While most people are fine with listening to the English voice track for most games, many people prefer listening to the original Japanese voice track for games, going so far as to boycott titles that do not include a dual-audio option.
Well it looks like Square Enix is going to be offering some DLC for those who want to listen to the Japanese voice track of Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII. Today the company has announced that after the game is released on February 14th, they will release a Japanese voice-over pack as DLC that will be free for two weeks before turning into paid DLC.
Free-to-play PC title MechWarrior Online has seen great success with its pre-order Phoenix Package Mechs, introduced in June as a way for players to get their hands on bundles of Battlemechs and other goodies.
Now Infinite Game Publishing is discontinuing these one-time offers on December 3, giving players little more than a week to purchase the rare Mech packages before they’re gone.
Since the game reached its milestone of version 1.0, Piranha Games has been preparing a new UI and Community Warfare metagame features. Folk that like their stomping Mechs as much as their FPS can jump into the game for free right here.
Let Me Loose Publisher:Chillingo Developer:Sketch Mill Platforms: iPhone (Reviewed), iPod Touch, iPad Release Date: 21st November 2013 Price: $0.99 – Available Here
Overview
Chillingo is a fantastic publisher that has a lot of great games under its belt, it is one of the very few publishers that I would consider to make almost perfect mobile games. Their attention to detail alongside their attention to the simplicity of a game is what makes them great and their latest title, Let Me Loose, is no exception. The adorable and bubbly aesthetics of the game blend well with the easy way in which the game is played, it makes for a fantastic “pick up and play” title yet can keep you occupied for hours.
Story
Let me loose does exactly have a fleshed out story, I actually wouldn’t consider it to have much of a story at all but it does have a small intro that pretty much gives you the idea of what’s going on and it just so happens that I’m a big fan of that kind of thing. The beginning of the game is very cute, we’re shown a little amoeba with a silly face and a squishy body, the little guy is trapped in what looks to be a test tube and yearns for the outside world.
That’s basically where your story begins and although it never really comes up again you do get the feeling of adventure and you do get the feeling of progression, the more you go on in the game the more you feel like you’ve almost escaped into the outside world. I suppose the story is in the name, it’s very cute and very quirky and basically gives you just enough of a back story to connect with this little critter. The different environments you play through do reflect the story in some ways, it takes you through different labs which have different obstacles for you to get through and it’s nice to be able to feel adventure rather than adventure being forced upon you.
Gameplay
The gameplay is very basic, very easy and very accessible. You play as the amoeba and your only real mission is to collect these rainbow orbs and make it to your destination at the end of the level, collecting the orbs later allows you to unlock the next lab to play through which gives you enough incentive to perfect a level as you play. Controls are also very basic though, once again, they work perfectly for what it is: You start off at the top of the screen and you use the motion controls of the mobile device to tilt the playing-field and to roll the amoeba left or right, alongside the motion controls you also must move obstacles on the screen with a flick of the finger to open up a clear route to the exit and to collect all the rainbow orbs along the way.
The simplicity of the gameplay allows for literally anyone at anytime to play it which makes this a perfect mobile game, you can play levels while on the bus or train, while taking a break at work or even do what I did and play a level while waiting for another game to load, it is literally THAT accessible. I like the fact that the rainbow orbs don’t go to waste, they don’t make you collect them for no reason, they give you an optional task and they make it so that the better you are at completing a level the faster you can access the next one. It makes sense on such a fundamental level and it’s a pain to see that other games don’t seem to have this worked out, Let Me Loose does though and that’s so nice to see.
One would think the constant tilting and flicking would get annoying over a period of playtime but it actually doesn’t, the tilt feature is also very sensitive so you don’t find yourself turning your mobile device almost horizontal just to get our little friend to one side of the screen, it’s very exact and I feel as though it uses the motion aspect of mobile devices extremely well.
Visuals
Let Me Loose is an incredibly vivid and colourful game that sometimes seems as though it will literally pop out of the screen. The bright, conflicting colours make for an beautiful, cartoon-like style that I think appeals to both small children who enjoy the bright colours and adults like myself who enjoy a basic yet thought out game, clearly the intention of the developers was to make the game look as warm and inviting as possible and they did it perfectly.
The animation in the game is also extremely good. Something that impressed me above all else is the way that the amoeba character and the liquids on screen move and jiggle as you move the mobile device, they slosh up and squish up against walls in a very realistic and all around adorable way. The layout of some levels make it look difficult yet, once you sit back and have a little think, you realise it’s actually doable. That spit second of doubt is what makes a puzzle game great!
Audio
The music tracks throughout the game are all very soft, almost inviting, it welcomes you to play the game and while I may be looking into this too much that is honestly how I feel about it. You play as this goofy, little, orange blob in a colourful world with different liquids in different shaped vials and tubes and the music it just pushes you along to continue playing the game. The music is all electrically made, there’s no real signs of actual instruments and any intruments that are used are very mush played with to turn them into what we hear throughout.
The fact that it is set in a lab also warrants the use of electrically made music, it fits perfectly and for a game to fit together the way this one does is down right brilliant. When I look to the audio of a game I look for how it fits in and, to certain degrees, how suits the game but in some cases, much like this one, it is almost like it slides through the cracks of a game and binds it. It really is the icing on the cake.
Overall
The game is simply great! It is enjoyable for both a young and old audience, it gives you the ability to play for a long stretch of time yet also allows for you to pick it up and put it down almost whenever it is that you please. The way the colours are throughout the game look great and, to a certain degree, feel great. The music isn’t cheesy, corny or annoying in any way and the sound effects are as cute as the little character itself. It comes together fantastically and there really is nothing wrong with this game both on a fundamental level and on a general level. It’s mobile gaming at its finest and another great title for Chillingo to add to its, already great, catalogue.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Usually when a company wants to keep a secret, especially a new addition to an enhanced port of a game, they don’t come right out and reveal the details for that character but it looks like Nippon Ichi Software has decided to do just that.
Today the company has released new details and images for Criminal Girls Invitation which cover the mysterious girls added to the game. The silver-haired girl is named Miu and she is an instructor that guides the other girls through Hell. Interestingly enough she also is a sinner and the key to resolving her sins can be found in the Ancient Garden.
The purple haired girl is named Himekami and is tied to Miu’s story but further details were given about her at this time. Currently Criminal Girls Invitation is set to be released in Japan on November 26th while NIS America has made no mention of bringing the title to the West.
Astro Gaming has announced that they are teaming up with Popcap Games to release Plants vs. Zombies 2 themed Astro A30 and Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare themed Astro A40 speaker tags. The tags were designed in collaboration with the art team at Popcap Games. The A30 speaker tags can be purchased separately for $19.99 and the A40 for $24.99. Alternatively, they can be purchased as a package that includes the headset and the Mixamp for $209.99 for the A30 and $259.99 for the A40.
“Skullcandy and ASTRO Gaming understand that gamers play an unending variety of games, in every imaginable location, across all manner of devices and at the same time expect a consistently high-quality experience from their games and their gear,” said Aron Drayer, Director of Marketing, ASTRO Gaming/Skullcandy Gaming.
Paradox Interactive is expanding its plans of world domination… or at least expanding their stable of servers for Magicka: Wizard Wars. Servers based in Oceania, Brazil, and Russia are joining European and North American based servers. Players in these regions will be able to enjoy lower latency connections thanks to these new servers.
Magicka: Wizard Wars is a new MOBA based on the popular Magicka game. Two teams of four will battle it out for supremacy in the small arenas using the element based Magicka casting system. The game is free to play but is currently in closed alpha. Early access packs with special bonuses are available on Steam for Windows.
Starpoint Gemini 2 received a major content update by developers Little Green Man Games today. Some parts of the update, like the new on screen notifications and expanded in game options come in response to feedback provided by the community. The update also brings some other notable additions like a bounty board, a ship store, and an intro movie for the campaign.
Starpoint Gemini 2 is a space sim and RPG that is currently available through Steam’s Early Access program. As new content is released, the game’s price will rise. All copies of the Early Access title comes with a free copy of the original Starpoint Gemini. The game can be purchased here for $22.99.
In 2006 Wadjet Eye Games released their unique action/adventure game The Shiva, the title not only gained great reception alongside some minor controversy but it was also used as a stepping stone for game creator Dave Gilbert to jump into the world of full-time game development. Seven years later marks the release of the same game yet greatly remastered and, at this point in time, infinitely better than the first release.
The Shivah: Kosher Edition will put players back into the shoes of disillusioned Rabbi, Russel Stone, who just so happens to be caught up in a deep murder investigation that revolves around the inheritance left by a former congregation member. The Shivah: Kosher Edition is unique in all regards and seamlessly blends action and adventure while throwing in elements of a “point-and-click” game. The Kosher Edition is jam packed with new graphics, a brand-new soundtrack and I refined interface that works just as well on mobile devices as it does on the PC.
“Rabbi Stone and The Shivah jumpstarted my career in 2006, in more ways than one,” says Dave Gilbert. “Working on this game was what made me decide to pursue this ‘full time game developer’ thing, and the positive reaction it received is what made me stick with indie development all these years. Creating The Shivah: Kosher Edition has been a wonderful experience of revisiting where it all began, and I look forward to sharing this revamped version with a wider audience.”
The Shiva: Kosher Edition is now available on the PC and on all compatible versions of iOS devices. You can purchase the PC version through Steam by clicking on this linkand you can purchase the iOS version by clicking on this link. The PC version is selling for $4.99 whereas the iOS version is selling for $1.99.
A small bit of extra news for fans of Wadjet Eye Games: Their next major gaming release will be “Blackwell Epiphany”, the fith and final game of the mystery/adventure series and it will be coming the the PC and iOS very early next year so keep an eye out for that. For now though you can check out the group of screenshots we have below as well as an official trailer for the game.
We’ve officially ‘jumped ahead’ to the next-generation here in Australia with the launch of the Xbox One mere hours ago, and only second in the world behind New Zealand (must…resist…Kiwi joke…). To celebrate, Xbox Australia lit up the Sydney skyline, awash in Xbox green.
Luna Park was bathed in the hue as the party commenced at the Crystal Ballroom within. Among the 400-strong in attendance were numerous industry guests, representatives and celebrities, from developer and publisher giants Ubisoft, EA, Warner Bros. Interactive and Zenimax Australia, to Good Game co-hosts Steven ‘Bajo’ O’Donnell and Stephanie ‘Hex’ Bendixsen, and Big Brother contestants Tully Smyth and Drew. The night’s festivities were hosted by TV and radio presenter James Kerley.
Outside the venue, a 3D countdown to midnight greeted us, projected upon the mist on Sydney Harbor. Upon entering, but before being left to roam and play the myriad titles on display – with everything from Kinect title Fighter Within (first time playable) to the uncannily realistic NBA 2K14 present – a high energy graffitti/dance performance by J-Town christened the event. Before long, we were engaging in matches of Killer Instinct, racing with the McLaren P1 in Forza Motorsport 5 and playing some holes in Powerstar Golf.
Our immediate environment wasn’t the only location marking the console’s arrival, as – for the first time ever – the Sydney Tower switched off the Westfield sign for the evening, transforming into a beacon for the brand and the largest countdown clock in the Southern Hemisphere. Game images were also projected upon its side throughout the night (Auckland’s Sky Tower similarly carried the Xbox flag so to speak).
The Presets really got the party bumping, playing an entire show in the decidedly intimate setting. which was a fantastic treat. Jeremy Hinton, Interactive Entertainment Business Lead, Microsoft Australia, says the launch of the Xbox One was a celebration of gaming culture;
It’s a great time to be a gamer and we are honoured to be a part of this incredible industry. More than 370 retail stores opened around the country to bring in this new era of gaming and entertainment. Thousands of people across the country headed out to collect their consoles at the stroke of midnight – that’s a passion and dedication that we are continuously humbled by.
The biggest Xbox fans who had pre-ordered their console directly through Microsoft were able to pick them up at midnight. The first people in Australia to collect their Xbox One were Francis King and Angela Tran (pictured above), a couple who locked in their purchase with EB Games, Top Ryde almost two years ago! It was a great, festive night and it was particularly awesome to see all the different studios attend and play each other’s titles. Check out the gallery below for more images from the night. And thanks to Xbox Australia for the invitation and what was an extremely fun time.
Auto Club Revolution is entering a new age of racing. For the first time GT3 cars will be available!
Raced over the whole world, the ever popular GT3 cars will available for players to master. Taking speed to a whole new level, the GT3 collection will be the ‘new’ racing cars of ACR. These beasts will test even the most skilled of drivers.
The GT3 collection will consist of the V8 powered BMW Z4 GT3, the British beauty the McLaren MP4-12C GT3, and last and by no means least the Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3. This is the time for players to get closer to real-world racing than ever before.
Each car will be available with a limited stock of pre-orders ahead of full release and each pre-order will receive 25% off the showroom price. The BMW Z4 GT3 is available for pre-order starting today and will be delivered on Thursday, November 28. Pre-order details of the remaining cars will be released on the ACR website and social channels soon.
A special GT3 Series challenge will be launched once all three cars are available, news on this will also be released soon.
The GT3 collection will also bring another first to the ACR world – official racing liveries. Racers will be able to take to the track in true style, displaying some of the most iconic, well known, title winning liveries of all time:
The iconic BMW Team One livery for the BMW Z4 GT3
One of the all-time greats, the Gulf livery for the McLaren MP4-12C GT3
The JRM World Champion livery for the Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3
Designed, developed and published by Eutechnyx, Auto Club Revolution is a free-to-play online racing game and car community built in collaboration with the motor industry. Featuring officially licensed tracks and cars, it delivers a best-in-class racing experience to the free-to-play market via the world class Eutechnyx-owned racing engine.
Eutechnyx is the world’s leading independent racing game developer. With a history spanning over 25 years, the studio has won numerous awards for its million-plus selling titles and garnered exceptional acclaim in the business sector. As well as its headquarters in the Gateshead (UK), the company has studios in Hong Kong, Chengdu (China) and Charlotte (USA).
