NIS America had previously announced the title Operation Abyss: New Tokyo Legacy for Vita, and now it has specific release dates and a trailer. It will be coming to North America on April 14th and Europe on the 17th.
Abyss - Tabletop and Board Games Review
Abyss is a card game that is built around the concept of gathering points (called influence) that can be tabulated in the end. However, the multiple ways it does so makes Abyss feel different than similarly themed card games such as Dominion. The build quality and art here is excellent and the game itself really feels more immersive than similarly styled board games, allowing it to stand apart from the pack.
Sunrider Academy - PC Preview
Much to my delight the Visual Novel genre has suddenly become a bit more popular in the last half of 2014 and the first part of 2014. Being a massive fan of Anime and Manga, I have always wanted to see content that is similar to those mediums come to the West. Fortunately with the success of titles like Danganronpa and the slew of projects published by Sekai Project, I have been living in a fairly fantastic dream world. Enter 2015 and the first VN that I am able to get my hands on is Sunrider Academy by Love In Space.
Borderlands: The Handsome Collection brings the franchise to current gen consoles
Borderlands has been stretching out a bit with the Pre-sequel and Telltales' more story focused Tales from the Borderlands. Those hoping to see a bit more of the action-based titles on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 are going to be in luck - soon.
Memorable Music in Gaming #3
It has been a while since I took a look at some of my favorite soundtracks from video games, but having recently played the Double Dragon Trilogy - I was reminded of this feature. Unlike last time where it was all music centered around Final Fantasy X, there will only be a couple of Double Dragon references in our five clips below.
Rattlebones - Tabletop and Board Games Review
I have lots of experience with deck building games. They come in lots of different flavors, from more static sets of cards that even the playing field (like Dominion) to collectible card games like Magic: The Gathering. However, Rattlebones certainly deserves kudos for its creative approach to a dice building game. That is right - the primary hook is the ability for players to change the composition of their dice. It is an interesting gimmick that helps to elevate Rattlebones above its fundamental gameplay mechanics.
Tristoy - PC Review
In general one could state that I am mostly a console gamer at this stage in my life. Whether it is one of the various versions of a Sony, Nintendo, or Microsoft device, I generally get to play the games that I wish. This being said, not all great games come by these awesome platforms but instead are released solely on the PC like many of my favorite genre which are the Indie RPG. Thankfully, while I do love the indies, I have a beast of a computer for Graphical Design and Web Development as well as high-end PC games. The reason for this is because while my Player 2 and I tried to load Tristoy on our identical laptops… they couldn’t run them. We had to set ourselves both on my PC as a decent amount of power was required to run the gorgeous, but resource intensive experience that is Tristoy.
Dominion - Tabletop Review
Dominion is a card game that is heavily focused on strategy - but no small amount of luck either. There is no board at play here (or dice for that matter). In fact, in terms of what the game physically has to offer, there is not much outside of the box, the different stacks of cards and the internal shell which can be used as a card sorting mechanism if you use the cardboard strip down the middle to help identify card types. That is yet. It seems simple enough, and it is once you get the hang of the game, but Dominion itself is anything but simple and incredibly addicting.
Mage Wars is getting a 4th edition sooner than later
The popular board game Mage Wars by Arcane Wonders is slated for an update to their core set. In the coming months, fans will be able to partake of new board and spellbook designs and more.
Heroes of Steel RPG - PC Review
Being that it is early 2015 and most of the blockbusters were out a couple of months ago or still a month away, this is the perfect time to try and get some time in with indie titles. One such title is Heroes of Steel RPG by Trese Brothers. While dubbed an RPG, this is really more of a tactics title with RPG elements. I have long been a fan of the turn-based tactical genre and while Heroes of Steel RPG might lack the production values of a Fire Emblem title, it still serves up a solid combat engine that kept me coming back for more.
Tales of Aravorn: Seasons Of The Wolf - PC Review
Tales of Aravorn: Seasons Of The Wolf is an interesting hybrid of visual novel and RPG. We have covered a handful of different games here of the visual novel variety, and frankly I would love to see more of them in the future. Winter Wolves does an excellent job of blending RPG elements into their story to create an entertaining experience with more depth than one might expect at first.
A sharp new trailer for Under Night In-Birth Exe Late
This title's surprisingly close (next month), and Aksys Games has shared out the latest trailer for it.
Risk: Mass Effect - Tabletop and Board Games Review
Risk is one of those classic military strategy games that has long stood the test of time with me. I used to play the board game in junior high and high school quite frequently and I even picked up and reviewed Risk: Factions for the Xbox 360 when it came out some time ago. So when my oldest was asking me about Risk (she had seen a Doctor Who version of the game that caught her eye), I knew I was overdue in teaching her and my son how to play the game. What better way to do so than find a themed one that I was really interested in? In comes Risk: Mass Effect.
Hyrule Warriors - Wii U Review
It is pretty safe to say that a few of us around here quite like the various Warriors releases that we’ve seen over the years. Personal favorite… and it hurts to say as much… USED to be Gundam Reborn. Now as much as I love giant robots and laser swords, they take a second seat to the incredible world of Hyrule. I’ve been a fan of Link’s adventures since the very beginning and anytime that a Legend of Zelda is announced, there may be a bit of squeeing involved. Taking all of that into account, when Hyrule Warriors was announced I was ecstatic. Merging the Warriors system with various characters from Zelda including the titular character herself, players take the 1vX amount of enemies to the fields of Hyrule.
Here is the season pass info for Dragon Ball Xenoverse
There have been plenty of Dragon Ball Xenoverse trailers lately, and they certainly paint the game in a positive light. This week the game plan for the season pass has been explained as well. We will include that, and one of the recent trailers below.
Win a free copy of the JRPG Alphadia Genesis
Alphadia Genesis just released for Steam, and we have some codes for those of you who want to play this new JRPG. We posted our review of the title (which you can read here) earlier today. These codes are for use on Steam for PC. Entering is easy - read on to see how to do it.
Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth2: Sisters Generation - Vita Review
Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth2: Sisters Generation changed many of my
prior opinions about the second chapter in this gaming series,
originally titled MK2. Upon the original game's release, I found that
even with the new characters, the title felt rushed. Finishing the
original title left me with the distinct feeling that something was
missing, which was not at all how I felt at the conclusion of the first
and third entries into the series. Re;Birth2 is a remake, but it is
more than just a visual update with some new menus. Re;Birth2 fixes
just about every issue that I had with the original MK2 title, from the
combat system to a more cohesive story that makes the entire experience a
more complete one.
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Alphadia Genesis - PC Review
I have always had a soft spot for the RPG genre and JRPGs in particular. Fantasy is my favorite setting, and Alphadia Genesis provides a nice mix of fantasy and science fiction that somewhat reminds me of the Phantasy Star titles of old. Grinding is something I not only do not mind, but actually enjoy it so long as the combat system holds up, which is the case here for Alphadia Genesis. What we have here is a solid throwback to the 16-bit era of RPG titles.
DLC plans and another monster for Evolve
Evolve continues to be one of the hottest games slated for 2015 and now the development team has discussed how DLC will work and more.
Citizens of Earth - PC Review
Ready to be the Vice President of the World? You have just won the election for said title, and while the saying is "It's good to be king" - it might be better still to be the Vice President. Your mom wakes you up and makes your meals and even when things get a little hairy, you can delegate to your underlings so they basically do all of the work that you get credit for. Of course, when everything starts to go crazy around your character, it turns out that this may not be the best gig ever. This is the backdrop for Citizens of Earth, a game that feels like a throwback to both Suikoden and Earthbound. While that may seem like a crazy mix, they play very nicely together in what is an often hilarious RPG.
Blackguards 2 - PC Review
Blackguards 2 is the continuation of the original title, Blackguards - which we reviewed in January of 2014. As you can see it was a solid entry, earning a very respectable score. Developed by Daedalic Entertainment, who those of you that are regulars here you know that we are generally big fans of the titles that Daedalic releases. They are without a doubt, one of the better development studios that I have personally come across. Each title is something new, fresh, and well put-together. With Blackguards 2, Daedalic is looking to return you to the hex-based strategic combat in the dark, dank world of Aventuria.
Elder Scrolls Online going free, has console release dates
People have long been predicting that The Elder Scrolls Online would make its way into non-subscription territory and those notions were only reinforced recently when rumors about boxed editions of the game and gift cards were getting pulled off of some store shelves. Now we have word straight from Bethesda that not only confirms this, but details the updated version of the game and its impending console release.
Fist of Jesus - PC Review
Once Upon a Time in Jerusalem, there was made a short film titled ‘Fist of Jesus’. Like most short films seem to be, or at least the ones I end up seeing, this one was entirely out of left field. The Jesus that children grow up these days learning about is replaced with a zombie-slaying amalgamation of Lamb of God and Chuck Norris, and judging by all of the awards the movie has won, it seems to be a hit! Not precisely my cup of tea, but then again, zombies are usually a miss for me on a good day! You would think that this would spell doom for the game by the same name, but instead, they took “double-dragon”-esque gameplay and littered it full of sacrilegious humor.
VoiceAttack - PC Review
VoiceAttack was something that came up in my search for simplifying commands for Elite: Dangerous (a truly marvelous game, check out my review at: http://www.chalgyr.com/2014/12/elite-dangerous-pc-review.html) as there is a massive number of key bindings that can become troublesome in the heat of battle. Once I downloaded the 21-day free trial, plugged in my HyperX Cloud headset and spent a little time training my computer and creating my different profiles, I was "on my way to the races" and this is what I found.
Dungeons & Dragons makes some announcements for 2015
Wizards of the Coast had a pretty big year in 2014 with lots of new content for Dungeons & Dragons (all of which we covered here in our reviews). Today plans for both the tabletop games and the Neverwinter MMO have been announced and it sounds like 2015 is going to be a good one as well for fans of the venerable RPG company.
Double Dragon Trilogy - PC Review
This one sure takes me back.
I absolutely loved the original Double Dragon arcade game. This and Ninja Gaiden devoured plenty of my tokens around the same time. Sometimes I would go it alone, other times someone else would step up and join me or I would take over the other joystick and hop in to help them. The Double Dragon theme still ranks as one of my favorite video game soundtracks and it holds up today.
This release looks to draw upon those feelings of nostalgia while packaging three titles together into one Steam download, with a handful of different extras such as variable difficulties, game modes as well as presentation options.
I absolutely loved the original Double Dragon arcade game. This and Ninja Gaiden devoured plenty of my tokens around the same time. Sometimes I would go it alone, other times someone else would step up and join me or I would take over the other joystick and hop in to help them. The Double Dragon theme still ranks as one of my favorite video game soundtracks and it holds up today.
This release looks to draw upon those feelings of nostalgia while packaging three titles together into one Steam download, with a handful of different extras such as variable difficulties, game modes as well as presentation options.
Funk of Titans - Xbox One Review
Funk of Titans is the small development studio A Crowd of Monsters first foray into the console market. Releasing on the Xbox One on January 9, 2015, Funk of Titans puts you in the shoes of the Greek demigod Perseus as he battles his way through 40+ levels to defeat the Titans who are bent on destroying the Gods, Demigods, and the world as a whole. As Perseus you will navigate through funk-filled platforming levels in an attempt to ultimately save the world. Prior to Funk of Titans release, A Crowd of Monsters had released the ambitious mobile title, Sugar Kid, but how does their first attempt at a console game hold up to other well-established studios and their platforming titles? Read on for more information.
Citizens of Earth screens
An RPG that looks like a throwback to the old SNES days, Citizens of Earth is actually very cloes to releasing and we have some screen shots to go with it.
Matt Sainsbury discusses his upcoming book Game Art - Interview
Almost a year ago at this time, Matt Sainsbury began a Kickstarter to see a book to life that discusses the medium of video games and how it should be perceived as art. While the Kickstarter did not hit its goal at the time, the material was of interest enough that it was picked up by publisher No Starch and now pre-orders for the book are available. With interviews from Akihiro Suzuki (Dynasty Warriors), Naoki Yoshida (Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn), Mike Laidlaw (Dragon Age and Mass Effect), Guillaume Provost (Contrast), Goichi Suda (Lollipop Chainsaw), Jean-Francois Poirer (Child of Light) and more - the book boasts an impressive number of contributors from a variety of backgrounds.
Game Art is a collection of interviews with developers, producers and directors that are set against beautiful concept art while discussing the effort that went into bringing these game ideas to life. Matt is an Australian art and game critic who has been writing about the industry for over fifteen years now, with his work appearing in publications such as PC Game Zone, GamePro, PC World and Official PlayStation 2 Magazine. I had an opportunity to chat with Matt and ask him several questions about the book itself, lessons learned in getting it published and his outlook on the coming year.
Game Art is a collection of interviews with developers, producers and directors that are set against beautiful concept art while discussing the effort that went into bringing these game ideas to life. Matt is an Australian art and game critic who has been writing about the industry for over fifteen years now, with his work appearing in publications such as PC Game Zone, GamePro, PC World and Official PlayStation 2 Magazine. I had an opportunity to chat with Matt and ask him several questions about the book itself, lessons learned in getting it published and his outlook on the coming year.
Wet - Retro Reflections
Wet is one of those titles that barely lands on the cusp of what I consider a Retro Reflection. I usually look for the title to be more than five years old and not on the current generation of console. Considering it was a PlayStation 3 game from 2009, Wet just barely makes that cut. As for the game itself, it has a sort of Tarantino grindhouse vibe that helps to effectively cover the lackluster graphics and shallow storyline.
Shadowrun: Hong Kong Kickstarter is live
The critically acclaimed, Cyberpunk-Meets-Magic world of Shadowrun is coming to Hong Kong!
Set in the magically awakened city of Hong Kong in 2056, players will find themselves exploring the underworld of triads, tongs, wild magic, and bleeding edge cybertech with a crew of flawed, dangerous runners each with their own backstory and special abilities.
The campaign is already underway, but Harebrained Schemes is turning to its fans to co-fund more characters, more features and more missions.
The Kickstarter is now live here.
Set in the magically awakened city of Hong Kong in 2056, players will find themselves exploring the underworld of triads, tongs, wild magic, and bleeding edge cybertech with a crew of flawed, dangerous runners each with their own backstory and special abilities.
The campaign is already underway, but Harebrained Schemes is turning to its fans to co-fund more characters, more features and more missions.
The Kickstarter is now live here.
MAGIX Music Maker 2015 Premium - PC Review
The newest version of Magix Music Maker is certainly a powerful tool, but is it worth the money to purchase an upgrade? That is the question owners of the prior version of the software are no doubt asking themselves. Those who have never used the software and have an interest in creating music should not even hesitate to give MAGIX Music Maker 2015 a try.
Global Defense Force Tactics - Retro Reflections
I found Global Defense Force Tactics in my local video game store. Being a fan of turn-based strategy and having only one more game of the same genre in my collection, I decided to buy it. The story is about an invasion of aliens and a special army formed to stop it. Basically, there is no plot and the mission objectives are repeated: destroy all enemies or occupy specific strongholds within a predetermined number of rounds.
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate release date and New Nintendo 3DS XL bundle
Rumors have been swirling for some time now about the New 3DS release and one of the most anticipated games for the handheld console - Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate. While this news has certainly been making the rounds since yesterday, we are still excited by the assets and information and figured we would share with the rest of the class.
Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth2: Sisters Generation - Vita Preview
The Hyperdimension series has come a long way from the original’s release on the PS3 within Japan back in 2010. While the original had a lot of technical issues, which is to be expected when attempting a project of this scope for the first time after the collaboration with NIS and Gust on Trinity Universe, Hyperdimension had a charm to it that made it unique and something of its own. Thankfully, as I’ve quite enjoyed Neptune’s journey from the get go, not giving up on the world of Gamindustri we’ve seen sequels and remakes in which one thing is clear: Compile Hearts and Idea Factory have never stopped improving and regardless of being a sequel or a remake/remaster, there is always something new and improved to be experienced and enjoyed.
Hulk - Retro Reflections
I finished the Hulk some years ago and decided to play it again to write this review. The story is about nuclear scientist Bruce Banner trying to find a cure for his condition, that is, transforming into a green giant who demolishes everything whenever he is stressed. Unfortunately, instead of getting rid of the Hulk, Banner helps a devious colleague of his to steal his power for his own nefarious plans.
Dragons & Warriors #1 - Kickstarter
A friend of mine has a Kickstarter up for a comic called Dragons & Warriors. While that is not necessarily the sort of thing we talk about here at Chalgyr's Game Room - there is a future card game tie-in. So, if this and that future Kickstarter prove to be successful, we plan on talking about the game when it releases. Here is some information about this Kickstarter which went live yesterday.
Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Master's Guide - Tabletop and Board Games Review
2014 has been a good year for fans of Dungeons & Dragons. This fifth edition of the series took a unique approach in releasing its books in staggered fashion over several months - and at long last the final book in the series - the Dungeon Master's Guide - has dropped just before the end of the year. Odds are, if you purchased the first two core books - the Dungeon Master's Guide is a no-brainer choice at this point. However, for those on the fence about whether or not to spring for this collection of gaming books, I can safely say that the Dungeon Master's Guide rounds out a balanced collection of high quality tomes for tabletop gaming enthusiasts and is well worth the look.
Sacred - Retro Reflections
It is a unique experience to trek in a virtual wilderness and face monsters armed with your sword, collecting treasure and becoming more powerful every day. That’s what you do in action/role playing games and I love it. Their basic story, simple control and repetitiveness make them ideal for spending hours without stress.
Celebrate the 20th anniversary of PlayStation with loads of discounts
Sony announced their plan to put a load of games up for sale on the PlayStation Network. As usual, PlayStation Plus owners get an even better deal. Below we have listed the titles and platforms. What do you plan to buy?
Whisper of a Rose - PC Review
Whisper of a Rose is the latest offering from RosePortal Games, the studio behind the wonderful Sweet Lily Dreams. The theme of a heroine and her dreams is back, this time following a young woman named Melrose who feels out of place and full of sorrow in the waking world and in an effort to cope with real life she, like many of us, turns to her imagination. Unfortunately there is a twist to her situation which leads to real danger and it is up to you and a band of party members to once again to put a stop to the danger that threatens the world in her dreams. Will Whisper of a Rose be just as touching as Sweet Lily Dreams? That is the question I asked going into it, but the answer was not entirely what I had hoped for.
Plants vs. Zombies - Retro Reflections
Just when you think that inspiration may be missing from the world of video games, where sequels and clones are the norm, a production such as Plants vs Zombies appears and makes you change your mind.
(Editor's note: When Dimitris first submitted this one, I was like - Plants vs. Zombies is hardly a retro title. Then I realized that it's nearly six years old. My goodness)
(Editor's note: When Dimitris first submitted this one, I was like - Plants vs. Zombies is hardly a retro title. Then I realized that it's nearly six years old. My goodness)
Double Fine Productions and Nordic Games Team Up for the Retail Release of Broken Age
We have some assets and the official press release of this announcement. Considering its popularity since release (scoring an 82 on Metacritic), the retail version of Broken Age seems a bit late to the party but welcome all the same.
This War of Mine - PC Review
I generally like post-apocalyptic stories and zombie stories, both of which can have a lot in common. They generally both involve a group of people trying to survive once society has broken down and there is some external threat that they need to fight against. Sometimes, the focus is on overcoming those threats, and other times, those threats are just the backdrop for a different story that the creator wants to tell.
Age of Empires - Retro Reflections
In a discussion about the ancestors of real time strategy Age of Empires is among the first names that come to mind. This game helped establish an entire genre, both in terms of rules and popularity. Besides its relevance to ancient Greece, I loved it for its simplicity and challenge.
New Noire battle skills screenshots and a trailer
The more I see of this game, the more I suspect I am going to be hooked. Here is a glimpse at some of the new characters in action as well as how dangerous the game can be.
Forza Horizon 2: Storm Island - Xbox One DLC Review
My recent review of Forza Horizon 2 was fairly glowing; I truly enjoyed racing around southern France and northern Italy. With some of the best views in racing, Horizon 2 surpassed my hopes and dreams in nearly every single aspect of the open-world racer. Just two short months after Forza Horizon 2's release, racers are heading back to the second coming of the Horizon Festival with the release of the first DLC "Storm Island." Adding in not only a new island for racers to tear across, but extreme weather and a strong focus on off-road racing, Storm Island adds a handful of new race circuits to an already massive open-world racing title.
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind - Retro Reflections
When I started playing Morrowind I was impressed by the magnitude of its world. However, several problems prevented it from being a fully satisfying experience.
Some fresh media for Criminal Girls: Invite Only
There's a new trailer and some new screens for this upcoming release from NIS America.
