Koe (声) Kickstarter: Learning Japanese? I Really Think So…

Posted on February 27, 2014 by geelw

One of the main hurdles (if not THE main hurdle) for some gamers who lobe Japanese games is the language barrier. Another hurdles is laziness when it comes to learning new and important things like languages. Yeas, I said it and you can go on ahead and admit it if you’re reading this and happen to collect or be interested in collecting and playing games from Japan. Some of you (your narrator included) know a teeny tiny bit of the language but just haven’t had the time to sink into some proper learning situations for assorted reasons (lazy!) or are indeed too busy to seek out a tutor. Or we’re just too darn cheap (hey, a good tutor costs good money!). Anyway, Strawberry Games (Jitesh Rawal, Sayuki and Dan Tsukasa for now) is working on what’s looking like a fantastic solution and yes, it’s a Kickstarter project worth helping fund for a few reasons… Continue reading →

Dark Souls II Collector’s Edition Reveal: I Need To Put Up Some Shelves, It Seems…

Posted on February 26, 2014 by geelw

Well, wow. I have no room for those big box set Limited and Collector’s Editions some (and some would say too many) games get these days, but I’d sell someone’s kidney for this one. As usual, I have to say “someone” because I rather like both of mine (we’re VERY close) and I think I can find a willing volunteer if I look hard enough. Hmmm… I wonder how I can word that Craigslist ad so it makes it look appealing that some ~~sap~~ willing ~~victim~~ soul would be more than happy to go under the knife AND sell their own part (or parts if there are any other organs they thing they have no use for) on the black market AND deliver me the cash (cash ONLY!) before the game ships out on March 11? What, that’s TOO much to ask for? Nonsense, I say! Heck, I’d go to GameStop myself and BUY the game after all that, so it’s not as if I was asking that ~~fool~~ person to do that (which is the most painful thing of all if you’re like me and hate going to GameStop)…

You know where to reach me, folks. I just need ONE ~~sucker~~ volunteer…

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 Launch Trailer: Vampire Post-Weekend Busts Up The Monday Blahs…

Posted on February 24, 2014 by geelw

Well, here’s a fine way to kick off a Monday, folks. Knowing that Tuesday will be better because Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 is arriving in stores and online here in the US (Europe and the UK get theirs a few days later). Well, tomorrow is a big launch day for a few titles, but I’m thinking this one will be the one many are looking forward to the most. With developer MercurySteam going out in style here, it’ll be interesting to see what new plans Konami has for the franchise in the future. As for the present (today) and near future (tomorrow), I’d say fans and new players should enjoy what’s here quite a lot.

THIEF Launch Trailer: So Much For the Element of Surprise, Huh?

Posted on February 20, 2014 by geelw

Hey Garrett! The jig’s up, you know. SOMEONE decided to shoot out this launch trailer BEFORE your crafty little game has shipped out so now EVERYONE will know what you’re up to and perhaps NOT want to let such a skilled thief into their homes. You’re not going to succeed in your burgling ways if everyone tapes shut their windows, triple-bars their doors and gets a guard dog for the guard dog. Ha! You think you’re still going to get around safely now that we all know that you’re up to (or will be on February 25)? Yeah, well… good luck with that, pal. I think it was someone at Square Enix or Eidos, by the way (in case you want to get all clubby and stabby or something). You go take care of them and maybe you’ll see a few folks who didn’t see this post pop up on launch day to pick you up and take you home with them. You KNOW what to do after that, correct? I thought so…

Let Dark Souls II’s Hollow Lullaby Rattle Around In Your Skull For A Bit…

Posted on February 20, 2014 by geelw

Because it will be the last thing some of you new players will hear before you throw that controller down and start jumping up and down on it. Yes, Dark Souls II is going to be the HARDEST game some of you have played and it’s supposed to be because it wants you to learn how to play it properly. Go in like Kratos on a caffeine high and you’re dead like that steak in the freezer. On the other hand, take time to get into the game and realize you can (and should} be patient as you figure out how to deal with multiple enemies, deathtraps galore, bosses that take up too much real estate and more hazards and you LEARN what to do through pure trial and error. Mostly error if you slip into old habits. March 11 can’t come fast enough, but I dread it because I know this game will EAT any free time I thought of having and my dreams will get darker and grimmer thanks to some of the meaner enemies my poor avatar will face off against.

Thanks, FromSoftware for making my nightmares much more lively. I think I’ll need that Monster Eater Kit I saw at Toy Fair after all…

Sacred 3: Asceron’s Bringing Its RPG Series Back In A Big Way…

Posted on February 20, 2014 by geelw

I’d say “it’s about time!” or something like that, but I knew developer Asceron was working on Sacred 3 and didn’t mind waiting at all. With publisher Deep Silver coming to the rescue and getting this out worldwide, this bodes well for fans of the franchise wanting more after the solid Sacred 2 and its expansion. For the uninitiated, the Sacred series is an open-world isometric action RPG that some compare to Blizzard’s Diablo series, but is actually a bit better in some respects. The freedom to go where you wish (at your own peril, as enemies can be quite brutal if you get in over your head) and variety of male and female human and non human character classes make this one an evergreen series with massive replay value.

The great thing is this one’s coming to PS3, Xbox 360 and PC this summer, so there’s no need to run out and buy a new console to play it on if you haven’t made the switch yet. I’m all for that, as it takes a while for these new systems to really get going and show what they can do. As for that multiplayer mode? I don’t need it at all as I play for the story and characters, but I’m glad it’s there for those who want to beat up on each other or how need help with the tougher bosses in the game…

Strider Returns! My Hiryu Is Your Hiryu Now, Too…

Posted on February 19, 2014 by geelw

Eeek. To add to this silly and busy week, Capcom has released an reboot of Strider, the classic arcade game many of my gaming dollars went into back in the day. This new version is from developer Double Helix and looks pretty nifty and quite challenging. I’ll probably not get to this until the weekend, but I think I’m ready to have my ass handed to me a few times before I get through this one. We’ll see. It’s too bad this can’t be played on the Vita OR Wii U , but oh well (I still say why aren’t these on MORE platforms? Both the Vita and Wii U could use a fun and tricky retro platformer like this) Hmmm… I also see Dustforce also came out and I missed that launch last week (oops!). I need to check my inbox for a review code, I guess. Hey, I’ve been a bit busy here, people!

IndieGala Stress Test Bundle: Six Bucks (or Under) For Seven Games? Sure, Why Not?

Posted on February 16, 2014 by geelw

We interrupt me about to keel over at Toy Fair from exhaustion for a special message: IndieGala has gone rogue, REPEAT: IndieGala has gone ROGUE! Actually, they’re conducting a little experiment in the form of a stress test that’s a bundle sale on seven games, six from Sigma Team and one from Ice Pick Lodge:

– Pathologic
– Alien Hallway
– Alien Shooter
– Alien Shooter 2: Conscription
– Alien Shooter 2: Reloaded
– Zombie Shooter
– Zombie Shooter 2

Yes, it’s a pay what you want deal, but the recommended amount is a measly six bucks (ten times less that what this bundle is work if it were purchased separately. Sigma Team’s simple, bloody shooters are fun run & gun Action/RPG-like hybrids that allow for what looks like hundreds of enemies on screen (of the space bug and undead varieties) and Ice Pick Lodge’s Pathologic is a bizarre adventure/RPG with three playable characters, a very unusual plot and some pretty creative character designs. Not a bad deal, the money goes to charity and you get o feel good about yourself after you spend that money. OK, back to my crazy day… I’m wiped out!

Cloudbuilt: Eternal Run Shines (of the Spotless Kind)…

Posted on February 15, 2014 by geelw

I haven’t even played Coilworks’ incredible looking Cloudbuilt yet, but between that very descriptive game trailer above and the lovely screens below, I’m getting a serious Gunvalkyrie meets Mirror’s Edge meets Mega Man vibe – and that’s a damn good thing.

Man, I wish this game was on consoles on a disc so MORE people could play it. The sense of speed and what looks like solid controls only add to the fun, and given the levels seem to be open to each player’s skills, I’m expecting this to be one of those games that’s not played and put away (or deleted) any time soon (unless you’re a total loser who despises a decent challenge). Now I just need to find time to actually play that demo I’m being teased with, as Toy Fair is going to take up a huge chunk of my time for the next four days and afterward as I write up a few articles. Eh, it’ll all work out soon enough. It always does. Back in a bit.

BOUND BY FLAME: Spiders’ New RPG Seems Quite Witcher-iffic. This Is A Good Thing.

Posted on February 14, 2014 by geelw

A-ha. I was wondering just what developer Spiders was up to, as they last teamed up with Cyanide Studios for Of Orcs and Men and Cyanide is now busy with the follow-up, STYX: Master of Shadows. Spiders is working on BOUND BY FLAME, an upcoming fantasy action/RPG set to hit PC, PS4 and “last” gen consoles later this year (although there seems to be no Xbox One version? Hmmmm…). Casting such a wide SKU net usually means a drop in quality somewhere unless you have a developer who knows their stuff, and I think Spiders can pull this off if they’ve learned from proper criticism of previous games. I like the visual style here (although the faces on the characters look a bit… “off”) and the gameplay and mature time seems similar enough to CD Projekt RED’s The Witcher games that the game may find an audience among those who like European-style RPGs as much as they like the games made here and elsewhere. That crafting system looks pretty fun as well and I hope it’s as flexible as noted in the trailer above.

Like Focus Home Interactive other RPGs, I’ll be keeping an eyeball on this one. I still get use out of my PS3, so I may go that route for the final just because I don’t need to connect it online in order to play stuff. We shall see, as usual…