Tag: E3 2014

Geekscape Games: Hands-On With ‘Kirby And The Rainbow Curse’

by Josh Jackson

Nintendo’s E3 Digital Event was full of surprises, but few were as unexpected as the latest Kirby title heading to the Wii U.

As early Nintendo DS adopters can tell you, Kirby’s Canvas Curse was a bright spot on what was otherwise a painful start for the dual screen handheld. But although it used the touch screen as its primary control type to draw paths, tap characters and block obstacles for a a ball shaped Kirby, it wasn’t a mini game collection. It wasn’t a glorified tech demo either. To many a gamer’s surprise, it was one of the most innovative, challenging and fun titles the pink puff ball had been in for a long time. With a sequel on the way nearly 10 years after we all scratched up our handhelds with our frantic drawing, it was time to see if Rainbow Curse could carry over the magic that the canvas left behind.

WiiU_Kirby_scrn05_E3

Instead of using sprite based art, Rainbow Curse has opted to go with a claymation visual style, which gives a ton of charm to an already adorable series while making it stand out from the dozens of Kirby titles already on the market. Like its predecessor, the controls consist of drawing paths for Kirby as he rolls forward on his own. Getting creative with your pathways with tricks like drawing loops often lead towards hidden areas and bonus points that played into my overall rank at the end of the stage, but doing so is easier said than done since there are enemies and traps at every turn.

Tapping Kirby will make him charge forward, defeating certain enemies and destroying blocks in the process. For those times where your foes actually wisen up and use stronger blocks to hinder your progress, holding the stylus on Kirby will charge him up, allowing him to plow through stronger obstacles while doing his best Sonic impression. Keeping a close eye on the stages leads to additional treasure that can be discovered as well, so some well timed drawing is in order to get the most out of each world, especially for the completionists out there.

WiiU_Kirby_scrn01_E3

Eventually, stages get a lot more complex, especially with the water stage shown off in the demo. Using currents to move Kirby in the right direction, the paths drawn act as more of a barrier, keeping the star warrior safe from hazards and enemies that he would otherwise float aimlessly into. And when opponents get too big to fight with conventional methods, Kirby’s new Tank form turns him into a missile firing weapon of mass destruction, switching to an action shooter-ish play style that’s a departure from the standard path drawing. There’s a reason why the pink puffball is considered the strongest warrior in the universe!

Familiar, yet with some new tricks up his non-existent sleeves, Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is poised to bring us back to the greatness of its predecessor while making some fresh improvements to the formula. Still challenging, still adorable and still unlike any other game out there, here’s to hoping Rainbow Curse will continue to surprise us when its released in 2015 exclusively for the Wii U.

http://youtu.be/aH9znuWkdbI

New ‘Alien: Isolation’ Trailer Shows Off Its E3 Accolades

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Kari went hands-on with Alien: Isolation at E3, and one of the biggest surprises of the experience was just how tense the game can be.

It also doesn’t stink, which is almost a surprise after last year’s horrendous Aliens: Colonial Marines.

Sega has just debuted a new trailer for the anticipated game, and it’s one that shows off the title’s E3 accolades. It seems as though most outlets are genuinely excited for the game, and it’s pretty easy to see why: it looks terrifying.

Take a look at the Amanda-narrated (Ripley’s daughter) trailer below, and let us know what you think. Alien: Isolation hits PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC on October 7th.

Discover the true meaning of fear in Alien: Isolation, a survival horror set in an atmosphere of constant dread and mortal danger. Fifteen years after the events of Alien™, Ellen Ripley’s daughter, Amanda enters a desperate battle for survival, on a mission to unravel the truth behind her mother’s disappearance.

 

As Amanda, you will navigate through an increasingly volatile world as you find yourself confronted on all sides by a panicked, desperate population and an unpredictable, ruthless Alien.

 

Underpowered and underprepared, you must scavenge resources, improvise solutions and use your wits, not just to succeed in your mission, but to simply stay alive.

Geekscape Games: ‘Dance Central Spotlight’ Takes A Familiar Stage

by Josh Jackson

While everyone was talking about Halo this and Master Chief Collection that after Microsoft’s E3 presentation, all of that was drowned out for me by the announcement of a sequel to the best game for the Kinect in Dance Central Spotlight. After moving on to Fantasia: Music Evolved, (which was great in its own right if our E3 preview from last year has anything to say about it), and publicly stating that Rock Band and Dance Central were on hold for the time being, I was expecting to have to wait A LOT longer before we’d see the dance game take advantage of the Xbox One’s upgraded tech. Though on a smaller scale, I was excited to see the game make a comeback, and was one of the first I took for a spin at on the show floor.

Featuring five songs on the demo version, including Wake Me Up by Avicii, Talk Dirty by Jason Derulo and 2 Chainz, Show Me by Kid Ink and Chris Brown, Counting Stars by One Republic and Happy by Pharrell Williams, (as if you couldn’t escape that song as is), each one has all of the full body choreography you’d expect from the series, with old and new moves alike to put your dance skills to the test. While playing, I didn’t notice any real performance improvements based on the reportedly superior Xbox One Kinect, there were never any points where I felt like the game wasn’t picking up my movements, especially with so much going on in the background.

Dance Central Spotlight Screen 1

What I did notice however, was a dip in frame rate compared to its prequels. I get that this is a download title instead of a full release, and is a much smaller game, (promising 10 core songs on top of weekly DLC instead of the 30+ from before), but it was distracting to notice the game looking so choppy in comparison to the fluid animations I was used to. It doesn’t affect game play at all, but its a noticable downgrade compared to the games released last generation. While this game isn’t the only guilty party, this seems to be continuing the trend of supposed “next-gen” games that perform worse than titles released years ago.

Having said that, this may either be the case of a smaller title having a smaller budget or pre-production kinks that need to be ironed out. In the end, all I really care about is solid dancing with catchy songs that get my feet moving, and even with half the songs available on the demo, Spotlight has that in spades. Even with a smaller playlist, a larger emphasis on fitness routines and eight routines per song promises that we’ll get a lot more milage per song than in the prequels.

Get ready to plug your Kinects back in! Dance Central Spotlight is coming exclusively to Xbox One digitally in September.

E3 2014: Hands-On With ‘Guilty Gear Xrd: -Sign-‘

by Josh Jackson

It was around E3 last year when we brought you the news that a third Guilty Gear was on its way. How Arc System Works finds the time to make so many fighters at the same time, but its undeniable that Persona 4 Arena and BlazBlue both are heavily influenced by the game that put the developer on the map. Not to be outdone, Guilty Gear Xrd: -Sign- brings the series back, complete with a brand new look and the fast, frantic fighting we fell in love with so many years ago.

Featuring popular characters from past versions like Sol, Ky, I-No and Jam on top of a new, powerful character with Bedman, seeing it in motion left me feeling like Xrd just might be the most gorgeous 2D fighter that I’ve seen yet. Using 3D models that are as bright, animated and fluid as a 2D sprite, the game almost looks like an anime in motion. There were a few times that I had to double check to make sure the opening and victory screens were in-engine and not pre-rendered cutscenes.

Guilty Gear Xrd Screen 1

But aside from the flash and glamour that comes with the updated visuals, Guilty Gear is still as fast, fluid and fun as its always been, and the switch to 3D models hasn’t slowed it down one bit. Playing as the two cover boys, Sol and Ky, it took me back to years ago when the series was making a name for itself in the arcades and on the PS2. All of their moves, specials and instant kill attacks make their return as well as a few new tricks, all of which are faithfully recreated in this new engine.

Fighting fans, if you haven’t seen this thing in motion, you HAVE to check out the latest trailer and be blown away with the rest of us. Thankfully, playing the console version in person proves that the game plays every bit as good as it looks, so there’s no doubt that Xrd will be at the top of my list come this holiday season.

Guilty Gear Xrd: -Sign- is scheduled for a PS3 and PS4 release at the end of the year.

E3 2014: ‘Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call’ Hits All The Right Notes

by Josh Jackson

Final Fantasy has seemed eager to hit every genre possible over the last few years, but most of the spinoffs haven’t come close to being as enjoyable as Theatrhythm, the rhythm title that blended RPG elements with touch based music mashing to the beat of the best themes to come out of the legendary series. Now with a sequel on the horizon, Square Enix is hoping doing everything they can to make sure Curtain Call is bigger and better in every way, and based on their E3 showing, they’re on track to do just that.
If you’ve played the original, then game play will be immediately familiar. After creating a party of four characters spanning the entire Final Fantasy series, your team then attacks monsters to the beat of the music. Tapping, swiping the stylus or sliding it along paths depending on the prompt will build up successful combos, which makes your group stronger and results in bigger, better bonuses. Also making their return are the Field Music and Event stages, which involve the character traveling to a new area or tapping to the tunes of popular cutscenes respectively.
While I didn’t get a chance to try them in the brief demo that I played, new features will include a Vs. mode, an Airship Field Music mode, (like the original field stages, only with the fantastic airship music in the background), and a new Critical Hit Trigger power up, which increases the chances of getting critical hits during battle. Think Star Power in Rock Band, only with monster smashing!

 

Theatrhythm Curtain Call Screen 1

With multiple new modes, over 60 playable characters and 200 songs, is there any reason NOT to be interested in the upcoming sequel? If you loved the first one, missed it, but love the music of Final Fantasy, or you’re a rhythm gamer who needs a solid fix, this one is looking like more and more of a no brainer by the day. The Square Enix Store even has an exclusive limited edition for the hardcore fan! But regardless of which version you get, it’s looking like Curtain Call will surpass its predecessor in every way. What more can you ask for?

Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call will release exclusively for the 3DS on September 16th.

E3 2014: Will You Become The Hunter Or The Prey In ‘Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate’?

by Josh Jackson

Hunters throughout the West have sat back in envy as Japan has enjoyed the latest Monster Hunter title since late last year. While the idea that we’ll never get to see the standard version of the fourth game isn’t a pleasant thought to take in, at least it seems Capcom is cutting the crap this time and skipping straight to the Ultimate version.

Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate is the updated version of the original game that came to Japan, featuring giant weapons and even bigger monsters both new and old at our disposal. Coming exclusively to the 3DS, weapons like the Insect Glaive and Charge Blade join tried and true favorites like great swords and bowguns to help prove your superiority in the wild. Checking out the action in the latest trailer, it’s definitely looking like a hunt we won’t want to miss. Let’s just hope there won’t be a Ultra Hyper 2016 Edition down the road…

What monsters are you looking forward to fighting when Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate releases in early 2015?

 

‘Grand Theft Auto V’ Is Still Getting Online Heists, Rockstar Explains Delay!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Spring has come and gone, and we’ve still heard nary a word of Grand Theft Auto V‘s online heist component.

Rockstar today released a statement regarding the fact that none have been released (again, they were originally slated for Spring), but the developer assures us that the content is still on its way. Here’s what they had to say:

For those of you asking about other upcoming GTA Online updates, we have lots more in store coming your way soon. We know many fans have been eagerly awaiting the release of the Online Heists that we had planned to release for you this spring, and they are taking more time to create than originally anticipated. We are very sorry for the delay, and are working hard to bring them to you as soon as we can. Please know that we are focused as always on making the best possible content for you to play and we are thankful to all of you for your patience, understanding and support. Stay tuned for more information on that as well as lots of other ongoing content updates, enhancements and additions to the world of GTA Online that are on the way.

I dropped out of Grand Theft Auto: Online some time ago, but the inclusion of heists would definitely get me back into the game. This is what I imagined when they first showed off the multiplayer component, and what we have now, as fun as it is, is a far cry from what it could be.

Are you still playing GTA: Online? What’s your favourite thing to do in the title? Sound out below!

Online

E3 2014: ‘Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney’ Is Ready To Deliver Its Own Brand Of Truth!

by Josh Jackson

It’s been over three years since one little trailer brought the gaming community to tears, collapsing in sheer joy over the thought that the impossible was now possible. That trailer would bring two worlds together, more significant than anything that was going on in our collective lives at that moment. This trailer… was Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, a dream team of crime solving, mystery seeking, puzzle loving juggernauts that sent both fan bases into states of shock.

Then time passed… the game released in Japan without a whisper as to when, or even IF the game would be localized anywhere else. It wasn’t until a few months ago that a U.S. release was confirmed during one of the Nintendo Direct presentations, but it wasn’t until E3 that we FINALLY, have our own full fledged release trailer. Spoiler alert: it’s all kinds of awesome.

Taking place in a fantasy world formed by the pages of a magical book, Layton, Phoenix, and their assistants, Luke and Maya, are tasked with solving the mystery of the witch hunts. The trailer shows off tons of animated footage from the game in action. This comes with the territory for Layton fans, but the snippets of footage in Dual Destinies were never at this level of detail, even though the voiceovers are a little iffy for the Ace Attorney crew. Maybe it’ll be easier to get used to once we put more time into it?

Combining game play from both series, players will solve puzzles, seek out hint coins and solve mysteries with Layton, while Phoenix is shown battling witnesses and prosecutors in court as he proves his client innocent during the witch trials. Even the judge looks just like his modern day counterpart! Ah, some things never change.

Even though the game has been completed for awhile, we only have to wait a few more months before we can play the title ourselves and safely tread the Internet without fear of spoilers once again. Check out the trailer and tell us how excited you are about this team up finally finding its way to us on August 29th.

E3 2014: Examining The New Fighters Of ‘Persona 4 Arena: Ultimax’

by Josh Jackson

The idea of a long running RPG series turning into a fighting game isn’t all that unheard of nowadays, but it was still surprising to see the Persona titles get the brawler treatment. Still, with a continuation of two beloved RPGs combined with the fighting game mastery from the developers at Arc System Works, the original Persona 4 Arena ended up being one of my favorite fighting games. When a sequel was announced that promised to fill the roster with even more of our favorite party members, I couldn’t wait to get the chance to try them, which is why I played a few rounds at E3 to get the skinny on all the new combatants.

Yukari

20140618-093256-34376900.jpgMy P3 Waifu Is Back!

A fan favorite from Persona 3, Yukari has traded in her school uniform for a power ranger-esque getup, showing off her newfound profession as an actress since her game finished. Using wind attacks to draw opponents towards her spells while firing off her bow and arrow at lightning speed, her specialty is clearly the ability to control the field while keeping her opponents away. Even as someone who’s played fighting games for more than two decades, the quickness of her shots caught me off guard, proving that she’ll be a powerful foe once the game releases.

Junpei

20140618-091146-33106206.jpgIt’s a home run!

The bro of Persona 3. Junpei uses one of the most creative fighting styles I’ve ever seen, integrating his baseball background into his moveset with an “at bat” status that powers him up if he successfully hits opponents with his bat. Hitting moves runners up a base, while missing counts as a strike. Connecting with a super move counts as a home run, earning a run for your hit, plus everyone on base at the time. Missing too many times will eventually result in earning three outs though, which will remove everyone on your bases, so you’ll have to make each hit count. When Junpei scores 10 runs though, he goes into rally mode, significantly increasing his speed and power until he hits three outs. It’s ridiculous to explain and even stranger in action, but it definitely affected the way I approached his fights.

Ken and Koromaru

20140618-091146-33106394.jpgThe two fighter gimmick never gets old.

For those who have played BlazBlue, Ken and Koromaru are essentially like Carl and Ada, except Koromaru doesn’t move around like a sloth covered in honey. For those unfamiliar, this two in one character essentially plays like you’re controlling two people at once, with the buttons usually reserved for Persona attacks being mostly dedicated to Koromaru’s attacks.

The two allies fight in tandem, with Ken using his retractable spear to strike from a distance or pull enemies in while Koromaru hits hard from up close. Unlike most characters who fight in tandem with their Persona, but temporarily lose them if they’re struck a certain amount of times, Koromaru has his own small health bar. When it’s depleted, the pooch is taken out of the fight temporarily, forcing Ken to lose most of his combos and moves in the process. That’s not to say they don’t have a Persona at their disposal for additional attacks, but I found it to come into play far less than it does for the rest of the cast.

Rise

20140618-091146-33106473.jpgWho knew idols could be so deadly?

Rise is one of the most popular idols in the Persona version of Japan, and became a powerful supporting ally for Yu Narukami and the rest of the cast of P4. After somewhat playing a damsel in distress role in the first Arena game, she’s since upgraded her combat abilities to fight side by side with her friends for the first time.

Using her singing, dancing, microphone stand and her Persona, Himiko at her side, Rise ends up being a powerful addition to the cast. Relying mostly on traps and projectiles, she’s still dangerous up close thanks to her decent range, though it’s not suggested since her damage output seemed pretty low. Still, if played right, your opponents should have a hard time approaching her especially since her song abilities can cast a variety of status effects on her foe. All in all, it might take some time to learn the ins and outs of her play style, but she’s sure to become a favorite when mastered.

Sho

20140618-091146-33106568.jpgTeddie… You have nothing to smile about.

The new kid in town, Sho is an original character added to the Ultimax cast, who’s past and motivations are a complete mystery. What doesn’t take long to figure out however, is that he’s a vicious fighter who can do big damage in no time if his opponent is carelss. As the only character with no Persona, this gives him many more attack options for his aggressive rush down style, throwing out mix ups and combos with ease. Thanks to his dual swords, Sho hits hard, fast and is one of the most straightforward characters while still standing out as the only non-Persona user. His alternate shadow form however, introduces a Persona for him to use, making him even more deadly. By the looks of it, Sho has the tools to become a popular fighter real fast.

Shadow Characters

20140618-091146-33106886.jpgShadow Yukiko don’t need no man!

On that subject, almost every character has an alternate form thanks to the return of their shadows. The primary difference between the shadow and standard versions is that the shadows have more HP, do more damage and build up their super meter faster by landing hits, making them much more offense oriented. In exchange, they lose their awakening, burst and other defensive options, making them more ideal for someone who likes to bring pain instead of receive it. But with these lost abilities comes a new one, because the Shadow Rampage ability gives them unlimited meter for a limited amount of time, allowing them to do whatever they damn well please. Some of them, (like Shadow Teddy), even have new moves, like his ability to summon the giant, creepy Shadow Teddy from the main game.

Exciting? I think so. Arc System Works seems to be doing a great job of creating a unique, varied cast that even breathes new life into the characters from the first game. Who are you most excited to play as? Let us know below, and check back for more information on Persona 4 Arena: Ultimax and every game in between.

E3 2014: Hands-On With ‘Project Giant Robot’ and ‘Project Guard’

by Josh Jackson

When it’s announced that Shigeru Miyamoto is working on a new IP, people pay attention. The famed creator of Mario, Zelda and many more of Nintendo’s most popular franchises has a strong track record of releasing fun, innovative products. So when it was revealed that there would be not one, but TWO new IPs credited to his name, you just know we would have to try them out.

Starting with Project Giant Robot, the game puts players in the pilot’s seat of a giant mech. After customizing your colorful robot with a variety of parts that can be made as big or small as you want, it’s time to take it through the four in game missions the demo provided. Plodding through the city towards various threats, taking them out requires use of both your body and the buttons on the game pad.

ProjectGiantRobot

This physics based game’s unique control scheme is where Miyamoto really leaves his trademark on the game. Alternating the trigger buttons moves the mech, while the face buttons shoot your optional gun and the analog sticks swing the robot’s arms. The winner of each round is the one that can knock their opponent over, which can be difficult if your own mech is set up unbalanced.

Combining motion controls with the buttons, players will have to rotate their bodies with their punches, lean back and forth to regain their robot’s balance or risk ending up on the losing end. While the controls were a little much to get used to, once things clicked, the game was a lot of fun to play, and I’m excited to see what the final product might look like once the concept is fully fleshed out.

Project Guard is more of a multiplayer game, placing the player in a type of command center surrounded by gun mounted security cameras. Each camera shows robots that are trying to invade your base, and winning or losing is dependent on whether or not you can destroy a certain amount of robots before too many get into your base.

ProjectGuard

But it’s hard to keep track of 16 cameras all at once, especially when spread across the television. That’s where your friends come in, encouraging others to shout out which cameras are in danger. From there, the player will use the Game Pad’s map to switch to the proper camera and turn the robots into scrap.

Project Guard had its moments where it was really exciting and hectic, while encouraging crowds to back seat game with you. The experience was fun, but it’s hard to imagine this turning into a full fledged game, much like how Giant Robot seemed like it was just scratching the surface on what could be possible with the concept.

With that said, this is my biggest concern with these two demos. Rather than experiencing two individual IPs, I walked away feeling like they’re more likely to be two mini games that will be apart of a larger collection. While I have nothing against a collection of smaller games as long as they’re good, I’m not sure this is what most people had in mind when they were expecting a brand new Miyamoto game.

I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. Keep your eyes on Geekscape.net as we bring you the news on these two titles as well as the rest of what was on the E3 floor.

E3 2014: Hands-On With ‘Disney Infinity 2.0’

by Josh Jackson

The original Disney Infinity left a big impression on me, so much so that I considered it my game of show at last year’s E3. With the promise of multiple single player campaigns in the form of play sets combined with a nearly limitless level designing tool in the toy box, the possibilities seemed to echo the title. Much of these impressions carried over to the actual release, although my expectations fell short in certain areas, namely the same-ness of many of the characters, how bare bones some of the play sets felt and how the game initially promised to not need sequels while possibly replacing movie tie in games with Infinity content, (which was quickly proven wrong by the 3DS’s Olaf’s Adventure and the very game we’re talking about).

Still, the game had a ton of untapped potential that a sequel could capitalize on, especially because of Disney’s acquisition of giant properties like the Marvel universe. With that in mind, playing 2.0 was a top priority for me this year, both as a fan of the original and someone who was eager to see if Disney Interactive would adapt to the comic book universe or perish in a sea of broken promises and failure to improve. After an in depth playthrough of the game’s two play sets, I’m happy to say I’m leaning towards the former.

InfinityCap

To me, the biggest problem with Disney Infinity was that the campaign style play sets mostly felt like samples of what could be done in the toy box as opposed to fully fleshed out games, (aside from the Pirates set, most of what each was built from was ripped straight from Toy Box). With 2.0, this criticism has been fully addressed, giving us a huge open world city to explore as our favorite characters. The Avengers version of New York is promising to be more than twice as big as The Incredibles, with capsule toys, side quests and story missions still waiting to be found, all put into context by a full story penned by longtime Marvel scribe, Brian Michael Bendis. It’s a huge improvement from the opening and ending cutscene that greeted us at the end of the first game’s stories.

On top of that, the increased level cap of 20 allows us to unlock between 20 and 30 skills per character, which is a huge improvement compared to the original’s puzzling decision for level ups to mean absolutely nothing aside from unlocking new Toy Box parts. Making this even sweeter was how different each character felt. Firing off trick shots with Hawkeye, throwing down with Captain America, web slinging between buildings as Spider-Man or flying through the city at top speed with Iron Man felt distinctive, as opposed to many of the first game’s characters playing or feeling exactly the same. To top it off, the heroes each have a unique super move with varying in levels of awesomeness, (like Iron Man’s missile barrage vs Black Widow’s… invisibility turning? I know who I’m not playing as…)

InfinityHawkeye

Even the original game’s characters are getting skill trees when they’re transferred into the new games, although theirs won’t be as robust as the new characters being brought in. Still, the fact that they’re getting upgraded at all is a great way to reward players who maxed out their figures despite their lackluster move sets. Plus, maybe some characters can be more fleshed out this time, specifically Anna and Elsa. The developers obviously knew very little about since they were developed before Frozen was released, so let’s hope they can be done justice the second time around.

Joining the heroes will be new power discs that were on display for the E3 demo. Aside from the Toy Box backgrounds, perks and weapons that came with the blind pack DLC of the original, Marvel’s version will also include sidekicks who fight at your side for a limited time, and costumes for specific characters. Ever get the feeling that you want to play as Captain America in his First Avenger gear? Or how about black suit Spidey? Ever wanted to fight side by side with The Winter Soldier after he blew us away in the latest Phase 2 film? Now’s your chance, with these discs that feel like a lot more than just fluff. My wallet is going to hurt.

InfinityIronMan

On the mission front, both the side and story missions felt more involved, forcing me to travel through more of the city to accomplish whatever the goal was. Whether it was racing on Nick Fury’s bike to escorting a scientist to key points in the city as symbiotes were viciously attacking us, these missions made the game feel like a full fledged experience. And while some of the bonus quests I played were still ridiculously easy, some of them presented a nice challenge, like the web slinging missions that I couldn’t get better than a bronze in.

If someone would have told me I was playing the new kid friendly Marvel game and not one that’s attached to a world building simulator, I would have completely bought it. But to think that a game where the single player content is more of the side dish to the Toy Box’s entree plays so well surpassed what I expected after playing the first game. I’m not sure if it’s a testament to Infinity’s developers or a knock at the other guys when web slinging feels more fun in this spinoff than it does in a core Spidey title. My only complaints are that there were some massive bugs, causing mission sensitive enemies to teleport across the map, and that traveling with non-flying or swinging characters felt like a chore. Having to drive as Black Widow when Thor can zip from one end of the map to another in minutes leaves an unbalanced feeling.

Both areas are said to still be in development, so let’s hope these get patched up come September.

http://youtu.be/W1P3b4YU8so

E3 2014: ‘Disney Infinity 2.0’ Goes Ultimate With The Announcement Of The Spider-Man Play Set!

by Josh Jackson

Whoa, Disney Infinity 2.0 hasn’t been announced for more than a month and we already have our second play set on its way!

Scheduled to launch day and date with the Marvel Super Heroes starter pack, (which comes bundled with an Avengers play set already), early buyers will also get the chance to swing through New York with Spider-Man, starring in his own adventure alongside some of his amazing friends.

Centered around a plot by The Green Goblin and Mysterio to harvest Venom’s symbiote, Venom clones are running rampant throughout the city, and it’s up to the web slinger to stop this latest attempt to take control of the city. Thankfully, he’s not the only one who has arrived to stop the threat, with Nova, Iron Fist, Nick Fury and Venom himself joining the fight, complete with their own figures to display when you’re not playing.

The Spider-Man play set will come bundled with the wall crawler and Nova, while the other three will be sold seperately, likely as individual characters and in a set. While details on pricing, bundles and future characters aren’t known yet, I’d be willing to bet that it would cost around $35 like the play sets for the previous games. Plus, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Goblin and Mysterio bundled with Avengers villain, Loki, at some point. After all, Randy, Syndrome and Davy Jones were all released for the first game, so it wouldn’t be too much of a shock.

If you wanted to know more about the upcoming play set, check out the trailer below and tell us if you’re planning on emptying your wallet for the Marvel and Disney mash up. Both Disney Infinity 2.0 and the Spider-Man play set are rumored to release on September 23rd.

http://youtu.be/clajnwqBNr4

E3 2014: Geekscape Previews ‘BattleCry’

by Kari Lane

Bethesda previewed, BattleCry, their new free-to-play multi-player combat game at E3 and it looks bloody awesome! BattleCry will be a mix of melee and ranged fighting and will be a 32 player online game. It is going to be fast and fun where different kinds of players can jump in at any time.

BattleCry1

BattleCry is set in an alternate history where there is no gunpowder. Instead of going to war, countries send warriors to specific “war zones” to fight out there differences. The game developers wanted a very stylized world and were inspired by graphic novels. There is a wonderful contrast between the beauty of the environment and the brutality of the fighting. The world is also somewhat surreal to reflect the state your character is in – constantly on the verge of death.

 BattleCry3

Right now there are two warrior factions: The Royal Marines (British) and the Cossacks. There are three warrior classes within each faction: Enforcer (brute strength), Duelist (speedy and sneaky), and the Tech Archer (can play a cat and mouse game). By the launch in 2015, there will be two additional warrior classes. There are currently two supporting warrior classes as well: the Gadgeteer and the Brawler. Each class has a special ability and you can use adrenaline (which costs energy) to be essentially super human for a short period of time.

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There are many customizations for your character too. You can earn iron (currency) to alter your appearance and you will keep your character for each battle (no starting over every time). Eventually, you will be able to unlock both genders for all characters.

This game features an intimate 3rd person camera and you are able to move around slowly or go rather quickly. After the game ends, you can salute people who you felt played well. You get rewarded for saluting your opponents and they get recognition – it’s a win win situation.

If you are looking for a cool looking fast-paced game, then you will want to check out BattleCry!

E3 2014: Hands-On With Nintendo’s ‘Splatoon’

by Josh Jackson

Nintendo’s often accused of relying on their classic properties rather than creating new franchises like the days of old. While that’s never been true considering games like Chibi Robo, Endless Ocean, Geist, Magical Starsign, Wii Fit, Wii Sports, Excitebots, (kind of), and many others are real life things, what can’t be argued is that the company rarely displays them in a prominent light. That changed when a quirky little third person shooter stood tall in the sea of your Legend of Zelda‘s and Smash Bros. trailers contained in the Nintendo E3 Digital Event. Splatoon looked like a fun, creative take on the tried and true genre, so I had to jump on the chance to give the game a shot!

As a squad based team shooter, Splatoon‘s objective isn’t to shoot your opponents to death, (even though it doesn’t hurt to do so). Instead, the team has to work together to shoot their ink all over the floors of the battlefield, with the winning team being the one who can claim the most land with their team color within a three minute limit.

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Playing as Inklings, squids who can switch to a human form, these guys can transform between stages at will. Taking the human form is the only form where players can shoot, so this state will obviously get a ton of play time. Shooting efficiently is both the key to traversing the land and winning the matches, since walking through enemy ink slows down your speed significantly. This can be helped in a few ways, namely by using the bomb, the bazooka or by defeating opponents.

Using a bomb will splatter a huge area with paint, destroying any opponent who is in its radius in the process. These powerful weapons can only be used when your total ammo is nearly filled, so you’ll have to be careful how you decide to use it. After contributing enough to your team’s success, a meter in the corner fills until its fully charged, giving the player a temporary paint bazooka! This thing leaves a trail of paint when fired, covering an entire straight line of land and destroying any enemy Inklings that stand in its path. And of course, if you do destroy opponents, there’s a huge reward for doing so, with them exploding in a sea of your colored ink, claiming the area around them for your team.

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But of course, you can’t shoot without ammo, which is where the squid form comes into play. Transforming sinks your character into the ground, allowing them to fast travel through any ink your team controls while refilling your gun in the process. This works in a variety of ways, including stalking opponents Jaws style or avoiding battle when trying to move into an unclaimed area. And for those times you do get shot down, you can fast travel to the side of any teammate on the map, letting you jump right back into the fray if that’s what you’re aiming for.

My only issue with Splatoon was with the controls, since it used both the right analog stick AND the game pad to aim, throwing off the fine tuning of my shots. While it’s something I could get used to, I really hope you can turn off the gyro controls in the final version, or at least give us the option to use the Wii Remote. That thing was PERFECT for shooters.

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Aside from that small hiccup, Splatoon is looking fantastic, and can only get better as development continues. While the core experience feels a little shallow, I fully expect the main game to be much bigger and more fleshed out when it releases in 2015. Plus, I’ll always welcome fresh ideas that turn genres on their head, and Splatoon does just that. Challenging me to focus on shooting things other than the opponent? Sign me up!

Check out the game in action below and let us know if you’re excited by what you see!

E3 2014: Hands-On With ‘Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker’

by Josh Jackson

As I mentioned during the initial reveal, I was blown away by the idea of Captain Toad getting his own game in the style of his Super Mario 3D World stages. The brief 3D puzzle challenges that starred the adventure seeking mushroom were some of the highlights of an already incredible game, so seeing the Toad get the full release treatment can only mean that we’ll be able to see this 3D puzzle concept get closer to its full potential. So naturally, I just HAD to try it out on the E3 show floor, so when I came across it at Nintendo’s massive booth, was there any doubt that I wouldn’t play it to death?

Featuring a variety of levels with themes such as haunted houses and erupting volcano, I chose to try out the two that seemed different from the mazes that 3D World featured, namely the boss stage and the mine cart stage.

Starting with the boss, this level took the game play from the standard stages and put it in the context of Toad carefully advancing towards the exit while seeking out treasure along the way. Much like 3D World, Toad’s movement is limited to walking and climbing, with the added ability to pluck turnips from the ground for those Super Mario Bros. 2 fans out there. The boss stage in particular had moving ladders, platforms and walls that protected the adventurer from the fireballs the monster was firing at him. Staying safe and picking your spots make this more of a thinking man’s Mario game, which is what made these concepts more enjoyable in the first place. This is in addition to the diamonds that can be found in each stage as bonuses, replacing the green stars that could be sought out before. By the time the end of the stage was complete and Toad claimed the world’s star as his own, it was time to move on to the cart stage.

Captain Toad Screen 1Did I mention the boss level looks absolutely gorgeous?

For those fearing that there would be a lack of variety in Treasure Tracker, the cart stage turned that concern around really quick. After jumping into a mine car full of turnips, the Game Pad’s view changes to first person, where players will aim and shoot at obstacles, coins, and hidden diamonds. Acting as a rail shooting side quest to give us a break from the standard mazes, the smooth aiming made it feel like a natural fit in an already polished feeling title. I can’t wait to see how much more complex and challenging these stages can get once the game releases at the end of the year!

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While I doubt anyone was expecting Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker before E3 hit, I know I’m not the only one who became instantly hyped for this surprise title. After getting some quality time with the Captain, it’ll be even harder to wait until this holiday season to play the full adventure. If the demo had this much variety and creativity compared to its roots, just imagine what the final game will be like. Consider us sold!

E3 2014: Famed Developer Shigeru Miyamoto Working On New Star Fox; Two New IPs!

by Josh Jackson

Rumors have been running rampant about how the man who is considered the father of Nintendo, Shigeru Miyamoto, has been working on a new IP for Nintendo. On the other hand, fans have been begging for a new Star Fox game, one that hopefully brings the series back to the same level of prominence as Star Fox 64 in a way that every sequel since has failed to do. But at the closing moments of Nintendo’s E3 Digital Event, Miyamoto could be spotted playing a curiously familiar game on his Wii U. It wouldn’t be until afterwards that it would be confirmed. Yes, a new Star Fox game is in development alongside not only one, but TWO potential new IPs. Did that get your attention?

Details are nearly non existent in regards to Fox McCloud’s next adventure aside from the fact that it will put players back in control of the Arwing and Landmaster Tank, and will be on the Wii U sometime in the future. As far as the other two projects, Nintendo had a little bit more information to offer up.

Code named Project Giant Robot and Project Guard, both games have distinctive play styles that use the Wii U game pads functions in different ways. The former puts players in control of a mech, who will fight threats in a Tokyo-ish city. The latter has players defending a base against robots who are trying to invade our territory, and the only way to shoot them down is to switch between a variety of security cameras that are displayed on the screen.

Two new IPs and a game that fans have been begging for for years. It’s safe to say that everything went better than expected. We got some hands on time with both new IPs, so expect an in depth preview later today, but until then, sound off and tell us what other Nintendo franchises you’d like to see revived, and check back as new information on Star Fox releases over the coming months!

E3 2014: ‘Alien: Isolation’ Sends Shivers Down Your Spine

by Kari Lane

In Alien: Isolation, you get to play as Amanda Ripley, Ellen Ripley’s daughter. You start at an unmanned space station, not sure what has happened, and the reason behind the chaos is revealed as you play.

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An interesting fact: The technology in the game is the same as the technology in the original Alien film. The game is based on the world of Alien the movie and has the same suspense horror vibe.

In this survival game, your means of surviving are run, hide or fight – weapons/technology are not always reliable. One neat device you have is a motion detector but it is not always accurate. However, it is useful because you can scan the area ahead and get an idea if it is clear. During the game demonstration, Amanda would hide in a locker or a cabinet and have to wait for the threat to leave. You can even “hold your breath” in the game as the alien approaches your hiding spot. I really like this realistic approach to game play. There are many times when you want a character in a movie to just run and hide because you know their flimsy weapon will be no match, and now you can do that in this heart pounding game. Just watching the demo, it made you uncomfortable because it felt like you were actually there. It definitely is a thriller!

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Discover the true meaning of fear in Alien: Isolation, a survival horror set in an atmosphere of constant dread and mortal danger. Fifteen years after the events of Alien, Ellen Ripley’s daughter, Amanda enters a desperate battle for survival, on a mission to unravel the truth behind her mother’s disappearance. As Amanda, you will navigate through an increasingly volatile world as you find yourself confronted on all sides by a panicked, desperate population and an unpredictable, ruthless Alien. Underpowered and underprepared, you must scavenge resources, improvise solutions and use your wits, not just to succeed in your mission, but to simply stay alive.

The game’s release date is set for October 7th.

Has Walmart Leaked The ‘Disney Infinity 2.0’ Roster?

by Josh Jackson

After Disney Infinity 2.0 was announced last month, questions were running rampant as far as what Marvel and Disney characters would make the cut. Well, thanks to Walmart, we might have the answer… only months before it was intended.

Thanks to a recent preorder listing, the figures shown on the monster retailer’s website matches many of the figures that were recently confirmed at E3, bringing some credibility to the listing. From Guardians of the Galaxy to the recently announced Big Hero 6 and a few surprises in between, it looks like we’ll have a ton of new figures to collect throughout the next year and beyond.

If you don’t want to be spoiled, stop reading here. For everyone else, below are the list of figures that might make their way onto store shelves for the next Infinity release.

-Stitch

-Donald Duck

-Tinkerbell

-Hiro and Baymax from Big Hero 6

-Drax

-Rocket Raccoon

-A Guardians of the Galaxy Play Set, including Star Lord and Gamora

This is in addition to Groot, who was already announced, rounding out the Guardians. When including the recently unveiled Merida from Brave and Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty, (who’s likely in to promote the DVD release of her self titled film when it inevitably hits in a few months), the roster is getting pretty huge, which means a shrinking wallet for us!

While seeing a GotG or Big Hero Six set isn’t surprising in the slightest, seeing characters like Tinker Bell and Donald Duck are welcomed surprises, especially considering Goofy can’t be following too far behind. The game desperately needs more Disney characters, so it’s good to see that they won’t get completely overshadowed by the inclusion of Marvel into the franchise. Yet, there are still some glaring omissions, namely Ferb, who was teased back when Fineas and Agent P were shown for the original, but has yet to be revealed, and Aladdin, who is strangely absent for a game that contains Agrabah guards, the Cave of Wonders, and even Abu in the form of an elephant. I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re just scratching the surface of what 2.0 will have to offer.

So what do you think, Geekscapists? Do you like what you see so far? And who else do you want to see make the cut? Check out the latest reveal trailer and let us know what you want to see from the upcoming sequel.

Source: vinylmationkingdom.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYBb8JyjSsU

E3 2014: ‘Killer Instinct Season 2’ Brings More Classic Fighters Back Into The Fray!

by Josh Jackson

Last year, a revival of the classic fighter, Killer Instinct, was finally announced for the Xbox One, but the joy the announcement brought was short lived. With a free to play structure and a developer that wasn’t Rare, fans were worried that the third game that they had been waiting more than 10 years for wouldn’t be the title they were hoping for. About seven months have passed since the game initially launched, slowly releasing characters that could be purchased individually if the player chose to add them to the roster, the game has enough support to start a second season.

Revealed during Microsoft’s E3 press conference, Killer Instinct: Season 2 is off to a great start, adding original poster boy TJ Combo into the latest version of the fighter. In addition to promising Cinder as one of the returning fighters, Combo is living up to his namesake in the reveal trailer that can be viewed before. Watching him go to town on Fulgore definitely brings back memories, but will it be enough to keep people interested in the game?

While I’m excited to see more characters from the original be brought back, I’m wondering why staple characters such as these two weren’t in the game sooner. Plus, if the characters are going to cost the same amount as the ones in the past have, the title can end up going from budget title to costing far more than a typical retail game would cost. On top of having to pay for live to play it online and a thin single player component that didn’t last long, and this game is feeling more and more like a hard sell to me. With that said, nostalgia is making me eager to get a chance with these old favorites.

How do you feel seeing an updated TJ Combo getting back into the fighting ring? Are you still playing Killer Instinct? And how do you feel about the free to play structure? Watch TJ in action below and let us know who the next fighter will be!

E3 2014: ‘Dance Central Spotlight’ Returns To Center Stage!

by Josh Jackson

A few months back, the developers at Harmonix had stated that they were putting Rock Band and Dance Central on the back burner to focus on other projects such as the upcoming Fantasia: Music Evolved, (which we previewed at last year’s event), essentially signaling that it could be a long time before we see either game make a return. But while the former is still sitting firmly in retirement after the industry got over saturated with peripheral based music games, I’m thrilled to say that the latter is making its current gen debut, giving us a reason to plug our Kinects back in in the process.

From Harmonix’s press release:

The core Dance Central Spotlight experience comes with everything you need to kick off your dance party – best-in-class gameplay featuring fun and authentic choreography for up to two players, along with 10 hit songs to get you started. Customize your party soundtrack with more than 50 chart-topping hits, with new hit songs1 arriving each week.

Now with eight different dance routines per song to choose from, Dance Central Spotlight is the most accessible, customizable Dance Central yet! With an all-new voice command activated* “Practice That” mode, it’s easier than ever to master your moves. Simply say “DJ, practice that!” during a song to hop right into an improved rehearsal mode and perfect your dance moves alongside a real-time dance mirror of yourself to make sure you’re nailing even the trickiest choreography. Dance Central Spotlight also features an expanded Fitness Mode, with special dance routines authored to focus on Strength and Cardio!

The core 10 song soundtrack will include all-new tracks to the franchise, including:

  • “Wake Me Up” – Avicii
  • “Talk Dirty” – Jason Derulo ft. 2 Chainz
  • “Show Me” – Kid Ink ft. Chris Brown
  • “Counting Stars” – OneRepublic
  • “Happy” – Pharrell Williams
  • …and more to be announced soon!

This September, step into the Spotlight. Dance Central Spotlight, only on Xbox One.

With the title being a digital release, I definitely expected it to be smaller, but only 10 songs? We’ll need to find out more information on pricing as well as whether or not the 50 + songs I downloaded across the previous versions will somehow carry over to the new game. But even with fewer songs, promising eight routines per song, an improved fitness mode and a more seamless practice mode makes this package seem promising, and I’m thrilled to see the series make its grand return.

Will Spotlight be enough of a reason for you to play with Kinect again? Dance Central has consistently been the best, and well… the only game I’ve played that uses the Kinect as it was promised, so I’m hoping the supposed improvements of the Xbox One model make it even more of a blast to play. Check out the E3 trailer, and let us know if this will be in your download queue come September.

E3 2014: ‘Phantom Dust’ Rises From The Grave With This Surprising Xbox One Reveal!

by Josh Jackson

After the negative reaction to last year’s press conference and a slow start for the company’s latest console, Microsoft had to come out swinging at this year’s E3 press conference, namely with a focus on big game announcements. But amongst the usual suspects like your Halo’s, your Fable’s and your Forza’s, one game was revealed that I doubt anyone could have seriously expected. One from the early days of the Xbox before it was the household name the 360 turned it into. That game is Phantom Dust, and it’s coming back exclusively on the Xbox One.

Promising to bring back this world of magic to the new generation, Phantom Dust was a cult classic from the original Xbox. After enjoying a certain amount of niche success, the title largely floated into obscurity, only being brought up when it came to discussions about the best games that no one has heard of or games with terrible box art. I mean seriously, look at this! I remember seeing piles of these boxes when I worked at Gamestop and thinking how dull and generic it looked.

Phantom Dust Box Art

Still, the game ended up being much better than what was let on, and now the game will hopefully enjoy a much larger audience. But if there was ever a time for an HD remake, I think the original should definitely get the treatment. What better way is there to introduce the game to a group of gamers who has likely never heard of it, let alone play it?

Besides, it’s looking like you’ll want to get caught up, because the teaser for the new Phantom Dust looks like the game just might be a killer app for the new console. But could this mean that other forgotten Xbox properties like Kameo, Mech Assault, and Crimson Skies amongst others might see a comeback?

What games would you like to see revived? And does Phantom Dust seem like it will sway you into Microsoft’s arms? What did you think of the original? Check out the trailer below and let us know what you think!

E3 2014: Sony Teases Us With New ‘Uncharted 4’ Footage

by Josh Jackson

While it shouldn’t have been much of a surprise, I was a little taken aback when a new Uncharted title was confirmed to be in the works for the PS4 late last year. With the success of The Last Of Us, I fully expected developer Naughty Dog to fully focus their efforts on expanding that universe instead of returning to the world of thieves that was so thoroughly explored across three games starring Nathan Drake. Still, the thought of a new title in the popular series is easy to get excited about, which is why Sony closed their E3 press conference with a glimpse at what we can expect come 2015.

Seemingly taking place years after Drake’s last adventure, the treasure hunter is spotted waking up in the middle of the jungle while a conversation plays in the background between him and his longtime companion, Sully, explaining how they’re going to chase after one last job together. But Nathan is older. He’s been out of the treasure hunting game for years. It’s hinted at that he might not know what he’s dealing with anymore. But this last job will be an easy one… or will it? As Sully says, they’re never easy.

Some heavy themes are being hinted at with this fourth game, now titled A Thief’s End. Will this really be Drake’s final adventure? Or is the title hinting at a different tragedy is in the cards for one of his friends?

The trailer doesn’t give us a whole lot to go by, so let the speculation begin! What are you hoping to see in what can potentially be the last Uncharted game? Sound off below!

E3 2014: The PS4 Will Get A Taste Of The Crazy Mind Of Suda 51 With ‘Let It Die’

by Josh Jackson

Sony had a handful of exclusive games that they aimed to show off at their big E3 press conference, one of which was a new IP from one of the craziest minds in gaming today.

Let It Die is the latest game to come form notorious game designer, Suda 51, and his team over at Grasshopper Studios. Heading to the Playstation 4 in 2015, not much was shown in the short teaser trailer. With that said, there are at least three things we can assume.

One, the way that the names and health bars were next to each character as the camera focused on them makes it safe to assume that this will be some sort of online title.

Two, the game looks creepy as hell, which means we’ll hopefully be able to experience some tense game play when the game finally comes out.

And lastly, considering the logo of the game has the grim reaper on a skateboard, we won’t have to think to hard to understand that this game will likely be way out there. After all, if games like Killer 7, No More Heroes, Lollipop Chainsaw and Killer Is Dead are any indication, we know that this new title will be anything but normal.

Watch the trailer below and let us know if there’s anything we missed. Are you ready to experience what the next Suda game will have to offer? What’s your favorite game that’s come from his insanity/genius? Let us know, and keep an eye on Geekscape for more information on Let It Die as it becomes available.

E3 2014: Geekscape Previews ‘Bloodborne’

by Kari Lane

We got to take a look at Bloodborne, the newest and coolest action RPG game from director Hidetaka Miyazaki (Dark Souls and Demon’s Souls), and it looks fantastic! Bloodborne was developed by FromSoftware and is a new story, not a sequel to Demon’s Souls. Though it is a similar 3rd person RPG, everything else is “very original to this brand new title” (Miyazaki).

At E3, Miyazaki lead a presentation highlighting the game followed by a game play demo. One of the major themes of Bloodborne is the exploration of the unknown in a broad sense. They want players to explore and learn more about the world of the game. You will “venture into a deeply-layered universe laden with mystery cradled by a fresh game concept” (according to the presentation).

This game will feature truly perilous combat where each battle will feel like it is for your life!

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They made the enemies something to be truly feared. When you “face an enemy [you are] facing death” (Miyazaki). The euphoria of victory will be worth it after experiencing the “terror of spine tingling battles”(Miyazaki). Now, of course you will need to be equipped with weapons to face these horrific creatures head on. There will be trick weapons and firearms. During the demo, they stated that the game will have a unique online concept but they could not go into further detail.

The game play is a work in progress, but they are past the alpha stage. Miyazaki mentioned there might be flaws in the demo and to “please be gentle”; which got a few chuckles in the room. So, if you caught the clip going around online of someone who snuck footage of the game play, that is not the final version of the game.

The story takes place in the fictional city of Yharnam around the 19th century. The Victorian architecture is gorgeous! The look was inspired by Victorian gothic, with gas lamps, fog, well worn cobblestone streets and an overall sense of  a cold dark wet place. There is a curse, illness or plague that has transformed people into terrible beasts.

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The night starts off with a beast hunt but things are not as they appear. Your weapon is a transforming saw that can extend its reach for a powerful attack or you can use it as is. Also, you can transform it mid way through an attack. Weapons can be used in a variety of ways and it is up to the player as to how they want to use them.

Players will be challenged to think on their toes because enemies will not be placed statically; they will move around. This was demonstrated when the bell tolled and the mob that was gathered in the courtyard dispersed into the city.

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– Guns will not be useful for sniping but rather they are more effective at close range, like a shotgun.

– You can team up with another hunter (NPC). If you help them, they can come to your aid.

– The map is extensive and complex but you will be able to unlock shortcuts.

Following the game play demo there was a Q&A.

Though there is a horse in one of the trailers there is no mount in the game at this time.

Is there an easy setting? No. Even Miyazaki himself said he is not a master of action games but he does not want people to give up. He enjoys overcoming the challenge and he wants the same for you.

Miyazaki did not want to name the influences for the game because he felt it would give away hints of what is to come in Bloodborne. However, once the game ships he said he would say more.

How will death work in the game? They are still fine tuning the weight of the “death penalty”. They do not want it to be more stress on the player or be what stops a player from playing the game. Miyazaki explained that even though you die, you want to get back and challenge it, which is a delicate balance.

Will there be safe zones? Yes! “We will have a safe zone so you can have your zen moment” (Miyazaki).

Will stamina be a factor? Yes.

Hope you enjoyed our in-depth look at Bloodborne. This game looks stunning and definitely looks like a thrilling game to play!

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E3 2014: ‘Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair’ Coming September 5th!

by Josh Jackson

NIS America has released more details on the upcoming release of Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Dispair, complete with a brand new trailer for us to sink our claws into. Which of course means that it won’t be much longer before I can safely tread the Internet again without the fear of spoilers.
Picking back up a few years after the original title with a new cast of “ultimate” students, the group is on a field trip to a tropical island. However, this ticket to paradise quickly becomes a refresher course in the art of despair once Monokuma, the sadistic teddy bear from the original, returns to trap them all while isolated from society. The only way to escape? By getting away with murder.
Danganronpa 2 is technically a Vita remake of a Japan only PSP title, though like the first Danganronpa, this will be the first time that we’ll get the chance to play a localized version. Based on the trailer, class trials, investigations and the English voice cast will all return, which isn’t too unexpected. But the question remains… why is former rival, Byakuya Togami, trapped again, and why is he so fat?
The first game was released in February of this year, which was so good that I’d have to say that its dark premise, blend of genres and the way it so easily played with your emotions makes it an early contender for my game of the year. September is a long way away, which is plenty of time for Vita owners to get caught up, lest you risk yourself falling into ultimate despair come September 5th! For now, check out the E3 trailer and let us know if you plan on continuing with the series!

E3 2014: ‘Kingdom Hearts 2.5’ Is Coming… And It Came With Something A Little Extra!

by Josh Jackson

In the days preceding E3, Square Enix made official what the we all already knew. Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD Remix is coming, though we’ ll have to wait until the end of the year to get it.

Coming December 3rd, this collection will feature the Final Mix versions of Kingdom Hearts 2 and Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep, both of which will be the first time either game has been playable in the States, (unless you’ re one of those crazy importer types). Like the first HD Remix, this go around will feature a cinematic and text based retelling of Kingdom Hearts: ReCoded, which in my opinion will probably be more fun than actually playing it. On top of getting the ReCoded recap, in case the “HD” in the title wasn’t enough of a giveaway, both games will be getting a shiny new coat of high definition paint, justifying that new flat screen purchase you may have made.

I admit that I was very cynical towards 1.5 since I felt like it was holding back content for the sake of a second release. With 2.5 on its way however, I would be lying if I said the thought of replaying Birth By Sleep wasn’t exciting to me, especially since I’ve felt it was the best game in the series since the day I played it. On top of containing Final Mix content for two games rather than one like 1.5, this game feels a little more worth the price tag for returning Keyblade Masters. But does anyone else feel like Square is holding the portable games off for a third collection? And would you be that surprised?

Check out the launch trailer for Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD Remix below. Make sure to watch until the end for a cryptic surprise for everyone eagerly awaiting the third game, and keep an eye out for our hands on coverage at E3. Give your opinions on what it all means below, I could use an explanation!

E3 2014: ‘No Man’s Sky’ Wows At Sony’s E3 Press Conference

by Josh Jackson

If you followed our live blog, (and honesty, why wouldn’t you have?), it’s no surprise that we weren’t particularly wowed by Sony’s E3 conference. While it seems like the widespread reaction to their showing was generally tepid, one game shined as one of the definite standouts of the show. One that promised infinite possibilities in a living, breathing online world, giving us an endless amount of space to explore. That title was No Man’s Sky.
Watching the game’s E3 trailer showed off the incredible concepts that can be conceived by a group of passionate developers like the ones at Hello Games. Much of that passion spilled out through the words that were spoken as the game was unveiled to the world, showing off large, lush planets to explore. With a seemingly infinite space that we’ll be able to fly in and out of with seamless ease, the fact that every player will start with their own planet and can potentially interact with thousands of people as they travel through this growing universe means what we were left with was one of the most ambitious games of the entire show. See, who says you need a multimillion dollar budget, Hollywood voice actors or immature amounts of violence that tries too hard to be edgy to get gamers interested.
The only blemish that No Man’s Sky created on the conference as a whole was like the majority of Sony’s release list, this would only be a temporary PS4 exclusive, potentially coming to other platforms on a later date. Regardless, the scope, ambition and innovation the title is planning to bring is something that has to be seen. Watch Sony’s trailer from E3 and let us know if you’re as impressed as we are, then come back and let us know if you’re hitting the download button when No Man’s Sky releases in the near future.

E3 2014: ‘Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire’ Shows Off New Mega Evolutions!

by Josh Jackson

It looks like new Mega Evolutions are on their way!

A new trailer for the highly anticipated Pokemon remakes, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire surfaced during E3, giving us a glimpse at the remade Hoenn, shots of the new trainer designs, the confirmed return of Steven, the original generation III champion, and the revamped looks of Team Magma and Team Aqua, including the apparent return of each team being exclusive antagonists to each version.

Of course, all of that plays second fiddle to the new forms of some of our favorite Hoenn Pokemon. Joining the already released Mega Balziken, fellow starters Swampert and Sceptile are each getting new forms as well, complete with boosted stats and the Swift Swim and Lightningrod abilities respectively. Sceptile even loses its dark type in favor of dragon, doubling its resistance to electricity at the expense of gaining a double weakness to ice. It will surely be a valuable asset in double or triple battles, especially since electric doesn’t have too many weaknesses.

But you didn’t think the starters would be the only gen 3 Pokemon to get Mega forms, did you? Shortly afterwards, Nintendo revealed that Sableye and the as of now unreleased Diancie would be the next one to get mega treatment. Then of course, there are the cover legendaries, Groudon and Kyogre, who are being classified as taking on “primal” forms, which may or may not be different from full on Mega Evolutions. Not much is known on what might change, but we do know that Groudon will gain fire typing while Kyogre will grow twice as big with a Special Attack boost to boot. As if these monsters weren’t strong enough already!

The Pokemon series didn’t have a huge presence during Nintendo’s Digital E3 Event, but the information we did get was pretty big for those who follow the series. Now Blaziken isn’t the obvious favorite as the only Hoenn starter to have a mega form, the announcement of Sableye promises that it’ll be one of many new generation 3 Pokemon to get a mega form, and while it’s strange that Diancie will have a mega before she’s even released officially, it’s good to know that gen 6 is getting some representation considering it was the gen that started Mega Evolutions. Now, where’s my Mega Volcarona?

What other gen 3 Pokemon do you expect to get new forms? Breloom? Swellow? Tropius? Primal Rayquaza? I’d say Metagross is a sure thing since Steven is back, but what do you think? Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire will arrive on November 21st.

E3 2014: ‘Bayonetta 2’ Comes Bundled With The Original ‘Bayonetta’; Gets A Slew Of Nintendo Themed Costumes!

by Josh Jackson

The wait has been a long one for Bayonetta 2, the Wii U exclusive action title and follow up to one of the best action games of the last generation. Since our preview at last year’s E3, it looks like the game has advanced nicely, with the newest trailer showing off many of the huge battles, twisted environments and over the top attacks we’ll have at our disposal. But the crazy thing is that there was much bigger news that we got from the trailer.

At launch, every copy of Bayonetta 2 will come bundled with the original Bayonetta, which will be the first time the game has appeared on a Nintendo console. Giving new fans the chance to catch up with the series while being able to experience one of the best action games since Devil May Cry 3 is a welcomed surprise, one that’s been highly requested, yet strangly avoided by the official information coming out for the sequel. I guess they really were listening to us!

In addition, Bayonetta will receive a set of special Nintendo themed costumes for her to hack and slash in. Showing off her Peach, Samus and Link witch outfits, the Link one in particular showed Bayo putting her Master Sword to good use. Will there be more costumes, and will the rest of them have additional attacks and abilities?

It looks like a sweet package is getting even sweeter. Has the inclusion of these costumes or the original Bayonetta swayed your decision to pick up the sequel? Or even a Wii U altogether? We’ll finally get our chance when Bayonetta 2 releases this October.

E3 2014: ‘Xenoblade Chronicles X’ Stuns Us With Its First Full Length Trailer!

by Josh Jackson

After pressure from fans forced Nintendo of America to release Xenoblade Chronicles in the U.S., the game became a surprise smash hit. Since then, images and short game play videos have been slowly released under the title of X, the Wii U exclusive follow up to the popular RPG, but nothing solid as far as what we could expect aside from mechs. During Nintendo’s Digital E3 Event however, we were finally treated to a full preview trailer, showing us the world that will become ours to explore when the title is released. Now titled Xenoblade Chronicles: X, I’m sure I’m not the only one who felt blown away.

Large space battles, a world at war and plenty of JRPG melodrama seems to be the running theme throughout the trailer, all backed by some gorgeous visiuals and a fantastic soundtrack. Knowing Monolith Soft’s previous work, the game definitely gave off some Xenosaga and Xenogears vibes at certain points, which can only be a good thing, (as long as we don’t get hour plus cutscenes like the former made famous).

Combining that mech action with the large open world of its predecessor sounds like it could be a must play experience, but even with the trailer answering many of our questions, some still linger. How exactly will the combat system play, or will it be just like Xenoblade like early game play trailers have suggested? How much of the game will take place in space and how much will be on land? And with the title revision, does this game tie in to the last game, or is the name only for branding purposes? The very end of the trailer suggests there could be a link, but we’ll have to wait a little longer to know for sure.

Xenoblade Chronicles: X is slated for a 2015 releases. Check out the E3 trailer below and let us know if you echo my sentiments.