Rising Star Games’ crop is ready; Harvest Moon: The Tale of Towns is available from today in the UK and France, with a German launch soon to follow sometime in August.
It launches on both Nintendo DS and 3DS, portraying a plucky young farmer who has arrived in the area to learn of a rift between the two neighbouring towns.
Choose either the Western-style town of Bluebell, specializing in rearing livestock, or the Japanese-style town of Konohana, who specialise in crops. Pick a town to settle down in, bring your new farm to life with crops and animals, try to rekindle the friendship between the two mayors of the towns, and maybe find yourself a partner along the way.
Reef Entertainment has announced that its firefighter simulation will be blazing its way onto Nintendo 3DS this September in Europe.
In this first-person fire & rescue action game players will enter the soot-stained boots of an everyday hero as a newly graduated academy cadet getting their start in a big city fire station. Players must use the tools of the trade like the axe, hose and saw to battle raging blazes, tackle explosive environments and rescue survivors.
The last game came out on Wii, so expect this latest title to make use of the control and visual options of the 3DS as you fight the fires, an enemy quite unlike those faced in other games.
Remember Where’s My Water? Chances are if you’re a frequent iOS/Android gamer then you’ll have at the very least seen this game sitting in the ‘Most Downloaded’ lists. It’s a Disney title, featuring an alligator called Swampy who needs to get hold of some water to get himself scrubbed up.
Today Disney have launched a game following on from Swampy’s success story and even featuring the same basic game mechanics. Where’s My Perry? is releasing on Android and iOS today, and combines the gameplay of WMW with the stylings of Phineas and Ferb, a long running Disney ‘toon that I know for a fact way too many adults watch.
The storyline of the game focuses on Agent P, otherwise known as Perry the Platypus. It’s a new story in the Phineas and Ferb world, with appearances from some of the voice actors featured in the show. Disney has stated that they plan to release free updates with new levels and more special features, including levels that feature the aforementioned Swampy.
As well as the usual WMW gameplay mechanics of digging dirt to guide the flow of water, Where’s My Perry? will feature some new gadgets and gizmos inspired by the comedy of the show, such as lasers that instantly change water into ice or steam, or even, the mysterious sludge…
It’s a ninety nine cent title with over 80 puzzles, a tried and tested gameplay mechanic and a heavy dose of Disney charm. This is otherwise known as a no brainer.
Ubisoft has been kind enough to provide information on the recent launch of DLC for Mad Riders. The Daredevil Map Pack DLC #1 is out now for the downloadable off-road racer.
Content of DLC:
The Daredevil Map Pack DLC #1
– 2 events (1 event is a pack of races with different rules) based on one main new environment (Zambia) + 4 others (already present in full game), each one with 5 races: “High Stakes” event 1 & “Balance of forces” event 2
– 2 off-road elite races
– All these tracks are available in Single Player mode and multiplayer mode, Platinum Tracks (extension of Tournament mode)
ETHER VAPOR: Remaster Publisher: Nyu-Media Developer: Edelweiss Platforms: PC Release Date: June 29, 2012 Price: $7.99US (Buy Here)
Overview
Arcade 2D shooters used to be a thing of the past, or a thing that would only be released not as a full title. This, I believe is something that is wrong with the industry and Ether Vapor: Remaster is the reason that I believe this to be true. The game itself is a fast paced action 2.5D rail shooter that is very similar to games like R-Type, Sol-Deace and many others.
While the game does has it’s flaws, it is an incredibly fun experience. Within this review I hope to have convinced you on why I believe this is so. So onwards, into the meat of this topic.
Story
The story of Ether Vapor: Remaster follows a young pilot that appears to be in some kind of experimental aircraft and is hellbent on seeing the destruction of a particular device to end the a war between massive factions that has seemingly engulfed the world. Along the way he encounters various forces from either side of the war and is constantly within strife because of this. However, early on we see the hero team up with a young female pilot from the Lydia nation named Sana.
The story, I felt, was a pretty standard affair, existing only to excuse the gameplay and to give players a reason for playing through the game. I mean honestly, that’s what a videogame story is and the one presented in Ether Vapor is a good example of that. I think that players will enjoy the story for what it is, even if it is a bit simple and scantily laced throughout the game.
However I do have a bit of a gripe with the story and that comes in the form of the main character, Luca. I mean seriously, I have rarely come across an unlikeable main character in a videogame, but this guy makes me want to jump into the game and give him a taste of my pimp-hand. For example, in this one scene an enemy pilot comes up to him and asks him to explain himself in a pretty peaceful manner and all of a sudden Luca is is all like (paraphrasing a bit) “I’m a whiny, angst-filled teenager and I have a sore back so I’m going to make fun of you and then shoot at you a lot”. There are a few examples of this happening in the game, the lead character is a douche.
Other than that, the story is pretty good for what it is and if you don’t like it, you can turn it off on your next play-through. How cool is that?
Gameplay
The gameplay in Ether Vapor: Remaster is one of the best things about the game. Who here doesn’t like arcade styled side-scrolling rail shooters? Who here doesn’t like awesome looking aircraft going into combat and blowing each other to bits? Nobody, that’s who.
I make this game sound incredibly simple, and that’s because it ultimately is. Don’t take this to mean that the game lacks any kind of difficulty, because it does. Trust me on this, it is -incredibly- difficult. Who knows how many times I died trying to get through this game. If you’re somebody afraid of failure, has a short attention span or lacks the will to learn, you WILL NOT like this game.
Like most games that require any kind of skill to beat, players will find themselves constantly trying to learn how a particular level works. This is so that they can not only survive, but can also achieve the highest score for that stage. I comfortably predict that a lot of players will fail a lot, replay the entire game from the beginning over and over only to find that they’re slowly mastering the levels that they’re continually going through. This is how you know a game has a decent design behind it, you want to get good.
The one gripe that I have with the game is that you start the game with no shields or ‘credits’ to continue the game with. You instead have to earn these by travelling further and further into the game, or by dying a lot. I honestly still do not know which one of those two methods are the actual way to earn credits and shields, but they are the way, somehow. Also, while you’re playing you get an additional shield for that playthrough by earning a certain amount of points (60,000 by default). So getting better at the game is definitely of benefit to the player.
Visuals
Visually speaking, the game isn’t a technical masterpiece. The game is very much a work that shows a small team was working on it, and had to make some compromises due to budget, time and a whole lot of other constraints. This is not to say that the visuals are bad.
What I really like about this game is that even though the graphics aren’t super-HD, Battlefield 3 and Crysis experiences, they’re still pretty detailed and accurately represent the world presented within the game. For the kind of game that it is, the visual style worked really well.
The character designs in this game are pretty good, with the exception of the main character. I don’t know why, but his limited facial expressions often didn’t match the context of what was being said and as a result I felt that it hindered the visual effect of what could have been better portrayed.
Audio
In Ether Vapor: Remaster there is a set of incredibly cool sounding effects and background music. Each of the levels has their own unique soundtrack which give them each a nice and distinctive feel. The soundtrack is also incredibly catchy and well composed.
Each of the various weapons in the game sound pretty believable, but also carry that kind of sci-fi feel that fits in with the games theme. Players familiar with other games of this type will find the sound effects familiar and fitting in with the genre.
Overall
Ether Vapor: Remaster is an excellent 2.5D sidescrolling rail shooter that fans of the genre should be sure to pick up and enjoy at their earliest convenience. Players will probably love the awesome background soundtrack and vehicle designs. Anyone who loves the feeling of conquest after adversity will definitely keep on coming back for more.
With Risen 2: Dark Waters washing up on these shores soon for PS3 and Xbox 360, Deep Silver has released a trailer taking a look at Arborea. Waterfalls, sunsets and the stunning vistas from the Southern Seas; soak it in.
But as the pirate adventure unfolds, the tranquility of this beautiful and intruiging land will surely not last. Enjoy the calm before the storm with this latest mood trailer for the game.
Risen 2: Dark Waters is out now on PC and comes to Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on 3rd August, 2012.
Does anyone own it on PC already? Who will be grabbing it on its console launch?
Not only is there a new SimCity game on it’s way to full fledged retail, but the developers behind the builder are getting in on the Facebook scene. SimCity Social has been making itself heard for a while now, and is due to make a worldwide debut on Facebook soon. A two studio effort combining the works of developers Maxis and Playfish, the aim is to bring the usual depth of the SimCity franchise to the social media platform.
That said, it has just been announced that EA has paired up with Mercedes Benz Europe to bring some very specifically themed content to the game *cough* advertising *cough*. If you’ve ever wanted to bring your favourite brands into a SimCity game, well here you go. Players will have the chance to complete Mercedes Benz specific quests to unlock exclusive items, including a Mercedes Benz factory, and will be able to spot some of the A-Class vehicles adding some class to their streets.
Mercedes lovers who happen to reside in North America will have to keep their experience with the brand to real life, as the deal does not include the United States or Canada – guess you’ll just have to buy that car instead.
Read this:
“The new A-Class stands for the pulse of a new generation that is breaking away from the conventional, making it the perfect fit for the engaging city-building game SimCity Social,” says Anders Sundt Jensen, Vice President Brand Communications Mercedes-Benz Cars. “Moreover, the integration of the Mercedes-Benz brand into a social game is a logical step in our communication strategy, which incorporates social media as an integral component. Electronic Arts is the perfect partner for this venture. Like Mercedes-Benz, the company stands for technical innovation, fascinating entertainment and attention to detail.”
There is no doubt about it. PC versions of games that release cross platform are cursed. Cursed to be delayed, and now in the case of Ubisoft’s Ghost Recon Future Soldier, cursed to be broken. The console version of the game was released a month ago, and now despite the delay, the PC version (released a couple of days ago) has been found to be littered with bugs; small, significant, game spoiling, ridiculous, all kinds seem to have turned up to the Ghost Recon party.
The Ubisoft forum is the best place to check out at the moment, with the one forum having been closed in order to divide the many issues into their own specific forums. Ubisoft appear to be highly aware of the problems, and have released a statement to the effect that they are trying to fix them as soon as humanly possible.
So if you can’t move your man because the mouse or WASD keys don’t work, can’t get into a multiplayer match, are having issues with resoloution, sound, or any of the other problems being reported, then sit back, breathe, and have a look at the pretty trailer below – this is the game that you’re waiting for, it’s just hiding for effect.
The CC review of the PS3 version of the game can be found here.
Twas the week before the 8-Bit Summer and all through…well, that’s all I got. As you know, next week Nintendo’s 8-Bit Summer kicks off with a bang, delivering two Virtual Console titles to the eShop each week. This is the week before however, and Nintendo have quite a few non-classic titles to introduce you to.
The biggest attraction this week comes in the form of Marvel Pinball 3D, which throws together Zen Studios’ classic renditions of Iron Man, Blade, The Fantastic Four, and Captain America. You can grab this gem up yourself for just $7.99 as of now, which is an awesome deal for the quartet of awesome tables.
Next up is by another top tier name in the digital world, with that being Renegade Kid. After crafting the brilliant Mutant Mudds, this dev is out to out-do themselves again with the quite lovely Bomb Monkey. This puzzler works a bit like Lumines, as you have to prevent blocks from rising above a line. Add in a monkey and explosives, and you have the gimmick that gives this title it’s charm. Bomb Monkey is priced at $4.99.
On the DSiWare front, we have the 8-bit styled shmup, Flip The Core as well as a new puzzle strategy game involving DNA labeled Escape the Virus: Swarm Survival – with both priced at $1.99.
Oh yeah, Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure also has a new demo up, and if you are looking for a bit of value, Nintendo have slashed the price on the indie favorite VVVVVV to $4.99 for this week only.
Quite a start to the summer. Of course July looks to bring A LOT more, so stay tuned as that line-up beings to spill out. For now though, What’ya buyin?
Max Payne 3 has been a pretty big hit from Rockstar for a number of reasons, but the multiplayer certainly made it even sweeter. Those who are wanting to broaden their game are in luck, as Rockstar are ready to release the first DLC pack for the mode on July 4th in Australia, which dons the name “Local Justice”.
Local Justice will arrive on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 (with the PC version launching on July 18th), and will add three multiplayer maps based on the latter portions of the game, as well as a new multiplayer faction, a new item, a new weapon (the new M4 Assault Rifle), and more. Sounds great, right? Well, early buyers who don’t have the Rockstar Pass (where you get this DLC for free) will be able to get a discount upon launch. You can check out the trailer and AU pricing information down below.
The Local Justice Pack will be available during launch week for a discounted price of 480 Microsoft Points (Xbox LIVE) or $8.75AUD on PSN and PC, after which point it will return to its normal price of 640 Microsoft Points (Xbox LIVE) or $11.45AUD on PSN and PC.
The storyline of the game focuses on Agent P, otherwise known as Perry the Platypus. It’s a new story in the Phineas and Ferb world, with appearances from some of the voice actors featured in the show. Disney has stated that they plan to release free updates with new levels and more special features, including levels that feature the aforementioned Swampy.
Ubisoft has been kind enough to provide information on the recent launch of DLC for Mad Riders. The Daredevil Map Pack DLC #1 is out now for the downloadable off-road racer.
