Tag: PS3

Watch A Gorgeous New Cinematic Trailer For ‘The Last Guardian’!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: I can barely believe that it’s finally almost here (and Shane still doesn’t believe it based on last night’s podcast), but we’re now barely a month away from Sony’s The Last Guardian, and after all these years of waiting I can’t wait to see what it’s finally all about.

Today, Sony debuted an incredibly gorgeous new cinematic trailer for the game, reminding us all just how close it is to releasing, while also throwing off some major ICO vibes.

I just really, really hope Trico doesn’t die…

Take a look at the trailer below, and be sure to let us know what you think. The Last Guardian hits PS4 on December 6th!

Ryuji Sakamoto Fights The System In The Latest ‘Persona 5’ Trailer

by Josh Jackson

Following the reveals of the main character and Ann from the highly anticipated RPG, Persona 5, Ryuji Sakamoto is the next in line to join the Phantom Thieves. Apparently following in the footsteps of such bros as Persona 3‘s Junpei, Yosuke from Persona 4, and Tokyo Mirage Sessions‘ Touma, Ryuji is said to be a true friend who puts the group’s well being before his own.

As a former track star, Ryuji’s dreams were shattered along with his legs when over-training pushed on him by his relentless coach led to a career ending injury before it truly started. Now harboring resentment towards “shitty adults”, he joins the Phantom Thieves as a way to get back at society, and to change it for the better in his own way.

In battle, he wields a pipe just like a bat, beating on any shadows that cross his path. Fitting for someone who has a reputation for being the troublemaker of the team, feel lucky that you aren’t on the other side of the swing.

Voiced by Max Mittelman, (Saitama himself from One Punch Man), here’s some more detail on what went into bringing Ryuji to life. We’ll have to wait until February 14th to hear the final result, and we can hardly wait for it!

Which version are you going with, the steelbook case with the standard game, or the Take Your Heart edition with all the cool stuff we mentioned before!? Let us know below!

Meet Ann Takamaki, The Beautiful Rose Of The ‘Persona 5’ Cast

by Josh Jackson

Since Persona 3 set the current standard for the game featuring some incredible female characters, we wouldn’t expect anything less from the upcoming Persona 5. After meeting the main character last time around, now we’re being introduced to Ann Takamaki, the beautiful rose of the Phantom Thieves who looks to carry the torch held be best girl candidates such as Aegis, Yukari, Yukiko and Naoto.

Unlike the previous girls however, Ann seems to have herself relatively together. Despite being the source of many rumors back at school, (as well as having to deal with an overbearing gym teacher), that doesn’t get her down. In fact, she serves as the moral compass of the group, helping keep her friends level headed in the face of some extraordinary circumstances. Once stepping into battle, the use of her whip brings the pain to the enemy shadows, all while bringing extra style to the punishment she inflicts. Don’t believe me? Check out her reveal trailer below and see for yourself.

In case you needed to know more about Ann, Atlus has also conducted an interview with Erika Harlacher, the voice actor behind the catsuit clad character. Known for voicing characters in anime series such as Kurapika in Hunter X Hunter, Ami in Toradora! and the game voice for Kiyoko Kirigiri in my 2014 game of the year, Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc, Erika will be playing a completely different character than the stoic detective from two years ago. From what we’ve seen so far though, it seems like her full performance will be something to look forward to. Find out more in her interview below!

Persona 5 will launch on February 14, 2017 for the PS3 and PS4 with two editions. First prints will come with a limited edition steel book case, while the “Take Your Heart” edition will be available exclusively on the PS4, with all the bonus goodies we detailed in the protagonist’s reveal for $89.99. Which one are you thinking of picking up, and does Ann look like a worthy addition to the group? Let us know what you think!

Is Bigfoot In ‘GTA V’? Check Out Game Sleuth! The Spiritual Successor To Pop Fiction!

by The_acz

Earlier this year, legendary video game website Gametrailers.com closed its doors.

With that, a lot of well known shows such as The Final Bosman, Huber Hype, and more were no longer. One of the most popular out of them was a show called Pop Fiction. Created by Michael Damiani, Pop Fiction centered around tackling very popular video game myths and putting them to the test. The show became incredibly popular and many were sad to see it go.

Now going 8 months strong, Easy Allies is the spiritual Successor to GT and features a ton of successor shows (Huber Syndrome instead of Huber Hype, and Easy Update instead of Mandatory Update.) This is no exception to Pop Fiction, as back in may we got its spiritual sequel, Game Sleuth. The first episode based off of the running man from Ocarina of Time.

The episode today though has nothing to do with Zelda. Instead, they examine the amazing Phenomenon of Bigfoot being in GTA V. Is it real? Is it fake? WHY DO I HAVE THE SUDDEN URGE TO BUY A COPY OF GTA V!?! Everything will be revealed in the video below. What are your thoughts on the video? What gaming myths do you hope they cover in the future. Tell us below in the comments!

 

 

The Last Guardian Gets Delayed To December.

by The_acz

Being a fan of Sony’s upcoming PS4 game The Last Guardian is suffering.

Announced way back in 2009 for the PS3, the project was revealed at that years E3, only to go dead silent for 6 years until being re-revealed at Sony’s now amazingly infamous E3 2015 of dreams. This year we got another trailer for the stunning game with a release date of October 25th 2016, a mere 6 weeks away. Suffice to say, fans were happy to finally play the game so soon. At least that’s what they thought.

In a post this morning on the official PlayStation Blog, Shuhei Yoshida posted that the development team needs just an extra month or two to make it the best game it can be. The game is now penned for a December 6th 2016 release. (Happy birthday to me!) You can read the update right here. Fans seem to be taking the delay pretty well as people have been more accepting of the delay than No Man’s Sky gate just a couple of months ago. What are your thoughts on the delay? Tell us in the comments below!

 

Geekscape Games Reviews ‘Attack On Titan’

by Josh Jackson

Attack On Titan seems like the kind of license that would be perfect for a video game, right? Based on the anime and manga series of the same name, what could be more exciting than soaring through the air and cutting down these towering giants? Unfortunately, past iterations haven’t had much success in delivering a satisfying adaptation to our screens, but that all changes with the new Attack On Titan from Koei Tecmo and Omega Force. Known for their work on the numerous Dynasty Warriors games and spinoffs, their expertise when it comes to creating large scale battles shines through with one of the most exciting games of the year, licensed or otherwise.

Attack On Titan PS4 Screen 1

Closing in for the kill.

If you follow the anime, you’ll know that the show has been stuck in limbo over the last few years after its initial 26 episodes, so forgive me if the plot sounds familiar. For those who might be introduced to the series for the first time through the game, Attack On Titan focuses on the last of humanity, most of which was wiped out years before by the sudden arrival of the Titans. These seemingly mindless creatures feed on humans, and pushed those who were left behind to build a new settlement separated by three walls. Eren Jager, Mikasa Akerman and Armin Arlert, childhood friends who live within the outermost Wall Maria, have their worlds torn apart when a sudden Titan attack led by the never before seen Colossal Titan, results in the wall being breached and their parents being killed as a result. Deciding to enlist in the military as retaliation, the trio prepares to take the fight to the Titans, becoming humanity’s last hope for survival.

When looking at how easily the humans are decimated throughout the series, Attack On Titan almost feels like Dynasty Warriors in reverse. Between Attack Mode, (where the story takes place), and Expedition Mode, (side missions that focus on obtaining new materials and gear), the core game play revolves around the player stepping in the shoes of one of the Survey Corps members as they traverse one of many maps, slaying dozens of Titans while helping squad mates in need. Capturing the feel of the show and its soldiers’ unique method of movement thanks to the Omni-Directional Mobility Gear, using these grappling hooks to fly through the air at high speeds is as satisfying as it looks. The controls admittedly have a bit of a learning curve as you memorize how to grapple, speed up, lock on, focus on one of five body parts, issue orders to your squad, and close in for your decisive blow, but once it all comes together well. Cutting down enemy after enemy results in one of the most thrilling game play experiences so far this year.

Attack On Titan PS4 Screen 2

Sasha Blaus holds her own against James Woods here.

Once on the battlefield, your main focus is to follow the red marked objectives to advance the story. Usually involving taking down multiple Titans, you’ll find yourself in a bad spot if you run out of gas for your gear, or if the twin swords you use for attacking wear out. All it takes is one mistimed attack, a lack of speed or a set of dull blades to be grabbed by an enemy, and if you’re not fast enough with your reactions, you’ll be food in no time. Thankfully, the field is littered with support soldiers who hand off more supplies when approached. As barbaric as it sounds however, the only way to know what they’ll give you is if you let them get eaten. Yes, much like the show, death is all around you. These NPC’s will often be killed, with a notification in the corner making you feel extra guilty about it by letting you know each time. By killing a Titan who’s consumed an ally, they’ll occasionally drop their corpse, which is marked with an icon showing which item their body will reward.

Attack On Titan PS4 Screen 4

Yep. A lot of people die.

If you want someone more reliable on your team, story characters will often signal for help with side objectives, ranging from helping them turn the tides in a losing battle, escorting them to a point, or triggering traps on the field. Once aided, they’ll join your five person squad and attack alongside you, bringing more items with them and triggering traps in the process. Often stronger than the generic NPC’s you can recruit, once a squad is in your control, you can issue generic commands like having them guard you, fan out to attack multiple nearby targets, or focus on the area you’re attacking for a devastating group attack.  In typical Dynasty Warriors fashion, important characters like your side quest recruits will comically “flee” the battlefield when defeated instead of getting killed. Which is strange since getting killed usually means getting eaten, so watching your squad be swallowed and chewed only to say they were tired of fighting and retreat right afterwards, is unintentionally comical. I mean, flee to where? You’re dead, man!

Speaking of friends, while Attack Mode is strictly single player, Expedition Mode lets players team up online to take on more difficult quests for the sake of money, new equipment, and the needed materials. Each set of missions is divided by a section of the map, each of which needs to be scouted throughout its nearly 100 missions. Not restricted to the story, these quests have the freedom to offer up some insane challenges to any Survey Corps member brave enough to take them on, and while expedition missions can be tackled solo, you’ll start to regret it once the difficulty ramps up. The reward is worth the struggle though, since the only way to unlock new weapons, Mobility Gears, scabbards, and eventually horses, is by playing through these missions. On the flip side, you can only unlock new characters for this mode by progressing through Attack Mode, so you’ll want to play both side by side if you want to steadily progress without trouble.

And while the assumption would be that each character would be exactly the same, Attack On Titan does a great job of making each main character feel unique, playing up their character strengths. Eren obviously has his Titan Form, where he can temporarily transform into one of the monsters and tear them apart with some basic melee combat abilities, but when characters like Levi and Mikasa feel significantly better at sword fighting thanks to their unique abilities, or Armin making up for his lack of strength by being the only person who can issue individual orders to his squad thanks to his tactical brilliance, each playable character delivers a small, yet noticeable difference to how you’ll approach combat.

Attack On Titan PS4 Screen 3

Each character is unique, but only Eren can one hand grab Titans that look like babies.

In both Attack and Expedition Modes, you’ll wind up with extra material drops by attacking marked limbs on Titan bodies, or earning an S rank at completion. Coming off as simple enough at first, obtaining S Ranks often felt more frustrating than it was worth. Finishing the stage fast enough and addressing enough side requests were both fine, but it’s easy to get knocked down a rank because you didn’t kill enough Titans. In my confusion, I noticed that in many cases, you’ll have to hunt down and kill nearly every Titan on the map, no matter how out of the way they are compared to the rest of your objectives. Feeling like a battle against my own annoyance, there’s little in the game more disheartening than getting your rank dropped because you didn’t kill those two guys hanging out in the opposite corner of the stage, especially when rare materials are on the line.

As much as the ranking can bring down your spirits, it’s a nitpick next to some of the bigger issues with Attack On Titan, most of which bog down the main game too much. For starters, while delivered with the same solid voice acting, beautiful visuals, and stellar presentation as when you’re in the middle of the action, the story is hard to stay interested in since it’s a story we’ve seen told so many times. This isn’t the game’s fault, but it’s impossible to be excited about sitting through the Female Titan finale for the third time. Fortunately, the game goes above and beyond in this respect, adding in part of the next story arc after the credits roll as a set of bonus post game quests. Within the main game, some of the missions feel more drawn out than they should be. If we break down the anime and make an action game out of the actual fight scenes, there’s very little to explore, (which was a big reason why last year’s game fell short). To compensate, small moments that were either glossed over, or took up all of two minutes of screen time on the show, will be expanded into whole missions in the game. It’s easy to see where the developers stretched things out to create a more “full” gaming experience, but for every great level we get, it also ends up being tied to slow story progression.

Attack On Titan PS4 Screen 5

You’ll be thankful for your crew when you’re inevitably caught.

But most importantly, as fun as the game play is, Attack On Titan falls into Omega Force’s most consistent complaint. This game is far too repetitive. Don’t get me wrong, the satisfying flash of a perfect attack, the occasional zoom in on your character before they deliver the killing blow, and the spray of blood that douses your character in a brutal crimson rain never gets old, but most of the combat revolves around you doing the same thing repeatedly for the 10 hours or so that the main story takes to complete. Add in a few more for the post game content, and another 10-20 minimum for the Expedition Mode, and the shine will definitely wear off over time. The game does try to throw in new elements with horseback levels, where your faithful steed will accompany you while traveling across areas with few buildings to latch on to, Titan Mode levels, where Eren fights hand to hand with some satisfying, yet few attacks as mentioned earlier, and bosses that require you to wear down their body before their weakness at the nape of their neck will be exposed, but it’s not enough when these brief moments are quickly replaced by the standard combat. It doesn’t help when occasionally, especially in small, enclosed maps, the camera loses all sense of direction and flies around faster than a Maneuver Gear ever could. Combined with the (appreciated) grapple physics that will drop you if your hooks become obstructed, and some minor slowdown when battles get hectic, and you end up with a great game with some minor technical hiccups.

Despite the repetition, Attack On Titan is one of the most enjoyable anime adaptations I’ve played. By capturing the style and brutality of its anime counterpart and successfully adapting it into an adrenaline rush of a video game with its satisfying, fast paced action, it won’t be hard to find plenty to love. Fans of the series itself, or even an action gamer who’s never heard of the series, (if any exist at this point), would do well to pick it up and take up arms against the Titans. With online play to keep the battles going long after the credits roll, a distinct cast of characters, and plenty of content to unlock throughout, Wall Maria’s tragedy is definitely our gain.

Final Score: 4.25/5

E3 2016: Our Imaginations Run Wild In ‘Skylanders Imaginators’

by Josh Jackson

I like to imagine at some point, after creating hundreds of figures and characters, that the developers of Skylanders Imaginators came up with this year’s core mechanic because they were completely out of ideas when it came to new toys for Portal Masters to take control of. And honestly, with so much content released since the original game took off in 2011, who could blame them? But with the introduction of custom Skylanders, the game has opened up an opportunity to allow its fans both young and young at heart to let their imaginations take charge and help them create the perfect character. But how will this all work? We headed over to Activision’s theater room during E3 2016 and learned all we could about the Toys To Life pioneer’s next release.

Kaos is up to no good once again, deciding that it might be best to imitate the Portal Masters who have thwarted him so many times before. Taking control of a new set of evil Skylanders, these “Doomlanders” as they’re called, the previous roster might not be enough to stop them. That’s where the Portal Masters will take control and begin to create new characters that will take the fight to Kaos, but they’ll need some new toys if they want to have access to the full range of possibilities.

E3 2016 Skylanders Imaginators Screen 1

Held in Creation Crystals, one version of the toy will be released for every element, (that’s 10 for those keeping count). Once placed on the Portal of Power, the crystal will take us into a character creation screen, allowing us to customize just about every aspect of the character that we can imagine. From their name, height, width, face, hair, color, accessories and fighting style, Imaginators will even let you create their own catchphrase for them to triumphantly call out when summoned. If you want your Skylander to have a tail, you can do it. If you want them to have a fart aura that follows them everywhere they go for some reason, you can do that too. And when you finally have that perfect Imaginator, make sure to take a selfie and hang it in your hub world for everyone to see! But just because your character is created doesn’t mean that that’s where your input stops.

Throughout the adventure, full sets of gear can be discovered, which will join hats as clothing that will affect your character’s stats. By finding hidden treasure chests, completing mini games, (including one based off of the radio from Trap Team, and the return of Sky Stones), and defeating enemies, you’ll be able to discover a wide range of new options. Some of these include the gear that we mentioned, new voices, auras, and pretty much everything that was featured on the customization screen. Your Imaginator will always be a work in progress, letting you constantly tweak it as you discover more options.

E3 2016 Skylanders Imaginators Screen 2

This guy is just one of many possible creations.

Then again, your character can have all the cool outfits in the world, but it means nothing if they don’t know how to fight. That’s where the new Skylander Senseis come into play. Your Imaginator has ten Battle Classes to choose from, determining how they will do battle against Kaos’ forces. After choosing between being a Brawler, Bowslinger or Sorcerer to name a few classes, we’ll be able to give our creations unique fighting abilities across four classifications, (weapon, elemental, secret and Soul Gem types specifically). From there, selecting a Sensei that’s proficient in that particular fighting style will lead to your Imaginator unlocking new weapon abilities to use for the matching class. From familiar faces like the reformed Wolfgang to newcomers, Ember and In order to get you to buy more than one of each type, the more Senseis you have, the higher your Imaginator level cap becomes. In other words, they won’t be able to get all that strong without a team of masters to guide them. Aside from mentoring your creations, each Sensei knows their own abilities that promise to be the strongest that the series has seen thus far. From what we know so far, it’s looking like this new set of characters will be the toys to get for the game this year.

If you’re worried about what role your old toys will play, every character will once again be playable, with some of the tracks from Superchargers returning for a racing mode to use your vehicles in. Traps will give the same items for inserting them into the game that they did in last year’s game, while classic characters will also pull double duty as Storytellers, giving your cast new missions to complete. One thing about the series is that it has yet to leave any of our past investments in the dust, so it’s great to see that this trend is continuing.

With so many new features coming to Skylanders Imaginators, it’s shaping up to be one of the standout entries as we head into the game’s sixth year. Skylanders Superchargers blew us away, leaving us feeling like it was the best game the series had produced, so this year’s version will have some big shoes to fill. But with what we’ve seen so far, (like Crash Bandicoot making an appearance as a Brawler Sensei), on top of what we haven’t thanks to our possible characters being dictated by the limits of our own imaginations, we’re left with seemingly countless possibilities that might live up to the challenge.

Skylanders Imaginators will release for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and Wii U on October 16.

 

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

by Josh Jackson

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.

E3 2016 Attack on Titan Screen 2

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.

E3 2016 Attack on Titan Screen 1

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.

‘LEGO Dimensions’ Adding Sonic, Adventure Time, Harry Potter, And More!

by The_acz

For about the past week, WB Games has been teasing fans about what’s next to come for their toys to life genre game Lego Dimensions, and today we finally got an answer.

Expect things to get even CRAZIER than they did in the first one because they are once again going all out. Some of the newcomers are Adventure Time, Harry Potter, Mission Impossible, Gremlins, Goonies, and many more. Even Sonic is joining in on the fun. YES YOU HEARD THAT RIGHT! SONIC THE FREAKING HEDGEHOG HIMSELF. Not much more is known about the game whether it’s a full on sequel or just a massive expansion, but it seems like most of this stuff will be releasing this fall for PS3, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and Wii U. Are you excited about this? What franchise do you still want to see in Lego Dimensions? Tell us in the comments below!

Coming September 27th

-Ghostbusters Story Pack
-Adventure Time Level Pack
-Mission: Impossible Level Pack-
-Harry Potter Team Pack
-Adventure Time Team Pack
-The A-Team Fun Pack

Coming later are sets based on:

-Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
-The LEGO® Batman Movie
-The Goonies
-Sonic The Hedgehog
-Teen Titans Go!
-LEGO® City Undercover
-Knight Rider
-The Powerpuff Girls
-Gremlins
-Beetlejuice
-E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial

Create Your Own Hero With ‘Skylanders Imaginators’!

by The_acz

Skylanders fans are in for an interesting game this year.

Yesterday, Activision announced Skylanders Imaginators, A game centered around creating your own Skylander. The game launches October 16th and will be  bundled with the portal of power, the custom character portal, as well as 2 sensei figures. The game is targeting a release date of October 16th for Xbox 360, One, PS4, PS3, and Wii U. Do you like Skylanders? Are you excited for this year’s game? Let us know in the comments below!

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

by Josh Jackson

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

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

‘LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Video Game Leaked, And It Looks Beautiful!

by The_acz

Well it seems like the cat’s out of the bag.

Announced via Youtube ad, LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens has been prematurely been announced for PC, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PSVita, PS4, PS3, Wii U, and 3DS.

Not only did it start popping up on Youtube ad’s, but it also started popping up on the official Xbox Store and even Amazon (which has now been taken down.). On top of that, a listing also appeared for a special $70 PS4 & Xbox One Edition that includes an exclusive LEGO Finn Minifigure plus the game’s season pass. The PS4 version even includes an exclusive level & character pack.

The game is set to launch on June 28th. Check out the trailer Below! Are you excited for this game? Comment below and tell us!

The Incredible ‘Valkyria Chronicles’ Is Headed To PS4!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: It’s finally happening.

After launching on Steam late last year and quickly becoming a top-seller, and shortly thereafter revealing that the title was headed to Sony’s Playstation 4 everywhere but North America, the game has officially been confirmed for a North American release.

We’re still awaiting an official release date, but the game will feature a huge 1080P/60FPS update, both Japanese and English audio, all of the game’s released DLC, as well as (for the first time) trophy support.

Valkyria Chronicles Remastered will launch this Spring, though a official release date has not yet been confirmed, and will cost a cool $29.99 US.

Even better, pre-order and launch copies of the physical edition come in a slick ‘Squad 7 Armored Case’, which you can take a look at below!

Valkyria

Not familiar? In the game, the year is 1935 E.C., and the continent of Europa has been plunged into the Second Europan War between the Autocratic East Europan Imperial Alliance — also known as The Empire — and the Atlantic Federation over the precious resource Ragnite. The Empire is sweeping through the continent like an unchecked wildfire and has its eyes set on the rich Ragnite deposits of the Principality of Gallia. Although peaceful Gallia remains neutral in the conflict, its citizens will need to defend home and country against the inevitable invasion. Players follow Lieutenant Welkin Gunther and the vaunted Squad 7 of the Gallian Militia as they take on the seemingly insurmountable forces of the Empire.

Valkyria Chronicles was one of the very best titles on the Playstation 3, so I’m beyond excited to replay it on the PS4 (well, if I can ever get through my backlog). Take a look at the Remastered trailer below, and be sure to let us know if you’re excited!

‘Odin Sphere Leifthrasir’ Launches On June 7th! Here’s What Comes With The Collector’s Edition!

by Josh Jackson

Fans of 2D hack and slash games were thrilled to learn that Odin Sphiere Leifthrasir, a remake of the late PS2 classic that put Vanillaware on the map, would be coming to Playstation platforms in 2016. Courtesy of Atlas, now we know when we’ll be able to play it!

Launching on June 7th for the PS4, PS3 and PS Vita, Leifthrasir puts us in control of five different characters in a Norse inspired setting as their stories intertwine to reveal an ancient conflict. Featuring gorgeous 2D visuals, challenging combat, and a memorable soundtrack, it’s great to see this gem get a second look.

With every first print copy of the game, Leifthrasir will come packaged with a 64 page softcover art book, showing off those fancy character designs we were just talking about. If you’re a PS4 owner who adores the game as much as I do, then a special “Storybook Edition” will launch exclusively for that platform, coming with the game and a hardcover version of the art book, alongside a potion recipe t-shirt, a mystery art print, and a metal slipcase and premium packaging for the game.

Odin Sphere Remake Collector's Edition

Odin Sphere Remake Art Book

Along with this information on all the bonus goodies comes a new batch of screenshots for you to feast your eyes on. Want more information on everything Odin Sphere? Check out the newly launched web site for the game, and keep an eye on updates from us as they’re released!

Relive Chapter ‘Zero’ In The Latest ‘Resident Evil’ Remaster!

by Matt Rodriguez

Today, the Resident Evil 0 remaster is available on the PlayStation Store (both PS3 and PS4), as well as the Xbox 360 and Xbox One marketplace!

This chilling tale of what happens before the first Resident Evil, following Rebecca Chambers–a member of S.T.A.R.S, in the first noted instance of a zombie sighting in the Resident Evil world!  It also sheds some light on the backstories of William Birkin and Albert Wesker, two of the main antagonists of the Resident Evil series.  Although Resident Evil 0 has been ported many times, this would be the first time that the game has been remastered in HD from top to bottom.  It also includes an extra never-before-seen mode, Wesker mode, which allows you to use an overpowered “Ouroboros virus” enhanced Wesker, although it isn’t mentioned whether he’s used for the main game or side missions.  It has also been announced that this mode is non-canon, designed simply for the pure thrill of annihilating everything in sight with an overpowered Wesker!

This exciting prequel is available for download today at $19.99, or available in the Resident Evil Origins Collection, only available at retail locations for $39.99. The Resident Evil Origins Collection also includes the HD remaster of the first Resident Evil game, which is the game that helped bolster the survival horror genre to new heights!  It is also worth noting that the Resident Evil HD remaster was released on January 20, 2015, almost exactly a year before today.  Who knows?  Maybe we’ll be seeing another RE remaster next year, around the same time.

Source: Playstation Blog

The Top 10 Gaming Waifus Of 2015

by Josh Jackson

Warning: Potential spoilers follow!

The New Year is here! Which means for many of us, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the past year and think about what you did right, what you can improve on and how you can tackle 2016 in the best way possible. Or for the rest of us, you think back on all the fictional characters you were totally crushing on through 2015.

Yes, that’s right! It’s time for the second annual waifu of the year list (check out last year’s list right here), and if you were expecting it to be a one and done feature after I would have been inevitably added to the sexual offenders list, I’m just as surprised as you are. But before we get into the list, let’s show some appreciation for the fantastic waifu candidates that just missed the cut this year.

Rise Kujikawa (Persona 4: Dancing All Night)

Waifu 2015 Rise Kujikawa

While in the midst of a big comeback tour, a pop idol should probably spend her time brushing up on her choreography and screaming at interns for bringing them the wrong mineral water. Yet, Ms. Kujikawa decides to spend it saving her understudies from the clutches of monsters who must be fought with the power of dance. It was hard to list Rise over the new girl, Kanami Mashita, but considering the new girl is a big reason why the crap hit the fan to begin with, her senpai gets the nod here. The only reason why Rise didn’t make the main list is because her time to shine is essentially stolen by the swagtastic Yu Narukami, but that doesn’t mean her contributions shouldn’t be acknowledged.

Toko Fukawa (Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls)

Waifu 2015 Toko Fukawa

In the original Danganronpa, Toko was often rude, shrewd, and oh so smelly, to the point where her alter ego overshadowed her in every possible way. When you consider that said alter ego is a serial killer, then you must really be a special kind of awful. Then Another Episode came along, and we were reintroduced to a strong, steadfast girl who was able to be Komaru’s voice of reason when being trapped on a secluded island full of killer robot Monokuma’s become too much to bear, (pun intended af.) So much so in fact, that even Genocide Jack develops self control along the way, serving as an invaluable ally for the Future Foundation. Toko would have normally been a shoe in for this year’s waifu list, except that she still only has eyes for Byakuya Togami. Anyone else would likely wind up dead, so yeah… There’s that.

Quest Receptionist (Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate)

Waifu 2015 Quest Receptionist

Always there to greet you with a smile and a bad joke right before you take off to fight towering beasts that are likely to maul you, the mission girl is the cornerstone of any successful caravan. Now if she actually did something more than sit in a chair and make fun of you, then she would definitely be top waifu material. Regardless, she left her mark on the hearts of the Monster Hunter fandom, and that’s what counts.

Ayumi Shinozaki (Corpse Party: Blood Drive)

Waifu 2015 Ayumi

A shy girl with good intentions, this spiritually sensitive girl will do anything for her friends, even if it means diving back into a haunted school where most of them were previously killed in the hopes that she can revive them. Such loyalty is rare these days, which is why Ayumi deserves a nod. But we should also mention that her friends are essentially dead because of her, and returning to revive them means the ones that are still alive could end up killed as a result! But you know, an A for effort, Ayumi.

The Criminal Girls (Criminal Girls)

Waifu 2015 Criminal Girls

Now we can’t compile a list as pathetic amazing this one and not talk about the Criminal Girls, a group of mostly underage female inmates that are forced to help you as a guard, (who’s essentially a Pokemon Trainer if the monsters were girls of questionable morals,) escape a prison overrun with demons. That would be all well and good if criminals had any respect for the law, but considering these girls have an NWA attitude towards your authority, the only way to get them to follow your commands is to tie them down and spank them into submission… I mean, that really says it all, doesn’t it? The girls might have made the proper list if the game they star in wasn’t an absolute bore to play, but the concept is too absurd to ignore. So here’s your time to shine girls! And we’ll see you in 2016 in the sequel!

So after asking yourself how this made publication in the first place, you might be wondering who could have made the final cut with so many great characters on the sidelines! From weeaboo bait, to some of the biggest titles of the year, we scoured the gaming landscape and compiled the definitive list of waifu’s 2015 had to offer. From ninjas, to CPUs, vault dwellers to squids, and even a dude. Crack open your ramune and curl up with your favorite body pillow as we proudly (?) bring to you the top 10 waifus of 2015!

10. Homura (Senran Kagura 2: Deep Crimson)

Waifu 2015 Homura 1Waifu 2015 Homura 2

An evil ninja formerly of the Hebijo Clandestine Girls’ Academy, Homura and her squad have become renegade ninjas, on the run from their former allies after helping the good ninjas of Hanzo Academy foil Hebijo’s plan for world domination at the end of the first Senran Kagura. Despite being rightfully known as the game that was specifically created for 3D boobs on Nintendo’s handheld, the games have deceptively strong storylines behind all the clothes tearing and shameless zoom ins. But what makes Homura stand out beyond all of the other Senran Kagura girls is that despite her cold, distant exterior, she’ll do anything to protect her friends, even if it means putting herself at risk. Whether that means shielding her fellow renegades from the wrath of their old school, or fighting alongside her childhood friend / good ninja rival, Asuka, Homura is never one to let pride get in the way of doing what’s right. To top it off, when her 10 kitanas, (which are incredibly badass by the way,) can’t get the job done, her Crimson Mode helps her take the battle to the next level.

9. Lin (Xenoblade Chronicles X)

Waifu 2015 Lynlee

The girl with the Monado hair pins. Lin Lee Koo is the resident prodigy of New Los Angeles, serving as the top mechanic for the BLADES as they explore the seemingly uncharted planet of Mira. In addition to being the one who services the team’s giant mechs, or Skells in this case, she also manages to hold her own in battle, wielding a heavy shield that’s as big as she is. It also helps to be tech savvy when everyone in town is using a substitute mechanical body.

But more so than all of that, Lin finds herself on the list mostly because of all the controversy that surrounded the ability to dress her up. After Nintendo added some extra cloth to a costume that they felt was too revealing for a 13 year old in the West, a segment of Xenoblade fans had a meltdown, fighting the decision tooth and nail to protect the integrity of the original work. Others might have just wanted to see her half naked, but the point is people were obsessing over her look for a very long time. Her being awesome is just a bonus!

8. Me (Fallout 4)

Waifu 2015 Fallout 4

After spending enough time in the wastelands of Fallout 4, I came to the conclusion that I’m a pretty awesome wife. In a time that’s easily full of confusion after waking up from a cryogenic sleep, only to find everyone who was with you has been long dead and the last thing you witnessed was your spouse getting killed as your son was kidnapped, it’s all a lot to take in. But I pushed on, hell bent to rescue my son from the monsters who ripped him from my husband’s arms, eating and drinking as much radioactive meat and water as I can along the way. But in between developing stage 3 lymphoma with every meal, maybe I can help these passerby’s along the way? Or find this missing item for this questionable traveler? Wait, who was I supposed to rescue again?

If my version of Fallout Wife wasn’t so easily sidetracked, she could have been much higher on the list, but since I play as if my kid isn’t as important as these shady strangers I keep coming across, my priorities are clearly all out of whack. Number 8 sounds like a good place since I should get around to saving my son. Eventually…

By the way, Fallout 4‘s female lead voice actor was just on Geekscape this past week, which you can listen to right here.

7. Me (Hatoful Boyfriend)

I had trouble finding a picture that captured my good side in Hatoful Boyfriend. Oh, I know, how about this?

image

When I’m not a decapitated robot scarecrow tied down with a burlap sack, I’m a mild mannered middle school girl attending St. PigeoNation’s Institute for birds. I also happen to be the only human attending. In Hatoful Boyfriend, I have the capacity to love everybirdie, so much so that I’m acting as a secret liaison to re-establish human-bird relationships, unbeknownst even to me! Some of my friends have weird tastes in clothes, but still not any less weird than a human dating a pigeon.

Waifu 2015 Hatoful Boyfriend

As a hunter-gatherer who has enough compassion to not only serve as the ambassador for an entire species, but to fall in love with men of other species, my Hatoful self was a no brainer for this year’s list… Especially since I spend half the game without a brain. Whether I’m going to festivals with my bird boyfriend, or curling up next to him as a head in a jar while an army of bloodthirsty soldiers look to murder us in what could be our final moments, I must say that this time around, I’m a pretty good catch!

6. Me (Amnesia: Memories)

Waifu 2015 Amnesia Memories

Making the list three times!? I think I’ve set some kind of waifu record!

When it came down to all of the different iterations of “me” this year, the top waifu goes to my female self in Amnesia: Memories. Imagine being a college girl who’s memories get erased when a well-meaning demon accidentally gets trapped in your brain, and said demon is the only person you can trust as you try to piece together your life while keeping your memory loss hidden from those who might take advantage of it. Sucks, doesn’t it? But despite all this, Amnesia me has such a big heart. Despite my potential husbandos being completely awkward around me, having magical eyes that make every girl *except* me fall in love with him, being so protective of me that they lock me in a dog cage so I can’t leave the house, or even a man with a split personality, one of which wants to kill me, the fact that I’m still able to find the capacity to love these men is amazing in and of itself.

Above all else however, if I get tired of a guy and want to dump them, rather than break their heart, I can just jump to a different dimension where I never dated them at all! If nothing else, at least I’m empathetic.

5. Jonah (Rise of the Tomb Raider)

Waifu 2015 Jonah

What’s the first thing you notice about Jonah?

Yes, Scott. But aside from that. Jonah is the only companion from the Tomb Raider reboot to follow Lara into her latest adventure, serving as the textbook definition of her ride or die. Anyone can say that they would follow you to the ends of the earth, but Jonah really means it. Whether he’s traveling to war torn Syria, or to the Siberian mountains to track down an ancient relic that may or may not exist, the man even takes a knife for her! Forget that he’s so deep in the friend zone that a pair of pickaxes couldn’t dig him out, because he’s always there for Lara when she needs him.

Yes, he’s a guy, and I know that I disqualified guys last year, (no matter how feminine they looked,) but I would give Jonah a shot as my waifu just on the merits of how awesome he is.

4. Plutia (Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 3: V Generation)

Waifu 2015 Plutia

In last year’s list, Neptune took the number two spot primarily on the basis that she was essentially every gamer’s dream girl. If you took those qualities and applied them to Plutia, she would be Neptune cranked up to 11. A perpetually sleepy and highly impressionable girl who will only greet the day if it means being able to play video games, knit dolls, or balk at any and all responsibility, the goddess of V Generation‘s alternate version of Planeptune doesn’t seem like much at first glance. But if you make her angry, she takes up a form that strikes fear in the hearts of friend and foe alike.

Waifu 2015 Iris Heart

In her CPU form, Plutia’s personality takes a complete 180 as Iris Heart, a goddess that takes as much pleasure in punishing her friends as she does her enemies. Nicknamed “Sadie” for her sadomasochistic tendencies, her whip and high heels can grind any foe into submission, leading her allies to dread the occasions when Iris Heart is forced to show herself. Yet, some of you might be into that kind of thing, getting the best of both worlds from this polarizing Neptunia character. And if you are indeed that kind of person, Plutia will make her playable return in this year’s multiplayer extravaganza, MegaTagmension Blanc + Neptune Vs. Zombies. Get hyped!

3. Komaru Naegi (Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls)

Waifu 2015 Komaru

Often touted as a regular girl who can’t do anything special, everything that takes place in Danganronpa: Ultra Despair Girls flies in the face of that idea. Despite being trapped on an island full of killer robots that are out to kill her, while a group of insane children turn hunting her into a game, Komaru doesn’t do too bad for herself! Armed with a special megaphone that can destroy and manipulate almost all of the machinery in Towa City, the girl who initially only known as the little sister of former protagonist Makoto Naegi, grows into a defender of hope in the face of growing despair.

Despite secretly being groomed to become the successor to the Ultimate Despair, Junko Enoshima, Komaru forsakes revenge and spares the lives of the innocent Monokuma Kids in the process, ending her adventure with both the kids and the adults out for her head. What the future holds for Komaru might still be unknown, but being able to make such a difficult choice, taking on all of the hatred of an entire town and carrying it on her back, earns her the number three spot on this illustrious list.

2. Callie and Marie (Splatoon)

Waifu 2015 Callie and Marie 2

Whether you’re a kid or a squid, there’s not a person who has played Splatoon who hasn’t fallen in love with Callie and Marie, collectively known as the squid sisters. Acting as news reporters who make sure to clue you in on all of what’s happening in Inkopolis each time you boot up the game, the girls are known to up the stakes every now and again with occasional Splatfests. Unlike any other waifu on this list, Callie and Marie have the power to manipulate Inklings around the world to fight in their name over such important matters as deciding if burgers are better than pizza.

However, rumor has it that in addition to keeping the world of Splatoon up to date, the two are said to secretly act under the guise of Agents 1 and 2, protecting the city from the hidden Octoling threat. As driven career women, it’s amazing that they’re able to find the time to work as undercover agents while managing to make wise cracks at each other in between discussing new stages. And if you think putting both girls on the list as part of the same entry is a cop out, it is! Because I can’t decide which one between the two is best girl. While Callie’s energetic personality would usually win out, Marie’s sarcastic wit delivered what had to have been the best line of the year, declaring that Team Science lost against Team Art because her team “had jobs to do.” Right in the feelers, Marie.

Whichever one you prefer, it’s undeniable that Callie and Marie have become the icons of what’s arguably the biggest new IP of 2015, so get used to those faces, because I expect to see them for a long time. And as always…

Waifu 2015 Callie and Marie 1

 

We’ve gone through a lot of amazing characters, but only one can stand alone as the undisputed “Best Girl” of 2015. So without further ado, the top waifu of 2015 is…

1. Nepgear (Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 2: Sisters Generation, Hyperdimension Neptunia U: Action Unleashed, Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 3: V Generation)

Waifu 2015 Nepgear 1

Releasing in very early 2015, we were re-intruduced to Nepgear in Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 2: Sisters Generation, and from the moment the download started on my PS Vita, it was love at first byte. As the resident techy of the group, Nepgear rocks at tinkering as much as she rocks that school uniform, often daydreaming of all things robotic.

Being the little sister of the series protagonist means having to live up to some high expectations, especially when said protagonist and all of her friends from the previous game start off as captured and powerless. From the point of Nepgear’s escape and rise from the ashes was one of the most enjoyable journeys I played during the year. Yes, I know that seemingly the majority of the fandom craps on the second game due to it losing a big portion of the first game’s humor in favor of a doom and gloom story with heavy anti-piracy themes. From a narrative standpoint however, Nepgear and the rest of the little sisters, under her leadership, are able to rise above hate, never give up and eventually surpass the goddesses, becoming incredibly powerful in their own right.

Waifu 2015 Purple Sister

Nepgear in her CPU form as Purple Sister

Which is more the reason Re;Birth 3 broke my heart a little when it came to Nepgear. The game regained its trademark humor, turning the fans’ dislike for the second game, turning it into a big joke, and directing it straight at Purple Sister herself. Despite the fact that her only sin was coddling Neptune way too much, that didn’t stop her beloved sister from constantly putting her down, mocking her status as former main character, and turning her friends against her to the point where she even convinces her allies from the second game that it’s perfectly okay to leave her trapped in another dimension when it came to the “good” ending of the third game. A dimension she wouldn’t have been in in the first place if she didn’t travel between worlds to rescue Neptune AGAIN!

But speaking of alternate endings, the most controversial moment in the entire series falls squarely on Nepgear’s shoulders during the Conquest Ending of Re;Birth 2. The only thing Nep Jr. loves more than her sister and friends is Gamindustri itself, and this ending proves how far she will go when it comes to protecting the world she’s come to care for so much. In a desperate attempt to vanquish their enemies once and for all, the girls learn of a forbidden weapon that absorbs the life energy of CPUs to build its strength. From here, its open season, as Nepgear travels from land to land, slaughtering all of her friends, including her best friend, Uni, and the twin girls, Rom and Ram, the former of which looks up to Nepgear like a big sister. Eventually, only Neptune herself is standing, but not for long…

Waifu 2015 Nepgear 2

What the goodness!?

After all the Re;Birth 3 shenanigans, I almost wanted this to be canon, but when she’s not slaughtering everyone she holds dear, Nepgear is a strong, reliable girl who’s managed to charm the knee socks off of us. Plus, we’re humans, so when the inevitable day comes when Nepgear finally snaps, is there anyone better to be in your corner?

So there’s your list of top waifus for 2015! Did your favorite make the cut, or were our trash waifus far too inferior to deserve the honor of best girl? Share your thoughts, picks, and all the reasons why I’m wrong with us in the comments below, and tweet me your suggestions @InuJoshua!

Geekscape Games Reviews ‘Amplitude’

by Josh Jackson

Between constant delays, failing to deliver on promised experiences, or completely changing the style of a title around after the money has long since been collected, Kickstarter projects have been getting a bad reputation these days, and for good reason. So when a project that originated from a crowdfunding source releases with a legitimately great product, people take notice.

Harmonix reached out to its fans in 2014 to fund a remake of the PS2 cult classic, Amplitude. As the game that essentially layed the groundwork for what would become Guitar Hero and Rock Band alongside its prequel, Frequency, expectations were through the roof. Now that I’ve experienced the full game for myself, I’m happy to say that Amplitude still hits all the right notes, with a wave of nostalgia that’s sure to reward fans who have been clamoring for an update after 13 years.

Amplitude Screen 1

If you’ve never played Amplitude, Frequency, or their spiritual successor, Rock Band Blitz, then the concept around the game play might sound insane, but stay with me. As one of many selectable Beat Blasters, (which looks like a ship out of a sci-fi movie,) your job is to fly across one of multiple tracks that represent a different instrument or layer within one of the game’s 30 songs. By hitting enough of the three sets of beats using the L1, R1 and R2 buttons in sequence, the track will break down and start playing by itself. From there, the player must shift over to a different track and activate a new part of the song without missing a beat, with the ultimate goal being to get the full song to play on its own. You can’t take a break for long though, because each track eventually respawns, forcing you to keep the beat until the end of the song. Each successfully completed segment builds up your point multiplier, while missing sections will drop your health. If your health runs out before the end of the track, well… You know what happens. Thankfully, your health recovers as combos build as well as when you hit each quarter of the song, so you’ll be able to coast on easier tracks if you’re on the verge of failure.

Now if you have played games in the series before, then all of the above sounds exactly like what you would expect. Yet, that’s not to say nothing has changed, and all of it for the better. Most noticeably, the Beat Blaster no longer has to travel along empty tracks to get to the next open one, which was a surefire way to lose your streak in the past. Now, a simple tap of the left or right direction will transport you directly to the closest active track. You’ll still need a keen eye to figure out which button you’re going to have to start the chain with, especially if the track you’re moving to is farther away, but as those who experienced the originals can confirm, it’s so satisfying to keep those combos going as you move from section to section.

Amplitude Screen 2

When it’s proving to be too difficult to hit the right notes however, Amplitude offers unlockable power ups that can really change the game. Featuring both new and returning items across single and multiplayer, these powers become available after hitting certain notes with the desired power’s symbol on them. Ranging from automatically clearing a track, to flying over the whole stage, slowing down the speed of the song and your standard score bonuses, their various effects can give you a huge advantage when trying to maximize your results. Considering that this game can get REALLY difficult on the Expert setting and above, some of these are absolute musts for surviving the game’s gradual difficulty increase, while further keeping us on our toes at the same time.

So now that we’re all initiated with how the game works, the question at the end of the day is does this still translate into an enjoyable way to spend that precious gaming time? As with the originals, the game play is top notch, still holding up to this day. If you’re used to the single track gameplay style of the band games that rose to prominence over the last few years, then Amplitude is like those titles with ADD. Having to manage which tracks you want to tackle, pulling off complicated sequences and seamlessly transitioning straight into another one without losing your streak, accomplishing the often difficult task of getting the whole song to play is one of the most immediately rewarding accomplishments I’ve experienced. Topping off the gameplay with some impressive visuals with an emphasis on lighting effects, and the combined experience makes you feel as if you can conquer any sound put in front of you. More so than most games, getting better and pulling off these feats over time rewards you with a type of instant gratification that you can’t easily find anywhere else, providing such a simple, yet powerful pleasure when revealing the entire track in unison.

Amplitude Screen 3

If there is a place that the game falls short at though, it’s in the features it offers. Much like the original release, Amplitude doesn’t have a ton of frills outside of the standard game play modes. Consisting of quickplay, local multiplayer, (with both a co-op and competitive mode supporting up to four players,) and a strange campaign, the game gets you started with a few songs out of the gate. As you accomplish certain tasks like completing specific songs, playing a designated amount of songs in total, or progressing to a certain point in campaign, more of the track list becomes available the more you play. Yet, despite how addicting the game play is or how varied the difficulty modes are, being forced to play the same limited set literally over a hundred times before the full list is available becomes annoying to pull off, especially if you’ve mastered the songs you enjoy up until that point and have to keep replaying them arbitrarily.

On the other hand, campaign would have been much better if you actually could replay songs. Set to the backdrop of your Beat Blaster trying to unlock portions of a comatose patient’s brain in order to help the person regain consciousness, (because it makes as much sense as anything else going on in the game,) each of the three sections consists of four songs, with a hidden fifth track being revealed if you score well enough on the first four. Totaling 15 songs, this is where you’ll unlock new stages the fastest. To differentiate itself from quickplay, certain tracks require you to hit a certain streak number to regain health at the quarter checkpoints like usual. Coming up short results in the opposite, taking half a health bar of damage. While the story and gameplay tweeks are all well and good, campaign falls hard when it comes to actually completing it. In order to get the true ending, you have to beat all 15 levels, including the three hidden ones. If you don’t unlock them, you’ll have to start all over again. Yep, that’s right! From the beginning, with no way to replay campaign songs for better scores. Now imagine getting to the end and not knowing that until it’s too late. While I understand that short single player modes are typically padded, forcing you to replay the entire game is insanely annoying, even if the journey to get there is a hell of a lot of fun.

Amplitude Screen 4

Thankfully, the repetitive nature of unlocking content is helped by the game’s highly addicting multiplayer mode. Surely designed to ruin friendships in some of the cruelist ways possible, this new take on the game’s Vs. mode has opponents fighting for the highest score by trying to hit the most notes for a shared song. The player who gets to a track first is the only one that can score on it, but the player in the back row can use their power ups to sabotage the active Beat Blaster on that track. Unique multiplayer abilities like the Disrupter make the track that your friend is scoring on blurry and wavy, making it almost impossible to see. The Cleanse power that’s a huge asset in single player mode for instance, becomes the quickest way at labeling yourself as a huge jerk by instantly clearing the track, destroying your opponent’s combo in the process. Moments like these are where the multiplayer shines, which is why it’s a huge shame that the mode is local only. As far as co-op is concerned however, it’s a lot more straightforward, where each player teams up to score as much as possible.

As one of the first projects I’ve ever crowdfunded, I’m very happy with the way Amplitude turned out. It’s true that it’s missing online modes that the original had, features fewer licensed songs, with more original tracks that more closely resembles Frequency‘s set list, and a thin feature set, but considering the game’s budget, Harmonix’s latest still manages to capture the magic that started a rhythm revolution over a decade ago. Gorgeous visuals compliment creative game play that both new and old fans should make sure to check out. Unique, rewarding and oh so addicting, Amplitude cannot be missed.

Final Score: 4/5

New Nintendo NX Patent Suggests Some Revolutionary Technology Is Incoming!

by Matt Rodriguez

Nintendo’s newest console/platform, codenamed the “NX” is right on the horizon, and Nintendo just filed a patent that is likely related to the technology involved.

This patent in question will utilize “additional computing devices” in order to bolster the system’s capabilities, similar to purchasing an upgrade.  These devices may or may not be wired in nature.

The last time that Nintendo tried an upgrade approach was for the Nintendo 64, with a device called a “Jumper Pack” used to bolster the system’s memory–this device was required to play titles such as Donkey Kong 64.  Even moving forward, Nintendo developed ways to connect to external devices, such as the Game Boy Advance/GameCube translator cable, the ability to connect the Nintendo DS and 3DS wirelessly to the Wii and Wii U, as well as the latest technology that connects the Wii U’s Gamepad Controller to the Wii U as an additional screen.  However, NONE of these technologies pushed off processing power to the additional devices.

What can this possibly mean?  There is already speculation abound that it might be extra “upgrade parts”, and will function very much like cluster technology.  Without going heavy on details, the PS3’s “Folding @ home” technology can be used as an example, where using the software added your PS3 as part of a cluster with all of the other PS3s around the world to be able to do complex computing to help find the cure for many types of cancers.

I have a different theory, though.

With the background knowledge that Nintendo’s console and handheld departments have recently started working in the same building , I think it’s very much possible that Nintendo may be trying to market its portables and consoles together as a bundled value.  One of the few advantages of having a home-based console is stronger graphics, so if, for example, you could purchase a handheld system, but when not in use, allow it to be used by your home console to bolster it’s capabilities, then it doubles as both an upgrade for your home console, AND a handheld gaming device at the same time.  This way, you can get extra value by owning a handheld, but not lose any value on the home console if you choose not to purchase one.

Reggie Fils-Aime of Nintendo of America has already noted that they won’t be saying anything substantial about the NX until next year’s E3.  Although we’re getting very excited, we’ll have to wait and see!

How do you all feel about this new patent?  Is it a game changer, and do you have your own theories about how it can be implemented?  We would like to know!

NX

Sources: USPTO, Extreme Tech, WiiUDaily

The ‘Resident Evil 0’ HD Remaster Now Has A Release Date!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: It’s about time.

Capcom officially revealed the upcoming HD Remaster of Resident Evil 0 back in June, and aside from a couple of trailers and some screenshots, the publisher has been fairly quiet about the redux up to this point.

Today, Capcom revealed the game’s release date, along with some of the oddball costumers coming for pre-order customers.

Being a survival horror fan who missed out Resident Evil 0 up to this point (and also a gamer who thoroughly enjoyed the remaster of Resident Evil), I’m pretty excited to see where the series chronologically began.

The Resident Evil 0 HD remaster will hit Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4, and PC on January 19th. 2016, and you can bet your undead ass that we’re excited to play it.

You can take a look at the costumes trailer below, and be sure to let us know if you’ll be giving Resident Evil 0 a download.

‘Skylanders SuperChargers’ Gets In The Holiday Spirit With A Special Christmas Carol For All Portal Masters!

by Matt Rodriguez

The folks at Activision have prepared a special Christmas Carol for all Skylanders Superchargers players (who are dubbed “Portal Masters”), and we must admit that it’s quite catchy!

 

Hark! Over There!
Park Over There!
Land, Sea, or Sky,
Dive, Drive or Fly!

Skylanders is the first in its genre, the “Toys to life” franchise. Their current installments, Skylanders Superchargers (available on Wii U, PS3, and PS4) and Skylanders Superchargers Racing (available on 3DS and Wii), changes their formula by adding vehicles into the mix! While Skylanders Superchargers Racing is purely a racing game, Skylanders Superchargers takes the traditional elements of it’s previous games. such as the top down platforming/power-up engine (Marvel Ultimate Alliance, anyone?), and transitions it to smaller racing segments, all taking place in land, sea, or sky!

And heck, while we’re at it, we would also like to remind you that there’s a special Skylander–Missile-Tow Dive-Clops–available at GameStop starting today!  Missile-Tow… ha!  I see what they did there.

Geekscape Games Reviews: ‘The Jackbox Party Pack 2’

by The_acz

The Jackbox Party Pack 2 is anything but an ordinary party game.  It’s an experience.

Releasing almost a year after the first one, The Jackbox Party Pack 2 is more of the same wacky humor you’ve come to expect, but with completely different games. So, is this the party of the year, or should you not bother with an RSVP? Just like my Rare Replay review, I’m not sure if I can do this game justice by giving it a regular review. That’s why I’ve decided to take a look at each of the 5 games separately and talk about what did and didn’t work.  Jackbox 2 opening

Fibbage 2:

Out of all five games in the original party pack, this is the only returning game to the sequel, but for a reason.  Fibbage 2 is still as charming and funny as it was when it debuted. For those who don’t know: Fibbage is a game where the players are given a true statement with a missing answer. The players, then, type in their own lies in hopes of the other players being fooled into thinking that it’s real. The updated sequel adds hundreds of new facts as well as a new DeFIBrillator which for one round can get rid of all lies but one, thus leaving you with only two choices. There’s really nothing bad to say about this game as it’s one of the best in the collection. Definite play if you’re picking the game up.Wed_Oct_14_20-48-14_PDT_2015

Quiplash XL:

Originally starting out as a small Kickstarter project earlier this March, Quiplash is another pre-existing game that has been updated for this new collection. This game tasks players with competing against each other to see who has a better response for the current on screen prompt. What do you NOT want to find in a burrito: A half-eaten turd or a dead rat? If there’s a downside to this it’d have to be that the game can end a little prematurely with only 3-4 people, so it’s best you play with at least 6-8 people. With 100’s of different questions and the ability to have over 1000 people playing at once, you’re in for one game you won’t forget anytime soon.Wed_Oct_14_20-50-19_PDT_2015

Bidiots:

Now we’re getting into the new games. Bidiots is a new drawing game that’s been stated to be the spiritual successor to one of the previous party pack titles, Drawful. In this game, you and your friends are a group of people at an art auction, and it’s your job to create and sell art for the auction in order to please your rich art clients. In-between rounds, you’ll get hints from your clients telling you what the prices on specific items are so you don’t end up over or under bidding on it.

You can also get free $1000 loans from the bank in order to ensure you have enough money to buy art pieces. Beware though, because at the end of the game you lose 1,500 points for each loan you take. Even though the game has some really good ideas and potential, the game ends up becoming a bit confusing at times with people not knowing what to do. While I do commend the team for trying something new with drawing games, it ultimately ends up being the weakest game of the pack. It’s good for a play every now and then, but not all the time.Wed_Oct_14_20-49-11_PDT_2015

Earwax:

I’m just going to say it right now in advance. Out of all the new games in this collection, Earwax is the game you’ll have the most fun with. Think Apples to Apples or Cards Against Humanity, but with sound effects instead. Each round, a judge is picked to determine a category, and afterwards, the rest of the players must choose 2 options from a list of 6 randomized sound effects. Once everyone’s done, Players get to vote on what they think was their favorite answer, but in the end it’s up to the judge to determine the winner. Sound effects are very varied and range from things such as an anvil dropping on someone’s head to a crying baby.

Not to mention Fart Noises.  Lots and lots of fart noises. If there was one problem with the game though, it’d have to be that you can’t preview the sounds you choose. So, the first couple of times you play it might be a guessing game to see how well some sounds interact with others. Although, I can see why they didn’t as that’d make the game too loud and give away your answers. All in all, this is a must play if you’re planning on buying this game.Wed_Oct_14_20-49-50_PDT_2015

Bomb Corp:

This game is just weird; like really weird. In Bomb Corp, you and up to 3 players are hired at a bomb defusing company. Your job is to defuse as many bombs as you can in one day (while also filing the occasional paperwork.) The only catch with these tasks are that depending on how many people are playing, instructions on how to complete the tasks are scattered throughout everyone’s devices using the game. The humor is spot on as most of the characters joke about how they can die at any moment while also talking about other nonsensical things during their break. If you want to take a serious shot at beating this, it’s best to play by yourself, but if you and all your friends are drunk or just want to yell at each other, this is another great party game to play together.Wed_Oct_14_20-54-49_PDT_2015

Overall:

Overall, The Jackbox Party Pack 2 is the most fun I’ve had with a party game since last year’s Jackbox Party Pack. The team really tried something new with these 5 games and didn’t want to just re-skin the 1st pack. While Bidiots feels like a slight misfire, other games like Earwax, Fibbage 2, and more make this collection even more memorable than its predecessor. If you haven’t picked up the game yet, I strongly suggest dropping $25 on both collections if you haven’t yet, because you’re going to be in for one hell of a family game night. The Jackbox Party Pack is Available now to Download on PS3, PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Amazon Fire TV.

Final Score: 5/5 BUY IT!!!

 

Geekscape Games Reviews ‘J-Stars Victory Vs.+’

by Josh Jackson

Game: J-Stars Victory Vs.+

Available For: PS4, PS3, PS Vita, (Reivewed on Vita.)

Publisher: Namco Bandai

Developer: Spike Chunsoft

MSRP: $59,99 (PS4), $49.99 (PS3) and $39.99 (Vita, digital only.)

Importers went crazy back in 2014 when J-Stars Victory Vs. hit the Japanese PS3 and Vita. This crossover fighter that brought together Shonen Jump’s most popular franchises and characters into one explosive package was never expected to arrive outside of Japan. Much like Jump Superstars for the Nintendo DS, we figured licensing issues would be tough to sort out, especially for a niche title such as this. Yet, Namco Bandai surprised us late last year when they announced that not only would the game receive a Western release, but it would include an extra game mode and a PS4 release as well! Now dubbed J-Stars Victory Vs.+, characters from Dragon Ball Z, Naruto, One Piece, Bleach, Yu Yu Hakusho, Rurouni Kenshin, and so many more franchises will finally get to brawl in the West. Now that the title has come and gone, was it worth the wait?

J Stars uses a somewhat basic model for its fighting mechanics, which typically take place as a two on two showdown with a third character acting as support. Standard matches end once the first team reaches three KO’s, but can vary depending on how many people are fighting in that particular battle. On the surface, every character is essentially the same, with a weak, strong, and special attack button making up their offense. Special moves cost meter, which can be charged up at any time, while tapping the block button right before you’re hit results in a teleport behind your opponent, leaving them wide open. I mean sure, you could just block, but absorbing too many hits will result in a guard break, with no choice but to accept your incoming punishment. Double jumps, dashing, and the ever important lock on button round out the game’s basic functions, with these three moves being especially vital since it would be easy to get lost in the game’s mostly large 3D arenas. Nothing sucks more than getting ambushed because you had no idea where the enemy was.

J Stars Victory Vs Screen 3

Using a unique momentum meter that constantly fluctuates as the fight goes on, once one team shifts it all the way to their side, the team will be able to activate their Victory Burst, a temporary state where their attributes are slightly boosted. More importantly however, is that players can choose to sacrifice time in this state in exchange for an Ultimate Attack, your character’s strongest ability that has the potential to do HUGE damage to the opposing team. Great for when you’re behind in a battle and need to shift the tide of battle, or when you’re dominating and want to put an exclamation point on your win, watching these animations, (and the resulting destruction,) is often rewarding.

As I mentioned, at first glance, each one of the 39 playable characters has similar combos and team attacks, making the core mechanics feel repetitive quick. What fixes this however, is that most characters have special properties that usually reflect their powers from their respective properties. For example, Goku and Vegeta can both charge up their second meter just as fast as their first, (as opposed to most of the cast’s meter gain slowing down after the first one is filled,) and once maxed, results in a Super Saiyan transformation. Naruto absorbs and stores his energy all at once, doubling his meter after risking precious seconds being completely vulnerable, can switch to Sage Mode, giving him the option to throw his Rasenshuriken, and gains a completely different move set during a Victory Burst with his Nine Tails Mode! Yusuke will revive in his demon form at no cost if KO’d during Victory Burst, but will immediately fall once it ends, while Seiya will sport his golden armor… The list goes on and on. So while the depth of the mechanics might not be all there, the special traits of each character still keep most of the cast varied, especially for fans who follow these Jump properties closely.

J Stars Victory Vs Screen 2

Then again, what good are the fighting mechanics if we don’t mention the modes? J-Stars has a variety of ways to put this fighting to the test, including Free Battle, Arcade, Victory Road, Online and J-Adventure Modes. Most of these are your standard fighting game affair, with Free Battle letting you fight against the CPU or your friends locally with custom conditions, Arcade, where you fight a series of enemies with increasing difficulty, (though this game’s version has a variety of tracks to take on set by how hard it is to at the start, much like Mortal Kombat), and Online, where you fight friends and strangers alike in this strange space we call the Internet. Just expect lag. And rage quitting. And no penalty for those who quit while those who stay get no reward. If you couldn’t tell, Online isn’t worth the trouble.

While these staple features are all well and good, most of the game’s unique single player content comes in the Victory Road and J-Adventures modes. In Victory Road, players will pick a team and take on themed battles against the CPU, where you’ll have to meet certain requirements during battle to earn a 100% clear rating on each fight. As you progress, the fights will continuously alter their settings and completion conditions, so it’s constantly asking you to approach battles differently. Unfortunately, the game doesn’t actually tell you what the challenge conditions are until AFTER the fight, so that bit of forced replayability will likely have completionists playing through each fight more than once.

J-Adventure on the other hand, starts off strong, but wears out its welcome for far too long. Choosing between one of four paths led by either Luffy, Naruto, Toriko or Ichigo, each story follows these characters as they navigate Jump World, a land where all these characters exist in the same universe. While attempting to assemble a team of fighters to win an upcoming tournament, each path leads to different partners, support characters, and missions to find on the world map. Using a ship to traverse the world, (which gains enhanced mobility as the story progresses,) players will earn precious currency to unlock new ship parts, characters, and J-Cards, items that can tweak the attributes of your team, while leveling up their fighters. Unfortunately, this is a case of too much of a good thing. Each story is so long that it’s unlikely that players will be able to get through one path, let alone all four. The camera is too close to your ship, often leading to accidental battles against opposing ships in the environment, and with no way to back out of them once their triggered. What’s worse, is that once your main objective in the story mode is complete, a whole new plot point opens up, extending the game even farther when you’ll likely be tired of the adventure mode by then, kind of like certain Shonen Jump stories that drag on 500 chapters past what should have been their ending point. Even though I had fun playing J-Stars, the combat is too shallow to maintain interest for that long, especially when you’re forced to play as the same three characters for the majority of these adventure sections.

J Stars Victory Vs Screen 1

So is J-Stars the dream crossover that Playstation fans have been waiting for? Not exactly, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of fun to be had. Between the huge character roster, the unique abilities for each fighter, lots of goods to unlock and plenty of modes to use them in, fans of at least a few of these properties will surely enjoy picking their favorite manga fighter and pit them against an opposing team. Yet, the shallow core mechanics, the overly drawn out story mode that’s seemingly mimicking the 700+ chapter stories from the Shonen Jump books, poor online and artificially lengthened content is sure to be put off some people. If you’re an anime or manga fan, you’ll surely have a great time with J-Stars Victory Vs.+, but everyone else would do well to get their fighting fix somewhere else.

tl;dr:

+ A huge roster that will surely satisfy the Shonen Jump faithful.

+ Unique abilities for most of the cast, adding a feeling of authenticity to their portrayal.

+ A good amount of modes to play around with.

+ Tons of unlockables, including characters, ship parts, and customizable cards.

– The core mechanics are shallow, forcing most of the characters to feel identical from a basic combo standpoint.

– Story mode is far longer than it should be, failing to keep an already repetitive experience interesting for long.

– Some modes like Victory Road are artificially lengthened by withholding challenge requirements, while the rest of the modes don’t offer anything new.

-Online is a mess.

 

Final Score: 3/5

You’ve Got Your Portal In My LEGO! ‘LEGO Dimensions’ Dishes On The Portal Themed Level

by Shane O'Hare

The wondrously hyped (and extremely expensive) LEGO Dimensions seems to be the ultimate “Toys to Game” property out there. When Gandalf, Marty McFly, Batman and Chell can all run through a Portal testing chamber together, you’ve got my attention.

https://youtu.be/0GcIsM2fDTI

Our own Josh Jackson has lamented the cost prohibitve nature of LEGO Dimensions. With some of the models and expansions yielding $30 for one hour of gameplay, I have to agree.

LEGO Dimensions is currently out on all platforms, sans PC Masterrace.

‘Destiny: The Taken King’ Just Got This Snazzy Live Action Launch Trailer

by Shane O'Hare

With the largest expansion to Destiny just FIVE days away, Bungie and Activision have just dished out this brand new live action launch trailer for The Taken King. Check it out!

https://youtu.be/RpDLxs8z08A

The Taken King plans to bring a GIANT amount of content and story to the game, and extra story is what Destiny desperately needs. The expansion was preempted by a big ole’ update this week introducing the new core changes to the game, as well as adding Nolan North’s performance as your Ghost sidekick.

There isn’t much to say about the trailer. I PERSONALLY feel it falls a tad short, especially considering some of the AMAZING live action trailers that have come out of Halo. I blame Activision, the music (much like the Led Zeppelin from the previous live action trailer) just doesn’t fit the Destiny universe. This all makes a lot of sense considering what was learned during the Marty O’Donnell lawsuit.

Destiny: The Taken King hit’s store shelves next Tuesday, September 15th and is available on all platforms where you can find Destiny! 

PSA: Your ‘Metal Gear Solid V: Phantom Pain’ Save Data Can Get Corrupted; Here’s How To Avoid It!

by Shane O'Hare

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is easily one of the most popular games this year. Even some of the best games can experience bugs, much like the one in MGSV.

Under specific circumstances, the save file of your game can halt and or get corrupted. Konami dishes on their blog today with what is the cause, and how to avoid losing your precious progress.

In “METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN” which was released on September 1st, 2015 there is a possibility that the game stops progress if having Quiet as a buddy while playing “Mission 29” or “Mission 42”. This situation can be avoided by not using Quiet as a buddy while playing either “Mission 29” or “Mission 42”.

 

We deeply apologize, and appreciate your patience for further announcements regarding this issue.

 

This issue is known to be present for Xbox360, XboxOne, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 and Steam.

Seems like an easy thing to avoid, no word on a patch or a hotfix from Konami.

We Are Never Ever Ever Getting ‘Mortal Kombat X’ On PS3 Or Xbox 360

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Mortal Kombat fan eagerly awaiting the release of Mortal Kombat X on PS3 or Xbox 360 because you haven’t bitten the bullet on a current generation console yet?

Well, we hope that you weren’t holding your breath. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment revealed today that the game will not release for either console.

Here’s the announcement, straight from the official forum:

After months of development, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has come to the regrettable conclusion that we cannot release Mortal Kombat X for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Please know our teams worked diligently to meet the quality standards set by the current-gen versions of the game. We were not able to get the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions to the quality expected of a Mortal Kombat game and are very sorry for not being able to deliver the products as originally planned.

If you pre-ordered Mortal Kombat X for PS3 or Xbox 360, please go to the retail location where you pre-ordered the game and you will receive a full refund.

We figured that something was up when the past-gen version of the game was delayed just before launch, but we didn’t see this coming.

Disappointed? Is it enough to make you pick up a PS4 or Xbox One? Sound out below.

Check Out The Intense Opening Video For ‘Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax’

by Shane O'Hare

I LOVE mashups and crossovers! When TV or Film characters from different properties interact, or in the case of Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax, anime/manga I get hype! Check out the opening film from the game!

Any Weaboo worth his salt will immediately recognize the properties these character are from, but if you’re just a Junior Weaboo let me list them out for you!

A Certain Magical Index
Accel World
Black Bullet
DURARARA!!
Oreimo
Ro-Kyu-Bu!
Shakugan no Shana
STRIKE THE BLOOD
Sword Art Online
The Irregular at Magic High School
Toradora!

I haven’t had a chance to play the game, but the models look absolutely amazing!

You can get your hands on Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax October 6th on PS3 and PS Vita.

If you snag yourself the Launch Edition of the game you will also get a copy of the soundtrack!

05f05005-5a21-4397-91a5-d68f11a05275

The Newest Trailer For ‘Madden 16’ Is Absolutely Hilarious

by Shane O'Hare

Yes. Madden. THAT Madden. The definition of “same game every year” has done something creative, and spawned this hilarious trailer. It will arguably be more enjoyable than the actual game, but none the less, it looks like EA Sports has done something worth while with that Madden money.

https://youtu.be/3eVF9uBbuqc

It’s always refreshing to see something not take itself too seriously, being able to make fun of yourself is always a plus in my book!

Madden NFL 16 hits store shelves August 25th on PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.

Asuna From ‘Sword Art Online’ Leads The First Four Fighters In ‘Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax’

by Josh Jackson

Have you had your fill of crossover fighting games yet? Never! If you’re like me, you can’t get enough of the fast paced, flashy, over the top action of these 2D brawlers.

Courtesy of Sega and developers Ecole Software and French Bread, (the developers behind the indie hit, Melty Blood, and not a delicious Olive Garden dish,) Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax pulls characters from the pages of the Dengenki Bunko brand of light novels and into the fighting arena. Ranging from more popular series like Sword Art Online and DURARARA!!! to some obscure choices, alongside a few Sega representatives as guest stars, and you have one of the more exciting fighting games of the year that you probably haven’t heard of!

Sega’s latest trailer showcases four of the characters showcased in Fighting Climax, including SAO‘s Asuna. Here are the character descriptions from the press release:

Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax has a full roster of characters based on the Dengeki Bunko light novels and we’re going to begin introducing them to you! First up in this collection of four characters:
Character Descriptions
 
Asuna (“Sword Art Online”) — The sub-leader of the Knights of the Blood,
the strongest guild in Aincrad. Her nickname is “The Flash” due to her speed with her rapier, Lambent Light. Kirito is her boyfriend.
Kuroyukihime (“Accel World”) — The Umezato Jr. High student council V.P. She’s nicknamed Kuroyukihime, or “Snow Black,” because of her beauty. Her Brain Burst avatar is Black Lotus and she is Legion Master of the Nega Nebulas.
Shizuo Heiwajima (“DURARARA!!”) — A debt collector who dresses like a bartender. He hates violence, but when he loses his temper, he’s the strongest man in Ikebukuro. Flying vending machines are a clue that he’s around.
Tomoka Minato (“RO-KYU-BU!”) — A basketball ace at Keishin Academy.
Her mother does traditional dance and her father is a tea master, so her manners are impeccable. But when she starts to play basketball…
After seeing the game in action while keeping who’s behind it in mind, this suddenly went from being completely unknown to me, to being one of my top games for the end of the year. Any fighting game and anime fans out there who can’t wait to play? Let us know in the comments, and get those fight sticks ready for when Dengeki Bunko releases on the PS3 and PS Vita on October 6th.

 

‘Odin Sphere Leifthrasir’ Confirmed For A Western Release

by Josh Jackson

Shortly after the reveal of an HD remake for the PS2 classic, Odin Sphere, for the East, Atlus has confirmed that the game will be coming stateside as well! In 2016, Odin Sphere Leifthrasir, (pronounced LAYV-thra-sheer), will launch in the West for PS4, PS3 and PS Vita, bringing back the gorgeous hack and slash title that put Vanillaware on the map.

But it’s not enough just to port the game to newer consoles, which is why Atlus is promising a series of new features. Following five characters with unique stories based off of Norse mythology, this action RPG is getting all the bells and whistles to ensure that this classic has a real chance of ending up even better. Including redrawn art and upgraded visuals, Leifthrasir will also come equipped with a host of new upgrades to the combat and RPG elements, giving even veteran players a reason to come back!

Specific details are light at this point, but for anyone who played the original Odin Sphere as the sixth console generation was coming to a close, you’ll know how much of a win this is for those who love a visually stunning, often challenging 2D brawler. If you missed out, check out the trailer below and see what all the hype is about!