EA have just released a plethora of brand new screenshots for the hotly anticipated racing game Need For Speed Rivals. The screenshots highlight the game’s incredible personalisation features, allowing you to swag up your ride with a distinct and personal look unique to you.
The personalisation feature came about due to the fact that players will constantly encounter one another in the online open world of the game. The developers decided some level of personalisation would be appreciated in order to distinguish and set yourself apart from the rest of the racers.
You can check out some screenshots in the gallery below to see what the game’s personalisation feature offers. Need For Speed Rivals is slated for release on November 21st, 2013.
While we’re frothing over the robot shenanigans of Pacific Rim, Japan is preparing its own, somewhat more down-to-earth film in the form of a live-action Patlabor adaptation.
A new and fairly awesome visual has been posted on the official website for the film during the Taiwan International Comic Expo. A detailed, life-sized prop was curiously spotted by onlookers in Tokyo before the reveal and now we can see exactly why.
Titled The Next Generation -Patlabor-, the movie adapts the original concept of the classic series Mobile Police Patlabor which consequently spawned two OVAs, a TV anime and three anime films. Audio and CGI studio Omnibus Japan is apparently co-producing the project with a portfolio of Ghost in the Shell and the Evangelion movies under its belt.
Brace yourselves for a trailer sometime in the near future as more info comes out ahead of its 2014 release. In the meantime, just look at that stunning promotional poster below!
From the producer of Paranormal Activity and Insidious, Jason Blum, and the director of The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)and The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Scott Derrickson, comes Sinister – a supernatural horror film starring Ethan Hawke as a washed-up true crime writer who moves house to pursue a new, most disturbing mass-murder tale. Icon Home Entertainment has brought the home media release to Australian shores under its ‘Insomnia’ line. But as is the benchmark for the best horror films…will Sinister actually cause you to lose sleep?…
Story
Talk about setting a tone…when a movie starts off with Super 8 footage of a family being hung from a tree in their own backyard, you learn what to expect from that film on the spot. Months after this occurrence, Ellison Oswalt (Hawke) moves his family into the victims’ home, with them being none the wiser. But it wouldn’t be necessarily be a shock to them if they found out, as Ellison – a true-crime author – is guilty of previously convincing the family to move in pursuance of a story. When his wife, Tracy (Juliet Rylance) asks “we didn’t just move two doors down from a crime scene, did we?”, he assures her no…with the dramatic irony of the audience knowing that this is the murder house.
The family’s house-warming period isn’t as smooth as they’d hoped, with their night terror-prone son Trevor (Michael Hall D’Addario) re-experiencing his frightful fits in the first nights. Their other child, daughter Ashley (Clare Foley) is settling in more peacefully, being allowed to draw on her bedroom walls to help make it her own. Soon after moving in, Ellison find a box in the attic filled with Super 8 film reels, and a projector to play them on. They are labelled “Pool Party ’66“, “BBQ ’79“, “Lawn Work ’86“, “Sleepy Time ’98” and “Family Hanging Out ’11”. They sound like innocent enough home movies, and at first they seem like it, but Ellison quickly discovers them to be home video of multiple triple/quadruple homicides.
Through viewing these recordings, Ellison discovers a couple constants: an unknown symbol painted somewhere on every crime scene and a dark, unsettling figure present in each. Later, Ellison finds children’s drawings referring to the unidentified presence as “Mr. Boogie”. From this point on, Ellison journeys to discover everything he can about this…’thing’, the cult-like imagery and what ties the murders together. Along the way to doing this, he comes across a helpful and somewhat awestruck Deputy So-and-So (what he actually refers to him as in person, and on his mobile contact) played by James Ransone, and reaches out to a local professor whose expertise lies in the occult, named Jonas (Vincent D’Onofrio).
Sinister relies on a consistent sense of tension and dread, with a few pop-up scares thrown in for good measure. Though many readable, common horror movie tropes abound – such as the spooky photographs and supernatural interference – many are subverted, and the premise is definitely unnerving, helped along by the impressive production. The disappointing thing with movie-marketing and advertising is that too much is revealed pre-release, and with Sinister, half the scares have been included in promotional trailers. For that reason, maybe Sinister lost some of its effect on me, and I therefore don’t consider it to be a truly terrifying movie, but the film is so well made and features a brilliant performance by Hawke that I appreciate it on those fronts.
Visuals & Audio
Sinister is very dark, not just in tone, but in lighting and composition. The film is muted in colour, and was shot with rarely anything more than natural light, meaning that night-time scenes relied on being lit by the glow of the projector screen Ellison becomes obsessed with, the moonlight beaming through the windows or some other secondary source such as a laptop screen or iPhone flash (the official screens included in this article have had their brightness/levels adjusted for visibility). This results in a real-life feel without the need to resort to using shaky cam or found footage techniques; Scott Derrickson has now given all future horror directors the blueprint.
Audio-wise, Sinister is understated; quiet during the day scenes, but as soon as night falls and Ellison decides to turn on the projector for one more bout of observation, or is investigating strange sounds (as you do?) the eerie and ominous music kicks in, filled with buzzing, static noises, rumbling and low, pulsing bass. The dissonant underscore by Christopher Young amplifies the foreboding with these low-frequency effects. Specifically, during the death-scenes in each video, this distorted singing or chanting can be heard that is unbelievably frightening in its own right. Overall, Sinister has one of the best audio treatments I’ve heard in a long time.
Extras
This blu-ray release from Icon Home Entertainment holds only two special features. True Crime Authors (9:16) is an interesting feature that has numerous individuals in the field – the majority of them writers themselves – talking about the profession, the effect it has on someone’s psyche and more. Living in a House of Death (11:31) looks at the history of murder houses in America, how real estate companies can continue to sell them, and who exactly feels comfortable living in such haunted properties. Although the extras are scant in quantity and don’t focus on the film’s production itself, they are relevant, fairly meaty and fascinating.
Overall
Sinister features some classic horror genre tropes (creepy little girls anyone?), with a somewhat slow burn to a creative two-part twist, although half of that equation was more than hinted at beforehand – it was flat out stated. Yet, Sinister is definitely more creative than 90% of the “horror” that has been churned out in the last decade. It’s not a remake, it’s not shot in shaky cam, and it features a fresh villain – albeit one heavily inspired by The Ring. The blu-ray transfer is great, but I was disappointed to see the commentaries and deleted scenes from the U.S. release cut. All things considered, this blu-ray is a solid release for a solid film.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
The updated build promises various improvements and additions from the original version including the ability to level up your character and upgrade pins. The indie game is currently playable in its alpha stage, or alpha-funding, if you pre-order the game for $17.99USD on Steam.
The game’s description states, “Full Mojo Rampage is a rogue-like game that takes place within the confines of the Voodoo reality. In this realm only the most powerful rites and powers can provide a safeguard against evil. Dying is not the end, only the beginning to becoming a stronger voodoo soul!”
We recently had the chance to preview the unique indie game and we walked away impressed. Check out the trailer too in case you missed it!
This week’s deal of the week goes to the Humble Origin Bundle. For $1.00, buyers can snag a copy of Dead Space, Burnout Paradise: The Ultimate Box, Crysis 2 Maximum Edition, Mirror’s Edge, Dead Space 3, and Medal of Honor. For a larger purchase price, buyers can snag Battlefield 3 and The Sims 3 with a few DLCs. All the games are for Origin and those that are available on Steam also come with Steam keys. EA is making no direct profit from this bundle. Their share of the profits are going to support five great charities, so I personally encourage frugal buyers to donate as much as they can afford.
This week’s theme is EA and Sega titles. If you are too frugal to purchase Rome: Total War II at full price, consider purchasing one of the older Total War titles instead!
Once again, GMG is running a 20% off digital games coupon this weekend. Try adding the coupon GMG20-4B9NY0L4FEN to your purchase for an extra 20% off your price. There’s no harm in trying!
This bundle contains pretty much every single Total War game and DLC ever released on Steam. If you’re a huge fan of strategy or willing to take a risk on the series, this is probably the best price you’ll get for all the games.
For those unwilling to buy all the DLCs and expansions, try the Master Collection. For half the price, buyers can get all the base Total War games then purchase the DLCs and expansions for the games they like separately.
For those looking for something a little more light hearted without going to Saints Row level silliness, check out these older titles. Grand Theft Auto Vice City is considered to have the finest soundtrack in the whole series.
If you are looking to play the legendary Day Z mod, you will need to purchase ArmA 2 and ArmA 2 Operation Arrowhead. ArmA 2 Combined Operations contains both titles which makes this bundle the cheapest way to play Day Z.
It looks like Disney is putting a lot of stock into their (very) soon to be released game, Disney Infinity. Their brilliant minds have been hard at work, not only getting the game ready for our eager little hands, but also preparing two mobile companion apps for the game. Disney Infinity: Action and Disney Infinity: Toy Box, aim to expand on the Disney Infinity console experience, and allow it to transcend its boundaries to become one of the most connected, cross-platform franchises ever created.
Disney Infinity: Action puts players in the role of a Disney film director, allowing them to make scenes featuring the Disney Infinity character roster (starting initially with Jack Sparrow, Mr. Incredible and Sully). Players and their families can even get in on the action and stand side by side with their heroes. Want to flex Muscles with Mr. Incredible, have a scare-off against Sully? Well with Disney Infinity: Action, you CAN!
Disney Infinity: Toy Box is the other companion app being released, and it ties into the console game in a big way. With this app, you will be able to access the Disney Infinity Toy Box from wherever you are. You will be able to make, edit and share brand new toy box worlds and games all without turning your console on. Furthermore, through the use of a special log-in, you will be able to access your console Toy Box on your iPad and vice-versa, allowing you to pick up right where you left off, no matter where you are.
Disney Infinity for consoles is set to release on August 22nd on Wii U, PS3, Xbox 360 and 3DS. Meanwhile, you can grab Disney Infinity: Action! here on your iPad right now totally for free (It will be available on Google Play in the coming days, so stay tuned) Disney Infinity: Toy Box will be available in the coming weeks, so for all the Disney Infinity news as it becomes available, be sure to stay tuned to Capsule Computers.
Join Capsule Computers editor Joe Morgan as he recaps all of the video game, anime, movie, and manga reviews for the week of August 4 – August 10, 2013. This feature is intended as a way to give you, our readers, a quick recap of every game we’ve reviewed on the site each week. The goal is to let you get the review information you want in five minutes or less.
Overview
Any sports fan can identify with the excitement and intensity of a sudden death overtime situation. Whether hockey, American football, soccer, or any other sport, there’s just something that will cause you to stop and watch, even if you weren’t interested before. Perfect Kick from Gamegou and Chillingo is looking to capture and capitalize on that very thing – a best-of-five soccer shootout. Is it a yellow card or is it truly a perfect kick? Let’s find out.
Gameplay
The gameplay is fairly straightforward. Players are pitted against one another in a head-to-head shootout. Each player will take their turn as kicker and goalie, alternating off after each kick. The match goes until someone has taken the best of five or, in the event of a tie, until the tie is broken. It’s no FIFA game, but it’s solid in its own right.
The controls are responsive and intuitive, making for a seamless, easy-to-pick-up gameplay experience. As the kicker, you’ll draw the kick path on the screen. As the goalie, you’ll draw your defensive maneuver on the screen with your finger as well.
There’s actually quite a lot of nuance built into the kicks you can perform. As you would expect with a real life shootout, the goalie is constantly going to be wondering and guessing your next shot, so you’re equipped with several ways to try to fool them. You can always boot them straight in, but you’re also able to curve or loft them. This could make a nervous goalie overzealous or earn you that tricky final goal you needed to seal the deal. The amount of kick control is both impressive and fun.
As a goalie, your job is fairly straight forward. When the kick is made, you have a split second to decide where to go. Stand still? Dive to one side or another? It sounds simple, but you have to be both quick and accurate with your maneuver to stop the attack. This makes stopping that hard-to-handle diving block all the more satisfying when you pull it off.
There are one time use items in the game that add a bit of variety (and frustration) the experience. Have a crucial kick coming up? Throw a tomato in his face and block out some of his vision while you take the shot. While you’re at it, soup up your kick with a booster or two. It’s a clever idea that can quickly become frustrating to someone on the receiving end. In the end, the vanilla gameplay is both more fun and rewarding.
Buried within the game is a bit of a progression system. As you play, you’ll level up, raising your ability to defend and control the precision of your shots. On top of that is an equipment system that allows you to outfit your footballer with different jerseys, gloves, soccer balls, and cleats. These can all alter your stats as well.
The equipment system is a good idea, in theory, but thanks to the wonder of microtransactions, it quickly devolves into renting your skill buffs against opponents. Want the sweet blue and white gloves? They’ll raise your defense, but it’ll cost you, and you can only rent them for 30 days because very few of the items allow you to permanently acquire them. Gamegou emphasizes the gear as well, since after each match they place you back in the locker room to change and buy gear instead of the matchmaking lobby.
On top of the coins you earn through playing the game, you can earn in-game dollars. These can be bought as well, of course, and quickly become hard to earn. What’s even more egregious is the fact that later in the game, you can take your dollars and literally place bets or buy chips to spin a roulette wheel. It’s a devilishly clever way to get money from willing customers.
Visuals & Audio
The visuals in Perfect Kick are simple and straightforward, but they work really well. The style does a great job catering to players of all ages. The cartoony characters with their round heads and huge eyes are fun to look at. The wide variety of gear adds some interestings options to look at as well. Animations do a great job of actually conveying your character’s engagement in the sport – is he simply falling over onto the ball or really stretching out a dive to make the block?
The sound design is serviceable. The music is pretty forgettable and the sound effects basically consist of a soccer ball hitting things. A fantastic exception is the sound of the crowd roaring after you’ve made a big diving save or landed a critical shot in a tight match. The crowd feels fantastic.
Overall Perfect Kick is a really fun soccer shootout game that players of all ages can enjoy. The gameplay is solid all around and it’s fun to shoot and block shots. The focus on freemium content and one-time-use items is a bit frustrating, but ultimately doesn’t hamper the experience too much. The graphics are also fun and inviting, even if the music will wear on you. Perfect Kick is free, and anyone with an iOS device should check this one out for sure.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Mastertronic and Abstraction Games announced the upcoming release of The Chaos Engine, a classic Amiga game originally developed by The Bitmap Brothers.
Coming to PC, Mac, and Linux on August 29th, the ’90s top-down shooter has had a restoration from Abstraction Games, the folks that brought Hotline Miami to PS3 and Vita, with consultation from Mike Montgomery, a founding member of The Bitmap Brothers.
The Chaos Engine takes place in a Victorian era of discovery and technology that have been corrupted by failed experimentation with an early computer – the Chaos Engine.
Players will choose one of six mercenaries, each with unique weapons and skills, to take on the creatures created by the Chaos Engine. You’ll battle through four unique worlds in both single player and cooperative modes. You can also play in either ‘Classic Mode’ or the modernized ‘Enhanced Mode.’
For the hands-on trailer of the game, be sure to watch the video in the player below this article. You can also check out their official website here.
Beyblades were a huge thing back in the day with stores literally selling out of product within minutes of stocking it on the shelves. While the Beyblade phenomenon has slowed a little since then, the series continues to expand with new anime, toys and games. Beyblade Evolution will be launching on October 22nd exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS, and with that day fast approaching, an Official Website centering around the game has been launched to provide information, new screenshots and to be the place to hear about new announcements as they happen.
Developer Rising Star Games has made clever use of the 3DS’ AR functionality to bring the battle stadium and beyblades anywhere you place an AR card. To check out that awesome feature and more, take a look at the trailer for Beyblade: Evolution and let us know in the comments about your favourite Beyblade moment.
