If you have been following Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus and happen to be a PlayStation 3 gamer then you have unfortunately been out in the cold for over a month now as the game has had no release date for your console of choice. That is until today.
Today it was revealed by Arc System Works’ Takeshi Yamanaka on Twitter that Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus will be released onto the PlayStation Network in North America for $14.99 on December 4th so fans PS3 fans will soon have a chance to pick up the game that made Arc System Works a popular name long before Blazblue was even thought of.
We have already reviewed the Xbox 360 version of the game, which can be seen here.
Now that Black Friday has ended, Xbox Live’s Larry Hryb, also known as Major Nelson, has quickly touted the fact that Microsoft’s Xbox 360 console did extremely well over the weekend. In facthe announcedthat the 360 sold 750,000 consoles in the United States alone during the Black Friday weekend.
Interestingly enough, he went on to say describe how the 360’s sales managed to surpass the combined sales of Nintendo’s 3DS handheld and brand new Wii U console as well as the Wii and the DS sales combined. He also mentioned that Xbox Live subscriptions went up 50% over last year’s Black Friday so this has obviously been a great week for Microsoft.
Originally Darkstalkers Resurrection, the digital re-release of Night Warriors: Darkstalkers Revenge and Darkstalkers 3 with a new crisp HD filter, was meant to be released on February 7th in Japan but it turns out that the game has been delayed a month and a week and will now be released in Japan on March 14th.
Now it is worth noting that Capcom has not made an announcement regarding an exact release date for the Western version of the game yet, so fans in the West can likely expect the game at the same time thanks to the fact that the company has delayed the game so they can improve the netcode and balancing. As for the image above, it is a sample of some of the artwork that will be unlockable once the game is released.
Tales of Graces f Developer: Namco Tales Studio Publisher: Namco Bandai Games Platform: Playstation 3 Release Date: 31st August, 2012 Price:$57.60 – Available Here
Overview:
The Tales series is a long and enduring one. It has over the course of more than 15 years, the Tales franchise has went through many stages of evolution but it has never forgotten what made it Tales. So here we are now with Tales of Graces f, a Playstation 3 port of the Wii Tales of Graces game, the next evolution of Tales. The question is though, is it a mistake or does it evolve gracefully?
Story:
As has come to be known as a staple of the series, the game features a fantasy setting with a very anime-esque plot that plays out over the course of many many hours. Tales of Graces f follows Asbel Lhant a noble’s son as he forges a friendship with a prince and a mysterious girl, one that they swear shall last forever. But of course being that this is an RPG game things get in the way of that.
Without going into too much detail I must say that Tales of Graces f features one of the series’ finest story-telling efforts, with a lot of unexpected twists and turns along the way. The world of Graces is vast and well concieved much like it’s characters that inhabit it. I found the character of Asbel to be the most well defined and easily relatable. He has a very likable personality and it is easy to want him to succeed. Much like other entries in the Tales series there is a of course many emotional moments to be seen and some are truly powerful moments at that. Without a doubt this is one of the most interesting stories the series has pulled off in years.
Gameplay:
Tales of Graces f does feature a decidedly different gameplay style to previous Tales games, most specifically with it’s combat system. Previously Tales games implemented a much more chaotic combat system, comparatively Tales of Graces f features much more refined and simplified combat mechanics.
In combat players are locked in a line with enemies with the ability to switch to another enemy at the tap of a button. You move backwards and forwards and also dodge side-ways. It’s simple and while a little restricting compared to previous Tales games, it gives a feel much similar to Tales of Phantasia but in a 3-dimensional plane.
Interestingly enough the new combat system which arguably is just a variation of previous systems, does allow for some interesting strategy with the ability to set party actions prior to battles. They are of course controlled in combat by AI but the player themselves can determine how they will fight, defensively, offensively, be the teams healer etc. It works great and adds a greater level of depth to how your team plays without having the worry about controlling them in combat.
Of course like other RPG games, Tales of Graces f features a leveling system and there is a bit of a necessity for grinding at times usually in order to take on strong opponents and bosses that are almost impossible unless you are a certain level. Thankfully though the leveling is done in a way that is far from obtrusive and works incredibly well in providing the player with a simple and effective way to track their party’s progress without becoming a game about numbers like a lot of RPGs tend to do.
Characters can earn Titles and level that by 5 variations throughout the story as they progress and on top of that upgrade their attributes and gain new skills.
All in all there is a distinctive old-school RPG vibe to Tales of Graces f in terms of gameplay, it hearkens back the feeling of classic RPGs such as Guardian’s Crusade and of course the timeless Tales of Phantasia, the game that began it all for Tales. Despite that though there is enough freshness that it stands well in the modern gaming environment.
Visuals and Audio:
Aesthetically Tales of Graces f continues on with the anime-esque art style that the series has become known for. Much like previous iterations of the franchise it is brightly coloured and looks simply gorgeous because of it. The vibrant and lively landscapes are incredibly memorable and make for a world worth exploring. Character designs are also well done with a vast array of unique looking characters within the game of all shapes, sizes and styles.
The game’s soundtrack is pretty much your standard fantasy RPG score but it does the job effectively enough although it doesn’t make any major strides to do anything new or innovative. The game’s theme song is quite good though and rather noteworthy. I found myself looking it up afterwards just to listen to it again. It’s a shame that the rest of the game’s soundtrack is rather bog-standard. In terms of voice acting however the English voice actors and actresses have done an excellent job at portraying these characters and making for memorable performances. Asbel in particular was performed phenomenally by Bryce Papenbrooke in his adult form, a tour de force of voice acting to say the very least.
Overall:
Tales of Graces f is another solid entry into the long list of game’s in the Tales series. It may not do a whole lot different to it’s predecessors but it doesn’t need to. The formula is solid and the story takes the foreground in RPGs such as this and I must say this is one of the best stories Namco have told with Tales in years even rivaling the legendary Tales of Symphonia.
There is enough on offer here to please any Tales fan as well as those new to the series. In fact it makes for an excellent entry point for those unfamiliar with the series. Asbel is an admirable hero and the story of Graces will surely engage even the most wayward RPG fans. Tales of Graces f is a classy game that lives up to it’s title, this is a game made of pure grace.
Today Tecmo Koei revealed another set of costume DLC for Dead or Alive 5. In fact, this is the fifth round of costumes they have released so far which means if you’ve purchased every pack so far, you have upwards of ten to fifteen costumes for some of the female characters.
This set contains the China Pack, Formal Wear Pack and Special Set 3 and each one costs 400 MSP or $5 each or if you buy them in a bundle they will only cost 1040 MPS or $12.99. The costumes can be seen below and we see some rather standard outfits alongside some very sultry outfits for Kasumi and Mila and a some risque leather for Christie.
Skullcandy followed up the release of the SLYR wired headset with the release of the PLYR2 Wireless Gaming Headset today. PLYR2 is Skullcandy’s first wireless headset and is compatible with Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC, Mac, and most mobile platforms. The audio is delivered through 2.4Ghz wireless technology and features Skullcandy’s proprietary Supreme Sound technology for precise highs and thundering bass. The wireless transmitter features an equalizer programmed with three sound settings called Bass Mode, Supreme Mode, and Precision mode. The headset also has an adjustable boom mic that automatically mutes itself when flipped up.
PLYR2 is available in black, white, or teal for $129.99 USD here. Additionally Gamestop, Target, and Best Buy will be carrying PLYR2 in stores in the USA.
Nintendo has confirmed the release of a Wii mini console for December 7th as a Canada exclusive.
The mini console comes in a red and black theme this time around, coupled with red nunchunks. It also has a top loading disc drive this time around and is designed to lay flat.
Unfortunately, there will be no internet connectivity for the Wii mini and additionally, no Gamecube compatibility. It definitely is intended to be a ‘bare minimum’ variation to the traditional Wii so no doubt the targeted audience may not be too perturbed by the lack of these features.
The Wii mini release comes at an interesting time, with the Wii U and original Wii both selling well through the week of Black Friday. Will the release of a Wii mini be successful, or even infringe on some Wii U sales? Even more worrying, will the release of another branded ‘Wii’ product cause more confusion between the Wii and Wii U?
Glu Games have announced Contract Killer Zombies 2; the sequel to their original 1st-Person zombie shooter game. And this time, things are much different.
Contract Killer Zombies 2 is a 3rd-Person free-roaming action shooter that has the player embody Evelyn, who was the sidekick to the hero Shooter in the first game. Evelyn will encounter a variety of mission types during her time at the Safehaven Research Lab, and will be equipped with multiple weapons (including a melee weapon) from the very start.
The following is an official list of features in Contract Killer Zombies 2:
Free-Roaming Third-Person Action: Fight through numerous locations in and around the Safehaven Research Lab.
New Survival Mode: Compete for the highest score by protecting a civilian from waves of zombies.
Multiple Mission Types: Save civilians, find provisions and clear escape routes to open new locations.
Heavy Artillery: Collect shotguns, machine guns, sniper rifles, grenades, axes, chainsaws, health packs and more.
Rankings: Track progress with Game Center Achievements and Leaderboards.
We’ve got first first screens and other imagery in the gallery directly below, as well as the first gameplay trailer underneath that. At first glance, there seems to be a great Left 4 Dead influence – on the enemy types at the very least. Check it out!
From the Director of everybodies first hentai movie, Ninja Scroll, comes Bodacious Space Pirates. This title has been licensed by Hanabee for release in Australia and features a young girl that inherits a pirate ship and must balance her life as a space pirate with that of her normal life.
Set to be released in January 2013, this title will see both a DVD and Blu Ray disc release. It will also feature both an English and Japanese dub. Be sure to check out stores for this adaptation of a light novel around the time of release.
The Walking Dead: No Time Left Developer:Telltale Games Publisher:Telltale Games Platforms:Mac, PC, iOS, PSN, XBLA (Reviewed) Release:November 21, 2012 Price: 400 MSP ($5) – Available Here
Overview: Whenever someone mentions zombies in games there will usually be a group of people who start to sigh and will immediately start to place that game into a certain category. However over the last few months we’ve seen just how different a zombie adventure can be when it is crafted masterfully over time. Telltale Games has managed to create a compelling and emotional experience as fans waited anxiously for the next episode in their Walking Dead series of games. Now that the company has brought this first adventure to a close, is it something we will be talking about for a long time to come?
Story: It is worth noting that if you haven’t played through episodes one through four at this point, that there will be spoilers as they are simply unavoidable and if you haven’t done so yet, then you better set aside some time as the emotional build-up you will experience throughout those four episodes all culminates in this finale episode with Lee Everett’s story coming to an emotional finale.
Unlike previous episodes, Episode 5: No Time Left picks up during the final moments of Episode 4: Around Every Corner as players are given a small recap of the fact that Clementine has been taken by some unknown perpetrator, Lee has been bitten by a zombie and a massive horde of undead has begun walking the streets of Savannah. From this point players are given only one goal… find Clementine at all costs and damn the consequences.
After their decisions in Episode four, players can come across a number of different scenarios right from the get-go as Lee may be able to seek help from the entire group or he could be all alone at the start, but players will never feel like they may have made a wrong decision somewhere in the past. In fact, Telltale manages to bring everything to a head here in the final episode and we see Lee become a man with only one goal in mind and those around him can rally around his cause and do their best to assist him any way possible.
While Lee and Clementine’s plight may be the focus here and the story barrels forward at a fever pace there are a few segments where the game’s pacing slows down and players are given a few simple puzzles to solve and chances to converse with the group that may still be with them. Players will have chances to talk about things which occurred many episodes ago and depending on your decisions the dialogue and choices will change as well. The personal interactions with the group help drive the events this group has went through and some may even redeem themselves in some form.
Player choice is even now still instilled in this episode and the choices are as brutal as ever before with a number of terrifying decisions scattered throughout the episode. With Lee racing against the clock he has become more straight forward than in the past and there is always a sense of urgency to every decision that has to be made as this surrogate father searches for a young girl, whom many may see as an adopted daughter by this point in the story, in the hands of a stranger in the middle of the zombie apocalypse. Ultimately many of your choices don’t make a massive impact on how the story itself will play out, but with the end drawing close and the sacrifices that the group must make things begin to tumble out of control in heart-rending ways.
Visuals & Audio: As one would expect, Episode 5 features the same aesthetic style as the rest of the episodes but ultimately No Time Left appears to be the most visually impressive out of the five episodes in this first season of the game and never is this clearer with Lee’s character design. As the story barrels on, not only does the player’s situation make them feel desperate, Lee’s appearance begs for the player to hurry as fast as they can because he literally has no time left. Each segment of the game sees Lee’s facial structure and appearance grow worse as the infection spreads and Clem is still so far away…
As far as the game’s voice work, there is still the same amazing voice cast returning to voice characters that they’ve had a lot of time to work with and many of the most emotional scenes are driven home thanks to how much emotion these voice actors/actresses put into their rolls. The same can be said to the game’s background music which is used sparingly but to great effect during actions sequences and dramatic moments.
Gameplay: Telltale has managed to find a nice balance between action and dialogue sequences in this episode and every time the player manages to encounter a puzzle it is still rather easy to solve though with the clock ticking a difficult puzzle would be the last thing players should be worrying about.
As for the game’s action sequences there are a number of very brutal scenes that, when combined with the art style and sound track, create perhaps the best action scenes all season. Zombies come back in a major way and they are more deadly than ever before as the limited ammo supply quickly becomes an issue and hand to hand combat becomes the last thing between life and death.
It is worth noting that during one section later in the game Lee became stuck interacting with an object and the only way to fix the issue was to back out of the game and re-start from my last checkpoint, though only a few minutes were lost. Outside of that it actually seems like Telltale has managed to create a nearly bug free experience with No Time Left.
Overall: When the screen fades to black and the credits begin to roll the only thing I could do was sit there and silently watch with bated breath for the epilogue to begin and even afterwards I struggled with my emotions as this season came to an end. Few games can create emotional impact of this scale and Telltale has managed to do just that. It is hard to say goodbye to a series which made me care so much about a group of characters and their plight but this is the emotional ending that the game and the fans deserve. Everything we have done was for Clementine and in the end, there is only hope.
