The fifth and final chapter in season of of Telltale’s Fables-based serial The Wolf Among Us, is landing next week called Cry Wolf.
It will premiere on 8th July on PC, Mac and PS3 in North America. Then, on 9th July, it will launch on European PS3s and XBLA worldwide. Finally, on 10th July it will come to iOS (both iPhone and iPad).
This new trailer gives us a glimpse of what trials wait ahead for our lupine hero in The Wolf Among Us’ season finale.
Ubisoft has announced the launch of pre-orders for the most complete Far Cry 4 package available: the Ultimate Kyrat Edition. Presented in an exclusive box, this definitive fan package will include all the elements featured in the Kyrat Edition and in the Limited Edition as well as the Season Pass that will allow players to get access to the forthcoming Far Cry 4 downloadable contents. Only in the EMEA territories, players will be able to purchase this Ultimate Edition for PlayStation4, Xbox One, and Windows PC, on the uPlay Shop – shop.ubi.com/UltimateKyratEdition.
The Far Cry 4 Ultimate Kyrat Edition features:
With Far Cry 4 players will experience the most expansive and immersive Far Cry ever, in an entirely new, massive open-world. Players will find themselves in Kyrat, a breathtaking, perilous and wild region of the Himalayas struggling under the regime of a despotic self-appointed king. Using a vast array of weapons, vehicles and animals, players will write their own story across an exotic open-world landscape. Developed by Ubisoft Montréal in collaboration with other Ubisoft studios, Far Cry 4 will be available worldwide on 18th November for PlayStation4 and PlayStation3, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and Windows PC.
Well the name says it all really. You play as Buck Mann a glorified space delivery boy charged with quickly, and safely, delivering various goods across incredibly dangerous areas of space. I don’t know if there are any space police or whatever in Space Run but if there are they’re really bad. It’s a warzone even for a delivery company!
Space Run is essentially a side scrolling strategy game that draws heavily from the ideas of a tower defence game. Your ship consists of various hexagons that allow you to place your precious cargo and any of the turrets, shields and thrusters available. You’ll need to ensure that your cargo is protected on a suitably defendable hexagon whilst making sure you have space for thrusters, to get through the level faster, and are able to aim your guns at incoming threats. It’s not always easy to fit it all in.
The exact size and shape of your ship will depend on the mission you take on so you will have to employ different strategies each time. And it gets more complicated when you need to use a power generator to power turrets correctly. There’s a lot to think about and usually there isn’t a perfect solution so there is a sense of just getting the job done rather than creating a super-death-delivery-ship.
After each mission you can spend your hard earned space credits on upgrades for your turrets, buildings and their abilities. There’s a good feeling of progression and you are handsomely rewarded for completing missions quicker. There’s a real incentive other than score to keep completing missions as fast as possible.
But unfortunately there isn’t really enough variation to keep the gameplay interesting past a couple of hours. The ship changes and levels become more challenging and tactical to a degree but there are only so many different runs that you can do. All too soon it becomes a case of repeating the same things over and over. It is challenging, especially if you go for the fastest time, which is where most of the appeal comes from but there isn’t enough strategy to keep things interesting past the 2 or 3 hour mark.
There is a thin plot forced in around Space Run’s missions but it’s really just a way for the game’s characters to be amusing. Or at least try. Sadly it’s almost impossible to feel much of a connection to Buck Mann. He’s about as generic as space scoundrel rip offs come and isn’t as funny as he thinks he is. You’ll have a few laughs, but not as many as are intended. There are some nice Sci-Fi geek references though. My particular favourite was the word ‘frak’ which reminded me how much I need to get a life after I laughed.
Space Run is a good side scrolling adventure for a couple of hours but there isn’t much replay value to keep you coming back for more. The half baked characters and humour unfortunately don’t deliver as much entertainment as they needed to. With subpar characters and mediocre humour Space Run relies solely on its gameplay. Which is good fun for a brief period but doesn’t do anything to hold your attention for too long. But it is good fun while it lasts.
Spawns
Spawn system has an improved ability to select better spawns when valid spawn locations are limited.
While the world is enamoured by “The Beautiful Game,” Turtle Beach is searching for the most popular games of all time and world-renowned video game voice actors and developers have stepped forward to offer their support for the games that are beautiful to them.
With a week left to go until the poll begins, Turtle Beach is asking the community and members of the games industry to support their favourite game or series by submitting a nomination via http://yourbeautifulgame.com/
Today, esteemed voice actors Nolan North, Troy Baker, John DiMaggio, Ashley Burch and acclaimed video game developers all offer their opinions on why their favourite game is so special. From The Last of Us and Robotron to Gears of War and Spelunky, they have offered up a mix of both classic and unexpected entries.
Nominations and entries to Your Beautiful Game will end on 9th July, 2014 and every submission will earn the chance to win an Ultimate Beautiful Game Package containing next-gen consoles and state of the art Turtle Beach headsets to accompany them.
“While most of the world has been captivated by the football it’s been really interesting to see what others consider to be their own personal beautiful game,” said David Roberton, Vice President of International Marketing at Turtle Beach. “We’ve had some phenomenal entries so far and while a host of monumental games are already in the running any game has a chance if it receives support.”
Konami Digital Entertainment has announced the first details for PES 2015, elevating its on-field realism to all-new levels as it recreates the heart-in-mouth feeling associated with being part of a crucial top-flight match.
“The Pitch is Ours…”
PES 2015 is centred on the mantra ‘the pitch is ours.’ Through the combined efforts of the Tokyo and Windsor-based PES Productions team, the heart-thumping and nail-biting moments of top-flight football have been perfectly recreated. PES 2015 sees a true return to core PES values of total control, super responsive controls and renowned gameplay, where the user has unrestricted control over how they play. KONAMI has completely reworked a raft of key elements to ensure every pass, shot or off-the-ball run is finely balanced to give maximum player satisfaction within PES 2015’s on-field action.
By looking at three key tenets of the modern game, the PES Productions Team has completely reworked the in-game shooting and goal-keeping mechanics
A new shooting system allows a variety of unrestricted shooting styles with precise control over the direction and power of all strikes. Countering enhanced attacking options, goal keepers intuitively close angles and are capable of an incredible number of ways to react to any situation, including altering centre of gravity.
Likewise, passing options available to players when delivering a final pass have been expanded, allowing for little knock-ons or searing low passes that use new physics routines to ensure the ball behaves realistically across every situation, providing unique and differing outcomes decided by user actions.
The final key element that has been totally reworked centres around the degree of close control on offer. Positioning is vital, but the ability to dribble into space and beat your marker is now hugely improved and opens up PES 2015 as the definitive on-field experience.
These central features are then supported by additional elements to create the most entertaining and breath-taking match-day experience imaginable.
FOX Engine Benefits
Next-gen editions of PES 2015 also mark the first full implementation of Kojima Productions’ stunning FOX Engine within the PES franchise. Having debuted last year in an embryonic form, the power of the new wave of consoles has allowed a level of visual acuity and in-game advances that were previously impossible. All graphical features in-game from players, to crowd and stadium now benefit from a single source of real-time lighting naturally bringing the game to vivid next gen life
PES ID Returns:
The PES series has always centered on player realism: recreating their abilities and letting the user run riot with the world’s greatest stars. The FOX Engine-powered PES 2015 is as committed to this as ever, aiming to bring the best players and teams to vibrant life – recreating the playing styles of the world’s best sides and stars.
With these key advances in place, however, KONAMI has not neglected the wide range of options users expect. With a wealth of new options and enhancements to established favourites set to debut in PES 2015.
Key Additions:
Gfinity, the UK’s leading eSports and online gaming company is pleased to announce their third tournament, G3, will take place on 2nd and 3rd August, in one of the UK’s most prestigious sporting venues, The Copper Box- the venue of the London Olympics.
Originally scheduled to take place in May, Gfinity pushed the tournament back to the post exam period for their dedicated community. Gfinity will open its doors to allow 8,000 eSports fans to witness firsthand the high standard of professional gaming across five of the best gaming titles. Tickets are being sold by Ticketweb and are selling fast: http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/artist/gfinity-tickets/941627
Leading teams and players from around the world will battle it out for a share of the prize pots on offer. Ali-A will co-present the Call of Duty: Ghosts tournament while KSI presents the FIFA tournament.
Gfinity will offer $160,000 between StarCraft II, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, FIFA 14 and Call of Duty: Ghosts Tournaments
In 2013 Gfinity orchestrated two of the UK’s most prominent Call of Duty eSports tournaments. G3 looks to be even greater, from the money on offer, with professional teams from across the globe competing for prize pots of up to $55,000, the world class sporting arena, which was the first Olympic venue to open its doors on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, through to the number of titles available for spectators to watch.
Paul Kent, Chief Operations Officer from Gfinity said: “We have always prided ourselves on creating professional sports tournaments to help grow the eSports following and understanding in the UK. We are delighted that we were able to move the tournament to suit our dedicated community and still hold G3 in an Olympic venue.”
Tickets are on sale at just £22 per day at http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/artist/gfinity-tickets/941627
Seats are limited so be sure to grab yours early to avoid disappointment.
For more information on Gfinity, please visit http://www.gfinity.net/
And for the latest updates follow us at @Gfinit
A brand new set of Customisation Items is now available on Xbox Live, with six Personalisation Packs and three Character Packs providing a new look to your entire soldier. For those that missed out on the special weapons included with the Onslaught and Devastation DLCs, you can now pick them up on their own.
The release date for other platforms to follow very soon.
Even for the mighty UbiArt engine and Ubisoft Montpellier The Great War is a tricky topic to tackle correctly. Despite the abundance of WW2 period games out there WW1 remains relatively untouched. The sheer horror and weight of events make it difficult as a topic for any game. Valiant Hearts goes with an all out puzzler approach. There’s the occasional action filled moment but even then the puzzles are kept central to the gameplay. The point of Valiant Hearts isn’t to see how many men you can kill and how much gore there can be in a war. Thankfully.
But just because you’re not going to slaughter men on mass doesn’t mean Valiant Hearts pulls its punches. The Great War had a horrific death toll and Ubisoft aren’t afraid to make it known. Valiant Hearts doesn’t patronize and it doesn’t hold back. It covers the brutality of the first gas attack using Chlorine Gas. It covers the work of a medic performing triage after an attack. It covers a civilian population under attack from bombs, with people searching for loved ones and dealing with the destruction of their homes.
There’s an appropriately solemn tone that never really lets up while you play Valiant Hearts. It’s a strange experience to be entertained at the same time as watching the horrors of The Great War but I think it’s a fantastic way for us to commemorate the events that took place.
Great War aside Valiant Hearts is a great puzzler. There’s a fare share of simple tasks that don’t tax the brain too much but they are constant and keep you thinking until the next real puzzle. Which are clever. You’re canine friend has no name but he can squeeze through gaps and retrieve items, among other things, that allow the puzzles to be really creative. They kept me thinking and regularly had me stumped for a little while before I moved on.
The only problem I had was checkpoints which are few and far between. More than once when I quit the game I found myself playing the entire level again when I loaded it back up. It seems like a simple fix to me to just add more checkpoints especially considering Valiant Hearts has a slower pace that doesn’t make checkpoints difficult.
To compliment this are collectables that are carefully placed in every level. Some hidden, some require simple optional puzzles some are basically unmissable. But once you find and collect one you can press triangle and read more about the item. The nuggets of information make for interesting reading so it’s well worth stopping occasionally to take a look. Some are personal letters from soldiers on the front and some are interesting items like lighters or tools that provide some historical fact.
Valiant Hearts is a treat on the eyes and ears too, as if any of us doubted it. UbiArt has delivered again and the beautiful ‘hand drawn’ style creates the perfect atmosphere for Valiant Hearts. But musically Valiant Hearts has a simple yet powerful soundtrack that had me moved more than once. Even the piano piece on the main menu is truly beautiful.
For me, the key concept that is a constant in Valiant Hearts is the issue of language barriers. Or more specifically the issue of nationality. Despite communication there’s no spoken language except the occasional mumble from the characters and a narrator on the loading screens. The most obvious example is your best friend in Valiant Hearts, your dog.
He starts out with his German handler, who’s a medic. But helps the French Emile when he’s in trouble early on. Emile and his dog then join with an American, Freddie and later even back with a German born French national Karl. On one occasion after Emile helps a German Soldier in need he will in return help Emile by letting him run from capture or death. Valiant Hearts does a good job of bringing to life the fact that all who fought in The Great War where ultimately still human, regardless of nationality. And your canine companion makes it all the more obvious as he doesn’t consider race or nationality when he helps people. He just helps those who need it. It’s also devastating when he gets in trouble and needs your help.
The Great War was certainly one of our darkest periods of history and it needs to be commemorated. And 100 years on it is all the more important that we make an effort to remember those who gave their lives for us. Valiant Hearts is so tastefully handled that I can think of no better way to remember those events. It’s a great puzzle game that makes you think infused with nuggets of history. More importantly Valiant Hearts packs a punch that doesn’t let us forget.
With the release of SQUIDS that was released last month on the Wii U, The Game Bakers’ popular SQUIDS is now on Nintendo 3DS in SQUIDS Odyssey, a tactical RPG available for download in the Nintendo eShop. Designed specifically for handheld devices, SQUIDS Odyssey has casual combat with quick levels that can easily be enjoyed on the go, alongside an epic adventure storyline reminiscent of old-school JRPGs.
When a mysterious black ooze seeps into the sea and disturbs the Squids’ peaceful kingdom, a scrappy shoal of heroes must fight back. During turn-based combat against ooze-infected crab and shrimp, the Squids’ springy tentacles become their best weapons: stretch them with your finger or the stylus, aim, and release to shoot your Squid toward its target. Four hero classes, stat-boosting helmets, and power-ups add a strategic element to the role-playing gameplay.
SQUIDS Odyssey for Nintendo 3DS includes all the same content as on Wii U, with gorgeous artwork thanks to a 3D-layered effect that shows off the Squids’ lush kingdom like never before. Game features include:
SQUIDS Odyssey can be downloaded for €12.99 / $14.99 (or equivalent in local currency) from the Nintendo eShop.
*For a limited time only European gamers can pay for the 3DS version of SQUIDS Odyssey and receive the Wii U version for free!*
Twentieth Century Fox has released a new featurette called Epic Dawn for DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES.
A growing nation of genetically evolved apes led by Caesar is threatened by a band of human survivors of the devastating virus unleashed a decade earlier. They reach a fragile peace, but it proves short-lived, as both sides are brought to the brink of a war that will determine who will emerge as Earth’s dominant species.
The video entitled “Epic Dawn” features the cast and film maker discussing the film:
DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES is out in cinemas July 17th.
Wargaming has announced the street dates for World of Tanks: Xbox 360 Edition Combat Ready Starter Pack!
It will be available worldwide at participating retailers starting on 12th August, 2014. Specific dates and prices for each region are as follows:
• 12th August – North and South America
• 14th August – Asia-Pacific
• 29th August – Europe
Available at a discounted price of $19.99 (£15.99), the bundle will offer players a tremendous value of exclusive items that will enhance the experience with the game that is free-to-play for all Xbox Live Gold members. All other Xbox Live account holders can get in on the action for a free seven-day trial.
For the first time, players will get to drive the premium Panzer 38H Tier II German light tank, famously known for its heavy armour and quick firing gun.
The full contents of the Combat Ready Starter Pack are:
• The premium Panzer 38H Tier II German light tank, currently available through the retail package for a limited time
• 3 days of premium account time granting 50% boost in accumulated Silver and experience
• 200,000 in-game Silver
• 1500 in-game Gold
• 30-day voucher code for Xbox Live Gold status
Marvel Studios announces Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy”: An IMAX 3D First Look, featuring 17 minutes of exclusive footage of Marvel’s highly anticipated summer blockbuster “Guardians of the Galaxy.” The sneak peek will be showcased at the brand-new IMAX theatre at Empire Leicester Square on 8 July at 7 p.m. This follows first-look screenings across the US on 7 July.
From Marvel, the studio that brought you the global blockbuster franchises of Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and The Avengers, comes a new team—the Guardians of the Galaxy. An action-packed, epic space adventure, Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” expands the Marvel Cinematic Universe into the cosmos, where brash adventurer Peter Quill finds himself the object of an unrelenting bounty hunt after stealing a mysterious orb coveted by Ronan, a powerful villain with ambitions that threaten the entire universe. To evade the ever-persistent Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with a quartet of disparate misfits—Rocket, a gun-toting raccoon, Groot, a tree-like humanoid, the deadly and enigmatic Gamora and the revenge-driven Drax the Destroyer. But when Quill discovers the true power of the orb and the menace it poses to the cosmos, he must do his best to rally his ragtag rivals for a last, desperate stand—with the galaxy’s fate in the balance.
Select IMAX 3D theatres in the UK, US and internationally will offer the special screening of thrilling, never-before-seen IMAX 3D footage of the James Gunn-directed epic space adventure, which opens in UK Cinemas on 31 July.
Tickets to the 8 July Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy”: An IMAX 3D First Look are free. Sign up for tickets at www.showfilmfirst.com/competition/Guardians between Tuesday 1st July at 5pm and Friday 4th July at 12pm for the chance to attend.
Fans who attend this sneak peek will also receive a limited-edition collectible Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” IMAX poster.
Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy,” which first appeared in comic books in Marvel Super-Heroes, Issue #18 (Jan. 1969), stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, featuring Vin Diesel as the voice of Groot, Bradley Cooper as the voice of Rocket, Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan,Djimon Hounsou, with John C. Reilly, Glenn Close as Nova Prime Rael Nand Benicio del Toro as The Collector.
James Gunn is the director of the film with Kevin Feige producing, and Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Jeremy Latcham, Alan Fine and Stan Lee serve as executive producers. The story is by Nicole Perlman and James Gunn, with screenplay by James Gunn. Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” releases in UK cinemas on July 31, 2014.
We got invited down to try out some of the announced games from the Nintendo conference at E3.
From the vast selection I’ve chosen 3 favourites which are all different and offer so much.
I played several rounds of the new Super Smash Bros on the Wii U and the 3DS which featured 20 playable characters at the event. Mario Maker which lets you create and play through your own levels from the classic side scrolling game. And Splatoon which is a fast and frantic multiplayer game with the focus on using paint as your weapon and your tool.
What are you most looking forward to? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
