Dinoroar Interactive (which by the way is an awesome developer name) have recently released Gaia’s Quest, a unique narrative-based puzzle game with a strong focus on charismatic artwork. In Gaia’s Quest, players much search for 16 gems for the goddess Gaia, hidden throughout a diverse array of land & seascapes. This family friendly casual title features original artwork optimized for the iPad’s HD slender and is looking as beautiful as ever! Noob at video games? No worries! Gaia’s Quest also comes with an in-depth tutorial and in-game hints as well.
Gaia’s Quest is available now for $0.99 via the iTunes App store. Pick it up here!
THQ have released the latest trailer for the pretty fun looking Darksiders II video game on the Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and the PC platforms. It is the sequel to the pretty okay Darksiders video game and looks like it is going to be a huge improvement to the franchise.
This trailer showcases a CGI scene of Death, the main character in Darksiders II, doing battle in a collapsing city. I think that this showcases the game quite well. So be sure to check out the short trailer embedded below for more info.
EA and DICE have released the latest batch of screenshots for the upcoming expansion pack for their massive shooter, Battlefield 3. The screenshots are from the Armored Kill expansion pack and look like they’re showing off some of the new Vehicle stuff present within the expansion pack.
The Expansion Pack will priced individually for players who are not on the Battlefield Premium service for the Battlefield 3 game. However, players who are subscribed to the Battlefield Premium service will be able to download and play on this expansion pack for free when it is released.
The Screenshots are below, click on them to open full sized in a new tab.
Kairosoft’s latest release for the iOS platform was patched. The patch was to address some minor bugs plaguing the game. Also, the Lite version was released to the iTunes App Store for those on the fence about purchasing Dungeon Village.
Dungeon Village puts players in control of a town seeking to become the central hub for adventurers. Players will need to build facilities to attract heroes and help train them. The more heroes the village can attract, the more powerful the items and gold that are brought back to town to be sold and used. Dungeon Village is $3.99 USD and $4.49 AUD. The free version will allow players to try out the first two years in game for free. Dungeon Village can be purchased hereand the Lite version can be downloaded here.
The latest game in the The Sims franchise, The Sims 3, has just had a new expansion pack announced for it. The upcoming expansion pack, Seasons, is one that adds a bunch of seasonal based gameplay elements to The Sims. For example, there are some new elements like seasonal festivals added to the game.
On The Sims 3 Seasons Expansion Pack, the developers had this to say –
“The Sims 3 Seasons offers players not only the opportunity to interact with weather, but also the ability to really get into the mood of each season and tell meaningful stories with their Sims,” said Ryan Vaughan, Producer, The Sims. “Since the launch of The Sims 3, Seasons has been one of the most highly-requested themes by our players. The seasonal changes in this game offer incredible realism, simulating nature in a way that is unprecedented for The Sims.”
The game adds several new elements to the game, elements such as – Building skills whilst participating in sports, swimming in the previously inaccessible ocean, participating in seasonal events and adding new and unique furnishings for your Sims households. The game will also feature transformative weather effects to better simulate the new seasons.
Players who pre-order** The Sims 3 SeasonsExpansion Pack will receive the Limited Edition which includes the exclusive Ice Lounge community lot, a sleek social club that can be placed in any world from The Sims 3 and is available in all seasons. This all-new venue includes 12 brand new objects made entirely of ice that can be used to build out an elegant, icy abode.
Be sure to check out the official sitefor more info.
Well, the 8-Bit summer has come to a close, but there are still a couple titles that have been released this week onto the eShop for those of you still looking for downloads. Zen Studios’ 3D Solitaire is…well, 3D Solitaire that is only $2.99, which makes it a decent value. For $4.99, DSi/3DS owners can pick up The Lost Town, which is an action/adventure game where players must explore a town that was hit by a meteorite, and try to survive against the crazed inhabitants that still remain.
There is also a couple new videos up, such as a new Dinosaur Office and a preview for New Super Mario Bros. 2 that displays the Rainbow Courses. If you’re after a sale, Super Mario Land will go for one buck less starting today through Wednesday, Aug. 8th. Yes, it’s a light week, but with Mario coming out and Kingdom Hearts already upon us, I’m not too concerned for now. Check back next week for more eShop downloading goodness.
It’s been a long time since Toki Tori was released for the Game Boy Color, but fans of the little bird will be happy to know that he’s back on the European eShop for the 3DS. Of course this title was a big deal to Two Tribes as it was their first game. The developer recently took to their blog to reflect on this new home for Toki Tori, which you can check out here.
If you are looking into grabbing a fantastic classic that is sure to add some charm to your Virtual Console library, you should drop what you are doing and grab Toki Tori today. As of now, no official release date has been set for the U.S., but I’m hoping something will emerge soon enough as this lovely little game deserves more recognition.
If you were worried that you would have to wait a whole ‘nother month to play Way of the Samurai 4 then you will be happy to hear that XSEED is planning on releasing their English subtitled version of the game to the PSN on August 21st for $39.99. To go along with this release date, XSEED also released a handful of screenshots of the game which can be seen below.
Way of the Samurai 4 is set after Japan has ended its isolationist policy and foreign powers have started appearing in the land. Players will step into the shoes of a masterless samurai looking to make a name for himself. Since the player has no master, they will be able to lend their strength to any of the three factions looking to control Japan. Player choice with these factions can lead to ten different endings, allowing players to experience the game in a different way multiple times.
Square Enix has already provided a wealth of songs on the vanilla version of Theatrhythm Final Fantasy but that is only scratching the surface as far as Final Fantasy music goes. As such they have plenty of DLC coming out for the game and today the company revealed their August DLC schedule.
It is worth noting that the songs all cost $0.99 a piece, though the question is, when will they release the opening theme from Final Fantasy X-2?
August 2, 2012
1. “Movement in Green” (FINAL FANTASY X)
2. “March of the Dreadnoughts” (FINAL FANTASY XIII)
3. “Gustaberg” (FINAL FANTASY XI)
4. “The Crystal Tower” (FINAL FANTASY III)
August 9, 2012
1. “Battle Theme” (FINAL FANTASY X)
2. “The Dalmasca Estersand” (FINAL FANTASY XII)
3. “The Darkness of Eternity” (FINAL FANTASY IX)
4. “This is the Last Battle” (FINAL FANTASY III)
August 16, 2012
1. “Challenge” (FINAL FANTASY X)
2. “Desperate Fight” (FINAL FANTASY XII)
3. “Battle 2” (FINAL FANTASY IX)
4. “The Final Battle” (FINAL FANTASY V)
August 23, 2012
1. “Otherworld” (FINAL FANTASY X)
2. “The Royal City of Rabanastre / Town Ward Upper Stratum” (FINAL FANTASY XII)
3. “The Final Battle” (FINAL FANTASY IX)
4. “Battle 1” (FINAL FANTASY V)
August 30, 2012
1. “Final Battle” (FINAL FANTASY X)
2. “Boss Battle” (FINAL FANTASY XII)
3. “Dark City Treno” (FINAL FANTASY IX)
4. “The Decisive Battle” (FINAL FANTASY V)
Overview
One decade ago, Square Enix did the unthinkable and released a unique and refreshing Action-RPG on the Playstation 2 by the name of Kingdom Hearts. At the time, there was nothing like it. This monumental title threw all rules out the window and utilized some of the most loved characters in the Disney Universe to tell an engrossing and deep plot with a cast everybody could relate to in one way or another. After seeing a sequel that matched the first Kingdom Hearts’ own greatness, Square and Disney decided to branch out the then highly successful franchise even further – by going portable.
I know..I know, there are many out there who love the handheld entries, but I personally got lost as these side games contained sub-plots that only seemed to cloud the focus of the tales the main offerings so proudly displayed. Yeah – they were decent enough fillers, but a great deal of us have been waiting for the true return of Sora for sometime now, and Dream Drop Distance for the 3DS looked to be that missing piece that would bound the series back together. Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance, or 3D for short, is the 7th installment in the franchise and joins both Sora and Riku as they set out to become Keyblade Masters. The question is, does this journey finally feel as epic as the first two Kingdom Hearts games, or is this just another filler until better things come forth? Let’s find out.
Story
To describe the plot of Kingdom Hearts 3D is kind of like describing a complex piece of art, hung in a museum. Now, I’m not by any means comparing this title’s narrative to art, but what I mean is that I feel each person that plays this game is going to take away a little something different from the next. The general story is that Yen Sid (from Fantasia) is putting Sora and Riku through a series of tests to become Keyblade Masters in order to stop the returning and devious Master Xehanort. Along your trek to unlock seven sleeping worlds, a lot of past faces show up, such as Mickey, Goofy, Donald, and the usual KH crew. New characters have also been introduced into this installment as well, with the likes of the protagonists from The World Ends With You, and a good selection of new Disney characters we haven’t seen cross paths with our hero thus far.
At first, I thought the plot was progressing swimmingly. I mean, it’s not too hard to pull off such a simple plot device and for that story arc alone, Dream Drop Distance succeeds in deliverance. The problem with the story as a complete package however is that there is a lot more going on from the side, and unless you have heavily followed the franchise down it’s recent twisted road, you are more than likely going to find yourself stumped with what is going on. Drop mode doesn’t really help matters, as it’s a newly added mechanic that switches players between Sora and Riku abruptly, quickly taking the player out of one plotline and into another. We’ll get to that in a moment, but without saying too much, this is still an easy enough story to follow, but it’s a difficult task to truly understand everything that comes your way.
Gameplay
Now if you have been craving that magnificent combat that we seen on consoles so long ago..you know, that fast and fluent hack-n-slash action, then you will undoubtedly be pleased with what Dream Drop Distance has up it’s sleeve. Sora (or Riku) can be controlled with the slide pad and never miss a beat when it comes to your standard exploration of these lush Disney worlds. When fighting the new enemies in the game (known as Dream Eaters), it’s pretty much an all out button slapping fest you would expect to see from the game, with a nicely organized command list in tow for your special attacks and healing. The Keyblade still has that satisfying element that keeps the combat from becoming dreary or tedious, and the many upgrades players will encounter only improve it’s uses as the game flows on.
Speaking of flow, that in itself is a major part of the combat scheme within this game. Flowmotion is a new ability that lets our main protagonists jet in the air at full speed; whipping around poles, bouncing off walls, and usually smashing into enemies with all of that momentum in a hefty parkour flavored spectacle of sorts. A simple tap of the Y button is all that is needed to trigger this mechanic, and while I did have a few moments that a set off like a rocket when just trying to perform a dodge (they both have the same input), Flowmotion proved to be a both competent and enjoyable addition that blends nicely with the tight control layout.
Yes, the flow is with this one without a doubt, but other elements feel a bit too stapled in. Instead of having party members like Donald or Goofy, 3D partners our heroes up with spirits that can assist in battle. Players can create up to two of these magical little beasts at once, and link with them to get the edge in battle. It all sounds great on paper and the thought behind these Poke-esque allies is there, but I found that the fine details that are needed to properly use these spirits can quickly boggle the experience down due to the system’s unnecessary complexity. To up the stats of your beast, you must partake in little mini-games that resemble a generic pet sim – with all of the stylus petting and photo taking you could ask for. To do this, you must head to a menu, pick your pet of choce, run through a large variety of options, and then get to the tapping on the screen. There are a good number of power-ups and abilities that each spirit can possess and all of your efforts can greatly pay off, but the 3DS’ gimmickry attached just makes these little creatures feel like more work than their worth.
