Hands-On | Geekscape

E3 2016: ‘Attack on Titan’ Delivers On The Action From The Anime

by Josh JacksonJune 27, 2016

What happens when you need to keep making games about a popular anime series that hasn’t made a new episode in years? Apparently, you pass it between developers! After Spike Chunsoft’s 3DS effort disappointed last year, Koei Tecmo and Omega Force, (the team behind Dynasty Warriors and its spin offs), are trying their hand at the giant slaying franchise with Attack On Titan. By turning the tables on their usual formula and putting the player in a mob of soldiers that serve as fodder for the Titans, our hands-on time at E3 gave us glimpses of the series done justice.

Attack On Titan is split up into two major gameplay sections. The primary play mode is when you’re in control of one of the human characters, who traverses the smoldering towns with their 3D Maneuvering Gear. As you would expect from a game bearing the anime’s name, movement was the most exciting part of the time I played, feeling like a Survey Corps bad ass as I swooped in and out of the Titan’s range. Of course, you’ll have to get the controls down first, which had a moderate learning curve before things felt natural.

Once they did however, combat was fast and fluid. Following the story of the anime, (which might look familiar since it’s the only story we’ve had animated for a long time), I made it my personal mission to make Mikasa look like as much of a pro under my control as she does in the source material, which I met with mixed results. Allowing us to target any limb on Titans both big and small that are powering through the towns allows you to get special advantages depending on the situation, whether you need to stop their movement or take away attacks with a successful amputation. Of course, the only way to finish one off is to slice off the nape of their neck, which is where I focused on most of the time. While it sounds simple enough, there’s a lot to take into account when lining up your perfect slice. You’ll need enough distance, momentum and timing to pull off the kill, and failing could lead to you being caught by one of the monsters. Running out of steam for your Gear and your blades going dull can also become a problem, forcing you to find new items to help you regroup. Trust me, there’s nothing worse than thinking you killed a powerful opponent, only to see your swords bounce off of them. To make matters worse, every kill is ranked, only furthering the embarrassment when you screw up.

But being a great Survey Corps member is about more than being able to kill enemies, because like Dynasty Warriors, there will be many times when you have to protect allies and key points on the map. Allowing too many of your comrades to die or letting Titans run wild will eventually lead to your game over’s, which is why it’s important to play to your character’s strengths. Mikasa for example, has a special ability that lets her slice up multiple limbs at once after it builds up. How other characters will play wasn’t shown as of now, but we’re looking forward to finding out as the game’s release draws closer.

When not slicing up your enemies, you’ll be able to punch them really hard instead. Taking on Eren’s Titan form, you’ll be able to give the opposing giants a taste of their own medicine. Perfect for when you want to set aside the technical gameplay of the core mode for some old fashioned button mashing, playing as a Titan allows you to jump far across the map with a single leap and charge into enemies at high speeds when not punching and kicking them to death. Sure, you’ll probably level a few houses in between, but let’s face it. Those people probably would’ve been killed one way or another.

Overall, I’m impressed by what we’ve seen so far, and can’t wait to dive deeper into this universe once again. With multiple missions and characters to discover, let’s hope the full version continues to deliver when it releases for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, PC and PlayStation Vita on August 30.

E3 2016: Why Didn’t ‘Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme Vs. Force’ Come Out Sooner!?

by Josh JacksonJune 27, 2016

The Gundam franchise has existed long before many of us were even born, with more figures, kits and anime series’ than we can imagine. Knowing that, when some very closely inspired video games started releasing throughout the 90’s and 2000’s, namely Sega’s Virtual On and Level-5’s Little Battlers Xperience. These versus style 3D arena fighters seemed like a perfect fit for the decades old mech series, but for some reason, they never came! It turns out Japan was holding out on us, since a series using this gameplay format did exist, but was largely been kept out of the West. But that’s changing with Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme Vs. Force, which will bring together heroes that span the entire franchise exclusively to the PlayStation Vita for a handheld battle of supremacy. We played it at E3 and learned how big of a difference some familiar faces can make.

Choosing from over a dozen pilots out of the 30 plus that are featured in the full game, each one comes with their signature Gundam. Having the freedom to move openly in a 3D space, your character comes equipped with their own weapons and abilities that look to tear down the opposition while paying homage to their source at the same time. This time however, your opponents are going to be other Gundams, who are just as eager to boost and position themselves in order to take you out. With so many games featuring the franchise gaining a reputation for being slower and more clunky, playing Extreme Vs. Force felt like a dream.

Knowing this, it makes the battles even more fun to play when multiple opponents are on the field. Featuring 2 on 2 and even 6 on 6 battles that can bring a towering battleship into the fight, there will be plenty of ways to put that huge roster to good use. Missions that span the entire run will keep pilots busy, but when the single player content isn’t enough, you can always take on a friend with the game’s local ad-hoc mode. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem as if the game will feature online of any kind, but here’s to hoping we’ll have plenty of content to sift through when the game releases on July 12.

With such a rich history, which characters are you looking forward to playing with? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to check back with us as more details surface.

E3 2016: Why Hunt Monsters When You Can Eat Them In ‘God Eater Resurrection’?

by Josh JacksonJune 22, 2016

I was late to the whole Monster Hunter craze, which means I also missed many of the well made games that modeled its gameplay after Capcom’s mega hit. Even then, the God Eater name didn’t escape me, as Bandai Namco’s take on the genre swept Japan by storm, becoming a massive seller on the PSP. Now that the game is getting the remake treatment ahead of the sequel’s release, we took the chance to get some hands-on time with the original at E3 to see how it compares to the rest of the pack.

The first thing a newcomer will notice when jumping on board is how much faster this game is. While it’s a deliberate design choice, one of the more frustrating aspects of Monster Hunter is how slow the attacks are. Your characters will oftentimes be locked into their attack animations with no way to stop, so if the enemy mounts a counter attack mid swing, there’s nothing you can do other than take the damage. God Eater felt much more like a traditional action game, giving us the ability to switch between melee and ranged attacks on the fly, while being able to speed through the battlefield as I zoned in on my target.

Even with the change of pace, I doubt the series would have become so popular if all it was was a faster version of an established franchise. With this in mind, God Eater took battles in a completely different direction thanks to your weapon’s ability to transform into a mouth and eat your fallen foes. Serving as a much cooler way to pick up parts off of the enemies you’ve killed, using this attack on larger enemies would result in the weapon absorbing a special ability that would deliver huge amounts of damage to whoever stands in your way. With multiple weapons to fit your play style, these abilities further add to the amount of options you’ll have on the battlefield.

And options seems to be the name of the game in Resurrection, with plenty of customizable parts to create your character. Once created, you’ll be able to take your new soldier into single player story missions, as well as cooperative quests that can be enjoyed either locally or online. With multiple weapons, looks and strategies to take up, taking down Aragami has never looked so good with the visual upgrade the PS4 and Vita versions have received. If you’re looking for the next big multiplayer action game to eat up your summer on PlayStation platforms, then this game sounds like a good way to go.

God Eater Resurrection will release for the PlayStation 4 and PS Vita on June 28.

E3 2016: ‘Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Eyes Of Heaven’ Unites The House Of Joestar

by Josh JacksonJune 22, 2016

The first time I heard of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, I thought it was just a new Dreamcast fighting game. I had no idea that it was a long running manga series that as of now, has been around for about 30 years. Recently, the franchise has had a resurgence thanks to the anime adaptation of Diamond Is Unbreakable, the fourth part of the story that was originally published in the mid 90’s, which is why now is a perfect time for a new game to hit the shelves! We got the chance to try out the game ahead of its release at E3, and it’s safe to say that this game will have plenty to love if you’re a fan of the series.

Featuring an original story that brings multiple generations of the House of Joestar together for one giant adventure, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Eyes Of Heaven pits its 50 plus characters against each other in a two on two 3D fighting game developed by CyberConnect2, (the development team behind the Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm series). Resembling a modern generation beat em up game rather than a traditional fighter, you’re more likely to get Power Stone vibes than feeling any sort of familiarity from the franchises previous fighters. This time, you’ll team up with your CPU partner, (or human controlled friend if playing online), and use the environments, tag team attacks and individual powers to finish off your opponents.

As expected from the series, the stylized character models, over the top special moves and manga-like presentation bring this world to life in a faithful way… Which would mean absolutely nothing if the game wasn’t fun to play. With my brief time running around within the demo build however, it was obvious that this wouldn’t be an issue. While admittedly taking a bit of time to get used to the many types of movements and attacks at my disposal, it wasn’t long before my chiseled hero was able to wipe the floor with his opponents. Serving as more than just a button masher, being synchronized with my partner was the most rewarding aspect of my time with the game, allowing me to pull off juggles, tag team attacks, and my strongest abilities with ease.

If you’re looking for a huge amount of depth, you aren’t going to find it here. But if you’re a long time follower of the anime and manga and want to battle with some strangers online with a few of your friends? Then you might want to get ready for when Eyes Of Heaven releases for the PlayStation 4 next week. Promising a full story mode, a cast that spans all eight chapters of the manga, and plenty of environmental interaction to discover, fans should find this to be an adventure worth checking out.

Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Eyes of Heaven will release for the PlayStation 4 on June 28.

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: ‘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.

Anime Expo 2015: The Hyuga Clan Arrives On The Battlefield In ‘Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4’

by Josh JacksonJuly 28, 2015

E3 has come and gone, but I have to say that the insane action of Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 still has a pretty strong hold on me. Once we hit the Anime Expo floor and noticed an updated build with even more characters to play with, we couldn’t resist putting our ninjutsu skills to the test for a second time, with the addition of series mainstay, Kakashi, to the previously established cast of Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Obito and Madara, the bigger story was seeing all three Hygua children as fighters as well. While Neji and Hinata are expected at this point, Hanabi, Hinata’s younger sister who has only ever been playable in 2008’s Naruto Ultimate Ninja 3 as somewhat of a joke character, makes her big return to follow up her prominent role in The Last: Naruto The Movie. We took this opportunity to play as her alongside the rest of her family, and came across some surprises along the way.

Hanabi essentially uses altered versions of her family’s attacks, consisting mostly of chakra sealing open palm strikes. Her version of Neji’s Kaiten still envelopes her in a protective shield that blows away any opponent caught in its radius, but unlike her older cousin, she travels across the stage while performing the move. This allows her to corner enemies who are attempting to flee, creating a different set of strategies both when fighting as and against her. Similarly, Neji himself uses many of the hard hitting 8-Trigrams techniques, using his fingertips to assault his enemies’ weak points. Not to be outdone, Hanabi has her own more elegant version, which serves to be just as effective. If up close and personal isn’t your style, Hinata brings in the long distance combat. While her strikes aren’t as punishing as the rest of her family, she makes up for it with her 8-Trigrams Vaccum jutsu, which launches a huge amount of force from her palm, attacking opponents at long range.

Even if each member has their own strengths and weaknesses, it’s clear that the three are at their best together. As with previous games, creating a three person team of characters that have close relationships with each other can result in some unique Ultimate Jutsu attacks. This is no different when it comes to the Hyuga clan, who can cover for each other quite well when dropping in for support attacks. Once its time to activate their ultimate attack, the team doesn’t disappoint, surrounding the enemy at all sides and pummeling each of their chakra points. If three wasn’t enough, the head of the clan, Hiashi Hyuga, drops in to help deliver a four pronged finishing blow, all with the amount of flash that we’ve come to expect from the series.

So it’s safe to say that the Hyuga Clan are as bad ass as ever. Who else do you want to see make the cut in what might be the last Naruto game? Let us know in the comments, then check out the latest trailer, which also reveals the big bad of the series, Princess Kaguya, in her video game debut.

SDCC 2015: We Hit The Track With The ‘Disney Infinity 3.0’ Toy Box Speedway!

by Josh JacksonJuly 28, 2015

As we mentioned in our E3 preview, Disney Infinity 3.0 looks to create a much bigger experience than its predecessors partially thanks to the Toy Box Games. These dedicated modes look to bring full fledged games outside of the main Play Set campaigns, all of which will allow any of your figures to work. At Comic Con 2015, we took a peak inside Disney’s Pop Up shop to and had some hands on time with the Toy Box Speedway, a dedicated racing game that expands the game play in even bigger ways. And while I walked in expecting a fun side game to compliment the main content, what I left with was what felt like it could have been a full fledged title.

At first glance, the Toy Box Speedway looks to be doing its best Mario Kart impression, and that assumption wouldn’t be too far off. Players will be able to choose from a variety of cars and any character figure they own to jump onto the track with, with each one playing exactly the same stat wise. In fact, the only ones that do have an advantage are the Pixar Cars, and rightfully so considering racing is kind of their thing. After choosing between a car and figure, players will get to choose between numerous Disney locales to drift through. Including stages inspired from films such as Frozen, Wreck-It Ralph and The Nightmare Before Christmas, each track played up to their themes well, with iconic imagery and personality throughout.

Once the race actually started however, I was surprised by how well the game handled, with a strong sense of speed, a variety of weapons to use from the item boxes scattered along the track, and the boost storing mechanic that fills a meter every time you drift or pull off a trick. If this sounds at all familiar, then I’m guessing you’ve played the Sega All-Stars Racing games, because Disney pulled the incredibly talented developers at Sumo Digital to develop this mode. Their level of quality shined through each race, leaving me wanting to play each track when all I was expecting was a quick, half hearted mini game that only served as an optional break from the Play Sets.

After the finish line was crossed, I felt more optimistic for Disney’s next game than I already did. With Toy Box Showdown taking an action approach alongside the Speedway tackling racing, it’s looking like we’ll have tons to do with our new toys, alongside our old favorites. Are you planning on jumping into this whole new world when Disney Infinity 3.0 launches on August 30th? Share your thoughts below!

SDCC 2015: ‘Lego Dimensions’ Hopes To Rebuild The Toys To Life Genre

by Josh JacksonJuly 28, 2015

Between Skylanders, Disney Infinity and Amiibo, all three formats have made a killing through selling their versions of game compatible toys, with the latter creating a full blown Amiibogeddon. Considering the wild success of these Toys To Life franchises, it was only a matter of time before the Lego brand decided to take their own crack at the genre.

Longtime Lego game developer Traveler’s Tales hopes to bring their platforming prowess and trademark charm to Lego Dimensions, a title that brings numerous worlds together to create one huge collectable gaming experience. Including series’ such as the DC Universe, The Lord Of The Rings, The Simpsons, Back To The Future, Portal, (as in Valve’s Portal,) and so many more, will we have room on our shelves, (and enough money in the bank,) to open up to a fourth collection? We were invited to get some hands on time with the game at San Diego Comic Con to find out if its worth it.

The demo was a strange mash up of characters that we would never have imagined would share a game together. Try to picture this; Gandalf, Scooby Doo, Batman, the 13th Doctor from Doctor Who, Portal protagonist, Chell, and The Lego Movie‘s Wyldstyle, (with a cameo from Homer Simpson), running through one of GLaDOS’ test chambers, complete with her taunts through the PA system and adorable turrets who look to rip you to shreds. Yet, in the world that Lego Dimensions has established, it makes perfect sense. What was especially noticeable about having so many characters on screen at once was the fact that unlike other games in the genre that typically restrict you to two characters at a time, you can bring in as many characters and vehicles as you can fit on the portal.

On the subject of the portal itself, this base is divided into three sections. The back section is where the world is placed, which much like Infinity‘s Play Sets, is a piece that unlocks the single player world that players will traverse through. Characters and vehicles littered the left and right side in front of it, but this set up wasn’t just for show. Some puzzles required the characters to grow bigger or smaller depending on the situation, which was achieved through moving each Lego person onto the respective side that was assigned the proper power. Using the base as part of the game play is an interesting idea, one that brings a level of interactivity to the game that its competing titles lack.

Yet, despite these unique features, the core game play is exactly what we’ve come to expect from a Travelers Tales Lego game. The platforming, movement, stage progression and even combat felt almost exactly like any one of the many Lego titles that have hit the market over the last ten years. So if you pick this up, expect to fill a stud meter, destroy objects in the environment to rebuild them into new items and solve character specific puzzles. The advantage that Lego Dimensions has however, is that unlike the standalone games that typically have a half a dozen character types that have unique puzzle solving abilities, this one has the potential to offer many more than than. Chell for example, is the only character that can use the Portal Gun, which was necessary to transport the team from one spot to another at times.

With so many characters already announced, I can only imagine what kind of possibilities they might bring to the game. Then again, more characters means more money to spend, so we hope you have that cash ready! At the very least, each game piece doubles as a real Lego set, so once you finish the game, the fun can continue by making new objects with the pieces provided and integrate them with the rest of your real sets. Or you can just display them, if you’re more like the Will Ferrell type. Either way, gamers and collectors alike will want to keep their eyes peeled and their imaginations open when Lego Dimensions launches on September 29th, with the starter set bundled with Batman, Gandalf, Wyldstyle and the Batmobile priced at $99.99.

Anime Expo 2015: Hand-On With ‘Sword Art Online: Lost Song’

by Josh JacksonJuly 27, 2015

Last year when we played Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment, this game about gamers trapped in a game felt hindered partially by its slow pace. This issue is looking to be fixed in its upcoming remake, but would new installments learn from this mistake? It seemed obviously so in Sword Art Online: Lost Song, the upcoming PS4 and PS Vita title that looks to move Kirito and friends into a more fast paced, action focused affair while maintaining the illusion of an MMORPG. How well does this new system translate into the game? We put our monster slaying skills to the test in a brief demo at Anime Expo and Comic Con 2015 to find out.

For the purpose of the demo, Kirito and an AI controlled Asuna and Leefa were thrown into a huge, wide open field. Littered with monsters both on land and in the sky, it was up to us to take out as many monsters as possible within a 10 minute time limit, just enough time to dig deep into what this new world has to offer. On the subject of how big the field is, Lost Song puts the power of the PS4 to good use, never encountering any slowdown despite how much was going on at one time. I found myself stepping away from fights and just flying high enough to enjoy the scenery, watching all the chaos going on below.

Speaking of flying, Kirito can now switch between land and air battles on the fly. Him and his team can now activate their attacks at will, coming off much more like an action game compared to previous SAO games, giving us plenty of ways to take down all kinds of threats. In order to keep the MMO feel, special attacks are still set to Macro style quick commands that are brought up by holding the shoulder buttons. Certain attacks would deliver huge damage to even the toughest enemies, but would also cost more ability points. If you have no points, you’re stuck with standard attacks, so in typical RPG style, you’ll have to manage these closely if you want to make sure to take out your biggest foes. When one person isn’t enough, delivering enough damage will give your team the chance to activate a triple team attack, inflicting huge damage and team boosts along the way. Keeping an eye on instant messages on the side of the screen will keep you clued in on what their status is, and sending across an encouraging message through emotes can only help!

If this sounds like a lot to take in, you’re not alone. My biggest issue with Lost Song in these early stages was that there’s so much to do, that it made the controls confusing to remember. Rarely feeling intuitive, there were plenty of times where I would get knocked down from the sky and slowly fall to the ground for what felt like ages until I figured out how to recover. Finding the right attacks and commands in the heat of battle often led to pressing the wrong one, keeping me from finishing off the giant dragon in the sky that I had worked so hard to take down. With more time and practice, this issue is sure to fade, but expect a decent learning curve when you pick up the game this fall.

All in all, Sword Art Online: Lost Song feels like a step in the right direction. Its faster paced game play is definitely a lot more fun, and if the controls can be ironed out, we have the potential to have a great game on our hands. As always, keep an eye out for updates as they become available, and feel free to leave any questions in the comments!

Anime Expo 2015: ‘Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butoden’ Goes Old School On 3DS

by Josh JacksonJuly 27, 2015

As the years have gone by, Dragon Ball Z games have gotten bigger and fancier, with numerous 3D fighters on nearly every console imaginable. It’s a long time since the days where the only way you could get your Super Saiyan gaming fix was to buy expensive imports and mod your consoles. Still, some of these old games had an undeniable charm that gamers who experienced them still swear upon, but thanks to Namco Bandai, it will be a lot easier to bask in the glory of 2D DBZ this fall with Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butoden for 3DS. We got our hands on the demo at AX this year, and put our power level to the test.

Promising over 100 characters that serve as both battle and support players, everyone from Baba to Launch was spotted in between your Goku’s and Vegeta’s, showing that it really runs deep with the history. The demo allowed us to put together teams of three after choosing between Goku, Vegeta, Teen Gohan, Piccolo and Fat Buu. Each character had their own value, which is the cost one will have to pay when putting their team together. If you don’t have enough points, you’ll have to replace your stronger fighters with the Krillin’s and Yamcha’s of the world. For this version however, the number was set so high that it didn’t restrict our ability to choose who we wanted.

Once the fights started, it was immediately noticeable that it shares some of its mechanics with its 3D brethren while bringing in the foundation of a 2D fighter. The X and Y buttons are pressed in sequence to set up combos, while the A button shot energy blasts and the shoulder buttons guarded and charged up Ki. If you want to set off your character’s signature moves, certain combos have to connect to activate some flashy looking 2D animations to match up with the gorgeous character sprites, despite being a little pixelated. Tapping the character portraits on the touch screen allowed us to swap characters at will mid battle, helping us mix up the fight when we were backed into a corner. The battle ended once the entire opposing team was defeated, leaving our set of warriors standing tall.

Playing Extreme Butoden really took us back to a simpler time of anime fighters, and it was an exciting (ki?) blast from the past. Promising an updated roster featuring everyone from Golden Frieza and Beerus to Yajirobe and Oolong and everyone in between, there’s sure to be enough content to please DBZ fans both young and young at heart.

Pre-ordering from Amazon will net you a download code for Dragon Ball Z: Super Butoden 2, an SNES game that was previously a Japan only release, in addition to six bonus support characters, so if you like what you see, that seems like the place to buy from come October 20th.

SDCC 2015: We Defend, (And Destroy) Tokyo With Our ‘Godzilla’ Hands-On!

by Josh JacksonJuly 21, 2015

It’s been over a decade since a new Godzilla game has been released. With the King of the Monsters taking such a long break from the gaming world, what better time to make your big re-debut than at the start of a new console generation? The idea of being able to tear through Tokyo while going toe to toe with some of the most iconic monsters from the film series’ history in full HD sounded like a no brainer, so I made sure to head down to Namco Bandai’s booth at Comic Con to see if the king still reigns supreme.

What was immediately noticeable was that watching Godzilla tear through buildings as he collects energy and brawls with foes looks amazing. Watching buildings explode all around him with every step, slash and tail swipe gave off a rewarding feeling of power, coming off as if the world was truly your playground. Considering how long these monsters have been away from the gaming scene, this universe definitely benefits from the visual upgrade that current consoles can provide.

Naturally, the only thing more rewarding than destroying the city by yourself is destroying the city by throwing monsters through it. Once Godzilla collected enough energy, the build up of chaos eventually attracted both Mecha King Ghidorah and Spacegodzilla. Fighting off two enemies at once was surprisingly easy thanks to the variety of attacks we had at our disposal. The energy blast Godzilla fires from his mouth makes it easy to keep them at a distance, while a quick tail swipe can knock them away if they get too close. If you prefer to make your fight more up close and personal, his vicious claws and crushing grabs could deal some huge damage. I don’t think the game offered a better sight than taking hold of your enemy, biting it a few times, and throwing him into a skyscraper. It’s pretty awesome stuff!

The only major complaint I had with the brief demo was the speed and controls. A reoccurring issue with most Godzilla games is that the monsters move far too slow, creating some plodding moments. Then again, this is the nature of trying to make a game based on this franchise, since it’s not like they can sprint across the city while still representing the feel of the films. This game felt like it moved faster than past games, especially since the city is tightly enclosed, but still took some time to get used to thanks to the somewhat awkward tank style controls. Using the shoulder buttons to turn while moving with the sticks takes some getting used to, but it’s nothing that can’t be figured out with time.

From what we’ve played, Godzilla feels like a solid re-introduction for the iconic character’s gaming comeback. With plenty of destruction, and a great roster so far, we’re hoping the main game continues this positive momentum. Welcome back, and hail to the king!

Godzilla is available now for the Playstation 3 and Playstation 4.

E3 2015: ‘Nitroplus Blasterz: Heroines Infinite Duel’ Is The Crossover Fighter We Never Expected!

by Josh JacksonJune 27, 2015

Typically, when you think of crossover fighting games, you think of some of the biggest games the genre has seen. From Marvel vs. Capcom to Street Fighter X Tekken and even Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, (okay, maybe not that last one,) pitting characters from different universes is always a huge selling point for fans of multiple franchises. Someone at Examu, the developers behind the Arcana Heart series of fighters, must have felt the same way, and are now teaming with the visual novel developer, Nitroplus, to create a fighting game spanning their multiple universes. The only problem is… I honestly have no idea who these characters are! Still, all that matters is whether or not it plays well, and so far, Nitroplus Blasterz is shaping up to be another great fighting game in Examu’s growing catalog.

Boasting an easy to pick up and play combo system, each character that I played with in Nitroplus Blasterz had their own unique gimmicks to help them stand out. Some use guns, many use swords, and one even grew flesh and destroyed everyone in her path Tetsuo style, each of which draw their move set from their source material. Some may be more recognizable than others to Western audiences, but characters like Saber from the popular Fate/Zero are sure to help bridge the gap between those who are new to these series’. With the promise of more characters that have a bigger presence in the West, including the popular Super Sonico, (who was regulated to a support character role in the arcade version,) we’ll look forward to seeing how the roster increases as we get closer to release.

Naturally, their individual traits mean nothing if the game itself isn’t fun to play. Thankfully, this isn’t the case with Nitroplus. Using the face buttons to link together attacks is easy to do, so if you know how to push buttons in succession, you’ll like like a pro in little time. That’s not to imply that the game is too easy, because your standard mechanics like special moves, air dashing, guard breaks, and other intermediate to advanced techniques are all here, topped off by some gorgeous looking over the top super moves. At its most chaotic, summoning combo extending support characters allows up to six characters on screen at once! Fights can get crowded and hectic, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Basically featuring everything you’d expect from a 2D anime style fighter, Nitroplus Blasterz is looking like a game to watch for fighting game aficionados. Releasing on both PS4 and PS3 this fall and featuring online cross play support between the two versions, there’s no reason not to log on and throw down with friends as your favorite heroines.

E3 2015: ‘Earth Defense Force’ Brings Out Our Inner Starship Trooper With Two New Games!

by Josh JacksonJune 26, 2015

At Xseed’s booth on the E3 show floor, it was clear how hard they’re looking to push the Earth Defense Force series. As a title with a strong cult following in Japan, its handful of Western releases on the PS3, Xbox 360 and PS Vita filled a need for giant insect blasting, but with Earth Defense Force 2: Invaders From Planet Space on Vita, and Earth Defense Force 4.1: The Shadow of New Despair for PS4, it’s clear that the publisher is looking to push these games into the forefront of their line up. After spending some quality time with each game, it’s easy to see what all the excitement is about.

Starting with Earth Defense Force 2, this handheld title serves as a remake of what’s considered the game that established the series’ current game play mechanics. As a third person shooter with a wide variety of military grade, or sci-fi inspired weapons, players can choose their fully customizable soldiers, establishing their look and class before they go into battle. Ranging from the standard soldier, to explosive experts, and the thrilling Palewing, which adds a jet pack for flying over the battlefield, each set up forces you to approach missions differently.

But once you’re on the battlefield, the over-sized bugs that fill the cities can overwhelm you easily. Navigating the large, yet contained city was one of the highlights of my play through, being able to run through or fly over these buildings as you destroy dozens of alien insects. As the fights become more intense and buildings start to crumble, scrambling for health packs and power ups become just as vital as avoiding damage, since you’ll quickly get overwhelmed, even on normal difficulty. It’s hard to believe that higher difficulties exist, because surviving on the default settings was hard enough. If nothing else, we know we can expect a challenging and exciting shoot em up, using arcade inspired game play that’s perfect for on the go gaming.

When moving over to Earth Defense Force 4.1, most of what was great about the handheld version held true for this PS4 remake of the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the fourth game. With more weapons, improved graphics and a bigger city supported by even more enemies, the boost in the presentation was instantly apparent. After trying out a variety of weapons, my PS4 play through had me settle with a beam based sniper rifle combined with the Palewing class, raining down satisfying punishment on my mutated enemies. In fact, it wasn’t until my overzealous style led me to shooting into a building at point blank range, killing myself with my own blast!

As one of the biggest surprises for me on the floor, these Earth Defense Force games were some of the most fun I had with a game at E3. Their simple to pick up and play, no nonsense mechanics made it easy to just jump in and start going to town on giant monsters, while managing to be punishing if you aren’t careful. It’s easy to see why the series has the following it does!

With each game launching in the fall, we’re eager to see how both titles progress. Check back with us for more on Earth Defense Force, and the rest of the games of E3 as news becomes available.

E3 2015: Worlds Collide Once Again In ‘Project X Zone 2’

by Josh JacksonJune 26, 2015

The original Project X Zone took us by surprise, becoming one of our favorite games of 2013. While Strategy RPG’s are usually the bane of my existence, PXZ‘s unique fighting game inspired battle system and its huge cast of characters from different Capcom, Sega and Namco Bandai worlds helped it leave a huge impression on me. After its sequel was announced and confirmed for a Western release a few months back, Project X Zone 2 promises a bigger cast from more of our favorite games, but after experiencing it at E3, we were relieved to find out that everything we loved about the game play of the first is still here.

Each party member in PXZ consists of a team of two, such as Ryu and Ken from Street Fighter, newcomers like Kazuma and Goro from Yakuza: Dead Souls, and even X and Zero from Mega Man X make their return, still serving as the closest we’ve got to a 3DS Mega Man game. Seeing as the demo was in the early portions of the game, each team was restricted to three attacks per turn. Either a neutral attack, side attack or up attack triggered a different combo, acted out with some stylish, 2D sprite based animations. If you can link attacks against your opponents right before they touch the ground, your party delivers extra damage, rewarding you for your perfect timing. As you can probably tell, unlike most games in the genre, the battles are hardly passive.

With each attack delivered to and received by some of the biggest foes of each universe, (including Juri and Dural making their comebacks, with newcomers like Sigma on the front lines,) each unit builds their XP meter. This allows them to guard, become invulnerable for the turn, or counter attack, with the hopes of defeating the enemy during their own turn. By pulling off long string of combos and not overspending the meter, playing well will allow the meter to fill up passed 100%, which comes in handy when pulling off their ultimate attacks. As visually impressive as ever, it’s amazing watching so many iconic moves pulled off to do huge damage, especially when the old characters were given new moves to keep things fresh.

Overall, PXZ 2 is almost identical to the original, (which you can find out more about in our review,) but more of a good thing is never bad. Combining these updated teams and attacks with new support characters, (like Leon Kennedy from Resident Evil,) and it looks like we’ll have another addicting love letter to long time gaming fans.

Project X Zone 2 is set to launch this fall exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS.

E3 2015: ‘Corpse Party: Blood Drive’ Is The Best Kind Of Survival Horror

by Josh JacksonJune 24, 2015

With most of the major survival horror franchises either veering more towards action adventure, or completely dropping off the map, it’s good to see smaller franchises filling the void. Case in point: Corpse Party: Blood Drive, a Vita exclusive title that takes the concept to the extreme. Games like Clock Tower 3, Haunting Ground and Silent Hill: Shattered Memories were always some of my favorites, because in true horror movie fashion, you have nothing but your wits and the occasional tool to hold temporarily hold off enemies to ensure your survival.

First off, we should mention that Blood Drive is the final game in a trilogy, so if you never played the PSP games before this, you might want to do so to avoid being spoiled. With that said, as with most Japanese horror titles, Corpse Party puts you in the role of a Japanese school girl, fresh off the heels of the previous game. After being able to defeat their latest supernatural threat, it appears that peace has finally been achieved. It’s not long however, before this group of friends finds themselves trapped in a building while being pursued by a relentless monster, where even the environment is out to kill them. All with a cute, chibi inspired graphics style!

Not to be misled by its cute character models, Corpse Party is absolutely brutal. With a pitch black environment, your character has to rely on her flashlight to navigate the halls, which is vital considering stepping on glass, barbed wire, pulsating flesh, and holes in the floor will all cause damage when stepped on. Now with an unlimited battery that was not in the original Japanese version based on fan feedback, just because you’ll always have your light doesn’t mean you should use it. Being too overzealous can alert the monster that’s pursuing you, which is where the real fun begins.

When being chased, the only thing you can do to avoid being killed is to run for your life. Creating distance between the two of you is the only way to truly avoid the monster, but with so many traps along the way, it’s really easy to accidentally kill yourself in the process. If your pursuer does lose track of you, your character can hide in a cabinet until it gives up its search, but unlike most horror games, there are no holes in the door to peak through. The only way to know if the enemy is gone is to check your heartbeat, which increases as the monster draws closer. Once safe, retreating to, or finding a new save point will replenish the health you surely lost, making it safe to continue your progress… For now.

Considering I was at a crowded, loud E3 hall while playing, Corpse Party still managed to be incredibly tense, which is a testament to how creepy the game can be. Creating such a feeling of helplessness is something I’ve missed in more recent games, but I’m thrilled to see that Blood Drive is keeping it alive and well. Want to catch up with the series? Check the Playstation Store and get caught up with its prequels, then prepare for the final chapter in the Corpse Party story when it releases just in time for Halloween, on October 13th.

E3 2015: ‘J Stars Victory Vs.’ Is The Anime Brawler We’ve Written Fanfics About!

by Josh JacksonJune 24, 2015

Due to how licensing works, it’s rare that we get the crazy anime crossovers that Japan plays fairly often. When J Stars Victory Vs. was released for the PS3 and Vita last year, it was one of those times that we were thankful that those systems are region free, since there was no way this game was coming to the West.

Right?

By some small miracle, the stars aligned to make J Stars Victory Vs. + a reality for us Western and European fans. Pitting the likes of Goku from Dragon Ball, Yu Yu Hakusho‘s Yusuke, and Naruto from, well… Naruto, some of Shonen Jump’s biggest heroes and villains clash in this 3D fighting game. As I’m not one to pass up witnessing a miracle in person, I got to check out a demo of the localized build at Namco Bandai’s E3 booth and find out how it’s coming along.

Taking place in a variety of iconic locations from each series, battles consisted of two on two matches with a third character acting as support. Having a full 3D space to fight in, players will have to take cover behind structures, keep an eye on their opponent and attack fast, since each character will have a variety of ways to take down their opponents. Being able to lock on and dash towards your target closes what can be a considerable distance between you and your enemies down quickly, and making sure to charge your energy to unleash weak, strong and area attacks were the biggest keys to victory, especially when this power can ultimately unveil each character’s transformed state. Including Goku’s Super Saiyan, Naruto’s Sage Mode, and Kenshin drawing his sword, new, more powerful abilities become unleashed, destroying your enemies, (and the environment,) in the process.

On the subject of victory, winning is achieved in a slightly different way in Jump compared to most fighters. Rather than simply KO both teammates, your pair of fighters fills their win gauge every time they defeat an enemy. Three victories result in a win, so one partner can lose all three times and blow it for their team. It’s a good thing single player hands you a CPU teammate to blame when things don’t go well, but you might want to apologize in advance to your friend if you lose during a co-op match.

With the final version featuring over 50 characters from over a dozen series’, any anime fan, and ESPECIALLY Shonen Jump enthusiasts will want to mark June 30th on their calendar. J Stars Victory Vs. + will be available for PS3, PS4, and PS Vita with online and offline play, an adventure mode that ties these worlds together, and an arcade mode that’s exclusive to this “plus” version! Check back for more details on the rest of the roster, and our more in depth impressions once we’re able to play the full game!

E3 2015: Suit Up In Your Two Piece And Stop The Zombie Apocalypse In ‘Onechanbara Z2: Chaos’

by Josh JacksonJune 24, 2015

Zombies are such a hot commodity these days, that it seems like just about every city is having an outbreak. We’ve seen plenty of takes on the undead in the last few years, especially in gaming. Yet, with so many versions of the zombie apocalypse out there, I can’t say that I’ve played any others with bikini clad samurai chopping hordes into pieces, but that’s exactly what we get with Onechanbara Z2: Chaos. We stopped by Xseed’s booth at E3 to find out how stylish the end of the world can be.

The last time I played an Onechanbara game, it was Bikini Samurai Squad on the Xbox 360. With a slow, plodding combat style and tedious exploration, it’s safe to say that I wasn’t a fan. With Z2 however, the developers at Tamsoft seem to have taken a page from their popular Senran Kagura series, cutting out the filler and getting straight to the zombie killing action. Playing much like your Dynasty Warriors’ of the world, your team of girls uses stylish combos to wipe out hundreds of enemies at one time. Attack strings are as easy as alternating between the weak and strong attack buttons, yet still looks cool enough to feel satisfying despite their simple execution. As the blood flies and the limbs scatter, your weapon becomes weaker when your blade becomes stained. Serving as a way to force players to take a break and find a safe spot between button mashing, a quick shoulder button tap will shake off the blood, looking like a badass in the process.

Speaking of badass, the demo contained four different heroines, all of which could be swapped out on the fly to extend combos. From twin katanas, to their fists, to a chainsaw that would make Ash Williams proud, each girl has their own strengths, weaknesses and speed to consider. Depending on the situation, a more powerful character might be more suited when bigger enemies show up. When you need to cut through giant waves in a hurry, one of the faster characters might be what you need. Being able to swap them out whenever you want makes adjusting easy, whether you’re doing so for tactical reasons, or if you just want to play as your best girl.

As expected from Tamsoft, Onechanbara Z2 is looking like an enjoyable hack and slash for someone who wants a less depressing take on the zombie infestation we’re all so afraid of. Launching exclusively for the PS4 on June 30th, it won’t be long before you can bring these monsters to your knees, and look good doing it!

E3 2015: We Throw Down With ‘Street Fighter V’

by Josh JacksonJune 23, 2015

The Street Fighter franchise holds a special place in my heart, as the first arcade game I played. As the series progresses and evolves, it’s a must for me to learn the ins and outs of how it grows, which is why playing Street Fighter V on the E3 show floor was a must. After playing IV and its multiple versions for so long, I thought jumping into Capcom’s newest fighter would be easy. As I would soon learn though, everything unique to the last game is thrown out the window.

Featuring every character announced so far, including Ryu, Chun Li, Cammy, M. Bison, and Street Fighter Alpha veterans, Charlie and Birdie, the first change that I noticed was the pacing of the game. Using my familiar attacks with Chun Li were just a step off, or would miss by a fraction of a second, which can make all the difference in a match. It was soon clear that despite IV being considered a slow paced fighter, V is slightly slower, which forces different timing on attacks. Aside from this, most of the returning characters played similarly to how they have in the past, with some moves being changed, (Chun’s Lightning Kick is a quarter circle motion with a set amount of kicks as opposed to rapidly tapping,) removed, (her Hazanshuu split-legged overhead,) or added, like most of Charlie’s move set.

But while the foundation may be the same, V adds some features that make it stand out from its predecessors. Removing the Ultra Meter and Focus Attack that became vital parts of the last game, this new version replaces them with the V-Gauge. The V-Gauge builds as each character lands hits or gets damaged, with three different functions. For instance, the V-Skill gives each character a unique move, like parrying for Ryu or teleporting for Charlie, the V-Reversal, which activates a counter attack when being hit by an opponent, or the V-Trigger, which costs both segments of the two tiered meter. Similar to an Ultra, V-Triggers are meant to turn the tides of battle, with each fighter having unique boosts. For example, Ryu hits harder while Chun-Li gets an extra hit added to each attack. These attacks change the dynamic quite a bit, but I would imagine that it would be even harder to balance the game with such drastic differences between the cast. The people at Capcom have been the leaders when it comes to fighting games for so long however, that if anyone can pull it off, it’s them.

On the subject of changes however, if you’re expecting to jump in as Charlie or Birdie, both have gone through huge changes since their last appearances, with Charlie especially playing completely differently. For Birdie fans, (all five of you,) you’ll be happy to know that his massive weight gain has come with more long range options. Finally putting that chain to good use, he’ll be able to command throw with it as both an anti air and a long range option. Charlie on the other hand, has discarded all of his charge attacks with the good old quarter circle. Using variations of the Sonic Boom and Flash Kick that he taught to Guile, the new Charlie plays much more aggressively, being able to control space with his projectile, while teleporting in close and overwhelming them with his scythe kicks. Assuming Guile will be in the game, it makes sense that Charlie gets an overhaul, and while we joke about how fighting game stories don’t matter, I’m excited to see where his new attitude takes him.

Want to play Street Fighter V for yourself? Make sure to pre-order in time to experience the open beta, which will launch for PS4 on July 23rd! Until then, keep an eye out for our future impressions, and share your PSN ID’s below so we can get some games in! Just don’t beat me up too bad.

Street Fighter V will launch exclusively for PS4 and PC in early 2016.

E3 2015: ‘Guitar Hero Live’ Looks To Reinvent The Rhythm Genre!

by Josh JacksonJune 22, 2015

As a huge fan of rhythm games, even I was exhausted from the constant Guitar Hero releases in the mid to late 2000’s. Between GH and rival series, Rock Band, the over saturation of a suddenly hot genre led to both series’ fading away as quickly as they rose to prominence. While the good folks at Harmonix seem to be playing it safe with their next effort, complete with backwards compatible instruments on Xbox and nearly their entire back catalog available as DLC, the team at FreeStyleGames, (primarily known for their DJ Hero games and Sing Party for Wii U,) is going back to basics. With a brand new, six button guitar, an original interface that uses real, first person stage footage for certain shows, and a total revamp of the traditional playlist, Live surprised me with the drastic shift its taken compared to its previously successful formula.

Starting with the guitar, if you’re expecting five colored buttons, you’re going to be in for a shock. The only frets this time around are six buttons at the top of the neck, three that go sideways and three more right under them. To say it’s an adjustment to play is an understatement, since even a Guitar Hero veteran like myself was having trouble with even the most basic songs. Thankfully, Star Power, (now called Hero Powers,) was still there to bail me out after hitting a series of particular notes in succession. In terms of the core game play though, it’s about what you would expect. Adding a fret-less strum, as well as single and double frets for a total of 10 possible inputs, difficult songs can get very complicated. My only complaint with the new set up is would be that hitting double frets, (holding the top and bottom buttons on the same column,) took special effort, not feeling intuitive at all. Then again, it will probably take more than 10 minutes to get used to the guitar, so maybe I just suck. We’ll reserve final judgement for now.

Consisting of two main modes of play, the equivalent to a career section would be the Live Mode. Taking place in first person, you’re tasked with touring with a band, performing whatever songs are on your crew’s set list. The crowd responds to your performance in real time, so what might start as cheering can quickly turn into a sea of insulting signs, trash thrown on stage, and a verbal lashing from your band mates. As you’d expect, progressing leads to new songs and venues, but this time, with the intention of creating an authentic on-stage experience.

TV Mode on the other hand, can’t really be compared to any other modes of play. Consisting of three sub modes, (or channels in this case,) which consist of a themed channel that cycles different genres, a new music channel that rotates the game’s newest releases, and premium channels, sections where you’ll play special sets. The first two modes constantly change, going through a one hour rotation before the set lists change, keeping new music flowing at a constant basis. Premium on the other hand, isn’t just a title, since some will use never before on stage footage from the actual band that the challenge is based around. As in, footage which was recorded during their performances in first person just for this game!

In these modes, the game is always running, even when you’re not around. Songs continue to play on each channel, and selecting them through TV will throw you into the song at whatever point it’s at when you start. As you perform, you’ll be automatically thrown into matchmaking and compared to other players who play at a similar level. Scoring high, reaching certain combo goals, (which is much easier to see thanks to the glowing notes that signify each multiple of 50,) and completing other challenges unlocks more EXP and bonuses, with even more content being offered at the Premium section.

Speaking of, knowing how much potential Premium holds, the game is also going to make you work for the right to play it. Premium challenges can only be played by spending in game currency that’s earned through other modes. All of the game’s newest content will be debuted on this channel, so any new DLC will likely be centered around a specific band or theme, forcing players to go head to head at songs no one has played before. Serving as the mode that yields the most unlockable content, highest EXP bonuses and exclusive, timed items, the devs want you to constantly check in to see what new challenges await. After all, once some of these in game items are gone, they’re gone for good, and WILL NOT be sold as future DLC, so you might want to make sure your guitar skills are up to snuff when the time comes around.

As EXP is earned, it can be used to customize your equipment, unlock new note highway designs, and even obtain other Hero Powers. With it’s current system, you’ll be able to adjust the game to cater to your play style, so if you want your guitar to earn more points per note, carry more Hero Power, raise its maximum multiplier or reach higher multipliers with fewer notes, it’s all yours to upgrade! How this will affect online matches is unknown, but we trust that there will be a level of balancing included when the final game releases. Outside of game play, special channels will open up that features music and genres that you tend to play most often, so you’ll rarely be stuck playing songs you don’t like! It’s clear that this could be the most customizable rhythm game to date, which we’re very excited about!

Now, to the most controversial part of what makes Guitar Hero Live stand out. The good news is that you will never have to pay a dime for DLC. After it debuts in the Premium Channel, the newest songs will eventually be cycled through the normal channels, depending on genre and band like the normal songs. But what if you don’t want to play randomized channels and want to play whatever songs you want on demand? This is where the pay wall comes in. During normal progression, you’ll unlock a separate currency called Plays. Each Play can be exchanged for the right to play any song, DLC or otherwise, at your choosing, including customizing a playlist in exchange for multiple Plays. If you run out however, you’ll have to pay out of pocket for more. And what about those times where you have a group over who wants to try everything? In these cases, unlimited passes can be purchased, which give you access to the full library to play as much as you want for a limited time. New challenges cycle through on a regular basis, so there will never be a time where Plays can’t be unlocked for free, but this might not bode well for those who want to play what they want when they want.

What I took away from my time with Guitar Hero Live is that it’s looking to be more ambitious than I ever expected it to be. With a new guitar, new note chart, fully customizable game play, some impressive on stage technology and a completely different approach on the standard DLC model, we’re excited to see what the future holds for the former franchise’s comeback tour!

Retailing at $99.99, look for Guitar Hero Live this October.