A couple months back we reported on what is without a doubt the most bizarre visual novel to come out of Japan. That is unless you count the ones with tentacle rape, but that’s a whole other story.
So for those you who were interested in Hatoful Boyfriend, a game that allows you to do romantic things with a variety of birds who seem to inhabit your all bird school, but you couldn’t understand Japanese – well now an English patch has been released for the infamous visual novel.
That’s right, you can now date and potentially take to bed a flock of birds with Hatoful Boyfriend in English. You can get the English patch here. So what does everyone think? Look’s like Skyrim will be quaking in it’s boots come Game of the Year time.
A whole new Sandbox mode has been added to SpaceChem, along with a price drop to $9.99 USD. In celebration Zachtronics Industries has decided to set up a little competition.
Your mission if you choose to accept it, is to build the most awesome sandbox pipeline imaginable they’ll give you a free physical copy of SpaceChem. There is one entry per person, requiring you to send your save file in email and an explanation of what you’ve built and what it accomplishes in English in under 500 words to [email protected].
The deadline for the competition is January 1st, 2012 so make sure you can finish it off this year and send it in. Of course if you already have a physical copy of SpaceChem then there isn’t much point, except for the street cred.
So get working on your SpaceChem sandbox pipelines and get them sent it in!
Okugi Studio is delivering its first game app for Smartphones, Twist n’Catch. Which sounds like a game based around fishing and therefore something I am immediately bored by, but no! Instead it is a dexterity puzzle game in which you travel to exotic places and collect yourself some treasure. And who doesn’t love treasure?
You play as the explorer Emmet Black, finding the best possible way to gather treasure while hanging in the air by a rope. Held there by your assistant Sergeant Cookie you have to avoid obstacles and traps to collect diamonds and sapphires. The game takes place over three worlds and on over 100 levels, for the moment, with more updates promised and more worlds.
Check out the trailer below!
Twist n’Catch is available on Android phones for $1.08 – grab it HERE
Twisnt n’Catch will be made available on iOS soon.
Shiny Treasure has received an update, giving the 3D tower defense game that extra boost for if you haven’t yet given it a go. The fix provides a smaller application size, bug fixes, small graphical enhancements, small performance increases and improved difficulty.
Given that the application size is smaller you can now download the game without a Wifi connection, and if you’ve had any issues with the game’s performance then you should be quite happy with what the update brings.
In Shiny Treasure you have to build different types of towers all over your island, protecting yourself against looting pirates. Take on Blackbeard, or some estimation thereof, as you keep your booty safe.
Shiny Treasure is available on iPad, iPhone and iTouch for FREE – grab it HERE
Focus Home Interactive and Wizarbox have a new fantasy hack and slash title on the way. Realms of Ancient War – snappily acronymed to R.A.W – will hit XBLA in early 2012, and then follow up with a digital release on PC and on the PSN. Players will pick from the usual fantasy triumvirate of warrior, sorcerer or rogue, and can take on the adventure solo or in two player co-op.
Every fantasy title requires a suitably epic set up, and in RAW’s case the four kingdoms of men, elves and dwarves (presumably there are two lots of humans on the go) have been decimated by war. In the fallout and chaos the world is infested by raiders and looters – but they are not the only thing to be wary of in this damaged world…
Each kingdom sends its representatives to investigate this new threat, but none ever return. Players will take on the usual role of the random joe who could, finding themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time and thus becoming tangled up in the quest to rid the already broken world of this new evil.
Said random joe will gain new skills and powers along the way, and also has the ability to incarnate themself into the bodies of even the most powerful of enemies.
The screenshots and publishers alike promise a varied world with plenty of levels to explore. The real question is if RAW will be able to stand out from the crowd with some great gameplay to make up for it’s largely generic premise and set up. Xbox gamers will be the first to find out come 2012.
Usually when a game is banned in a country the company that develops the game is outraged and saddened by the fact that they are going to be losing at least some sales in that country. However that is not the case this time. Battlefield 3 was recently banned in Iran and Iran’s Combatant Clergy Association is making sure that no one is selling the game in their country due to the content in the game that takes place in Iran’s capital city.
To make matters more surprising, it was the Iranian youth that actually called for the ban with a petition. However rather than be saddened about this news, EA is jumping for joy. In fact, a representative told Industry Gamers “In that Battlefield 3 is not available for purchase in Iran, we can only hope the ban will help prevent pirated copies reaching consumers there.” In Iran it is common to see pirated games openly for sale with no worry of punishment so it makes a little sense for EA to be happy, still the only way now for Iranians to play the title is to go through illegal means.
While Samurai were very amazing warriors in their time, not much can stand in front of a Gatling gun and not fall over dead. Sega has revealed that they are currently working on a new standalone expansion for Total War: Shogun 2 and they are calling it Fall of the Samurai. This expansion will introduce a number of new units, a new campaign map and plenty of new overall content.
In the trailer below you can see that more modern Western weapons and troops have been introduced into the title, including British and US troops as well as their fire arms. There are going to be six new playable clans and 39 new units with ten of them being new ships. Besides that there will also be four new historical scenarios added in to help expand the experience. Currently Sega is aiming for a release in March of 2012, so it may be best to take this time and give your fond farewells to the samurai.
Super Mario 3D Land Platform(s): Nintendo 3DS Publisher(s):Nintendo Developer(s): Nintendo Genre(s): Platformer Release Date: November 13, 2011 (US) Price: $39.99 – Available Here
Overview
The 3DS has now been out for nearly nine months now and while many titles for the platform have been successful in their own right, most have been waiting in angst for Mario to debut and set the standard for all future releases. Why shouldn’t they though? Nintendo have made it a trend over the years to have Mario jump in and define a platform with one simple trek throughout the Mushroom Kingdom. Super Mario 3D Land isn’t just hyped because it’s yet another game from a familiar franchise. The anticipation of the title has been due to the fact that gamers expect nothing but quality from any Mario game, period. This romp has players return to the 2D roots of the series and traverse a world not really seen since the likes of Super Mario Bros. 3, with the Tanooki suit ability making it’s long awaited return. Of course the quality is great, but does Mario still have what it takes to not only provide an enjoyable experience but to also define a platform? Here is my review for Super Mario 3D Land.
Story
I almost feel like writing about a story in a Mario game is rather useless as most should know what to expect. Super Mario 3D Land sticks to the same formula with Peach getting kidnapped by Bowser, where Mario must then travel through a set number of worlds to rescue his beloved princess. Bowser’s motives are a bit different from normal however, as his actions are due to a storm that causes a Super Leave tree to blow “Super Leaves” everywhere throughout the land. This in turn causes nearly all of the minions such as Goombas and even Bowser himself to gain a Tanooki tail, creating yet another challenge for our favorite plumber.
Like all Mario games, the story isn’t the most important factor to keep the player progressing through. Super Mario 3D Land is soaked in nostalgia and anyone who has ever played the legendary Super Mario Bros. 3 will instantly cling to the entire setting presented as past enemies, obstacles, and even famous faces all make their glorious return to cause chaos in this new adventure. Players also receive letters from Peach at the end of each world, which possess a nice 3D effect and offer a bit of humor along the way. Yes, everything that a Mario fanboy craves is in this game in one form or another to hammer away at your nostalgia sensors and every single Bullet Bill, Pokey, or giant boss ship encountered is sure to make fans cheer with utter delight.
Gameplay
Mario is now over 25 years old and those same simple control mechanics that we have seen in all of his past games are just as relevant in Super Mario 3D Land. You know, jumping with A, running with B, ect. Yes, all of the platforming basics are in and perform flawlessly. Other past abilities are also present such as the ground pound maneuver that lets our hero smash through objects and barricades, warp pipes and new warp boxes that let the player quickly travel to new areas of a stage, and wall jumping, making it easy to hop up an upward path. All of these techniques are easily executed with the 3DS’ button layout and the slide pad proves it’s worth well by allowing Mario to navigate the cleverly designed stages with ease.
While a lot of these mechanics sound familiar, the way the actual level design is implemented is where the true variety of Super Mario 3D Land comes into play. You see, each stage is built in a 2.5D manner, where players navigate in classic side scrolling form but are able to move forward or backward with the slide pad. The 3D effect adds to this even more and gives each area a true feeling of freedom and depth, allowing for Mario to scamper about each level and reach different blocks or items at any given time. Imagine if Super Mario 64 was sliced in half and put into a diorama. Most of the time, that is exactly how the game feels. If blocks or enemies are located in the back of the stage, you must walk back and hit them. If they are up front, well, you get the general idea. Nintendo have crafted these levels to perfection and while it takes a little while to get used to at first, most will feel right at home in a short time as thankfully, this game still captures that classic Mario vibe throughout.
Speaking of level design in general, there is a lot to see here as each stage is completely different from the next. As you would expect, the main objective for every level is to simply progress through, collect coins, and make it to the flagpole before the timer runs out. From start to finish, each area constantly changes up the player’s perspective as they try to progress. For instance, one of the stages starts out in classic 2D fare, with Mario just needing to smash Goombas and a few other enemies while collecting the usual coins and power-ups. Shortly after, the setting switches things up and takes to the skies where you must safely land on specific platforms in a 3D top-down perspective. Once the player lands on the ground, everything returns to the norm and the level comes to satisfying. That’s just one example. There are plenty of underground, underwater, and hazardous lava-filled stages to offer up variety and even though the concepts of each type may seem the same, Nintendo have brilliantly utilized the camera angles and new-found depth to create some of the most innovative and fluid worlds found in a Mario game to date.
Mobile Suit Gundam Collection 1 Studio: Sunrise Publisher: Madman Entertainment Release Date: November 16, 2011 Price: $59.95 – Available here
Overview
If the success of the Transformers movie franchises teaches us anything about people, it’s that audiences love giant robots. The Mobile Suit Gundam Series has stood as one of the longest running anime franchises of all time. While many viewers of anime may be familiar with the more recent Gundam series, such as Gundam Wing and Gundam 00, which were quickly adopted by western audiences, the original Mobile Suit Gundam has not had the same level of exposure in the West. However, to this day it continues to be a cultural phenomenon in Japan. You know a series has to be doing something right when an entire 1/1 scale model of the original Gundam is built in its honour. To fans of the newer series’, don’t write off the original Mobile Suit Gundam before you have a chance to truly experience it for yourselves, as the granddaddy of mech genre anime has returned, remastered for DVD.
Story
The plot of Mobile Suit Gundam laid the groundwork for many successive series of anime bearing the Gundam trademark. But how many people can honestly say they know where it all began? The year is UC0079 of the universal century. As one might come to expect from Gundam series’ by now, the series set in the future. Humanity’s ever growing population has forced our race to move into outer space to accommodate our ever growing numbers. In the decades since the first humans began the migration into outer space, a large group of space faring people have declared war on the Earth Federation, seeking independence for themselves, outside of the rule of the Earth-born elite. Calling themselves the Principality of Zeon, the space fairing rebels ignite a war in the name of independence.
So where does the Giant Robot fit into all of this? Mobile Suits, such as the Gundam are now the standard of weapons utilised in this futuristic war. A young engineer by the name of Amuro Ray becomes roped into the conflict when his home is attacked by Zeon forces, leaving him no choice but to use the Gundam at his disposal to fight for the Federation and ensure a future peace, free from war. What Amuro clearly did not expect was to discover that the Gundam may very well be the most advanced war machine in history. Thus armed with the knowledge to pilot it, as well as the technological advances made to the mobile suit, Amuro now fights on the side of the Federation in an effort to quell the Zeon Uprising once and for all, and return peace to the Earth and Space. However, his task is monumental, as the suddenly gains the attention of an elite Zeon solider by the name of Char Aznable. With this elite pilot after him, and the war with Zeon claiming more lives every day, Amuro will need to learn fast if he is to save the Federation, as well as his own hide.
As anime plots go, this might seem cliché to the average anime viewer. What audiences should keep in mind is the fact that this anime was released in 1979. While it would not exactly be the anime you watch for an original plot, the ongoing story of Mobile Suit Gundam is well told, and was most likely considered groundbreaking during the time of production. While the pacing can sometimes feel a bit off, the series maintains a strong hold on continuity from one episode to the next. In each successive episode, the characters learn new lessons and develop deeper personalities. Amuro’s development from an awkward mech otaku to a full-fledged expert pilot is not something that happens instantly, but after many battles that temper his skills and abilities. Similarly, Char’s growing obsession with defeating the Gundam is something that begins with a mild curiosity on his part. However, over the course of the series this develops into one of the greatest anime rivalries of all time.
Visuals
For a 30 year old anime, I was actually quite surprised at the level of detail that was used to augment both social interactions between characters, but also the many battles that would be experienced throughout. I came into the series expecting it to be severely weathered and aged, with an expanse of reused footage for combat scenes. Boy was I wrong. While the colouration and effects most certainly reflect the series’ 1970’s origins, the expanse of unique combat footage really surprised me. One of the drawback I felt with other anime series, like Gundam Wing for instance was an overabundance of reusable footage for battle scenes. While a little bit of this RF can be seen in scenes like the catapult launch, by and large the battles are displayed with a generous helping of unique animation. While certain scenes might seem slow in terms of combat pacing, the anime does a great job at making the fights as intense as possible given the restraints of visual technology 30 years ago.
For many, the colour schemes and character modelling will seem to bright for an anime all about war and giant killer robots. This is again reflective of the original release. This is not to say however, that it is a bad thing. Viewers will still feel like the whole ordeal is a war by virtue of the animation style that maintains a strong feeling of empathy and realism to everything within the confines of the universe. Wacky slapstick anime styling’s won’t be found in this anime. It’s serious business from start to finish. More than anything, despite the rather odd colouration, the series visuals are pleasingly consistent from episode to episode. When the series wants to visually represent drama, action or even hints at romance, it does so with a very unique visual flair that you would be hard pressed to find in any other franchise.
Audio
The first thing I feel I have to get out of the way is to again stress that this anime was originally aired in 1979, a long time ago when sound technology was no-where near as sophisticated as it is today, and in a time where music impacted on the appeal of the anime to a much lesser extent. That said, the opening theme song, while certainly old-school, can get downright painful to listen to. The vocals have not aged well, nor has the soundtrack. That aside however, the musical scores used in the anime itself are well adapted, and the sound is crisp and fluid. It’s fairly obvious that the remastered DVD version of the anime has taken into consideration the benefit of remastering the audio for DVD quality. The soundtrack does a great job at complimenting the visuals, and providing the necessary fuel to draw out emotional responses from the viewers. For instance, the audiences will tense up in anticipation when they know Char Aznable is on the attack.
As for the voice acting, like many English Dubbed animes it’s a really mixed bag of quality. Many of the voice actors are recycled veterans of other series, including Brad Swaille (who previously voiced characters such as Setsunna F Seiei, Quatre Winner), Scott McNeill, Brian Drummond and Tom Edwards. It must be said that the VA work of many of the characters, particularly Char and Bright Noa are done exceptionally well. Brad Swaille also does a great job, though at points I think some of the lines perhaps could have been translated better so they wouldn’t sound too long winded. However, seeing the application of a modern VA cast to a series that is over 30 years old, and seeing it pulled off reasonably well will bring a smile to the face of many fans like myself.
Extras
Mobile Suit Gundam Collection 1 is the first DVD collection release to offer both English and Japanese Dubs, providing audiences with the opportunity to watch and compare the remastered English dubbing with that of the original Japanese vocals, accompanied by subtitles. Anyone who is a hardcore Gundam fan should consider watching a few episodes, switching in tandem between the two different dubs to see how the series was originally intended to be viewed.
The DVD collection also offers a range of trailers available on the final disc of the collection. It must be said, the Gundam Franchise does a good job at advertising itself. The trailers available on the disc include Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory and Gundam Zeta Collection 1. The trailers also feature information regarding new releases such as the Freedom Series Collection, Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple Collection 1 and Whisper of the Heart (Blu-Ray).
Overall
Regardless of whether or not you are a retro fan or new age Gundam fan like myself, you’ll find plenty to enjoy about Mobile Suit Gundam. After all this is where the series began. Even as a cartoon that is over 30 years old, the anime still holds up today. One thing it can attest to above all else is how well it has aged. Being the first time I’ve been introduced to the series that started it all, I found myself enjoying every moment of the story, as well as every mech battle. Some might call it old, but I think a more accurate way to describe it would be vintage. A series left to age, but in a way in which it feels strong in many degrees for it. If audiences are able to look past some of the visual dust, they will find a real gem of anime beneath the ageing exterior. Knowing that it has spawned some of my favourite series like Gundam 00 and Gundam Wing, Mobile Suit Gundam is a series that comes highly recommended to anyone that loves their mech anime, or for anyone that’s up for a good old fashioned dose of action and robotic ass kicking.
Looks like Apple have finally taken the concept of having one of the hottest items on the market a little too literally, obvioulsy adding just a little too much spice to one particular iPhone which has self destructed on a regional flight from Lismore to Sydney. While travelling on Regional Express flight ZL319 on Friday, the passengers older model Iphone 4 suddenly started “emitting a significant amount of dense smoke, accompanied by a red glow”, according to a Regional Express statement.
The plane was in the middle of landing when the incident occurred and “In accordance with company standard safety procedures, the flight
attendant carried out recovery actions immediately, and the red glow was extinguished successfully,” according to Regional Express’ statement. When the plane landed safely the offending item was removed and handed over for investigation to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau who as of yet have not come to a conclusive answer.
While Apple products are not prone to exploding en masse, there have been several incidents around the world that have resulted in many investigations. An iPod exploded on a busy commuter train in Japan, and the European Union has launched many investigations, after several iPods and iPhones caught fire midflight, with reports across the UK, Holland, France and Sweden. Apple have also in the past recalled some of their producst spefically due to faulty batteries, mainly lithium in type.
