First rule about Fight Club: talk about Capcom? On September 17th, Capcom is sponsoring its second date of the Fight Club tour in Bristol. At the West Country Boxing Club anyone will be able to join the fight by playing the following games: Street Fighter x Tekken, Street Fighter III: Third Strike, Super Street Fighter IV AE and Marvel Vs Capcom 3.
Think that’s all? Hell no! A DJ will be mashing video game music all night to match the intense battles of the contestants. And I suppose there is a very small free prize drawing for a measly item like an… ARCADE CABINET CONVERTED TO RUN PS3 GAMES! Holy crap, how can you not go now?
Check out the Street Fighter FaceBook page for more information: (HERE)
Question: How does a night of fighting get even better?
Answer: Free food and drink!
We haven’t had much to celebrate over in terms of quality releases on the eShop for over a month now, but thankfully Nintendo have brought out their classic Game Boy game “Gargoyles Quest” to the eShop today to give 3DS owners a reason to spend some of that remaining balance.
This Ghost & Goblins spin-off puts players in the role of the Gargoyle Firebrand, as he traverses the ghost realm to prepare for battle against the Destroyers’ King Breager. Gargoyle’s Quest will be priced at $3.99 and can be found in the Virtual Console tab in the eShop.
Also new today is Let’s Create! Pottery, a “Calculator”, and Magical Whip: Wizards of Phantasmal Forest for the DSiWare. New videos are also in the eShop with Nintendo Video, with the short film “Moving Still” and The Blue Man Group’s “Upgrade Your Life!” hitting the service.
On the Wii front, the SNES firefighting game, Ignition Factor has become available for 800 Points along with a new demo of the recently released
“Kyotokei”.
Aussie developer Firemint have released their first game through EA Mobile – SPY mouse, James Bond with a cute little mouse twist. You play as Agent Squeak, a mouse agent with a little bow tie, because just because he’s a mouse doesn’t mean he has to be dressed down. You run around levels in 6 worlds gathering cheese, avoiding cats, and being downright suave.
There are over 70 levels in total, with a variety of agent gadgets, gizmos and the like to help you avoid the cats and get the cheese. SPY Mouse utilizes line-drawing mechanics, which some of you may recognize from Firemint’s previous game, Flight Control.
SPY mouse is available on iPhone and iPad for $0.99 in the iTunes store. Check out the trailer below!
Peggle has always been one game that I can sit at the computer and become a zombie playing as I watch that famous silver ball drop and hit colored pegs. It’s such a simple formula, but it very well could be PopCap’s most addictive game to date. Today is yet a new day for the franchise though, as PopCap have released Peggle HD for the iPad, which will take the modern classic and add in Game Center support with 29 achievements while adding a shiny coat of HD paint so users can bring a more definitive version with them on the go. To sweeten the deal, Peggle Nights will also be available as an in-app purchase at launch.
PopCap had this to say on Peggle’s new touchscreen platform:
“We’re bringing Peggle in all of its glory to mobile gamers everywhere with this fully optimized adaptation, exclusively for the iPad,” noted Andrew Stein, director of mobile business development at PopCap. “Peggle HD delivers riveting game action familiar to millions of fans of the original PC blockbuster, and is enhanced with Game Center achievements, like First Bjorn and Circus Daredevil, an in-app purchase option for Peggle Nights, as well as vibrant high-definition color and detail that offers the best of on-the-go entertainment to scores of iPad gamers.”
Since releasing back in 2007, Peggle has been downloaded 30 Million times so far, which comes as no surprise due to the mass amount of platforms that PopCap launch their famous titles on. For a limited time only, Peggle HD will be available for a special introductory price of £1.79 from the Apple App Store with the in-app purchase option of Peggle Nights for £0.59. Thereafter, the games will be available for £2.99 and £1.19, respectively.
So if you own an iPad, get to downloading this classic and ball dropping your way to the land of digital bliss.
Many fans who have played through the video game series of Sonic the Hedgehog have probably heard of the very popular, long-running comic book series based off the blue blur. Written, drawn and published in America, and often thought of as the spiritual successor to the popular Sonic the Hedgehog SatAM TV show, the comic book similarly holds a large international following of fans.
However, for many fans of the series, subscribing to the comic itself was a bit of an issue for many. Up until last year, subscriptions for the comic were exclusively made for only US and Canadian audiences. This left many fans in the international market, particularly the UK, Australia and New Zealand out in the cold. Many a time, obtaining a certain comic issue was reliant on one’s ability to find an issue in a comic book store before they all sold out. In 2010, Archie announced that they had finally decided to provide international shipping and an international subscription service. As a long running Sonic fan, I immediately jumped on board, wanting to get in on this phenomenon. I was happy it was finally getting the international treatment.
However, only one short year later, Archie has decided to revoke the international subscriptions, again restricting releases to the US and Canada only. At the same time shipments of the comic books to Australian stores have also been discontinued, and I would wager, to many other countries as well. This has left many international fans high and dry when it comes to their comic book fix. As a fan of the comics and the story told within them, I have to say I’m particularly disappointed by this decision, and I know many others are likely to feel the same way. Checking through the subscription pages of the Archie website revealed that only the mainstream Archie comic would still receive international shipping treatment. For those who currently hold outstanding international subscriptions, all issues up until the 1 year from purchase date will still be honoured, but that news is likely to be of little solace to the weeping masses.
This brings a tear to my eye…
Once again, living in Australia seems to give us the short end of stick when it comes to fandom…
Overview
When I first started playing this game, I became immediately excited. Lucha Fury looked like a Mexican wrestling version of Streets of Rage 2, game originally available on the Sega Genesis. Streets of Rage 2 brought emotions of killing enemies with unique powers and weapon pick-ups. I was hoping that the gameplay would be similar, but I was mistaken. Let the fury begin!
Story “This story like most stories starts… with a chicken.”
An ancient recipe for the nectar of the gods has been found and created into a powerful energy drink named Pollojo. The olds gods are unhappy that this power has been found and start wrecking havoc on the world of Lucha Fury. Four unaccomplished luchadores embark on a quest to restore their beloved Pollojo. Perhaps they can even save the world in the process.
Gameplay
The problems of the game is the functionality of the move set and gameplay fluidity. The developers include an introductory level that provides the basic moves available. After each level you are able to unlock a move in a character’s skill sheet. New moves are harder to utilize because they rely on button combinations. Why try focusing on complex combos when the basic moves are the quickest available to use and just as efficient?
Humor may be Lucha Fury’s only saving grace. Most of the basic enemies that you encounter tend to flail towards your character like a frantic chicken. Holding on to the chicken theme, a chicken may drop from an enemy once you are low on health. By punting the chicken, a Pollojo energy drink drops. Walking over the drink restores your health.
Upon death a countdown commences. During the countdown, the player is put in a dazed state and must find health in order to continue the stage. The level restarts if the player cannot find health in time. This is perhaps one of the worst game mechanics because of stage length. I would rather not re-play a five minute level that I nearly completed.
To avoid unnecessary backtracking, the developers could implement a lives/continue system like Streets of Rage 2. Once a player runs out of lives, the game would ask if he/she would like to continue. If the player chooses “Yes”, a portion of the overall score would be deducted in order to re-spawn at the current death location. Otherwise the current score could be placed on the local leaderboard, and the game would end.
There isn’t any online multiplayer for Lucha Fury. The main purpose of a multiplayer game on a network console should be to incorporate an online feature. Even with the lacking mechanics, online play would bring players together and at least co-op in landing devastating wrestling moves. Nevertheless, one to four players can play locally on a single console. Local scores can be uploaded and compared on Xbox Live leaderboards.
Graphics/Audio
The visuals are sufficient, but as a player you may feel lost in your surroundings. With the exceptions of one hefty playable character, you are a very small portion of the game’s screen. For example, there is a level where you must jump from one semi-truck to another. The first few times I tried to make a jump I missed the adjacent vehicle because of an unknown gap size.
From animations to special effects, the game is very detailed. You can see power attack effects when they performed. Picking up chairs and barrels are animated nicely, but be quick to release before you are hit – especially with an explosive barrel. When you are smacking up enemies, dazed opponents display a ring of rotating stars above their head.
Chickens yelping as they are punted make for an interesting effect. I am not sure if you can copyright punting chickens, but the Fable series sure made kicking a chicken fun. To punt or not to punt – is that a serious question?
Characters do not possess many sound effects. Normally if your character takes damage they would grunt or scream in pain. One of the only instances that your character makes noise is during a special move. If I am about dead, I want my character to let me know. Scream baby, scream!
Overall
Lucha Fury works as good as a broken down vehicle that is leaking antifreeze everywhere. Poorly constructed gameplay mechanisms ruin the game’s core. Combat becomes awfully repetitive using basic moves against easy fodder or extremely hard bosses. The length of the level can be shortened to maintain interest. If I have to ask “When is this level going to end?”, the level is too long for a side-scrolling game. Crude humor and creative visuals spice up this beater car, but do not be deceived by the chicken. Lucha Fury shines like a polished turd. It looks pretty, but please don’t touch.
Name: 1112 Episode 3 Developer: Agharta Studio Publisher: Agharta Studio Genre: Adventure Platform: iPhone (reviewed), iPad Release: 25 August 2011 Price: $4.99
Overview
Quite frankly, iOS games are not known for their beauty, complexity or thought-inducing gameplay. Usually, iOS games are like that easy chick who dances on tables, drinks colourful shots, would probably flash you for a high five, and cheers every time anything happens. There’s nothing wrong with that; loud, interactive fun is good. However, next to the deep, rich atmosphere of 1112, other iOS games pale in comparison. You can put other iOS games down after a while, when you need to eat, or go somewhere, or stop ignoring work, or sleep. 1112 simply won’t be put down. And you won’t stop thinking about it.
Gameplay
As in previous episodes, you are Louis, a possibly psychotic guy with giant gaps in his memory and an eerie atmosphere to rival most suspense movies. This is a plot-driven game and the plot keeps you on edge. You’re back in the backwater town of Jalonsville, which for some reason has like ten people living there in total, and you don’t know how or why and oh man six months has passed and your house and store is vandalised and your girl’s gone and OH MY GOD WHAT IS THAT SOUND.
Seriously. The atmosphere of this game is so thick that it doesn’t matter if you’re playing it on an iPhone, you get sucked right in and you remain there for the entire game. But I won’t go into the plot too much, as it is such a strongly plot-driven game the fun is it discovering it for yourself.
The click-and-play is a great throw back, since they seem to have disappeared, and it made me all nostalgic. Although, after a while you tend to start carefully dragging the magnifying glass over every inch of rooms trying to find that one thing that you’ve missed so that you can move forward to the next part.
The game requires patience and care, which is lacking in a lot of recent games that have been coming out. You need to spend time in each room to try and find out if there’s anything that could come in handy later on. Spotting a random interactive object sitting in the corner could be the difference between you feeling accomplished and wanting to throw your iPhone across the room.
The controls are fairly easy to get used to, although there is no explanation as to what is what I think that’s probably due to the fact that it is the third episode in a series and they expect you to know by now. One issue I had with the controls was trying to move to other parts of the map, often the spot that you had to select was random and out of the way. I ended up just scanning the bottom or side of the screen, sick of accidentally selecting the expanse of snow or floor. Then it came to my attention that you simply had to tap the screen with three fingers and arrows pop up showing directions you can go, which was far easier and user-friendly.
Audio
1112 has its own soundtrack that was written specifically for the game, and it shows. It is one of the reasons why the game is so immersive, the soundtrack coupled with the sound effects makes you feel like you’re stuck in this guys head, in a creepy little town with all these things going on just beneath the surface that you slowly discover as time goes on. I doubt the game would be what it is without the soundtrack, so this is definitely one you want to play with the headphones in.
Visual
1112 is made up of a series of stock images of settings and people; if someone is talking their image is superimposed over the backdrop. Both are animated and this brings a modern feel to an old school method. While the settings are not highly defined, they are stylistic and add to the game. You can zoom into images, but they tend to get pixellated and unrecognisable so it’s better to observe from afar.
Conclusion
1112 is an incredibly impressive game. The production values are higher than a lot of iOS games, and it manages to create an atmosphere which is not something I’ve experienced on iOS. There are little things here and there like the definition and area navigation that take away from the overall game, but they are barely even an issue. This is a definite must have, it will keep you on the edge your seat and desperate for more.
For those that have been eagerly awaiting the return of the highly acclaimed Diablo series to the gaming market, many will be quite pleased to know that the official Diablo 3 community site has now gone live on Battle.net. Some might wonder how the community site differs from the Main newspage on Blizzard’s main page.
Like other promotional community sites for upcoming video games, the site provides fans with a large variety of media releases, forums, fan-art and community sections, and even competitions. And it must be said, Blizzard and the Battle.net community certainly know how to make interesting contests: Including a writing competition, and a Beard Growing contest in the likes of the Medieval settings of the Diablo universe! But even if you’re not up for engaging with other fans in Diablo 3, then you should still check out the Game Details page, which promises to provide a huge wealth of information regarding the playable character classes, items, crafting and in-game NPC characters and allies. Most of the specifics aren’t online yet, but it’s still worth adding to your internet browser’s “favourites” tab.
Heck even if you’re not a huge Diablo fan yet, it is still worth the time to check it out. It’s just what us gamers need to truly get psyched for what is looking to be one of the hugest game releases of all time.
You may remember that late last year, NIS America and Imageepoch entered into a partnership with one another. Despite their being news of Imageepoch developing multiple games in Japan however, no news was announced regarding the potential outcome of this partnership and what it meant for fans of Japanese games. It certainly seems like it is good news, as today NIS America announced that they have acquired the license of Black Rock Shooter: The Game and will be working on bringing it over to North America in the future.
Black Rock Shooter: The Game is a PSP title and currently has no release date but Jack Niida, producer at NIS America says that “this is a title that many fans have been waiting for and it definitely lives up to the hype” and that they are “working hard to get it out as soon as possible.” Black Rock Shooter: The Game takes place in 2032, years after Earth had been devastated by an alien attack. BRS is an android specifically built for battle, unfortunately by the time she was activated, only twelve humans remain alive on Earth…
Eden of the East: Paradise Lost Studio: Production I.G. Publisher/Localization: Madman / FUNimation Release Date: August 23, 2011 Price: $34.95 Blu-ray – DVD – Buy Now!
Overview:
While most anime are created by using a previously created work, such as a manga or light novel, as a building block or as a source, other anime are entirely original works. Such was the case with Eden of the East back when it first aired in 2009 by Project I.G. studios. The anime not only was an original creation, but it has also caused the creation of two separate theatrical releases, the first releasing shortly after the anime finished up in Japan and the other near the beginning of 2010.
Now Eden of the East’s second movie, Eden of the East: Paradise Lost, has made its way to North America courtesy of FUNimation Entertainment. Those reading below should know that this is not a review on the entire series, but the second movie and are recommended to watch the first movie, if not the entire anime series itself first before jumping into the second movie.
Story:
As I just mentioned, Eden of the East is quite a long series, and with this second movie it will come to a close. The first movie, The King of Eden, took place roughly half a year after the events in the anime itself, and found Saki searching for the since disappeared Takizawa. Once she discovered that he was in New York City, she found that he was once again without his memory.
The Seleção (special selected people given 10 Billion Yen to originally save Japan) have begun to move against Takizawa, not only targeting both him and Saki, but also those close to him. Paradise Lost picks up near the end of King of Eden, where Saki and Takizawa are riding a private jet back to Japan, though once again it seems that Takizawa has lost all memory once again.
Thus begins the potentially final story for Eden of the East; as the once again memory-less Takizawa not only has to regain his lost memories, but also finally put an end to “the game” that every Seleção has become wrapped up in. I will not go into further detail as to what this final storyline will be, as doing so would be a disservice to those who have watched Eden of the East since the beginning. Though I will mention that the illusive and mysterious Mr. Outside makes his appearance in a way that not many would have expected.
Though along the way, many secrets will be revealed and loose ends are tied up, but those who have watched the entire series will remember Eden of the East to be one of the most intriguing, if not at times convoluted, storylines they will experience. The ending should satisfy most viewers as it not only is fitting for the show’s premise, but also helps solve the biggest challenge posed by “the game” that Mr. Outside originally proposed.
There is a small problem with Paradise Lost however; albeit one that should be expected. Eden of the East: Paradise Lost is the final movie in a long series spanning both anime and a separate movie. Considering the fact that this movie picks up nearly exactly where The King of Eden left off, means that those who have not seen the first movie, let alone the anime series itself, will be sitting in the dark as to what events will be occurring. For fans who have been watching the entire series, this isn’t a problem in the slightest, however for those who were to purchase this DVD/Blu-ray without prior knowledge they would be utterly lost with what they were watching, as little is actually explained as that has already been done in past media and find themselves jumping in at a point as deep as the Mariana Trench.
Artwork:
It should come as absolutely zero surprise when I mention that Production I.G.’s animation work is simply outstanding in this final release. Not only was the show itself already receiving higher production values than your average anime due to being a movie release, but they really outdid themselves with the quality this time around. The level of detail is simply gorgeous and I found no animation flaws as the animation quality was quite fluid.
The character designs retain their same appearance and not much has changed in their appearances, though that is for the benefit of the show. There is a decent amount of CGI used in the show which looks decent, though it does stand out heavily from the beautifully detailed backgrounds that Paradise Lost presents at nearly every turn.
Audio:
Eden of the East: Paradise Lost comes with both the original Japanese and the English dubs which means you will be able to choose however you prefer to watch your anime. The Japanese dub is well done as would be expected, but what is equally exciting is the fact that the English dub at times is superior to that of the original. The voice work provided by the English cast is something to behold, and those worried about sudden changes in casting, don’t worry, the cast from the past Eden of the East shows return to reprise their roles.
The Opening and Ending songs are both provided by the same band, School Food Punishment, with the opening song named “Future Nova” and the ending called “After Laughter.” What is most impressive actually about the opening music is the very smooth and has an enjoyable beat, while also being placed against some rather impressive CGI for most of the song. The ending “After Laughter” plays while the credits roll along the side. The song is enjoyable and School Food Punishment’s lyrics are uplifting, though have to be read as the song is in Japanese.
Extras:
Eden of the East: Paradise Lost comes with a couple of unique Extras to go along with your rather standard accompaniments. First there are your usual advertising trailers for upcoming or recently released FUNimation works, as well as a trailer for the Eden of the East anime series, King of Eden and Paradise Lost movies. There is also the original Japanese TV commercial for the show as well as a preview for what to expect in the movie.
Besides these relatively standard inclusions, there are also two exceptional additions to the Extra content provided with Paradise Lost. First is a video interview with Director Kamiyama, where a number of questions are asked via textual pop-ups and are then answered by Kamiyama. As one would expect the interview is in Japanese so subtitle reading is necessary, though it is certainly recommended to watch this Extra regardless of your audio preferences.
Finally we have the U.S. Cast Commentary. This commentary plays throughout the entire movie when selected and overrides the actual show audio, meaning you will be watching the show with the voice actors from the English dub of the anime providing commentary as well as discussing their characters and providing insight into the storyline. This is a must see, especially for fans of Eden of the East or for fans of specific English voice actors, as this gives us a chance to hear them out of character.
Overall:
I’ve mentioned several times over the course of this review that Eden of the East is not only a complicated story, but also an expansive one as well. Spanning an anime series, one already released movie and finally concluding in Paradise Lost, Eden of the East had plenty of loose ends to tie up and many fans could be concerned with how such an expansive story would be wrapped up.
Personally I believe that fans will find this ending satisfactory as not only does the ending leave the smallest hint that the story could continue if the studio so pleases, but perhaps is best left as a mystery, similar to what much of Eden of the East was.
