It has been revealed that two past Tales costumes will be available in Tales of Symphonia Chronicles and they will be from Tales of Vesperia. These costumes will not be sold as DLC and will instead be given to anyone who has beaten the game and goes into New Game+ Mode. It is also worth noting that these costumes can be unlocked immediately if the player has a Tales of Vesperia save file on the PlayStation 3, but sadly Vesperia’s PS3 release was never released in the West by Namco Bandai, so this limits Western players to only accessing these costumes in NG+.
Anyways, Sheena will receive an outfit based on Judith while Colette will be dressed as Rika. Images of the costumes as well as some new screenshots have been unveiled by Famitsu and can be found below.
For those of you keeping an eye on JRPGs, FuRyu, the makers of Unchained Blades, have been working on a new RPG for the PlayStation Vita and 3DS called Exstetra. While it was originally meant to be released in Japan on October 17th the game has now been delayed a few weeks and will be released on November 7th instead.
However despite this minor delay, the company has released a new character trailer which gives us a look at Mizuki, a high school girl who comes from the same world as the main character Ryoma and becomes a Knight of Prisma after kissing Ryoma.
I’m probably starting to sound like a broken record lately, but Disney Infinity’s Toy Box Mode is shaping up to be a game-changer when it comes to sandbox experiences. Being able to mix and match different Disney properties together, as well as make your own unique worlds and playgrounds is something that is sure to capture the hearts and minds of children and adults everywhere.
Disney have given us TWO new trailers, the first of which gives us another look at how detailed the Toy Box creation tools will be. Designed to be so simple that even a child can use it, yet detailed enough for players to create new worlds, new stages and even entire games on their own. Check out that trailer below, and keep reading for information about the second Disney Infinity trailer to go live.
The second trailer is the “Unexpected Pairings” video, and shows how some of Disney’s most unusual characters can come together to make magic. The Lone Ranger squaring off against Woody at high noon, Davy Jones and Syndrome riding off into the sunset, and even Jack Sparrow and Agent P (Perry the Platypus) coming across each other for the first time. I can only imagine how children are going to feel seeing their favourite characters meeting like this on their tv screens at home.
Also, eagle eyed viewers will notice that a few playable characters that haven’t been officially announced are shown in the video. Wreck-It Ralph characters Ralph and Vanellope von Schweetz are shown, as are Buzz, Woody and Perry the Platypus. We have known that these characters would be making appearances in the game, but their inclusion in the latest trailer pretty much seals the deal.
Check out the Unexpected Pairings trailer below, and remember that Disney Infinity will hit store shelves August 18th in the US and August 22nd here in Australia, and it will be available for Xbox 360,PS3, Wii U and 3DS. So for all the Disney Infinity news as it becomes available, stay tuned to Capsule Computers..
The name Chaos Rings may ring a bell for some of you, considering it was released three years ago for the iOS and received a sequel release a year later. Since then the game has been released on a handful of other mobile platforms but now the game is also available for anyone who happens to own a PlayStation Vita or something with PlayStation Mobile.
The Square Enix title is basically a straight port with physical control options added in and it is available for $7.99. Interestingly enough, Chaos Rings’ Vita port was only announced for Japan but it also appeared on the English PlayStation store, so if you’re looking for a new RPG to tide yourself over for a while, probably not a bad option.
Overview
Contra is one of the most known and loved franchises in this entire industry. Just saying the name to specific groups will instantly start chatter of speed-runs and memories of the classic, which is the main reason I was so excited to sit down with a brand new re-imagining. Punchbox have brought us Contra: Evolution for the iOS marketplace, with improved visuals and more accessible gameplay. Does this new version pull off a modern, touchscreen play-style, or is this platform just not cut out for a game with such high expectations. Let’s find out.
Gameplay
I really don’t have to detail a story for this title, as if you don’t know the small plot going on within Contra by now, you need to go back and play the original or one of the many ports before even touching this remake. I don’t mean to come off as elitest with that statement, as in all honesty, you would have had to have played the classic to appreciate the offerings within Evolution. Red Falcon is attacking the Earth, and Lance and Bill are humanity’s last hope. As usual, the objective is to kick ass in style, with two buff protagonists that are now world famous in the gaming scene.
The iOS is a tricky platform to port any game like Contra on however, but being a remake, exceptions can be made for this version’s shortcomings. To better explain, the run and gun action has been left nearly untouched and each stage feels the same – gameplay wise, aside from a few tweaks to difficulty. Players can access most of the weapons they need to from the start, using a new currency system based on coins and gems to upgrade. Sure, its not what we are used to, but this is the iOS, a platform made for short-burst gameplay sessions – it is completely forgivable. Hardcore fans will notice quickly that the difficulty of the game has taken a massive nerfing, with less flying bullets and a quicker progression rate. With this change comes the greatest sin one can do to a classic however, and that is to apply micro-transactions for extra lives and more powerful weaponry.
Every single time you lose your little stockpile of lives, the game will try to persuade the player to buy more gems and coins to make their life easier. I could understand this slightly if this were a freemium title – even though I don’t approve of the idea of it, but at times Evolution feels like it is a casino, charging an entry fee for the player to lose money. Evolution has been made more accessible in several ways, but throws the modern idea of a save or checkpoint system out the window in order to get the consumer to pay out of pocket. Sure, when you start – you already have some gems and coins to work with, but you can go through those quickly, meaning the further you get – the more you are going to want to pay once your loot has run dry. If you say no to these tactics, well….its game over, friend. I could write on and on about how sad it is to see a publisher like Punchbox Studios do this to a classic – and a well structured version of one at that. This review is meant to speak about the work of the developer however, so let’s get to the good stuff.
The control system is one of the finest features of Contra: Evolution. Is it perfect? No. There are three different schemes to pick from, with a fixed and loose analog, as well as the classic D-Pad. The D-Pad, being touch driven can be a bit of a headache, as it has problems when Bill or Lance are trying to precisely jump diagonally. The fixed method is much better, but leaves some of the stage blocked due to your thumb covering it up. The loose method however allows for placement to be anywhere on the left side of the screen, and provides a much more fluid experience as a result. Yeah, I had a few moments of frustration as Contra is a game that demands tighter controls and is not and will never be fit for a touchscreen device, but the choices given and decent performance of the game as a whole allow the player to pick their own preference and run with it. Despite my own complaints, most of these layouts can easily be adapted to as auto-fire is on by default (and can also be turned off if you are up for the challenge), which means you will spend less time worrying about tapping the right portion of the screen, and more time aiming that gun at the next target.
Mission Mode comes as a bonus, which is more for score driven gamers out there that want to test their skills on three different difficulty challenges. If this is your thing – than have at it and enjoy. Otherwise, some could think of this mode as a supplemental addition that serves little purpose other than increasing the chances you will spend money on more lives and upgrades. On the upside, there are a few bonus unlocks such as characters and other quirks, so you are being rewarded at times, just not as much compared to other remakes such as Double Dragon Neon.
Visuals and Audio
The most exciting experience of this new breed of Contra is seeing how the new stages and even character models look. Instead of the 8-bit sprites of the past, Bill and Lance have been given an incredible facelift that stays true to their characters, with a heavily detailed, slightly cel-shaded model ready to tear through the game. The stages look just as good and have been remade from the ground-up, bearing a heavy resemblance to the past title to keep that nostalgic vibe, but pulling off a much more polished and colorful look that is pleasing on the eye.
The soundtrack is made up of remixed tracks from the classic- and all were done quite well and fit with the new art style perfectly. The only problem is that these tunes are all short, and looping is apparenent each time the track replays. Not a big deal, but still noticable. Sound effects sound as they should however, with guns and bullets blaring out effectively, and explosions setting the scene yet again for one crazed battlefield that our heroes must run through.
Overall
Contra: Evolution has almost everything we would want in a remake, as minor flaws aside, it plays better than most of these types of re-releases on the iOS and the work of the developers shine through when it comes to the heavy amount of control customization that the player can choose from. The downside is that retro gamers are going to be the audience here – and when you replace the Konami Code with a very expensive in-app purchase, you have sucked a good amount of spirit out of the classic. Contra has evolved over the years, but Evolution should not mean that an old favorite should adapt to deceitful and borderline offensive tactics. If you want to see a solid recreation, by all means pick this title up as the price is right. Those who are wanting to find a better experience however that doesn’t try to trick your wallet should grab that old cartridge and blow out the dust however, as this remake’s charms are only available to the highest bidder.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
nWay’s new action, RPGChronoBlade has been in Open Beta for a little bit now and it seems like the general public are absolutely loving it, the reception for this game is fantastic and that’s no surprise because it looks incredible. So far it’s only playable on Facebook and as a demo on the Ouya but it is said that once the game is complete, or at least closer to completion, it will be released on mobile devices so look forward to that. I have played the game and I have to say that I really enjoy it. For a game that is playable on Facebook the graphics are incredible and it’s probably one of the best on the social networking site but that’s not all I’m excited about.
As well as updates to the game and any maintenance that comes along with it the guys there at nWay will be releasing an eComic for the game that is said to explain the backstory of the game’s universe. It will go into detail about the “Multiverse” within the game and, I think, will help to make the game’s experience all the more better. We’ve seen this type of thing with massive titles like Borderlands and Darksiders where the release of the comics just add to the hype, not only becase it has to do with the game but because it gives the game a hell of a lot more depth.
It’s something interesting and really anybody that has any interest in the game at all should shoot over to their Facebook page and give it a look. You can see the first Chapter: Ragnarok here. Keep playing and stay excited for the full release to be released in the near future.
If you haven’t heard, Hatsune Miku’s vocaloid software is going to be released in North America by Crypton Future Media and this release will feature an entirely English voice bank, allowing English songs to be created using the popular Vocaloid software. While previous Vocaloids, such as Megurine Luka, have been able to sing in English, this is the first time that an English voicebank has been provided for users.
Anyways, to demo the software which will be released soon, a song named “Coming Together” by BSC a.k.a. kuni has been created using the software and can be found below. Whether the Vocaloid software will be as popular here in North America as it is in Japan is still unknown.
Today Konami announced that fans of Pro Evolution Soccer can expect the next iteration of the game to be released on September 24th worldwide. This means that gamers will be able to experience PES 2014 as it takes advantage of Kojima Productions’ FOX Engine in what the company is calling a more fluid soccer experience.
Pro Evolution Soccer 2014 has focused on six key gameplay improvements, including TrueBall Tech giving players complete body control, a Motion Animation Stability System to simulate body contact amongst players on the field, a “Heart” system that will handle player emotions on the field and even a PES ID which allows gamers to easily recognize some of their favorite soccer players since the game will recreate their play style and running styles.
Today Viz Media announced that they will be participating in the Japan Film Festival of San Francisco (JFFSF) which will be held during the 2013 J-Pop Summit. This is the first annual Japanese film festival in Northern California and to kick things off Viz will be bringing numerous films to show off to those who want to catch them long before their physical release.
The company will be bringing Tiger & Bunny: The Beginning, Naruto Shippuden the Movie: The Lost Tower, and Berserk The Golden Age Arc II – The Battle for Doldrey to show at the event. Tickets can be purchased early here, here, and here. All movies will be shown in Japanese with English subtitles and tickets will cost $13.00 each unless it says otherwise. The air times for each of the movies can be found here.
Fairy Tail: Part 5 Studios: A-1 Pictures, Satelight Publisher:FUNimation Format: Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack Release Date:July 23, 2013 Price:$54.98 – Available Here
Overview It’s been almost a year and a half since we last saw Fairy Tail in North America but you cannot keep a good shōnen series down for long, especially one as great as Fairy Tail. As such, FUNimation has started releasing their second set of Fairy Tail parts beginning with Fairy Tail: Part 5. When we last left the Fairy Tail guild, they had just wrapped up an internal issue that saw every member of Fairy Tail in action. How will things fair in Part 5? Let’s find out.
Story Unlike the past few releases of Fairy Tail back in 2012, Fairy Tail: Part 5 finds itself in the unique position of being able to start off the release without having to wrap up a previous story arc. Thanks to Part 4 wrapping up the Laxus arc, Part 5 is able to hit the ground running. Unfortunately it does the opposite and instead provides some simple one-off episodes focused more around comedy and some character development for Lucy.
While a bit annoying considering this release starts out with simple standalone episodes, they serve as a barrier between the larger story arcs and help reacquaint viewers with the cast. There is also a focus on Lucy throughout these simple episodes since while Natsu and the gang may be the stars, she remains the most down-to-earth character of the bunch and seeing her grow as a character as she confronts both personal challenges and opponents in combat is one of the highlights of the series.
Anyways, once these one-off episodes wind up the Fairy Tail guild has been asked to join a Wizard coalition to face off against the Oración Seis, a dark guild that is one of the strongest in the land, with six extremely powerful members. Because of their strength, the coalition is needed and Fairy Tail sends their best team consisting of the main cast, Erza, Gray, Lucy, Natsu and of course, Happy.
Since the series’ debut, most of the extra non-Fairy Tail members have been enemies but this part sees the inclusion of a number of new characters and a number of allies as well. With Fairy Tail teaming with members from Blue Pegasus, Lamia Scale and Cait Shelter, viewers are introduced to the next major story arc which unfortunately does not finish in Part 5, the Oración Seis arc.
Since Part 5 contains the beginning of the arc, viewers are given time to grow familiar with the newly added characters, though the obvious focus on the young girl Wendy feels a bit too heavy handed as it clearly makes her the key character of this story arc. Though considering both the opening and ending themes prominently feature her, subtlety isn’t the series’ strong point.
Despite their numerical superiority, the strength and abilities of the Oración Seis quickly throw the team into disarray as many members are taken out of action and the rest of the combat ready members sally forth to put a stop to Oración Seis and their search for a dark magic that can literally change the nature of the world itself.
Viewers are quickly given key battles which play out through the second disc in the package as the members of Oración Seis take on the Light team, but despite the high amount of action that takes place, there is actually a decent amount of story interwoven with these fights. Attentive viewers will notice numerous callbacks to past story arcs, especially the Tower of Heaven, throughout these battles, especially since a certain someone makes a comeback this time around.
It is also worth noting that despite the high combat content, the series’ powerhouse Natsu only has a small amount of combat time compared to the rest of the cast. While Natsu fans may not appreciate his diminished combat time, it gives Fairy Tail a chance to show off one of its best features, an expansive cast of characters with unique abilities and personalities that have been, or are in the process of, developed to a point where viewers actually care about their battles.
Part 5 brings viewers to roughly the mid-point of the Oración Seis arc and features quite a bit of story woven into the combat sequences and while it may take a while to get going, the number of new and old faces and consistent humor make Part 5 a successful return for Fairy Tail as viewers wait for the next part to be released.
Visuals One of the things that I’ve always found wonderful about Fairy Tail is the amount of characters that the anime manages to contain and actually give screentime. While there are other shōnen series that trot out new characters every so often, many of these characters are shown once and never again, or appear similar to already existing characters. In this part viewers are introduced to numerous allied characters as well as a new set of enemies, each with interesting character designs, especially when it comes to the leader of Blue Pegasus.
The animation quality throughout Part 5 is impressive more often than not, but there are some noticeable drops in character detail during a few combat sequences and even in basic talking scene throughout the release.
Audio
It should be no surprise, given this is the fifth Fairy Tail release now, that FUNimation has given the release an English dub. The cast from the first set of releases have returned to reprise their roles while new characters have been introduced and alongside them come a batch of new voice actors. These new actors have done a great job matching the feel of the rest of the cast and Brittney Karbowski’s take on Wendy fits the character perfectly.
As far as background music goes, numerous themes that we’ve heard before come into play alongside a handful of new tracks which are fitting for the combat sequences but usually forgettable. The opening theme “Egao no Mahou” by Magic Party and ending theme “Holy Shine” by Daisy x Daisy continue to follow the same themes as past Fairy Tail openings and endings, which is nice as they have always been pleasing.
Extras As far as bonus features go, Fairy Tail: Part 5 has what one would expect from the series at this point. There are clean versions of the opening and ending themes, a US trailer for this part of Fairy Tail, trailers for other FUNimation releases and finally commentary tracks for episode 49 and 58.
Episode 49’s commentary features Tyler Walker, Todd Haberkorn, Cherami Leigh, and Carl Philips. The cast spends a fair bit of the commentary talking about what they’ve done since the first set of releases finished as well as a bit about the episode itself, making for an entertaining, but not overly humourous commentary. Following that is a commentary for episode 58 which features Tyler Walker again, Aaron Dismuke, Lindsay Seidel, and Cherami Leigh. The cast discusses some of their past works as well as some of the first series that they worked on back when they were first starting out.
Overall Despite being away for a year and a half, FUNimation’s release of Fairy Tail hasn’t missed a beat. Despite being slow to start, Fairy Tail: Part 5 has everything that fans of the series have come to love at this point, with plenty of action and comedy as well as a worthwhile story tying everything together. Add great voicework to that as well as some mild fan-service and you have what continues to be the best new shōnen series out there.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
