Tag: Trailer

‘Sakura Wars’ Combat Is Overhauled In New Trailer

by Josh Jackson

As much as I enjoyed the characters and social aspects of Sakura Wars: So Long My Love back when I reviewed it on the Wii far too many years ago, one of its weakest aspects was its slow paced turn based combat. As excited as I was about the return of romance, the combat half of this hybrid style franchise was what I have been most worried about. We got a glimpse of what looked to be a faster combat system in the debut trailer, but based on this new combat focused video, it looks like we’re headed into full action RPG mode.

Set up as an arena style team based game, the Flower Division is set to go head-to-head against other mutli-waifu teams at the Combat Revue World Games. Fighting in three person teams against squads from around the world, they’ll do battle against side enemies and each other in a 3 round struggle to accumulate the most points. Seijuro will have to choose his best two girls to get the job done, building relationships along the way.

At first glance, its action focus is a step in the right direction in terms of sheer excitement. At the same time, the huge departure from its past games is definitely a gamble. We can only hope it will pay off.

What do you think? Check out the trailer below and tell us what you think of the drastic changes in combat! Then keep an eye out for more details as its April 28 release date looms ever so closer.

How To Woo Your Waifu In Latest ‘Sakura Wars’ Trailer

by Josh Jackson

Last time we talked about Sakura Wars, the reboot of Sega’s tactical RPG / dating sim hybrid, we got a look at what to expect from the game’s main story. But in between the intense mech based battles and rebuilding a theater troupe, we all just want to be loved. The game’s latest trailer goes over its social mechanics while we help you discover your next best girl.

As in most games of this type, lead character Seijuro Kamiyama will get numerous opportunities to get to know his harem team better. During this down time, players will engage in various conversations and activities with the girls, with certain responses guiding them towards some eventual romantic feelings. If it’s anything like past games, your performance on the battlefield will also affect how the girls feel about you, so fighting alongside your favorites is a great way to impress them.

The five girls you’ll work with all have their own backgrounds and personalities that you’ll need to understand if you want to make any headway with them. They include:

Sakura Amamiya, the least experienced member of the troupe who idolizes Sakura Shinguji from the original series.

Satsusho Shinonomoe, an aggressive shrine maiden who can always be depended on in a fight.

Clarissa “Claris” Snowflake, a Luxembourg brainiac who’s curiosity is unmatched.

Azami Mochizuki, a martial arts and weapons expert who descends from a ninja clan.

And lastly, Anastasia Palma, a Greek star who’s traded in the European spotlight for her shot at the Tokyo revue.

Which girl are you leaning towards? Or are you limiting yourself to one? Check out the trailer to make your decision a little easier and let us know what you think in the comments!

‘Sakura Wars’ Sets Up Its Comeback In New Story Trailer

by Josh Jackson

A few weeks ago, we talked about the surprise announcement of the fast approaching Sakura Wars reboot. Not ones to keep us waiting for long, Sega released a new trailer highlighting the story that brings all these actors turned mech pilots together.

As Seijuro Kamiyama, a former Navy captain who will likely be able to woo a small army of attractive warriors despite his dry personality, (as is usually the case in games like these), he’s tasked with helping reestablish the Flower Division of the Imperial Combat Revue. Leading double lives as both stage actors and mech pilots, there doesn’t seem to be much going on in either realm, with Seijuro hoping to turn that around.

Perhaps being a self-referential acknowledgment of the franchise being built back up from its mostly forgotten state in recent years, there are some interesting things in this brief overview trailer. If the characters look familiar, it’s probably because Tite Kubo of the once mega popular Bleach manga is handling character designs this time around. The all Japanese voice cast has star power of its own, with Ayane Sakura, (Ran Mitake in BanG Dream!, Ochaco Uraraka in My Hero Academia and my personal favorite, Eleonora Yumizuri in Tokyo Mirage Sessions: #FE), taking the lead role as Sakura Amamiya. And based on the very short peak at the game play, this one looks more action focused compared to the grid style turn based combat of past games.

Looks like there’s a lot to be excited about! Keep an eye out for more updates as they surface, but until then, check out the trailer below and tell us what you think! Sakura Wars is scheduled for an April 28 release exclusively for PS4.

‘Sakura Wars’ Brings Love And Anime Back To The PS4

by Josh Jackson

A lot has changed in 15 years, some for the better and some… not so much. If there’s one thing that the last decade and a half has been missing, it’s cute anime girls in mechs, which have been sorely missing since Sega’s long running Sakura Wars franchise went on haitus. 2005’s American focused So Long My Love for the Wii and PS2 was the last time this series took the stage, but aside from cameos and supporting roles in crossover games like Project X Zone series, it seemed like one of the original RPG / dating sim hybrids was to become a longing memory.

Suddenly, that’s about to change. Sega has announced that not only is Sakura Wars returning to the PS4, but it’s only a few month away! Blending a harem anime with strategic RPG game play, we’ll once again take the role as… some dude as we lead and woo an army of attractive female samurai who happen to pilot mechs. How did this franchise disappear for so long!?

Launching in 1996 for the Sega Saturn, Sakura Wars was an ambitious cross-genre title that sought to blend different styles of game play with a steampunk samurai setting that fit this goal. Since then, it has enjoyed much success in Japan, with multiple sequels, manga and anime adaptations. Get a taste of what this reboot has in store in its announcement trailer below, and keep an eye out for physical editions that include a reversible cover and a sticker set when the game releases on April 28.

Are You Okay!? Fighting Game Icon Terry Bogard Is The Next ‘Smash Bros’ Fighter

by Josh Jackson

After rumors ran rampant over who the next addition to the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate roster would be after Nintendo UK accidentally let it slip that it would be an SNK character, it was revealed during the latest Nintendo Direct that Fatal Fury protagonist Terry Bogard would be coming to the all-star brawler in November.

As a fighting game icon in his own right, Terry originated in Fatal Fury: The King of Fighters. His no-nonsense, in your face fighting style has become as memorable as his instantly recognizable look and catchphrases, being one of the more charismatic characters in the genre. Despite his franchise taking a backseat to the crossover team game, The King of Fighters, Terry has remained a mascot for the company who has seen it through its most prosperous and trying times. While not as prominent in recent years, Terry has a rich history in both fighting games and SNK as a whole. Now with SNK back on the upswing with games like The King of Fighters 14, the upcoming 15, and the recently released Samurai Showdown, this welcomed surprise couldn’t have been timed any better.

But perhaps even bigger was the announcement that even more DLC will be on the way. Who do you want to make the cut? And who do you think the last character in Fighter Pass 1 will be? Did you catch all the references in Terry’s reveal trailer? Check it out below and tell us what you thought!

The Golden Deer Bro It Up As The Final ‘Fire Emblem: Three Houses’ Faction

by Josh Jackson

We’re about a week away from the release of Fire Emblem: Three Houses, the first home console release for Nintendo’s long running strategy-RPG franchise in over a decade. After meeting the Black Eagles and the Blue Lions, its time for the Golden Deer to plead their case as to why we should join them in the battles that lie ahead.

Led by Claude, the charming and curious face of the faction, the members of this house specialize in archery. As part of the Leicester Alliance, their kingdom is unique in the sense that they have no ruling kings unlike its rival nations. Highlighted by the lazy, yet powerful Hilda, the protein obsessed Raphael who was orphaned after his parents were killed, and Leonie, a mercenary who is working on paying off the debt she took on to attend Officer’s Academy. In other words, she’s the most relatable character in the game.

Exuding a more relaxed demeanor compared to the other houses, the Golden Deer round out what’s looking like a memorable cast of characters. But now that we’ve met the three houses, which house will you choose? With a plethora of features that are helping make Three Houses the biggest game in the series so far, let’s hope the final game lives up to its massive potential when it arrives on July 26.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uK5doMgxxc0">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uK5doMgxxc0</a>

Chara Expo 2018: The Details Behind Kenny Omega’s ‘BanG Dream’ Commercial

by Josh Jackson

Back in July, I was lucky enough to attend the New Japan Pro Wrestling G1 Special In San Francisco show. Expecting to walk away with some amazing live matches from the likes of Hiromu Takahashi, Kazuchika Okada, Tetsuya Naito, and the newly crowned IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, Kenny Omega, the show delivered on each of those fronts.

However, what I didn’t expect, was to get hooked on a new mobile game by NJPW’s parent company, Bushiroad. During intermission, a hilariously absurd commercial kept playing of Omega intensely playing a rhythm game in the ring in between performing his signature wrestling moves. Simultaneously showing off the skill needed to be the best all-female band and the level of physical fitness needed to full clear a Roselia song, the absurd premise stuck with me. Soon after, a friend sent me the commercial to make sure I had seen it, and suggested I try playing the game since he was already a big fan of the game. The game was BanG Dream: Girls Band Party, which is unironically one of my favorite games of the year. As for the commercial… See for yourself.

Fast forward to Chara Expo 2018, a convention that housed both NJPW AND BanG Dream fans in celebration of everything Bushiroad. After being victorious against David Finlay and cutting a BanG Dream related promo, Omega moved on to a meet and greet autograph session with his fans. Not one to pass up a “golden” opportunity, I made sure to tell him that I got into the game because of his commercial in San Francisco. To my surprise and delight, he took an extra minute or so to tell me some details behind the commercial that reflected on his well known love of video games and anime.

  • Despite being part of the same parent company, Omega didn’t know what BanG Dream was until he was approached to do the commercial.
  • Omega was asked to learn how to legitimately get a full clear on Louder by Roselia, the song featured in the commercial.
  • The footage in the commercial was really him playing the featured song on Hard difficulty. As a fan of rhythm games, this lined up with his typical interests.
  • After preparing for and shooting the commercial, Omega became a legitimate fan of the game and the music behind it, to the point where he would later perk up and try to catch Roselia on stage during their concert a few feet away.
  • During his post-match promo, he said he had requested to wrestle at Chara Expo specifically so he could bring together fans of NJPW and BanG Dream, since he’s apart of the anime, wrestling and gaming fandoms himself.

Kenny Omega with Aiai Aiba (AKA Yukina Minato of Roselia) at Chara Expo 2018. Photo source: @kennyomegamanx on Twitter

As a fan who was only expecting to exchange pleasantries and an autograph, it was so cool to geek out as gamers with the world champion of one of the biggest pro wrestling companies in the world.  Big thanks to Kenny for providing the details behind the commercial, which was a gesture that went above and beyond the typical autograph experience.

Omega is looking to “change the world” through wrestling, so maybe it’s anime girl bands that can help him take that next step towards world domination. Until then, I’m waiting for someone to make their full fledged wrestling gimmick a J-Rock goth girl who intensely plays mobile games while wrestling.

‘Hey Arnold! The Jungle Movie’ Gets A Release Date & New Trailers!

by The_acz

It’s been over 20 years in the making, but we’re finally getting a proper sendoff to one of Nickelodeon’s most popular Nicktoons!

Nick has finally set a solid release date for the long-awaited Hey Arnold! The Jungle Movie. The 2-part TV movie will air simultaneously on the Nickelodeon, Nicktoons, and  TeenNick channels on November 24th! The film will feature new voices for some of the main cast, including Arnold and Gerald, but there are also many returning voices such as Helga, Phoebe, Rhonda, and more!

Nick has been so kind to drop not one, but 2 whole trailers today! The first trailer can be found right here on Nick’s Youtube channel. The other trailer that can be found right below this article has a much different tone compared to the first.  Interested in seeing more of Hey Arnold! The Jungle Movie before it releases? Check out our extensive coverage of the special from Comic-Con earlier this year!

 

 

BoJack Goes Missing In The Season 4 Trailer For ‘BoJack Horseman’!

by The_acz

Out of all of Netflix’s original shows, BoJack Horseman has to be one of their most interesting original series to date.

While at first coming off as just weird and filled with shock humor, quickly evolves into a deep commentary about Hollywood and celebrity culture at large.  Season 4 looks to be expanding on what it built in Season 3 as we see a worried Diane trying to contact an off the grid BoJack after being gone for over 3 months. While the trailer does drop hints of what we can expect out of the new season, it’s really impossible to know what’s going to happen. BoJack is a series constantly throwing curveballs. Check out the trailer below and get ready for your yearly dose of depression! BoJack Horseman Season 4 will premiere on Netflix September 8th.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bf12qwPWDVI

E3 2017: Decidueye Locks Down Its Foes In ‘Pokken Tournament DX’

by Josh Jackson

Pokken Tournament DX will serve as a second chance for the Wii U’s Pokémon themed fighter to catch fire when it releases this September with a handful of new characters joining the fight. While almost all of them were additions to the arcade versions, one character that will be completely unique to DX is Decidueye, the final form of Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon‘s Rowlet. When I got the chance to try out the winged archer during Nintendo’s E3 demo, I realized that his ghost shots brought a lot to the table when it came to keeping opponents at bay in its own way.

If you couldn’t tell from its Robin Hood-esque motif, Decidueye is primarily a ranged fighter, using its bow and arrow to keep opponents at a distance. I found it to be a powerful fighter up close as well, using its large wingspan to push opponents back to a safe distance when getting pressured. More importantly than just its standard fighting abilities however, are its arrows unique ability to hold the opponent in place. Staying true to its signature attack in Sun and Moon, Spirit Shackle was a ghost type arrow attack that prevented enemies from fleeing battle. In Pokken, this attack acts as a trap, keeping opponents locked into place for Decidueye to get in a few extra hits. Considering that most characters are rewarded for fighting fast and aggressively, fighting Decidueye would force you to second guess the idea of charging forward with reckless attacks, since one wrong move means you’re giving up free damage to the archer.

From my brief time playing with Decidueye, I found that its biggest weakness was its lack of chainable attacks. While many of the other fighters can deal huge damage with multi hit combo strings, the owl was only able to put together a handful of hits before it was left vulnerable. If it’s unable to keep opponents at bay, the player will have to rely on their wits, baiting, and a well timed counter to create some distance. Otherwise, there’s not a whole lot you’ll be able to do to push the foe away. Basically, it plays exactly how you would expect a ranged fighter to play in a one on one fighter.

I’m looking forward to spending more time with Decidueye and the rest of the cast to learn more about the ins and outs of their playstyles, but from what I’ve seen so far, the game’s newest character is a welcomed addition to the cast. Will it be enough motivation to double dip for Wii U owners? That, I’m not quite sure of yet, but I have a few more months to be convinced.

Let us know what you think of Decidueye being added to Pokken, and let us know who else you’d want to see in the comments!

Watch Four Hilarious Minutes From ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: This is incredible.

I’ve been largely avoiding trailers, clips, and spoilers for the upcoming release of Spider-Man homecoming, but for some reason the opportunity to catch the first few minutes of footage from the film was simply something that I couldn’t resist.

Cinemablend points out that this isn’t actually the first four minutes, and that there’s another scene preceding this footage, but in any case, it’s a freaking wonderful few moments of footage that skyrockets my excitement for the feature.

Naturally, if you don’t want anything spoiled you should probably avoid watching (and reading below this sentence).

The clip plays off as a video diary of Peter’s journey to meet The Avenger’s (culminating with him stealing Cap’s shield), getting a new suit, annoying the hell out of Happy, and… having to sit around awkwardly while Stark talks about his hopes that Aunt May is wearing something skimpy.

A new trailer is attached to the end of the footage, though it’s composed mostly of footage that has already been released in some form or another.

In any case, we’re just a few days away from what sounds (based on early reactions) like an actually freaking good Spider-Man film, and I couldn’t be more excited.

Take a look at the footage below, and be sure to let us know what you think! Spider-Man: Homecoming hits theatres this Friday!

https://youtu.be/OmE8cujOcBo

New ‘Death Note’ Trailer Gets Us Excited For August Premier

by Courtney Dossett

With a little less than two months until its premier, Netflix released another Death Note trailer today.

Unlike the trailer released in March, the new trailer gives us a better look at the story of Death Note for those of us who maybe less familiar with the anime. From what I could see in the trailer, Light (Nat Wolff) seems to be a lot different than the boy portrayed in the anime, with Ryuk (Willem Dafoe) prompting him to use the Death Note instead of Light jumping right in on his own and writing names. We also get to see and hear more of L (Keith Stanfield), in this trailer, and the conflict between him and Light. All in all, it will be interesting to see how Netflix’s interpretation will compare to the anime.

 

What did you think of the trailer? Are you ready for the premier August 25? Let us know in the comments below!

 

 

 

 

Pony Up With The First Official MLP Movie Trailer!!

by The_acz

This afternoon, Hasbro and Lionsgate finally released the first official trailer for My Little Pony: The Movie.  The film seems to have a mixture of 2D animation, but also seems to use CGI for the backgrounds and some other objects. While a bit odd at first, the film does visually look nice. Check out the trailer for yourself and make your own judgement. My Little Pony: The Movie releases on October 6th.

E3 2017: ‘Senran Kagura Peach Beach Splash’ Is Much Better Than It Has Any Right To Be

by Josh Jackson

You probably know the deal with the Senran Kagura series by now. If you need to be brought up to speed, the series is typically a hack and slash action game staring four groups of high school kunoichi, or female ninja. As they tear through their opponents, the one thing that surely won’t survive their battles are their clothes, since the game’s gratuitous slow motion zoom ins under their skirts and at their chests as their outfits disintegrate makes sure to alert you every time a new inch of skin has been shown. After all, this is the game that infamously started out on the 3DS as an attempt to get 3D boobs onto the system. Yet despite the very obvious gimmick, the games somehow managed to be solid games behind all the behinds.

No one can hide from my sights.

Shifting the focus from boobs to butts slashers to shooters is Senran Kagura: Peach Beach Splash, the latest spin-off for the PS4 that trades in the girls’ swords and kunai for water guns. In the three-on-three mode that was featured in the demo, we were thrust into a fast paced third person arcade shooter where the goal was to douse your opponents in water until their health drained. Tying the mechanics back to the series’ roots are slower melee attacks that allow you to knock opponents away with their traditional weapons, one example being Shiki using her scythe between her legs to deal extra damage. Once the enemy is downed, rather than stomp them before they can be revived like in Gears of War, approaching them switches to a first person perspective where you proceed to spray their boobs or butts until that piece of clothing comes off, forcing them to flee in shame. Of course, if you want to be a gentleman about it, you could douse their face and keep their clothes intact. The winning team was the first with a certain amount of KO’s, so using special items, coordinating with your team to back you up as you finish off wounded enemies, and having them protect you when you need to refill your water all comes into play, giving Peach Beach a layer of depth that you wouldn’t expect on the surface.

But most of all, I was taken aback by how much fun the game was. Honest to God, it was probably the most fun I had with a single game at the entire show! Feeling like a weird cross between Tracer’s gameplay from Overwatch with the fast moving dual pistols, Splatoon‘s focus on spraying your opponents into submission and Senran Kagura‘s trademark presentation, and I’m finding myself very interested at how well this game turns out. Will it be the next eSport spectacular where gamers from around the world can watch South Korea strip the opposing countries naked in giant arenas? Probably not. But if the game develops a small following of cooperative teams, I could see this being a blast online. With guest character DLC, a full single player story mode and multiple ways to customize your ninjas, I’m hoping that the final version lives up to its promising start. But me? I just want to be reunited with my Renka.

Senran Kagura: Peach Beach Splash is set for a summer release.

E3 2017: ‘Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age’ Improves A Fatal Flaw In The Original

by Josh Jackson

Final Fantasy XII seems to be a polarizing game among fans, with the crowd split between thinking it’s one of the best games in the franchise to calling it one of the worst. I fell in the latter group, because despite its streamlined gameplay, more intimate story that focused on individual conflicts over a world altering calamity, and bringing MMO inspired combat to mainstream RPGs in a way that set the foundation for titles like Xenoblade Chronicles, the level up system was atrocious. After a good 15-20 hours in, the open ended License Board, which consisted of upgrades that you couldn’t see until your position on the board was adjacent to them, led me to unlocking so many useless stats and abilities that nearly my entire party was unusable at key points in the story. Picture Final Fantasy X‘s Sphere Grid, but instead of being on a set path until you could unlock special items to infiltrate other boards, every grid was open, connected, and you couldn’t see what each stat boost did until you were pretty much on it.

I couldn’t have been the only person with this complaint, since the international version of FFXII added the Zodiac Job System. This revamped format essentially revived the Job System, asking you to assign each new party member a specific job, each of which has a specific License Board to ensure that you’ll only unlock upgrades relevant to their role. Unfortunately, this version never saw the light of day outside of Japan until The Zodiac Age, the upcoming HD remaster of the last sixth generation Final Fantasy game.

On top of bringing over the improved leveling system, The Zodiac Age includes the ability to fast forward gameplay. Since most battles are fought in real time, with your AI party members acting on their own based on the instructions or “Gambits” you assign to them, level grinding could become an automated chore. Now that you can speed up your actions, simple to moderate encounters will be a breeze as they speed through. You might want to be careful using this against the higher ranked opponents however, since you’ll want to maintain your utmost attention when every move counts.

All in all, I’m excited to step back into Ivalice and give Ashe, Vahn, Balthier and Basch a second shot, especially since the original License Board was the only thing keeping me from enjoying the game the first time around. With that obstacle out of the way, I’m looking forward to experiencing what can be another top notch RPG experience, only this time with the benefit of the PS4’s power. What were your feelings about the original License Board, and where does Final Fantasy XII fall on your list of the best games in the series? Be heard in the comments below!

Seth Rollins Celebrates Being The ‘WWE 2K18’ Cover Athlete By Destroying Stuff For Some Reason

by Josh Jackson

This morning, 2K announced that The Kingslayer himself, Seth Rollins, will be the cover athlete for WWE 2K18. As the first full time performer to grace the cover in three years, Rollins joins the likes of John Cena, CM Punk, The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin as the featured star for the annual wrestling simulation game.

Seth is appropriate pick considering how the rising star had the biggest win of his career earlier this year when he defeated Triple H with one leg at this year’s Wrestlemania. Following the slogan “Be Like No One”, the former Architect of The Shield takes things a little too far, deciding to destroy some legendary memorabilia. Because that’s what you do when you make the cover of a video game.

Eagle eyed wrestling fans can spot plenty of easter eggs as they get smashed to pieces by the masked Rollins. From Ric Flair’s robe to The Undertaker’s gear that he left behind at his retirement, nothing is sacred when you want to sell a game. But why did you have to smash Brutus Beefcake’s scissors? It’s not like he has much of his glory days to hold onto lately. There wasn’t a barber shop window that Seth could have fled through instead?

While we don’t get to see any game play, we do know when and how we’ll be playing it. Releasing on PS4 and Xbox One on October 17, the game will be released with three different versions. The Standard Edition, the Deluxe Edition, which will give players four days of early access, and the Collector’s Edition, which will include everything the Deluxe Edition contains, plus physical rewards that will be revealed at a later date. Past versions had some pretty great stuff, so fans might want to jump on the preorder button once the announcement is made.

Watch the trailer below and tell us what other artifacts of wrestling’s past you can spot. Are you planning on picking up this year’s iteration? And what do you think of Rollins on the cover? Let us know in the comments!

E3 2017: New Japan Pro Wrestling Stars WILL Be In The North American Release Of ‘Yakuza 6’

by Josh Jackson

Too often, the most awesome crossovers in Japan never see the light of day here in the West. Licensing can be a nightmare, so companies will oftentimes find it more logical to remove or edit references from outside companies altogether than work through all the red tape that would allow every region to experience these cool easter eggs. When I got to speak to Sega about the upcoming Yakuza 6, the only real question I had was whether or not the gang based on the stars of New Japan Pro Wrestling would be included in the North American release. Needless to say, I was satisfied when their inclusion was confirmed outside of Japan!

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Taking place in a fictional version of Japan’s seedy underworld, Kazuma Kiryu might as well be a wrestler himself as he comes out of retirement for what has to be the tenth time to brawl with the worst criminals in the country. Only this time, one of the opposing games is made up of real life wrestlers from the top to bottom of the NJPW card. Including Kazuchika Okada, Tetsuya Naito, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima nd Toru Yano, it’ll be so exciting as a fan of both properties to be able to go toe to toe with the company’s best. Check out Naito’s game play below as we impatiently wait for Yakuza 6 to release early next year.

NJPW coming to the video game realm isn’t anything new. The recently released Tekken 7 

New to Yakuza? Check out the E3 trailer below and get caught up, then let us know what other crossovers you’d like to see down the line in the comments below!

E3 2017: That Post-Kojima ‘Metal Gear’ Game Will Not Release This Year

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Last Summer, Josh asked just what the hell was wrong with Konami after the reveal of Metal Gear Survive, a WTF-inducing Solid Snake and friends fighting zombies game that Hideo Kojima clearly had nothing to do with.

We’ve seen little else from the title since its reveal at GamesCom 2016, to the point where we’d almost forgotten that it even existed (leaving the world a slightly brighter place). It turns out, however, that the title is playable on the show floor amidst the giant lines at this year’s ongoing E3, but at this point the game will not be hitting your platform of choice until next year.p

Polygon learned earlier today that the development team requires a little more time to polish the game, and thus the title has been “pushed back a few months.” Naturally, Metal Gear games and delays are no stranger to one another — this game’s existence at all however, remains a mystery to all of us. What would it have been like to be a fly on the wall when this concept came up?

Forgot what it’s all about? Watch the reveal trailer below, and let us know if you’ll be picking this one up in early 2018.

‘Pokemon Ultra Sun’ And ‘Ultra Moon’ Take Us Back To Alola On November 17

by Josh Jackson

It looks like we’re getting our Pokemon Sun and Moon sequels, just not in the way many of us were hoping.

During the Pokemon focused Nintendo Direct, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon were revealed for the 3DS. Arriving on November 21st, they didn’t give us a whole lot of information to sink our teeth into. What we do know is that the game will once again take place in Alola, serving as an alternate story to the original. New Pokemon will be featured, but we don’t know if that means we’ll get brand new Pokemon, new Alola versions of old Pokemon, or straight up old characters are being added to the region. The only new Pokemon we did see were versions of the cover legendaries, Solgleo and Lunala, fused with #300 itself, Necrozma. What this means for the story, we have no idea, but it’s looking like the first game’s tale might not play into this one at all. Is it an alternate telling or set years apart? Hopefully we’ll find out more at E3.

I can’t say that I’m all that excited since we just came off of Alola and the original games a little over six months ago, but I’m going to keep an open mind and hope The Pokemon Company can wow me in the days leading up to its relatively close release date. It may not be on the Switch, but more Pokemon can’t be a bad thing, right?

This news follows the reveal of Pokken Tournament DX for the Switch and Pokemon Gold and Sliver for the 3DS virtual console. So we will be getting Pokemon on the Switch, just not in the way many of us were hoping.

Adam and I had plenty to say about the originals in our audio review, But I want your thoughts on these sequels. Are you ready for more Pokemon action, or is it too soon for sequels? Does this mean that the idea of a “third” version is dead and gone? Would you have rather had more time in between releases to possibly put these on the Switch instead? And does anyone else think the names sound incredibly bland? Fast forward to the end of the trailer below to catch all the footage we have, and let’s get the discussion started in the comments!

The ‘Tekken’ Retro Recap Reaches Its Conclusion

by Josh Jackson

Last week, Namco Bandai released a concise, (and oddly hilarious), recap taking us through the events of Tekken 1-3 in 8-bit form. Now that the game has released, the company has debuted the conclusion of its Retro Recap, highlighting all the Mishima family drama highlighted in games four through six.

Focusing on Jin’s transition to the brooding anti-hero we know him as now, learn how Kazuya came back to life, how Heihachi died, (but not really), and how some guy named Lars and his waifu robot highjacked the series for a little bit. It’s as confusing as it is hilarious, and I love how both videos have embraced how wild the story has gotten over time. Oh, and props to whoever decided to use the “CHICKEN!” voice line from Tekken 3. You’re a true hero.

Share your thoughts with us on the Tekken series below, and let us know what you think of Tekken 7 so far!

Kid Ink And ‘Tekken 7’ Team Up To Record ‘Now It’s Personal’

by Josh Jackson

Tekken has been a fighting game mainstay for over a decade, so it’s no surprise that people from all walks of life have landed a punch or two in Namco Bandai’s brawler. One such fan is platinum selling artist, Kid Ink, who put his fandom to work while recording Now It’s Personal, a new track inspired by the upcoming Tekken 7.

Giving us a glimpse at the recording process while learning about the artist’s history with the series, the track is inspired by the final showdown between Heihachi and Kazuya, the father and son who are set to fight to the death in the game’s story mode. But in between all of the music mumbo jumbo is some insightful advice for would-be fighters who are hoping to step in the ring. Namely, it’s important to master the game itself before trying to stick with one or two characters, leading to more versatility between the entire cast. Not bad!

Take a step into the studio and watch the making of video below. What do you think of the collaboration? Would you want to see other artists get involved in the fighting game scene? Let us know in the comments!

Tekken 7 will release for the PS4, Xbox One and Steam on June 2.

Catch Up With The ‘Tekken’ Saga With This 8-Bit Recap

by Josh Jackson

Tekken 7 is right around the corner, which promises to resolve their 23 year feud in its expanded story mode. Are you thinking about checking the game out, but don’t have the time to delve in two decades worth of confusing material? Then fear not! Learn all you need to know about the first three games in the first Tekken Retro Recap!

Following a classic father-son story where the father dumps his son off of a cliff, the son gets possessed by the devil after murdering his father out of revenge, and the son in turn gets tossed into a volcano, the only events that make any sense involve the head of a global organization walking out on his pregnant mistress. Nonetheless, this insanity has kept fans like myself clamoring for the next big twist, wondering how all of this will reach its conclusion.

Check out the video below and share your thoughts with us on Tekken‘s long history, then learn about the game itself with our hands-on preview from E3 last year.

Beep Beep Richie: IT’s here – A Reflection on a Trailer

by Saintmort

I avoid trailers at all costs. I’m always worried that the trailer will tell me the entire story, spoil some ending or reveal some other important detail. I made an exception today and watched the trailer for Stephen King’s IT… and it was everything I could have hoped.

Growing up in the 90’s there were random adult things that every kid just knew of. Before ever watching a Horror movie I somehow knew who Michael Myers, Freddy and Jason were. Without ever reading a book, I knew who Stephen King was and for some reason it feels like I always knew of the book IT and I have no clue why.

I remember the first time I ever watched the original TV series. My mom used to tape every made for TV mini-series on VHS tapes. I was home sick from school and was bored so I put the VHS tape into my VCR and was captivated. That summer I checked the book out of my local library… I don’t think I even finished the first chapter, the death of Georgie was so horrifying and so much more disturbing than the TV movie could have ever conveyed.

Last summer they announced plans for a theatrical adaptation so I kept following product rumors, looking at images online and getting more and more excited. I also decided to try to tackle the book again. In about two weeks I crushed all 1000+ pages.

If I said it was King’s best book I’d be a liar. The reality is that IT has really great parts and then it has other parts that can only be explained by cocaine (the 11 year old orgy comes to mind for example). When the book was good it was really good. The highlights of the book (as well as the mini-series) are the segments of the kids in the 50’s. If the rumors I’ve read are true this movie is only covering that portion of the book and then we will get the second half at a later date. Here’s hoping that’s accurate.

The scares in this trailer work a lot. The Picture segment, the cackling Georgie, Pennywise charging in the water. They’ve done a good job keeping Pennywise hidden in it as well. I have not been this excited to see a movie in a long time. If you’ve been living in a sewer … the trailer is below. Beep Beep.

Check Out The First Trailer For The ‘DuckTales’ Reboot!

by The_acz

Last week was a pretty packed week for news what with the Nintendo Switch launch and Logan.

What you may have missed though, is that Disney released the first trailer for the highly anticipated DuckTales Reboot heading to Disney XD this summer! The trailer seems to definitely take more inspiration from the original comic books than the 80’s series, but still has plenty of things for both fans of the TV series and comics. The biggest change seems to be a complete overhaul of Webby’s character which is actually very much appreciated. Check out the trailer below, and let’s hope that the crew behind this new series doesn’t QUACK under pressure (I’m so sorry for that pun I apologize.)

Watch The Bad-Ass, Hilarious New Trailer For ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2’!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Up to this point, I wasn’t fully convinced that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 would be able to live up to the hilarity and unexpected charm of the phenomenal first film.

Then this new full trailer debuted on tonight’s Jimmy Kimmel live, and any fears I had about the film were put to rest. This is the same gang, with the same incredible chemistry, the same dumb one-liners, and an even more adorable Groot.

Seriously, this trailer had me laughing more than most dedicated comedies. I can’t wait to get in line for this one.

You can take a look at the incredible trailer below, and be sure to let us know what you think. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 hits theatres on May 5th.

‘One-Punch Man’ Is Heading To Blu-Ray And DVD This Spring

by Natalie Kipper

The popular action-comedy anime One-Punch Man will see its North American home release debut this Spring, courtesy of VIZ Media. The series follows the trials of Saitama, a superhero hopeful whose years of special training left him so overpowered that a single punch knocks any who oppose him flat on their behinds! Check out the trailer below to get a taste of the action (and humor).

This release will be available as a Blu-Ray/DVD combo pack ($59.99), a Standard Edition Blu-Ray set ($49.99), and a Standard Edition DVD-only set ($39.99). The combo pack is a special edition that also includes an exclusive chipboard box, six OVA animated shorts (also available on the Standard Edition Blu-Ray set), six art cards, and a full-color booklet with episode summaries, character profiles, interviews with the team, and more. And of course, Blu-Ray episodes are presented in 1080p HD (DVD ones are 480p). Regardless of which set you choose, it will contain episodes 1-12 of the series, available both in original Japanese dialogue with English subtitles as well as English dialogue.

The Blu-ray/DVD combo pack is limited in edition and available for pre-order now at many retail sites as well as brick and mortar locations. But if you choose to place your order through Right Stuf, you will also receive a special, yet-to-be-revealed gift with purchase (while supplies last). The other two versions are likewise currently available for pre-order at the same places. All are scheduled to release on April 25.

[header image: ©ONE, Yusuke Murata/SHUEISHA, Hero Association HQ]

‘South Park: The Fractured But Whole’ Gets Another Major Delay!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: So close, yet so far…

Ubisoft let us know back in September that South Park: The Fractured But Whole would not be making its original December release date, and would instead be launching sometime in Q1 of 2017.

The publisher took a moment during today’s earnings call to let us know that, once again the game won’t be making its planned release date. Last time around, they noted that “The development team wants to make sure the game experience meets the high expectations of fans and the additional time will help them achieve this goal,” while this time, Ubisoft simply let us know that the game will now release in the company’s next fiscal year. This means that we’ll see the title sometime between April 1, 2017 and March 31, 2018.

Josh was pretty excited about the title after its E3 showcase last year – the game even made his most anticipated games of 2017 list. After spending some time with The Stick of Truth late last year myself, I can see why fans may be disappointed, the game looks fantastic, hilarious, and I can’t wait to get my hands on it.

What are you going to play instead? Sound out below!

‘Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows Of Valentia’ Arrives On The Battlefield This May!

by Josh Jackson

During Nintendo’s Fire Emblem dedicated Direct, a remake of the cult hit, Fire Emblem Gaiden was announced for the 3DS in the form of Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia. Notable as a game that marked a short lived shift in the way the game played, Gaiden introduced the ability to explore dungeons and interact with towns. These features were largely ignored going forward, but Echoes is looking to modernize them for 2017 based off of the footage we’ve seen.

Similar to the most recent release, Fire Emblem Fates, Echoes puts players at the center of a conflict between two warring kingdoms. As Alm and Celica, adopted siblings who find themselves caught within the war, they’ll have to battle both sides if they want to bring peace back to the land. Naturally, what better way to deliver on that promise than with constant war.

As a big departure from the rest of the series, Echoes will mirror Gaiden with a modern twist, with full 3D dungeon exploration and the ability to break out in battle at a moment’s notice. Being able to navigate towns and communicate with your party will feel more familiar to more recent fans, but we’re excited to see how all of these changes will carry over when its release rolls around.

Between more news on the mobile game, two new Amiibo that will accompany Echoes, a brand new Switch game and game play footage of Fire Emblem Warriors, it’s a great time to be a Fire Emblem fan. What are you hoping to see in Echoes?

‘Xenoblade Chronicles 2’ Is Switch-Bound This Year! Check Out Its Debut Trailer!

by Josh Jackson

During Nintendo’s Switch conference, the company announced that Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is heading to the console.

As one of the most surprising reveals during the show, first impressions make it seem as if, the latest from Monolith Soft will be a direct sequel to the Wii and 3DS classic, Xenoblade Chronicles, rather than a follow up of their latest on the Wii U, Xenoblade Chronicles X. Rumors were flooding the Internet as the show approached that a port of the Wii U’s XCX was going to be Monolith’s big contribution, so we were more than okay with a continuation of what I feel is one of the greatest RPG’s of all time.

Based on the little bit of footage we got from the game’s reveal trailer, it’s clear that the game will be just as large, (and just as beautiful), as previous games. This is all while taking advantage of the Switch’s increased power, which is apparent based on the trailer’s smooth frame rate and non-grainy character models. Speaking of characters, their designs seem to have received the biggest change, taking a more anime inspired look compared to the original. But with the teases towards the end, we’re left with plenty of questions. Namely, how has the world changed since Shulk’s adventure, will the old crew return in any capacity, and is that red sword in the end related to the fabled Monado?

But the biggest surprise is this game is scheduled to come out this year! So it won’t be long until we have those answers barring any delays. Check out the trailer and try to pick out some more details, then share them in the comments below!

‘Shin Megami Tensei’ Is Heading To The Switch!

by Josh Jackson

Atlus and Nintendo have announced that a new Shin Megami Tensei game will be launching for the Nintendo Switch as part of the 25th anniversary of the long running monster recruiting RPG series.

While nothing solid is known yet, the teaser trailer showed off a new main character in a golden body suit being confronted by many of the signature demons found throughout the series, (many of which will likely be censored before its final release). What we can expect though, is brutally difficult battles, a wide variety of party customization options, and one of the most rewarding games you can find in the genre.

Nintendo seems to be the home for the main SMT series as of now, with SMT IV and its follow up, Apocolypse, being exclusively for the 3DS. On the crossover front, Fire Emblem and SMT notoriously crossed over to come up with a fun gem that I won’t shut up about, so if we keep getting quality like these games from this partnership between the two companies, then so be it!

With Shin Megami Tensei making the Switch alongside a healthy list of JRPGs, are these starting to shift you over to Nintendo’s new console? Let us know in the comments, and make sure to check back as more information on the final game surfaces!