The first trailer for Ubisoft’s movie tie-in for The Expendables 2 has been released and it looks somewhat promising, going for an arcade/casual four player co-op experience rather than a first/third person shooter. Explosions, bullets and more explosions what more could you want from a video game?
Anuman Interactive announced their latest interactive adventure game today. Criminal Investigation Agents – Petrodollars follows Frances Keegan, a smart special agent with the Federal Tax Bureau, the US Government’s tax police. She is an oil industry expert who is on the trail of a suspicious bank transfer on behalf of Gold Oil Company when Frances discovers Gold Oil’s ties to the lead suspect in her former partner’s disappearance, Klaus Fredricks. Now, players must help Francis Keegan go from solving white collar crime to unmasking her partner’s murderer. Criminal Investigation Agents – Petrodollars will be released July 13th on PC, Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
There have been a few reports lately that the 3DS XL will likely be getting a system bundle some point after it is being released. As for the game meant to be bundled with the 3DS XL, it is currently thought that The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask will be given the 3D treatment similar to the Ocarina of Time.
These rumors have stemmed from an image, seen to the right and clickable for full size viewing, appearing online. As you can see, the image features a purple 3DS XL as well as a Majora’s Mask logo on the bottom right corner. Nintendo has yet to make any statement about this photo, though we have reached out to them for comment.
Update: This image has been confirmed as false, though it certainly would be any Legend of Zelda fan’s dream.
Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt Studio:Gainax Publisher:FUNimation Format:DVD Release Date:July 10, 2012 Price:$64.98 – Available Here
Overview: There are very few anime which don’t take themselves seriously and even fewer of these titles end up being released in North America. Sometimes when these anime are brought overseas, they are adjusted for the audience, similar to how FUNimation took Shin Chan, which was primarily a children’s show and turned it into a raunchy riot full of pop culture references and more.
On the other hand, FUNimation’s most recent release, Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt, or better known simply as Panty & Stocking, doesn’t need any special adjustments. Instead, FUNimation has brought forth perhaps one of the foulest mouthed anime to come out of Japan and they have done so in uncensored form, giving the actors free reign with their dialogue. Does Panty & Stocking contain enough wrong to make it so right for your money?
Story: Daten City lies between the border of Heaven and Hell and because of its unfortunate location, the city is always plagued by evil spirits that take the form of various ghosts. The ghosts can come in all shapes and sizes and can cause mass chaos and destruction whenever they form. However the citizens of the city are not on their own, as two angels reside in the city under the eye of the local priest. Now if only one of them could stop having sex with anything that moves while the other is too busy eating anything sweet.
These two angels, called the Anarchy sisters are Panty and Stocking. They have been kicked out of Heaven due to the fact that their behavior is unbecoming of a heavenly being. To try and buy their way back into heaven they must destroy any ghosts they come across and receive Heaven Coins by making them “repent.” These two are monitored by an over the top priest named Garterbelt and are accompanied by their… pet like creature named Chuck.
Now while this may sound like a relatively simple story all on its own, that promises chances at redemption and plenty of action, it is far from it. The reason for this is simply because Panty & Stocking really never takes itself seriously as a show, thus creating some of the most off the wall and unpredictable antics viewers will likely ever see.
Panty is a nymphomaniac who would be much happier spending her time sleeping with four guys at once, while Stocking is a glutton for sweets who happens to love bondage, which seems to be trait shared with the priest Garterbelt. Throughout the series these two angels act like anything but angels, often causing more damage than the ghosts themselves, all while swearing like sailors.
With this off the wall style, there is pretty much zero continuity between episodes barring a minor closing story arc. Instead the story mostly follows a monster of the week type style with the Anarchy sisters screwing and eating anything that moves, then fighting against whatever adversary pops up to stop their fun. But you know what? This formula and style work perfectly when combined together, creating an unpredictable laugh-riot of a show that will be impossible to forget.
Visuals: Interestingly enough, Gainax began creating Panty & Stocking with a style similar to what they had called “American Animation” and then ran with a rather simplistic looking art style that featured the characters appearing with slightly pointy character models. However the art style found in Panty & Stocking changes abruptly from time to time, either dropping in quality to an even more simplistic style which appears to be mocking “chibi” comedy moments.
Along these same lines there are a number of times that the animation will take a drastic turn for the better, such as during transformation scenes, where the artwork will become extremely detailed and high in quality. While shifting in quality like this would usually be a detriment for a series, Panty & Stocking makes it feel like these shifts are also part of the series’ jokes.
Audio: As standard with a FUNimation release, Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt does contain the original Japanese voice track for those who would prefer it, though all of the rolled R’s and Japanese voice actors swearing in English can’t compare to what FUNimation has done with the English dub of the show.
Panty is voiced by Jamie Marchi while Monica Rial is handling the voice of Stocking and hearing these two go at one another and saying their outrageous lines is absolutely wonderful. Each voice actor has done a stellar job bringing these characters to life, and this praise doesn’t just end at the main characters. Even Colleen ClinkenBeard, Scanty’s voice, Cherami Leigh, Kneesocks’ voice, and Garterbelt’s voice actor Christopher Sabat have outdone themselves with this raunchy show.
The stellar voice acting of the series is accompanied by some stellar music as well. While Panty & Stocking may feature a rather simple opening song, the ending song “Fallen Angel” is not only a surprise given the series’ tone but also a joy to listen to. Besides these songs, the series is also rife with stunning background music and character themes, including both transformation sequences and the Anarchy Sisters’ theme song, making the show quite a treat for the ears, albeit one full of curse words.
Extras: While the main series of Panty & Stocking can be watched multiple times for viewers to pick out little things they missed before, there are also a number of bonus features included in the release, a whole disc of them in fact. Of course there is your standard set of bonus features, such as clean opening and ending songs as well as trailers, but there is so much more included. To start with there is a collection of short one minute long clips called Panty And Stocking in Sanitary Box which have received an English dub, as well as a long set of outtakes from the English cast. These outtakes are actually broken up into mistakes, favorite moments and dirty jokes from the cast.
There are a number of other extra features which still feature the Japanese dub only, meaning viewers will have to watch these with English subtitles only. Some of these include a making of clip as well as the ghost explosion collection and documentary. Among these the documentary is an interesting watch as some of the little pieces of information revealed about the explosions and the set-pieces are surprising.
Overall: Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt takes the anime standard and does unmentionable things to it as the series is unlike anything else you will probably find in the anime world. This is helped further by the fact that FUNimation has done a stellar job localizing the anime for English speaking audiences. To top it off the show features tons of pop culture references both old and new while also offering an original experience that will keep viewers laughing at the raunchy antics of the Anarchy Sisters while never knowing what could happen next.
Super Mario Bros. Super Show! All Steamed Up Classic Collection Studio: DiC Publisher:Beyond Home Entertainment Format: DvD Release Date: June 27, 2012 Price: DvD $19.99 (Buy Here)
Overview
The Super Mario Bros. Super Show All Steamed Up Classic Collection is a collection of episodes from the Super Mario Bros. Super Show series that aired back in the 80s. It stars Lou Albano and Danny Wells as the main characters Mario and Luigi.
The series is a kind of hybrid of live-action sequences and animated episodes sponged together to make an entertaining show. The show is also based on a video game series, Super Mario Bros., and adapts Mario and Luigi’s adventure in a different medium. Does this work? Read on to find out.
Story
The Super Mario Bros. Super show is one part live action shorts and another part 20-minute animated episodes combined together to make a complete series. Much like most cartoons from before the 90s, the series doesn’t have all that much continuity between episodes, making it an adventure of the week kind of deal.
The way each episode lays out is there will be a live-action opening sequence and a live-action story that will generally involve some kind of guest-star getting into some kind of shenanigans that will have to wait to be resolved by the end of the episode. After this live-action opening story, there will be a cut to an animated opening and then there will be a 20ish-minute animated episode involving Mario, Luigi and various other characters from Super Mario lore. Finally, towards the conclusion of the episode, it will cut back into the live-action story and resolve that before cutting to the credits.
I’m not entirely sure why, but to me the series didn’t really feel like it was connected between episodes. I’m not sure if it should have or not, but there was this overwhelming sense of discontinuity from the series. For instance, in one episode they might be in World 7, and in the next they will have almost travelled across 10 more worlds. If I recall correctly, in the games each world was pretty interesting, so I don’t see why we should have missed out on all of these extra adventures.
One of the best parts of this series is the overly cliched Italian-American dialogue. A lot of people will probably disagree with me here and will say that it’s really bad and not one of the best things of the series. But really, to me anyway, I felt that it was so bad that it was good. Although I will mention that there are too many pasta mentions in the show; and why does Princess Toadstool sound like an Italian-American?
What was really strange for me was that some of the enemies didn’t behave the way I would have figured their characters would have behaved from what I could perceive from the games. This is fine though, as it adds a new dimension to some creatures that I didn’t think existed.
Video
I actually really quite enjoyed the visual quality of the series. In my opinion the animation has aged pretty okay in comparison to other animated works that are very near impossible to watch today, when compared to the past. However, I have to say that the live-action film bits do look a little dodgy compared to the animation and shows of today.
The one thing that I absolutely love about the Super Mario Bros. Super Show is the live-action opening sequence of Mario and Luigi. For some reason, having the the real-life actors performing while having the opening song playing in the background is just really awesome to watch and when it’s coupled with the ending of Captain Lou (Mario) ‘doing the Mario’, it’s just amazing. In my opinion, this show is worth the purchase just for the opening and endings.
The characters resemble their game-versions quite well, which I largely attribute the success of this show to. I also like how each episode has it’s own look and feel, much like each level in the video games.
Audio
The most awesomest thing about the Super Mario Bros. Super show is the opening and ending sequence’s audio. I mean seriously, a rap song about the Super Mario Brothers? A hilarious ending track involving a dance called ‘The Mario’? How is it that things from before my time are way cooler than the things from after my time. For reference, my childhood was super-awesome and counts as before my time.
What is also really cool about the Super Mario Bros. Super Show is that the series lifts sound effects and background audio from the games, making the show tonnes more authentic and way more entertaining to watch. Seriously, this is like one of the greatest things ever about the show, I think that a blind person could even have fun watching this.
However, as I stated in my story section, the dubbing is very Italian-American. It also heavily references things like pasta and other cliched Italian cliches. However, I don’t feel that this is detrimental to the show, even if it does seem incredibly corny.
Extras
Unfortunately, I could not find any additional features or extras on the discs. However, with such a classic and possibly obscure series, it’s amazing that they’ve even gotten the episodes back and in working order. So, unless you count a Spanish track as an extra, I’m afraid there isn’t really any that I could find.
I don’t feel that this lessens the value of the package, considering it’s not like it was something that was withheld from us. It’s just something that probably never existed in the first place. Although, conversely to this, I do feel cheated out of The Legend of Zelda Show, considering it is promoted in every single episode on these two discs.
Overall
The Super Mario Bros. Super Show All Steamed Up Classic Collection is an excellent package for fans of classic animation and video games. As a show, the series is quite entertaining and is very easy to watch. As a package, the show is an excellent investment and a great addition to anyone’s collection of video games and video game themed items.
I would definitely advise everyone to pick this up, either for themselves, or their kids as soon as they can. This is because of the reasons that I have listed in the review and I believe that is an excellent series.
Developer _Discovery (Underscore Discovery) is hoping to release their point and click exploration and management game Suit Story this year. Sound like an interesting combination? I thought so too. The game features a grad student who has just finished school and has been offered the chance of a lifetime, a huge wad of cash and 10 years to gain his dream job as a Business Acquisition Work Specialist.
By combining the management of what to do with the money and point and click to head both narrative and exploration, Suit Story gives players challenges that shift based on the choices that they make through the game’s 10 years. Challenges and choices can make a big difference throughout gameplay included the ultimate failure state of death, so it’s probably a good idea to be smart about what to do with the money.
Suit Story is being made for Mobile and Desktop platforms to release this year, but a few screenshots are available in the gallery below for players to check out.
This is something that I, myself, am incredibly excited for – The Deus Ex Movie! In an article over at the LATimes, it has been revealed that the movie will focus on the Human Revolution storyline set in the year 2027.
From what I can tell, this will be a film adaptation of the recent Deus Ex: Human Revolution game featuring the protagonist Adam Jensen who is a security agent for one of the largest Augmentation firms on the planet. Even further digging on this report reveals that (in an article by Variety) Roy Lee and Adrian Askarieh are set to produce the film.
So who else is excited for this film?! Let us know in the comment section below.
This week sees the release of Time Travelers, Level-5’s handheld story driven game, for Nintendo 3DS, Playstation Portable and Playstation Vita. To help promote the game, Level-5 is airing two commercials in Japan. The first commercial, “Change The Present,” shows off game footage in a movie theatre. The second commercial, “Theatre,” has a young woman playing the game on a Nintendo 3DS. She is emotionally involved. The female in this commercial remarks “This small screen becomes a theater,” according to a translation from Andriasang. In both commercials, Time Travelers is referred as a “playing cinema.”
The next issue of Dengeki Playstation will shed some light on the battle system for Ys: Foilage Ocean In Celceta, the Playstation Vita remake of Ys IV. The system will be party based with similarities from Ys 7, a later game from the series. Players can change teh character they control with the press of the square button. Each character will also have access to three different attacks. Each attack will have a different effect depending on the enemy.
Even though you only control the action of one character at a time, the game will utilise the rear touch pad to issue orders to you AI party members. The two example gestures listed are pinching in, which makes the character attack and pinching out which priorities evasive actions. Characters will have skills which require skill points to use. Character can also acquire new skills. Dengeki Playstation also lists some of the party members your main character will encounter: Nina, Ozuma and Kanririka. Ys: Foilage Ocean In Celceta will be released for the Playstation Vita on September 27 in Japan.
In the next issue of the biweekly Dengeki Playstation magazine, Nippon Ichi is set to reveal three new titles, including one coming from the Disgaea team.The two non-Disgaea team games have no set title, instead going with code names. They are Project Arcadia and Project D. Project Arcadia is described as side scrolling action game, while Project D has no genre or even one shred of gaming information which may hint on what the game is. Instead, Project D is a game that will please both new and longtime Nippon Ichi fans.
The Disgaea team game isn’t being revealed, only details are coming into light. This game will be called Kamisama to Unmei Kakumei Paradox (a rough translation on Andriasang has the English title being “Gods and the Fate Revolution Paradox”). In this game, a boy has ascended to godhood. He teams up with an angel to help grant people their wishes. The game will be an RPG with the possibility of added SRPG elements, seeing they are behind the successful Disgaea series. This is the first of two 20th anniversary projects already revealed earlier this year. No platform has been set.
Nippon Ichi will also hold a press conference on July 12, which happens to be this Thursday. This is also the day that the 20th anniversary site is due to go live, so expect the conference to be about the 20th anniversary projects.
