Getting ready to watch Iron Man 3 like the rest of the world? Well, you should also get invest in Marvel: Avengers Alliance, which is a browser based romp set in the Marvel Universe – as big updates are dropping. Newly added is the Special Operation chapter, bringing a storyline, villains, heroes and magnificent suits of armour inspired by Marvel’s Iron Man 3, in cinemas now, and the fan-favourite “Extremis” comic book story arc.
Here are some more details of what to expect:
Along with the super-powered Eric Savin from Iron Man 3, players will confront comic-inspired Iron Man villains like Titanium Man and Blizzard. By completing this Iron Man 3 tie-in Spec Op, fans will also have a chance to play as Pepper Potts in her Rescue armour, straight out of the pages of THE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN comic book series.
In addition to the Spec Op, players will be able to purchase the Mark 42 armour for Iron Man and the Iron Patriot armour for War Machine, both of which are featured in Marvel’s Iron Man 3.
Sounds great for you Iron Man fans out there. You can check out some of the new art for these said heroes and villains down below.
If rumours are to be believed than a new Sonic title codenamed ‘Sonic Excursion’ might be up for release come this November.
This rumour has been supplied by a source known as Wentos, who has leaked accurate information on Sonic games ever since Sonic Unleashed, so there is a decent chance this could prove true. Wentos went on to say that the game will be launching on all current gen platforms (including Wii U) as well as PC, 3DS and both next gen consoles.
Wentos quotes:
“This past weekend I was able to watch a couple of demonstrations on Sonic Team’s upcoming Sonic The Hedgehog game, currently titled “Sonic Excursion.” In all they had two levels to show off which all four of the playable characters the story will focus on were able to play through…the first level is called “Shattered Heights” and is similar to the Sonic Generations incarnation of Speed Highway. Very New York themed. We were told the level was five minutes long, but they spent about fifteen minutes showing us parts of the stage’s design, focusing on the lighting and shadows and how lighting was one of the main focuses for this game’s design”.
Wentos also listed a few more notes of what he saw of the game:
Level titled “Shattered Heights” will be reminiscent of New York. Wil consist of Sonic and Tails breaking through tall buildings as humans gasp in horror.
Sonic and Tails communicate to each other in every level and discuss surroundings. Each character can access parts the other character can’t.
Developers aim to make a Sonic Generations that played like the Genesis titles.
The game will feature Sonic, Tails, Eggman, Knuckles, and Amy Rose, along with some sort of Magical necklace.
Emblems will make returns. Levels will include S rank missions, “Collect all Red Ring” missions, and side missions for ever character.
3DS version will not be handled by Dimps as Sega has supposedly ended their relationship with the company.
We reported previously on another rumour that said a 2.5D game was in the works and was to be unveiled at E3. The dot point about making a Generations like game that played like the Genesis titles could match up to this. Or perhaps that might be a different game altogether and this latest rumour could be the much anticipated Sonic Adventure 3. Hopefully an announcement at E3 will help clear up the rumours and let us know what is happening with everyone’s favourite blue hedgehog. Let us know what you think about the rumours in the comments below.
After a year and a half after the Kickstarter release, Star Command has finally been released to iTunes. The simulation game gives players a ship and freedom to explore the galaxy. Players will manage their ships and choose what type of captain they will be. Crews can be levelled and specialized in specific skills. The game features four different ship hulls, over 10 alien species, and three different specialties.
Star Command if available for iTunesfor $2.99. The development team will be following their iOS release with an Android version. Windows and Mac compatible versions will be released soon, featuring mod support.
Steam announced four new successfully Greenlit titles today. Three games and one piece of software will be released on Steam in the near future. First title announced is 2d sandbox game Edge of Space. The game was successfully Kickstarted last year and has been in beta on Desura.
Next is dukope’s Papers, Please. Players will assume the role of a border guard inspecting the papers of people trying to cross the border after the fall of communism. With just passports, fingerprints, and photos, players must stop spies, illegal immigrants, and other unsavoury characters.
Finally, Deck13 and dtp entertainment’s RPG Veneticawill finally be available on Steam. The game has previously been released on Playstation 3, Xbox 360, and physical disks for Windows.
Additionally, Substance Designer 3 will be available for purchase. The software is a texturing software that helps 3d modelers texture their models quickly.
Square Enix have been readily preparing for the release of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, and that once mysterious release date is now in our sights thanks to some recent announcements. The MMO that has been through a good bit of ups and downs is being released in one fine package this winter for the Playstation 3 and PC.
Yes, that is some exciting news, but that isn’t all we have to share. Beta testers on the Playstation three will be able to enjoy the third phase this June, where they will be able to experience the captivating world of Eorzea alongside PC players due to the game’s cross-platform functionality. Additionally, beta phase three testers will gain access to a wealth of new content, including the introduction of the city states of Ul’dah and Limsa Lominsa.
Want a bit of a preview? Check out the five gorgeous screenshots down below, and stay tuned as we will be sure to bring you more updates on Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn as they come forth.
EA Mobile is celebrating Labour Day in Australia with a large iOS. Games and in app purchases are available for free or for up to 90% off. The Sims FreePlay Adidas Pack and the Bugatti Veyron for Real Racing 3 are currently heavily discounted. Australians can check the full list of iOS titles on sale on iTunes here.
Additionally all Samsung Galaxy S4 optimized titles are on sale for $0.99 on Google Play to celebrate the smartphone’s release. Games like Need for Speed Most Wanted, Dead Space, Bejewled 2, and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12 are on sale.
Both sales end May 5th, so be sure to purchase soon to save money.
Steve Jackson’s Sorcery! Part 1: The Shamutanti Hills Developer: Inkle Publisher: Inkle Platforms:iPhone (Reviewed), iPad and iPod Touch Release Date: Price: $4.99 – Available Here
Overview
Are you one of those people who loves the idea of a “choose your own adventure” book but hate the book aspect or how dated something like it has become? Well you’re in for a treat because Steve Jackson(Writer/Creator of the original book Sorcery! and UK game maker) has brought this style of storytelling back for a second run, on the iOS too, and I have to say it kind of works.
Story
Although a huge amount of the story and what happens within it is decided by you. The main backstory or what I’m calling a “Head towards” story is that you’re a warrior that has trained for a great deal of your life and you are now on a journey to find a crown that is said to end war and create harmony, so no matter what other little things happen throughout you’re still “Heading towards” your end goal which is to nab that crown. Pretty standard fantasy stuff…and it works. All of the decisions you make through your journey add or take away from the story in ways that you probably wont see coming; saving a man from a tree at the beginning of the game could and will make something harder or easier for you later down the road. I don’t plan on giving anything away though.You don’t feel like you’re playing through a story in this game, you feel like you’re making a story, it rocks! You ARE this hero and you play the way you want to. Are you rude? Are you a nice guy? Are you just a killing machine? That’s entirely up to you. Playing through this game I made decision like I would if I was in this particular situation, like talking nicely to an old man for information or running after and fighting barbarians because they’ve terrorized a town. It’s just great to be able to make your own story yet still feel like you’re headed towards a bigger, better, more epic story in the end.
Visuals
The visuals remind me of a mix between a book and a tabletop fantasy game and I’m almost certain that’s exactly what the devs wanted it to be like. It’s style is extremely old-school fantasy and the board game setting really kind of helps you settle into the game. A great deal of the monsters and characters are hand drawn and illustrated and they look really nice. The colours are very earthy, a great deal of browns and greys, and that also adds to the engulfing nature of the game. Everything is beautifully designed and is honestly exactly what you expect from this type of game yet it’s done in a way that doesn’t feel generic, it’s one of those “you just have to play it” things that can’t be fully explained.
Audio
There isn’t a great deal of music in this game but that wasn’t my main focus when playing the game. The use of background sounds really blew me away, the cawing of crows or the mooing of cows and the bustling of people really allowed you to immerse yourself in this game. Walking near a forest and you can hear insects and animals, sleeping near a fire and you can hear it’s crackling and popping. Even during action scenes; the sounds of the monsters and the weapons was well done. No faults when it comes to using sound effects.
Gameplay
Very basic, very simple, very easy to learn. You move around a big map as you progress through the story much like a board game, you also have a player piece much like a board game. It’s exactly like a normal fantasy game in this aspect, you have a sword, you have a spellbook and you have decisions to make. Instead of fighting an enemy you can blind them with a spell and run or hit them with a fireball before the fight has even begun to get the upper hand, you travel to different places, talk to different people in the hopes they will reward you with different spells or weapons to use. In short; this game is played very similar to how you would play a game like Dungeons and Dragons. Just without the dice. The gameplay is great for what it is, any other type of gameplay probably wouldn’t have made the game what it was so it really can’t be put in a negative light. The only thing I could say against it is that it definitely puts a limit on the target audience; you REALLY have to like this style of game to honestly enjoy it. There’s a great deal of pointing and clicking.
Overall
In end I have to say that Sorcery is a great game, it really is, for people who both enjoy the genre and game style. I really wouldn’t recommend it to the same people who I’d recommend Call of Duty or Bioshock or any other new games out there, this is in a league of it’s own with a very specific niche but those who do like it will like it a lot! I’m NOT a fan of this genre nor game type but I consider myself very open minded when it comes to reviews and, let me tell you, I found myself going back to this game again and again and again so I can see it having a very focused and staunch audience for sure. If you’ve read all the way up until this point I will suggest this game to you, you’re the games intended audience and you’re definitely the ones that will appreciate it the most.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Overview
Strategy games come in all sorts of sizes which provides a slight difficulty in categorizing the genre. Fallen Enchantress: Legendary Heroes, however, preaches the 4X’s category holding on to the fundamentals to explore, expand, exploit, and most importantly exterminate. With this clear distinction, the title sets itself apart from active strategy games and relates better with role playing and turn-based mechanics. Naming Fallen Enchantress: Legendary Heroes the “spiritual successor to Masters of Magic“, Stardock Entertainment has some nostalgia to live up to. Let’s see how they are doing.
Story
In the beta, you do not experience a specific storyline geared towards your individual mission. Opening credits and a brief mentioning of your clan at the mission start are the immediate story pieces you experience – not much exposure. What is known is that the world has become under siege by great powers causing cataclysmic events. Champions soon rise from every kingdom to tame the wild magics or intertwine in the chaos. However, you are geared towards forging your own story by decisions throughout missions – creating a new experience each time you play. Here’s the stinker: Characters cannot be re-used after completed missions. The original creation of a character can be utilized for missions, but an advanced character from a previous mission cannot continue forth.
Though there isn’t a “campaign” driven by guiding plots, Fallen Enchantress: Legendary Heroes does have an inactive button called Scenarios. You can probably bet that this will contain plot driven missions with specific guidelines to master. Speculation leads me to believe that each kingdom will have a major role to play in aftermath of the cataclysm.
Gameplay
Stardock Entertainment did well to create a thorough environment for players to enjoy over and over again. Gameplay is far from simple by incorporating town revenue, stores, research, quests, monsters, and other kingdoms. Fallen Enchantress: Legendary Heroes mixes and batters all of these ingredients then quickly delivers it all to your awaiting taste buds. Granted a tutorial is set in place for those unused to the 4X strategy genre, and it does a fairly decent job setting new players in the right direction. Being no expert myself, I gained plenty of knowledge of managing a town from the tutorial to use in my first mission.
Character creation or manipulation is potentially the most crucial part of the gameplay process. This is the defining moment in the game where you get to pick how you want your character to look and how you distribute his/her attributes. Do you want to have multiple magic powers, or would you be willing to sacrifice a power for an enhanced item? Perhaps you would be willing to take on a negative attribute to add a point somewhere else? Plenty of options are available for your disposal, and it is your story that is being made.
Beginning on a larger map may overwhelm newcomers, and thus I started on a tiny map myself – though this proved to still be quite large. An initial settlement is done by placing your cursor over a prime location (marked with most resources) and clicking the “Settle” button on your character’s bar in the lower UI. From there on you will be able to begin building up your newly created settlement through seasons. No matter how many seasons or “cycles” you go through, having a queue of tasks is essential in managing your settlements. A task could be anything from building a farm to producing new troops to the field.
Meanwhile back in the grassy plains of justice! Just kidding… Your champion is free to roam the wilderness with a starting band of militia. Spots of interest would include a green dot above a given tile or tan scroll to indicate a potential quest. Landing yourself on a green dot area will provide normally an unique item that can be equipped to your champion(s). Was that a plural indication? Yes, after earning enough “fame” through quests or slaying of monsters, you will be able to choose between a set of champions to join your cause.
Battles occur either instantly or through a turn-based role engaging brawl. To escape the long-lasting drawl of continuously fighting battles, players may elect to automatically perform battles as they occur. Of course there is less strategy involved and more simulation done here. For those that can appreciate a long fought battle, the turn-based event is an excellent decision. You may have mage champions that can conjure elementals to the field or elect to use a scroll that damages all opponents. A simulation may not think of such things in the heat of battle!
End game is reached when you have met a prerequisite that you determined at the creation of the mission. Whether you want to attain total domination by slaying all opponents or to achieve world peace, there are plenty of end game scenarios for any type of player. What’s that you say? You want to bribe me to join your kingdom? I think NOT!
Conclusion
Stardock Entertainment is creating a fine strategy game that players are almost sure to enjoy. With the implementation of Scenarios, Fallen Enchantress: Legendary Heroes will surely create more individualized storylines for players to lose themselves in. Though the beta may have a bug here and there – more graphical then gameplay, it will yield a positive result upon completion this month. Stay tuned to here of Stardock Entertainment’s inevitable success with Fallen Enchantress: Legendary Heroes.
As some of you may already know, this Saturday on May 4th, or May the Fourth, is Free Comic Book Day where various participating comic book stores will give away free copies of specific comics/manga out to those who visit the store.
Today Viz revealed what they will be providing comic book stores to giveaway. For older fans of Viz’s works, their manga sampler features Rurouni Kenshin: Restoration, a bit of the original Dragonball manga and even a special Rurouni Kenshin poster. As for younger fans, their sampler will contain the first chapter of Ugly Dolls, Mameshiba: Enchanted, Hello Kitty: Here we go and also a look at the latest Pokemon manga.
To find a comic book retailer near you that is participating in Free Comic Book day use the store locator found here.
Today Nippon Ichi in Japan detailed their limited edition version of The Witch and the Hundred Knights which is set to be released on July 25th exclusively for the PlayStation 3. The package contains a number of physical bonuses and will be sold for 10,290 yen compared to the standard version which will cost 7,140 yen.
As you can see above, the limited edition will come with the game itself, a 44 page hardcover art book, the game’s soundtrack with music from Tenpei Sato on two discs and a Metallica Nendoroid Petit figurine. More images of the nendoroid figure can be seen below.
