Karate rhythm-based story fighter Karateka by Jordan Mechner, creator of Prince of Perisa, is getting a bundle on the PlayStation Network with its pleasant soundtrack included.
Developed by Liquid Entertainment, Karateka is set in feudal Japan where the player must fight to save the girl Mariko from the warlord Akuma. The game’s music was composed by the Grammy-winning Christopher Tin (Civilization IV). The new bundle will be available here from May 7 with a price tag of $7.99.
Karateka was originally released in 1982 on the Apple II, which utilised rotoscoped animation and cinematic cutscenes. It paved the way for Mechner’s next title, the classic Prince of Persia. Karateka was remade and released digitally, and is available on the PSN for PS3 ($9.99), XBLA (800 MS points), Steam ($9.99) and iOS ($2.99).
Check out our review of the game on the iOS platform here.
Cello fortress is an odd and unique game. It essentially is a mix between a live cello concert and a video game. Four players from an audience grab a controller each, sit in front of the stage and play a twin-stick-shooter. The players a little tanks that attack a variety of different cannons which are controlled by the cellist on stage. The canons appear and shoot depending on how he decides to play the cello. Very, very interesting.
The creator and cellist for Cello Fortress is a man by the name of Joost van Dongen. Joost is a Dutch, indie game creator who is actually making Cello Fortress in his spare time. Before this he made the game Proun which is an abstract racing game with a minimalistic art style. It was well received by all different levels of society be it gamers, reviewers or even artists. Joost has been playing cello for at least 20 years and plays in an orchestra called Kunstrorkest. He is also the lead programmer and co-founder of Ronimo Games, the studio behind the game Awesomenauts and the award winning, side-scrolling, strategy game Swords & Soldiers.
Joost Live And In Action
Cello Fortress is his solo project. Joost explained:
“The challenge is to not only control the game in the right way, but also play good music while doing so. Just quickly skipping between the various attacks would result in horrible music, so I really need to think ahead a bit and make the music flow fluently from attack to attack. Add to this that it is all improvised, which means that I need to come up with the melodies while playing, and it becomes clear what a challenge this game is for the cellist. The result works brilliantly: playing, hearing and seeing Cello Fortress in action is quite a show!“
Joost and Cello Fortress are currently touring while the game is still under development and is currently improving so keep your eyes out for this one!
Check out the Trailer in the Featured Video section below and don’t forget to drop us a line in our comments section just under that.
Three former NIS America employees have created their own publishing company. Jack Niida (former producer), Hiroko Kanazashi (former Vice President of Production) and Nao Miyazawa (former Vice President of Marketing) issued a press release today for their newly formed company acttil, and plan on bringing independent games as well as other digital content including E-books from all around the world.
“We are optimistic with the current digital content environment. It is quite promising for independent developers and we would love to work closely with them and help achieve their goals.” Jack said in within the press release.
The name acttil is an acronym of the companies most important values; acceptance, creativity, teamwork, trust, innovation and love.
The Los Angeles based company aims on producing online content for a wide range of platforms including home consoles, PCs, and mobile devices. As well as publishing, acctil also proved services including PR & marketing, analytics and translations and packaging designs for localizations. Click here to check out the website.
This is certainly a unique route for these three ex-NISA employees to take and we wish them the best of luck with this new company.
This one is likely to be a little bit confusing so stick with me on this one. Today XSEED Games’ parent company Marvelous AQL purchased Atlus Online from Index Digital Media, the parent company of Atlus. By doing this they have created Marvelous USA in North America, but don’t worry, XSEED Games remains itself and their plans for publishing titles remains unchanged.
For example, any games published on PCs, consoles or handheld gaming systems will still be labeled as XSEED Games while Marvelous USA will instead be the brand for mobile games and online social games. This means that the company as a whole is expanding, but XSEED will remain unchanged and in fact may even benefit from this acquisition in the long run and who knows, maybe we’ll see more Marvelous AQL titles in the West sometime down the line.
To be a bit more specific, the announcement contained the following statement from XSEED Games’ president and CEO Shinichi Suzuki, who is now actually the President of Marvelous USA:
“Marvelous USA unifies our US operations under the global Marvelous brand while giving our customers topnotch products and support for both traditional and online social and mobile games. Our Xseed Games console and PC brand will continue to offer the quality games and service for which it is known, and Marvelous Online gives us expanded reach into mobile and online social gaming markets.”
HarmoKnight Developer: Game Freak Publisher:Nintendo Platform: Nintendo 3DS Release Date: March 28, 2013 Price: $14.99
Overview
The 3DS eShop has brought us some little gems in an overlooked space during the past two years, with smaller developers such as Renegade Kid making a name for themselves with titles full of heart. The almighty Pokemon developer Game Freak have now dropped HarmoKnight on the service, which is a rhythm-based platformer. Sure, the genre is a bit odd coming from the source, but if you have played Drill Dozer, you should know that Game Freak know how to create something other than Pokemon in their spare time. Does HarmoKnight hit the right tunes, or does this little adventure prove to be off key? Let’s find out.
Story
Much like a good portion of 2D platformers on the market, HarmoKnight features a lovable little hero by the name of Tempo, who has been tasked in saving the land of Melodia and the Princess from an evil band of foes with his rabbit sidekick known as Tappy. This world is bright and full of color, and the charm is turned up so high that some may cringe at all of the cute. Now, that might normally detour a good number of older players, but HarmoKnight manages to strike a balance with its lovable cast of characters and general offbeat, quirky design. Is it for everyone? Not really. Those who enjoy their Pokemon and want a title that is light on narrative but full of heart however will probably find what they are looking for here.
Gameplay
If you see some screenshots and go into HarmoKnight thinking this is your run-of-the-mill platformer, you will be in for a rude awakening. Each stage is laid out like a platformer, but Tempo is constantly moving on the side-scrolling plain, so the player does little to control his general movements. Instead, it’s your actions that matter, as before platforming even comes into the equation, HarmoKnight is all about the rhythm-action aspect.
The controls are rather simple in HarmoKnight. For the most part, players will be utilzing the A and B buttons to tap to the beat, which in turn allows our hero to jump over obstacles and smack enemies with his trusty staff. As the game progresses, other playable allies join up with Tempo, giving the game a nice change of pace from the norm with these new protagonists that shoot arrows and have their animal sidekicks do the dirty work. If I could best describe the mechanics within HarmoKnight, I would have to compare them to Space Channel 5. As the track plays and the levels scroll onward, enemies start to appear. Once an enemy is near, you must either smack it or jump over it, which rewards the player with a note. Fail to hit the foe on time and Tempo loses a heart. Luckily, these tunes are all made to get inside your brain, so knowing when to hit the next enemy could be done blindfolded with the right amount of practice.
As far as an objective goes, there really isn’t one aside from collecting as many notes as possible through the means of standard pick-ups and defeating enemies. As each stage is beaten, players are rewarded a rating with their performance – with “Good” or better awarding you with a coveted “Royal Note”. These notes can be considered keys of sorts, as they open up the world to new levels. It’s rather easy to get the hang of the game pretty quick and there are tutorials, but those who cannot pass a stage with enough notes in tow must keep attempting in order to progress onward. At the end of each world, a boss awaits that delivers a more streamlined challenge. Sure, its all about moving to the beat, but Tempo must deliver blows in succession and keep all of his health in one semi-lengthy battle in order to move on. The gameplay doesn’t necessarily change for these portions, but out of all the levels in the game, these battles will keep you on your toes until that last hit is applied.
It all sounds lovely, and trust me – HarmoKnight is a fun game, but there is one flaw that holds this musical adventure back from reaching its full potential. No matter what stage you are on, the gameplay never really changes. Sure, the controls are solid and the music intertwines perfectly with the experience, but the gameplay itself never evolves enough to give the player a true feeling of progression. Enemies change from time to time – as does the setting, but with only a sparse amount of power-ups and new mechanics added, each level feels much like the one before it due to the lack of features added in. Now, this isn’t a deal breaker in the slightest, but it’s a shame to see the 3DS’ loaded repertoire wasn’t utilized more to make this already great romp even more magical.
Visuals and Audio
Earlier, I mentioned about how bright and colorful HarmoKnight is for a reason. Every level appears as digital eye candy, with chipper animations, charming models, and cutscenes that attempt to use the 3D for some eye-popping moments of excitement. It’s almost as if you are playing a Kirby title in many ways, as the world is just as welcoming, and the little mascot Tempo is just thrilled for you to come along with him on his little quest. Animations are a large part of what makes up the gameplay within HarmoKnight as well, as one missed jump can meet the end of our hero in a heartbeat. Thankfully, if you die, it is indeed at your own fault – as I experienced no dips in framerate or chugging throughout the entire game.
Yeah, the visuals are a big deal, but the music and lively soundtrack is where the core of HarmoKnight’s charms can be found. Each and every stage is pumped full of a unique, poppy tune that will carry you to the finish and perfectly in sync with the actions your character performs. As a bonus, and this is a big one here – Game Freak have also included a decent number of bonus stages that feature some of the most loved tunes from the Pokemon universe. Sure, the sweet and melodic tracks do fine on their own, but I felt like the addition of the familiar songs gave myself an even greater appreciation for the main adventure’s mechanics as a whole.
Overall
If HarmoKnight would have been a fully priced retail value, I can easily say that it might have not lived up to it’s price-tag as there isn’t a lot of growth throughout the game. As you know however, this title is made for the eShop and is only priced at fifteen bucks, making it a snazzy addition to the growing library and proving that the service isn’t just for smaller names to produce on. Games like HarmoKnight are what the eShop is all about – quick and light bursts of fun, and on that note, anyone wanting to add a true delight to their digital collection should grab the latest from Game Freak, as this musical romp is sure to impress anyone who are looking for some guaranteed quality with a good beat.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Game Description: After yet another huge success with the theme park in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!, the Mario Toy Company decides to host a Mini Toy Carnival this year. This time, however, Donkey Kong has joined with Pauline to run a game arcade inside the carnival. Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move is a charming single-player puzzle game set in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong universe. Several Mario-universe characters appear in this game and of course you will meet Mario and Donkey Kong represented as mechanical clockwork toys. This game features a simple-to-use Create & Share mode which allows you to create your own content that you can share with your friends. Can you help Mario and his friends in this great puzzle game?
Reel Fishing® 3D Paradise Mini
(NATSUME)
Nintendo 3DS
(Download Software)
Nintendo eShopfrom 10/5/13
AUD$5.20 (NZD$6.80)
Game Description: Reel Fishing® 3D Paradise Mini offers a fun and challenging experience for novice fishers and master anglers alike. Put your skills to the test as you must complete over 20 missions in a variety of different fishing locals. Each fish looks and moves so much like the real thing, it’s the closest you can get to real-life fishing without putting on your waders! Choose from a variety of lures to attract and hook the game’s numerous wily fish. Do you have what it takes to become the next great Fishing Master!
Wrecking Crew
(Nintendo)
Nintendo 3DS
(Virtual Console)
Nintendo eShopfrom 10/5/13
AUD$5.20 (NZD$6.80)
Game Description: In NES classic Wrecking Crew, Mario and Luigi swap their plumber’s caps for hard hats as they take on the role of demolition engineers! One or two players must demolish every obstacle in each enemy-infested level, while working out the most destructive route through the networks of ladders and scaffolds. Wrecking Crew also includes a mode for designing your own levels. This Virtual Console version also features the ability to save your creations, which was not possible in the NES original.
The Beet Party: UnderWaterMelon
(Redrover)
Nintendo 3DS
(Download Video)
Nintendo eShopfrom 10/5/13
AUD$1.30 (NZD$1.70)
Video Description: The Beet Party is a series of 3D short videos available for download on Nintendo eShop. The two-minute interstitials target four to six year olds and follow the adventures of the five coolest beets around as they explore, experiment, celebrate and communicate with beat-boxing sounds when something new arrives in their fridge. In UnderWaterMelon, a giant watermelon is placed in the fridge which causes some major space issues with the Beets.
Color Commando
(CIRCLE Ent.)
Nintendo 3DS
(DSiWare)
Nintendo eShopfrom 10/5/13
AUD$2.60 (NZD$3.40)
Game Description: Color Commando is a new and very cool puzzle platform game. In this game you get to hunt for
treasure! However, many evil color monsters are blocking your path! Pick up color blobs and try to outsmart the monsters! In each level, color monsters will block your path and try to grab you! So what can you do against this? Collect paint blobs that are spread out over the level. You can use a paint blob to paint a big paint-spot on the world. If a monster of the same colour comes into contact with the paint-spot, the monster will dissolve into the spot. When this happens the monster cannot harm the player! The game starts out easy enough, but before you know it you are surrounded by many different types of color monsters in all different colours! There are five worlds, each with four normal levels and one star level. You can unlock the star level by getting all the treasure in the other four levels!
Solomon’s Key
(TECMO KOEI GAMES)
Wii U
(Virtual Console – NES)
Nintendo eShopfrom 10/5/13
AUD$6.50 (NZD$8.50)
Game Description: To save his world from demons, Dana the Wizard goes on a dangerous quest to find Solomon’s Key and seal the monsters away. An audacious mix of action game and puzzler, Solomon’s Key was one of the toughest challenges on the NES, but also one of its most endearing adventures. Combine logic and reflexes to unravel the mysteries of each room. Bright minds are needed to unlock its secrets, and only a few have been deemed worthy of seeing all the different endings. Will you be clever enough?
This is the US version of the game.
Xevious™
(NAMCO BANDAI Games)
Wii U
(Virtual Console – NES)
Nintendo eShopfrom 10/5/13
AUD$6.50 (NZD$8.50)
Game Description:Take control of your Solvalou fighter and strike deep behind enemy lines to destroy the Xevious forces! Use missiles against airborne enemies and bombs against ground-based targets, and watch out for the colossal floating fortress. Xevious is considered one of the forefathers of the vertical-scrolling shooter genre. Featuring unique enemies, a variety of environments and many hidden gameplay features, it’s an all-time classic that still gets the pulse racing!
This is the US version of the game.
Permanent Price Reductions
Title
Platform
Available
Price
Fist of the North Star: Ken’s Rage 2
(TECMO KOEI GAMES)
It seems that even though the next expansion for The Lord of the Rings Online is announced that doesn’t mean the developers at Turbine are focusing on that alone as a new update for Riders of Rohan is on its way. With such a big map to draw from it isn’t hard to find more areas to add in for players to explore, so with the new update players will be able to traverse and adventure in the Eastern Rohan region of Wildermore.
The update, titled “Treachery of the White Hand”, comes complete with five new areas within the region; Writhendowns, The Fallows, Whitshaws, High Knolls, and Balewood, players will seek to find and stop the forces causing the bleak cold weather to be all the more deadly. Rumored to be the work of Saruman, acting through the Stone Giant Núrzum, an all new questline will be available, with VIP players able to for free.
The update wont just be opening up new areas though, as several gameplay changes will also be implemented with Update 11. With mounted combat seeing a revamp via class traits aiding mounted combat and mobility bonuses moving from traits to the base steed instead. The Lord of the Rings Online will also be rewarding players more for logging in each each with Silver Hobbit presents fitting level and class. VIPs will also see some more rewards with custom character portrait frame, bonus experience being improved, and better Silver Hobbit presents than those non-VIPs.
Players can check out a little of what the new update will have in store by clicking on the images in the gallery below to see the full-sized screenshots of the new areas. The Lord of the Rings Online was developed by Turbine and published by Warner Bros Games.
In the mood for a satisfying tease? As we mentioned in our Resident Evil: Revelations review back when it launched on the 3DS, this portable title delivered with atmosphere. With the experience now hitting consoles, Capcom have posted a small trailer to show just how atmospheric the upgraded port will be.
Sure, it’s just an enemy and a bit of darkness, but this encounter is made alone – which is why in the game it’s actually a unnerving experience. Also out today are two other “Case Files” videos, showing off more of the game to the unfamiliar. Resident Evil: Revelations HD drops May 21st, and you can check out all three clips below.
French game company Anuman and French game developer Paul Cuisset are teaming up to bring the classic fantasyrole playing game Darkstone to mobile platforms.
With more than 100 levels and 4 playable character classes, players will get to enjoy rediscovering the original game with a new interface and game system that have been adapted to touch screens.It will also recognize the remixed original voices and sounds.
Said creator Paul Cuisset,
“Anuman Interactive and Artefacts Studio teams are doing a great job. This new version of ‘Darkstone’ is fun to play and I am delighted to see this title newly adapted on mobiles.”
Darkstone will be available on iPhone, iPad, and Android devices in June 2013. For more information, you can check out Anuman’s official website here (*Warning* – It’s in French)
This Month’s Club Nintendo Rewards are now up due to the monthly refresh for May, and this time things are a bit of a mix between the legendary and obscure. 3D Classics Excitebike (150 Coins), Super Mario RPG (200 Coins), Aquia (100 Coins), and Maboshi’s Arcade (150 Coins) are all available for the taking on Club Nintendo, allowing you to trade in your coins for an old favorite or something that may be rather new to most.
This is a decent lot and it is obvious what the frontrunner is, but I am curious when we are going to see some other first party titles hit the service such as Pokemon Snap and Super Mario Bros. 3 – just two name two that have not seen the rewards treatment. Either way, these goods are up until June 2nd, so get them while they last.
