I’ll be honest, DC Universe Online wasn’t even on my rader until I saw this video yesterday which is epic in more ways that I can possibly describe. Just watch it and join me in wishing that this was a soone to be released movie rather then a totally lame slightly-less epic MMO due out this coming November. I’ve posted a gameplay demo / Q&A session that some folks had with the developers at E3 2010 which is decidedly less impressive then the above trailer. Add in the $14.99 a month subscription fee for both the PC and PS3 version and the game suddenly loses quite a bit of its initial luster. =T_T=

Hit the jump, watch demo for yourself, and let me know what you think. I’d love to hear how my DC fans in the audience feel about the new game being an MMO and anything else that’s on your minds about the new game.

The game is currently available at most retailers and comes in three different flavors: Standard, Collector, and Sweaty Nerd Hero. Amazon is currently offering a bunch of goodies to anyone who preorders…

Received a press release today informing me that the newest installment in the BlazBlue series has just been released for the PS3 and the Xbox 360. Dubbed BlazBlue: Continuum Shift, this spiritual successor to the lauded Guilty Gear series of fighting games is sure to set controllers afire around the country as gamers rush to beat the crap out of as many people as possible around the world. In addition to the usual upgrades such as new stages and characters, Continuum Shift will also include a variety of game play modes as well. Personally, I’m probably going to be spending a lot of time with the all new “Beginner mode,” since I’ve always sucked at Guilty Gear and I’m way behind the curve on BlazBlue =T_T=

On a much more sour note, I should also mention that Aksys Games will be offering an additional new character, named Makoto, as part of a DLC package being released next month. It would have been nice if this content could have been included in the game when it hit store shelves today, but apparently the new content pack isn’t due to be released in Japan until August 5th. Ultimately, the fact that U.S. gamers will be forced to pony up an additional $10 (rough estimate) for the privelage to play as her in the U.S. leaves a bit of a bitter taste in my mouth.

Hit the jump to read the full press release from Aksys Games. Please note that the press release doesn’t include any details about the new character DLC, but you can find out more about her by going here.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

…Rebel 1… FIGHT!

The ground-breaking High Definition 2D fighter BlazBlue makes its triumphant return

to home consoles! Do you have a ticket to Kagutsuchi, cuz the hype train is coming!

Torrance, CA (July 27th, 2010) – Aksys Games, a publisher of interactive entertainment products, proudly announces BlazBlue: Continuum Shift, shipping out to stores today! The first BlazBlue Playstation3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360 versions were recently top 4 finalists for the VGA Awards, and Aksys Games is proud to announce we will be bringing the arcade sequel to the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation 3 system!

BlazBlue: Continuum Shift inherits all the key features of its predecessor while adding a few twists of its own. Tsubaki, μ-12 and Hazama will join the ranks of the veterans, who will be reborn with additional moves to their arsenal. With new modes like Beginner Mode and Tutorial Mode, even fighting game beginners can pull off combos like the pros and dive right into the action.

“If you’re not on the hype train this time, you’re missing out on the latest greatest 2D game from Arc”, exclaims Gail Salamanca, Marketing Director of Aksys Games. “GET HYPE, CHOO CHOO”!

BlazBlue Continuum Key Features:

• New Modes featuring Beginner Mode, Tutorial Mode and Challenge Mode!

Beginner Mode encourages a wider audience with an easier control scheme, anyone can jump right into and play! Tutorial allows the novice and pros to practice everything from the basic mechanics unique to BlazBlue. Challenge Mode offers advanced players character-specific combos and missions.

• Take over Kagutsuchi by creating your own army in Legion Mode!

Defeat the enemy armies positioned at various locations on the map. The ultimate goal is to color the entire map with your color by defeating all the enemy hubs. Recruit enemy soldiers by defeating them!

• Brand new characters, stages, soundtracks and moves!

Welcome Hazama the mysterious performer, Tsubaki the valiant female knight and μ-12.

3D dimensionality and 2D visuals integrated seamlessly with every stage. Four completely new stages with composer, Daisuke Ishiwatari’s seven banging new songs for Continuum Shift!

• Online battling domestically and overseas!

Players can battle others from around the world via the PlayStationNetwork and Xbox LIVE network. Players can not only search for matches, play games, and observe matches online; they can also chat with friends while playing.

About Aksys Games Inc.

Located in Torrance, California and founded in 2006, Aksys Games is well known for being a visionary within the fighting game sector while expanding into other genres such as RPGs, fishing and family style games. Some of their more popular games include the BlazBlue, Battle Fantasia, Hooked: Real Motion Fishing, and the Bit.Trip series.

“My name is Souhei Niikawa, and I am the producer of Nippon Ichi Software. Thank you very much for coming to NIS America’s press event tonight. From this year on, Nippon Ichi Software will limit the number of titles we release in a year. We are doing this to improve the game quality, and also to increase the customer satisfaction. The games that have been showcased here tonight were strictly selected and developed with this new policy.

(hit the jump for titles and video samples)

The first title is Z.H.P.

This is our latest dungeon RPG that has been created by the same staff members of Disgaea 3. The project began soon after the release of Disgaea 3 and for 2 years it has been under intense development to formulate the game system. We’re proud to say that Z.H.P. was made to surpass the Disgaea series and, also it is a title with all of our know how’s and ideas we build upon combined in to. To describe how confident we are about this title…let’s just say we’re as excited as the time when we first developed Disgaea.  This is a title that we would like to nurture into the level of Disgaea, so please help us.

The 2nd title is Cladun. This is a hack & slash type action RPG.

This title also has some of the same staff members as Disgaea and it is highly addictive.  As our wish, it would be great if you can help these 2 titles grow.

Oh and one last thing. This year the latest Disagea will be released in Japan and it will be for the PS3. Plans to make Disagea evolve to a new level and also plans to surprise everybody is in progress. By the time Tokyo Game Show comes around we will be able to release more information, so please look forward to it. Thank you very much.”

—

End of message.

Although it wasn’t mentioned in the speech, NISAmerica also announced the third chapter in the Ar Tonelico series.  This new game will be an all new adventure with new characters and a new setting, so folks who missed out on the first to games on the PS2 should be able hop right in on this one.

Ar Tonelico Qoga

More Info:

• Official Cladun website
• Official Z.H.P website
• NIS America Videogames (Amazon)

There’s not a lot to your average shmup (shoot ‘em ups), but that’s never been the point. A good shmup, especially one of the “bullet-hell” variety, is all about testing your skill against insane odds in effort to get the highest score possible. Deathsmiles, the newest shmup release from Aksys games, meets this goal in admirable fashion despite sporting a design style that is sure to make some folks extremely uncomfortable.

Billed as a side-scrolling bullet-hell shooter with gothic lolita sensibilities from the reveried developer, Cave, Deathsmiles is really just a thinly veiled excuse for pedobears to blow shit up while dodging enemies and oggling the underage character of their choice. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not here to judge. All I’m saying is that the characters range in age and body type from a flat chested eleven year old to a rather buxom nightie-wearing seventeen year old. If the previous sentence disturbs you in anyway, you should probably think carefully before you pick this title up on Amazon. On the other hand, if it sounds like the greatest thing you’ve heard since someone told you that “To Catch a Predator” got cancelled, feel free to buy as many copies as you want.

Anyway, now that we’ve gotten the important loli stuff out the way, let’s talk about the real meat of the game. My average run through Deathsmiles usually didn’t last more than thirty minutes from start to finish. Even with a couple of optional levels thrown in, there’s just not a lot meat to this game. Replay value for Deathsmiles is based solely on how much you enjoy testing yourself against nearly impossible odds over and over again until you get that perfect run or unseat that jackass online who always seems to be a 1000 points ahead of you the leaderboards.

Despite the limited material they had to work with, Aksys has really tried to make this the best version of Deathsmiles you can find. Optional modes include an arcade perfect port of the original game (sooo grainy!), a 360 version that upgrades the graphics of the original arcade version but doesn’t change the gameplay, a 1.1 version that allows players to control their familiar using the right stick for added depth, and several variations of the hard-to-find (in Japan) Mega Black Label edition that includes a new playable character, remixed graphics and various other additions.

Bottom Line:

Since I only received a review copy of the game and not the full retail package, I won’t comment on whether I think the extra items included with the full retail package balance out the $50 asking price for such a short game.  What I will say is that Deathsmiles is a fun little game that does an excellent job of targeting the all important lolicon shmup market.  Although the game is quite a bit of fun, I’ve also beaten the crap out of this game over ten times in less than two days.  Even with the addition of two player co-op action on Xbox Live, multiple difficulties (ranging from easy to are you insane?!) and numerous gameplay variations, I just don’t see this game having a lot of long-term replay value for anyone but the hardest of the hardcore shmup players.   

Final Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed By: Laughncat 1

Description:  Deathsmiles Limited Edition for the Xbox 360 (includes an exclusive Deathsmiles Xbox 360 faceplate, a CD soundtrack and special boxart

Purchasing:

UPDATE – 07/22/10:
NIS America has announced they will be remastering volume 1 of both Toradora and Persona to address transfer issues with both sets. For details, go here.

Persona -Trinity Soul- TV series is supposed to take place ten years after the events detailed in the Persona 3 videogame.  I say “supposed to” because after watching the first thirteen episodes of the Trinity Soul series, I’ve concluded that there’s very little connective tissue between the two stories.  Folks who played the game will notice nods to the source material in the first episode of the TV series, such as when Shin meets the ever-mysterious Igor in a dream.  Other than a few nods here and there though, the TV series is nothing like the game, which I guess is good for newcomers to the series, but can be off putting for fans attempting to mentally align the events of the game with those in the TV series.

It doesn’t help that Trinity Souls plot moves at a snail’s pace and only grudgingly doles out information when absolutely necessary.  Despite its dark atmosphere, the best parts of the show so far have been the filler episodes. These episodes due little to advance the story, but provide some much needed levity from the show’s dreary, overly drawn out story while simultaneously fleshing out characters that would have little depth otherwise.  I’m sure there is a good story buried somewhere inside the tangled plot the writers have woven so far, but too often the show is just pointlessly opaque rather than mysterious.  I will admit, though, that I’ve become steadily more engrossed in the show as it has progressed, I just cannot stop wishing aloud that the plot for the series would follow a more linear path rather then that constantly stumbling off on weird tangents all the time.

All grumblings about the plot aside, I will admit that I am VERY pleased with NISA’s packaging of the show. Similar to the Toradora set I reviewed last week, this premium edition of Persona -Trinity Soul- is absolutely beautiful.  In fact, I will go so far to say that the packaging and the art book included with it are superior to the packaging used for the Toradora release.  Especially so when it comes to the hardback book that comes packaged with the series.  Not only is it laid out in a much more visually pleasing and coherent manner, but it also includes the complete version of the children’s book A Whale’s Feather that is featured throughout series.  I loved the book’s layout and I really wish that more of the book had been dedicated to showing larger scale images of the characters and their personas.  The intricate nature of the various persona designs really doesn’t come through with the small thumbnail images used in conjunction with each character’s bio.

On the AV side of things, I had many of the same issues I had with my Toradora review.  The video transfer seems especially soft and I was constantly fiddling with my settings trying to sharpen up the image.  The biggest problem I had though related to interlacing issue through both disc.  I’ve included an example of what I’m talking about below, but I want to stress that this is just a sample and is not representative of a whole.  In terms of normal viewing, most folks won’t notice the interlacing issue at all while other’s may see it just seem like a skipped frame when characters are in motion.  The only time I really noticed it was during scenes with a lot of action and to be honest, this could quite possibly be a problem with the original masters from Japan and not an encoding issue on NISA’s part.  Still, as with my Toradora review, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention it during this review.

Bottom Line:

As a fan of the Persona videogame series, I was really looking forward to the Trinity Soul TV series.  Unfortunately, the show is needlessly slow (even for a drama or a mystery) and only clues the viewer in on what’s going on only when it’s absolutely necessary.  I enjoy a good drama sometimes, but the point of the Persona series has always been about summoning powerful spirits to beat the crap out of other supernatural baddies (like possessed toilets).  I’m not saying I want to see Shin and the gang fight a demonic toilet, but I would like to feel like the show is going to get somewhere in the near future instead of constantly just hinting stuff is going to happen at some point. 

Ultimately, I recommend giving volume one of Persona -Trinity Soul- a try, but don’t expect it to knock your socks off.  It’s an average series that’s aiming for greatness, and if we’re lucky, all of that effort will pay off when the series concludes in August.

Final Score: 3 out 5 stars

Reviewed By: Laughncat 1

Description: Persona -Trinity Soul- Volume 1 Premium Edition of DVD ( 13 TV episodes on two DVDs. Japanese language only with English subtitles.)

Purchasing:

• Persona – Trinity Soul- Volume 1 Premium Edition
• Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES (PS2)

Gamestop announced in today’s email newsletter that they will be running a three day sale on all used games. All used games and accessories will be “Buy two, get one free” with with an additional 10% off the final total for those with a Gamestop “Edge” card. Customers can take advantage of the sale at any Gamestop store or by using the code “B2G1Free” during check out on the Gamestop website. The sale begins immediately and will run through this Saturday, so if you’re looking to stock up on some games to keep you busy during the hot summer, now is a good time =^_^=

More Info:

• Gamestop website

Akysys games was kind enough to send some press releases my way late last week about a couple of upcoming releases that have really piqued my interest.  The first is a visual horror novel for the DS titled 9 hours, 9 persons, 9 doors.  Up in ’till now, my only experiance with the whole visual novel craze in Japan has been a few of the…er…more mature titles that can be found on the internet.  Ahem.  Anyway, this upcoming DS game looks to have a pretty interesting plot and I’m definitely interested in giving it a try after watching the trailer.

The second title, which I’ve posted a video of after the break, is Blazing Souls Accelerate for the PSP.  The trailer for the game reminds me strongly of Super Robot Taisen OG: Endless Frontier except it’s a strategy RPG.  Fans of games like Disgaea and Final Fantasy Tactics should feel right at home based on the early screenshots.

More Info:

• 9 hours, 9 persons, 9 doors press release
• Blazing Souls Accelerate press release

BioWare officially let the cat of out the bag this morning with it’s announcement that last year’s amazing RPG, Dragon Age, is receiving a sequal.  Details are still sparse at this time, but the news blurb on the Dragon Age II website claims that the new game will star a new main character and take place over the course a decade in that character’s life. Although I’m not crazy about some of the new design choices as long as it’s as good as the last game, I’ll be extremely happy.  

Anyway, here’s the short list of what BioWare is claiming about the upcoming game:

No word yet on whether ANY of the previous game’s characters and/or decisions will be intergrated into the new story, but hopefully some of these questions will be answered when’s the August edition of Game Informer begins arriving in mail boxes around the country later this month.   The new issue of Game Informer promises ten full pages of exclusive coverage in their August issue and will more than likely become the masturbatory material of choice for the more fanatical fans out there.  Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go pitch a tent by my mailbox as I wait for my copy of Game Informer to show up.

More Info:

• Dragon Age II official webpage
• Joystiq article
• Joystiq article (2)

According to a recent press release, the second and concluding volumes of Toradora and Persona -Trinity Soul- will be released in late August of this year.  Both releases will contain the last thirteen episodes of each series and will come packaged as part of premium boxset complete with hardcover art books. Preorders for both volumes are already available at select retailers on the internet.

More Info:

• Toradora wiki
• Persona -Trinity Soul- wiki
• Toradora volume 2 premium boxset (Right Stuf, NISA)
• Persona -Trinity Soul- volume 2 premium boxset (Right Stuf, NISA)

My time with Alan Wake began with so much promise. Tight controls, an engaging premise, and wonderful lead in via the Bright Falls webisodes. Unfortunately, despite a strong start, it doesn’t take long for Alan Wake to squander its potential with a slew of bad design choices.

There’s simply no better way to describe Alan Wake’s bi-polar gameplay design than to paraphrase the old poem, “The Little Girl”:

“When Alan Wake was good,
It was very, very good,
And when it was bad it was horrid.”

Alan Wake’s greatest sin is that it goes from being dark and creepy to ridicules. As tired as I got of fighting the same four types of human enemies on every level, at least they managed to scare me occasionally. Sure, they fought the exact same way every level, but at least their clothes changed to fit the environment and, after a while, I even knew exactly how many shots it would take to kill each type. I cannot say the same about having to duke it out possessed lampshades, chairs, pipes and enraged farm equipment. Having my way blocked by a pair of pissed of fence gates or being chased by a large chandler just doesn’t have what it takes to make me wet my pants in fear.

Oh, and while I talking about ridicules design decisions, losing all my collected guns and ammo at the beginning of every single chapter (and at least once mid-chapter) got really old, really fast. If I count the dream sequence at the beginning of the game, Alan loses all his weapons and flashlight at least eight different times throughout the course of the game. I seriously hope that when the sequel comes out, it comes with a free roll of duct tape or a bottle of superglue for Alan so he can stop losing shit all the time.

In the end, the only reason I kept playing Alan Wake was for the story. I had a good idea of how it was going to end long before the credits rolled, but I still wanted to see it for myself. Alan’s love for his wife and his overwhelming need to save her from the dark force that had settled over the city of Bright Falls was compelling. The friends and townsfolk who aid him in his journey are engaging, if not always very well developed, but at least they faired better than the various villains in the game did.

Throughout the game, major villains are introduced and discarded almost a quickly as they appear. Most of them serve as nothing more than monster-of-the-week type fodder to get Alan from point A to point B without any real development of their character or motivations. For someone who’s supposedly a New York Times bestselling author on a mission to save his wife by writing himself into one of his own stories, Alan storytelling skills appear to be on the same level as your average fan fiction writer.

Sadly, by the time I finally did reach the end, I was so disillusioned with the whole experience that I couldn’t get rid of the game fast enough. In fact, my rental copy from Blockbuster accidentally included a free DLC code card with my copy, but I didn’t even bother with it because I no longer cared. The game has zero replayability, so unless you’re planning on mining it for some of the more retarded achievements like “knock over fourteen different can pyramids” or “collect a hundred coffee thermoses,” you’re not going to spending much time with it after the credits roll.

Bottom Line:
Alan Wake is a game that begins strong and has some genuinely great moments to offer, but the humdrum combat and pathetic enemy line up keeps it from ever reaching its full potential. Perhaps the sequel will address these problems, but until then, you’re better off just renting this title for the weekend or waiting until it hits your local bargain bin.

Final Score: 2 out of 5 stars
Reviewed By: Laughncat 1
Description: Alan Wake for the Xbox 360