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THE POWER OF THE COSMOS ARRIVES ON THE PLAYSTATION 3 AS SAINT SEIYA: BRAVE SOLDIERS LAUNCHES IN THE AMERICAS

Philip Federico
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THE POWER OF THE COSMOS ARRIVES ON THE PLAYSTATION 3 AS SAINT SEIYA: BRAVE SOLDIERS LAUNCHES IN THE AMERICAS 

The Ultimate Saint Seiya Experience Awaits Series Fans and Newcomers Alike 

SAN JOSE, Calif., (November 26, 2013) Leading video game publisher and developer NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. today announced the launch of Saint Seiya: Brave Soldiers in North America exclusively through the PlayStation®Network. Titled as Los Caballeros Del Zodiaco: Soldados Valientes in Mexico and in the rest of Spanish speaking Latin America and as Os Cavaleiros Do Zodíaco: Bravos Soldados in Brazil; the game launches in these countries as both a packaged and digitally downloadable product (via PlayStation®Network) exclusively for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system. Saint Seiya: Brave Soldiers brings the classic anime series to life as a fighting game featuring fierce battles that will take players through the entire storyline of one of the most beloved and well known Japanese anime franchises in Mexico, Latin America and Brazil. Saint Seiya: Brave Soldiers also features the original Japanese voiceover and localized subtitles in English, French, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese.

Developed by Osaka-based game developer Dimps®, Saint Seiya: Brave Soldiers features playable characters from the Sanctuary, Poseidon, and Hades story arcs within the Saint Seiya universe. Players will channel the power of the cosmos as they battle characters from Saint Seiya in one-on-one bouts that feature environments and special moves taken directly from the anime series. The game was developed with enhanced graphics and gameplay effects specifically styled to bring the animated series to life. As part of a player’s progression through the game, they will be able to enhance their chosen character’s Hit-Point Gauge, strength levels, and Cosmos Power Gauge. Saint Seiya: Brave Soldiers will also challenge fans across the globe with one-on-one online encounters via versus and ranking modes.

“The Saint Seiya franchise harkens back to a classic era in the anime realm, enjoying a huge and passionate following in Mexico, Latin America, and Brazil,” said Chris Gilbert, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. “The launch of Saint Seiya: Brave Soldiers in the Americas reaffirms NAMCO BANDAI’s commitment to launch titles that truly resonate with different audiences around the globe, including our fans in Latin America.”

Rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB in North America; Saint Seiya: Brave Soldiers is available now exclusively for the PlayStation 3 system in Mexico (MSRP $999.00 MXN), the rest of Latin America (MSRP equivalent to $59.99USD in each country’s currency), and Brazil (MSRP R$199.00) in both a packaged version available at video game retailers and as a digital download purchase. In the U.S. and Canada (MSRP $59.99), Saint Seiya: Brave Soldiers will be available exclusively as a digital download purchase via the PlayStation®Network. All initial copies of Saint Seiya: Brave Soldiers will include a bonus exclusive Gold Saint Aries Shion DLC for a limited time. For more information on the game, please visit the NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. website at: http://www.namcobandaigames.com/home or join us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/NamcoBandai.

Double Fine regains Costume Quest & Stacking publishing rights, partners with Nordic Games for retail release

Philip Federico
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Double Fine regains Costume Quest & Stacking publishing rights, partners with Nordic Games for retail release

Psychonauts, Stacking, Costume Quest to see retail release in North America and Europe in first half of 2014

San Francisco, CA and Vienna, Austria — November 26th, 2013 — Double Fine Productions and Nordic Games have announced that Double Fine has reacquired all the publishing and distribution rights to its games Costume Quest and Stacking. Additionally, Double Fine has decided to partner with Nordic Games to bring retail release of Psychonauts, Costume Quest, and Stacking for Windows and Mac in North America and Europe during the first half of 2014.

“I am pleased that we have regained full control over Costume Quest and Stacking, following a daring and top-secret midnight raid on the Nordic Games headquarters in Vienna,” said Double Fine president and CEO Tim Schafer.

“We can’t wait to partner with Double Fine for this upcoming retail launch of three of its most excellent games,” said Lars Wingefors, owner and CEO of Nordic Games. “However, I feel compelled to point out that we were happy to transfer distribution rights for Costume Quest and Stacking back to Double Fine in an entirely non-secretive and heist-free manner.”

Nordic Games previously acquired the distribution rights to Stacking and Costume Quest upon the bankruptcy of former publisher THQ in early 2013.

“Double Fine is dedicated to controlling its own IP, and we will continue working to bring all associated rights back in-house whenever possible,” said Double Fine business development VP Justin Bailey, “no matter how many split-second security system hacks or painstaking tunneling operations we have to execute.”

“I just want to clarify, again, that we support the right of independent developers to control their own distribution, and we were pleased to have the opportunity to work with Double Fine,” said Klemens Kreuzer, Managing Director at Nordic Games. “No heists.”

Psychonauts was originally released at retail in 2005, but for years has been available only through digital distribution. The upcoming retail launch will mark the first time Costume Quest and Stacking have been available as physical releases.

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About Nordic Games GmbH
Nordic Games GmbH is a wholly owned publishing subsidiary of the  Nordic Games Group AB. Founded in 2011, the Vienna/Austria based company Nordic Games GmbH puts great emphasis on its extensive game catalogue. The core portfolio comprises products and brands which have recently been acquired from JoWooD Entertainment AG, DreamCatcher Interactive Inc., THQ Inc., Atari SAS, and further IPs and trademarks will follow.
The company will pursue the long-term goal of delivering quality products that live up to expectations of gamers worldwide. For more information, please visit www.nordicgames.at.

About Double Fine Productions
Double Fine Productions is a San Francisco-based game developer that makes games with a focus on creativity, characters, and fun. Since its founding in 2000, it has produced the award-winning titles Psychonauts, Brütal Legend, Costume Quest, Stacking, Iron Brigade, Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster, Kinect Party, Middle Manager of Justice, Dropchord, and The Cave. Learn more about Double Fine at  www.doublefine.com.

Icycle: On Thin Ice Review

Joe Morgan
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Icycle: On Thin Ice
Developer: Damp Gnat
Publisher: Chillingo
Platforms: iOS (Reviewed), iPad
Release Date: November 27, 2013
Price : $0.99 (Buy Here)

Overview
Chillingo are no strangers to bringing out unique games that few others would be reticent to touch. Now, Damp Gnat has brought out the sequel to Icycle, a puzzle platformer that has you cycling (literally, on a bicycle) through environments, simply trying to survive. How does the sequel, Icycle: On Thin Ice, hold up? Will you lose yourself in time playing it or should it have stayed in cryostasis?

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Story
The world has ended. For all intents and purposes, the world we once knew is now no more. Dennis has survived, deep asleep in his cryogenic chamber. How did he get here? Where is everyone else? Where are his clothes? He’s awoken to an ice age, naked as his name day, and the only other thing available to him is a children’s bicycle. After a brief daydream, he sets out to explore and see what he can find in this forsaken world.

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Gameplay
Icycle: On Thin Ice is a puzzle platformer. You’ll controller Dennis as he rides his bicycle across the frozen landscape with nothing to aid him but an umbrella he found to slow his fall.

The controls are incredibly straightforward. You can move left or right and jump. In midair you can press and hold the jump button again to deploy your umbrella. That’s pretty much it. In terms of control, it feels mildly reminiscent of a Super Mario game.

Unlike Mario and his adventures, there are no enemies or powerups in Icycle: On Thin Ice. Literally everything has been destroyed. The only things you’ll have to worry about now are environmental hazards that stand in your way as you work to your next objective. Jagged icicles, heavy falling objects, ice flows that push you ever faster through increasingly tight spaces, and more stand to keep you from progressing. No goombas here, but Icycle is better for it.

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The level design is fantastic. There are 20 levels to work through and each offers something unique. Nearly every level has a dynamic aspect to it that keeps you on your toes. The screen can change wildly in front of you, keeping the platforming interesting without ever feeling overbearing. It’s one of the game’s strongest elements. The levels also have multiple objectives, so there’s a significant bit of replay value in each level.

The game has a currency system, believe it or not. Dennis can collect ice blocks as he traverses the levels. These can be used between levels to buy various knick knacks and upgrades. Clothes are included in this (funny hats, shirts, and boots), but oddly enough, he’s never able to find pants. You can also upgrade your bicycle, umbrella, and even get a vacuum to help collect more ice blocks.

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As with virtually every Chillingo game, there’s a pay element players can choose to use. You can purchase a huge bulk of ice blocks using real money. Even after playing through the entire game, though, I can confidently say it’s never really needed. You may want to circumvent the time it takes to earn everything, and that’s fine, but you never feel forced to spend money to progress.

Visuals & Audio
Icycle: On Thin Ice has a wonderfully unique visual style to it. The colors are bright and vibrant, conveying a sense of whimsy amidst total desolation. The animation is slick and fluid, even on older hardware. There are some small, detailed animations you could miss on occasion, but seeing them adds a great sense of flourish and engrossment into the world.

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The audio design in the game is fairly minimalistic, but it serves to feed the sense that you are alone in the world. There’s a total lack of music outside of the intro, but it’s in favor of the sound effects, which really convey the world well. The constant squeaking of the bicycle, the howling winds, and Dennis’s bewildered cries do a wonderful job of providing  an audio landscape of a frozen apocalyptic landscape.

Overall
Overall, Icycle: On Thin Ice is a fun experience that’s well put together. The visuals are fun and vibrant and the sound design does an excellent job conveying Dennis’s plight. The controls are simple and responsive, the level design is interesting and fun, and the unlockables are amusing. Icycle: On Thin Ice is an amusing, engaging ride through the end of the world that anyone can enjoy.

8-0-capsules-out-of-10

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Warlock II: The Exiled Gets First-Ever Screenshots

Joe Morgan
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Warlock II: The Exiled Gets First-Ever Screenshots

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Paradox Interactive, the folks behind the upcoming fantasy strategy game Warlock II: The Exiled, revealed the first gameplay images to hit the world today.

Features of Warlock II: The Exiled inlcude:

  • Spelling Counts – Over 150 spells to add to your tome, allowing command over powerful enchantments, nasty hexes, and elemental forces
  • A Crass Menagerie – Hundreds of different mythical and magical beasts to deploy on the battlefield with distinct tactical uses, from giant rats and dwarven prospectors to werewolves with hats on them
  • Friendship is Magic – A multi-player experience as robust as the single-player experience, including PvP, Co-op PvE, and every combination in between
  • Warlock 2: The Playstyles – Fight your way through the shards to reclaim Ardania in new ‘Exile’ mode or dispatch opponents the old-fashioned way in ‘Sandbox’ mode.

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Coming to PC in Spring of 2014, Warlock II‘s magical fantasy wargame gameplay can be seen in the first few screenshots featured in the gallery below. For more information, you can check out their official website here.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Hits Mobiles December

Vicky Martin
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Thanks to Rockstar Games, GTA fans are being taken back to Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas this December on their iOS, Android, Amazon Kindle and Windows Phone devices.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas will be making a classy entrance, with newly remastered graphics; dynamic and detailed shadows, greater draw distance, enriched colour palette, and enhanced character and car models. The updated version will encompass Los Santos, San Fierro, Las Venturas and everything in between for gamers to relive Grand Theft Auto history.

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In terms of mobile gameplay, there will be brand new touch controls; contextual control options to display buttons only when needed and three different control schemes for driving and manoeuvring, as well as a reworked checkpoint system for easier progression.

With the overwhelming success of Rockstar’s latest Grand Theft Auto V, players can expect to see changes across GTA games; including the rebuilding of the original grand theft auto in 3D.

Stay tuned with Capsule Computers for more updates regarding the release of San Andreas next month!

New Infinite Crisis Hero ‘Mecha Wonder Woman’ Detailed

James Mapley
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Today, the upcoming free-to-play MOBA, Infinite Crisis, had another hero added to its ever-growing roster of characters from the DC Multiverse. That hero is none other than a really rather obscure character called ‘Mecha Wonder Woman’, a robot used for diplomatic purposes by Wonder Woman’s mother, Queen Hippolyta, the leader of the Amazon people.

Her character skills are as follows:

Implacable Judgement – Each basic attack places one stack of Judgement on an enemy. At three stacks of Judgement, they are consumed and the enemy takes bonus power damage.
Glaive Storm – Launch a wide spread of chakram that deal attack damage to the first enemy hit, applying one stack of Implacable Judgement.
Afterburn – Dash to a target location, leaving a trail of scorched earth that deals power damage to those who touch it.
Celerity – A powerful attack speed boost. Place three stacks of Implacable Judgement on an enemy to increase its duration.
Tempest – Mecha Wonder Woman blasts enemies with a cone for 2 seconds, dealing attack damage per second that scales with power and attack damage

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Judging by these abilities and the fact that Mecha Wonder Woman seems to have some of the highest attack and lowest health in the game, it is fair to say that she will almost certainly be played as a glass cannon nuker. Usage of her Afterburn ability and a good team backing you up will be key to success with this hero since she can be easily picked off if found out of position. If you manage to keep her alive long enough for her to get some stacks of Implacable Judgement on a  hero though, she could be a deadly and valuable asset in any team fight. Make sure to check out the video below to see Mecha Wonder Woman in action and to learn a little more about this awesome new hero.

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Infinite Crisis is currently being developed by Turbine Inc, the developers of D&D Online and Lord of the Rings Online. It will be published by Warner Bros at an undisclosed date on the PC platform.

Space Hulk Coming to iPad this December

Andrew Day
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Space Hulk Coming to iPad this December

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After successfully making its way to PC and Mac devices earlier this year, Games Workshop’s 1989 Warhammer 40k board game, Space Hulk is finally making its way to Apple iPad. The 3d, turn-based strategy game developed by Full Control aims to recreate the classic board game experience for both single and multiplayer.

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Set in the isolated corridors and tomb-like chambers of an ancient vessel, players will control a squad of fearless Space Marine Terminators in a battle for survival through a robust 12-mission single player campaign. The campaign is based on the classic “Sin of Damnation,” from the 3rd edition of the board game. Not only that, but there is cross-platform play between all three versions of the game, so you and your friends can battle it out no matter where you are.

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Space Hulk will be hitting the App Store on December 5th for 9.99. Will you be downloading this one, or do you have a physical copy of the game sitting on a shelf somewhere? Let us know in the comments below and as always, stay tuned to Capsule Computers for all the Space Hulk news as it becomes available.

InnoGames presents New Animated Trailer for Forge of Empires

Philip Federico
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InnoGames presents New Animated Trailer for Forge of Empires

Hamburg, November 26, 2013. InnoGames just launched a new marketing campaign for its strategic browser game Forge of Empires. The campaign features a fresh high-quality trailer with vibrant 3D characters and a storyline ascending through the ages of time. The campaign comes shortly before the launch of the game’s iPad version and in the midst of the holiday season. The spot will be released on major television channels around the globe; Thus far, InnoGames has plans to run the spot in ten languages, including English, German, French, Portuguese and Italian.

Forge of Empires is a browser-based strategy game in which players, tasked with leading a city to prosperity, can research new technologies, build impressive historical buildings and enlarge their sphere of influence through military campaigns and skillful dealing. The game has recently been awarded the title of “Best Browser Game 2013” at the German Computer Game Award (Deutscher Computerspielpreis). Besides the browser version, a full app for iOS and Android devices is coming soon. Forge of Empires reached more than 10 million registered users and is playable in 23 languages.

With about 110 million registered players, InnoGames is one of the world’s leading developers and providers of online games. Currently, the Hamburg-based company employs 280 professionals from more than 20 nations. InnoGames has scored major success with games such as Tribal Wars, Grepolis and Forge of Empires.

Harvest Moon 3D: A New Beginning Review

Luke Halliday
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Harvest Moon 3D: A New Beginning
Developer: Marvelous AQL
Publisher: Marvelous AQL
Platform: Nintendo 3DS
Release Date: September 19, 2013
Price: $30.00 – Available Here 

Overview
It is the 15th anniversary of the Harvest Moon series of games and with it comes a release that boasts that it will be a new beginning for Harvest Moon, a series that has been defined by its simple and almost completely unchanged formula. What we have here isn’t exactly a new beginning for the series, but it is a step in a new direction. The thing is, Harvest Moon 3D: A New Beginning really just takes its time in taking that much need step forward. But if you are patient enough, you’ll watch this game grow into something truly special.

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Gameplay
The core formula at the heart of the Harvest Moon franchise is one that has been largely unaltered since the series inception. With Harvest Moon 3D: A New Beginning that formula remains in tact for the most part. The difference here however is that the tried and true formula is expanded upon in subtle yet important ways that take the series forward in a way that feels natural and satisfying.

Starting off slow the game forces you through a hard slog of a tutorial followed by in-game weeks of menial tasks with very little in the way of actual progression. The early parts of the game feel painfully slow at times due to being text heavy and gameplay light. Thankfully after that difficult slog passes things begin to move forward and more options become available to you, bringing out the real Harvest Moon charm rewarding players for the slow start.

Once things kick into gear you’ll be tending to crops and your animals like a true Harvest Moon veteran. The game like previous installments of course focuses on building up your farm, which requires daily attention and tending to. In the beginning this can be done a little too quickly but soon enough it becomes quite a hefty task once your farm expands exponentially.

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Interestingly enough, Harvest Moon 3D: A New Beginning isn’t simply about building up your farm, but it also focuses on building up your town. As you progress your farm, more customization and farming options will open up to you, as you implement these features more and more people will return to your town and it will once again become a prosperous town like it once was.

It is in the journey of rebuilding the farm and town that you see where Harvest Moon 3D: A New Beginning takes a step in a new direction. While previous games focus almost exclusively on expanding your farm and ultimately finding a wife, Harvest Moon 3D: A New Beginning brings exploration into the forefront, giving new locations for the player to discover and gain resources from. It adds some extra layers to the gameplay that makes for some great fun. However what really makes Harvest Moon 3D: A New Beginning so special is the way in which it rewards players for there tiresome efforts. The more effort you put into your farm, the more you are rewarded with customization options and other abilities along the way.

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The game does struggle a little in the story department, but that has never exactly been Harvest Moon’s strongest or even most important facet. The plot is simple at best and serves the purpose of setting up the game quite well, but it is nothing Harvest Moon fans haven’t seen before.

What Harvest Moon 3D: A New Beginning ultimately brings to the table isn’t change or a new beginning, but a nice improvement upon the basic formula that has echoed throughout each and every Harvest Moon game to date. It isn’t a leap forward into new horizons but this is a nice solid step into some expanded territory for the series and in that regard it is a success.

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Visuals and Audio
The graphics for Harvest Moon 3D: A New Beginning are vibrant and brimming with life but at times ring a little hollow with some of the charm of previous installments being lost in this Nintendo 3DS exclusive. Some textures are simply flat with no sense of depth, which is an odd contrast given the consoles 3D feature. The palette can lean a little to much to the brighter side of the spectrum at times leaving some portions of the visuals with a plastic vibe that feels somewhat artificial. It is a mixed experience aesthetically, but still a decent first go round making it specifically for the 3DS.

As for the score, it is as fluffy as you’d expect from Harvest Moon and at times quite quaint. The musical composition are well conceived all around with some memorable tracks to boot. For the most part the soundtrack amplifies the gameplay by giving it a playful child-like wonder and an atmosphere of glee that fits Harvest Moon just right.

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Overall
What Marvelous AQL have done with Harvest Moon 3D: A New Beginning is not exactly revolutionary but it is a pleasant enough game that builds upon the series’s successful formula in logical ways opening up the series to some new ideas. Fans of the Harvest Moon series will no doubt find themselves rekindling their love affair with the series once more with Harvest Moon 3D: A New Beginning. It is without a doubt the natural progression for this series which has been defined by its insistence on staying the same.

It should be said that this is easily the biggest and best Harvest Moon title to date. It has everything you’d expect from a Harvest Moon game and even more to boot. Whether it is farming crops, tending to your silly little animals or wooing a lovely lady, Harvest Moon 3D: A New Beginning is the definitive Harvest Moon experience. This isn’t really a new beginning for the series so much as it is the pinacle of it. Harvest Moon 3D: A New Beginning is Harvest Moon at its very best. Well what are you waiting for? A new moon is rising and its time for a brand new harvest.

8-0-capsules-out-of-10

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Pokémon The Movie: Genesect And The Legend Awakened release date set for North America

Travis Bruno
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Pokémon The Movie: Genesect And The Legend Awakened release date set for North America

pokemon-genesect-and-the-legend-awaken-coverToday Viz Media has announced that fans of Pokémon can expect the next movie, Pokémon The Movie: Genesect And The Legend Awakened to be released in North America on December 3rd. The release will be on DVD only and will cost $19.97 and it will also include a special Pokémon trading card in every print while supplies last. The manga adaptation for the movie will also be released on the same date and will cost only $9.99.

Pokémon The Movie: Genesect And The Legend Awakened follows Ash, Pikachu, and their friends as they have to rescue a city’s power grid after a group of Genesect start to make their nest there. To make things worse, Mewtwo appears and the leader of the Genesect takes issue with its presence. We recently reviewed the English cinematic version of the movie and that review can be found here.

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