Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment announce that Gotham City Impostors will be available beginning January 11, 2012, on Xbox LIVE Arcade and PlayStation Network, as well as for PC.
An open beta for the game is expected to go live in December. Fans can go to www.GothamCityImpostors.com to register for their chance to take part in the beta.
Gotham City Impostors is an original download-only first-person shooter where up to 12 players battle for control of an unhinged Gotham City overrun by Impostors inspired by the DC Comics characters Batman and The Joker. Gamers will create their very own version of the Bats or the Jokerz characters using unprecedented customisation options including insane costumes, homemade gadgets and a wide range of traditional and inventive weapons. The game will feature maps and modes inspired by DC Comics’ Batman license.
We have Phil and Alexis going to see Need for Speed: The Run and Saints Row: The Third, we talk about Sony’s changes with their download policy, their introduction to a new UMD Passport program, Uncharted 3’s glory and then get into a new Game Show segment.
Cast: Alexis Ayala, Philip Federico and Luke Halliday
The Playstation Suite, announced in January at the Sony event in Tokyo, was created to allow developers to port content for Playstation Certified devices, such as Sony’s own Android devices and the Playstation Vita. The software development kit has now entered beta stage. However, it is a closed beta and only for three countries: Japan, the United States of America and the United Kingdom. Due to the nature of the beta, places will be limited.
The SDK will also support the Playstation 3 and possibly non-Sony Android devices. Despite the fact that the software is now in beta, Sony has not revealed any dates or any indication when there will be a full release of the kit. In a way, this is Sony embracing the growing smartphone and tablet markets while also focusing on the dedicated handheld audience. So, if this is the case and it is successful, can this idea show that both markets can co-exist? Do both need to actually try and destroy each other? Only time will tell.
In Lord of Apocalypse, instead of taking control of a named, well-established character with a firm back story, the player actually creates their own character. Square Enix has released a trailer on character creation, showcasing what the player can achieve in terms of looks. It features different armour sets that the player can choose, both for females and males. To me, some of these costumes actually look quite decent. I wonder what other armour sets Square Enix will include for the beginning of the game?
Lord of Apocalypse is being released on both the Playstation Vita and the Playstation Portable on December 17 in Japan with a possible release in the West in 2012. It will be released as both a retail copy and as a digital copy.
With Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 being released this week, news on DLC shouldn’t be far behind. However, Capcom now has no chance to announce it before anyone else. Two curious men decided to search through the files on the disk and discovered some locked costumes that will be DLC. Yes, they are on the disk already.
Anyway, what are these costumes? Well, the most interesting and the one which would make any fanboy or fangirls blood boil is the picture above. Yes, there is going to be a Megaman X costume for Zero. Is this compensation for the exclusion of the blue bomber himself? Maybe. But… if a costume is going to be added, wouldn’t adding the blue bomber himself been much better? Oh well.
Also discovered were a Scarlet Spider costume for Spiderman, a Jon Talbain costume for Ammy and a Bishian costume for Arthur. Check them out in the gallery below. Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 is released for the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 this week, while the Playstation Vita version will be released in Japan on December 17 and in the West in 2012.
Now, if you haven’t heard of Kingdom Under Fire II, then I don’t blame you. This South Korean MMO, developed by Blueside, rarely gets news out. In fact, if there is news, it is usually done at an event called G-Star, an annual event held in . It so happens that G-Star took place last week, so there was some news and a couple of videos to accompany the game, which will be released on Playstation 3, PC and Xbox 360.
The game itself can be described as real time strategy with elements similar to that of Tecmo Koei’s Dynasty Warriors, which happens to be popular in the East. You are one character but you have an whole army at your disposal to aid you in battle. The Playstation 3 version will be released in 2012 while the PC version is rumoured to ship out sometime this year. No word on the Xbox 360 version as of yet.
Here are the videos. The first is a trailer while the second is a playthrough:
My first job in retail was with Nintendo working as a rep. in Hornsby Myer, and I can remember clearly when the Pokemon phenomena swept through, creating levels of hyperactivity amongst kids and insanity amongst parents. Well, over 10 years later, the crazy little critters that have delighted us for over a decade, will come to life in a way never seen before. Super Pokemon Rumble arrives in stores 8th December, exclusive to the 3DS, much to the delight and anticipation of fans around the world.
Taking place in a world called Toyland, the first instalment for the 3DS allows players to battle and collect up to SIX HUNDRED toy Pokemon, all in 3D and all without the need for invasive glasses. Also implemented within the game will be a new special feature allowing co-operative multiplayer gaming with discoverable Streetpass content. As well as the story mode where players navigate their toy Pokemons through countless imaginative worlds complete with giant toy Boss Pokemon, there are also new Team Battle and Charge Battle modes.
In terms of the ever important connectivity, Super Pokemon Rumble allows players to connect either through a local wireless connection where players can play co-op through levels both have already completed or through Nintendos built in Streetpass function. While in Streetpass mode, you can battle against others toy Pokemon as well as view customised Mii characters. Many fans will also be happy to know that some of the toy Pokemon that can be found are from the highly successful and popular Pokemon Black and White games. Pokemon laucnhed in Japan in 1996 and has since gone on to sell over 225 million copies worldwide and inspire many franchises.
Gangstar Rio: City Of Saints Developer: Gameloft Publisher: Gameloft Platform: iPhone/iPad(reviewed) Release: 10/11/11 Price: $7.49 – Available Here
Overview
iOS gamers tend to be a casual breed. We enjoy casual Friday’s at our casual-contact jobs, and during spare moments we casually remove our iOS device from our pocket (iPad may require cargo pants to do this) for a spot of casual gaming. This of course is not true. There are those who would identify as “hardcore” and who still enjoy playing their mobile devices. Gameloft have managed to time and time again deliver console worthy games for iOS gamers. Their latest title Gangstar Rio: City Of Saints is no exception. The next installment of their Gangstar series is back, this time set in Rio de Janeiro, but with all the illegal shenanigans fans of the series have come to expect.
Story
It is easy to dismiss the medium of videogames as a poor format narrative, arguing that perhaps film or novels are more appropriate for well-crafted story telling. It’s almost just as easy to claim that this genre of game (or movie, or novel) inherently comes with that extra bit of cheese. For what it’s worth, videogames like GTA are particularly cheesy. But not this cheesy. City Of Saints has a ridiculously corny, and often overly crude story line. Filled with excessive cursing, sexual innuendo and a bunch of other adult themes (there is a disclaimer prior to starting the game) this game is defiantly not for the easily offended, children or those who study literature.
Set against the backdrop of Rio de Janeiro, City Of Saints follows the downfall and rise of Angel. Betrayed and blown up, Angel seeks revenge against those who have wronged him, but committing a ridiculous amount of crimes and getting involved with numerous nefarious characters. While the script itself is rather lame, those of you who take gaming seriously know there is more to the story than just cut scenes (which can be skipped mind you). The real story emerges through playing the game, through exploring the open world of Rio de Janeiro and completing missions and tasks as you see fit. This is where City Of Saints starts to get interesting.
Gameplay
City Of Saints is your typical crime based sandbox game. You roam around the world, driving, running, shooting, punching, stealing. Whatever you want to do really. While there are missions in the game, in fact there are 23 missions, 27 jobs, 12 races and not to mention side missions like delivering burgers or picking up patrons in “your” taxi. Cliché dialogue aside, the missions are well crafted and aren’t overly difficult. My only concern with the mission function is that they can be assessed from the pause menu. While it is helpful to restart missions after you die, after all driving across town after getting shot to death is a difficult task, the fact that you can access the missions without having to initiate any contact with the person giving out the task is a little concerning for me. It takes away from the exploratory nature of the open world, and reduces a great deal of the story to a mere tap of your finger. The only reason I can think this function has been implemented is to assist new comers to the game type, after all, iOS gamers may never have touched a console before (cough cough).
One of the little helpful items I do like in the game however is the GPS function on the map. Just open the map, click a spot, steal a car, and follow the green path to your destination. Even though this also breaks the illusion of the open world, it is fast becoming a game convention, having seen it in a preview of Saints Row. Not to mention the fact that almost everyone uses a GPS in daily life, so why not create a game version also.
A few additional features that sit on the fence for me include the leveling up system. After watching Breaking Bad, I found out that crime is all about respect. City Of Saints has this covered. Gaining respect, either by completing missions, jumping cars or performing tricks on motorbikes, will help you to level up and also recruit a little gang who will help you out at times. Unfortunately my gang is a little shy and I have only seen two members. But the idea is there, and hopefully my sweet wheelies will bring all the boys to the yard.
Vehicles: the corner stone of any crime-based sandbox. City Of Saints has this covered pretty well, from fast-food scooters, to drag racers, to planes. The problem with these vehicles is that they can become rather taxing to drive. Tilt controls are particularly difficult on the iPad I think: taking too much attention away from watching the road. These can be swapped for an on screen wheel, which makes swerving around corners much easier and a hell of a lot more enjoyable. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for aircrafts. Once boarding/stealing/borrowing a plane or helicopter, the gyroscopic ability of the iOS comes into play, as you frantically tilt your device while altering a slide-bar on the side to make sure you stay airport. Fortunately, if missions that involve planes become too burdensome, you can always purchase a “skip mission” item that, surprisingly, allows you to skip the mission.
Visuals
If there is only one element that captures your attention, it will be the graphics. With each release Gameloft have pushed the boundaries of what is graphically possible on a mobile device. City Of Saints has taken the city of Rio de Janeiro, and transformed into a virtual, navigable game world, allowing players to walk through numerous neighbourhoods and even venture into buildings. What really makes the world come to life is the rising and setting of the sun, making for some stunningly picturesque views of the city. The vehicles are all amazingly designed, and all of the non-playing characters are bursting with unique personalities. There is also the option to customize your own character, however I find the selection of outfits a little slim: ranging from a street-based drug dealer to a high-class drug dealer image. There is always the option to mix and match, why not wear tracksuit pants, a blazer and a beanie for that ultra fashionable look. The clothing options are not purely cosmetic however. They can give you increased armour, luck, ammo and look, with more clothes being unlocked as you move up in ranks.
Audio
The sights and sounds of Rio are definitely not absent from City Of Saints. The soundtrack, while not very versatile, captures the atmosphere of the game perfectly. The sounds of the non-playing characters, while they may say rather off putting things at times, also adds to the sense that you are actually navigating through a small, isolated world. If you are like me, and boast an obscure iTunes catalogue, then you can always upload it to your iPad or iPhone and have your own music play through whatever car stereo you happen to have, err, shall we say, borrowed. This isn’t absolutely necessary, as the game soundtrack works well on it’s own, but it’s nice to have the option.
Overall
It is hard to ignore the similarities between City Of Saints and GTA. There are after all, many of them. However, the similarities are purely mechanical. The structure of the game, and perhaps even the overall feel of the game may be similar to GTA, but Gameloft have managed to create an original, albeit crude, story, coupled with stunning graphics and entertaining game play. But what is amazing is to hold in the palm of your hands, the city Rio de Janerio, digitized and beautifully constructed to become the City Of Saints. It cannot be denied that Gameloft have done a fantastic job creating an open world, which can offer hours of enjoyable gameplay.
What is arguably the most popular independantly created video game of current times, Minecraft, has recently been completed and compiled into a 1.0 package. Around 16 hours ago from the time of writing, Minecraft creator Marcus “Notch” Persson announced through his twitter account that the game had officially gone gold and was ready for release.
This is an amazing thing for gamers around the globe as Minecraft is such an inspiration for all gamers, as well as a leading example of the strength of the independant developers. It is widely believed that the 1.0 patch will be available for download at around (or during) MineCon later this year.
Fairy Tail: Part 1 Studios: A-1 Pictures, Satelight Publisher: FUNimation Release Date: November 22, 2011 Price: $54.98 – Available Here
Overview:
Over the past decade a number of series have begun to dominate the anime world. All of these series focus on the shōnen genre and have risen to such popularity and hate that their names have become synonymous with the genre. These big three are Bleach, Naruto and One Piece and while all of these series have been running for well over a decade in Japan, one series began five years ago in manga format and begun as an anime two years ago.
Now the first part of that anime has been released in North America courtesy of FUNimation. That series I am talking about is Fairy Tail. While it may follow the standard shōnen format, the unique premise helps set it apart from the larger series that hold the shōnen genre in a death grip. Now does this unique premise translate into an interesting viewing experience? Let’s find out.
Story:
The story of Fairy Tail takes place in a world where not only does magic exist, but it is a commonplace tool that most people use to accomplish many tasks in their lives. However while most of the world is satisfied with their minor knowledge of magic and can go about other lines of work and live a normal life, there are those who choose to make magic their life and become Wizards. Now not only can Wizards come in all different genders and ages, there are also a number of specialties that most Wizards begin to follow.
The first Wizard we are shown is a young woman named Lucy who focuses her magic around being able to summon contracted spirits through a spirit gate with the use of a magic key. Her brand of magic is that of a celestial wizard which is rather unique in the Wizarding world. But when a Wizard chooses to become a master of their craft and use their magic to make a living, the best way to do so is to find a guild to work in.
A Wizard guild is exactly as it sounds. A place where Wizards can meet and join together as well as accept various jobs that are submitted to the guild to be taken and completed. Of course these jobs will provide plenty of money, so the best way to make money and create a living is to join one such guild. However Lucy is aiming for the most notorious guild of them all, the Fairy Tail guild. Through a chance encounter she meets Natsu a literal hotheaded fire using wizard with unique abilities and a flying blue cat named Happy who are members of the Fairy Tail guild and they not only introduce her to the guild but allow her to join their ranks as well.
Now being as this is Part 1 of the Fairy Tail series, we are treated to episodes 1-12 of the series, and since this is the beginning a large amount of the first few episodes have to do with introducing a number of characters as well as set the groundwork for most of their abilities and character growth. The first few episodes are therefore rather stand alone as we are introduced to the main characters, Lucy the celestial wizard, Natsu a fire wizard who can literally eat fire for dinner, Happy a flying blue cat with a squeaky voice, Gray an ice wizard usually at odds with Natsu who just can’t keep his clothes on and finally one of the strongest in the Fairy Tail Guild, Erza who possesses a unique ability that allows her to change her magical armor and weapons on the fly and finish off nearly any opponent she comes across.
Shortly after we are introduced to all of these characters we are treated to a multiple-episode long story arch that spans most of the rest of Part 1 that focuses heavily on the main five characters. Now the only issue that I have with the story in Part 1 is that it chooses to end right in the middle of a cliffhanger involving Gray and his character development. Now this really isn’t too much of an issue as a whole, but ending with a cliffhanger always makes fans want to buy the next part of the series just to see what happens next. Now with Fairy Tail Part 2 and Part 3 coming out in the next few months, thankfully that wait won’t be very long as I could not get enough of all of the enjoyable characters that exist in Fairy Tail.
Visuals:
One thing that Fairy Tail has is a massive amount of characters to work with. Now there are obviously the main characters which get a lot of focus and therefore a lot of detail, but what is surprising here that even side characters who are less important and only get a few minutes to shine have a splendid amount of detail in their design making every character look unique despite their large number.
Being a shōnen anime means that there is going to be a lot of combat and it is essential that the animations stays fluid and of a high quality during these sequences to ensure that everything looks great when the battles are at a fever pitch. Thankfully Fairy Tail pulls this off perfectly and nearly all of the high quality animation is reserved for the combat scenes where Natsu, Ezra, Lucy or Gray are battling it out with enemy wizards.
Of course this does mean that there are occasional drops in quality, but most of these drops are during the conversations or non-action parts of the show so it isn’t very noticeable and doesn’t detract much from the overall experience. As a whole the picture quality on these DVDs are nice and crisp and the color palette pops quite nice.
Also I must make a mention about the shows two ending sequences. While the opening animation follows your standard anime route, albeit with great songs, the endings follow a different art style with more chibi like characters and seem more like a picture book than anything else. The difference in style between the show and the ending provides a pleasing contrast and a satisfying closer to each episode as you either wait or speed to the next one on the disc.
Audio:
As per usual with FUNimation, Fairy Tail: Part 1 comes with both the English and Japanese voice tracks so those who prefer to listen to the Japanese track and read the English subtitles should find no problem doing so with these discs. But for everyone else, of course the English dub is the way to go so that you can experience everything without reading it.
Now with any English dub the quality of the voice actors is a must, and the actors that they have brought in to voice the characters of Fairy Tail have done a great job mimicking the personalities of their characters. I especially enjoyed Todd Haberkon’s performance as Natsu as he captured the essence of the character perfectly, while I thought that Tia Ballard’s voice work for Happy was spot on, which is great because I was initially concerned with how the little blue cat’s voice would sound.
Now the opening songs that we are treated to are still in Japanese and the song you’ll be hearing most of the time is “Snow Fairy” by Funkist and it is one of the most enjoyable openings that I have heard for a series, especially the first fifteen seconds of the song. While the other opening “S.O.W. Sense of Wonder” by Idoling!!! does a good job replacing it, I still preferred the first opening song. The endings are enjoyable and follow the same theme that the artwork does, but I found myself less impressed with the songs “Kanpeki Gu~None” and “Tsuioku Merry-Go-Round” as a whole.
Extras:
With the release of Fairy Tail: Part 1 a few extras are included. Now you have your standard inclusion of upcoming and recently released FUNimation trailers but there are also a clean version of both openings and ending songs which are a big highlight as all of the opening and endings to Part 1 not only look great but sound great as well.
Besides these rather standard inclusions we are also presented with two episode commentaries. While most of the bonuses are on Disc 2, Disc 1 contains commentary from the English cast including the voice for Natsu, Happy and Lucy for Episode 01 while the second disc contains commentary by the voice of Natsu, Happy, Lucy and Erza as well for Episode 09. As usual the commentary is pretty interesting to listen to and also will provide a few laughs and is best for people who enjoy listening to the cast out of character such as myself.
Overall:
Now Fairy Tail has some rather large shadows to move out from under, but as long as it continues to go at the same pace that we are shown in Part 1 it should not be any trouble. While there aren’t any groundbreaking formula changes to this shōnen anime, the use of magic and comedy creates a unique blend that you won’t find in the other popular shōnen shows at this time. The enjoyable characters each have great personalities and excellent dub work and the story that pushes them together and onwards is a joy to behold. Stand aside Bleach, Naruto and One Piece… there is a new show in town… its name is Fairy Tail and it isn’t planning on leaving anytime soon.
