Despite hitting the PC back in April, no release window was given for Zeno Clash II on consoles, leaving fans of the original game in the dark. However today Atlus has revealed that the Xbox 360 version of the game has now been made available for purchase and the PlayStation 3 version is also available, at least in North America. Zeno Clash II will be hitting the European PSN on July 31st.
The title costs $14.99 on either console and it picks up immediatly where the last game left off. You can check out our full review of the PC version of Zeno Clash II here.
Welcome back for this week’s iOS Game Suggestions. If you missed last week’s, or are new to the suggestions, click on the link below and check out what cool games you should be picking up for your iOS device along with the introduction on how the suggestions work. (suggestions 1 has how it all works)
A great week on iTunes! As always, it started slow and but ended with a bang! There are many must-buy games this week in all departments, FREE, 99c and over 99c. This week I’ve suggested a total of 18 great quality titles. Make sure you check them all especially… Prince Of Persia, WatchCraft, TownCraft, BLOODMASQUE, Asterix: MegaSlap, Tiny Pop, Consoles Video Games Quiz just to name a few.
Break down below :
7 – FREE Games
3 – $0.99c Games
8 – Over $0.99c Games
As always for this week’s suggestions are all new titles that you should take a look at and consider spending your hard earned iTunes cash / time on. Well the Free games just below certainly should all be given a shot as they won’t cost you anything!
For The Cheapskates – FREE GAMES
Iron Force – Price : FREE – Publisher –Chillingo (Take part in epic, explosive multiplayer tank battles in Iron Force. Join forces with your friends in team-based battles, or have a free-for-all. ) runs on iPad & iPhone. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
Rivals At War: 2084 – Price : FREE – Publisher –Hothead Games (The year is 2084 and the galaxy is in chaos. Humanity has discovered alien technology allowing space travel between the planets, opening up the universe for exploration and conquest. Forces around the solar system battle for supremacy, but one leader must rise up to unite the galaxy against all intergalactic invaders. Welcome to the ultimate sci-fi adventure, Rivals at War: 2084. ) runs on iPad & iPhone. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
Dreamscapes: The Sandman – Price : FREE – Publisher –G5 Entertainment (Journey into a young girl’s nightmares in this gripping hidden object adventure! Laura has been haunted by eerie dreams of the Sandman ever since she was a child. The magic Dreamcatcher her father gave her has protected her for many years – but not anymore. Her Dreamcatcher has shattered, leaving her trapped in an endless nightmare.) runs on iPad & iPhone. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
Consoles Video Games Quiz – Price : FREE – Publisher –Undercoders (How many video game consoles can you name? Find it out in Consoles Video Games Quiz, the most comprehensive console trivia game available on the AppStore Write the name of the pictured console to clear a level. Do it as fast as you can and earn high scores and Video Game Quiz coins!) runs on iPad & iPhone. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
Planet Drop – Price : FREE – Publisher – PIVi & Co(Life has mysteriously vanished from the whole Plop Galaxy… Only you can save it! To achieve this, you must heal the planets by guiding them under the magic drops. But be careful! If you miss your shot, it’s a disaster!) on iPad & iPhone. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
Game Of War – Fire Age – Price : FREE – Publisher –Machine Zone (Join the ULTIMATE BATTLE for DOMINATION of the WORLD! PLAY FOR FREE in the most addicting & interactive MMO GAME!! Join Millions of Online Players from around the World, BE PART OF ALLIANCE & Make FRIENDS. HELP, TRADE & CO-OP With ALLIANCE MEMBERS & Become the KING!! Build & Customize your Empire. Train & Level-up your HERO!! RESEARCH to make your EMPIRE more POWERFUL!) runs on iPad & iPhone. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
Tiny Pop – Price : FREE – Publisher – Com2us (Save the Tiny Farm Animals! Oh no! The cute animals from Tiny Farm are trapped inside bubbles! Work with the Tiny Farm Sheep to rescue as many animals as you can. Pop special power-up bubbles to save more animals at once. Join your cute animal friends and burst bubbles in Tiny Pop!) on iPhone & iPad. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
For The Bargain Hunters – 99c Games
Asterix: Megaslap – Price : $0.99 – Publisher – Bulkypix (It’s 50 BC and the whole of Gaul is occupied by the Romans… The whole of it? Not quite! A village inhabited by indomitable Gauls still continues to and always will resist the invader. Today is a holiday for the Gauls. The whole village is getting together to celebrate the Festival of Punches. The aim is simple: send the Romans as far away as possible to achieve victory. The winner will receive a kiss from the beautiful Panacea.) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
Bird Zapper: Seasons – Price : $0.99 – Publisher – Namco Bandai (Get your hands on the latest, most epic follow up from the original multimillion downloaded hit in this action puzzle release sequel: Bird Zapper Seasons! Join our furry hero in this latest exploit against the birds that have disturbed his quiet life: zap’em, freeze’em, tap’em, pretty much do anything to whack’em. ) runs on iPad & iPhone. BUY NOW
Ninja Warrior Game – Price : $0.99 – Publisher – Marvelous AQL (Create, train, and compete in a side-scrolling platformer where every level is a brutal race to the finish. Get ready to hone your skills and speed – you’ll need experience to beat the competition and the best time wins! Insane obstacles and challenging courses will put you to the test at every turn in this game based on the hit Japanese sports entertainment show) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
For The Millionaires – All games over $0.99
MasterAbbott’s over 99c Pick Of The Week!
Prince Of Persia: The Shadow and The Flame – Price : $2.99 – Publisher – UBISOFT (The rebirth of the legendary action-platformer, with brand-new visuals and controls redesigned to fit your device. Set after the events of Prince of Persia Classic, Prince of Persia The Shadow and the Flame continues the saga of the wanderer who was born a Prince. Now he must embark on an epic journey in search of his past that will redefine his future! ) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
Game Of Watchcraft – Spawn Of Squishy – Price : $2.99 – Publisher – eSolution (It’s everyone’s favourite MMO reimagined as a 1980’s LCD games console! Complete quests! Fight the boss! Level up! Complete more quests! Fight the boss again! Did we mention that you level up? Game of Watchcraft is the new gaming sensation sweeping the nation. Gamers are losing hours, weeks, spouses and careers, enthralled by its deep world, immersive graphics and repetitive action. Can you survive its addictive appeal?) runs on iPad. BUY NOW
The Inquisitor – Book 1 : The Plague– Price : $4.99 – Publisher – Microids (A will of steel, a heart of stone, intelligence as sharp as a knife, and wisdom as deep as oblivion. Eymerich is called upon to investigate an obscure case. Something that goes way beyond heresy, revealing a new face of Evil. He must tackle a great number of arduous tasks and make many painful choices. Terrible creatures await him, but with his burning determination he will overcome a Plague that is deadlier than his worst possible nightmare.) runs on iPad. BUY NOW
TownCraft– Price : $5.49 – Publisher – Flat Earth Games (The first game from Flat Earth Games, created by two brothers from Sydney, Australia and their team of intrepid developers. TownCraft is a surreal crafting and city-building game for iPad Mini, iPad 2 and newer. You are alone in the wilderness back in medieval times, and must start a new town to be the celebration of all the kingdoms! To the West lies King Oligarchy, a narcissist primarily absorbed by his own reflection. To the East: Queen Omnibus, busy ‘taming’ neighbouring kingdoms with the tip of her blade.) runs iPad & iPhone. BUY NOW
PREHISTORIK – Price : $2.99 – Publisher – Microids (Prehistorik is a game that was first released in the 90s on the Amiga, Atari ST, Amstrad CPC and DOS and still remains one of the world’s benchmarks in platform gaming.In this version, everything has been totally revised, which equals more fun for players!) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
Freedom Fall – Price : $5.49 – Publisher – Stirfire Studios (Freedom Fall is a fast-paced down-scrolling platformer. Run, jump, plummet, glide, slide, swim and bomb your way down through a towering mechanical maze and onto freedom. It’s a trip brimming with devilish traps, dark humour and fractured fairy-tale heart.) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
Bloodmasque – Price : $7.49 – Publisher – Square Enix. (Peel back the masque, and look upon the face of terror. An age of darkness has fallen as vampires rule over mankind, and only the half-vampire hunters can herald the dawn. You are the hunter, stalking your bloodthirsty prey to deliver humanity from the deathless clutches of tyranny. The hunt is on.) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
Riptide GP2– Price : $2.99 – Publisher – Vector Unit (Riptide GP™2 is the full-featured sequel to the premier console-quality water-racing game on mobile. Riptide GP2 kicks everything into overdrive, with intense online multi-player races, upgradeable hydro jets and riders, improved graphics, an all-new career mode, and a whole new stunt system with dozens of new tricks!) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
There you have it folks these games should keep you busy for quite some time well until next week at least. I’ll be back next week for another dose of iOS goodness, in the meantime if you would also like to suggest your own suggestions, please feel free to share them in the comments section below or in the iOS forum section on the site here.
Asterix: Megaslap Developer: Bulkypix Publisher:Bulkypix Platforms: iPhone (Reviewed), iPad Release Date:July 25, 2013 Price: $0.99 – Available Here
Overview Asterix has been around since first being published as the main character of the French comic that shared his name in 1959. Over the years there’ve been a few dozen comic magazines released in the franchise. There’ve also been a dozen films, both animated and live action to reach the silver screen.
That brings us to today with Asterix: Megaslap. Roman soldiers are trying to invade Gaul territory again, and it’s up to you to send them packing. So how does Asterix: Megaslap hold up? Is this a solid shot or should it have the taste slapped out of its mouth? Let’s find out.
Gameplay Asterix: Megaslap is your typical, casual how-far-can-you-launch-item-x game. With breeding stock that goes as far back as games like Kitten Cannon or, even more honorably, Scorched Earth, it should come as no surprise that physics play a meaty role in how the game operates.
What does Asterix do to set itself apart, though? For starters, the launching mechanism is somewhat unique. As the hero of Gaul, you’ll be winding up for a massive punch right to the Roman soldier’s dome, so Bulkypix incorporated a mechanic where you spin your finger around and around to charge a meter. When it hits the point you want, you let off the spinning and throw your finger at the angle you want the soldier to fly.
He sails through the air with the greatest of ease, but when that soldier hits the ground, inertia hits him hard, greatly diminishing his speed and, ultimately, causing him to stop. There are a few things along the way you can do to keep him going, though. As you finish each launch, you’ll earn money and experience.
As you gain experience and levels, you’ll unlock new items you can buy to help out. These items will typically help you send the centurion ever further, though some have mildly random effects. For instance, you can buy and equip a cape to give him more air time, a helmet to protect him from ramming things, a pillow to ease his encounters with the ground, and more. They range everywhere from practical to silly (helium potion that could potentially slam him into the ground straightaway, anyone?) and give you a reason to keep playing for a while.
Before each round, you’re given a list of objectives. Bounce on 1 Gaul, crash through 10 gates, and so on. Completing these will earn you extra cash to upgrade or continue to buy new items. It’s a neat distraction, but ultimately nothing you’ll want to invest much time in chasing.
At the end of the day, chasing the high score is your only real drive to keep going. If you’ve got other friends playing, you can tie the game in with your Facebook account and chase one another’s scores.
Visuals & Audio The visuals in Asterix: Megaslap are right down the alley for fans of the comic series. The bright colors and cartoony graphics are all right on par with the style of comics. Beyond that, the game looks fine in motion, but it will do nothing to blow you away.
The music has a light-hearted, cartoony feel to it. It fits right in with a game where you can punch a man several miles in a swing. The sound effects are serviceable, but the incessant rattling knees and nervous whimpers coming from the Roman soldier quickly become obnoxious to the point of muting the game.
Overall
Overall, Asterix: Megaslap is a light distraction that will keep you occupied for a few minutes. Fans of the Asterix stable will get a kick out seeing the Gaul lay it to the invader. The forgettable music and annoying sound effects won’t help keep it around, though. If you’re looking for something to pass the time without much mental investment, Asterix will serve in a pinch, but you’d probably have more fun reading the comics.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Swedish developers Might and Delight, the makers of last year’s platformer game Pid, are back at it again. They announced today that they’re gearing up for the release of their next title – the nature-inspired survival adventure game Shelter.
Excited with the progress they’re making, Creative Director Johannes Wadin said,
“We are very excited to finally get to show the world what our team has been working so hard on for these past months. Shelter has grown immensely throughout the process and it is really wonderful to finally see all its bits and pieces beautifully come together. All the hard work has payed off. We strongly believe that we have created a title that will bring something new and fresh to the gaming scene. Hope you think so as well.”
Shelter is scheduled for release on PC and Mac in August 2013 with music provided by Retro Family. It has recently been Greenlit on Steam. You can check out some images of the game below and be sure to check out their official website here.
The end of the week and the final Hail to the Chief video has released and much like the last video developer Volition and publisher Deep Silver are utilizing this video to announce something bigger. What could be bigger than Saints Row IV finally reaching gold and going into manufacturing? Why a new extremely limited special edition of the game.
The new special edition is the Saints Row IV Game of the Generation Edition, which includes everything from the previous Super Dangerous Wub Wub edition and pre-order bonuses. In addition is a display case with a numbered plaque which lights up and features a rotating center, so that players getting the edition can view their special Saints Row IV game case. Plus, a velvet pouch to protect it. Priced at $129.99 with only 5000 being produced, this is the definitive edition for rabid Saints Row fans.
Those wanting to watch the last Hail to the Chief video can find it embedded below. Saints Row IV will release on August 20th in North America (August 23rd worldwide) for Xbox 360, PS3, and PC.
The best deal is Tomb Raider at Greenman Gaming. GMG is running a Square Enix Sale weekend and a Rewards weekend that provides instant cashback or store credit for many titles. What does this mean for you, frugal gamer? Tomb Raider is priced at $12.49 USD, a 75% savings, plus an additional $1.50 cash back instantly, or $2.50 in store credit. If you opt for store credit, Tomb Raider technically is $10.00. At that price, there is literally no reason not to buy the game. I absolutely adore the single player campaign, although I’m not a huge fan of the multiplayer portion of the game. If you still need more convincing, check out our review of the Tomb Raider.
GMG has coupons running this week, use GMG20-NYMS7-460MO for 20% off your purchases at checkout!
Ryse: Son of Rome made quite the reveal at E3 this year, even if the initial gameplay seemed a bit too focused on quick time events. Being developed by Crytek exclusively for the Xbox One, a new trailer has come out for Ryse all about the development and what they can do with the new console.
Unlike the onstage E3 presentation that was very focused on the action and combat, the new trailer for Ryse: Son of Rome is all about the emotion and performance capture for the characters. Working with Andy Serkis’ The Imaginarium, Crytek used full motion capture for all of the story characters, with up to 12 at a time. Which is pretty impressive and explains their want for actors familiar with theater acting.
Those wanting the full details on Ryse: Son of Rome and the development for its story can watch the the full video embedded below. Ryse: Son of Rome is set to release for the launch of the Xbox One.
Now that Alien Chaos 3D has been out for a while and plenty of people have had their chance to try the game out for themselves, developer Ludosity and publisher Reef Entertainment has opted to put out a new trailer centered around the critics’ responses to the Nintendo 3DS exclusive game.
It seems like there were quite a few reviewers that found themselves enamored by Alien Chaos 3D, garnering some pretty good scores and words. Those that watch the trailer may also notice some familiar words, if they’ve happened to read our own Alien Chaos 3D Review. Overall, there is some great praise for the game.
Those wanting to see what game critics have to say about Alien Chaos 3D can watch the trailer for themselves embedded below. Alien Chaos 3D can be downloaded from the Nintendo 3DS eShop and can be found on the front page.
The Summer 2013 anime season is here and like I did previously for Winter 2013and Spring 2013, I will be detailing my top picks for Summer 2013. After trawling through the expansive list of series that have premiered this season, looking far and wide for something to wow me, I found myself pleasantly surprised by a multitude of series. For a season that from the outlook appeared to be unimpressive, I am undoubtedly impressed. Without further adieu, these are the series that I will be watching this season of anime.
Uchoten Kazoku
This is a series that was not even remotely on my radar. Uchoten Kazoku, known as Eccentric Family in English, is a bizarre series to say the very least. It is the brainchild of Tomihiko Morimi the creator of the also bizarre series The Tatami Galaxy. While Tatami Galaxy was far more experimental than Uchoten Kazoku, this series has its own unique identity, making for what feels unlike anything the anime medium has ever seen.
Now I’m a firm believer that different isn’t always good as was evidenced in the attrocious adaptation of Aku no Hana. But what we have here in Uchoten Kazoku is a series that makes its oddities work through pure heart and charm. P.A. Works are committed to the series and have a clear affection for Morimi’s work that shows in every passing scene.
The series content is rather difficult to describe, being something that is ultimately best experienced first-hand. With a deep-rooted heart in the importance of family, Uchoten Kazoku takes its bizarre concepts of transforming tanooki and tengu and gives it a sense of humanity that anyone can relate to.
At only a few episodes in, this is one series that is difficult to pin down. It could soar to unprecedented heights and become the biggest surprise of 2013 or it could all fall apart. It is a tightrope walk for Uchoten Kazoku. Can the series balance its more outlandish ideas with sincerity and humanity? I believe it can. For that, I plan on tuning in to this series with eager eyes, each and every week of Summer.
Blood Lad
This was the only series that really stood out to me from the get go. It is an adaptation of a shonen battle comedy with a fun concept and a great studio behind it. There wasn’t really a way that Blood Lad could go wrong. Well so far, so good. The verdict is still out though as the series has since been confirmed for an unusually short run of a mere 10 episodes. Whether they can work magic in 10 episodes remains to be seen, but if these initial few episodes are anything to go by then Blood Lad is in good hands.
The series has been consistently fun since the very first episode and features a great cast of characters that are well defined from top to bottom. There is a sense that the world is far bigger than what we see in any given episode and there is definitely more to these characters than we are being told.
The comedy is ripe with otaku-ready referential humour which is sure to hit just the right note for the series’ target audience. The story is about a vampire otaku for christ’s sake, that concept alone will get most people in hook-line-and-sinker. But what makes Blood Lad so good is its execution. The entire production is done so well, that you just can’t help but be swept up in this quality anime. Blood Lad is simply great quality fun and that is something I could do with to kick-off my week.
Gatchaman Crowds This anime is just too damn good. It almost feels like Gatchaman Crowds is cheating, it is that good. How can a series star such an over-the-top genki school girl such as Crowd’s protagonist Hajime and not make her completely irritating? On top of that, how in god’s name did they make her such an endearing character? How did they make such a well-defined and colourful cast of characters yet only giving them all very minimal background and next to no real substantial dialogue? How does it happen so good for this series? Gatchaman Crowds make this look so easy.
There is certainly something special with Gatchaman Crowds and it may very well have to do with the man helming the project, the eccentric Kenji Nakamura, the brain behind Tsuritama and C – The Possibility of Money and Control. Nakamura is a unique mind to say the very least and he has taken the Gatchaman series and stripped away just about everything that made Gatchaman what it was and slapped into something entirely different. He took a classic series and left it barely recognizable, yet it is still oh so good. Again, Nakamura makes this look easy.
So why is Gatchaman Crowds so good? Well it is hard to put a finger on it, with only the first few episodes having aired, but it really all comes down to sincerity. At its core, Gatchaman Crowds is a series that feels sincere. It believes in all of its crazy and it is that commitment and sincerity that makes something that in anyone elses hands would be rubbish into something truly remarkable. I’ll be following Gatchaman Crowds with great anticipation, there is something special happening with this series and I can’t wait to find out what that special thing is.
Watamote There was without a doubt a lot of anticipation surrounding Watamote. The source material is very popular and as such many eyes were on the anime adaptation as it debuted this season. Having no previous experience with the series, I went in blind and came out unsure what exactly I was supposed to feel about Watamote. I got the sense it was a comedy, but so much of the show’s content hit quite close to home for me, leaving me feeling more sad than anything.
Watching Watamote isn’t exactly something I’d say that I enjoy doing. It is more a series I find compelling on a deeply personal level. I have felt the anxiety and pain she has felt and it proves to be a very reflective experience for me personally, much like I’m sure many others who watch the series feel.
The deeper the series dives into her condition, the more pain I feel for both her and anyone in her situation today. Depression is a terrible thing and I get the feeling it is something the original creator has dealt with first hand. Watamote is a truly thought-provoking comedy (if you’d call it a comedy). The series handles the topic of depression with a hopeful heart and makes for a truly fascinating viewing experience. I hope that Tomoko can find some happiness in her world and I’ll be sticking with Watamote in hope of seeing that come to fruition.
Honorable Mentions:High School DxD New, Silver Spoon and Servant x Service
Episode 20 of CC: Animeis nowlive. Each month, thanks to our good friends and sponsor Siren Visual, we will be giving away a prize in a monthly competition held through CC: Anime.
To win, listen to the podcast for the question and once you have an answer email it in along with your name and address to[email protected]. At the end of the month, a winner will be randomly selected from the pool of entries. The winner will then be announced on the next podcast.
This month, we will be giving away a copy ofChihayafuru Part 1, on DVD thanks to our good friends at Siren Visual. If you have yet to listen to CC: Anime you can do so here.
Listen to the podcast and then send your answer in along with your name and address to [email protected] Good Luck!
