PC gamers, here is your opportunity to catch up on the latest Ace Combat game in the franchise, Ace Combat: Assault Horizon with a little bit extra added to the mix. In Ace Combat: Assault Horizon ENHANCED EDITION, PC players can expect to have the same game as the console versions that not only takes advantage of the superior points of the PC (controls, gfx, etc.) but also the additional DLC content will be included with the package.
The Package is available now via Steam and as a physical product in retailers across the country. Be sure to pick up your copy soon.
Codemasters otherwise known as the masters of realistic racing games have just released a brand new video for their upcoming GRID 2 game. The new video features none other than Chris Harris a popular motoring journalist and contributor to the DRIVE youtube channel.
The video mashes up real-life racing with GRID 2 in game footage and quite frankly it is hard to tell the difference, which really goes to show just how stunning a game GRID 2 is visually. The race featured in the video features Chris Harris getting behind the wheel to challenge a professional racer.
You can check out the video below and let us know what you think in the comments section.
Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters Studio: Gary Sanchez Productions Publisher: Paramount Pictures Release Date: February 7, 2013 Format:Cinema
Overview
Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters is a film based on the Brothers Grimm fairytale called Hansel and Gretel. Whilst the film adaptation follows a slightly deviated version of the story, those of us familiar with the tale might be able to pick out some similarities, at least at the beginning of the film. While I quite enjoyed this version of the tale, I can’t help but wonder if it is accurate. Fans of the Grimm tales may find this adaptation a little different to the stories that they are used to.
Is the film an accurate representation of the source material, or is it another generic action flick? Find out my thoughts in the review below.
Story
Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters follows the story of the two characters, Hansel and Gretel who are both brother and sister. If anyone is aware of the fairytale, these are the siblings that get abandoned in the woods and almost get eaten by a witch in a house of candy… I think. They are then later found by their father and live happily ever after in a house of candy or something.
Much like the original tale, the two kids murder their witch captor, but instead of finding their father, they escape to a nearby town. This event earns them notoriety amongst the townsfolk as Witch Hunters and they then spend the rest of their life killing off Witches. And this is pretty much where the story of the film kicks in, just after they’ve gained a massive following as mercenary Witch Hunters.
The main storyline of the film follows the two as they take a new job during their stay at a new town. On the outset, the job seems to be completely normal, come in, hunt witches, save children and get paid. However, this is far from the case as you quickly learn.
What I really liked about the movie was the way the storyline progressed. I mean sure, it was just your typical action flick featuring Witches instead of terrorists, but man the way the story progressed made it interesting as much as the visuals made it fun. Which is a lot.
I have to say that there are things in the story that seem predictable when you think back on them, but as you’re watching it’s really like: “Wow, that happened? They linked all that together? Oooooo…”. Again, it is predictable, but it’s told in a way that’s both fresh and awesome.
I quite enjoyed the storyline in Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters, sure it was a little generic and predictable at times, but in its unique setting, it worked really well. Definitely see this film if you love when genres are turned on their heads.
Visuals
Visually this film takes a lot of its cues from action films, rather than fantasy ones. If I was pressed to give a quick description of this film visually, I’d describe it as: “Running and Gunning with Witches”. Sure that sounds painfully generic and plain, but really, with the setting and what you can do with Witches and the like, it makes for some really interesting cinema.
I also loved the costumes in the film. While the movie feels a lot like a Grimm tale, it looks a lot more… I wouldn’t say fantastical, but definitely more badass. While being that little bit more awesome, they still managed to fit the films setting quite superbly. Definitely in love with the aesthetics here.
The opening sequence was simply amazing. I loved the way it it showed the siblings progression from kids into worthy Witch Hunters throughout an awesome animated display that puts most animations to shame. This is probably one the best opening sequences that I have seen in a movie in a long time. Whoever was responsible for that deserves some kind of award. In fact, I would totally watch an animated series based off this franchise if it was done in the same style as the opening. As an aside, I’d also watch a TV series based off this using standard film-making techniques.
I also quite enjoyed the look and feel of all the architecture in the film. It really helped the film come across as being set in a certain time in history. This really added to the authenticity of the film, which is something that helped me be drawn in to it’s story so much more.
Audio
The one thing that I think is going to urk a lot of people with this film is that all the main characters of the film speak in that raspy American accent that is prevalent in American films. However, often you’ll hear this contrast against the German sounding background cast, which creates a kind of distance between the characters. It’s like “Hey, pay attention to these guys, they’re the main cast. Ignore the background”. When really, all of the characters should segue in together to create a fully realised world.
However, this film has some amazing audio work in all of the action scenes and it really helps you become sucked into the atmosphere of the combat. I quite enjoyed this aspect of the film and this makes me happy.
What was really great was the way the characters interacted with each other, particularly Hansel and Gretel themselves. I’m not sure if I’ve just been watching too much Anime as of late, but I was kind of expecting there to be some odd undertones between the two characters, I’m thinking along the lines of From up on Poppy Hill here. However, the dialogue managed to keep any of this stuff out. While the two were still unbelievably close, it still didn’t border on the odd within the audio.
Overall
Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters is an incredibly fun film that should keep you entertained on all fronts. Whilst it isn’t entirely mentally challenging, its great story mixed with amazing visuals and some really nice audio makes this film an exceptional experience. Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters is a fun film that I would heartily recommend to any living human being.
Square Enix have released a brand new trailer for the upcoming release of the Hitman HD Trilogy. The new trailer details the trilogy of classic Hitman titles that will be compiled in the HD collection which launches tomorrow on January 31st, 2013.
Hitman HD Trilogy allows players to relive all the classic hits of the Hitman franchise by giving Hitman 2: Silent Assassin, Hitman: Contracts and of course Hitman: Blood Money the HD makeover. The HD trilogy also includes Hitman: Sniper Challenge which was a pre-order bonus for Hitman: Absolution.
Be sure to check out the trailer below and let us know your thoughts in the comments section.
For those of us in the northern hemisphere getting over the winter blues, I have the perfect cure for you. A variety of cheap games!
Steam’s Midweek Madness sale is one of the rarer solo sales. Indie but published by Microsoft game Deadlightis 50% off. The game is a dark platformer originally on Xbox Live Arcade that follows Randall Wayne’s journey after a major disaster. The game has been well received and supports Steam Big Picture for those who prefer to access Steam from their TV. Check out our review of Deadlight here. Additionally, action RPG Risen 2: Dark Waters is on sale for 66% off. This is a pretty average sale, but for those sick of Skyrim but are looking for a similar game or just looking for a pirate themed game are recommended to give Risen 2 a try. Check out our review of Risen 2: Dark Waters here.
Greenman Gaming has a large Midweek Hot Deals sale going too. Games to note include Risen 1 on sale for 75% off. I’ve personally played Risen 1, it wasn’t the most polished thing, but still very fun. Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition is on sale for 50% off. This game is considered to be one of the toughest games made and is highly recommended for those with a controller. Check out our review of Dark Souls here. Dead Island GOTY and Dead Island without the DLC is 66% off. This isn’t the greatest of deals, you’re better off waiting for a 75% off deal if possible, but if you need a great zombie game to play right now for a good price, Dead Island is my recommendation. Check out our review of Dead Island here. Space sim fans will want to check out X3: Albion Prelude and X3: Albion Prelude Gold Edition for 50% off. The X series has been one of the biggest names that has kept the space sim genre going before the resurgence of Elite and Star Citizen on Kickstarter. As usual, make sure you use the 20% coupon on checkout. GMG20-PJFEW-Y16HK will knock off an additional 20% on the final price of your game.
GamersGate has Sanctumas their midweek sale at 75% off. If you are a tower defence fan looking for a FPS twist on the genre, Sanctum is a must play. The 75% discount is a pretty common price, but I have yet to see it go down lower than this.
Amazon is running a huge Paradox bundle sale. Some of Paradox’s biggest titles are on a huge discount. Almost all the bundles features Crusader Kings II which is highly recommended for any grand strategy/sim fan. The cheapest bundles are the Pint Sized Paradox Package and the Paradox War Chest which runs for $7.49 to the Plentiful Paradox Packageand the Paradox Majesty Franchise bundle for $9.99.
Say what you want about Sega, but they take care of their franchises. Fans of Total War already know this, and should be elated to know that a Gold Edition including all of the expansions has been announced and will be hitting store shelves soon.
This pack features the game, as well as the expansions Rise of The Samurai (2011) and Fall of The Samurai (2012), as well as all released downloadable content (excluding the Blood Pack), coated in some limited-production Wajima-nuri inspired packaging – making this the definitive version of the PC favorite. You can pick up the Gold Edition on March 7th.
Well, sort of. Aliens: Colonial Marines is coming out in just two short weeks, and those wanting some more footage of the Xbox 360/PS3 title can look no further.
Titled the “kick-ass” trailer, this footage takes us aboard the U.S.S. Sulaco, which is where the Aliens you will be doing battle with are currently inhabiting. The main voice speaking takes us through the events, but it’s the gameplay footage that looks amazing in my opinion. This setting seems to capture the essensce of the flicks perfectly, with an uneasy tone acting as a backdrop to the light humor and campy tale that is taking place. Check out the clip below, and stay tuned, as there is sure to be even more clips to come. Hopefully, a Wii U release date will also come forth.
Ben 10: Omniverse Developer: 1st Playable Productions Publisher: D3 Publisher Platform: Nintendo Wii U (Reviewed), Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Nintendo 3DS, Release Date: November 18, 2012 Price: $39.99 – BUY NOW
Overview
Ben 10 has been a staple of children’s television for years now, with several video game adaptations that have seen releases over the years. Yes, you might not of heard of many of them, but they do exist. Most of the time, these titles based of the franchise fall somewhere between simply “good” to mediocre, and fall short of creating any type of memorable experience – even for the hardcore fans of the program. Ben 10: Omniverse is yet another example of this, but this time our hero is trying to capture an early market on the Wii U. What you have here is a port of a game that hasn’t seen much publicity to start with, but does Ben 10: Omniverse for the Wii U leave us with anything to write home about? Let’s find out.
Story
To be honest, I have never paid too much attention to Ben 10. I am well aware of the popular franchise existing and have seen all of the marketing at work in stores, but it is a bit past my time – and never really tapped my interest enough to give it a second look. Whether you are familiar or unfamiliar with the name, you should know that Ben 10: Omniverse plays off the television show with the same name, with gamers taking the role as Ben Tennyson as he goes up against the evil villain known as Malware.
There are a bit of interesting happenings and a little bit of light humor sprinkled in that young fans are sure to love – but for the most part, those who truly understand Ben 10 are going to be the only ones that take away from this campy tale. I will say that the concepts of time travel, aliens, and sci-fi certainly seemed to be appealing, but after a short while – slow pacing takes hold and what could be an easily enjoyable adventure turns a bit stale, as it seems the developers simply wanted to throw this title out to the public due to the namesake, with the quality of the overall narrative taking a decent sized hit as a result.
Gameplay
I want to say that Ben 10: Omniverse is a great game – but that is only half right. This licensed romp is an action title full of ideas, but never really attempts to push the boundaries on it’s own concepts in order to produce an interesting experience. As I mentioned, players take the role of Ben, who has a special power in the form of his handy device known as the Omnitrix, which can let him change into aliens to fight evil. Ben himself can fight enemies with standard combat, as he features a variety of stiff kicks and melee maneuvers to put the beat-down on foes. Sadly, this combat in itself is a chore, as enemies can have an absurd amount of HP, so the player will be tapping their face buttons like mad just to get rid of only one of the many foes on the screen. Now, the combat isn’t really broken, it’s just a bit robotic and that alone is why using the Omnitrix is such a necessity.
Over the span of the game, Ben can earn new unlockable species for his Omnitrix, which of course allows for instant transformation into a new form. The idea of keeping the game fresh is brilliant with this mechanic, as players will certainly enjoy the wide variety on display. However, the aliens usually just feature a projectile of a different color or a more powerful melee, so fighting as these beasts lead to some dry results. Making matters a bit more tedious is that the Omnitrix has a timed meter, so Ben can only stay in these forms while he has enough charge. I get the idea behind this, but this kid isn’t too powerful to start with. Being rewarded with a new playstyle – only to have it ripped away a short time later can be a bit tiresome.
Luckily, Ben does have a side-kick by the name of Rook. While you could certainly play the game in single player, the definitive experience is found with more than one player. No – aside from a few special moves, Rook doesn’t offer a lot, but he can be a competent companion if controlled correctly. The AI however is not too great, and those going solo are sure to be frustrated as Rook just stands there, letting Ben be pummeled by on-screen targets. The enemies themselves can become a bit glitchy as well, and don’t offer much in terms of strategy to defeat.
To be honest, I wasn’t too fond of even using aliens in combat. Sure, the attacks are different, but that’s really all they have to offer. Puzzles however give these alternate forms meaning. As you progress, you will come across several areas that require one or more objectives to be completed before moving on. For instance, if a bridge needs to be formed, you would switch a specific alien that can literally turn into a bridge. When a switched needs to be hit with an electrical charge attached, just summon the handy Feedback. This alone adds a small amount of depth, but the pacing for these puzzles have been executed poorly – meaning that most of the time it will be battle, solve a simple puzzle based off of acquired alien forms to move on, and then repeat. I can’t say this formula is broken, but it feels overly predictable, making the game feel linear as a result. This is of course a title targeted for children, but the over-usage of hand holding (where the game pretty much spells out how to proceed) also over-simplfies things and takes the fun out of the otherwise clever mechanics at hand.
Since Ben 10 is a Wii U offering, I expected to see a little bit of Gamepad usage. Sadly, this is yet another shortcoming of Omniverse. Instead of maybe utilizing the device to compliment all of the alien forms and variety the game has to offer, Ben 10’s usage comes down to a menu – or a character wheel to be exact, letting the player change forms from the Gamepad. These forms can be mapped out on the D-Pad for quick use, but switching to one of the unmapped abilities means an abrupt halt to the action. When playing on the television, the player is treated to a plain, blank screen, where the potential of the device goes to waste.
Visuals and Audio
I am a fan of cell shaded games, but the Wii U could certainly pull off better than what Ben 10: Omniverse has to show for itself. Environments do have color and detail, but tend to just mesh together due to the similarly set levels. The aliens and even Ben 10 are nice to look at, but are stiffly animated, which makes the combat feel a lot clunkier than it actually is. Graphical glitches also came into play quite often, with enemies disappearing right off the screen during chaotic bouts. I remember this same problem occurring during my time with Warriors Orochi 3, but Ben 10 is miles below that title in terms of power, so the only other excuse for it’s flaws comes down the fact that this game was rushed out the door to meet a deadline – leaving the fans of the franchise with one function-able, but sloppy experience as a result.
Soundtrack wise, the tunes at hand capture the industrial setting quite well, but are a bit forgettable overall. Now, that isn’t to say that all the audio is bad, as the voice acting is far from it. While the story is a bit sub-par, the small cutscenes that do play are brought to life by Rook, Ben, and all of the other encounters in the game – so those who adore the show might at least find their fix with these accurate performances that give the game a light and adventurous tone.
Overall
Ben 10: Omniverse is a port for the sake of being a port. Every great idea within the game is held back by another, as the poor pacing and boring level design never lets the player do anything inventive with the mass amount of forms Ben can become. Co-op is a plus, but again – the graphical flaws and lack of polish still keep Ben and company from reaching their true potential. At the end of the day, this kind of product is something we expect from licensed games, as it’s a sub-par filler title that exists in order to add another notch in Ben 10’s resume. For fans, I would normally say “why not?” as there is a still a solid experience to be found, but with the Wii U version, I can’t offer that advice. Without proper utilization of the Gamepad on top of the numerous issues, Omniverse has came to the Wii U without any purpose, and stands as a game that feels dated and uninspired as a result.
With another Super Bowl coming up this weekend, February 3rd, EA continues their tradition of trying to predict its outcome using the most advanced football simulator they have available to them, Madden NFL 2013. Having properly predicted the Super Bowl winner 7 of the last 9 years, only the game itself will determine if they will achieve a solid 80% or a rounded 70% accuracy.
As for the prediction itself, the final play of the game can be viewed in the video embedded below, which this time was pretty important as the final play determined the winner. With Ravens ahead 27 points to the 49ers 24 points, all the 49ers had to do was score a touchdown to claim victory.
How do they fair? Well admittedly, not so well, losing by an interception allowing the Ravens to run out the clock. But, it nonetheless marks the Ravens as EA’s Madden NFL 2013 Super Bowl XLVII Champion prediction. Now, it’s simply a matter of waiting until the big game on Sunday and see if the real game manages to be as close as this simulation of it.
Incipio Le Deux iPhone 4/4s Case Manufacturer: Incipio Platforms: iPhone 4/4s Price: $29.99USD Get it Here
The Le Deux case is a case with a brushed stainless steel back plate with a polycarbonate frame. The case is available in four different colour combinations and has an Incipio Vanity Kit, which contains a screen protector, cleaning cloth, and applicator card, packed into the box. The case is designed to be extremely slim to compliment the iPhone 4/4s’ design.
The installation of the Le Deux case is an absolute nightmare. This is one of the trickiest cases to install on a phone and there are zero instructions included inside the box to make it easier. There is a YouTube video from Incipio that demonstrates the proper way to install the case, but there is no mention of this either in the box. It took me almost a full half hour of struggling with the case along with the help of the YouTube video half way through before I managed to wrangle on the case. The proper way to install the case is to put the back plate onto the back of the phone then with the LCD facing up, slip the bumper onto the phone and make sure the back plate is secured to the bumper.The video makes it look easy, but it is pretty tough. In the process of getting the bumper onto my phone, I managed to break my phone’s power button. The bumper’s fit is extremely tight, with the amount of struggling I required to get the case on, the bumper depressed the power down and rubbed it side to side repeatedly until the little piece that allows the power button to depressed with a click seemed to have slipped out of its position and caused the power button to no longer work. This seems to be a relatively common failure in iPhones, but I am left to wonder if the power button didn’t go through such stress from the installation of the case, would it be still ok now.
I spoke to Incipio about this, and they have stated that the Le Deux is an extremely difficult case to install, but this was the first time they have heard of a power button failure due to the installation of the case. Frankly, I do not believe the case is the only cause of the failure, but rather it simply exploited either a design or manufacturing weakness and caused a failure. I strongly recommend those choosing to purchase the Le Deux to take extremely care while installing the case and to watch the instructional video first before attempting to install the case. I also recommend that Incipio pack either an instruction manual or a link to the instructional video in the Le Deux box.
The back plate of the Le Deux case is a brushed stainless steel plate with a piece of cardboard like material glued to the portion that touches the iPhone’s class to prevent scratches. The back plate comes in three different finishes, a gold, black, and silver finish. The back plate has four small holes that snap into the bumper’s four protrusions to secure the back plate to the bumper. The stainless steel plate is cut perfectly, fitting itself to the back glass and resting against the metal band on the iPhone. It does not flex easily, but the brushed metal does get noticeably scratched with use. After a while, I noticed lots of small scratches on the centre of the plate from being rested on tables then picked up. The silver brushed steel finish does an ok job of hiding the scratches, but eventually the scratches look like a faint circular cloud on the back plate. If the colouring on the black and gold versions is simply a coated layer, they may show the scratches easier than the silver models. However, I am unable to confirm this personally. The back plate is extremely thin with ample sized hole for the flash. I did not notice the back plate causing any interference with the camera’s flash.
The bumper is a polycarbonate plastic that is advertised as Incipio’s Plextonium material. It is extremely slim with well sized holes cut out for the power button, volume buttons, vibration switch, speakers, and 30 pin connector. The hole for the headphone port is a pretty standard size for cases, fitting most headphone plugs except for the larger high end jacks. I was able to fit in all my headphones except the stock Shure se215 plug and the cable for my headphone amp. The latter was easily modified to fit the Le Deux case. There isn’t much give in the bumper except for lower portion of the hole cut out for the 30 pin connector. I found that wiggled easily compared to the rest of the case. The bumper itself took falls pretty well, but considering how little play there is in the case, the bumper dented easily after the phone was dropped about a foot onto the side of a desk.
The Le Deux case is a pretty solid choice at $29.99 if you are looking for a little more protection than the classic bumper case but still maintaining the super sleek design of the iPhone. The stainless steel back plate will provide the necessary scratch protection to allow owners to rest their phones on the table and slide it around without fear. The plastic bumper will stop the iPhone 4’s death grip problems without taking away from the beauty of the phone. However, the Le Deux struggles with an extremely difficult installation. Instructions on how to install the case or a link to the tutorial video needs to be added to the box containing the Le Deux. Buying the case also nets you an Incpipo Vanity Kit which is a very usable screen protector considering it is free. This definitely increases the value of the case. If you are in the market for a slim case and are willing to put in the care and leg work required to install the Le Deux safely, you will be rewarded with a case that looks so good it could be mistaken as a new iPhone design.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
