At the EB Games Expo today we were given a chance to play the upcoming Injustice: Gods Among Us video game from developer Netherrealm Studios and Mortal Kombat creator Ed Boon. For those of you that have not yet heard of this title, it is essentially a fighting game that features a plethora of DC Comics characters that have to fight each other.
From what we saw of the game, it is pretty good graphically. This is not just from a texturing and details perspective, but also from an aesthetic one. What I really liked about the character aesthetics was that they were clearly identifiably that particular character at a glance, but when you pay closer attention, you can see that they’re a lot more functional and stylish to fit in better with the games mythos. The best example of this is with The Flash, where he normally be wearing this kind of red spandex material, he now wears this kind of armoured material. He is still, without a doubt, The Flash from a visual standpoint, but he’s The Flash of this games universe.
From what we could tell, there were two primary types of fighting characters in the game, Power characters and Gadget characters. The names of these types are pretty self explanatory. So, like, Superman would be a power character, whilst Nightwing would be a gadget character. This is pretty much for differences in fighting style, so Power characters are all about big powerful moves, whilst gadget characters use items and weapons to their advantage.
Fighting in this game is a reasonably fun affair. What makes the combat in this game entertaining is that, not only do you get to have DC heroes beat on each other on iconic levels, but there are also a tonne of variables in each battle. For instance, in a fight in the batcave, players are able to hit a button to get the batmobile to fire rockets at a target player. What’s even better is that there are multiple levels to some arenas, meaning that players can knock their opponents off the side and battle in a completely different area to the one that they were on. And on levels like the batcave, it’s fully possible to return back to the start of the level.
There are other cool things players can do, like if you’re a power character, you can lift cars into the air and hurl them at your enemies. If you’re a gadget character, you can use your character to dodge and bounce off that same vehicle whilst it’s still floating. It’s intracacies like this in the combat system that make it fun. There are also items that appear on the level after certain conditions are met, that really give a massive advantage to whichever player controls them.
From what we’ve played of Injustice: Gods Among Us we were incredibly pleased. It is looking like it will be an incredibly entertaining experience and we expect that everyone should check this out in the near future when it is released.
Many gamers converged on Nintendo’s immense booth at EB Games Expo 2012 today and got to get their hands on a variety of news titles coming our way thanks to the Big N.
While most were most excited to check out Nintendo’s new console the Wii U, I was personally interested in checking out some of their upcoming offerings for their handheld device the Nintendo 3DS. One title in particular however captured my attention unlike any other on show for the handheld – Paper Mario: Sticker Star.
Now this is a franchise that I have had an enduring love for, despite recent ‘super’ missteps on the Wii that shall not be named. It is a love that developed from the very beginning of Mario’s tenure as a paper-thin hero with the inaugural Paper Mario 64 and continued on with Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door. Both of which were exceedingly phenomenal role-playing games. It brings me great pleasure to say that Nintendo have brought the RPG back to Paper Mario with their latest effort Sticker Star.
The biggest problem I had with the Paper Mario on the Wii that shall not be named is that the RPG elements I had come to love from Paper Mario that differentiated it from your standard Mario game was almost entirely lost. Thankfully those RPG elements are back in full-force with Paper Mario: Sticker Star.
The first thing you will notice with Sticker Star is that not only does it provide very classic styled RPG gameplay, it has it’s own spin on the genre and includes an incredibly addictive collectable element. That addictive element being of course the collectable Stickers. Theses stickers probably sound silly to someone who has not had their hands on the game themselves but collecting these things is as much a necessity in this game as it is infectious.
You see one sticker upon a wall and you have to peel it off. The stickers themselves are in fact very useful and are used in combat. For example if you find a sticker of a hammer, in battle you simply touch this sticker in your sticker album located on the bottom touch screen and Mario will use a hammer attack. It’s all relatively simple, but it works tremendously and provides a great incentive to collect them. If you don’t collect them you are not going to be able to survive in a fight, it’s logical and ultimately a great deal of fun.
During the demo I played I collected a great deal of stickers and found the very action of doing so to be irresistible If I saw a sticker, I just couldn’t leave it. The game really gets you in that head space of an obsessive compulsive sticker collector. Of course that’s not all there is to it, there is also the standard RPG elements such as travelling to different locations, levelling up, turn-based battling and the occasional epic boss battle.
If you are looking for a true Mario RPG experience, look no further. Paper Mario: Sticker Star has revitalised the series after it took a relatively steep fall with the Wii title that shall not be named. It is fresh, addictive and above all else it is fun. Here is your next must-buy title for the 3DS.
Barbra Streisand is back on the silver screen for a roadtrip comedy unlike other roadtrip comedies! Guilt Trip is about a Jewish son who has decided to take pity on his lonely mother and bring her along on a cross-country trip with him. It’s sure to be rife with Jewish jokes, and given how overbearing Jewish mothers are known to be, I’m sure Barbra’s character will be perfectly obsessive about inane things.
Check out the trailer for Guilt Trip below, showing that this road-trip movie will be just as full of shenanigans and hijinks as other road trip movies, but with a Barbra twist. While this movie will probably follow the usual road trip formula, it’d probably be worth watching just to see Barbra back as a main character in a movie.
Guilt Trip will be released to cinemas on the 24th of January 2013. For more information on the film as it comes out keep tuned to Capsule Computers!
Are you a Paranormal Activity fan? Or just a general horror movie fan? Or even just one of those people who love going to horror movies and making fun of them (aka at least half of the Paranormal audience)?
Well it’s super simple, all you have to do is get your city in the top 25 worldwide to receive free screening days before everyone else. This can be done easily by going to the Paranormal Activity Movie website and clicking ‘Want it’. Make sure to do it before October 11!
The website has been slammed with votes from cheap ass movie goers, with currently popular cities being Lima, Peru; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Paris, France; Moscow, Russia; New York, NY; London, UK. So come on Aussies, lets get our country and city on the map and score us some free movies!
So head on over to the Paranormal Activity Movie site and click ‘Want it’, or like their Facebook page HERE for your chance to bring an advance screening to your city.
Paranormal Activity opens in theaters on October 18, 2012. For more info as it comes out keep tuned to Capsule Computers!
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment has announced that New Girl: The Complete First Season is set for release on DVD on October 10. New Girl is a popular sitcom based around Jess (Zooey Deschanel) who gets cheated on and then has to find new roommates. Schmidt, Nick and Winston take pity on her and allow her to move in, a decision that results in a little frustration, a lot of stories, and some hijinks.
Jess is a huge dork and she needs the help of the three guys, as well as her best friend Cece, to try and navigate the waters of the new dating world. But Jess isn’t the only one with issues, Winston is a former athlete who finds himself adrift, Nick is a law school dropout with no real marketable skills, and Schmidt is a womanizing douche.
Along with all of the season one episodes the DVD series also includes the following special features:
• Dress Like Jess – Fashionista Zooey Deschanel and NEW GIRL costume designer Debra McGuire talk about creating Jess’s cute, vintage-inspired look.
• New Girl: Evolution of an Episode – from the writers’ room to table read, see what goes on behind the making of a NEW GIRL episode.
• Auditions with Lamorne – an insider’s look at Lamorne Morris during his audition
• Alternate Jokes – watch the actors run through variations of the same line but using different jokes
• Deleted & Extended Scenes
• Audio Commentaries on 3 Episodes (Pilot, Bad in Bed and See Ya) with creator Elizabeth Meriwether, producers and cast
New Girl Season 1 is available on DVD from October 10, or you can preorder your copy HERE for $29.98.
Do you have problems with your love life, roommates or job? Well, never fear, New Girl’s Magic 8 Problem Solver is HERE.
Keep an eye out on Capsule Computers for a review of the TV series!
Max Payne 3 may have came out earlier this year, but Rockstar are still dropping DLC for that lovely multiplayer. Today, The Hostage Negotiation Pack was announced, bringing 4 maps and a lot of goodies for players.
Here are some more details:
The Club Moderno and Estádio Do Galatians maps are being designed to deliver intense nightclub and stadium shootouts reminiscent of Max’s earlier dust-ups with some of São Paulo’s most dangerous elements like the Comando Sombra and the Crachá Preto.
Meanwhile, the O Palácio Strip Club and Favela Heights maps introduce to multiplayer all new, highly detailed favela territories from Max’s descent into the gang-infested neighborhoods of the city. The pack will be available later this fall for 800 Microsoft Points on Xbox LIVE or $15.95AUD/$18.90NZD on PlayStation Network and PC (Rockstar Pass owners of course will receive it, and all other future packs, free of charge).
Good to see Max still has some life inside, and you can of course look for this map pack to be out this fall at the listed price. Due to the delay of the pack, Rockstar will be delivering an all-new chrome weapons bonus, which will be redeemable by all Social Club members free of charge. Not too shabby at all.
Just because the Wii U is right around the corner does not mean Nintendo has forgotten about the 3DS. Today, the holiday line-up for the service was announced, bringing together names such as Suda 51, Level-5, and a good number of classics to the platform.
Let’s take a look at what was announced, starting with the original games.
NightSky launches Oct. 25. NightSky is an action-puzzle game that offers an ambient game-play experience with cerebral challenges that fill uniquely designed, picturesque worlds. Each of these worlds is broken into different areas in which the player must maneuver a sphere by using realistic physics to advance.
Crashmo launches Nov. 22. Players can embrace the laws of gravity and challenge themselves with a whole new kind of action-puzzle play in this exciting sequel to the critically acclaimed Pushmo.New gravity mechanics and gadgets like floating blocks, doors and move switches await, testing players’ skills as they push, pull and slide each puzzle’s colorful blocks in order to climb to the top. Just be careful where those blocks are moved—unsupported blocks will come crashing down. Crashmo contains lots of puzzles to test your brains, and enhanced puzzle-creation and -sharing features mean that even when all the puzzles are cleared, the fun never has to stop.
Fluidity: Spin Cycle arrives on Dec. 27, letting players tilt, turn and even rotate their Nintendo 3DS system 360 degrees to maneuver a puddle of water named Eddy through a maze-like, magical world. Change from liquid to a block of ice or a steam cloud to solve fun, gravity-defying puzzles and defeat Goop monsters. Fluidity: Spin Cycle features a new storybook setting to explore that spans the ages, from a lost world full of dinosaurs to the modern world and beyond.
Three original games from LEVEL-5 and several well-known Japanese collaborators will launch in the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo 3DS before this holiday season. The first of these games, SUDA 51’s LIBERATION MAIDEN, is set 100 years in the future, when the president of Japan boards her Liberator, Kamui, and fights to free her country one region at a time. AERO PORTER by Yoot Saito and Yasumi Matsuno’s CRIMSON SHROUD are also slated for release by the end of the year.
Get ready to unleash pedestrian-tossing pandemonium with Grace and Savannah in Tokyo Crash Mobs, a fast-paced action-puzzle game coming to the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo 3DS in early 2013. Players will need lightning-fast reflexes and an eye for strategy to survive the three chaotic weeks that lie ahead for our heroines, as they take on anyone and anything that gets in their way.
Next, the Virtual Console has a promising line-up planned as well, and it looks just as savory:
Mario Golf (launches Oct. 11)
Castlevania: The Adventure (launches Oct. 25)
Ninja Gaiden (launches Nov. 8)
Zelda II – The Adventure of Link (launches Nov. 22)
Wario Land II (launches Dec. 20)
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels (launches Dec. 27)
YES! That is indeed Wario Land II and The Lost Levels you are looking at, and thankfully, the news doesn’t end there. Nintendo also plan to release full retail versions of their 3DS titles to the service, much like New Super Mario Bros. 2. Those titles include Super Mario 3D Land, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, Star Fox 64 3D and Mario Kart 7, which will all be priced at $39.99 and are due out October 18th.
Fans of demos will also be receiving two for Style Savvy: Trendsetters, as well as Adventure Time, Sonic & All Stars Racings Transformed, Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion, LEGO The Lord of the Rings, and Moshi Monsters: Moshlings Theme Park. I’ve said it before, but I am very impressed on the support Nintendo are giving the 3DS, and this holiday season looking simply wonderful when it comes to general releases.
Today’s Nintendo Download update is rather hefty, and showing no signs of dieting anytime soon. The first title up for grabs is the more substantial release of Cave Story, which was made exclusively for 3DS owners. At $9.99, it’s easily worth a purchase from those who were on the fence before, and those who have already snagged up this gem in the past will have a lot more to go into this time around.
Next up is a non-stop run game by the name of Samurai G for $1.99, and the much loved Dr. Mario (GB Version) making it’s debut on the Virtual Console at $3.99. Those who have been wanting to put that XL to good use will find a lot in both Art Academy: Lessons for Everyone! and Crosswords Plus, which both are full retail releases that can now be purchased digitally, for those looking for the convenience.
Academy: Chess Puzzles looks to be exactly as it sounds for $1.99 on the DSiWare service, and for WiiWare owners, Drop Zone: Under Fire offers a first-person action romp experience for 500 points.
Still with us? Good. Those who purchase a select few titles and register them with Club Nintendo are set to receive a free game, with that title being Donkey Kong: Original Edition. All you have to do is link your 3DS to Club Nintendo and register your copy of one of the select titles to receive your code. Since this version has never been offered in the past, I would say it makes for a nice incentive.
Finally, those course packs that were promised for New Super Mario Bros. 2 are now available, bringing new levels and challenges for a low $2.50 price-tag for each pack.
As you can tell, it’s a big week for the eShop, and feel free to let us know what you will be picking up down in the comments below.
What would a WWE Games release be without downloadable content to make the biggest roster in franchise history even bigger? This year’s DLC slate includes contemporary Superstars, WWE Legends, “Attitude Era” luminaries, move packs and more, all available at a discounted price through the Fan Axxess Program.
The “Attitude Era” Superstars Pack will be available October 30th and will feature luminaries Gangrel, Val Venis and more. In December the WWE Superstars Pack, hits with present-day Superstars Ryback and AJ Lee, not to mention the Championship Title Pack, including the WCW n.W.o. World Heavyweight Championship, ECW Classic World Heavyweight Championship and eight other fan-favorite titles. And finally, January 2013 brings you the Five Languages Pack, which gives you present-day Superstar Damien Sandow, “Attitude Era” luminary Brian Pillman and the heavily anticipated moves pack, including Brock Lesnar’s Kimura Lock, Chris Jericho’s Lionsault and much more.
The WWE ’13 Fan Axxess Program, will save 10% over buying everything individually and you’ll get the exclusive characters, Diamond Dallas Page and Goldust.
Check out the trailer and screenshots below and be sure to follow WWE Games on Twitter and Facebook for all the latest on WWE ’13.
Jet Set Radio Developer: Blit Software Publisher: Sega Platform: Xbox Live Arcade (Reviewed), Playstation Network Release Date: September 19, 2012 Price: 800 Points ($9.99) – BUY NOW
Overview
Nearly twelve years ago, Sega unleashed Jet Set Radio onto the world. It was an oddball title on the odd man out of the console wars, but quickly got a huge fan following due to the amount of unique charm that was packed inside. Speed up to today, and Sega have re-released the classic on modern consoles as a digital release with a nice coat of HD paint. The only thing is, we have seen a lot of advancements in the industry since then, and Jet Set Radio may be a gem better left in the past. How does this hip skating romp measure up all over again?
Story
Taking place in the land of Tokyo-to, Jet Set Radio is all about the beats. Music inspires almost everything within the game, as well as the underground rivalries of street gangs and spray paint. After our main protagonist Beat recruits Gum and Tab to form his own crew by the name of the GGs, they must take to the streets and tag their territory. Professor K is our DJ ringleader of sorts, and acts as a bizarre captain when it comes to sending the skaters on their missions.
To throw a wrench in the plan, the maniacal Captain Onishima has had enough graffiti in Shibuya-cho, and has enlisted his forces to rid the streets of all of these harmless yet vandalism-proned teens. Yeah, the whole concept for the game is bizarre, but the characters are all rich in personality and keep the game feeling lively and loud for the entire experience. The story also is rather forgettable as a whole, but Beat and crew make up for that by embracing their roles as “rudies”, donning some awesome gear and careless attitudes to keep everything light and focused.
Gameplay
Skate, tag, and run. Those three things are all you really need to know to play Jet Set Radio. Each stage starts out by throwing the player in a certain district, where you must tag a set number of highlighted areas before the timer runs down to zero. Players can grind along rails, nail tricks, and tag all of the appropriate targets while their inline skates are strapped on, which boosts the number of overall points accumulated before the objectives are complete.
To rain on your parade, Onishima and his men will begin to take notice as Beat and friends tag objects, leading to a game of cat and mouse. Normal goons really do nothing but slow the player down, but Onishima has a pistol at hand, and will quickly diminish your life bar if you don’t quickly dodge and briskly move away from the area. The player can mark Onishima if he stumbles, adding to their score a bit, while leaving an enraged and now painted officer in the dust. The SWAT team and other armed goons also cause a bit more chaos and can deplete your life bar quickly, so constantly moving is a must if you want to survive. It’s all good fun, but the complexity of the game really comes in with the actual graffiti itself.
Some tags can be quickly done while in air or on rails, but larger areas require more effort. When a large wall is in need of paint, the player must utilize the analog to spray in strokes. Move the analog clockwise, then down, then up, and then around again to finish a mural. That’s just an example, but as you spray, the amount of paint cans you have in stock will deplete, which will send you back to gather more that can be found littered throughout the street. With officers always on your tail, a lot of tensity is added to the situation, and marking a large object in time is certainly rewarding for those who can get through with their masterpiece before the foes run in.
When it comes to the tagging, the controls are mostly tight and simple to execute. Skating however is a bit harder to explain. You see, this game is built for speed and is solid to that extent, but jumping can be a bit loose as it’s easy to go over a target due to how precise the inputs need to be. If you go in thinking you are playing a Tony Hawk game, you will quickly hit walls and thromp around like a walrus. With a little practice, this scheme grows easier, but never really feels as fluid as it should be. I know, Jet Set Radio is an older game and was built for the Dreamcast controller. That said, it’s age still shows regardless and new players might find themselves in foreign territory trying to properly pull off all of the flashy techniques and tricks inside.
Visuals and Audio
Back in the year 2000, cel shading was around, but Jet Set Radio was the first to really the first title to truly use it to it’s own advantage. The cel shading makes the colors explode and keeps everything visually stunning, and the HD only furthers that timeless aesthetic. The graphics don’t look too much different, but they didn’t need too much improving. The characters are all full of funkadelic flavor, and the world of Tokyo-to is hard not to want to get lost in. With all of that said, I encountered a few hiccups, with the game lagging out at times after achievements or awards were earned. Now, this may not occur with everyone, but the slowdown can hinder some exciting moments within Jet Set Radio, so hopefully we will see it addressed with a patch in the future.
What can you now say about Jet Set Radio’s audio? The soundtrack is made up of a blend of acid jazz, rock, techno, J-Pop, and several other genres, and still resonates as one of the most original and enjoyable music compilations to date. Hearing Professor K spew his dialogue is still humorous as well, tying into this poppy and chaotic land of Tokyo-to to perfection for one experience that every gamer owes it to themselves to try.
Overall
Jet Set Radio is a legendary gem, make no mistake about it. The controls are not going to win it any awards and the few bugs from time to time lead to a some frustration, but those are easily forgivable those who go in with either an open mind or a set of eyes ready for a nostalgia trip. I planned to speak highly of the art style and boast more about that awesome soundtrack while wrapping things up here, but JSR fans already know about that. While it’s not my personal favorite Dreamcast classic, no one can deny Jet Set Radio it’s place as one of the most influential games of all time and for better or worse, it’s still a one of a kind classic that should at least be played once by all of you rudies tearin’ it up on the streets.