Tag: video games

E3 2013: Hands-On With ‘Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z’

by Josh Jackson

Lately, it seems like no one is safe from the zombie apocalypse. In the case of Yaiba, he’s not even safe from them in death. From the minds of Megaman creator Kenji Inafune and the development team at Team Ninja comes Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z, a spin off that takes the world of ninjas, magic and fiends and throws it in the middle of a zombie outbreak. While the inherently violent idea of the undead seems like it should be a perfect fit with a series known for its creative use of dismemberment, does Yaiba bring anything new to the table compared to the dozens of zombie games already on the market? We looked to find out during our time with the game at E3.

While Yaiba’s outfit looks almost identical to the classic NES ninja garb, don’t mistake him for Ryu Hayabusa, the usual protagonist of the series. You see, Yaiba was one of the many ninjas that have fallen at the hands of Ryu and his Dragon Sword, but his thirst for revenge made him special. Because of this, Yaiba has been revived and rebuilt with cybernetic parts by a mysterious organization, promising to give him his chance at revenge.  The catch? He has to stop an outbreak of walking corpses before he’s allowed to get his opportunity. It sounds silly, but considering the cheesy dialogue, comic book cutscenes and cell-shaded visuals that Yaiba employs, it’s obvious that this new game is meant to be far less serious than its predecessors.

Yaiba Screenshot 1

Gameplay wise, Yaiba is shaping up to be more like something out of the Dynasty Warriors series than anything associated with the punishingly precise action gamers have associated with Ninja Gaiden. It wasn’t uncommon in the demo to find dozens of zombies on screen at once, and Yaiba’s flashy, fast hitting punches, kicks and sword slashes can tear them up in seconds. Even larger sub-boss enemies could be taken down relatively quickly, although their upgraded defense and blocking ability took a little more patience to get around. After chopping them into pieces, Yaiba could use their limbs, such as two arms attached by a string of flesh, as alternate weapons. You’ve never seen nunchucks until you’ve seen them made of human hands! If would be ninjas were still having trouble with the undead menace, players can trigger a powered up mode after killing enough enemies or taking too much damage, causing Yaiba’s cybernetic side to take over. If you’ve played any action game over the last decade or so, you know the drill. Temporary boost in power, health regeneration, faster attacks… the whole shebang!

And knowing the drill is part of my concern so far. Inafune is one of my favorite designers and Team Ninja has been one of my favorite development teams, but the time I spent with Yaiba paled in comparison to what I’d expect from the core Ninja Gaiden series. Taking a typical action route, the game looks flashy, but didn’t require anywhere near the skill associated with Hayabusa’s adventures. Attack options were slim and the camera was bad. And when I say bad, I mean pointing at the ground away from my character to the point where I couldn’t see anything kind of bad. Keep in mind though, that the screen had a very noticeable “pre-alpha” tag on the screen, so Ninja Gaiden Z is still very much in its early stages. Let’s hope someone on the team is aware of these issues before the game is released.

Yaiba Screenshot 2

So far, Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z has potential. Despite its early lack of challenge, repetitive combat and glitches galore, the idea of a cybernetic ninja slicing through hoards of zombies has the potential to be tons of mindless fun. While I may have personally have had my fill of the whole undead outbreak scenario, if anyone can pull it off, Inafune and Team Ninja can. After all, Ninja Gaiden is one of my favorite series of all time, so I’ll keep the faith and watch for updates as this newest take on the classic series shapes up.

E3 2013: Hand-On with ‘Dragon’s Crown’

by Josh Jackson

When gamers think of Vanillaware, most would associate the developer with some of the most beautiful 2D side scrollers of the last half decade. Both Odin Sphere and Muramasa proved that in a gaming industry dominated by 3D and HD, side scrollers could offer deep, challenging combat while still looking pretty. Their newest title, Dragon’s Crown is aiming to keep this tradition intact, and if my time with the game on the E3 show floor is any indication, this beat em up is well on its way of doing just that.

Dragon's Crown Screen 1

Dragon’s Crown lets players choose from one of six warriors, each one fitting different fantasy archtypes. Want a armored clad knight? You got it. A magic wielding sorceress? Yep, she’s here too. Personally, I wanted the Elf, complete with bow and arrow. Each character is accompanied by up to two support characters that aid players in battle in different ways. For example, the theif was able to snatch items from enemies and add them to your pool. If this isn’t enough, the game will feature 2 player co op if you want to dungeon crawl with a friend.
While playing throught the demo, I definitely got a strong Golden Axe vibe from the mechanics. My archer had two main attacks, using her bow for long range or close range melee attacks. Beating up seemingly endless amounts of enemies was fun, but what was even better was learning that I could steal enemy mounts and use them to my advantage. Finishing each fight rewarded me with a rank, telling me how well I did at finding the treasure in the room.

Dragon's Crown Screen 2

Outside of dungeons, a multi-tiered town can be explored to upgrade equipment, sell treasure and chat with non playable characters. True to Vanillaware form, both the towns and the dungeons were some of the most gorgeous looking environments out there. Judging from the hints picked up from this demo, you’ll get to enjoy the in game artwork more and more, because there’s bound to be tons of items and skills to collect. With six unique characters to do so with, local and online multiplayer and plenty of hidden items, Dragon’s Crown is looking like a game that will be worth exploring over and over again.

I’d be hard pressed to think of a time that a 2D beat em up was one of the most anticipated games of the year, but Dragon’s Crown easily fits that mold for me. The demo alone had tons of secrets, rewarding combat, a variety of playable characters and a varied upgrade system. Just thinking about how much farther the final game can take these ideas makes the approaching release date that much more anticipated. Great gameplay, beautiful graphics, challenging AI and the option to tackle all of this with a friend? What more can you ask for?

Retro, beat em up and modern gamers would do well to keep an eye out for Dragon’s Crown, which is coming to the PS3 and PS Vita on August 6th

E3 2013: Hands-On with ‘Time and Eternity’

by Josh Jackson

While touring the games on display at E3 this year was as exciting as always, it’s getting apparent that new ideas are getting fewer and far between. Which is why when something new does stand out, it makes it that much more exciting to try it out. One such moment was when I came across Time and Eternity, an RPG that takes a unique battle system and combines it with a creative visual presentation, essentially putting an anime in the hands of the gamer. Creativity? Anime? RPG? What other reasons did I need to see what this game was all about? I literally went into this demo with zero knowledge, having missed all of the information released on the game, so I was excited to find out what I could.

For a bright and cheery looking game, Time and Eternity starts on a point that can be called the lowest of the low. Moments before her wedding, Princess Toki and her husband to be are ambushed by assassins. Toki makes it out okay, but her fiance isn’t so lucky and is killed in the fight. As it turns out, the princess has another side to her. This traumatic event awakens Towa, a second soul that Toki houses. Joined by their pet dragon who now houses their fiance’s soul, the two set out to find out who attacked them and perhaps use time to prevent the murder altogether.

Time and Eternity Screen 1

Just looking at Time and Eternity makes it come off as an anime instead of a game. Giving a vibe reminiscent of Dragon’s Lair, the visuals look like something you would be watching instead of controlling. This just goes to show how gorgeous the game looks in motion, which can be seen in the game’s newest trailer, (hint: check the bottom of the page!)

Random battles trigger while running along the map, starting one on one battles that play out in real time, but not in the way one would expect. Mixing real time with turn based, the girls are set in one spot, but can dodge, block, move forward or backwards and attack at will. Toki and Towa have a variety of stances and positions they can take by attacking the enemy up close or shooting from afar. Each girl specializes in different attacks, complete with their own stats and skills. After each level up, the girl you play as switches, but there are items that open up later on that lets players switch them at will.

Time and Eternity Screen 3

If enemies get too close for comfort, they can be kicked back to create distance, which seemed like the best option since long range magic trumped physical damage in every way. Different enemies are said to have different vulnerabilities, but everyone in the demo went down with one spell as opposed to multiple rapid fire melee attacks, making physical combat useless. The difference is that Magic takes energy that must be recharged by dodging, blocking and attacking, so melee being unlimited makes it a strong tool when there’s no other choice.

Outside of battle, the game seems to have a large cast of non playable characters that Toki and Towa can interact with. Mostly voiced, (but all in Japanese in this demo,) conversations would serve to flesh out personalities and build relationships. Dating sim elements seem to play a role in how these friendships develop, which might play a bigger role than they seem. According to the information I was able to gather, Time and Eternity will have multiple endings, potentially making the would be husband to choose between Toki and Towa permanently. From being killed to living in a dragon AND having to choose between girls? Sounds like the worst day ever.

Walking away from Time and Eternity left me excited for what the full version will offer. Its unique battle system and stylish graphics are just a tease for the potentially robust features the demo teased. Having two party members in one person is a unique idea, and I’m anxious to see how far the “dating” elements take the story. My biggest concern is how overpowered magic was compared to melee combat, but considering I was just playing one area, the main game will have a much larger variety of enemies to test these battle skills on. After being caught completely off guard, I must say that it’ll feel like an eternity until I can finally get this game in my hands.

Time and Eternity is coming to the PS3 on July 16th.

E3 2013: Hands-On with ‘Shin Megami Tensei IV’

by Josh Jackson

For fans of the Shin Megami Tensei series, the wait for a new game has been as punishing as the difficulty its known for. Sure, there have been plenty of spinoffs and titles with the name attached to it, (games like Soul Hackers and the Persona series come to mind,) but the core games have been hard to come by. Thankfully, the wait will be over soon when SMT IV releases in just over a month, but with an opportunity to play it early on the E3 show floor, why not get a little demon slaying practice in ahead of time?

SMT IV Screen 2

All of the core staples of the series seem to be returning in IV. Playing as a group of samurai, the player’s group will travel through randomly generated dungeons, fighting hoards of demons along the way if you choose to do so. The random battles are triggered in real time, so fights can easily be activated or avoided. Like many RPGs of today, attacking enemies on the map will start the battle with an advantage for the player. Let the enemies get the jump on you however? Then they’ll get the advantage instead, so you’ll want to stay on your toes.

Nine years have passed since Shin Megami Tensei III was released, changing up the formula from the first two games in the process, (which were never given an English translation, so it’s not like we noticed.) SMTIV borrows a few of its predecessor’s features, but seems to focus on the simplicity of the first two games. Like in III, dungeons are explored in third person, but battles have gone back to first person. IV trades in the flashy attacks for a more retro approach, with the bottom screen showing the team’s attack order through character portraits. As usual, each party member has their own sets of attack and magic abilities, which are used, to hurt, heel or boost stats. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but with the lack of JRPG’s worth playing as of late, does it need to?

SMT IV Screen 1

That’s not to say that SMT IV doesn’t stand out. A party is only as good as its members, and this game literally offers hundreds of possibilities thanks to the return of the demon negotiation system. When in battle, players can give up their turn to negotiate with one of their enemies. Doing so starts a conversation with multiple answers, but only one of them will convince the demon to join your party. The other two will end the talk with a threat or insult, effectively giving up your turn and opening yourself up to an attack. You can try as many times as you want, but if you think it will be as easy as going through a process of elimination, I never saw the same conversation trigger twice, even with the same monsters. There’s no easy way out!

My time with Shin Megami Tensei IV brought back the JRPG fan in me. Games in the genre as of late have traded in strategy, difficulty and satisfaction for flashy moves and hours of cutscenes. Atlus seems to have taken the opposite route with this game, and I couldn’t be happier. While I couldn’t get a read on the difficulty with a short demo, the SMT series is known for its difficulty, so I doubt it will be a let down in that department. Gameplay wise, the demon negotiation brings in a much welcomed twist to the tried and true turn based battles that many gamers like myself grew up with, and I can’t wait to go back to my roots when SMT IV finally hits our shores.

Shin Megami Tensei IV will release exclusively on the 3DS on July 16th.

E3 2013: Hands-On with ‘New Super Luigi U’

by Josh Jackson

With so many new titles like Mario Kart 8 and Super Mario 3D World taking up all of the attention at Nintendo’s E3 booth, we couldn’t forget about Mario’s green clad brother! After all, it’s officially the Year of Luigi, so what kind of a jerk would I be if I was standing right next to a New Super Luigi U demo and didn’t try it out? This first full fledged expansion campaign is only a day away, and believe me when I say hardcore Mario fans will be in for a challenge.

Luigi U Screen 1

As it was mentioned in previous Nintendo Direct videos, New Super Luigi U is a complete reworking of New Super Mario Bros U. Mario is out and Nabbit is in, giving Luigi his first starring role in a platforming title! Each of the stages from the original has been overhauled, and even the first stage that I played had many more enemies and trickier platforms than some of the harder stages from Mario’s version. Star coins have been placed in some ridiculously hard to reach places, so completionists are going to have their work cut out for them. To top it all off, the usual time limit has been dropped to 100 seconds, so you better get moving!

It’s true that Luigi’s adventure is attempting to be much more challenging, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t new tricks for him to use. What is new to the game is Luigi’s trademark flutter jump. Even when playing multiplayer, Blue Toad, Yellow Toad and Nabbit all have this ability, effectively Luigi-fying the entire cast. Speaking of Nabbit, his ability to ignore damage makes him a popular guy, effectively providing an easy mode. Sure, he can’t use items, but who needs them when you can’t get hurt? The only problem is that like the main game where player one has to be Mario in single player, Luigi has to be player one too. So anyone hopping to take a leisurely stroll through the Mushroom Kingdom as Nabbit are out of luck.

Aside from these features though, everything is the same. Co-op still locks all four players into the screen, making it so players can’t fall too far behind or run too far ahead of each other. You’ll still be flying in squirrel suits, jumping on enemies and saving Peach from the clutches of Bowser and his illegitimate kids. Just this time, it’s much harder… and with 100% less Mario. Is it enough to justify a $20 download? Well, if you love platformers, multiplayer mayhem and a hell of a challenge, New Super Luigi U is looking like a great way to use that point card that’s been lying around.

Luigi U will be on the Wii U eShop tomorrow, June 20th, with a physical release following on August 25th.

E3 2013: Hands On With ‘Bayonetta 2’

by Josh Jackson

When rumors were swirling that Sega had cancelled plans for a Bayonetta 2, fans of action, developer Platinum Games and virtual women in tight clothing continued to hope for the best. Little did anyone know, the outcry to actually getting the game dwarfed the outcry of not getting it, since it was announced that Nintendo was funding the upcoming sequel and would be a Wii U exclusive. Amongst the overreaction of some people not getting the game on “their” system, there were some legitimate concerns. Would Nintendo’s known censorship get in the way of some of the risque elements Bayonetta is known for? Will the action be as tough as other games Platinum has produced? Will there be any forced game pad integration? My time with the game answered all of these questions, and the answers just might win over fans of the original.

Picking up some time after the first game, Bayonetta, a centuries old witch with some killer gun grabbing heels, is still at war with the angels who are looking to end her. The formula remains relatively unchanged as far as combat is concerned. Each section is divided into acts, or “verses.” Players are judged by how fast they finish each verse, how many points they score by comboing, using special torture attacks and finishing moves called “Climax” attacks. Mixing horizontal, vertical and projectile moves shows off some of the cooler aspects of Bayo’s skill set, (I mean, you haven’t seen a kick until it’s from a giant foot made of hair.) Dodging right before taking damage slows time to a crawl, creating an opening for huge damage against multiple enemies. And if these skills aren’t enough for you, playing well fills your “Umbra Climax” bar, which powers Bayo up, giving her a health boost, a reach extension, upgraded power and speed. The combinations are only increased by multiple weapons that can be switched on the fly, like the standard guns and fists, or dual swords in this demo.

 

Bayonetta 2 Screen 2

 

The most obvious difference was former rival turned ally, Jeane, joining the fight and fighting side by side with Bayo. While the version I was playing had my partner being controlled by the AI, the person running the demo confirmed with me that there will be a separate co-op campaign so you can run through hordes of enemies with a friend. Since the Wii U is limited to one game pad per console, it’s safe to say that the classic controller will be a must for two player angel slaying, but aside from the optional touch screen control scheme, (complete with tapping enemies to attack, swiping sideways to dodge or sliding up to jump,) the button based style is the same for each.

Co-op isn’t the only surprise found in my brief time as the witch. After being confronted by a massive boss, Bayonetta sprouted butterfly wings and took the battle to the sky. It was surprise moments that broke up the standard game play like these that helped make the original so unique, so this change up was a welcomed change of pace. After hacking away at the behemoth, the demo came to a close with Bayo standing tall.

 

Bayonetta 2 Screen 1

 

So in short, fans worried that the core of the game would be lost in transition can rest easy. Bayonetta 2 brings back the challenging, fast paced and seductive action of the original. Thanks to game pad control, co op game play and different scenarios that differ from the standard combat, there’s little fear of the game being a copy and paste job either. So far, this highly requested game is well on its way to matching the reputation that the original earned, and I for one can’t wait to see how it will turn out.

Look for Bayonetta 2, coming exclusively to the Wii U in 2014.

Starting Today, Get Your Exclusive ‘Animal Crossing: New Leaf’ Items From a Best Buy Near You!

by Josh Jackson

Continuing their partnership with Nintendo after their exclusive E3 preview events, Best Buy will be the host of some pretty neat Animal Crossing items starting today through August 10th. But just because you have a month and a half to collect items doesn’t mean you should take your time. Four items will be given out over the course of the summer, and once they’re gone, they’re really gone!

Below are the dates that each item will be given. Just take your 3DS to your local Best Buy and connect to the Nintendo Zone with SpotPass to claim your prize!

The Raccoon Wall Clock

June 16-June 29th

The Cat Tower

June 30th-July 13th

The Rolling Suitcase

July 14th-July 27th

The Double-Neck Guitar

July 28th-August 10th

Check Nintendo’s website for complete details, and happy hunting, fellow mayors!

E3 2013: Hands-On ‘Fantasia: Music Evolved’

by Josh Jackson

Last week, the music game giants at Harmonix announced a team up with Disney to bring us Fantasia: Music Evolved. A Kinect exclusive experience, the initial trailer combined the magic of Disney with the chart toping hits of today, but we didn’t really see how that would happen. During a demo session with the title, Harmonix answered all of our questions about the game, how it plays and how it relates to the Fantasia film. After trying it out for myself, I must say, the game has promise!

Fantasia: Music Evolved puts us in the shoes of the sorcerer’s new apprentice. Tasked with bringing life back to worlds that are initially dull and dreary, the opening moments of each stage are closer to a point and click adventure. Standing to the right or left of the screen rotates the camera and moving your hand over the environment has various effects. Spinning, dragging, pushing, pulling swiping and poking can transform the environment into colorful, vibrant areas that match up well with Disney’s family friendly reputation. Playing with the level awards magical energy that will help open up rifts in the background. It’s these rifts that house the musical challenges, which is where the heart of the game lies.

Fantasia Screen 1Inside a printing press. One of the many lands sorcerers will explore.

Bringing in a mix of Wii Music, Dance Dance Revolution, Elite Beat Agents and even Fantavision visually, sections of the songs are triggered by different motions. Some of these include swiping in a direction, pushing at a certain spot or tracing your arm along certain movement strings to keep the song going. Throughout various points in the song, apprentices will be given the choice to layer a different type of arrangement on top of the song to give a custom feel to it. The best part is that you aren’t obligated to use your hands at all. If you want to dance, use your feet or throw in a spin here and there, as long as some part of you follows the instructions, the action will register. By the time the song is over, you’ll have a brand new version that can sound vastly different from the original version.

As songs are unlocked and completed, mini games in the game world will open up new sounds that are eventually blended into the world. By the end, the once dead environment was booming with tons of activity and sounds, blended perfectly into a unique creation of musical expression, taken both from the licensed songs and the included sound effects to make it unique to the player. Even if you don’t care about any of these creation aspects and just want to rack up a high score, Fantasia rewards experimentation since various arrangements might yield higher scores than others.

Fantasia Screen 2

While the game was way too much fun to play, my biggest complaint wasn’t so much with the game, but with the Kinect itself. Using the new Xbox One version of the motion sensor, my movements weren’t being picked up for large chunks of the song. A combination of the lighting and my fellow journalists behind me were to blamed, but the new Kinect was supposed to alleviate or eliminate these issues that are part of the original Kinect as well. It could have been that I just sucked, but the demo had no way to tell me whether or not I was doing something wrong. Unlike Dance Central, which had visual cues that hinted at what you were doing wrong, Fantasia didn’t have anything of the sort. I’m hoping Harmonix adds something like this when the game launches early next year, because it’s sorely needed.

I was incredibly curious as to how Harmonix would pull off Fantasia, and this curiosity was satisfied by a creative, colorful and imaginative game that looks to recreate some of that Disney magic in ways that haven’t been done before. With the promise of Mickey Mouse appearing in the game in some capacity, hopefully more of Disney’s history will be explored within the game’s narrative. A soundtrack featuring Bruno Mars, Queen, f.u.n. and plenty of classical tunes rounds out what promises to be an interesting ride.

Look for Fantasia: Music Evolved on the Xbox 360 and Xbox One in 2014.

 

E3 2013: Geekscape Games Previews ‘Call of Duty: Ghosts’

by Josh Jackson

When Call of Duty: Ghosts was previewed at the Xbox One conference, the aftermath felt like meme central. But between fish AI, “Collar Duty” jokes and lots of love for dogs, there was actually a game in there somewhere. Aside from the usual military shooter game play, the conference promised a weakened America, a new cast of characters and a much more desperate setting. These were all of the qualities I was keeping an eye out for when I stepped into Activision’s Ghosts presentation, and I was happy to walk out with a few surprises.

Ghosts will be the story of two brothers who are recruited by an elite squad of soldiers that tackle missions to protect a crippled United States. Traveling all around the world to locations such as Venezuela, The Caribbean and the deep, dark recesses of San Diego, each location was heavy on action. One mission had the Ghosts repelling down a building while picking off security forces on the way down. Another had them swimming underwater and blowing up a submarine with a torpedo launcher. All of this is made so much better by an obviously improved AI, so let’s hope the days of your team mates standing around looking into the distance while you get pumped full of led are long gone.

COD Ghosts Screen 1

But who cares about the human partners! This game is all about Riley, the service dog that stole the show at the game’s reveal. What seemed like a simple squad member turns out to be so much more. In a dog focused stage, the main characters were able to give voice commands to their pet for various tactical functions. What’s even better is the game showed players taking direct control of Riley as he maps out paths, checks to make sure corners are safe with his back mounted camera and can even stealth take down enemy soldiers. Once the coast is clear, control comes back to the boring old humans to shoot stuff up. BUT… Riley was also seen being sent into rooms to ambush enemies and trigger breaches. On these sections alone, I’m more than excited to bury terrorists with an actual dog.

This is all framed with an overhauled graphics engine, including displacement mapping which makes terrain look even more realistic. New weapons include an underwater machine gun that’s based on real military tech, and more new guns are sure to follow. Multiplayer wasn’t shown in this demo, but as long as Call of Duty is in the title, you can expect plenty of multikills, upgrades and airstrikes when you take the fight online.

COD Ghosts Screen 2

All in all, Ghosts seems like overhauling the story, the settings and adding a dog of all things might be the next step in the evolution of the series. I know that nothing I write will help or hinder this game’s ability to sell tens of millions of copies, but I’m more excited for Ghosts than I’ve been for a COD game in a long, long time.

Call of Duty: Ghosts is coming to the PS4, Xbox One, Wii U, Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and PC in November.

E3 2013: Geekscape Games Previews ‘Skylanders: Swap Force’

by Josh Jackson

When Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure was first released nearly two years ago, it became a mega hit with both gamers and children alike. It wasn’t uncommon for games to get toy lines to tie in with the latest releases, but making the toys essential to playing the game was the key to a new cash cow. A year later, Skylanders: Giants added new characters, including the huge Skylanders that the game was named for. But from a game play perspective, it took the safe route, with game play and level design that felt like a copy/paste from the original. I was expecting much of the same when I got to check out Swap Force, the upcoming third Skylanders sequel that promises to add characters with swappable parts. But once I was able to see the game in action, there are a lot of big changes coming to Skylands, which left me pleasantly surprised!

In Skylanders: Swap Force, portal masters are called upon to summon Spyro and friends once again to prevent the evil master, Kaos, from corrupting a volcano with magical powers. This time around, Vicarious Visions, developers of the 3DS versions of Skylanders, have been given lead development duties in the console department. As you would guess from the title, the main feature of Swap Force is the ability to swap parts between the newest set of characters, changing their attacks and elemental properties in the process. The new guys include Night Shift, an undead boxer, Free Ranger, a storm powered chicken and Stink Bomb, a ninja skunk. Swapping their top and bottom halves create new versions of these newcomers to play with, like Free Bomb or Night Ranger. Each half stores data separately, so the upgrades made to each half will be carried over if you mix and match parts with your friends. In addition, swapping is necessary to open new elemental doors that require two elements to open. If you don’t want to buy the new swappable characters, fear not! Playing two players and using one of each element will open the doors just as well.

Skylanders Swap Force Screen 1

What you DO need the new characters for however, are the recently added Swap Force Zones. Each bottom half is associated with a type of movement, ranging from climbing, teleport and rocket zones for example. Opening these doors triggers mini games that are unique to each type, which rewards players with bonuses for completing them. Speaking of rewards, in addition to the hidden treasures and hats from the previous games, new map pieces can be discovered, unlocking bonus areas in the process. It was confirmed that these maps will replace the level based figurines, so gone are the days where you would have to spend close to $30 on sets in order to play a half hour stage.

These are just one of the many positives that Swap Force promises to bring. Running on an all new engine, the game is a huge upgrade visually. The addition of jumping means more platforming elements rather than the previous games that were essentially dungeon crawlers, while combat seems to have more depth with the ability to mix and match attacks. I was largely impressed, but my only concern is how the 3DS version will be affected. With a new developer taking over the handheld version, (which I felt was the superior version of the previous games,) what changes if any would be made for portable Portal Masters? Unfortunately, the 3DS version wasn’t included in my demo, so we’ll just have to wait and see.

Skylanders Swap Force Screen 2

All of the previous figures, including the giants, are backwards compatible in addition to 16 Swap Force and 16 new standard Skylanders. Old favorites like Stealth Elf will be getting new redesigns, but aside from the Swap Force zones, the entire game can be played with your old favorites if you’re low on cash. With all the new figures coming our way, it looks like we’ll need lots of it!

Skylanders: Swap Force is scheduled for Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U, PS4 and Xbox One this fall.

E3 2013: Hands-On: ‘Dark Souls 2’

by Josh Jackson

Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls, two names that are synonymous with mind crushingly difficult game play. As seen with the popularity of these titles, gamers can’t get enough of the punishment that From Software cooks up every time one of the games in this series is released. Not surprisingly, a follow up in the form of Dark Souls 2 is coming, and I got the chance to take to the dark corridors and dungeons to find out what new tricks the game has in store.

Dark Souls 2 runs on a new game engine, which is immediately apparent from the vast improvement in graphics. While the game is being made to be more accessible with features such as 1-4 player multiplayer, one of the goals of the game is to keep the difficulty and sense of achievement intact. New to this game is the ability to customize your character, carry up to three weapons or shields at a time and using the shoulder buttons for independent left and right arm attacks. Enemy AI is said to be improved, and players will now be able to warp between bonfires, eliminating needless backtracking.

Dark Souls 2 Screen 2

Players will have multiple classes to choose from, and while the full amount wasn’t confirmed, a minimum of 12 was promised. The demo gave me the choice between four of these classes, which were the Dual Swordsman, Sorcerer, Warrior and Temple Knight. Being a fan of all things dual handed, I snatched up a Dual Swordsman and began exploring. Any fears of the game being easier were quickly erased when the standard enemies drained tons of health with one attack. With two swords however, it was easy to inflict quick damage with both weapons, and while this class lacked in defense, it made up for in speed.

Traveling deep into the castle, the demo concluded on one of the notorious boss fights the series is known for. This Mirror Knight was a towering suit of reflective armor, using a giant mirror as a shield. I was handily defeating him until about half way through, where he started using his mirror to create reflections of warriors who had died there before me. So suddenly, I found myself going against a boss AND copies of player characters at the same time. Needless to say, I didn’t last long, but just like the previous games, I was addicted to the idea of getting better, anxiously awaiting March 2014 so I can get my second chance.

Dark Soluls 2 Screen 1

With Dark Souls 2, Namco Bandai and From Software are keeping what works while expanding the options players have to tackle the challenges presented. With promised multiplayer, a plethora of new classes and tons of deadly enemies, new and old fans might want to check this out if they want a game that makes you work for your victories.

Look for Dark Souls 2 on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC early next year.

E3 2013: Hands-On ‘Knack’

by Josh Jackson

Sony did everything they could to wow the crowd at E3 this year, and it was largely successful. With that said, aside from the games we already knew about during the PS4 reveal, there were few exclusives shown for the new console. Amongst these titles was a creative looking action/platformer in the form of Knack, a collaboration between Sony Japan and game designer Mark Cerny. Why should you care? Because when the guys behind Shadow of the Colossus  and Ratchet and Clank team up, only good things can happen.

Knack Screenshot 1

Knack stars a mysterious creature who is composed of numerous relics. Tasked with helping the humans fight off the threat of an invading goblin army, Knack will be able to manipulate numerous objects and elements to help him fight off his enemies. The demo I played featured a large, colorful city that was being pillaged by the goblins. Destroying buildings, armor and any part of the environment would automatically absorb the pieces into Knack’s body, making him larger as the stage went on. At one point, the rep who was demoing the game pointed out that my character’s body was made up of thousands of individual pieces, all rendered individually. Even more impressive was that the game never slowed down or moved without a hitch. It just goes to show that while the game looks gorgeous, there’s more to graphical power than just looking pretty. It’s safe to say that something like this wouldn’t be possible on current gen hardware.

As Knack became bigger, his reach and power increased, but that didn’t mean the game got easier. Enemies were surprisingly punishing, assuring that this launch title is looking to give gamers a pretty decent challenge. Other demos next to me showed off interior environments, including manipulating wind to defeat crowds of enemies. The two types of elements I saw in action looked significantly distinct from each other, and I’d only imagine it can only get better with the final total being more than double this amount. Combined with the platforming focus that my demo lacked, it looks like Knack will offer tons of variety for early PS4 adopters.

Knack Screenshot 2

By the time I walked away from my short time with Knack, I felt myself wanting more. The amount of charm and creativity with the graphics engine helped leave a lasting impression on me, and I can’t wait to see how far the final game takes these ideas. Look out for Knack when it launches with the PS4 in November of this year.

E3 2013: Hands-On with ‘Crimson Dragon’

by Josh Jackson

Leading up to Microsoft’s highly anticipated press conference, they promised that it would be all about the games. In that sense, they delivered, since plenty of new and old titles alike were announced for the upcoming Xbox console. But while everyone was losing their minds over Killer Instinct and Halo 5, most of my excitement was focused on Crimson Dragon, a spiritual successor to the Sega classic, Panzer Dragoon. Once at the Xbox booth, I made sure to jump on board and see if it could live up to my high expectations.

Not since Panzer Dragoon Orta in 2003 has a game of this type been released. Best described as a rail shooter on the back of a dragon instead of in a plane, the demo took me through the heart of a volcano, chasing a pale white dragon and blasting whatever I could along the way. The final game will have six dragons, each with their own set of abilities, but for now, I had one dragon with one set of moves. The homing lasers locked on to multiple targets that were highlighted by the right stick’s cursor, while an electric blast drained the health of whatever unfortunate soul my cursor was attached to. Dodging with the shoulder buttons initiated a quick barrel roll, which was welcomed since my dragon was too slow to reliably dodge otherwise.

Crimson Dragon Screen 1

When it came to the two featured boss fights, each one was timed. Doing a certain amount of damage or actually defeating the boss was rewarded with extra food that would be used to upgrade the dragons. Sadly, the time limit in the demo was so short that it was nearly impossible to actually defeat them. I asked to see if these time limits were going to mandatory, and while they will be, the time limits will be about double what they were in the demo once the full game is finally released.

From what I’ve played, Crimson Dragon is looking promising. The punishing difficulty of the previous games seems to have been toned down, but whether or not the demo was just set to be more forgiving has yet to be seen. The cursors and dragon move too slow for my tastes, but considering that this game was designed with Kinect in mind, moving with my hands might be a lot more intuitive. However, I am happy to report that the new Xbox One controller feels comfortable to use.

Crimson Dragon Screen 2

But aside from these minor complaints, the frantic rail shooting from Panzer Dragoon is alive and well. Keep this one on your list of games to watch as the Xbox One launch draws closer.

E3 2013: Two Retro Pac-Man Titles are on Their Way!

by Josh Jackson

Namco Bandai wasn’t short on Pac Man news at this year’s E3 convention. In addition to the TV show, toy line and video game that were announced, two retro titles are also coming for old people like me. Pac Man Championship Edition DX + and Pac Man Museum look to bring us back to the glory days of the ghost munching icon in both new and familiar ways.

As most of you could probably figure out from the title, Championship Edition DX + is an expanded version of the wildly popular HD Pac Man game that hit the PSN and Xbox Live arcade a few years back. For those unfamiliar, CE put players in timed Pac Man boards where giant waves of ghosts could be eaten in rapid succession for huge point bonuses. Eating half of the board would unlock a fruit, which would respawn dots after being eaten. In DX, bombs can be used to knock away enemies when you’re cornered, which is easy to do when the game goes into slow motion when in danger. DLC maps include classic Namco skins, including Dig Dug and Rally X, changing Pac Man and the ghosts into characters from those games. Coming this summer to Windows 8, Steam, Xbox 360 and PS3, leaderboard chasers will know which game to add to their queue once its released.

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In Pac-Man Museum, many of the classic games spanning decades of history will be collected into one package. Announced so far are Championship Edition, Classic and Battle Royal, the latter of which was only released in arcades. This game looked the most exciting of all, since it features 4 different Pac Men who had to eat ghosts as well as each other. Each power pellet makes Pac Man grow in size, allowing him to eat anyone and anything else that’s smaller than him. Coming to the PS3, 360, Wii U and 3DS, it looks like our retro fix will be covered in this Pac Man collection.

Between these two titles, that’s a ton of Pac we’ll get to play. Between these games and the TV show, it looks like we’ll all be getting real familiar with the character once again. Look out for both these games in the coming months.

E3 2013: Pac Man is Getting a Huge Revival, Complete With a New TV Show!

by Josh Jackson

Pac Man has been a gaming icon since before gaming icons were a thing. If you were to sing the beeps and boops of the opening song to a random person on the street, chances are they’ll recognize it before they flag the police for harassment. Over the last few years though, the closest he’s received to recognition are a few remakes of his classic arcade game and as a pick up line in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. Namco’s looking to change that, because Pac Man is back in the spotlight, starting with a slew of new media.

Starting this Monday on June 17th, Pac Man will hit the airwaves courtesy of Disney XD. Airing Monday thru Friday with repeats on Saturday, (that’s six days a week people!) Pac Man and the Ghostly Adventures is a 3D animated cartoon where the eater of worlds himself will have to save his city from an evil army of ghost spirits. Introducing new friends and familiar foes along the way, Namco is banking on the idea that kids will eat this stuff up, complete with a toy and merchandise line.

Pac Man Screen 1

But of course, Pac Man wouldn’t be anything without video games, so a tie in title is on its way. This 3D platformer was made closely with the people behind the animated series to keep both pieces of media in line with each other. Coming to Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U an 3DS this fall, the game promises about 8 hours of story mode game play with 1-4 player multiplayer modes to round out the experience. In the playable demo that was on display, Pac-Man could attack by eating ghosts, eat special pelletts that transform him into new forms, (like the Iguana form that lets him swing and eat with his retractable tounge,) and force ghosts to turn blue and run away with a retro sounding scream. He ran really slow, and his eating attack had pathetic range, so I’m hoping some extra development time can iron out these issues. However, as a platforming fan, the game is looking like a solid title for its intended demographic.

While the 3DS version wasn’t on display, it was said to be a 2D sidescroller that uses the same art style as the TV show and console games. While the console version is said to have a medium level of difficulty, the 3DS is intended to be the system of choice for younger gamers with Pac Man. Because of this, it’s said to be the easier version of the two, so all ages can find the title that’s appropriate for them.

Pac Man Screen 2

It’s clear to see that Namco wants Pac-Man back in a huge way. With Pac Man and the Ghostly Adventures, it seems like they’re all in; planning to give the icon the reception he deserves. With three games, (including Pac Man Championship Edition DX and Pac Man Museum,) a TV show and a toy line, a whole new generation will have the chance to fall in love with the yellow disc all over again.

E3 2013: Hands On ‘Killer Instinct’

by Josh Jackson

Killer Instinct is one of those games that fans have been asking for for years, but after being disappointed time after time, it was easy to consider a sequel nothing but a pipe dream. Thankfully for us fighting game fans, nostalgia nuts or those dying for Rare to return to their roots, an Xbox One follow up was finally revealed, AND was fully playable on the E3 show floor! Except that the game isn’t being developed by Rare at all, but by Double Helix games, (makers of Silent Hill: Homecoming and Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters.) The new developer has a lot to live up to after being handed such a beloved franchise, so I made sure to nab the closest arcade stick and throw down or a couple of rounds.

As expected, the mechanics of the game have been upgraded. The basics of this 2D fighting game are still intact, complete with insane combos, special moves and of course, Combo Breakers. Added to these standard features are a ton of new bars that have different functions. Taking damage and executing Combo Breakers fills the Instinct Bar. Somewhat like an X Factor mode from Marvel vs Capcom 3, triggering this cancels out of animations, resets the combo knockback, increases speed and health recovery and is accompanied by n awesome yellow glow. Unlike X Factor, this can be triggered multiple times in a fight assuming the bar fills fast enough.

Killer Instinct Screen 2

Secondly, the shadow meter is a new bar that’s specifically for powered up special attacks. As KI‘s version of the EX attack, blocking successful blows fills this blue bar. Once its at least half full, executing a special attack with two buttons instead of one triggers a stronger version of the attack. These moves are great ways to add extra pressure to an opponent, snatch up a little extra damage or to extend combos.

Speaking of combos, the structure in how they’re executed was changed as well. Light attacks “unlock” links to medium attacks, which then can link to heavy. I wasn’t a fan of these at all since I was pulling off decent sized combos while just tapping buttons down the line, timing and precision be damned. Just to see if it worked, I tried mashing nothing but the light punch button as Sabrewulf… and I pulled off an impressive looking 20 hit combo that took half a bar of health. Combo Breakers are essential in this case, since pressing the two light, medium or strong attack buttons simultaneously will end your opponent’s combo if they attacked with the same type of button you pressed. If you mess up though, you’re locked out of attempting another one for three seconds. Rounding these out are the infamous Ultra Combo, which in the past was a short, somewhat complex combo that would trigger a huge, multi hit spectacle if the opponent was low on health. Except now, triggering it is one command that varies between characters. It would be nice to have to work for it, but it seems like many of the features are getting dumbed down.

Killer Instinct Screen 1

So after playing Killer Instinct, I’m a little worried in the direction it’s taking. Many of the mechanics we’ve grown to love have been dumbed down and the positive additions like the Shadow Meter don’t outweigh the bad, (like potentially unlimited X-Factor with Instinct Mode.) As a long time fighting game player, there’s no reason I should be able to pull off huge combos with one button and no timing. The mid match Fatalities were missing, and there’s no word if they will be in the final version as of yet. Add in the free to play aspect where only Jago will be playable and everyone else has to be bought separately puts me off too.

Keep in mind though, that this was all from the early stages of the game. There’s still plenty of time for Double Helix to refine and balance out this long anticipated fighter when it releases exclusively on the Xbox One in the near future. I’m still holding out hope that the game will turn out great. After all, we’ve waited too long for it not to be.

E3 2013: Geekscape Games Previews ‘Murdered: Soul Suspect’

by Josh Jackson

Amongst a sea of sequels and remakes, it’s always refreshing to see something new at E3. It helps when the concept is as compelling as trying to solve your own murder. Square Enix revealed Murdered: Soul Suspect where players will do just that. After seeing the game in action, this investigation title might be one of the show’s biggest surprises.

Taking place in Salem, Massachusetts, a town that’s known for its connection to the supernatural, the main character awakens from being murdered by a hooded man. As an investigator who obviously has a poor reputation with the police based on their conversations, his ghostly powers give him plenty of unique ways to gather evidence. These powers come with their own challenges however, because physical objects can’t be grabbed. This is where being dead comes in handy, because aside from blue tinted doors that are blocked by a power called, “the dusk,” any other walls or doors can be passed through, gaining access to places the police can’t reach. But what about when you need information from the physical world? Well, what kind of ghost would you be if you couldn’t possess people? By taking up residence in a person’s body, you’ll be able to look at evidence through their eyes, read their thoughts and even influence the memories of witnesses with the information gathered from others. What if a character isn’t around to possess? In that case, their memories can be relived at certain spots assuming they were recently near that spot. Once enough memories are collected, they have to be pieced together in chronological order to make progress in the investigation.

Murdered Banner Murdered Screen 1 Murdered Screen 2

As seen in the demo on display though, just because you’re a ghost doesn’t mean you can’t be killed. Demons are roaming throughout the city and thrive on eating other ghosts. You see, demons are ghosts who have lingered too long in the living world, and the belief that eating other ghosts will restore their humanity means that your fresh meat on their menu. Whether or not this is the case wasn’t mentioned, but I’d be surprised if the threat of becoming a demon doesn’t come into play over the course of the game. Regardless, don’t think you’re helpless going against them, because sneaking behind them, possessing them first and tearing them apart from the inside is a very effective way of getting monsters off your back.

Aside from fighting for your afterlife and solving your own murder, side missions such as helping other ghosts find their body will pop up. How helping them aids you in your investigation wasn’t said, but another helpful character was an unnamed teenaged girl who at some point will help you by leaving graffiti tagged hints. This is welcomed news, because without spoiling anything, it looks like we’ll need all the help we can get when this game lands in our hands.

Murdered Screen 2

Murdered: Soul Suspect is looking like one of the more unique games in the pipeline from Square Enix. How this mystery will play out is anyone’s guess, but I’m definitely ready to find out. Bringing supernatural mechanics to an adventure game seems like a great combination, so I’m hoping Murdered can keep its momentum going when it releases early next year.

Murdered: Soul Suspect will possess the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC in 2014.

E3 2013: Hands-On ‘Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director’s Cut’

by Josh Jackson

Since Square-Enix took over many of Eidos’ properties, few have had as much critical success as Deus Ex: Human Revolution when it was released in 2011. This revival of the influential series brought non liner action back to a first person genre that’s used to being about shooting first and asking questions later. Adding the expertly woven story and the customizable abilities, and you had a game that pleased many of the gamers who played it. When a director’s cut was announced, I knew this wouldn’t be a game to miss, so I hacked into Square Enix’s system to see what this Wii U offering brought to the table.

As you would expect from a director’s cut, the game itself is relatively unchanged. As Adam Jensen, an officer who has been enhanced with numerous augmentations, he is tasked with taking down a terrorist organization by any means necessary. Players will still be able to use stealth, guns or a mix of both to accomplish their mission while aided by upgradable augmentations to make Adam unique. With so many options, it’s very likely that one person’s character will be completely different from another’s.

Deus Ex DC Screen 1

New to the director’s cut are a slew of abilities and features. Playing with the Wii U tablet made the menus much easier to access, so being forced to flip through pages of options has been simplified to a simple tap of the screen. Adam can now throw back grenades, scan the area by lifting the Wii U game pad and pointing it at the screen, (making it easier to find items and enemies,) and tackle new stealth and hacking challenges. The extra missions from the DLC have been seamlessly implemented into the story, making the overall experience longer. These are accompanied by new achievements and eight hours of developer commentary that are scattered throughout the game. Even veterans of Human Revolution will be caught off guard by the reworked maps and boss fights, hoping to keep even the most seasoned players on their toes. And if you suck at the game? Well you’re covered too, because a digital version of the strategy guide is built into the game! The best news? You’ll be able to go back with all of your upgrades with the added New Game Plus, letting players blast through for alternate endings like a super powered boss!

Deus Ex DC Screen 2

During E3, it was announced that Human Revlolution Director’s Cut will also be coming to Xbox 360 and PS3, so there’s no excuse not to give this game a try, especially if you missed it the first time. I was pleasantly surprised by the original release, and I can’t wait to see how well these new features play out in the full game!

Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director’s Cut is scheduled to be released later this year.

E3 2013: Hands-On ‘Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII’

by Josh Jackson

Square Enix had no shortage of Final Fantasy news on the show floor at E3. Between the rebirth of the MMO, A Realm Reborn: Final Fantasy XIV and the official announcement of Final Fantasy XV, fans of the franchise had plenty to sink their teeth into. With that said, this doesn’t mean the next game in the series didn’t hog a share of the spotlight for itself. Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII was on the floor and fully playable, so I made sure I got to delve deep into the Goddess’ final adventure.

The demo threw Lightning into a very different version of her world; one that is on the verge of destruction. As the E3 trailer showed, she’s at odds with her former teammate, Snow, and was forced to fight through waves of enemies in order to keep up with him. With tactical assistance from everyone’s favorite whiny brat turned Otakon wannabe, Hope, the trailing of Snow had commenced!

Lightning Returns Screen 1

Lightning Returns touts a real time battle system that is more action based, but this was the first time I was able to put it to the test. Familiar aspects return, including a renamed version of the paradigm shift/job systems and the Active Time Battle mechanic, but with a new twist. Since Lightning is riding solo in this adventure, her skill set has expanded substantially. Split amongst three battle types, (with different costumes to match,) Lightning can switch between them on the fly. Having three attack options and a guard button, players can manually make her move towards and away from the enemy while timing defending, magic and physical moves. Each move spends a certain amount of the ATB bar, and once it’s empty, you’ll have to wait for it to recharge. However, instead of other games in the series where you were forced to twiddle your thumbs while waiting for the bar to fill, each class has its own ATB bar. So all it takes is a simple press of the shoulder button to switch to another style while the drained one charges in the background. That’s pretty sweet if you ask me.

One of the most strategic aspects of the XIII series was the staggering system, where timing attacks and exploiting weaknesses caused enemies to be temporarily disabled in various ways. I’m happy to say that staggering is back, but it works differently this time around. While elemental weaknesses still play a part, it’s not enough to just level enemies with constant attacks. The best way to stagger now is to attack during an enemy’s attack animation, so while you risk taking damage, you’ll be rewarded with a window of opportunity to inflict a huge amount of uninterrupted damage if you’ve managed your ATB bar properly. And trust me, to efficiently beat the boss at the close of the demo, you were going to have to take advantage of any exploit you could.

Lightning Returns Screen 2

I’ll admit, I’ve been a big critic of the XIII franchise. After being greatly disappointed by the original and its sequel, which took plenty of steps in the right direction, but still fell short in the game play department in my opinion, Lightning Returns is well on its way to change my mind. Controlling only one character eliminates the party member AI issues and the updates to the battle system fit in perfectly with the real time combat. The only big issues that have yet to be resolved are with the story and characters, but we won’t really know much about either until the game releases early next year. I can also do without the completely out of character “sexy” posing the stoic and serious Lightning does after winning a battle in her magic costume, but that’s a conversation for another day.

Look for Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII on Xbox 360 and PS3 on February 11th.

E3 2013: No More Waiting For Your Turn In Final Fantasy XV

by MoreLikeAndy

For those of you waiting for Final Fantasy Versus XIII, I have some bad news. That game is no longer coming out…with that title. Square Enix on stage at the Sony conference on Tuesday let it drop at the end of a new trailer for Final Fantasy Versus XIII that it will now be known as Final Fantasy XV. I think we can all agree that the number 13 is a bit overused in the Final Fantasy universe as is. I am happy for Square Enix to move on to bigger and higher numbers when it comes to their naming schemes.

Watching the gameplay trailer just released, I can’t help but compare the combat to Devil May Cry. The speed of the movement as well as the fluid attack combos that seemed to be happening on screen were quite a shock. To have a Final Fantasy game with out Active Time Battle or turn-based combat is a big change for anyone familiar with the series. I am a little giddy for this new direction taken in Final Fantasy XV and hope it doesn’t sit in development much longer.

E3 2013: ‘Pokemon X and Y’ Details Pour In!

by Josh Jackson

As one of Nintendo’s biggest releases this year, Pokemon X and Y were sure to receive a ton of coverage. However, I don’t think anyone’s body is ready for how much info actually came out. From new types, to new Pokemon and new ways to battle, I’ve made it my personal responsibility to round up all the news and put it in one place, just for all you Geekscape trainers out there. We have a lot to dig into, so here we go!

In addition to the new starters, (grass user Chespin, fire user Fennekin and water user Froakie,) and previously revealed characters who were making their official U.S. debut, (like the pissed off panda, Pancham, and Helioptile… which I have no clue how to describe,) all new reveals include Skrelp, a water and poison type that CAN’T be worse than Quilfish, Clauncer, another water type, Talonflame, (who’s typing you’ll never guess,) a Venomoth lookalike called Vivillon and Noivern, a giant bat.

Vivillon
Vivillon

The new Fairy type will finally even out the game’s typing at 18 unique elements. Fairy is strong against Dragon types, and in addition to the new Eevee evolution, Sylveon, old Pokemon like Marill, Jigglypuff and Gardevoir will be retroactively added to the type. If Clefairy and Clefable aren’t changed since they’ve been known as the “Fairy” Pokemon from the beginning, I might have an aneurism.

A new Fairy type attack called Moonblast was introduced by Sylveon. More reason Clefairy should be switched. It’s supposed to have come from the moon for Arceus’ sake! Fairy Wind was also used by Gardevoir, and did a ton of damage to Hydreigon, which means it was really weak, or Fairy is also strong against Dark.

Pokemon X/Y Starters!
Pokemon X/Y Starters!

Pokemon-Amie is a new feature that blends in Nintendogs type features with the Pokemon series. Giving trainers the ability to feed, pet and play with their teammates, this deepens the bond between monster and trainer, which will affect battles in unsaid ways. If it ends up being anything more than adding to the happiness stat, (which powers up certain attacks and fosters evolution in certain breeds,) I’ll be surprised. Using the 3DS cameras for interaction is also a brilliant move, since it adds way more personalization to the game.

For the first time, the games will let you choose between one of seven languages to match the worldwide release, which include English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese or Korean.

A new linking system called the PSS, (or Player Search System,) will allow players to search for other trainers both locally and online! This includes battling and trading. The goal of X and Y is to refine the core aspects of the series, which are collecting, battling and trading.

Two new battle types will be introduced. First are Horde Battles, which are 5 on 1 battles that take place in the wild. Simulating Pokemon moving in packs, this both adds an interesting dynamic to wild encounters and will make it much easier to level grind if they’re frequent enough.

The second battle type are Air Battles are special fights where only flying and “certain other” Pokemon can be used. The trailer shows Haunter being switched in, so does “certain other” mean Pokemon with the Levitate ability?

And finally… Pokemon X and Y will launch simultaneously worldwide on October 12! 

So there you have it. Game Freak really blew the lid off of this one, but there’s still so much more to come. How will Fairy types be integrated? Will Pokemon-Amie play a huge role? How many new Pokemon will be added? All these questions and more will be answered on October 12, but until then, we have two new trailers to hold us over. Check them out and make sure to comment if you’re excited!

E3 2013: The Newest ‘Smash Bros’ Combatant is… the ‘Wii Fit’ Trainer!?

by Josh Jackson

Yesterday’s Smash Bros reveal trailer had the internet exploding with excitement with the reveals of Mega Man and Villager. If you were online at all yesterday, it was impossible to escape the news. But what if I were to tell you that there was one more character that Nintendo neglected to introduce? A character from one of the highest selling franchises in the company’s history? One that is at the peak of human conditioning, which is needed to go toe to toe with Nintendo’s best?

Then what if I were to tell you it’s the Wii Fit Trainer?

Yes, the personal trainer who would sleepily walk players through weight training and yoga poses is heading to the fight, appropriately using exercise inspired moves to attack. From arm-leg extensions to push-ups… hoola hoops to downward dogs. My anticipation for the character went from “WTF” to “OMG” within the short, minute long reveal. I just wish her Final Smash used the Balance Board in some way, but at least he’s apparently in the background of a Wii Fit themed stage!

If nothing else, her reveal trailer is one of the most hilarious things I’ve ever seen. Watching Kirby, Link and Mario trying to do a tree pose had me rolling! Check her out below and let us know if you think she’s an appropriate addition to the anticipated cast!

Examining the ‘Super Smash Bros’ Trailer

by Josh Jackson

After years of anticipation, Super Smash Bros was finally revealed for 3DS and Wii U. Between the Animal Crossing villager and Mega Man joining the cast, if you are a Smash fan and weren’t jumping out of your seat at these reveals, then you have no soul!

BUT!… with all of the excitement floating around at these monster reveals, it was easy to miss some of the more subtle hints at the changes coming to the popular fighter. After hitting repeat more times than Selena Gomez, there are tons of smaller reveals hidden throughout the three minutes worth of video. Let’s take a look back and see what we can spot!

Once the 3DS version comes on screen, notice how all of the levels are based off of portable games, (Ocarina of Time 3D, Spirit Tracks, Mario 3D Land and Nintendogs for example,) whereas the Wii U version only had console stages. Does this mean each version will have separate stages, or was this just to signify that one was portable and one was a home console release?

 

Speaking of Spirit Tracks, Toon Link is seen in his conductor outfit at the front of the train. For some fighting games, characters in the background signify that they won’t be playable. Does that mean Toon Link is out? Or a console exclusive character if the train stage is indeed 3DS exclusive? Or will he just disappear from the background if he’s being used?

 

Pit from Kid Icarus made his Smash debut in Brawl, but since then, he’s received a new game with so a weapon loadout so huge it would make Borderlands jealous. Problem is, none of those weapons were represented aside from the bow. Thankfully, that’s changing, because at 1:17, Pit can clearly be seen using the Upperdash Arm, which obviously wasn’t in the last entry. As a huge fan of Uprising, this was one of my biggest requests, and I’m glad to see Pit getting an upgrade.

 

Pit’s power of flight also looks changed, with a diagonal jump instead of a continuous flying ability that starts straight up. If this is the case, it looks like our favorite angel might have tons of new tricks. The big question is: will this move set be from the ground up or will it integrate his old moves? And if he is brand new, what happens to his old move set? I’d hate to see it disappear, but I can’t realistically see another slot being taken up by say… Dark Pit just so the old moves can come back, though I wouldn’t  be opposed to it.

 

Samus seems to have a suit of armor closely resembling her Other M suit. Her Final Smash also seems to let her aim a small amount compared to the last game where it just went straightforward. Huh… I wonder if she’s going to have to ask for permission before she can use it?

 

Donkey Kong’s spinning punch that he’s had since the first game looked tilted. Has the classic move been tweaked?

 

Bowser was seen doing a few new normal attacks, including a low drop kick. Seems like he’s getting a move makeover as well, which is fine since he was exactly the same in the last two games.

 

Many of the fights are taking place in what appears to be a Skyward Sword stage. Combining this with the Spirit Tracks and Gerudo Valley stages, and that’s at least three new Zelda stages between the two versions. What can I say? The series is popular!

 

Another stage is what looks like a boxing ring. Is this simply the new Battlefield and Final Destination stage that abandons stage gimmicks for a flat battleground meant for straight up battles? Or is this hinting at the inclusion of another franchise down the line? Here’s hoping for Little Mac!

 

The Animal Crossing Villager’s move set makes him seem oblivious that he’s even fighting. He’s seen using his Balloon Fighter hat to fly, dropping bowling balls, cutting down trees, digging holes and even grabbing projectiles and putting them in his pocket. He’s already looking like one of the more interesting characters move wise. I can’t wait to try him out!

 

Mega Man’s reveal had a few peculiarities of its own. First, his multiple boss moves were featured, but will they all be special moves like we’re used to? Most likely, they’re integrated both into his normal and special attacks, but it’s still worth mentioning.

 

Mega’s reveal was ushered in with the phrase, “Mega Man joins the battle!” The previous games used the phrases, “joins the Melee” and “joins the Brawl.” Since I doubt the games will be simply titled Smash Bros Wii U and Smash Bros 3DS, what are the chances that the final title will be Smash Bros Battle? Since Villager had a different phrase, I’m almost positive this won’t be the case, but it would be a good way to sneak it in if this were to become the name.

 

When Mega Man dies, rather than the usual flash that accompanies a fall, his trademark explosion triggers instead. This matches his obvious NES style movement, including his idle pose, his jump and his appearance while taking damage.

 

Rush is seen using his Rush Coil ability. I’m guessing this is Mega Man’s Up-B attack that helps him spring back up, (much like Sonic.) Will Rush be integrated into any of his other moves?

 

Right at the end, the trailer teases Mega Man going up against the Yellow Devil boss. While this confirms at least one third party boss, does this mean the return of a single player mode like Subspace in Brawl? Is this simply an event challenge for the Blue Bomber? Or am I over-examining it and Yellow Devil is a stage hazard?

So after meticulously watching the video over and over again, this is the best that I’ve got. Are any of my observations off? Did you find any of your own that I missed? And how awesome is it that Pit has near limitless potential with an Uprising themed move set!? All these questions just make the wait going into 2014 that much harder! You know the drill. Watch the trailer and let us know below!

Watch This ‘Wild Hunt’ In The Debut Gameplay Trailer For The Witcher 3

by MoreLikeAndy

During the Microsoft E3 conference earlier today, CD Projekt RED came on stage to show everyone the first gameplay footage from their latest projekt, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. As much as I enjoyed what was shown, it reminds me that I need to finally play the series. Having my friends constantly remind me that I am missing out on a great RPG is wearing me down. Looks like I need to set aside 100+ hours of my life to dedicate to The Witcher series. Good thing I have until 2014 to play both games before The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt releases.

If you want more insight as to how the development process is for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, we have you covered. Here’s a look at ‘The Beginning’

Watch Dogs ‘Exposed’ Trailer Officially Released A Day After Leaking

by MoreLikeAndy

With so much to look after before a big show such as E3, things are bound to leak out. On Sunday, June 9th, Ubisoft’s Watch Dogs CGI Trailer was leaked onto Youtube. Since the cat’s out of the bag, PR for Ubisoft decided to release the official trailer today since there is no reason not to. The CG is impressive but I want to see more gameplay before getting fully on the hype train for Watch Dogs.

Microsoft Finally Comes Clean on DRM, Used Games and Kinect Policies! Renting and Borrowing WILL NOT Be Allowed at Launch!

by Josh Jackson

Since the Xbox One reveal, saying that Microsoft has been confusing in regards to their various policies would be the understatement of the year. Between VP Phil Harrison “confirming” used game fees and Major Nelson denying it, (kind of,) to always online requirements and Kinect needing to be plugged in at all times, the entire situation has been a PR nightmare.

With E3 only a few days away, Microsoft has FINALLY confirmed many of the rumors that have been swirling like a firestorm all across the internet. Courtesy of IGN, our questions are finally answered.

And they’re not pretty…

On the always online rumor…

“Xbox One is designed to run in a low-powered, connected state. This means your system, games and apps are always current and ready to play—no more waiting for updates. While a persistent connection is not required, Xbox One is designed to verify if system, application or game updates are needed and to see if you have acquired new games, or resold, traded in, or given your game to a friend. Games that are designed to take advantage of the cloud may require a connection.”

“With Xbox One you can game offline for up to 24 hours on your primary console, or one hour if you are logged on to a separate console accessing your library. Offline gaming is not possible after these prescribed times until you re-establish a connection, but you can still watch live TV and enjoy Blu-ray and DVD movies.”

“…because every Xbox One owner has a broadband connection, developers can create massive, persistent worlds that evolve even when you’re not playing.”

Oh, well as long as I can still watch TV, enjoy Blu-Ray and DVD movies, I guess that fixes everything!

On buying used, trading, renting and borrowing:

“In our role as a game publisher, Microsoft Studios will enable you to give your games to friends or trade in your Xbox One games at participating retailers.Third party publishers may opt in or out of supporting game resale and may set up business terms or transfer fees with retailers. Microsoft does not receive any compensation as part of this. In addition, third party publishers can enable you to give games to friends.”

“We designed Xbox One so game publishers can enable you to trade in your games at participating retailers. Microsoft does not charge a platform fee to retailers, publishers, or consumers for enabling transfer of these games.”

“…your friends and family, your guests and acquaintances get unlimited access to all of your games. Anyone can play your games on your console–regardless of whether you are logged in or their relationship to you.”

“Xbox One is designed so game publishers can enable you to give your disc-based games to your friends. There are no fees charged as part of these transfers. There are two requirements: you can only give them to people who have been on your friends list for at least 30 days and each game can only be given once.”

“…loaning or renting games won’t be available at launch, but we are exploring the possibilities with our partners.”

So some of this is in line with what Sony told Kotaku, which is that Microsoft won’t be the ones placing restrictions on game trade ins, but the publishers will have the option to if they so desire. Notice how they consistently point out that “participating” retailers will offer trade in services. What it means to be a “participating” retailer isn’t clear, but there were rumors that there might be a fee associated with stores allowing trade ins. The above clarifies that Microsoft won’t charge publishers or retailers for doing so, but since it’s up to the publisher as to whether or not it would be allowed in the first place, it’s unknown whether or not there would be a fee from the retailer to the publisher. If so, that hurts small stores much worse than giants like Gamestop.

But the worst part is the confirmation of our fears. While there won’t be a “used games fee” like Harrison had alluded to, the fact that you can only GIVE games rather than lend, and that once it’s given, it can’t be given again… it’s nothing other than consumer suicide as far as I’m concerned. What does that do to people like me who review games, but can’t go out and buy everything I’m slightly interested in even if I wanted to? Or new IP’s that people would be reluctant to drop full price on without being able to try it first? The option to rent or borrow won’t even be available at launch! But hey, they’re exploring the possibility!

On mandatory installs and digital downloads:

“…you’ll be able to buy disc-based games at traditional retailers or online through Xbox Live, on day of release. Discs will continue to be a great way to install your games quickly.”

“After signing in and installing, you can play any of your games from any Xbox One because a digital copy of your game is stored on your console and in the cloud. So, for example, while you are logged in at your friend’s house, you can play your games.”

This is the only good news so far. While I wasn’t a fan of mandatory installs on the PS3, at least it will be accessible from the Cloud so you don’t have to haul your library to a friend’s house if you want to play… assuming you sign in on their profile first.

On Kinect always on and potential spying:

“…at Microsoft, we prioritize your privacy. We understand that your personal data and privacy are important. Xbox One and Kinect will provide tools to put you in control of your data.”

“…you are in control of what Kinect can see and hear. By design, you will determine how responsive and personalized your Xbox One is to you and your family during setup. The system will navigate you through key privacy options, like automatic or manual sign in, privacy settings, and clear notifications about how data is used. When Xbox One is on and you’re simply having a conversation in your living room, your conversation is not being recorded or uploaded.”

“If you don’t want the Kinect sensor on while playing games or enjoying your entertainment, you can pause Kinect. To turn off your Xbox One, just say ‘Xbox Off.’ When the system is off, it’s only listening for the single voice command — ‘Xbox On,‘ and you can even turn that feature off too. Some apps and games may require Kinect functionality to operate, so you’ll need to turn it back on for these experiences.”

“You can play games or enjoy applications that use data, such as videos, photos, facial expressions, heart rate and more, but this data will not leave your Xbox One without your explicit permission.”

So it seems that Kinect WILL NOT be sending videos of you walking around naked straight into Bill Gates’ office. That’s a relief.

In closing:

“…as we move into this new generation of games and entertainment, from time to time, Microsoft may change its policies, terms, products and services to reflect modifications and improvements to our services, feedback from customers and our business partners or changes in our business priorities and business models or for other reasons. We may also cease to offer certain services or products for similar reasons.”

“In the months ahead, we will continue to listen to your feedback as we meet with our partners in the ecosystem to bring additional detail about our policies,” Microsoft concluded. “We are excited about this new generation of games and entertainment and look forward to sharing more news with our fans.”

So there you have it. To wrap up the important points, the Xbox One WILL need to connect online every 24 hours on your console, or every one hour on a friend’s console if you’re using your library. Used game sales and trades will be up to the publisher, so while Microsoft Studios as a publisher WILL NOT place restrictions on trade ins, Ubisoft or Activision can choose to do so for example. Games can only be given to friends that are on your Xbox Live friends list for at least 30 days, and each game can only be given ONCE. Renting and buying WILL NOT be available at launch at all. Games can be downloaded or installed from the disc, but can be played on a friend’s console without the disc from the cloud storage if the owner signs in. And finally… Kinect will not transmit your blood type to Obama.

Outside of the Cloud storage feature, Kinect not playing Big Brother, and having up to 10 family members having access to the original console’s game library to play with friends as they please, I can’t find much to be happy about. Oh well, that’s one less console to buy.

But what I think isn’t important. You’ve gotten enough of my rambling, so what do you all think? Let us know below!

Source: IGN.com

E3 2013: Konami Lays Out its Plans During Their Pre-E3 Show

by Josh Jackson

Moments ago, Konami outlined their plans for E3 next week with a few bombshells along the way. Below are the bullet points of the announcements that the company made during their third annual pre-show.

Konami’s mobile strategy includes a group of new games and apps. These include Domo Jump, MLB Live Challenge, Slot Revolution and Casino League: Texas Hold ‘Em.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2014 is moving forward with a series of new features that look to make the game as realistic as possible. Using new physics powered by the Fox Engine, PES looks to bring the sport to life with independent player and ball control, realistic strategies and behaviors, a morale system that affects player performance and true to life animations.

MGSV: The Phantom Pain will take place in 1984, and will have a narrative that focuses on race and revenge. Kiefer Sutherland is being brought in to be the new voice of Snake, which includes extensive facial motion capture for main characters and enemies alike, One of the main goals of the game is to mirror live action films, using facial expressions and tone of voice to convey emotions.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 was the meat of this presentation. The game will pick up after the first Lords of Shadow epilogue. Dracula will have three new abilities, including the cursed claws, blood whip and void sword, promising an extra level of strategy. The game is ditching the level based structure of its predecessor for a large world to explore. LoS2 is coming to PS3, Xbox 360 and PC this Winter.

Check out the conference below and let us know what you’re excited about! Keep your eyes peeled for more details on the above announcements throughout the day.

Indie Games Store Now Open On Amazon

by MoreLikeAndy

The Amazon Indie Games Store helps independent game developers reach more customers, and helps customers learn about more creative games and the people and processes behind building those games.

It’s not like you couldn’t get these games on Amazon before. It’s just now they will be more prominently shown off to get more people aware of some great indie games out there. The most amazing part to this news is how the bundles are 100% pure profit for the developers that have their games in these bundles. I hope this is something that will continue each time the bundles section is updated.

Amazon Indie Game Bundles

Lightning Returns in This E3 2013 Trailer

by MoreLikeAndy

Seems today is the day to release all the trailers we will see during E3 2013. Maybe this will make room for more gameplay footage on stage. Square Enix released their trailer for Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13. The cutscenes are always a joy to watch, even when I don’t know what the hell is going on story-wise.

Some of the in-game footage looks a little rough but you can’t fault that due to the compressed video footage in the trailer. With Square Enix stretching Final Fantasy 13 so far, I hope that this is the last time we see Lightning strike so we can move on to new adventures.