Business policies coming out of EA lately have been looking worse and worse for the consumer lately. First we have the Project Ten Dollar system that is starting to be used by other publishers and now we may soon have to pay even more to play games we have already paid $60 for. This news comes as EA Sports SVP Andrew Wilson held an interview with Eurogamer and there they discussed the potential for EA Sports to begin a monthly or yearly subscription. He addressed this question with the following response, which could strike fear into the folds of wallets everywhere:
“If we look at what consumers have pushed other industries for, if we look at what consumers forced the music industry to provide, if we look at what consumers have driven as a result of television and movie subscription, if you look at us -– there’s absolutely a time somewhere at some point in the future where the consumers say, ‘Hey, this is how we want to interact with you: we want to give you a monthly or annual subscription and we want access to everything you make.'”
Wilson went on to explain that they are trying to present EA Sports “as a service” which is something that honestly should be discouraged. I will leave it up to you to decide your own opinions about this news, though I must say that there most certainly is never a time for subscriptions. This isn’t World of Warcraft, its football…
Microsoft has released their Avatar based chat service for the Kinect Labs today in the form of Avatar Kinect. You can purchase the content entirely free from within the Kinect Labs program and it will be accessible to both Gold and Free Xbox Live members between July 25th and September 8th. After that time only Gold members will be able to use the Avatar Kinect service.
Thursday will be seeing two things out of Microsoft and Xbox. First the Xbox Facebook page will be holding a contest where they will choose the best stand up comedy act to win an Xbox 360 and Kinect bundle. They also announced that the Kinect Sparkler app for Kinect Fun Labs will be released Thursday and will cost 240 Microsoft Points. This app allows players to use their fingers to move sparklers around in their environment, though the unexpected price tag may turn off many users, considering everything else in the Kinect Fun Labs is free.
Namco Bandai made it official today that they will be releasing Tekken Hybrid for everyone waiting to purchase anything related to their favorite fighting series. Tekken Hybrid is set for a release sometime in November, though an exact date has yet to be set. Those who purchase Tekken Hybrid will be getting quite a lot for their money, because it will come with one game, one demo, and a CGI movie.
The game it will come with is named Tekken Tag Tournament HD which is a remastered version of the PS2 original with Trophy support, while Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Prologue is something of a demo for the full game which will be released in 212. The reason I am calling it a demo is because it features only four playable characters out of the next game.
Finally the games will be coming with Tekken Blood Vengeace which is a fully 3D CGI movie where “Ling Xiaoyu and Alisa Bosconovitch uncover dark secrets that could destroy the Mishima family for ever.” You can catch a trailer below for the whole bundle. At the moment there is no price set for this bundle and it will be released exclusively for the PlayStation 3.
Hidden Mysteries: Salem Secrets Developer: GameMill Entertainment/Gunnar Games/Big Fish Games Publisher: Avanquest Software Genre: Point ‘n’ Click/Hidden Object Platform: Nintendo DS Released: Out Now
Another entry under the ‘Hidden Mysteries’ heading, Hidden Mysteries: Salem Secrets takes the hidden object/point ‘n’ click adventure back to the 1600’s, a time when the streets were ripe with superstition and infamously cruel witch trials were going on based on nothing but suspicions. It’s a completely standalone adventure; the Hidden Mysteries prefix hints at the nature of gameplay and the team behind it, but not having played others in the series doesn’t affect your understanding of the story at all.
The date is 1692 to be precise and you play Constable Hawthorne, an inspector sent by the Governor of Massachusetts after some reports of mysterious activity and four of the young female townsfolk going missing under strange circumstances and returning only to suffer from bizarre fits and tantrums. Rumours have been circulating that these girls were victims of the misdoings of a local practitioner of witchcraft, and you are tasked with finding the truth amid the hysteria of superstition in the sleepy town of Salem.
From the start, it is made clear you aren’t welcome. Constable Hawthorne arrives to empty streets, with only signs giving you notice of a recent funeral, declaring a quarantine zone and threatening any visitors attempting to trespass. It’s at least half an hour’s worth of play time before you even meet anybody, which even then is one of the afflicted you stumble across. Using the frequent hidden object scenes to gather useful objects as you explore Salem, you must cure all of the four girls along the way by finding a solution to their problems, then solve the mystery behind the events.
The story starts off very slowly, and while this generates a high level of curiosity inside the player, it isn’t fully capitalised on in that the story never does get going, meaning you were mistakenly interested for no real reason. It remains uninteresting throughout the four long-winded chapters until the very end when the mystery is concluded, featuring the twists and turns of any good tale of a mystery investigation.
The hidden object scenes themselves can sometimes be a little dark due to the setting of your adventure, making it hard to distinguish objects from their surroundings, but still, these screens remain one of the clearer examples of the genre. Given the level of clutter present on the screen at these times, the game does well to let you see fairly clearly by having a straight-forward, static 2D visual style instead of trying to animate any of the items.
However, at first there seems to be a variety of scenes to search, but as you progress, you realise you are revisiting the same locations. The developers haven’t even bothered to adjust the arrangements of the objects, with exactly the same layouts second and third time around, just with a rearranged list of objects to find. This links in with the problems of the map and the way you are constantly going back to the same places. Salem is large in scale in that there are loads of paths to take and places to explore – such a vast environment, however, is difficult to comb for evidence and with most of the buildings and physical representations of the lanes looking similar, it is disorientating, very easy to get lost and difficult to find the place where you’d like to be even if you know where you should be going.
As well as the hidden object levels, much like other games in the series you are presented with a more traditional style of puzzle that asks you to think about it and work it out, rather than randomly hoarding selections of objects just to find a single useful utensil or missing piece. In contrast to the regular hidden object puzzles, though, these are few and far between, cropping up only occasionally. There are 10 mini-game type puzzles in total, but taking into account that no explanation is provided each time, you may be forced to use the ‘skip’ function on some, subsequently making the limited number available even lower.
Hidden Mysteries: Salem Secrets holds similar production values to others in the series. Like the rest of its family, it possesses negligible sound: it’s just a dreary piece set on a loop. But, due to its safe attempt in the visuals department, it ensures levels and puzzles are easy to see, something which surprisingly isn’t the case for a lot of hidden object games. The nifty autosave system which records your progress after each in-game event removes the worry of tracking your data manually; the choice of four save slots even allows family members to start their own separate data files. It’s not the strongest instalment under the Hidden Mysteries branding, but it’s another point ‘n’ click adventure which leads stages onto one another logically, even though the story is a little weaker this time around.
GIVEAWAY:
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Bright colours, fast action and over-the-top in every-way, nothing better comes to mind on how to describe Baseball Stars 2. Having no MLB licensing your left with 12 teams with names like Aussie Thunder and Japan Samurai, which just suit the game’s style perfectly.
You start out selecting to either take on a friend head-to-head, or taking on the 15 game season. You pick your team and try to take them to the top. You have two difficulty levels to choose that change which 6 teams you can choose from. The only other thing affected by the difficulty is automatic fielding which makes the game easier.
Gameplay
Whether your batting or pitching, having control is what its about. This is done perfect, if only fielding was as easy. Batting is simple enough, with simply moving around the batters box with the D-pad. The simple choice of swing or bunt when you feel the pitch is perfect. If your going for a big hit you can get your powered-up bat for a bigger hit, giving a better chance towards getting a home run.
Pitching has more to it, be it throwing hard and fast over the plate or using a deceptive slider all controlled with the direction on the D-pad making for a simple yet still complex control. Pitchers get puffed out as time goes on making them slow down, when they start to slow down its always a good time to switch out for one of your three back-up pitchers. Having the chance to hit the batter with the ball is always fun against a friend as well.
Fielding isn’t that bad, its just that trying to see your fielders is the hard part as the screen never zooms out, leaving you with no idea of what position your fielders are in. Resulting in a strange mash of them just jittering around the field, trying to get one into view so they can get the ball.
Graphics & Sound
Colours that would make a pack of crayons feel ashamed of how dull they look, it catches your eye with a vivid tone and an art style to match, looking just how you would expect an arcade sport game, with big burly characters whose arms are bigger than their heads.
Every time something big happens like fielders doing a diving catch or making a slide towards home base, it gives a few seconds of a much closer up detailed picture of what’s going on these add a lot to the game. The greatest of them being when the batter gets beaned from the pitcher, he follows this up by running towards the mound giving you a close-up of the pitcher taking a right hook to the face.
Listening to the early voice work can be a little rough but it still adds to the game as the commentator speaks about the match, along with the random amount of times he will just yell the name of the game out which will surly make you smile. The music that repeats in the background over and over gets old fast due too its short loop but at least it never hits the point of getting stuck in your head.
Verdict
Arcade sports games always have great replay value. Even more if you have a second player around and this game is no exception. Its fast, over the top action and style gives a great twist on America’s favourite past time and laughs. With matches lasting around thirty minutes, you will definitely be coming back to this one a few times knowing just what to expect.
Produced by: Manglobe Distributed by:Fuji creative corporation Media:DVD Genre: Drama, Action Runtime: 270 Minutes Rating: M Available from: Siren Visual – $50
Premise
We’re in Japan at the time where samurai and ninjas ran loose. Though I guess a lot less then we have been led to believe by other animes such as Naruto. Never the less it is a time where a samurai are respected for their honour and feared for their fighting skill. This notion of a samurai is what seems to plague our main character because he is of course a samurai.
‘A single maple leaf… calling card of The Five Leaves. In edo period Japan; a timid young ronin named Akitsu yearns for the respect and courage of his peers and elders. He meets Yaichi, a mysterious yet charismatic man who hires him to train as his bodyguard. Educating the young samurai in the warrior tradition, Yaichi builds Akitsu’s confidence and skill as he tells him of his dangerous life in the red light districts of Japan and the calling card of a secret kidnapping organisation: The Five Leaves. Cruel Fate awaits.’ – DVD Blurb
Plot
Akitsu is a samurai who is jobless looking for a job that is fit for a samurai, yet no one will hire him as a bodyguard because he has been labelled ‘undependable’. This is when he has the luck of finding a bodyguard job with a mysterious man called Yaichi. What Akitsu doesn’t know is that he actually is helping this man with a kidnapping. Now he has gotten himself into an un-honourable job for a samurai and he doesn’t know what to do because he can’t go against his word and he truly needs the pay. Soon Akitsu finds himself within a gang of kidnappers, who kidnap the loved ones of the wicked to make them pay for their sins. As a samurai he is caught not knowing what is truly right while at the same time he needs the money to keep living. Not doing anything to stop what is happening around and to him in the end just lets Yaichi pull him deeper into the family of the 5 leaves.
Visuals
The whole anime seems very old fashioned and well pointed but this style really does fit with the period that the anime is supposed to be set in. The colours also seemed to have been dimmed, making everything seem darker and more serious. This kind of style really does fit with the whole story and time period, and makes the whole anime seem like it’s out of those old Japanese scrolls.
Audio
The music is hardly noticeable as it ties in so well with the anime that it just doesn’t stand out. Everything fits so well together though and as usual all the music fits with the period that the anime is set in. The voice actors work great as their characters as well and make everything sound so real. I believe if anything it is the silence within this anime is what truly makes the audio. It makes those dramatic situations so palpable.
Characters
Akitsu Masanosuke-
The samurai who keeps losing his job for being ‘undependable’. Akitsu is a samurai with great skill but because he is too shy and doesn’t act all tough and stoic like what a normal samurai would act like he is considered to be weak by those that see him. That of course means that when he applies for jobs as a bodyguard, the employers take one look at him and go ‘I don’t trust my life in his hands’. Therefore our poor Akitsu is jobless, penniless and out of all luck. That is until he met Yaichi of course.
The one thing I don’t really understand about Akitsu though is why people keep saying he is ‘undependable’. Maybe it has something to do with how he doesn’t fit the normal image of a samurai because from what I have seen Akitsu is great as a body guard. I dunno, it’s a bit odd to me.
Yaichi-
A mysterious man who definitely has a way with the ladies. He is the leader of the gang called the 5 leaves and is the one who has created the spider web that Akitsu has found himself in. Yaichi is a very interesting character and you can’t help but wanting to know more about him. This is what seems to mostly keeps Akitsu close to Yaichi and the members of the house of five leaves. On a side note, I think it’s quite humorous to point out that Yaichi lives in a brothel and it is said that the women keep trying to sleep with him instead of the customers.
Otake-
Otake is supposed to be a beautiful women and local geisha. It might just be my taste but I don’t get why she is seen as so beautiful. Never the less, the men in the anime see her as a gorgeous lady and therefore are falling left right and centre for her.
Umezou-
A tavern owner whose daughter is the whole reason five leaves was created. He is very protective over his only daughter and seems to hate anyone that even looks at her. They use his tavern as a kind of base, where they drink, eat and plan their next act. Matsukichi-
A quiet and collected man. We hardly know anything about Matsukichi and he is definitely giving nothing away with his personality. Akitsu didn’t even know he belonged to the five leaves to begin with. He has an interesting past though, even if his present doesn’t seem as interesting, and I’m not going to give that one away.
Conclusion
The House of Five Leaves is a really interesting anime to watch and it just kept on making me want to know more and more about each character as well as what would happen to them. Though the anime is a bit short, 12 episodes, I think that if anyone wants to watch a samurai anime based in the edo period this is defientely a prime choice. I guess if you want an anime that isn’t action and drama, and a bit more hyper and loud such as the ever popular Naruto and One Piece then this isn’t your choice. That is your loss though.
Cooking Mama fans, the time is approaching for the next game in the series release. We know this because Gamestop is now taking orders for the upcoming game, wirth it being released on the 10th of October this year (in the US) for the 3DS handheld.
Included with the Pre-Order is a nice bonus plushy for everyone to enjoy. So for enthusiasts of the franchise, this seems like a must have item! To ensure you recieve this bonus plushy, it is imperative that you pre-order this game ASAP!
Coming in October 19 this year is Batman Arkham City for the Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and PC. Here with us in celebration of this fact, is a trailer showcasing the title.
The game is set it Arkham City and takes place after Arkham Asylum, with the playing area being greatly increased from the original (around 5 times it’s size), which makes it seem like it’s going to be incredibly fun to play. The trailer for this game is about Oswald Copperpot, A.K.A The Penguin, and shows us a bit about his menace. Those menaces being primarily black-market in nature.
At the Adelaide only anime convention, AVCON, Madman Entertainment have made some quiet title announcements. Leading up to their Panel at AVCON, Madman had given their fans hints through their facebook page of what was to be announced, in particular heavily hinting at retro anime.
In keeping with the retro hints they have announced that Bubblegum Crisis: Tokyo 2040 has been reaquired and is to be rereleased in 2012, with new packaging and format. It is unknown what the new format they are referring to is. However it most likely means we will see a Blu-Ray release of the classic series.
The series was previous released in 2001 and now 10 years later has returned with a vengeance. They are here to kick some ass and chew bubblegum and this time, Madman isn’t out of Bubblegum.
Following the leaked news of last week in a not so shocking, yet still awesome news announcement, Weekly Shonen Jump magazine, has announced that, coinciding with the revivial of the Hunter x Hunter manga, a new anime has been green-lit for airing in the Japanese Autumn, 2011.
It is still unknown what the nature of the new anime series will be, whether it be a continuation featuring the Chimera Ants story arc or a complete reboot of the franchise. Having been so long between series, perhaps a reboot is more likely? More details will be revealed in the Weekly Jump, in the upcoming weeks.
As of now, several other rumours have been raised, particularly that animation studio Madhouse will be working on the new series. Until we get more information take that with a grain of salt.
What are you thoughts on this announcement? Leave a comment below letting us know.
Business policies coming out of EA lately have been looking worse and worse for the consumer lately. First we have the Project Ten Dollar system that is starting to be used by other publishers and now we may soon have to pay even more to play games we have already paid $60 for. This news comes as EA Sports SVP Andrew Wilson held an interview with Eurogamer and there they discussed the potential for EA Sports to begin a monthly or yearly subscription. He addressed this question with the following response, which could strike fear into the folds of wallets everywhere:
