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Wolfenstein: The New Order Hands-off Demo Impressions

October 10, 2013

William ‘B.J.’ Blaskowicz is back and he’s crazy as ever! Literally… although comatose (a big although), he’s been in a mental asylum for 14 years for Christ’s sake! Or shall I say Hitler’s sake, for when he breaks out in 1960 and re-enters civilisation, he finds that the Nazi forces have won the war and are in total control. Do you think the former Captain would stand for this? Hell no!

At Bethesda‘s booth on the EB Games expo 2013 show floor, we were treated to a hands-off demo of the upcoming ninth entry in the long-standing, genre-defining franchise that – you may have ascertained – presents an alternate timeline. Being developed by MachineGames – a new studio owned by Zenimax and made up of former Starbreeze developers – Wolfenstein: The New Order utilises the id Tech 5 engine and seems at first to be a very basic shooter, although we are assured that there will be substantial variety in this single-player only experience. Nonetheless, just because it might be basic, doesn’t mean it can’t be satisfying.

B.J. has found his way onto a secret nazi base…okay, by “found”, I mean a driver sacrificed his life by crashing his vehicle into the side of the facility, allowing B.J. a decidedly ostentatious entrance. Soldiers swarm on the brash and patriotic warrior, who brutally guns them down. While we couldn’t get out hands on the game, it is immediately clear just how impactful and heavy the guns are. The decibel count on those bad boys is high; I mean these weapons are loud! And huge! B.J. doesn’t mess around… and neither do the Nazis, who have large mechs at their disposal.

Wolfenstein: The New Order is an old school shooter, which is probably the absolute best, most succinct way to class it. It’s essence is in line with the soul of the genre, which is simply killing bad guys. Nothing too fancy here, although there are a few newer elements that have implemented. Of note is the laser cutter, which can be used two different ways: as an offensive weapon, and as a tool. While you can certainly fry the Third Reich baddies like bacon, its the laser cutter’s functionality as a puzzle solver that is most intriguing. Not only is it useful for specific moments where something needs to be cut or unlinked, but it can also be used for more impromptu purposes…

Need to be stealthy, but don’t want to risk leaving the comfort of your cover? Laser a hole into your current cover and shoot through it! Don’t want to waste ammo, but are too curious to leave that crate untouched? Laser a hole in it and find that you were right! Grab that health pack! Wood, metal… the laser cutter can burn through most materials, and in any shape your artistic heart desires. It’s a very cool mechanic that definitely adds a little freshness to proceedings. It’s also good for finding hidden pathways and possibly collectibles. One cool usage for the laser was cutting through the breaks of an elevator while standing on the counterweight, which whips B.J. upwards at breakneck speed. It will need to be charged at battery bays, so you will have to be wary of its ammo level.

Advancing through the facility and discovering that Nazi’s landed on the moon, B.J. spouts one of the most ridiculous lines ever recorded: “They sent nazi’s to the moon? Fuck you moon!”. That should give you a solid idea of the pulpy tone found within. Is this the sort of stable man who should be dual-wielding powerful shotguns? Should anyone? They literally blot out half of the screen and demolish everything in their path. If I was a nazi, I would run. I’d also secure my experimental weaponry more tightly, as B.J. comes across an advanced version of his laser cutter called the laser kraftwerk.

Acquiring the above-mentioned laser kraftwerk requires a mini-puzzle solution, as you can operate the stationary gun, but a blast door absorbs the laserbeam and nothing happens. You have to climb the encasement, laser through the chains holding the blast door – resulting in it falling to the ground with a big thud – operate the gun again, wait out the giant, gaping, circular hole it makes in the glass wall and you can then detach it. The comparatively puny laser cutter is then discarded by B.J., who says gruffly, and plainly, “No!” as he does so. As an aside, as he leaves the area, I noticed a notification popping up saying that concept art of the zone had been unlocked.

In the final coup de gras for the demonstration, B.J. enters a hangar area, stealthily stabs a nazi and then goes to town with his “two of a kind” shotguns, rifles and more. Wolfenstein: The New Order is visceral, and the whole laser mechanic is a refreshing inclusion. It is scheduled for release sometime in 2014 for the Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3 and PC. And with Zenimax opening up an office in Sydney, hopefully next year Bethesda’s presence and impact at the annual EB Games Expo will be even greater.

FIFA 14 National Championship Finals Results

Zac Elawar

October 9, 2013

FIFA 14 National Championship Finals Results

Back during September 25-26, EA Games Australia hosted heats for the FIFA 14 National Championship. Conducted at Hoyts Cinemas across the country, the final eight emerged and converged at EB Games Expo 2013 after winning economy class airfares to Sydney and one night’s accommodation.

At the show, the semi-finals and finals were decided and then conducted on the final day of the expo. So, what was up for grabs? The ultimate winner would go on to earn the title of Australia’s EA SPORTS National FIFA 14 Champion, $3,000 in the form of a giant novelty check, a FIFA 14 and EA SPORTS Football Club Official Wired Controller and a huge trophy that kicks-balls! Soccer balls… I could have avoided that…. The runner-up also received the controller and a miniature version of said trophy. The festivities’ hosts were Jeremy ‘Junglist’ Ray of former ‘Good Game’ fame and currently the Telstra BigPond GameArena webshow ‘5-inch Floppy’, and David Basheer, host of ‘The World Game’ on SBS.

A couple of our four semi-finalists may be familiar to those on the circuit: Kieran ‘Muzza’ Murray, Matt Russell, Steven Currie and ‘Humpty’… I just like the idea of simply calling him ‘Humpty’. The semi-final match-ups were determined by a classic draw from a hat. First up was ‘Scurrie’, as Junglist Christened him, and Matt Russell. Each game was contested under 6 minute halves, with no substitutions allowed unless a player is injured – and not in the case of those pansy bandage icon injuries… we’re talking ‘health cross’ injury. Both sides chose to select Brazil as their team, but it was ‘Scurrie’ who came out victorious with a beautiful finish by Ramires from the masterful lob through-ball pass by Alves at the 13 minute mark.

Next, ‘Muzza’ played ‘Humpty’ to another 1-0 result, as another mirror match – this time in Germany vs Germany – ended with Klose completing a fantastic header from the corner for ‘Humpty’. Before finding out who will reign supreme, David and ‘Junglist’ took a break from commentary to introduce special guests: striker Tahj Minniecon and goalkeeper Jerrad Tyson from the Western Sydney Wanderers. The two briefly answered questions on the A-League, and their experience with the FIFA video game series. When asked what it is like playing under coach Tony Popovic, Jerrad stated; “It hurts!”. The two then went on to prove their prowess in football, not just on the pitch, but in-game, although Tahj’s Arsenal dismantled Jerrad’s Bayern Munich 2-0. Guess his skills as a goalie don’t translate?

And finally, the much anticipated final had arrived. Keeping their originally selected teams, ‘Scurrie’ and ‘Humpty’ engaged in a greatly competitive match… for the first half; Klose with a finesse shot at 19′ and Hulk responding at 42′ with a stunning header. But then, ‘Humpty’s’ Germany ran away with it, as Klose scored a hat trick after an amazing diving header at 50′ and the culmination of an immensely skillful build-up at 88′. Then, for the icing on the proverbial cake, Ozil strikes for goal at literally the last minute! Humpty goes home with the spoils and an impressive 4-1 win against a long time veteran of the franchise.

FIFA is one of those games that is actually enjoyable to watch, and these guys put on a clinic. Congratulations to all the contestants for a magnificent effort!

Disney Infinity Wave 2 Begins This Month

Andrew Day

October 9, 2013

Are you still playing Disney Infinity? Are you starting to crave the next lot of content? Well guess what, starting this Halloween, Wave 2 will officially be on store shelves. From October 31st, Disney will be releasing a bunch of new figures, Play Sets and Power Discs.

Wave 2 will be lead by the infamous Pumpkin King himself, Jack Skellington. Hitting store shelves on Halloween, he will be playable in the Toy Box Mode. To celebrate Jack’s release, Disney have released a video which you can check out at the bottom of the artivle. Judging from the video, he has all the appearance and movement style that fans have come to expect. Sadly, he wont be playable in any of the game’s Play Sets, however two of the Power Discs in the second wave will allow you to customise the look of your Toy Box to reflect Halloween Town, including the curly mountain that has become synonymous with the film.

Joining The Pumpkin King on October 31st is the latest Play Set: Toy Story in Space. The Play Set is shaping up to be one of the best of the lot, and will come included with Buzz Lightyear and Jessie figures. The figures are fantastically designed and will look great on their own, or alongside the rest of your Disney Infinity collection.

Lastly, there are three special edition figurines that are exclusive to EB Games and are crystal variants of the Starter Set characters; Mr. Incredible, Jack Sparrow and Sully. they are primarily clear, with some of their features and detailing still coloured. They have different skills and abilities from their regular counterparts, and also get their own section in the Hall of Heroes. They were initially only available for pre-order at this year’s EB Games Expo. These crystal figures are incredibly limited, so if you haven’t ordered them yet, then you might want to head down to your local EB Games store to do so.

So that is a brand new Play Set, and four other figures all coming out on October 31st. This is far from the end of Disney Infinity, as the next lot of figures is set to release on November 28th, and will include characters from Wreck-It Ralph and Frozen among others. Since Disney Infinity is still going strong, remember to stay tuned to Capsule Computers for all the Disney Infinity news as it becomes available.

Hands-on with Battlefield 4’s Paracel Storm Map

Zac Elawar

October 9, 2013

Battlefield 4 had one of the most consistently busy lines at EB Games Expo 2013, with FPS fans clamouring to get their hands on the multiplayer demo available at the show. At one point, the line was held up because One Direction apparently wanted to come through and try a round… although we actually never saw them. Not that I was waiting with baited breath or anything… ahem, well, moving on. We were able to cut in (VIP Quick-Pass, yeah, that’s right) and play through a match on the Paracel Storm map – running on a PC with Xbox 360 controllers (don’t hate me!).

Split into the United States Marine Corps and Russian Ground Forces, we engaged in the new Obliteration match-type. Officially revealed at Gamescom back in August, Obliteration tasks each team with simultaneously defending three M-COM stations whilst attempting to destroy the opposing team’s with a bomb. After spawning, a notification alerts the players to the position of the bomb, of which there is only one at any given time. The bomb can be dropped, and when a station is successfully dismantled, its position resets and the scramble starts all over again. If neither team wipes out the other’s stations, the winners are determined by highest team score at round’s end.

At first, we considered Paracel Storm an interesting choice for this kind of objective because it is quite wide open. There is one main island in the centre of the map with buildings and constructs for urban warfare, and seven or so smaller isles surrounding it. Jet-ski’s provide the means for a quick escape – especially for the man with possession of the explosive – but there are so many angles and approaches to be aware of. And with each M-COM station based on a small isle, you literally have to defend 360 degrees around. This singular map embodies the original tagline of ‘Land. Air. Sea’, and in the end, is conducive to the cat and mouse style gameplay that Obliteration evolves into.

At the deploy screen, you have the necessary and expected options as it regards load-outs and initial set-up. You can spawn in on a fellow squad-mate, who may be riding a jet-ski, running, parachuting in or even piloting an attack chopper. In the case of finding yourself at the helm of a vehicle, you can easily switch among its various seats and functions at the press of a button. The game runs very smoothly at 60fps, and what was immediately noticeable was the perfect blending between animations for soldiers on-foot. Character models shift weight when turning and jumps do not look canned like in most first person-shooters. In-continuity with the Levolution system that’s been introduced, there is a much higher level of destructibility on a more minute level, as well.

Speaking of Levolution, Paracel Storm features two key events that alter the landscape: a devastating tropical storm that affects vision and even mobility – so don’t get caught in an amphibious vehicles when the waters get choppy – and a destroyer that actually changes the layout as it crashes into the Earth. Although we didn’t experience the height of these set-pieces in our play-through, feedback from other players suggests that it is very effective (and you’ll be able to find out for yourself as Paracel Storm is added to the open beta map list). A highlight of the match was shooting at an airborne Z-11W from an abandoned RCB-90’s M134 Minigun, which was quite satisfying, and exemplary of the visual feedback you get when landing direct hits on aircrafts as it lit up with fiery FX.

Our time was brief, but the improvements since Battlefield 3 are clear. And with the promise of truly dynamic, changing arenas thanks to Levolution, Battlefield 4 should really live up to its namesake. It releases October 29th for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC and at launch for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in November. In the meantime, check out our interview from the expo with DICE Creative Director Lars Gustavsson.

Forza Motorsport 5 Hands-On Preview

Luke Halliday

October 9, 2013

During EB Expo 2013 at Microsoft’s Xbox booth, we were lucky enough to get our hands on the latest installment in the Forza Motorsport racing game series, Forza Motorsport 5.

Much like its predecessors, Forza Motorsport 5 focuses heavily on creating a highly realistic gameplay experience for players. Be it the tight control scheme that is both easy to learn and difficult to master, or it’s astonishing photo-realistic visuals, it is evident that Turn10 Studios have prioritized realism.

On the Xbox One we see just how much a leap the Forza Motorsport series has made, with here to before impossibilities now becoming a reality with Forza Motorsport 5. Most interestingly for Aussies, would be the inclusion of the famous Mount Panorama track at Bathurst. It is a legendary track, but one that for a long time now has been difficult to capture realistically due to the immensity of it. With the power of the Xbox One, tracks that require such intense detail like Mount Panorama are possible.

Another new inclusion to Forza Motorsport 5, is another feature that was previously not possible in the series. That is of course the Drivatar feature, which is constantly sending data on your playstyle and other details to the cloud, to allow others to race you even when you are not online to play the game. It’s an ingenious system, the looks to work superbly.

The game also features the most expansive selection of playable vehicles ever seen in a Forza Motorsport game, with a plethora of cars from all manner of makers such as Ferrari and McLaren. There is of course some Holdens there for Aussies to get comfy in. Not only can you take these cars for a spin in a number of different race modes but you can also dive into the new and improved vista mode, which is now titled ForzaVista rather than AutoVista. Unlike previous titles, you will be able to explore every single vehicle in the game in great depth in this mode.

There is also the career mode, which allows you to compete in a number of races and competitions, unlocking different vehicles along the way and earning credits. The career mode features detailed commentary from Top Gear, highlighting the different types of races and vehicles you can take on.

An interesting alteration to the career mode is the ability to choose which types of races and tournaments you would like to partake in, rather than being forced into a set schedule that puts you into cars you don’t care for and races that bore you. Instead you can play the game your own way and to your liking. This looks to prevent players from being burned out on the career mode by putting them in control of what they want to do and how they want to progress. Its another ingenious addition to the game.

As previously mentioned, Forza Motorsport 5 is aesthetically gorgeous. The incredible amount of detail is utterly awe-inspiring, be it the way light refracts or the way that paint wears out or the grass moves. It is all thanks to the monster effort of Turn10 Studios and it’s a job well done undoubtedly.

Forza Motorsport 5 is shaping up to be the must-have title for the Xbox One and quite the impressive racing video-game as well. It builds upon the foundations set in Forza Motorsport 4 and develops it into bigger and brighter things. The Xbox One’s power is put to the test with Forza Motorsport 5 and it holds up nicely. This is the game to look out for on Xbox One.

Hometown Story gets a new English trailer

Travis Bruno

October 9, 2013

Hometown Story gets a new English trailer

Now that Natsume has announced the release date for Hometown Story, which happens to be a little under two weeks away at this point, the company has also decided to release a new English trailer for the game which you can check out below.

Unlike past games from Yasuhiro Wada, the original man behind the Harvest Moon series, the game will follow the player as they inherit their grandmother’s shop that happens to be in their hometown. Since your grandmother’s passing, the shop has become so run down that barely anyone visits it anymore and players must now work to not only live out their own lives in the game but also restore the store and make it better than it ever was in the past.

Assassin’s Creed IV season pass announced alongside new trailer

Travis Bruno

October 9, 2013

It should be pretty much accepted at this point that anytime a game is announced by a major studio or is close to being released, that a season pass of some sort will be announced and low and behold here we are with a season pass for Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag.

Today Ubisoft has announced that the season pass which will cost $20 regardless of the console you buy it on will offer players a bunch of DLC at a one time cost that will save gamers 20% if they choose to buy it all individually. Anyways, the DLC includes things such as a ship pack, weapons, collectibles, characters for online and also a single player DLC mission following Adewale.

A trailer has been released for this single-player DLC which you can check out below. Also, you can also check out our latest hands on coverage with the title here.

Alpha Kimori Episode 1 Review

Sergei Lazarev

October 9, 2013

Alpha Kimori Episode 1
Developer: Sherman3D
Publisher: Sherman3D
Platforms: PC
Release Date: March 24, 2011
Price: $14.99 – Available Here

Overview
Alpha Kimori Episode 1, the start of a trilogy, is a little-known JRPG that was developed using RPG Maker and released back in 2011. Inspired by anime and classic turn-based RPGs, Alpha Kimori mixes science fiction with fantasy to craft what is a fairly original story. Read on to see what we thought of this brave attempt from an indie title.

Story
Alpha Kimori is set in a world 50 years after aliens have invaded Earth. Wait, don’t go! Earth isn’t featured at all here, because the game is set on the planet Kimori which is being fought over by two very different human factions. The Bidarians who are technologically advanced, prosperous and enforce hegemony through overwhelming military force. Worshipping their fallen ship Alpha and unquestionably ruled by the Elder Council, the Bidarians use mech units called Angel RICA (Robotic Intelligent Cybernetic Armor) and engineered warriors known as Kimorians that are infused with Ki Crystals.

On the other side you have the Jinrians, humans who can transmute into huge beasts and have foregone violence and advanced technology to protect the planet’s native fauna, which harbour valuable Ki Crystals that are needed to power the Bidarian war machine. The clash of idealogies here is at fever pitch. Such a creative and unique background story came completely by surprise.

You play as Rick, a Kimorian warrior bred for battle but clouded with doubt ever since he met a Jinrian princess who convinced him that killing is wrong. The plot revolves around juggling his official duty and sympathising with the creatures he is forced to kill. I must say the game got dangerously close to overdoing this theme by constantly changing Rick’s position on the matter. I’ve rarely seen a character commit treason so often yet is free to pick and choose sides without suffering immediate consequences.

At 5 and a half hours long, the plot of Episode 1 doesn’t drag on and is definitely the highlight of Alpha Kimori. While a bit dull and padded out in the middle, the final battle’s revelations and cliffhanger more than made up for the occasional lull in story development.

Gameplay
Sherman3D has managed to create an entertaining world containing most of the hallmarks of classic JRPGs. You have a major city, a limited outer world and several locations such as a Great Forest to traverse. While this is a tried-and-true system, it has one flaw which is painfully annoying once you have to backtrack. To reach the Tropical Forest, for example, you must head through two areas. Each time you’re sent on a fetch quest. Then again when you’re just about near the end and you’re forced to deviate from your path.

Combat is solid and works well. You have standard attacks as well as special moves that consume Ki, like mana. Once during the game you pilot the mech RICA unit, but you’ll be battling them the old-fashioned way most of the time. Unfortunately things can get a little repetitive but luckily the game wraps up in due time. You can equip a limited variety of weapons and armour that can be found or bought at the city’s shops, and a number of crystals are used to heal and empower your characters.

Visuals
Alpha Kimori is colourful with some really attractive character and art designs usually reserved for bigger budget RPGs. While the engine isn’t technically impressive, the team has made use of RPG Maker in a really skillful fashion. Something like this would feel great on a handheld and one can only hope these games make their way over in the future. The game weaves modern elements such as mechs with swords and magic, and the battles show this off to great effect.

There was only one noticeable slowdown during the final battle as things got very busy on the screen. But that can be attributed to the unleashing of a devastating attack that you get your hands on at the end.

Audio
Aside from the beautiful title screen, the first thing players will notice in this game is the music. The catchy main theme of the game is sung by virtual idol Hatsune Miku and you’ll hear it several times during significant parts of the game. It’s a shame that the song is too short, however, and often keeps looping during a drawn-out boss fight for example. The rest of the music sounds great and is very typical of a Japanese RPG. The only problem is the lack of variety in music, and by the end you’ll be hearing one of the tracks over and over in your sleep.

The final boss battle featured an amazing piece of music, though, and was a refreshing reward after spending five hours hearing a couple or more tracks in total.

Overall
Alpha Kimori Episode 1 is a worthy attempt at a JRPG in indie form. It hits all the right notes while delivering a wonderful concept and plot that is sure to heat up in Episode 2. The science fiction elements had me thinking back to Star Ocean, while the moral and philosphical themes reminded me of our modern society and in particular a certain dominant superpower today. At a budget price I can wholeheartedly recommend Alpha Kimori despite a few flaws, especially if you’re a little weary of some of the rehashed and tired themes of JRPGs that we’ve seen this past generation.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z announced for PC release

Travis Bruno

October 9, 2013

Today it has been announced by Tecmo Koei that Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z will be getting a PC release via Steam. While we knew that the game was going to be hitting the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 sometime in early 2014 this is great news for PC gamers who had no other alternative to picking up the game.

As for the game itself, it features a new lead character named Yaiba, a cyborg ninja who seems fixated on tracking down previous Ninja Gaiden protagonist Ryu Hayabusa. Whilst in battle, Yaiba can utilize the environment to help incapacitate his zombie foes and can rip off their limbs and use them as weapons.

BioShock Infinite Burial At Sea First 5 Minutes Video

Frank Inglese

October 9, 2013

The title says it all folks; what we have right here is the Opening sequence and gameplay, no combat though, of the next BioShock Infinite DLC titled “Burial At Sea”. Only just a few days ago we were given not only a live-action trailer for the game but a list of the achievements that will accompany the DLC and it seems like the folks over at Irrational Games and 2K Games aren’t letting up just yet.

This is an official video and it shows Elizabeth’s first interaction with Booker and it also gives us subtle hints at what exactly this DLC is all about. Now I have to issue a “spoiler warning” because this could be seen as a one and, depending on who you are, a big one at that. Anyway, enough out of me, head down to the Featured Video Section below to check out the full 5-minute video of the game and let us know what you think about it all in the comments section just below that. Speculation is encouraged!

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