Page 4940 – Capsule Computers

Akko-Chan Movie Review

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November 29, 2012

Akko-Chan: The Movie
Studio: Toho
Publisher: Japan Foundation
Format: Cinema (Japanese Film Festival)
Release Date: Sydney – November 24, 2012, Melbourne – December 1, 2012
Price: $17 – (Buy Here)

Overview:
The premise of Akko-Chan is one that has honestly been done to death, yet their is something just so endearing about this film and it’s titular heroine that it’s easy to look past a plot that feels all too familiar. Akko-Chan is easily the most surprising film of the 16th annual Japanese Film Festival because although it seemed to be something fairly routine on the surface it is one of the most refreshingly charming films on the line-up. There is simply an unbelievable amount of fun to be had with Akko-Chan and friends.

Story:
Akko-Chan is a film based upon the legendary magical girl manga of the same name. It follows 10 year old Akko-Chan as she is given the ability to become an adult just like she has always dreamed with the help of a magic mirror. It’s a simple concept and one that is admittedly tried and true, but it feels fresh with this film and not only that but it’s a lot of fun. It’s especially fun seeing the vast array of forms that Akko-Chan takes throughout the movie with her magic transformation mirror. Sure it’s a crazy concept, but it works.

Now one thing that may deter viewers from the outset is that it’s a relatively girly film, but truth be told it’s still something that everyone can enjoy. It’s both heartwarming, downright hilarious and at times even genuinely sad. It really covers a broad spectrum and that only works further into it’s favour.

The film focuses on Akko-Chan’s exploits at a major cosmetics company and largely deals with the inner conflicts of upper management. Usually these plots come off as boring and lack any sense of urgency, but in Akko-Chan they build up this company as almost a character in it’s own right. To the point that you genuinely care what happens to it much like Akko-Chan and Naoto (her love interest and boss) do.

Throughout the course of the movie, we see how Akko-Chan adapts to the workplace environment and slowly begins to understand that being an adult isn’t exactly what she imagined. There is a great message to be told here which honestly felt the film pulled off excellently and it is that good things come from hard work. Akko-Chan herself discovers this by film’s end and although things end all too soon for her, there is a very satisfying conclusion to it all.

In terms of pacing the film does a great job at keeping things interesting and doesn’t waste much time on the things that aren’t working so much in it’s favour (for example when Akko transforms into a cat) opting to keep things moving along quick and fast. This is of course the right decision for a film such as this which would suffer if the pacing where even a little slower.

Character-wise there are plenty of memorable characters on show in Akko-Chan besides the eccentric heroine. Naoto is a pretty boy but he also has a heart of gold and shows true compassion and interest in those who are passionate about something much like himself. There are also great bit characters like the security guard who gets a great moment in one of the film’s climactic scenes. All in all it’s a very well conceived cast of characters that get a great deal of definition in the film’s 2 hour running time. The only thing I could complain about is the fact that Akko-Chan’s naivety can be frustrating at times, but that frustration is just part of the drama the film is trying to convey to it’s audience.

It’s hard to ask for a more enjoyable film than Akko-Chan, it’s fun throughout despite some minor bumps in the road and honestly has something for everyone.

Visuals and Audio:
What Akko-Chan accomplishes visually is an impressive feat in and of itself. Most Japanese films feel very much stuck in Japan aesthetically, but Akko-Chan’s world feels like a mix of European culture and Japanese. Akko-Chan’s house visually looks very much out of place in Japan, perhaps more at home in England. More so when it is snowing in the film suddenly it takes on the image of a British Christmas film almost accidentally in fact. On top of that though there is locales that would be familiar to any culture making for a very diverse looking movie. It’s hard to know whether this universal imagery was intentional or not but it does give Akko-Chan a unique and inspired setting visually. Not only that but there is some jaw-dropping shots in this film, most notably the sunset seen from the ferris wheel which is beautiful each time it’s shown.

The soundtrack of the film on the other hand is relatively pedestrian. The incidental tracks don’t bare any real presence and just get lost in the shuffle of the film’s proceedings. It’s not necessarily a detriment to the film, it just doesn’t do anything to add to the film like a good soundtrack does. It’s just nothing special which is a shame because a film like Akko-Chan gives opportunity for some very unique tunes but ultimately it’s just a missed opportunity here.

Overall:
It will make you laugh, it will make you cry, it will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, it is Akko-Chan the best family movie on show at this year’s Japanese Film Festival. This is a movie that anyone can watch and garner some enjoyment from and that is something that not many film’s are capable of in this day and age. It may feel familiar, it may be predictable, it may be goofy, it may be girly, it may be too cutesy but Akko-Chan is such a sweet and charming film that none of that matters. It just excels in so many ways because it simply refuses to let it’s audience finish watching it without a smile. That is what makes Akko-Chan so good, it can’t help but make you smile.

Borderlands 2: Mr. Torgue’s Campaign of Carnage Review

Travis Bruno

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November 29, 2012

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Borderlands 2: Mr. Torgue’s Campaign of Carnage
Developer: Gearbox Software
Publisher: 2K Games
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 (Reviewed)
Release Date: November 21, 2012
Price: 800 MSP ($10) – Available Here

Overview:
Many gamers have taken the fight to Handsome Jack and put an end to his plans and many of those people have already ventured the desert wastes in the search for Pirate Booty. After returning from the desert, what is next for the Vault Hunters of Borderlands 2? Well 2K Games and Gearbox Software have recently released their latest piece of DLC for the game in the form of Mr. Torgue’s Campaign of Carnage. Is this piece of DLC just as explosive as the Torgue weapons fans have come to know? Let’s find out.

Story:
The… very outspoken… CEO of Torgue industries has organized a special tournament for the residents of Pandora. You see, he has discovered a new vault and Mr. Torgue is planning on giving the winner of his tournament of badassery an amazing grand prize if they eliminate their opponents and become the number one contender. As such, the Vault Hunter sets out with the quick travel system to Torgue’s Badass Crater of Badassitude to take on this challenge.

As with the past piece of DLC in Borderlands 2, Mr. Torgue’s Campaign of Carnage takes place outside of the main storyline but that doesn’t mean that familiar faces won’t be there to help you out. In fact a couple of fan favorite characters play some integral rolls in sponsoring and training the Vault Hunter as they fight against the various opponents in this badass tournament. In case you’re curious about who these two happen to be, let’s just say one happens to be a sexy bartender named Moxxi while Tiny Tina just the right amount of crazy with her explosives to fit right in with the Torgue mindset.

What is that mindset you say? Well why don’t I briefly let Mr. Torgue pop by for a quick message. “DID YOU KNOW THAT OVER 97% OF ALL LIVING THINGS ON PANDORA AREN’T EXPLODING RIGHT NOW? THAT’S BULLSHIT! BUY TORGUE!” Yes, buy Torgue indeed. As you can see what really helps sell this piece of DLC is the fact that Borderlands 2’s comedic nature never misses a beat. In fact the combination of Torgue, the two fan favorite characters mentioned earlier and everything else that occurs within the Badass Crater of Badassitude a laugh riot.

Visuals & Audio:
A number of new areas have been created for this DLC including the Crater of Badassitude, Beatdown, and The Forge to name a few, and each of these areas has been given an expected level of Borderlands 2 charm. As for the enemies you encounter, there are a number of new baddies mixed in with your run of the mill bandits which have been given a re-skin to match the new theme. These new enemies and some of the vehicles you encounter are very well animated and Torgue himself is splendidly done.

As for the game’s audio, wow. That is pretty much all that can be said for Mr. Torgue’s Campaign of Carnage as far as the game’s voice work is concerned. While the background noise and soundtrack are your standard affair, the voice actors and the writing team must have taken a look at other scenes in Borderlands 2 and decided to take their performance to an entirely new level. Not only do we have Moxxi and Tiny Tina returning with new lines of hilarious and well performed dialogue but we also have Mr Torgue himself.

Any fans of the wrestling industry should instantly see how Torgue seems to be an amalgamation of many wrestling personas all combined into one over the top, raucous, foul-mouthed person in the entire game. That brief quote earlier was just a small taste of what Torgue brings to this pack of DLC as he frequently unleashes a verbal barrage of swear words that are bleeped for comedic effect only as they leave absolutely nothing to the imagination. This creates an absolutely over the top persona that fits perfectly with Borderlands 2 and the DLC itself.

Gameplay:
As a whole the gameplay of Borderlands 2 changes very little with the inclusion of Mr. Torgue’s Campaign of Carnage DLC as they will still have the same type of weaponry and skills they have always had to take out all of the enemies which appear before them. That being said, gamers should not worry that this DLC is similar to Moxxi’s Underdome, as there are a number of different quests to complete which put together an interesting and hilarious story outside of the arena combat.

These quests you go on still have the same Borderlands 2 humor as always, with outlandish objectives and goals that the player must complete, though many of them happen to feature either killing or gathering certain things. However thanks to the charisma of Torgue, Moxxi and Tina these missions never feel like a chore as their rewards are not only physical in the form of weapons, money and tokens, but also in witty dialogue and stellar writing.

There is also a new form of currency introduced in this piece of DLC in the form of Torgue Tokens. Torgue Tokens can be obtained in a number of ways such as completing various missions, defeating enemies and they can even be awarded by a special slot machine that requires a Torgue Token to play. These tokens can be used to purchase legendary Torgue type weaponry, many of which are brand new to this DLC.

Overall:
While many people may have been concerned that Mr. Torgue’s Campaign of Carnage would follow the route of Moxxi’s Underdome when it was first revealed, but those fears can be put to rest as not only does this DLC feature a humorous and compelling storyline strung together by interesting quests but also a brand new colorful character and a large role for two fan favorite characters. While the DLC can be a bit short for some and the basic gameplay hasn’t changed at all, Mr. Torgue’s Campaign of Carnage offers a hilarious experience which will leave you in stitches while you put your enemies in ditches.

Space Brothers Movie Review

Luke Halliday

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November 29, 2012

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Space Brothers
Studio: Toho
Publisher: Japan Foundation
Format: Cinema (Japanese Film Festival)
Release Date: Sydney – November 20, 2012, Melbourne – December 6, 2012
Price: $17 – (Buy Here)

Overview:
Dreams, beliefs, faith and love are all powerful things. These powerful and at times magical things are the foundations of Space Brothers a live-action film adaptation of the popular manga of the same name. These things are the driving force of a film that truly embodies the power of dreams. This one is for the dreamers.

Story:
As is apparent by the title this is a film about two brothers with dreams of heading to space. As children Mutta and Hibito witness a UFO zip about the starlit night sky and finally shoot towards the moon. This event spurs on the two brother’s love for space ultimately leading them to become obsessed with space to the point they desire to head to the moon together. But as always something has to go wrong, in the case of Space Brothers, it is older brother Mutta losing faith in their dream opting instead for a droll life of white collar work.

After Mutta gets fired from his job, Hibito whom is now destined for the moon in the next few months revitalizes Mutta’s passion for space ultimately resulting in Mutta deciding to join the space program in an attempt to become an astronaut and thus fulfill a pact the two brothers made that night as children.

Dramatically the film is brilliant, with the synchronicity of the plots of Mutta’s JAXA astronaut exams and the story of Hibito’s first moon voyage, it makes for truly tense story-telling. The stakes are indeed high and running these two plots in parallel works wonders for the film. The tension regarding whether Mutta passes the exam and fulfills his dream to go to space with his brother would have been enough but to have Hibito’s death-defying trek on the moon play out along-side it was a masterstroke.

The characterisation is like-wise excellent. Mutta is your lovable goof, who has never truly succeeded in life but desperately wants to succeed this time, not out of any selfish reason, but because he wants to fulfill a promise he made to his little brother all those years ago. It’s an admirable goal and his is a genuinely relatable character. Hibito while being the lesser defined of the two brothers is still well chiseled as the successful and charismatic young man who still views his older brother with starry eyes. These are two characters that are incredibly easy to root for and it makes Space Brothers all the better for it.

While the majority of the film was a joy to watch, there was some notably cringe-worthy moments, particularly any scene where someone spoke English. Whenever the Japanese actors speak English it’s almost difficult to not laugh at and does kill a lot of the emotion in the scene. Bizarrely even the American actors speaking English was clunky. They spoke decidedly slow and even their English was relatively broken. It was hard to watch these scenes, but any point when they were speaking Japanese there was no issue.

Despite that, the film was utterly heart-warming. The film’s conclusion left many in the theater with teary eyes, not of sadness but of joy. It was a genuinely moving and satisfying 2 hours of film, even though its hard to imagine such a story ever existing in reality, it’s nice to just slip away for a while and believe that magic can happen.

Visuals and Audio:
Without a doubt Space Brothers is the most aesthetically stunning film of the entire Japanese Film Festival. The Moon scenes are jaw-dropping and look very genuine. One thing that is truly interesting about Space Brothers visually is the way that it utilizes space and no I don’t mean outer space, I mean space. For example, With the triumphs of our heroes the world seems to much wider and open, this is very evident in the scene in which Mutta watches the rocket launch and when Hibito first jumps onto the moon with his infamous ‘moon jump’. Conversely when the pressure is on, things start to close in making things feel claustrophobic, evidently seen when Mutta is struggling with his exam and of course when Hibito is trapped in the moon crater. It’s great cinematography and it really conveys the characters emotions in a visible medium. Freedom and open space brings them joy, but being trapped and closed off is frightening. In the end you truly understand why these brothers love space so much and a lot of that has to do with the way the film is shot.

In terms of the film’s soundtrack it was simply excellent. The theme song was performed by Coldplay of all bands, ‘Every Teardrop is a Waterfall‘. It’s a song that lyrically isn’t really suited to this film but in terms of how it sounds, it’s a fitting tune especially with the repeated use of the word ‘UP’ which is continuously shown during the video montage in which the song is played in the film. The rest of the soundtrack is a nice mix of pulse-pounding and laid back bop creating an eclectic soundtrack that would actually be worth owning in it’s own right. But when it comes to how it correlates with the film, it’s excellent and always tonally on point.

Overall:
Space Brothers is a film that whilst obviously unrealistic and fantastical in nature is genuinely touching and honest in it’s portrayal of the love between two brothers that transcends time, space and everything else in between. It may not be the most believable story told, but that doesn’t matter at all because sometimes we need films like Space Brothers. Sometimes we need to be able to just sit back for 2 hours and believe that something magical can happen and that’s what Space Brothers does. This film reminded me of the magic of movies and judging by the audience’s reaction, I wasn’t the only one who felt the magic in the air.

Far Cry 3 Out Now! See The Launch Trailer Here

Zac Elawar

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November 29, 2012

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Far Cry 3 Out Now! See The Launch Trailer Here

Today marks the Australian and European release of the much anticipated Far Cry 3. Developed by Ubisoft Montreal and Massive, Far Cry 3 is now available on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC. The official ANZ launch trailer can be seen directly below this article!

The game has been receiving universal critical acclaim, as it is currently the highest rated shooter of the year! Face your insanity as you step into the shoes of Jason Brody, stranded on an island that he will soon discover is a savage paradise. Lawlessness and violence rule there, and Jason must find his path to survival as he sneaks, slashes, detonates and shoots his way through hostile territory, overseen by the mentally deranged Vaas. For those of you who have not pre-ordered the game, you may still be able to get your hands on the limited collector’s ‘Insane Edition’ at your local games retailer.

The Insane Edition (pictured below) includes many exclusive goodies such as:

A 12cm Vaas Wahine with bobble head!
The Lost Expeditions -Two suspenseful action packed missions totaling over 40 minutes of additional gameplay and an exclusive weapon (The Japanese gun)
Monkey Business – Discover Hurk, a new memorable character and quest giver, and his four unique missions.
The Hunter Pack – The M700 hunting rifle and its three collector’s skins.
The Warrior Pack – A handcrafted dagger and two exclusive tribal tattoos.
The Predator Pack – Four exclusive rare predators and a multiplayer bow.
An ‘Insanity Guide’ containing hints and tips to help you survive the island
A survival kit

There is also the ‘Day One Edition’ that includes the ‘Lost Expeditions’ DLC content from the Insane Edition. All versions of Far Cry 3, including the digital download for the PC, are now available for purchase at the Uplay Shop. Speaking of Uplay, for a complete list of Uplay rewards, such as the unlockable single player mission ‘Testing Unit’, go to the Uplay website. Far Cry 3 also integrates the Uplay PC Party System, having the honor of introducing the feature to the world. With it, PC players can create a party by inviting their Uplay friends and team up to take on any multiplayer challenge. They can also find new friends and communicate in-game during the multiplayer session with the integrated Uplay friend interface.

And finally, players can also face their own insanity via the free mobile app ‘Far Cry 3 Insanity Mirror’, which allows them to experience a crazy conversation with themselves (Some people do that without an app! I’ve seen them on the train!). It is releasing on the iOS tomorrow. Remember to watch the ANZ launch trailer below! For any more information (although I don’t know what else you could possibly be missing after all of that) visit the official Far Cry 3 website.

Nintendo Wii U Launches in Australia

Dustin Spencer

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November 29, 2012

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Right now if you are a Nintendo fan and are located in Australia or New Zealand, you are more than likely standing in line, waiting to pick up your Wii U, or planning a trip to the shops tomorrow morning. Yes, the Wii U has hit the region, along with the 24 launch titles, ranging from Fifa 2012, New Super Mario Bros. U, and Scribblenauts Unlimited – just to name a few. (A full list can be found below)

Thus far, I am rather impressed with the console as it is oozing with potential. Grab your own today, and stay tuned as our own Wii U reviews and coverage is just getting started.

Call of Duty: Black Ops II
Skylanders Giants
Transformers Prime
Ben 10 Omniverse
Funky Barn
EA Sports FIFA Soccer 13
Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Wii U Edition
New Super Mario Bros. U
Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge
NintendoLand
SiNG Party
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
Warriors Orochi 3 Hyper
Darksiders II
Assassin’s Creed III
ESPN Sports Connection
Just Dance 4
Rabbids Land
Your Shape: Fitness Evolved 2013
ZombiU
Scribblenauts Unlimited
Game Party Champions
Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition
Family Party: 30 Great Games: Obstacle Arcade

BlazBlue 3rd Anniversary Contests Continue

Zac Elawar

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November 29, 2012

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BlazBlue 3rd Anniversary Contests Continue

To continue in the celebration of the 3rd anniversary of BlazBlue’s US release, Aksys Games have announced a further two contests which are live right now.

One is titled “Caption the Blue”, and requires an entrant to write one set of captions for a pre-determined image. That image can be found on the contest page here. The prize is a rare BlazBlue Jin Kisaragi “Dakimakura” pillow cover. So if you’re a fan, visit that page and enter for a chance to win! The second, and final new contest, is called “All Eyes on the Azure” and requires an entrant to simply spread the good word on the Northeast Championships XIII, based in Philadelphia, PA, which will feature a BlazBlue tournament, via Twitter. The prize is a one-of-a-kind signed concept artwork from the Arc System Works staff! Details can be found on its contest page here.

Also, as a reminder, BlazBlue: Continuum Shift EXTEND is available at a cheaper price-point than the original’s RRP, and considering it comes with a myriad of additional features, all of the Continuum Shift DLC characters as well as Relius Clover, it’d definitely value for money. For more information on EXTEND and where to buy it, visit the official Aksys Games website.

Sony Announces PlayStation Plus December Line-Up

Simon Wolfe

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November 29, 2012

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Sony Australia has announced what members of PlayStation Plus can look forward to for the month of December, starting on the 5th. The biggest title becoming available for members to play should be pretty apparent from the image above, but to avoid any confusion we’ll go ahead and say that it’s Batman: Arkham City. Other titles joining Batman include third person shooter Vanquish and indie black-and-white puzzler LIMBO.

December will also see shooters Bulletstorm and Resident Evil 5 Gold Edition remaining a part of the PS Plus Instant Game Collection. But it doesn’t stop there either as now that PS Plus extends to the PS Vita, members with the portable will get access to Knytt Underground.

The subscription for PS Plus, which includes both PS3 and PS Vita, in Australia for one year is AUD$69.95 or alternatively AUD$19.95 for 90 days at a time. Though Sony fans wishing to try PS Plus out can get a 30 day trial from the PlayStation Australia Facebook HERE and be able to check out December’s line-up.

Nintendo holding Wii U Launch Events in Australia

Dustin Spencer

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November 29, 2012

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The day has come Aussies and the Wii U is just mere hours away from releasing. To celebrate, Nintendo have set up launch parties in Australia, where you can come out, grab a console, and partake in the activities.
As you might guess, there is sure to be quite a crowd as well as active Wii U’s to play, so if you pre-ordered or just want to see what the fuss is about, head on out to one of the locations in the invitation down below.

Virtue’s Last Reward sees Australian and New Zealand Release

William Bevens

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November 29, 2012

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Following the success of Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors, Rising Star Games has released Zero Escape: Virtue’s Last Reward to Australia and New Zealand.

Rising Star Games took a risk by localising Virtue’s Last Reward’s predecessor to America, but fortunately it was met with great success. Now the crime and text-based adventure game can be experienced outside of the US, with the Australian and New Zealand release coming today, soon after the UK release.

The game features 3D rendering for the 3DS, multiple endings and an array of plot twists and engaging story, all of which were praised by critics. Virtue’s Last Reward is also available for Playstation Vita.

Ratchet & Clank: QForce available now in Australia

Travis Bruno

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November 29, 2012

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Today gamers all throughout Australia can run out to the store and pick up Insomniac Games’ latest Ratchet & Clank game, Ratchet & Clank: QForce. It is worth noting that QForce is the same game as Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault which was released yesterday in North America.

Ratchet & Clank: QForce will cost $24.95 AUD and will also come with a code that will allow you to download the PlayStation Vita version of the game for free. Unfortunately thanks to a last minute delay, the Vita version will not be available until sometime in January 2013. Check out the trailer below for some footage of Ratchet & Clank: QForce in action.