This Week In Games, September 14 - 20, 2014: Wasteland 2! Mursaki Baby! Plus Reprisal Universe, ArcheAge, Fairy Fencer F, Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call, Life Is Feudal: Your Own, Shadowrun Returns: Dragonfall (Directors Cut), Endless Legend And More!

Written By: Tyler

Herrow everybody, and welcome to another edition of This Week In Games, a weekly feature where I tell you who Jack the Ripper was.

Every week I go on Gamespot.com and look at what games are coming out. From there, I pick some of the more interesting (for better or worse) games that are seeing a release this week. Then I do a little research, wave my magic wand, and tell you a little bit about each game.

The release dates are North American because that's where I'm from. Generally you'll see similar release dates in other major gaming countries, but I'm not from there so I focus on where my hood is. You feel me? I promise I won't talk like this anymore. Let's get on with the fun.


September 14

Notta.


September 15

Reprisal Universe

Coming Out For: PC
Genre: Strategy
Gameplay: http://store.steampowered.com/app/319560/

Think Populous when you think of this game. You raise your land, develop your tribe, take on other tribes, master Totem Powers to do battle... all that good stuff. If you're into this kind of thing, then this is something you should check out. It's already technically out, but it's hitting Steam this week.


The Masterplan

Coming Out For: PC
Genre: Strategy/Action
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFF3iQbBOF8&list=PLHVUIGUZ1rjerc6W8XTIOREYf4IszGZ0n

The Masterplan is a game where you pick the perfect team to commit heists. It has a top-down view like Hotline Miami, but it is a different game because it's all about planning and perfecting your mission. Think Hotline Miami meets Payday, and you have a pretty good idea of what this is offering. It looks awesome, and it hits Early Access this week.



September 16

ArcheAge

Coming Out For: PC
Genre: MMORPG
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQ9AnXZGKYs

ArcheAge is a free-to-play sandbox MMORPG. Don't leave just because you saw f2p and MMORPG, because not all of them are bad. For example, I think Neverwinter got an undeserved bad reputation. So does ArcheAge look like something that you should invest your time in?

I would say yes. I am probably going to give it a try, but read this blurb from their website and make your own mind up: "Adventure in an open-ended MMORPG freed from predefined paths and progression. Build massive castles and lay claim to lands whose riches fuel a deep, player-driven economy. Band together to protect your fortune in epic siege battles and naval combat – or live the life of an outlaw, prying glory and coin from foes left in your wake."


Mursaki Baby

Coming Out For: PS Vita
Genre: Platformer/Puzzle
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nc3rV2U9HFY

I'm really excited for this, but unfortunately I don't own a PS Vita and can't afford one. I've been into this since I first saw it at, I think, E3 because I absolutely love the visuals, the art design and the trailer. You basically use the touch screen to make the main character move and solve puzzles in a terrifying, surreal world. I don't know if the game is going to be anything special from a strict gameplay perspective or not, though I'm inclined to believe it will be. However, the art alone makes it worthy of a pickup. 


Fairy Fencer F

Coming Out For: PS3
Genre: JRPG
Gameplay: http://www.gamespot.com/videos/fairy-fencer-f-official-trailer/2300-6417275/

Truthfully I don't know a lot about Fairy Fencer F, but it was already released in Japan and is now coming over here this week. It looks to me to be like a normal JRPG, so if you're a JRPG nut then you can check it out. It probably won't get much of a following otherwise, simply because JRPGs have a more niche audience than they did when I was growing up.


Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call

Coming Out For: 3DS
Genre: Rhythm
Gameplay: http://www.gametrailers.com/reviews/avj8hm/theatrhythm-final-fantasy--curtain-call-review

The video above does a really good job of describing everything, but in case you don't want to click it, here's Theatrhythm in a nutshell: it's a rhythm game starring Final Fantasy characters where you get to listen to classic Final Fantasy songs and in typical fashion for the genre, hit buttons at the right time. I'm not huge into rhythm games, but this one is interesting to me because I love Final Fantasy music and that alone makes the game somewhat enjoyable. It has light RPG elements but they appear to be insignificant.


Cooking Mama 5: Bon Appetit! 

Coming Out For: 3DS
Genre: Simulation
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-qjZ_OvMLU

Cooking Mama 5 was released in Japan earlier this year, and now it is coming over to North America. If you're interested in this, you probably are already familiar with the game, but in case you aren't... here's a description from somebody who has no interest or experience with the game: it's a cooking simulator where you use the touchscreen to prepare food. There must be an audience for this.


The Waste Land

Coming Out For: PC
Genre: Metroidvania/Platformer/Action
Gameplay: http://www.indiedb.com/games/the-waste-land (there's a video on the main page)

Indie developers seem to really love Metroidvanias (which is a combination of Metroid and Castlevania if you've never heard the term). Players also seem to like the organic exploration in these games because they often don't really tell you what to do, but with smart game design can be fun. It can be a real blast figuring out where to go once you get the right item or talk to the right person. This game looks like a worthy addition to the genre, so make sure to pick it up if you can.


September 17

Spacecom

Coming Out For: PC
Genre: Strategy
Gameplay: http://www.polygon.com/2014/8/27/6074767/spacecom-4x-strategy-fast-and-made-for-multiplayer

Spacecom is a 4X strategy space fleet command game with a focus on multiplayer. Use your tactics that are up in your brain to do battle with rival fleets when this game drops this week.


Cosmonautica

Coming Out For: PC
Genre: Simulation
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHpyxIW7deo
 
In Cosmonautica you manage your space ship, trade and do battle. The game looks to have a sense of humour and this looks like a neat little simulation game so it's worth a play.



September 18

Endless Legend

Coming Out For: PC
Genre: Strategy
Gameplay:  http://ca.ign.com/videos/2014/04/18/endless-legend-video-preview (Alpha footage)

Endless Legends exits Early Access and gets a full release this week. It looks like a gorgeous 4X strategy game with a lot of depth. There are a bunch of side-quests to do along with the main game, and some RPG elements to go along with it, with customizable skill trees, crafting gear and level-ups. There's more to it, but I will end this by saying that this game could be something special.


Shadowrun: Dragonfall (Director's Cut)

Coming Out For: PC
Genre: RPG
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyUktyFHrb4

I haven't played the Dragonfall expansion, but I can speak from experience that Shadowrun Returns is a welcome... rebirth of Shadowrun. It's not as good as the old SNES one, but it's pretty damn good on its own merits, so I can only imagine Dragonfall is great too. The Director's Cut expands on it with new missions, music, endings, etc. If you already have Dragonfall you get the updates for free.


Elminage Gothic

Coming Out For: PC
Genre: RPG
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYbOLrnHLtM (it's in Japanese)

Released on PSP originally, it is now making its way to PC. Part of a neglected genre, the old-school dungeon crawling RPG, Elminage Gothic hopes to make enjoying big dungeons enjoyable again. These types of games were so popular at one point, and it's nice to see them still being made here and there.


September 19

Wasteland 2

Coming Out For: PC
Genre: RPG
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYtc5Y96coM

Did you play the original Wasteland? Do you like classic computer RPGs? Do you like RPGs where your choices in conversations directly impact the world around you? Do you like RPGs with tactical combat? Do you like post-apocalyptic RPGs? If you answered yes to any of these, then this is an important release for you.

I haven't actually played the original Wasteland, but I'm incredibly excited for this to finally see a full release. I can't wait to sink my teeth into this RPG that is going to take up dozens of hours of my time. I can't wait to experience the rich story where what you do actually has an effect on things. This is the biggest release of the week for me, along with Murasaki Baby.



Life Is Feudal: Your Own 

Coming Out For: PC
Genre: Sandbox MMORPG
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMzMLo0hQ_c

I've never heard of Life Is Feudal before, but it seems ambitious, and definitely a lot different than other MMORPGs. When you think of MMORPGs, you no doubt have a certain idea in your head because for the most part, they're pretty similar to one another. There are differences between games like World of Warcraft and Guild Wars 2, for example, but they still follow pretty similar models.

From my understanding, Life is Feudal doesn't have level caps or levels at all, no grinding, quests that are more about becoming familiar with game mechanics rather than being something you do daily. The gameplay consists more of terraforming, meaning you can dig tunnels, manipulate the terrain, build cities underground or above ground, or build walls. The combat is different than other MMORPGs, and the gameplay seems to consist of doing medieval things like sieges and wars. There is crafting, and other game features that I'm not getting into.

The first thing that comes to my head when I think of this game is a game like Rust. They're quite different than one another and it appears that Rust has more emphasis on survival, but the idea of basically just being in a world populated by other people and living, while occasionally killing each other, seems very similar to this influx of games of this type. I'm not trying to say Life is Feudal is copying because they're a lot different, but there are similarities that I enjoy. Still, they'll offer very different experiences.

It hits open Early Alpha this week.



September 20

Nothing.


There are a lot of releases this week, especially from smaller studios, or at least from studios developing games that may not get the mainstream recognition that they deserve. Surely there is something this week that you are interested in.

Did I miss anything of importance to you? Let me know in the comments below or tweet me on the twitter thing @ArtBathednCrime

This Week In Games, September 7 - 13: A Little Game Called Destiny Gets Released, Plus NHL 15, Velocibiox, Teslagrad, Fable Anniversary, The Keep, Worlds of Magic and A Weird 90s Bible Game Called Uriel's Chasm

Written By: Tyler

Hello everybody and welcome to another addition of This Week In Games: a weekly feature I do where I tell you why "indie" is not a genre.

Every week I go onto Gamespot and find out what games are coming out this week. Then I do a little write-up about the ones of interest, and ta-da, I get lots of money (or none at all). All release dates are North American because that's where I'm from. Sorry rest of the world.


September 8

Velocibox

Coming Out For: PC
Genre: Action
Gameplay: http://store.steampowered.com/app/317710/

Strap yourself in for this game. It is supposed to be incredibly difficult and the gameplay, from what I understand, is essentially running through corridors, dodging things and collecting items. It is fast and it does look hard.


September 9

Destiny

Coming Out For: Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4
Genre: Greatest Game Ever, MMORPG/FPS
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUHCO-qyA1A

There's this little game that finally sees a release this week: It's called Destiny, and it's developed by Bungie. You may know Bungie from their other small franchise, Halo. If you follow games I probably don't need to sell you on Destiny but that's kind of the point of this part, so here goes:

It's a first-person shooter/MMO/RPG hybrid, that is supposed to be epic in scope. You play as one of three different classes, and there is competitive multiplayer that goes along with the normal campaign. It feels nice to shoot, it looks gorgeous, and it's Bungie... they have a good track record. Just get Destiny.



NHL 15

Coming Out For: Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360, PS3
Genre: Sport
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbskn16gpQE

I haven't played an NHL game since '12, but hey... hockey games have come a long way since I started playing them. This looks more realistic, feels more realistic and I'm sure any hockey fan will be able to appreciate the depth of the experience. There was a time when hockey games didn't really feel like hockey games, but now you have to use the same kind of strategy that real players would use.


September 10

Nothing on this day.


September 11

Worlds of Magic

Coming Out For: PC
Genre: Strategy
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=magRrO535gY

Worlds of Magic is hitting Steam Early Access on September 11. It is a 4X strategy game with randomly generated maps and big heroes. You have to kill enemies and expand your empire. There are over 300 spells as well!


Teslagrad

Coming Out For: Wii U
Genre: Platformer
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYKEtHHyvgA

Teslagrad is a platformer coming to the Wii U. It was originally released on PC. The basic premise is that you have to explore a tower and you use things like a Teslastaff or Magnet Glove to solve the puzzles and defeat the enemies. It has a charming art style, and it looks like a lot of fun so if you're hankering for a game on Wii U -- which most Wii U owners are -- then maybe check this one out.


The Keep

Coming Out For: 3DS
Genre: First-Person Dungeon Explorer
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puDJWHvcpVQ

The Keep is a first-person dungeon crawler, and although the footage above is only Alpha, it gives you an idea of what the game has in store. It's influenced by the classic games in this genre. Explore and defeat enemies on your 3DS.


September 12

Fable Anniversary

Coming Out For: PC
Genre: RPG
Gameplay: http://store.steampowered.com/app/288470/

Are you like me and missed out on Fable? Well, if you're a PC owner, here's your chance to catch up on the first installment in the series. Everything is upgraded here, so if you want a good RPG to play, I've heard good things about the first Fable.



Uriel's Chasm

Coming Out For: PC
Genre: Platformer/Action/Adventure
Gameplay: http://store.steampowered.com/app/292630/

So.

I guess there was an unlicensed Bible game released in the 90s that I've never heard of, and Uriel's Chasm is it. It's... something. In this game you go on a quest that features the metaphysics of the KJV Bible, and you explore what God and Death means. The game seems to blend a couple genres, and the gameplay that I linked above makes it look kind of terrible and awesome at the same time. It's surely one of those games that may not actually be good but it's so insane it might be entertaining. Without getting too religious here, the Bible is pretty twisted and weird, so it needs a twisted and weird game to properly represent it.


That's it for this week people. If there was a game I missed, and you are able to pull yourself away from Destiny, then make sure to let me know in the comments below or tweet me @ArtBathednCrime. Or you could just write in the comments and say hi because it gets lonely over here. Peace out.

Everyone Is Out Playing Sims 4, Getting Ready For Destiny... And I'm Just Sitting Here Playing Hatoful Boyfriend (A Review)

Written By: Tyler
Platform Played On: PC

Visual novel games aren't something I'm entirely sold on most of the time. I'd rather just read a comic book more often than not, which I know means I miss out on some really good examples of the genre. If a visual novel offers me a lot of choices and I feel like I'm truly impacting the story, then it's fine. If I'm just sitting here clicking to read, that's more of a chore than anything.

Hatoful Boyfriend is a visual novel that has gotten a lot of attention since its original release in 2011, and even more now in its 2014 remake, because of its premise: You are a human girl in a school full of pigeons and you try to date them. Originally I thought you were pigeons dating pigeons, but no, the game has to make you question your own sexuality by slowly revealing your hidden desire to date birds.

I'm not different than a lot of other people. I know a weird concept is enough to draw me in. I'll buy into the hype, I'll eagerly anticipate something that's different than other things you see. That's the kind of person I am. I'm not entirely sure if I expected to like Hatoful Boyfriend or not, but it didn't really end up grabbing my attention when I finally sat down to play it.

Ignore the fact that you're dating pigeons and it becomes just like other dating sims. You make choices to try to date the pigeon that you've decided you like. This may or may not succeed. There are stats to manage like Wisdom, Vitality and Charisma but it's pretty unimportant and is more of an illusion to gameplay rather than truly being gameplay. I know it affects the game in a very miniscule way, but don't spend much time really thinking about that.

Hatoful Boyfriend consists mostly of putting you in places and making you decide what the best course of action is. Your choices do impact the game somewhat, and there are multiple endings to uncover, but was the plot really interesting enough to indulge in it numerous times?

That's the thing about Hatoful Boyfriend: Its narrative is deeper and more rich than one might think when looking at the game. The stock photos of birds and amateurish art work do a lot to try to hide the darker themes behind the cutesy visual style. This is not just a game about dating pigeons, after all.

You have to play through the game a bunch of times in order to unlock the true story. You may notice, even if you only play through once, that some things are odd and out of place, such as destroyed buildings or the fact you're a human (the only human by the way) and you live in a cave. Maybe you chalk these up to just being silly elements in a silly Japanese game, but they aren't, and once you unlock the final branch of the storyline, the game will clear up these issues and it becomes more intriguing than just being an adorable pigeon dating simulator that may or may not make you feel comfortable with your beastiality.

I also secretly want to be a girl so this game satisfies me.

I can give props to a game that takes a concept and then completely changes it around and gives us something we didn't expect. The plot does get more interesting and does show some good writing, and the parody leads into a legit complex plot about the school you're going to.

But if you're like me, then getting to the point that the plot unloads itself onto you is more of a chore than anything. It's simply not that much fun to play. You spend most of your time watching, and since you're expected to cover all the branching storylines, you end up slogging through it just to get to the good stuff. Why could they not just give us a way to unlock the story without doing this? It's lazy and and it's a poor excuse to force us to put more hours into the game than we might want to. Though I said above that you have choices, it's more superficial than a game like The Witcher 2 where your choices have impact... you do have choices but you have to end up making certain choices in order to progress in the game, ultimately. If I don't feel like I have real control in a game like this, it's simply not amusing to play.

It's not that Hatoful Boyfriend is terrible, it just seems more like a game you could get the same amount out of by simply reading a detailed plot synopsis on Wikipedia or something. I give respect for setting it up like a dating sim and then ripping the carpet out from underneath us to showcase something more expansive, but it's not a fun game. Defenders of the genre may take offense to that, but there are really good examples of this type of game out there.


Rating: 4/10
Verdict:  Has a plot that is darker and deeper than you may originally think, but it isn't an entertaining Visual Novel to play.

A Lethal League Review -- If Only This Title Had As Much Creativity As This Game People Would Like Me

Written By: Tyler
Platform Played On: PC

Anybody who knows me knows that I appreciate innovative games, or at the very least games that take an old idea and re-imagine it in original ways. It could be a terrible game and I would still give it props for trying something new. A unique idea is grounds for at least a three or four out of ten, regardless of how crappy the rest of the game may be.

With Lethal League, we have a new multiplayer based game that is an intriguing mixture of Pong and fighting games, with a hip-hop paint job all over it. And luckily, it is not a terrible game.

You can play with up to four players, but you can't actually hit each other like you would in a normal fighting game. Instead, there is a ball and you have to hit your opponents with it like you're playing dodgeball. The ball will fly around the screen, getting faster and faster, until eventually it's basically just a blur. Your basic attack is a normal swing, a volly swing that hits it up in the air, and a smash.

The core mechanics may seem simple, but don't think that there isn't depth here. Each character has a special ability, and there are a couple moves -- like parrying -- that you may not even know exist unless you read a tutorial (like me). You can power up your swings, and using the variety of attacks is key to being successful. It has a lot in common with Super Smash Bros in the sense that it may seem like it's just chaos on screen, but don't confuse dynamic with confusion. This game isn't about button-mashing, and a skilled player who is aware of their surroundings and the trajectory of the ball will beat someone less familiar with how things work more often than not. But at the same time, there is always a chance you can win.

You're going to want a controller if you play it because I found the PC controls really awkward. I generally don't think they work with fighting games anyway, but maybe some strict PC gamers will be able to handle it more than I could.

Lethal League is a little light on content, but unlike a game like Titanfall, it is not a full-priced game either. You can choose between five characters, each with their own ability, look and feel, and there are different skins for each that you acquire as you level up.

There are only two match types; one-on-one and a free-for-all with up to four players. The four player mode is infinitely more fun because I appreciate the organized ridiculousness of it all. It gets fast and hectic in a hurry, and it's when Lethal League is at its best.

There's a challenge mode that acts as a story only there isn't really a story, so you just go through a series of different fights, against the characters in the form of singles competition or even handicap matches. I do have to admit, that the final boss was a nice touch, but ultimately you play this once and then there's no real need to play it again.

I'm more forgiving of the lack of content because they're an indie studio, it's a cheap game, and I love the premise so much, but unfortunately it already seems to suffer from the same thing a lot of online indie games do: a lack of community. There are people who play it, but I tried connecting to a game for two minutes today and couldn't. This will only get worse as time goes on because it is not Call of Duty and sustaining a fanbase will be difficult. It's a real problem, but it's not one that detracts from the talent of the team or the game itself... it's just the reality of popularity or lack thereof.

Lethal League oozes style, and is one of the best games of the year in that regard. The way it blends music and visuals is a sight to behold.

Firstly, the music is incredible. It's an awesome mash-up of 8-bit chiptune and hip-hop, and sounds much cooler than that may seem. Or maybe you're the kind of person who likes Nerdcore and that sounds great to you anyway. It's not like that, but it's legitimately awesome and some of the music -- such as a track that starts with, I think (but could be wrong) Bulgarian chants -- really gets you in the mood to fight. I don't know if there's even been a fighting game with a soundtrack this good. That could be hyperbole, so maybe I should pull it back a little: there hasn't been a fighting game with music this good in at least five years. Maybe ten. Regardless, the soundtrack is awesome.

The visuals follow suit, with a sort of graffiti tinged animation style, also helping with a hip-hop feel. If you haven't noticed, rap is clearly an influence here. This is even more evident when you look at the bottom of the screen and there is a boombox. The Lonely Island would be proud.

There is a lot of variety in the few stages that you fight in. Be it a street, or outside of a factory, there is a lot of detail put into the environments that you Pong each other to death in. Look into the background and you will see buildings, or a sunset, all drawn carefully and lovingly. The developers knew what they were doing with the visuals. Luckily, everything flows together well, and character animations are fluid.

Lethal League is the type of game you should definitely seek out. While it is low on content, it is still an enjoyable game and I hope the developers end up adding more at a later date. It's a special game, one that messes with genre conventions to present a slightly twisted, stylish, unique take on the games it was influenced by.


Rating: 8.5/10
Verdict: Low on content, but the gameplay, visuals and music are all outstanding and interesting. Unfortunately the strength lies within the online realm, and it's an indie game, so the community will not be big for very long... if you can even call it big now.

This Week In Games, August 31 - September 6 2014: The Sims 4, Hatoful Boyfriend, Joe Danger, Dead Rising 3, Runers, Velocity 2X, Dance Central Spotlight, Warframe And More!

Written By: Tyler

Hello everybody and welcome to another addition of This Week In Games, a weekly segment where I post random cat pictures and videos in an effort to gain viewership.

If you follow this blog then you know the skinny, but to those who are new to this thing, I go on Gamespot each week and see what games are coming out. I pick the more interesting ones, whether they're good or bad, and I write a little bit about them and give you the release dates. I used to be more picky with including ports and whatnot but now I just put whatever.

All the dates are North American releases, as well, because that's where I'm from. Sorry people from better continents.


August 31

There's nothing, games are dead.


September 1

The Fantabulous Adventures of Hedgehog Holmes

Coming Out For: PC
Genre: Point-and-Click Adventure
Gameplay: I can't seem to find a video.

It's hard to really know what this game has to offer since it is hard to find anything on it, but it's a whodunnit story mixed with point-and-click adventure, all rolled up into a package full of cute visuals. Unless the visuals are just a way to throw you off the scent (get what I did there?), then it's probably a fairly simple, light-hearted take on the genre. But I say this ignorantly.


Hexcells Infinite

Coming Out For: PC
Genre: Puzzle
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qi3ffxccFc

In this puzzler, which has 36 new challenges and the ability to randomly generate puzzles, you basically deal with patterns and destroying hexes that don't belong in the pattern. It's a little bit like Minesweeper, from what I understand. Anyway, there's a lot of content here for fans of this type of thing. Me? I'm too stupid to do puzzles.


September 2

Sims 4

Coming Out For: PC
Genre: Simulation
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qi3ffxccFc 

The newest installment of the wildly successful Sims games comes out this week, promising pretty much a more in-depth experience with real personalities for the Sims. I haven't played a game in the series since the first, but I might check this one out to see where it has gone.


Velocity 2X

Coming Out For: PS4/Vita
Genre: Platformer
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGsrGmIWxV0

As part of a cross-buy program for PS Plus subscribers, this game is actually free for the systems so there's no reason not to play it. It's a fast-paced platformer and it looks like a hell of a lot of fun. Throw bombs around, shoot all over the place, fight boss battles both outside or even inside (when you fly in them and take them down from the inside). I heard that the first Velocity was really good, which I can't confirm, but this definitely looks like a solid sequel then.


Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair 

Coming Out For: PS Vita
Genre: Murder Mystery Visual Novel
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfOQV2UKiv0

There are three main game modes in this game: Daily Life, Deadly Life and Class Trial. Daily Life has you interacting with people, gaining things to trade in for skills and whatnot. Deadly Life is when you discover a crime scene and have to try to find evidence to help with the Class Trial, which is a trial where you have to find the culprit.

You also have things like a virtual pet that can be accessed by pressing the pause button, and it grows with each step you take. There are other mini-games as well present.


Warriors Orochi 3 Ultimate

Coming Out For: PS4, PS Vita, Xbox One
Genre: Action/ Hack n' Slash
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCADiuSwGwg

Honestly, think Dynasty Warriors here, with perhaps a few little changes here and there to make them different. You beat down massive hordes of enemies like they're nothing simply by button mashing. I enjoy these types of games here and there, so I'm not being critical. I think simplicity is nice once in a while in games.


Dance Central Spotlight

Coming Out For: Xbox One
Genre: Dance
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEWATlmbWtY

Finally, the killer app for Xbox One is here. Forget Halo, this is it. Okay, seriously, I've never been one for Dance games but I know these have an audience. So get your Kinect ready and do what you always do in these games: dance along with some of the "hottest" songs. Woo!


Warframe

Coming Out For: Xbox One
Genre: Third-Person Action/Shooter
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pi0emSy-oeI

I have a bit of a history with Warframe. On PC I couldn't connect with my brother to play it so we abandoned it. When it came out for PS4 we played it a bit... enough to know what kind of game it is. Gamespot gave it a 6, but it's better than that. It's a fun 3rd person game where you can run up walls and stuff, with a variety of different types of characters to play as. It's free, which does put some things behind a pay wall, and some of the mechanics could use some polishing, but it's still a fun game... so this is a good thing for Xbox One.


Runers

Coming Out For: PC
Genre: Roguelike
Gameplay: http://store.steampowered.com/app/306550/

Runers is a roguelike, so what this entails is that it will have procedurally generated dungeons and death is final. However, you can collect runes to unlock unique skills, and there is apparently a bunch of customization, such as 20 races and 20 classes, the ability to be a long, mid or short-range fighter, among other things. If you're into Roguelikes, this looks like a fun addition.


Joe Danger

Coming Out For: PS Vita
Genre: Racing/Platformer
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krbY-qHR7rY

Joe Danger has been out for a while, but it's free on PS Vita this month. Stunt drive your way through the levels, flipping and crashing your way to victory. It got great reviews pretty much all around when it was released.


September 3

Apparently there's nothing here, according to Gamespot.


September 4

Cubemen 2

Coming Out For: Wii U
Genre: Action/Strategy
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7X5BkFqozs

I never heard of Cubemen until right now... and I think I'm picking this up if money permits. It's an action game where you command your cubemen in what looks to be a pretty intense game. There seems to be a lot going on. There are five different multiplayer modes, two campaigns, the ability to make your own levels and even cross-platform multiplayer. I hope this does well on Wii U.


Tappingo 2

Coming Out For: 3DS
Genre: Puzzle
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqwJ3VfT9rE

Here we have a puzzler for the 3DS. I put it here because it's a 3DS release. I know the original had some fans, and so maybe they'll be interested in a sequel.


Hatoful Boyfriend

Coming Out For: PC
Genre: Dating Simulator
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SnF_Y2vnso

Ah, yes. Here we have the infamous pigeon dating simulator where you help pigeons get down. Will you succeed in this kinda awkward/kinda cool game?


September 5

Dead Rising 3

Coming Out For: PC
Genre: Action
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObURLnfQxi4

The Xbox One launch game hits PC this week, so if you're interested in bashing zombies with whatever you can find -- I'm assuming that's still how it works -- then this is a game you may want to pick up. It will be an upgraded version, with better graphics and the like for all you PC master race members out there.


September 6

It's Saturday! So no, there's not a lot going on.



And there you have it... that's all the interesting games for this week. It's not a bad week, really. We got some big new releases, some interesting ports, and Hatoful Boyfriend. So the good, the bad and the weird are covered. If I missed anything feel free to yell at me on Twitter @ArtBathednCrime or just write in the comments below. Or write me a song and send it to me!

Fuck You Nintendo. Here Are My Thoughts On The New 3DS

Written By: Tyler

Sometimes it's hard to be a Nintendo loyalist. The Wii U had a botched launch, and they confused the hell out of more casual gamers to the point that they thought the Wii U was a Wii accessory. We're still waiting for a steady flow of Wii U games. Nintendo innovates in some ways, but then are so behind the curve in other ways, such as online gaming. Or there's the fact that in a game like Hyrule Warriors, they screw up the co-op by making one person play on the Gamepad while the other gets to play on a big screen (oh yeah, with no online co-op). There have been plenty of Nintendo blunders, both minor and major, but you get the point: Nintendo does awesome things once in a while, and once in a while they screw up. For every triumph, there seems to be a failure.

And yet I am a Nintendo fan, probably until I die. I have a love for Ninty that has been a gigantic part of my life for almost my entire life. I spent my youth playing games developed for the NES. I played these games before I even really understood what I was doing. In the immortal words of Brokeback Mountain, " I wish I knew how to quit you [Nintendo]."

My first blog post was a half-defense of the Wii U... one I still stand by. I enjoy the Wii U, and it sits firmly as my secondary console. I love the Gamepad. I love the exclusive titles I will see on the Wii U. The Playstation may be my primary console these days, but I will not go a generation without having a Nintendo console as, at least, my secondary. While I may play more Playstation, they don't have the loyalty from me that Nintendo does. No gaming company does.

After I got out of a movie last night, I had a message on Facebook from my older brother. It was a link to an article about Nintendo: more specifically, one about a new 3DS. I clicked on it cautiously. It turns out that they are releasing a 3DS with more CPU power, better 3D, more buttons, a new design, and more. It's really quite a wonderful release, and definitely moves the 3DS ahead.

The only problem is, they should have done this from the beginning. This is where I start to get angry.

The 3DS is a monster. I got one last year, and there were at least three games released on it that were among my top ten favourite games of last year. Animal Crossing: New Leaf won game of the year from me. Shin Megami Tensei 4 and Fire Emblem were high up there as well. While it doesn't see a lot of games, it certainly sees its fair share of quality games, and perhaps it isn't good for certain genres due to the limitation of only having one stick, but for things like platformers, RPGs, simulators, etc... it is wonderful.

Luckily Nintendo has decided to fix certain problems, by adding a C-Stick (among other things). Great. Why wasn't this originally in the plan for the 3DS? Or was it and they shipped an incomplete product to us originally? I am all for these upgrades, but they should have been there since the 3DS first shipped. They were painfully behind the times when they decided to only have one stick, and now they've finally decided to add one when people have already bought a fucking 3DS or even a 2DS, which came out less than a year ago.

So now we're expected to buy a new one, or potentially miss out on great games. There's a remake for Xenoblade Chronicles coming, and while I don't need it because I still own a Wii copy like a boss, that's a huge release. What other games will come out?

This shouldn't have happened halfway through its life cycle. They should have just rode the 3DS train until it was time for a new handheld, then implemented a lot of these features because unless everyone is just more understanding than myself, this is bound to create resentment.

Before anybody declares me as some whiny cunt, I'm cool with the 2DS because that was smart: release a version of the handheld without the unnecessarily 3DS shit and charge less. I'm cool with larger versions of the handheld that end up being a little more expensive. What I'm not cool with is segregating the audience by adding things that should have been there from the get-go.

This isn't an article about the confusion that the name may cause, even if that's true. This isn't an article filled with me hating on the advancements of technology. This is simply me ranting about the timing of a release like this. It isn't a money issue, because while I don't have an amazing job, I do well with buying games and consoles. I'm not being cheap, but it's stupid to expect us to buy a new one when the old one has only been out a little over three years.

Another thing that bothers me is that they are fixing something that isn't really broken. While it's true that it could benefit from a a C-Stick, more buttons, stronger technology, whatever, the 3DS is fine the way it is now. Nintendo should be focusing on the Wii U at this point, because they've already performed a magic trick with the 3DS and turned it around. It's time to concentrate on the console that has been a massive failure financially and critically.

Nintendo has not lost my loyalty. I'll get one of these when they're released in North America because I love games and am weak, but I will do so begrudgingly, because at the end of the day I feel like I'm being nickel and dimed. Not that it matters how much resentment I have when I buy it, because they will still be getting my money... but that doesn't make it morally right.

A Super Time Force Ultra Review -- It's Time To... Die, And Then Be Joined By Ghosts Of Our Former Selves

Written By: Tyler
Platform Played On: PC

The indie scene has a tendency of shitting out games that look similar to this one. There is a nostalgia associated with 8-bit and 16-bit games at this point, and it often charms us into thinking a game is better than it really is. There are games that pray on our weaknesses of looking to the past, and then there are games like Super Time Force that allow us to embrace both history and the future.

In STFU -- get it? Of course you do, every site points this out -- you play as one of many soldiers, each with their own unique pros, cons and different abilities. You are part of the Super Time Force, a time-traveling military lead by Colonel Repeatski. The basic goal here is the same as most games, except with time travel: you have to save the world. Whether this means going into the future or back to the dinosaurs, you have to do it because it is your civic duty.

The story is silly. Let's just get that out of the way. It's also important to note that the game is extremely self-aware (so self-aware that it may become sentinent, if you leave it alone), so the ridiculousness of the plot only helps the experience. Throughout the game, you will be treated to the mostly clever and quirky comments of all the characters involved, as they rip on stereotypes and ride the novelty of the story as far as it can go. It's not the funniest game ever developed, but if you're anything like me it will make you chuckle a couple times, or at the very least, put a smile on your face.

The graphics are gloriously old-school. They won't appeal to some people who can only deal with modern graphics, but for those who appreciate different art styles and don't just see this particular kind as an attempt to cash-in on nostalgia, there is a lot to like here. The character models are fairly detailed, given the circumstances, and levels are alive with colour. This isn't a drab, dark game... it gleefully uses a whole arsenal of colour. There is also a lot of things going on at any given time, like bullets flying at you, enemies jumping around, four of your characters all dazzling us with their gunplay and footwork. It gets really hectic but the game never looks bad because of it... just a little confusing.

Not only that, but the levels themselves are carefully crafted. Look at the background and you will surely see something going on, which makes the world feel bigger than the 2D stages that you exist in. You can see rust on objects, splatters, the whole nine yards. Some people think that creating a game with these types of visuals is easy, but it's not. It takes a different type of skill set to truly bring this brand of pixels to life. Super Time Force clearly had a lot of attention put into not just making a game that appeals to gamers from the late 80s and early 90s.

The music helps reinforce where the roots of this game lie. You're not going to hear an orchestra as you're blasting baddies. You're going to hear all the bleeps, bloops and blomps that you would hear in an NES game. It wouldn't really make sense to do it otherwise in this case, since the game is so entrenched in where it came from, but it's reassuring to know that -- like the visuals -- there was a lot of care put into making the music good on its own. It's not Shovel Knight good in this regard, with memorable track after memorable track, but it helps aid the experience. Unfortunately, as I played, there was so much going on the screen at a time that I didn't have a lot of time to actually concentrate on the music. I had to listen to the tracks as I wrote this review.

The most important aspect of Super Time Force is the one that sets it apart from other games of its ilk. It's Contra having a baby with Braid: only it's not as fun as Contra and doesn't have the emotional depth to support its gimmick like Braid.

I'll admit that the game looked like a lot of fun when I watched videos of it. I admired Capybara's attempt to redefine/innovate the classic 2D side-scrolling shooter by introducing a feature where you can rewind time at any given point, providing you still have some rewinds left (you get 30 each level). I still admire them for this, but I think the actual execution is a little bit lacking.

What you will most likely find out quickly, if you don't already know, is that it leans more on the puzzle side of things than the action side. Sure, you jump around, shoot things, platform to different ledges, shoot more things, fight a boss, kick some ass... but perhaps more importantly is how you manage time. You will die, and you will die lots, but dying is a learning experience here rather than a penalty.

This isn't even the scary part.

Every time you die, you can just rewind time and restart that particular area. Only something is different when you come back: the old version of you fights beside you, mimicking your own actions when you played as that particular character. What this means is that you could have a bunch of different "yous" on your screen at any given time, laying waste in a much quicker and efficient way than you would by yourself.

This is important because you only have sixty seconds per level, so you're always racing against the clock. There are ways to slow down time or add ten seconds onto the clock, but it is a very quick and stressful experience. Super Time Force aims to constantly put you on edge, with makes rewinding time a little hectic because you don't really have time to breathe.

Some will truly love that element of the game, but they contradict one another and lessened my enjoyment with the game. It's sad to admit because I am a guy who constantly gives praise to innovation because we're at the point where games that try something new should be encouraged, but I think I would have preferred if Super Time Force had less time manipulation and less Contra.

The mechanics are solid, and the game is extremely polished, but I felt myself getting frustrated more often than I had hoped. It's a pretty challenging game, but that's not my complaint. It's that this race against time spits in the face of the puzzle aspects. You may be thinking, "But Tyler, when you're rewinding time you can essentially take all the time you need in order formulate a proper plan," but that takes away from the action. Braid worked because it never shifted tones like this: it was always just a puzzler. Contra worked because it was non-stop action and required skill. Super Time Force is stuck in some kind of purgatory where sometimes it fumbles over the very mechanic that got it glowing endorsements originally.

That's not to say that the time mechanics aren't sometimes fun. Early in the game, you have to save someone, and this is an excellent usage of the core mechanic because it slows the game down and makes you solve a real puzzle, as opposed to making you just spawn different versions of yourself in order to complete a level. It was thrilling when it was used like that, but those moments are few and far between.

Super Time Force Ultra also includes bonuses that the original release did not. Namely, it has fifty challenges where the focus is on the puzzle aspect more than the shooting, for the most part. This is a little more rewarding because it's more straight forward and picks a side rather than flirting with both.

I know some people will think that I didn't enjoy the game as much as I had hoped because I suck, but that's not the case. I'm not awful at the game, but I'm not great. The problem was that I didn't feel a desire to get better because of the constant shifts between wanting to be an action game and wanting to be a puzzle game. I'm sure there is a way to make this work better than Super Time Force did, but I'm not reviewing a possibility, and as it stands, STFU is a completely solid game that can be really really frustrating.


Rating: 7.5/10
Verdict: It has its flaws, and the core mechanic of rewinding time actually makes the game stumble a bit more than it should, but it is still a fun game. We should praise it for trying something different, even if it's not something we'd prefer.

This Week In Games, August 24 - 30 2014: Madden NFL '15, Metro Redux, Infamous: Last Light, Lethal League, Hyperidemension Neptunia Re;Birth1, Steamworld Dig Wii U, Azure Striker Gunvolt, Super Time Force Ultra and Professor Layton Vs Phoenix Wright!

Written By: Tyler

Hello and welcome everybody to another edition of This Week In Games; the weekly feature where I teach you how to make the best peanut butter and jam sandwiches.

Each week I go to Gamespot and I see what games are coming out this week. I then write about the games that I think are interesting/important for the week. All the release dates are North American because that's where I was born and raised, on the playground is where I spent most of my days, so sorry to anybody who isn't from North America. I love you, I just can't cover your continent too.


August 24

Nothing.



August 25

Super Time Force Ultra

Coming Out For: PC
Genre: Platformer/Action
Gameplay:http://ca.ign.com/videos/2014/05/02/super-time-force-release-date-trailer

If you follow my blog, I mentioned -- during Gamescom -- that this was one of the reasons I was jealous of anybody who had an Xbox One or an Xbox 360. I have neither so I missed out on this game when it was originally released. Luckily, PC is getting an enhanced version with a few new characters and challenge modes, so I'll get to play this lovely retro-inspired time-manipulating side-scrolling shooting death-defying son of a bitch.

Seriously, this game looks awesome and I like that it has the "rewind time" mechanic, a lot of characters to choose from and a lot of carnage to commit.



August 26


Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1

Coming Out For: PS Vita
Genre: RPG
Gameplay: http://www.gamespot.com/videos/hyperdimension-neptunia-re-birth1-official-trailer/2300-6419885/

I've never played Hyperdimension Neptunia, but I almost bought it one time. I can't remember why I thought it'd be interesting, but I did. Anyway, Re;Birth1 is a remake of the original on Vita so you'll get more bang for your buck. The warning here, of course, is that it looks very Japanese so people who aren't into JRPGs will probably want to avoid this.



Metro Redux

Coming Out For: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Genre: Shooter/Horror
Gameplay: http://www.gamespot.com/articles/remastered-versions-of-metro-2033-metro-last-light-hitting-xbox-one-ps4-and-pc-on-august-26/1100-6420698/

I've only played Metro: Last Light but it was lovely. It was dark, violent, scary and well put together so just based on that I'd recommend this package of both games. It's an enhanced edition, so better AI, graphics, that kind of thing. It's a perfect time to play these games if you haven't already.



Madden NFL ' 15

Coming Out For: PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360
Genre: Sport
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrKYDuZVbas

The newest installment of Madden is here and it looks like Madden! I'm not a football fan, and I can't remember the last time I played a Madden, but let's be honest: you already know if you're getting this or not because you already know how often you buy new EA Sports games.


Infamous: First Light

Coming Out For: PS4
Genre: Sandbox/Action
Gameplay:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xhNuUHs2_g

Here is the new DLC for Infamous: Second Son, a game that I enjoyed. I'm getting a little burnt out on Infamous at this point because after three games of essentially the same thing (yes I know you get more than one type of power in Second Son but they all function basically the same), I feel like there needs to be a change. They're still great games, worthy of at least an 8/10 though.

In the DLC, you play as Fetch... the girl who gave you the Neon power. They're promising that she will function differently because she's much faster than the main character of Second Son, and since she's had the power for a long time she knows how to use it better. I don't own Second Son so I won't be picking it up, but it could be fun DLC if you want to complete her story.



August 27

Lethal League

Coming Out For: PC

Genre: Action/Fighting

Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j78X5LluM5U

Lethal League is an interesting mash-up, and now that I've actually sat down and watched a video of it I'm intrigued. Basically it's a fighting game where you can play with up to four people (plus online) and smash each other... only there's a projectile constantly moving so you have to be aware of that. You can hit the projectile back and forth to cause damage. It's actually quite cool when you see it in action because of the pretty awesome music and the art-style. This game has style, yo.



August 28

Steamworld Dig

Coming Out For: Wii U
Genre: Platformer/Action/Adventure
Gameplay: http://ca.ign.com/videos/2014/08/14/steamworld-dig-wii-u-gameplay-demo-ign-live-gamescom-2014

Steamworld Dig was released on 3DS and got great reviews with the mixture of Metroidvania and digging ala Minecraft or Terraria. I never got to play it on 3DS, and due to financial issues I may not get to play this right away, but it looks like a hell of a lot of fun, so you should definitely pick this version up if you're a Wii U owner.


August 29

Professor Layton VS Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney 

Coming Out For: 3DS   
Genre: Puzzle
Gameplay: http://www.gamespot.com/videos/professor-layton-vs-ace-attorney-official-trailer/2300-6412655/

I imagine this is a pretty big release for fans of the series, because crossovers are cool. This game will mix elements from both games, obviously, such as being able to examine scenes for clues or grilling people in a court room. I've never been into either of the games so I don't really even know if they're good.


Azure Striker Gunvolt

Coming Out For: 3DS
Genre: Action/Platformer
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAClxYeHqMU

I didn't know anything about this game but it shot up to one of the more anticipated releases of the week for me. It's this, Super Time Force Ultra and Steamworld Dig Wii U that I'm looking forward to most. Gunvolt is an intense 2D action game where you play as a 14 year old boy with psychic powers who is trying to take down an evil organization. I'm not sure why Japanese games always have little kids as characters, but still, count me in.

It has RPG mechanics in the sense you can level up, get new skills and develop new equipment, and the action looks crazy. Unfortunately this won't be a game that will drag people to Nintendo because it doesn't have massive name recognition (despite the legendaryKeiji Inafune executive producing it), but I'll be surprised if it's not one of the best 3DS games of the year.



August 30

Notta.


I think there are quite a few cool releases this week. We have some remastered/remade games, a yearly sports title that people love, some interesting indie games. There should be something this week to tickle your fancy.

Did I miss a game you're looking forward to? Yell at me on Twitter @ArtBathednCrime