I’m taking a break from my usual Playstation news reporting to bring news from Com2uS, developers of a few iOS games for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. First up, they are updating two of their bigger games to be compatible with the new iOS 5. Both Tower Defense HD and Slice It! will have support for Apple’s new cloud service, iCloud. So, if you are playing on the go on your iPhone and decide to switch to the iPad version, access to the iCloud will allow the player to pick up their save data from the iPhone version and continue playing on the iPad version. Other iOS 5 features will also be supported.
The second bit of news related to Slice It! The popular geometric slicing game is now available for the PC via the Mac App Store. It will feature over 200 puzzles plus have some added features. The main new feature will be a timer. It will add an extra challenge to the game. The game will feature different elements that can throw off any gamer. It will cost US$4.99.
I am not a iOS gamer or a Mac gamer, but I do wonder why is the main feature on the PC version a timer. Timers in puzzle games are very common. Oh well.
Katanagatari Volume 2 Premium Edition Studio: White Fox Publisher: NIS America Language: Japanese with English Subtitles Release Date: September 20, 2011 Price: $55.99 Blu-Ray/DVD Combo – Available Here
Overview:
Earlier this year in July an anime series was released that was unlike most of the other shows we have seen in North America. While the story may have been a bit formulaic the show contained one of the most unique art styles that I had ever seen and that show was Katanagatari. Katanagatari’s rough English translation means Sword Story and it was originally a Japanese light novel that was written by Nisio Isin back in 2007 and was finished in that same year.
Now the Katanagatari which I reviewed in July was only part one of the series, and NIS America has now released their English subbed version of the second half of the series effectively bringing the storyline to a close. In this final volume, does the story of Shichika and Togame reach a satisfying conclusion? It is extremely recommended to read the first part of the series’ review first.
Story:
With one half of the series down, Shichika and Togame are also halfway through acquiring all of the swords (Klesha Bringers) that Togame has set out to find. However one of their biggest threats begins to loom, Shichika’s sister Nanami who has managed to acquire one of these swords for herself. To make matters worse the Maniwa Ningun and Princess Denial who is Togame’s rival all begin to move towards acquiring all of the swords including those already obtained by Togame.
With all three forces moving to gather Shikizaki Kiki’s Klesha Bringers tensions rise and the battles will only grow to be fiercer. So many forces are beginning to clash at once but only one can remain the victor. The only problem is, will Togame and Shichika be the last owners of the mysterious swords or will they fall to the rest of the forces moving against them? And what is the reason that everyone seeks the collection of twelve Klesha Bringers?
In my review of the previous season I went into detail about how each episode of Katanagatari followed a rather rigid formula. Now while the formula is still here, where every episode involves Shichika and Togame encountering a Klesha Bringer owner and defeating them. However there is much more going on in the background than in previous episodes.
Namely the other factions moving around including Princess Denial heighten not only the tension but also provide constant chances for interactions between the rival groups that could explode at any moment. The appearance of Shichika’s sister finally begins to reveal that he is much more than just a living weapon and this is quite apparent towards the latter half of the series as his emotions begin to take shape.
One of the biggest draws to the storyline of Katanagatari is the developing relationship between Shichika and Togame. Over the course of the series we have seen the two become quite inseparable and the
transformation of their interactions with one another is something that is great to see in every episode. Unfortunately for this, the amount of dialogue that is presented at any given time is something that seems to always separate the viewer from the experience. Nothing is left to be inferred, everything is explained and given and this can cause a significant separation emotionally from any scene.
This is all the more apparent near the very end of the series as an emotional roller coaster comes out of nowhere. While some viewers shouldn’t have any issue feeling the impact of the drama that they are seeing on screen, some will simply just wonder why an ending like that would have happened. For those that do feel the impact however, it will be quite heavy as Katanagatari does end quite satisfyingly and the ending will stick with you long after you have ejected the discs from your player of choice.
Artwork:
There is plenty that can be said about an artist that stays true to its art style. Thankfully Katanagatari is a series that has taken its art style and made it their own without changing anything over the course of the series. Every character has a unique and amazing look about them, something unlike anything you have seen before. This doesn’t even touch upon the artwork available in the art book which only heightens the pleasure one can derive from this series’ artstyle.
While man shows can pride themselves on having a very complicated and detailed artwork, but few can take such basic designs and make them something great. Everything in the world of Katanagatari is made to look like something one would find in an art book, whether it be the environment that the characters are currently in or the battles that occurs in every episode. Those looking to see a series with a unique appearance need look no further than Katanagatari.
Audio & Subtitles:
The series continues to provide exemplar music. Each episode has a different ending song and animation which is stellar for a series with as much quality in the music. The reason the music is such a pleasure to the ears is that it mixes both modern music and classical music to provide an amazing atmosphere and usually ending songs blend well with the animation. To top it off, the fighting music is absolutely perfect as it seems to have been recorded to go along with the actions that the characters would be taking in the fight.
Now the voice actors are all the same for the main characters, and the newer characters that we are introduced to are provided great voice work that manages to fit the character well enough. This is a must for a series that is so dialogue heavy that viewers will become disinterested if the voice actors didn’t pull off as great of a job as they did here.
Now it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise as volume 1 of Katanagatari was only English subbed with Japanese dubbing, but the only voice track in volume 2 is for Japanese. Which of course means you will need to read along with what the characters are saying to understand what is happening. Thankfully the subtitles are easy to read and did not contain any grammatical errors that I was able to discern from watching each episode.
Extras:
NIS America’s release of Katanagatari Volume 2 comes with a combination pack of two DVDs and two Blu-ray discs. Each one of the discs contains some of the series’ clean ending animations and songs which is a plus. Each part of volume 2 is held within a slim case each with a nice piece of artwork on the cover but that is nothing compared to the collective hardcover slipcase. The slipcase contains amazing artwork for the series which rivals that of the first volume, making it a challenge to see which one should deserve a place on your shelf.
The hardcover artbook for volume 2 is named ‘The Epic of Shichika’ and what an epic it is when you open up the pages. The artbook is the same size as the slipcase and is full of amazing artwork as well as song lyrics, episode breakdowns and a glossary for any complicated words or references that could be difficult to understand. If there is anything that can be said about the way that NIS America creates their premium edition’s it is that they create bonus content that no buyer will have remorse over.
Overall:
Katanagatari Volume 2 provides the series with a needed boost to help bring the story to a close. While the amount of dialogue can sometimes provide some separation from the characters to the viewer, the developments in this latter half of the series helps dispel some of the problems which plagued the first half. The series shrugs off some of the formulaic ways of volume 1 and provides a very enjoyable storyline with amazing action, a wonderfully unique art style and a satisfying ending.
House of the Dead Overkill was always my little guilty pleasure, except without a whole lot of guilt. It’s bloody, it’s gruesome, and it doesn’t take itself terribly seriously, all of which (in my book) make it a winner.
The new trailer is a testament to that. Done in the style of an in your face sales ad, the trailer pretty much screams HOTD: Overkill, while also delivering an educational message. Educational about weaponry, that is. The trailer shows off crossbows, in all shapes, sizes and colours (apparently), and some of the results you can expect from shooting a zombie with one of your arrows.
Check out the trailer below! (Please note it is rated M)
House of the Dead: OVERKILL Extended cut is exclusive to the PS3 (with Move compatibility) and is due for release on the 28th October 2011 in Australia/Europe and 25th October 2011 in the US.
Kiloo have released another video for their upcoming mobile game, Bullet Time. And it is looking pretty damn good. The video is made up of what you can tell is honest gameplay, not just a bunch of flashes of it set to blasted music that is designed to make it look far more awesome than it is. You get entire sections which show off three of the weapons, some pretty awesome stages and some cool looking enemies (including a boss that I am itching to pit myself up against).
So far, Bullet Time looks like it’s going to really bring the action app genre to another level in terms of variety and graphics, we’ll definitely keep you posted!
Ladies and gentlemen, this is Capsule Computers live blog for Level-5 Vision, Level-5’s press conference outling upcoming titles as well as revealing new ones. I will update with each announcement made. So, get comfortable as we begin Level-5 Vision (which is roughly right now). Wanna watch it? Follow it on Level-5’s own Ustream channel: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/level5world
Hit the refresh button for updates.
11:00am (Tokyo): The show has started. CEO Akihiro Hino has taken the stage. It was meant to be press only but some fans are let through.
11:04: Level-5 Station revealed. Looks like their own arcade machine. In fact, it is. There will be a partnership with Bandai as well.
11:06: Expect it in December 2011 in Japan.
11:07: Trailer for Professor Layton VS Ace Attorney. The cutscenes look good as well as in-game graphics. Will combine gameplay of both games. It will be available for the 3DS. It was the TGS trailer.
11:10: We have Shu Takumi from Capcom. He takes care of the game scenarios. He talks about how the collaboration allows a more magical setting for Ace Attorney.
Who’s excited for Prof. Layton VS Ace Attorney? Shout out in the comments below.
11:14: It is playable at Level-5 World and will make a 2012 release.
11:15: Layton will also be available on smartphone sometime soon.
11:16: Speaking now is the head of Mobage. They are one, if not the biggest mobile phone game developers in Japan. It seems they will be involved with Layton Mobile. The game will be named Professor Layton Royal and should be released not far into the future.
11:20: Social game, will be available for PC (web browsers).
11:22: GUNDAM Age news now.
11:23: Mito-san for Namco Bandai is now talking about the GUNDAM Age game. This is a first time collaboration with NB Games for Level-5. Sounds exciting.
11:24: Outlining the GNNDAM Age media (Manga, Anime and Game). A PSP Level-5 GUNDAM Age game is being developed.
11:25: Is this for a new generation? Hiro and Mito believe so as they are the intended demographic.
11:26: A playable build is not available though. Now for a GUNDAM Age game trailer, running in real time. Some scenes from the anime is also in the trailer.
11:28: Game footage of the trailer appears and looks very good. This will be a RPG. Also expect a Summer 2012 release in Japan. Don’t expect a release outside of Japan.
11:34: On stage right now is Sunrise’s Miyakawa-san. these guys are behind the anime adaptation. The story will span 100 years across 3 generations. Now that’s big.
11:36: It looks like there is a shift to the anime side of things as Sasaki-san takes the stage. As noted before, there is a focus on bringing a new generation of fans as he wants GUNDAM Age to be the “first” GUNDAM for people.
11:40: Hiro wanted to show that Level-5 is expanding into other areas. Anime, through GUNDAM Age, is one area of expansion. They are spending as much time on their anime projects as they are on games.
11:41: Inazuma Eleven Go Shine/Dark time. A trailer is playing right now.
11:42: Gameplay elements being displayed. The story differs depending which version it is. Will be available for 3DS. Hmmm… who would’ve though football and the supernatural would make an awesome combination.
11:45: Hiro just notes how different the two versions are, including the different wives of each version (don’t ask, I don’t know either).
11:46: Russian Roulette system will change the parameters of each stadium randomly for a different game each time. Interesting.
11:48: There will be an anime based on the game as well. The story is that the main character is saved be a soccer player by some evil force of some sort.
11:49: Both versions will be released on the 15 of December this year at a price of 5,800 yen.
11:50: Inazuma Eleven Wii is now playing. Will feature characters of both Inazuma 11 and 11 Go (the 3DS games). Real time gameplay will be the focus, which differs from the portable titles.
11:52: Game comes out a week later on 22 December at 4,980 yen. Both games playable at Level-5 World. A Leve-5 Station version will also be available. It is a port of the Wii version.
11:52: Now a trailer for Inazuma 11 Go. I think it is the anime.
11:53: Correction, it is a movie, released in both 2D and 3D a day after the Wii release on Dec. 23.
11:58: More mecha action as it moves into Little Battlers Experience Boost. The game will feature both co-op and vs battles. Will be available on the 23rd of November at a price of 4,980 yen. It is an updated version of Little Battlers Experience, also on PSP. If you own that version, then you can play with or against those with the Boost version. Good work, Level-5. DL version available same day 500 yen less.
12:02: NI NO KUNI TIME. Please let there be localisation news. For now, a trailer is playing. So beautiful.
12:05: The book of the DS version is in-game rather than a physical copy. Gameplay looks awesome, visuals are stunning, the soundtrack is beautiful.
12:06: Speaking of music, there will be 33 fully orchestrated tracks in the game.
12:07: They have a famous Japanese girl, Ashida Mana, for the commercials. Don’t know why she is famous in Japan.
12:08: The commercials have their own theme: “Live Action NiNoKuni”
12:09: Wanna round the world trip? Find the mistakes in the Ni No Kuni promotional video and it is yours, if you live in Japan. There will also be an event on UStream called Virtual Ni No Kuni.
12:10: NI NO KUNI WEST NEWS: Official name is Wrath of the White Witch, logo similar to Japanese release, will see release in 2012, published by Namco Bandai games. WIll be released in both North America and Europe, so Australia shouldn’t miss out. No specific relase date, though. Sad face.
12:13: Moving on, its time for some Girls RPG Cinderella Life.
12:13: Think of it as the opposite to the regular dating sims out there, which is guy looking for girl. Will see a release on the 3DS. Man Level-5 is giving the 3DS some love. It will also feature guest appearances of famous male anime characters.
12:16: Theme sung be Princess K, a group created specifically for the game. They will perform the song live later in the day. Expect that for the UStream channel.
12:20: The Layton series will be debuting on the iPhone as Layton Brothers Mystery Room, itself a rebranding of Mystery Room announced a few years back.
12:21: The main character happens to be the son of the famed detective. But, as it is being titled as Layton Brothers, does that mean Professor Layton had two sons?
12:21: That question will be on hold as we divulge into Fantasy Life. A new trailer is being shown.
12:23: Final Fantasy veterans Yoshitaka Amano and Nobuo Uematsu will be involved.
12:24: 20 different classes will be playable.
12:24: The 3DS game will be available in 2012. Hopefully the game will see a release outside of Japan. It will also be playable on the show floor of Level-5 World.
12:25: Now for some Time Travelers.
12:28 Director Jiro Ishii is on stage. A trailer is shown. Love the theme song. Used ot be 3DS exclusive but was announced to make an appearance on Playstation Portable and Playstation Vita. Level-5 better localise this game. Will be released in 2012.
12:32: 5 playable characters, set in 2031, plays like a movie according to Ishii. End quote of trailer is really interesting: “Do you think you can change fate, would you if you could?”
[POST CONFERENCE] I will add that the theme of the trailer is pulling my heart strings. It is a very beautiful song, seems to fit the theme of tragedy and emotional pain. PLEASE LOCALISE THIS, LEVEL-5. WHO’S WITH ME?
12:33: Now for Guild 01. Four games as one project. Hiro describes it as both a game and a project.
12:34: A list of developers for the games: Yoot Saito, Suda51, Yasumi Matsuno and a Japanese comedian (?)
12:37: Suda51 shows off their game. It’s a 3D mecha shooter starring the daughter of the president of Japan. Looks interesting. All of it is in anime though. No gameplay footage.
12:39: Our comedian is up next with “Rental Weapon Shop”. Yes, the focus is RENTING weapons, meaning you bring them back to the shop.
12:40: Yoot Saito is next with Air Porter. He wants something “simple and addictive”.
12:42: Yasumi Matsuno has a RPG for the project. It will be entitled “Crimson Shroud”. There is a trailer playing.
[UPDATE]: All of these games will be available for the 3DS.
12:42: Hiro wants the project to go beyond games and into other media. They do want to expand, Level-5.
12:43: The last announcement for Vision. What will it be?
12:44: Youkai Watch. Hiro is introducing a new trailer for the game.
12:46: This is a game but the trailer is mostly animation. The main character of the game will have access to various monsters/creatures to solve all his troubles. Ummm… hasn’t that been done already?
12:47: The main character uses his watch. Hang on, don’t we have something like that already?
12:48: Like most of Level-5 projects, it will be in game, anime and magna form. Seems to be the Japanese Media Triforce.
12:49: Nothing more about the game will be revealed, meaning the platform is a mystery. Even I couldn’t guess it.
12:50: On that note, Hiro is closing the Vision press conference. He does share a few details about the event but the discussion of projects have ended. That is my cue to leave then. UStream will show the trailers from the conference.
So, any games that interest you? Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch will be a must pick up for me, so will Time Travelers if it makes localisation. The 3DS received the most love and having 3rd party support like that is a must for Nintendo’s handheld. Fantasy Life and Layton Vs Ace Attorney are my picks.
This is Joshua Spudic signing off. Enjoy your day and make sure you catch up with Level-5’s various trailers, especially Ni No Kuni, Fantasy Life and Time Travelers.
Today some very big news came from FUNimation. This news is extremely large for those who like to stream their anime with English subtitles. FUNimation which is the largest North American anime company has entered into a partnership with Niconico.com. Niconico is the English version of the Japanese video service named Nico Nico Douga.
Their combined partnership is now named Funico which is going to handle licensing for both NIconico and FUNimation. Niconico.com is going to handle the streaming for Funico licensed shows while FUNimation will be releasing Funico titles in DVD and Blu-ray format for North America. Currently there is no news as to how this will develop for anime fans, though NIcoNico is a very high powered streaming site, with shows such as Last Exile -Fam-, Fate/Zero, Guilty Crown, and Mirai Nikki on its list. We’ll have more news as it develops on this partnership.
There was much excitement when it was announced that Keiji Inafune, former Capcom development head, would be working on a new PS3 RPG for Compile Hearts. However it seems that it is actually someone known as New Keiji Inafune and he is working with Compile Hears to create a PS3 RPG known as Mugen Souls.
Mugen Souls will follow the story of a girl known as Shu Shu Infinite who is able to change not only her form but also her personality. She travels the world stealing ships and in battle players can do insane amounts of damage, numbering in the quadrillions. Check out the screenshots which were released on Amazon Japan earlier today. Any guesses as to which, if any, company would localize this for North America?
While he was teased last month, there was no official announcement about everyone’s favorite fat man from Street Fighter, Rufus, joining the character roster. But that has all changed at New York Comic Con where Capcom’s producer Yoshinori Ono revealed that Rufus would indeed by a fighter available in Street Fighter X Tekken.
Along with this announcement the above screenshot was released to show off the character fighting against Tekken’s fat man Bob. Though if they were actually teamed up it would most certainly be the largest team in the game… Yoshinori Ono went on to say that there are plenty of more characters to be revealed in the future, though there most likely will not be any more revealed at NYCC.
Capcom revealed at NYCC today that Street Fighter X Tekken will be released on March 6th in North America and March 9th in Europe for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. It is also set to be a launch title on the PlayStation Vita whenever that is released. To top fans off, they also detailed the special edition of the game.
The special edition will contain the game itself of course, a build it yourself arcade cabinet bank, an exclusive prequel comic book made by UDON, all pre-order packs as well as an exclusive package, and more. You can see how the special edition will look below. No price was announced for the special edition at this time.
Sports Interactive and SEGA have announced that if you pre-order Football Manager 2012 from Steam, you will receive various goodies free from the Team Fortress 2 store. The items include football boots, scarves and a vuvuzela sound pack, and will be available to all.
“When Steam and Valve came to us with this collaboration idea, it just underlined to us why we think they’re brilliant”, said Miles Jacobson, Studio Director at Sports Interactive.
“Outside the box thinking that just works so well. We Hope all the Team Fortress 2 players enjoy using the items inside the game, and apologise in advance for the general annoyance the Vuvuzela sound pack is going to inflict on the world.”
Football Manager 2012 will be available via Steam on the 21st of October, but also don’t forget to check back here VERY soon for our review.
