Josh Jackson | Geekscape

Geekscape Games Reviews ‘Bravely Second: End Layer’

by Josh JacksonMay 10, 2016

In a gaming landscape where many people feel that the traditional turn based Japanese RPG’s were a thing of the past, the original Bravely Default proved this notion wrong. Feeling like it was ripped straight off of a Super Nintendo cartridge in the way that adapted classic Final Fantasy inspired environments, game play and story telling, all while updating the formula with its unique Brave and Default mechanics, the title’s success in the West took even Square Enix by surprise. What wasn’t a surprise however, was the second game coming stateside. Bravely Second: End Layer is here, and tries to capitalize on its predecessor’s success by playing it a little too safe. Despite adding a few new mechanics and characters to keep things interesting, refusing to stray too far from the groundwork that the first game paved leaves it feeling like a far too familiar, (but still well made,) retread.

Over two years after the Warriors of Light saved the world of Luxendarc from Ouroboros, Bravely Second starts with the kingdom being confronted by a new threat. After Agnes, (the Wind Vestal from the original game who has since become Pope,) is kidnapped by this new enemy, Yew Geneolgia, heir to the esteemed House Geneolgia and leader of Agnes’ elite guard, the Three Cavaliers, sets off on a quest to rescue Her Holiness from her captors. Joining forces with Magnolia Arch, a mysterious warrior from the moon, Edea Lee, a knight of Eternia and one of the former Warriors of Light, and Tiz Arrior, a fellow Warrior of Light and the first game’s protagonist, the group pursues their enemies across Luxendarc in a quest that forces the party to question their allegiances, themselves, and the very foundation on which their world was built on.

Not much has changed on the game play front between games. Like its predecessor, Bravely Second employs a turn based combat system where opponents and allies take turns performing actions like attacking, casting magic and using items until each member on one side of the fight is KO’d. With 30 jobs made up of both returning and new classes, each character can be molded into whatever role they need to fill at the time thanks to the option to carry over limited abilities from other jobs you’ve mastered. From mages, to warriors and everything in between, the near endless combinations that this customization system provides allows you to create some truly powerful strategies.

Once you’re able to make the most out of the combat system, the game features a unique method made popular in some recently released titles across the genre when it comes to grinding for money, experience for your characters, and JP, (for leveling up the equipped job). If you’re able to defeat the enemy party in a single turn, you’ll be given the option to immediately start another fight with your current status remaining the same as it was when your last attack went through. Each consecutive fight multiples the total, so you’ll end up with the potential to earn thousands of EXP points. Thanks to the return of the Brave and Default systems, each party member can either defend, which will bank that attack to be used later, or use up to four turns at once, potentially leaving them at a turn deficit, (which makes them unusable,) for the amount of turns you attacked ahead. Various bonuses, skills and items can manipulate your Brave Points to allow you to keep attacking, potentially making level grinding much easier than it typically is in other games. Couple that with the ability to increase or outright eliminate the random encounter rate, and as someone who has been playing RPG’s for about two decades, I’m thankful for how little the game burdens you with forced combat and hours of running in circles.

As the story progresses and you begin to unlock the mandatory classes found throughout the game, (all of which are either completely new, or variations of jobs from Bravely Default,) over a dozen side quests open up that introduce you to characters and classes found in the last game. Adding a special dynamic to an otherwise by the numbers story, (which we’ll get to real soon,) these bonus quests pit a major character from the past against another while presenting a moral dilemma for Edea and the rest of the party to decide on. Some of them are no brainers, like whether or not boys and girls should go to school together in a city that was traditionally segregated until recently, to more difficult choices like whether or not pushing an old man and his granddaughter out of their home is worth creating a port that would bring prosperity to a poverty stricken town. Even when the moral choice is an easy one, is it worth giving up the abilities you want? Siding with one person means you fight the other, gaining their job after they’re defeated. But what do you do when the person you agree with is the person who’s ability you want to carry you through the main story? These moments create an interesting duality, asking if you’re willing to forsake your morals for power. Then again, it’s not like these tough foes won’t go down without a fight, presenting boss fights that will force you to manage your Brave and Default allocation more strategically if you want to walk away with your prize both during side quests, and main story fights.

But despite the possibility of losing the power you want, that doesn’t mean that you can’t find other ways to obtain it. Then again.. that depends on how many friends you have. By bringing back the communication features from the first game, Bravely Second offers a variety of ways to get yourself out of a tough spot. By syncing with players on your Friends List, adding random people once a day, or through the game’ Streetpass feature, you’ll be able to send your own powerful warriors while building a roster of your own. From linking your characters to your friends for extra abilities, summoning friends once a day to unleash a powerful attack, or having them help rebuild Magnolia’s damaged village on the moon, each method provides an extra way to make an already powerful team nearly unstoppable. Repairing the moon in particular will provide access to new weapons, armor, abilities, and customization options for your team, allowing you to manipulate how you obtain your strongest attacks. Do you want their special abilities to become available when your team takes damage? Would you rather have it build up when they defeat enemies? Or do you want to strengthen their attack, magic or BP after the action is selected? If you couldn’t tell by now, you can literally shape your team to be anything you want it to be, which is what Bravely Second continues to do best. Most importantly, the Update Friends feature will let you gain Streetpass villagers without using the Streetpass function. So as long as you have Internet, you’ll be able to take advantage of the benefits, even if the closest 3DS owner to you can’t be found within a 10 mile radius. If after all that you’re still having trouble, Sleep Points accumulate for every 12 hours the game is in sleep mode, allowing you to freeze time and unleash extra attacks. If you *really* need your SP fix, you can pay for a full refill… With real money.

Not all is well on the moon however, because the more friends you bring on board, the more Ba’als begin to invade. As a literal Ba’al Buster, part of the reason Magnolia joins you is to fight off this threat. Who are we to say no? It helps that these enemies carry special items, while presenting unique challenges that make you think outside the box to beat them. If you’re having trouble beating these often high level enemies, upgrading your moon stationed battleship, (while employing ships from your friends,) will let you drop their health and level before going into a real fight against them.

Ba’al’s are far from the only threat as your party goes against this newly formed Empire however. It’s just too bad that the fight between the two sides fails to be particularly interesting, making the story one of the weaker points of the game. It’s not that it’s bad per se. In fact, there are some legitimately surprising moments both early on and late into the 40-50 hours it should take to complete it at a decent level, (which will have even more impact if you play the special demo before jumping in to the full game). It’s just everything in between that feels like it’s just filling time before the big finale. Taking a villain of the week approach, with an assembly line of generals who only serve as a means to block your progress, you never learn too much about them to care about the fight. It doesn’t help that for every unique job that they unlock, like the Exorcist job, who can reset HP, MP and BP to their previous turns, to a job that can give huge buffs to your party while giving them to your enemies as well, you’ll also end up with ones you’ll wish was replaced by something useful, like the Catmancer, or the Patissier, who literally harms enemies through baking. To make matters worse, many of the game’s locations where you find these bosses are the exact same ones from the first game, oftentimes making the sequel feel like it’s going through the motions of the original rather than creating a unique experience that stands on its own. When you have the same music, admittedly basic visuals that could pass off for an original DS game, and the same dungeons, cities and environments, there’s no way you’re not going to lose that sense of discovery that serves as a major component in RPGs.

On that subject, while it’s far from being as tedious from the infamous twist of the first game that needlessly extended the game for hours, Bravely Second turns the mid game mind blown moment into a tradition, thanks to a fourth wall breaking segment that would make Hideo Kojima proud. The only problem is that while there are plenty of hints to point you in the right direction, if you don’t catch on, you’ll run the risk of replaying the entire game over again and being none the wiser. Look, I appreciate the creativity, but by leaving the option open to completely screw up your story progress, you’re running the risk of frustrating many a gamer.

It’s biggest problem however, is its uneven use of humor. I get that the developers were going for a more lighthearted experience, but there are some times that “gravy” references and other jokes aren’t needed, especially when the scene in question is supposed to be serious. When an important character is wounded, it’s hard to take seriously when he’s surrounded by smiling cats, or the main character continues to talk about his “coup de gravy” as a rallying cry. It breaks the immersion of what is supposed to be more solemn.

If Bravely Default was an old school RPG player’s dream game, then Bravely Second is like deja vu. The increased focus on an already robust customization system combined with its innovative new jobs, extensive interactivity with friends, and easy level grinding thanks to the experience multipliers and the ability to change the encounter rate make the game play experience go a long way, despite the story and environments feeling like you’ve gone absolutely nowhere. These issues and misplaced humor aside, Bravely Second is one of the better RPGs on the handheld, and stands as another centerpiece in Square Enix’s legendary catalog, even if it’s not the most original.

Final Score: 4/5

Geekscape Games Reviews ‘Valkyria Chronicles Remastered’

by Josh JacksonMay 10, 2016

Remember the early days of the PS3? Back when high quality exclusives were few and far between, Valkyria Chronicles became a cult classic, delivering a unique Turn Based Strategy experience with top notch visuals that kept those who played it singing its praises. Despite critical acclaim however, far too many people missed out on what many still consider one of the console’s brightest gems. After a re-release on Steam brought the series back into the spotlight in the West, Valkyria Chronicles Remastered debuts to give the game new life on the PS4. As one of the people who missed out on the game, and is typically terrible at strategy games, I’m left feeling like I REALLY wish I had played this sooner. Yes, it’s just that good.

Welkin and Alicia reporting for duty.

Taking place in the war torn continent of Europa, a fictional version of Europe in 1935 C.E., the land is in the midst of the Second Europan War. In an attempt to secure scarce resources that are vital for the progress of two nations, The Empire declares war on the Atlantic Federation in order to crush them with their military might. Literally caught in the middle is Gallia, a neutral nation that sits in between the two warring factions. With its geographically advantageous positioning combined with its rich Ragnite sources, it makes the farm country an easy target for The Empire’s growing might. When Welkin Gunther, the son of a hero from the first war, gets caught up with the Gallia resistance led by Alicia Melchiott, the two get swept up into the conflict, one that goes much deeper than either of them imagined.

The developers at Sega had to have had people like me in mind while developing Valkyria Chronicles, since the game does a really good job of easing you into its mechanics across the first few chapters. Playing like a Turn Based Strategy game with elements of real time game play thrown in, each side of the conflict takes turns positioning their various units in order to overwhelm the opposition and claim their home base. Choosing between Scouts, Shocktroopers, Lancers, Engineers and Snipers, each class offers a certain amount of movement distance, attack strengths, advantages and disadvantages that make each one invaluable on the battlefield. To add an extra layer of depth, each character has their own personality traits as well, which can affect their performance on the battlefield. If you have a soldier who is allergic to sand, they’ll perform worse in the desert. Do they work better alone? They’ll get a boost if they’re fighting away from the rest of your squad. Predicting the Internet wars of 2016, some units even hate men and women! Just when you think you have the hang of battle, the game’s difficulty ramps up hard at about seven chapters in, adding in new objectives that will ask you to blow up train tracks, destroy tanks, or simply escape the combat area. By then, it doesn’t take long before your skills are put to the test, making each battle all the more rewarding when you finish it.

A baker vs. a tank. I don’t like these odds.

At the cost of one Command Point for most units, (two for bigger units such as tanks,) players will assume full control of the character they select to go into battle. Each class has a set amount of distance they can move and can only attack once for each CP spent, so examining the map and trying to position yourself in a way where you’re shielded from damage while being able to damage others is the strategic core of Valkyria, which helps you maximize your results even further thanks to bonus damage when you manually aim for head shots. Using CP on the same unit multiple times during the same turn reduces their movement significantly each time you go back to the well, making it easier to get stranded in the middle of a gunfight. Since both your team and the opponent’s squad will automatically shoot at anyone in their sights who is in the middle of moving, this is the quickest way to lose a unit.

Good news for my squad though, because the game gives us plenty of options to cover for terrible commanders such as myself. Hiding behind cover will boost their defense, while crawling in grass will make them much harder to hit. As you advance through the game, Gunther will gain the ability to issue Orders, which are battlefield buffs that can improve stats, call down attacks on far away enemies, or heal wounded squad-mates. If your bad decisions lead to a party member falling in battle, a different unit can recover them so they can live to fight another day, lest they be gone for good. As battles get larger, claimed bases will allow you to call upon unused units at a more advantageous place. This feature becomes a lifesaver, since one of the biggest flaws in the game comes from not having much of a clue as to what kind of units the enemy has. Pre-mission briefings will give you an idea some of the time, but it becomes annoying when you bring Snipers you don’t need, or don’t have any tank destroying Lancers when your enemy has a fleet of them.

Easier said than done when you don’t know what units you need.

Then again, there might be times where you’re getting beat because you’re simply overwhelmed. That’s where the Headquarters come in, which allows players to spend two types of currency to power up their ranks. Earned through performing well in story missions or Skirmishes, replayable missions used for grinding, EXP and money can be used for a variety of functions. First off, spent EXP will level up your classes, which will power up all units within the chosen job and potentially unlocking new skills in the process. When you feel like your squad is strong enough, visiting the cemetery will let Gunther learn new Orders at high EXP costs. Considering this is where you’ll find the most powerful skills in the game, it’s definitely worth the price.

Cash on the other hand, let’s you buy new weapons and equipment for your squad and tank, giving you a much needed boost in power when the war is getting too tough to win. Acting as more than just power boosts, weapons can eventually be given extra attributes, such as status effects that are inflicted on hit enemies. Tanks on the other hand, can only be given a certain amount of upgrades, creating a puzzle like grid where each desired upgrade has to be fit into the space provided for use. Money isn’t all for combat though, since the backstory of your squad can be expanded on by using your extra money to fund books. These can also get pricey, but learning about your team through these extended story segments strengthens what is an already compelling narrative.

The story is presented like a living scrapbook.

On the subject of the story, while the game play is the definite highlight of Valkyria Chronicles, Gallia’s struggle is just as entertaining, with a cast that grows throughout its 30-ish hour campaign. As one of the most beautiful games of last generation, the remastered version manages to be even more gorgeous, bringing the tale to life in a vibrant way. Giving the appearance of a pencil drawn account of the events of the war while employing an anime inspired look, every part of the game, from the menus to the battles themselves, ooze with visual flair. This is further improved by the strong voice acting, which really shines as the story takes on its more serious themes. Everything from the horrors of war, to concentration camps, and the individuality of the casualties, both friend and foe alike, help the player become fully attached to the world we’re witnessing. A certain scene went as far as to make me feel terrible for killing the enemy, but war doesn’t give you the luxury of life without having to take someone else’s. It’s just too bad that the voice acting isn’t as strong across the board as it is in these key scenes, because the supplementary squad in particular, often sounds too goofy our phoned in to fit in with the rest of the cast. While I appreciate that the entire game is voice acted, it also creates more opportunities for the blemishes to stand out more than they should.

Selvaria is a highlight of an already strong cast.

If the hit and miss voice acting was the game’s only issue, then we would call that a win. Unfortunately, for everything Valkyria Chronicles does right, it has a few glaring flaws aside from the ones already mentioned that can’t be ignored. First and foremost, there’s no way to fast forward the enemy’s turn, which becomes really annoying when they have double digit moves for each turn. It wouldn’t be as bad if they actually did something, but there were far too many times where enemies would just run in circles just to waste a move. The AI in general can be pretty stupid, which makes me feel better about my own poor skill set. Still, there’s no reason why enemies should routinely throw grenades into poles, only for them to bounce back to them and kill themselves. That’s not to say your squad is any better, because their accuracy is infuriatingly bad at times, especially for Snipers. As the class that should be the most accurate, I can’t tell you how many times I yelled at my TV because a tide turning move went to waste when my long range gunners would miss shots enemies that are only a few feet away. While it’s most obvious with Snipers, no class is exempt from this issue, with infantry units occasionally missing shots at point blank range. Oh, and the less said about Chapter 8 the better. This out of place stealth mission moves at such a slow pace, that what must have been an attempt to slow down the action not only grinds it to a halt, but is a literal drag that the game would be better off without.

These issues aren’t nearly enough to turn the tides of war however, since Valkyria Chronicles Remastered wraps up as one of the most visually and mechanically creative games in the genre. It’s addictive game play hooks you just as easily as the deceptively deep plot, with likable characters that are sometimes hindered by spotty voice acting. Tedious game play sections and the pre-battle guessing game aside, first time players absolutely must give this hidden gem a shot. With a fair amount of post game content, the inclusion of trophies, (since the original release predated them,) and a New Game + mode to keep you going long after the battle ends, you should be eager to enlist when Sega’s strategy opus makes its big return.

Final Score: 4.5/5

‘Pokemon Sun and Moon’ Details, New Pokemon and Release Date Surface In First Game Play Trailer

by Josh JacksonMay 10, 2016

Are you ready to catch em’ all for the seventh time!? The Pokemon Company has unveiled the first game play trailer for the upcoming Pokemon Sun and Pokemon Moon, showing off its new region, starters, and cover legendaries alongside its worldwide release date.

Releasing on November 18, each version returns with its tried and true turn based combat, which will surely come with another hundred or so Pokemon to catch, train and battle. What’s most exciting to me however, is that the new region seems to be in full 3D. In other words, while X and Y was the first foray into full 3D characters and game play for the main series, traveling was still largely from a top down perspective, save for a handful of special areas. This time, the world already looks so much bigger in scale since the environments have an actual layout that doesn’t revolve around the grid based map that every past game has revolved around. Just think of the new lands we’ll be able to explore while catching all those new Pokemon!

Speaking of which, the trailer gave us our first glimpse at the three new starters and the version exclusive Legendary Pokemon. Featuring Rowlet, a Grass/Flying owl, Litten, a fire kitten, and Popplio, a water type sea lion, one of these three will be the first Pokemon we claim as we begin our new adventure. Let’s talk about these new guys for a minute… Is it just me, or do they look more like fan art? I don’t usually favor Grass Types, but Rowlet looks the most interesting to me, especially with its 180 head spin. Popplio is cute, but uninspired, while Litten… It looks more like a Route 1 catch than a starter. Let’s just hope it doesn’t evolve into a Fire/Fighting type. As far as the Legendaries, we don’t have any specific information on them outside of their box art, but the Sun Pokemon looks like Wildfire from Skylanders decided to walk on four legs, and I’m looking forward to Moon telling us why Lugia went on to skin Cresselia and wear its coat.

Take a look below and watch the full trailer for yourself, then tell us what you think! Which starter are you leaning towards, and are you siding with Sun or Moon this time around? Share your thoughts in the comments and let us know!

May Is Darkrai Month As #Pokemon20 Continues!

by Josh JacksonMay 8, 2016

We’re already in the middle of the fourth month of the #Pokemon20 campaign to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the monster collecting RPG. With that, comes the first Mythical Pokemon giveaway from the fourth generation of games with Darkrai!

The Nightmare Pokemon debuted in Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl as a hard to obtain character that could only be found by diving into the dreams of a child who was stuck in an endless slumber. As a parallel to the Crescent Moon Pokemon, Cresselia, the Dark Type Pokemon was actually the second Mythical Pokemon to be made available in its games, following Manaphy. The item needed to get into the room could only be downloaded via a special event, making it very rare to come across. Its rarity wasn’t the only reason it was so sought after, since its signature attack, Dark Void, would put both opponents to sleep in a double battle with 80% accuracy. The powerful Bad Dream ability combined with the Nightmare attack will continuously drain its foe’s health as long as they’re sleeping, making them easy pickings considering Darkrai has high special attack even without these strengths. If you ever needed proof as to why Mythical Pokemon are usually banned from tournaments, look no further.

This month, Darkrai can be downloaded as a Mystery Gift by obtaining a download code from participating GameStop stores while supplies last. On the trading card front, Darkrai will follow the previous Mythical releases with its own card set. Packaged with a pin and promo card featuring the Pokemon in addition to two Origin packs, both of which contain both classic reprints and new versions of some of our favorite Pokemon. Lastly, the digitally remastered version of Pokemon: The Rise of Darkrai, has been released on iTunes, Amazon and Google Play, as well as the Pokemon TV app for two weeks.

In addition to the rest of the download events this month and the release of the Fates Collide card game expansion that features the BREAK Evolution mechanic, this is the biggest month for #Pokemon20 so far! What are you doing to celebrate? Share your thoughts below!

Here’s What Viz Will Be Streaming In May!

by Josh JacksonMay 8, 2016

Viz has announced their list of anime that will be part of their streaming service for May. Including simulcasts of Sailor Moon Crystal and Naruto Shippuden, (which is especially exciting since the show has finally returned to its main story after a seemingly endless series of fillers,) anime fans will have plenty to binge on all throughout the month.

Other series featured include Bakuman Season 3, Hunter X Hunter Season 1, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable Season 3 and Terraformars Revenge Season 2. Want to know more about these shows? Here is the synopsis of each as well as the release dates for the episodes from Viz’s press release:

BAKUMAN

The creators of DEATH NOTE return with this inspiring tale about the power of dreams. Students Mashiro and Takagi aspire to become professional manga artists. As they team up to pursue their goal, the pair learns what it takes to make it in the manga industry, sharing laughs, tears, romance, the devastation of failure and the glory of success along the way.

BAKUMAN’s final season concludes with the addition of subtitled Episodes 51-75. Enjoy the entire series, Episodes 1-75, now!

HUNTER X HUNTER

The supernatural action adventure of HUNTER X HUNTER Season 1 continues throughout May with newly added Episodes 40-52. Episodes are available to stream in their entirety featuring brand new subtitles that are true to VIZ Media’s original translations of the manga series by Yoshihiro Togashi.

JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE: DIAMOND IS UNBREAKABLE

This new story arc sees Jotaro Kujoh traveling to a town called Morioh to meet Josuke, the secret love child of his grandfather, Joseph Joestar! The two JoJo’s soon discover that new Stand users are appearing all across town, threatening the lives of the innocent!

Don’t miss the JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE Season 3 subtitled premiere with new episodes added every Friday.

Season 3, Episode 5 premieres on May 6^th, Episode 6 on May 13^th, followed by Episode 7 on May 20^th and Episode 8 on May 27^th.

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN

Brand new weekly simulcasts of the latest action packed NARUTO SHIPPUDEN episodes are scheduled to take place every Thursday throughout May.

Catch Episode 459 on May 12^th, followed by Episode 460 on May 19^th, Episode 461 on May 26^th and Episode 462 on June 2^nd.

SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL

Don’t miss the dubbed premiere of Episode 26 on May 6^th!

Enjoy the all-new SUBBED streams of SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL throughout May with a brand new simulcast episode every Monday.

SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL Season 3 action continues with Episodes 31-35 available to stream this month.

Watch Episode 31 on May 2^nd, followed Episode 32 on May 9^th, Episode 33 on May 16^th, Episode 34 on May 23^rd and Episode 35 on May 30^th.

TERRAFORMARS REVENGE

Based on the hit manga sci-fi series, TERRAFORMARS REVENGE takes place in the far future where humanity terraforms Mars in order to resolve Earth’s growing overpopulation problem… But an unintended side effect of the process has unleashed a horror no one could ever have imagined!

Catch the streaming premiere of Season 2, Episodes 5-8 this month.

Episode 5 will premiere on May 6^th, followed by Episode 6 on May 13^th, Episode 7 on May 20^th and Episode 8 on May 27^th.

If you were looking for a new series to jump into, or want to follow along with your favorites, chances are you’ll be making a trip to Viz’s site at one point or another. If you want to check out these shows, or any of the other series’ featured on Viz’s site, make sure to visit their streaming page and see what they’ve got. Hulu fans can also check out any of these shows on any device that supports the service.

What shows are you looking forward to? Comment below and let us know!

The Sound Four Make Their Long Awaited Debut In The ‘Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4’ DLC Pack 3

by Josh JacksonMay 8, 2016

After a seven year wait, the Sound Four are finally coming to the Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm series as part of the Storm 4 DLC pack 3.

As the four elite bodyguards of Orochimaru, Sakon/Ukon, Jirobo, Kidomaru and Tayuya made their debuts towards the end of Part 1 of the Naruto anime and manga. Serving as foils to Kiba, Choji, Neji and Shikamaru as their squad attempted to stop Sasuke from defecting to the enemy side, each member of the villainous group has their own unique abilities, all of which are on full display once they step foot into the game. Previously appearing exclusively as support characters, fans have been pleading for these characters to become playable, so it’s good to see that CyberConnect2 is finally answering the call.

In addition to the four new characters, DLC Pack 3 will also come with three new Combination Secret Techniques in the form of the Sound Four’s “Ninja Art: Underworld Formation”, Zabuza and Kisame’s “Seven Blades of the Blood Mist”, and Zabuza and Haku’s “Cold Assault of the Demon Blade”, ten Ninja Info Cards, 10 Matching Voices and 10 costumes from past games in the Ultimate Ninja Storm franchise. Check out the trailer below to see all of these new moves and fighters in action!

Who else is planning on downloading the latest addition to the Storm 4 cast? Check out our full review of the game here, then come back and let us know what you think of the DLC set in the comments!

‘Mighty No. 9’ Goes Gold; Set For a June 24th Release Date

by Josh JacksonMay 8, 2016

After a year of delays and months of silence, we’re finally getting Mighty No. 9 on June 24th… Assuming you wanted it on consoles.

In an announcement to backers that echos our story from last week, the team behind the controversial Kickstarter funded action platformer that’s set to be a spiritual successor to the Mega Man series has gone gold, with a final release date of June 24th. Acknowledging the plethora of problems that have plagued the project for longer than any publisher would want to admit, Keiji Inafune, the father of Mega Man and project lead behind MN9, posted the following message to his backers and fans:

“To all of our backers and fans of Mighty No. 9,

Firstly, I would like to say again how sincerely sorry we are for how long we have kept all of our fans waiting. We are finally able to deliver some long awaited news regarding Mighty No. 9. We have now confirmed the following release dates for Mighty No. 9: June 21st 2016 (North America & Asia) and June 24th 2016 (World Wide). We understand that as a result of the various delays we have disappointed and let down our fans, but we are happy to finally be able to deliver the game to everyone who brought us this far.

With the game having “gone gold” we are in the last final stages of being able to deliver it into your hands, be that via your favorite retail outlet, or via digital channels.

Therefore the release date we are announcing is set in stone and there will be no further delays for the game.

Portable versions for PlayStation® Vita and Nintendo 3DS ™ will follow at a later point.

It has been almost three years since the start of our Kickstarter campaign, which was only made possible through the support of our backers and fans around the world. This is a project where everyone’s passions were combined in order to create something very special, and we are looking forward to delivering the final product to everyone who was involved. There can be no stronger connection between game creators and game fans.

Now that the dust has settled, we will be delivering Mighty No. 9 to everyone next month. How long will it take you to clear the main story on NORMAL? How many people are going to be able to clear MANIAC mode? What is going to be the fastest record for the time attack mode? We are looking forward to seeing the community answer all of these questions for us! Make sure to let us know your feedback and thoughts on the game through our SNS channels as you play the game. Your voices are what made this game possible, and we want to continue hearing what you think so that it may influence our future endeavors. “

Unfortunately, gamers who wanted the portable version will still have to continue to wait. The call for community interaction at the end of his statement is comforting, but after delaying the game for so long for a bonus feature like Multiplayer, (a feature that was added to a single player game as a Stretch Goal and was largely seen as a cool bonus rather than a game defining mode,) the multiple supplemental Kickstarter campaigns despite raising far more than their initial goal, a huge visual overhaul compared to what was shown in the concept art, radio silence after the latest delay, and working on side projects like an anime and other games while this one was continuously put on hold, we’ll have to see if it’s enough to win back the faith of the community.

What say you, Geekscapist? Are you excited about the game finally releasing, or are you long over it?

‘Project X Zone’ Removed From eShop

by Josh JacksonMay 7, 2016

If you thought about getting caught up before starting up your copy of Project X Zone 2 by downloading the original, you might be out of luck.

For reasons unknown, Project X Zone has been removed from the eShop. The demo, trailers and the game itself are all missing when you search for them on Nintendo’s digital store, with results for the second game being the only hits that come up. Even people who purchased it digitally before won’t get the re-download button, although they can reclaim it in their download history. Considering getting this game to come out in America was somewhat of a miracle in itself due to all of the licensing hoops Namco Bandai must have had to jump through to release it, is it safe to speculate that one of the licenses fell through? That would explain why the second game is still available, since some of the characters from the first game didn’t return.

Regardless of the reason, it’s a shame that the first game is missing. We had an amazing time with it when we reviewed it back when it was released, so let’s hope that whatever issues caused the game to get pulled down get resolved soon. What are your theories as to why it was pulled? Share them below!

Source: NintendoEverything.com

New Character Profiles And Screenshots Show Off The Action In ‘Fairy Fencer F: Dark Advent Force’

by Josh JacksonMay 7, 2016

Idea Factory has released a ton of new screenshots and character profiles for their upcoming RPG, Fairy Fencer F: Dark Advent Force. Putting the strength of the fairies and fences on full display, the game’s transition onto the PS4 is looking like a great one.

First, we have the re-introductions of Pippin, and his fairy partner, Soji. The strange creature with unknown origins often annoys his friends by talking and nagging more than they would like. The only thing he seems to ignore is the sword stuck in his head.

Soji on the other hand, is often mistaken for a fencer due to his human appearance, while people think that Pippin is his fairy. He seems to be aware of Pippin’s supposed father, Pappin, which should lead to some interesting new content between the pair that wasn’t in the original title.

Then new to Advent Dark Force is Pappin, who Pippin calls his father. Whether or not they’re actually related us unknown, but the only thing we really know about his his his dedication to his path as a Fencer. I wonder what the story is behind the scar on his eye?

In between learning about the characters, there will be plenty of battles to slice through. In the latest batch of screenshots, the stylish and colorful characters are on full display, making the wait for July 26th even harder to take. With three stories, new characters and added difficulty settings, we’ll have plenty to discover when we’re finally able to play the next entry in the series. What are your thoughts on Dark Advent Force? Sound off in the comments!

‘Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X’ Launches On August 30th; Will Have VR Support!

by Josh JacksonMay 7, 2016

This was why VR was made!

Sega has announced that Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X, the next game in the franchise based on the virtual pop star and her team of idols, will launch on August 30 for the PS4 and PS Vita.

Shedding the “HD” branding for the console version, Project DIVA X will also be the first game in the series to have a story mode. As if Miku needed more than her charm to hook her fans around the world, her and her friends will have to sing and dance through five Clouds that pose a danger to their world for some reason. Each Clould has its own aura, from Classic to Cute, Cool, Elegant and Quirky, all of which containing their own challenges. With a combination of 30 new and classic songs to go with close to 300 costumes, each one is said to have an effect on the different challenges. From what we know so far, no one should accuse this game of not having enough to do.

New to Project DIVA X will be a Concert Editor mode, where players can customize their own shows with their favorite Vocaloids. If you needed a reason to finally push you towards investing in PlayStation VR, then you might want to set that money you were planning on using on the latest anime figure aside, since Concert Editor will support the virtual reality platform once it becomes an available via an update! It will be like you can finally reach out and touch your favorite pop star minus the restraining order and jail time.

Lastly, everyone who pre-orders the game or buys it at launch will get a Miku pouch for free! Use it for glasses, your favorite gaming handheld, or your favorite Nendoroid figurines! Retailing at $49.99 for the PS4 and $39.99 for PS Vita, an already discounted price is coming with even more goodies!

So get ready to pull out the glow sticks and hold them high this August. Check out the trailer below and let us know if you’re planning on being in the front row for Miku’s next show!

This ‘Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization’ Trailer Debuts The Game That Doesn’t Want Players

by Josh JacksonMay 7, 2016

You know, after you’ve dived into an MMORPG where players who die in the game die for real and survived, I would think one time would be enough. That’s obviously not the case for Kirito, Asuna, and the rest of the cast from Sword Art Online, because the gang is returning to the origins of the game that started it all in Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization.

The latest trailer gives us a glimpse of what to expect from the next game to bring the popular anime to life. As a much faster sequel to Sword Art Online, Hollow Fragment, (which we reviewed back when it was released in 2014,) the simulated MMORPG game play that was featured in that game is making its return, this time with up to three CPU partners who tag along during your quests. From the footage shown, the game is looking like it’s streamlining many of the nagging issues the original game had, including much faster combat, expanded dating sim features and larger battles. Most importantly, the game will feature 8-player combat by combining four player online multiplayer with your CPU party. With everyone from the anime’s cast, to Hollow Fragment‘s debuting character, Philia, to the mysterious NPC, Premiere, who makes her debut as a character who learns from the players she interacts with, we’ll have plenty of party members to choose from once we start exploring the world.

But not all is well in what’s now known as Sword Art: Origin, a game that doesn’t want players. Set to release for the PS4 and Vita later this year, it won’t be long until we can see Kirito’s latest adventure unfold.

Pre-Order Your Wind Waker To Celebrate The 2016 Zelda Symphony Tour

by Josh JacksonMay 7, 2016

Have you ever been playing The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, and felt like you wanted to try your hand at your own baton skills? Now’s your chance, since the replica ind Waker Baton that is being used during the Symphony of the Goddess: Master Quest 2016-2017 symphony tour has gone up for pre-order.

Available this June for $40, the baton feels like a must own for someone like me, who holds The Wind Waker in the highest esteem. Articulated to look as close as possible to the game’s version outside of it being cell shaded, it won’t be long until we can control the direction of the winds, allowing ourselves to sail to our heart’s content… Or at least you can try. As of press time, we have yet to confirm that it will actually control the wind.

The baton has been released to celebrate the 2016-2017 Master Quest tour, which kicked off in Santiago, Chile this weekend. Promising updated visuals to show off the recently released Twilight Princess HD, you can check out the entire list of dates and locations at the symphony’s web site. While you’re at it, you can claim your baton by pre-ordering it here!

Viz Celebrates Free Comic Book Day With Two Manga Samplers

by Josh JacksonMay 7, 2016

Free Comic Book Day is here, and what better way to celebrate than with, well… free comics?

Every year, publishers from across the spectrum provide samples and issues of some of their most popular properties as a way to celebrate the medium, (while hoping to hook a few new readers in the process). Viz is no different, as one of the lead manga publishers in the U.S. This year, the company behind the localization of hits such as Death Note, InuYasha and Dragon Ball Z, have not one, but two samples; one featuring Pokemon, and the other focusing on One Punch Man.

The Pokemon Pocket Comics issue serves as an introduction to the newest edition of the Pokemon manga library, that skews a little more to the kids, (or the kid in us). Containing three four-panel gag comic strips alongside a variety of quizzes and Pokemon statistics, the sample hopes to test your Pokemon prowess in between laughs.

The Shonen Jump Free Comic Book Day 2016 Sampler on the other hand, is all about action. Each copy contains excerpts from two of Jump’s currently running series, One-Punch Man and My Hero Academia. The former stars Saitama, an unassuming man who is part of a growing super hero community. He comes off as lazy, unmotivated and kind of dense, which stems from boredom since he has become so powerful, he has yet to find an opponent that he can’t defeat in one punch. Further along the super hero spectrum, My Hero Academia is set in a world where 80% of the population has a “Quirk”, or superpowers that has led to constant battles between heroes and villains. When you’re unsure of how to use your power however, this academy is where you go to learn how to use them. Yet, what happens when you’re one of the 20% that don’t have powers?

Both samples will be available while supplies last at one of the thousands of participating locations.

The Winged Dragon of Ra Rises From The Ashes In The Yu-Gi-Oh Millennium Pack

by Josh JacksonMay 6, 2016

Following a recent wave of nostalgia, with sets like the Battle City Packs and the Dragons of Legend sets over the last few years, the latest Yu-Gi-Oh set takes us back to the early days with the Millennium Pack. Featuring reprints of some of the most popular monsters, spells and traps of yesteryear, the set also contains a powerful new beast in the form of The Winged Dragon of Ra- Immortal Phoenix. Despite being summoned by Marik as the God Card’s most powerful form close to 15 years ago, this is the first time this card has made its way into the real game, finally making all three of its versions available for play.

Even in their heyday, the God Cards weren’t usually worth the trouble of trying to build a deck around when their summoning conditions were so hard to achieve. With Immortal Phoenix now in play however, Ra is looking to become more viable going forward, thanks to its ability to easily rotate onto the field. Its synergy with its other forms are a must if you’re looking to play with these cards, Revolving around Sphere Mode, (from the Battle City set,) making it much easier to get Ra in play with its ability to be tribute summoned using three monsters on yours, or your opponent’s side of the field. Tributing it allows you to bring out Ra’s base form from your deck or hand, which can deliver a powerful blow to your opponent since you can give up Life Points to boost its strength. Despite all of its forms being immune to all card effects that target it, there’s still a good chance that a sweeping spell could take out your beast, which is why the risk of summoning a God Card wasn’t always the best move to make.

With Phoenix Mode however, that all changes. Gaining a base 4000 points in both attack and defense, this card can be special summoned if Ra is sent to the Graveyard. Unlike its other two forms, it’s not affected by any other card effects, making it immune to being destroyed by anything other than a higher attack. Making matters worse for its opponent, the player can give up 1000 life points to destroy any Monster on the field as often as they can afford it. The fun only lasts for one turn though, since at the End Phase, it must by cycled back out with Sphere Mode to start the fun all over again. Even with this handicap, opening up the field for an easy 4000 damage can win most games. The trick however, is getting Phoenix Mode into the Graveyard, since that’s the only way it can be summoned, which shouldn’t be hard since the game offers a variety of ways to do so with the right cards.

Every ounce of fearsome power promised in the anime without having to fuse with it or give up your life force to control it!

While Ra might be the star of this set, don’t ignore some of the other great cards in this set. Outside of fan favorites like Kunai With Chain, Flame Swordsman, Kuriboh, Toon cards and Red Eyes support, some of the most powerful cards in the game make a return with the likes of Five Headed Dragon and Harpy’s Feather Duster. Sure, they’re either banned or hard to play due to rule changes, but who’s to say you can’t just play for fun? Personally, Kaiba’s brutal trap cards like Ring of Destruction, which destroys a Monster and does damage to both players equal to its Attack Points, and Crush Card Virus, which destroys all of the Monsters in your opponent’s hand and in the top five cards in their deck that are over 1500 Attack Points, and you’ll have more ways to cripple your foe’s deck. Is there any wonder why they’re banned yet?

With these great cards come a few novelty ones too, namely Symbol of Friendship and The True Name. While both symbolize important events in the beginning and end of the show respectively, it’s safe to say you’ll never use them. The former can only be activated when you draw it as part of a normal draw while you have no Monsters and your opponent has three, and the only payoff to its contrived ruling is to add one Monster from your deck to your hand. Hardly worth the deck space, especially if you draw it as part of an effect, since you can’t do anything with it at that point. The latter card is just as unlikely, asking the player to guess the name of the card at the top of their deck. If it’s correct, add it to you hand, and either Special Summon, or add a Divine type monster to your hand, (meaning a God Card since they’re the only ones with this type). Unless you’re lacing your cards with perfumes like Mai did… Chances are this will never happen.

If you’re longing for the days where the game was more simple, you had no idea what Pendulum Summoning was, and the only “Xyz” monster you knew of was a Dragon Cannon, then you’ll do well to give the Millennium Pack a shot. With five cards per pack for a total of 48 cards in the set, you’ll have plenty of material to live out your Battle City fantasies with.

Geekscape Recaps: ‘Lucha Underground’ – No Mas

by Josh JacksonMay 6, 2016

Now that we’re in the middle of the second season of Lucha Underground, and some of the long running storylines are starting to approach their turning points, what better time to begin running recaps of each episode? As tension continues to rise between many of its performers, this week mostly dealt with handing out more of the seven ancient Aztec medallions that make up the Gift of the Gods championship. With Cage, Texano and Aerostar each securing their medallions last week, three more would be awarded to the winners of tonight’s matches, while one from last week would be put up for grabs. The bout between Sexy Star and Mariposa in our main event however, is about more than just a reward, because Sexy is looking to finally cast out her fears by facing her abductor in a No Mas match. With two monsters vying for supremacy, winning the title, (and the chance to fight for the Lucha Underground Championship), might be more of a curse than a blessing.

The show starts with Dario checking on his newly repaired ceiling that his brother Matanza, and his opponent, Mil Muertes, crashed through at the end of their no contest brawl from two weeks ago. Catrina walks in to what used to be her office, and the two have a war of words regarding who had who beat. While Catrina accuses Dario of fearing Mil, he refutes this by saying his brother will put an end to him The two agree to settle whether or not her stone or his key is the most powerful by having a rematch under Mil’s signature match type, Grave Consequences. Except this time, one grave won’t be enough, promising four coffins around the ring, and renaming the match a Graver Consequences match, scheduled for next week.

Their first brawl was a no nonsense fight that ended with a bit of nonsense, but in the best way possible. Since we didn’t have a clear winner decided when the two monsters crashed through Dario’s ceiling, here’s hoping we have something much more decisive while being just as brutal.

1st match: The Mack vs. Marty the Moth for an Aztec Medallion

This match was all about The Mack, while continuing the ongoing rivalry between him and Sexy Star vs. Marty and his sister, Mariposa. While Marty got in a little offense, (while looking as creepy as possible as Melissa Santos introduced him to the ring), it only took a few minutes before The Mack won with two stunners, the second of which was modified from a Fireman’s Carry position. A fun match that was much too short given the history between these two, which might be explained by their re-appearance in the main event.

Backstage:

In the locker room, we see King Cuerno getting ready for his Gift of the Gods opportunity after a long absence. There, he is approached by Catrina, who promises that Sinestro de la Muerte, the last surviving member of the Disciples of Death, will turn the hunter into the prey. Cuerno brushes her off, saying that he will make death itself his most prized trophy of all. He walks away before we see Catrina look into the camera with a red glow in her eyes, further hinting at her supernatural background.

Elsewhere, Sexy Star walks into Dario’s office, and sits down with a nervous expression. While admitting that the two haven’t seen eye to eye in the past, Cuerto says he sympathizes with Sexy, because he recognizes the look in her eyes. Recounting the story of his childhood from earlier in the season, where his “evil bitch”, of a mother abused him and Matanza until the brothers said, “no mas,” and killed her, the company’s promoter encouraged her to beat Mariposa until she couldn’t help to cry out the same words and permanently lose the fear in her eyes. But when she quits, don’t stop hurting her until she can’t hurt you again. Wait… Is the promoter essentially telling Sexy to kill Mariposa? What are we going to do with the medallion if the winner is in prison?

2nd match: King Cuerno vs. Sinestro de la Muerte (accompanied by Catrina) for an Aztec Medallion

Unfortunately, Cuerno’s return to The Temple wasn’t much to speak of. After teasing an Arrow From The Depths Of Hell, Catrina came up from behind him and clocked him with her rock, giving Sinestro the opening he needed to steal the win. The bigger story was the look on Cuerno’s face as the two walked away. Now that he was cheated out of his shot at the Gift of the Gods championship, will he make death itself his next target like he promised? I’m counting on it, but let’s hope Sinestro gets some more character in the coming weeks. The Disciples haven’t had much room to grow since their debut, so I’m hoping that will change now that one of the three has gone solo.

Backstage:

Mascarita Sagrada is seen curling weights that are bigger than he is before Famous B approaches him. Apparently his only client, the manager promises big things for Sagrada’s future, starting with a shot at an Aztec Medallion against one of the winners from last week. I’ll give you a guess as to who it could be, but let’s just say that if Mascarita wants to be famous, there are better ways to do it than by being torn apart.

Back in Dario’s office, Chavo Guerrero storms in and demands to know why he isn’t fighting for one of the Medallions. Annoyed, Cueto keeps going through his paperwork while saying Chavo has disappointed at every turn, blowing every opportunity he’s been given. Promising to seize his own opportunity, Chavo storms out, obviously with something in mind.

3rd match: Mascarita Sagrada vs. Cage with Cage’s Aztec Medallion on the line

Well, this went about the way you would expect it to go. No matter how much you can curl, nothing can prepare you for a machine like Cage. Sagrada got in a minute of offense, using his speed and small size to get the better of his much larger foe for a time. Then just like that, Cage put a stop to the rally. He blamed Famous B for what was about to happen and performed what could only be described as an F5, except Cage let him go in the air while the poor mini wrestler spun in the air twice before landing. A short three seconds later, and that was that.

After the match, Famous B came in the ring to check on his client, while him and Cage argued over the match. As this went on, Chavo made good on the “stealing” portion of the Guerrero family mantra, and ran off with Cage’s Aztec Medallion. Of all the people he could have taken one from, did it really have to be Cage? I’ll be there for the funeral.

Main Event: Sexy Star vs. Mariposa in a No Mas match for an Aztec Medallion

With the story being told up to this point, this matched needed to go to a higher level of brutality to really sell the idea that Sexy was finally going to pay back her abuser. On that front, it completely delivered. As you can probably guess, a “No Mas” match is the same as an “I Quit” match, except in Spanish… In other words, the only way a person can win is by forcing their opponent to be beaten down to the point where they yell out those two humiliating words.

What started off as a standard wrestling match upped the ante pretty quickly, featuring mask tearing, chairs getting hit with chairs, chairs getting smashed into vaginas. The action spilled into the crowd and onto Dario’s office before eventually leading to the scaffolding, where Sexy was visibly bleeding under her mask. After going back and forth with a tense back and forth sequence, the two climbed back down to the crowd. This is where Marty made his return, grinding Sexy’s face into a fence until The Mack ran out to make the save.

Eventually finding their way back to the ringside area, the two luchadores continued to brawl, leading to a sick spot where Mariposa stopped a headscissor attempt and began swinging Sexy’s head into the announcers table. As the two eventually rolled back into the ring, Marty tried to intervene again before The Mack fought him off. Mariposa put Sexy into a submission hold, which led to an emphatic, “Fuck you Mariposa!”, when the ref asked if she quit. Vampiro and Sexy were both swearing left and right at this point, which put an exclamation point on the savagery of the match, (especially since that kind of language typically doesn’t fly on the network, so kudos to El Rey letting them add that touch to the story they were telling).

The finish came when Sexy worked her way out of Mariposa’s submission hold and transitioned into an armbar. Once she locked it in completely, Mariposa had no way out and was finally forced to yell, “No mas,” leading to Sexy’s victory. As if taking Dario’s advice from earlier, Sexy refused to let the hold go and put her fear back into Mariposa before The Mack delivered her hard earned Aztec Medallion as the crowd chanted that she deserved it. This closed out the show in an incredible way, delivering a type of match we’re not used to seeing female performers compete in. It was just as violent as they needed it to be, with tense spots that took them all throughout the temple. My only real complaint is that it’s getting harder and harder to buy Mariposa as this terrifying threat, since all she seems to do is lose since she debuted. Has she even won a match?

Overall, the show itself was mostly uneventful from a storyline perspective, outside of seemingly resolving Sexy Star’s issues with the Moth Tribe. What I am looking forward to however, are the future angles they seem to be setting up. How will King Cuerno react to being screwed out of his shot at regaining the Gift of the Gods title? Will there be a Chavo Guerrero left when Cage catches up to him? And most importantly, who will come out on top when Mil Muertes and Matanza clash for a second time in their Graver Concequences match? I’m thinking next week will be a can’t miss episode.

What were your highlights of this week’s episode? Let us know in the comments, and make sure to check back next week as we continue to follow season 2 of Lucha Underground.

Lucha Underground airs every Wednesday night at 8 PM on the El Rey Network, and is available for purchase on iTunes.

In ‘Lucha Underground’, The Most Compelling Characters Might Be The Fans

by Josh JacksonMay 2, 2016

For those who haven’t jumped aboard the Lucha Underground bandwagon yet, let’s just say that the program is unlike any other wrestling show before it. A big part of this is due to its characters, who all benefit from its unique brand of storytelling by making it more like a drama about an underground fight club rather than an actual wrestling show. With this comes what has to be the most outlandish cast of characters to ever occupy a locker room, which only gets crazier as its own brand of Aztec mythology is expanded on throughout season two. For example, one character is a literal dragon, who’s arch enemy is a time traveling space ship that has taken human form. The promotion’s champion at the start of the season was brought back from the dead by his girlfriend with mystical powers, and has now been replaced by a monster who’s body houses an Aztec god. But for all of the insane characters that occupy The Temple, the ones who might be the most compelling are the fans themselves.

After attending multiple tapings, Lucha Underground is unlike any other live wrestling event I’ve ever been to. Not because of the close, intimate setting that the small venue provides, or the entire building serving as a giant TV set, (which definitely don’t hurt the experience,) but rather because witnessing the show makes you part of the show. Due to the nature of how other wrestling programs have been promoted, the fans are there to essentially witness a sporting event, cheering for their favorites and booing the ones that they hate. But in the context of The Temple, this isn’t a sporting event; it’s an underground fight club where only the best fighters in the world are invited to satisfy the owner and proprietor of Lucha Underground, Dario Cueto, and his insatiable love for violence. In this sense, the crowd is no different from Mr. Cueto himself, since in the context of the show, we’re all there to witness violence. In turn, we will give our respect to anyone who is able to deliver, regardless of whether or not that person is a babyface, or a heel, (wrestling terms for heroes and villains).

Take for example, Pentagon Jr., who is easily the most popular person within the promotion outside of Rey Mysterio. Starting off in season one as a heel, Pentagon made it his mission to collect sacrifices for his master in the form of broken arms. From attacking his own partners, to putting legendary wrestler and current Lucha Underground announcer, Vampiro, through a flaming table before proceeding to breaking his arm as well, we’re given very little reason to cheer him in a traditional sense. But there’s nothing traditional about this promotion, which is made even more prominent due to the fact that the crowd has no idea what the storylines behind the matches are. Unless we get a rare promo or interview segment between matches, the only thing we have to go by is what each performer does in the ring. Based on that, it’s clear that Pentagon is terrifying, but that’s why we love him. Whether he’s going against someone we generally love, or universally hate, we know we’re going to get a brutal reminder of how far he’s willing to go to win his matches.

Mil Muertes encompasses this attitude as well, as the self proclaimed ruler of The Temple at the start of the second season. Considering the nature of the show, characters can, (and have), been killed off as episodes progressed, and The Man of 1000 Deaths tries to use this to his advantage. Despite sitting on a throne made of the bones of his victims who literally killed one of the bands that played throughout the first season, the crowd loves him anyway since he promises a brand of brutality that only he can deliver. Whether he’s pushing around a much smaller opponent like Ivelisse, (in one of the promotion’s inter-gender matches, which have become a calling card for the promotion. Although I wonder whether or not you can really have a gender if you’re dead), or promising to kill his arch rival and fan favorite, Fenix, his following continues to grow due to his tendency to destroy anyone who crosses his path. Then again, we were just as excited to witness Pentagon break Mil’s arm as the season premiere came to a close, showing that actions are what drive us rather than a good vs. evil dynamic.

This fact extends to the entire roster, because while there are certain guys who consistently get boo’d, (take Johnny Mundo or Marty the Moth for instance,) that won’t stop what Dario calls his “believers”, from encouraging them from beating their favorites with their own chairs, or banging on the guard rails to show them where they want someone’s head to get smashed in. Respect isn’t given in The Temple based on alignment; it’s earned through how far each person is willing to go to put their opponent away. And despite each taping typically lasting for four hours at a time, you’ll rarely find a time where the crowd isn’t 100% invested in the matches that they’re witnessing. Despite all of the story lines, character development, and promos typically being done away from the crowd, we’re all excited for the promise of violence, which is where Lucha Underground always delivers. In this sense, it makes us no different from the evil proprietor himself, witnessing these men and women tear each other apart for our own need to watch fighting for the sake of fighting.

Because in The Temple, cheering is encouraged, passion is rewarded, and everyone has a good time. But most importantly, the Believers, are just as vital to the atmosphere of the show due to how unique its approach to the medium is. In a lot of ways, we’re just as sadistic as the promotion’s most violent performers, guiding the narrative that Lucha Underground is the where only the most destructive characters come to fight. Not only do we love the violence we’re presented, but we encourage it. And quite frankly, I couldn’t see it any other way.

Lucha Underground airs every Wednesday at 8 PM, with episodes and seasons are available for purchase at the iTunes store.

Surprise! A Wild Zygarde Appears On Mystery Gift For All Main Pokemon 3DS Games!

by Josh JacksonApril 30, 2016

As if a Mythical Pokemon every month and two sets of Legendary Trio Pokemon weren’t enough, the folks behind Pokemon decided to be extra generous and release a special Zygarde via Mystery Gift today.

Starting off at level 100, (so you won’t have to put any real work into raising it,) this downloadable version of the last obtainable Pokemon in X and Y will come with Land’s Wrath, Outrage, Glare and ExtremeSpeed in its attack arsenal. Essentially the same Pokemon that was made available in Japan last year to celebrate the launch of the Pokemon XY&Z anime, it’s good to see that we’re getting events that we usually would have missed out on.

But now we’re at the part where I complain about free stuff, because this Zygarde doesn’t do anything that a regular Zygarde can’t already do. Typically, monsters distributed this way are either impossible to get otherwise, or come with moves or abilities that it can’t normally obtain. This Zygarde is neither, so we essentially just have a Pokemon that we can’t EV train. He doesn’t even turn into a scarf wearing dog like in the anime! Then again, a lot of the appeal that comes from these events is to give us the knowledge that we have a Pokemon that was only temporarily available. Hey, it’ll probably come in a Cherish Ball with a cool Original Trainer name at least!

As with its sudden release, we also have no idea when it will be taken down, so download it while you can! Zygarde will be obtainable in Pokemon X, Y, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.

Callie And Marie Will Bring The Splatfest To Your amiibo Collection This Summer!

by Josh JacksonApril 30, 2016

It was inevitable that Nintendo would release Callie and Marie amiibo, right? I mean, when you consider the wild success of Splatoon after it released last year, and how the Squid Sisters were so popular that they got their own live concert back in January. Data mining showed that their amiibo were at least planned, but we had no idea when, or even if these toys would ever be a thing.

Turns out, we’re going to have them a lot sooner than we expected.

On July 8th, the Toys To Life section will become one big Splatfest, because that’s when the Squid Sisters will make their big debut! Releasing exclusively in a double pack and retailing at $24.99, the amount of detail going into both seems to be above and beyond the typical Nintendo figure, (which have had the tendency to look like McDonalds toys in certain cases). I mean, just look at them in the reveal trailer below! They have sparkles on their dress!

If that wasn’t enough excitement for you, the original Inkling Boy, Inkling Girl and Squid amiibo from last May will also get a re-release on the same day, featuring alternate colors of each. Retailing at $34.99 for the triple pack, or $12.99 individually, they line up with how the previous sets were released in price as well. While the boy and girl will still be available on their own, the squid can only be obtained by buying the triple pack. Again. Why does Nintendo do this to us!?

Anyway, Callie and Marie will unlock a variety of new songs and scenes featuring the pair when they’re not announcing the upcoming battle stages, or pitting friends and families against each other with their Splatfests. Any other functionality has yet to be announced, but can we please get Mario Maker costumes? Thanks in advance!

Preview The Past With The Yu-Gi-Oh ‘Breakers Of Shadow’ Special Edition

by Josh JacksonApril 30, 2016

As if we didn’t have enough reason to love Breakers of Shadow, the latest expansion in the Yu-Gi-Oh trading card game that we said could change the direction of the game in our original review, the special edition of the set has arrived with some exciting new cards for us to get our hands on. As with the previous special edition, each set will contain three booster packs along with two of four promo cards. Selected at random, each box will contain one of two reprints of a hard to get card, and one of two preview cards that will be featured in the next set. Since we’ve already spoken at length about the contents of Breakers of Shadow itself, let’s dive in and see what new cards we have to look forward to. Although… Something tells me Blue Eyes White Dragon fans like myself will have a lot to look forward to when cracking open these boxes. So, without further ado…

Starting with Number 23: Lancelot, Ghost Knight of the Underworld. Formerly found in the Yu-Gi-Oh Zexal volume 7 manga, this knight sets up a solid wall to protect your field from monster, spell and trap effects. Detaching one of its Xyz material when an effect during either player’s turn is activated allows you to negate the effect’s activation, keeping you safe for one more move. When on the offensive, detaching one Xyz material lets Lancelot attack the opponent directly, which triggers its secondary effect, which allows it to destroy one face up monster on the field. It might be tricky to get it on the field since it requires two level 8 monsters to summon, and its relatively low 2000 attack points might make it an easier card to take out, but it’s clear that Lancelot gives you so many options when its on the field that it can potentially turn the tide of any duel.

Continuing the evolution of the Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon that’s become a mascot for the fifth generation of Yu-Gi-Oh, this Shonen Jump subscription promo is now available for the world to play! Despite being a Fusion Monster, Beast-Eyes Pendulum Dragon can be Special Summoned without Polymerization if the fusion material monsters listed at the top of the card are on the field and in your control. Acting as a pure powerhouse, Beast-Eyes inflicts even more damage on top of its initial attack thanks to its effect, which inflicts damage to the opponent equal to the beast type monster used to summon it every time it destroys a monster. It won’t be long until those Life Points count down to zero with an ability like that!

Forge of the True Dracos is the first card that we’re previewing from the upcoming Shining Victories set, which gives a huge boost to Dracoslayer players. If you have a non-Pendulum Dracoslayer monster and a Dracolord monster on the field, you can play this card to shuffle all the cards you have on the field back in your deck to Special Summon one Dracoslayer or Dracolord straight from your deck, ignoring any special conditions that would make you unable to summon it normally. With the right hand and right monster, this card can essentially give players a do-over, allowing them to pull a game changing monster onto the field with ease.

And finally, we have Beacon of White, just in time for the revival of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon. As one of the most popular cards from the series’ original run and the trademark monster of Seto Kaiba, the card of a dragon that used to be a girl that was in love with his ancient Egyptian self, (hey, I didn’t write the stuff,) is set to come back in a big way. Beacon of White is just one of many new support cards that are set to debut in Shining Victories, but if this was all we got, it would be more than enough to make Blue Eyes competitively viable again. Although the activation requirements might be a stretch depending on your deck, the result is more than worth the trouble. If you have three or more “Blue-Eyes” cards in your graveyard, (meaning any card with that name in it,) you can special summon any one of them straight to the field. While no other monsters can attack, and it loses any effects it normally has, (which is mostly moot since most Blue-Eyes cards don’t have effects,) it gains the ability to attack in an amount equal to the amount of Blue-Eyes cards in the Graveyard. So if you were to say… use this card to bring back a Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, and you have three Blue-Eyes White Dragons still in the grave, that’s three attacks at 4500 each, more than enough to finish a duel! What’s crazy is, this isn’t where the support ends, and I’m excited to see what new tricks this old favorite will have when the full set releases.

So there you have it. If the base set wasn’t enough to get excited about, these promo cards really put it over the top. Which ones are you looking most forward to?

Attention Duelists! The Yu-Gi-Oh ‘Shining Victories’ Sneak Peek Is This Weekend!

by Josh JacksonApril 29, 2016

With only a week away until the next big Yu-Gi-Oh expansion, it’s time for another Sneak Peek!

On April 30th and May 1st, participating card shops will offer advanced sales of the upcoming Shining Victories set. Retailing at $20 a piece, each set comes with five packs of cards, a special promo card featuring one of the prominent new additions from the set, and a chance to win a play mat featuring the set’s cover card.

Promising a slew of new, exciting cards to power up a variety of decks, the most exciting aspect for me is the set promising to bring the Blue-Eyes White Dragon back to prominence. Featuring what’s described on the official website as Monsters and support cards that will, “…help crush non-believers of Kaiba,” it will be great to finally be able to put those old decks to good use, and just in time for the new movie that brings back characters from the original series! If the preview cards in the Breakers of Shadow Special Edition were anything to go by, let’s just say that the trademark dragon will be ruling the field once again once these cards are in circulation.

Planning on going to the Sneak Peek this weekend? Make sure to tell us what you pulled in the comments, and keep your eyes peeled for full impressions of the set once it’s released!

Geekscape Movies Reviews ‘Ratchet & Clank’

by Josh JacksonApril 29, 2016

Note: Check out our review for the game based on the movie here.

Look, I get it. Normally, when you hear that a film adaptation of a video game is on its way, you can hear the collective eye roll of the gaming community. At this point, there’s a laundry list of failed attempts, most of which suffer from Hollywood ignoring the spirit of the source material, expecting the name to sell tickets on its own. Yet, when Sony announced that they were dipping their toes in the waters of making their popular PlayStation games into feature films under the brand new PlayStation Originals banner, I was strangely optimistic. Not only because Sony was directly involved, but because one of my favorite platforming franchises, Ratchet & Clank, would be the first one to be released. With such lovable characters, a rich universe to draw from, and the developers at Insomniac directly involved with the creation of the film. I mean, with all of these elements in play, what could go wrong? Apparently plenty, because unfortunately, while the film is enjoyable, the spirit of what makes the games so beloved was lost somewhere in the transition between mediums, falling flat when it comes to some of its most defining characteristics.

Loosely based on the first game, Ratchet & Clank serves as an origin story for the legendary duo, as they get dragged into a fight to save the galaxy from the evil Chairman Drek, (voiced by Paul Giamatti,) who is attempting to create a new planet from the pieces of the worlds he is destroying. Ratchet, (voiced by his video game actor, James Arnold Taylor,) a Lombax with a penchant for all things mechanical, dreams of leaving his life as a mechanic to become a Galactic Ranger like his hero, Captain Qwark. When a defective Warbot escapes Drek’s factory and crash lands on Ratchet’s planet to warn the Rangers of the chairman’s evil plans, Ratchet comes across his ship and decides to take the miniature bot to his idols. Now named Clank, (brought to life by David Kaye, who’s voiced the character since his debut in 2002,) the new team embark on a quest to alert the Rangers while making their own mark on the galaxy in the process.

Unfortunately, this sequence in the beginning is one of the few instances that we actually see the two together. For a film about the team of Ratchet and Clank, a pair that are literally attached to each other for 90% of every game, they hardly share any screen time. In fact, the divide between them makes up the bulk of the second and third acts of the movie, creating a jock vs. nerd mentality within the Rangers themselves. As Ratchet attempts to become closer to Qwark, (despite his growing jealousy towards the Ranger to be,) and his film exclusive teammates in the form of the no nonsense Cora, (voiced by Bella Thorne,) and the trigger happy Brax, (voiced by Vincent Tong,) Clank is relegated to a support role alongside the tech savvy Elaris, (voiced by Rosario Dawson). Most of the adventure involves the field team ignoring the command center’s advice, keeping Clank far away from his partner during most of the biggest action scenes of the film. When the conclusion rolls around, it makes it hard to believe that these two share such a strong bond when they barely interact with each other. I can only imagine how much of a reach this will feel like for families who visit the theater who have no familiarity with the source material.

Speaking of the new characters, I was excited about the idea of expanding Qwark’s team to add an extra dynamic to his development. Sadly, this doesn’t pan out, because each one ends up feeling more like a walking trope than their own character, Ironically, the game based on the movie does a better job establishing Cora than the film does, where the only development, or establishment for that matter, comes from her unwelcoming comments towards Ratchet through the majority of the movie. The less said about Brax the better, since his personality begins and ends with wanting to blow stuff up. Elaris is the only one who has a semblance of a character, as the sympathetic brains behind the operation who’s good advice is ignored for her “shoot first, ask questions later,” team.

Oddly enough, the characters who have been established through 14 years of source material are the ones who are developed the most. As mentioned above, Clank spends most of the movie on his own, but he becomes capable in his own right as he squares off with Drek’s right hand machine, Victor Von Ion, (voiced by Sylvester Stallone). Ratchet loses the bad attitude of the original game for the better, and is further explored as a somewhat lonely orphan finding to find his place in the world. New to the film, his father figure, Grimroth, (voiced by our favorite TV father, John Goodman,) shines in his few scenes as someone who encourages Ratchet when no one else does, while being legitimately concerned about his foster son wanting to give up his life as a mechanic to essentially become a super hero.

Much like the games however, Qwark steals the show in almost every scene he’s in. His gradual shift from being the arrogant, yet well meaning hero to a jealous, insecure shell as Ratchet becomes more famous is much more satisfying than the original game, where his defining purpose in the plot just kind of happened. What does worry me about Qwark however, is that the way his story wraps up in a way that’s drastically different from the games, closing off his role in the sequels. Does this mean that this movie will be one and done, or does it disregard the sequel altogether? Considering one of the goals with this movie was to help the first game, (which was largely disconnected from the rest of the series,) tie in closer to the sequels, this was a confusing choice to settle on.

Making things even more interesting, is the introduction of Dr. Nefarious, (voiced by Armin Shimerman,) who originally didn’t appear until the third game. As Qwark’s arch nemesis, his inclusion into this origin story ends up serving as somewhat of an origin for the Dr. as well, diving deeper into why he develops a hatred for Ratchet and Clank. Plus, we get an interesting after credits scene that ties into the game that I won’t spoil here, but fans of the PlayStation series will want to stick around.

While the characters and story are hit or miss, (which isn’t helped by the writing, with jokes that fall flat more often than not,) that’s not to say Ratchet & Clank doesn’t shine in other areas. The animation is gorgeous, feeling like a video game brought to life. From the large cities to the crazy gunfights, the film never fails to wow us with its visuals when the movie calls for its more extravagant sequences. Staying true to the games, a variety of weapons spanning the entire series make appearances throughout the film, from fan favorites like Mr. Zurkon, to my personal favorite, the Tornado Launcher from Tools of Destruction. It may be true that some of the charm is lost in translation due to the iffy writing, but Taylor, Kaye, and Qwark’s Jim Ward have jut enough of it to make their scenes the highlight of the movie. Even Ion, Nefarious and Grimroth add some much needed depth to an otherwise thin plot, making the film more enjoyable in the process.

So while Ratchet & Clank is a far cry from what I would consider to be a great video game movie, it does right by the series just enough for me to want to see more of what these PlayStation Originals can do going forward. If we actually had more time to develop the partnership between the titular characters, (which is the core of what works about the series,) instead of feeling like their friendship was forced, we would be much better off. With the new cast feeling mostly paper thin aside from a few standout and a spotty script, these problems are somewhat balanced out by its crowd pleasing weapons, development of the established characters, and some interesting surprises for game fans and non-fans alike. Is Ratchet & Clank the perfect video game adaptation? No. But with so much development and charm left to uncover, I’m hoping we get to visit the Lombax and his robot pal again down the road.

Final Score: 3/5

Geekscape Talks To Bella Thorne About ‘Ratchet & Clank’

by Josh JacksonApril 29, 2016

At a recent press junket, we got to sit down and talk to Bella Thorne as part of a round table interview about her role in the upcoming Ratchet & Clank film. As Cora, a no-nonsense newcomer and one of Ratchet’s superior officers in the Galactic Rangers, you would think that one would be nervous about debuting as a new character in such a long running franchise. But the rising young actress couldn’t come off as more relaxed than she did, greeting our table with a plate full of fruit and the ability to shoot the breeze with everyone like we were longtime friends. Discussing everything from Cora to cats, gaming, and the pressure of doing the series justice as a new addition to the cast, it’s clear that Ms. Thorne knows exactly what she’s getting into.

Press: So I’m sure you’ve gotten this question a lot, but are you a big fan of the game?

Bella Thorne: I didn’t play the game, but I watched it growing up. I have a really weird thing about watching video games. I really feel like I’m playing, but my hand-eye coordination is really bad, but I have a brother who’s really, good, so I kind of just live through him. But he played his video games, but he’s more into like the… the really like, you know, we’re into like the Grand Theft Auto, and like, you know, Mortal Kombat a little bit of the more like… bloodier video games, I guess?

All: (laughter)

BT: So I did a lot of research on this one and then the whole entire time, I’m like, “oh my god, where is my character!?” I want to say I’m getting so butthurt, like I don’t see my character, in any of these YouTube videos, and it’s really making me mad. And then they told me that I actually got to be a completely new character to this whole franchise, and that was like a really big thing because I… I get to play with the big dogs, and they’ve been doing this forever and they really know those characters, so, you know, I had to run just as hard as they were.

Press: Your brother chimed in? Gonna give you pointers as a gamer himself?

BT: He did not. I told him and he was like, “oh, that’s dope dude!”, and went back on his computer.

All: (laughter)

BT: So he didn’t. But when I did it I was like, you know,hopefully they’ll ask me to be in the video game, like that would be dope! And then they did, which was AMAZING! Because I didn’t want to be like, “Oh my god, like please really ask me,” and then like, you know, kind of shove me in their faces, like please have me do the video game! So they just… They came to me on their own…

Press: So you’ve done some voice over roles before, but largely, your career has been live action, so how was your experience being in the recording booth and not having your body to work with as you normally do?

BT: You know, it’s funny because with acting, it’s all not… really good acting is not about dialogue. It’s really just about small moments that really make the whole entire scene and the intention completely different than even maybe what the characters are saying. Two characters could be saying, “I hate you, and I don’t want to be with you anymore!” But yet somehow, their toes are just inching more, you know, closer to each other. So a really big thing about acting is really just with your body. And so this was just all with my voice, which is a little bit tougher because I’m used to letting more of my body language do the work. But luckily… Doing body language with this really is a big thing too, because you think you could be saying like, something that really sounds cool and great, but then when you put your body into it, you know, there’s lots of different vocal tones that come with having your body literally push these words out. So I’m literally in the studio going… hey, if you think I’m just chillin’ there like voicing my character, I’m like, “oh my god, I’m going to fuck you up!” I’m like so in it! So it’s full on acting.

All: (laughter)

Press: So based on that, it sounds like Cora is a bit of a badass?

BT: Yeah, she is such a badass, and that’s why I was so hyped to play this character. Because in video games, usually, the girl is like always the one that dies first. It’s always like, the guy that’s shooting people all the time, but my character gets to boss them around! So when I was reading these lines, I was laughing so hard, because this poor main character is being told what to do by mine! And I was just like, “Good for you, girl!”

Geekscape: And on the subject of this character being brand new to the movie, did you feel any pressure going into it thinking how fans are going to react to it?

BT: Yeah! Obviously, yeah, because fans LOVE all of the other characters, what makes me think they’re gonna like mine? So that was hard, but I think that watching her, and watching everyone look at the clip that we just saw of her main part, (at the Wondercon panel,) was cool because I really feel like people are going to let her in because she’s such a bad ass in the film, and at the end of the day, she’s like kind of bitchy to Ratchet, but then she ends up liking him and Clank, and getting along with them. And I think it’s a big thing for the character, because you’re watching her going like, “Wow, she’s really bossing everyone around!”, and there’s one more character that’s a female in the film that’s not like that, that’s kind of just like, “oh, okay okay okay!”, and everyone tells her what to do. So I think people will look at this character and be like, there’s either a guy voicing that, it’s awesome, or it’s like, a bad ass girl with a really really low voice!

Press: As far as the whole process of going from live action to the recording studio, do you do all of your scenes alone, or were you able to play off the chemistry from some of the other actors?

BT: No, it’s unfortunate because you’ve got to do it alone. And so when they were talking on the panel, they (James Arnold Taylor and David Kaye, AKA Ratchet and Clank,) actually, for the first time in history, got to do it together for one of the things, and you know, I obviously wasn’t invited to this cool… Thing that they had without me!

All: (laughter)

BT: But it’s fine! I recorded all my stuff alone, and it was super easy. I’m pretty sure we did it in like… I want to say a good two hours. A good, solid two hours, we did all of my character’s stuff. I’m really good at ADR voice over type things. I’m like, really good at making my mouth speak when other people’s, you know… Mouths are speaking? So that was easy, but usually, it’s much harder, and then it’s like, you can’t really get into the character that much, because you’re too worried about making it look like she’s talking. Once you get over that stump, it becomes so much easier.

Geekscape: So would you say that’s the biggest challenge transitioning to voice overs?

BT: It’s definitely the biggest challenge. It’s like thinking… Like it’s also hearing your voice, which is a really big challenge. But what I like to think of is, oh, it’s not my voice! It’s like, “Oh my god, that really sounds like a character! That’s cool! I like that take!” Because you can literally hear the difference, and obviously, you guys are hearing my voice totally different from how I’m hearing it. But when you’re hearing it back, you’re like, “Ugh, I don’t like that, that sounds like me.” And then sometimes, you’re like, “That’s just the right amount of me, and a completely other character that we’re introducing.

Press: Now, we’re big fans of (director,) Kevin Munroe here. You’ve worked with a lot of filmmakers, can you tell us a bit about how Kevin Munroe was as a director to you during this project?

BT: Such a nice guy! He was totally down for me to be like, so bad ass. He’d be like, “[be] even more mean! Really give this character shit!” You know? Might as well, why not!? And it was cool, because I think he really saw me when I walked in, I had boots on and a leather jacket, and like, I’m just easily Cora. I’m just like, “That really is me!” I’m like a really big tomboy, so I think when he saw me, he was like, “Eh, let’s not give this girl too much direction, I feel like she’s gonna get in there and get down and dirty,” so it was really easy. We were kind of just chilling, and he would give me direction and I would be like, “Okay! Alright! I’m serving it, I’m ready!” But there wasn’t that much direction to give, especially since a lot of my lines are just yelling. There’s only so many ways you can yell at someone.

All: [laughter]

Press: These conventions like Comic-Con and Wondercon, they’ve evolved so much since they first started. How has your experience been attending them and meeting fans up close and seeing how passionate they are about [your work]?

BT: It’s cool to know, because a lot of people call it geeky and stuff, but it’s not geeky! You can be a geek in anything you do in particular. You can be really good at real estate, so yeah, you’re a geek in that because you’re the best fucking agent there is. And so when people are like, “oh yeah, those geeky… Wondercon, comic things,” I think it’s awesome! It just means these people are such big fans! That’s so cool! Like how I love cats, like, oh my god, my obsession with cats is unreal. I got a cat tattoo. I’m getting another one because this one [cat] just isn’t enough… on my body. I want to start a cat charity! I’m all about cats! So when people see my love for cats, they’re probably like, “Whoa whoa whoa!” But I see these people’s love for like,all these different movies and all these fictional characters, and it’s so cool! I love coming here and seeing people dressed up with crazy outfits and hair and make-up, and you know, they really wanted to go all out because they love that character. They’re awesome!

Press: Were there specific movies or TV shows that you geeked out over growing up?

BT: I wasn’t really allowed to watch TV too much growing up. I definitely watch it more now. Oh my god, I just started The Returned. *gasp* Have you guys seen The Returned!? That is so good! Me and (Bella’s friend,) BP, we just geeked out, and we watched it all day long, and we still need to finish the last episode. That is some good shit right there! So there are definitely some things that I like, loooove, like I really love. Plus, any movie with cats is like… I love it!

All: (laughter)

Look for our upcoming interviews with the filmmakers, the team at Insomniac, James Arnold Taylor and David Kay in the coming days, and check out our review of the game while you’re at it!

Wondercon 2016: Talking Adaptating Games To The Big Screen With ‘Ratchet & Clank’

by Josh JacksonApril 22, 2016

As the first of at least two films scheduled to release based on Playstation’s biggest first party titles, Ratchet & Clank has the potential to change the way we look at video game movies. These big screen adaptations have left gamers burned enough times that the audience is more than a little wary every time Hollywood decides to take one of their beloved universes, and turn it into something that often shares little in common with the source material. But rising from the ashes of such classic game to film moments such as that ridiculous first person scene in Doom, whatever the hell the Super Mario Bros. film was supposed to be, and anything associated with the name Uwe Boll, R&C is aiming to be faithful to the universe it took the developers at Insomniac 14 years to develop while leaving its own mark in the process.

From left to right: Bella Throne, David Kaye, James Arnold Taylor, Brad Foxhoven and Kevin Munroe

During the Wondercon panel covering the film, director, Kevin Munroe, and producer, Brad Foxhoven, discussed at length about how seriously they took the challenge of getting the spirit of the game right in the within the constraints of a 90 minute movie. When the team found out they would be working on a Sony project, they were big fans of the Playstation brand and would have been willing to work on anything they presented them. Sony initially gave the team Ratchet as a test piece before moving forward with an actual commitment to a film, but they ended up doing so well with it, the company ended up deciding to have the team work on expanding that test into the first Playstation film project.

To make sure the project would be led with the level of care it would need to bring such a beloved franchise like Ratchet & Clank to life, members from the team at Insomniac were brought in to oversee the movie’s development. Naturally, we can’t talk about these games without the plethora of weapons that the series has become known for, which is why Munroe and Foxhaven promise a few surprises in this department. Featuring certain favorites like the Buzz Blades, Combustor and Fusion Grenades in a brief clip, finding out what makes the cut is one of the aspects of the movie that we’re looking forward to most.

Despite being based on the duo’s origins from the original PS2 game, one goal that was aimed for was integrating the first chapter of the series with much of the lore introduced in later games, namely the Future line of games that started on the PS3. Because of this, some of the story elements would be changed to reference characters, organizations and events that originally wouldn’t appear until much later. When it comes to the game based on the movie, (that’s based on a game,) that version is based on the film from franchise favorite, Captain Qwark’s perspective, adding an extra layer to this new launching point.. How big these big screen changes will be remains to be seen, but with so much attention going towards creating an authentic adaptation, it’s looking like the final product will be in safe hands. Even still, the biggest focus will be on establishing the relationship between Ratchet and Clank, which has served as the backbone of the franchise since the beginning.

The most obvious change however, comes with the many new characters debuting in the theatrical version. While James Arnold Taylor, David Kaye and Jim Ward reprise their video game roles as Ratchet, Clank and Qwark respectively, the duo’s first nemesis, Chairman Drek, has been cast as Paul Giamatti. In terms of the film exclusive cast, John Goodman plays Grimroth, Ratchet’s father figure, Rosario Dawson as Elaris, the brains behind the Galactic Rangers, Sylvester Stallone as Victor Von Ion, Drek’s robotic bodyguard and antagonist to Clank, and Bella Throne as Cora, a no nonsense member of the Rangers who works alongside Ratchet. For those who might be worried that the Hollywood stars might not be as passionate about the franchise as the longtime fans are, Thorne was part of the panel and proclaimed many times how excited she was to get the role since her brother is a big gamer, while feeling the pressure to help make Cora’s addition a natural fit into this world.

With Ratchet & Clank releasing in theaters soon, what does the future hold for the team? While Sly Cooper is next in line for the big screen treatment, Munroe and Foxhoven are hoping to work on a Jak & Daxter adaptation if they got their choice. From what I’ve seen so far of their first attempt, I’m thinking that would be a project worth getting excited for.

From Gramercy Pictures, Ratchet & Clank will arrive in theaters on April 29th.

Wondercon 2016: ‘Star Fox Guard’ Feels Like A Full Fledged Game!

by Josh JacksonApril 22, 2016

In 2014, Nintendo had two mystery projects on display for the Wii U. Code named Project Giant Robot and Project Guard, both felt like exciting, new ways to use the Wii U Game Pad, but were too thin of an experience to feel like their own games. In fact, we predicted that these two demos would end up as mini games in a larger collection when we previewed the two projects. While Giant Robot has yet to resurface, Project Guard was revived as Star Fox Guard, a Slippy Toad focused pack in included with copies of Star Fox Zero. As a bonus game, Nintendo would have been able to leave the game as is and still would have left little room to complain. After all, how can you complain about a free game? When playing the final build at Wondercon this year however, and it’s immediately clear that the game has gone through a variety of improvements to make it feel more like a complete game in its own right.

In what’s essentially a tower defense game, Guard approaches the growing genre in a more unique way. With the TV showing a variety of gun mounted surveillance cameras while the Game Pad shows the map, camera locations and enemy positions, it’s up to Slippy to use each camera to fight off enemies before they reach the core of the map. This isn’t as simple as it sounds, since not only will you have to manage your cameras while trying to look at around nine at a time, but you’ll also need to hold powerful enemies at bay who can inflict status effects such as freezing and static, (most of which have been added since its 2014 reveal). Make too many mistakes, and they can destroy your cameras permanently.

Fortunately, (or maybe less so for the less social readers out there,) Guard has been presented as a multiplayer party game in each of its iterations despite only having one player support. The idea is that spectators in your living room will be able to watch the cameras with you, shouting out which cameras have enemies in sight while the player manages switching and shooting with the Game Pad. Friends will be a lifesaver when it comes to successfully defending your base, especially when the right advice can lead to you spotting waves of enemies you might have overlooked otherwise. Extra support actions like being able to unfreeze one camera by shooting it with another and destroying certain enemies first to avoid being overwhelmed will take more of the player’s attention, making friends even more welcomed.

Of course, you CAN play it by yourself, which presents a surprisingly high level of challenge, especially with later stages. This arcade style of game play where you’re competing for completion and high scores has the potential to become highly addicting, becoming further amplified by stubborn gamers like myself who would rather die a thousand in game deaths than ask for help. If nothing else, it will be the first time Slippy has been strong and independent.

While this might not be enough for a standalone retail release, Star Fox Guard looks like it will serve its purpose well as an awesome extra for fans who have waited so long for the team’s next adventure. Stay tuned for our full impressions of both Guard and Star Fox Zero once they are available for review.

Guile Comes To ‘Street Fighter V’ With Some Impressive New Moves

by Josh JacksonApril 20, 2016

Staying on schedule with their promised character per month DLC model, Guile has been confirmed as the next fighter to join the Street Fighter V roster.

Arriving as the only true “charge” character so far, (with Vega and Chun-Li having their moves either partially or completely changed to quarter circle motions,) the all-American family man returns with some interesting tricks up his rolled up sleeves. Most surprisingly, he will be the only character with a walking crouch. Called the “Faultless Move”, Guile can hold his down charge for his trademark Flash Kick while moving forward, finally giving us the chance to emulate the cheating CPU from Street Fighter II.

In addition, Guile’s V Skill and V Trigger enhance his Sonic Boom projectiles in ways that will let him control the field like never before. His skill is Sonic Blade, allowing him to launch a stationary version of his trademark fireball to either set a trap or keep downed opponents on the offensive. His trigger, called Solid Puncher, gives him the ability to throw out continuous Sonic Booms at varying speeds depending on the button pressed. While limited like all the other V Triggers in the game, this brief period will give Guile a huge space advantage, allowing him to control the field or extend combos at his will, on top of powering up his Critical Art.

Speaking of his Critical Art, the Sonic Hurricane from Street Fighter Alpha 3 and Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 returns as Guile’s go-to ultimate attack. Launching a large, stationary Sonic Boom directly in front of him, what better way to apply the pressure even further than with a large projectile to bring the opponent closer to you for big damage? Flash Kick fans might be a little disappointed that these new moves are all Sonic Boom heavy, but hey! You get a walking crouch, which sounds amazing!

In addition to Guile, the April update will come with some long awaited enhanced rage quitting penalties that lock frequent abusers out of the game for a set amount of time, and the Air Force Base Stage. At the asking price of 70,000 Fight Money, this throwback stage has all the same soldiers cheering you on, all of which have aged surprisingly well from their SFII appearance 25 years ago, but with a new coat of paint. Season Pass holders will get the stage for free as a thank you from Capcom!

Guile himself will be the standard 100,000 FM for new characters, but like Alex before him, he will be free for all players until Capcom finally gets the Zenny system up and running, which will serve as their exchange system for real money. Including his trials, story content and availability across all modes, you might want to take advantage while you can.

No official date has been announced for the release of the April update, but Capcom is promising it will be available by the end of the month.

Class Is In Session This May In ‘MegaTagmension Blanc + Neptune Vs. Zombies’

by Josh JacksonApril 20, 2016

Better late than never as they say.

Originally scheduled to release at the end of April, the follow-up to last year’s action spinoff, Hyperdimension Neptunia U: Action Unleashed, seriously titled MegaTagmension Blanc + Neptune Vs. Zombies, will now signal back to school season on May 10th.

Taking place in an alternate universe where the CPU and CPU Candidates of the main Neptunia games are all students in a school called Gamicademi, Lowee CPU, Blanc, takes center stage as her and her friends decide to make a zombie movie. But when the monsters in their film all turn out to really be the undead, the girls must band together once again to protect their campus, while getting it all on film in the process.

Featuring up to four player co-op, which is a franchise first, MegaTagmension looks to bring the pain with all the hack and slash goodness we found in the Action Unleashed, and cranking it up through the roof with more players, more goddesses, and more enemies to defeat. With newcomers like Plutia, Peashy, Uzume, and the debuting Tamsoft joining the fight, there won’t be a shortage of carnage when the game graduates to our PS Vita handhelds.

Check out our coverage of the original release for screenshots of the Japanese version. Who will you lead to Gamicademi greatness? Let us know in the comments, and keep your eyes peeled for more updates as they become available.

‘The King Of Fighters XIV’ Gets Two New Characters And A New Publisher!

by Josh JacksonApril 20, 2016

If you’ve been following the progress of The King Of Fighters XIV, you’ll know that this is looking to be a huge departure from the previous entry in the long running fighting game series, both visually, and mechanically. Now, we’re learning that publishing duties will get shaken up as well, since Atlus will be bringing SNK Playmore’s upcoming title to the West.

Promising over 50 characters out of the box, (as in before DLC. Take notes, Capcom!), a revamped netcode that will support three on three matches for a total of six players in the same match, online mentoring that will pair high ranking players with low ranking ones to teach new players the basics, a story mode, and new mechanics that aim to please veterans and new players alike, and we have one of the most ambitious fighters in a long time. With Atlus taking the helm as opposed to SNK publishing it themselves, this also means we’re more likely to get the game more exposure through the niche publisher’s dedicated fanbase.

If that wasn’t enough of a reason to be excited, we were also introduced to two brand new fighters who will be making their debuts in this fourteenth entry. Check out their debut trailer below and let us know what you think.

Will you be stepping back into the ring when The King Of Fighters XIV releases exclusively for the PS4 this year? share your ID’s with us in the comments!

Wondercon 2016: All-Range Mode In ‘Star Fox Zero’ Needs An Overhaul

by Josh JacksonApril 20, 2016

I’ve been lucky enough to try out Star Fox Zero a few times over its development, and my excitement only increased as time went on. With the game finally releasing this week as what could be the Wii U’s last big exclusive, (depending on if you want to believe that the next Zelda will be moved to the NX,) you would think that my hype would have reached its apex. It would have, until I played the Wondercon demo.

A lot is being said about the state of the game’s forced motion controls, which ask you to aim with the Wii U Game Pad’s gyro controls while steering with the left stick and pulling off maneuvers with the right. While I can definitely see why people would have trouble with this set up, which sounds like the gaming equivalent to patting your head and rubbing your stomach at the same time, I personally didn’t take long to adjust. What did become a problem however, is when the game switched to All-Range Mode, which is the term coined in Star Fox 64 for when the game switches from on rails dog fighting to being able to freely move in a 3D space. While I didn’t encounter too much of a problem while taking flight, this feature was something that I hoped would improve in previous demos, since Zero uses these sections as a chance to force first person cockpit view onto the Game Pad, while the TV shifts to a cinematic view that displays the entire battlefield, rather than focusing on what the player is doing. Once my time with the completed build ended though, I was beyond disappointed to learn that it got worse.

Wanting to experience the Landmaster for the first time, I tried out the desert stage, where more than just the control methods changed since the 64 days. Being forced to fly above obstacles while aiming with the game pad and keeping an eye on enemies through the big screen was confusing enough, but became close to second nature by the time the sequence was complete. Once the boss fight started and I had free range of motion however, and I had no idea how much more of a hindrance this would become. But when you take away the speed and mobility of the Arwing and plug in the awkward camera angles into the land stage, what should have been the climax of the stage ended up highlighting everything wrong with forcing your view into first person.

As the boss at the center of the stage bombarded me with smaller enemies and its own attacks while pulling me towards the center, I rarely had any clue as to what was going on. All I knew was my health was sinking, I was getting trounced by attacks, and I had no idea where any of it was coming from. By the time I turned the insanely slow tank around to take aim, I would ram into the boss for more damage because of its quick sand. Avoiding it would have been simple, except the cockpit view made it hard to tell how close I was to the middle. If you’re thinking the TV view will give you some semblance of an idea what was going on, think again! Because every time I looked up at it, the view was panned out with the main monster in the center, capturing every bit of the chaos so well that I had no idea where my tank was. Who thought this was a good idea!? To make it so you can’t see what you’re doing, and have the freedom of changing your view stripped from you for the sake of some stubborn vision of what the game should be?

Maybe all of this is for nothing. Maybe the final game will be better! But all I know is after crashing and burning, I’m finding myself far less excited about Fox McCloud’s long awaited return. Keep an eye out for our full review in the coming days and see if we have a change of heart.

‘Superdimension Neptune Vs. Sega Hard Girls’ Is Heading Stateside This Fall!

by Josh JacksonApril 15, 2016

If you thought that the upcoming MegaTagmension Blanc + Neptune Vs. Zombies was the only Neptunia news to get excited over, Idea Factory had one more announcement for us Vita gamers. Remember that game that we discussed last year that stars support character, IF, and turns Neptune into a motorcycle? Well, it’s heading stateside this fall, officially titled Superdimension Neptune Vs. Sega Hard Girls.

Developed by Felistella, (the team behind the excellent Re;Birth remakes on the Vita,) SuperDimension has IF and the goddesses of Gamindustri team up with the Sega Hard Girls, anthropomorphic versions of the Sega Genesis, (known in Japan as the Mega Drive,) Game Gear Saturn, and Dreamcast, each of which are goddesses representing their consoles. Created as a collaboration between Dengenki Bunko and Sega, (who came together last year to bring us the manga based fighting game, Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax, which featured Dreamcast in its story mode), the girls have starred in their own manga and anime adaptations in Japan. Naturally, this premise seems like a natural fit for the world of Gamindustri.

With Neptune tied up as a motorcycle, it’s up to IF to save history itself as the pages of from the Great Library begin to fade away. After teaming up with newcomer, Hatsumi Sega, the two must run, jump and crawl through each era of Sega history to preserve the past. With new abilities like class changing and Fever Time, even Neptunia veterans will have plenty to look forward to when Iffy’s adventure finally arrives.

Wondercon 2016: We Go Hands-On With Platinum Games’ ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants In Manhattan’

by Josh JacksonApril 15, 2016

When news hit that Platinum Games was working on a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game, was anyone surprised when the nerd stratosphere blew up with excitement? After all, Platinum is one of the premiere action game developers today, which was proven the last time they collaborated with Activision by way of Transformers: Devastation. Knowing what the team could do with our favorite turtles, we jumped at the chance to get our hands on the upcoming brawler at Wondercon. If there was any doubt in your mind that they could repeat the magic with another licensed property, rest assured. The game is great so far!

My biggest worry going into the TMNT: Mutants in Manhattan demo was that it wouldn’t be as unique as it could be. After all, regardless of how fun Transformers was, it was essentially a re-skinned Bayonetta. While there are admittedly few games you would rather have serve as the basis behind your game, there were times when the robots in disguise didn’t feel like themselves because of it. This is not the case with the turtles, with mechanics that felt all their own, while playing up to the strengths of the franchise.

Somewhat less reliant on combos compared to Platinum’s other games, Mutants in Manhattan focuses more on teamwork between the four turtles. With the option to switch between Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and Raphael on the fly, each one has their own set of attacks to unleash on the Foot Clan. To differentiate them even further, each one has their own set of special attacks that range from damage dealing onslaughts to support abilities like replenishing health with a pizza party. Depending on who’s in the fight, you can even unleash double team attacks to send the enemies packing.

As you would expect from the developer, the enemies aren’t exactly pushovers either. While they go down easily enough, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the multiple enemies coming at you at once, each one color coded to signify different attack patterns reminiscent to the Konami games of our youth. The turtles’ health drains quickly, so a handful of mistakes can mean your team might drop in numbers quickly. Perhaps keeping in mind that this game will likely be targeting kids first and foremost, it’s very easy to being fallen comrades back, especially since they’ll revive on their own if you hold out for long enough. Even if you all get defeated, a button mashing pizza eating mini game will revive everyone to the point where they were beaten. This might disappoint the hardcore crowd who enjoy the punishing difficulty Platinum is known for, but knowing them, there could be options to boost the difficulty in the full version.

Most surprising at all however, is what happens between fights. The city stage that I played had the turtles traversing New York in a more open ended way than we would expect from a beat em up such as this. While not completely free roam thanks to clearly defined boundaries, players will move from objective to objective in a non-linear way thanks to the city offering multiple paths. Going off course and searching a little closer can even lead to hidden items, so it’ll be worth it to explore every corner you can.

If I didn’t have enough reason to be excited about TMNT: Mutants in Manhattan, my time with the game made sure to leave me with plenty. Its co-op focused battle system, (whether you’re playing with someone else or not,) is intriguing while the addition of exploration was a welcomed surprise. The toned down difficulty might concern the Platinum Games faithful, but so far, their unique take on the turtles more than makes up for it.

Check back for our full impressions when Mutants in Manhattan releases on May 24th.