In anticipation of it’s release later this year, 2K Games have uploaded a new preview trailer for Bioshock: Infinite, as part of their featurette series on enemy characters in the game called the Hard Hitters Series.
In part 3 of the Hard Hitters featurette series, 2K staff detail one of the enemy characters known as the Boys of Silence. You can check out the featurette below for a sneak peek at the Boys of Silence and the game itself.
Bioshock: Infinite is set for release in Australia on the 19th of September 2012, for the Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and PC. Let us know what you think of the Boys of Silence in the comments section below.
Mass Effect 3 has some beautiful, emotional, haunting and stripped back music that sits perfectly with the tone of the game. For months up until the game’s release a series of tantalizing trailers did their best to hook in the gaming world, and for the most part they succeeded. Now, just a few weeks after the game’s release comes the dubstep remix of the trailers. Yup. Thanks internet.
Produced by Mike Relm, the ‘Remix Earth’ video is attached below for your viewing pleasure. It certainly provides a bit of a different view on the game, stripping away every shred of tone and atmosphere and replacing it with some less than catchy dubstep. One thing it does make good use of is a bit of a Garrus sample, which is always appreciated.
THQ have released yet another mission pack for Saints Row The Third, this time reviving beloved series regular, Johnny Gat, who was murdered in the opening scenes of the game.
Jimmy Torbitson, Saints super fan (not to mention a man with a bit of a Gat fetish), out of despair for the passing away of his favourite gang member, decided to clone Johnny Gat. As you’d probably expect however not everything works out so swell, especially given that Torbitson is not exactly the most skilled scientist.
With the clone Gat running wild in Steelport, you will need to gulp down some Saints Flow energy drink (which now lends you super powers, conveniently) and go and strap it on and take down your old buddy’s clone.
The Trouble with Clones is available for download now via the Xbox Live Marketplace and through the PlayStation store.
EA Sports have announced that the FIFA Interactive World Cup has surpassed a million players participating in the international annual tournament.
In it’s 9th year, the tournament has grown phenomenally, with last year’s tournament securing a spot in the Guinness World Records as the largest online gaming tournament on the planet. This year, the Interactive World Cup has already beaten that number by over 130,000.
The per-qualifying events will begin tomorrow night at 6 pm throughout EB stores in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Newcastle and Rockhampton, with Australia being one of 11 countries where the tournament is being staged.
So get registering and take to the pitch to see if you can compete with the best FIFA gamers in the world.
Ahead of Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City’s launch tomorrow on the 22nd of March, it has been confirmed that the game will be receiving an absolutely free of charge downloadable content mission for the game focusing on the US Spec Ops.
The US Spec Ops DLC is slated for launch on the 11th of April across Europe and will be downloadable for free on the Xbox Live Marketplace and Playstation Network.
So if you are planning on picking up to game tomorrow, or still sitting on the fence, keep in mind there is some free DLC on the way for Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City. The game is also set for release on the PC on May 18th.
Nintendo of Australia have confirmed with us that Pokemon: Black 2 and Pokemon: White 2, the sequels to the critically acclaimed Pokemon: Black and Pokemon: White games, will be released later this year in Spring 2012.
The original games in the Black and White series broke sales records down under by selling 77,000 copies within it’s first week of release roughly a year ago in March 2011. It garnered similar success worldwide which has lead Nintendo to announce that both games will be receiving direct sequels (a divergence from the 3 game pattern of the franchises past).
Black 2 and White 2 will be release on the Nintendo DS and will of course be playable on 3DS consoles (only in 2D however).
The first instalment of downloadable content for Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning titled The Legend of Dead Kel is now available on the Xbox Live Marketplace, Playstation Network and Steam.
The Legend of Dead Kel features a whole new story within the world of Amalur, focusing on the legend of Dead Kel. That’s right, Kel is Dead and along with his introduction is a truck load of undead for you to slay in this undead adventure in the Kingdoms of Amalur.
Be sure to pick up a copy of the DLC pack now for the Xbox 360, Playstation 3 or PC. If you thought that Reckoning needed more zombies, your wish has been granted.
Mass Effect 3 : From Ashes Developer: BioWare Publisher: EA Platform: PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 (reviewed) Release Date: March 08, 2012 Price: $9.99
Overview:
Controversy! Controversy! Controversy! It was in the game already! Oh no it wasn’t! Oh yes it was!
In case you haven’t been party to this particular pantomime of publicity, Mass Effect 3’s day one DLC has suffered from a bit of negative press. Besides the fact that it was day one downladable content, some players claimed to have found code in the game that suggested From Ashes had begun life as part of the full title, amounting essentially to a cash grab in DLC form. BioWare quickly returned fire, stating that the ‘evidence’ found actually had to be there simply to support the integration of the new content.
Whatever your take on the origins of From Ashes, there’s still one question that needs answering – is it any good? The DLC is a $10 batch of new content, providing fans of the Mass Effect universe with an extra squad member, an extra mission, and some nifty new outfits.
Gameplay:
First off let’s get the small fry out of the way. The new outfits for existing squad members will add very little to the game, but if you like a little aesthetic tweak every now and again they do no harm. Colour swaps abound and a couple of the crew get some silly yet entertaining headgear.
Now, what you’re here for is Javik, the new squad member. He’s one of Mass Effect’s much talked about but never seen Protheans, a survivor from the previous cycle of organic life that lost it’s war with the Reapers. Anyone who has spent time with the series will have an idea of what the race is about, having come across their left behind super technology that seems to enlighten every species going. It was a Prothean beacon that gave Shepard visions of a Reaper in Mass Effect 1, and Liara has spent here whole life studying these seemingly benevolent aliens. Mass Effect 2 gave us a general idea of what the Protheans looked like, presenting us with their mutated, ‘Reaperised’ form in the shape of the Collectors.
From Ashes presents fans with a living, breathing Prothean, recovered from the human colony of Eden Prime by the ever busy Cerberus. The new mission that comes with the DLC takes place on this familiar colony, which despite supposedly being one of the most beautiful colonies around, still has that unfortunate Mass Effect structure of grey boxes and buildings. Cerberus in their goings on have uncovered Javik’s stasis pod, for some reason leaving this incredibly important object relatively unguarded whilst Shepard and crew creep up to it. The mission is a simple one that keeps to the same style as the main campaign, and unfortunately there is little to make it stand out from any other ‘kill Cerberus’ mission.
Whilst the mission is relatively lackluster, the character you gain from it is something of a pleasant surprise. Fans would be forgiven for expecting a somewhat pleasant and wise old thing, but Javik defies expectations and also comes with some entertaining and useful fire power. Born in the business end of the Reaper-Prothean war, Javik led the remaining Prothean army in the last days of the conflict. Aware that they were outnumbered and outgunned, the Protheans decided to best the Reapers by another means – en masse stasis of the remaining Prothean race. Through a series of cut scenes we see the Protheans last days, fully aware that not everything goes quite to plan. Fans of the series will love this glimpse into the past, and it certainly adds a certain depth to the main plot of the game to be able to see another organic life cycle struggle against the Reapers.
And that’s where the strength of From Ashes lies. Javik, in his cut scenes, party dialogue and conversations, provides an awful lot of flesh for Mass Effect’s bones. He brings a unique perspective to many of the events of the main plot, and reveals a civilization that was a lot less benevolent than history has made out. Hungry for vengeance and initially disdainful of his new colleagues, Javik can suddenly become a must for missions just to hear what he has to say about the true nature of the history involved. Of course he kills just as much as he talks, and Javik is certainly not lacking in that department either.
Armed with a particle beam rifle and some pretty cool new powers, Javik is a strong member of any squad. His weapon fires a stream of green particles, keeping up a steady flow of damage against the enemy and not relying on thermal clips. The gun is also available to other party members, although if you want to avoid the entire screen filling up with distracting green beams you’ll certainly limit the use of it. His Lift Grenades fling enemies into the air, which can come in extremely handy in tough situations. Also useful in a tight spot is a biotic power called Dark Channel. This stream of energy will constantly sap the health and energy of an enemy, and if it succeeds in killing him before it runs out, will leap to another enemy nearby. Javik can also spend points on Slam and Pull, rounding out a decent set of biotic skills.
Audio & Visual:
From Ashes is identical to Mass Effect 3 in presentation, no surprises here. Javik is just as detailed and fleshed out as any of the other characters. The Prothean design feels spot on, and the voice actor for Javik does a great job with what could be an unlikeable character. The cut scenes flashing back to the Prothean War don’t provide anything particularly stand out in comparison to some of the main game’s finer cinematic moments, largely making their mark in the story department rather than visually. Javik’s powers make for some flashy battles – and who doesn’t like a pretty death dealing green particle beam?
Overall:
Javik is a formidable soldier with new powers that look great and provide some entertaining moments. Combine that with some revealing dialogue and an intriguing personality and voice actor, and you have what is an essential character to ME3’s limited new squad mate line up. Javik certainly outshines any of Mass Effect 2’s downloadable characters (Kasumi anyone?), and definitely should have been included from the start- he adds far more to the story than any of the new playable characters in Mass Effect 3. Sadly From Ashes is also brought down by it’s only other point of interest being a pretty standard extra mission, so only fans of the series will want to take the $10 plunge on this DLC.
Today it has been confirmed that a second season of the Winter 2012 anime series Recorder and Randsell is in the works. The first season of the series began earlier this year and was simulcast on Crunchyroll for Western viewers.
The series itself is based upon the popular 4 panel manga series from Meme Higashiya, which revolves around a brother and sister, both of whom do not look their age.
A preview trailer for the second season was also released and can be seen below. Be sure to check it out and let us know what you think of Recorder and Randsell getting a second season in the comments section.
Battle Royale Studio: Toei Company Publisher: Madman Entertainment Format: DVD Release Date:February 15, 2012 Price: $29.99 – Available Here
Overview: More than a decade on since the conception of Battle Royale, this film shows little signs of ageing. A lot of films over time can become stagnant and their message can be lost on future generations. That is not the case though with Battle Royale. It is a true testament to the films quality that it can still stand up today and leave just as much of an impact as it did over a decade ago. This isn’t just an ordinary film, this is art.
Quentin Tarantino has went on record to say that Battle Royale is his favourite film and a big influence to his work (Kill Bill in particular). It’s little wonder why such a critically acclaimed director as Tarantino looks to Battle Royale for inspiration, as this film features many elements that film buffs would recognise now as hallmarks of his work.
Whether it’s the aestheticism of violence, the deep plot and rich characters, the profound message beneath it all or it’s impact and affect on film making itself, it’s hard to argue that Battle Royale isn’t a cinematic classic.
Story: Battle Royale is a film that sets out to make an impact. It’s clear from the get go that this is not your ordinary run of the mill film. We see early on that there are bigger things being set into motion and a large scale plan set in mind.
The film revolves around a survival game. Not just any survival game though, the survival game that began all survival games. If you have seen or read any survival game fiction in the past decade there is a high chance that it was inspired by Battle Royale. A current example of which is The Hunger Games, which might as well be the American version of Battle Royale, it’s just that similar. The point I’m making is that this film is genre defining. It’s impact is still felt to this very day and it’s not simply about being a landmark film but being a cultural landmark.
At the time of it’s original release this film received a large amount of backlash from the Japanese public, mostly due to it’s overwhelming amount of violence. At the time youth violence was a major issue in Japanese culture and continues to be to this day. The film is notable for it’s lavish violence involving young people. A lot of politicians and parents were outraged by the film and considered it as promotion of youth violence, when it is in fact the opposite.
Battle Royale follows a high school class that has been placed within the Battle Royale program, a game set in place by the Japanese Government (in a near future scenario) in which each year a randomly selected class is taken to an island and pitted against one another in a battle to the death. The Japanese Government rationalises the Battle Royale program as an attempt to control the population of dangerous youth.
The film does not stop to question the actions of the youths, in fact it openly shows the level of violence these teens can unleash. Instead the films poses a question to the adults, ‘why is it that these kids are the way they are?’ Throughout the film we are given hints towards that answer, but it isn’t until the final moments that the question is even asked. The film’s director, Kinji Fukasaku, a visionary of his craft, does this intentionally. After the final scene the viewer is left to think back on the events of the film and the answer is as clear as day. The youths are a product of the adults that shaped them. That is what he has to say to the adults. You can not blame the children for what you made them, you can only blame yourself. What he has to say to the youths is perhaps the most profound of all. He beckons them to run. Because in a world where you are powerless, what more can you do?
Fukasaku wants to make a change with this film, that is clear from the outset. It’s hard to not be stirred by a film such as this, the acting is deft and the pacing is precise, the message is clear and the timing is right. The emotion of this film could leap generations and even cultures, the message still rings as close to home as it did more than a decade ago and the weight of this film is almost too much for society to handle. It damn near tore apart Japan upon release and to this very day it continues to speak to people. That is the benchmark of a work of art.
Visuals and Audio:
From an aesthetic stand point, Battle Royale is a feast for the eyes. Fukasaku shows that he definitely has an eye for creating atmosphere through his direction and he uses the gorgeous scenery of this moist Japanese island to it’s utmost limits. The beauty of it all is juxtaposed with the gratuitous violence and gore. Through the violence Fukasaku shows passion, emotion, elegance and above all humanity. His visual direction is stunning and has not aged a day in a decade.
When it comes to the film’s sound, it’s best described in one word – ambient. For a film so harsh and brutal, it’s easy to miss the quiet moments and the peaceful melodies intertwined with the darkened world these characters are stuck in. The soundtrack is simply as gorgeous as the films visuals and provides the perfect backing to every single scene, there is never an off moment. That’s what makes it so very good.
Extras:
This special edition DVD release features a plethora of extras for fans to plough through. It is without a doubt the most bonus features I have ever seen for a film, and they aren’t just trivial frivolities, they are full blown behind the scenes content and extra footage that has never before been seen. There is so much on disc that there is just too much to list.
If you are into special features or just a huge fan of Battle Royale, you will have more than enough extras to sink your teeth into, making for what is without a doubt the definitive release of this film.
Overall: Battle Royale is a masterpiece. There is no two ways about it. From start to finish, it is a film that challenges society, breaks down the boundaries of what is right and wrong and even forces the viewer to question themselves. After more than a decade, Battle Royale is still as ground breaking as it was when it was first released. It’s still as profound and it’s still one of the greatest films ever made.
A truly brilliant film is one that makes you think, one that is unbound from the medium itself, it’s something that defies what we think we can take away from a movie, it’s a being that is larger than life and it’s something that means something, not just to the artform, but to the world at large. Battle Royale is one of those films. If you have yet to see Battle Royale, you need to.
What are you waiting for? Run. Run for all you’re worth.
