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POWERUP REWARDS t gameinfo ANDY McNAMARA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF andy@gameinformer.com Read my column or comment on this letter at gameinformer.com/mag or follow @GI_AndyMc have a love-hate relationship with crowdfund- ing services like Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and Patreon. | love that projects that would other- wise never see the light of day all across the arts and technology spectrum have a venue to get funded. This is the consumer fueling the creative process in its purest form. When given the opportunity to help one of my favorite bands that had split up long ago put together a documentary about a reunion tour, | jumped at the chance. Herein lies crowdfund- ing's biggest issue - nothing you fund is a prom- ise; it's a wish. | wanted that band to succeed, and | was more than willing to throw money at the chance, but nothing is for sure in the crowd- sourced world. To me, the good far outweighs the bad. some projects never see the light of day, and the pledges are never returned. At the same time, crowdfunding has brought numerous games to life that simply wouldn't have otherwise had a chance. It's a risk we as supporters need to be willing to take, and a promise the creators need to have the desire and skill to deliver. It's a buyer beware market if there ever was one, as there are more than a few cautionary tales out there. Which brings us to this issue you hold in your hands and the ethics question crowdfunding brings to Game Informer. For me personally, | refuse to help fund any game, as | feel it taints my judgment in regards to what | want to put in the magazine. In a moment of weakness, much like the one | described above about my favorite band, | donated to Shadowrun Returns when it hit Kickstarter because | feared the game wouldn't be made. | figured that l'd donate just so | could sleep at night and tell myself that | had at least tried. | never imagined it would make its goal. | couldn't have been more wrong, and it blast- ed through its goal. When the opportunity came up for Game Informer to discuss covering the game for a feature, | immediately felt dread in the pit of my stomach and knew that | simply couldn't take part in the decision-making process. | was an "investor." Even though | owned nothing, | had put money in place that made me feel like part of the process. After this experience | decided to never donate to a game again. But to others, donating to a campaign is no different than preordering a game. It’s a complicated issue, and every individual has to decide where they stand for themselves. We have covered many crowdfunded games in the past, and will always do our part as a media source. While | can't give these projects money, | can use Game Informer to focus on games we believe in. This month, we were lucky enough to work with a team as they brought their game idea to the public. | had never met any of the team members of Molasses Flood before they stopped by the office to show us what they had in the works. | found the story so compelling that | knew it was something we needed to share, as it explores the life-changing power of crowdfunding for both good and ill. Enjoy the issue. Cheers, ۵ Resident Evil Revelations Z Claire Redfield returns to Resident Evil with the daughter of legendary S.T.A.R.S. member Barry Burton to fight through a demented torture island. Head about our exclusive hands- on with the first chapter in this episodic mystery. by Tim Turi of ^ ч | { LJ Interview: Anita Sarkeesian regulars 6 Feedback Readers assure us they are not tired of Assassin's Creed and don't mind seeing multiple entries in the franchise each year, tell us how they feel about console exclusive games, and nominate cities they would like an open world game to take place in. 10 Connect We have reports from Tokyo Game Show, discuss what's next for Oculus Rift, and look at the current and up- coming offerings of MOBAs. We also chat with Tom “Syndicate” Cassell about reaching one million followers on Twitch. 62 Previews Tearaway crosses over to PlayStation 4, Final Fantasy XV finally comes out of hiding, and we play some more Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. We also check in on Dying Light and The Crew. Molasses Flood Bravely Second 78 Reviews The holiday video game release season is starting, and we have reviews for some of the biggest games of the year includ- ing Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, Alien: Isolation, Bayonetta 2, Destiny, Super Smash Bros., and Hyrule Warriors. games index Alien: Isolation. ............... 81 Arena of Fate................. 25 Azure Striker Gunvolt .......... 92 о | +». жаак» 23, 64 a жа 89 Behemoth's Game Four......... 31 Bravely Second............... 75 v AM) РРСРР 68 D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die. ..... 94 Dance Central: Spotlight........ 92 DNE LescueésarestwS ka? 23 Dead Island Epidemic .......... 24 Dead or Alive 5: Last Round ..... 76 J) EPOPEE TTET 25 зо. TOE O a 84 Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes.......... 85 с л; tices cas cusses 32 Sao ee Sara. 73 З RR ps vee ee ee as 66 х4, eee er eee 92 зг Al vs лаганнан такан» на 82 Final Fantasy Explorers.......... 74 Final Fantasy Type-0........... 73 Final Fantasy Vl............... 94 Final Fantasy XV.............. 72 Flame in the Flood, The......... 92 Forza EROR Z. as vo cen cae ny 88 Gang BeaStsS................. 32 ИРИНА er a 22 |! Dd. FFEFRITTTITTITITTT 76 Heroes of the Storm ........... 22 Hyrule Warriors............... 90 Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Раіп............ 62 Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor............ 80 Д E Pe TT 31 MOONS. cnc 33 NOA RID РРР 69 Never АЮюпе.................. 67 а EN TE 83 Resident Evil Revelations 2...... 40 Salt and Sanctuary ............ 32 с ш ae errr. 87 Sins of a Dark Age............. 25 ст г зла PEE RS 24 Super Meat Boy Forever ........ 30 Super Smash Bros. 305 ........ 91 Tales of Hears R ............... 74 Tales of Zestiria............... 71 Tearaway Unfolded ............ 70 This War of Міпе.............. 33 [| Ios Mec 33 Tome: Immortal Arena. ......... 23 Toy Soldiers: War Chest ........ 77 eer 24 Walking Dead: Season Two, The............. 29 Wasteland 2 ................. 86 contents 5 feedback@gameinformer.com i M9 Í | - Neversoft gets some much- deserved love this month, as A readers weigh 1n on the енесі деш: һаз, on d — کو a ЫЫ | don’t think one of your articles has ever satisfied me as much as your Assassin's Creed Rogue cover story. During all of the other Assassin's Creed games l've played, I've always felt a bit guilty taking down all of the “bad guys.” | for one never saw the Templars as really evil. They promoted kee' - ing the general populace safe and pacified under their rule — not what | would call evil. More often than not, | felt the Assassins were the bad guys, spreading anarchy and violence in the streets. I’m glad Rogue finally offers a more in-depth look at being a Templar. Liam Farrell via email | love Assassin's Creed, so | was pretty excited to see a new Assassin on the cover and even more excited to learn that Ubisoft is coming out with two new Assassin's Creed games this year. However, I'm torn over which one | should get. Which Assassin's Creed game are you guys more excited for? Or do you find it a little ridiculous that they're releasing two games for the same series in one year? Eli Avila via email While releasing two Assassin's Creed games on the same day does sound a bit ridiculous, we're glad that Ubisoft didn't compromise its vision for Unity in order to accommodate older hardware, or forsake fans who have yet to take the new-gen plunge. Whether the double dose of Assassin's Creed will cause franchise fatigue remains to be seen, but so far both games are looking great. For more on Unity and Rogue, check out our month of bonus coverage at gameinformer.com/ac. A e E In Andy's Letter from the Editor (Streaming Killed The Single-Player Star, issue 257), he questioned whether someone would play a linear, single-player game if they already watched someone else play it. | watched Let's Plays of the entire Silent Hill and Resident Evil series, and liked what | saw so much that I bought the games and played them myself. | think good gameplay will cause some play- ers to buy a game they've already watched, and it can even lead to sales that would have been lost otherwise (in my case, | was con- vinced l'd hate survival horror until | watched those Let's Plays). While the availability of gameplay videos could damage the market for single-player games, | think the opposite is also possible. samantha Lienhard via email We heard from a number of readers who said they've purchased games after evalu- ating them via livestreams, and others who say they watch online playthroughs more for the personalities of the hosts than the games being played. While we'll always prefer playing a game for ourselves, the growing popularity of streaming continues to draw new crowds into gaming. I'm worried Sony is investing too much in online gaming services like Share Play. While playing a game with an online friend even if you don't both own it sounds like fantastic tech, I'd much rather have Sony invest its resources into building real couch co-op expe- riences, rather than a virtual couch that further separates me from my real friends. Is there any chance that this new generation will bring us together physically rather than virtually? Anthony Paluso via email Sony has indeed spent a lot of money upgrading its online capabilities, but those investments aren't stopping developers from including couch co-op - if anything, the extra horsepower of new-gen systems makes local multiplayer more viable. Even if triple-A games continue to move online, expect to see plenty of developers embrace local multiplayer this generation. | was surprised by your Tales from the Borderlands preview last issue (A Case of He Said, She Said, issue 257). In most previews from media outlets, you hear nothing but opti- mism. Yet your Tales preview had a very cau- tious, disappointed tone. | understand why you usually shy away from that tone, as developers can try to take you to task for any lost sales/ pre-orders; you seem to save more negative comments only for reviews because of that. Thanks for the preview, though, and we shall see how the game develops! Phillip Smith via email While previews and reviews typically differ in tone, it has nothing to do with potential sales or the hopes of the developer. A review is an evaluation of a final product, and as such is more critical by nature - all compliments and complaints are fair game. Previews, on the other hand, are a look at unfinished experiences; many things are still being tuned and fixed during development, so singling out specific bugs or gameplay issues isn't fair. However, we don't hesi- tate to share our concerns with underlying conceptual problems, as in the case of our Tales from the Borderlands preview. ~ PHOTOS FROM THE VIDEO GAME INDUSTRY _ “Why was Classic GI discontinued? Is there any possibility it could come back?" It was never discontinued, and it is in this very issue, so the odds of it coming back are very good. "Do you ever envision a day when the whole community can just have conversations without all the shouting matches and labeling?" That sure would be nice. But no. No, we don't. "Did you know about the game you Suck?" You really need to work on your insults. "You should post the answer to the question of the month in the magazine." What's the game you've put the most hours into and why? We're not sure why Mike wanted to make the "cowabunga" hand sign with famed designer and Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, but Sakaguchi was polite enough to oblige The random hand ges- tures continue with Nintendo's Hisashi Nogami, Tsubasa sakaguchi, and translator Robert Tunstall. We really have no idea what they're doing continued on page 8 feedback 7 иишшишшшишиш EEE ишшиш E MN 828 BB EN NEIN Е кт т ш ишин " | _ Р m nm E ионов BERBER ERE ES | g B E E B B B B BEEBE EE EEE ES | g E EB E B B E E Sa BERBER ER POR B BENENMNEENEENEENN ишпшшишшишишини ишшишшишишши mmmummumuu 1141911411515 #1419 11411515 ake Eee FF |g 8 B E BR ER £g EE BEBBBSBSS Bg EEBBEBBNSBS ишшшишшшишши шпшишшишшшишипш BES EEE BS BB BEEBE EEE EE BEEBE EEE ES BEE BEERS B B B EB E E BEBE BE 8 E E E EH B S RD Bee ERE FF BEEBE EEE EEE a Ш 36% Open-World Tourists E 22% Assassin's Creed Adoration E 16% Fall Release Schedule Excitement E 12% R.I.P Neversoft E 10% Livestream Fans B 04% Fans Of Assassin's Creed "Rouge" sega's former director of marketing Al Nilsen and CEO Tom Kalinske were on hand at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con to discuss the glory days of the Sega Genesis and sonic the Hedgehog Comcept CEO Keiji Inafune and Inti Creates CEO Takuya Aizu are so excited about Azure Striker Gunvolt that they weren't even embarrassed that they showed up to PAX wearing the same shirt т + е "E" ھھھ‎ р À M es "TT Y == 6-6 -— m Е | loved your interview with Joel Jewett and Scott Pease (20 Years of Neversoft, issue 257). It was awe- some hearing about the history of the developer, from the struggles to the highlights. It's great seeing how passionate they were for their games, and their careers showed it; not many studios get one game out, and Neversoft was able to be ahead of the curve for 20 years. Kudos, Joel and Scott, and best of luck on your future endeavors. Brad Cahill via email | just finished reading 20 Years of Neversoft. I’m sad to see such a great company disbanding. | need to thank Joel and Scott for making the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater franchise. Without it, | never would have met my significant other 11 years ago while playing THPS 4 online. We fell in love while playing Tony Hawk's Underground. We are still together today and are raising one heck of a gamer daughter. Thank you, Joel and Scott; the magic you created will be missed! Molly F. via email SAA 4b LLL LLL lL LLL LLL LL LLL AAAA AALA AAA AAAA AAAA ALAALA REA AAA AALA d $9, L Jimmy Link only plays the lamest instruments os 2 Dylan Peter Villegas We don't care how deadly Poison Ivy is, plants aren't scary 3 Evan Kowalski It takes Commander Shepherd 45 minutes to de-suit for a bathroom break 4 Lulu Curiel Behold, the Q-tip tentacle beast! 5 Adriel Oviedo Here's a deep cut: This art is inspired by the Sonic game on Game Gear Submit your art for a chance to win our monthly prize. Please include your name and return address. Entries become the property of Game Informer and cannot be returned. Send to: Game Informer Reader Art Contest | 724 First Street North, 3rd Floor | Mpls, MN 55401 or Email to: ReaderArt@gameinformer.com PPP PP Г Г Г Г Г Г P gg P P Pg P P gg ГГ PPP Pg P ГГ ГГ Pg ГГ Г Г ГГ Г Fr Pl P Г ГГ ГГ Г ГЛ If Team Meat's Tommy Refenes looks a little surprised, that's because we jumped out of the crowd and took this picture without warning. We call it guerilla photography The Behemoth's "Game 4" doesn't have an offi- cial title yet, but it does have an awesome arcade cabinet, which director Dan Paladin CLIP. E а ü showed us at PAX feedback 9 top ten whips virtual progress: oculus rift takes another step closer to reality moba evolved the beginner's guide to building a pc impulse: the indie games of pax prime interview: anita sarkeesian opinion: super smash bros. diaries bi ы ' J 1 Lath AE УМ. куи eio а "Dmm “шщ ү IBN". ak ak 14d I. A rd E LL AL LAXTA« | Tokyo Game Show 2014 The Other The Tokyo Game Show may C . look like ЕЗ, but it sure doesn't onvention feel like it anymore. Before the Still Shines rise of other conventions like PAX and Gamescom, TGS and ЕЗ were two sides of the same coin — analogous video game events tailored to their specific regions. Today, despite the elaborate booths, bustling crowds, and hands-on demos, the tone in Tokyo 15 vastly different from what we experience in Los Angeles every summer. А cloud of expectations surrounds ЕЗ every year. We look forward to new announcements and major re- veals to map out the direction gaming will take for the coming year. For TGS, the sense of anticipation and importance just cannot compare; with other conven- tions stealing the spotlight, it no longer has the same reach. Nintendo usually skips the show entirely, and this year saw Sony and Microsoft remain quiet on any major news regarding their games or hardware. by Joe Juba connect 11 12 EE - | \ f »I $ $e L ШЕ! — " A з } "a = Li Tokyo Game No-Shows The Tokyo Game Show brought us news on many games, but sev- eral high-profile titles from Japanese developers were conspicu- ously absent from the event. We didn't hear a peep about The Last Guardian, which is sad but unsurprising at this point. Atlus put out а new trailer (and announced a P54 release] for Persona 5 the week before TGS, but didn't have anything new beyond that on the show floor. Square Enix only mentioned Kingom Hearts III as it relates to Tetsuya Nomura leaving the Final Fantasy XV project. Suda 51's Let It Die was also nowhere to be seen. Thanks to Nintendo's traditional absence, we also didn't learn anything new about upcoming Wii U titles like Super Smash Bros. and Xenoblade Chronicles X. k А p 70 | p \ \ ' US ӯ м -— В.е ) T 5 е | . : s oe LM E. E Some people might say publishers' restraint during this show is confirmation of the decline of the Japanese gaming market, but you only need to see the thousands of people lined up outside of the Makuhari Messe to realize TGS is still important. As a consumer-facing event, the show floor is open to the public for half of its four-day run. With less PR and postur- ing, the crowd's excitement and unbridled enthusiasm takes precedence over the desire to appeal to the press. It puts games from genres that are considered niche on a global scale - like romance and JRPG - front and center. People wait in line for hours. Security guards constantly remind attendees not to run in the hall. A special courtyard is set aside for cosplayers. The 3DS Street Passes max out in minutes. That is the audience for TGS. The hands- on gameplay on the show floor isn't always brand new, and the surprises are few, but developers seem to enjoy the opportunity to share their games with a grateful and eager public. Big Events Despite a lack of jaw-dropping announce- ments, TGS 2014 was far from a barren wasteland when it comes to gaming news. Using press releases, trailers, and stage dem- OS, we saw and learned more about some of the most anticipated games on the horizon. At this point, most fans just assume major gaming events will come and go with no official mention of Final Fantasy XV, but Square Enix surprised us with two inter- esting pieces of news. First, the title has undergone a change in leadership, and is -— Y mw 4 [D 4 now being directed by Hajime Tabata (Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy Type-0) instead of Tetsuya Nomura. Square Enix says the move allows Nomura to focus on Kingdom Hearts Ill, but the change appears more aimed at finishing Final Fantasy XV - a game in development over eight years under Nomura's supervision. Tabata seems to be making progress already; the second piece of news regarding the title is Square Enix will release a demo of Final Fantasy XV in 2015 called Episode Duscae. A free voucher for the demo will be included with Final Fantasy Type-0 HD, though Episode Duscae's release date and price (for those who don't buy Туре-0) were not specified. For more details and thoughts from Tabata himself, read our Final Fantasy XV preview on page 72. Konami used TGS as a chance to show off more of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, with a new trailer and a stage demo highlighting the new buddy system in ac- tion (page 62). Bandai Namco offered some hands-on time with Tales of Zestiria (page 7 1), and NIS released the first substantial details about the upcoming Disgaea 5. The show also brought with it the surprise release of D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die, the episodic Xbox One- exclusive title from Hidetaka "Swery" Suehiro of Deadly Premonition fame (page 92). Some titles were only present as trailers, but that didn't make them any less exciting. We got new looks at Sony's Bloodborne, Capcom's Deep Down, and Bethesda's The Evil Within. Even though we didn't get to play new content for these titles, the videos suc- ceeded in drumming up plenty of enthusiasm. Language Barrier For North American gamers, one of the pitfalls of TGS is getting your hopes too high. Amid the big-name franchises bound for worldwide releases are smaller and more specialized games that may never reach our shores. These aren't always one-off games in unknown series; sometimes titles with popular pedigrees don't get localized outside of Japan. Square Enix has yet to announce any English language plans for Final Fantasy Explorers and Bravely Second, despite the cachet those names currently carry in North America. The Great Ace Attorney from Capcom is also in limbo, especially consid- ering the last game in the series skipped retail shelves in favor of a download-only release. Sega’s cooperative action/RPG Phantasy Star Nova (from veteran developer Tri-Ace) also had a good showing, but the Phantasy Star name doesn't mean what it once did. Learning more about these titles is one of the unique benefits of TGS. It can also be bittersweet – seeing something you want, but may never get. Ultimately, all you can do is wait, show your support and enthusiasm, and hope that publishers get the message. The Tokyo Game Show is a strange conflu- ence of well-known games, niche titles on the fringes, and zany things that would never have a shot at success anywhere but Japan. TGS may not be the spectacle it once was, but with so many cool games on display in one form or another, it continues to be an entertaining showcase for industry profes- sionals and fans alike. TGS By The Numbers Total attendees in 2014. 251,832 Total attendees in 2013: 270,197 Number of exhibitors: 42] Total games shown: 1,354 Number of role-playing games: 138 Number of racing games: 7 Number of PlayStation 4 games: 4Z Number of Xbox One games: 24 Number of Wii U games: 13 Number of 105 games: 259 connect 13 - Castlevania When slaying vampires, most people think of stakes and crosses. The Belmont clan flies in the face of these conventions by battling with this snappy heirloom. The Vampire Killer can be upgraded from a standard leather whip to a brutal spiked chain. It’s not the most obvious bet, but it’s been enough to defeat Dracula several dozen times. - Bulletstorm Grayson Hunt is a smart-mouthed ass-kicker that loves blast- ing his foes to bits with style. His energy leash helps him keep the kills coming with signature flair. This handy tool can lasso enemies from across the battlefield, sending them into the air for an impromptu trap-shooting session. - Final Fantasy Vill At a glance, Quistis is an unassuming teacher in FF VIII's Balamb Garden. But on the battlefield, she wields a compact metal whip that unfolds to deliver justice on the monsters of the world. The deadly Save the Queen is crafted with energy crystals, spikes, and most importantly the tentacles of noxious malboros. - Earthworm Jim Normally, brandishing an overgrown night crawler would more likely get you laughed off the battlefield than featured on a pres- tigious Top 10 list. Earthworm Jim not only gets a pass, but high honors for being able to use himself as a slimy whip. - Resident Evil 2 Leon and Claire first encounter these super-mutated zombies in the bloody halls of the Raccoon City Police Department. These skinless freaks get their namesake by violently “lick- ing” their prey with a six-foot long tongue. These slobbery attacks are enough to stun their victims and set them up for a swift beheading. - Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis Indy and his infamous whip didn't get their start in video games, but the well-worn bullwhip plays a key role in this LucasArts adventure game. Always at Indy's side, the bullwhip is perfect for everything from stunning Nazis to swinging across chasms. - Double Dragon The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Link acquires this shiny whip after a battle with a multi-limbed skeletal warrior in the Ancient Cistern. The whip lets Link grab items and switches from far away, and the glow- ing light orb on the tip can even damage certain enemies. 14 connect Super Smash Bros. Brawl Samus Aran likes to collect a variety of weap- ons throughout her intergalactic missions, from powerful missiles to energy beams that grapple onto enemies. The minimalist Zero Suit Samus may have fewer toys at her disposal, but her plasma whip helps make up for the lighter arsenal. Kabuki Quantum Fighter Like a Slayer fan with a long mane rocking out on the outskirts of a mosh pit, this shaggy war- rior uses his ginger locks as a whip to destroy evil dogs and giant fire-breathing skulls. А bunch of thugs punched your girlfriend in the gut and promptly kidnapped her, so you're willing to use whatever tools you can to get her back. The deceptively deadly Linda carries one of the most useful weapons — a chain whip. CRAZY IDEAS INTOS CRAZY REALITIES, It's one thing to have creative ideas. It's another thing to see them come to life. Learn to get games into the production pipeline. And get yourself into this competitive industry. Explore our degree programs in the area of Game Design & Programming. And le to do what you love, for life. Ó | | GAMER.ARTINSTITUTES;EDU . | $509 579889 (B in The Art Institutes system are campuses of South University or Argosy 55 is csprogramadmin@edmc.edu 090514 д Ad the Art Institute CREATIVITY for LIF Artwork: Andrew Ronda, Bachelor of Science, The Art Institute of California—Orange Coun program duration, tuition, fees, other costs, median debt, federal salary data, alumni success, and scheduling options vary by schoo! and are subject to change. Several institutions inc Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 (02014 The Art Institutes International LLC. Our email add VIRTUAL 9ROGRESS Oculus Rift takes another step closer to reality As developers, investors, and press gathered in Los Angeles recently for the first Oculus Connect event, it was clear something had changed for Palmer Luckey's little Kickstarter project. Looking at a gathering of 1,000 people, with even more watching livestreams of CEO Brendan Iribe, chief scientist Michael Abrash, and chief technology officer John Carmack, it's easy to land on the obvious answer: Facebook's $2 billion bet on virtual reality. by Mike Futter It wasn't that simple, though. Confidence was in the air. When we last met with Iribe, Luckey, and vice president of product Nate Mitchell at GDC this year (right before the Facebook acquisition), there was still an atmosphere of uncertainty. The team was proud of the newly announced second developer kit (DK2), but there was talk about survival and inching toward a consumer product. Now, the senior team (which has swelled with the hiring of technology titans since Facebook purchased the company) has put doubt out of their minds. Virtual reality is going to happen, and the company is one step closer. Oculus unveiled its next "feature prototype" at the event called "Crescent Bay," which is a leap forward from even the recently shipped DK2 units. The new head-mounted displays, which Oculus has made lighter than the current developer kits, are covered in LEDs for positional tracking. If you have been keeping up with virtual reality progress, this will sound very similar to the "Crystal Cove" demo displayed at CES in January 2014. This time though, the sensors are also located on the back of the head, similar to what is offered by Sony's Project Morpheus prototypes. Oculus wasn't terribly forthcoming with the technical specs. The resolution? Improved from the 1080p of the DK2. The field of view? Also increased beyond the 100 degrees in the current devkit. Weight? Noticeably lighter than what's currently available. The 20 or so headsets available for demonstrations at Oculus Connect were handmade at the company's headquarters just ип т | | | days before the event. The Crescent Bay demo was also the first time Oculus encouraged us to stand while using one of its prod- ucts. The company has been emphatic that the Rift is designed as a seated experience, which made us take note. “To give the strongest sense of presence, standing up helps,” lribe says. “Sitting down, it’s still incredibly impactful, and | did the room many times sitting down. Standing up, it is a little more awesome. Just the way the brain works, I'm a little more convinced. Sitting down, you're feeling [the chair]. When you're standing up, and all there is are your clothes on your body, you're less reminded that you're not really there. We wanted to give the strongest sense of presence for everybody." The Crescent Bay demo consisted of a number of scenes that showed off the positional tracking, positional audio, and improved clarity. The scene opens in a submarine, with a peri- scope immediately in front and the claustrophobic electronics and machinery whirring and thumping around. | tried to reach out and grab the handles of the cylinder, but the company still isn't ready to reveal its input device. The scene faded and was replaced with a toothy dinosaur in a black room. The creature sniffed the air and roared in my direction. Turning my head made clear that the built-in headphones (which weren't high quality) were delivering directionally based sound. The software for positional audio is as important as the quality of the hardware. The demo progressed through a number of scenes, including a small town with a circling airplane overhead, bustling traffic, and people milling about. The paper aesthetic was adorable, and | was astounded as | leaned to examine the finer details. One of the houses was in flames, as firefighters attempted to put it out. | could look inside the windows and see one of the residents pacing and crying. The detail was extraordinary. The 10-minute demo closed with a brief clip developed by Epic Games in Unreal Engine 4. "Showdown" walks players down a city street as police take aim at a rampaging mech. As the camera moves us closer to the hulking beast, bullets fly in slow motion, their contrails rippling the air. | move out of their way, because it just feels like the right thing to do. As the carnage ramps up, concrete starts flying, glass shat- ters, and explosions boom. A car flips overhead, and looking up reveals terrified passengers, most likely in their final moments. Reaching the metallic beast elicits one last roar, signaling the end of my time with Crescent Bay and another step closer to bringing a consumer model into our homes. Oculus still isn't committing to a timeline, but in conversa- tion with Iribe, it's clear that visuals and audio are the two main components that need to be in place before launch. It's unlikely that a custom input device will be ready in time though, which means a consumer model isn't the end of the road. It's just the beginning. Samsung Gear VR Oculus has split its development efforts into two branches. Not only is it working on a PC-based consumer headset, but the company has teamed up with samsung to make mobile virtual reality possible. The Samsung Gear VR will be released in an "innovator edition" this fall as a companion device for the Note 4 Android phone. All you need do is plug the phone in and place the cov- er on the head-mounted display. Using the device is simple, with a touch-sensitive pad on the right temple with a back button above it. Targeting in the Oculus Home menu is handled with head positioning, and a tap of the touchpad moves forward. А number of video, media, and game applications are available for the Gear VR. Video options are offered in either virtual cinema or 360-degree offerings (like the Pacific Rim Jaeger Pilot demo). Music op- tions include Harmonix VR, an interactive visualizer that offers scene-based options activated by focusing on objects in the environment. Games run the gamut from third-person action to atmospheric puzzle to the (slightly nauseating) first-person version of Temple Run. Because Gear VR doesn't yet offer six degrees of freedom (you can't lean into a scene], it's currently best for media consumption. It does have а visual passthrough [activated by holding the back button) so you can check in on the world around you. Gear VR also offers direct sound from the Note 4. Mobile VR is going to be a reality soon. Expect to start seeing them in the next few months. 18 connect Twitch's Most Popular Streamer Shares His Journey atching video game-oriented streams has become a popular pastime for many gamers to the point where many teens prefer PewDiePie or Smosh over traditional Hollywood entertainers. Tom Cassell, who goes by the name Syndicate, recently became the first person (or company for that matter} to reach one million followers on the increasingly popular Twitch streaming service. by Kyle Hilliard How did this Manchester, U.K. native turn his love for games into a career as an Internet phenom- enon? It all started with his love of games at a young age. "My super, super earliest memories would be my uncle actually playing Sega Mega Drive," Cassell says. He played variety of games growing up, despite his parents’ reticence, but his obsession truly started when a friend introduced him to Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. "| wanted to be a pro at it,” Cassell says. "I wanted to do MLG, but then | kind of got bored of the competitive side of it. As time progressed and new games came out, | moved on to Call of Duty Zombies." With this offshoot mode, Cassell found his niche that would later bloom into a much larger presence in the world of Let's Plays. He made video tutorials for the popular Call of Duty mode, and slowly began to foster his audience. As Cassell gained momentum online, he realized he wanted to not only talk about games, but make them as well. He enrolled in Hyde Clarendon Sixth Form College to learn how to do so, but didn't stay. One of Cassell's tutors saw his potential in the world of online video, and encouraged him to drop out, with the caveat that he could return if it didn't work out. Cassell made a name for him- self on YouTube, and currently has more than eight million sub- scribers, but over time gravitated toward streaming. “1 remember doing super small streams on Justin.tv, like way back in the day when it wasn't even known as a gaming site — it was just a place where you could live stream," Cassell says, recalling only having a handful of viewers. He tried out Twitch early on after receiving requests from his audi- ence, gaining 30,000 subscribers in a short amount of time. Once YouTube implemented streaming, however, he moved his streaming efforts there. After streaming on YouTube for two years, Minecraft (a game Cassell still streams often) con- vinced him to jump back over to Twitch thanks to its integrated streaming feature. “1 got a really good response with my audience and new people on there," Cassell says. "| decided, screw it — let's try to set a goal of hitting a million before Riot Games and be the first person to do it." Since then, Cassell has put his video efforts toward Twitch almost entirely. He thinks it has been worth it, even if it hasn't techni- cally paid off. "You don't make more money off of Twitch, that's a fact. You just don't," Cassell says. "On the financial side of things, you are better off if you do it on YouTube. But...! love having a live audience and to be able to react and respond with them at any given moment on the spot... That's why | do it." Cassell set his goal at hitting a million followers, but even Twitch's overseers weren't sure he could beat an established Tom "syndicate" Cassell Occupation Professional streamer, game developer Twitter www.twitch.tv/syndicate Location Manchester, U.K. company like Riot. When he saw himself getting close, Cassell decided to marathon Call of Duty Zombies. He even abandoned a fully paid trip from Microsoft to attend Gamescom so he could stay competitive with Riot. “I was ecstatic — my face was like purely pumped," Cassell says about crossing the one million mark, which happened midstream. "My audience is an absolute tank, and | cannot thank them enough for helping me achieve it. | could't be more proud of my audience." Today, Cassell is still streaming on Twitch and filling out his YouTube channel, and he hopes to keep doing so for the foreseeable future. He doesn't think Twitch is a fad, especially considering the eSports implications of the website. Cassell's popularity has allowed him to pursue his goal of get- ting into game development. He recently founded a company called 3BlackDot, which has grand plans for bringing new games to the world. Ф BRING YOUR OWN PHONE Activation Kit Works with Top 4 Carriers ч) ч ч) UNLIMITED 57 Available TALK, TEXT, DATA tet ات‎ om эл 40 ~ 1 LIE E ija) P 1 А As ы ^ t i = ж ш» Җәй |ы +. айн! ee TE UJ si = srisies | | E ul phone Everything you need to bring yo to NETY) Wireless just pat chase the gion that fits your ме вао number of get a Bew we of herp you t ds ET 1. Following in the massive footsteps of League of Legends and Dota 2, several developers are wading into the-MOBA scene with big ambitions and new ideas .- A ^, 20 As the multiplayer online battle arena (МОВА) genre has risen to prominence on the PC and in the eSports scene, imitation has become the sincerest form of flattery. While a number of games are simply looking to claim a profit- able slice of the genre that Heroes of Newerth, Dota 2, and League of Legends have defined after its mod-map beginnings in Warcraft Ill, many upcoming titles are mov- ing away - some slightly, some heavily — from the tried and true three lane, two base formula that has changed the PC gaming landscape forever. After resounding success in the PC space, the genre is looking toward other platforms as the next frontier, with Hi-Rez Studios’ Smite scheduled to debut on Xbox One and Battleborn launching on both current-gen consoles as well as PC. Incorporating elements from different genres, changing the focus of the five-on-five battles, and cutting down the game length are all factors being experimented with in the next batch of titles entering the MOBA space. Accessibil- ity and shorter match length appear to be popular broad based shifts, moving away from the significant burden of knowledge and time requirements that the foundation titles can be associated with. These new MOBAs add their own flavor to the proven formula, and sometimes change the recipe completely. Free-to-play models mesh well with the MOBA package, allowing players to purchase or earn heroes and cosmet- ics through gameplay, and as such all of these titles with the notable exception of Battleborn are expected to be free-to-play on release, even if they currently have a buy- in early access option. by Daniel Tack connect 21 HEROES OF THE STORM Platform: PC Publisher: Blizzard Developer: Blizzard Release: TBA Blizzard’s take on the MOBA is fast and friendly. Wielding the company’s substantial stable of iconic and lovable characters ranging from the tanky Diablo to StarCraft’s Siege Tank, Heroes of the Storm may be the most accessible of any entrant to the genre thus far. With shared team experience, no items to micromanage or purchase, and maps that offer clear objectives that bring a team together, the focus here is on ensuring that everyone can jump in and play without learning hundreds of items and abilities. Unlike many other games in the genre, Heroes of the Storm has a variety of different maps that all play quite differently, using side objectives and minigames to promote team battles. Towers have a set amount of ammuni- tion, promoting push-centric heroes and mak- ing the lane control aspects that can slow down other titles obsolete. It's in your best interests to keep your creep waves pressing up against enemy defenses. Games take 10 to 20 minutes instead of around 40, leaving players free to grab a match in a more forgiving time block. More advanced players may gravitate toward heroes like the Zerg Abathur, who can essentially be anywhere on the map at any given time and break out of traditional MOBA character ability space. Players can currently opt-in to participate in the alpha and beta phase at Battle.net. GIGANTIC Platform: PC Publisher: Motiga Developer: Motiga Release: 2015 Gigantic takes the core MOBA con- cepts - a five-on-five brawl with levels, upgrades, and respawn times — and mixes things up by working within a third-person shooter framework. Play- ers must still destroy base objectives, but in Gigantic, the base is an enor- mous mobile creature that unleashes devastating attacks and has a huge pool of health. Players battle to control the board by setting down creature summons (there are no creep waves) at vari- ous capture points and guard them to accumulate power for their huge monster. In close games, the battle often ends with both teams forced to fight under the huge presence of their respective beasts, creating a situation where both sides are spurred into team fights by necessity, while the earlier game allows for more lone wolfing and small-scale encounters. The third-person shooter aspects that this title brings to the table make it feel a lot like a more refined deathmatch style game with overarching objectives, making it a fast-paced alternative for those who may be burnt out on isomet- ric RTS-style options. Players can sign up for alpha now via the official website. BATTLEBORN Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC Publisher: 2K Games Developer: Gearbox Software Release: 2015 While many of Battleborn's features separate it from traditional MOBAs, (see page 64) it's hard to ignore that the competitive multiplayer aspects of the game draw upon many elements that make up the groundwork of the genre. Moving MOBA genre conventions into the first-person shooter sphere is going to be interesting. Combining brutal melee attacks and bristling gun- play should lend itself to console controls as well as PC. While many current genre titles rely on controls lifted from the once-proud real-time strategy genre, those reams of hotkeys and map movement designations are difficult to translate to the joystick world, so first-person shooter may be the perfect fit to take all the best pieces of the MOBA puzzle and fit them together into something that could strike hot across platforms. Battleborn also has the distinction of being built to fit the stan- dard retail box model, eschewing the free-to-play pay model that is now almost universally accepted for MOBA titles. TOME: IMMORTAL ARENA Platform: PC Publisher: Kixeye Developer: Kixeye Release: ТВА Tome trims down the MOBA experience by offer- ing quick three-on-three matches that take around 10 minutes, no last hitting, and towers that run out of ammo to ensure lanes fall. Being able to buy and heal right in lane make Tome an extremely fast-paced alternative to some of the other titles out here. Color- ful characters with faction affiliations that you can work on at the account level provide special abilities, currency, and custom skin unlocks. Probably the big- gest factor that separates Tome from the rest of the herd is you can play it right in your browser, making it an attractive lunchtime option or on-the-go choice. Tome: Immortal Arena is currently available for play in a beta phase. DAWNGATE Platform: PC Publisher: Electronic Arts Developer: Waystone Games Release: TBA Electronic Arts and Waystone Games have their own entrant in the coming MOBA clash, and it's the mostly traditional Dawngate. Featuring two lanes instead of three and side objectives that give resources to the controlling team, Dawngate allows players a good break from standard five-on-five lane composition if they want to try things like dedicated roamers in addition to classic junglers and in-lane support/carry combos. In addition to the new lane makeup, players also pick roles before the game that offer rewards for "correct" play - the carry gets additional resource bonuses from getting last hits, while the support may get extra resources from harassing the enemy heroes instead. Gankers and junglers have their own roles to select too, and while it's perfectly fine to play outside of the role you select, such as a support starting to pile on last hits, there are significant incentives toward playing your archetype well. Dawngate is cur- rently in a community beta state, where players can sign up and play now if they wish. connect 23 STRIFE Platform: PC Publisher: S2 Games Developer: 52 Games Release: TBA S2 Games is back for another round after being one of the genre frontrunners with Heroes of Newerth. While Strife is quite rooted in the five-on-five, three-lane design, last hitting (earning gold by getting the last attack on a monster before it dies) is such that players share earned gold, so your supports will have no problem gaining resources. Players can also augment their hero with companion pets that provide functional benefits. These pets allow you to accent your heroes to suit your gameplay, from the defense boosts of a turtle or some gold gain or mana regeneration. Another major change is that players can craft their own items. Don't like how the magic wand in the store gives health and damage, and find yourself simply needing more health? Using crafting materials gained after each match, you can alter existing items to fit your needs, like turning that magic wand into a healthstick. While these modifiable item recipes present a balancing challenge, it gives players complete control of how they want to play various heroes. While S2 is also making an attempt to reduce elements that contribute to МОВА community toxicity, Strife's focus is on allowing players to play the hero roster in a number of different ways based on player preference and customiza- tion. Players can sign up and play Strife, now in open beta. VAINGLORY Platform: iOS Publisher: Super Evil Megacorp Developer: Super Evil Megacorp Release: October While the primary platform for the MOBA has been PC, some developers have offered quality tablet variants such as Zynga's Solstice Arena and Hammer and Chisel's Fates Forever. Vainglory is looking to captivate tablet users by providing all the best elements of the MOBA without making any sacrifices in the transition to the mobile platform. With a large roster of heroes, games that last around 20 minutes, and the same core gameplay elements a user would find on a PC title, Vainglory is attempting to take tap gameplay to the next level and target core users with the same associated challenges and skill requirements. DEAD ISLAND EPIDEMIC Platform: PC Publisher: Deep Silver Developer: Stunlock Studios Release: TBA Dead Island Epidemic features all those lovable zombies and some interesting diversions from the standard formula. Players can band together and play coop- eratively in a horde mode, or, in a new take on MOBA design, battle in a massive 12-person brawl! where three teams battle for victory as they attempt to control points on the map while fighting other teams and the zombie menace. Dead Island Epidemic is currently available via early access on Steam. АВЕМА ОЕ РАТЕ Platform: PC Publisher: Crytek Developer: Crytek Release: TBA With games like Smite tapping into myth and legend for character inspiration, Arena of Fate looks to history and story for its heroes. In a traditional five-on-five format, players can play as Robin Hood, Joan of Arc, Little Red Riding Hood, Tesla and others. Arena of Fate continues the trend toward shorter game length, with matches running around 20 minutes. Interested players can sign up for beta now. gis m ` 1o m xf 2 e n wa y صم‎ Bare ^ ` | ` en SINS OF A DARK AGE Platform: PC Publisher: Ironclad Games Developer: lronclad Games Release: TBA The МОВА space is new territory for Sins of a Solar Empire developer Ironclad Games. A far departure from its critically acclaimed 4X strategy title, the game incorporates many of the traditional MOBA features and brings quests into the mix. In Sins of a Dark Age’s dark fantasy environment, quests serve as a primary motiva- tion to coax players out of the lanes and act as an incentive for big team fights, long before the later stages of the game where they would normally occur. Sins of a Dark Age is currently available via early access on Steam. | DEADBREED Е a Platform: PC ы s Publisher: Deadbreed AB ~ ' Developer: Deadbreed АВ Release: ТВА Deadbreed is a horror take on the MOBA. Many various player vs. en- vironment elements are incorporated into this game, including quests, dun- geons, monsters, mini-bosses and loot. Heroes level up outside of the matches themselves, allowing players to specialize in their favorite play styles, such as tanky bruisers or dam- age cannons. These account-level unlocks give players incentive to work on long term goals and progression that stays with them outside of the temporary advancement in match- to-match battles, and outfit their characters with artifacts and gems to enhance abilities and powers. Dead- breed is currently available via early access on Steam. connect 25 А 4 E: | , کے‎ 9 la n. A E Aa? C ФУ 34 Ww AS. CA — | "ы | > ررر کی‎ /? 4 ! , 4> EI /- M Adi € “м - - — 2 4 t T | P | ج‎ » ЕЧ “ Akiba's Trip: Undead & Undressed (PS4) › Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (PS4, Xbox One, PS3, 360, PC) » Payday 2: Safecracker Edition (PS3, 360) Planes: Fire & Rescue (Wii U, 360, 3DS) > Rabbids Invasion (PS4, Xbox One) › The Wolf Among Us (PS4, Xbox One, PS3, 360) 05.1 The Story Of Skylanders IDW Publishing is fleshing out the lore in Skylanders with a new ongoing comic-book series. Much like the Transformers cartoons of old, new characters debut in these Skylanders: Trap Team issues, and will later be seen in the games. 05.2 The New Face Of Thor Marvel Comics has a new vision for its long-running universe, and one of the big changes is Thor becoming a female character. You'll see her in action for the first time today in the second issue of the new Thor series. 07.1 BlizzCon 2014 Blizzard Entertainment is having one hell of a year. The developer shipped Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft, and Diablo 111: Ultimate Evil Edition, and will ship World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor on November 13. We're expecting another big announcement at this year's BlizzCon, which kicks off today in Anaheim, Calif. Tickets are already sold out. Ю 04 Call of Duty: ' „ Advanced Warfare 07.2 Houston Arcade & Pinball Expo Hundreds of coin-ops, all set to free play, are on display at this year's Houston Arcade & Pinball Expo. Tournaments for both pinball and various arcade and console games are planned across both days of this show, held at the Northwest Crown Plaza. 07.3 A Great Day To Go To The Movies Call in sick to work, and plan on a doubleheader in the theater today. Two highly anticipated movies, Christopher Nolan's /nterstellar and Disney's Big Hero 6, hit the big screen. One of these movies is clearly aimed at kids — /nterstellar is about a dad with a cool job that involves going into space. Big Hero 6, on the other hand, is the sad tale of a fat robot. Be sure to bring your Kleenex. її New Releases : Assassin's Creed Rogue (PS3, Xbox 360) Assassin's Creed Unity (PS4, Xbox One, PC) › The Crew (PS4, Xbox One, PS3, 360, PC) : Digimon All-Star Rumble (PS3, 360) › Halo: The Master Chief Collection (Xbox One) › Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham (PS4, Xbox One, Wii U, PS3, 360, 3DS) › Shape Up (Xbox One) › Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal (3DS) › Tales of Hearts R (Vita) › Terraria (PS4, Xbox One) : Tropico 5 (360) 18 Dragon Age: Inquisition 13 New Releases » World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor (PC) ї4 We Didn't Ask For This Get ready to feel old: The original Dumb & Dumber came out 20 years ago. Of all the movies that came out in 1994, that one is pretty low on our list of films that needed a revival. Dumb & Dumber То opens today, and we'll go see it to show our support, hopefully inspiring Hollywood to make sequels to 1994's Forest Gump, Pulp Fiction, and The Shawshank Redemption. 18 New Releases » Adventure Time: The Secret of the Nameless Kingdom (PS3, 360, 3DS) › Dragon Age: Inquisition (PS4, Xbox One, PS3, 360, PC) » Escape Dead Island (PS3, 360) › Far Cry 4 (PS4, Xbox One, PS3, 360, PC) › Grand Theft Auto V (PS4, Xbox One) » LittleBigPlanet 3 (PS4, PS3) > Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor (PS3, 360) › Monopoly: Family Fun Pack (PS4, Xbox One) › Penguins of Madagascar (Wii U, 3DS) Sonic Boom (Wii U) » Watch Dogs (Wii U) › WWE 2K15 (PS4, Xbox One) 21.1 New Releases › Рокёётоп Alpha Sapphire/ Omega Ruby (305) 21.2 Another Lengthened Finale Following in the footsteps of Harry Potter, Twilight, and The Hobbit, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay is the latest book to be told in multiple parts on the silver screen. Part one opens today, in which we learn the suppos- edly sinister government that Katniss is trying to overthrow actually has everyone's best interests at heart, and our heroine is really ruining it for everyone. That's what happened in the book, right? 22 Canadian Video Game Awards The fifth annual Canadian Video Game Awards show kicks off today at Toronto's Carlu. The games nominated are from June 2013-June 2014. 25 New Releases › Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth (305) 26 A New Charlie Day Film You probably didn't see Horrible Bosses, but you should. It has Charlie Day (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) in it. That's also why you should see Horrible Bosses 2. 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І Wy 5 pu eT » є p г » ` 7 4 Г] ~ үч ^ b E * 4 Р, в چ‎ a AAA. - m ч * E , м iiec 7 з" ж a " d = J ] > P 251 hel ef Ж utm b T Г + А . * ‚ ! ' е "v | = y" т a“ FA a ' ; * ч f ys m ? > Pas . r = ١ 4 t م‎ е \ m" J à ay " { - | E м $ { , - رکد‎ Rh A тө гре Е Cie ДХ. dia «v t s . F ' 7 “ig т А 4 ne м "^, e i Pw i 4, 4 a! _ е 2 \ * a E | = 4 P m "мы v = й „> га » ‘ “ E "E * “М - 4^ 2 » 4 B " 1 т : & y - = ^ ы "T. f ‘ > я 4 - A P B А „Д4 - = ' | M. Р pe. B. А ud Д ^ 7. ЕД = . 8 > * " а a i. & = Ld -$ 4 4 ь = 2 " A i L4 bd LI , - » PLATFORM » DEVELOPER 40 EXCLUSIVE HANDS-ON WITH CLAIRE’S FATEFUL ESCAPE FROM RESIDENT EVIL REVELATIONS 2’S SADISTIC PRISON BY ТІМ TURI cover story 41 Horror games are on the rise once again, but the genre wouldn't exist in its current form without Shinji Mikami's genre-defining Resident Evil. This 1996 PlayStation title solidified the series as one of the indus- try's biggest and coined the term “survival horror." The franchise rein- vented itself in 2004 with Resident Evil 4, but the path beyond that influential shooter has been more polarizing. Resident Evil 6 released to mixed critical reception and failed to meet sales expectations - a dismal sequel compared to Hesident Evil 5, which, as of last year, was Capcom's best-selling game ever. The main numbered entries in the franchise may have recently lost the pulse of its enduring fan base, but a moody, portable, single-player focused spin-off named Hesident Evil Revelations released months before Resident Evil 6 and scored Capcom praise. After being ported to consoles, the game sold nearly two million units. Revelations' numbers don't touch the main series entries, but Capcom recognized the serial- ized narrative structure as a current avenue for episodic distribution. Hevelations 2, destined for current and last-gen consoles, refines the solid gameplay of its predecessor while telling the next chapter of one of the franchise's biggest characters. We visited Capcom in Tokyo for an extensive hands-on session with Revelations 2. Capcom let us play through an exclusive section set in a deadly prison cellblock and we also spoke with producer Michiteru Okabe about the next chapter in Resident Evil's main numbered series. Our Tokyo trip also afforded us a chance to see Resident Evil Remaster HD in action and check out the revamped environments and game- changing control scheme. 42 43 cover story into the spinning nemies Luring multiple e THE REDFIELD AND BURTON WOMEN UNITE More than a decade has passed since Claire Redfield’s story trailed off. She premiered in Resident Evil 2 alongside rookie cop Leon S. Kennedy, hunting for her brother Chris within the undead husk of Raccoon City. She discovered the outbreak was the result of a sinister corporation named Umbrella that was conducting experiments with ter- rible monsters beneath the city. Instead of letting that traumatic event between Resident Evils 5 and 6. So we paid close attention to making sure that we portrayed Claire as a character who has grown even more as a person.” Claire’s repeated run-ins with evil companies performing illegal exper- iments have left her bitter and hardened. Her world-weariness shows, and she’s quick to communicate her lack of trust for others. The ben- efits of her sworn mission include impressive weapon proficiency and cripple her, she dedicated herself to fighting bioterrorism. Her mission quick reflexes - the best defenses against mutated monsters. hit a snag in Resident Evil: Code Veronica, when she was captured As in Code Veronica, Claire awakens in Revelations 2 on the floor infiltrating an Umbrella compound. She later awakened on a dirty jail- of a prison cell, this time with a glowing green bracelet on her wrist. cell floor of Rockfort Island, an Umbrella training facility. Now, over a This same accessory is highlighted in a trailer for the game, which decade after that incident, Claire is back in the spotlight and finding shows passengers of a cruise ship wearing bracelets glowing green herself in an unsettlingly similar position. and vicious zombies with red ones. We don't know why or how she "Although her comeback to the games is a long time coming, there ended up here, but given the Revelations series' emphasis on mystery and flashbacks, Capcom is likely withholding her kidnapper's identity to create intrigue. Claire's cell unlocks and she discovers the mysterious prison facility was a CG movie, Resident Evil: Degeneration, that showed us Claire after the Raccoon City Incident," says Revelations 2 writer Hiroshi Yamashita. “Revelations 2 takes place even further down the line – ANEW CHAPTER, A NEW шш: >> DISTRIBUTION METHOD | m Resident Evil Revelations was developed on the 3DS with an episodic structure = “ы. because Capcom theorized on-the-go - players would want to play in smaller chunks. Revelations 2 isn't in the works for 3DS or Wii U (likely due to Revelations' underperforming sales on those platforms), but the serial- Pa Sw | ized TV-show formula remains intact. | Similar to Telltale’s The Walking Dead < oh or The Wolf Among Us, each episode will be available individually for $5.99, Ld or you can get a season pass for $24.99 ш which comes with extra content. A disc-based version will hit retail after all the episodes are released with even more additional content for $39.99, though Capcom hasn't specified what the extras entail. The four episodes will release across four М | P successive weeks, each taking two to - three hours to play through. p „й looks like it’s been abandoned for decades. Rusted hooks line the walls, and implements of torture are displayed everywhere. Recognizing the danger here, Claire immediately goes on the hunt for Moira. This fire- cracker of a young woman is the daughter of Resident Evil fan favorite Barry Burton. Barry was blackmailed into betraying his fellow S.T.A.R.S. team members during the Mansion Incident when series villain Wesker threatened his loved ones. The family man has been absent from the storyline since his cameo appearance at the end of Resident Evil 3, which also shows a snapshot of him playing with his two little girls. Revelations 2 promises to explore what's going on with the Burton clan, but will Barry be playable? Director Michiteru Okabe is being coy, but the answer may be between the lines. “Without giving away too much, | will say it is a good story for familial relations — parents and children,” Okabe says. "You'll glean a lot about these kinds of relationships in this storyline.” Claire finds Moira trapped in another cell, banging against the bars in frustration. Claire releases the lock by pressing a nearby switch and a relieved Moira flees from the cell. Moira is a new recruit in Claire’s organi- zation Terra Save, a group committed to battling bio- terrorism across the world. Moira is a rookie with an attitude and a big mouth, but her admiration of Claire is apparent. This duo’s relationship presents another parallel to Claire's exploits in Raccoon City, where she protected youngster Sherry Birkin from her mutating mad-scientist father. The pair winds through dark, narrow corridors with passageways blocked by locked gates or piles of decrepit junk. Their path leads to a large, open area with mine-cart tracks corkscrewing up along the walls. Dozens of hooks dangle from the ceiling, each impal- ing a gently swinging, burlap-wrapped body. One corpse suddenly drops right in the middle of Claire's path, offering a quick scare and reminder that Capcom wants to rattle players' nerves more than in recent games. They hit a dead end in a surgery room with a huge pane of cracked glass. Claire goes on the hunt for something to bust it out. She uncov- ers a knife and a flashlight, handing the latter over to Moira. Now armed, Claire busts down the glass and the two explore the next room. Claire reads up on a file all about the monitoring and disposal of "test subjects." The memo prompts me to explore the environment a little more thoroughly, and | see a security camera pointed right at the ladies. cover story 45 It doesn't take long before Claire and Moira get their first look at one of the subjects. | won't spoil how one of the twisted tortured fiends, named the Afflicted, makes its first appearance, but they look grue- some. These fleshy, terribly deformed humanoid monsters glisten with blood. Torture implements like spikes and barbed wire are driven into their scarred bodies, adding a sting to each swing they take. Claire wards off the first attacker with her knife as Moira curses in confusion, asking what she just saw. “The Afflicted were subjected to some sort of specific kind of torture that's basically driven them completely bonkers,” Okabe says. "They're insane now and extremely violent, going berserk. They are humans; they're not zombies. They are humans that have been pushed beyond their limits." Claire's next encounter with these new foes is a white-knuckle introduction to Revelations 2's combat. The two are attacked after looting a dead cop's corpse for a pistol and a key. A trio of Afflicted close in, snarling and running toward Claire as Moira flees up a ladder. Without thinking, my instincts from hundreds of hours spent blasting the Ganados and Majini of Resident Evil 4 and 5 kick in as | shoot at the charging monsters' feet. To my surprise, the attackers stumble and fall to the ground. Unlike recent Resident Evil games, where attacking specific body parts doesn't affect enemy movement, Capcom is bring- ing gunplay in Revelations 2 back to its roots. A couple of clean headshots finish off one Afflicted, and | attempt to conserve ammo by slashing another fallen enemy with my knife. The other remaining Afflicted offers me no quarter, blindsiding me with a huge tackling leap. Series fans may have grown accustomed to enemies that sprint toward you and generously slow down when within a few feet. The Afflicted's animalistic rage makes them more of a threat, forcing players to keep moving. Thankfully, Claire's new multi- directional dodge move allows her to evade some of these tenacious beasts' attacks. The narrow timing window of the original Revelation's dodge ability has been replaced with one that lets players dash in a specific direction at will. It’s a welcome change. | barely survive the fight, having to rely on my knife to cautiously defeat the last Afflicted. Blood smears frame the screen, indicating Claire is on her last legs. Holding down a button allows Claire to mend her wounds with collected herbs after a healing gauge quickly fills. Hardcore Resident Evil fans will be happy to know that even for a sea- soned series veteran, Revelations 2 looks to be punishing. The scarce resources and relentless enemies may have some players restarting at checkpoints more often than they expect. INSIDE RESIDENT EVIL НО REMASTER 3 MANSION MAKEOVER | Resident Evil Revelations 2 is embracing the series figurative horror roots, but this remas- tered HD update is literally going back to its origins. Much has been said about the GameCube remake of Resident Evil, and for good reason. It cleverly toys with players' expectations based on the original, like having a window crack instead of a zombie dog crash through it. It makes players rethink their strategies thanks to zombies that must be burned before they come back faster and stronger. Not least importantly, the 2002 release made a graphi- cal leap in one generation that's nothing short of staggering. But Capcom's process for updating the already impressive visuals for the HD era is more involved than simply improving textures and offering an alterna- tive to clunky tank controls. During our visit with Capcom, the devel- oper walked us through the process behind making the terrific-looking game look even better. GameCube titles were origi- nally developed to output to standard- definition TVs. That built-in, fuzzy coat of Vaseline is gone now, so the team has to painstakingly ensure every last green herb and flickering candle holds up under HD users' scrutiny. The RE remake differs from many HD updates that contain fully 3D game worlds, in that the mansion settings achieved their impressive level of detail thanks to Capcom's technique of using static backgrounds with looping ambi- ent flairs, like moths flickering at a light or leaves rustling in the wind. These subtle ele- ments along with the lighting system were baked into the environment because the game had no dynamic lighting system (save for the 3D character models). To update these aspects of the game, Capcom is completely recreating some scenery in 3D, like candle flames or tree branches. Additionally, the character models for every S.T.A.R.S. team member and enemy are being touched up to convey a greater sense of realism and gore. Some rooms have been almost entirely redone, such as the infamous underground tomb where a Crimson Head zombie emerges from a dan- gling coffin. In order to maintain the dread- inducing mood of the room, Capcom remade the walls, floor, iron bars, hanging chains, and more so that the dynamic lighting system could play off the environment with more gloomy realism. For a game so focused on instilling unease in players, this type of attention is paramount. Capcom also showed off the new modern control scheme and cropped camera mode in action. The new controls allow the character to more nimbly move around the environment and evade enemies. Capcom admits this may disrupt some core balancing of the game's dif- ficulty, such as enemies' A.I. not being able to compensate for the S.T.A.R.S. sudden spryness. Chris and Jill's speedier movements may also reduce some of the weight and tension of the original. A new view mode crops the action in 16:9 (opposed to the original's 4:3 ratio), with the concession of a camera that slowly tracks the characters. It's similar to watching a wides- creen film in fullscreen - slightly jarring but not awful. Thankfully, players can swap between the original ratio and control scheme on the fly. Finally, Capcom is giving fans a little some- thing extra by including playable Resident Evil 5 versions of Chris and Jill in HD Remaster. All these enhancements and new options are coming together to present an enticing opportu- nity for diehard fans and newcomers alike when it hits current/last-gen consoles and PC early next year. cover story, 4 A CAPABLE CO-OP PARTNER also point the bright beam in enemies’ faces, blinding them and leav- The Afflicted present a formidable challenge, but thankfully Moira ing them open for a blast from Claire's shotgun or a roundhouse kick. Burton has inherited her father’s grit. Though unlike Barry, a former But that’s not all; Moira also carries around a hefty crowbar. She can weapons expert for S.T.A.R.S., Moira doesn't do guns. Shortly after stab fallen enemies with the business end of this tool for a one-hit kill, Claire picks up a double-barreled shotgun, she offers the firearm to making her contribution to combat an invaluable way to even the odds Moira. She rejects the offer, adding that guns aren't her style. "Not and save ammo. after what happened," she says. Could Moira's aversion to guns stem Moira uses the crowbar to pry a wooden barricade off a door from a traumatic family event? Revelations 2 sows the seeds of another leading to a new area that Capcom showed exclusively to Game intriguing mystery. Informer. Claire and Moira pass through a dark hallway until they Moira is handy even without a gun or blade. Players can control Moira see sunlight for the first time since awaking in this terrible place. A in single-player, swapping between her and Claire with the push of a bright ray of light breaks through the crumbling roof of the compound, button (reminiscent of Resident Evil 0). Alternatively, a buddy can pick illuminating an open prison cellblock. A voice cuts in over the facility's up a controller for some local, splitscreen-only co-op action. Moira P.A. system. sticks to flashlight duty, shining the light around the environment to reveal sparkling items for the taking, like ammo and health. She can "Fear what you will become, and become what you fear," says the disembodied voice. Could this be the same person who is mysteriously CAPCOM TAKES ITS LEADING LADIES SERIOUSLY The Resident Evil series’ ever- changing representation of its female heroes is personified by jill Valentine. She transformed from a uniformed police opera- tive to a mini-skirted survivor, then to a brainwashed, spandexed vixen with a mind-control device attached to her cleavage. Capcom hasn't always handled its tough female characters with the class they deserve, so we asked pro- ducer Michiteru Okabe if that's changing with Revelations 2's more grounded representa- tions of Claire Redfield and Moira Burton. "Yeah, that is deliberate," Okabe says. "I think even though this takes place in a fantasy world, we've made an effort to keep things a little more on the realistic spectrum. Things that people actually wear in real life, and skew away from the cartoony things you see in other Japanese titles. We're making a concerted effort to avoid that with a lot of the stuff we're up to these days." watching the duo fight through the prison? “What? Who the f--- is quoting poetry?” Moira asks. “Are you afraid? You can tell me. Talk to me,” the voice says. Claire and Moira worriedly talk amongst themselves as the brace- lets on their wrists change from green to orange. The voice reveals that their bracelets change color based on their level of fear. Mirroring the health statuses of classic Resident Evil titles, green is presum- ably good, orange means they're afraid, and red is bad news accord- ing to promotional material showing zombie-like creatures displaying the color. “You won't recognize this character just by the voice, but this is a known character that's very important to the RE universe,” Okabe says. “But you've got to be a core fan to know her. Really hardcore.” The voice stops, leaving the women to continue searching for a way out. They find a gated door locked by a cog mechanism. In classic if _++ 1 E - ta а " | Р 7 B t 1 {? * | ' E ы ۹ LI І ( " án. { "ou 4 = ч d = ——_— — К? a / i » * \ - # — pr — i mme , , P \ \ "d O ms {r and ^ Е d а x > РА s - Ф A / - 2 i l ; = = | › | ‚ D 4 R1 E .9 Se — oO Resident Evil fashion, a gear is missing. Another locked door nearby requires a rusty key to open, which means | must have more exploring to do in the cellblock. Searching the upper cells proves fruitful — | scare up a few spare bullets and the rusty key | need. However, the necessary cog is behind one of the electronically locked cell doors. A cell door begins shuddering on the way back to the stairs. The twisted face of an Afflicted appears in the narrow view hole as the door rattles on its hinges. Feeling cavalier, | attempt to sprint past the door, only to jump in my seat as it busts open and Claire is sent fall- ing to the ground below. A group of agitated Afflicted burst from their cells, rushing down the stairs. Spotting a strategic opening, | switch to my shotgun and take aim for right about where the heads of the two frontrunners will be. One blast turns their doughy faces to pulp апа! carefully dismantle the rest with help from Moira's blinding flashlight and crowbar. = > $ cover story 49 Moira and Claire continue to venture deeper into the facility after using the rusty key, finally arriving at a dead end near a broken ladder and a sinister torture device. The mechanism appears to specialize in slowly crushing its victims with spikes. Claire throws a switch to raise the spike press. A decaying body slides off its impalements, revealing a key to a control room. Moira takes the key and Claire gives her a boost to explore up past the broken ladder. Exploring alone as Moira makes me feel considerably more vulnerable. | opt for safer routes as opposed to one corridor with Afflicted bodies littering the ground. Moira eventually finds the control room, unlocks the door, and discov- ers a switch that appears to control some of the locked cells. She flips the switch, but to her dismay in addition to opening the door leading to the cog she opens every door in the prison. Swapping between char- acters is disabled for this brief sequence, so it's up to Moira to sprint back to warn Claire about the coming horde. Enemies bust through the windows and pour into the hallway. I'm clever enough to flashlight stun an Afflicted, but make the dumb mistake of swinging at it with my crowbar. The beast immediately snags Moira and chews a hunk of meat out of her neck. | remember the dodge function and narrowly juke my way past the rest of them. Once united, Moira apologizes to Claire for letting all the psychos loose and they make a run for the puzzle piece they need. The cog is in hand after a frenzied volley of bullets, buckshot, and crowbar blows cuts a path through the Afflicted. Inserting the gear begins the slow pro- cess of raising the gate. Paranoid from the last ambush, | peek behind me to see a huge goliath carrying a massive maul stalking towards us. "What? They come in lard size?" Moira yells. The duo dodges the lumbering giant, leading it into the open cellblock area. | flee up the stairs as even more Afflicted rush into the room. One grabs Moira so | blast its head to smithereens with the shotgun. The hulk- ing, masked Afflicted slowly walking up the stairs after us is reminiscent of the giant, nearly unstop- pable butchers from Resident Evil 5. Moira insists that it's too strong for us and that we should run. | spot an opening in the railing from where the Afflicted surprise attacked me earlier. | leap down to the ground floor and the two make a dash for the exit. They work together to lift a steel shutter. Sunlight pours into the darkness once it's open, and the two run toward it. Our time with Revelations 2 ends here, but fans don't have to wait long to get their hands on the first episode. This taste of Claire and Moira's mys- terious journey to the sadistic torture island offers many answers about the sequel's new gameplay direction, but it also raises a series of tantalizing questions for Resident Evil fans. How did these two get here? Where is Barry? Who is the malev- olent entity observing the trapped survivors? The only question fans shouldn't worry about is whether to be excited or not. Ф Check out our Resident Evil Revelations 2 hub for a month of exclu- sive online content, including developer video interviews and a look the game in action at www.gameinformer.com/‘rev2 WHAT CAN WE EXPELT FROM RESIUENT EVIL 7? Capcom is being very secretive about what's next for Resident Evil's main series (we don't even know if it will be called RE 7), but Resident Evil Revelations 2 producer Michiteru Okabe answered a few of our big questions. What did the reception to Resident Evil 6 teach Capcom about what players want? I think one thing that's become really clear is what people want out of the Resident Evil series is survival horror first and fore- most. They want that to be the core of the gameplay. Anything we add above and beyond that is great and welcome, but it really has to have that core intact. I think the clearest lesson was what Resident Evil needs to do is not compare itself to, and try to compete with or try to be other big fran- chise. It needs to be itself. Can fans expect a renewed empha- sis on resource management and lethal enemies? That's one avenue it could go, but I think it's alittle more complicated than that. I think what we really need to do is take a serious look at what makes the series itself. Look at all the constituent parts - if resource management is important to survival horror, then why is it impor- tant, what does it mean, and what do these varying elements mean to the franchise? How can we then take that and work with modern technology? Since RE 6 we've got new consoles on the market. We have the potential for things like Oculus Rift and Morpheus. How do we take all these technological tools that are available to us and take the data we've learned from our care- ful analysis and really make some- thing new and special? Could the next Resident Evil reboot the entire story for something new? Speaking personally, I think it would be cool to try something new. I'd be open to that, but I also want there to be some link to what's come before, rather than going completely from scratch. Do you have a final message for the fans? The team back in Osaka spends a lot of time and a lot of energy thinking about what the future of the Resident Franchise holds They're hard at work doing that. I can tell you that the engine we used for Resident Evil Revelations 2 is the 64-bit framework of MT Framework [Capcom's proprietary engine]. It's multi-platform and multi- generational. And to that, the Resident Evil franchise may be best served by a special, Resident Evil-specific engine. cover story 51 O V IRRATIONAL BIOSHOCK VEIS FACE LIFE AFTER BY GOING INDIE WITH THE FLAME IN THE FLOOD 52 \ " In the Boston suburb of Cambridge, six people sit in a cramped room in the basement of a nondescript office building, working on a dream. In many ways, they are no different than hundreds of small indie developers; putting in long hours, pinching pennies, and subsisting on takeout pizza and ramen noodles. Unlike most of those small teams, the Molasses Flood (as they've named themselves) is made up of people who have worked on some of the most critically acclaimed games in history, including BioShock, Guitar Hero, Halo 2, and Rock Band. Frustrated with the constraints of large-scale console development and worried by increasing instability in the industry, the team united around an ethos of creativity, collaboration, and friendship. Instead of pursuing lucrative jobs at major game studios, Molasses Flood - like so many former triple-A developers - is forging its own way with the promise of independence, ownership of its own creations, and the chance to build a company from the ground up. This treacherous path is filled with both possibility and uncertainty. This is their story. "I WANTED Before The Flood As modern game development becomes increasingly complex and expensive, the old studio model is beginning to break. By the time a major triple-A game is released, the development team has often swelled to several hundred highly paid professionals. This immense over- head is proving hard to maintain, esp- ecially as the studio regroups to another cycle of prototyping and pre-production a new project, where smaller, more agile groups are needed instead of the massive production staff. The result of this is a new reality in which a job well done is rewarded by a round of layoffs. We've seen this story repeated dozens of times in the last few years with studios like Sucker Punch, Sony Santa Monica, and Eidos Montreal. Molasses „_ = 5 Top: Scott “Sinc” Sinclair, Art Director Bottom: Forrest Dowling, Designer =” h i Flood's tale begins on February 18, the day when BioShock creator Ken Levine announced he was shuttering Irrational Games. Around the video game industry, this news was met with a mix of shock and disbelief. It seems unthinkable that a studio at the peak of its creative pow- ers would be shut down so quickly. BioShock Infinite had earned rave reviews, a 94 Metacritic rating, and won over 42 game of the year awards. The game debuted at the top of the monthly NPD sales charts, and has gone on to sell over six million copies. If Irrational wasn't safe from layoffs, what studio was? Forrest Dowling, who served as lead level designer on BioShock Infinite, recalls feeling unsure about the future in the weeks leading up to the closure. “| knew there had been questions about the viability of the type of projects that Irrational had done up to that point,” Dowling says. “Games are a super tough market, and making a big, expensive single-player narrative game is a difficult and risky proposition. There was a sense that [Irrational] was going to want to try something different. It ended up taking the form of something very small that didn't need that team size.” By coincidence, the news came down on a day when Dowling had planned to reconnect with a former colleague, Scott "Sinc" Sinclair, Irrational's former art director who had left prior to the layoffs. "| wanted to get back to my own art,” Sinclair says. "Before games, l'd been doing art prints and album covers for bands. My hope was that | still had a foot in that door." Dowling had contacted Sinclair through his art website, and purchased a couple of prints from his online store. “There was a form where you put in your shipping information. My shipping information was, ‘Let's get lunch and catch up," Dowling recalls. This casual lunch between old friends became more momentous than either could have anticipated. That morning, Dowling received word there would be an all-company meeting at Irrational. The message was clear: Nearly all of the staff was being let go. "We had the meeting and got our paperwork, and | thought, "Well, | guess | don't have to go back after lunch," Dowling says. Naturally, the conversation over lunch turned to the future, with Dowling and Sinclair talking about the challenges and hight: Bryn Bennett, Programmer Damian isla, Programmer possibilities of the changing industry. As they both bounced ideas off each other, the pair left the restaurant with vows to keep in touch, but no concrete plans. Despite the fact that Irrational had held a job fair, with companies like Riot Games and 343 Industries flying representatives down to court the studio's former talent, the prospect of starting an independent game studio was in the forefront of Dowling's mind. Soon, he decided. He was going indie and wanted Sinclair, one of the most respected leaders on the BioShock Infinite team, to come with him. “| thought we could get a team of people willing to take a risk with us," Dowling says. "All of us that were let go were given a severance, so that would give us some time to help get our feet underneath us. It snowballed from there." For his part, Sinclair was eager for a new opportunity in games, and felt Boston was a perfect place to start. "| wanted to get back to a place where it's a small team and | actually have to make the art, not just manage the art team," Sinclair says. "At the time it happened, it wasn't just Irrational; it was Turbine and Harmonix. | went to a game industry drink night, a layoff drink night, and it was this sea of programmers, artists, and designers - all laid off, all around the same time. You can see, even that night, groups of people splitting off and saying, ‘What if we did something? " Dowling and Sinclair began to piece together a team, which grew organically based on the pair's long list of contacts and former colleagues in the Boston game community. Two members of the team that would become Molasses Flood had worked closely with Dowling and sinclair on BioShock Infinite, animator Gwen Frey and artist Chad LaClair. Both welcomed the chance to work with their former comrades. Frey had been planning to go independent for years, quietly squirreling away savings. LaClair took a little more convincing, and even interviewed at other more established studios. However, he kept coming back to the idea of working with Dowling and sinclair again. "Scott called me up and asked me if | was interested," LaClair says. "All the other interviews | had were colored by that. | had amazing studios | could have gone to, but | would have been missing out on this opportunity to work with guys that | really respect." Dowling rounded out the team by recruiting two expert programmers with decidedly different personalities. Bryn Bennett, who had worked with Sinclair in the early days of Irrational, had spent the last few years working at Harmonix in between tours with his hard rock band Bang Camaro. Damian Isla, who is more buttoned- down, was one of the chief engineers on Halo 2 and 3, and he also helped Irrational toward the end of BioShock Infinite. Isla had already made the plunge into indie development, forming Moonshot Games in 2009, which had recently released the noir-themed iPad game Third Eye Crime. "The day that | heard Irrational went down, | got on the phone with one of my friends there and said, ‘| know some startups are going to come out of this so let me know,” Isla says. "A couple days later, Forrest called and said, ‘| heard you are interested.' | was opportunistic. It was like your crush just broke up with her boyfriend." For all involved, this was a rare chance to have the artistic freedom of an indie studio with the experience of a veteran team. More importantly, starting with Dowling and Sinclair, the group had the inherent trust that comes from having been through "crunch time" on major projects together — the camaraderie of the foxhole. Dowling and Sinclair were voted president and creative director by the group, but each member of Molasses Flood is an equal partner. Any future profits will be equally split Six ways. "There's not many times when you get to jump to a company with all really good people," Bennett says. "It seemed like an opportunity that | didn't want to let pass by. feature 55 The New Frontier The story of the Molasses Flood is one of dozens of similar tales in the game in- dustry in recent years. With each passing month, more artists, programmers, and designers are leaving the triple-A games space for a more creative and uncertain future in the independent development. Increasingly frustrated by the inertia inherent in teams of hundreds of people (Dowling described making large-scale changes in a triple-A game as “trying to turn a battleship”) and eager to make games of a smaller, more personal scale, high-profile developers like ex-People Can Fly head Adrian Chmielarz (now working on The Vanishing of Ethan Carter) to Capcom's legendary Mega Man creator Keiji Inafune (Mighty No. 9) have struck out on their own. This movement has been made poss- ible by an explosion of alternative avenues of game distribution. Services like Steam, well as new home consoles that have viable self-publishing programs, have created an environment where games like Limbo, DayZ, and Minecraft can reach large audiences while remaining independent. You no longer need the endorsement of a major publisher like EA or Activision to reach the audience. “It seemed approachable now a way it didn't a few years ago,” Dowling says. “| feel like | can take a shot now. Four years ago, it would have seemed like a much crazier risk. | have a huge respect for the indies that forged this path, the first people who were getting stuff out on Xbox Live. [Jonathan Blow] or Supergiant - they've done a great service for people like myself. | can see a way to form my own company and make my own games. There's a path to customers without the backing of major publisher." Like many experienced developers, Molasses Flood is attempting one of the most potentially lucrative — and riskiest - new forms of funding: Kickstarter. Since Tim Schafer's Double Fine raised over $3.5 million in 2012 for an adventure game project that would become the still- unfinished Broken Age, scores of aspiring game studios have used the crowd- funding service to go directly to the fans. If successful, Kickstarter is an ideal situation for a developer. The spoils include funding for a project, a good bit of pre-release publicity, and total creative freedom. "Kickstarter removes all conflicts of interests and lets us work directly for the fans," Frey says. "We get to make the game we want to make from the fans. All money comes with strings. If we accepted money from the publisher, they would have a say in when it ships, what Kickstarter is a powerful funding tool, but often unpredictable. For every breakout success, there seems to be a "sure thing" game project that doesn't reach its systems it comes out on. In some cases, they would own the IP and be able to make sequels without us. Some people thrive on that pressure of 'Ship on this date or we will cut your funding.' We have an experienced team and don't need that pressure; we put pressure on ourselves. Everybody here has shipped games." However, with any potential Kickstarter money still months away, the team had to make both personal and professional sacrifices to stay afloat financially. "For me, it was all savings," Sinclair says. "For these guys, it was severance. Our [Kickstarter] date has to do with our internal funding flatlining. It's been good pressure, but we've done a lot fast to try to stay ahead of that. And we are in Boston, a city where overhead is high. We were lucky to find this place. Collaborating face to face was something that we deemed important... funding goal. Here are some of the most notable video game Kickstarter successes and failures. STAR CITIZEN — No bigger Kickstarter success story exists than Chris Robert's epic online space sim Star Citizen. Its original Kickstarter campaign blew through its $500,000 goal, earning over $2.1 million. However, the game kept taking donations through its own website and other avenues, and is currently closing in on a mind-boggling $54 million raised through crowdfunding. BROKEN AGE - This Kickstarter is effectively the "shot heard 'round the world" of video game crowdfunding. As the first high-profile video game crowdfunding effort, Tim Schafer's large cult following and the underserved adventure game audience let Double Fine Adventure, which was later renamed Broken Age, rake in $3.3 million on a $400,000 goal. It also showed the game development community that crowdfunding was a viable way to get a game off the ground. Now, if they'd only finish the damn thing. TORMENT: TIDES OF NUMENERA - InXile Entertainment struck Kickstarter gold with this ambitious (and still unreleased) RPG based on the Torment table- top universe. PC-oriented, hardcore RPGs have proven to be one of the most successful genres on Kickstarter, and Torment racked up an impressive $4.2 million from its Kickstarter campaign. MIGHTY NO. 9 — After Mega Man creator Keiji Inafune fell out with Capcom, he became the first major Japanese game director to strike out on his own with crowdfunding. He was pretty upfront that Mighty No. 9 is a direct extension of his work on the 2D Mega Man games, which apparently Capcom wasn't interested in letting him make anymore. The blue bomber's loyal audience made this an easy Kickstarter hit, and Inafune earned an impressive $3.8 million. He's hoping this inspires more Japanese game talent to follow his lead. WILDMAN - Gas Powered Games had a strong track record in the industry, with games like Dungeon Siege and Supreme Commander under its belt. After Microsoft shut down the studio's Age of Empires Online, the company conducted layoffs and tried to save itself with a Kickstarter for Wildman, a caveman- themed action/RPG in the Diablo vein. Despite its track record, it did not make its $1.1 million goal. THE ADVENTURES OF DASH - This project was the brainchild of Robert Bowling, one of the public facing figures at Infinity Ward during the heyday of Call of Duty. Bowling was well known in the game community, but his 2D action/platformer The Adventures of Dash failed to strike a chord, earning a paltry $33,121 of its $400,000 goal. MUTANT FOOTBALL LEAGUE - EA's Mutant League Football, a macabre, violent take on its Madden franchise, was a cult classic on the Sega Genesis. It's a game that often came up on lists of titles gamers wanted to see revived, so creator Mike Mendheim decided to tweak the title, and crowdfund a spiritual successor. Perhaps there wasn't as much interest as he thought, because the game ultimately fell far short of it $750,000 goal. YOGVENTURES! - This proves there's something worse than failing to fund your Kickstarter game — failing to deliver your Kickstarter game. Yogsventures was an open-world sandbox game based on the popular Yogscast YouTube channel. The design was quite ambitious for the $567,000 it eventually raised from Yogscast fans, and was also being developed by a unknown studio named Winterkewl. It was a perfect storm of Kickstarter mistakes: an overly ambitious, underfunded game design being attempted by an inexperienced developer. Inevitably, the project fell apart, causing much bitterness among backers, who were given only a Steam key for a completely different game for their trouble and money. I'm used to ramen noodles anyway.” Other members of the team have all had to make adjustments to keep the small company afloat. Frey relocated from downtown Boston to a small studio apartment in the suburbs. She also credits "Obamacare" for giving her affordable health care after losing the coverage she had at Irrational. Most of the team is quickly burning through either severance or savings. When asked about the financial pressure inherent in going indie, Chad LaClair, whose wife is currently unemployed, admits that he's "starting to feel it." Despite these hard realities, the atmo- sphere in the office is far from tense. If anything, they seem to share an infectious sense of excitement about their new undertaking, an enigmatic, charming take on the survival genre called The Flame in the Flood. À 22 Down The River The Flame in the Flood was born out of some early conversations between Dowling and Sinclair. After the intense development of BioShock Infinite, Dowling was ready to take another genre. “I'd been doing big, first-person shooters for nearly a decade,” he says. "| knew what | did was about as critically acclaimed as it can be. I’m not sure I'll be able to do something that’s substantially better, so | wanted to do something substantially different.” sinclair had been taken with the idea of controlling “little ecologies,” something that dovetailed nicely into Dowling's recent love of survival games like FTL and Don't Starve. However, they wanted to take the genre in a different direction, one that could best showcase Sinclair's unique art and design aesthetic and the team's experience in environmental storytelling. "Most survival games are about building a base and homesteading," Dowling says. "We wanted the game to be about the journey." Tired of the constraints of a linear, traditional first-person narrative, the team set about crafting a game that first and foremost is based on mood and setting - one largely based on Sinclair's upbringing. “1 was born and raised in Florida," he says. "There's something to the environment there. My father is a farmer. I'm a skateboarder and punk rocker, but I’m visiting my family and I’m on an airboat and I'm fishing and seeing these visuals of an old car in the woods or the shanty houses along the river with graffiti on them. There's this juxtaposition of two things | love, nature meeting the graffiti from punk rock and skate culture. | love to combine those things.” Another major influence was the acclaimed Beasts of the Southern Wild, feature 57 “WITH A LOT - GAMES THAT HAVE PROCEDURAL ENVIRONMENTS, EEL CIKKE THE S ONLY UP TO A CERTAIN SHOOTING FOR SOME THING S HIGHER THAN THAT. |! WOULD LOVE IT Е о SAID, REENSHOT a beautiful film directed by Benh Zeitlin that follows a young girl's journey to survive in a near-future, poverty-stricken South. The film balances gritty realism with surreal moments; this tone of magical realism resonated with Dowling and Sinclair, who hope to achieve something similar with The Flame in the Flood. The idea of travel and flight was foremost in their mind, leading them to build the game around a literary device that's as old as America itself: a river voyage into the unknown. "It's the notion of a river journey," Isla says. "That has such a rich cultural and literary precedent to it. | like the thought that it's Heart of Darkness and Huck Finn as well. | love that aspect of connecting the games we make to the real world." Like the films and literature that inspired it, The Flame in the Flood is intended as an impressionistic narrative in which the player slowly learns about the world through multiple playthroughs. In many ways, it's the simplest tale of all: a girl trying to survive in a harsh environment. Her name is Scout. "Scout is young and at a coming of age point in her life," Dowling says. "She's this survivor in this world who knows how to live, but young enough that there's wonderment left. She's competent, but she's just coming to that stage of adult- hood. There's a dog who's a faithful com- panion, but maybe not the fierce hunter he once was. The world itself is based on the idea of the American backwater, particularly the rural South, although we don't want to put a specific time or place." A catastrophic flood has overtaken this alternate version of the South, which forces Scout and her dog to stay ahead of the coming rains on a makeshift raft. The team hit upon the idea of the river as a way to have an overland map that also offers its own gameplay. As you navigate the rapids, you steer the raft toward procedurally generated islands, each of which can be explored for food, shelter, and useful items. You might also encounter the odd character that still lives in this flooded land, each of which might offer a mission or just unravel another piece of the mystery of what happened to the world. On the islands, Scout must survive using the three pillars of The Flame in the Flood's gameplay: stealth, crafting, and exploration. Though the art style evokes a dark children's storybook, the core gameplay is rooted in real-world survival techniques, with some nods to the classic '80s adventure game Oregon Trail. Scout must survive at all costs, and much of the gameplay involves fulfilling her basic needs: staying fed, dry, and alive. Water is a key theme of the game; in this harsh landscape, getting wet means getting sick, something Scout can ill afford. Crashing your raft or just being caught in the rain can be as deadly as any predator. Drinking contaminated water can result in dysentery. Speaking of predators, Scout must deal with those as well. Wolves and worse populate the wooded islands. Scout has no superpowers, so she must rely on stealth and her wits to survive. For instance, a pack of wolves could be distracted by fighting over a rabbit you caught in a makeshift trap, or killed by meat you poisoned with hemlock or another deadly plant. Неге 5 protagonist Scout and her faithful canine companion Crafting plays a large role in Scout's survival. The Molasses Flood's workspace is filled with outdoor survival manuals and wildlife guides, part of its effort to base all the tactics in the real world. If you catch the flu, you might be able to cure yourself with penicillin made from moldy bread. You can eat the roots of cattails and use the tops to pack in your coat as insulation. Dowling gives an example of how the team crafts gameplay out of the natural world: "If you burn sumac in the real world it creates a poison gas," he says. "Maybe there's a tool in the game where you have an empty jar, burn the sumac, and capture the poison gas in the jar and make a 'gas grenade.' That's about as far as it will extend into video game territory. It's that half step past reality." Mastering these tactics is all-important. Like the roguelikes that are so popular on the PC market, The Flame in the Flood features permadeath; once Scout's gone, she's gone. Perhaps the biggest challenge the team faced was the desire to create a huge, endlessly replayable world that also featured an evocative art style and "IA. interesting environmental storytelling. Armed with the new Unreal Engine 4 - the key cog that programmers Isla and Bennett credit with allowing them to get the game up and running quickly — the team created a new concept for pro- cedurally generated worlds that it hopes will allow them to make a world with end- less variety and a true aesthetic vision. "With alot of games that have procedural environments, | feel like the art is only up to a certain level," LaClair says. "And not just how the art looks, but the story you're seeing and the overall presentation. We're shooting for something that's higher than that. | would love it if people said, ‘this screenshot looks like a storybook.” The solution to the problem of creating randomly generated levels that still have variety and art direction is something Scott Sinclair hopes to solve by creating macro "sets" of art assets through a system of associations. Once one objective, character, or location is triggered, large sets of assets are excluded from appearing, and others pulled in. This prevents silly visual non-sequiturs or clashing art styles from breaking the mood. - The team is spending а lot of time getting | the qame's water physics right Each island you explore will be procedurally generated The darkly American aesthetics are reinforced by the music, something that was important to the team. Sinclair called upon an old friend, Chuck Ragan of the bruising '90s post-punk group Hot Water Music, who has recently been recording acoustic, folk-based music with his new backing band The Camaraderie. "Everything about the game is tone," Sinclair says. "It's about feeling and mood, not a linear story. That has to come through all layers of presentation, the music being a huge part of it. Chuck and | go way back. | met him in college; we played shows together in separate bands. l've done every one of their album covers. I've stayed in touch for decades...It's all real instruments, real singers, real journeys and travels...it's fiddle and upright bass and acoustic guitar. It's perfect." The team is upfront about how early in development the game is. Many aspects of the world, gameplay, and story have yet to be decided. Dowling says his philosophy of game development is to "start in the middle" by making sure the basic tone, art, and gameplay mechanics are right before moving on. "Thats common wisdom in making games - you make the first level last," Dowling says. "Because, by the time you're making your last level, you know all the mechanics everyone needs to know, you know where you need to end up. It's easier to know where to start once you know what the journey is going to be." As they flesh out Scout's unique story, the team is drawing on lessons learned from Ken Levine about slowly revealing a larger picture through small bits of environmental storytelling and interactions with incidental characters. "Ken is challenging," Dowling says. "There are a lot of lessons working with him that | carry with me and inform what | do now. Ken is really good at understanding where the player is coming from — what is their point of view? You can have a lot of ideas about something, but if it's not on the screen it doesn't exist. It doesn't matter what the elaborate backstory is; if you don't show it and let the player understand, it doesn't exist. Forcing that kind of honesty is one of the best lessons | got." feature 59 Traveling Light Going independent gave the Molasses Flood team the freedom to create a game as unconventional as The Flame in the Flood, but it’s also forced them, just like their heroine Scout, to learn new skills to survive in a new environment. While the team is glad to be free of the bureaucratic headaches that come with working on a team that numbers in the hundreds, there are times when its hard not to miss the seemingly unlimited resources a company like Irrational or Bungie provides. “At Irrational and Bungie, | could walk over and say, ‘I need this special jump' and two hours later you have it," Isla says. "There are resources that you don't have at a smaller company." The team is learning that wearing multiple hats is a necessity to be able to stretch their dwindling cash reserves until the Kickstarter launches. In addition to hear animating duties, Frey does the company's accounting and calls their lawyer for advice when necessary. Dowling, who seems to be the de facto leader in Molasses Flood's loose structure, has had to give himself a crash course in business, finance, public relations, and marketing. “Гуе learned a lot about how to start and run a business," Dowling says. "What type of corporations exist? | didn't know that stuff. The only public interviews l've done before this was for BioShock DLC. Other people were the public face of BioShock. My experience was one day of interviews and a press presentation. Now, l'm getting to the point where | have to show this thing to people and communicate what we're trying to do. It's a new experience." He's also poured himself into studying Kickstarter, paying close attention what other indie developers have done, observing their successes and failures. The crowdfunding site can be lucrative, but many established developers have fallen far short of their goals due to either a poor presentation, inadequate communication, or an idea that didn't resonate with the audience. "In my research in looking at what Kickstarters succeed and which ones fail, | don't think all of us having BioShock on our resume matters all that much," Dowling candidly notes. "If you want to rest on your resume for money, going to a publisher or investor is a better path. To them, knowing that you've demonstrated the ability to ship something is extremely valuable. | wouldn't expect a consumer to fund something on Kickstarter because of the resume of the person that did it. All that matters is if the game we are making looks good." Sinclair is more blunt in his assessment. "Kickstarter is total voodoo," he says. "You see a kid raking it in on potato salad one moment, then | see games fail where | think, 'How did that not get funded?' Kickstarter is a little like the Wild West. | scan it daily. Projects come and go, and the quality and presentation level varies so wildly for each." In face of this uncertainty, the team's strategy is one that places the game itself front and center. Right now, development 60 is split between working on the game it- self, and creating the in-game footage and art assets are needed for the all-important Kickstarter trailer. The team is determined to make sure that the trailer is not a CG sizzle reel, but in-engine footage that accurately reflects how the final game will look and play. This goal seems attainable; only a few months into a development, the core of the game is up and running. "One thing we were certain about was that we didn't want to be one of those projects with a developer in front of a camera talking about why he wants money," Sinclair says. "Let's shut up, let the music roll, let the game roll, and ask, 'Was it awesome? Do you want to fund it?’ We'll have it in-engine; you'll see the music and the gameplay. It will The game draws from "sets" of art assets to create randomized worlds with aesthetic themes be all in-game visuals. It will speak to our pedigrees. Hopefully there's some measure of faith there, that we can make good on this stuff." The team hasn't determined how much it will ask for its Kickstarter goal, but the general strategy appears to be, in the words of Sinclair, “lowball and hope that it snowballs." Though ambitious, the team's experience in shipping triple-A games also gives the members a hard- won pragmatism. They know all too well the dangers of over-promising and under- delivering, or committing to features that can't be carried out to a high level of polish. The team intends to focus on the most core concepts and gameplay mechanics in The Flame in the Flood, perfect them, then move on to less central aspects of the game. The phrase "minimum awesome" is thrown around - the baseline they must achieve to create something that they feel is an exceptional game experience. Certain aspects of the game they would like to implement, like the potential ability to customize Scout's raft, will come later or not at all, depending on how well the Kickstarter does. Dowling is also aware of the fact that failure to reach funding is far from the only pitfall of Kickstarter. "There are examples of people miscalculating the cost of what it's going to take to do what they say they are going to do and end up blowing the Kickstarter money on filling rewards," he says. "If you don't do your due diligence on how much it actually costs to print 600 T-shirts and mail them around the world, you can end up underwater right there. You need to anticipate the various fees associated with Kickstarter. You can make your goal but you didn't realize that you have to give five percent to Kickstarter and two-and-a-half percent for credit card transactions. Twenty percent goes to tax. Some other percent goes to your tech or middleware. If you don't anticipate those, you can hit your goals but actually get almost nothing out of it." Though the mood in the Molasses Flood office is one of optimism, there is the question hanging over the company: what happens if the Kickstarter fails? Though the six are getting by on a combination of severance and savings at present, at the current burn rate they will need more money to keep going through the next few months of development. If they don't make their funding goal, Dowling says that the team would seek other forms of backing, like publisher funding or a private angel investor, but he cautions, "If the Kickstarter fails, it's not the end of the road, but it doesn't help. If you go to a publisher or investor and you ran a Kickstarter that failed, then already you're on your heels. You're asking for money to make something and they say, 'You had a chance to demonstrate that people wanted this thing and the demonstration was that they don't.' It will be rough if it fails. It's a bet, and I’m hoping it works out. We'll see." While every team member reiterated that the project would continue with or without Kickstarter funding, there are no guarantees. It's clear that the their love of the game they are making – and their genuine affection for one another — would make it hard to walk away. "As the game progressed to this point, the idea of failure has gotten way less appealing," Sinclair says. "Not to be nega- tive, but at first it was like, ‘If it works, it works; if not - no harm, no foul.’ Now, it would be pretty heartbreaking to shelve it. You're more attached to the game. When we do launch the trailer and the prototype art is replaced and it's firing on all cylinders, you'll see. There's something there that we really need to finish. We all believe in it." ® Check out The Flame in the Flood's Kickstarter page at themolassesflood.com/kickstarter T WOULDN'T EXPECT А CON- SUMER TO FUND zio VIE THING ON бз де OF THE RESUME OF THE PERSON THAT DIDIT ALL THAT MATTERS IS IF THE GAM WE ARE MAKING LOOKS GUO » Platform PlayStation 4 Xbox One PlayStation 3 Xbox 360 » Style 1-РІаует Action » Publisher Konami » Developer Kojima Productions » Release 2015 Metal Gear Solid V: [he Phantom Pain Big Boss buddies up t this point, you may think that only the story of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain can surprise you. You would be wrong. While Ground Zeroes already gave players a taste of the gameplay to expect from the upcoming installment, it doesn't encompass all of the features and systems in The Phantom Pain. At the Tokyo Game Show, Metal Gear mastermind Hideo Kojima demonstrated one of the interesting differences between the two chapters: the buddy system. Though The Phantom Pain is a single- player experience, the buddy system allows players to team up with an A.|.-controlled ally to open up new tactical options on missions. During the TGS stage demo, Kojima showed Big Boss joining up with the voiceless sniper Quiet. A wolf named DD (short for "Diamond Dog") is also available, and other characters could presumably join the mix. After a parachuting in for a dramatic entrance, Quiet stands ready to take orders. If you plan on being less than stealthy, you can have her follow you to help take out any opposition you encounter. If you want to be more calculating, however, you can send Quiet ahead to scout the area. She seeks a good vantage point, marking all guards so they are visible to Big Boss. When Quiet is in position, you can also get more detailed information on the guards, like their health levels and remaining ammunition. We've previously seen scenes set in des- erts of Afghanistan, but this rescue takes This dog, named DD, is one of the allies you can bring into battle thanks to the buddy system place in Africa. The forest environment means Quiet has plenty of places to hide, and she uses her superior positioning to lend other kinds of support. For example, if two guards are patrolling an area, you can target one yourself and order Quiet to focus on the other. As soon as you fire, she does too, preventing either of the sentries from I М » | Quiet Strength 77 | | Characters with unexplained supernatural abilities have always been а staple of the Metal Gear series. The Phantom Pain keeps the tradition alive; a recent trailer demonstrates that Quiet has the unusual gift of turning invisible. She disappears in an inky black cloud — an A = exceptionally handy trick / Ф + for a sniper. This ability may | | | have other applications, since | she is also able to use the | | ink to alter the pigmentation 1 of her skin. Players have encountered some bizarre characters in Metal Gear over the years, but from what we've seen, Quiet's power ranks pretty high on the weirdness scale. 3 As a sniper, Quiet is at her best when she views the situation from a s. distance. However, she can still handle herself in a traditional firefight ^ == — raising an alarm. Since she is right there in the world with you (not just some helpful offscreen support) you may even see her give you thumbs-up after a successful piece of teamwork. While this kind of assistance from a sniper is predictable, players have room to experi- ment with the buddy system and find more creative uses for their companions’ abilities. In one case, Big Boss finds himself facing a helicopter, but with no more ammo for his rocket launcher. He does have a few gre- nades, though. After giving an order to Quiet, Big Boss lobs a grenade off to the side of the chopper, and Quiet uses a perfectly placed shot to set the explosive hurtling toward the aircraft, which goes down in flames. As unlikely as the solution may be, the fact that it works is a testament to range of available options in The Phantom Pain. The buddy system isn't the only new thing on display. We learned that the red robotic arm that we've seen on Big Boss isn't his only one; he has a yellow one (and maybe even more) that can emit an electric shock to incapacitate enemies. He has a supply of instantly inflating Snake-shaped decoys that can distract guards or bump them off ledges, perfect for hilarious stealth hijinks. Kojima Productions undoubtedly has more surprises in store, but with The Phantom Pain's newly confirmed 2015 release window, Big Boss won't keep us waiting too much longer. » Joe Juba In addition to zapping foes with electricity, Big Boss' yellow mechanical arm can also create a sonic shockwave that acts as a kind of sonar The inflatable decoy can cause a temporary diversion, but quards will eventually pop it and come looking for the genuine article previews 63 64 » Platform PlayStation 4 Xbox One * PC » Style 1 or 2-Player Action (10-РІаует Online) » Publisher 2K Games » Developer Gearbox Software » Release 2015 Battleporn Bite-sized adventure for you and four friends hen we featured Battleborn on the W cover of our August 2014 issue, we went in-depth on the game's inspirations, art style, and gameplay. On our trip to Gearbox Software, we had the chance to play some of the competitive, five-versus-five mode. Recently, we got a quick primer on that offer- ing at a preview in New York City. Gearbox rattled off a number of features that sounded familiar. Despite shunning the term MOBA (the studio prefers "hero shooter"), the competi- tive gameplay shares a lot of mind-space with games like League of Legends, even if the player perspective is entirely different. The cooperative modes deviate even more significantly from the center of the MOBAsphere. These aren't simply bot matches, but instead offer narrative threads and multiple, varied objectives as teams move through а linear map. Just like in the competitive modes though, players will group up on a team of five. In-game progression starts anew as players land on the planet, with each level earning an upgrade on a helix. Unlike MOBAs, which allow players to choose multiple upgrade paths, Battleborn pushes players to choose one of two related boosts. For instance, players that choose the dapper robot Marquis will be able to increase base damage or critical hit damage, sprint speed or regular movement, and different boosts for his clockwork owl that increase its strike damage or allow you to send another into the field. Since there isn't the typical MOBA "return to base" for a breather to upgrade or buy items, Gearbox needed to streamline the process without muting the options for character building. In the cooperative playthrough | saw, play- ers land on the Jennerit homeworld (one of the game's five factions). This rocky, red- skied world seems inhospitable. The team of five is guided through the mis- sion by two off-screen NPCs. Kleese pilots a salvage vehicle and Mellka is responsible for acquiring access codes so the team can make its escape. These characters are the source of some of Gearbox's notable humor, and the short demo included a number of funny moments. | was particularly pleased at the context-sensitive dialog among the play- able characters, and Gearbox says that 500 to 700 lines have been recorded for each. Unlike competitive play, the cooperative Montana and Oscar Mike represent the Peacekeeper faction - p DE d. M Е DI Oscar Mike mode rolls out closer to Left 4 Dead. The team progresses through the map, encoun- tering setpiece moments that advance the encapsulated story. In this setting, the squad first reaches a battle arena in which they have to take on waves of creeps, earning experience and leveling up. At level seven, ultimate abilities unlock, like Montana's “Mansformation,” air strikes, group heals, and magical assaults. These are flashy and filled with their own humor (like Montana's Kids in the Hall style "crush your head" to target his Mansformation attack). After wiping out the waves of enemies, the team moves on to a new objective. This time, it's all about defense, like protecting Kleese while he harvests an enormous fallen star shard. Enemies flood in waves, and it's a matter of holding them off until the invisible timer expires. From there, it's a seek-and-destroy mis- sion. A jammer is blotting out communication, and there's no escape until the team knocks it out. The rhythm of the co-op missions starts to become apparent: move, fight, level up, rinse, and repeat. In bite-sized chunks, everything can be centered around the objec- tives in a satisfying loop. The demo ends right before an enormous boss encounter, but we get a sense for how the post-game plays out. There are three levels of progression: in-game, character, and profile. Each of the characters will grow as you use them, affording new build options, but not greater power (you'll always start at level 1 in each encounter). Loot is earned at the end of the match, which will help you further custom- ize your combatant beyond the helix upgrades. Each of the five factions will have some common threads and their own restricted equipment. For instance, the Eldrin Battleborn don't have shields and the Jennerit typically have a life leech ability. This helps shape the narrative, but also creates some logic for the character design. Your profile will allow you to unlock new characters, and will be the repository for all the loot you've earned playing. This will likely be a measure of your skill level and not tied to power gains, again focus- ing on balance within a single co-op or competitive mission. There is still much we don't know about Battleborn (in part because Gearbox is still in development and decisions haven't yet been made). However, between our look at the game's competitive offering in August and our recent introduction to cooperative mis- sions, it's looking to be a unique experience. Michael Futter This large, wraith-like Varlsi stands in the way during a co-op mission previews 6: » Platform PlayStation 4 Xbox One PlayStation 3 Xbox 360 * PC ‚ Style 1-РІаует Action (5-Player Online) 66 previews » Publisher Warner Bros. Interactive ^» Developer Techland » Release January 27 Night of the flying dead m or the casual fan of zombie games, | = keeping Dying Light and the Dead Island series straight can be confusing. Techland created the Dead Island franchise, but Spec Ops: The Line studio Jager is handling Dead Island 2. That sequel is still a first-person game all about teaming up with friends to hack away at zombies in an exotic environment. Dying Light shares those same elements, but distinguishes itself dra- matically with fluid parkour mobility and a dynamic day/night cycle. Nowhere are those unique features better demonstrated than in Dying Light's Be A Zombie mode. This exclusive pre-order mode allows sadistic players to invade friends’ and strangers’ games to terrorize them during the night as a highly mobile zombie (cow- ardly players can disable this altogether). A high-speed, asymmetrical battle begins once one of these Night Hunters enters the fray. Up to four co-op partners must put all their marksmanship, melee skills, and parkour abilities to the test in order to sur- vive. The survivors’ goal is to destroy three undead hives before the Night Hunter snuffs out their роо! of lives. The deadly Night Hunter evens the odds with apex predator-like speed and agility. Imagine Left 4 Dead’s Hunter on steroids. This spry undead beast flies above the roof- tops using sticky tentacles that shoot from its hands to swing around like Spider-Man. Players can change direction mid-flight for accurate tentacle-slinging. The Night Hunter can even use the tentacle to pull itself toward unsuspecting survivors and pounce them for a potential kill. These strike-and-fade tactics force the survivors to stick together or risk being picked off one-by-one. Players who love stalking others as the Night Hunter can even invest in a zombie- specific upgrade path. Expertly slaying the opposition allows you to increase your speed, coax А.І. zombies into helping you, and disable some opponents' abilities. Unfortunately, none of the progression from Be A Zombie feeds back into Dying Light's campaign, meaning this mode is only for those lusting after the thrill of the kill. Be A Zombie is another enticing mode that continues the trend of asymmetrical multi- player match types, like Evolve and Splinter Cell's Spies vs. Mercenaries. We're thrilled to see more developers abandoning worn team deathmatch structures in favor of something with more personality. fim luri Never Alone Northern exposure of a different sort -T he stories we tell each other are а fun- damental part of what makes us who we are. While tales of space marines, soldiers, and sword-wielding heroes dominate the sales charts, some game developers are using the art form to their own unique stories. In the case of Never Alone, Alaska Natives are turning to games as a new way to pass along folklore that’s been a part of their heritage for countless generations. The game stars an Inupiat girl named Nuna, whose village has been ravaged by a mysteri- ous blizzard. The powerful wind and snow have made hunting impossible, and she seeks out the source of the trouble. The cutscenes are rendered in an animated scrimshaw style, which replicates the art form in which bone or ivory is etched and inked in intricate patterns. Nuna is accompanied on her journey by an arctic fox, and players can swap between the characters at the press of a button. Each one has unique special abilities, and they need to work together if they hope to succeed. To further emphasize this spirit of cooperation, a second player can take on the role of fox, too. According to Amy Fredeen, CFO and executive vice president of the Cook Inlet Tribal Council, the name is a dual reference to both Nuna and fox's relationship as well as the spirit of interdependence that's so vital to Alaska Native people. | got to explore Nuna's life above Alaska's Arctic Circle, and quickly learned that surviv- ing isn't easy. The wind makes jumping peril- ous, and you have to time your leaps across ice floes and other hazards to ensure you're not gusted away. Fortunately, visual indica- tors such as snow patterns and the blowing fur on Nuna's parka provide a heads up as to when she should wait and dig into the snow. Fox has a better jump distance, but he's not able to grab ropes with his paws or use bolas to break through sheets of ice. He can, however, commune with spirits in the world, : | SM vC US - - i which help navigate tricky obstacles. While spirit helpers can provide access to areas by acting as platforms, not everyone is eager to see them succeed. Take Manslayer, whose name speaks volumes. "Manslayer is one of those characters where his story is a lot more graphic than what we can talk about in the game," Fredeen says. "He really repre- sents the antithesis of Alaska Native values, in that he's acting on his own behalf without the consideration of the community or the good of the community." In Never Alone, he looks like a man with grotesque, twisted facial features. He's clad in a parka, and he pursues Nuna and fox relentlessly. Here, the screen autoscrolls, adding a sense of urgency as | fled to avoid his superhuman grasp. While Nuna may eventually get her comeuppance against the villain, | was only able to run away. We'll have to wait until the chill of November arrives to learn what ultimately happens. » Jeff Cork PlayStation 4 Xbox One * PC 1 or 2-Player Action Publisher E-Line Media, Cook Inlet Tribal Council Upper One Games, E-Line Media November 4 previews 6 » Platform PlayStation 4 Xbox One * PC » Style | -Player Racing (4-Player Online) » Publisher Ubisoft » Developer Ivory Tower, Ubisoft Reflections » Release November 11 » j previews _ ر‎ The Crew - m 755 ` p m. А "| 1 ^ rhe Crew's { „=, ar | Sw Y M 7 Ye ume, - ~ кч, м, j " i Р Г) е; x cl | = | J —/ A programs for The Crew since its delay, with large portions of the game playable. These stress tests have revealed a game with cohesive story and free-roaming components anchored by a hearty car upgrade system. We played a recent closed beta and found that Ivory Tower's promises of a go-any- where, do-anything experience are shaping up to be true. The beta took place at the start of the game, casting you as Alex Taylor, a hotshot driver whose brother runs a local racing crew called the 5-10s. A rogue ЕВ! agent and rival gang leader conspire and kill your brother, framing you for the crime. Five years later, another ЕВ! agent named Zoe enlists your help to catch and expose the agent who set you up. Regardless of how hokey the story is, you're soon let loose on the world, free to pick up a variety of missions. An appropriate б bisoft has been running multiple beta In the beta, racing a car with a kit not specialized Тога particular kind of race wasn't debilitating en for exploration yet strange-sounding comparison for The Crew is the Assassin's Creed franchise. The game doesn't feature an age-old battle between Templars and Assassins, but the world's map and the way it unlocks content should be familiar to anyone who's played the fellow Ubisoft series. Data stations are littered around the world, which ping your radar when you get close to them in the environment. Pull up to them and the various missions in the area show up on your world map. While you can look at the map and track these down methodically, drive in any one direction and you'll run into something soon enough. Skill missions litter the world and can be replayed as often as you like for XP, depend- ing on how well you do. Scramble tests ask you to smash targets, Slalom lets you weave through gates, and Jump tests how far you can fly. Others include Speed Test, Escape, Hill Climb, and Race Line. Bread-crumbed story missions exist (including a quick co-op option for your crew), but it's a lot of fun to just cruise around and see what comes your way. We spent a good amount of time re- trying skills missions just because we knew we had a better run in us. Leveling up earns you Perk Points that you can allocate for bonuses such as increased XP and money from missions (including co-op missions), parts discounts, and an increased chance of more Perk Points at future levels. Any performance parts you garner while driving are awarded on the spot. In your garage, you can repair your cars, buy dif- ferent kits (street, performance, circuit, dirt, and raid) to change what overall type of car itis, and customize the appearance of your vehicles. Maximizing your cars is a big com- ponent of the game, and in the beta it was easy to tinker around and come out with a suitable ride. Different kits can be applied to cars depending on how you plan to use them, although kits require a certain level and aren't available for all cars. Out on the road, it's easy to spend time knocking down various skills missions or even sightsee a list of geographical land- marks, but navigating traffic can add chal- lenge and the police will be on your tail if you drive too recklessly. Property damage is one of their determining factors, although the col- lision does a pretty good job of being lenient when necessary in order to create a fast and fun experience. It will be interesting to see how The Crew holds our attention across a full story and the entire map of the U.S.A. littered with chal- lenges, but the beta has proven that it has a strong, inviting structure. » Matthew Kato NBA 2K15 ча "7 NS. Sh \ a | \ ZH Y d j h Sm \ ^» 11 Tw | | n FI LEVA jJ к | ii ) V i б ГС 1 FE X1 "m i | Ы | ‚ Ы 1 | 1 Р {| " ' Xo oe u ELZ X, " F ا‎ - EX CS Y i X N Me the next-gen gates with two rebuilt modes . that gave us a glimpse of the future of sports games. This year developer Visual Concepts is focused on making sure the encouraging MyCareer and MyGM build off that foundation and take the game to new heights. The role-playing favorite MyCareer returns in NBA 2K15 with a new premise. As an undrafted free agent, you must try and crack an NBA roster on a 10-day contract, then write your unlikely legacy as a superstar. Instead of focusing on shoehorned storylines like last year's rivalry with the fictional char- acter Jackson Ellis, for 2K15 Visual Concepts recorded audio with players from every NBA team to bring team relationships to the fore- front. After your first year in the league Doc Rivers will assume coaching duties for your team and take the role of a mentor, teaching | ast year NBA 2K14 came storming out of you how to become a better player. The mode also lets you skip games during the season this year, and a new upgrade path makes it harder to purchase your way to being an elite player. The other cornerstone mode, MyGM, is receiving renovations to lessen the depen- dency on the in-game currency for upgrades and improve interactions with your players, the media, and your owner. The various people you converse with now remember your prom- ises and react accordingly if you renege on your word. The new upgrade system awards you XP for every action you take, whether you are simming or playing games. Another sim-friendly feature is the SimCast, which allows you to sim through a game but jump into the action at any time. If you prefer to leave the conversation behind and control each of the 28 NBA teams, you can do so in the new MyLeague mode. Customization options include season lenath, fantasy drafts, custom rosters, trade-logic settings, control- ling the morale system, and tweaking draft- class quality. NBA 2K14 suffered many network issues at launch, but Visual Concepts is confident these are in the rearview mirror. The new MyPark mode should benefit most if this is true. This evolution of last year’s effort lets you choose one of three home parks to rep- resent, each of which imparts unique skill upgrades. You can squad up with friends before pick-up games, or if you prefer a more NBA-like experience you can participate in five-on-five matches with referees in the Rec Center. To encourage more unselfish play, Visual Concepts is migrating the teammate grading into the mode as well. The bevy of improvements being touted for these modes is impressive, but that doesn't mean Visual Concepts is leaving the gameplay untouched. A new dynamic shot meter makes it easier to tell when to release your shot, player movement in small spaces has been corrected to give you more fidelity when controlling defenders, and enhanced A.l. has a better understanding of how to be useful after play breaks down. To better differentiate between different NBA teams, the developers have installed each of their base sets. This helps teams play more organically, and the embedded knowl- edge means you can exploit repeatable situa- tions on offense. With this many new wrinkles being added to NBA 2K15, perhaps this is the year Visual Concepts finds a way to unseat FIFA as the reigning sports game of the year. We'll find out in October. » Matt Bertz » Platform PlayStation 4 Xbox One * РС » Style 1 or 2-Player Sports (1O-Player Online} » Publisher 2K Sports » Dev elop er Visual Concepts » Release October 7 Old-Gen Improvements The majority of the features listed in this preview apply only to the new-gen version of the game, but that's not to say Р53 and 360 owners are being left in the cold. Replacing last year's LeBron: Path to Greatness mode, Visual Concepts is introducing a new mode called 2K Heroes where current and past NBA players pick their dream teams to compete against one another. Featured athletes include cover boy Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Paul George, James Harden, and shaquille O'Neal. previews 69 МЭЭМ, » Platform PlayStation 4 » Style 1-Player Platforming » Publisher Sony Computer Entertainment » Developer Media Molecule » Release 2015 Out With The Old learaway Unfolded Refolded into a bigger package or ports to other systems. But where most ports get enhanced graphics and smoother framerates, Media Molecule is pushing the boundaries of what consti- tutes a port by giving its Vita platformer a host of new mechanics tailored specifically to the PS4. The original Vita game told the story of a cute anthropomorphic envelope and his journey through a papercraft world to deliver a special message to the player of the game. Along this journey, he battled with paper wad enemies called scraps and befriended local paper denizens as players customized the world around them. M any old games get updated re-releases Given the differences between the Vita and PlayStation 4, several of Tearaway's game mechanics are changing. Out: Finger popping - The Vita version allowed you to touch the system's back touchpad, sending your fingers into the world to move objects and knock enemies out of the way. In: Creating wind - By touching the Р54 controller's touchpad, players can create gusts of wind that blow enemies and objects across the screen. Out: Face time — The Vita version made good use of the handheld camera, often putting a player's face in the game. While Media Molecule might do some of this for players who own а PlayStation camera, the studio will tone down this element since it can't rely on people owning a camera. In: Light show - The light on the bottom of the PS4 controller can shine into Tearaway's world, allowing players to grow plants, light fires, and illuminate darkened corners. Out: Picture perfect — The original game let players use the Vita's camera to collect new patterns and import them into their papercraft world. This will no longer be possible on the console version. In: Controller holding - Tearaway's messenger can throw objects at the player's controller, and players can then throw these items back into the world in order to destroy environmental barriers. 70 previews While the overall premise and plot remain untouched, Media Molecule is making a lot of changes for the PS4 edition. Certain mechanics that involved using the Vita's rear touchpad and touchscreen lose their potency when the game isn't in your hands, so Media Molecule is replacing these sys- tems with new mechanics and scattering new puzzles that leverage these mechanics around the world (see sidebar). During a recent demo of the game, we were dropped into Maple Fields, one of the open- ing levels of the game. This area is about 50 percent larger on the PS4 than it was on the Vita, and the draw distance reaches much far- ther as well, giving the game a greater sense of scale. Media Molecule says each level also has a host of new areas and features a number of new collectable secrets. While Media Molecule designed the Vita version to feel like a small world in the palm of players' hands, the bigger console version acts like a world inside players' TVs, which they interact with from a distance. Many Ew] ^ lf vanes’? h "T at its Lis WOLL l DE d5 of the new mechanics reflect this ideal. For example, during our demo, the papercraft messenger threw a squirrel out of the TV and into our controller. Afterward, the controller started vibrating and we could hear the little creature squeaking from the speaker. When we swiped at the PS4 controller's touch- pad, the squirrel would throw nuts back into the game world. Using his winter stash, we knocked down a series of targets that opened up new paths for our messenger as she rolled down a series of pipes. Media Molecule has extended the plat- forming challenge of Tearaway - adding new platforming sequences to a game that was already great. In fact, the PS4 version of Tearaway looks different enough that we wouldn't blame some players for mistaking it for a proper sequel. Fans of the handheld version could have plenty of reasons to return to this platformer, and newcomers should have even more motivation to dive into this paper world for the first time. » Ben Reeves ı Molecule might take advatage of the PlayStation Eye came one, Dut сате big a deal in this version ‹ Tales Of Zestiria Bringing exciting changes to battle stage, the Tales series is content to keep chugging along on the PlayStation 3. These games don't often break the mold for RPGs, but great character interactions and the evolving action battle system keep fans entertained. With Tales of Zestiria, Bandai Namco is striving to use the PS3 hardware better than ever before. Zestiria already looks to be the most polished Tales’ entry yet. The load times between battles are almost entirely absent, and the backdrops for battles are no longer static, but reflect where you are in the world. If you have an encounter in front of a tower, it appears during battle. The graphics are crisp, with more detailed character models and lighting and shadows, which makes the world feel more alive. While plenty of enhancements are bringing the series forward, producer Hideo Baba also says he wants to get back to the series’ classi- cal roots. For the first time since 2008's Tales of Vesperia, the setting returns to swords-and- sorcery. Baba also indicated that the common theme of this entry is "passion;" the title is derived from the word "zest." The story follows childhood friends Sorey and Mikleo, a human and a seraph, respec- tively. Baba hinted that co-existence, a common Tales' theme, would surface with their relationship. Their friendship extends to the battlefield: Sorey can use a seraph's power to transform in battle, and Bandai Namco went all out with the animations for the battle transformations. They make you feel like you've upped the stakes. When Sorey isn't using a seraph's power, the seraph fights alongside him like a regular | hough the PlayStation 4 has taken center party member. Only three members are on the battlefield when Sorey transforms with a seraph, otherwise it’s the typical four-member party. The dilemma is choosing between extra hands versus extra power. The seraph system already seems more complex than Ludger's chromatus ability from Tales of Xillia 2, and I'm excited to see how deep it extends to battles. In our hands-on time, we spotted four dif- ferent seraph allies, each with a different elemental alignment that gave Sorey access to different artes. Because of seraphs' ties to elemental weaknesses, it's clear they play a huge part in your success. | especially noticed this in boss battles. If you're not damaging an enemy's weak point, combat can be a lengthy affair, so it's important to test out different The fields definitely look more realistic than past games elemental attacks until you find a weakness. The fields aren't as cluttered as Tales of Xillia. Classic treasure chests can be found, as well as plants for harvesting. You can also talk to party members while exploring these fields. Sometimes you receive dialogue options, and other times they give you items they've tracked down for you. The battle transformations along with visual and technical upgrades are steps in the right direction. Now I'm curious if the new char- acters will break the Tales mold and not fall into the typical anime archetypes we've seen repeatedly in the series. Here's hoping that Zestiria takes the huge leap forward the fran- chise has been missing with its PS3 entries. » Kimberley Wallace » Platform PlayStation 3 » Style 1 to 4-Player Role-Playing » Publisher Bandai Namco » Developer Bandai Namco » Release TBD » Platform PlayStation 4 Xbox One » Style | -Player Role-Playing » Publisher Square Enix » Developer Square Enix » Release TBD 72 previews Final Fantasy XV Restoring confidence with a new direction Final Fantasy Versus XIII was closely associated with its original director, Tetsuya Nomura (of Kingdom Hearts fame). After languishing in development for years, square Enix decided the project needed a fresh start. That began with rebranding the title Final Fantasy XV, but the changes didn't stop there. At this year's Tokyo Game Show, the publisher announced Nomura is no longer on the project, with the director role being passed to Hajime Tabata, the mind - rom its first announcement at E3 2006, behind Final Fantasy Type-0 and Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. Square Enix knows fans have been waiting a long time to play Final Fantasy XV, which is why the company also revealed plans for a playable demo, entitled Episode Duscae. “It is the first time that fans who have been wait- ing for XV get a chance to try out the game,” Tabata says. “The reason | wanted to make a demo is to let players see whatever portion is available right now and to understand that XV is still coming and we're still working on it." Episode Duscae is a slice of the early parts of Final Fantasy XV, but it gives players an idea of the scope and possibilities of the full game. Some of the major features are apparent immediately, like the ability to drive vehicles. Noctis and his friends are cruising through the countryside, making the adven- ture feel a bit like a road trip among friends. Unlike some previous Final Fantasy titles (most notably XIII), players are not restricted to traveling down linear corridors. "Not literally everything is open world, but it is pretty vast, and you will be able to freely explore," Tabata says. "You can technically walk around the world, but we recommend using a vehicle, and it'll be a journey driving through the continent.” Combat also takes place out in the open, with no transition between exploration and battle phases. "You've got enemies that are roaming around in all areas," Tabata says. "There's not an ‘encounter,’ per se. It's all seamless." Like driving on safari, you might see giant lumbering beasts just feet from your vehicle. If you want to, you can get out and pick a fight, taking advantage of the action- heavy battle system. You slash your sword and fire off magic spells with immediate feed- back, on the opposite side of the spectrum from a traditional turn-based system. You can switch between offensive and defensive stances with the push of a button, but we have to wait until we get our hands on the demo to understand the finer points of battle. Episode Duscae should give players ample opportunity to explore the nuances of combat and exploration, since the demo provides plenty of content. "If you just play straight through the story, it's about one hour worth of gameplay," Tabata says. "If you go and explore the world map or go into a dungeon, it would be somewhere upwards of three to four hours." Square Enix hasn't revealed the pricing or release plans for Episode Duscae, but those who buy Final Fantasy Туре-0 HD get a free voucher for the demo. Final Fantasy XV is currently between 50 to 60 percent complete. That might not seem impressive for a game that has been in the works for over eight years, but it seems like the recent developments have put the game on a new and less ambiguous course. The release of Episode Duscae could go a long way toward restoring fan confidence in the Final Fantasy XV project, though Tabata (who joined the team two years ago) still isn't ready to announce a firm release date. "Unfortunately, it's still going to take a while," he says. "But l'm hoping people will reset their timers from when | joined the team and restart the count from there." » Joe Juba Final Fantasy 1уре- 0 HD dii. ^ A “ АЛ жа. r lass О gets a second chance ЧЕР, - - was not characterized by a deluge of noteworthy releases, but support for the system had not completely dried up in 2011. That's when Square Enix released Final Fantasy Туре-0 in Japan, but the PSP's flagging popularity meant that the title never made its way to North America despite its positive reception. Square Enix is fixing that with the release of Final Fantasy Type-0 HD, a remastered version of the PSP original for new-generation consoles. Type-0 HD covers the exact same content as the original release. As a remaster (not a remake), this release doesn't make signifi- cant alterations or additions to the gameplay or the narrative. Туре-0 focuses on Class 0, a group of academy students with excep- tional powers and magical abilities. They are embroiled in a war involving an invading empire, and players guide them through the conflict. Combat is fast-paced and action-packed, allowing you to swap between the members of Class 0 to take advantage of their differ- ent abilities. For instance, Ace uses energy- charged cards, while Seven has a whip-like weapon that can pull enemies in from a dis- tance. You gain access to 14 different char- acters over the course of the game, so you're | he last stage of the PSP's lifecycle Dreadnought Yager goes big with spaceships dogfights with small spacecrafts. Yager is taking a different approach with free- to-play Dreadnought, as players load into cap- ital-class star cruisers for deathmatch-style encounters above planets. Even the speedy ships with a focus on mobility are huge, with the titular craft being the biggest and most capable of absorbing extreme punishment. Ships come in classic archetypes, from the slow, tank-like Dreadnought to support craft and "sniper" ships - giant artillery cannons that can dish out incredible damage from great distances. Each ship can be outfitted with S hip combat games often place players in bound to find a few favorites. As the first Final Fantasy title on new-gen consoles, Type-0 HD is bound to receive some additional scrutiny. We got our hands on the game at the Tokyo Game Show, and while the visuals look good, don’t expect to -~ * Р, p LI Y 44?" _ a loadout similar to the systems in place for most shooters, but here the options are tied to the ship “class.” Support ships have healing capabilities that will keep your Dreadnoughts alive through even the most focused of fire, the artillery ship has cloaking options and coun- termeasures to handle incoming projectiles, and dreadnoughts simply plod along dealing out death with a variety of salvos and lasers. There are three different manufacturers of each ship archetype in the game that ensure you're getting the craft that's the right core for you, in addition to four-ability custom loadouts and account-level ship crews that = =ч Ies w б ^w = A. з=» Ux x LU see something that pushes the PS4 or Xbox One to their limits. This is still a PSP game at its core, and that legacy is apparent in areas. Even so, Final Fantasy Туре-0 HD is a good first step toward ushering in a new generation of Final Fantasy titles. » Joe Juba add specific bonuses like lowering weapon cooldowns and enhancing shields. In addition to 5v5 team deathmatch style gameplay and team elimination (no respawn) modes, Dreadnought will feature episodic single-player story content with writing by author Dan Abnett of Warhammer 40,000 book fame. With single synchronous sessions titles and their fast matches and tight reward loops becoming more popular than ever on the PC scene, Yager may be crafting a compelling competitor in Dreadnought. The closed beta is expected to begin early next year. » Daniel Tack » Platform PlayStation 4 Xbox One » Style | -Player Role-Playing » Publisher Square Enix » Developer Square Enix » Release March 17 Two Fantasies For One The demo for Final Fantasy XV, Episode Duscae, is free with the purchase of Final Fantasy Type-O HD. It isn't on the same disc, though; the download comes in the form of a voucher that can be redeemed when Episode Duscae releases. Square Enix has expressed a desire to launch the two products close together, but cannot confirm that Episode Duscae will release on March 17 alongside Type-O. » Platform PC » Style 10-Player Online Action » Publisher Yager » Developer Grey Box » Release 2015 previews 73 TE | ” Gentleman, you are in luck! = For today you shall meet ап луй ` a And for good reason! Ф, Неге comes company! Re-assembling a broken heart elegant defeat at my hand. — -— —--—- у= a А «ға a Tales Of Hearts R ДЕ НАЕ mw 1 4 wr птш а — m » Platform orth American gamers missed out being able to withstand his emotions and use апа mettle. You also unlock bonuses by Vita N Tales of Hearts when it debuted on it with care. building up neighboring attributes evenly. » Style the Nintendo DS back in 2008. Bandai Kor doesn't find a reason to use his soma If you can't decide how you want to build |-Player Role-Playing Namco isn't making the same mistake twice. until he comes across a mysterious girl, these skills, the game will make sugges- » Publisher The Vita remake, Tales of Hearts R, is making Kohaku Hearts, who washes up on shore. tions for you. So far, battles play similarly Bandai Namco » Developer Bandai Namco » Release November 11 its way to our shores. Tales of Hearts H stars Kor Meteor, a lad who's just started training to use his soma, an ancient weapon. Kor's grandpa is teach- ing him how to be responsible with it, but not without a few laughs along the way. From the get-go, the two have a great dynamic, bantering back and forth with Kor calling him "gramps." Kor can use his soma for healing or destruction, and his grandpa warns him about Kohaku was separated from her brother after they tried to escape an evil witch. When Kor tries to help her, an accident occurs that causes Kohaku's heart to break into pieces. Now he must make things right by going on a quest to collect each missing fragment. Heart and emotion are a huge part of the storyline and even play a role in the battle system. Kor can build up five of his soma's attributes: fight, endurance, sincerity, belief, Final Fantasy Explorers Hunting with class to other Tales’ action battle systems, with free run and the ability to jump or dash to avoid attacks. My biggest takeaway from Tales of Hearts R is that it's self-aware. The game knows it's a bit cheesy and isn't afraid to poke fun at itself, and that’s refreshing. | just hope the journey isn't predictable and takes its prem- ise of exploring emotions to an interesting place. » Kimberley Wallace » Platform he number of fantasy games where brave — action-focused; you have an array of active save the world, the core of the experience 3DS | adventurers fight off fearsome monsters attacks and skills, and fight through dungeons is this constant striving for improvement » Style is beyond counting, but different develop- їо gain experience, pick up loot, and gather and optimization. 1-РІауег Action/ ers have different approaches to the formula. materials. Between quests, you regroup in Explorers can technically be played single- Role-Playing For its latest handheld adventure, Square Enix town to use your resources to prepare your- player, but the real strengths of the experi- » Publisher ÍS leaving behind the turn-based mechanics self for the next adventure - like using materi- ence come out in the multiplayer mode. Up Square Enix typically associated with the Final Fantasy als to craft better equipment. to four players can team up to take on the » Developer "ame, instead veering more in the direction While these elements are familiar to fans of quests, leveraging different classes and abili- Square Enix of the Monster Hunter series. Final Fantasy titles like Monster Hunter, the class system ties to get the best shot at victory. Of course, o Balsane Explorers isn't a direct imitation, but it cer- is distinctly Final Fantasy. Your character whether we can play at all - multiplayer or TBA tainly takes cues from Capcom's action/RPG. advances through roles like monk, paladin, otherwise - is still up in the air. Square hasn't Explorers uses a quest-based structure to pit your hero against a series of iconic Final Fantasy monsters. That includes smaller foes like chocobos and goblins, as well as massive beasts like Ifrit and Bahamut. The combat is and dragoon to master various skills. Those skills can then be applied to other classes, giving you the ability to customize your hero. Though Explorers does have a narra- tive about heroes trying collect crystals and said whether or not Explorers is coming to North America, but based on our hands-on time, the gameplay seems fun and acces- sible enough to find support on our shores. » Joe Juba prave second stocking for success once again hen Bravely Default finally launched W in North America this year, it was a hard-won victory for fans who pleaded for its localization. After Square Enix wouldn't budge, Nintendo stepped in and published the title in the West. The game ended up sell- ing well and garnered praise, which may have to do with its throwback to old-school Final Fantasy games. Now Square Enix is devel- oping a sequel featuring Bravely Default's Agnes, taking place a few years after the first game. A big question on North American fans' minds is if Square Enix will be the one to bring over Bravely Second. Time will tell, but from a recent hands-on session with the game, I'd say it's a no-brainer. Everything fans loved about Bravely Default is still intact. The hand-drawn backgrounds are still gorgeous, and even more noticeable is the more detailed environments you explore. The dungeons and fields don't seem quite as ] aac ag TT vacant this time around. Even the character animations look better during cutscenes. The intriguing brave/default turn-stocking system is still front and center, and not much has changed with it. It still brings a lot of thought to the turn-based battle system, like do you sacrifice a turn to heal a near-death ally or spend them all for an alpha strike? Just like the first game, it's about making the most of your turns and studying your enemies. Some enemies are immune to magic, while others won't take much damage from physi- cal attacks. Battles are often about trying dif- ferent tactics and seeing what works. While Bravely Second doesn't stray too far from its predecessor, it does have a few new additions, including a new wizard class. It also has a new special ability, shushoku-ku , which lets you dish out two types of magic in one spell. Imagine if you didn't have to select between casting a healing spell or a damage з Ге жае AL Lo spell, but could do both in one turn. We don't yet know how this will be implemented, but it's a great idea. The developer also indicates that they want to focus more on the story. Here's hoping the development team also looks at a way to reduce some of the repetition from the first game, which was by far its biggest blemish. Bravely Second still hasn't been confirmed for North America, but let's hope fans don't have to fight as hard to play as they did its predecessor. » Kimberley Wallace » Platform 3DS » Style | -Player Role-Playing » Publisher TBD » Developer silicon Studio, Square Enix » Release TBA previews 75 SSSSSSSSSSSSSSS » Platform PlayStation 4 Xbox One PlayStation 3 Xbox 360 » Style 1 or 2-Player Fighting » Publisher Koei Tecmo » Developer Team Ninja » Helease Spring The Roster The confirmed roster so far includes Hayabusa, Hayate, Kasumi, Ayane, Rig, Momiji, Leon, Kokoro, Tina, Lisa, Brad Wong, Jann Lee, Hitomi, Leifang, Christie, Eliot, Leon, Gen Fu, Bayman, Bass, Zack, Helena, Marie Rose, and Phase 4. Virtua Fighter's Akira Yuki, Pai Chan, and Sarah Bryant who appeared in Dead or Alive 5's initial release are also included, as well as new Virtua Fighter quest fighters Nyotengu and Jacky Bryant. » Platform PlayStation 4 Xbox One * PC » Style | -Player Action/RPG » Publisher Defiant Development » Developer Defiant Development » Release 2015 76 previews Dead UI Alive 5: Last ound Team Ninja's fighter gets the re ead or Alive 5 released for last-gen |) consoles in 2012, and PlayStation 4 and Xbox One owners are receiving a remastered edition called Last Round. Like many of the games making the jump from the old to new systems, this new version jacks up the fidelity to 1080p and 60 frames per second. Along with the better framerate and higher resolution, Team Ninja is employing a few new graphical changes to make everything look better. A new skin shader enhances the "slickness" of the characters, as Team Ninja refers to it. The particle effects related the assorted stages reacting to combat, such as explosions or sparks flying from someone getting tossed into a neon sign, have also been expanded. You should see a lot more carnage as the stage falls apart in response to battles. Last Round includes more customization than previous iterations of Dead or Alive 5, with 300 unlockable costumes as well as new hairstyles and added accessories for all fighters. With upgraded re-releases like this, DLC is often bundled in, but not all of Dead or Alive 5's post-release content is included. Any DLC purchased on last-gen consoles, howewver, is transferable to Last Round on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Team Ninja isn't saying much else about what's new for Last Round, but the ambigu- ous promise of additional "new content and Hand Of Fate otacking the deck with fun uild a deck of equipment, monsters, mys- R terious encounters, treasure, shops, and secrets - then play in it. This is the setup for Hand of Fate, which mashes the action/ RPG genre with a deck-driven dungeon- crawling environment featuring randomized elements. While the mysterious dealer will always include certain cards to make up levels, you are responsible for selecting many of the card-driven adventures you'll have along the way. From traveling peasants to deadly avalanches, the card-driven dungeons generally have a mix of boons and burdens to encounter on the way to each level's boss. The dealer starts off by inserting appropri- ate cards into a level's deck and then mixing your own deck with it to compose a sort of game board. You move your character like a boardgame piece over unexplored cards, uncovering secrets, challenges, and enemies. Each card space move consumes one food resource and gives the player some health. Run out of food and you begin to take damage for every space traveled. While you start with base equipment like an old axe and weak armor, you have opportunities to find treasure that allows you to score cards from your equipment deck. You increase in power quickly as your armory grows from level to level. Many card tiles end with the player battling 3astered treatm features" are also planned for the game. If you're still on the previous generation of consoles, but want to get your hands on the expanded version, the game is planned for release on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 as well, but will only be available digitally on those platforms. » Kyle Hilliard foes in traditional action/RPG combat, but others are more classic board game dun- geon-crawling fare, such as choosing what to do when faced with a starving peasant or trying to sneak by a couple of sleeping ogres. During these non-combat encounters, you'll see success and failure cards that are then shuffled and placed facedown and then pick one to see the results, ranging from critical success to critical failure – did you grab the loot cache or did the guards wake up? If the campaign isn't your thing, an endless mode is available to test your skills and make a play on the leaderboards. Hand of Fate blends common smash-and- block action/RPG concepts within an original and interesting framework, and we're curious to see if this early access mash-up can draw a successful card when the game is finished next year. » Daniel Tack The battle spreads to Play " ignal Studios’ Toy Soldiers games earned top-seller status on Xbox Live and later on PC. Because Microsoft published them, PlayStation fans never got the chance to experience this unique blend of third-person action and tower defense. But after Microsoft allowed Signal to buy the rights to the franchise, the door has opened for Toy Soldiers to appear on a PlayStation console for the first time. Previous entries focused on World War | and a G.I. Joe-tinged U.S.-versus-Soviet campaign respectively. At launch, Toy Soldiers: War Chest includes four unique armies, each with their own campaign. The first two shown include returning hero Kaiser Wilhelm's WWl-style army and the all-new Lisa-Frank-meets-My-Little-Pony Star Power forces. Our first demo features Kaiser's army defending a village surrounded by pine trees and a river, which is all a miniature diorama inside a sophisticated study. Early waves from the Star Power forces include colorful pixies and teddy bears. We placed anti-infan- try turrets in a cemetery to thin their ranks. The player demoing the game took control of one of them to shoot the horde and earn bonus money and action points. After scoring some resources, you can upgrade range, damage, and health of Toy Soldiers: War Ches ОП current units (which will be visually repre- sented for the first time in the series). As new units approach, we invest in alternate weap- ons. Armored unicorns are weak to arc shots, flying Pegasus units and fairies fall to the flak cannon, and powerful rolling cat piggy banks go down much easier with the help of a drivable tank. The final boss wave is led by a flying cloud castle that drops paint bombs and spawns smaller floating rainbow castles. The other map on display is a sunny back- yard sandbox populated with giant flowers and mushrooms. This Star Power base is defended by bubble guns (the ammo pops on the ground for splash damage), a toy snail slingshot that launches golf balls, and a con- centrated sunbeam constructed of several mirrors and a magnifying glass. Eventually, you Can summon a Pegasus and soar over the landscape, attacking the forces below. As opposed to controllable hero Kaiser, who wields a traditional machine gun, rifle, and grenades, the spritely Starbright leaves a trail of sparkly destruction in her wake using a glitter hand cannon, heart grenades, and a devastating cupcake wand. The two armies announced so far couldn't be more different in both looks and play style. We're hoping the other two bring just as much variety when War Chest launches next year. » Bryan Vore players to defend from above a. {ч . D 2 DA Л) TECH RESPECT PATENT YOUR FUTURE » Platform PlayStation 4 Xbox One * PC » Style 1 or 2-Player Strategy (2-Player Online) » Publisher Ubisoft » Developer Signal Studios » Release Early 2015 Earn tech respect with a Digital Maker and Fabrication Bachelor of Science degree Digital fabrication is about to revolutionize how w invent and create. Learn to lead this revolution wil developing your own inventions in an unprecedented university-wide, open lab environment. As part of their curriculum, graduates of this program will file for their own U.S. patent. This unprecedented degree is the first of its kind being offered from the elite private university that first focused at the dawn of the computer revolution on advancing computer technology. Be the first to join a long line of trail blazing graduates that will lead the next transformation of technology and industry. Patent your future. Invent something that changes everything! Learn more today at www.uat.edu/DMF ^ E Mi i T у Ae д pene ty n ra a "n іе un d * е _ As F d ул) | ti ss | A" A "IET IDEAE / am sul? "3 ES ДАКИ) |» ‚ САМ E me MONTH | 82 FIFA15 À After years of threatening greatness, FIFA 15 takes a big step forward for the series thanks to quality gameplay advance- ments. These combine with a deep feature set to deliver an experience that represents the franchise at its best, and which conveys the spectacle of the sport both on and off the pitch. This is the soccer title you've been waiting for. FPmRPCTBOMHUUES,;IFT m SCOR | NG Ге, , | " Outstanding. A truly elite title that is nearly perfect in every Flawed. it may be obvious that the game hes lots of way. This score is given out rarely and indicates a game 5 potential, but its most engaging features could be E" gamentormer Аста б-ча € that cannot be missed. undeniably flawed or not integrated into the experience. PLATINUM 0.75 and 10 Superb. Just shy of gaming nirvana, this score is a high Bad. While some things work as planned, the majority of recommendation because the game reviewed is head- this title either malfunctions or it is so dull that the game and-shoulders above its competition. falis short as a whole. Very Good. Innovative, but perhaps not the right choice for Painful. If there is anything that's redeeming in а game of everyone, This score indicates that there are many good this caliber, it's buried beneath agonizing gameplay and things to be had, but arguably so. uneven execution in its features or theme. ن‎ АР Average. The game's features may work, but are nothing ES Broken. Basically unplayable. This game is so insufficient э SILVER that score between that even casual players haven't seen before. A decent in execution that any value would be derived in extremely 8.5 and 8.75 game from beginning to end. small quantities, if at all. Limited Appeal. Although there may be fans of games gamen formar receiving this score, many will be left yearning for a more Purple engram, blue item. Sd GAME MONTH rewarding game experiance. E | 78 For more information on the age classification ratings in our reviews, head to gameinformer.com/ratings The ultimate 3D turn-based strategy game. "It's one of the best strategy games you ll play on your mobile this year..." — PocketGamer 9 Available on the GET IT ON * App Store P> Google play Download free at kongregate.com/Lionheart < P i Qo dew шә, тт A e МА GY jc YN NN i "m ^, 1 Senne RS, r | is Y p TS [A МАК NIME Sey d | ( o | ^ Р P — > 4 m" Fa | KE ^ APA ’ е , < € ќ ! ^t , 4 - 4 | v x ` х y Pa wt КА МАЛИ, | " \ MW BIN vA ok \ \ Scan this code and ^ EMERALD CITY KONGREGATE RAO U UK) download the game! 9; AUS M ы ~ I$ 1:1 Р54 * Xbox One * PC NH | Set out across the land of shadow on a mission of revenge, and cut a bloody swath through sauron's army Nn ic The variety of enemy character models is the standout visual feature, but the environments, weather effects, and animation are all outstanding » The score is at its best in its most reserved moments, includ- ing several memorable melodies. The voice work sounds like it's drawn out of Peter Jackson's deleted scenes, and showcases some sophisticated emotional range for such a violent tale » iD A multi-layered set of in-game upgrade systems all interact with one another, and the complex controls take hours to master — not recommended for beginners +) А challenging and fascinating adventure in emergent gameplay, but not without growing pains M Moderate 80 reviews pen world games often struggle to find balance between two extremes - the ability to craft a custom experience, and a linear progression that provides satisfy- ing narrative. Shadow of Mordor explores a unique solution to the dilemma, offering an unfolding story that reacts to the player's choices. It's a fascinating experiment in emer- gent action on a grand scale, but the focus on those emergent elements can lead to frustra- tion in the early game, and too much repeti- tion later on. Shadow of Mordor earns its Mature rating in the first few minutes, with a horrific but gripping scene that fuels the many hours of gameplay that lie ahead. The ranger Talion is united in death with a mysterious and ancient wraith, and their combined powers and lust for vengeance are enough to pose a threat to Sauron's emerging armies during the years between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. The storytelling is one-note (revenge!), and it's delivered through melodramatic dialogue that is a precise match to Tolkien's declamatory style. The commitment to Tolkien lore is admirable and extensive. Both the main story and side quests are filled with allusions to the broader fiction, and it's wonderful to see Monolith dig so deeply into the established lore. Whether by collecting artifacts from the lost ages of Middle- earth, or sneaking through the dreaded fortress of Durthang, a sense of place and history per- vades the journey. Mordor's craggy peaks and grassy plains are filled with secrets to uncover, | -Player Action Warner Bros. Interactive De many of which provide a deeper understanding of Talion or the wraith, and their connection to the classic story. Even with the close ties to the characters and events of Tolkien, Shadow of Mordor is tonally dissonant from its source material. Unlike that ultimately optimistic set of tales, this revenge-fueled ride is a bleak take on the universe. Many may be disturbed by the dark and oppressive imagery on display. Shadow of Mordor's most fascinating feature is its nemesis system, in which many missions and conflicts arise from earlier combats and deaths. An army of named Uruk soldiers patrols beyond the Black Gate, each one vying to rise through the ranks and grasp greater power. Die in battle, and your slayer may be promoted and recall that early battle upon your next meeting. Horribly burn a foe and let him escape, and he screams for a rematch if he catches sight of you again. Dominate a puppet and turn him to your cause, and opportunities arise to move him up to warchief status. Many of these encounters happen naturally as you explore, but an equal number show up as new missions on the map. The dynamic makes for a remarkably engaging and custom experience. However, the system can get carried away into overdrive, with multiple named enemies converging on one location in a single mission, making it easy to get into fights that you are ill- equipped to understand or complete. If the metagame is all about the ever-shifting conflicts of Mordor's war machine, the gears that turn that machine are the constant battles Talion faces along the way. Whether in stealth, —— Monolith Productions Middle-earth: Shadow Of Mordor September 30 M at range with his elven bow, or in furious melee, the fights are challenging and engag- ing. Combat carries a visceral punch, and is perversely satisfying with its brutal decapita- tions and revenge-fueled executions. Rhyth- mic inputs allow for a surprising array of moves, and button mashing is a sure recipe for failure. Mastering the system demands attention to all your enemies, changing up your maneuvers, and recognizing moments for a strategic retreat. The melees are impressive and dangerous, but the power of combat's punch is blunted by repetition. Many open world games (including chief inspirations Batman: Arkham City and Assassin's Creed) offer palate-cleanser side content that changes up the player's focus. In Shadow of Mordor, whether completing story missions or side missions, the focus is all killing all the time. By the end of the lengthy cam- paign, the battles don't сату the same thrill. Mordor's strongholds and open fields often play host to massive and often overwhelming conflicts. It's not unusual to end up in a fight with dozens of foes at once, and blaring alarms bring more all the time without careful work to contain the disaster. Named enemies each have an array of weaknesses and immunities, and keeping them straight in the midst of a fight is difficult. Battles can stretch for many minutes, and just a few mistakes lead to a grisly end. Later, things get even more confus- ing as you recruit your own soldiers, but the game does little to distinguish friend from foe. Players who refuse to engage with the tacti- cal option of taking out bodyguards first and targeting enemy weaknesses are likely to find themselves overwhelmed. Even when doing everything right, moments of genuine frustra- tion threaten to halt the fun. | have nothing but praise for Talion's pro- gression and upgrade mechanics. New powers offer meaningful and game-changing abilities that unlock gradually throughout the campaign. Confront tougher enemies, and you're rewarded with better runes to improve your weapons. Perhaps most importantly, all activities contribute to progression in some way, providing incentive for exploration. The final hour of Monolith's Middle-earth adventure falls flat, as the story falteringly tries to pull together a number of disparate threads, and the mostly triumphant nemesis system fails to stick the landing. Even with these and other features that rubbed me the wrong way, | can't help but cheer for Monolith's ambition. Shadow of Mordor is an unabashedly challenging and complex experience, sometimes at the expense of accessibility. I'm thrilled that we've got a new franchise in the fertile ground of Tolkien's fiction. Add in a borderline revolutionary approach to mission design, and this is a firm foundation for a stellar new series. » 1 This review pertains to the PS4 and PC versions. The game is also available on Xbox One on September 30, and substan- tially different PS3 and Xbox 360 versions will release on November 18 en: Isolation A deadly game of hide and seek lien fans are as unapologetic for their love of the films as they are for their disdain of games that fail to live up to the potential of the IP. While most Alien games take the James Cameron “shoot everything that moves” approach to the iconic sci-fi horror series, The Creative Assembly instead focuses on the origi- nal film's claustrophobic intensity and the feel- ing of being relentlessly stalked by a far superior predator. The result is a game you must learn and play the way it wants you to, but the cat- and-mouse chases provide an experience that's finally worthy of the Alien moniker. Players take on the role of Amanda Hipley, whose desire to learn the fate of her missing mother brings her to a space station that has descended into chaos thanks to the appear- ance of a single, deadly xenomorph. Ripley must explore, fight, and — more often than not - run and hide to survive and find a way off the Sevastopol, while simultaneously trying to ensure that her extraterrestrial hunter doesn't reach civilization. If that sounds familiar, most of Isolation's plot points and twists will, as the script all too often parallels memorable scenes from the films. | had fun reliving these iconic moments, but would've preferred some more novel surprises along the way. Amanda exhibits little growth or personality, other than concern for her fellow humans and a desire to not die gruesomely, which - spoiler! - is going to happen to you all the time. Isolation's gameplay is far more engaging than the story, albeit in its own methodical and unforgiving way. Your encounters with the xenomorph are impossibly lopsided, as the vicious extraterrestrial is leagues faster than you, impervious to damage, and kills with a single hit. As such, caution is paramount; whereas many games try to accommodate as | -Player Action Sega many styles of play as possible, your options in Isolation are to be quiet and smart or dead. The occasional mad sprint to your objec- tive may be a viable choice, but most of your time is spent under desks, in lockers, and peeking over railings. While so much hiding might sound boring, the constant threat of your unseen predator keeps you engrossed in the action, and every narrow escape and successful distraction instills a genuine sense of accomplishment. You unlock a variety of craftable items to help you in this regard, and while these new gadgets are empowering, they're not foolproof. No matter how safe you are, you'll still need patience for trial-and-error gameplay to fully enjoy the game. When you're not running from the alien, you have two more enemy types to deal with. Armed human survivors will shoot you on sight, and are best avoided when possible (or used as a tasty diversion if the alien is lurking nearby). Worker Joes, on the other hand, are cheap synthetic androids that require a jolt from a stun baton or EMP before they can be taken down, and aren't on the alien's menu. Each enemy type sports its own traits and А.І. behaviors, and figuring them out and adapting your tac- tics keeps the action fresh. Creative Assembly does a good job of mixing up the enemies and adding new wrinkles throughout the game, though on the whole the 25-hour campaign still feels too long. Most areas require sneaking through a maze of long, winding corridors and air ducts, only to trigger an objective and then make the long trek back. Exploring a new level is exciting the first time, but you return to most areas multiple times. By the end of the game Hipley has crisscrossed the station so many times she could probably draw the blueprints from memory, despite the fact that most of the The Creative Assembly October 7 M areas share the same sterile, "what-the-hell- happened-here" aesthetic. While players must contend with an unhelpful map system and some annoying quick-time event sequences, the biggest source of frustra- tion comes from the checkpoint system, which requires players to manually save at designated stations. While this structure necessitates even more backtracking, reaching a save station always provides a much-needed sense of relief, and | grew to appreciate the old-school mechanic. That said, the save system elicited more than a few curses. Losing a bunch of progress when the xenomorph pops out of nowhere and kills you with a single, unforeseen tail stab isn't scary, just frustrating. Despite the setting and source material, very little in Alien: Isolation is scary. Tense, certainly, and | jumped at more than a few surprise xeno- morph encounters, but the environments and action fail to instill the sense of dread that the movies or other horror games have inflicted on fans. Despite taking more than its share of inspiration from the Alien series, | found Dead Space to be scarier than Isolation, even if playing through the genuine article is far more appealing. Unlike its titular organism, Alien: Isolation is decidedly imperfect. The story falls flat, your objectives lack a sense of accomplish- ment, and the campaign drags on longer than it should. When the gameplay is at its best, however, Isolation delivers the thrill of being in the Alien universe, something fans like me have waited a long time to properly experience. This review pertains to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions. The game is also available on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC Escape a doomed space station while (hopefully) staying one step ahead of a towering, deadly xenomorph The Creative Assembly nailed the look of the Alien universe, but the lighting and shadows are sometimes inconsistent or altogether nonexistent. Wooden character animations cause a lot of the attempted drama to fall flat Music and sound effects from the film series are used to qreat effect. The voice acting and dialogue are less impressive Players need lots of patience for sneaking through environments, peeking at enemies from behind cover, and coping with some frustrating checkpoints This is the closest a game has come to capturing the promise of the Alien franchise, even if its story doesn't add much to the lore Moderately Low reviews 81 D PS4 e Xbox One PS3 • 360 * PC » Concept An impressive leap in gameplay augments the already-full feature set » Graphics From the look of the players and the pitch to the overall presentation package, it’s all top notch » Sound The timing and overall context of the commentary has improved from last year. The crowd's roar is mighty » Playability The controls (which have thankfully remained unchanged in the last few years] are in tight concert with the resultant gameplay » Entertainment The outstanding gameplay makes any mode a blast to play, and FIFA 15 is the best entry in the franchise » Replay Value High Ultimate Team On Xbox The Xbox One and 360 editions of the game include more exclusive Legends players for Ultimate Team, including Roberto Carlos, Bobby Moore, and Alan Shearer. 82 reviews FIFA ТО sitting at the top of the table ›„ CAME MONTH GOLD pomp and circumstance. Awash in league licenses and Ultimate Team microtransac- tion money, its self-belief was arguably greater than its on-the-pitch accomplishments. That being said, EA Canada deserves recognition for continually working on the series, adding to an ever-growing and vital list of game modes and chipping away at its gameplay to-do list. FIFA 15 is the big pay-off you've been waiting for. It isn't perfect, but it's a quality title that finally aligns many of EA's ambitions with firm results. Make no mistake - this is a golazo. The title's crown jewel is its excellent gameplay. Players' possession of the ball feels a lot less pre-determined than in previous years. This goes well with the refined dribbling and defensive tackling, presenting a coordi- nated package that feels more organic and real, like you're playing by your own whims and not negotiating imposed constraints. Shirking off a challenge and retaining possession, or conversely winning the ball after a tackle and starting the counter attack happens fluidly. A foot race between two players for a free ball feels like a real contest, with physicality and unexpected ball baubles coming into play. Finally, there is freedom in FIFA. The ball behaves differently, which is no small matter, since it also produces a greater variety of goals. Realistic deflections change the complexion of play instantly, and often players are quick to react, sticking a leg or a hand (for keepers) out to get a piece of the ball. That being said, I'd still like to see А.І. players react more aggressively when you call them in defensive support, as well as have more awareness of their own teammates so there's less bunching and bumbling. The improved gameplay is FIFA 15's most notable distinction. Conversely, the career mode has seen only small organizational improvements. The ability to set instructions | he FIFA series has long reveled in its own Style ] to 4-Player Sports (22-Player Online) Publisher EA Sports Developer EA Canada Release September 23 Rating E for individual players (like telling a back to always overlap his runs) is great, but in gen- eral the career mode hasn't changed enough. Fatigue still isn't a factor (and there's no reserve system), international management has stagnated, and while more players are uncov- ered by your scouts, the transfer network still goes inexplicably dark at times. For a game that has such strong online modes, the lack of an online franchise mode is also surprising. A revamped career mode is preferable, but there is so much cumulative meat in the modes that you have plenty of flavors to feast on. The addition of friendly seasons (where you can compete against a friend to see who wins a 10-match mini season) to both the Ultimate Team and Seasons modes adds more riches. Tournaments are back, and Pro Clubs gets a boost with more effective А.І. teammates. Ultimate Team also adds loan players and the ability to prep speculative dream teams from the transfer market, but а like them to adopt the unified deck structure like Madden. This bounty is wrapped in stirring TV-style presentation that makes even the pause screen attractive. The commentary announces the sides’ lineups, replays past goals, delivers more timely analysis, and even goes back to comments interrupted by the action. The new player emotion feature is surprisingly unre- markable, but | frankly don't care when the overall package is otherwise this good. The FIFA franchise has gone from a game that was huge because of the de facto effect of its numerous licenses to a title that stands tall thanks to its own abilities. FIFA 15 takes the series into a whole other level with gameplay that betters the surmounting hype that threat- ened to engulf it. Playing it makes me believe | can do just about anything with the ball at my feet, and this self-assurance is powerful. If you have the desire, FIFA 15 meets the challenge. It does not disappoint. » Matthew Kato This review is based on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox Опе versions. FIFA 15 is also available on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Vita, 3DS, and PC. The Wii, Vita, and 3DS versions are substantially different You'll still see some weird physics flops, but 1 or 2-Player Sports (2-Player Online} uring the transition to the PS3/360 from the prior generation, EA Sports made a gross miscalculation in stripping many long-established modes from the new ver- sions of its games. This put off lifelong fans who expected more - or at least equal - value on their new systems. Madden took years to recover from this gaffe, and moving into the PS4/Xbox One era EA assured us it wouldn't make the same mistake twice. NHL 15 proves that is a bald-faced lie. Don't let the allure of authentic arenas and improved NBC-branded commentary fool you - NHL 15 is a colossal disappointment. Missing modes like the six-on-six EASHL, GM Connected, and Live the Life, NHL 15 starts the game down a man. When you add the fact that existing modes like Be a Pro and Be a GM have been fundamentally stripped of essential features, it's downright insulting to hockey fans everywhere. At first glance, Be a GM looks like a fresh new experience thanks to its new menus. Spend a few hours with the mode and, like an undisciplined hockey club, it slowly starts to reveal its flaws. The RPG-style upgrade system for your GM is gone, as is the ability to play games with your AHL franchise. You can scout for prospects during the season, but EA inexplicably removed the ability to control the fate of your franchise in the draft. Why you would have one without the other is mystifying. The mode also lacks the ability to start with a fantasy draft. Be a Pro slides into the boards headfirst as well. EA removed the rookie showcase that determined your draft position, deleted the minor leagues from the equation altogether, and doesn't even bother to offer a critique or М“: ј БА Sports grade of your performance during games. You can't even sim to the next shift, which means you get to sit and stew in the penalty box if you draw a five minute major for fighting. EA says it plans to add some of these missing features, like five-on-five online teamplay (no human-controlled goalies), the GM draft, and Be a Pro coach grades in the next few months. Even with their inclusion down the line, NHL 15 still faces an insurmountable deficit. | wish | could say things get better when you take the ice. For the transition to the new consoles, EA touted its brand-new puck phys- ics and multi-player collisions. These small advancements are welcome - | especially think the puck physics change the way you play around the net - but they do little to make up for the deficiencies found everywhere else on the ice. Defensive controls like stick lifts and poke checks have been severely marginalized against А.І. opponents, which means your best bet to play sound defense is patrol pass- ing lanes in the middle of the ice instead of actively engaging puck carriers. These controls work better against human opponents online. Even if you play sound defense, though, your sieve goalies will let you down by giving up bad angle goals. | rarely had a goalie with a save percentage over .800 in offline play, even if they faced a low number of shots from low percentage areas. The slightly modified skill stick still gives you the opportunity to dazzle crowds and breeze past defenders with a few new moves, but don't expect much support from your А.І. line- mates. Skating with these disinterested pylons is like playing with a team full of Dany Heatleys, who are more than willing to get into scoring position but offer no support along the boards, = aan | SPES | Bri EA Canada september 9 ۴ "а Qe te د‎ € 4 "A } +” ^) rarely recognize when it's time to break out of the defensive end, and struggle to defend the backside from cross-ice passes that lead to one-timers. Some serious bugs also plague the on-ice experience. During my time with the game, one backhand that sailed over the net was counted as a goal, a referee blew a shootout dead while | was in mid-shot, and | witnessed a риск gravitate through the net to a defender's stick (so much for realistic puck physics). With the startling amount of missing content, kneecapped modes, and uneven gameplay in NHL 15, either EA Sports isn't giving EA Canada the same level of resources as its other sports franchises or the development team is woefully incapable of negotiating a console transition. If the publisher doesn't care to put a winning effort into its NHL series, hockey fans have no reason to jump over the boards and buy the game. > An ugly first step into new- generation consoles, complete with missing modes and unbalanced gameplay The authentic arenas, varied crowds, and improved lighting look great, but the player facial scans still need work Commentators Doc Emrick, Eddie Olczyk, and Ray Ferraro inject some much-needed new blood into the broadcast Nerfed defensive controls, poor A.I. support, and sieve goalies keep this game from Stanley Cup contention Hockey fans are better served playing the old-gen versions of the game Sut GATORADE T è Б) Unlike the PS4 and Xbox Опе versions, the last-gen NHL 15 is feature-complete, and the old А. is better than the new- gen counterparts when it comes to supporting puck handlers around the boards and initiating breakouts. Plus, it features the new broadcast commentary and player collision physics. That said, it doesn't all fit together. While playing in the Memorial Cup, Doc Emrick referred to it as the Stanley Cup, and talked about my team advancing to the next round while I was hoisting the cup in celebration. reviews 83 PS4 * Xbox Опе PS3 * 360 » Concept Explore the solar system in an amalgam of shooting, RPG leveling, and MMO social features » Graphics Breathtaking science fiction art is bulwarked by powerful technical expertise » Sound The music is memorable and exciting in a way that few game soundtracks manage » Playability Precise controls and a steady difficulty curve are friendly to both veteran and fledgling guardians » Entertainment Even with several missed opportunities, Destiny is enormously fun, and only gets more engaging as you play » Replay Value Moderately High 84 reviews cture. з gemmnformer р. SILVER —— ——— ————————— — ——— = = ee ———— engrossing action Style 1 to 12-Player Online Shooter Publisher Activision Developer Bungie Release September 9 Rating T ———————————————— —À — i ————— ——— س ج ج س ——————— since its announcement. As the latest brainchild from the Halo creators at Bungie, the game has garnered a level of anticipation only exceeded by the massive hype machine that declares its not-to-be- missed potential. Bungie's new game is not as gigantic or revolutionary as that hype may have led some to believe. In fact, it has sev- eral features that feel like missteps or prob- lems. But that doesn't change the fact that the more | play it, the more | love it. A benevolent alien intelligence arrives on Earth to gift humanity with its wisdom, and leads us into an unprecedented period of expansion and advancement. When our benefactor's ancient enemy arrives, humanity is beaten back to near extinction. Hundreds of years later, you stand as a guardian of humanity, finally ready to push back against the tide of darkness. Destiny has the seeds of a thoughtfully imagined universe, character- ized by a humanistic and idealized vision of mankind's heroism and potential. The universe is supported by gorgeous art and one of the best soundtracks in years. Unfortunately, the story set within that backdrop is anemic. With little to no character development, a disconnected plot thread about alien attack- ers, and uneven narrative pacing, it seems that many of the fundamental staples of story- telling have been abandoned in the name of continuous action and discrete, standalone missions. Encyclopedic grimoire entries unlock with a modicum of additional story explanation, but the odd decision to include those only on the game's website means few will ever see these tidbits. Thankfully, the story-sparse missions are a blast, offering a mix of activities for solo, cooperative, and competitive play. Destiny excels at providing activities for different moods and moments, from short planetary patrols to lengthy three-person instanced dungeons. These tasks often take you to interesting corners of the game world, but it's too bad that so many missions start in the same places, leading to a needless sense of repetition. That sense of repetition extends to mission objectives, which too often fall back on the same setup of your A.I. companion needing time to hack something while you | à reat expectations have followed Destiny fight off attackers; thankfully, the layouts and enemies make the battles feel distinct. Destiny's structure is particularly well suited to team play. Solo play is an ideal choice for play- ers looking for a challenge, but any given mode is more fun (and easier) with a friend or two at your side. The potential for seamless flow between missions is halted by the regular need to return home to a central social hub to receive mission awards and gear up. That wouldn't be so bad, except that Destiny suffers from lengthy load times that stunt the momentum of a ses- sion. Bungie also needs to find more solutions to let players of differing levels play together; as itis, a mismatched team-up is doomed to either be too easy for one or too hard for another. Intense, high-octane battles are Bungie's forte, and Destiny maintains the reputation. Each of several gun types feels balanced and rewarding, and the special powers, grenades, and melee attacks unique to each class are exciting to acquire and a joy to perfect. Enemy combatants often rely on numbers and damage potential over complex А.І. routines; it's fun to mow through dozens of foes, but enemies rarely provide a strategically engaging match- ing of wits. Characters are highly mobile thanks to the inclusion of class-specific movement modes, and the importance of understanding the aerial game is key to mastering the harder fights. In between battles, Bungie's solution to the MMO "mount" is a floating speeder bike that's more fun than it has any right to be, even if it is a blatant copy (sound effects and all) of the classic Star Wars vehicle. The competitive offering includes fewer customization options than some contempo- rary shooters, but the fierce PvP battles that unfold in the few available modes are uniformly excellent. Double jumps and similar movement modes provide a verticality to the maps that adds tension and tactical depth. Weapon skill and sharp reflexes undoubtedly win the day, but the inclusion of supers ensures that even beginning players get brief moments of victory on the battlefield. None of the initial batch of maps stand out, but all include opportunities for compelling exchanges, from interesting sniping spots to hidden alcoves from which to ambush unsuspecting foes. Matchmaking is slow, but my matches have offered mostly well-balanced teams even in the early days after launch. Unlike in the cooperative game, characters of different levels are able to play well together, but guardians who have not yet unlocked at least their core powers are at a notable disadvantage. Character progression is shared across com- petitive and solo/cooperative play, lending a genuine sense of ownership over your guardian. The sense of investment is increased through the opportunity to level multiple subclasses and improve weapons with their use. Loot isn't plen- tiful, but it's often meaningful, so you're making interesting choices about which gun to equip rather than constantly clearing out dozens of useless objects. The three classes are more similar than they are different, but each has a few exciting ways to stand out, from the hunter's unbearably cool bladedancer attacks to the warlock's devastating nova bomb. Your guardian's options only become more flexible as levels rise, creating ample opportunities to tweak a build to your specifications. The philosophy of depth over time extends to the rest of the game; Destiny reveals its com- plexity only after many hours. Unlike in many games, hitting level cap and completing the story is more of a mid-game marker. Farming reputation, using gear to level beyond the cap, and completing progression for each of your subclasses can be a lot of fun, but it won't appeal to gamers who hate grinding. For those that enjoy the process, it's exciting to uncover higher level versions of old missions and track down the little boosts and tricks, such as the ability to repower teammates' super abilities through careful timing of your deployments. Like the MMOs from which Destiny draws inspiration, it's challenging to draw a line in the sand about what the game is or will be. Already, Bungie has plans in the works to expand the game with additional story content, raids, and regular new variations on competitive play. However, a game can't be judged for what it might be in the future. Even with its stumbles, the initial release of Destiny is a colossal achievement in interactive design, integrating a number of differing genre elements into a smart and unified whole. Bungie's latest futuristic opus is one of the first true event games of this new generation, and while it still has room to grow, it's worth your attention right out of the gate. » Matt Miller 7> NC Disney TA, J a Ya {Уч Super Heroes Artists welcome, heroes stay away 1 or 2- "ув Action (4-Player Online} Avalanche Software isney Infinity’s leap into the Marvel uni- verse is bafflingly bad - a gut-punch of a sequel stripped of most of the magic, wonder, and imagination that made the play sets from the first Infinity game enjoyable for children and adults alike. The adventures offered for The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Spider-Man rank among the worst superhero games of recent memory, pushing players to complete mundane tasks like "fetch a battery" or "activate this device" over and over again. The initial Disney Infinity game shipped with individual play sets for Monsters University, The Incredibles, and Pirates of the Caribbean - all offering about three to six hours of adventuring. Marvel Super Heroes only offers one play set for The Avengers, an experience that is roughly the same length, plus two Power Discs that unlock a fun tower defense map and a strange isometric mini-quest. DEGREE PROGRAMS IN: Game Art Game Development Game Design Disney Interactive Studios September 23 R E10+ While offering far less content than its pre- decessor out of the box, the action figures that come packaged with it all work with The Avengers play set, meaning you don't have to purchase an additional figure to play cooperatively with a friend. The Avengers adventure gets off to a roaring start through a great comedic story sequence. This introduction establishes a fun, light tone for the game, and implants the desire to see more narrative moments. Sadly, they never come. The humor dies off. Once the action kicks in, the game adopts a new identity — that of repetition. From the start of play to its final moments, this adventure becomes one-tracked, pushing the players to battle ice giants or smash icicles ad nau- seam. Little effort is made to differentiate the conflicts, and the time players put in is not rewarded well — not with story, not with inter- esting unlockables, and not even with the thrill 3300 University Boulevard * Winter Park, FL Financial aid available for those who qualify To view detailed information regarding tuition, student outcomes, and rel * Career development assistance * ated statistics, ple Accredited University, ACCSC ase visit fullsai edu/outcomes-and-statistics of playing as one of Earth's Mightiest Heroes. The play sets for Spider-Man and Guardians of the Galaxy (both sold separately) are equally as troubled and void of fun. All of these disappointing play sets funnel directly into the Toy Box, the mode that allows players to build their own worlds and games. The Тоу Box is this title's saving grace. Avalanche has loaded this mode up with an excellent (and vast) selection of Marvel- themed items, including Avengers Tower, the Infinity Gauntlet, and shawarma (yes, you read that correctly). New Disney content is also available in great abundance. The Toy Box functionality remains intuitive and quick, offering new options and tricks for seasoned builders, including a new mode designed for the creation of interiors. Up to 10 created areas can be linked together to make a larger play experience. Avalanche doesn't make it easy to unlock the building pieces. There's a lot of fun stuff to play, but all too often there's a hoop that must be jumped through (often pushing you to play a set). Some of these restrictions hark back to the first game, but at least then | had a good time journeying through that game's sets. Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes is tale of two games: One that crushes the dreams of people hoping to wear spandex or a cape, and another that gives artists and creators more power. Stay away if your hopes lie with finally playing a great Avengers or Guardians of the Galaxy game. Come play if your ambitions lie mostly with building worlds. Even then, though, heed this warning: You need to play three bad superhero games extensively to round out your building options. : F a A A Am У P54 * Xbox Üne Wii U * PS3 • 360 The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Spider-Man star in three miserable adventures. Toy Box continues to grow in size and scope All of the items — whether Marvel or Disney-branded — look like they are from the same toy set. The character animations (especially The Hulk's) look fantastic | never want to hear that Disney announcer again. He repeats the same lines in all three play sets. Most of the music is cringe- worthy, including loud dubstep in Spider-Man The characters control well, but the decision to limit moves before leveling up creates an odd dynamic when new figures are placed on the portal late in the game None of the play sets deliver thrills, but the Toy Box is once again great fun for aspiring artists or a group of people looking to mess around High 800.226.7625 . fullsail.edu — : ы - PC » Conci Command a group of rag-tag rangers as you try to make a difference in a post- apocalyptic, ravaged land » | While they're nothing special in today's PC world, the visuals feature a variety of environments Hn i АП of the gun jams, pipe bombs, and even the yelling of a goat that sounds like a human do their part in bringing life to the grim setting infused with dark humor P) ү: 11 Fans of tactical RPGs will find the systems immediately understandable and highly accessible. While the game does its best to facilitate players, there’s still some trial and error n iti - Tit The incredibly dark but somehow humorous trek through the waste- lands delivers, with an excellent combat system, interesting challenges, and compelling puzzles H Very High esci - т а 07 ` T. (6. reviews EU" wu. d Wasteland 2 зә $ y |... gemmnformer ». SILVER any years after Interplay's classic PC RPGs, InXile Entertainment and Brian Fargo have brought the genre back to the spotlight after decades "in exile" with the help of the Kickstarter model. Prepare to enter the grim post-apocalyptic world of Wasteland 2, where bullets are scarce and mercy is even scarcer. If you're a fan of Fallout 1 and 2, this game is for you. Wasteland 2 is a direct sequel to the original title, but don't worry if you haven't played the 1988 Apple Il game - you won't need to know anything going in, as the story immediately immerses you in the desolate wasteland of a world destroyed. You play as a group of Desert Rangers, doing your small part to help assist those in need and restore some semblance of civilization in an alternate history where a nuclear holocaust has turned the world into a radioactive hell. Supplies are limited and social niceties are absent. Wasteland 2 tasks you with creating four characters and then sets you loose into the world armed with only a handful of ammunition and your brain. Your job is to to craft a perfect team with all the abilities you'll need in the field, but you simply can't by design. You aren't awarded enough upgrade points to even come close to covering all your bases, so during character creation you're making permanent decisions long before your first battle or con- versation. Some excellent character templates are available that follow long-standing RPG archetypes, but | recommend making your own team, perhaps after playing an hour or two with the premade options. In classic RPG fashion, you divide skill points between core attributes like health, speed, and weapon skills, plus soft skills to persuade or intimidate NPCs, crack safes, heal damage, bust down doors, and trade with the denizens of the wastes. You won't have enough points to go around, so creating specialists that are experts in certain areas is the way to go. After trying a jack-of-all trades build at first, | rerolled and made a crew of professionals that couldn't yle 1-Player Role-Playing P her InXile Entertainment interact with every door or person | ran into, but were excellent at the encounters they were designed to handle. This also makes your team far more effective in combat. Avoid picking multiple characters with the same weapons specialization, as supplies of ammo are limited and you'll want some melee backup in the form of blunt weapons or fists. Guns can jam in combat, costing you precious turns, and reload- ing will also eat up your action points. Getting close can be tough sometimes, but it's good to have a sturdy bat or board with nails in it that won't ever run into these issues. Because of all the different moving pieces and options, deter- mining how you want to go about approaching the game is a delightful conundrum. Your four-man team encounters several follower characters during the course of the game that can flesh out your skillsets, like the drunk hobo Scotchmo, the vengeful Angela Death, or the computer-hacking Rose, who of course has a spiffy signature gun called Thorn. These players are fully controlled outside of combat and level up just like your regular char- acters, but they may choose to make their own moves in combat based on the points you've placed in the leadership skill. These characters also have their own motivations and ideals, and if you find yourself doing things they might not approve of - like killing their friends — they may leave the group. As with many other aspects of the title, it's nice to see that your actions are constantly shifting the game state. Combat is the core of Wasteland 2. Similar to Fallout, the turn-based mechanic uses action points for moving, shooting, swinging, reload- ing, uniamming weapons, crouching, and set- ting up ambushes and headshots. It's a simple system with a lot of depth, and your options are constantly changing as new skills and weapons become available. A blast from one shotgun may cost six action points, but a good pistol may only take two to fire. Each character can equip a primary and secondary weapon, and switching between them is a free action during combat, so cover your bases. r InExile Entertainment Rel september 19 1 М The combat is slick and refined. Despite the fact that this game's roots lie in the sometimes perplexing PC strategy genre, Wasteland 2's combat is one of the more accessible yet com- plex systems available. The combat is mostly solid the whole way through, but can delve into repetitive and uninteresting territory at times, with many battles pitting you against the same stock wasteland bandits using the same moves over and over again. Like many other tactical RPGs, the camera can work against you and lead to unfortunate accidents, espe- cially with area-of-effect attacks. The combat tunes can also get a little grating after hearing them over and over. Conversation is a major activity outside of combat. While you always have a roster of appropriate keywords and phrases to draw upon when talking to important NPCs, the soft skills like "hard ass" unlock special dia- logue options. These conversations can lead to bonus loot or unlocking entire new loca- tions on the world map, so don't just hammer through the dialogue like a MMORPG player looking to jump back into the action. In addi- tion to the canned responses, players can also type in their own words, and perhaps unlock even more interesting secrets — sort of an extra bonus for those paying attention to what's going on in the game. Wasteland 2 is unflinchingly dark; players must make horrible life and death choices along the way and witness the consequences of their actions. Early in the game, you have the choice to help either the Ag Center, which is being overrun by infected plant life, or Highpool, under siege by your typical Hoad Warrior wasteland goons. Whatever your decision is, it will determine potential team members, and you'll eventually visit the other location later in the game, realizing that those calls for help that you didn't answer led to something terrible. This is just one example, as the game continually enjoys forcing you to make decisions with lives hanging in the balance. Thankfully, an undercurrent of humor runs beneath the dark story, with in-jokes relating to other games or pop culture. These continual jovial jabs help put a smile on your face even as you begrudgingly sign someone's death warrant or splatter a bespectacled man's head with a scattergun. The game is huge and offers strategy fans a substantial serving to devour. However, even with a handy quest log, not everything for critical progress is laid out in an understand- able fashion. Even players familiar with the genre may find themselves wondering how to proceed at certain points after exhausting dialogue options. Wasteland 2 feels like a perfect execution of what InExile hoped to accomplish with this Kickstarter-fueled project, not only an excellent retro nod to the computer RPGs of decades ago, but a great RPG of today. After a 26-year hiatus, this long-awaited sequel is a worthy successor to the PC RPG throne. » The sims Taking a step back playing each entry, continually expanding their sims’ lives. Some have family lin- eages that span generations, and others hone |) evoted fans of The Sims spend years their building skills to create iconic landmarks. These dedicated players have worked hard building their worlds, so asking them to start over with a new iteration isn't a small request. To justify the transition, a sequel needs to provide compelling new content while building on the innovations it has already made. This is where The Sims 4 fails. It has some interesting tweaks, but doesn't do enough to entice play- ers to upgrade. The Sims 4 introduces some promising changes. | love that sims now multitask and naturally converse in groups. Seeing parents take their dinner upstairs to chat while kids do homework is just one example of realis- tic behavior. Sims are also more expressive thanks to the new emotion system. New dialogue options and extra activities appear based on your sims' emotional state; if my sim is confident, she can write a motivational book. Some activities tied to emotions are just stupid, though. Maxis has always had a sense of The Gallery's Lure The Gallery is a great implementation. Inside the game, you can download other people's creations and place them into your world. The Gallery is great for players like me, who aren't the best builders. I found the process easy and smooth, and it looks like Maxis is doing а great job by having featured households and even challenges. I just hope the interface gets less cluttered. Right now, you can sort houses and people by most recent, most favorites, and most downloads, but cutting through the clutter is still difficult. Style 1-Player Simulation Publisher Electronic Arts Developer Maxis Release September 2 Rating E humor, but being able to "pee like a champion" and "take an angry poop" doesn't add anything. Emotions also fluctuate too quickly during group conversations; going through three dis- parate moods in a flash doesn't give you time to capitalize on any benefits (and makes you question a sim's sanity). Your basic needs bars are still present, but they take a backseat to the emotion system and drain slower. This gives you plenty of opportunities to socialize and build up your skills. The career system has been revamped, and professions eventually branch into more specific aspirations, like becoming an eSports competitor or a start-up entrepreneur. | like that the new career system rewards you with items when you're promoted, and how reach- ing certain career levels unlocks special items to purchase. The Sims 4's greatest achievement is the small progression throughout your activities. If your sim is a gamer, expect access to more games as you enhance that skill. Eventually, you can even unlock the option to livestream. These clever changes don't turn the experience on its head, but 1 enjoyed seeing new things open up even after l'd been playing for 20 hours. Unfortunately, familiar problems plague The Sims 4. While the А.І. pathing has been improved, it still has issues. For instance, if you send sims to the refrigerator too close together, one of them abandons the task even if they're still far away. Dish-clearing is apparently too complicated for them, as well. | had numerous times where my sims simply couldn't stack multiple dishes and would just put them down instead of washing them. | felt pretty confident leaving the А.І. sims to their own devices, but they still need to be monitored. Still, just letting my sims free and watching the drama unfold remains one of my favorite things. | like that a game focused on control can still have unpredictability. My housekeeper actually dropped dead for unknown reasons while cleaning my sink. | had to mourn his death, watch the Grim Reaper take him away, and then deal with the urn. Afterward, Death hung out and watched TV with my sims. Fun stories like this are what make The Sims 4 thrive. That being said, The Sims 3 innovated on making the world feel alive, and one of The Sims 4's biggest disappointments is that a lot of those enhancements are gone. Simple things, like not being able to walk around the neighborhood, broke the immersion for me. The absence of the toddler stage makes it feel like your kids grow up too fast. The recreational lots are the most affected; you can travel between different neighborhoods, but these barren locales don't have much to do in them. You can fish and take your kids on the new playground equipment, but most of the activi- ties can be done from your home, like grilling or playing chess. This doesn't give you much reason to leave the house except to socialize, which makes the world feel smaller. The Sims has always been about making your options seem endless, but here they are limited. Even when making your sim with the improved creator, the outfits only have a few color varia- tions. Builders are even affected, as basements no longer exist and there aren't many options for carpets or wallpapers. | like that the build- ing tools are more accessible and provide less room for failure, but the minimal options restrict how far you can take your creativity. | have no doubt that, like every other Sims title, this one will continue to grow with future expansions, but that doesn't do players any good right now. The Sims 4 needs to stand on its own. With all of the steps back from the baseline established by The Sims 3, it doesn't. | feel like l'm playing a game that's half-baked. The core formula is still fun, but The Sims 4 isn't an improvement. » Kimberley Wallace 6.15 » Concept Tweak The Sims' formula by adding new layers, such as emotions and multitasking » Graphics А graphical overhaul makes sims more expressive. They look the best they ever have » Sound Some of the sound effects, especially the ones indicating mood changes, are excessive. At least the iconic Simlish is still intact, conveying tone without using actual words » Playability The basics are easy to grasp, and you get tips along the way. The tutorial system needs to be less intrusive, instead of bombarding players with excessive information early on » Entertainment The Sims 4 is still fun with plenty of cool tweaks, but it feels somewhat empty without much innovation » Replay Value A T (y t r reviews 87 the trouble to record audio for Move the senes toa 1 othe J 3 ag OnCeDt new location and make some changes around the margins It looks good, bu israpnic t the occasional pop-up can be distracting at high speeds > Sound I don't care for the sound- track or Festival trappings, but at least they went through the characters › Plavab uty The cars feel a little like they're on à pivot, although the rumble in the triggers is nice This sequel is a good showin system, but it won't blow your doors off rr ad ah j ШЕХ{ 1 Үү еп for the senes on the new г Value High 1 1 — « 88 reviews 00:22.689 Г orza Horizon 2 isn't a hard restart for the — offshoot series, but the game has shuffled the deck slightly for its new-gen debut. It keeps intact its plethora of races, abun- dance of cars, XP system, and credits, while augmenting online play, tweaking its overall structure, and offering more open landscapes. The sum of these changes splits both ways, making Forza Horizon 2 a worthy sequel that is not necessarily head-and-shoulders above its predecessor. The game strips away some of the Horizon Festival structure (although the visual trap- pings and cheesy characters are still there) to present a progression more tailored to your whims. Critical-path race events to get your Horizon wristbands are populated according to which car you're driving, similar to Forza Motorsport 4. However, the Sponsorship Challenges and Horizon Outposts (with their requisite events required to unlock them) are gone. The breadcrumb trail is lessened, and so is some of the feeling that you're truly building up to something. At least with the first Horizon's Sponsorship Challenges | felt | was working toward another accolade on my list. Similarly, the now-absent -orza Horizon 2 Outposts were convenient ways to combine opening the map while exposing you to dif- ferent activities like photo taking (there are no new promotion events like this, by the way). Forza Horizon 2 gives you more to do and makes it easy to experience, but | wish it were organized in a way that spurred me on more. This is odd, because one of the game's great strengths - even without the Sponsor- ship Challenges - is its progression. XP and credits flow from everything you do, and the new Perks system for awarding skill points (for going fast or knocking stuff over, for example) confers great rewards. Bucket List Challenges are also a welcome addition. These put you in challenge-specific cars and have you do things like bomb down a forest mountain or notch a certain number of near misses with traffic. Online races are easy to access and perhaps the biggest focus of the game. The map is full of free-roam events you can enter whenever you like, and Road Trips are developer-created playlists of events you and participating racers tackle and travel between in succession. While the plethora of events (including fun play- ground games like King and Infected) is a good thing, | wanted more overall direction from the game. Another example of Horizon 2's give and take is the open environments. You can blaze a trail while taking a shortcut or during a cross-coun- try race, but the more you explore, the more you realize how empty the game can be. Despite Forza Horizon 2's changes, it remains true to its core concept, and for that, it’s a worthy game in the franchise canon. Challenging Drivatars you meet in the world to races (still only point-to-point events), buying liveries and chatting in car meets, and the ease of online play encourages you to explore and interact with a world whose new Italian/ French surroundings look great and inspire your wanderlust. Forza Horizon 2 may not be the perfect sequel, but it still delivers stiff challenges, fun racing moments, and a variety of experiences. Hopefully another few years on the Xbox One can create a clearer direction forward for the series and enable it to continue being a worthy branch of the Forza brand. » Matt! We reviewed the Xbox One version of the game. It is also available for the Xbox 360 POSITION R / 1 ? SS ayonetta Topping over-the-top action games. That's okay; instead of add- ing new gimmicks or turning the genre on its head, Platinum Games raised the bar by refining the gameplay and making the action as ridiculous as possible. The intense combat, air- tight controls, and over-the-top spectacle cap- tured what | love about this genre. Bayonetta 2 does the same thing (albeit in many of the same ways), but with even more polish and depth. Fluid and satisfying combat remains the centerpiece of the experience. No matter what you do, Bayonetta 2 makes you look and feel awesome while doing it. Tearing apart angelic juggernauts, demolishing hordes of demons, and sweating through high-precision duels all require different approaches to the combat system. The variety of encounters - and the set-piece moments that separate them - keeps the unpredictable action moving. H ayonetta did not change the face of stylish That's Our Bayonetta Despite the Nintendo name on Bayonetta 2, the family-friendly company does not appear to have meddled much with the more controversial elements of the formula. Violence and suggestive poses abound, and the language seems even fouler than before. Like its predecessor, Bayonetta 2 does all of this with a smile and a wink, so it feels more playful and fun than crass and gross. Bayonetta still has access to all kinds of magic powers, items, and abilities. Not every player is going to love every option, but the system is flexible enough to let you develop your own style of play – though you are more likely to switch between multiple methods than stick to one. My favorite addition is the Umbran Climax mode, which super-charges all of your attacks for a short span. This simple concept adds spikes of excitement and power into smaller encounters, making them more rewarding. Even with so many options at your finger- tips, Bayonetta 2 is as deep or as simple as you need it to be. If you want to perfect your technique, master dodge offset, and rack up pure platinum medals for every mission, you will continue to discover gameplay layers and wrinkles for hours. If you just want to mash buttons and see the story through, you can do that instead. | don't know why you would, though; the story is flimsy and obvious, but the combat is expertly tuned and balanced. One of my few complaints is the feeling of déjà vu. You see many new weapons and enemies in name, but they don't impact the experience in different ways. Instead of gliding around on ice-infused skates like the first installment, you get fire-infused chainsaws. Wielding two swords feels a lot like wielding one. Many of the optional accessories are also repeated from last time. | appreciate that Platinum Games didn't want to monkey around with a winning arsenal, but the thrill of experimenting Py Sig whe Action (2-Player Online) Publisher Nintendo Developer Platinum Games Release October 24 Rating M with crazy and inventive weapons was a highlight of the first game. Not everything is a retread, but the general familiarity means that thrill is largely missing from Bayonetta 2. One returning feature that | was happy to see is the abundance of post-game content. My first 10 or 12 hours were spent clearing all of the stages and completing the main story. After that, | dove into the additional challenges and unlockables. The array of accessories - like one that helps block incoming attacks, or another that automatically activates Witch Time - are realistically only affordable after you've finished the main missions. You can also buy an array of costumes, attempt the difficult Witch Trial bonus stages, and unlock new characters (who play differently and have their own moves and costumes to buy). This gives the action a remarkably long tail; if you love Bayonetta, Platinum Games and Nintendo open the floodgates and don't hold anything back. Apart from the other unlockables, an online multiplayer mode lets you play cooperatively with a friend. You choose your characters, set up a series of battles, wager your halos to set the difficulty, and then try to kill the enemies while scoring more points than your friend. Playing alongside a partner is fun, and it's a great way to build up your cash reserves (any money you earn in multiplayer carries over to the single-player mode). However, the isolated battles can't match the grandeur of the campaign, and even a broad selection of encounters doesn't keep them from getting old after a while. Creating a sequel to an already-polished game is a challenge, but Platinum Games’ approach ultimately succeeds. Bayonetta 2 is rooted in its past while taking steps (but not strides) toward the future. Though | was disap- pointed by some of the familiarity, | was usually having too much fun to care. » Joe Juba WF S NS a M GS M am جو‎ ДЈ ist X YN KF KK FK FF IF Fk FF ÉF as Wii U » Concept A Wii U-exclusive sequel to one of the best stylish action games ever made » Graphics The screen becomes a blur of violent special effects in the heat of combat, but the framerate holds up well » Sound Though some of the voice casting seems off, most of the key players nail the delivery » Playability A GamePad or Pro Controller is your best bet. While the touchscreen is technically an option, it doesn't give you the precision required to appreciate Bayonetta 2’s strengths » Entertainment Crazy moments, smooth combat, and seemingly endless options help this sequel match its predecessor » Replay Value High reviews 89 Wii U » Concept Cross the Zelda series with Dynasty Warriors for an unexpected mash-up » Graphics The art direction delivers very cool designs for familiar Zelda characters and enemies, even if the overall visuals seem dated » Sound | could do without the metal remixes of familiar Zelda music, but some of the tracks are quite good. І enjoyed the use of Zelda sound effects throughout » Playability Everyone moves and attacks well, and the warriors all feel distinct » Entertainment This aggressive version of Zelda can become repetitious, but there are still reasons to keep fighting » Replay Value Moderately High Hyrule The crossover Warrior | Е ^ din * , ч - tt і А ia 4 , F A ^ E T. 3 ^ t | Li VV t | | AT IVY V y т \ k МЕ ! | | К МЕР, M WM Style 1 or 2-Player Action Publisher Nintendo, Koei Tecmo Developer Team Ninja, Omega Force Release September 26 Rating T solving, exploration, and deliberate action against a small number of ene- mies. The Dynasty Warriors franchise thrives on none of these things. For this reason, Zelda fans are understandably skeptical about the franchise crossover, especially consider- ing Nintendo's last partnership with Team Ninja produced the worst Metroid game in the series, Other M. This time around, the part- nership delivers better results. Hyrule Warriors isn't a true Zelda game, but there's plenty here for Zelda fans to enjoy. Hyrule Warriors' story begins with a dark power overtaking Hyrule, which cues the need for a hero - preferably one wearing a green tunic. From there, the alternate Zelda universes overlap in nerdy ways that fans who love to examine Zelda's many timelines will appreci- ate. It fully embraces the idea of many Hyrules existing across multiple universes. The way characters speak to each other, however, is cheesy and serves to set up flimsy excuses to make recognizable characters fight one another for no particular reason. The combat is highly repetitive, as is always the case with the Dynasty Warriors series, but the context of the Zelda universe made me much more interested in trudging through the war. In Dynasty Warriors, motivations for fight- ing are deeply embedded in an exaggerated history full of characters I’m unfamiliar with. When you don't know or care why you're fight- ing, fun needs to be derived entirely from the repetitive combat — which dulls quickly. Playing Hyrule Warriors, | was excited to meet every character; their motivations are clear, and | was eager to enter battle. That said, the combat still boils down to powering up your special attack, firing it off, and moving on to the next area to repeat the process in traditional Dynasty Warriors fashion. | | — he Zelda series thrives on smart puzzle Lana is one of Hyrule Warriors' original characters, and she's fun to play as, even if you don't recognize her 90 reviews Boss fights fall more in line with Zelda games. Using items like bombs, boomerangs, or arrows to open up a boss to a bevy of attacks is much more fun than whittling down a powerful sol- dier’s health. The final boss, in particular, forces you to use the lessons you've acquired through the course of the campaign to claim defeat in a satisfying way - a common trait of Zelda games, but unheard of in Dynasty Warriors. Zelda references abound, whether it’s on the battlefield, or in the menus and loading screens. Events like using Fi to fight Ghirahim should res- onate for players who finished Skyward Sword, and the way you use a powered-up hookshot to attack a strong moblin is too awesome to spoil here. It’s also nice to see a character like Zant 4 д from Twilight Princess, an awesome antagonist who it seemed would only ever appear in one game, get another chance to battle. Among the plentiful Zelda references, most of the nods come from Ocarina of Time, Skyward Sword, and Twilight Princess. | would have liked to see more Zelda games receive more time in the spotlight. Only those three titles receive dedicated levels with familiar locations (often with the same layout). You revisit them frequently outside of the main campaign, which stifles the environmental variety. Playing cooperatively with one player on the GamePad and one on the TV is great use of the Wii U's technology, but you won't find much forcing you to work as a team. Mostly it’s just helpful to have an extra fighter, and there's something undeniably fun about teaming up as familiar Zelda warriors to tackle familiar enemies and bosses like The Imprisoned from Skyward Sword. The standout Adventure mode, where you explore the original The Legend of Zelda map tile by tile, helps alleviate some of the repetition that drags down the main campaign. Each grid offers a short challenge, like having to defeat a boss or a certain type of enemy. Completing the challenge rewards you with weapons and items you can use on the overhead map, like a candle to burn a bush to get a new weapon, or a raft to cross a river to unlock more chal- lenges. Adventure mode wears its love for Zelda on its sleeve, and unlike the main levels, which can be long and grueling, the challenges are typically short and sweet. The repetition of Dynasty Warriors pervades throughout Hyrule Warriors, but this unexpected crossover with the Zelda universe works. It might not be the Zelda game we expected for Link’s first original Wii U debut, but it will happily hold us over while we wait for the con- sole's first true Legend of Zelda experience. » Kyle Hilliard uL IO CIO a ILS Ж. SUper Smash Bros. FS KF OF AE A OF A Р, и Р, ў , d F . Fi » P Pp Р f Р; й , Style 1-Player Fighting (4-Player Online) Publisher Nintendo Developer Sora, Bandai Namco Games Release October 3 Rating E10+ 9 E gamarfornar GOLD intendo's decision to put Smash Bros. N on the 3DS struck me as an exception- ally weird move, even for a company that pressed its beloved characters into mortal combat in the first place. Smash is, after all, an over-the-top social game that's almost as enjoyable to watch as it is to play. Where's the fun in hunching over a pair of tiny screens, flicking away at that weird analog stub with aching hands? Well, l'm big enough to admit when I'm wrong. Super Smash Bros. has KO'd my assumptions and renewed my enthusiasm for the series. The biggest surprise for me is how unsurpris- ing it is once you start playing. You select your fighter from a roster of up to 49 characters (after unlocking several, of course), choose a stage, and then proceed to beat your oppo- nents up and out of the ring. The cast is a mix of returning favorites and new additions, and overall it’s a well-balanced crew. Once again, Nintendo is stepping beyond its brands, wel- coming Pac-Man and Mega Man to the fray. Initially it seems like an incremental upgrade, but there's a lot more beneath the surface. Most notably, you can select combat abilities from a list of several options. That expands beyond costumes for your Mii fighters, too. You can choose between a couple of different fireballs for Mario's attack, for instance, or what happens when you use Donkey Kong's down special. Maybe you like his hand slap, or per- haps you'd prefer an alternate that generates pillars of flame. It's up to you, and discovering what works for you - and the characters you're familiar with already – is rewarding. The 3DS is also home to a Smash Run mode. Here, you have a limited amount of time to run through a maze, battling enemies and collecting power-ups that increase stats like attack power, speed, and jumping. When time's up, the players converge in a final challenge that determines the victor. Some are straightforward, like a winner-takes-all battle. Others are more creative, like pitting the characters against one another in an obstacle-laden footrace. It's a fun diversion from regular smashing, though the local-only multiplayer makes me wonder how frequently people will use it. Smash Bros. is all about competition, and local and online multiplayer are big parts of that. Online is one of the game's weak spots. When it works, it works beautifully, with blazing fast matches that rival the best of previous games. Unfortunately, it all comes crumbling down when someone's connection hiccups. Battles turn into painful slide shows before ultimately stalling out. | battled against Japanese players without any problems, but ran into trouble when | took on Gl editors in the same city. None of my co-workers reported connection troubles outside of the game, but it made for a maddeningly inconsistent time. While the online might be suspect, Nintendo has made a variety of concessions to its more hardcore fanbase. Matches are split into two types: For Fun, in which rules governing things like stages, customized characters, and items can be tweaked and records aren't kept; and For Glory, which records stats and also eliminates items. For Glory also restricts matches to the Omega variants of each stage, which are based on the Final Destination level from past games. Even on my best day, | wouldn't be confused with a tournament-level Smash player. After shifting my block and throw moves from the shoulder buttons to the face buttons, though, | was playing at the same level | do on Melee or Brawl. | won some matches, | lost a few, and | had a completely great time no matter the score. We all know the Wii U version of Super Smash Bros. is on the horizon, but the 3DS version is more than something to keep you busy until then. It's a must-play for Smash fans. » Jeff Cork 305 » Concept Nintendo's frenzied fighter goes mobile in an all-new entry designed for the 3р5 » Graphics It makes the most out of the hardware’s mediocre screens, though you can lose focus on what's going on when the camera is pulled back » Sound Classic tunes from the NES era and beyond provide great accompaniment to the chaos » Playability I'm impressed at how well the circle pad handles the action. Robust customization allows you to tweak the inputs if the default settings don’t work for you » Entertainment Don't let the screen size fool you — Super Smash Bros. on 3р5 is a riot, and it's worthy of the name » Replay Value High reviews 91 PLAYSTATION 4 XBOX ONE PLAYSTATION 3 Walking Dead Season Two - Lego The Hobbit 8 Jun-14 Amazing Spider-Man 2, The 55 Juki4 Amazing Spider-Man 2, The 5.5 Juk-14 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil 8 Jun-14 Episode 3: In Harm's Way, The 8.5 May-14 Madden NFL 15 75 Oct-14 Bound By Flame B — Juk14 Another World: Amazing Spider-Man 2, The 5.5 Jul-14 Walking Dead Season Two B Magic 2015 - Child of Light B Jun-14 20th Anniversary Edition 8 Sep-14 Bound By Flame 8 Jul-14 Episode 4: Amid the Ruins, The 8 Jul-14 Duals of the Planeswalkers B.75 Sep-14 ашы + бела Chad of Light а Jun-14 Chad of Light а daid Md үз" T € - ЕЕ — Metal Gear Solid V: " xsode 5: No Gong Back, [he 8.5 Oct- 14 Эго 7 eras 7 дү» 14 Daylight 6 Jun-14 Diablo ПЕ: Reaper Of Souls ~ Dark Souls II 9.75 May-14 i am " | J pei Ground Zeroe May-14 Н i Watch Dogs 7.5 ul- 14 Murdered: Soul Suspect UKJ- Deception №: Blood Ties 6.75 May-14 Ultimate Evil Edition 9.25 Oct-14 Dark Souls il: The Crown waten DOS Murdered: Soul Suspect 6.5 Aug-14 Diablo Ш: Reaper of Souls – EA Sports UFC 8 Aug-14 of the Sunken King 9 Sep-14 EN Us: Episode 1 - em R.B.I. Baseball 14 2 Jun-14 Ultimate Evil Edition 9.25 Oct-14 Golf Club, The 8 Oct-14 Diablo и: Reaper Of Souls - saci Aarne’ Ule Бона RE LCS oe EA Sports UFG B Audg- 1 Kinect Sports Rrvals 6.5 Jun- 14 Lhtimate Evil Edition 9.25 Oct-14 а ig T 9 Us pisode é- Е Sacred 3 7 5 Oct 14 H : д А smoke & Mirrors, The 7.5 Apr-14 " ود‎ 2а - = Entwined 5.5 Aug-14 Lego The Hobbit 8 Jun-14 Drakengard 3 6 Jul-14 "y Vie: Enienda а South Park: The Stick of Truth 8.5 May-14 "PP SOM а Me" Wot Among Us: Episode 3 ~ c ла | Golf Club, The B Oct-14 Madden NFL 15 8 Oct-14 Gnd Autosport 75 Aug-14 А сона Mile. The 8.5 Jun-14 SURET Tn FOSS ae и Honokum 6 Oct-14 Magic 2015 Hohokum 6 Oct-14 Wolf Among Us: Episode 4 - Titanfall 9 Jun-14 Infamous First Light B Oct-14 Duels of the Planeswalkers 8.75 Sep-14 Lego The Hobbit 8 Jun-14 п Sheep's Cothing - Sin CÓ infamous Second Son 8.5 May 4 Metal Gear Solid v Luftrausers 8 5 May- 14 Woli Among Us: Episode 5 И Hise of the Dark Spark 2 Sep- 14 Last of Us R tered. The 10 Oct-14 Ground Zeroes 7 Мау-14 Madden NFL 15 7.5 Oct-14 Cry Wolf, The 7.5 Sep-14 Trials Fusion Jun- 14 Lego The Hobbit B8 Jun-14 Metro Redux 8.5 Oct-14 Metal Gear Sold V. Ground Zeroes 7 Мау-14 Wolfenstein: The New Order B — Jul-14 Vn нами: Tho Groat VN 200-14 Maciden NFL 15 В Oct-14 Murdered: Soul Suspect 6.5 Aug-14 MLB 14: The Show 8.5 Jun-14 Yaiba: Nina Gaiden Z 6.5 May-14 TERING Deed: Season нец | "cu Metal Gear Solid V: Plants Vs. Zombies Murdered: Soul Suspect 6.55 Aug-14 XBOX 360 Episode 1: Al That Remains, The 8.5 Feb-14 » Tne - TOT Garden Warfare 6.5 May-14 neis Р 3 Walking Dead Season Two - Ground Zeroes ї Мау-14 R.B.I. 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May-14 Walking Dead Season Two — ا‎ та — ЧН Tales of Xia 2 7.75 Ѕер-14 Bound by Flame в 0-14 Episode 4: Amid the Ruins, The 8 Jui-14 ans rmers: —— Rise of the Dark Spark б ен ТТЕ Child of Light 8 Jun-14 Тһе Walking Dead Season Two - aie of the Dark Spark н on > Trials Fusion "e Ма р the ie Spark à ы | 4 Dark Souls Il 9.75 May-14 Episode 5: No Going Back 8.5 Oct-14 ransistor 'aliant Hearts: The Great War 7 Aug-14 Dark Souls Il: The C Watch Dogs ‘5 14-14 Р Valiant Hearts: The Great War 7 Aug-14 : d и | | ; Town aidata. a ica... Trials Fusion 8 Jun-14 Watch Dogs "ШР"? Walking Dead Season Two - of The Sunken King 9 Sep-14 Wolf Among Us: Episode 1 = Чы Наш This Girant e 7 Aug-14 “ р ii 3 — ^ Реби Episode 1: All That Remains, The 8.5 Feb-14 Diablo Ill: Reaper of Souls - Faith, The 9 Dec-13 | Volfenstein; The New Order 8 ul- T чалы — Ter ба Watch Dogs 85 2-14 Walking Dead Season Two Ultimate Evil Edition 9.25 Oct-14 Wolf Among Us: Episode 2 - xsod A House Î i 2875 Маг-14 _ А | Ы Wolfenstein: The New Order B Juk14 Episode 2: A House Divided, the8./5 Mar-1 Grid Autosport 7.75 Aug-14 Smoke & Mirrors, The i. Apr-14 8 | Azure Striker Gunvolt Platform 3DS Release August 29 Rating T Azure Striker Gunvolt is a worth- while adventure, even if it's wrapped їп a disposable sci-fi Story about telekinetic adepts. It delivers some of the fun you remember from older Mega Man titles while injecting a jolt of new gameplay. — Tim Turi Visit gameinformer.com/mag for the full reviews 6.5 | Fenix Rage Platform PC Release September 24 Rating NR Fenix Rage ts a respectable early effort for its three- man team, but falls short of tough-as-nails platforming inspiration Super Meat Boy. — Bryan Vore 6 | Dance Central: Spotlight Platform Xbox One Release September 2 Rating T Dance Central: Spotlight's dancing is enjoyable, but overall it feels like a big step back for the series. With а mediocre soundtrack and scaled- back multiplayer, the fun personality of Dance Central has been excised in favor of a feature-lite experience that doesn't offer incentive to keep playing. When you re dancing, opotlight is fun, but it is easily the weakest game in the Dance Central series. — Kyle Hilliard 1.5 | D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die Platform Xbox One Release September 19 Rating M owery and his crew succeed again in making a game that is so weird and engaging that I can't fully comprehend it, but I want more of whatever it is. – Andrew Reiner 92 . the score Pv | | Wolf Among Us: Episode A Crooked Mile, The AS Wolf Among Us: Episode 4 In Sheep s Cothing 6.5 Wo! Among Us: Episode 5 - Cry Wolf, The #-— Wolfenstein: The New Order B Yaiba: Ninja Сасеп 7 6.5 Jun- 1 May -1 Sep-14 Jul- 14 M ay 4 * * | Amazing Spider-Man 2, The 5.5 Transformers Rise of the Dark Spark 5 Pusnmo World 7.75 shovel Knight B.75 Child of Light B Sep-14 Aug-14 Aug-14 Jun-14 A Story About My Uncle 7.75 Age of Wonders Ill 7.5 Amazing Spider-Man 2, The 5.5 Among the Sleep 7.75 Bound by Flame B Child of Light B Dark Souls |! Dark Souls I: The Crown of the Sunken King ü Daylignt 6 Diablo Ill: Reaper of Souls Divinity: Original Sin 9 Goat Simulator 5 Golf Club, The B Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft 9 Lichdom: Battlemage В Lifeless Planet 7.25 Luftrausers 8,5 Magic 2 0 1 Г, Duels of the Planeswalkers B.75 Metro Redux 8.5 Moebius: Empire Rising Б Murdered: Soul Suspect 6.5 Only If Б Rambo: The Video Game 4 Risen 3: Titan Lords i Sacred 3 7.5 Shadowrun: Dragonfall Publisher Cathy Preston cathyGgameinformer.com Editor-In-Chief Andy McNamara ату одагтеіпіогтет сот Executive Editor Andrew Reiner reiner@gameinformer.com Managing Editor Matt Bertz mattbertzigame:nformer.com Senior Features Editor Matt Helgeson matti gameintormer com Digital Editor Bryan Моге bryan@gameinformer.com Reviews Editor Joe Juba joe@oameintormer.com Previews Editor Matt Miller miller&bgame ntormer.com News Editor Michael Futter mike@game nformer.com PC Editor Daniel Tack danie\@gameinformer.com Senior Editors Matthew Kato x«atoc?gamein'*ormer com Jett Cork je!!'igameintormer.com Ben Reeves ben@gameinformer.com Senior Associate Editors Jett Marchiafava je!ImGgameinformer.com Tim Turi tim@gameinformer.com Associate Editors Kyle Hilliard kyle@gameintormer.com Kimberley Wallace k m@gameiniormer.com Aug- 14 Jun-14 Jui-14 Aug-14 lul-14 Jun-14 '5 May-1 Oct-1 Seo May Sep- 1 Oct Jjun- 1 Aug Oct-1 May Oct-1 Oct- 1 [e +s 8.75 Aug-1 Smite 9 Мау-1 Sniper Elite Il 6.5 Sep-1 South Park: The Stick of Truth 8.5 May-1: Titanfall 9.25 May-1 Towerfall Ascension 9 Мау-1 Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark Transistor E Jul- 1 A “ Trials Fusion 8 Jun-14 Tropico 5 85 24-14 Valiant Hearts: The Great War г Aug-14 Walking Dead Season Two - Episode 1: Al That Remains. The 8.5 Feb-1: Walking Dead Season Two - Episode 2: A House Divided, TheB.75 May-1 Walking Dead: Season Two = Episode 3: In Harm's Way, The 8.5 July-1: Walking Dead Season Two Episode 4: Amid the Runs, The 8 Jul-14 The Walking Dead Season Two -pisode 5: No Going Back 8.5 Oct-14 War of the Vikings 65 Jul-14 Watch Dogs 8.5 Jul-14 Wayward Manor 5 Sep-14 Wolf Among Us: Episode 1 = Faith, The E Wolf Among Us: Episode 2 - Smoke & Mirrors, The 7.5 Арг-14 Wolf Among Us: Episode 3 - A Crooked Mile, The 8.5 Jun-14 Wolf Among Us: Episode 4 In Sheep's Cothing 6.5 May-14 Wolf Among Us: Episode 5 Cry Wolf, The 75 Sep-14 Wolfenstein: The New Order 8 Jul- 14 Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z 6.5 May-14 Conception П: Children of the Seven Stars 6 Jun-14 Kirby: Triple Deluxe 85 Jun-14 Mario Golf: World Tour 8 Jun-14 Pokémon Battle Troze 8 жила Professor Layton vs Phoenix Wright: Ace Attomey 8 Oct-14 Shovel Knight 8.75 Aug-14 Volume XXIV © Number 11 © Issue 25 Creative Director Jett Akervik jeffakervik@gameinformer.com Senior Production Director Curtis Fung curtis@gameinformer.com Graphic Designers Laleh Azarshin Tobin lalen@gameinformer.com Jason Pfitzer jasonplitzer@gameiniormer.com Samm Langer sammianger@gameintormer.com Web Designer/Programmer Margaret Andrews margaretandrews@gameinfonmer.com Video Producer Ben Hanson hansonQ gameinformer com Circulation Services Ted Katzung ted@gameiniormer.com Audience Development Manager Paul Hedgpeth paul@gameiniormer.com Senior Product Manager Lisa Wagner lisat?gameinformer.com ADVERTISING SALES Associate Publisher Rob Borm rob gameinformer.com West Coast Advertising Sales Dwector Damon Watson danon@gameintormer.com Fast Coast Advertising Sales Director Suzanne Lang Middaugh suzanne@gameinformer.com East Coast Advertising Associate Amy Arnold amy gameinformer.com West Coast Advertising Associate Janey Stringer janey@gameinformer.com Marketing Coordinators Rachel Castle rachel@gameinformer.com Mark Burger markigameintormer com Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call = Oct-14 Tomodachi Life 7 Aug-14 Yoshi's New Island 7 Мау-14 VITA Borderlands 2 7 Jul-14 Conception Il Children of the Seven Stars 6 Jun-14 Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair З Oct-14 Deception IV: Blood Ties 6.75 May-14 Hohokum 6 Oct-14 Luftrausers 85 May-14 Tuffy the Corgi and the Tower of Bones 6 Sep-14 Walking Dead Season Two - Episode 5: No Gong Back, The 8.5 Oct-14 TxK 7.75 May-14 Battleheart Legacy Boom Beach 6 Jun-14 FIL 8.25 Jun-14 Hitman Go 7 Jul-14 Kero Blaster B Aug-14 Monument Valley B Jun-14 Magic 2015 - Duels of the Planeswalkers 8.75 Sep-14 République =æ Enisode 2 Metamorphosis 7 Jul-14 Tengami 7.75 May-14 Trials Frontier 7 Jun-14 Walking Dead: Season Two - Episode 1: All That Remains, The 6.5 FFeb-14 Walking Dead Season Two = Episode 2: A House Dreaded, The8.75 May-14 Walking Dead Season Two Episode 3: In Harm's Way, The 8.5 Walking Dead Season Two Episode 4: Amid the Ruins, The 8 Jul-14 The Walking Dead Season Two - Episode 5: No Going Back 8.5 Oct-14 ANDROID 8 7 Magic 2015 = Duels of the Planeswalkers 875 Sap-14 CUSTOMER SFRVICI For renewal, address change and Power Up Rewards Pro details: Visit: www.gameinformer.com Email: customerservice@gameinformer.com or send correspondence to: 724 North First St., 3rd Floor Minneapolis, MN 55401 * Attn: CIS Dept For subscription inquiry ONLY: 1 (866) 844-GAME (4263) Manufactured and printed in the United States of America. 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Alliance for Audited Media Tha New AL UE Dre of Сача мате ADVANCING COMPUTER SCIENCE ARTIFICIAL LIFE PROGRAMMING DIGITAL MAKER AND FABRICATION DIGITAL MEDIA DIGITAL VIDEO ENTERPRISE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT GAME ART AND ANIMATION GAME DESIGN GAME PROGRAMMING HUMAN COMPUTER INTERACTION PLEASE SEE WWW.UAT.EDU/FASTFACTS FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ABOUT DEGREE PROGRAM PERFORMANCE, PLACEMENT AND COSTS NETWORK ENGINEERING NETWORK SECURITY OPEN SOURCE TECHNOLOGIES ROBOTICS AND EMBEDDED SYSTEMS SERIOUS GAME AND SIMULATION STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT TECHNOLOGY FORENSICS TECHNOLOGY STUDIES VIRTUAL MODELING AND DESIGN WEB DESIGN —— ао теч та теч реч теч le ba ТЕЧ ТЕЧ реч а Я ي‎ E ba Ei ре ыер Г. em E" m чы ИС Ihe Best = Of An Era Looking back at Final Fantasy VIS 20-Үеаг Legacy inal Fantasy is one of the longest running series in the industry, and it has changed considerably over the course of its life. No matter how much the combat evolves or how gorgeous the graphics get, a portion of its audience will always have a soft spot for the franchise's 16-bit glory days. Final Fantasy VI was the last entry of the era, and this year marks the 20th anniversary of its North American release. We celebrate the occasion by looking back on the title with one of its directors, Square Enix's Yoshinori Kitase. by Joe Juba Though Final Fantasy VI is an impor- tant part of gaming history, its vener- able age means that some of today's gamers haven't played it for themselves. However, you don't necessarily need to play it to appreciate its impact. All you need to understand is how unique Final Fantasy VI is among its peers; it features a huge ensemble cast, complex themes, and a story that subverts the "plucky heroes save the world" structure. Gameplay surprises - like piloting airships in Mode 7 or entering fighting-game-style commands to execute special attacks - set a high bar for fun and variety. One of the most distinguishing features is the way the game is split into two halves. The first is a traditional, linear adventure about an evil empire and the rebels who fight against it. This arc cul- minates in an apocalypse; players fail to stop the plans of the villain Kefka, and the world falls into ruin. The second half is more freeform, allowing players to wander across the shattered landscape, rejoining old friends and gaining the strength to strike back. This pioneering approach meant that the narrative was largely player-driven in the second half, focusing on smaller character-centric epi- sodes instead of a following a prescribed path with clear objectives. Though it dif- fers in some ways, this formula is a part of the basic structure that open-world games would employ years later. Final Fantasy VI also laid important groundwork for the future of the series. It featured "desperation attacks," a pro- totype version of the now-standard limit breaks. More importantly, it also moved toward a more cinematic presentation with moments like the iconic opera house scene - a sequence that, 20 years later, the industry in general still remembers with clarity and fondness. Though it wasn't the last of the 16-bit RPGs, Final Fantasy VI is arguably the best of them - and a must-play for any role-playing aficionado. That achievement is even more impressive when you con- sider that in 1994 games weren't made by the massive teams we see today. The groups were smaller, and the con- tent was more personal in some ways. Yoshinori Kitase, now a producer for the Final Fantasy series a whole, was one of the two directors on Final Fantasy VI (alongside Hiroyuki Ito). We spoke with Kitase to get behind-the-scenes insight into the elements that shaped Final Fantasy VI into one of the most revered RPGs ever made. classic 95 When you began making the дате, did you know that it would be the last 2D Final Fantasy? If so, did that add any extra pressure to exit the 16-bit era in style? | didn't imagine that this would be the last 16-bit game in the series. In fact, we started developing Final Fantasy VII for the SNES after we finished Final Fantasy VI. However, the Final Fantasy VII SNES team was temporarily dissolved when help was needed for the produc- tion of Chrono Trigger. As a result, Final Fantasy VI became the last 16-bit game in the series. What do you think players connected with most when it first released? "Everyone is the main character" was the theme we adopted when the produc- tion began. Thoroughly crafted stories dedicated to each and every character may have been the biggest factor that has appealed to fans and may be the reason this game has received their last- ing support. Even though it is the sixth game in the Final Fantasy series, the Super Nintendo version released in North America as Final Fantasy III. The discrepancy is due to the fact that only two of the previous entries were available outside of Japan at the time, so the title was changed to keep the numbering consistent in North America. These days, however, you're better off referring to it Final Fantasy VI to avoid confusion, since those "lost" entries have since made it to our shores. The two halves of the game are very different. How did the team arrive at the decision to split the game? Were you ever worried that players might feel lost in the second half without direction? When we started developing the game, only the first half of the script was com- pleted and the second half was still a blank slate (this was typical for Final Fantasy games back then). RPG story- lines of that time often entailed an apoc- alyptic crisis and a hero who saves the world at a hair's breadth. Growing tired of the same old scenario, we decided to ^end the world" with this game! It was then that we finally started thinking about how the game would play out after the apocalypse. With the con- cept of "everyone is the main character" in mind, we felt and decided it would be best to allow players to choose and play their favorite character, resulting in a player-driven second half. Of course, there were concerns about players not knowing what to do next, but we resolved these issues through multiple test plays and adding hints throughout the game. Final Fantasy VI has 14 playable char- acters. Did that pose any challenges during development? Is there a parti- cular reason the following games kept the cast smaller? Back then, the entire development team contributed to the scenario instead of a single scenario writer creating the story. Even when establishing characters, the entire staff brainstormed and put forth many suggestions. Thanks to this, we never ran out of ideas. | would screen these ideas and ultimately adjust them to maintain consistency within the script. For example, | created the setting for a character named Gau. Stories like Flowers for Algernon and the one about a boy raised by wolves served as an inspir- ation, and the character evolved from there. Tetsuya Nomura, the designer, created characters like Shadow and Setzer. At that time, he was a dot artist for monster designs, but he proposed ideas regarding the character's personal- ity and background in addition to the illustrations. Similarly, other staff mem- bers created characters based on their own imagination and inspiration. There isn't a particular reason for the smaller cast in following games, although it may have been something to do with the transition to 3D that led to a more realistic expression of characters. Stories tended to delve into a single character, so the size of the cast may have been com- promised due to the scenario structure. Flying airships was an iconic part of early Final Fantasy titles. What inspired the decision to try it from a different perspective? At that time, the concept of "the flying ship" was fascinatingly portrayed in Hayao Miyazaki's animation and capti- vated us by its dynamic visual expres- sion. On the other hand, the NES specs only allowed for flat 2D graphics, and we yearned to express a game dynamically with depth in a similar fashion. With the SNES, we were able to generate quasi- 3D graphics called Mode 7, which finally enabled us to design an airship that was closer to what we had envisioned. It may be more accurate to say that we were finally able to generate something close to what we had originally desired rather than doing something different from the previous titles. An early version of what we now call limit breaks exists in Final Fantasy VI, executed randomly when characters are low on HP. Where did this idea come from? The Final Fantasy series started to see an increase in sales from around Final Fantasy IV, and our player base expanded to include both beginners and advanced players. In order to cater to different groups, an "easy mode" version of Final Fantasy IV was released; however, while this solution was well received by beginners, it gen- erated some dissatisfaction among the traditional Final Fantasy fans. In an effort to satisfy both types of players, we came up with an idea for a special move that triggers when the player is in a critical situation. Beginners are more prone to receiving damage, so when the magic triggers at a time of distress, it provides the play- ers with a chance for a comeback. On the other hand, advanced players are less likely to find themselves in such situations, so the magic triggers less frequently, creating a more challenging experience. Limit break was devised with a similar thought process. The Kaiser Dragon super-boss was originally cut (but included in Final Fantasy VI Advance). Can you tell us about any other content that was planned but did not make it into the final version? During the planning stages, there was an idea to make a game out of Strago cultivating a village. It was a city-building game similar to SimCity, but was can- celed at a very early stage due to certain issues with the development schedule. Final Fantasy VI deals with some mature themes - like suicide and loss - in a time when many of its peers were sticking to safer material. Did you have any reservations about including these topics during development? Back then, video games were not widely recognized and were more or less per- ceived as children's entertainment. | believe we had a strong desire to appeal to the public with sensational, mature themes (in hindsight, it was done in the rashness of youth). On the contrary, with video games having a greater social influence, we may have been a bit more hesitant to do so in this day and age. What is your personal favorite moment in Final Fantasy VI? Darill's Tomb and the opera scene are two of my favorites, as those are some of the scenes in the game that | directly supervised. The opera scene is still brought up today as one of the most memorable moments in video games. Can you explain how that sequence originated? When the producer, Hironobu Sakaguchi, gave me the plot, there was only one line written in the scene - "an event to be held at the opera." From this brief line alone, | sensed that this sequence would become one of the most memorable moments of the game. My task was to expand on that single line. | spoke to the composer, Nobuo Uematsu, and Hideo Minaba, the artist, about how we would go about struc- turing the sequence for several days. Alfred Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew + = 8: aliis i ТҮҮ; nett For our 200th issue, we compiled a list of the 200 best games of all time. Final Fantasy VI came in at #8, beating out every other RPG in con- tention. Its closest competitor was Chrono Trigger, which placed at #17. Too Much was in my mind, and we decided to move forward with a sus- penseful sequence including cutbacks between the performance on stage and actions behind the scene. Uematsu composed superb tracks including “Апа di Mezzo Carattere" and Minaba created stunning artwork of the opera house. Before creating this sequence, Sakaguchi recommended that | watch an opera in person for reference, but I never got the chance to see one. | ended up creating this scene from pure imagi- nation. But, three years ago, | managed to watch Uematsu's orchestral con- cert at the historic Royal Albert Hall in London. That's right! It's the concert hall where The Man Who Knew Too Much took place. It was extremely emotional to view the concert in a real theater for the first time in 17 years. ^ Final Fantasy VI has been released on multiple systems in various forms, including SNES, PSone, GameBoy Advance, the Wii Virtual Console, and 105. When it comes to finding the "definitive version," opinions among the fan community vary. If you've never played the game before, go with the GBA version; it has the full qame, plus additional content like extra dungeons, new Espers, and super-bosses. Remembering Resident Evil's S.T. A.R.S. Team WHERE ARE THEY NOW? he origin of the Resident Evil storyline traces back to the S. T.A.R.S.' (Special Tactics And Rescue Squad) mission to investigate reports of cannibalistic homicides in the iso- lated Arklay Mountains area. The catalytic Mansion Incident was a tough trial for the S.T.A.R.S.’ Alpha and Bravo teams, orches- trated by the treacherous Albert Wesker to test Umbrella's mon- sters against trained professionals. Some survived to have storied adventures in the series, while others died swift, sometimes embarrassing deaths. by Tim Turi BRAVO TEAM i ? Епгісо Магіпі Richard Aiken Rebecca Chambers Edward Dewey Forest Speyer 4D) Kenneth Sullivan (Captain) (Communications Expert) (Medic) (Helicopter Pilot) (Sniper) (Chemist) Shot in the heart in dank Bitten by a gigantic, Bravo Team's sole sur- Attacked and killed by Pecked to death by a Attacked and beheaded caverns underneath poisonous snake vivor, Rebecca endured zombie dogs where murder of zombie crows by the first zombie the Spencer Mansion before dying on the a fateful trip aboard the he sat in Bravo team's on a mansion balcony. encountered in Resident by his traitorous mansion floor. zombie-infested Ecliptic downed helicopter, just "It's presumed that he Evil. A mere shadow of captain, Wesker. Express only to end up outside the mansion. died" trying to fight off the — his former self. in the deadly Spencer birds with a bazooka. Mansion. Her where- abouts are unknown. ALPHA TEAM z : i .* : e | | , Ja Albert Wesker Barry Burton Joseph Frost Chris Redfield Jill Valentine (Captain) Brad Vickers (Weapons Expert) (Maintenance) (Sharpshooter, Co-Pilot) (Master of Unlocking) (Helicopter Pilot) Alpha Team's traitorous Barry was last seen Chewed to death by а After surviving the man- Survived the Mansion Brad "Chickenheart" undercover Umbrella helping Jill Valentine zombie dog after Alpha sion incident, Chris' Incident, Raccoon City's Vickers was nicknamed agent died in a volcano escape Raccoon City via team's helicopter landed priorities shifted toward nuclear scrubbing, and as such because he after being shot in the helicopter. Expect to hear outside the mansion. protecting the world from slavery under Wesker via abandoned his compa- eyes with rockets. more about this bearded bioterrorism and popping a mind-control device in triots at the mansion. wonder's whereabouts in steroids like candy. her cleavage. Justice was served when Revelations 2. 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