Category: Features

Viewpoint: After a slightly dull E3, what if PS5 launched in 2018?

by Stephen Carter, posted in Viewpoints

An air of uncertainty seems to be building in the games industry. We’ve seen Microsoft reveal their Xbox One X, giving us an insight into their plans for the future. But that only brought about more questions than it did answers for many, one such question being how long can we expect our ‘normal’ consoles to last? More pertinently; what are Sony’s plans and can we expect to see a PlayStation 5 any time soon?

My initial reaction to the latter question would be no, but when you think about it a little more it doesn’t seem that farfetched. Inevitably the Xbox One X will unsettle Sony somewhat as, based on specs alone, it’s a much better proposition than its counterpart; the PS4 Pro. Sony were the first to offer their 4K capable version of the latest consoles, with Microsoft taking somewhat of a backseat before showing their hand. Maybe this was a lesson learned from the launch of the Xbox One or a tactical ‘Let’s wait and see what they do’ approach.

Sony find themselves in a tricky situation here as they will want to stand by PS4 Pro and the PS4 itself for as long as possible, giving consumers justification their money was well spent. By the same token though, they will want to compete with Microsoft and give their fans the best experience they can. So do they stick to their guns or look to out-muscle Microsoft by kick starting a new generation of consoles? If you think about it, PS4 will be five years old in 2018 so some people might be getting twitchy thumbs.

It’s a fine balance that needs to be struck by Sony as the appeal of home consoles is to not have to upgrade or buy new hardware for as long as possible without feeling outdated. On the flipside, both Sony and Microsoft seem to think the future of console gaming lies in progressive upgrades rather than new consoles altogether so their next step would need to be a considered one.

All said and done, new shiny hardware is an enticing prospect and there’s always a thrilling buzz surrounding a new console launch which people get caught up in. In order for that to be achieved though this needs to be a launch timed correctly otherwise it could fail before it even launches. The difficulty here being, if PS5 launched in 2018, how much longer would PS4 be supported? New hardware can’t be held back by the limitations of the previous console, but owners of the previous machine can’t suffer from not having a machine that gives them the latest and best titles. Imagine PlayStation owners being told that the Last of Us 2 is coming out but only for PS5 and won’t run on PS4. I don’t think that would go down very well.

But if this meant that Sony stayed in front of the pack, would this be a risk worth taking? They were considered to be the winners of this generation cycle so would their best bet to be at the forefront of the next wave of consoles in order to keep their dominant title? Only they can make that call but the success of a console ultimately lies in the availability of games and their quality so they wouldn’t want multi-platform titles running better on a rival console. Nor would they want their exclusives to be held back due to hardware constraints.

Whichever way you look at it, you can see both pro’s and con’s for both sides of the argument so it’s a debate which will divide the opinions of many. Personally, I don’t think we’ll see PS5 launch next year and I don’t think we’ll see typical console generations anymore. I think we will start to see slightly upgraded versions available every few years, much like the Xbox One X, giving us more power for bigger and better titles.

If Sony are happy that PS4 and the Pro are enough to keep them afloat, then they must be confident in their upcoming catalogue of titles, such as God of War 4, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy and Days Gone to name a few.

What do you think dear reader? Is it time to bring out the PS5, or is it way too early. Let us know in the comments below!

Viewpoint: I predict that Transference will be a mindf**k of a game

by Sally Mettson, posted in Viewpoints

TVs within TVs, within TVs, within TV… Where do I begin? Transference is a new IP that was announced at Ubisoft’s E3 conference. It’s all about immersion and pushing the boundaries of storytelling:

You can for the first time as a player feel like you are in a movie. That’s a really good word for it, we want you to take the gear and still feel unsettled.[…]

Transference was produced by Elijah Wood’s team at SpectreVision. Here’s what they had to say:

We stumbled across some fascinating research that had begun in the late 90’s. Essentially, neuroscientists had figured out a way to upload brain data, trauma, emotions memories to digital space. Now we’ve gone and taken the next logical step, and with Ubisoft, we’ve created in virtual reality one such test subject. So we’d like you to come join us and experience the Walter Test Case for yourself.

The trailer instantly reminds me of The Matrix, with Master Reboot’s narrative (but in an everyday setting) and a slice of Black Mirror for good measure. Transference to me looks more scary than any sci-fi thriller/ horror game I’ve played as it sounds (we didn’t see much gameplay, they kept their cards close) unnerving and uncanny – I predict that it will be a mindf**k of a game and an experience to remember (especially as it’s for VR!).

According to the E3 announcement we can expect the mysterious game to come out Spring 2018.

What are your thoughts – is the idea of the game too scary? Or like me, can you simply not wait?

Let us know in the comments below!

Review: Armed with Wings: Rearmed (PC)

by Chris Wheatley, posted in Reviews

Armed with Wings: Rearmed is a flashy, fast-paced 2D hack em’ up/platformer game with a sleek, new approach to the genre. Previously released as a Flash Game in 2008, Rearmed slices its way onto Steam with this updated and addicting slasher. Playing as a lone samurai, the striking silhouette swiftly glides across the levels, slashing through the many enemies thrown in your direction. Equipped with your trusty blade harnessing the power of lightning and your faithful Eagle, you’ll embark on a furious journey to stop the evil tyrant’s – King Vandheer – overpowering authority.

Daniel Sun of Australian based animation studio, Sun Studios, has created a samurai adventure that adds extra value to the platforming genre. Entering the world of Blackmist, you run through short levels wiping out any opposing soldiers who will try to cut your blade-swinging life short. Coming across, (sometimes rather tedious), puzzles, your Eagle companion will lend a wing to fly to areas unreachable by man. Retrieving relics, scouting ahead or even acting as a useful distraction are all vital elements accompanied with your screeching ally.

Though many levels have you gracefully slashing your way through various enemies, other levels, later on in the story, are strictly platforming based. Calling on the Eagle to find and carry orb keys to unlock gates blocking your path, methodically using jump pads to clear dangerous hazards or completing a series of enemy waves coming from either direction, a solid dose of challenges keep your samurai journey feeling fresh all the way through.

armed-with-wings-1446781230172_1280w

The combat with your lonesome samurai warrior is fluid and swift, allowing easy button inputs to dodge and cut your way through surrounding enemies. Harnessing the power of thunder and lightning, you’re capable of dealing a charged strike downward, unloading a great deal of ravaging damage. The push of a button allows a ‘dance’-like skill to leap around your enemies, making you feel like a true, untouchable samurai warrior. This defensive mechanic is significantly helpful when dealing with tough soldiers/bosses further in the game. No jump action is present through most of the game – your player will automatically leap from ledge-to-ledge when running straight through – though additional skills may add this ability as you progress.

Tons of weapons become available to help aid you on your expedition, each with their own traits, and some even with exceptionally useful bonus skills, like health regeneration or the tactical advantage to ‘Jump’. There are all different kinds of blades from classic katanas to broad swords and hook swords; Rearmed gives plenty of variety and stats to base your combative decision on. Found throughout the game when dropped by fallen foes, you’ll also unlock more weapons with score points earned by collecting glowing bubbles (also used as health) and dealing with enemies in both Story and Survival modes.

In Survival Mode – like a few levels found in the campaign – waves of enemies spawn in timed fashion, leaving you alone to deal with them before they’re able to deal with you. Though, much tougher than the wave trials found in the main story, these survival waves offer a chance for more points, in turn giving you the ‘edge’ in combat later down the line. Everything from your standard grunt enemies to elites and even bigger boss-type monsters appear in Survival Mode, so being prepared with the best weapon load out proves useful when conquering the next fierce wave.

WALLPAPER.png

With dozens of unique weapons fused with unique skills and traits, two more bonus playable characters to unlock and an addictive style gameplay, Armed with Wings: Rearmed brings stylish 2D action to the lucrative platforming table. Short, to-the-point levels (some offering multiple ending points for enhanced replayability), Survival and various two-player modes like one-on-one weapon battles and tournaments, there’s a good helping of content to feed your samurai hunger.

A solid helping of hack ‘n’ slash vengeance mixed with unique puzzle solving mechanics, Armed with Wings: Rearmed brings beautiful carnage to the platforming genre.

Review copy provided by Sun-Studios.

techtroid-rating8

E3 2017 Conference Dates and Times

by Nitchigamer, posted in Features

Not sure when everything is happening at E3 2017? Not to worry, we’ve got you covered. You can find the key times and dates below for all the big E3 conferences this year. Book some time off work, you’re going to need it.

EA Play E3 2017 conference – (Saturday, June 10th)

EA-PLAY-2017-1-1070x572

When’s it on:

  • UK: 8pm – (BST)
  • Europe: 9pm – (CEST)
  • East Coast US: 3pm – (EDT)
  • West Coast US: 12pm – (PDT)

Microsoft E3 2017 conference – (Sunday, June 11th)

C4uYdVvVMAMUlyH

When’s it on:

  • UK: 10pm – (BST)
  • Europe: 11pm – (CEST)
  • East Coast US: 5pm – (EDT)
  • West Coast US: 2pm – (PDT)

Bethesda E3 2017 conference – (Sunday, June 11th)

3240001-bethesda-2017e3-press-promo3-thumb

When’s it on:

  • UK: 5am – (BST, Monday)
  • Europe: 6am – (CEST, Monday)
  • East Coast US: 12am – (EDT, Monday)
  • West Coast US: 9pm – (PDT, Sunday)

Ubisoft E3 2017 conference – (Monday, June 12th)

ubisoft_new_2017_logo_2400.0

When’s it on:

  • UK: 9pm – (BST)
  • Europe: 10pm – (CEST)
  • East Coast US: 4pm – (EDT)
  • West Coast US: 1pm – (PDT)

Sony E3 2017 conference – (Monday June 12th)

screen_shot_2017-06-09_at_14_34_07

When’s it on:

  • UK: 2am – (BST, Tuesday)
  • Europe: 3am – (CEST, Tuesday)
  • East Coast US: 9pm – (EDT, Monday)
  • West Coast US: 6pm – (PDT, Monday)

Nintendo E3 2017 conference – (Tuesday June 13th)

Let's go

When’s it on:

  • UK: 5pm – (BST)
  • Europe: 6pm – (CEST)
  • East Coast US: 12pm – (EDT)
  • West Coast US: 9am – (PDT)

It’s going to be a big year for games, that’s for sure – are you aiming to catch ’em all? Let us know in the comments below!

Viewpoint: 5 Reasons Why A Doctor Who Game Can’t Work

by Tom Buxton, posted in Viewpoints

I present to you 5 reasons why a Doctor Who game can’t work. (Believe me, I would really want it to).

THE CHARACTERS: Any fan of Who will be able to safely say that one of the show’s most impressive traits that has secured its place in television history for forty-eight years now is its character drama.

When the programme returned in 2005, it placed a central focus on the life of Rose Tyler, a teenage shop worker who found herself caught up in the life of a time-travelling alien. We followed Rose and the Doctor over the course of thirteen episodes, witnessing the tragic destruction of the planet Earth, the invasion of London by the Slitheen, the horrifying effects of the return of a lone Dalek on the Time Lord and ultimately his startling regeneration prompted by love and loyalty from his most devoted companion. More than ever before in the ‘classic era’, Russell T Davies placed a distinct focus on the companion and each of the emotional ramifications of these ground-breaking events on her, something which made for brilliant television seven years back and still rings true with Steven Moffat’s interpretation today.

Now, unless game developers have plentiful cut scenes to the point of Metal Gear Solid, Doctor Who video games are going to have to tone down the focus on the emotions and actions of the protagonists to the point that much of the heart of the show may be removed in the process, thus possibly leaving us with a dull imitation of the programme rather than a realistic depiction.

THE VISUALS: A simple one to explain, really: until BBC Worldwide actually invests some proper time and cash into making the graphics of a Doctor Who video game look as if they were intended for a current-generation console release rather than for the PlayStation 2 or GameCube in 2004, we’re never going to be able to be totally satisfied with the results of the final product. We had the atrocious 2010 frankenstein creature that was Return To Earth for the Nintendo Wii, and the hideously retro style of the Layton-alike DS effort Evacuation Earth. We need a modern game with modern graphics.

THE MYSTERY: Ever since An Unearthly Child kicked off the show’s extraterresterial and time-shifting exploits with its romp to the age of cavemen in 1963, fans have been constantly amazed at what the BBC can achieve in terms of Who’s special effects budget and rendering of alien worlds and past/future timelines. As soon as you move into the video games industry, then, you’re given an obligation to try and match that sense of wonder and mystery that comes every time the Doctor and his companion step outside the TARDIS doors, an obligation which BBC Worldwide ignored as they brought us spaceship corridors, junkyards which are hugely reminiscent of Earth’s and other lifeless environments.

who-31.jpg

Eternity Clock at least used multiple time periods and incarnations of London (as well as Storm Cage, an alien prison), a more daring set of locations than any past endeavour by developers, yet that was still fairly lacking in ambition on SuperMassive’s part. Nothing will surprise me quite as much as the show can when I walk out of those blue police box doors, and that that will always be the case in Doctor Who video games.

THE SCRIPT: Once again, this comes down to the format of the episodes in their modern day context, but to an extent it relates back to the ’63-’89 era too. If you go back and look at any single story of Who, I guarantee that you’ll be able to find some great one-liners that come back to haunt the characters later (“It is returning…it is returning through the dark…and then, oh but then…he will knock four times…”), romantic or family-based heart-warming dialogue to bring the audience together in joy or laughter (“I’ll suffer if I have to kill you.” “More than the entire universe?” “Yes.”

The grand extent of the humour in Return To Earth was the Cyber-Men demanding an AI be converted, only for her to keep retaliating with “But I do not want to be converted”. Really?

witch.jpg

THE PLOT RESOLUTIONS: How can you ever top the huge cliffhangers the show has in video game? It’s in moments like these where Doctor Who shines totally as a television show, and which convince me that there is no way of accurately portraying the drama in a gameplay-focused product without losing a whole heap of what makes it great along the way.

What are your thoughts reader, can there ever be a good Doctor Who game?

Hidden Gems: Great Steam indie games you should try this week (08/06)

by Sally Mettson, posted in Features

There have been some great indie games released on Steam, here’s a few we selected for this week. You might discover a wonderful experience in this mix:

Zzzz-Zzzz-Zzzz

A psychological puzzle platformer with nods to Metroid and Castlevania – immerse yourself in this beautiful dreamscape.

Lines

A unique ‘abstract zen experience’. Place or remove the dots to initiate a race where the dominant colour wins. Lines also features endless hours where you can create your own levels with the Steam Workshop!

Conarium

Run, hide and lose your mind in a chilling Lovecraftian game and challenge the ‘absolute’ limits of nature – soak up the atmosphere with your headphones at night.

Passpartout: The Starving Artist

See the world through the eyes of a French artist: create art and battle against the stuffy self-proclaimed art critics, survive your wine and baguette addiction and settle your debt.

World of One

Delve into a dark, depressing Poe-esque puzzle platformer with planet-based physics and mystery.

The Artifact

You are woken up from hypersleep in the future with a mysterious alien artifact – can you unlock the secrets of this short puzzle game?

Sentience: The Android’s Tale

A complex, choice-based narrative adventure game: see the world through the eyes of an android and encounter relevant questions about the future of AI and the human condition.

Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap

Sumptuous hand-drawn animation and a re-orchestrated soundtrack make this worth your time – a high quality remake, now available on Steam – check out the trailer here!

Randall

In a dystopian world that doesn’t seem like such a departure from our own future, people are content living under constant surveillance and are happily enslaved – break the chains of tyranny and mind control as Randall in this attractive platformer.

Monolith

A top down, rogue-like, NES/SNES shoot ’em up with procedurally generated elements and a cracking chiptune soundtrack.

 

 

 

 

 

Review: Old Man’s Journey (PC)

by Tanya Laolapha Pettersen, posted in Reviews

Old Man’s Journey is a short and unique point-and-click adventure game from the independent game studio Broken Rules, based in Vienna, Austria. They have made a game about life experiences, and everything that entails – love, happiness, regret, and reconciliation.

We follow an old man who lives in a beautiful house out by the sea. The game starts off with him receiving a letter, with the content left to be revealed at the end. As he gathers his backpack and walking cane, we join the old man as he ventures out on a journey through land and sea.

1

There are 15 different levels, or scenarios, in the game. Upon finishing each one, the man sits down on a nearby bench and scratches his white beard, pondering and re-exploring his past. With each memory, we collect more and more pieces of the story.

The level design of the game should be given high praise. Each level represents a different memory in the old man’s life, telling us where he has been and where he might be going. This way, we slowly progress through the old man’s life experiences up to the present.

5

The environment plays a huge role in the aspect of gameplay. In order to help the old man on his journey, the player has to manipulate the terrain around him, which I think is quite unique. Each level contains puzzles where you have to twist your brain a little, but never so much that it hurts. It never gets too challenging. Many might see that as a negative, but I rather enjoyed sailing through without much difficulty in a game like this: it is, after all, an atmospheric casual game.

This game lives and breathes for the aesthetics. The memories look painted with watercolors, letting you experience art in a beautiful way – I feel like I’m walking through different paintings. With beautiful ambience such as the sounds of the ocean or the wind through the mountains, and simple yet gorgeous music with a present guitar and accordion, Old Man’s Journey provides a symphony for your eyes and ears. Putting on headphones and immersing yourself in the music and sounds when playing this is highly recommended. (THIS GAME IS GORGEOUS).

3

Amidst all the wonderfulness of the game, I encountered a few bugs where I had to restart some of the levels over again. This became all the more bothersome when I was right at the end of said levels. Along with a few graphic bugs as well, I felt that it broke up the flow of the game, which was fairly annoying when I’m in a meditative state of serenity.

I feel like I should also give a fair warning that Old Man’s Journey has little to no replay value. There’s no extra puzzles to solve, for example. When you figure out the ending to the story… it ends. Maybe that’s a message about life. Still, it would have been nice to have something else to do afterwards. That being said, the game is roughly 2-hours long, so it’s clear that the developers have created something to be played in one sitting, as there is no manual save function either.

Old Man’s Journey is a short and delicate game with a touching story. The music is simple, yet beautiful. Combined with an impressive art style and unique gameplay, Broken Rules has created a powerful piece of expression. I suggest you visit the Steam page while I dry my tears.

Viewpoint: Remakes vs. Re-masters – which is more desirable to gamers?

by Stephen Carter, posted in Viewpoints

Releasing previous titles seems to be something that is less common these days, but there is still a case to be made for bringing old titles back to life using new technology. When it comes to this, there are two routes to go down; re-master the old game or remake it entirely from the ground up. Both of which have their pros and cons, but which truly represents the series and brings the heritage of it back to life?

Generally speaking re-mastered titles have been given a bad rap when they have launched, predominantly in the last generation of consoles when PS2/Xbox games were brought to PS3 and Xbox 360. Take for example when the Splinter Cell titles were re-released on PS3; not much effort was put into these to make use of the new hardware or do the series much justice. Of course, there are exceptions where an old title can bring countless more hours worth of entertainment to new consoles, much like the Kingdom Hearts re-releases where bugs were ironed out and the graphics were given a new lease of life.

But there’s potentially an argument there in itself when it comes to a re-master; how far should they go to re-master the game and how much of the original should they keep in? Nostalgia is a funny thing and playing a poorly produced re-release, or one that doesn’t stay true to the original, can ruin the memories and attachment to a series for some gamers. We can all remember one bug or another from a previous game (before mandatory/automatic updates were a thing) which will forever stick in our brains, so if we remove these are we ruining the originality of the game?

KH2FM

It’s a tricky decision to make as this will probably split gamers right down the middle in terms of what they do and don’t want from re-mastered games. Personally I’d like the game to retain some of its originality, not completely overhauling the graphics, but to at least eradicate the bugs so it runs perfectly when it may not have done first time around.

With that in mind though, would they not be best simply recreating the game from the ground up and using the old game as inspiration to update the game to current standards? One key example of this is the upcoming, and still quite secretive, remake of Final Fantasy 7. Not much is known about this game yet, but we do know that it will be overhauled and updated to modernise/bring it in more in-line with more recent Final Fantasy games. One of the main updates would be that the battles will now be more dynamic and open, rather than the traditional turn-based system used in the original.

If you asked me, I’d be more than happy to see this given a new lease of life using modern technology but keeping the fundamentals of the original. I’d want the turn-based combat to remain, yet more cinematics and the characters brought to life with voice acting, which they didn’t have previously. If you remake the game, you’re taking the game away from its roots in my eyes, and I would rather leave it as it was than potentially play this remake and it ruin my memories and feelings towards the original.

Yet there will be people who will welcome this with open arms and will love to see the game re-imagined and worked on by a new team with some fresh ideas that can make the game feel like it is brand new. So the question is: who do you please? Do you please the people who would like the roots of the game to be kept? Or do you aim the game at those who would like the game to be re-made from the ground up?

cloud ff7

Somewhere along the line it will all boil down to costings and which developers can be trusted to work on a beloved series or franchise as not to tarnish its reputation. It would also depend on its success, as the developers would not want to spend huge amounts of money on something that may flop, so should they spend money on re-masters or remakes at all?

When we are on the eve of having the most powerful home console delivered to us in Project Scorpio, and PS4 Pro already pushing 4K gaming, should we be focusing on bringing new content to the forefront? This time and money could be used better elsewhere in bringing us new IP’s, new experiences and ensuring the future of console gaming is secure. When all is said and done, don’t we have enough to play without bringing games back from the past?

That itself is a debate in itself for a different day, but I for one would like to think that we are moving on from the remake/re-master trend and begin to focus our attention on the future. Let’s celebrate what we have to come, not what we had, and embrace the new experiences that are yet to come.

Taster: ORB – Steam Greenlight Impressions

by Alisa Hail, posted in Previews

The merging of a serious puzzle game and a 2D side-scrolling action title isn’t exactly an easy combo to muster. But, the universe is a vast and mysterious place and out of it has come just such an amalgamation recently greenlit by the Steam community. Imagine Asteroids on uppers with top-down puzzles and you’ll start to get a good idea of ORB’s basic gameplay. That might sound like a far out idea, but a short time with the alpha demo for the game plants the mechanics solidly on terra firma, with clever in-game incentives tying the two worlds together.

You play as the titular space entity Orb as you fly, dodge and blast your way through to various constellations. Each constellation leads Orb to what is called the “Puzzleverse” where, as you might have guessed, the player will be faced with top-down block-based challenges testing your ability to not only figure out what goes where, but how the overall puzzle is interconnected. For example, one early puzzle I played through gave Orb temporary X-ray vision that allows the player to see what section will be activated if a certain block is placed in a particular space. From there, I had to then solve how to move each block to the proper area and in what order.

Another required me to use a conveyor belt-like system to get each block to it’s proper destination without sending a block in the wrong direction and thus requiring me to start over (which did happen a couple of times). Each puzzle adds a level of complexity using a combination of in-puzzle elements and abilities Orb will acquire both in the wormholes and Puzzlesverse in order to solve them. This is ultimately what binds the two sections together.

During my first wormhole fly-through I obtained a dash ability that allowed me to outrun rogue comets bent on shooting me out of the stars. I also obtained a blast ability that allowed me to shoot enemies and obstacles out of my way. Within the Puzzleverse, my blast ability was later utilized to push blocks into place that I otherwise could not reach. The way these elements play within each section is clever and feeds well into not only the enjoyment of the fast-paced, run-and-gun wormhole sections, but adds yet another layer of difficulty to the puzzles.

Along with the 12 unlockable abilities (including Time Stop, Translocate, Bash and Harpoon), I was able to unlock upgrades to Orb that made me more of a force to be reckoned with within the wormhole sections. After completing my first puzzle I unlocked a health upgrade that extended my life bar. You will also unlock upgrades that will increase your strength and make your blasts a destructive sight to behold and might elicit an evil cackle. I was personally tempted to shout Ozymandias quotes to the universe (“Look upon my works, ye mighty, and despair!”), but a simple “Kamehameha!” or other guttural shout of victory will do.

899672326_preview_Colour Realms

ORB is a unique title for sure, but one that manages to pull together in a compelling way what might otherwise have felt like two incongrous gameplay sections. The alpha demo demonstrates great potential for an Action/Puzzle game that requires players to engage all of their cognitive abilities in order to conquer it. Leaderboards will also incentivize players to complete puzzles in the fewest moves and blast through wormholes in the fastest time.

Developer Devil’s Peek Games has promised co-op puzzles and challenges along with additional puzzle elements which will serve as an even stronger incentive for players who like to make their way through as a team. We personally hope to see even more abilities integration between the Puzzleverse and wormhole areas. For now, though, the demo makes us want more. Enjoyable and difficult puzzles coupled with fast and furious flights through the dangerous and yet often beautiful depths of space makes ORB a puzzle title for arcade game lovers, and vice versa.

Devil’s Peek Games recently made a publishing deal with Keystone Games and the game will now be released for PC, PS4 and Xbox One as well.

Hidden Gems: Steam indie games released this week (01/06)

by Sally Mettson, posted in Features

There have been some great indie games released on Steam recently, here’s a few we selected for this week. You might discover something weirdly wonderful in this mix:

Armed with Wings: Rearmed

Embark on a journey, sharpen your steel and take on the imperial tyranny of Blackmist in this beautiful 2D action platformer (development is now also underway for PS4 and Xbox One).

http://store.steampowered.com/app/340580/Armed_with_Wings_Rearmed/

Shotgun Legend

A tribute to The Legend of Zelda but with a shotgun and aliens… explore, collect items and have a blast!

http://store.steampowered.com/app/597230/Shotgun_Legend/

Hover: Revolt Of Gamers

Join the revolt and experience the thrills of a fast-paced single player and multiplayer parkour game with a very catchy soundtrack.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/280180/Hover__Revolt_Of_Gamers/

Dragon Bros

A gorgeous retro 2D action platformer with a an addictive soundtrack – play as a young dragon and free your mum from the evil machines.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/506150/Dragon_Bros/

The Last Tree

Relaxing classical music and a cute cartoon-style tree that is hounded by enemies and a dangerous landscape… this puzzle platformer tugs on the heartstrings.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/605210/The_Last_Tree/

Alvora Tactics

A unique tactical RPG which allows you to explore and conquer the giant serpent, Alvora – and for a change there are no orcs, elves or dwarves!

http://store.steampowered.com/app/643900/Alvora_Tactics/

Too Many Weapons

A local multiplayer arena combat game where anything and everything is a weapon – a good party game to get everyone laughing.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/646280/Too_Many_Weapons/

Strikey Sisters

Meet two sisters in a fantasy based arcade brick-breaker –  it also features a 2 player co-op mode.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/643880/Strikey_Sisters/

Lock’s Quest

Defeat the clockwork horde in this 2D action RPG/Tower Defence hybrid that first appeared on the Nintendo DS – build, grow and defend.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/490080/Locks_Quest/

Escape The Gray

A quirky VR exclusive room-escape game. Each room is different and presents its own unique puzzles.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/639920/Escape_The_Gray

Have you played any of the above games? Or are you planning on buying any of them this week? Let us know what you think.

Never want to miss a thing? Want to keep updated on our best content? You can subscribe to our newsletter here.

Viewpoint: E3 2017 Predictions – The Evolving Battle for Next-Gen

by Alisa Hail, posted in Viewpoints

E3 2017 is fast approaching and like every year gamers want to know what they can expect aside from the official plans announced by industry giants Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo. This article is going to focus on what we believe the console colossuses have in store for fans this year.

Based on what we know, it looks like E3 2017 will focus heavily on content and services over new hardware aside from Microsoft’s big reveal of Project Scorpio. Even Microsoft, however, will focus most heavily on features and titles rather than the raw power of the new system in order to stay ahead of Sony in the console market.

playstation

Sony:

With Microsoft showing off “Project Scorpio”, Sony will need to demonstrate they still have a competitive edge. However, likely they will play their hand close to their chest, emphasizing content over new hardware. We can expect to see a vast array of new titles, with special emphasis on approaching AAA hard-hitters such as The Last of Us 2, Death Stranding, God of War, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, and Days Gone.

With the recent release of the PS4 Pro, and the PS4 still sitting under the average five-year system lifetime, it would be prudent for Sony to keep any big announcements about the next system (tentatively, the PS5) under wraps until after this year’s conference. The new importance placed on S-model systems, in the same vein as Apple’s iPhone launch model, is likely to extend the launch window for new generations. After releasing an upgrade to it’s current gen system, Sony has to keep consumers feeling like the upgrade was worth the purchase, and announcing a new system so soon would likely inspire those not yet convinced they need a 4K capable system to simply wait it out. Or, delay their purchase until the launch of the PS5 when they can get the Pro at a discounted price.

Sony will likely also hold off on releasing a new version of PSVR, which already had a performance upgrade of sorts with the PS4 Pro. PSVR has done well overall, selling more than 915,000 units as of February of this year. Sony will continue to ride this success, giving additional incentives for consumers to embrace the headset, and rewarding early adopters. We will likely see a PSVR and PS4 Pro bundle offered at a discounted price, along with an expanded library and a couple of larger titles. The motion controllers are long overdue for an upgrade, however, so it will not be surprising if Sony announces a newer model. Better controls matched with more titles and a couple of AAA hard-hitters will help move Sony’s VR headset into more homes and build consumer confidence.

One of the major questions about Sony’s conference, that has been circulating the internet recently, is whether Sony will make a major announcement concerning the Final Fantasy VII remake. Of course, making any predictions about the remake is a little like playing darts in the dark. Our gut instinct would be “no,” but during an interview with Gematsu back in January, FFVII Remake director Tetsuya Nomura revealed plans to divulge more information on both FFVII and Kingdom Hearts III some time this year:

“We’re steadily progressing on production. While we are making them, I apologize that the wait will be a bit longer for Kingdom Hearts III and Final Fantasy VII Remake. I am very sorry, but to that degree I will make a game that will meet your expectations.

“Last year, I didn’t put out much information on either title, but this year I want to show our progress at an event somewhere. The release of the titles themselves still have a way to go. But there are many titles releasing this year, if you can wait for any ‘surprises.’”

So, it wouldn’t be too far fetched to speculate that some new gameplay footage will make its way into this year’s E3 presentation. Though the game is still in progress (and would be a spectacular launch title for the next-gen PlayStation), it would still be a strong card to play for Sony this year even if only to give fans a little more to chew on.

Finally, will Sony announce a replacement for the PS Vita? With their recent removal of the PlayStation Now streaming service from the system and the overall poor sales (only a little over 15 million units sold world-wide), along with the rise of mobile gaming, it seems likely Sony plans to continue to deemphasize the handheld. At most, we might see a remodeled Vita with only slightly better specs, or more colors, but likely Sony is trying to move away from the handheld market altogether and won’t put much weight on the system aside from titles announced that will also be available on the Vita.

facebook

Nintendo:

We already know that Nintendo plans to focus heavily on Super Mario Odyssey, much like they did at E3 2016 with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The other two titles that will garner most of the attention will be the upcoming fighting game ARMS and the squad-based multiplayer Splatoon 2.

Much like last year, Nintendo will showcase only a handful of new titles aside from those mentioned above, with the usual reveal of a reboot or new iteration of an older title. Likely, Nintendo will try to freshen things up by bringing back a recognizable, but less often updated classic akin to a new Kid Icarus.

In March of this year, My Nintendo offered rewards celebrating the 5-year anniversary of Kid Icarus: Uprising, which released in 2012, including videos and discounts on the Kid Icarus series. The series has had few entries, but has maintained a strong following over the years. While this doesn’t necessarily point to the arrival of a new Kid Icarus for the Switch in 2017, Nintendo would be remiss to let the opportunity pass by and a new adventure for Pit would add to a strong lineup for the new system. If a new Kid Icarus is already in development or in the planning stages, we will definitely hear about it at this year’s E3.

Aside from games, we will finally hear details on the Switch’s online service, which will launch later this year. One of Nintendo’s major focuses since the Wii has been interconnectivity and bringing people together around their system. There will be heavy emphasis on how this new service will benefit buyers not only through online multiplayer but through connectivity services such as chat, sharing, daily task management or life-style management integration, and streaming services.

The Switch has already done incredibly well in sales, with consumers purchasing 2.74 million units from March 3 to March 31 alone. Nintendo knows what works well for them, so we can expect more of the same this year, and likely until Nintendo sees another sales slump similar to that of the Wii U.

MlkexPU

Microsoft:

Project Scorpio.

Right, but you already knew that.

Microsoft will be using their new system as their heavy-hitter. This means a handful of (tentative) launch titles will be announced along with the big system reveal in order to wet the appetites of fans. We will finally get to hear the actual name of the system, its price, and release date. This presentation will likely not focus too heavily on specs (which have already been publically released), but more on demonstration and some developer spiels on how much they love working with the system (as we have come to expect). You can also reasonably presume to see the new Forza running in crisp, clear 4K resolution as a demonstration of the system’s power and performance since the series tends to run in two-year cycles. However, Project Scorpio likely will not take up a major portion of the presentation so Microsoft can focus on two areas in which they either already have the competitive edge on Sony, or on which they are trying to build an edge.

Backwards compatibility has become a major focus and Microsoft has been giving fans what they wanted with the XBOX One by building a library of XBOX 360 games that can be played on the system. A few strong titles added to this collection (preferably a few from the original system) will be a major selling point for both the XBOX One and Scorpio, and will help bolster the image Microsoft has been building of being a more consumer-friendly company than their competitor.

Another major focus will be features that will build off of the original pitch for the XBOX One, which was making the console the center of the home. Though this pitch never materialized, largely due to the failure of the Kinect, integration with Microsoft’s digital assistant Cortana could truly put the system at the center of the living room. Users could utilize the system much like Google Home or Amazon Echo, except with the added benefit of controlling console features. If the system’s Cortana integration will be able to use features when the TV is off, then this would give Microsoft a way to push consumers to keep the console connected to the internet at all times. The original “always on” requirements for the XBOX One did not go over well with consumers, so Microsoft had to take a step back. If the system could be utilized as a hub for things such as home control, home monitoring, or even voice search using Cortana when the TV is off (either through a Bluetooth speaker or system speakers), then consumers would have motivation to keep the system connected online at all times without it being a requirement.

We can also expect to see what Microsoft has up its sleeves regarding virtual reality. Now that Microsoft has had the leisure of observing Sony’s success with VR, E3 2017 will be an ideal time to announce plans for their own dive into the VR market. Microsoft announced a partnership with Oculus in 2015, and it is unlikely that the company would sever that relationship to go on it’s own when working with Oculus has already proven lucrative. The partnership gives Microsoft an edge on the PC VR market they might not have if they went solo. We can expect to hear about future Microsoft cooperation with Oculus for PC. In addition, Microsoft is more likely to announce a lower-end headset for use with the XBOX One and Scorpio consoles created in cooperation with Oculus much like Samsung has done with the Gear VR.

Conclusion:

Microsoft has the greatest opportunity this year to direct the future of the console market, particularly if they can achieve the home-integration they originally envisioned for the XBOX One. Sony will press harder on the content side using variety as a selling point for their existing systems. Nintendo will carry on with the same structure they used last year and we can expect to see at least one new title (a new Kid Icarus seems likely, but we shall see).

The battle for the latest and greatest next generation system is evolving. Upgrades are coming faster, but in smaller leaps with the introduction of S-model systems. But, raw power alone will no longer cut it. Companies have to demonstrate an ever-increasing stream of content, interconnectivity and home integration. This E3 might not feature any huge surprises on the hardware front, but it will definitely set the stage for the future of the ongoing competition for console king.

Taster: Tekken 7 – What to Expect

by Chris Wheatley, posted in Previews

Standing amongst the brigade of brawling titans that are Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat, the Tekken franchise has stood tall and proud now for 20 years – and soon enough its seventh numbered title and tenth major installment will hit consoles everywhere. Not much has been released on the combo fighter thus far, but a stylish trailer released by Bandai Namco has given us quite the tease. There’s plenty of new qualities and upgrades being shown off, so let’s break it down and see what we’re getting when Tekken 7 finally hits store shelves.

Since the release of the wildly successful Injustice 2, fighting fans everywhere have been getting their fix of excellent content. Not too far behind, making a grand entrance on the current gen era of consoles and PC, Tekken 7 is adding more combo stringing action to the growing realm of fighting legends. As the original 3D fighter, Tekken has held a strong fan base throughout its long twenty year tenure and helped revolutionize the genre – Tekken 7 is looking to remind fans and gamers everywhere why it’s still around and fighting strong.

Flashy moves, punchy soundtrack and combos, the Tekken 7 trailer swings into full effect highlighting the new features that comes equipped with the new fighter. The all-new ‘Rage Art’ battle system acts as powerful moves to shift the ever-flowing tide of battle. Tactical unique skills known as ‘Rage Drive’ provide special combo moves specific to each fighter. Turning the fight in your favor just got a little easier with ‘Power Crush’, an armored move allowing a momentum shift, blasting through enemy moves.

tekken

Enhancing the fighting experience also makes an impressive introduction to the series with slow motion ending battle scenes, showcasing tight matches ending in a single, decisive attack. With lively fighting stages, the blistering combat isn’t the only thing keeping the action full throttle. Day changes, weather shifts, music and stage transfers – all of which add more direct and immersive action, giving players a true, dramatic fighting brawler.

The story mode takes you through the series’ famous storyline of the Mishima saga. With beautiful cinematic detail and cut scenes, matches will seamlessly blend all along the story, keeping the player thoroughly engaged from start to finish. Furthermore, guest characters will make their appearance; the trailer showing off an epic battle between Street Fighter mega bruiser Akuma squaring off against the Tekken hero himself, Kazuya Mishima. Other guest character have not yet been announced but we know of at least two more spots on the roster will be added in a later DLC.

akuma.jpg

Lastly, the online features are covered, and proudly presenting a first in the Tekken franchise, 8-player tournament mode, as well as ranked matches. High risks playing online also come with high rewards, earning large amounts of in-game money, which can be spent on customization items, player profiles and health bars, not only changing the appearance of the fighter, but adding a personalized look to your most dedicated players.

So far, the fighting genre has been struck by greatness already once this year with the recent release of Injustice 2. Tekken 7 is hoping to show us greatness can strike possibly twice, and only weeks apart. Whether it’s the climactic fight scenes, unique roster of fighters or the fluid combo based gameplay that draws you to Tekken, the next installment looks to deliver fast-paced, heart-pounding action, leaving players breathless along the way.

PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC owners will have their chance to see what the newest title in the series has to offer when Tekken 7 releases Friday, June 2nd, while Switch owners are still clinging to the hope that one day, they too, will have their opportunity.