The Facebook app for Playstation Vita was seen for an instant, and then disappeared. However, the app has been resurrected and is once again ready to venture forth into the world of social media . According to the Playstation Twitter (ironic), “Facebook service for the PS Vita has been completely restored, and the Facebook app is now available for (free) download on the PS Store.” Its a good thing too. The world might not have survived another minute without being able to check status updates on the go with a Vita. There are not that many apps that offer that functionality.
Will you be downloading the app for your Vita, or do you already get enough Facebook saturation from daily life?
It seems that Ubisoft has so many leaks in their boat that it is going to sink soon, but don’t worry they will still be bringing us Assassin’s Creed III on October 30 but before then have some more leaked information. This time around we have five screenshots which have popped up over the internet which can be seen below.
All of these screenshots will put any skepticism about the legitimacy of the American Revolution setting to rest as well as offer some more images of the Native American Assassin as he climbs up trees and various other things. Not entirely sure what type of weapons he would be using, though it appears it will be a black powder pistol, a tomahawk and a bow and arrow. Word is still out as to whether or not the hidden blade will make an appearance again.
Ghost Recon Future Soldier will mark yet another milestone as they commit to provide futuristic realism into modern warfare. In the video and information provided, we will experience many authentic prototypes and experiments from military bases encapsulated into the game. First let’s identity who will be carry this equipment.
What does it mean to be a Ghost? To me a ghost is practically untraceable leaving little to zero evidence behind them. The crew of the US Special Forces under the Joint Special Operations Command is remarkable enough to ditto that of its spectral counterpart. Taking out targets with ease and precision, these soldiers carry with them high-tech gear to aid their cause.
TECH AND GEAR
CROSS COM
To be expected in future warfare, you would be able utilize a computerized unit to download and access virtual data. Ghost Recon Future Soldier offers this through the Cross Com being directly connected to the left-eye reticule. The advanced technology will offer an augmented reality through visuals in the “Heads Up Display – HUD”. Two types of augmented reality are at the players disposal:
A.T.L.A.S. – allows the display of real-time intel, providing live updates on battlefield situations as they evolve.
W.A.R. (Weapon Augmented Reality) – provides intel about current equipment such as weapons and ammo count as well as any targeted data.
OPTICAL CAMO
Camouflage has been important in many battles to retain optimal positions and to take out high priority targets without alerting enemy camps. To take clothing camouflage the next level, deterring environment visuals is a viable step. Optical camo uses several components that aid in disguising the user: meta-materials (bend light), optic fiber, micro-LED-impregnated threads (mask position with background). Making this aspect believable, players will not be made fully invisible. Rather the player will be harder to detect by meshing into the background environment.
DRONES
Drones offer an aerial view and can identify enemy targets. Two types of unmanned vehicles will be available with one providing enemy locations and able to attack with small explosives and low yielding EMP missiles.
WARHOUND
Known as the UGV or Unmanned Ground Vehicle, the Warhound is a beastly ground unit that can withstand plenty of punishment. Whether you need a distraction or a movable cover, this unit will serve its purpose well.
ADDITIONAL TECHNOLOGY
Ranging from heartbeat sensors to decoy grenades, plenty of technology is available for a Ghost’s use. Here is a quick list of more technology that is available in game.
Drone Crawler
Thrown Sensor
Magnetic View – Provides a pulse measuring proximity of metal objects (guns, ammo)
EMP Grenade
NVT – Night Vision Tech
Backscatter Optic – Vision through close objects
OTR Scanner – Optical Target Recognition
Stun Mine
Exacto Rounds – Seeks out heads of targets
Check out the informative video below revealing details about technology and gear in Ghost Recon Future Soldier.
Here we are again, MasterAbbott is back for this week’s iOS Game Suggestions. If you missed out on last week’s suggestions, click on the links below and check what cool games you should be picking up for your iOS along with the introduction and disclaimer on how my suggestions work, as I’m not going through the same old intro every week. (suggestions 1 has the disclaimer)
What I’ve also introduced is video game play footage (if it’s possible) on some of the iOS games I’ve suggested, you can check this out at the bottom of the article. Currently video game play footage for this week’s suggestions we have Barbarian The Death Sword & Angry Drums, check back in a few days there will be some more added. For now, if you jump into previous suggestions there are a few videos to check out.
Once again it’s been a great week on iTunes, so many amazing games were released, this week I’ve suggested well over my normal amount with a total of 17 great quality titles. As always for this week’s suggestions are all new titles that you should also take a look at to spend your hard earned iTunes cash / time on. This week I’ve focused an both the FREE and over 99c titles there were some awesome and unique games released. These titles are all well worth taking a look at. Now lets get down to business shall we.
For The Cheapskates – FREE GAMES
MASTERABBOTT’s FREE Game Pick Of The Week
Childhood’s End – Price : FREE – Publisher – Pixel Brain Ltd. (Join Big Phil now and help him navigate his adolescence as he fights off evil teddy bears of his childhood! Get ready for an epic adventure to defend against the mob of nasty teddy bears that awaits you and Big Phil. A vast armory of towers await your commands! Customize you defensive strategy with different tower upgrades, burn, electrify, pierce, freeze and sting your enemies into oblivion on your quest to overcome an evil childhood nemesis! – THIS GAME PLAYS VERY SIMILAR TO PIXEL JUNK MONSTERS ) runs on iPad. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
The Simpsons: Tapped Out – Price : FREE – Publisher – EA Mobile. (THIS GAME IS LIFE-RUININGLY FUN! Homer accidently caused a meltdown that wiped out Springfield. D’OH! Now, it’s up to you to rebuild it! From the writers of The Simpsons, tap into a city building game that lets you create your own living, breathing Springfield… for FREE. First, you can get it for free! Make Springfield just like you want it. Help Homer find Marge, Bart and the rest of his family and friends! (Ned Flanders, too.) Complete tasks to earn… mmm, donuts! Make Apu work ridiculously long shifts at Kwik-E-Mart.!) runs on both iPhone & iPad. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
Invaders World Tour 3 – Price : FREE – Publisher – MeYuMe. (Join the fight to guard the Earth against an impeding celestial encroachment on human life in Invaders World Tour. Secure the borders of 12 different countries in 60 explosive levels and bonus stages! Unlock mini-games to achieve higher scores to take control of the global leaderboards! Countries all over the world have witnessed a surge of extra-terrestrial activity accompanied by the appearance of worm-hole-like portals and slews of strange-looking life-forms. It’s up to you to defend the borders of countries like the United States, Canada, Europe, China, and more!) runs on both iPhone & iPad. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
Requiem: Unleashed – Price : FREE – Publisher –Skyboard. (Enter the nightmarish dream world as a giant creature out to destroy you, is chasing you. You don’t know where you are, or why you are there, but things have an eerie familiarity. Jump, climb, or crawl, over obstacles to survive and find a way to escape before it’s too late. The only thing that matters now is that you Run!!!.) runs on iPad. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
Dark Matters: Shadows Of The Cosmos – Price : FREE – Publisher – Splashworks. (After a great Zuma Clone that’s free, then look no further! Join Blort on his cosmic adventure through the universe. Help him clear all the orbs and gold before they are sucked into the back hole abyss. You’ll need to be quick and skilled to complete all the levels in the Shadows of the Cosmos! – Simple and engaging gameplay, 60 levels to complete – Fun and colorful graphics, challenging game play) runs on both iPhone & iPad. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
For The Bargain Hunters – 99c Games
HEIST The Score – Price : $0.99 – Publisher – N3V Games Pty Ltd. (A simple bank job, yeah right. “Get in, get the combination, get to the vault and get out” so they said. When put like that it sounds easy. What actually happened is a whole different story … Heist tells the thrilling story of a daring bank robbery set in the prohibition era of 1920’s America. A carefully comprised plan with as little mess as possible turns horribly wrong, leaving you to fight your way out of an impossible situation. What are you willing to do to come out on top?) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
Angry Drum (Taiko) HD – Price : $0.99 – Publisher – SOWANNA. (“Angry drums” is a cute cartoon-style music/rhythm, action game. It provides players with a creative new gaming experience. Players tap the screen that fly out of small drums to follow the music patterns and earn scores, getting a great score and rank you can open the next level. Game play exactly like Taiko No Tatsujin, and also includes multi-player so you take on your friends, practice mode and an item shop to help you beat away with confidence.) runs on iPad. BUY NOW
Draw Something – Price : FREE – Publisher – OMGPOP. (Play the Free version of Draw Something, the most popular social drawing and guessing game in the App Store with over 100 millions drawings created! Experience for yourself the laugh-out-loud game your friends are raving about! – Play with Friends on Android and iPhone/iPad! Challenge friends on Facebook or Twitter, or be automatically partnered with new gaming buddies, No Drawing Skills Required! Stick figures and a sense of humor are welcome! Just wiggle you finger to create a doodle masterpiece!) runs on both iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
For The Millionaires – All games over $0.99
MASTERABBOTT’S Over 99c PICK OF THE WEEK
Walking Mars – Price : $4.49 (Publisher – Tiger Style (In 2097, life is discovered on Mars. When your mission of first contact becomes trapped by a cave-in, you must master the alien ecosystem to survive. With time running out, you will make a decision that determines the fate of a lost planet. UNCOVER THE MYSTERIES OF ANCIENT MARS. Explore an open-ended network of exotic caverns. Decode mysterious signals and discover long lost ruins. Survive an unearthly world of strange creatures and hazardous terrain.) – runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
Barbarian – The Death Sword – Price : $1.99 iPad version also available for $4.49 (Publisher – Anuman (The Ultimate Warrior is back… Barbarian, the cult game first released on Amstrad CPC in 1987 under the name Death Sword (Epyx), is making a comeback with an all-new version that remains faithful to the original. Your mission, as the most formidable of all warriors, is to rescue Princess Mariana from the clutches of the evil wizard Drax. In doing so, you will travel the world, crossing swords with the many blood-thirsty warriors that block your path. Prepare to die!) – runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
Julia’s Quest HD – Price : $4.99 – Publisher – Dynamic Systems Group Ltd. ( Travel around the UK with Julia and solve the mystery of her grandfather’s old diary in Julia’s Quest: United Kingdom! Journey through amazing British cities and other places of interest in this fantastic Match 3 game. Learn interesting facts and unlock incredible bonuses as you solve puzzles to place in the diary. Can you unravel the hidden message left behind by Julia’s grandfather?) runs on iPad. BUY NOW
Prince Of Persia Classic – Price : $1.99 – Publisher – UBISOFT. ( The Age Old Epic Saga is back in High Definition. Relive the classic or play it for the first time, either way it’s always been your destiny. Old tale, New skin. The Path to rescue is thrilling. Replay the adventure of the original Prince of Persia in a complete new skin as you battle your way through the game to rescue the Princess. Perform death defying stunts as you proceed from the dark and grim dungeons to the beautiful Palace tower.!) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
Gamebook Adventures 8: Infinite Universe – Price : $4.99 (free with in-app purchase) – Publisher – Tin Man Games. ( The eighth gamebook in the the critically acclaimed interactive e-book series in which YOU, the reader, control the direction of the story! Along with a realistic dice system to fight creatures and use skills, a fantastic new story and beautiful artwork, Infinite Universe will literally take you to another world, giving you many hours of gamebook adventuring!) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
Zombie Panic in Wonderland – Price : $4.49 – (option to purchase All-In-One Pack for $13.99) Publisher – Akaoni Studio. ( From a fog of exotic perfume arises a plague of amorous zombies, and now they’re invading all your favorite fairytale kingdoms! What the heck is going on here? Who’s responsible for this apocalyptic mess? There’s only one way to find out — it’s time to take up arms and carve your way to the root of the problem in a spray of bullets, flames, and grenades!) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
Sweet Red Riding Hood – Price : $1.99 – Publisher – In Images. ( You’ll guide a sweet and smart little girl, known as a Red Riding Hood through beautiful game worlds bursting with visual detail. The way is long and very dangerous, full of wild animals and obstacles. The game goal is to collect required number of apples, flowers, mashrooms and keys. 4 Detailed worlds with colorfull graphic, 40 Amazing levels 16 Different kind of opponents and much more) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
Incoboto – Price : $2.99 – Publisher – FlutterMind. ( When The Corporation causes all the suns to go out, a small boy named Inco and his strange friend, Helios, go on a galaxy-spanning quest to light the skies once more.
As they explore the planets they discover Grapples, Jetpacks, Teleports, Gravity Beams and other strange machines. With its atmospheric ambient soundtrack and striking visuals, Incoboto is a moody, challenging, adventure-puzzler in the spirit of Portal and Ico.) runs on iPad. BUY NOW
Christiano Ronaldo Freestyle Soccer – Price : $2.99 – Publisher – Digital Artists Entertainment. ( Think you’ve got what it takes to freestyle with the best? Experience the rush of pulling off amazing tricks, moves and combos as one of the world’s greatest footballers in the officially licensed Cristiano RonaldoTM Freestyle game. For the first time ever, Cristiano Ronaldo Freestyle brings all of Ronaldo’s unique soccer skills and style into one amazing game. Packed with hundreds of tricks and challenges, multiple gameplay modes and set in different real-world locations, Cristiano Ronaldo Freestyle is the ultimate game to test your soccer skills to the max!) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
There you have it folks, these games should keep you busy for quite some time. I’ll be back next week for another dose of iOS goodness, in the meantime if anyone would also like to suggest their own suggestions, please feel free to share them in the comments section below, or join the discussion in the forums.
Uncharted: Golden Abyss Developer: Sony Bend Studio Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America Platform: Playstation Vita Release Date: 22/02/2012 Price: US$49.99/AU$69.95 (Available Here)
Overview
Nathan Drake has returned to the gaming world. However, rather than tearing it up on the big screen, he is on a new adventure in your hands with Uncharted: Golden Abyss. The Playstation Vita launch title is considered the cream of the crop and it is hard to disagree with that point. The game uses as many of the Vita-specific features to create new gameplay experiences, the visuals are impressive and the story, although not the same quality of the console counterparts, still manages to deliver a satisfying narrative, backed up by the return of Nolan North as Nathan Drake. So, is this one abyss worth diving into?
Story
The game is set before the events of Drake’s Fortune as a stand alone story, not a prequel. Nathan Drake and one of his old partners, Jason Dante, are in the jungles of Central America. Drake is hired to help Dante decipher various symbols he has discovered. However, he leaves out that they are entering a camp owned by the sinister and corrupt General Guerrero. Drake and Dante discover a mass grave full of dead Spanish men and loads of gold. This leads to a meeting with Marisa Chase, who has also come to the site for her own goal. Further discoveries at the grave site sends Drake on a wild goose chase in search for one of the Seven Cities of Gold.
The story itself is enthralling, yet there were times where I predicted what would happen next and it did happen, falling into some action clichés. However, it did not deter from the experience I had with the story. It had elements that make an Uncharted story great: beautiful settings, well-developed characters and over the top action. Both suspense and tension are used well within the story. There will be times where the player will generally worry about the characters. However, I do have to talk about the plot. Plot, in this context, is more on how the story is told. It is told through chapters, just like its console counterpart. My concern was how it continuously jumped between Drake and different character. They were coming in and out like a revolving door. It distorted the plot somewhat and it did get quite annoying.
The characters all have a certain archetype attached to them, which defines their personality. Drake doesn’t change one bit, which is great, seeing that I believe he is a great character. His sense of humour and often opinionated mind are evident. He also points out some absurd moments that he must endure. Expect the same sort of character interactions where Drake’s personality truly shines. Dante is the trickster of the game. He sports a Western American accent with the attitude to boot. He tends to be cocky and arrogant due to the wealth that he has obtained throughout his life. Chase is Drake’s ally with her own mission: finding her grandfather, who happens to be an archaeologist. Upon meeting Drake, she tries to persuade Drake to be partners, despite only meeting him a few moments ago. She maintains distaste for guns throughout the game. That leaves General Guerrero, the guy everyone will hate. The antagonist of the story, he pursues what Drake is pursuing. His military stance makes him arrogant and bloodthirsty. Also expect a favourite to return in the second half of the game, someone who has been close to Drake since his teenage years.
Now, if it makes the character interesting and unique, then using a certain archetype as the foundation is a must. The problem here is that the archetype shone through the characters. As I have said, they defined the characters and made them a little predictable. It does not mean I didn’t enjoy them. I believe a little more effort into character development would have made them stand on the same level as Drake, who is definitely the choice character of the game. There was also some stereotyping with the characters. Let’s look at the antagonist, General Guerrero. When there is a Central American antagonist in these types of stories, it is usually a general or someone in the drug business. Compared to Katherine Marlow of Uncharted 3, General Guerrero could have been less stereotypical. Maybe he could have been the head of a secret order or a rival treasure hunter. It does not mean he didn’t achieve his goal in terms of the character. I still hated the man and wanted to beat him with Drake’s fists.
Gameplay
The core mechanics of the game have not changed in comparison of the console counterparts. Drake still jumps, climbs and shoots his way through jungles and ancient structures. The third person action is great on the portable. Aiming is not a problem due to the inclusion of the right stick. The Vita’s inclusion of the right stick was one of the best inclusions on the device. Alternatively, aiming can be performed by moving the Vita around. This is one of the gameplay mechanics that use one of the Vita’s features, which would be motion control. The front touchscreen and the rear touch pad are also used in the game.
The front touchscreen is used in a variety of mechanics. Most of the time, it involves a simple tap of the screen on a specific icon. One example is reloading. All players have to do is to tap the gun icon at the upper left corner of the screen and Drake will reload. Touch icons seems to be a common theme. The same happens in melee combat. A fist icon will appear on the enemy, as well as in a column on the right side of the screen. This will initiate the fistfight, which is a time based fight, just like the console Uncharted games. Drake’s journal is also accessed via the touch screen. Once inside the journal, it acts as a book. One can flip the pages to see what they have collected throughout Drake’s journey. Climbing, a core mechanic in Uncharted, also uses the touch capabilities. Players can draw a path for Drake to climb.
If announcing two new sequels for Pokemon Black and White wasn’t enough, a brand new Pokemon has been revealed which is set to be the third new Poke that we have seen thus far for the duo of upcoming games. The creature you see above is known as Meloetta, and is a Normal type which will have four different types.
Not a bad design choice compared to a lot of the 5th gen Pokemon, but I am also now wondering if some non-legendary species are set to be announced soon. Considering Black & White’s heavy emphasis on story though, there is no doubt that this addition will have an interesting narrative to work itself into the plot.
2012 has been a good year for Club Nintendo members as we have seen some fantastic additions added to the digital rewards. This month, Nintendo have added in Game Boy Classics Mario’s Picross and Radar Mission for all 3DS owners. Each one of these downloads can be purchased for just 100 coins, and Mario’s Picross is certainly one of the better titles that have graced the Virtual Console thus far.
Wii owners also have a nice treat, as Art Style: Cubello can also be swooped up for 100 coins. One of the higher rated WiiWare releases, Cubello lets players test their wits with a fast-paced puzzler that is sure to test your reflexes.
Not too shabby. It’s honestly beginning to feel like the 1st of the month is Christmas anymore, and saving my precious points is becoming a tougher chore to perform as each day passes.
If you are a Club Nintendo ambassador, you more than likely already download Metroid and are still enjoying every second of it. Those who weren’t early adopters though are now in luck, as this week Nintendo have dropped the original adventure with Samus on the 3DS Virtual Console for just $4.99. This continues Nintendo’s NES offerings, and if I would have to guess, Zelda should be next.
As far as other releases go, the appropriately titled “Aahh! Spot The Differences!” is available for $1.99 on the eShop and the puzzle/platformer Aya and the Cubes of Light can be snagged up for the WiiWare for 1000 points.
Those wanting a taste of Sega’s remake of Crush3D are also in luck, as a demo for the game has hit the service a few days before the game’s launch.
With all the buzz and excitement surrounding Final Fantasy XIII-2 finally dying down a bit, well at least until the next round of downloadable episodes come out, I feel that now is a good time to vent out some thoughts that have been circulating in my cluster mess of a brain for quite some time now. As I watch this industry evolve right before my very eyes, one thing that has particularly stood out to me is the evolution of Final Fantasy. Now bear in mind, this piece is meant to be a reflection of my personal views, it’s by no means a factual recollection.
My first proper experience with the franchise was Final Fantasy VIII on the original PlayStation. I still hold fond memories of it even though it’s one of those games that a lot of people seem to love to hate. Technically my first Final Fantasy game was Final Fantasy IV (or Final Fantasy II in some regions) on the Super Nintendo, but at the time I was too young to really grasp it properly. After my play through of Final Fantasy VIII, I obsessively went on to play the other entries. What really impressed me back then was that each title stood on its own, and I loved how Square-Enix (they were called Squaresoft during those days) would experiment with new ideas, themes, gameplay systems, art direction, lore, and a whole new in-game universe, instead of just pumping out direct sequels with the same locations and characters. It was because of this development philosophy that each Final Fantasy game became a uniquely refreshing experience.
Even as each title in the series tried different things and did not reference each other at all, there was still some intangible consistency that was largely because of the team involved, namely the founder Hironobuo Sakaguchi and legendary composer Nobuo Uematsu. As long as they were involved with a Final Fantasy game, you could be certain to get the kind of experience and quality that only they could design and deliver. I think that’s why each Final Fantasy title succeeded regardless of vast differences in the theme, setting, and premise, because they all had a consistent demeanour and ambience. The story telling and characterisation was always delivered in a manner that although was distinct for each game, still had a consistent style. I know a lot of what I’m saying here sounds vague and ambiguous, but it’s always these unseen elements that really give a game (and franchise) its unique personality.
Final Fantasy IX is perhaps the most important and underrated entry in the series. That game, for all intents and purposes, was the last ‘true’ Final Fantasy game produced. Not trying to discount the Final Fantasy games that featured a sci-fi setting, but the true essence and spirit of Final Fantasy can always be truly felt in the ones that had a medieval fantasy setting filled with mages, knights, dragons, and the like. Those games had the ‘Fantasy’ that the title itself implied, and you can sense so much character and magic in them. Final Fantasy IX represents the pinnacle of Hironobu Sakaguchi’s creative brilliance. It was his love letter to the franchise and an accumulation of all the qualities that characterised it.
Final Fantasy IX was the last game produced by the founding father, as the series would move on without him. The argument regarding how good or bad these post-Final Fantasy IX games were isn’t relevant here, because what really matters here is that they were all clearly and sorely lacking something in their overall demeanour due to the absence of Sakaguchi’s vision and direction.
As of now the ‘Fabula Nova Crystallis’ project is what will define Final Fantasy in the coming years, which is essentially the term coined for the universe of Final Fantasy XIII and related games. That title marked the proper debut of Final Fantasy for this current console generation, and it represents the present and future of the IP. Final Fantasy XIII itself is without a doubt the most controversial entry that the series has ever seen, and in my view, it is a genuine threat to the series’ legacy and everything that it stood for.
The seeds for Final Fantasy XIII were planted long before this, as the legendary Final Fantasy VII in fact laid the very foundation for the ‘modern’ Final Fantasy and Japanese RPG for that matter, but it was Final Fantasy X that started taking this new direction to a place that made long-time fans feel very uneasy. Final Fantasy XIII represents the final stage of this evolution, the result of which being a franchise that has forgotten what it truly was and has really abandoned its core values and principles. Basically what I’m trying to say is that the spirit of Final Fantasy no longer exists within Final Fantasy anymore.
Whiny emo characters, androgynous and girly looking male characters, pretentious social situations, convoluted plots, and absolutely juvenile characterisation, are these Japanese RPG norms? Wrong, they are largely modern Final Fantasy norms. I don’t blame people for bringing up these flaws when they’re trying to bring up the ‘typical’ pesky conventions of Japanese RPGs, because in Western regions Final Fantasy is viewed as an official representation of the genre.
What is the typical Japanese RPG? Nothing like what I listed earlier, because if you really want the genuine Japanese RPG experience then you need to look back at the Final Fantasy titles that were a product of Hironobu Sakaguchi’s vision, and you also need to get into titles like Dragon Quest and the non-Persona entries of the Shin Megami Tensei franchise. Now those games had the qualities that the genre stood for, which sadly have mostly been forgotten and overlooked.
Is the spirit of Final Fantasy gone? Thankfully it isn’t but at the same time it is struggling to stay alive. Hirnobu Sakaguchi, few years after he departed Square-Enix, would go on to form his very own studio called Mistwalker. The studio had a bit of a bittersweet journey, which is to be expected from an up and coming team in this day and age. They’ve released some modest projects for the most part but in particular, the original Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey had the same charm and character as the Final Fantasy of old. Blue Dragon had that charming and innocent fantasy direction, while Lost Odyssey demonstrated a very mature and sophisticated storytelling and characterisation that is unlike anything you will ever get out of a modern Final Fantasy game or most modern Japanese RPGs for that matter. After some undeservingly setbacks, the studio seems to be back in good form again with their latest Wii RPG, The Last Story. The name itself is ironic to say the least, but again, this is where the true spirit of Final Fantasy now lies, in the mind of Sakaguchi as it always has.
However, there is some hope within Square-Enix still as not long ago a rather interesting title called Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light was released, which was a refreshing and nostalgic reminder of the true legacy of Final Fantasy. The subtitle itself harks back to the Final Fantasy of old, referencing the four warriors of light that were in the very first Final Fantasy video game. As flawed as the game was, I really truly appreciated it for what it was trying to do.
Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light is a throwback to what Final Fantasy used to be, and as such has a very similar presence to it. It’s a beautiful, innocent, and imaginative game with a very down to earth storytelling and characterisation. In fact to me, this game is the most ‘Final Fantasy’ game I’ve experienced since Final Fantasy IX. It has its share of annoying flaws, but the overall essence is very much like the Final Fantasy that many hold fond memories of. It’s terribly underrated, and is a game that modern gamers should really consider trying instead of judging the entire franchise by Final Fantasy XIII.
This rant brings me to the upcoming Nintendo 3DS RPG, Bravely Default, which interestingly enough originally started out as a sequel to Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light but at some point they decided to turn it into its own unique IP. This is a good move, and I think it’s a good idea to break away from the tried and tested Final Fantasy banner to give it a fresh feel. I am excited about this game because the art direction, characters, and overall tone of the game captures what was truly great about the traditional Final Fantasy games, while adding its own unique charms and qualities.
The problem with modern Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy XIII in particular, is that they seem to prioritise graphics and superficial aesthetics above the things that really matter, like a good story, compelling characters, and engaging delivery. Bravely Default will hopefully avoid the pesky pitfalls and deliver an authentic Japanese RPG experience that is relevant in this day and age.
Final Fantasy is very much alive and well, but you’ll just have to look for it outside of Final Fantasy.
The PC release of Alan Wake on digital platforms like Steam went swimmingly, and now its time for the retail package to present itself. Nordic Games has released the Standard and Collector’s Edition boxed copies of the game today.
Alan Wake Collector’s Edition includes two Bonus Discs crammed with exclusive content. This includes The History Of Remedy, The Making Of Alan Wake, The Making Of A Thriller, the music video “War” by the “Poets of the Fall”, several trailers to the game, all in-game cinematics with storyboard concept art, the teaser trailer of “The Signal”, the launch trailer of “The Signal”. The launch trailer of “The Writer”, as well as two more features “Building the technology” and “Building a Thriller”.
Also included is The Alan Wake Files; a 144-page publication extra with evidence on the mysterious incidents around Alan Wake and Bright Falls, compiled by the fictitious author Clay Steward.
The Standard and Collector’s Editions of Alan Wake both include the main game, with optional commentary provided by Remedy (Collector’s Edition only) and both DLCs – The Signal and The Writer – on disc one, while disc two hosts the official soundtrack, comprising 13 tracks.
Also in the box are six post cards featuring different scenes from the game, the manual, a double-sided poster and seven stickers with different scenes and characters from the game.
Alan Wake and Alan Wake Collector’s Edition are available to buy on PC from March 2nd, today, priced at £29.99 for the Standard Edition and £34.99 for the Collector’s Edition.
