Developer Caged Element revealed that the upcoming console release of their futuristic racing title, GRIP: Combat Racing will be available in a limited physical Collector’s Edition exclusively though GAMESTOP in the United States. After inquiring with their public relations people we can confirm that the Collector’s Edition will be available through EB Games in Canada.
Those who purchase the physical Collector’s Edition will receive the game’s soundtrack in 3 formats – CD, Vinyl and MP3 download, a set of art prints, a USB thumb-drive, a set of decals and exclusive DLC.
GRIP: Combat Racing is very clearly inspired by the fast paced anti-gravity racers from the mid to late 90s that graced the home consoles of the time. The developers cite the 1999 game Rollcage by Attention to Detail – which I can certainly see in the car designs. Fast cars gripping to the curved surfaces of futuristic racing courses also reminds me of the “Xtreme-G” series from the long defunct ACLAIM studios. Vehicle design and anti-gravity mechanics aren’t the only 1990s inspired features: the final release will also include 22 courses and more importantly – four player split screen!
GRIP’s complete soundtrack will include 24 tracks but the following 11 tracks have been licensed for use in the game:
Battery x Makoto “Submerge”
Krakota x Urbandawn “Coyote”
Inja x Pete Cannon “War Games“ (Instrumental)
Krakota “Citadels”
Royalston “Diorama”
Rawtekk “Restless”
Whiney “Sunday Grunge”
Whiney “Talisman”
Lynx “Clap Track”
GRIP: Combat Racing will be released on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and Windows PC on November 6th.
SNK HEROINES Tag Team Frenzy is a fast, colourful tag-team fighting game from NIS America. While the game is a little bit light and has a few small flaws, it’s an enjoyable and unique fighting game that is pretty fun to play. It’s not an instant classic that is going to become a tournament staple, but it holds its own.
The game has a brief single player story mode. The heroines suddenly awoke to find themselves in a strange mansion they’d never seen before. And to top it off they find themselves dressed in strange new outfits as they begin to explore the mystery mansion. So begins their battle to discover the truth behind these strange events. They have been summoned to this pocket dimension by a strange hooded figure who is pitting the heroines against one another.
It’s a weird but simple story. Kudos to SNK and NIS America for leaving the clearly weird Japanese story and characters in tact. It’s strange but satisfying.
Each team has an Attacker and a Supporter character for a total of 4 characters per battle. You’ll control one character at a time and swap in the other character as needed. You share a total life value through the battle, though each character has a unique special charge meter. While this meter depletes as you use special moves during the battle, it will slowly regenerate through the match. The character which isn’t in the active role will have their meter charge more quickly, so tagging between characters can be key to winning the battle.
Interestingly you don’t win a battle by simply getting your opponent’s life gauge to zero. When their life gauge does fully deplete they will become stunned but the match won’t be over. When your opponent’s gauge turns red, you can end the match with a Dream Finish. The winner of the match is the first one to whittle their opponent’s health down to red and land a Dream Finish. You’ll need to have your special gauge charged up enough to execute the move though.
Most characters have a basic control scheme for moves like punch, kick, special, etc. With very limited deviation it makes it easy to play any character. Each character also has two different Dream Finish moves, one with just the button press and another by pressing down plus the finishing button. The various dream finish moves for each character also have different ranges, from up close to distance strikes, so it does take some practice with each character to perfect necessary these attacks.
It’s a little disappointing though that not all button combos are utilized for different movesets, i.e. pressing the punch button plus up, down, front, or back does the same move. It would have been nice to have a little bit more variety for moves.
In all there are 14 playable characters available right off the bat, with more being planned for release after release. The characters have four different coloured skins for their default costume but you can also purchase two additional costumes in game using coins that you earn by playing. These alternate costumes are, for the most part, significantly different from one another so when you do change a costume it feels essentially like playing with an entirely different character.
The game also has a pretty healthy customization mode as well. There are a ton of different costume elements and decorations to choose from. While some of these are downright silly (who wants to have a ringing phone on the top of the character’s head) there are a quite a few great ones. Plus as you purchase / unlock alternate costumes from the various characters, some of those costume elements become available for use in other characters. Not only that but each costume unlocked has four different colour skins to choose from.
The customization is pretty fun to play around with, even if you can’t do the same with the movesets.
Overall the characters and environments look beautiful. The only glaring oddity that doesn’t look beautiful comes in a strange place. For some reason the hands on the character models all look too large. Hands are one of the hardest things to draw, but I’ve never noticed character models with such large hands. I’m not sure if they are the same way during battles, and the drawn art looks flawless, but during cutscenes the large hams are laughably noticeable.
The one thing I love about playing this sort of game is the Japanese language track. In all honesty I usually like the original Japanese better than the dubbed English – it just feels more natural. Well, in SNK HEROINES Tag Team Frenzy there isn’t even an English language track to choose from so all of the cutscenes are subtitled in one of five languages. There is only one small issue – the subtitles are tiny on the screen. While it’s a very small problem, and the story isn’t really all that important in the story mode, it would have been nicer to have an easier time reading the text. Thank goodness for handheld mode, though the text is even smaller on the smaller screen.
Speaking of handheld mode, why isn’t there touch screen support for the menus? It seems like the large on-screen icons are wasted as they look like they’re meant to be tapped.
But enough of the negatives – SNK HEROINES Tag Team Frenzy is incredibly fun to play. The game has scaling AI difficulty which can be amped up or turned down if you’re finding battles too easy or too tough. Grab a friend and enter the SNK dream match in this frenetic fighting party game featuring everyone’s favorite female fighters.
One of the biggest pieces of news that came out of Nintendo’s E3 presentation wasn’t the news that every Smash Bros character ever was returning or that an awesome mech game that opened the show developed by former Amored Core developers but one of the worst kept secrets – Fortnite has come to Nintendo Switch.
With over 2 million downloads during the first 24 hours of availability, you’d think that Fortnite on Switch has been a smashing success (heh) but not all is well in the world of Fortnite, aside from ya know the zombies. As It turns out if you’ve ever signed into an Epic Games account on PlayStation 4 your account is permanently locked out from playing on Nintendo Switch. This means players migrating from PS4 cannot access their purchased skins, Battle Royale Battle Pass unlocks and other account bound items – this means their only option is to create a brand-new account.
Needless to say, the Fortnite community and the Nintendo Switch community are not happy:
Evidently a lot of people are Pissed that #PlayStation won’t allow any epic account ever linked to a PSN play on the #NintendoSwitch. So to play #fortnite on your switch you have to create a new account. But Xbox, PC and Mobile don’t cause the same problem… Nice work Sony!
After nearly 3 days without comment Sony gave an official statement to the BBC about the Epic Games account lockout issue and the whole thing is very embarrassing. They used the opportunity to deflect criticism of the account issue and praise themselves for having millions of subscribers on their network. Oh, and Sony also praised cross play with iOS, Android and PC while deflecting the fact that it’s their fault that Epic accounts don’t work on Nintendo Switch as detailed above.
Here’s the statement that a Sony Spokesperson gave to the BBC:
“We’re always open to hearing what the PlayStation community is interested in to enhance their gaming experience. With… more than 80 million monthly active users on PlayStation Network, we’ve built a huge community of gamers who can play together on Fortnite and all online titles. We also offer Fortnite cross-play support with PC, Mac, iOS, and Android devices, expanding the opportunity for Fortnite fans on PS4 to play with even more gamers on other platforms. We have nothing further to add beyond this at this point”
Remember that corporations aren’t your friends, digital “goods” like skins, consumables and unlockables aren’t owned by you and corporations can take them away or lock you out of an account at any time for any reason.
After a half a decade long wait we finally know when we will get to play the end of Sora’s story in Kingdom Hearts III – January 29th, 2019 on both PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Before the E3 press conferences, parties and festivities Square Enix announced the global release date during the Kingdom Hearts Orchestra World Tour Concert in Los Angeles.
Fans have speculated that Disney / Square might include a world based upon the 2012 hit film Forzen so that Sora, Riku and Mickey can sled their way thru Elsa’ frozen wonderland. During Microsoft’s E3 press conference yesterday these hoped were confirmed with a brand new trailer that basically recaps early plot points from Arendalle’s first tale.
Check it out here:
A brand new trailer, release date and world reveal weren’t the only exciting things to be revealed this week. Today Square Enix also confirmed that KHIII will also have two collector’s edition. One that includes a set of Sora, Donald and Goof Bring Arts figures and another includes a collectable pin and steel box.
First up is the Deluxe Edition:
Deluxe Edition – $79.99
Exclusive steelbook packaging
Mini art book with concept artwork by Tetsuya Nomura
Collectible KINGDOM HEARTS III pin.
Next up is the $199.99 USD Bring Arts + Deluxe Edition:
Deluxe Edition + Bring Arts Figures – The KINGDOM HEARTS III Deluxe Edition and Bring Arts Sora, Donald, and Goofy Set bundled separately will be available in limited quantities for $229.99. Fans can now preorder the Xbox One and PlayStation®4 system versions exclusively from the SQUARE ENIX Online Store.
Kingdom Hearts III was one of the first games I wrote about for BrokenJoysticks back in 2013 when it was revealed. Will KH III answer all of the lingering questions after 16 years of games? We’ll find out next January.
In addition to the original cast of colorful characters, Touhou Genso Wanderer Reloaded boasts a brand-new set of new faces you’ll set out on your new adventure with. A roguelike adventure with a burst of Touhou flavor, Touhou Genso Wanderer Reloaded allows gamers choose their own pace when exploring the land of Gensokyo.
Touhou Genso Wanderer Reloaded is the definitive edition of a roguelike masterpiece, filled with new dungeons to explore, new items to collect, and new faces to meet. Newcomers and veterans of the Touhou series will love journeying through the land of Gensokyo with Reimu Hakurei, the shrine maiden of the Hakurei Shrine, as well as new faces such as the spunky magician Marisa Kirisame, and wind priestess Sanae Kochiya!
Check out the Character Trailer to learn more about Reimu, Marisa, Sanae, and more. Also check out the latest gameplay trailer too!
Touhou Genso Wanderer Reloaded launches on Nintendo Switch and PS4 on July 17th in North America (both in physical and digital) and July 20th in Europe (digital only).
Online of videogames has become a big thing in recent years. There are a lot of gamers on Twitch, YouTube, and most recently Facebook Gaming who play their games, stream them, and provide VOD after the fact for fans of the games and themselves.
Arc System Works has issued a reminder of some of their guidelines for online gaming content creators of some dos and don’ts when it comes to Arc System Works’ upcoming game BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle. The studio has stated that they want to give gamers the freedom to upload content, however when it comes to story mode, that is where most of the restrictions and guidelines will reside.
Here are the video/streaming guidelines as set by Arc System Works:
DO
Stream matches to your heart’s content. Either against other players (local or online), or against the CPU.
Put together tutorial videos to break down characters, teams, strategies, or show how to pull off that amazing combo.
DO NOT
Stream Episode Mode at all. Very short clips of Episode Mode content up to Chapter 2 are permitted for video content only.
Stream or upload any music-only content. Music playing in the background during matches, online lobbies, and etc are totally fine. A soundtrack rip or upload is not.
These rules, in general, apply across the board with Arc System Works games. Unfortunately, these rules are non-negotiable with the powers that be, and violating these rules could result in your channel being issued a content ID claim, or worse, a channel strike/account suspension.
In 2011, developer Level- 5 along with Studio Ghibli created something beautiful and unique; it was the game Ni No Kuni. With all the charm of a Studio Ghibli film and a unique gameplay, it was no wonder why a sequel would happen. This time around, Level-5 is on its own without the help of Ghibli. This could have either meant a recipe for disaster or a way for Level-5 to prove itself a champion among RPG developers. Could Level-5 continue the charm of the first Ni No Kuni? Let’s take a closer look at Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom.
This time around, we connect our world and the “other world” via main character from (presumably) our world. The character this time around is name Roland. He is the president of some unnamed country and due to a bomb going off, he is transported to the other world of Ding Dong Dell. Roland is then thrown into the position of assisting a young and enthusiastic king, Evan, to save his life and kingdom from a usurper and even starting a new kingdom to promote the uniting of all kingdoms and end all war instead of seeking revenge on the usurper who threatened Evan and more. That is the basic bare bones of the story, but of course there is much more story to discover in this story and many more characters to meet. Overall, this story is not some dark and gritty tale but one that promotes more optimism and child like wonder. Some might be turned off and call the story saccharine and too sweet, but I for one enjoy a happy story once in a while. Some might also be turned off the personalities of the main characters. Roland isn’t a terrible character, but can be bland and Evan might be seen as annoying and insufferable. While Evan was not as appealing to me as Oliver from the first game, I didn’t find him to be a deal breaker for the game for me.
The gameplay is significantly improved, in my opinion from the first game. Revenant Kingdom has done away with the familiar system and the combination of real time and turn based combat. This time the gameplay is all real time and you don’t have familiars, but creatures called Higgledys that assist you. You can command them to perform tasks or you can let them do their own attacks and movements. This is a much more simple, but effective gameplay system that definitely makes the game flow better and fluidly. It feels less cumbersome and leaves room for another fun game mechanic.
The second change to Revenant Kingdom is the addition of the kingdom building system. Part way through the game, you will be introduced to a kingdom building system in which you will employ people to run various shops or services and recruit others to become one of your citizens. While this is almost optional, I quickly became very enamored with improving and building up my little kingdom to give me very helpful tools and bonuses.
Of course, you must also have defense for your kingdom. Ni No Kuni II also introduces an army mechanic of sorts. There are times you will need to fight off hordes of enemies, for example, bandits. You will control your forces and lead them by commanding them, to take on your enemies. There are special attacks and special units to employ. You will have to keep track of your military might and budget your special attacks. Hopefully, they are strong enough and plentiful enough to fend them off and defend or claim your territory.
Overall, Ni No Kuni II is a sweet game with addicting gameplay. You can easily invest 40+ hours into the game and not feel like you are just padding time. The story may be too sweet and simplistic for some, but if you have a love for child like wonder and adventure, solid gameplay and JRPGs, this game is not to be missed. I haven’t found myself in love with a new JRPG like this for some time and didn’t think I would love it almost as much as the original. To me, it was worth the full price to play, but maybe wait for a sale if the story concept or characters don’t seem to appeal to you.
Capcom has confirmed that Mega Man 11 will release on Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and PC on October 2nd 2018.
In the ‘pre-order trailer’ for Nintendo Switch we get several quick looks at various worlds that will be featured in Mega Man 11. In addition to the new gameplay footage the brand new ‘Power Gear’ is revealed – which allows the Blue Bomber to use a powerful overcharged blast. Another new power-up is the ‘Double Gear’ which empowers Mega Man to use two different power-ups at once.
A physical Collector’s Edition, simply titled the Amiibo Edition, will also be released at GameStop in America. Amiibo Edition will include a brand new special edition Mega Man amiibo, a set of stickers anda physical copy of Mega Man 11.
Here’s the game’s description as it appeared on Nintendo’s YouTube channel:
“Mega Man is back! The newest entry in this iconic series blends classic, challenging 2D platforming action with a fresh new visual style. The new Double Gear system boosts Mega Man’s speed and power for a new twist to the satisfying gameplay the series is known for. “
Tennis World Tour from developer Breakpoint Studios and publisher Maximum Games, is now available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The game will retail for $79.99 CAD. The Nintendo Switch version of the tennis game are set to launch on June 26th.
Tennis World Tour is from the team behind the Top Spin franchise. In the game you can play as one of 31 professional tennis players, learn all the shots, master each type of surface and experience a realistic career mode. Tennis World Tour will allow players to harness their skills and define styles of play to become the top ranked player in the world.
31 of the best tennis players in the world: Roger Federer, Angelique Kerber, Stan Wawrinka and many of the sport’s legends.
18 types of courts: hard, clay, grass, carpet and even hardwood. Each surface affects the playing conditions.
Create your player and experience a career inspired by professional’s life: training, tournaments, staff management, equipment purchases, etc.
Decide what strategy to adopt for each match and use your skill cards to defeat your opponents.
Online quick matches will be available shortly after launch. The Leaderboard and the private matches will be available from June 12th.
Blade Strangers is on the way this summer and many well-known faces will be getting in on the action when Nicalis and developer Studio Saizensen bring the one-on-one 2D crossover fighting extravaganza to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Steam.
The game is set for release in Summer 2018.
Fan-favorite characters from indie blockbusters Shovel Knight, The Binding of Isaac, Cave Story+ and Gunvolt will join the roster making the total fighters now set at 14.
Battle with swords and whips in this retro-style action game brought to you by game creator Koji Igarashi and Inti Creates.
In the game you’ll play as Zangetsu, a demon slayer bearing a deep grudge, who must travel through perilous lands to defeat a powerful demon lurking in a dark castle. Zangetsu will meet fellow travelers along the way, who can join your journey as playable characters. Switching to these characters with their unique abilities will unlock new paths through the treacherous stages. Your choices in recruiting these adventurers will change the difficulty of the game, and may even affect the ending!
Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon is the 8-bit style game promised as a stretch goal of the 2015 Kickstarter campaign for “Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night.”
Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon will be released on the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox One, and Steam. The game will be released on May 24th for $9.99 USD.
Dungeon Rushers officially has a console release date. Publisher Goblinz Studio announced today that the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One release date has been set for May 25th. It will retail for $14.99 USD.
Dungeon Rushers is a Heroic-Parody tactical RPG combining dungeon crawler’s gameplay and turn-based fights. You’ll dive in an off-beat universe, manage your team and craft mighty gear to equip them. Build your own dungeon by hiding traps and monsters in your galleries, then challenge other players to clean it.
The game was previously released on Steam.
Dungeon Rushers promises a campaign full of humor with various sound and graphic environments and a unique interactive exploration system with revised turn-based fights. There is advanced team management (equipment, skills upgrade, crafting, etc) and the game is said to have high replay value with a Heroic difficulty for each dungeon.
Previously delayed indie title Death Road To Canada has finally been released and is available now on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
The game was delayed several weeks ago in light of the tragic events which happened in Toronto. An individual sped through a busy pedestrian area in Ontario’s capital in late April, killing multiple pedestrians. Paul Hann, Managing Director of Ukiyo Publishing felt it would be inappropriate to launch the game so soon after the tragic events.
Death Road To Canada is a pixelated game which takes the characters on a trip from Florida to Ontario as they try to flee a zombie apocalypse. Facing off against near insurmountable odds, Death Road To Canadatasks players with surviving its brutal, hyper-violent combat with over-the-top, looted weaponry.
“We’re thrilled to finally release Death Road To Canada for consoles,” said Kepa Auwae, Co-Founder of Rocketcat Games. “The game translates incredibly well to the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. It plays great, the pixel-art looks suitably blood-splattered and local co-op is blast. Onwards to Ontario!”
Death Road To Canada will be available for $14.99 USD with a 20% launch discount during its first two weeks of sale.
Natsume Inc. today announced upcoming planned DLC for their upcoming Harvest Moon: Light of Hope Special Edition. The game will be released for both the PlayStation 4 and the Nintendo Switch on May 29th.
Harvest Moon: Light of Hope SE Season Pass will give you access to all four upcoming DLC packs at a discounted price. The season pass is $9.99 USD and will be available digitally day of launch. As well a Harvest Moon: Light of Hope SE bundle is available through the PlayStation Store and Nintendo eShop that includes the full game and the Season Pass for $49.99 USD.
If you pre-order or pre-purchase the Harvest Moon: Light of Hope SE Bundle in North America you’ll also save 10%, which is basically like getting the Season Pass at half off.
Here are details of the four DLC packs:
Decorations & Tool Upgrade Pack | Release Date: May 29th | Retail Price: $1.99
Completely customize and beautify your farm with 7 different decorative fence sets and 2 statues. You will also be able to upgrade your Hoe and Watering Can two additional levels, making growing crops easier and faster!
New Marriageable Characters Pack | Release Date: June 19th | Retail Price: $5.99
Expand your experience with new and exciting content! Two new eligible residents have moved into Beacon Town! Shirlock, a fledgling journalist and self-proclaimed detective who is studying under the tutelage of Naomi, and Michelle, Doc’s research partner.
Doc’s and Melanie’s Special Episodes | Release Date: July 10th | Retail Price: $5.99
Help out Melanie and Doc in two side stories that will unlock new shops! Melanie is in a designing slump, and needs your help for inspiration! Meanwhile, Doc is having trouble in the romance department! Can you help him out? And what rewards will they give you?
Divine Marriageable Characters Pack | Release Date: July 31st | Retail Price: $3.99
Ever wonder what it’d be like to woo the Harvest Goddess or Gorgan? Well, now you can! Get to know the Harvest Goddess and Gorgan on a deeper level and marry them!
In Harvest Moon: Light of Hope, players begin the game as they set out looking for a fresh start and new surroundings. During their voyage, their ship is hit by a storm and goes down. As they drift into a small harbor town, now in a shambles from the storm, it will be up to the player to help rebuild the town and save the lighthouse…but it won’t be easy! Nevertheless, with some hard work growing crops, tending livestock, and gathering materials for repairs, players will be able to make new friends, start a family, revive the lighthouse, and save the town!
NIS America introduced the three main characters in Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk today. Each character has an important part to play in this grim tale.
The first character is Dusk Witch Dronya, a beautiful raven-haired witch, cloaked in black robes. Dronya serves the Haltz Kingdom as a royal court witch, and is called the Dusk Witch due to her brilliant red-and-blue eyes. She has come to Refrain for the sole purpose of exploring the labyrinth beneath the town, though her true motive for doing so remains a mystery.
Next is little Luca, Dronya’s young apprentice and traveling companion. An upbeat, excitable child who is easily moved to tears and laughter, often alternating between the two. Despite her young age, Luca can perform a variety of household tasks, such as cooking, cleaning, shopping, and doing laundry.
She also personally handcrafts each puppet soldier that Dronya sends down into the labyrinth.
Finally is the Tractatus de Monstrum, a legendary cursed book that contains the player’s soul. It is said to have been scribed by the only man to uncover the secrets of the labyrinth and survive. Now, the Tractatus de Monstrum—or “Tractie,” as Luca calls it—must lead Dronya’s puppet soldiers into the labyrinth of Refrain and unearth the secrets buried within.
There’s still a lot left to be revealed. Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk arrives on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 in the Fall.
