This month’s issue of the Japanese magazine, CoroCoro has given us a brief look at what the box art for the releases of Pokémon Black 2 and Pokémon White 2 will look like in Japan. Now while these are the Japanese box arts, it the packaging is unlikely to change when it is released in the West, minus translations of course.
The box arts can be seen below, though the full image can be found from the helpful person who revealed the image on Twitter. Neat stuff huh? Now all we need to do is wait for some more details to roll out and everyone should be happy… except those wanting a 3DS release.
It seems that an anonymous source has chosen to reveal something about a system that Microsoft has been strict about ever since the whole achievement system was established. This anonymous source spoke with Xbox360Achievements and revealed that Xbox Live Arcade games will soon see their achievement limit expanded.
Currently the achievements for XBLA games are limited at a maximum of 20 total, which must equal 200 Gamerscore points. At best, the list can be expanded with an additional 50 points for DLC. However if this rumor is true, the games will now be given a limit of up to 400 achievement points with 30 achievements. This change is said to be coming on June 1st, however this is basically a rumor as Microsoft has not officially revealed this upgrade and should be taken with a grain of salt.
Update: Major Nelson has officially announced that this policy is indeed correct and will go into effect starting June 2012.
Cavorite 2, like it’s predecessor, is a puzzle platformer for iOS, created by 4-man team, Cascadia Games (owners of one of the coolest logos around, by the way). It tells the story of Dr. Cavor, and features the use of his invention, Cavorite, in the solving of numerous and varied puzzles.
Story
In the first Cavorite game, Dr. Cavor flew to the moon using his invention, Cavorite, a substance that negates the effect of gravity on an object. Subsequently trapped on the lunar surface, he finds an alien civilisation, and collects gems to power his flying machine to launch his spacecraft to get back home.
In Cavorite 2 it is revealed that shortly after take-off, the ship plummets back to the moon’s surface, and Dr. Cavor is once again sent on a journey to collect more gems, solve more puzzles, and hopefully get home.
All this is told in a brief bu the to-the-point cut-scene, in the form of a collection of static, but nicely rendered images, with accompanying text.
Interestingly, the character of Dr. Cavor, as well as his invention and adventures on the moon, seems to be inspired by H. G. Wells’ “The First Men in the Moon” novel, written in 1901, which also featured an alien civilisation living in the moon.
Gameplay
The interface is simple. Left and Right buttons, as well as a jump button let you move around the levels, and push boxes around. And there is a “Spray Cavorite” button lets you apply the substance to boxes, floating them up. You can also double-tap the Spray button to hold onto the box as it floats up, allowing you to steer it, and reach higher than you can jump.
Throughout the levels you will encounter things like pressure pads, disappearing blocks, laser beams, and a number of different alien creatures. Using your knowledge of how these things work and interact, you’ll be working to collect any gems, and then reach the exit. Each level is one screen big, making them fairly straightforward to analyse and figure out what you should be doing.
Knowing how to beat a level, however, does not mean you can beat the level right off. Though there isn’t really any physics or randomness to the game, you often feel as though nothing is under your control. Bugs, tight jumps, and controls that are fiddly at times, leave you frustrated; and, although you can complete the levels eventually through trial and error, it feels like the game is cheating you out of your plain victory. This makes Cavorite 2 not just a cerebral game, but has an element of twitch and requires you to gain a level of mastery over the controls that most other solid puzzle games do not have. (Portal, anyone?)
Every time you complete a level, you are awarded a star rating based on the time you took to complete the room, how many of the available gems you collected, and how many tries it took you. There are 21 levels, per area, with 3 areas including their own unique look and new pieces added to the puzzles in each. You can also pay a small fee to unlock all the levels.
That said, the fact that everything is on one screen, and each puzzle is fairly brief, makes this a fun little time waster. The solutions can take some thinking about, but it’s always well within reach of any puzzle enthusiast. And that’s who this game is for, mainly; for anyone who loved the first Cavorite game, and was left wanting more, there’s more to be had here!
There are a ton of GameCentre achievements for you to unlock, too.
Audio & Visual
The soundtrack to this game is pleasant and well made, going solidly along the synth and 8-bit genres. The sound effects, too, are old school, with a chip-tune feel to them. The graphics, too, are in keeping with this style. Everything, apart from the UI, is made up of beautiful and detailed pixel art, with great animation and effects. There’s nothing to write home about or anything, but this is a simple puzzler, and the art and sound does a great job of setting the tone of the game.
Overall
Even with it’s minor issues here and there, this is a solid platform puzzler. If you liked the first in the series, or just love brainteasers, this game is for you!
A new elusive trailer has been released by Namco Bandai with a more in depth look at the true extent of the environmental and vehicle damage in Ridge Racer Unbounded as well as giving a little more insight into how the games physics engine looks. Theres nothing like having a car explode in your face as you jump through an intersection to get the adrenaline going and Ridge Racer Unbounded will provide plenty of heartstopping moments. Also on offer is the City Creator, allowing players to create their own urban playgounds and share them online with others. For those who pre-order the game Namco Bandai are offering the “Day One Edition”, with bonus cars and paintjobs, and for Vita users free DLC for a limited time period on offer.
Phantasy Online was the first major console MMORPG and was originally released for the Sega Dreamcast, followed by ports on the Xbox, Gamecube, and PC. The game was immensely popular at the time, and while subsequent sequels on the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Xbox 360, and Nintendo DS did continue with the online multiplayer focus, they never quite enjoyed the same amount of success.
Phantasy Star Online 2 is the true sequel to the original Dreamcast game, and untill recently it was going to be a PC exclusive. That has changed as the PlayStation Vita will be getting a port of the game sometime in 2013 with the PC version still getting a release as planned in 2012. The Vita version is currently 10% complete and what’s cool Vita and PC users will be able to play together on the same servers.
You can check out the first images of the Vita version below, as well as a video showing the behind the scenes development.
With the recent release of Pokepark 2 and the news of sequels for Black and White, you would think Nintendo might be ready to ease up on the Poke-releases. Of course this is Nintendo, and they know what the fans want. More games. Mysteriously, Game Freak and Nintendo have recently files a trademark for “Pokemon Adventure Camp”.
Yes, this barely qualifies as anything worthy of note, but to the hardcore fans, I am sure that lone title is enough to speculate with for some time. Personally, I smell a 3DS title underway that mirrors the same jolly stylings of the Pokepark series, but it’s way too early to guess that at the moment. Either way, this marks the 4th upcoming Pokerelease to drool over, and once more information rises, we will be sure to bring you an update. Stay tuned.
It’s a rarity when any game topples over a million in sales, but Mario isn’t your ordinary franchise. Nintendo recently announced that the beloved plumber’s first big adventure on the Nintendo Wii has now sold 5 Million copies in total, which puts this title up there with the likes of Just Dance, Wii Play, and New Super Mario Bros. Wii.
“Wii continues its record-breaking run by surpassing 39 million units in its 64th month, a pace that is unmatched by any other system in U.S. history,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “Titles like Super Mario Galaxy help explain why Wii continues to resonate with consumers. The fact that one of the best-reviewed games of all time is available for a suggested retail price of $19.99 speaks to Nintendo’s combination of quality, family fun and value that is unmatched in our industry.”
As far as 2012 goes, I would expect to see a lot more heavy hitters turn into Nintendo Selects, as that lower price-tag seems to be doing wonders for sales. If you have yet to pick up Super Mario Galaxy, you should lightly hit yourself as punishment, and aim to be one of the next million buyers.
Late last week it was revealed that Lollipop Chainsaw would feature not only a bunch of special costumes such as the above pictured bikini, but also a number of anime and manga styled costumes. Everyone, including myself, thought it would be a great idea if all of these costumes would be available in North America when the game is released.
It seems that Warner Brothers has decided to stay true to our hopes and have in fact confirmed through the Official Lollipop Chainsaw Twitter account that “All outfits will be available in all countries.” Doesn’t get more concise and simple than that right? Nearly all of the costumes will also be on the disc when the game is released, though a few may be included as pre-order bonuses. We’ll know more as the release date for Lollipop Chainsaw, June 12th, grows closer.
House of Five Leaves Complete Series Premium Edition Studio: Manglobe Publisher: NIS America Release Date: March 6, 2012 Price: $59.95 – Available Here
Overview: We’ve all seen stories about samurai in the past. They’ve either been completely peerless in battle, or valiant warriors fighting for a noble cause, or men who respect honor above all else or even those with super human skills that make them impossible to defeat. However we rarely see an anime focus on a samurai that is just down on his luck and not as noble as one would believe. However NIS America has brought a series over to North America that features such a samurai… and that anime is House of Five Leaves. How does this new look at the story of a samurai turn out?
Story: In the Edo period of Japan, law was enforced by the edge of a blade. Samurai were everywhere and obeyed their lords and performed various jobs and provide protection to whoever hires them. However there are also those who are simply Ronin samurai, those without a master.House of Five Leaves follows the Ronin samurai Akitsu Masanosuke, whom while being a skilled swordsman, simply can’t hold onto a job.
The reason for this is due to his shy personality and inability to stand up to crowds of any kind. However one day his luck changes when he is helped out by a mysterious man named Yaichi. Yaichi offers Akitsu a job as his bodyguard during a simple late night meeting. However this meeting isn’t your standard meet and greet. No, it is in fact to pick up a ransom that is being delivered to Yaichi from a rich family because Yaichi and his partners, Matsukichi, Umezou and Otake have kidnapped their son.
Rather than helping enforce the law, it turns out that Akitsu has joined up with the wrong side of the law and is protecting a gang known as the Five Leaves. This gang makes a living out of committing illegal acts and skirting around the law. After discovering their true purpose Akitsu says that he will never help the Five Leaves again despite Yaichi’s request that he stay. However despite his attempts to avoid the group and their illicit activities, the Five Leaves slowly begin to bring Akitsu into their fold as he begins to develop friendships within the group. What will happen to Akitsu now that he has been associated with the Five Leaves gang?
While nearly all of the main characters in House of Five Leaves can be seen as criminals and villains at the start of the show, the series does an amazing job of humanizing every character in the storyline. Rather than simply focus on Akitsu, nearly every character is given some amount of back story and personality that helps drive the story forward. Rarely do you see an anime focus so heavily on developing their characters, however House of Five Leaves is practically entirely character-driven and a major part of what makes House of Five Leaves great.
It can be seen that the show is a bit slow and this is in fact true. Rather than focus on action, most of what viewers are presented with is calm scenes as the characters talk with one another and organize their plans. This can make for a bit of a slow story; however there is still plenty of drama that will keep viewers interested as they make their way through each episode and see how Akitsu slowly becomes a member of the group and even overcomes some of his shyness along the way.
Visuals: House of Five Leaves features a different type of character design that most people are used to and this can unfortunately cause a lot of people to pass up the title. It is difficult to describe what is unsettling about the way the characters’ faces are drawn, though perhaps their eyes would be a great start, but whether or not you embrace the character design will be a driving force for how well you appreciate the artwork of the entire show. While it may be difficult at first to adapt to this unusual character design, they seemed to grow on me as episodes passed.
The amount of detail that can be found in the animation is quite impressive, as it helps bring the entire scene together with very simple inclusions that create a detailed presentation. Though with all this detail the series does use a very subdued color palette that tends to be a bit bland at time, keeping things as basic as possible, this includes the opening and ending animations which are basic in design and presentation.
Audio & Subtitles: It is worth noting that NIS America has released the House of Five Leaves series with subtitles only, which means that viewers will only be able to listen to the original Japanese dub while reading what is going on via the English subtitles. These subtitles are accurate and help portray what is going on at any given time without being obtrusive to the show itself.
The Japanese voice cast itself does a well enough job portraying the characters and their, at times, dreary personalities. The anime’s background music is suitable enough, though what stands out drastically from the series is the opening song. “Sign of Love” by immi would best be categorized in the electronica genre and is very upbeat and provides a nice and enjoyable introduction to each episode. On the other hand the series’ ending song, “all I need is…” by Rake features a lot of English lyrics which aren’t handled well by the singer, making it something that viewers will gladly skip through.
Extras: On the DVD discs for House of Five Leaves we see your standard bonus features such as trailers for other NIS America releases and a clean version of the opening and ending though, as said before, these feature basic animation and the clean versions don’t offer anything besides a quick way to listen to the songs if you enjoy them.
However, as standard with an NIS America release, House of Five Leaves has received the Premium Edition treatment. As such it comes with a collectible chipboard slip-case and a hardcover art book with fully colored artwork inside. Now while other collectible slip covers from NIS America usually feature a glossy finish or smooth material on the outside, House of Five Leaves is given a textured cover with no gloss. The textured slip-case provides a bit of a classic feel to the package, though I found the cover texture to be less enjoyable when compared to other releases from NIS America that feature a smooth cover.
Now the artbook itself contains a number of features, including character introductions for all of the main characters, summaries for each episode accompanied by multiple images from said episode and a few pieces of scenery artwork. Something new to NIS America’s art book is a set of early storyboards and sketches from various episodes that give us a small glimpse at how an anime scene looks before it is animated and is still in the planning stage.
Overall: House of Five Leaves is something that isn’t seen often in anime nowadays. While most anime is tailored towards those who enjoy plenty of flashy action, colorful designs and moe characters, House of Five Leaves steps beyond that boundary and delivers a serious experience with plenty of drama and well developed characters.Those who can look past the strange and unfamiliar art style will find a unique anime experience.
Deep Black: Reloaded Publisher: Biart Developer: Biart Platforms: PC Release Date: March 1, 2012 Price: $20.99 (30% Off Retail) – Available Here
Overview
Not too many games can claim that they allow an underwater shooter experience, and Deep Black: Reloaded is that exception. We as gamers are normally faced with some sort of land based terrain because it is the most probable type of warfare. While this third person shooter also provides land combat, underwater zones occur quite readily and impose unique movement controls/tactics. With an innovative combat scene and underwater exploration, let’s see where Deep Black: Reloaded ranks against its soil bound competitors.
Story
Lacking an initial storyline, players jump right into the game without much guidance or purpose. What we know is the current year is 2047, and the world is being controlled by several megacorporations that hold substantial military power. The three main corporations mentioned are Ishiguro-Himmel Systems (IHS), Global Strategic Alliance (GSA), and The United Federation of Gondwana. IHS is based in Berlin and maintains the most power amongst the three organizations. The northern hemisphere is controlled by the GSA while Gondwana operates from the southern.
As you begin your journey, you come to learn that the main character, Syrus Pierce, has been hired by the independent military organization CHARON which stands for Chief Amphibious Reconnaissance Operations Network. The reasoning behind the missions is misguided, and you will join in the confusion that Pierce expresses from act to act. Starting as a mere reconnaissance mission, acquiring intel quickly turns sour as IHS agents openly attack.
The story seems very weak starting off but progressively becomes more apparent as we learn the background of Pierce and his old teammate Velasco. Completing objectives will garner further information, but I found that focus is lost on the story as the here-and-now becomes devastatingly more important. Cut scenes will refocus attention to the story but soon drowns out by beautiful scenery and constant addictive gameplay.
Gameplay
Operating like any other third person shooter, Deep Black: Reloaded takes this genre a step further by providing a 3D underwater battlefield. In water you encounter a freedom of movement that cannot be felt on solid ground. This freedom is enhanced by the specially designed jet pack on Pierce’s gear. Controlled by a cool-down timer, the jets can be administered by pressing the “spacebar” and the direction of interest. Working as a propulsion, the suit’s jets aid in avoidance as well as maneuvering around currents. The jet pack is not the most interesting addition to the suit. An integrated harpoon proves to be much fun in not only converting working drones but also grappling land opponents from water – not to mention you use the harpoon to solve puzzles.
Having several types of weapons will increase the fun factor of a game as long as the mechanics behind the weapons work. Normally, a realistic weapon such as a pistol or rocket launcher has base mechanics that gamers have an inkling about. For instance pistols provide small amounts of damage with a limited clip. Keeping this normality gives a reliable back-up or main weapon and allows the player to be comfortable. A player is allowed to carry three weapons at any time, but the pistol remains constant and cannot be unequipped.
Going beyond the normal realm of weapons, Deep Black: Reloaded explores new technology in a futuristic Earth. In part with the storyline a meteorite is found that contains a new element. Nicknamed XS, an electric current can be attributed to the metal and increase its power. The IHS organization has been prototyping new weapons, and one such weapon created with the use of the metal is the Stun Gun. Mechanics behind the weapon produces a charge that paralyzes its target momentarily. However, several shots of this weapon can be devastating and cripple opponents as easily as using a shotgun. Careful, you just might wet yourself.
While a variety of weapons is important, enemies too need to be varied. The IHS is full of surprises but their main slew of enemies are in similar wet suits or look like engineers. Wielding light machine guns and shotguns at the start, these enemies provide little threat if dealt dwindled down. Shotguns up close can be very deadly, so pressing (F) as an enemy gets really close will administer a deadly melee attack. Some enemies wield dual blades at their wrists and charge towards your position. Be quick to take these foes down or initiate a melee attack to prevent being killed.
Armored opponents are tougher to kill, but not as tough as some of the boss battles. A series of metallic crab tanks will provide a challenge as you will need to utilize your environment to defeat them. In one such battle, you will need to overcharge a transmitter with a Stun Gun. The transmitter disperses the charge to the water below where stands the gigantic metallic creature. As the machine is stunned, its weaknesses become visible. Only by continuing this process will the goliath tumble down.
Understanding your environment is absolutely essential to survive at higher difficulties. No longer can you run and gun, and come out unscathed with foes beneath your feat. Cement blocks, metal sheets, machinery, as well as pipes can provide cover for incoming missiles. Careful advances from cover to cover is recommended and will guarantee a chance to surpass a level.
One aspect that enrages me is the death screen. Upon dying you will normally enter a screen that will ask you provide a respawn to the last checkpoint by hitting “enter”. However, once in awhile that screen changes, and the “enter” command will restart the entire level – not so much fun. This might occur if you continue to die at your checkpoint, but the alternate screen will screw you up at least once during your gameplay. If you die, you will be patient to see what screen pops up or start all over.
Visual/Audio
Dressed from head to toe in an advanced scuba technology, the main character Pierce is able to move from water to land without too much trouble. As a player moves Pierce from water to land, the screen will become slightly blurry for a few seconds as water would be running off armor. Cosmetically this provides a realistic concept that environment will affect visibility for a minor duration. Additionally, leaving the water will cause the suit to depressurize acting similar to a semi releasing tire pressure. Such a tiny addition makes the game artistically creative and appealing.
I cannot imagine how much time was put into making the underwater scenes – the graphics are outstanding. Jetting over volcanic geysers is only one instance that stands out as an intuitive design. As your character passes through the visible heat, burns will dot the screen with large red spots. Is death a worthy price for enjoying creativity? I think so.
The dying sounds for every human enemy stays the same masculine yell. I first thought a foe was running towards me at the sound of the clip, but I eventually became aware when no one was running wildly in my direction. While the sound is funny, it can be confusing with a charging opponent. Perhaps more death voices would make killing individualized.
Overall
As a mainstream third person shooter, Deep Black: Reloaded would not live up to the big name titles like Gears of War 3 or Mass Effect 3. But the game is in fact an indie developed game, and does provide a product worthy of playing over. I felt the positives outweighed the negative aspects of the game. The level designers were hard at work and proved that even indie games can look amazing. Repetitive sounds and an annoying death interface will occasionally be distracting, but the exciting underwater battles and variety of weapons will retain more of your attention.
Is the game worth the cost? If you are a sci-fi intrigued gamer, this could prove a worthy game for your collection. My advice would be to wait for another price drop from the developers as you can already purchase it at a discounted rate.
This month’s issue of the Japanese magazine, CoroCoro has given us a brief look at what the box art for the releases of Pokémon Black 2 and Pokémon White 2 will look like in Japan. Now while these are the Japanese box arts, it the packaging is unlikely to change when it is released in the West, minus translations of course.![XBLA achievement score may raise to 400 [Updated]](https://www.capsulecomputers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/achievement-unlocked.jpg "XBLA achievement score may raise to 400 [Updated]")
