japanese trailer for the box set and both the original and remastered US trailers for the series. Last but not least, there is chance for you to get a little musical with Karaoke versions of the series’ many songs…if you can read the Japanese lyrics that is.
…and a darker side of Anthy
Overall During its final sagas, Revolutionary Girl Utena continues to explore complex issues amidst a sea of symbolism. Every one of its oblique visual elements and haunting tunes express the twisted nature of the plot as well as the characters themselves. That being said, the final arc handles certain symbolic elements with a tad more subtlety that earlier episodes, providing a sense of maturity. Though the Black Rose Saga indeed possessed a dark kind of maturity, these final episodes deal more with the restrained and uncertain development of characters, rather than their previous twisted misconceptions of growing up. The fact that some relationships reach an intensity on the physical level definitely adds weight to what were previously mere imaginings of what a “relationship” was. In case you haven’t figured it out by now, this isn’t a straight forward kind of series. Revolutionary Girl Utena does a good job in wrapping up the various plot threads that wove the greater story and creates a truly unique narrative. That being said, you’ll definitely want to focus on everything little thing that happens, otherwise the series may seem shallow. But if Utena teaches you one thing, it’s that things aren’t always as they appear, be that good or bad. Though you might not discover which before it’s too late. Do you know? Do you know? Do you know how it ends?
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Rockstar are consistently churning out the updates for GTA Online, with the Race Creator tool now available to players. With it, you can build your own, tailored and Deathmatches and Races before proceeding to share them with the community as part of the beta. Other than this, a Capture Mode will be released later in the month, with much more in the works, such as story content featuring the thieving trio we’ve come to love. Check out the extremely detailed update notes from the studio below.
With this week’s Race Creator tool, Craft your most challenging and intense GTA Online Races – in the streets, skies and waterways of Los Santos & Blaine County. Then share with the community to see who can best your bespoke Race. Get ready for lots of new content updates for Grand Theft Auto Online, beginning with the launch of the free Deathmatch and Race Creators tool- out now. Here’s a look at what’s on the way in the weeks ahead…
Deathmatch & Race Creators Beta
This week, we will give you the first chance to build your own content in GTA Online (and play content others have made) with the release of the Deathmatch & Race Creators Beta. With access to some of the same tools as our own game design and development team, you can craft your own custom blood-soaked gunfights, high-octane street races, screaming jet dogfights and more. You’ll also be able to publish your original Deathmatches and Races via the Rockstar Games Social Club for the whole community to discover, download, play, rate and share. Players can create and customize Jobs for the following modes:
Deathmatch
Team Deathmatch
Race
GTA Race
Rally Race
“Lift the goods from your rivals, then make a clean break for your home base in the all new free Capture Mode and Jobs update coming this month to GTA Online.”
We’re planning on regularly reviewing some of the best community-created content to recognize and distinguish them as Rockstar Verified Jobs, shared out to the entire GTA Online community. The Deathmatch and Race Creators will come to you via a free update, and you’ll need to have a Social Club account that is linked to your Xbox Live Gamertag or PlayStation Network ID to use them. The Creators are in Beta so please help us iron out any flaws and bugs via the GTA Online email address.
Capture
Also in December, we will introduce possibly our favourite competitive team mode, Capture. A proper GTA twist on classic capture the flag, Capture mode brings territory infiltration and a new form of team-versus-team treachery into GTA Online. Up to four squads battle to steal contraband, trucks, buses or whatever from opponents’ bases using high-speed vehicles, explosive weaponry and cunning teamwork. Craft, cooperation and team tactics are key. The free Capture update will bring a host of new jobs to GTA Online, accessible via the open world and also directly through your phone. Capture is broken down into four variations – ‘Raid’, ‘Contend’, ‘Hold’ and ‘GTA’ – we will give you full details on each of these next week.
“The hunter and the hunted – the entire open world is your battleground as you war against enemy teams for coveted contraband in Capture Mode.”
Coming in 2014
Expect big things in both Grand Theft Auto Online and Grand Theft Auto V next year including:
GTA Online Heists. We know many of you in the GTA Online community are super excited for the debut of co-operative Heists. Heists are currently in development and we are working very hard to get them as polished and as fun as they can be. Stay tuned for much more detail in the New Year.
GTAV Story Mode Updates. For those ready to jump back into the story of Grand Theft Auto V, we have big plans for substantial additions in 2014 continuing Michael, Franklin and Trevor’s action, mayhem and unexpected adventures in Southern San Andreas.
Word has been spreading around the internet about a supposed software hack that will allow you to play Xbox 360 games on your Xbox One console. A few people have been caught up only to find that the ‘hack’ is actually a hoax, and following the instructions will brick your Xbox One console.
The rumor originally started on the popular anonymous message board; 4chan, and has since spread like wildfire. A few media outlets have even reported on the hack as being legitimate, further spreading the potential damage it can cause. We have attached an image of the instructions that are currently circling the web, but seriously though, and I cannot stress this enough; do NOT follow these instructions. Following them will IMMEDIATELY and IRREVERSIBLY brick your Xbox One, rendering it useless.
Seriously, don’t do this!
Microsoft’s Major Nelson who recently put up a video of some sweet Xbox One tips and tricks, also took to twitter to confirm that the “hack” is really a hoax and will damage your system:
To be clear there is no way to make your Xbox One backwards compatible & performing steps to attempt this could make your console inoperable
So once again, please do NOT follow the instructions, no matter how convincing someone may be regarding their authenticity. We know how desperate many players are to play 360 games on the Xbox One, but the sad fact is we just can’t right now, so don’t buy into things like this. Hopefully Microsoft will release an update that removes user access to the developer menu so that nobody else will get caught up. As always, for all the Xbox One news as it becomes available, be sure to stay tuned to Capsule Computers.
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.”
– Ends –
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!
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