Namco’s Tank! Tank! Tank! already looks to be an awesome title to launch the Wii U with due to the massive amount of variety in tanks and weaponry, but now the deal looks even sweeter due to a new trailer.
This clip invites players to come on down and get a look at the Tanks in stock within Tank! Tank! Tank! , and well…it’s something you just need to see for yourself. Watch the clip below, and you can pick up Tank! Tank! Tank! this Sunday when the Wii U hits shelves. Let’s hope we get salesmen like these.
Overview
ToeJam & Earl was one of the first co-op games I had ever played – and to this day, there really is nothing else like it. Half Rougelike, half platformer, and all personality, this funky little title released back in 1991 and became quite a success for Sega, launching two new mascots for the brand and introducing many gamers to a nice blend of hip-hop and funk. Fast-forward 21 years, and we now have the first two titles in one digital bundle – appropriately titled Sega Vintage Collection: ToeJam & Earl. Has time made these duo of aliens wrinkled and old, or is that funk still jammin’?
Story
Never let Earl drive. Let this be a lesson to all of you, as that is where the hi-jinx in ToeJam & Earl starts. You see, our plot starts with our alien friends are cruising about in their rad spaceship, when Earl takes the controls and ends up wrecking their craft on Earth. Shortly after, it becomes their mission to recover all of the ship pieces on the planet, while gathering up as many presents as possible to assist in an odd yet enjoyable journey.
ToeJam & Earl: Panic in Funkotron is a bit different in terms of plot, with Earthlings stowing away on the ship from the previous journey – only to release upon the planet of Funkotron and cause havoc. With the use of an infinite amount of jars and a couple of bonuses, the duo now have to bag all of the crazed Earthlings up and return them back to their own planet. Yeah, both plots are rather simple, but for the time, there was never anything quite like either game. Doused in 90’s hip-hop and humorous references, every discovery and piece of dialogue is rewarding (and now nostalgic) due to the massive amount of personality applied, and the parody of the human race within both titles is exceptional. Crazed obese women with packs of poodles, mad scientists, boogeymen that tip-toe throughout a stage hunting for their next victim, every world discovered within both TJ & E games is just as over-the-top as the next, which makes progressing forward an utter delight.
Gameplay
ToeJam & Earl is a unique take on the Rouguelike genre, complete with randomly generating stages, a hefty amount of items and loot, and of course enemies pacing about – ready to cause trouble upon contact. Every stage’s main objective is to find the elevator and proceed to the next environment. Some of these areas will have a ship piece located on the map, which must be tracked down and obtained to properly progress before boarding to the next level. To do this, players can either go in alone as their choice of ToeJam or Earl (there is no difference other than appearance), or tackle the game in co-op with both aliens participating at once. If co-op is chosen, the screen will split when each character separates from the next, and lives and continues can then be shared amongst both players. It’s a solid formula that never weakens throughout the various terrains and encounters, but presents truly make this experience the legendary title it became.
Who doesn’t love presents? On each world, Santa has been busy dropping off gifts across the land, and it is your job to open each in order to receive a unique and mostly useful power-up. Icarus Wings let our friends flutter about in the skies for a short time, Super Hightops offer a boost of speed, and items like tomatoes deliver a solid projectile attack that will completely defeat foes. There is a downside to these awesome abilities however, as some instant death items are inside these boxes, along with other useless techniques that are mainly included to curve the otherwise simple difficulty. Since each gift is in it’s own box, what you receive the first go-around is the luck of the draw, and it’s only from then on that you will know what gift you are opening. Like surprises? Well, ToeJam & Earl offers them up all of the time – for better or worse, and ensures the player is always on their toes when it comes to receiving their loot.
Panic in Funkotron, the second game in the collection, is a completely different experience. Presents are included, but play a smaller role and just offer one of three assists. This title is also in a different genre altogether, as the whole randomly generating worlds gimmick along with the top-down Rougelike perspective has been ditched for the more classic, side scrolling platformer method of gameplay. After selecting a character, the player must explore their environment while following hint arrows that lead them to the missing Earthlings. Once found, you must then toss jars like mad until each Earthling is caught for every stage.
I’ll admit, my fascination with the first ToeJam & Earl was mainly about the presents, but that same charm and 90’s vibe still resonates within this sequel, and the gameplay still never misses a beat – despite the somewhat less exciting (or random) moments within. There are some fun little mini-games that appear from time to time as well as other inhabitants of Funkotron to speak to, which brings out that awesome atmosphere while making both games feel related.
Of course this is an updated collection, so there are a couple of bonuses included for those who may already own the cartridge versions. Online co-op has been added, letting two players go at either title from anywhere in the world. Of course couch co-op is a given (and is still the definitive way of playing either game), but the player can now choose to save either game at any time, providing a very useful upgrade to the originals. Everything else such as the wallpapers and extra options within is just gravy, simply complimenting two nearly perfect gems that have been begging for this type of release.
Visuals and Audio
Even though it was 1991 when ToeJam & Earl first debuted, each title still looks great due to the heavy amount of varied colors used, keeping these two titles from showing their age. Sure, the 16 bit graphics are a given, but that is easily forgivable due to the amount of variation and life that inhabit every inch of whichever version you decide to play. Panic in Funkotron may look a tad more polished due to the later release date, but the original is still full of life – possessing more charm than a great number of modern titles we see today.
As far as the soundtrack goes, well…there is nothing else like it. I know, I used that term already, but this funky and infectious soundtrack is full of earworms, burying those lovely tunes into your soul – hours after you lay down the controller. Every power-up also features it’s own unique sound effect, delivering further reason to collect each present and try all of the techniques within either game as well. Hearing the fat lady sing, the many “Awesome!” and “YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM!” voice clips used for our heroes, and that boogeyman…boogey are all guarenteed to put a smile on your face, no matter what generation you are from.
Overall
ToeJam & Earl came at a time when originality was needed, and delivered just that in every aspect. The gameplay is still a blast – be it solo or with a friend, and while drastically different from eachother, both games in this collection deliver their offbeat humor non-stop, making for two of the most unforgettable experiences ever made. It doesn’t matter if you have a soft place for retro, or if you have never touched anything past the Xbox 360. ToeJam and Earl are two overlooked mascots that defy age and through tomatoes in the face of Father Time, making this mini-compilation a must for those who are missing that extra funk in their lives.
If Jet Set Radio were to have a baby with Bratz and….Dracula, the spawn would be Monster High: Skultimate Roller Maze. For those unfamiliar, Monster High is a franchise from Mattel that features vampires and ghouls attending schools while going through things such as boys and…well, pimples and stuff.
Today, the new Nintendo Wii game was released for Australia and New Zealand, as well as the Nintendo DS. As you could guess, this title features the same characters kids that love the franchise are familiar with, along with a roller-skating theme to add in that much needed twist.
For more information on , check out the official website here, or get on over to “Like” the Facebook by following this link.
Today begins Microsofts campaign to celebrate 10 years of Xbox Live service over the course of its two consoles, the Xbox and the Xbox 360. Xbox Live, for those of you that do not know, is Microsofts online service that allows players to access online multiplayer functionality of games for a small monthly subscription fee.
Interestingly enough to note is that this past week has seen the largest use of the service since it was launched. Players have this week clocked in over 442 hours of Xbox Live gameplay. This is in no doubt attributed to the launch of Halo 4 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2.
In a letter, Marc Whitten from Microsoft has this to say –
“I’m proud to announce that during the week of Nov. 6 through Nov. 13, our members spent more time on Xbox LIVE (gaming and watching entertainment) than any other week in the history of our service: a total of 442 million hours. And Halo 4, which broke entertainment industry numbers, resulted in the LIVE community unlocking 43 million achievements in just the first five days of gameplay.”
Microsofts Major Nelsen has also released a blog post on the anniversary. Also as a result of this anniversary, Microsoft are offering a few titles at a discounted price for the next week, these are listed below. Be sure to pick up these titles before the discount period is over.
Skullcandy is teaming up with EA Games to release the Army of Two The Devil’s Cartel custom branded SLYR Gaming Headset. There will be two headsets, one inspired by Alpha and the other inspired by Bravo. Each headset comes with a bonus code that will unlock Skullcandy gear for Alpha and Bravo. In addition, Skullcandy is giving players the chance to try out Army of Two The Devil’s Cartel early during their Skullcandy Road Tour.
The Skullcandy SLYR is a wired stereo gaming headset available for $79.99 USD, no word on the Army of Two edition pricing. Check out Skullcandy’s line of gaming headset here. Army of Two The Devil’s Cartel will be released early next year. Check out Army of Two’s official website here.
Not much has been said about Mars: War Logs since the announcement trailer 3 months ago, but the time has finally come to show off more in these first screenshots from Spiders Studio and Focus Home Interactive. In the six screenshots released, player can check out some of the places, people, and other life on the red planet.
Set more than one hundred years after a disastrous event that threw the Mars’ colonies into disorder and made water an ultra precious resource for the incredibly dry world. Taking the role of Roy Temperance, players can do their part for the planet as they choose from different skills and perks to aid in the cyberpunk-style world that exists there. Part action, part RPG using those skills to fight in different ways and crafting different equipment, players will find their own path that could decide the fate of the colonies.
Mars: War Logs is currently set to release on the XBLA, PSN, and PC Digital in early 2013. Until then, be sure to check out the gallery of screenshots below.
Today, Bioware and LucasArts have launched the free-to-play option for their MMORPG, Star Wars: The Old Republic.
The previously subscription-based only game will now allow players the chance to experience the full storyline arcs of each of the eight available classes, up to a level cap of 50. This is a great incentive for those who were/are put off by the subscription-based model (as common as it is in MMOs). However, you must be made aware that there are some restrictions on your gameplay experience in F2P. To be fair to those who have been paying a subscription, F2P has limited game options and access to certain game content. These limitations (listed here) should not deter potential adopters. As Matthew Bromberg, General Manager of BioWare Austin states: “There has never been a better time to start playing with us.”
In other SWTOR news, Game Update 1.5: HK-51 Activated has been released today as well. The update adds new areas, a new companion and much more. Here is the official breakdown of new content made available with the update:
Get ready for an action-packed adventure to earn control of one of the galaxy’s most deadly Assassins, HK-51. Submerged beneath the icy surface of Belsavis lies a derelict ship and if you are brave enough to venture through the wreckage, you will embark on a mission that ultimately rewards you with a powerful new, yet familiar, ally the ruthless Assassin Droid, HK-51.
Explore Section X, a previously untouched area of the prison world of Belsavis. The Dread Masters’ servants are searching for a powerful and ancient weapon. Fly to Section X and secure the target of their search to be richly rewarded.
Travel to Denova to take on Operation: Explosive Conflict – now with a Nightmare Mode! Teams who complete in this new mode can earn the final pieces of the Dread Guard gear set and a brand new mount that will be sure to cause tank envy!
For further information, and to get started on your F2P account, head over to the official Star Wars: The Old Republic website.
Unfortunate news for Playstation 3 owners who have bought Call of Duty: Black Ops for the console – the game is a buggy mess that is for the most part broken. At least that’s what reports coming in are claiming, with gamer’s taking to the Playstation forumslambasting the game as a problem-riddled disaster.
PS3 gamers have sadly not been able to access the online multi-player whatsoever due to connectivity issues that Activision have been unable to explain. Activision did however take to twitter to apologize to gamers afflicted with the connectivity error saying “We are aware of connectivity issues that some players are facing in Black Ops II on PlayStation 3. We are working on resolution, thank you.” As you can see though they did not provide any insight as to why this issue was occurring at all in the first place.
Gamers have also noted a a number of other bugs and glitches within the game, many of them graphics related some far more severe such as console crashing. Perhaps the most troubling issue is the fact that the main pre-order incentive for the Hardened and Care Package Editions of the game, the Nuketown 2025 map code is effectively a piece of pretty paper with some funky letters and numbers on it, as a large number of codes can not be redeemed on the Playstation 3 for reasons unknown at time of posting.
We can only hope that Activision resolves these issues as soon as possible in order to provide Playstation 3 users with the same ‘quality’ experience that gamers on other platforms are getting. Be sure to let us know your thoughts on all of this in the comments section below.
The Playstation All-Stars Battle Royale roster has now expanded to 22 after the first two downloadable characters were announced in a post on the Playstation Blog. They are Kat from the Playstation Vita title Gravity Rush and Emmett Graves from the Playstation 3 title Starhawk. These two characters will be available early 2013, so there is some time before they are unleashed upon the All-Stars. Kat was rumoured to make an appearance after a leaked page on the official site, but Emmet’s inclusion is certainty one that was not seen.
The post does have some info on their playing style. Emmett will have access to all of his signature weapons and Starhawk’s “Build-in-Battle” system so that he may unleash an aerial fury upon his opponents. Kat’s main ability is the manipulation of gravity via a small cat that follows her around. There are also finishing attacks she possess in Gravity Rush, which will probably become one of her Super Attacks.
Once these two characters have been released, they will be available for free. The catch is that they will only be available for free in the two weeks after release. After that, it is presumed that they will have a price tag. Emmett and Kat will only require a one time purchase as DLC is transferable between the PS3 and Vita versions.
Update: Seth Killen has revealed that both Kat and Emmett will be getting the same treatment as the launch characters in the comments section of theUS Playstation Blog post. Both will have their own story to tell and will receive their own rival. It is not known if Kat and Emmett will be rivals or other DLC characters will rival each of these two characters.
At an event earlier tonight in Sydney, us here at Capsule Computers were invited down to the Nintendo Experience Store in Sydney for a unique media night and a chance to get some more alone time with the Wii U console before its release on the 30th of November this year. On display at the store was a fair number of games that will be available either at launch or during the launch window. Unfortunately, most of the games on display were at the EB Expo this year, so not too much is new.
The games on display were few in number, but incredibly fun to play. We actually spent the majority of the night playing Just Dance 4 from Ubisoft. However, the other games were: New Super Mario Bros. U, Nintendo Land, Darksiders II, Assassins Creed 3 and Zombie U. The builds on display were slightly different to the ones that we have played previously at the EB Games Expo, but most of the gameplay mechanics were arguably the same.
Out of all of these titles, the only major difference worth really talking about is the Nintendo Land build. In this were able to play a couple of more Minigames, or new maps that were not previously available in the EB Games Expo code. For instance, we were able to access the Zelda, Animal Crossing, Find Mario, Luigi’s Mansion, Ninja Stars and I think one other that I can’t quite recall in this build of the game. Out of all of those, we definitely had the most fun with the Luigi’s Mansion and Metroid games.
From what we noticed with the more “hardcore” titles available at the event was that aside from the Zombie U game from Ubisoft, the rest were really just straight up ports of the existing game with some kind of feature added for the Wii U Tablet Controller support. For instance, in Darksiders II, this would mean that you could quickly access your inventory while playing on gamepad. It would have been nice to see a version of the game being built from the foundations for true Wii U functionality.
Lastly at the event we were able to score an interview with Jamie from Nintendo Australia. You will be able to see this video embedded below this article in its own box. During our interview we talk about the public will be able to see at the Wii U Experience store in Sydney, as well as some of the best titles to pick up at launch.
Be sure to check out EB Games Expo coverage for more info on our thoughts on the Wii U games on show. You can find our individual Wii U game impressions here, Darksiders II here and Just Dance 4 here. We will also have a Gaming Connection segment coming up in the next few days with a plethora of footage from the event, so stay tuned.
