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E3 2016: ‘Tekken 7’ Promises To Kill A Main Character

by Josh JacksonJune 21, 2016

Most people say that they don’t care about the story when it comes to their fighting games. I am not one of those people. While discovering more about my favorite characters through their endings has always been a motivation of mine, few storylines over the years have endured as long as the war between Kazuya Mishima and his father, Heihachi. After numerous false deaths, fake outs, revivals and clonings, Bandai Namco is promising that the upcoming Tekken 7 would be the final battle between father and son, dubbed the Mishima Blood Saga. When you consider that Street Fighter‘s Akuma is part of the story on a mission to kill both of them, we have plenty of reason to believe death will stick this time.

Usually, crossover characters are bonuses, generally separate from the story presented in the main game. This isn’t so with Tekken 7, since Akuma’s purpose for entering the King of Iron Fist Tournament is to honor a promise he made to Kazumi, Kazuya’s mother and Heihachi’s ex wife, vowing to kill them if their war ever got out of hand. Considering a demon as powerful as Akuma owes her a favor, it’s no wonder that the Mishima matriarch serves as the big bad this time around. In battle, Akuma feels like an authentic Street Fighter character, having his own Super Meter, super movies, fireballs, and special attacks that can be strengthened in their EX versions.

Not to ignore the rest of the cast, each of the characters that make up the nearly 30 character roster, (which includes five newcomers aside from Akuma,) have the unique fighting styles and combos you would expect from the Tekken series. The biggest additions to combat this time around are the changes to the Rage system, with two new types of attacks that each fighter has at their disposal. Activated once a fighter’s health drops below a certain point, Rage doesn’t provide as much of an attack boost as it used to. Instead, new Rage Arts give the characters a one time use special attack that can help turn the tide of a losing battle in exchange for the use of the Rage for the rest of the round. Ranging from powerful super attacks, to full on transformations in the case of characters like Kazuya, and you’ll have a whole new dynamic thrown into the competitive mix. When considering how environmental damage, juggles and destructible floors already come into play, you’ll have plenty of ways to try to take out your enemy before they can use their Rage Art.

If you do find yourself on the defensive and need to create some space, the new Power Crush attack should go a long way to help you out. Somewhat similar to Focus Attacks in Street Fighter 4 or Counter Attacks in Pokken Tournament, these attacks can absorb damage while allowing the attack to push through, even when getting hit. As someone who has found themselves on the wrong end of a long combo string in the past, I’m more than willing to give this new attack a shot despite changing the game’s dynamic somewhat. After all, there’s no fun in getting beaten by long combo strings without a way to fight back, which is an issue the Power Crush is trying to alleviate.

All in all, Tekken 7 both looks and plays like a dream, making the wait for its early 2017 release date that much harder to bear, (Kuma?) Topping off the improvements to the story and battle mechanics with the best visuals the series has seen to date, complete with dramatic slow motion knockouts and the coolest Vs. screen I’ve ever seen, it’s good to see the team putting the Unreal Engine 4 to good use. If you haven’t seen the Tekken 7 story trailer from Microsoft’s E3 press conference, watch it here, then let us know what you’re most looking forward to when the final chapter in the two decade long father-son battle is finally released.

Tekken 7 will release for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Windows early next year.

E3 2016: Christmas Comes Early In ‘Dead Rising 4’

by Josh JacksonJune 21, 2016

If you haven’t seen the game play trailer, check it out here!

With each new Dead Rising game, the zombie beat em up finds new ways to get even more insane each time. Being able to craft weapons and mount guns onto vehicles in previous games was insane enough, but what happens when you throw in a super powered Exo Suit, Christmas themed weapons, and a city that’s much larger than any one before it? You get Dead Rising 4, which might have been the most fun I had playing a game throughout the entire E3 convention. Oh, and did I mention selfies?

Dead Rising 4 marks the return of Frank West, who has stepped aside as the series protagonist since the original game graced our consoles in the early days of the Xbox 360. Deciding to return to Willamette, the same city that housed the mall that served as the first game’s setting, our favorite zombie slaying reporter arrives just in time for Christmas. Unfortunately for him, another zombie outbreak plagues the city, forcing Frank back into action as he battles the undead with a ton of new weapons to play around with. The best part? Each one is just as crazy as you would expect.

Going all in with the Christmas theme, most of the new weapons featured in the free for all demo included a grenade launcher that shot exploding tree ornaments, a pair of giant light up presents that could be used as boxing gloves, and a candy cane crossbow to name a few. There’s something satisfying about beating down hundreds of zombies with giant presents, or any way to tear them apart in humiliating fashion. Speaking of which, you can’t have Frank West without needlessly taking pictures of everything in the middle of the apocalypse, which is photography makes its big return. Attempting to take scary, violent or even sexy pictures is still as strange as ever, but as recent years have taught us, you aren’t really apart of an incredible moment if you don’t take pictures of yourself there. With this in mind, Frank can now take selfies, adding a hilarious touch to an already over the top game, especially when you start changing his facial expressions with the analog sticks.

But lethal Christmas gifts, weaponized cars and electric go karts aside, Frank’s biggest weapon this time around might be the Exo Suit. By putting this on, not only does he look like a male version of Capcom’s forgotten P.N. 03, but he gains a huge boost of strength in the process. Suddenly, the world becomes his weapon, allowing him to pull parking meters out of the ground and using them as clubs, punch cars into the distance while mowing down any zombies that are unlucky enough to be in its way, and use weapons that would otherwise be too heavy to use. These games have never shied away from being absolutely silly, which is why this suit felt like a great addition to already insane game.

Keeping in mind that Willamette will be several times bigger than Dead Rising 3, and will include the ENTIRE mall from the first game as part of the game’s open world environment, all while promising more zombies on screen at once than any game before it, and is there any reason not to be excited for when Dead Rising 4 releases for the Xbox One and PC in time for the holidays? With so much carnage to look forward to, we can’t wait to find Frank West under our trees, as the series’ original zombie slayer returns to take back his town. Who’s excited!?

E3 2016: ‘Gravity Rush 2’ Soars As Part Of Sony’s E3 Lineup

by Josh JacksonJune 21, 2016

I have not been shy over how much I love Gravity Rush. The PlayStation Vita exclusive that recently got ported to the PS4 remains one of the most creative, thoroughly satisfying games I’ve played in a long time, which is why I couldn’t be happier to find its sequel, Gravity Rush 2, on the E3 show floor. Sure, you have your Horizon‘s and God of War‘s standing in the spotlight, but can they Kratos or Aloy Gravity Kick enemies from 50 feet away? I didn’t think so. Thankfully, Kat’s only gotten better since her last adventure, and her familiar skill set was on full display.

While it was recently announced that the Gravity Queen would have multiple forms of gravity manipulation this time around, the demo only featured her skill set from the first game. If that sounds like a complaint, it’s far from it, because shifting gravity to pull Kat in different directions while both navigating the much larger city or attacking the returning Nevi threat is as satisfying as ever. After a brief tutorial explaining the controls, it was off to our first few missions, as the perpetual do-gooder proceeds to help the citizens of the new town she finds herself in.

One of the biggest complains lobbied at the original was its unreliable lock-on mechanics, leading Kat to often miss despite centering her flying kick or item toss right at her target. The most obvious improvement while playing the second game however, was that this problem no longer exists. Gone are the days where using her spiral attack results in hitting one or two enemies before aimlessly flying off into the distance, because all of her attacks, from the spiral to the kick, follow any nearby enemies for the duration of the attack. Throwing items in the environment at flying Nevi is even more viable this time around as well, thanks to Kat having a much easier time picking up multiple item. Unfortunately, hitting enemies with these objects is still an issue, not because of the lock-on, but because enemies had a bad habit of hiding behind obstacles for long periods of time. This meant spending way too much time trying to find the perfect position lob the large benches and chairs I was grabbing without them smashing into a tree. I normally would have said “screw it” and went for the kick, but this was part of the tutorial, so I didn’t have a choice.

Another small flaw I noticed in this early build was an increased amount of slowdown, which is surely the price being paid for the much larger, more vibrant city. The visuals themselves look even more incredible the second time around, with NPC’s that look like they exist outside of accidentally being launched by your gravity powers. Protecting items looks like it will still be a popular theme, since it was the only full mission in the demo before it drew to a close, but doing so will always be welcomed if it means beating down more Nevi. Especially when animations for moves such as Kat’s ground kick combo look so much more fluid this time around.

No, it’s not perfect, and is a bit rough around the edges, but I have high hopes for Gravity Rush 2 so far. Slowdown and aiming issues notwithstanding, the game looks and plays even better than before, with the gravity powers retaining the satisfying feeling they delivered back in 2012. With the promise of new ways to manipulate gravity coming to the final version, how could we not be excited?

Gravity Rush 2 will be available exclusively for the PlayStation 4 in 2017.

E3 2016: ‘MeiQ: Labyrinth Of Death’ Lets Us Customize Mechs In Trillions Of Ways

by Josh JacksonJune 21, 2016

If you’re tired of getting your ass handed to you by brutal dungeon crawling RPGs that tend to overwhelm you with powerful enemies, which often creates a situation where the only real challenge it offers is whether or not you can stay awake long enough to level grind to an appropriate level, then MeiQ: Labyrinth of Death is looking like the game that might turn your attitude around. But don’t be mistaken, that’s not to say it’s not challenging. From what I could tell after watching the game in action, it’s quite the opposite. What makes MeiQ stand out however, is its encouragement to let the player customize their Guardians, mech like machines that serve as your first line of defense against the many monsters these dungeons house, without worrying about how a bad combination will cost you hours of progress.

Idea Factory’s upcoming RPG looks familiar at first, opting for a first person view as we explore a grid based map, uncovering secret rooms, hidden treasure and tough enemies along the way. Small improvements for genre wide issues such as auto turning so you won’t run into walls as often are welcomed on the navigation front, but it’s when your team starts a battle that the real highlights shine through. Each Guardian is paired with a Machina Mage, a spell caster with her own HP and MP to help take down enemies within a traditional turn based battle system. Oftentimes, the abilities that the mage can use can work better than the Guardian’s can, or a weakened mech might need to take a backseat while being healed by its user.

However, you might want to be careful when using your Mage, because doing so exposes her to potential damage. A key difference between your party members is that a Guardian can be revived. If all of your Mages get knocked out, it’s game over, even if your Guardians still stand. Managing when to use who looks like it will be a major component to how strategy will come into play when braving the most dangerous labyrinths. But if you do screw up and get KO’d, the good news is that there’s no penalty. Aside from being warped back to the beginning of the dungeon, any experience and cash you found since your last save will be retained.

Pushing forward and completing these dungeons promises to be worth it though, since beating bosses and finding hidden items are just two of many ways you’ll be able to find new parts for your Guardian, allowing you to customize them in seemingly countless ways. Not just acting as a cosmetic change, each part will alter their abilities, stats, strengths and weaknesses, allowing you to create the perfect party member for any situation. Of course, you have to find them first, which is why I can see MeiQ becoming an obsession for Vita owners over who can build the strongest team of machines. Not to be outdone, Mages can also unlock costumes, including free DLC outfits based on Idea Factory and Compile Heart’s other titles, Hyperdimension Neptunia and Trillion: God of Destruction.

As you can see, there will be plenty to discover when MeiQ: Labyrinth of Death arrives for Sony’s PlayStation Vita this fall. Who’s up for some mech building? Let us know in the comments below!

E3 2016: Relive Your Favorite Fillers In ‘Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2’

by Josh JacksonJune 21, 2016

It turns out messing with time has its own set of repercussions, as we’re set to find out in Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2. In the first game, we took our custom characters and inserted them into key moments in Dragon Ball Z history to stop an evil time traveler from changing history. Since that battle came to its conclusion however, it turns out we screwed things up more than we realized. It’s because of this that the Supreme Kai of Time decides the only way to fix it is to bring in MORE warriors to square off against DBZ’s best, which is where we’re reintroduced to the game world.

Taking place in the new hub world of Conton City, which can hold up to 300 players online at a time in real time, the team at Dimps developed this sequel with fan feedback at heart, looking to fix what didn’t work in the original while improving on what it did best. Players will once again create their own custom warrior by choosing between the human, Namekian, Saiyan or Frieza races, and do battle with some of the most iconic fighters in anime history. Allowing our characters to freely move between iconic locations like Planet Namek and Frieza’s spaceship among other areas, they weren’t kidding when they promised us a bigger, better Dragon Ball experience.

With such a huge hub world to navigate, players will be able to do a lot more when they’re not fighting this time around, with side missions and mini games to help you unwind after an intense round of screaming and charging up. Some of these modes missions will call back to some of the more obscure moments of the anime’s run, including the ability to drive a car. Why you would ever need to when you can fly as much as you want both in battles and in the hub is a mystery better left unsolved, but either way, nothing beats racing your friends online to see who the best driver in the DBZ universe is. Much like that time where Goku and Piccolo tried to learn how to drive with comical results, you too can struggle to live a normal life as a super powered fighter. And say what you will about Goku’s strength, but did he ever get his driver’s license? That’s one you’ll always have over him. Other Capsule Corp gadgets were promised, hinting at plenty of distractions to keep us busy when we want to give peace a chance.

But as you know, Dragon Ball Z is all about the fighting, and Xenoverse 2 will have us covered on that front. Promising to run at 60 FPS across all platforms it’s available on, it will be an impressive sight to see considering how battles can switch from being in the air to on the ground and underwater in a matter of seconds. Streamlining battles seems to be the goal this time around, with a Homing Dash to close gaps between opponents faster, the Burst Aura Dash, which lets you dodge attacks while flying forward, and curving Ki Blasts which not only look more like the show, but help ensure that launching them won’t end up being an endless back and forth. With so many energy beams being shot, punches being thrown, and vocal cords being shattered from all the ki gathering, we’ll be happy to see this consistent framerate maintained despite everything that goes on in your typical fight. New characters like Future Gohan, Turles, Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan Goku and Golden Frieza will make their debut as well, making it looks like we’ll have plenty of ways to put the game to the test when it releases at the end of the year for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.

What are you most looking forward to in the next big Dragon Ball Z game? Let us know in the comments!

E3 2016: Back Stabbings Abound In ‘Civilization 6’

by Josh JacksonJune 21, 2016

Even if you’re not a PC gamer, chances are you’re familiar with the legendary Civilization franchise, the turn based strategy series that asks players to take their own set of people and lead them from humble tribes to world superpowers over the course of centuries. After five other games and seemingly countless expansions and spinoffs, how do you improve such an established series when the sixth entry rolls around? At 2K’s E3 showing of Sid Meier’s latest, potential world builders will have to sleep with one eye open as long as their neighboring countries have anything to say about it.

As expected, would-be leaders will once again create a nation from ancient times until the modern era and beyond, all while negotiating with neighboring countries for resources in the hopes of benefiting both. New features include being able to build individual districts within your nation, with each bringing various levels of prosperity to your people. The video features everything from military bases to festival grounds and everything in between, ensuring your people are happy, prosperous and protected at the same time.

Then again, you aren’t the only country vying for power, so as your advancements begin to eclipse your neighbors, they might begin to have negative feelings towards your growing strength. So before you can think about launching rocket into space, you’ll have to keep an eye out for any potential attackers who could burn it all to the ground. Keeping the somewhat cartoony tone of the previous entries, the video we were shown explains this conflict by having Cleopatra attack the player’s modernized superpower and attempting to destroy its key districts. By investing enough resource into their defenses, the player’s country was able to retaliate with attacks by land, sea and on foot, leveling the opponent’s key districts while receiving minimal damage themselves. From there, we would have the option to destroy their country, or assimilate it as part of our own, which could prove useful when it comes to rebuilding the damaged areas from the battle and expanding their might at the same time. It’s these kind of decisions that will separate powerful leaders from temporary lands who will be forgotten by history.

Git gud.

All in all, Sid Meier’s Civilization 6 looks as in depth and rewarding as ever, with new mechanics that will surely keep longtime players on their toes. Civ players, what do you think of the new features so far? Let us know in the comments!

The world will be yours to control when Civilization 6 launches for Windows, OS X and Linux on October 21.

E3 2016: ‘Superdimension Neptune Vs. Sega Hard Girls’ Shines The Spotlight On IF

by Josh JacksonJune 21, 2016

Years of loyalty means something in Planeptune. After being a side character in the very first Hyperdimension Neptunia game back in 2010, IF, (or Iffy as her friends call her,) has moved up from wandering adventurer and guild leader to main character! In Superdimension Neptune Vs. Sega Hard Girls, Iffy leads the charge alongside newcomer, Segami, against the Sega Hard Girls as they fight to protect the history of Gamindustri.

If you’re unfamiliar with who the Sega Hard Girls are, the characters are human incarnations of Sega consoles that have been featured in various manga, anime and game projects in Japan. So naturally, having them integrated into the Neptunia universe is a perfect fit. Seeing as this game is heavily built around the former console manufacturer, the Sega based CPU’s will be the only ones to face off against the Hard Girls. So if you’re hoping to see Vert renew her relationship with Iffy, or even Noire and Blanc return after the release of their own games, you’re out of luck. However, I’m all for Plutia, Neptune, Nepgear and the newest CPU who debuted in this year’s Megadimension Neptunia VII, Uzume Tennouboshi, getting their time to shine. Even if our typical protagonist is a motorcycle this time for some reason.

But Neptune becoming a two wheeled vehicle isn’t the only change coming in this crossover RPG, since the battle system takes on some interesting new mechanics compared to the mainline series. Developed by Felistella, the team behind the excellent Re;Birth remakes for the PS Vita, the battle system looks nearly identical at first. Once you start playing however, longtime fans will notice how much has changed with IF in the lead. The typical Guard Break system has been replaced with a standard set of normal and special attacks. Adopting a turn order system similar to games like Final Fantasy X while retaining the free movement gameplay that the series is known for, who goes first is determined by how much you attack. Each character can attack as much as they want until they fill up a meter that prevents them from acting any further. Going crazy and beating your opponents into the ground might not be the best way to go though, because the more you attack, the longer you’ll have to wait until your next turn comes up. The last thing you want for your adorable party is to become completely helpless while the enemies grind your health to zero.

As we know, it wouldn’t be a Neptunia game without crazy transformations, and Sega Hard Girls will be no different. The thing is, Iffy never got a cool form like the CPU’s in past games. As the star this time around, that’s all about to change. Acting in battle will also fill up your Fever, which allows you to literally jump up and grab the extra power to perform a Dream Fusion in the middle of a battle, (from a gem that resembles a Chaos Emerald no less.) With Iffy sporting an awesome red jacket to go with her new blonde hair, and Segami being able to take the form of the Sega Hard Girls as the game progresses, (which includes Game Gear, Mega Drive, Sega Saturn and Dreamcast for those keeping track,) the girls will be playing with power when we’re finally able to play through their journey to keep history from falling apart.

With brand new worlds and environments to explore, game references that go so far back that even the hardest of the hardcore might miss out on them, and a greater emphasis on exploration to go with the updated battle system, I’m really looking forward to how this crossover is going to play out. Between getting to see IF in the lead role, the Sega Hard Girls making their first non-cameo appearance in a Western released video game, or playing with some fan favorite Neptunia CPU’s, here’s one more reason to be a Vita owner when Fall rolls around. Now, where’s our Vert game!?

E3 2016: ‘The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild’ Is Even Better Than It Looks

by Josh JacksonJune 21, 2016

Nintendo took a huge gamble by making their entire E3 2016 lineup consist of one game, even if that game is as big as the next game in the Legend of Zelda series. Yet, if there was any doubt as to whether or not that risk would pay off, all of it vanished as soon as the trailer for the officially named Breath of the Wild graced thousands of screens around the world. I mean, Link hunting? Link cooking? Link setting fires to an open field, that was only a fraction of what seemed like miles of forest to explore? From how different the game looked while somehow looking so familiar at the same time, it truly looked like something that needed to be played to have a full grasp on what this was. Luckily, we got to find out for ourselves after we braved the insane lines on the E3 show floor to discover that Link’s next adventure maintains its spirit in the midst of such fundamental change.

Playing through the first half hour of what will be the final game, I was most relieved by the fact that the game just starts! Ditching the long, excitement killing opening village sections that have become progressively more of a drag as the games went on, Breath of the Wild throws you right into the action after a short cutscene, where Link is seemingly awoken from a long slumber to save Hyrule once again. Once you find a few boxes that contain the tattered rags that serve as your starting outfit, stepping out of the cave and approaching a cliff that shows off the incredible view of our new Hyrule is the perfect way to give you an idea of how much you’ll get to explore right off the bat.

From that point forward, the world is yours to do what you want to do in. This insane amount of freedom somehow manages to keep from being overwhelming thanks to the constant rewards you find throughout your explorations. The map, both on the mini map or on the full map found on Link’s multipurpose stone tablet, the Sheikah Slate, make it abundantly clear where you’re supposed to go to advance the story, whereas any discoveries you make that can’t be resolved at that point in time can be labeled with over half a dozen stamps to serve as reminders. This is good news for those who just want to run around, since there will be so much to find throughout the enormous map. In the first 10 minutes of my time with the game, I managed to meet a mysterious old man who pointed me in the direction of my first temple, found a hidden water sprite while diving into the water, (and was rewarded with a rare item as a result,) hunted wild boar for cooking materials, found a rusted sword at the top of a stone tower, and gathered plenty of wood for future cooking.

Eventually, it was time to buckle down and continue with the quest at hand. Once I followed the directions provided, I found an area that had a slot for the Sheikah Slate to be plugged into. Once placed, a giant tower rose from the ground, carrying Link up with it. Triggering this tower was a major key towards quelling the evil power that has engulfed Hyrule Castle in the distance, serving as one of many that needed to be discovered throughout the adventure to uncover the strength Link needs to have a fighting chance. In my excitement, I dove off of the tower, only to learn that this game is much more unforgiving than previous versions. If you were used to being able to just roll through a large fall, you’ll be in for a big surprise when your hearts empty out. Too bad the old man from before was holding on to that snazzy glider from the original trailer. He offered to exchange it for an item found in a dangerous cave, but my time came to a close before I could find it. Knowing that this demo was only a fraction of what the full map will look like is hard to imagine, especially since it seems like it would take hours just to explore what we were given.

Yes, it’s true that Breath of the Wild is wildly different from its predecessors, which is obvious from the moment the game starts. Wielding a variety of weapons such as clubs and axes instead of swords and shields, all of which can break if overused, having custom outfits that need to be changed depending on the climate, having cooking and eating being the only way to recover health, items like bombs now acting as runes, which can be used an unlimited amount of times, and enemy camps scattered throughout the field with varying enemy difficulty are just some of the most obvious examples of the new direction the game is going in. But its biggest strength is how none of the Zelda style is lost, even with such fundamental changes. All of the features I’ve mentioned feels like you would expect a Zelda game to feel, to the point where all of this feels instantly familiar despite being so different. This is helped by familiar elements making the jump to the next game, like the fully orchestrated versions of its classic music, abundant amounts puzzles and treasure chests, and the return of Skyward Sword‘s stamina meter, which is now used for manual jumping and climbing as well as sprinting.

So for every horse jacking, slow motion arrow shot or meal cooked, this is still the same Zelda we’ve fallen in love with all these years. And we wouldn’t have it any other way. Despite some consistent slowdown when the camera is centered on the full environment, (which is often,) Breath of the Wild has quickly jumped to the top of my most anticipated game list, especially when it will also be on the presumably more powerful NX. What are your thoughts on what you’ve seen so far? Share them in the comments, as well as the rest of your E3 highlights as we press on with our coverage from the show floor.

E3 2016: New ‘Super Mario Bros’ Amiibo Announced Alongside ‘Mario Party Star Rush’

by Josh JacksonJune 20, 2016

The Nintendo Treehouse presentation was full of surprises, one of which included Mario Party Star Rush. The next entry in the long running party game series will be exclusive to the Nintendo 3DS and plans to shake up the admittedly stale formula by separating characters on the board rather than keeping them confined to a shared vehicle, and having players all move at the same time instead of waiting for everyone to finish their turn. But most importantly, we’re getting new Amiibo!

Seven new characters are joining the Super Mario Bros line that accompanied Mario Party 10 last year, three of which are never before released. Aside from Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Rosalina and Wario getting new poses outside of their previously released Super Smash Bros. versions, Waluigi, Daisy and a glow in the dark Boo are making their Toys To Life debut. Waluigi in particular has a passionate cult following for some reason, so there’s plenty to be happy about when it comes to this announcement. Personally, I really want the Boo.

Check out the trailer below and see the Amiibo in action. Are you interested in the shake ups the game will present, or are you all partied out? Let us know in the comments!

E3 2016: ‘Rhythm Heaven Megamix’ Revealed AND Released!

by Josh JacksonJune 20, 2016

It’s been too long since we’ve had a chance to play a new Rhythm Heaven game. Feeling the need to rectify this, Nintendo announced the next game in the addicting minigame series, Rhythm Heaven Megamix, during their Nintendo Treehouse presentation. Oh, and it’s out now!

From the minds behind the WarioWare franchise, Rhythm Heaven consists of dozens of music based mini games that range from conducting interviews, to singing with a choir and playing Ping Pong. It sounds mundane on paper, but with the crazy characters, charming music and adorable animations that give the game so much personality, Megamix is promising to be even bigger and much better. Featuring new games alongside popular picks from the Game Boy Advance, DS and Wii versions, experiencing the insanity of the game with friends will be even easier thanks to up to four players being able to join in with one copy of the game. StreetPass battles and bonus games that you can unlock with strong performances look to round out what looks like an already packed game, and it doesn’t hurt at all that the wait for the game is non-existent.

If you haven’t played one of these games before, this is looking like the perfect entry point. At $29.99 on the Nintendo eShop, the online store just got a lot more interesting. Are you planning on jumping back into the rhythm, and what minigames are you hoping return?

E3 2016: Sasha Banks, Ultimate Warrior and… JOHN CENA Are Confirmed For ‘WWE 2K17’

by Josh JacksonJune 20, 2016

Immediately righting one of the biggest wrongs of last year’s WWE 2K16, Sasha Banks has been confirmed as being part of the roster in the upcoming WWE 2K17 via painting!

After a slew of criticism was leveled at the previous game for not including the fan favorite “Four Horsewomen,” including Sasha, Becky Lynch, Charlotte and Bayley, despite having the biggest NXT roster of developmental Superstars to date, being in the midst of the company’s “Diva’s Revolution” reboot of their floundering women’s division didn’t help matters much. After the controversy of inconcequential characters like Blake and Murphy getting in ahead of the most popular women in the company, it’s good to see that the developers are quick to ease any leftover concerns their fans might have. Plus, if Sasha is confirmed, it won’t be long before the other three girls are too.

While not as surprising, The Ultimate Warrior and John Cena were both confirmed at the 2K booth as well, with longtime WWE artist, Rob Schamberger, painting their images live as what has to be one of the most creative reveals we’ve ever seen. Not bad at all considering you’re working while surrounded by tens of thousands of people!

Who else do you hope makes the cut in the upcoming wrestling title? With legends like Goldberg on their way, it doesn’t look like anyone is off the table.

E3 2016: Three New Pokemon Revealed In ‘Pokemon Sun’ And ‘Pokemon Moon’

by Josh JacksonJune 20, 2016

If 721 Pokemon wasn’t enough for you to catch, get ready for three more!

Revealed during the Pokemon Sun and Pokemon Moon Nintendo Treehouse demo, we were able to meet Yungoos, Pikipek and Grubbin. Seemingly some of the first Pokemon we’ll meet by filling that Rattata, Pidgey and Caterpie role, each one has its own unique typing and abilities to help them in battle. Yungoos for example, is a Normal type that has either the new Stakeout ability or Strong Jaw, which increases the strength of bite based attacks. Pikipek is a woodpecker that falls under the typical Flying / Normal typing, with Keen Eye or Skill Link as its possible abilities, the latter of which is especially useful since it ensures that multi hit attacks will always strike the maximum of five times. Lastly, Grubbin is a Bug Pokemon with the Swarm ability, making it more likely to run into wild Pokemon in the field.

Check out the trailer below to see them in action, alongside the official in game confirmation of the Mythical Pokemon, Magearna, who gets a Special Attack boost when its partner faints in a multi battle thanks to its Soul Heart ability, (and is a perfect way to strengthen its signature move, Fleur Cannon,) and an overview of the new Battle Royal battle type! What are your thoughts on the first of many new monsters we’ll be able to catch?

E3 2016: ‘Pokemon GO’ Release Month Revealed Alongside Pokemon GO Plus Accessory Pricing

by Josh JacksonJune 20, 2016

During Nintendo’s three day Treehouse streaming event, more details surfaced hinting at when we can expect to catch em all for real with Pokemon GO, the upcoming free to play mobile game that uses augmented reality technology to detect and catch Pokemon in our actual surroundings.

While a specific release date wasn’t mentioned, July seems to be the time we could expect the final game to be released if the details surrounding the Pokemon GO Plus accessory is anything to go by. Priced at $34.99, the pocket sized device will light up whenever a Pokemon is nearby, allowing you to use the button on it to throw Pokeballs without having to use up your phone data or pull out your phone every time you want to seek out new characters. What’s even better for 3DS players out there, is the confirmation that Pokemon caught in GO will be transferable into the main games some time in the future. During this portion of the conversation, it was revealed that the Pokemon GO Plus would release in July, right after the release of the app.

Knowing that, it seems like we’ll be getting the game sooner than expected, especially since Nintendo and The Pokemon Company have been quiet with the details up until this point, even as the game began a second round of beta testing a few weeks ago. With the game right around the corner, are you excited to finally be the Pokemon Master you were meant to be within the confines of reality? Comment below and let us know!

We Shall Sail Together. Check Out The ‘Sea Of Thieves’ Cinematic Trailer!

by The_aczJune 18, 2016

Last week, Microsoft held their annual E3 Press Conference, and with it, they finally rose the curtain a bit more on Rare’s anticipated pirate adventure game Sea Of Thieves.

The cinematic sheds a bit of backstory onto the game and hints at exciting features that you’ll be able to experience such as ship battles, treasure hunting, and of course, kraken battles. All this to the beautiful tune of a sorrow song very reminiscent of the sea chantey What Do You Do With A Drunken Sailor? While the game has no solid release yet, studio head Craig Duncan has confirmed that they want to put the game into closed beta soon so that fans can finally experience it. Sea Of Thieves will launch for Xbox One and Windows 10 in the future.

E3 2016: Watch the Insane Trailer to ‘Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE’!

by J.C. MarquezJune 16, 2016

What happens when Nintendo and Atlus join forces to create an RPG game based on elements from Shin Megami Tensai and Fire Emblem? You get Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE–a game jam-packed with style, color, music, and so much anime-styled nonsense which makes this writer absolutely giddy with joy. Those expecting a story akin to that found in Fire Emblem: Birthright or Fire Emblem: Conquest should be prepared for something completely different. Emphasis on the word ‘different’.

Alright, here’s the premise: an inter-dimensional evil has invaded modern-day Tokyo. Because of this threat, the city is overrun with monsters and–wait for it–a ‘barrage of music’. That’s right, folks. Somewhere in the depths of space-time, there’s a dimension where Nickleback reigns supreme and is out to destroy our way of life. The only way to avert certain doom rests on the proverbial shoulders of a gang of fluorescent hair-colored teens who, based on their style and rhythm, can summon the aid and powers of certain Fire Emblem characters.

If you’ve played any game from Atlus, this kind of plot is absolutely normal. When one has played Disgaea, Persona, Code Princess, or any games from Atlus for that matter, the premise to Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE sounds pretty on point, and if any developer can create a game around that premise, no one could do it better than the folks at Atlus.

An Atlus/Nintendo RPG filled with music, turn-based combat, weapon crafting, dungeons, and over-the-top cinematics? We know; we can’t wait to play it either. Fans won’t have to wait long at all for Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE launches on Wii U next week on Friday, June 24!

Will you be picking this up? Are you a fan of Atlus? What is their best game of all time? Lets us know in the comments and we will discuss your responses on the next episode of the Geekscape Games Podcast!

E3 2016: Check Out the Stunning ‘Paper Mario: Color Splash’ Trailer!

by J.C. MarquezJune 15, 2016

The last time Paper Mario graced a Nintendo home console was back in 2007 when our flat hero was busy fighting Francis, Mr. L, Wracktail, and Count Bleck in Super Paper Mario. Now, after nine long years, the RPG franchise returns to consoles in Paper Mario: Color Splash for Wii U.

In this new adventure, Paper Mario finds himself on Prism Island where all the Toads have been drained of their color. As with previous Paper Mario titles, our titular hero will use the iconic hammer–only this time it is a Paint Hammer; just imagine the talents of Gallagher and Bob Ross rolled up into one truly effective household tool. In addition, the game will feature a new Battle Card system which will allow players to summon allies and objects to defeat enemies and bosses alike.

The game is visually stunning. After checking out the trailer below, be sure to scroll through our collection of screenshots; we are sure your eyes will pop as much as ours did.

Fans won’t have to wait too long as Paper Mario: Color Splash will be available this year on October 7.

Super Paper Mario is my personal favorite in the series, but what about you? Let us know in the comments and we will discuss all of your responses in the next episode of the Geekscape Games Podcast!

And remember, stay with us at Geekscape.net for all your E3 updates!

Batman Goes Virtual Reality In ‘Batman: Arkham VR’!

by Derek KraneveldtJune 14, 2016

Briefly: Whaaaaaat.

Sony’s E3 presentation was full of surprises, and one of the biggest (and most exciting) moments of the night was the reveal of Batman: Arkham VR.

The marketing for Rocksteady’s Arkham series has been telling you that you can ‘Be The Bat’ for what feels like forever now, and now Arkham VR is about as close as any of us will ever get (lucky for you, you even get to keep your parents).

We don’t know much about the title at this point (aside from the fact that it’s coming to Playstation VR this October), but Rocksteady notes that you’ll “Experience Gotham City through the eyes of the World’s Greatest Detective in an all new Arkham mystery.

Think like Batman. Utilise his legendary gadgets in Virtual Reality to unravel a plot that threatens the lives of Batman’s closest allies.”

Yeah, we’re in.

Take a look at the trailer below, and be sure to let us know if you’ll be picking this one up!

E3 2016: Watch The First Trailer For DONTNOD’s ‘Vampyr’!

by Derek KraneveldtJune 14, 2016

Briefly: DONTNOD’s Life is Strange was by and large my favourite video game of 2015.

That said, of course I couldn’t be more excited for their next title, Vampyr; the very first trailer for Vampyr has finally made its way online, and it looks like a bloody good time… and also not like Life is Strange at all.

Take a look below, and see for yourself.

Yeah, I was pretty much expecting a Life is Strange style choose-your-narrative title, and it’s pretty clear that Vampyr is nothing like that. The choices that you make will certainly have an effect on the game’s world however, as DONTNOD notes that “Taking lives in London is not easy. Killing too many in a district may cause its infrastructure to collapse and turn into disarray. Every single life will also have a butterfly effect on the other NPCs surrounding them; a merchant’s wife could be killed and he could decide to close shop and leave town. Every life you take away will have consequences for the city and the people around them: Cursed be the choice!”

Yep, I’m in. Vampyr hits PS4, Xbox One, and PC in 2017.

Vampyr, the new Action-RPG from acclaimed game-development studio Dontnod, explores protagonist Jonathan Reid’s moral plight in the E3 trailer. Set in London, 1918, Vampyr promises to offer a unique and deeply immersive experience with a strong and engaging narrative steeped in vampire mythology. The E3 trailer unveiled today introduces the nightmare your hero must live every day now he has become a real monster.

You play as a veteran of World War I, Doctor Jonathan Reid as he tries to come to terms with his transition, and the hunger that drives him to kill. Vampyr includes a unique level-up system that plays on this narrative conundrum, where huge amounts of experience points can be gained by feeding on innocent people, compared to combat. As a doctor, you must decide how many lives must be sacrificed in order for you to find a cure for this “disease”, the ultimate goal of Jonathan.

E3 2016: Insomniac Is Making A New Spider-Man Game Exclusively For The PS4!

by Josh JacksonJune 13, 2016

Just when you thought that Spider-Man has ran out of ways to surprise us in a video game adaptation, here comes Insomniac Games to prove us wrong. Announced during Sony’s E3 2016 press conference, Spider-Man PS4, (a working title if you couldn’t tell,) will bring the wall crawler to Sony’s console exclusively in a way that’s never been seen before.

As breathtaking as it was to swing through New York in past games, the mechanic has become somewhat passe, especially when it hasn’t been improved on much since Spider-Man 2 released over a decade ago. With that in mind, color me surprised when the teaser for the new game showed Spidey truly making the city his own. Whether bounding off of tables and crashing through a window from the inside of a cafe while in pursuit of a bad guy, seeing the city break apart while he finds himself locked in battle with an enemy, or his slick webbing animations that help him tie up crooks in style, the minute of footage already gives us hope that this could be the best Spider-Man game yet. The improvements to movement, combat and environment interaction are already apparent, so with a developer with the reputation that Insomniac has earned at the helm, we’re guessing this is going to be great.

This has been a big year for Spider-Man, and 2017 can only get better once this game finds its way into our hands if the placeholder date is anything to go by. Are you ready to throw on the underoos one more time?

E3 2016: Crash Bandicoot Is Being Remastered; Will Appear In ‘Skylanders Imaginators’

by Josh JacksonJune 13, 2016

After what feels like ages, Crash Bandicoot is finally making his long awaited return to gaming. And no, I don’t mean his much talked about cameo in Uncharted 4. Years of patience finally looks like it’s going to pay off, as Sony announced during their E3 2016 press conference that their former mascot would make his long awaited comback… In a remaster and as a Skylander? Sure, it might not be a brand new game, but we’ll have plenty of time to get reacquainted with the Playstation’s former mascot across both sets of games.

Coming exclusively to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3, Crash will join Spyro for the first time in Skylanders Imaginators, the sixth game in the toys to life series that will let players design their own characters. As a debuting feature for the series, the upcoming game developed by Toys For Bob promises to bring a level of creativity that hasn’t been possible throughout the series until now. But aside from these features, this will mark the first time Crash will be playable in a new game since 2008’s Mind Over Mutant.

Retailing at $99.99, ($25 dollars more than the standard edition for some reason,) special care is being taken to faithfully bring Crash into this world. Using trademark weapons and attacks like his Spin Attack, Bazooka and TNT Crates as part of his move set, the series has proven that they can do right by these guest characters when you consider how well Bowser and Donkey Kong came off. Unlike Nintendo’s guests however, Crash will be compatible with every version of Imaginators, including on the Xbox and Wii platforms. They’re even bringing in Jess Harnell, Crash’s voice actor, to reprise his role.

Regarding the remaster, the package will include the first three games from the PS1 days, including Crash Bandicoot, Crash 2: The Wrath Of Cortex, and Crash 3: Warped. Promising to build them from the ground up as a partnership between Activision and Sony, it seems like the former will be taking the reigns with this current gen adaptation. While it would have been great to see team members from Naughty Dog work on the project that made them household names again, let’s hope a team like Vicarious Visions takes these beloved characters and makes a faithful recreation of a series that many of us hold so dearly. But you know… No pressure or anything.

What do you think of Crash’s big return? Comment below and let us know, and make sure you check him out in the latest Skylanders Imaginators trailer below.

E3 2016: ‘Resident Evil 7: Biohazard’ Announced; PlayStation Plus Members Can Play It Now!

by Josh JacksonJune 13, 2016

When Capcom promised that it would bring the Resident Evil franchise back to its horror roots after Resident Evil 6 suffered both critically and financially due in part to its action heavy direction, we never would have expected the series to get the full PT treatment. Yet, after Resident Evil 7 debuted at Sony’s E3 2016 press conference, we’re left with something that is undeniably creepy, but looks a lot more like something we’d expect from Silent Hill.

Based on the trailer below, we don’t have a whole lot to go on. Taking place in America in the aftermath of the events in Resident Evil 6, the first person horror game takes players through a decrepit house, full of all of the grotesque imagery that we would be more likely to see in a certain playable teaser. Using a variety of jump scares, the dark atmosphere, and visual tricks to keep the player feeling tense, that sense of horror that the series has been lacking definitely feels like it’s back in play. Considering that the entire game can be played using PlayStation VR only makes the idea that much more terrifying.

This trailer is such a departure from past Resident Evil games that I can’t help but have a mountain of questions after watching it over. Where are all the monsters? Why do ghosts seem to be such a major part of the scare factor? Will there be any zombies or tie ins to the Umbrella Corporation? And how will the Wesker family tie in to the whole thing after the conclusion of Revelations 2? We’re definitely intrigued with this new direction, and I’m glad to see that someone is picking up the PT mantle after so many indie games have ultimately failed. Still, I can’t help but laugh at the irony that after years of being accused of ignoring their fans, Capcom finally listens… To Konami’s!

Plus members, go download that demo and tell us what you think in the comments. There’s definitely a lot to talk about, so I’m looking forward to your thoughts on this new direction! One thing is for sure though, RE7 is putting the horror back into the series that put it on the map.

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is scheduled to release on

E3 2016: ‘God of War’ Shows Kratos Is The World’s Greatest Dad

by Josh JacksonJune 13, 2016

The last time we parted ways with Kratos, he had just finished killing Zeus after slaughtering most of the Greek gods, and stabbed himself with the Blade of Olympus, seemingly killing himself while releasing the power of the blade for the world’s use. Fast forward to the new God of War that Sony debuted at their E3 2016 press conference, and he seems to be doing pretty well for a guy who had a sword through his body. With a son, a new world and a new life for him to enjoy, it seems he’s finally picked up the pieces of his life well, all things considered. But after being known as the God of War and the most fearsome warrior the Spartans have ever produced, it seems all that he’s interested fighting for these days is the title of World’s Best Dad.

Framed as Kratos teaching his son how to hunt in a Norse setting, this is a *VERY* different God of War than what we’re used to. With the camera fixed on a behind the back third person view, the axe wielding Kratos uses both his fists and his weapons to attack different enemies. From wildlife to the towering giants we’re used to fighting throughout the series, there’s little that’s recognizable when comparing this trailer to the past games. To me, this is definitely a good thing, since it’s rare that developers will take such a huge chance on an established franchise. From the gameplay to Kratos’ bushy new beard, all we know for sure is that the former god is preparing his son for something. As we see dragons flying in the distance, we have no idea what that thing is, but this set up has me begging for more. And I say that as someone who wasn’t a huge fan of the originals to begin with.

I felt like this was the definite highlight of Sony’s presentation, but I’d love to hear your thoughts on these bold, new steps that the series seems to be taking. Do you miss the chain wielding sociopath from the past, or is this more subdued papa Kratos something you’re willing to go with? Share your opinions below, and catch up with the game’s massive trailer below.

E3 2016: ‘We Happy Few’ Is Creepy As Hell

by Josh JacksonJune 13, 2016

Heading into the Microsoft E3 2016 conference, we were expecting to be wowed by your usual suspects. Your Gears of War 4‘s, and Halo Wars 2‘s of the world definitely left an impression, but none more so than We Happy Few, a first person horror game where you’re trapped in a community filled with people who are drugged into a state of false happiness. When watching the trailer, let’s just say we’ll have plenty of trouble sleeping tonight.

As a character who obviously has something wrong with him, it was immediately apparent that something was off. Everyone he comes across has a false albino face, with fashion and attitudes that you’d expect to find in a 60’s sitcom. It’s not until your supposed family convinces you to break open a “pinata” that you realize you just cracked open a dead animal. Nothing is right in this world, and refusing to take your happy pills threatens to destroy their false utopia. As a “downer,” your character is tasked with escaping these happy few, who are out to eliminate anything that could get in the way of this illusion.

This trailer showed off a very intriguing take on the foundation of narrative driven first person titles such as Bioshock, and has the potential to leave a strong impression on us once its released. I mean, if a few short minutes during the trailer managed to shock us so bad, imagine what the full product will be like!

We Happy Few looks like it could be one of the surprise hits of E3, but what do you think so far? If you really want to do this to yourself, you can watch the trailer again and share your thoughts, and be sure to check back with us as we deliver all of our news and previews from the event.

E3 2016: New Enemies And Weapons Highlight ‘Gears Of War 4’ As The First Xbox Play Anywhere Title

by Josh JacksonJune 13, 2016

One of the major focuses at Microsoft’s E3 2016 presentation was its implementation of the Xbox Play Anywhere program, an ecosystem between the Xbox One and Windows 10 where game saves, progress, achievements and even purchases are shared between both versions, including digital copies of the full games. Announcing that Gears Of War 4 would be the first release to be included as part of this program, that might be enough reason for some to consider picking up the fourth game in what is considered one of the Xbox’s premiere exclusives. But then we saw the trailer, and realized it didn’t need it, because it’s clear how good this fourth game is starting to shape up.

Playing as a new squad years after the conclusion of Gears of War 3, the team takes on a new threat called The Swarm. Showing off a variety of enemies in their ranks, it wasn’t always enough to shoot through their grunts to progress. In what was the most welcomed improvement that I could make out throughout the footage shown, you’ll have to rely on wit as much as firepower to overcome your new foes. Using pieces of the environment like a catapult to wipe out an enemy blockade or shooting beams that get blown into unsuspecting soldiers adds a new layer to the familiar formula. New weapons like a buzz saw launcher continues to show positive steps forward, all while the co-op campaign, impressive visuals and realistic weather effects round out what’s looking like a game worthy of the hype. It doesn’t help when you’re greeted by old man Marcus Fenix after a job well done either!

Well, that’s Gears of War 4! And I have to say, what we’ve seen so far looks very promising. What do you think about the Xbox Play Anywhere program, and is the next Gears game on your radar as the October 11 release date draws closer? Comment below and share your thoughts, and be sure to check back throughout the week for our hands-on impressions of the game.

E3 2016: ‘Eagle Flight’ Justifies VR With Fireball Shooting Eagles

by Josh JacksonJune 13, 2016

When tuning in to Ubisoft’s E3 2016 press conference, the last thing I was expecting to wow me was a VR game about the eagles of Paris. Yet, that’s exactly what happened when the company announced Eagle Flight, a VR exclusive dog fighting (?) game where you play as one of four eagles who are competing for territory during a time where humans have long become extinct.

Taking advantage of the unique perspective provided by VR platforms, Eagle Flight promises intuitive gameplay that will have you soaring through the skies and between obstacles with ease. By putting a unique spin on typical multiplayer modes like Capture the Flag and replacing it with being the first to sink your claws into a rabbit, the lighthearted premise is only topped by the absurdity of the whole thing. Because when these eagles need to gain an advantage over their opponents, they can turn the tide by shooting anyone in front of them with fireballs. Wait, they can do that? Maybe we’re on the right track by driving them to near extinction before they become advanced enough to kill us all.

I’m kidding, but what’s not a joke is how fun this game looks. Watch the trailer below and see for yourself, then check back with us throughout E3 week for our full hands on impressions once we’re able to check it out for ourselves.

E3 2016: General RAAM Joins The ‘Killer Instinct’ Roster

by Josh JacksonJune 13, 2016

Killer Instinct has been knocking it out of the park with its guest characters as of late. Rash from Battletoads was awesome enough as it is, and getting Arbiter from the Halo series was even more surprising. But now, it’s about time for the locust to jump into the tournament fighting scene in the form of General RAAM.

That’s right, the big bad of the original Gears of War is officially in Killer Instinct after months of rumors swirling like the Krill that surround him. Available immediately after his reveal for the low, low price of free, this hulking brute makes short work of Jago in his reveal trailer. The fact that he’s available so soon is probably a good thing, since the trailer shows next to nothing about his fighting style aside from the fact that he likes stabbing people with his giant knife like he famously did to Lieutenant Kim. Giving us the chance to find out for ourselves would be the best way to build the hype.

What do you think of RAAM’s inclusion, who else would you like to see make the transition into the fighting game as we push through Season 3, and do you think he’ll still be weak to hopping back and forth over a box? Share your thoughts in the comment section, then check out the general’s debut one more time by watching the trailer below.

E3 2016: Design A Custom Controller With The Xbox Design Lab

by Josh JacksonJune 13, 2016

Have you ever wanted to design a custom control without having to pay large amounts of cash for custom mods or shipping your controller to someone you don’t know? Microsoft is counting on the chance that you do, because the company announced the Xbox Design Lab during their E3 press conference, where you can custom order your own Xbox One controller.

Retailing at $80 for a custom controller or $90 to have your GamerTag engraved onto the front, the service boasts over 8 million possible styles to use when making your new control your own. Based on the new controllers launching with the Xbox One S, these creations will also include better range, bluetooth connectivity and back grips for that extra comfort. Now, whether or not paying extra for your own controller when standard versions cost about $60 is up to you, but personally, I would kill for a bad ass controller with my tag on it. That’s InuJoshua by the way.

Any orders placed by the end of August will start shipping in September, but you can prep your order in advance here. Are you planning on playing your games in style, or is the standard controller good enough for you? Share your creative ideas with us in the comments, and make sure to check back in with us as more news comes out of E3.

E3 2016: ‘South Park: The Fractured But Whole’ Spoofs Super Hero Blockbusters In Hilarious Fashion

by Josh JacksonJune 13, 2016

When Matt Stone and Trey Parker took the stage during Ubisoft’s E3 2016 press conference, we knew that meant more details on the upcoming follow up to 2013’s South Park: The Stick of Truth, couldn’t be far. Alongside the announcement of a December 6 release date, the debuting trailer shows how much the game has changed in the past year.

Much like the South Park TV show, it’s clear that the upcoming Ubisoft RPG, The Fractured But Whole, had its story thrown together in a few weeks based on its latest trailer. As anyone who watches the show can tell you, that’s far from a bad thing since the results are often hilarious. But seeing how the conflict in this trailer has not only completely changed from last year’s reveal, but how the town has now includes locations and references from its most recent season, such as SoDoSoPa and the returning PC Principal, (who Cartman apparently has locked up in a storage unit,) it’s clear that most of these revisions have to be recent. A quick look at the trailer shows how the town will have gone through quite a few changes since the last time we visited it, setting a perfect stage for the boy’s own super hero civil war.

Spoofing Marvel and DC’s multi-film universes, the kids of South Park split off into two factions as their super hero personas after they can’t come to an agreement on how they will release their own film universe. From here, all hell breaks loose, which is clear from the footage of the boys fighting each other, Kyle siding with Cartman, your characters fighting with a drunk Randy, and other lunacy that we’ve come to expect from the quiet mountain town.

The game play is also getting an overhaul to match the town, which was detailed in the game play segment of the presentation. Instead of a strict turn based battle system, The Fractured But Whole uses a grid based movement system somewhat reminiscent of the Mega Man Battle Network series. Attacks can move enemies from one space to another, resulting in extra damage when they’re pushed into cars or tables for example, while elements like summoning popular characters for one off attacks, special abilities for each hero and unique classes make their return. All in all, this more involved battle system makes the game look like an interactive episode even more so than before.

Even better news for digital purchasers, is that for those who digitally pre-order the game, they’ll get a free download for PS4, Xbox One or PC versions of The Stick of Truth right now! So if you missed out on it the first time or just want to play it again, it’s a pretty strong incentive. Physical copies will also include vouchers for the game at select retailers on a future date.

With new characters, locations and powers, including the ultimate reveal of PC Principal, my excitement is through the roof for The Fractured But Whole. That December release date also means it won’t be delayed for four years this time either! Watch the trailer below and share your highlights with us, but make sure you check your privilege before you do.

E3 2016: ‘Tekken 7’ Confirmed For Xbox One and PC; ‘Tekken Tag Tournament 2’ Free For Gold Members This Week

by Josh JacksonJune 13, 2016

We’ve known about Tekken 7 for over a year now, but we still weren’t sure if it was going to release on platforms outside of the Playstation 4. That uncertainty was squashed during Microsoft’s E3 press conference as the next King of Iron Fist Tournament was confirmed for both Xbox One and PC with an extra surprise in the form of its story mode.

More surprising than the story mode itself, was the reveal that Akuma from Street Fighter would be part of it. Not relegated to a simple guest character, series bad guy, Heihachi, is confronted by Capcom’s demon as they brawl within a temple that’s burning to the ground. Not only is the special care taken to get Akuma authentically represented instantly apparent thanks to his fireballs, EX meters, and Raging Demon finisher, but the story fight in itself was looked incredible. Integrating QTE’s into the middle of a match is another interesting design choice, which will ideally bring a level of excitement to help the narrative stand out from your standard one on one bout.

Alongside this announcement, franchise producer, Katsuhiro Harada, took the stage to announce that Tekken Tag Tournament 2 would be available for free as a backwards compatible Xbox 360 title all week for Xbox Live Gold members. Featuring the largest roster in Tekken history, the 2012 game is the perfect way for Xbox owners to get caught up ahead of the seventh game’s early 2017 release.

If nothing else, this trailer and reveal is a reminder of what could have been if Tekken X Street Fighter was ever released. How do you think this story mode will pan out, and how hard are you refreshing the Xbox Live Marketplace to claim your game? Share your thoughts, (and GamerTag,) below so we can get some games going!

E3 2016: The ‘Halo Wars 2’ Beta Is Available Now On Xbox One!

by Josh JacksonJune 13, 2016

Dampening the surprise a little bit thanks to a previous announcement, most of us knew Halo Wars 2 was on its way. What we didn’t know was that we would get a chance to play it a lot sooner than we thought.

Starting today through June 20, Xbox One gamers will be able to participate in a Halo Wars 2 beta, giving them limited access to the game’s core features about eight months prior to its February 21 release date. The team at 343 Industries did a great job of hooking us right before the big announcement, since the teaser trailer, (which can be viewed below,) did a great job of introducing its new characters while setting the stage for such a massive conflict.

For those who are unfamiliar, Halo Wars was an attempt to bring Real Time Strategy games that have been popularized on the PC to consoles, featuring the popular characters and units from the main Halo franchise. Receiving a certain level of acclaim in its own right, it wasn’t enough to keep Ensemble Studios, the talented team behind the popular Age of Empires franchise, from being shut down. Because of this, many thought we would never see a Halo Wars sequel until 343 and Creative Assembly took the reigns.

After what we’ve seen so far, let’s just say we’re happy that this revival is happening. Eventual Xbox Play Anywhere support will allow cross play and cross save support between console and Windows 10, allowing us to keep the fight alive no matter where we are. What say you, gamer? What are your thoughts on Halo Wars 2, and will you be online this week throughout the game’s beta period? Sound off below!