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.
Pandora’s Tower is the newest action-RPG from Nintendo and Ganbarion. It was finally brought to the west as a result of Operation: Rainfall, and is arguably the last new Nintendo Wii game to be released. You’ll take on the roll of Aeron, a young man whose love is cursed with a terrible condition that has a very strange cure. She must consume the flesh of 12 master beasts, and Aeron must conquer towers and creatures to protect her fate.
Join Capsule Computers editor Joe Morgan as he meets the characters, learns the setup of the story, tests some combat, throws a few enemies around, and ultimately takes down the first of 13 towers to save his beloved Elena. Be sure to check out our review as well!
As we initially record our gameplay videos, we will be livestreaming the footage to our Twitchpage. We’ll be sure to upload it to our YouTubepage later for those that missed the livestream as well. Also be sure to follow us on Twitter, and Facebooksince we’ll let everyone know when a livestream begins that way. Be sure to leave a comment here or head on over to our YouTube page and leave a comment so we know what you think of our newest feature.
Asher Vollman, an independent game developer who for 10 months formerly worked for thatgamecompany – winner of numerous awards, including our own for their splendid PSN exclusive Journey – has dropped some morsels of information on the studio’s next title.
While he was working there, the project in question was under way and so he had first-hand experience in developing the game. In his most recent blog post, he referenced his leaving mid-project, saying “…the new game they’re making isn’t just something that you can casually abandon” before stating;
“Obviously I can’t divulge any details about it, but… it’s going to be huge. And I don’t mean it’s going to be a long sprawling game, I mean it’s going to be an IMPORTANT game. I genuinely believe it’s going to change the industry in a really positive way.”
Vollman also gives an idea of its development pipeline while explaining a large factor in his decision to go independent;
“The game is going to be incredible, but it is moving slowly. There are YEARS remaining on the project and, quite frankly, those are years I don’t want to give up for a game that isn’t truly mine.”
Vollman is talking it up quite a lot… do you guys expect this to be a truly revolutionary gaming experience from thatgamecompany in the next-generation?
This is a slow-spreading tidbit coming out of Oscar-winning producer Jon Landau’s keynote speech at the NAB Technology Summit on Cinema earlier this month; we could be seeing the first instance of full underwater performance capture for a film in Avatar 2, loosely scheduled for release in 2015.
The big name producer – who has also worked on Titanic (1997) and Solaris (2002) – stated during his speech;
“We have kept a team of digital artists on from Avatar in order to test how we can create performance capture underwater. We could simulate water [in computer graphics], but we can’t simulate the actor’s experience, so we are going to capture performance in a tank.”
Landau also praised Peter Jackson’s decision to shoot The Hobbit at 60fps, believing “it is a better experience for the audience”. On that note, he related such adoption of new technology to the M.O. of Cameron and the crew in developing the Avatar sequels;
“We want to take advantage of the technology that people are putting out there to make the next two movies more engaging and visually tantalizing, and wrap up the story arc of our two main characters.”
That being said, he recognises that movie-goers “don’t watch for technology”, proving that the film-makers haven’t lost sight of what’s important (doesn’t apply to all film-makers). Oh and you can expect Avatar 2 and 3 to remain in 3D as “the 3D screens market is phenomenal” overseas. And with the box-office numbers Avatar pulled, I think that’s evident. Again, don’t expect Avatar 2 until at least 2015.
After the release date was announced for Rising Star Games’ Deadly Premonition: Director’s Cut there was only one step left to finish the game, Certification. Well, the game has went, come back, and gone gold meaning that anyone that had pre-ordered the game have no worries about delays.
Coming exclusively to the PlayStation 3 and PSN, Deadly Premonition: Director’s Cut will finally cross the console gap outside of Japan. Originally only released on Xbox 360 everywhere else, the Director’s Cut includes a variety of features to help make up for the lost time. With a new scenario for players to play through, to HD graphics to improve texture quality, reworked controls for a better experience in combat, and brand new downloadable content.
Now that the game has reached gold, bonuses have been added to those pre-ordering the game through Amazon and GameStop. Those going through Amazon will receive the exclusive Field Ops Suit, which players can use to increase HP and Attack Power by a factor of 3. While those pre-ordering at GameStop will get the exclusive Espresso Suit, that will grant an 3X increased tolerance to Hunger and Tiredness.
Deadly Premontion: Director’s Cut will be releasing for PS3 on April 30th, so players wanting to get those pre-order bonuses should check out their retailer of choice before then.
So a few weeks ago, BattleBlock Theater was finally released and the game is looking great, especially with the ability for players to make their own levels to share with the community. In an effort to ensure that BattleBlockers are working with and playing around in the community levels, the developers at The Behemoth have started the Furbottom Friday, which will continue every week until next month.
So what does Furbottom Friday entail? While, generally this would just be an update to the Furbottom’s Features for solo, co-op, and arena, but just because The Behemoth loves you and the game’s narrator too, this first Furbottom Friday gives players the ability to unlock two special prisoners. Donuts is unlocked by completing all the levels in the solo feature, titled “Buckle Ur Pants” by user Xx Tawnia xX, while Winston, modeled after The Behemoth’s own Dan Paladin’s pet, is unlocked by completing the co-op feature, titled “Flem and Friend” by user guyinco6nito. There is a new feature for arena as well titled “CommunityBngBng” by user Shiunicornt, though no unlockable prisoner.
These two special unlockable prisoners are only available for a limited time, so players that are interested in getting them should hop onto BattleBlock Theater ASAP to make sure they don’t miss out.
