The Chase Begins with this 3DS Lego City prequel, releasing after the Wii U adventure.
Lego City Undercover: The Chase Begins has been announced as an all-new 3DS prequel to the upcoming WiiU open-world sandbox title, and will be released exclusively for 3DS on April 21st 2013, following the WiiU release.
Absolutely nothing is known about the game other than that it will be, apparently, a fully-fledged title more similar to console titles than past handheld games, and it will focus on the adventures of Chase McCain when he was a rookie cop, in his earlier years. As the game is set before its WiiU console brethren Lego City Undercover.
I imagine that the WiiU version and the 3DS version will link together or offer something special if you own both versions, that’s only speculation however.
In addition to adding him, a number of other tweaks and additions (Screenshot support), bug fixes, improved controller support and more have been made to the free fan-made PC project. Download it now!
Here’s the trailer for Street Fighter Cross Mega Man V2.
Here is the trailer for the original game if you missed it.
Chrono Trigger is out now for Android via Google Play and iOS (iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch) platforms. It also has been released previously for Wii Virtual Console, PlayStation Network for PS3 (U.S. only), various mobile phones, in an enhanced Nintendo DS version, on the PS1 as part of the Final Fantasy Chronicles collection and in its original form on the SNES (it can also widely be found for emulators).
Warning, spoilers in the trailer for those who have yet to experience Chrono Trigger.
Chrono Trigger is highly regarded as one of the greatest RPGs of all time, and represented the coming together (or dream team, if you will) of three specific individuals: The artist of Dragon Ball Z Akira Toriyama, the creator of Final Fantasy Hironobu Sakaguchi and Yuji Horii, the creator of the Dragon Quest RPG franchise (Final Fantasy’s biggest rival).
Together they created one of the most memorable and greatest games ever made… A game that is now easily and instantly available for mobile platforms everywhere! Huzzah!
It’s worth noting that most of the updated features from the PS1 version were kept for the DS release, and the subsequent Android and iOS versions as well (I assume), thus building on features. Whereas the PlayStation Network version is the exact version from PS1’s Final Fantasy Chronicles set (which included all-new animated movie scenes), and the Wii Virtual Console version is the EXACT version as the original SNES title, with none of the additions made in further versions.
Enjoy the classic now on Android, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad and Mobile Phones!
Chrono Trigger Synopsis (Android release):
Chrono Trigger is the timeless role-playing classic developed by the “Dream Team” of Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii, Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama, and the creators of Final Fantasy. Featuring revolutionary gameplay and an epic tale of time travel and high adventure, Chrono Trigger captured the hearts of a gaming generation, selling over three-and-a-half million copies around the world.
With Chrono Trigger for Android, you can experience the timeless story and dynamic battles of this beloved classic any time, anywhere, with intuitive touch screen controls making the experience smoother than ever. Venture also to the Dimensional Vortex and Lost Sanctum, two additional areas from the Nintendo DS remake of the game.
Journey to the forgotten past, the distant future, and even to the very End of Time. Whether you’re a first-time player or a longtime fan, this epic quest to save a planet’s future promises hours of enthralling adventure!
Chrono Trigger Story
A chance encounter amid the festivities of Guardia’s Millennial Fair in Leene Square introduces our young hero, Crono, to a girl by the name of Marle.
Deciding to explore the fair together, the two soon find themselves at an exhibition of the Telepod, the latest invention by Crono’s longtime friend Lucca.
Marle, fearless and brimming with curiosity, volunteers to assist in a demonstration. An unanticipated malfunction, however, sends her hurtling through a rift in the dimensions.
Taking hold of the girl’s pendant, Crono bravely follows in pursuit. But the world into which he emerges is the one of four centuries before…
Journey to the forgotten past, the distant future, and even to the very End of Time. The epic quest to save a planet’s future makes history once again.
The iconic Chrono Trigger clock and pendulum from the intro.
Chrono Trigger Android Key Features:
* Includes the two additional areas from the Nintendo DS version of the game:
– The Dimensional Vortex: A mysterious, ever-changing dungeon existing outside of space and time. What wonders await you at its center?
– The Lost Sanctum: Enigmatic gates in prehistoric and medieval times will lead you to these forgotten chambers. Meet the challenges presented to you and long-lost secrets may be revealed…
* Intuitive touch screen controls make it easier than ever to navigate this vast world of adventure.
* In battle, slide and tap to select targets and cut through your foes!
* Graphics optimized especially for Android.
* Supports eight languages: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Chinese (Traditional/Simplified), and Japanese.
* Employ a wide range of “Techs”-spells to dispatch your foes in thrilling battles.
* Combine the powers of your party members to unleash two- and three-person combos.
* Over fifty combinations in all offer players numerous options and in-depth combat!
Chrono Trigger DS Details:
After 13 long years, the role playing game of the ages finally returns with Chrono Trigger for the Nintendo DS. This chapter begins when a newly developed teleportation device malfunctions, and young Crono must journey through time to rescue a mysterious girl from an intricate web of past and present perils. Enhanced with Nintendo DS’s dual-screen presentation, stylus controls, and a host of great new features, this classic tale returns to a modern, portable platform.
DS Chrono Trigger Key Features:
* After 13 years, the role playing game of the ages returns with Chrono Trigger for the Nintendo DS.
* Crono, meets an adventurous girl named Marle, and accidentally travels back in time 400 years.
* Past, present, and future worlds collide as Crono tries to save the planet.
* Revised version of the groundbreaking Active Time Battle (ATB) System delivers exhilarating combat.
* Special Tech skills and powerful combos, known as Dual and Triple Techs, encourages strategic battle plans.
PS1 Chrono Trigger Amazon Description (as part of Final Fantasy Chronicles)
The two classic RPGs in this compilation not only represent hours upon hours of story, character, and action, they also present the background for two bestselling, critically hailed games: Final Fantasy IX and Chrono Cross. With all the different names for the original 1991 release of the first title in this compilation (Final Fantasy IV in Japan, Final Fantasy II in the U.S.), role-players new to the game may get confused. Make no mistake, though: Final Fantasy Chronicles marks the first time this pivotal installment of the cherished game series has ever been available on the PlayStation. In Final Fantasy IV, players take on the role of Cecil, a loyal captain who questions the orders of his king, and for it is sent to slay a mysterious beast in a nearby valley.
In Chrono Trigger, Chrono must follow princess Marle’s teleportation through time and locate her before an intergalactic parasite arrives to destroy the world. The original game, also on the PlayStation for the first time, was one of the first nonlinear role-playing games. The decisions that players make during the game will point them toward one of more than a dozen possible endings.
These new versions retain the authentic Japanese SNES stories and characters while updating their graphics and adding new full-motion video sequences and other features.
Final Fantasy Chronicles Key Features:
* The Final Fantasy Chronicles set includes new opening and closing cinematic sequences for Chrono Trigger and re-creations of memorable sequences.
* New abilities include a “dash” feature, allowing players to move quickly through towns and dungeons.
* 2-player mode allows players to participate in battles together.
* Improved localization of the original unedited story.
* Includes all the original monsters, abilities, items and scenes that were not seen in the SNES version.
IGN’s beautiful Naomi Kyle reporting on PS3 Skyrim DLC releasing.
All PS3 Skyrim DLC and Expansions for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim will be released in February 2013 confirmed Bethesda, including the PlayStation 3 versions of Dragonborn, Hearthfire, and Dawnguard.
This will come as great news for PS3 owners following previous comments Bethesda has made that they had completely given up on attempting to port the expansions to the PS3, due to the complexity of the system and programming games for it that have been released on Xbox 360/PC.
Due to the complexity of the cell chip, it becomes difficult to port games from Xbox 360 to PS3, the architecture is completely different. And the Xbox 360, due to the ease of development and higher sales, has been the main development platform for multiplatform title for years now. According to Bethesda, they failed at getting the PS3 DLC for Skyrim to run smoothly, and decided to give up on the endeavor.
However it now seems that they have indeed put the effort into it, and reversed course. Could this be due to the PS3 outselling Xbox 360 worldwide for the first time late last year?
Either way, it may be too-little-too-late for a lot of gamers, who may have decided to pick up the Steam, PC or Xbox 360 versions of Skyrim, where they could buy all the Downloadable Content. But for those who only have the PS3 version, they certainly will be glad to hear this news.
Additionally, all Skyrim expansions will sell for 50% off during their launch week on the PlayStation Network as a thank-you to Bethesda fans who have had to wait for so long on their preferred platform.
Bethesda will also update Skyrim’s PS3 version to 1.8 following the release of Dragonborn on PC on February 5th. Specific dates for DLC on PS3 were not divulged.
The English titlescreen for the USA release of Atelier Ayesha.
Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk will be released on March 5th 2013 exclusively for PlayStation 3. The game was developed by Gust, localized by NIS America for it’s English translation, and will be published by Tecmo Koei.
It is the latest game in the long-running but little-played Atelier series. An RPG franchise based on the art of Alchemy, where players spend the game exploring a world in which to find and collect various items, that they can then combine into recipes to create better items and more powerful spells in an artists workshop.
Collect items to brew more powerful potions and magic using Alchemy.
Sadly for fans of the series, most of the games have stayed in Japan. Although many of them have been localized as well. Other than the alchemy angle, the game’s are standard Japanese RPG, anime-style fare.
Here is the very anime Atelier Ayesha opening movie intro.
This latest game, Ayesha, stars a girl alchemist named Ayesha Altugle whose been forced to live by herself ever since her grandfather died. Following that event, her younger sister Nio has gone missing, leaving Ayesha alone. On the day that Nio disappeared, Ayesha was out gathering medicinal herbs… Now she sells those ingredients to make a living for herself. One lucky day, she discovers that her sister is in fact alive, somewhere in the wide expanse of the world. Thus begins her quest to find her sister.
This is what battles look like in this RPG.
Fans of the series will probably be disappointed to learn that Atelier Ayesha is the first localized Atelier game to only include English recorded vocals, and does not include Dual-Track support so you can listen to the voice acting in its native Japanese (the way most anime fans prefer it). This is a big change from past titles which always featured both the English and Japanese voices included in the game.
Exploring the field and overworld in typical RPG fashion.
However Tecmo Toei is aware of the issue and aware that fans desire dual-audio-track support, and promises that the next entry will include both the Japanese and English voices. They are in fact embarrassed that it was cut for Ayesha. They told Siliconera, “We are very sorry. We have confirmed the voice option information with Atelier series developer Gust and for this title, Atelier Ayesha, it will be English only. We know how important this is for you and we will try to implement the voice option in the future Atelier releases. We aren’t happy with the lack of a dual-audio feature either, and we understand and share the concerns of our Atelier fan community,” said Tecmo Koei Europe representative Chin Soon Sun.
A sexy purple witch dress for Ayesha.
If you aren’t familiar with the Atelier RPG series, here is some background. Ever since the early 2000’s, the West has seen several of the games released. However to the unitiated the sheer amount of releases in the series, the confusing names, and the fact that there are multiple and differing “series”, make everything very convoluted and hard-to-understand. There have been several different “series” in the franchise, and they include: The Salburg Series (the first and debut titles), The Gramnad Series, The Iris Series (the first one English speakers will be familiar with), The Mana Series, and The Arland Series. Additionally there are several side-stories and one-offs, although only one of them has been localized for the West (2009’s DS RPG Atelier Annie).
Here is the entire list of Atelier franchise releases in America (In order by release date and system):
* Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana (PS2, 2005)
* Atelier Iris 2: The Azoth of Destiny (PS2, 2006)
* Atelier Iris 3: Grand Phantasm (PS2, 2007)
* Mana Khemia: Alchemists of Al-Revis (PS2, 2008)
* Mana Khemia 2: Fall of Alchemy (PS2, 2009)
* Atelier Annie: Alchemists of Sera Island (DS 2009)
* Atelier Rorona: The Alchemist of Arland (PS3, 2010)
* Atelier Toton: The Adventure of Arland (PS3, 2011)
* Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland (PS3, 2012)
Phew! Still many of the games in the series have never been released outside of Japan (and some of the games just listed were not released outside of the United States).
These Japan only titles include the debut games in the franchise:
* Atelier Marie: The Alchemist of Salburg, which released for PS1 in 1997 and it’s sequels:
* Atelier Marie: The Alchemist of Salburg 2 (PS1, 1998) and
* Atelier Marie: The Alchemist of Salburg 3 (PS2, 2001).
Other Japan-only releases include:
* Atelier Judie: The Alchemist of Gramnad (PS2, 2002)
* Atelier Violet: The Alchemist of Gramnad 2 (PS2, 2003)… From here is when the U.S. started seeing the games released. Even so, we missed out on:
* Atelier Judie: The Alchemist of Gramnad – Imprisoned Guardian (PSP 2010)
* Atelier Violet: The Alchemist of Gramnad 2 – The Memories of Ultramarine (PSP, 2011)
* Atelier Elkrone: Dear For Otomate (PSP, 2012) and
* Atelier Totori Plus (PS Vita, 2012), although that latter game may still be released here.
We also missed out on these “Side-Games” in the series:
* Marie & Elie: Atelier Pair (Wonderswan Color, 2001)
* Marie To Elie Atelier (Dreamcast 2001)
* Hermina & Culus: Atelier Lilie Another Story (PS2, 2001)
* Atelier Marie, Elie & Anis: Message On the Gentle Breeze (Game Boy Advance, 2003)
* Atelier Lise: The Alchemist of Orde~ (DS, 2007) and
* Atelier Lina: The Alchemist of Strahl (DS, 2009).
In fact the only side-game released in the US was the second-to-last, “Atelier Annie: Alchemists of Sera Island” which hit DS in 2009 in America, but was not released in Europe. PHEW. Now that is a lot of entries, essentially one or two a year!
So if you want to know what this Atelier RPG franchise is all about, track down either the first PS2 game released in the West (Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana for PS2 2005), or the first game in the Mana series (Mana Khemia: Alchemists of Al-Revis, PS2 2008) or, and probably the easiest one to play and find, track down the first PS3 game entitled “Atelier Rorona: The Alchemist of Arland” (PS3 2010). Once you’ve played one of them, you can attempt to track down the others and judge whether you enjoyed it enough to seek out other games.
The Tide Began To Rise is the main, core ballad off of Demon Hunter’s third full-length album, the incredible “The Triptych”, and is the first time that Demon Hunter experimented with an orchestrated sound. To that end, The Tide Began To Rise is an absolutely beautiful piece of truly epic music, making extensive use of string instruments to create an incredibly moving ballad that remains among Demon Hunter’s best.
Lyrics:
I don’t belong here
I never saw this on the path I walk
The blood-stained walls
The lines of chalk on the floor
It’s getting so hard
I never saw the backlash when the tide began to rise
I can’t remember
The way it was when everything felt right
My mouth held shut and eyes sealed tight with control
So I remember on the inside
I found a dark, infernal place I don’t want to face anymore
Somehow
I won’t stop feeding the pain
My heart’s just the same as before
So now I’m stuck here
Between the guilty and the insincere
The words I spoke have left me here all alone
I should have known this
I never saw the backlash when the tide began to rise
I wish it all gone
I could’ve burned it when I had that choice
And now I’d die to kill this noise in my head
So I remember on the inside
I found a dark, infernal place I don’t want to face anymore
Somehow
I won’t stop feeding the pain
My heart’s just the same as before
So I remember on the inside
If this is all the love my spirit can give
(Just take it back tonight)
There is not a reason more to live
—–
Here is the absolutely incredible acoustic version of “The Tide Began To Rise”, featured on the Deluxe Edition of Demon Hunter’s The Triptych. The acoustic version is arguably better than the original version, but they are both so good that picking between them is the height of blasphemy.
About Demon Hunter Month
January 2013 is dedicated to the Christian metal band Demon Hunter, arguably my favorite band; and will feature songs from their entire catalog featured daily throughout the month, one a day. Whether you like metal, believe in God or not, check these songs out as you may be pleasantly surprised and hopefully you will discover some new-to-your-ears music to enjoy. Demon Hunter’s sound is extremely diverse, not all songs feature screams and growls, some are slow, sung ballads; others are heartfelt, all are deep with powerful lyrics that will make you think and ponder, as the sound takes you away.
Trials Evolution Gold comes to PC with nifty extras like a soundtrack.
Trials: Evolution – Gold Edition will be released for PC at retail(!) and digitally via Steam, etc. on March 21st 2013.
This news was announced to celebrate the great success of the side-scrolling Excitebike-style platform/racing/puzzle game series which has sold an amazing 4 million units since the release of Trials HD in 2009 for Xbox Live Arcade. Its sequel, Trials Evolution was so successful it hit a launch-day sales record for Xbox Live Arcade when it was released last year (2012).
Trials Evolution Gold Edition will include the complete Trials HD game alongside every track from Trials HD. Additionally the retail game will come in a steelcase box and include the game’s official Trials Evolution Soundtrack. Also included will be a Gold Bike, Gold Wheels and Gold Rider Outfit.
Here is a video with tons of gameplay footage from Trials Evolution.
Explore a completely open, sandbox world Lego-style ala GTA!
The highly anticipated WiiU-exclusive Lego City Undercover will finally be released on March 18th 2013, announced developer Traveler Tales and Nintendo.
The game has been one of the most highly sought-after WiiU titles and one of the most exciting Lego games yet ever since it’s announcement, but the game ended up missing the WiiU launch last year. Technically though, it will still make the “Wii U Launch Window” even though it’s not hitting till March.
The main character Chase McCain at right.
The Chase is On! For the first time, the fan-favorite Lego City vehicles and play sets come to life in Lego City: Undercover, exclusively for the new Wii U console. Players assume the identity of Chase McCain, an undercover detective armed with clever disguises.
Use the Robber disguise to pry-objects open with your crowbar.
The mission is to put a stop to the fiendish Rex Fury and end his crime wave in Lego City. As players run, drive and even fly through the city, they’ll use the Wii U GamePad controller as a new police gadget.
Many vehicles at your disposal including a tractor on a farm!
Key Features Of Lego City: Undercover include:
* The Wii U GamePad is woven seamlessly into the game-play experience. Players use it to scan for hidden clues and criminals, receive mission updates and place waypoints on an overhead city map that displays their position in real time.
* Experience Lego City like never before. Players will encounter familiar play sets come to life as they explore the vast city, looking for clues to bring RexFury to justice.
Great fighting battles await you with fisticuff action in Lego City Undercover!
* Players can go undercover with a variety of disguises, including a firefighter, a construction worker and even a robber, and use their unique abilities to solve puzzles and access new areas of the city.
* There are more than 100 vehicles for players to collect and use to explore the city, including sports cars, motorcycles and even aircraft.
* Lego video games are known for their humor and parody, and Lego City Undercover delivers this and more with fully voiced characters and ambient crowds, bringing Lego City to life.
Vehicle and Police Chases abound in Lego City Undercover exclusively for Wii U.
Final Fantasy: Airborne Brigade is a mobile-exclusive Final Fantasy RPG you likely have not played, and have not heard of. It’s been out in the United States since early December 2012 for both Android and iOS platforms (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad).
The game is a social-networking-oriented Card-based traditional Japanese RPG, originally created exclusively for Japanese mobile phones, but brought to iOS/Android for the U.S. and Canadian version.
The game focuses on player’s ability to come together and form parties (or “brigades”) and ride airships as a group, with cross-platform (meaning Android and iOS players can play together despite playing on different platforms), cooperative RPG gameplay. Like a traditional RPG, players will level-up, explore an overworld, enter dungeons, collect spells & summons, earn items and equipment, select Jobs (ala Final Fantasy III/FFVI), and fight random battles against enemies and powerful bosses. All the while they will collect and evolve Cards that represent famous characters from throughout the Final Fantasy series, from Final Fantasy VII’s Sephiroth and Cloud to Final Fantasy XIII’s Lightning.
Meet Chocobos in Final Fantasy: Airborne Brigade for iOS/Android.
The game uses the same art-style (a really stupid one if you ask me) that is used in Theatrhythm Final Fantasy and the mobile Kingdom Hearts titles.
“Final Fantasy: Airborne Brigade engages players in battles against classic series monsters, allows exploration and utilizes an addictive social concept.”
Face-off against powerful summons like Ifrit!
“We’re very proud to offer Final Fantasy fans based in North America our own take on the themes and ideals of the series with the launch of the mobile game Final Fantasy: Airborne Brigade,” said Kenji Kobayashi, director at Korean developer DeNA. “In celebration of the franchise’s 25th anniversary this year, we have worked hard to create a unique gameplay experience where players can elevate each other through fun, cooperative play.”
Final Fantasy: Airborne Brigade Synopsis:
In a realm beset by encroaching darkness, no one needs to fight alone.
Form mighty brigades and adventure with friends. FINAL FANTASY AIRBORNE BRIGADE is the newest mobile incarnation of the blockbuster FINAL FANTASY series.
You and your friends must band together and embark on a quest to restore light to the kingdom’s last guardian crystal.
Gather with friends, forge brigades, and ride airships!
Key Features of Final Fantasy: Airborne Brigade:
* Collect powerful abilities, iconic jobs, and legendary weapons. Meet chocobos and major characters from the series’s expansive roster.
* Battle Espers like Ifrit and Shiva, and fight some of the series’s most powerful foes alongside friends.
* Collect cards featuring major characters from throughout the Final Fantasy series.
* Join forces with friends and compete against others to become the top brigade!
* Explore quest areas, battle bosses, meet chocobos and gain levels!
* Regular events offering exclusive legendary weapons!
* Final Fantasy: Airborne Brigade is powered by Mobage, the best, free, social game network.
* Tagline: FINAL FANTASY AIRBORNE BRIGADE: Where friendship truly matters.
Very slick and very nice looking new white 500GB PS3.
A White-Colored $300 PlayStation 3 500GB Super Slim console will be released in North America on January 29th 2013.
This marks the first time ever that a white PS3 system has been officially released in America, and this will be the first time a PS3 system bundle has included a whopping 500GB hard drive. Keep in mind however that all PS3’s have the ability to simply unscrew the included Hard Drive for a larger capacity model purchased seperately. So your mileage may vary.
This new white PS3 system includes a matching white Dual Shock 3 controller, alongside a 1-Year Subscription to PlayStation Plus, which will instantly grant players 12 Free PS3 titles ranging from LittleBigPlanet 2, to Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One to Infamous 2, and a number of other free games and content that PlayStation Plus subscribers have access too (those 12 free games are rotated out each month however, and you lose access to them when your PS Plus Membership runs out).
This PS3 system bundle is officially called the “Classic White PS3 Instant Game Collection Bundle”, and it is definitely a great deal for those who do not yet own a PS3 system. This system is the Super Slim Model, following the original Slim model released in 2009 and the PS3 “Phat” original design released in 2006.
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