Microïds have announced some more details for their upcoming title Garfield Kart. As the name suggests, it will be a racing game featuring everybody’s favourite lazy, Monday hating cat: Garfield.
Being a themed kart racer, the game will include a number of power-ups to aid you in your race to first place. These Garfield-centric objects will provide you with a number of abilities, such as a speed boost, immunity to damage, teleportation, and even a sticky bomb. It’s up to you to use them wisely and keep your guard up for some nasty reciprocation.
Choose your weapon
Garfield Kart will be available on iOS and Android from November 7th, with a PC and Mac version to follow soon after. Players will be able to compete against each other from around the world, so look out for some serious competition. Check out the screenshots below for a closer look at the competition, as well as a glimpse of the courses. I hate Monday races…
2K Games have released a brand new trailer for WWE 2K14 to celebrate the launch of the game. The launch trailer serves as a highlight reel of all of the game’s features such as the ‘Creation Suite’ and the ’30 Years of Wrestlemania’ mode.
WWE 2K14 is now available in stores on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. If you pre-ordered the game you’ll be lucky enough to feel the power of the warrior and receive an exclusive Ultimate Warrior download code.
Be sure to check out the launch trailer below. You can also check out our hands-on preview of WWE 2K14here for a look at what is waiting for you in this epic game.
Codemasters has announced today that F1 Race Stars will be coming to the Wii U in F1 Race Stars: Powered Up Edition. The game will be more arcade like than the realstic titles available on other consoles and is designed to be fun for all ages and will take advantage of the Wii U’s unique hardware.
F1 Race Stars: Powered Up Edition marks the first time a cast of Formula One stars will be hitting a Nintendo console. Jensen Button, Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel and more have become personality-packed, cartoon heroes sprinting for the chequered flag in cars representing each team on a range of super-fast, feature-packed circuits perfect for split-screen multiplayer fun. This new edition comes packed with four extra tracks (to bring the amount of tracks up to 15 each with a unique theme) and nine extra accessory packs. The unique features of the Wii U are also being utilised as players have the ability to play as their Mii and can use the Wii U Gamepad’s tilt functionality to steer, display a map or be used for off-screen play. The game will feature 4 player split-screen multiplayer.
The game will be available exclusively from the Nintendo eShop as a downloadable title sometime in December. Check out the gallery below for some screenshots to see what you can expect from this title. Personally I’m getting a bit of a Speed Freaks vibe from the game which was one of my favourite kart racers back in the day. Let us know what you think of F1 Race Stars in the comments below.
Originally planned to release this year, Hellraid will unfortunately not be making its deadline. Techland, the creators of the Dead Island series, have sent out a press release detailing the “tough decision” they made to push the game back for a 2014 release instead.
The reasons for this delay in Hellraid? To make the game better with new ideas and redesigns based on playtesting from fans. From a different kind of magic system that will allow for new ways to cast spells, to a completely new set of spells, to other new gameplay modes and features. While, there isn’t much detail right now about all the new things that will be coming to the game, we will most likely hear more on it as the new release date draws near.
Hellraid will allow players to take on the forces of hell alone or with up to 4 players, which is now set to release digitally for the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC sometime in 2014
Battlefield 4 has been launched to retail stores for Xbox 36o, PS3, and PC but it is of course still on its way for the upcoming Xbox One and PS4. So there are players of course considering whether or not to just get started on the current gen consoles or wait until the next gen.
Well, EA and DICE have reiterated today, along with the launch, that players will be able to transfer their multiplayer stats from their current gen console to the next gen console. This means that not only will players that get started on the current can get a head start on those waiting for the next, but they will also be keeping everything they’ve unlocked if they upgrade.
What does this mean to you the players? Will you be grabbing up the current version and upgrade to next gen when they release, wait until the next gen comes out to start from scratch, or just stick with the current gen for Battlefield 4. Voice you opinions in the comments below.
Final Exam has seen a little bit of change with the new title, but it still has the same principles of gameplay one of which has always been to make sure that 4 players will be able to get together and fight the monstrosities side by side. Finally, just in time for Halloween, today is the day Focus Home Interactive and Mighty Rocket Studios show off the co-op gameplay in a new trailer.
The trailer shows off quite a few different places with the friends all making a mess out of the monsters, as well as showing off how the players can split up as well. Final Exam looks to be a splatter fest, especially with up to four players working together to make mincemeat and giblets.
Final Exam is set to release in early November for XBLA, PSN, and PC; however PC gamers can already pre-order on Steam to get exclusive early access to the first chapter of the game to play by themselves or with friends, even offering a 4 pack of the game for the price of 3. By sure to check out the Co-op Trailer embedded below.
Overview It’s time to fight an epic battle. To face off and spin the metal. Get ready to be thrown into the world of Beyblades. Start as an unknown and work your way up through the ranks, not stopping until you are the World Champion…or mess around and play some mini games…or both. Your call. Either way, it’s time to get a grip. Let it rip!
So much to do, so little time
Story You are the player. An up and comer in the Beyblade world, you have dreams of victory and fame…I guess, it’s what the game is about at least.
As the game begins you are greeted by series mainstay and announcer extraodinaire Blader DJ. Being the helpful guy he is, DJ explains to you how the Bey Tournaments work, along with how to unlock the option of participation. He urges you to meet new people and have fun in battles and minigames, hinting to you that the Park might be a good place to start.
Stumbling upon a fellow Bey enthusiast, you decide to test your metal in a good ‘ol fashioned Bey Battle. Win or lose, your new friends explain to you the basics of the Bey world, such as noting the various types of Bey and the best strategies for using them. After spending a short time learning the way of the Bey, you’ll notice that the Bey Stadium is open for business. Your first chance at a title. Taking whatever Bey you happen to have, you engage in a one-on-one style battle. Doing your best, you will either win or lose the tournament. Winning will net you some precious Bey Points (BP) to spend on some shiny new parts to add to your arsenal. Losing on the other hand will net you a pat on the back and some kind words…yippee.
He’ll know soon enough
Herein lies the entirety of the Evolution story. Making your way through the side battles and minigames, you’ll progress to the point where you gain a chance at various titles of increasing importance. That being said, the game has no compunctions about eliminating you immediately. No try again, no game over, you simply lose and move on. Whilst the principle behind this is true to the series, you may find yourself five tournaments in before you manage to accrue enough points to build a good Bey…or one if you manage to win. So in the end, your Blading career will turn out as good as you can make it.
The Bey Story mode does however, provide you with a plethora of familiar faces. Rather than creating a cast of game only characters, every single opponent you face is taken straight out of the anime. In fact, your first opponent is none other than protagonist Gingka Hagane and his trademark Pegasus Bey. Being that the player was the only new addition, entering an already established world of characters, made the game feel like a piece of the series rather than an irrelevant side story. An additional Bey story, known as Zero-G Mode, adds characters from the new Shogun Steel series into the fray, throwing you into two different worlds. Oh the choices.
Let the battle begin!
Gameplay
The name of the game is Beyblade. Ergo, you must prepare to spin. Let it rip as it were. Following the example of the actual, physical product you must launch your Bey by pulling back on your 3DS system just like you would a Launcher. Presented a view of the arena, you are also able to aim where you wish to fire your Bey. As explained early in the game, various types of Bey are best suited for different areas. Attack types should aim for the outer rim, Defence and Stamina types do best in the centre zone and Balance Beys belong somewhere in between.
During the heat of battle, you are able to imbue you Bey with a little extra fighting spirit. A gauge on the lower screen will express how much spirit you currently have stored, ranging from Level 1 to Level 3. Each level provides your Bey with a larger boost in Stamina, though you can choose whether to wait for a maxed out gauge or stagger the power over a number of shots. During some of the longer fights, imbuing additional spirit into your Bey becomes pretty useful, sometimes allowing you to scrape in a narrow victory. Aiming is based on timing as it is quite easy to miss your Bey and accidentally empower the enemy. Also, for some reason, the game doesn’t allow you to aim up or down during a fight, forcing you to wait for your Bey to make a circuit of the arena.
Spinnin’ it out
As you proceed, and win, you will acquire the currency of the land, dubbed BP points. These points allow you to visit the two stores of the game and purchase parts to upgrade your Bey, or create a new one entirely. This becomes more and more necessary as you progress and enemies become stronger. Certain tournaments also require you to enter three Beys, so money is very important…you know, like in the real world. Each individual part comes with its own values, lending more to one type of Bey, be it Attack, Defence or Stamina. It is up to you to chose the parts most useful to your style of play and combine them into a force to be reckoned with. You should also note that some pieces are incompatible with others, limiting your options somewhat.
In between your more traditional battles, you’ll find yourself with the option to partake in some Beyblade themed mini games. Though obviously revolving around a central theme, these games are actually pretty varied. One particular game has you launch a never ending supply of Beys at a series of rising balloons, the goal being to pop as many as you can. Also included is a parts quiz, a ring challenge and a maze to navigate. Each game can be played in Easy, Medium or Hard, so feel free to go at it at your own pace.
Show ’em your fighting spirit
Visuals Due to the fact that Battles occur between two Beys at a time, the visuals remain fairly simple during combat. The battles also receive quite a boost from the 3D function, adding a great deal of depth to the arena and improving the visuals overall. However, due to the control scheme of the game, you’ll often find yourself tilting the system and ruining the viewing angle…along with your eyes. The workaround for this would be to keep your head in line with the system’s movements, or forgo the feature entirely.
When in the overworld, each character is presented by a select few illustrations which depict them in various poses. Characters each posess their own launch image, letting you know they’re ready to fight, as well as a happy or sad picture depending on the outcome of the battle.
Build-a-Bey
Audio The soundtrack for Evolution features a fair deal of keyboard and guitar. You know, to set the mood. Overall, it has the qualities of some older DS audio, though not in a bad way. Regardless, it still sounds pretty funky and adds a nice touch to the battles.
Amidst the soundtrack, you can also hear the tremendous sound of two Beys as they clash on the battlefield…ok, so maybe it’s not as dramatic as all that. For some reason, the game goes for the more realistic approach and provides you with a fairly unsatisfying ‘click’ sound when two Beys collide. It’s just like real life.
The aim of the game
Overall Beyblade: Evolution is an alright game. It’s not particularly bad, it’s not particularly good. Being able to create your own Bey is pretty cool and there are definitely a large number of parts to choose from. That being said, the battles in which you use them are fairly luck based. Sometimes your strongest Bey will get thrown out of the ring immediately and other times your average Bey will cinch the victory. There is also no precedent for a tie, which occurs fairly frequently, resulting in random decisions should one come up. In the end, it’s definitely a game aimed at a younger audience, who I’m sure will enjoy it. Plus you also get a real life Bey of your own with the game, which is pretty cool…just have to find a Launcher for it.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
In what is becoming a very common trend in the localization world, NIS America has announced that they will be handling the Australian and New Zealand release of Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl for Atlus. The company has recently been releasing numerous titles in European regions and this is the latest of many.
Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl is currently set to be released physically and digitally sometime in 2014. The company is planning on releasing a demo which will feature two dungeons from the game before the title is released. For those who may be interested in the game our review for the North American version of the game can be found here.
Razer has just announced a major partnership fund raising effort with the Pinoy Gaming Festival and legendary Filipino cosplay icon Alodia. The funds raised by the collaboration will go to earthquake relief in the area following the devastating earthquake that shook Central Visayas on October 15.
They raised a total of US$5,850 toward their US$10,000 goal, the remainder of which Razer generously donated to the Phillipines’ Red Cross. Furthermore Razer CEO, Ming-Liang Tan vowed to donate 100 percent of profits on Razer apparel sales from the Pinoy Gaming Festival to the Red Cross.
This is truly an amazing show of generosity from Razer and their collaboration with the Pinoy Gaming Festival and cosplay queen Alodia are just one example of the community-first nature of the gaming giant. Razer urges their fans to donate to the victims of the earthquake on the Red Cross website here.
Today Microsoft has released a new trailer for Ryse: Son of Rome called ‘Fight for Rome’ has been released and this time around it is a cinematic video featuring the main character Marius Titus as he ventures through the Roman Empire and takes on numerous opponents in what seems to be a story that will be driven by revenge, betrayal, and ultimately war.
The video can be seen below where those next-gen graphics flex their muscles and as for Ryse: Son of Rome it is currently set to be released alongside the Xbox One as a launch title and is exclusive to the console.
