Only recently the Nintendo3DS eShop (Japanese) began streaming a trailer for the newest Pokemon game to be released which is Pokemon Rumble U. The latest in the Pokemon Rumble series Pokemon Rumble U will be set for release on the Wii U and will be the first Pokemon game to be released on the new console.
This game is a a successor to the two Rumble games that came before it; the original Pokemon Rumble which was released in 2009 as a Wii Ware game and Pokemon Rumble Blast that was released in 2011 for the 3DS. Much like the other games the gameplay and story revolve around Pokemon Toys that are brought to life and, in turn, pretty much become real Pokemon. The story in the latest game is about a bunch of Capsule Toys who accidentally fall into a river and get lost in the wild, the toys then set off on a wild journey back to the Pokemon Shop that they call home.
What set’s this game apart from the others is that physical figures, replicas of the in-game Pokemon toys, can be bought and used with the Wii U’s Gamepad. When the physical figure is placed on top of the GamePad, the built-in NFC, or Near Field Communication, sensor will detect the toy and place that particular character into the game itself to be used as a character. This may remind you of what Activision did with the recent game Skylanders not too long ago.
Both the game and figures go on sale Wednesday. The game will cost 1,800 yen or about US$18. The physical Capsule Toys will be distributed nationwide to all the different Pokemon Centers and they will go for 200yen or about US$2 each. For the people who pre-order the download card for the game at a Pokemon Center will receive a special Pikachu NFC figure as a bonus.
Officially us here in Australia have barely gotten a whiff of information on whether or not this game and it’s figures will be hitting our shores but considering both Pokemon and this style of gameplay (Skylanders) is just as popular here as it is overseas I can’t help but think we’ll be getting our hands on this soon.
Now go check out that Promo Video in our Featured Video section below and don’t forget to hit up our comments section and drop us a line!
Razer Carcharias Manufacturer: Razer Platform: PC, Xbox 360 Price: $69.99 USD Available Here
The Razer Carcharias is Razer’s entry-level headset. It is a full sized over the ear closed headphone with a unidirectional microphone. The Carcharias is designed for use with the PC and Xbox 360.
The box greeted me with a wonderful surprise. Razer took the extra step to provide all necessary cables for the Carcharias to work with both the PC and Xbox right out of the box. With the introduction of HDMI during the older and fatter days of the Xbox 360, owners were suddenly needed an extra audio cable to access the RCA or optical out. Things did not get much better when the Xbox 360 Slim was released. Although an optical out port was now found in the back of the console, those who used stereo speakers or headphones still needed to purchase an extra dongle. In the box, buyers will find the usual Razer paperwork, a chat cable for Xbox Live, and the dongle required to connect the Carcharias to the Xbox 360 when an HDMI cable is connected. The dongle is a great pack in considering they usually cost a couple of dollars at bare minimum on sites like Monoprice or DealExtreme.
The Razer Carcharias has an extremely generous 3 metres of cable that should have no problem reaching most home entertainment or PC set ups. The in line remote is located almost a meter down the cable and has three dials to control the game volume, chat volume, and bass level. Additionally, the jack for the Xbox Live chat cable and a switch to mute the headphones are located here. A green light that signals the status is also located on the in line remote, on means the microphone is recording and off means mute. I really liked this feature as I could quickly glance in a darkened room to see if my microphone was muted or not. I did not like how far down the in line remote was located down the cable. Sitting up on a computer chair, the in line remote would fall onto the ground. Although this is less of a problem for couch or recliner sitting console players, this can spell an early death to swivel chair using PC owners. In the span of my testing, the Razer Carcharias encountered a few brushes with death under the wheels of my chair.
The headset is extremely light, something that is actually good in a gamer’s headset. I could wear the Carcharias on my head for hours at a time with no discomfort. There is a generous amount of soft padding on the top of the headphones. The clamping tension is on the lighter side of the spectrum, opting to rest the weight on the top of the headphones. The size of the headset is easily adjusted and there is lots of room for the smallest to largest of heads. The ear cups are rather shallow, so the ears will rest against the inside surface. The padding around the ear cups is soft and is covered with a comfortable velour or microfiber type material. The headset allows moisture to escape, allowing for long gaming session without sweaty ears.
The sound quality is very good for the headset’s price range. The bass reproduction is excellent. The highs are decent but the mids struggle a little in comparison to the excellent bass. The adjustable bass levels span allow the bass to go from practically non-existent to overwhelming. Like many of Razer’s auidio offerings, bass heavy music genres like dance music and hip hop shine.
The biggest problem with the Carcharias’ audio quality is the noisy in-line amp. When no audio is playing, there is a very audible hiss. When there is music or an intense gaming session going, the hiss is inaudible. Because the headset is designed for the Xbox 360, some sort of in line amp is required. Some level of background noise is expected for a headset of this price range, but I found the Carcharias to be one of the louder headsets of this type I have listened to.
The game volume and chat volume switches only work for the Xbox 360. There is no onboard USB soundcard on the Carcharias. This means it is impossible to independently adjust the volume of VoIP applications and games as both programs feed through the 3.5mm audio cable. The only way around this problem is to plug in an Xbox 360 controller into the computer and route the VoIP’s sound through the controller.
The microphone is unidirectional and can be moved up out of the way when it is not needed. The microphone boom itself has a small area that can be bent to adjust the angle of the microphone. Since the microphone boom is a little short, there is no need for an external pop filter. The microphone is a hit or miss depending on the platform used. On the Xbox 360, the microphone performed well. The volume was spot on and was clear. When plugged into the PC, the microphone emits a very clear high-pitched whine and more background hiss. While the quality of the sound is good and the hiss could be ignored, the high-pitched whine is extremely annoying. Most likely, the low quality codec and the traditionally cheap headsets used with Xbox Live stops the high-pitched whine from rearing its ugly head on the Xbox 360.
For $69.99, Razer delivers a solid Xbox 360 headset. Unfortunately, the headset may be a jack of all trades, but it is only a master of the Xbox 360. The microphone leaves a lot to be desired on the PC. The sound quality is good for a headset at this price range if the white noise is ignored. The hiss is tolerable if you plan to use the same headset between the Xbox 360 or only plan on using it strictly with the console. At this price range, console headsets need an in line amp that produces a bit of background noise. If you are looking for a headset strictly for PC use, I recommend checking out a headset without an in line amp to avoid the ever present hiss.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Madman announced their acquisition of 009 Re:Cyborg yesterday and scheduled it for this year’s REEL Anime cinema screenings. The announcement was made at the Gold Coast Supanova Pop Culture Expo and fed to their Facebook page.
The film is a remake of of the classic Cyborg 009, and is set during a global coordinated attack on cities. A team of nine cyborgs are brought back together, but their leader now lives alone in Tokyo with his memories wiped.
This is the latest in a long string of re imaginings of the original manga. Three anime shows aired in 1968, 1979 and 2001 along with three theatrical movies.
009 Re:Cyborg is the second film announced for REEL Anime 2013, with Evangelion 3.0 revealed earlier as the first. Check out the official website for the film and the trailer below.
The Anime series, Anohana, has been licensed off of Aniplex for release here in Australia. The Anime series has been adapted by A-1 Pictures, best known for Fairy Tail, Black Butler and most recently, Sword Art Online.
Anohana is an 11 episode series that revolves around a group of school friends that call themselves the “Super Peace Brothers”. This is until one of the members dies, leaving the rest of the group to grieve for ten entire years. The following is a quote from the Press Release:
SYNOPSIS
To Forgive is To Forget.
The self-proclaimed Super Peace Busters, a group of six childhood friends, drift apart after the death of Meiko “Menma” Honma. Ten years later, everyone is still coping with their grief over the loss. Jinta Yadomi, the leader of the group, has now become a recluse; a shadow of his former, energetic self.
But one summer day the ghost of Menma returns, aware of her passing and needing Jinta’s aid in helping her fulfill her wish to cross over. But In order to do that, the members of the Super Peace Busters need to reunite and confront the ghosts of their past.
No word on a release date just yet, we will keep you updated when one is confirmed. Be sure to check out the official Hanabee website, or our section on the group, for more info.
The anticipation for Dead Island: Riptide’s release will rise with the announced launch of the official strategy guide on April 26th.
BradyGames have produced an in-depth “signature series” edition guide for the leading game title, in conjunction with Deep Silver. The 256 page strategy guide includes amazing artwork, highly detailed maps of the entire infected island (revealing secret areas, hidden collectibles and Dead Zones) and extensive insight on every mission and enemy encounter; creating the perfect campaign walk-through for Dead Island: Riptide.
Within the guide, gamers can expect to find:
Continued story of the survivors with objective-based strategy for each mission and detailed boss fights
New character coverage including level skills and the new weapon proficiency system
In depth coverage of every craftable weapon, new vehicles and infected monstrosity
Updated multiplayer chapter, covering the existing multiplayer and the new hub defence mode
Dead Island: Riptide will be released on April 23rd in the USA and Canada and on April 26th everywhere else for the PS3, Xbox 360 and Windows PC. Check out our co-op impressions of the game.
Don’t forget to purchase the official Dead Island: Riptide guide for the recommended retail price of AU$19.25 (US $19.79).
Battle Worlds: Kronos, under development at German studio KING Art, has been Greenlit by the Steam community. The game will be available on the service when it launches later this year. The Kronos Kickstarter is still in progress, with the Bremen-based studio up to $206,000 in pledges and eight days to go.
KING Art celebrated by releasing a series of assets, including a unique screenshot of 6,500 units on a 200,000 hex-field map of the Battle Worlds: Kronos world – one unit for every backer and one hex-field for every dollar given to their enormously successful Kickstarter campaign. With real-time strategy, the resources are simply not available to move such numbers. Demonstrating the benefits of turn-based game play in the efficient use of power, KING Art has provided their backers with a fitting tribute to their support.
Jan Theysen, Project Lead at KING Art said:
We’re blown away by the positive reaction to Battle Worlds: Kronos from the Steam community and are looking forward to bringing them the final game later this year. When our backers started asking us about the size of maps that could be generated, we decided to experiment ourselves and pay tribute to their generosity. We created a screenshot that can show how big it’s possible to go in turn-based strategy – let this be a tribute to all our backers and excellent friends at Steam!
Battle Worlds: Kronos is a classic turn-based strategy game in the tradition of Battle Isle and Advance Wars. It was funded through Kickstarter in only 7 days and is currently nearing its second stretch-goal. If you would like to find out more you can find the link to the Kickstarter page here.
InuYasha: The Final Act – Set 2 Studio: Sunrise Publisher:Viz Media Format: DVD (Reviewed), Blu-ray Release Date:February 12, 2013 Price: $44.82 – Available Here
Overview: It’s been over a decade since InuYasha anime began, in fact the manga which the anime series is based off of will have started seventeen years ago this year. Ever since InuYasha began making its way overseas in the early 2000s many anime fans have been waiting for the story to come to an end. With InuYasha: The Final Act –Set 1 setting the pace, Set 2 brings this long running franchise to a close. But will fans be pleased with how everything wraps up?
Story: While this really should go without saying, anyone who has not followed the original InuYasha series will not only be lost in this release, but even for the first half of The Final Act as well. While this does mean that non-fans will probably be best skipping this release, those who are familiar with the series will appreciate the fact that the plot progresses at a rapid pace without falling into developing backstory or recapping events this far into the series.
InuYasha: The Final Act – Set 2 picks up immediately after the events of Set 1 and the aftermath of Sesshomaru and InuYasha’s battle against Shishinki. In fact, the first running story arc of Set 2 brings the issues amongst these two siblings to the forefront as Sesshomaru realizes the truth behind Tenseiga and its ability.
Even before the introduction of Naraku to the series, Sesshomaru has almost always fought against InuYasha and as the series has gone on, we’ve seen Sesshomaru become probably the most developed character in the series, even more than InuYasha himself. As such, this story arc takes advantage of that slow build to finally see Sesshomaru become more than he ever thought possible, even if his cold and somewhat aloof attitude remains.
However even as these two siblings fight against one another, Naraku continues to reach his final goal, completing the Shikon Jewel and killing InuYasha and everyone he holds dear. After Sesshomaru’s Meido Zangetsuha arc the series begins to slow down a bit however as Naraku manages to bring forth even more demons to threaten InuYasha’s group and even Sesshomaru’s as well.
While this does help develop the core cast a bit more and strengthen their relationships with one another, this lull is ultimately unnecessary at this point in the storyline, especially the segments involving Kagome traveling back to her own time for various tests. While it ultimately does play a minor role in the ending of the series, trying to force these segments in at crucial moments of the anime’s story makes the entire series’ issues with focus all the more apparent.
However when the series does manage to finally pull itself together for the final battle against Naraku, everything manages to fall into place in what probably is one of the best pay-offs in a shonen series. Quite often, shonen anime/manga tend to feature a large number of enemies, many of which can be seen as a “final boss” type of opponent. However even in the best shonen franchises these enemies are often defeated and replaced with another opponent usually unaffiliated with past enemies the protagonists have faced off against.
Unlike other series, InuYasha has featured its share of temporary enemies, but one mastermind has always been behind-the-scenes pulling the strings of these creatures, and that opponent is Naraku. Despite being on the brink of defeat multiple times throughout the series, Naraku always managed to either outsmart the heroes or become strong enough to survive their attacks. As such, with Naraku at his strongest and in possession of a finally complete Shikon Jewel, the final battle begins.
By no means is this final battle underplayed either, as five episodes are devoted to the group working to bring Naraku down. Of course things will not be as easy as simply killing him at this point and everyone, even Sesshomaru and his group, must work together to bring down this opponent. This ultimately leads to rather outstanding final episode which should satisfy any fan of the series while still leaving something for the imagination.
Visuals: Although created five years after the original InuYasha series and undergoing a number of enhancements, InuYasha: The Final Act still manages to retain that classic feel that the original series had back when it aired long ago. The character designs have all remained the same, though again, their animation has improved compared to the former series. It is worth noting though that whenever there is a flashback to an event from the first InuYasha series, the footage presented has not been re-done in any way.
Where the series shines the brightest is during the action sequences that pretty much make up the entirety of Set 2 minus a few lulls here and there. These battles are impressively handled and the special effects used for the various attacks, especially the new Meido attacks, are memorable.
Audio: As mentioned in my previous review for Set 1, it is worth noting that Viz Media was not able to retain the voice actors for Kagome and Sesshomaru who were voiced by Moneca Stori and David Kaye respectively. Thankfully the rest of the cast was retained and thanks to this, the English voice work for the series remains quite impressive and the new voice actors for Kagome and Sesshomaru, Kira Tozer and Michael Daingerfield respectively, do a decent job handling the characters, though after experiencing the original voice actors in the movie collection released by Viz, longtime fans may dislike these changes.
The series retains its signature background themes that fans have become familiar with over the years and these are used at suitable moments throughout the release. The opening theme “Kimi ga Inai Mirai” by Do As Infinity remains unchanged in Set 2 and continues to be the opening for the rest of the series, though this isn’t an issue thanks to the great quality of the song. The ending theme also carries over, with “Diamond” by Alan lasting for half of Set 2 and being replaced by “The Long Road Ahead” by Ai Takekawa for the latter half of the release. Both of these tracks aren’t very memorable unfortunately and viewers will likely have no qualms skipping through them.
Extras: Unfortunately, Inuyasha: The Final Act – Set 2 comes with barely anything recognizable as a bonus feature. In this DVD release of the second half, we have the original Japanese trailer for the series and the original cast credits which are played in English. Also included is a “Sneak Peek” which provides a trailer for Viz’s Neon Alley service and one of their older anime, Kekkaishi.
As far as the packaging itself goes, the DVD comes with a rather standard black DVD case that does not include any inserted material and only the DVDs themselves are included in the package.
Overall: InuYasha: The Final Act – Set 2 brings this nearly 200 episode series to a close. It has been a long time coming and thankfully the series manages to deliver a great ending that ties together numerous hanging plotlines that had yet to be resolved. Although lacking in extras and ultimately something only a longtime fan of InuYasha would understand, this release offers an entertaining conclusion to the series that fans will be pleased with.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Translated from Nikkei Trendy‘s original interview with Level-5 CEO and President, Akihiro Hino, it looks like the studio is in the earliest stage of pre-development on a next-gen title.
When asked if the team was working on anything new for the PlayStation 4, Hino answered;
“It’s still in the planning stages, but yes, we are working on a PlayStation 4 title. We might even be able to announce it soon.”
Level-5 are a Japanese juggernaut, especially after the smash-hit that was Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch. They have numerous series under their belt, including Dragon Quest, Dark Cloud, Inazuma Eleven and Professor Layton. Let’s start the speculation/discussion… if any, which franchise do you think or hope Level-5 create a new, next-gen entry for? Or will it maybe be an original?
Rurouni Kenshin Studio:Studio Swan Publisher: Madman Entertainment Format: DVD, Blu-Ray (Reviewed) Release Date: March 20, 2013 Price:$34.95 – Available Here
Overview: Some of you may know that this isn’t the first time I’ve been tasked with reviewing Rurouni Kenshin, a live-action adaptation of the legendary anime and manga of the same name. Last year we attended the 16th Japan Film Festival screening of the film which we reviewed. The difference between watching a film like this in a theater and watching it in the comfort of your own home can be vast. The atmosphere of a theater can add a great deal to the experience and it certainly did, but the home video experience has another edge altogether – intimacy.
Rurouni Kenshin is a film that works well as an intimate action adventure film. One that is propelled by unbridled energy and pulse-pounding excitement. It has a certain sense of closeness that lends itself well to the home video platform, making for a very involving experience. An experience you’ll want to relive and I can wholeheartedly say that this is a film you’ll be watching over and over, it is just that much fun.
Story: Rurouni Kenshin focuses on titular wandering samurai Himura Kenshin as he drifts through life without any true direction. Kenshin once fought in the revolutionary war that brought about a New Age in Japan, but after witnessing the brutality and senseless pain he caused he decides to never kill again. Through this, Kenshin discovers that a sword isn’t meant for killing, but for protecting.
Over the course of the film Kenshin is repeatedly confronted with a situation in which his former killer persona is brought to the surface and he is faced with a question; are some people better off dead? This morality play that Kenshin finds himself involved in is engaging on a very emotional level. The audience has many reasons to believe that he should kill some of these people, but he refuses to do just that. He believes what he believes and that will not be compromised.
I’ve always found the most interesting aspect of Kenshin’s personality was the fact that he holds so strongly to his beliefs, yet never cares to make others believe in his way of life. It is just what he believes and he accepts that others won’t share those values. It is certainly one of his more admirable traits and one that Takeru Satoh brings out well in his performance.
The themes of killing are really handled quite brilliantly in this film, never forcing an opinion on the audience, instead simply giving them both sides of the coin and leaving it up to them how they feel about it.
It must be said that this film features some of the most jaw-dropping action sequences I have ever seen in film and they look even more incredible on Blu-Ray. The quality and detail of the world and actions within it are incredibly well captured on this Blu-Ray release.
Many anime and manga fans are probably curious as to how faithful this film is to its source material. Without spoiling anything I can confirm that it is a very faithful adaptation made with a clear affection for the series upon which it is based.
This film truly is an incredible action flick from start to finish. Many action films won’t make you think, Rurouni Kenshin breaks that trend with its thoughtful commentary on life, death and all that lies in between. Not only does it tell and amazing story with some very well drawn characters and settings, but it is also a lot of fun. We could all do with a little more fun in our lives right? Rurouni Kenshin is just that.
Visuals and Audio:
As previously mentioned Rurouni Kenshin has some incredible action sequences. Not only are they inventive but they are gorgeously depicted and awe-inspiring to say the very least. The choreography is impeccable making for what is some incredibly stunning scenes. In particular the battle outside the mansion features a part where Kenshin seemingly defies gravity and runs side-ways along the ground while slashing at a number of enemies.
The costume designs are also worth mentioning as they are beautifully done. They give a distinct style to the film and stay very true to the series roots. I also must say that the way this film conveys this particular time period in Japan is remarkable, with lavish locations and gorgeous set-pieces in great abundance. All in all it is well served by the Blu-Ray format which brings the best out of this film.
The film’s soundtrack is also well composed, featuring some beautiful musical arrangements all timed to perfection. ONE OK ROCK’s theme song they contributed to this movie titled ‘The Beginning’ is an infectious catchy rock tune that fits this film like a glove. It all makes for a great soundtrack from top to bottom.
Extras:
Madman Entertainment should be applauded for this release, not only is the film beautiful on Blu-Ray but it also has some great special features for fans to jump into afterwards. Not only does the release feature your standard trailers and promos, it also includes a featurette called ‘The Making Of Rurouni Kenshin’ which details the making of the film. It makes for a great watch for those interested in how everything came together in this astonishing film. Madman have given us an all around great release for a truly great film.
Overall: Rurouni Kenshin transitions from the silver-screen to home-video in glorious fashion. This Blu-Ray release of this already incredible film is superb in every sense of the term. Madman Entertainment have done Rurouni Kenshin justice. I wholeheartedly believe that Rurouni Kenshin deserves a place on the shelves of anime fans and film buffs alike. This is one of those special films that bridges the gap between audiences of all walks of life and it does so with sheer energy. If you have not yet experienced this film, you’re missing out on something truly magnificent. Rurouni Kenshin hascarved its own special place in my heart and it just might do the same to yours.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
This is flat-out ludicrous. First, Naughty Dog was pressured by their marketing firm to excise Ellie from the front cover of The Last of Us, and now that same firm has basically stated, through their actions, that “girls don’t play video-games”.
The game’s creative director Neil Druckmann told The Escapist as much, stating in a recent interview;
“Another aspect that influences how a game is promoted is focus-testing. Players are rounded up and are asked to view materials and answer some quantitative and qualitative questions about it. My big surprise during this process is that the research group wasn’t planning on focus-testing female gamers – it’s something we had to specifically request. I hope this is a relic of the past that will soon go away.”
Thankfully Naughty Dog are a team with integrity who did not listen to the suggestions of the firm to move Ellie to the back cover of the game and pushed for the above. You’d think that testing a game with a main female role with women would be apt…in my honest opinion, this marketing firm sounds awfully ignorant. Maybe they shouldhush and allow the developers to craft their beautiful wasteland on their own terms.
