After being delayed back in September because of a lawsuit with Rimowa GmbH, Marvel has finally updated us all on the new, slightly more generic look for the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase One – Avengers Assembled Blu-ray box-set. Not only that, but the now April-bound box-set will come with a few additionally enticing features.
Pictures released by Marvel.com show a more plain briefcase design, except for the front face which is inspired by Tony Stark’s ‘Arc Reactor’ palladium core (Can be seen clearly in the image below). The mammoth set is planned to include all the previously announced bonus materials, but Marvel felt they needed to sweeten the deal to make up for the lengthy delay. And so, they have announced that the box-set will now come with previews of each film in Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase Two, which includes the Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Ant-Man, Guardians of the Galaxy and The Avengers 2 films.
Depending on the film – and considering their varied release dates and production schedules – these previews may consist of “footage, concept art, and a few new surprises. Also, look for a nod to Iron Man 3 in the Tony Stark S.H.I.E.L.D. file in the box set”, says Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige . There’ll also be never before released deleted scenes and footage contained in the set, including an alternate ending to Thor. Feige toldEW, “We went back to the editor’s assembly of each film and discovered some rare moments that dropped out of the films early on and had not been released on prior discs. We spent an embarrassing amount of time compiling the ‘Shield Files’ included in the box set to be sure that each character’s file was full of great, movie-accurate props and Easter eggs, which help tie all of the Phase one [Marvel Comics Universe] films together.”
For anyone who pre-ordered the originally planned set, will these inclusions make up for the near 7 month delay? Let us know in the comments below!
The first look at Australian made Fallout: Lanius has appeared this morning on the movies’ youtube channel, and it is looking great. Wade Savage, creator of the film, has yet to release any footage from this small-budget so it is exciting to finally see how the film may end up looking. The project was announced earlier this year and has received over $11,000 of support to date, a full $1000 more than first sought after.
No word on when Fallout: Lanius will be released as of yet. Check out the trailer below and let us know what you think in the comments section.
Through a recent interaction with a fan on twitter, Ken Levine has revealed that there will be “no multi” in 2K’s highly anticipated title Bioshock: Infinite.
RT @tha_don_101: @IGLevine can you clear up whether or not Bioshock Infinite will have multiplayer modes? —Nope.
After Levine’s confusing first response to the question “can you clear up whether or not Bioshock Infinite will have multiplayer modes?” from user tha_don_101, a later tweet revealed the answer everyone was looking for.
RT @wolverine11111: @IGLevine Does that mean nope it won't or nope you can't clear that issue up? –No multi.
This may not come as a surprise to many fans of the series, as Bioshock 2’s multiplayer servers have been relatively quiet. This news hopefully means that the single player campaign is beefed up and consolidated as the series’ third instalment has been greatly hyped, while its release date has already been pushed back from October 16 of this year, it will now be shipping February 26, 2013.
Warriors Orochi 3 Hyper Developer: Omega Force Publisher: Tecmo Koei Platform: Nintendo Wii U Release Date: November 18, 2012 Price: $59.99 – BUY NOW
Overview
Warriors Orochi 3 launched a bit earlier this year on the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, and it was a fine Warriors game, featuring nothing but fan service and love from Tecmo Koei. In a rather bold showing, Omega Force have released Warriors Orochi 3 Hyper for the Wii U as a launch title – featuring a new mode, a few new characters, and a brand new way to play via the Gamepad. Being a port, you would think this title’s success would be guaranteed. Does this Hyper version offer a repeat for fans or deliver as a nice entry place into the Warrior series for newcomers?
Story
Taking place years after Warriors Orochi 2, Warriors Orochi 3 Hyper places us in utter chaos, with a giant hydra wiping out entire armies. When all hope seems lost, the Moon Princess Kaguya emerges and grants three heroes the ability to travel back in time to save their fallen allies of the past.
Like most Warriors titles, Warriors Orochi 3 isn’t exactly a masterpiece when it comes to narrative, but the story is told effectively enough to keep one interested, and these vast and torn landscapes provide enough atmosphere to capture the plot throughout. Warriors Orochi 3 Hyper offers two new characters in the form of Shennong (from Chinese Lore) and Momiji (Ninja Gaiden), who offer a bit more, but not enough to warrant an entirely new purchase if you have already put the other versions of this title through it’s paces on the merits of storytelling alone.
Gameplay
Fluid gameplay is what the Warriors franchise is all about, as this modern day hack and slash/beat em up hybrid relies on combos in the hundreds and it’s deep move pools in order to succeed during each mission while moving forward to the next area of the game. Thankfully, the transfer to the Wii U does not harm any of the content, as all of the upgradable weapons, techniques, and of course characters are all here, leaving fans with little to complain about. As far as the controls go, things have also remained relatively the same, with all commands appropriately mapped out on the Gamepad controller.
The pro controller is also an option and is the ideal way to play the game, as the Gamepad offers no form of touch control or any use altogether aside from detached mode, which was definitely a sad sight to see considering how a title like Warriors Orochi 3 could have benefited from the device. A more fluid inventory system, touchscreen technique mapping, a full screen map – ANY of these options would have greatly improved the otherwise solid mechanics within the main game – but it seems that this port is really just that, with the same exact game being copied and pasted onto Nintendo’s new platform aside from a few extras.
Combat itself is fast paced and rewarding, with the player taking the role of three different warriors at once that can be changed between each other at the press of a button. Fans of the Warriors series will feel right at home with the button mashing blows that the series is known for, featuring our heroes mowing down crowds of foes by just mashing the few attack buttons to their heart’s content. Yes, it’s gratifying nailing a huge combo, and the ease to do so while changing up characters comes off as effortless, killing off a good portion of repetition that has plagued the long-standing series while rewarding the player with upgrades, new characters and weaponry as they progress.
Duel Mode is the big new feature for Hyper – and it’s definitely a large draw for those die-hard fans who buy every release Tecmo throws onto shelves each year. Utilizing the team member swapping mechanic, players are tasked to fight an opposing squad until just one team is left standing. As hits are made, battle points are racked up and can then be spent on attack cards. These cards are unlocked by playing through the Story Mode, and prove useful – offering up extra abilities such as increased attack, spells, and other techniques that can change the tide of a battle in an instant. This mode proves to be a very strategical and well thought out addition, and considering how the unlocks tie into story mode and the fact that you can battle other players online, it’s sure to do nothing but increase one’s time spent with the game.
Survival and Free Modes are also available, adding to the already large amount of content within Hyper, and offering more paths to new challenges for those who crave something different. Sure, not a lot has changed with Survival, but the combat is utterly addicting as it stands – providing the player is not already tired of the repetitive yet solid gameplay mechanics that this franchise is know for.
Visuals and Audio
Just like the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions under the same name, Orochi 3 is just as nice to look at on the Wii U – well…for the most part that is. While most textures and models appear the same, the game can have trouble keeping up when it comes to mass chaos. Slowdown then occurs from time to time, causing the fast-paced combat to stutter as the action overloads the experience. Now, this isn’t a common occurrence and isn’t exactly a deal breaker, but the framerate has taken a hit for this version that will be noticed by those who have already played through the superior cousins of Hyper. Some models can also disappear or render right in front of your eyes while in battle. Again, this isn’t exactly intrusive on the gameplay, but it is a bit head-scratching to see considering the supposed power of the Wii U and the more fluid animations that this same product has delivered on other platforms.
The audio work on the other hand is much more solid. All voices have been subbed (the dialogue has been untouched from the eastern version), and while I personally don’t know the language, you can still understand the emotion with the text due to the fine acting jobs of the cast, ensuring the player will not be playing through a story made out of lifeless husks. The soundtrack is pretty standard fare as well, keeping the atmosphere of battles exciting, while toning down for the more sentimental cutscenes. The sounds of the weapons on the battlefield is another well done feature with the audio, as every kill is just as gratifying as the next and gives great reason to unlock every tool of the trade due to how different each weapon feels and sounds.
Overall
Warriors Orochi 3 Hyper is exploding with content and never loses a beat where it matters most by bringing that sharp, fast-paced, and rewarding gameplay to the Wii U. Duel Mode is a fantastic addition and the two new characters are sure to attract all of those hardcore fans of the franchise. With that said, Hyper’s biggest problem isn’t really with it’s sluggish framerate or minor shortcomings that I mentioned earlier. Instead – the problem lies in the fact that this game fails to take the Wii U and do anything substantial with the console. The Gamepad’s only purpose is to stream the same exact game on two screens, and when you look at what much simpler titles offer for the same platform – that just isn’t good enough. Sure, this is a decently done port as a whole, but one that lives in the shadow of it’s own predecessors because of it’s fear to innovate.
Today a new game in the Steins;Gate franchise was announced by 5pb. and Mages and will be available for purchase in Japan next year on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The game is being called Steins;Gate: Senkei Kousoku no Phenogram, or in English: Steins;Gate: Phenogram of Linear Restraint.
The title is being produced by Tatsuya Matsubara and Naotaka Hayashi is returning to be the scenario writer and chief manager for the game. Currently details about the game are unknown but when the game was announced a slide stating that “There are as many stories as laboratory members” was shown. Whether this means more side-stories or something else, is up to you. Until more information is released you can check out the game’s barebone official website here.
If you happened to be a fan of Biscotti, Galette or Pastillage or any of the various characters in these nations then you will be happy to hear that Dog Days is returning for a third season. The illustrator for the Dog Days manga, Fujima Takuya tweeted during the FlonyaFestival 2012 Dog Days event in Tokyo that this cheerful anime will be getting a third season.
スーパーサプライズ！ DOG DAYS第3期 制作決定です☆*:.｡. o(≧▽≦)o .｡.:*☆ またみんなに会える！ #dogdays
Currently no extra information has been released about the third season so it is currently unknown when the series will be airing nor how long the season will last. However it is worth noting that Dog Days’ first two seasons aired during the Summer so it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to assume that Dog Days 3 may air in Summer 2013.
Do you live in Sydney? Do enjoy Laser Skirmish battles? Well with the upcoming release of Ubisoft’s Far Cry 3 on PC, PS3 and XBOX 360, Ubisoft will be hosting free day of Laser Skirmish on Wednesday Nov 28.
Is anyone invited? YES! Everyone is invited to join in the fun at the M9 Laser Skirmish in Darling Harbour. Located on Level 3, Harbourside Shopping Centre. I’ve personally been there and it’s the the perfect environment to hone those shooting skills in preparation for Far Cry 3.
Entry is completely free for anyone who turns up on the day and the M9 Laser Skirmish will be open from 10.30am – 10.30pm.
*NOTE* There is a limit to how many people can take part in each game so turning up early is recommended.
Prizes will be on offer for the most skilled players and there will also be the opportunity to play Far Cry 3 before release.
Far Cry 3 is released this Thursday, Nov 29, and drops you onto a lawless island ruled by violence. Struggling to survive, your only hope of escape is through the muzzle of a gun. Discover the island’s dark secrets and take the fight to the enemy; improvise and use your environment to your advantage; and outwit its cast of ruthless, deranged inhabitants. Beware the beauty and mystery of this island of insanity… You’ll need more than luck to escape alive.
For more information on Far Cry 3, please visit the official web site at www.farcry3.com
Hanabee are releasing the cool looking Arakawa Under The Bridge this year on the 5th of December. There will be a second season to follow later on in early 2013.
This release will see only a subtitled release with Japanese Audio. However, the series looks insanely fun so it should be something you’ll pick up. Here’s a quote from the Press Release –
Just how far will you go to pay off a debt?
For one, Ko Ichinomiya, born and raised to never be in debt to anyone, upholds this idea very seriously. So when a girl named Nino inexplicably rescues him, a self pro-claimed ‘Venusian’, he is left with the greatest debt of all.
From the looks of things, this will be a DVD only release. Be sure to keep an eye out for it come December 5.
The awesome people at Hanabee have forwarded us a Press Release for their upcoming series: Ef ~A tale of Memories and Ef ~A tale of Melodies, which details some awesome things about the series’. The release also gives us some important details, such as release dates and release formats.
Ef is based on a series of popular visual novels and features similar stories from them. To quote the Release on the story:
On the night of Christmas Eve, Hiro Hirono meets Miyako Miyamura as she chases her purse-snatcher. From there blossoms an unlikely friendship between the two as circumstances bring them closer together. However it gets a little more complex when Hiro’s childhood friend, Kei Shindou, decides to make her feelings known.
Ef ~ A tale of Memories will be releasing on both DvD and Blu-Ray Disc in January 2013.
Once Upon a Time Season 1 Studio: ABC Studios, Kitsis/Horowitz Publisher: Disney Format: DVD Release Date: October 17, 2012 Price: $66.99 – Available Here
Overview
There are plenty of books, movies and TV shows out there that are about reinventing the fairy tales that we all know as children. However, not all of them have landed that well. In fact, a lot of them haven’t done so well and have come across either forced, or silly, or just not interesting beyond the fact that they’re reimagined fairy tales. Still, Once Upon a Time takes it to a level that it has never been taken to before. Not only are they reimagining one fairy tale, but countless.
The series is like a trip down memory lane, to simpler times of Disney movies and fairy tale books. So, how does it measure up, does it take on these bevy of fairy tales well? Or does it struggle to juggle them all?
Story
The story revolves around Emma Swan, a cynical, strong woman who has been brought to Storybrooke by the son she gave up for adoption. Her son, Henry, insists that all the members of Storybrooke are fairy tale characters trapped in the real world, which she doubts very much. The first season is spent with Henry trying to convince her of this, her doubting him, and the audience being introduced to the various Storybrooke members and their fairytales.
Quite a few different fairy tales get explored in the first season, with the main story being that of Snow White and Prince Charming. Instead of having their story being quite two-dimensional and easy, with their love happening instantly and over nothing, there is actually a whole lot of story and character development and by the time they actually make it to each other it feels like you’ve completed a marathon.
The parallel of the Fairy Tale Land and Storybrooke works brilliantly, with both sides of the characters being handled with great skill by the actors and writers. They are completely different from each other, in terms of most of the characters who have adopted a new persona in Storybrooke.
Even Regina the ‘Evil Queen’ has more dimensions to her than you’d expect from a standard fairy tale character. It brings a whole new degree of interest and intrigue into the show, and leaves you desperate for more at the end of each episode.
Each episode is themed with a different character or story, and while at first these are pretty singular, it becomes more of an arc over time. To be honest, the singular episodes weren’t something that I minded as a start off point, because it let us be introduced to more characters and gave us more of a feel for Fairy Tale Land. Of course, giving one episode to a character isn’t going to allow for much depth, but as the show gained more of an arc that was provided.
It was always interesting to see where the show would go with the reimagining of the characters, because quite a few of the stories were reinvented and moulded to suit the environment of the TV show. Even in the singular episodes there would be something tying together the stories in Fairy Tale Land in some way.
The characters are dynamic and wonderful, even though sometimes you want to cuss them out for something they’ve done. Once Upon a Time is a truly addictive show, one that you will fly through because after each episode you’re left desperate to discover more about the characters and what’s going to happen next.
In terms of Fairy Tale Land a lot of it is based around Snow White and Prince Charming, while Storybrooke is more Emma, Henry and Regina. This balance works fairly well, even though Snow White and Prince Charming’s alter egos in Storybrooke might cause a lot of grief and wringing of the hands. But again, that’s a sign of a truly addictive show.
Overall, it’s all brilliantly woven together and certainly takes on the challenge of reimagining fairytales and succeeds in its endeavour.
Visual
The sets of Once Upon a Time are well designed, with a real rich visual feel. Instead of focusing on a few different sets, Storybrooke is explored and you get a real feel for the town and its layout. It really embodies the middle-of-nowhere small town with a small city centre. It is entirely self sufficient and large, but with a claustrophobic feel at the same time (since the members of Storybrooke cannot leave).
In contrast, Fairy Tale Land is huge. There is no skimping on the sense of grandeur and the vastness that adds to the whole fairy tale wonder aspect of it. The difference between the two worlds is palpable, but the link between them is also there. The show can do both small, ordinary sets and huge fantasy ones at the drop of a hat.
Audio
The soundtrack of Once Upon a Time does sound like a fairy tale and make you feel like you’re in one. In particular, Snow White and Prince Charming’s theme, which gets played in the more emotionally wrought scenes that will make your heartstrings get pulled every time it starts to play in the background. Like the look of Fairy Tale Land, the sound track sends you back to those times when you’d watch Disney movies for hours on end.
Plus, the fact that Disney published Once Upon a time means that you will actually get a few Disney tunes here and there without the show worrying about exorbitant fees. It’s a nice throwback, and a reminder of childhood and the tales that the characters originate from.
Extra Features
The Once Upon a Time Season 1 DVD contains a few different special features to enjoy. There are some behind the scenes featurettes that go into the characters, bringing fairy tales into the modern world, and the story which are interesting to watch and give more of an insight into the show. Plus, the always entertaining bloopers, deleted scenes, and commentary.
Overall
Once Upon a Time could have been a flop quite easily, fairy tale remakes often fail or don’t find that right groove. They get support because everyone loves to revisit their childhood, but the result often doesn’t carry that love through. Thankfully, Once Upon a Time dodges this bullet and delivers an interesting, complex, and fascinating story and characters.
The cynical Emma Swan introduces us to the story line with the similar doubt that a lot of people would have, allowing watchers to relate to her as they do come around to the idea of Storybrooke. It was a smart decision, and one that is continued with the way that the story and characters are approached.
Definitely worth a watch, particularly if you love your fairy tale characters, and like seeing them being a bit more badass than usual.
