Out of all of the titles developed and released for the Nintendo 3DS so far in Japan that most gamers wanted to see released in the West, one of them stood above the rest. Although no announcement has been made by any company about the title, there is always the hope that it may some day be localized in English. The title I speak of is the full breasted ninja 3DS title, Senran Kagura.
Still, despite its uniqueness, Senran Kagura has done quite well for itself in Japan, as the producer of the title Kenichiro Takagi has made a post on the Senran Kagura official blog saying that the series has a very good chance of crossing their 80,000 sold mark before this year is up. Some companies may be disappointed by this number, but Marvelous AQL and Takagi believe that this is actually quite a good sales result being that the title is a complete original. Perhaps the larger than expected sales in Japan may give Senran Kagura a chance in North America…
Earlier today we learned that Kojima Productions would be having a special 3DS hardware bundle released alongside Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3D but they did not go into any specifications as to what fans could expect the handheld would look like. Would it be just a simple new color for the Nintendo 3DS? Some type of logo?
Well Hideo Kojima himself has decided to shed a little light on those questions. Kojima revealed on his Twitter that the system will indeed have a unique design and went so far as to take a teaser image which can be seen below in full resolution. The Nintendo 3DS will have a snake skin pattern embossed on the cover, which I dare say looks very amazing looking. Expect to hear more on January 20th when the company plans on revealing more information about this bundle.
Being able to demo a game is the best way to find out whether or not you should spend your hard earned money on buying the full title when it comes out. On the other hand, sometimes demos come out quite late and at the most inopportune times. For example today the demo for Gears of War 3 has gone live on the Xbox Live system, it is exclusive to only Gold subscribers.
The strange thing about this demo release is that not only is it coming out a few months after Gears of War 3 has already come out, but it also has completely missed the holiday season window where it may have enticed some to pick up the title for Christmas. Alas, the chances have been missed and the demo can be acquired here. The demo will take place on the level “Shipwreck” which is the first chapter in Act II of the full Gears of War 3 game.
When the PlayStation Vita was officially revealed Nippon Ichi was quick to bring news that they were going to be releasing Disgaea 3: Absence of Detention on the title at launch in Japan. This also includes NIS America who is set to launch the title somewhere around the PlayStation Vita release in North America. Disgaea fans need not despair about this remake however, as the Disgaea team is aiming to release at least one more title on the Vita sometime before 2012.
During a Q&A session at the Akihabara Denkigai Festival, CEO Sohei Shinkawa was asked about Nippon Inchi’s plans for the Vita and he responded to the question saying that the company would like to release at least one title next year. What this title could possibly be however was not even hinted at. Any potential guesses? A new title completely or another entry in the long running and popular Disgaea series?
Nippon Ichi has released their first trailer today for the upcoming title Labyrinth Tower Legacista, or as it is being called in Japan, Meikyuu Touro Legasista. The title is being developed by System Prisma, the same company who developed ClaDun. The title is being billed as a “survival action RPG” by Nippon Ichi where one of the taglines for the game is to survive or die.
The video, which can be seen below, and contains both gameplay footage and dialogue sections with the various characters the player will meet throughout the story. As you can see, the game will feature ClaDun style combat but feature Disgaea-like interaction between characters. The title will be released in Japan on March 15th exclusively on the PlayStation 3 and currently doesn’t have a Western release date.
Skins Series 5 Studio: SBS Publisher: Madman Release Date: November 30th, 2011 Price: $34.95- Available Here
Overview:
In it’s fifth season, Skins has been to the brink and back again countless times with it’s teenage dreamers. And with the series moving into it’s fifth series it also brings in it’s third generation of angst-riddled teens. It is evident that after five seasons that Skins the series still has some fuel left in it’s tank, but it’s even more apparent that it’s stuck spinning it’s wheels.
With repeated story-lines that aren’t any more interesting than they were the first time around and characters who just don’t mesh as well as the show likes to think they do, it’s simply confusing as to why a series with so much to work with, is plagued with such problems.
Is Skins Series 5 just another melodramatic teen series, or does it redeem itself from all the angst and stagnation?
Story:
Much like previous seasons of Skins, this one follows a bunch of teens all of different social cliques and as they all reveal different layers of what is a drug-infused, alcohol-soaked sexual exploration of the teenage psyche.
As you’d expect from Skins by now, each episode focuses on one member of the cast, with most episodes revolving around common teenage drama plots such as ‘bullying’, ‘drugs’, ‘losing virginity’ and ‘family problems’. The series covers them all. Yet somehow there is something crucial that is missing from the core of this series, compared to it’s previous four.
The first generation of Skins, focused on a bunch of kids each with connections to one another and were all ultimately a close knit bunch. The second generation was much the same but generally split the cast into two and at times pitted them against one another. Unfortunately the third generation ultimately fails in creating believable connections between the cast, with their relationships seemingly formed from thin air and not feeling at all natural.
The characters are unfortunately thrown together, without any necessary reason for them really being together. They are all too different with no real immediate reason for them to even be friends. It is disappointing when compared to previous casts on this show that felt like they were born to be with one another, until the point when they must go their separate ways at least.
Plot wise, this series is far more realistic than the generations that preceded it, but in many ways that causes it to be a little more boring than those generations as well. It loses a lot of the surreal stories featured in the previous seasons and goes almost exclusively for the straight up realistic side of things, which admittedly is an interesting approach to Skins, but certainly not the right one.
The defining point of the fifth series is that it’s characters are all entirely unique, without featuring any that appear to be near carbon copies of the previous cast (a problem that plagued the second cast). This uniqueness that these characters embody gives the series that much needed boost, considering it’s poor plotting and monotonous adventures it’s cast get up to.
As a whole Skins Series 5 definitely needed some more polish story-wise, but had enough interesting characters to hold the scatter shot plot together in the end.
Visuals and Audio:
Aesthetically Skins has never looked so good, with an up-scaled production budget and stunning film work, the fifth series manages to capture the teenage wonderland of England in a big way. With stand out episodes such as ‘Alo’ and ‘Everyone’ conveying the vast beauty of the landscape of England.
As you’d expect the cast are all comprised of ‘pretty people’, so there is certainly enough eye candy for both male and female viewers who like to watch some attractive people pretend they are not.
The audio is perhaps the series shining point, with an impressive soundtrack filled with indie tunes and popular tracks that will please the eardrums of any fan of good music, the series makes great use of it’s library of tracks in comprising what is without a doubt a brilliant musical backdrop for the goings on of the world of Skins.
Extras:
For those of you who consider yourselves special feature junkies, Skins Series 5 shouldn’t disappoint you, with its elaborate behind the scenes featurette. Included in the featurette is interviews with cast an crew. Madman have done a brilliant job here in terms of special features and honestly there is not much else you could ask for the paying price.
Overall:
All in all, Skins Series 5 is inconsistent and lacks the clearly defined direction of it’s predecessors. It does feature an interesting cast of characters but more than a little suspense of disbelief is required to ever believe that these characters would ever be friends. They simply just bunch together, with no catalyst pulling them to one another.
Unfortunately, this series does not feature the enthralling surreal story-lines that go beyond realism and into making the teen drama an art form – a facet of the show that was sorely missed in this iteration.
If you are looking for a fun teen comedy, then Skin Series 5 will provide you with a few hours of enjoyment, just don’t expect it to be anything more than merely enjoyable or you will leave the series very disappointed.
David Jaffe, co-director of the new Twisted Metal game, made a special announcement today on YouTube and the PlayStation Blog. After wishing everyone viewing a happy holidays, he revealed that everyone who buys a first-run copy of Twisted Metal for the PlayStation 3 will also receive a free download voucher for Twisted Metal Black. The version of Black that will be released is the one that was originally on the PlayStation 2 back in 2001.
Jaffe explained that the reason for the inclusion is to reward longtime fans with a bonus as well as allow players to experience both Black and the new Twisted Metal while comparing the two and the advancements that the series has made. Twisted Metal is a PlayStation 3 exclusive and is set to be released on February 14th in North America.
While the PlayStation Vita seemed to have a successful launch in Japan last week, sales have dropped significantly in the second week since the system’s launch. Sony’s PlayStation Vita sold 72,479 units during the second week, which has placed it behind not only the Wii and PlayStation 3, but also its handheld competition the Nintendo 3DS. It even has been surpassed by Sony’s own PlayStation Portable reports 4Gamer.
The Nintendo 3DS sold 482,2000 units while the PSP pulled in 101,121. The Nintendo 3DS has of course done significantly well with the majority of its success in recent weeks since the release of a number of Mario titles. With Mario Kart 7 hitting 260,836 units sold and Super Mario 3D Land at 174,566. Unfortunately not a single PS Vita software title made it in the top twenty sold last week. This certainly isn’t a good start for the system, though with stiff competition from the Mario series and cheaper competition, the more expensive PS Vita may be a hard sell at the moment.
While there are plenty of titles that gamers of both big and small can enjoy on the Nintendo 3DS, quite a few of the titles that are actually bundled with the system are solely focused on selling handheld to a younger audience. But in Japan that is going to change slightly, as Kojima Productions’ Jiroo Tsubuyaki has tweeted that Nintendo is planning on releasing a Nintendo 3DS hardware bundle for Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3D when it is released in Japan next year on March 8th.
At the moment there is no specific design for the handheld, but I can guarantee that it will certainly be a system seller for some people. Currently there is no word about this bundle also being released in Western markets, so perhaps the only way to get a special MGS themed 3DS is to buy one from Japan…
As 2011 slowly comes to an end, we reflect on the great year of gaming it has been. A brand new year is set to begin just over the horizon, and with it comes a slew of great games set to be released not to long from now. So gear up and jump on board the hype wagon as we take a look at 12 of 2012’s most anticipated games.
12. Uncharted: Golden Abyss
Developer:SCE Bend Studio Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Platforms: Playstation Vita Release Date: You might be lucky enough to be playing the game already if you’re in Japan right now, but for everyone else you’ll have to wait until February 22, 2012
So…what’s all the hype about?
From what we saw at E3, Gamescom and TGS, Uncharted: Golden Abyss looks fantastic. A launch title for Sony’s latest handheld console Playstation Vita, the game really shows off what this new handheld console is capable of. Uncharted: Golden Abyss is defiantly shaping up to be one good looking game that you can fit into the palms of your hands, sporting incredible graphics (which look as if they have been taken straight out of their Playstation 3 counterparts) along with the same mix of platforming and combat goodness with an added bonus of new characters and story all thrown in.
11. The Darkness II
Developer: Digital Extremes Publisher: 2K Games Platforms: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC Release Date: February 7, 2012 in North American and February 10, 2012 for Europe and Australia
So…what’s all the hype about?
In 2007, a first person shooter with a twist called The Darkness was released. Combining the mafia revenge story with demonic mythology, the result proved to be a unique and fresh take on both genre and narrative story telling in gaming as a whole. Now a sequel has finally emerged, Jackie Estacado is back to face the demons he left from the first game along with a new foe, The Brotherhood and players can once again take control of the demonic entity known only as The Darkness. The Darkness II is ready to raise the bar in violence with gruesome execution moves set to take main stage. Along with this, the game includes a brand new co-op multiplayer mode complete with its own parallel campaign.
10. Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time
Developer: Sanzaru Games Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Platforms: Playstation 3 Release Date: TBA 2012
So…what’s all the hype about?
The long-anticipated fourth game in the series marks a return after a six year absents for Sly Cooper. Sly 4 aka Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time was finally announced at E3 2011 and since then information has been slowly drip fed to fans. The first game in the series not to be developed by Sucker Punch Studios, Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time promises to be even bigger and better than its predecessors with emphasis on free roaming in much larger environments than in previous games. Sly 4 will be the series first game built for the Playstation 3 and it will be interesting to see how its developers, Sanzaru Games, will take the series into the new generation of gaming.
9. Borderlands 2
Developer: Gearbox Software Publisher: 2K Games Platforms: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC Release Date: July 30, 2012 (According to Amazon.com…)
So…what’s all the hype about?
The original Borderlands was a sleeper hit when it was released in 2010, mixing first person shooting with traditional role playing loot hunting. Now sure the game was not without its flaws and a general lack of story all round, but the fundamental core gameplay and art style was very solid. There was much to like about this game, and what better to have than a sequel set to improve on all the flaws of the original and improve on the parts that made the game so good.
8. Hitman: Absolution
Developer: IO Interactive Publisher: Square Enix Platforms: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC Release Date: TBA 2012
So…what’s all the hype about?
Hitman: Absolution the fifth game in the long running stealth action series is looking very good. We first got word of the new Hitman game with little more than a short teaser trailer back in May. But this gave us a clear indication that E3 would soon deliver the goods. Powered by IO Interactive’s Glacier 2 engine, this game pushes some very fancy graphics – just look at Agent 47’s bald head! Stealth games are always quite hard to get right but IO Interactive by the looks of things are on the money with this one, paying attention to what players want out of a stealth game along with bring in new innovations to keep the game fresh.
7. The Last Guardian
Developer: Team Ico Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Platforms: Playstation 3 Release Date: TBA 2012
So…what’s all the hype about?
Originally announced at E3 2009, Team Ico’s long awaited follow up/spiritual successor to Ico and Shadow of the Colossus The Last Guardian was set to be released in late 2011 but was later on pushed back to 2012. So will we finally get to play The Last Guardian in 2012? Well we hope so. Just exactly how the game is actually going to be played is yet to be revealed. Will it be an action, puzzle or adventure game or a unique mix of all three? Well whatever it is, The last Guardian is sure looking like one incredibly unique game.
6. Max Payne 3
Developer: Rockstar Games Publisher: Rockstar Games Platforms: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC Release Date: March 2012
So…what’s all the hype about?
Just have a look at the debut trailer for Max Payne 3, and oh wow you can just tell that this is going to be something. Rockstar Games have made some damn fine games over the years and Max Payne 3 will be no different. Set years after the events of Max Payne 2 and in a new tropical setting of Sao Paulo in Brazil, Max Payne 3 is set to bring back the bullet time action that we all know and love. Some serious tech is going into this game, with its Euphoria engine once again set to overdrive and once again set to exceed our expectations promising a third person shooter with the fluidity and precision of a first-person shooter.
