Yearly Archives: 2018

Soulcalibur VI Launches Today – Does Your Soul Still Burn?

The next stage of history has been set, as Soulcalibur VI hits Playstation 4, Xbox One, and Steam today. The 3D weapons-based fighter comes back, and the return of some fan-favorite characters, new mechanics, and new characters await. The tradition of guest characters also returns, with Geralt of Rivia from The Witcher joining the game. The premier 3D weapons-based fighter since 1995, Soulcalibur VI uses Unreal Engine 4 and retains the signature 8-Way Run movement system, smooth visuals, and incredible combat mechanics such as the Reversal Edge System. The Reversal Edge system enables new players to challenge more seasoned players; once initiated, both characters enter a rock-paper-scissors mini-game to see who will come out on top to deal large amounts of damage. SOULCALIBUR VI will also present a challenging single player mode; while offering players the opportunity to compete in multiplayer mode against friends or challenge fighters from around the world in dynamic battles.

“The SOULCALIBUR franchise is steeped in lore and embodies a long legacy of ground-breaking weapons-based gameplay that has set the franchise apart from other games in the fighting genre for decades,” said Mark Religioso, Brand Manager for BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. “SOULCALIBUR VI builds upon this great legacy with a stellar lineup of characters and weapons, additional storyline progression, and knock-down drag-out fun!”

Nintendo Switch News – Week of 10/19/2018

by Jason Parker (Ragachak)

Good morning, Internet! It’s time to round up all the awesome stuff coming to the Nintendo Switch, and we’ve got some real winners today! But before I get into the stuff that launched this week, I have a few other announcements as always, that I need to tend to! The first comes from one of my personal favorite companies, NISA – Nippon Ichi Software America! They announced that the SNK 40th Anniversary Collection is coming to the Switch on November 13th, 2018. It will arrive with 13 titles, an extensive Museum Mode, and will have 10 more titles hitting on December 11th as free DLC. The first half of these is in the trailer above.

From Fantasy, Munch Mobile, Sasuke vs. Commander, Chopper, and Time Soldiers, this is an incredible list of SNK games from all points in their history. That’s not all of the NISA news though. The Caligula Effect: Overdose is also coming to the Switch (and PS4/Steam) in 2019. Originally a PS VITA title, this version comes with revamped visuals, new endings, and double the story content, so it’s an absolute must-play. In it, Ayana Amamoto and Eiji Biwasaka are new members of the Go-Home Club. This club is dedicated to leaving Mobius and returning to Reality. Keep your eyes on this space for more info. But that’s enough “coming soon” stuff. What’s new and hot on the Switch? This might be the longest list yet!

Valkyria Chronicles (October 16th): Come on, it’s Valkyria Chronicles! It’s a Playstation classic, and now it’s on a Nintendo console. This is the first time the fight for all Gallians has been made available on a Nintendo console, and North American players who own Valkyria Chronicles 4 on the eShop will get a 5.00 discount during their checkout. This promotion lasts until my birthday (December 17th), and is already more than fairly priced. With gorgeous visuals, an incredible military story, and the ability to play the full Valkyria Chronicles experience on the go (all DLC included with the original release is included), not to mention the beautiful CANVAS Aesthetic, Valkyria Chronicles is amazing. (19.99)

Dark Souls: Remastered (October 19th): It’s finally here on the Switch! It’s worth the wait. The remaster of Dark Souls boasts updated visuals and the inclusion of the “Artorias of the Abyss” expansion bundled into the main game. Lordran is a twisted, horrific place with incredible challenges, larger-than-life bosses, and beautiful-but-maimed landscapes. I can’t tell you anything about Dark Souls that you probably don’t already know. Tons of replay value, loads of challenge, Dark Souls is an interesting title to be able to take on the go with you. Just don’t get so mad you throw that little tablet. (39.99)

Lego DC Super Villains (October 16th): Okay, this is another one that really just sells itself. The LEGO games are amazing, that’s no big secret. In Lego DC Super Villains, you play as a group of supervillains fighting another group of supervillains! The foes of the game are the Crime/Justice Syndicate – the evil counterparts of the Justice League. The trailers for it have been hilarious, and you get to make your own lego villain to hang out with The Joker and so many other memorable DC characters. These games make collect-a-thoning fun and worthwhile, with an incredible story, action, and of course, lots and lots of amazing LEGO figures that I wish I had in my home. (59.99)

Warriors Orochi 4 (October 19th): Over 170 Samurai Warriors/Dynasty Warriors characters, plus some new ones thrown into the mix in one place? I’ve been playing this for about a week now on and off on the Playstation 4, and I absolutely love it. We’ll have a review for it soon, I’m willing to bet. You control a team of three characters, plus a backup squad of support members, collect and upgrade your weapons, cast powerful magic, and mow down thousands of unwitting losers in your quest to go home, and figure out what threw all of these legendary heroes and villains back into a chaotic, strange world. New and classic teamups from the earlier Orochi titles are here, and no matter which of the previous games you played, there’s someone for you here. (59.99)

My Memory of Us Review: Remember the September Campaign

by Jason Parker (Ragachak)

My Memory of Us Review - 1

This one hit me right where I live.

I feel though I’m uniquely qualified among my coworkers to write this particular review. When I first stumbled upon the news that it was coming out, and that My Memory of Us would be a tribute to the families torn apart and destroyed by the Nazi march into Poland (Kampania wrześniow), I was curious beyond words. I’ve read in some other locations that other reviewers did not think the “Robot” for the Nazis did not work, but I can’t say I agree. Consider this: You’re a small child in a Polish village. It’s already clear that the Gentiles do not care for you, simply because you exist. At this time, the anti-Jewish sentiment was probably its strongest in Poland. Things are tense but peaceful. Then, out of nowhere, a ferocious, inhuman army marches into your home. You’re forced to wear something to signify to the world what you are, that you’re less than human. Now, suddenly, it’s okay to have these feelings, because those Jews don’t quite matter as much. I can see a child having this particular mindset. After all, I imagine many of those soldiers may as well be emotionless machines to a young Jew struggling to survive in a horrific time.

My Memory of Us Review - 2

I stand by the robot analogy working.

My Memory of Us is a tribute to those we lost in World War II when the Nazis (represented by the Machine King and his Robot Army) march across the land. Instead of wearing a Star of David, their clothes were painted red, which is a smart, interesting choice. This entire game is in black and white, except anything you interact with. Anything important in the game that the two kids that are the stars of this title interact with is a bright, gleaming red. That makes those people important by proxy. My Memory of Us is a puzzle game, and not a terribly long one. You can probably beat the whole game in about three hours or so, unless you get caught up in some of the puzzles, or become frustrated by the controls. That’s sure to happen, but I’ll get to it. You play as a boy and a girl who are not given names, and they listen to a narrative from Sir Patrick Stewart, who I was delighted to hear tell such a powerful story. The boy and girl meet early on and work together to survive in a dark, dismal time. But before everything goes to pieces, a boy and girl meet in a trying time, and he decides to try and steal a small cake for her because it’s her birthday and he wants her to have cake.

My Memory of Us Review - 3

Each of the characters has their own uses, and teamwork is a must.

Each of the two children has particular skills to get through the various puzzles and predicaments they encounter across the 18 acts of the story. The boy, for example, can blind people with a light and crouch to avoid detection. If he is holding hands with the girl, she will also be undetected. The girl gets a slingshot to hit buttons, knock down fruits, and can also dash. They can also work together to push/pull heavy objects to climb up and down upon. There are times when you need to be together, and other times where you’ll be separated, where one completes a task so that the other can move forward. This does lead me to my major complaint about this game: The controls are clunky and awkward, and it’s very hard to tell if the children are holding hands if they’re too close to one another. Couple that with having to be in very precise spots on the map to interact with objects, it can be very frustrating. When you interact with another person in the world, they don’t talk. It’s a jumbled mess of jibberish, but a thought bubble shows up to give you a hint at what you need to do. This is tied to the puzzles of the game, and while it’s not overwhelmingly difficult, the game does not hold your hand or tell you what to do.

My Memory of Us Review - 4

Though not a chase scene, this was also equally frustrating.

I’ve had to redo chase scenes four to six times a piece sometimes, because of the controls, not because of any actual difficulty. When you want to climb up or down something, you have to actively press up or down on the left stick instead of the game intuitively knowing you need to go down at this part of the object. This is even worse in stages where you’re being chased, or on a vehicle. It’s one of the two things that make me put this game down and come back to it later. The other being the story – it’s one that is very near and dear to me, being of a Jewish persuasion and having many family members that died not only in the Polish camps but across Europe.

My Memory of Us Review - 5

The puzzles, while not incredibly challenging, are still fun to solve.

The puzzles themselves from act to act are not terribly difficult. They’re pretty obvious once you figure them out. At first, a few of them really got me and I just sat there, staring at my screen in frustration, before I realized that nothing on the screen is there by accident. That’s important to note – from numbers to objects hanging from chains or ropes. Everything is there for a reason, and with a little detective work, this game can be overcome. I’m fine with the puzzles, but some of them frankly seem to have no rhyme or reason. I’m not sure why a lot of the underground puzzles even exist, for example. But I feel like the puzzles need to be there, or this is just a visual novel or a movie, and that sort of interaction with the world around you is important. As a child, you don’t really have many options other than survive, especially against this kind of overwhelming force. This is a very straight-forward game though, and the story is linear, but with “Memories” you can collect which are in the form of photographs scattered through the world.

My Memory of Us Review - 6

My Memory of Us was a powerful story well told.

Never Forget: Good (3.5/5)

This is a story of the horrors of war, of two people the world wants to split apart because one is “different”. The point where people suddenly start having to wear red really hit me hard, and I do have to step away from this game after playing for a while. The puzzles aren’t insanely challenging, and the story is well told. If it weren’t for a bucketload of bad control choices and designs, this would easily be one of my favorite puzzle games of the year. Sir Patrick Stewart being the major voice of the game really adds some gravitas to My Memory of Us, and I sincerely enjoyed taking this title for a spin. The last encounter’s kind of a strange one, since you spend essentially the entire game running and avoiding, only to fight back (but I won’t spoil it). The story from start to end was something I really felt, and I think that not just people with family who suffered the Holocaust would appreciate this. Anyone who has ever felt outcast, less than human, or unimportant to the world around them would probably get a lot out of this game. It all ties together with an ending that is 100% worth seeing.

Space Hulk: Tactics

Suffer not the Xenos to live in Cyanide Studio’s faithful recreation of the tabletop Space Hulk board game created by Games Workshop. Play as one of four Space Marine terminator squads, or one of four Tyranid genestealer hives. Fight for control of a massive conglomeration of derelict space craft and decide the very fate of an entire planet.

Features:

Campaign or Multiplayer: Choose to go head to head against another person, or test your might against the computer.

Map Creator: Community content uploads available. Share your map ideas with the entire internet!

Crossout Halloween Giveaway

We’ve partnered with Gaijin Entertainment to celebrate the Halloween season in Crossout!

CROSSOUT, is a post-apocalyptic MMO Action game. Craft your unique battle machines from a myriad of interchangeable parts, ride them directly into combat and destroy your enemies in explosive PvP online battles!

KEY FEATURES:

  • Unique vehicles crafted by players using a wide range of available parts: from nimble buggies to heavily tracked off-road vehicles or combat platforms on antigrav fields.
  • Complete creative freedom from thousands and thousands of possible combinations: Create vehicles of any shape using a massive array of parts, with an enormous variety of armor and weapons to help support your arsenal.
  • Advanced damage model: destroy any part of an enemy vehicle and it will affect the machine’s performance immediately.
  • A huge arsenal of weapons: From chainsaws to power-drills, machine guns to rocket launchers, and a wide range of variety including flying drones and stealth generators.
  • Your own workshop: create new and advanced parts, and auction them at the in-game marketplace.
  • Trading options between players: every piece that you have gathered in battle can be sold to other players.
  • Choose your own battle strategy: Apart from victory, the only thing that matters is your Survival!

Your code includes:

  • Mechanics’ Flag (decorative item that gives +15% experience for the owner and +10% to all members of the team, available for 7 days)
  • A Halloween sticker

To Redeem Your Code:

  • The codes are available for PC version of the game only.
    • Sign-in to your Crossout account or register for an account.
    • To register for an account, you will provide an email, create a username and password.
    • Once registered or if you have an account, sign in.
    • Click on Activate Code, add code, click Activate.

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