Another new month, another reason to check out Club Nintendo for your standard lot of freebies. This month, four titles have made their way to the rewards program, and there is plenty of variety this time for gamers of all ages.
The first title up for grabs is 3D Classics: Urban Champion for 150 coins. While this isn’t the most in-depth title, it is decent for an over 20 year old port and uses the 3D effect of the system very well. If you have yet to play this title and have been on the fence, now is the time to make the plunge.
Next up is one of the best titles in this month’s offerings, which is Art Style: PiCTOBiTS for the 3DS/DSiWare. This insanely addictive puzzler has players match colored pixels and create images of iconic Nintendo characters. The soundtrack is also one that will be appreciated by you retro nuts out there, and you can pick up the entire package for 150 coins as well.
For the WiiWare, Snowpack Park offers a light experience for younger gamers for 150 coins that lets players dress up penguins, play mini-games, and participate as their Mii. FPS fans also have an offering at 200 coins known as Eco Shooter: Plant 530 that uses the WiiMote to take out enemies and connect combos. This is also one of the better Wii-Zapper compatible titles on the service so considering that the normal price is 1000 Nintendo points, it’s definitely worth a trade for some unused coins.
Nintendo are continuing to list more obscure titles for the eShop/WiiWare Club Nintendo Rewards, and I must say that I am digging the selection yet again. It might not be the most familiar group of titles to a good number of you out there, but that’s the point as the heavy-hitters are surely already owned by those who already have a good 1000+ coins built up. Now go out, buy, and try these titles while the getting is good.
Overview: If you happen to be a fan of playing little games from the PlayStation Network on your PlayStation 3 then the name StarDrone is probably quite familiar to you as it launched on the PS3 last year and multiple other platforms since then. While all those other titles may have simply been ports of StarDrone, developers Beatshapers have chosen to give their game a little bit of an upgrade for its release on the PlayStation Vita.
As such, StarDrone Extreme has landed on the PlayStation Vita and with it comes a number of new additions. Are these additions worth purchasing an extra version of the title or is StarDrone Extreme better off left in space?
Visuals & Audio: Surprisingly enough, StarDrone Extreme has actually seen an upgrade to its visuals with its transfer to the PlayStation Vita as the game looks better than it originally did on the PlayStation 3. Interestingly enough, the PlayStation Vita can also handle playing StarDrone Extreme at maximum speed without any visual errors or hiccups in framerate which is quite impressive. The level designs themselves contain plenty of flair with a variety of colors as well as enjoyable level design that is both great to look at and frustrating at the same time with their level of difficulty.
While StarDrone Extreme’s visuals may be varied, the background music and sound effects unfortunately are not. While not horrible by any means, there are only so many songs provided and sound effects to listen to, thus they become repetitive very quickly which is truly a shame.
Gameplay: StarDrone Extreme is far from an overly complicated title and this ease of access makes for quite a welcoming package as puzzle fans eagerly advance through the first few stages and learn the basics of the game. StarDrone Extreme offers sixty different stages to try out, ten of which are exclusive to the PlayStation Vita version of the release, and among these stages there will be various ending objectives. These can range from simply reaching the end of a level, collecting fragments of an object or simply highlighting all the stars on that stage.
Players will do this by launching their ship into space and controlling it through a number of gravity wells layered throughout that stage. The game is extremely simple to control at the basic level, as you will have direct control over which direction you want your ship to launch and everything after that depends on the gravity wells layered throughout the stage and various obstacles in your path. These gravity wells when activated will alter your ship’s course as it spins around the well, allowing you to not only increase your momentum but also change direction on the fly.
Everything in StarDrone Extreme is controlled through simple touches of your finger. This includes aiming your initial launch and then pressing on the screen to activate the nearest gravity well to snag your ship. That is all there is to it. While this obviously means your fingers will slightly be blocking your vision, they won’t cause too much of a hassle. In fact, the touch based system makes the game very easy to control and simple to understand. There is also the option to use the rear touch pad to control your ship as well, though method feels less accurate and many will choose to use the front touchscreen instead.
That is simply all there is to it, no matter what your objective is per level. It is worth noting that there are plenty of ways to fail these stages however. If your ship happens to fly off course or lose too much momentum it can be sucked into a black hole causing failure, or you may die due to crashing into too many spikes and losing your health or even dying to various enemies that can only be defeated when your ship has collected enough stars.
While most levels don’t feature an extremely high level of difficulty, the game is quite challenging at its core. In fact, every few levels players will encounter a stage where the difficulty spikes significantly. The strange thing is, after these difficulty spikes the difficult will then drop to its standard level. While this may have simply been a way to give player’s a challenge there is one other inclusion to the game which reeks of possible exploitation.
To be quite honest, StarDrone Extreme only runs at a cost of $3.99 on the Vita’s PSN which makes it an incredibly discounted title so there is plenty of leeway here. However there is one feature which is not only annoying but obtrusive as well. Alongside StarDrone Extreme in the PlayStation Store there is also a “level-skip” DLC that costs $.99. While not an issue on its own, the fact that the game constantly pesters you to buy this content is quite annoying.
After the player finishes the first twelve levels of the game, any failure after these levels will bring up a prompt asking if you would rather restart or skip the level. Anytime the player presses skip the PlayStation Store will be opened and players will be asked if they want to download the $.99 DLC. While not overly obtrusive, it is strange that such a piece of DLC was included. It is worth noting that this DLC has been made free in the European version of the game, but at the time of this review it still costs $.99 in North America.
Overall: StarDrone Extreme’s PlayStation Vita offering not only adds ten more levels to what fans of StarDrone already loved, the well implemented touch controls make for perhaps the best way to control the game. Being a portable gaming device, the length of each of StarDrone Extreme’s stages are perfectly designed for a quick gaming session whenever you have to wait for a brief period as each stage usually lasts only a few minutes. With great visuals and the cheap price of only $3.99 StarDrone Extreme contains plenty of content that is only marred by odd difficulty spikes and bland sound effects.
Risen 2: Dark Waters Developer: Pirahna Bytes Publisher: Deep Silver Platforms: PC (reviewed), PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 Release Date: April 27, 2012 Price: $44.99 (available here)
Overview:
Yarr it’s a pirate RPG! The follow up to 2009’s Risen, this single player swashbuckler is brought to you by the developers of Gothic, this time developed simultaneously for PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The first game was banned in Australia due to the way it handled alcohol, and both it and the sequel feature lots of booze, swearing and general skulduggery.
Story:
Risen 2 takes up pretty much where the first game left off. You needn’t worry if you haven’t played the first game – there’s little here that will confuse you. In a world being destroyed by Titans under the control of the titan lord Mara, the Nameless Hero is drinking his days away working for the Inquisition. He is called upon to track down a legendary weapon that will put an end to the war, and is drawn into a search for not one but four artifacts that hold the key to bringing down Mara and her titans.
Players must travel amongst the islands that make up the world, interacting with pirates, inquisition soldiers and natives to try and track down the artifacts being held by the four remaining pirate captains. Along the way some companions join you for the ride, and they are a mixed bag of irritating, one note or mildly entertaining characters. Patty (returning from the first game)is an obvious attempt at a strong female character that instead gets annoying very quickly (just because I’m a woman, it doesn’t mean I can’t kick your arse!’ she yells repeatedly), whereas Jaffa the gnome somehow manages to stay on the right side of the irritant line with his pirate learned English (‘fuck yes!’). Don’t expect any deep characterization or intriguing relationships though, Risen 2 is pretty much a one man show.
And it is the main character that keeps the voyage thriving. The Nameless Hero by being predefined has a lot more room for being obnoxious, rude, witty and entertaining. He’s likeable, funny, and more often than not also giving voice to the slightly sarcastic thoughts that are popping up in your own head as you play. He reflects the tone of the game, the pirate soul if we’re being cheesy. Where other ‘medieval’ style RPG’s tend to the glum and serious side, Risen isn’t afraid of being human.
The plot has some interesting turns to it but also its moments of predictability. The game for the most part is a bit nudge nudge wink wink about it, but sometimes the contrivances of the story seem a little too much, with obvious and logical solutions simply not on the table. It’s not a story that’s going to stick in your mind by any means, but it does the job and is saved by having a sense of humor, which could also be said of the game as a whole.
Gameplay
Gameplay in Risen 2 is a rather land based affair. You won’t be sailing any ships or even swimming, because for some odd reason, this pirate doesn’t like water. Gameplay is instead focused on exploring a handful of islands that are gradually unlocked by progressing in the plot, each fairly small and without loading times.
The main quest sees the Nameless Hero tracking down the four legendary artifacts that will destroy the evil Titan Lord Mara. Along the way he must join a pirate crew, defeat various mutated beasties and collect various items for all and sundry. There are a good smattering of side quests to complement the main story, and you can wander the jungles as you will to kill off the incredibly vicious local wildlife. Tribal temples, settlements and other random structures bring some variety and a good sense of exploration, even if the islands are too small to get lost in. There are treasure chests to be dug up and unlocked, gold to be mined and plants to be gathered, and with a bottomless inventory there’s no limit to the swag you can carry.
Doing anything at all will net you glory points, which can then be used to level up the Nameless Hero’s skills. At the beginning of the game you don’t have a whole lot going for yourself, so careful placement of these points is essential. High skill levels open up more talents to be used, which as well as demanding a certain skill level also require substantial gold to be paid to a trainer NPC. The skill trees allow development in swordplay, voodoo, gunplay, toughness and cunning, allowing for some customisation of the Nameless Hero. The whole set up demands thought from the player and makes every new talent one that is truly earned – you won’t be idly chucking away experience in this game.
Cunning allows you to pick locks, steal from NPC’s and make use of your silver tongue, an invaluable skill that can make life a lot easier when it comes to completing quests. Of course there are multiple ways to tick off some objectives, so if you can’t quite talk your way out of a situation then you can always draw your blade or your pistol.
The combat is unfortunately where Risen 2 falls a bit flat. Things are very repetitive at low skill levels, with not much to do but spam the attack button. There is some depth to the combat system, but you’ll have to power up to higher levels to alleviate the boredom. Counter attacks and parrying can be unlocked, each requiring precise timing and quite a bit of practice to pull off consistently – Dark Waters is not an easy game.
Hand in hand with that legitimate difficulty comes a little frustrating dollop of unfair. Enemy attacks cannot be interrupted, and if you happen to be fighting a wild animal say goodbye to any hope of blocking at all. There is also no targeting system whatsoever, making group fights a bit of a pot luck nightmare. Blocking one sword does not block them all, which would be perfectly acceptable if there was any remotely smooth way to change targets. The camera can also kill your chances, moving it to better see your enemy can often leave the Nameless Hero swiping at empty air. As a combat system it certainly takes some getting used to, and even when you get the hang of all the ‘quirks’ it still doesn’t make for fun confrontations.
Your companions in this grand adventure are also a bit hit and miss in their usefulness. Each has a special ability in addition to their standard attack, but you have no control over them whatsoever. You can get yourself out of tricky situations by allowing them to take the heat, but there will be times when they just stand there, watching you get the crap kicked out of you by a giant spider. Thanks Patty.
Putting all that aside, generally speaking Risen 2 is a pleasant experience. The difficulty level (when it’s playing fair) will please RPG fans sick of coasting through games, and the fairly unique character of the game makes a great change from the usual grim medieval or slick sci-fi set ups of modern RPGs.
Audio & Visual
There were a few concerns with Risen 2’s visuals and audio when the game was previewed, and although there has been some improvement, much of the problems still exist. Objects still pop in at close distances, the draw distance is minimal, character lip syncing probably just never happened, the animations are bizarre and reminiscent of something from the Sims 2 at times. Water is strangely absent from this pirate game, given that you can’t swim and walking through it produces no discernible difference from walking on land. The list of niggles could be a long one indeed, but what it comes down to is this: Risen 2 feels old.
Saying all of that, there are still good qualities to Dark Waters’ presentation. The jungle atmos and music create the appropriate atmosphere, and whilst the voice acting on some of the NPC’s is terrible it somehow adds to the tone of the game – drunken pirates should sound terrible surely? The jungles are lush and the lighting and weather effects lend a nice sense of realism to the world, even providing a few beautiful moments here and there. Just don’t expect the game to live up to the standards of bigger name RPG’s – not even on PC.
Overall
Risen 2: Dark Waters certainly has it’s faults, and for some the technical limitations and clunky combat system will be enough to completely disregard the game. It is brimming with character though, and brings a much needed sense of humor to bear that helps smooth over some of the rough edges. If you can stick with it for a few hours and get familiar with its bumps and bruises then there is a pretty good experience to be had, but Risen 2 is very much one of the roughest of diamonds.
It has been announced in Monthly Comic Blade Magazine that a new Steins;Gate manga spin-off would begin serialization. The new spin-off which is a continuation of the previous manga adaptation of the popular franchise Steins;Gate Hiyoku Renri no Sweets Honey, has a rather unique premise; the Lab Members have somehow altered time causing them all to become High School students.
As you can imagine, the spin-off is going to be more of a Romantic Comedy than a Sci-Fi Adventure like the anime series and video-game upon which it is based. However, whether this spin-off will turn out to be good or not is a completely different matter altogether.
What do you think of Okabe and Kurisu going to High School? Let us know in the comments section below. El Psy Congroo!
PopCap are growing rapidly, with their titles such as Plants vs Zombies and Bejeweled now being readily available on nearly every current gaming platfrom out there. With that growth comes opportunity, and today it was announced that the company will be partnering withTrends International, Bioworld Merchandising, Funko, MjC International, JazwaresÔ and Walls360 to start introducing licensed merchandise to the public. Ever wanted some Plants vs Zombies boxers or a snazzy new iPhone case featuring those gems from Bejeweled? Well, in 2013, we will be seeing a lot more of that.
Here are some more details on this huge move for the brand:
The agreements announced today represent the first major partnerships PopCap has entered to license its properties for consumer products in the North American and European territories. Each partnership represents an exciting opportunity to expand PopCap’s franchises into the following new product categories:
Bioworld Merchandising will be creating apparel, headwear, bags and accessories
Jazwares is developing a series of plush toys, figures and electronic accessories including headphones, USBs, speakers and device cases
Walls360 will be offering a starting line-up of wall graphics including individual characters and exclusive bundles
Funko will be creating Plants vs. Zombies versions of their distinctive Pop! Vinyl Figurines
MjC International is working on adult sleepwear and boxers
Trends International is developing calendars and posters
“We’re taking a measured, deliberate approach to licensing our IPs, focusing on quality brand extensions that expand our unique game icons and experiences for our fans in authentic, meaningful ways,” said Brennan Townley, director of brand licensing at PopCap Games. “The partnerships we’ve announced today represent partnerships with some of the most highly regarded licensees in their respective categories.”
Known for its quirky, one-of-a-kind blend of art, humor, polish and attention to detail, PopCap has been a mainstay of casual, mobile and social gaming for more than a decade. Nearly a billion people around the world have played PopCap’s video games, including the award-winning blockbuster franchises Bejeweled, Plants vs. Zombies, Zuma, Peggle and Bookworm. The breadth of PopCap’s audience is similarly impressive, as its games appeal equally to both genders and all ages.
I have a passionate love for the addictive charms of PopCap’s many games, and this kind of agreement is sure to raise the newly acquired company’s stock even higher when these products launch next year. For now, I must say I am a bit curious to see what will be next in terms of new IPs for the company, as there is no doubt that Poppy are churning up some soon to be classics as we speak. We can now prepare our wallets while we imagine an awesome Disco Zombie shirt with a Plant-themed hat to match.
Batman has returned for the epic conclusion “The Dark Knight Rises” in a third trailer that garners even more questions about the storyline. One aspect that does not change throughout the course of Gotham’s history is the amount of destruction the city has seen. This trailer demonstrates destruction at its finest as multiple bridges are rigged to blow and a football stadium is torn asunder. While Gotham is being chewed up like normal, Anne Hathaway makes an appearance as Catwoman – YES! The motives behind “Selina Kyle” may seem different from the previous insane/seductive kitty, but I am interested to see how Anne portrays her feline identity.
Furthermore, a mystery woman – potentially Ra’s Al Ghul’s daughter – seems to be snogging with Bruce Wayne adding more intriguing story twists. Considering that only a mere couple seconds are devoted to this scene this seems to be an important side story to the main conflict with Bane. Additionally, Batman claims he has not given Gotham everything which infers a possible sacrifice. If the usurping questions don’t garner your attention, perhaps the new “batmobile” will trip your trigger. Watch the third trailer installment below, and look out for The Dark Knight Rises in theaters July 30th.
Shown very recently on television’s everywhere, a new Diablo III trailer has spawned with a glaring message for viewers. “Evil is Back” is the warning that bellows through the thirty-one second commercial. Swarms of demons and abominations gather on the screen as well as appearances from Diablo, an archangel, and Deckard Cain’s niece.
The game’s launch is coming quickly, but like most televised trailers that come from Blizzard there is no actual gameplay footage. With that being said Blizzard’s reputation hardly requires gameplay to be in televised trailers. Story is much more important, and I stand among many that would pay Blizzard to begin production on a Diablo movie. Check out the cinematic trailer below, and give us your feedback.
Amazon is having a huge sale on PC games this week. The Standard Edition of Deus Ex: Human Revolution is $6.99, and the Augmented Edition is a mere pittance at $7.99.
Dungeon Siege 3 is $5.
In addition to those games, Amazon has many more titles on sale. Plus, they are having a special promotion called the “Weekly Deal Vote“, where you can decide what goes on sale next week.
Three of the devs behind BioShock 2, Minerva’s Den, BioShock Infinite and XCOM have started their own game development studio. The Fullbright Company, comprised of Steve Gaynor, Johnnemann Nordhagen and Karla Zimonja states:
Our goal is to “make a great game. A memorable experience that you’ll be drawn into, and keep thinking about after the game’s turned off, and want to come back to again someday. An experience that gets away from the constraints of ossified game genres, while relying on what we’re good at as a team: creating immersive places to inhabit, and a deep, personal story to explore at your own pace. A nonviolent game in an unfantastical locale; an experience that not many games provide, built out of techniques that only video games can employ.”
Yesterday the publisher of Awesomenauts, dtp entertainment, filed for bankruptcy. However, this will not affect the release date of the game, as Sony announced via Twitter today that the game will still be coming out tomorrow. Free for PS Plus subscribers, the game will cost $7.99. XBLA fans will be getting the game on May 2.
Ronimo is the developer of Awesomenauts, a game set “in the distant future,” where “conflict spans the stars” and “huge robot armies are locked in an enduring stalemate. In their bid for galactic conquest they call upon the most powerful group of mercenaries in the universe: the Awesomenauts! Awesomenauts brings team-based competetive arena play to a platforming perspective. Play and customize several Awesomenauts as you storm the online battlegrounds and unlock loads of new abilities and characters for your arsenal. “
It has been announced in Monthly Comic Blade Magazine that a new Steins;Gate manga spin-off would begin serialization. The new spin-off which is a continuation of the previous manga adaptation of the popular franchise Steins;Gate Hiyoku Renri no Sweets Honey, has a rather unique premise; the Lab Members have somehow altered time causing them all to become High School students.
