Retroview - Exile III: Ruined World

Official Site: http://www.spiderwebsoftware.com/exile3/winexile3.html


I don't exactly remember how I came across Exile 3 for Windows, but I recall looking for a game similar to Ultima.  When I was playing the game, it was a shareware that limited the player in content.  Despite that, the game provided hours of gameplay nonetheless.  The player would create a party of 6 with unique abilities, traits and characteristics that made them pivotal to the team composition.  The player could choose to go anywhere they wanted, do want they wanted and when they wanted.  There are random encounters and events that change the game up a bit which is one of the driving factors in which made the replay value much longer.  I had nearly forgotten about the game until I was recently backing up some save files for my games and came across the folder "Exile3" and realized I had played this game years ago.  The game was unforgiving with all sorts of misfortune that would kill off your entire party, poison them, curse them, or some other situation that doesn't favor them.  There weren't that many animations other than some spells or projectiles moving as most of the art assets are static images.  As far as I know, the game is developed by a man and his wife and have been making these types of games for years now with bought assets.  I unknowingly bought a game made by them called Avadon (I have still yet to play the game).  It has similar mechanics in creating a party, equipping them with items, balancing the team with different classes, and a free roaming RPG experience.  A lot of their other games did not really interest me when looking at them, but now that I know they're made by the same person as Exile 3, I'm rather intrigued by how his experience in RPG development has changed.  Avernum: Escape from the Pit was one of them.  I see actual animated characters, effects, and think it might even have music in it (or it could be just specifically for the trailer).  I wanted to revisit Exile 3, create a new party, and explore the dungeons once again, but sadly the game isn't compatible with Windows 7 and won't even allow me to install the game.  For those who still use Windows XP, the game is free now and can be downloaded and played right away.  Just click the top link and click download.  I guess it's time for me to move on and check out the new games this developer has made.

GameLight - Yatagarasu Attack on Cataclysm

IndieGoGo Campaign: Yatagarasu Attack on Cataclysm
Source: Youtube Channel NyuMedia

Yatagarasu is an indie fighting game developed by 3 former SNK / King of Fighter Staff members and has launched a funding campaign to continue working on expanding the game.  The original was set to launch on the 3DS eShop and PC, but it seems the team wants to go one step further and add new characters, update the game with new commentary, improve the graphics, and localize it in English for the rest of the world to enjoy on PC by Nyu Media.  I'm still not very convinced by the game's trailer just yet, but I do like the character designs and I would like more fighting games on PC.  The problem I have with Nyu Media right now is that the games they localize take a very long time to get onto Steam.  The game is available in Japanese Arcades only as far as I know, but is set to launch on PC for $15 when Attack on Cataclysm is done.  Their goal date is February 2014, but projects like these may take more time than that.  They are currently asking for $68,000 in funding and have made $2800+ so far with 45 days left.  I wish them the best of luck and look forward to seeing what they have in store for us.

NewNews - Steam Trading Cards Live

Official site: http://steamcommunity.com/tradingcards/

So unfortunately, Steam Summer Sales did NOT begin today.  However, the Steam Trading Cards have been released for everyone to participate in now.  Just play some games and you'll get some cards.  Here is the list of games you can play to receive cards:

ASSOCIATED GAMES

1... 2... 3... KICK IT! (Drop That Beat Like an Ugly Baby)

A.R.E.S.

Anodyne

BIT.TRIP Presents... Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien

Blocks That Matter

Borderlands 2

Brütal Legend

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

Cubemen 2

Defender's Quest: Valley of the Forgotten

Don't Starve

Dota 2

Faerie Solitaire

FTL: Faster Than Light

Go Home Dinosaurs!

Guns of Icarus Online

Half-Life 2

Jagged Alliance - Back in Action

Left 4 Dead 2

Magicka

Monaco

Monster Loves You!

Offspring Fling!

Portal 2

Really Big Sky

Sanctum 2

Serious Sam 3: BFE

Strike Suit Infinity

Super Meat Boy

Team Fortress 2

They Bleed Pixels

Tower Wars

Trine 2

Triple Town

Zack Zero

Zombie Driver HD

Games also included with today's launch but not on the list are:
-Binding of Isaac
-Company of Heroes 2
-GRID 2
-Warframe
-Crusader Kings 2
-Penny Arcade's On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness 4
-Psychonauts

So go on and start collecting now if you have any of these games!

NewNews - Steam Update Tomorrow

Steam's update for new profiles, trading cards and other cool stuff will be going out of beta tomorrow and become an official part of the Steam platform.  There's also the hinted Summer Steam Sale that is expected to start at the same time to grab games compatible with the new trading card system.  Here's hoping for a Summer Steam Sale nonetheless!

NewNews - Code of Princess 2 on PS4 and XB1 would be fun

Code of Princess 1 Site: http://www.atlus.com/codeofprincess/
Source: Youtube Channel AtlusUSA

Code of Princess for the Nintendo 3DS wasn't the best game it could be.  Equipment acquirement wasn't that big of a deal since most of them were terrible with a few select items giving the best benefits.  The Campaign was short and didn't have various difficulty levels.  All the characters had a very limited amount of move sets and abilities.  And worst of all, the game's graphics lagged a lot for the 3DS XL with the 3D on and when explosions erupted on the screen.  Despite all those short comings, the game was a whole lot of fun and I enjoyed it a bunch.  The story was light-hearted and filled with humor, the graphics were colorful and lively, and the music was just brilliant.  It seems like the game sold better than anticipated in the US.  The producer has expressed his interests in perhaps making a sequel on the PS4 and XB1.  Now imagine how great the game already was and fixing every one of those problems I mentioned above?  I'm all for it and would love to see it on the next generation consoles with 4-player cooperative local play seeing how beat-em-ups and local multiplayer games are a dying trend.  Until then, there's Dragon's Crown coming out soon published by Atlus.

Source:
-Joystiq - Code of Princess producer likes PS4, Xbox One for a sequel

GameLight - Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Beta

Official Site: http://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/
Source: Youtube Channel IGN

Square-Enix is going through the phases of Closed beta for Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn to make the necessary preparations for the launch of the game.  I didn't even realize that I had a received a beta key and so I quickly downloaded and registered to participate in this weekend's beta testing.  It started 2AM PST today and will last until 2AM of June 23rd.  It's not a lot of time, but it's something at least.  The biggest change I see in the combat system is that it's not Final Fantasy XI anymore but World of Warcraft.  I suppose this will make battle much faster.  I didn't get to play yet as I took an hour to create my character.  The textures might not be the best, but the game is aesthetically pleasing with highly immersive environments and colorful landscapes.  I guess I'll find out more when I try out the game today.  Have a good weekend everyone!

NewNews - Steam Trading Cards going out of Beta

Steam Discussion: Steam Trading Cards - Leaving Beta Soon!

I didn't expect the beta for the new Steam profile update to be completed so quickly and get right into the real thing.  Starting next week, on June 26th, everyone will have an updated profile page and the ability to receive collectible cards that can be crafted into badges and offer prizes.  The beta started just a month ago and showcased features such as a leveling system, collectible cards and badges, a new profile page look, and prizes that can be won through crafting cards into badges.  On the very last line of the announcement is a vague hint:

"Making trading cards available to all Steam users is a step towards an event we think everyone can be excited about..."

Could it be?  Is it...Steam Summer Sales???


Source:
-Game Trailers - Steam Trading Cards Leaving Beta Next Week, Summer Sale Teased?

NewNews - Microsoft's Xbox One Relevant Again

Official Site: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/xboxone/meet-xbox-one
Source: Youtube Channel xbox

It might have been the huge outcry the community had against the new console.  It could be because Microsoft was persistently scrutinized and criticized throughout E3 while Sony was showered with praise.  Or it just may very well be that Microsoft isn't meeting their quota on pre-orders for the Xbox One.  Whatever the case may be, Microsoft has announced that the Xbox One will not require constant internet connection or the need to check in every 24 hours to play games.  The console will be able to play used games and gamers can share their games with their friends without having to pay an extra fee.  This will be great news to those who were interested in the Xbox One but news of the DRM methods of the console deterred them; however, the damage has been done and was fixed a little too late.  Were this announced at E3, it would have been a completely different show.  Now it's just a matter of waiting for both consoles to launch this Fall and see how they do.

Source:
-Joystiq - Xbox One-80: Microsoft reverses Xbox One DRM features

NewNews - Phantasy Star Online 2 still Delayed

Official Site: http://www.pso2.com/us/
Source: Youtube Channel Grand Tickler

Last Friday, I mentioned that the biggest disappointment of this year's E3 wasn't something that was shown but the lack thereof.  I guess I wasn't alone in hopes of hearing something from Sega about the Western release of Phantasy Star Online 2 as many fans had anticipated a launch date.  Jason Schreier of Kotaku had reached out to Sega for answers and was told that the Western release is still delayed until they are able to announce to the public.  The exact message Schreier got from Sega was:

"SEGA can officially confirm that PSO2 has been delayed. We don't have any specifics but will update everyone as soon as there are more details to share."

So the waiting game continues as the one year anniversary of PSO2's release in Japan quickly approaches.  Sega's resources might have its priority on others games and preparing for E3 and thus has slowed down the localization and launch of PSO2.  I have no doubt that PSO2 will be immensely popular in the West, but I cannot say how profitable it will be for Sega.  This might be another reason why it's taking so long to launch as production figures out what's the best market and course of action to take for the Western Market compared to that in Japan.  Whatever the case may be, I can only hope that PSO2 will release some time this year.

Source:
-Kotaku - Sega Still Says Phantasy Star Online 2 Is 'Delayed'

GameLight Review - Bulk Indie Game Review

I've fallen behind on reviews and it's starting to stack up again.  I've compiled a list of indie games and my short reviews for them.

[Hotline Miami]
Source: Youtube Channel PlayStation

Recommended: Yes, for mature audiences

Hotline Miami was the most surprising game I played in 2012 and one I wasn't expecting to be so good.  The goal is to kill off all the enemies as quickly and efficiently as possible without being killed.  It has a bit of a puzzle element in that the player must be careful and plan out each attack while reacting quickly to each situation.  The game's graphics and music has a very unique and trippy atmosphere that feels very indie.  The sound effects work hand-in-hand with the gameplay as it creates a visceral experience.  The game's short, but a lot of fun.  It's challenging and totally hilarious.

[Sequence] Source: Youtube Channel gamezplay

Recommended: Maybe, for music rhythm fans

Sequence is another one of those RPG fusion games where it combines gameplay of Music Rhythm games like Dance Dance Revolution with RPG elements similar to those found in Puzzle Quest or Runespell: Overture.  There are times where it's really fun and exciting having to switch between 3 panels and being able to land all those key sequences.  The problem arises when materials for an item is needed and/or the player needs to gain more levels, then it becomes a grind.  Each floor only has 3 enemies and each enemy is associated with a particular song.  When you have to play that single song 5-10 times just to get one item, it gets really boring/tiring.  Songs are also reused throughout the game.  Honestly, the main attraction to the game was the music from Ronald Jenkees.  The voice acting can be pretty bad sometimes, but the writing has some pretty good moments.  The story is okay, but has a very interesting ending.  Once I finished the game though, I didn't want to play it anymore.  I was grinding most of the time for items, levels, and skills.  So I partially enjoyed it, but did find it boring after a certain point.

[Deadlight]
Source: Youtube Channel machinima

Recommended: Yes, for puzzle platformer fans

Deadlight isn't particularly long or difficult, but it does provide a decent experience and story.  There were parts where I was frustrated with the delayed reactions of actions (jumping, climbing, etc.), but other than that it was a pretty fun puzzle platformer with some action elements.  It utilizes the Unreal engine really well with 3D graphics in a 2D gameplay environment which makes for an immersive experience.  I played on the easiest difficulty level, so I assume the game's much harder on nightmare mode.

[Cherry Tree High Comedy Club]
Source: Youtube Channel NyuMedia

Recommended: Yes, it's not for everyone though, it's a niche game

When I first heard about this game, I could not wait for it to come out.  When it finally released, a steam version wasn't ready and I waited an extra six months before it released on Steam.  Well it was worth the wait as I somehow accumulated 20 hours on this little game.  In CTHCC, the player must convince at least 3 out 6 of the characters to join the Comedy Club.  The game is entirely revolved around running around and talking while balancing out homework, rest (fatigue), repertoire (knowledge of topics), money, and time.  By chatting with all the characters and NPCs, the player learns everyone's likes and dislikes, find new ways of working for money, and increasing knowledge about a specific topic.  I've gone through 2.5 playthroughs and I still find news lines that characters say.  For those that enjoy these types of games (visual novel types), it's definitely worth playing.  As the name implies, the game is filled with light-hearted humor.

[Fairy Bloom Freesia]
Source: Youtube Channel Throneful

Recommended: Yes, for hardcore beat-em-up fans

The developer "Edelweiss" sure likes making difficult games.  From the flowery title and the cute animé protagonist, you would think the game is light-hearted and easy going.  In the first few levels, the monsters are slow, weak and non-threatening; however, the game does pick up and get quite challenging as enemies start accumulating at alarming rates and you get juggled into an oblivion.  Finding your groove and executing the longest and most effective combos is the only way to survive each day in the game.  The game is challenging, fast-paced, and a whole lot of fun as you bash enemies into each other and fight really tough boss battles.  The game is deceiving in that it's much more difficult than it lets on, but in turn I enjoyed it that much more because of it.  Beat-em-ups are a niche group in its own already, so adding a more challenging difficulty and animé-style graphics make it more for specific fans than most games.  But definitely pick it up for those who like challenging games and beat-em-ups that don't mind animé themed graphics.

[Super House of Dead Ninjas]
Source: Youtube Channel requisitosdejogos

Recommended: Yes, for hardcore Action-Platformer fans

With a weird and cheesy name like "Super House of Dead Ninjas", I wasn't expecting anything great.  The game apparently started off as a free game on Adult Swim and was then revamped and released on Steam.  It's an Action-platformer with Rogue-like elements.  Levels are randomly generated with different rooms while the player can earn/pick up new items as they continue to play through the game each time.  The player races through the rooms with a count-down timer while killing enemies and getting to the boss.  The game is super fast-paced and really tough with surprises and traps each step of the way.  Each play though lasts anywhere from 1-10 minutes so it's a great game to play during short breaks.  Players can also make their own levels and share them with others on Steam.

[Lone Survivor]
Source: Youtube Channel Jasper Byrne

Recommended: No, It's not a game I can easily recommend

Lone Survivor is a bit difficult to judge as it does some things really well for a horror game, but doesn't play out as smoothly.  The goal of the game is to escape from the city while surviving day to day with very limited resources.  For 2D pixel-based graphics, the game can be pretty scary.  The best immersion into the game is to play in the dark with headphones on.  What makes the game work so well in its element is the effective use of sound effects, difficulty in seeing things clearly, and the whole atmosphere it portrays.  Seeing one of those slim-man zombie-like things for the first time was scary enough, but having them make this weird and freaky screeching cry when it's after you is scarier than most 3D horror games I've played.  The soundtrack is pretty good with an indie-rock, electronic sort of feel to it.  The problem is that the game is very confusing because it encompasses a 3rd dimension in 2D form which makes navigation annoying, the controls are clunky (on purpose though, it's a design choice to make action react a bit slower for the desperation effect), the character is always hungry with very little food found throughout the game, and boss-like scenes are long and tedious.  The story is really good though, and has quite the ending (though I suspected it from the very beginning as it hints it throughout the game).  So in terms of atmosphere and aesthetics, I think the game's amazing in achieving such an experience.  But in terms of gameplay, it was frustrating and boring a lot of the times.  It's not a game I could recommend, but fans of survival-horror might find it appealing.

NewNews - E3 2013 Wrap-Up

Official Site: http://www.e3expo.com/
Source: Youtube Channel IGN

This year's E3 was quite exciting with so many games lined up for this year, next year, and the the year after that that it's overwhelming.  Along with the announcement of the next generation consoles ready to launch by the end of this year by Sony and Microsoft, there is a lot to look forward to after the show.  More than anything, I saw a lot of First-Person Shooters and Third-Person Shooters.  I think I saw at least over 15 games under those genres.  It's a good thing I like shooters.  Aside from that, Japanese developers really lit up the show this year.  Last year, I felt there was little to talk about that really interested me.  This year, there is just too much to talk about!  I'll try to be brief with each one.

Sure-Buys (I plan to buy these games for sure):

[BlazBlue Chrono Phantasma]
Arc System Works had already won me over ever since I first got into the series.  With 6 new characters, a continuation of the story from Continuum Shift, new skills and specials for every character, and some new mechanics, this game has captivated me and is sure to be an enjoyable experience.

[Dark Souls 2]

A few more gameplay videos were shown during E3 and has me pretty convinced to get the game.  Dual wielding weapons actually have a use now!!!

[Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate]
I was planning on buying the game already when it was announced an ultimate edition was going to release.  With extra characters and content at a lower price, I'm okay with waiting a bit longer before picking it up.

[Dynasty Warriors 8]
I was worried when I heard this was being developed.  Dynasty Warriors 7 was such an amazing game to the series that I wasn't sure if Omega Force was ever going to live up to those standards again.  But LOOK AT THIS!

[Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl]
It wasn't shown at E3, but it was announced right when E3 started.  It's a remake of the original Etrian Odyssey with a story mode and difficulty selection.  The original was way too grindy and hardcore.  If it's anything like the 4th installment, then I'm looking forward to playing this.

[Final Fantasy XV (Formerly Versus XIII)]
Many fans had lost hope for Versus XIII as it failed to see progression year after year since its initial announcement.  So it was a nice surprise when Versus XIII resurfaced as Final Fantasy XV and will be released on the Playstation 4.  Some fans are upset with the real-world environment.  For me, I don't care if it doesn't look like a Final Fantasy game anymore.  This game looks amazing!

[Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13]
Alongside the announcement of FF15 is Lightning Returns.  This iteration of FF13 seems to be a lot more action orientated which has me a lot more interested than if it were turn-based like traditional FF games.  But it's a Final Fantasy game, I'll be buying it no matter what.

[Project X Zone]
I already pre-ordered it and tried it out.  A few days before E3, Nintendo released a demo in the eShop of the 3DS for players to try it out.  It only has 5 plays compared to most Demos that has 30 plays, but the demo take about 30 minutes to complete.  It allows players to experience combat in the game where a team can chain and juggle an enemy 4-6 times, bring in support and a solo assist.  I'm looking forward to this.

[Rise of the Triad]
A sequel/reboot to the game of the same name, this game already caught my interest when the trailer on Steam showed up two weeks ago.  It's a fast-paced, First-Person Shooter that's reminiscent of Quake or Unreal with a campaign mode much like the original Rise of the Triad.  It supposedly is set to release sometime this summer.


Convincing (One to keep an eye on):

[Bayonetta 2]
I was a bit surprised with the hair change in the characters, but I think they still look really stylish.  The game is looking crazier than ever from what they showed at E3 and seems to be one of the biggest games exclusively on the Wii U made by a 3rd-Party developer.  This game might convince some people to get a Wii U.

[Dragon's Crown]
This game is starting to feel old despite having not released yet because of how often it's been covered.  But as the release date gets closer, more and more footages of the game convinces me that this will be a great game.  I really miss traditional beat-em-ups and this game has that and more in store.

[Killer is Dead]
I'm a bit embarrassed to say that I've never played a SUDA51 game, so I'm not as excited about Killer is Dead as everyone else.  But I do love hack-n-slash games which they showed a lot of from the trailer of this game at E3.  It's still not clear if there's any connection to this game and "No More Heroes" or "Killer 7".

[Mirror's Edge 2]
This time around, the game will be open-world rather than linear.  I wonder how that will play out.  It seems a lot of game franchises are switching to open-world (Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2, The Division, Destiny, etc.)

[Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies]
As excited as I am about the newest install of shouting "Objection!", I'm still disappointed in the fact that it will be sold digitally only.

[Tales of Xillia]
I'm not a Tales fan, but I want to be.  There are a lot of Tales games and most of them look great.  This one is no exception, though a little late to the party.  Japan already had Tales of Xillia 2 out for a while now and we haven't even gotten the first one yet.

[The Last of Us]
This release just last night with critic scores averaging 95/100.  I haven't seen numbers like those in a while (Bioshock Infinite hit 94).  The game does sound like a lot of fun though.

[Time and Eternity]
Very little was shown at E3 for Time and Eternity (like 30 seconds of new footage, that's it).  But from what was shown, there seems to be a bit of action in the turn-based battles which was what I was hoping for.  It similar to Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars where skills can be followed up or attacks can be blocked/dodged.  I was hoping to see more of "The Guided Fate Paradox".

[Tom Clancy's The Division]
I have to say that this was one of the most interesting games shown at E3 that wasn't already known to the general public.  An open world shooter with multiplayer centric gameplay and capabilities of playing on a tablet as a drone just sounds so immersive and involving.  Sadly, it's set for only consoles.  I'd like to play a game like this on PC.

[X from Monolith Soft]
It's official name could be "X", but no one knows for sure.  It's possible that it's connected to Xenoblade Chronicles or the Xeno series in general, but the game does look promising from what it has shown so far.

[Ys: Memories of Celceta]
If I were to get a PS Vita, this would be one of the games I'd get.  The combat to the 4th Ys was just like the originals where the player bumps into enemies to kill them.  The remake plays a lot more like the newer Ys games with a more dynamic perspective and stronger Action-orientated gameplay.


Interesting (Caught my attention, but not entirely convinced just yet):

[Alien Rage]
I didn't see any coverage on this game.  But there was a video on it and it looked nice.  Perhaps it was just too plain for the press to really give it any attention?  I still want to see more of this game in the future.

[Bravely Default Flying Fairy]
Nothing new was shown at E3, but this game was listed.  Perhaps there was a demo for attendees to try out?  If there was, no one recorded or reported anything as far as I know.  It's interesting that Square-Enix decided to bring this over.

[Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2]
I'm near the end of finishing Lords of Shadow 1 and I have conflicting thoughts about the game.  Still, the fact that there's a sequel makes me think there will be a cliff-hanger at the end of the first one.  I know what's coming, but I guess that's why I'll be keeping an eye out for the sequel.

[Deep Down]
The new project that Capcom is working on sounds like Dragon's Dogma, but is supposedly a new IP.  I want to see more of this new project.

[Destiny]
Bungie joined up with Activision and has created Destiny, an open-world, multiplayer First-Person Shooter.  The gameplay they showed was between okay and pretty cool.  I guess I want to see more and want to be convinced to get it.

[Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain]
I can't say I'm very excited about the newest Metal Gear Solid, but I do plan on playing it sometime or another when it finally comes out.  I've played MGS 2-4 and enjoyed them so I mainly want to see what new stories there is to tell in the series.

[Sunset Overdrive]
Another open-world first-person shooter.  I'm not saying it to sound like it's a bad thing, I'm just pointing out how many there were at E3.  No gameplay was shown, but the trailer does have me interested to finding out more about the game.

[Titanfall]
From the guys that left EA to create Call of Duty with Activision and left them to work under EA again, Titanfall seems to boast Mech fights along with the First-Person Shooting aspects.  I'm not sure how I feel about this game yet.

[Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z]
Hack-n-Slash gameplay, Ninjas, and Zombies.  This game seems to have it all.  But will it be fun?  Not sure yet.


E3 Winner: Super Smash Bros.
Source: Youtube Channel IGN

I actually wasn't expecting anything to be shown for Super Smash Bros. when it seems like they just started development on it not too long ago.  It was already evident that a portable version was going to be made alongside a console version and sure enough it was revealed to have a 3DS version as well as a Wii U version.  The 3DS version will have the same amount of characters as the Wii U version with different levels that's more relevant to portable games like Super Mario 3D Land as opposed to Super Mario Galaxy.  The other big surprise besides the reveal of "The Villager" from Animal Crossing are the introduction of Mega Man and The Wii Fit Trainer.  The Wii Fit Trainer was shocking, funny and confusing which brought on a lot of attention from the internet and those at the show.  But it's the reveal of Mega Man that has a lot of fans excited, I know I am!  Super Smash Bros. is definitely the game I was most excited for from all the games showed at E3 this year.


Biggest Disappointment:Phantasy Star Online 2

The lack of an appearance is one thing.  Having no mention of it at all just made me sad.  The last thing we heard from Sega is that the Western release was delayed.  When is Sega going to tell us anything about Phantasy Star Online 2?  How do they intend to hype this?  Phantasy Star Online 2 is supposed to be the biggest release this year for me and yet I see no sign of it progressing or releasing this year.


That's all for this year's E3.  It was quite a show and one I'm sure Microsoft just wants to forget.  The true battles begins this fall when the holiday season approaches and the next generation consoles finally release.

NewNews - E3 2013 Day 3

Source: Youtube Channel PlayStation

It seems I missed a great deal of games as they're largely ignored by the media.  Even then, I'm still missing a lot of games such as the free MMOs being shown there.  Unfortunately, I don't have any confirmation of which ones are actually there and so I can't really mention them.  It's such a different experience actually being there and hearing about them at home (I went to E3 in 2010).  In any case, here are the rest of the games to the best of my abilities.

Games:
-ArmA 3
-Black Gold
-BlazBlue Chrono Phantasma
-Bravely Default Flying Fairy
-Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
-Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse HD
-Command & Conquer
-DayZ Standalone
-Deadfall Adventures
-Deadpool
-Deus Ex: The Fall
-DuckTales Remastered
-Fantasia
-Fez 2
-FIFA 14
-Final Fantasy X/X2 HD Remaster
-Game & Wario
-Goodbye Deponia
-Killer is Dead
-Killzone: Mercenary
-Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX
-LEGO Marvel Super Heroes
-Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13
-LocoCycle
-Luftrausers
-Madden 25
-Mad Max
-Magrunner: Dark Pulse
-Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games
-Mario Party 3DS
-Memoria
-Minecraft: Xbox One Edition
-Muramasa Rebirth
-Murdered: Soul Suspect
-NBA Live 14
-NHL 14
-Pro Evolution Soccer 2014
-Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies
-Plants Vs. Zombies 2: It's About Time
-Project X Zone
-Rain
-Rise of the Triad
-Rune Factory 4
-Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments
-South Park: The Stick of Truth
-Super T.I.M.E. Force
-Tales of Xillia
-Tearaway
-The Bureau: XCOM Declassified
-Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows
-Time and Eternity
-Total War: Rome 2
-Trials Frontier/Trials Fusion
-Until Dawn
-Valhalla Knights 3
-Ys: Memories of Celceta
-Young Justice: Legacy
-Zumba Fitness World Party

Tomorrow will be the wrap-up of this year's E3 2013 show.

NewNews - E3 2013 Day 2

Source: Youtube Channel IGN

I'm having the same problem this year as I did last year with finding coverages of all the games shown at E3.  Because all the biggest and hyped games are constantly being covered by editorials, it's difficult to find even a name listed.  Perhaps I'm not looking in the right places, but here's a list of games (in alphabetical order) and their gameplay/trailer/teaser linked that I gathered today.  I will hunt down the rest of them tomorrow.

Games:
-Alien Rage
-ARMA Tactics
-Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
-Atelier Meruru Plus: The Apprentice of Arland
-Batman: Arkham Origins
-Beyond: Two Souls
-Black Tusk Studio Game (No Title)
-Call of Duty: Ghosts
-Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2
-Company of Heroes 2
-Contrast
-CounterSpy
-Daylight
-Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate
-Deep Down (Working Title)
-Destiny
-Doki Doki Universe
-Dragon's Crown
-Driveclub
-Dying Light
-Dynasty Warriors 8
-Final Fantasy XIV A Realm Reborn
-Godus
-Gran Turismo 6
-Hohokum
-Hometown Story
-inFamous: Second Son
-Just Dance 2014
-Killzone: Shadow Fall
-Knack
-Lost Planet 3
-Magic 2014: Duels of the Planeswalkers
-Malicious Rebirth
-Max: The Curse of Brotherhood
-Mercenary Kings
-Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes
-Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
-Octodad
-Outlast-Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures
-Pikmin 3
-Puppeteer
-Quantum Break
-Ray's The Dead
-Ridge Racer Driftopia
-Ryse: Son of Rome
-Saint's Row IV
-Secret Ponchos
-Solar Tempest
-Sonic Lost World
-Splinter Cell: Blacklist
-Super Smash Bros. Developer Walkthrough
-Tekken Revolution
-The Crew
-The Elder Scrolls Online
-The Evil Within
-The Last of Us
-The Order: 1886
-Thief 4
-Tom Clancy's The Division
-Toukiden
-Transistor
-Warframe
-Watch Dogs
-Wolfenstein: The New Order
-Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z

I'll try to grab anything that I might have missed tomorrow.

NewNews - E3 2013 Day 1

Today has been a really exciting day reading through the coverages of Nintendo's Conference.  The one announcement that has everyone raving is the introduction of Megaman to the Super Smash Bros. Series.
Source: Youtube Channel SmashbrosCh

Here are some of the other News today.

News:
-Wii Fit Trainer in Super Smash Bros
-Magic 2014: Duels of the Planeswalkers launches June 26 on Steam
-Bayonetta 2 has Two-Player Mode
-PS4 Online Multiplayer Requires PS Plus

Gameplay/Trailers:
-Bayonetta 2
-Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
-Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl
-Final Fantasy XV (Formerly Versus XIII)
-Kingdom Hearts 3
-Mario & Luigi: Dream Team
-Mario Kart 8
-Pikmin 3
-Pokémon X & Y
-Shin Megami Tensei IV
-Skylanders: Swap Force
-Super Mario 3D World
-Super Smash Bros.
-The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
-The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD
-The Wonderful 101
-Wii Party U
-X from Monolith Soft
-Yoshi's New Island

3rd Party Games for the Wii U (unless stated for 3DS)
-Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag
-Batman: Arkham Origins
-Batman: Arkham Origins Black Gate (3DS)
-Deus Ex: Human Revolution - Director's Cut
-Disney Infinity
-Just Dance 2014
-Rayman Legends
-Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure (Wii U/3DS)
-Disney's Planes
-Shin Megami Tensei IV (3DS)
-Skylanders Swap Force (Wii U/3DS)
-Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist
-Sonic Lost World (Wii U/3DS)
-Watch Dogs

Still no announcements of Phantasy Star Online 2 or BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma.  So far, this year's E3 has been pretty interesting.  I hope we get to see more surprises the next two days.

NewNews - Pre-E3 2013

Official Site: http://www.e3expo.com/
Source: Youtube Channel gamespot

Today is the day the press attends the major conferences and get exclusive footages of game trailers/gameplay.  I have compiled a list of some of the reports:

News:
-Mirror's Edge 2 is in development and will be out when it's ready
-Insomniac working on an open-world shooter exclusively for the Xbox One
-Xbox One available for Pre-Order
-Xbox One will be sold at $500
-Xbox One has integrated Twitch Streaming Capabilities
-Project Spark is user-created content game for Xbox One

Trailers:
-Dragon Age: Inquisition (Fall 2014)
-Star Wars Battlefront
-Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare
-New Halo Game (2014)
-Titanfall (Spring 2014)
-Below
-The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt
-Dead Rising 3 (November 2013)
-Crimson Dragon
-D4
-Forza 5
-Killer Instinct
-Sunset Overdrive
-Mirror's Edge 2
-Need for speed Rivals
-Dark Souls 2
-Destiny of Spirits
-Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII

Gameplay:
-Battlefield 4
-Titanfall
-Dead Rising 3
-Call of Duty Ghosts
-Ryse: Son of Rome
-Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain

VGCulture - Filler - Music - Days of Old

Source: Youtube Channel SWBeta

Anarchy Reigns (Max Anarchy) had one heck of a soundtrack.  I was instantly entranced by it the first time I played the game and heard "Ruthless".  As I played more of the game, I heard tracks I liked even more than "Ruthless".  Even after completing the campaign, I can't stop listening to the soundtrack.  They all have good beats to them, catchy hooks, and some of the best rapping/free-styling I've heard in a while.  It can be tough to find videogame music sometimes, but there is an official soundtrack that can be purchased digitally on Amazon for Anarchy Reigns.  Next week will be a busy week for all involved in the videogame industry/scene as E3's showing will be held from June 11th-June 13th.  So until then, rest up for those attending and have a great weekend to everyone.

GameLight - Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F

Playstation Blog: Project DIVA F for PS3 in August
Source: Youtube Channel cymusic0102

I just mentioned this game just last Friday and how the Western Market was probably never going to see it.  Well I have been proven wrong today as Sega has announced a North American release of its Music Rhythm game Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F for the Playstation 3 in August of this year.  What's more, there will be a Demo released on June 11th next week to download off of PSN.  As happy as I was to hear this, I realized that the game will most likely be distributed digitally and not physically as a disc.  As far as I know, the game will be released digitally only.  I have expressed my dislike for digitally distributed games on consoles and am immediately saddened by the fact that this game will be digital only.  Still, the game sounds very interesting with a lot of content: 38 songs, 90 outfits and accessories, and all 6 of the official Vocaloid characters.  I'm hoping the game will be released for $20, but I have a feeling it might release for $40-$50.  If it was released as a physical copy with a really nice box and disc art, I'd probably feel okay about spending that much for it.  In any case, I'll be trying out the demo next Tuesday and will keep an eye out for its release.  Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F will release for the PS3 this August digitally on the PSN store.

Source:
-Joystiq - Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F synthesizing North America this August

VGCulture - League of Copyrights (300 Heroes)

Official CN Site: http://300.zqgame.com/index.htm
Source: Youtube Channel MMOCultureBlog

It's not rare to see custom re-skins for League of Legends.  So when I heard about 300 Heroes and saw some screenshots, I thought it was League of Legends entirely re-skinned and shown off as a video.  Little did I know that, until watching actual videos of it, 300 Heroes is an actual game in China where it takes the entire League of Legends engine (mechanics, textures, level design, etc.) with characters from all categories: Disney movies, animé, TV shows, other games, and such and was making money off of it.  Despite the blatant ripoff, there have been mixed reactions from viewers outside of China.  On the obvious side, people are furious that so many copyrighted material is being used without consent and is making money off of it.  On the surprising side, there are those who are excited to see so many familiar characters in one game as well as seeing something crazy as 10 players versus 10 players.  In any case, it has sparked quite the discussion on the internet.  A lot of people were excited to see Naruto and Luffy.  I was particularly excited to see Kula Diamond from King of Fighters.  It's probably not going to be a game I'd try, but I do fancy the idea of 10 v 10.  Riot might not try that for League of Legends, but I'm hoping Valve would be willing to have such a mode for DotA 2.

NewNews - Dungeon Fighter Online last week

Official Site: http://dungeonfighter.nexon.net/
Source: Youtube Channel Dyran Daypray

If you've ever heard of Dungeon Fighter Online (DFO) and wanted to try it, you had better do that within the week.  2D Arcade-style Beat-em-Up Dungeon Fighter Online will shut down North American Servers on June 13th, 2013 next Thursday.  Despite its incredible popularity and income overseas, the unique MMO fighter wasn't able to hold its own in the West.  DFO combines the basic mechanics of beat-em-ups with lots of RPG elements such as branching paths for classes, numerous items to equip and consume, an on-going story, and tons of skills that can be combined for all sorts of crazy combos.  It has a nostalgic retro-look to the graphics with flashy animations.  For many players, the game got repetitive and possibly grindy when they were no longer to progress through the story and need to revisit older levels for gaining experience points and looking for better equipment.  With this, there are less players willing to stay with the game and spend money in the micro-transaction shop which is what keeps these free-to-play online games afloat.  If you like Action games or Beat-em-Ups, it's probably worth playing the game a little before it shuts down forever on June 13th.  It's always sad to see fun games like these shut down, but we got the chance to play them at the very least.