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Tales of Symphonia - jshackles
Tales of Symphonia is coming to PC for the first time, and it's bringing with it all the updates and changes we saw in the PS3 release. Most savvy Steam shoppers and fans of the series will already own this game, as it was given away as a pre-order bonus for the latest game in the series, Tales of Zestiria. For those of you that missed this promotion, Symphonia's been priced at a very reasonable $19.99.
This massive JRPG boasts over 80 hours of "emotionally charged" gameplay, the series' signature real-time 3D battle system, achievements, full controller support, trading cards, and more. If you originally played this on the Gamecube you'll be happy to hear that this version adds new bosses, new outfits, new artes, new mini-games, and some new voice acting as well. However, there is some concern from fans that this will be a barebones PC port from the Playstation 3 version that was inexplicably locked at 30fps, despite the original Gamecube release running at 60fps. There's no official word from Tecmo other than it's "Based on the PlayStation®3 port of the original GameCube game", so it's most likely locked to 30fps.
Overall I recommend playing this game, especially to those of you that already own it due to last year's promotion. I suspect that Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World on Steam can't be too far behind.
Disgea - Hero Prinny
Uhh Idk if I'm supposed to send this to you or jshacks but since you're doing the steam threads now I'm guessing its you, right? Anyway, heres my preview:
Personally I’m someone who’d rather receive the bad news before the good news, so first off let's get the only negative of Disgaea 1 out of the way; there is one loli in the game, Etna, that wears really revealing clothes. How do they justify it? lols she's +1000 years old. But Etna is actually a really funny character, she constantly tries to use her feminine charm on characters throughout the story but it always backfires because… well, she has the body of a child so it never actually works. Don’t let her appearance scare you away from the game (for what it's worth, if we do get sequels she’s the only character with this appearance in the whole franchise).
Now that we got that out of the way, This has game mother fucking prinnies, fuck everything else, it has GOD DAMN PRINNIES!!! What are prinnies you ask? They’re humans who committed sins back when they were alive (sins could be murder, stealing, and even committing suicide, you know, all that kind of stuff) and must pay for their sins quite literally. So they’re placed in highly explosive penguin looking suits and do all the hard and dumb labor of the netherworld (the main setting of our game), sometimes the jobs are just flat out ridiculous, like being forced to go find your employer the best sweet in the world or finding out who stole their underwear, and if they so happen to fail, no $$ for them, they’re also forced to finish every sentence with the word “dood” cause fuck it, why not? Also they-- What was that, you want to know something else about the game?
Oh… well, the game is a strategy rpg that's all about raising your stats, actually one of the selling points of the game is that you can do insane grinding to get to level 9999, then reincarnate back to 1 to grind once again and have better stats than you did last time you was level 9999, YOU CAN EVEN REINCARNATE PRINNIES TOO!! They even got different colored ones, there's blue (the starting color), yellow, green, purple, and some other character. It gets better, you can reincarnate non story characters (like a succubus, mages, zombies, and other stuff that aren’t as cool as prinnies) into prinnies and just have a prinny army!!! Okay okay, enough about prinnies. Our main character is Laharl, the demon prince.
Laharl is joined by his two companions, Etna (who I’ve covered earlier) who is Laharl’s vassal and Flonne who is actually an angel. Without any spoilers I guess the best way to describe the story is basically a weird comedic 4th wall breaking coming of age story where Laharl learns what it means to be the Overlord(king) of the Netherworld.
You can pick up both friendly and enemy units and you can even throw them or do a tower attack with friendlies… Guess what happens when you throw a prinny regardless if it’s friendly or not? IT EXPLODES, LIKE, KA BOOM BAFAKLFHALFNADFUFAVABJV!!!! Now I’m sure most people have stopped reading at this point and have went to go buy Disgaea by now, but if you’re still reading this you’re probably thinking to yourself, “sure, this game sounds great, but Xcom 2 also comes out and I think that’ll suit my SRPG craving better atm, so why should I get this over that?”. Luckily for you I have an answer to that; Does xcom have anime in it? NO! Everyone knows steamgaf loves some anime and Disgaea will give you your SRPG needs and your anime all in one neat package!
Did I mention the game has prinnies?
#savetheprinnies
Street Fighter V - Uzzy
Street Fighter V, developed by Capcom and Dimps, is a 2.5D Fighting Game. Featuring 16 characters in it's launch roster, along with a modest amount of game modes, Capcom are promising that the game will be supported on an ongoing basis, with regular updates and new characters coming to the game for 'free', rather than forcing you to buy new iterations of the game. Most importantly though, the game features crossplay with PS4 players, so there won't be a split playerbase among the various consoles and versions of the game, just one unified playerbase, with all the benefits that brings.
So, what do we get at launch? In terms of game modes, we're getting a fairly bare bones looking tutorial which goes into the very basics, but still pales in comparison to the excellent tutorials featured in games like Guilty Gear, which go into far more advanced concepts. Hopefully we'll see some improvement in the tutorial as time goes on. Each character will get their own story mode, explaining through cutscenes who they are and why they want to kick people in the head. Completing these will give you access to another costume for each character. There's a survival mode which sees you take on one opposing fighter after another, under a variety of conditions.
Naturally, versus mode returns, and I'm very excited about the new rollback-based netcode that Capcom have implemented for the online mode. In my time during the beta, I've had fantastic matches against people around the world, something that's never happened before. While there's still the occasional horror show, overall it's much improved from previous versions of the game.
Mechanically, there's a host of changes from SF4. There's been a shift in design philosophy, away from the more complex combos and 1 frame links of previous games, to having more leniency in your moves and combos, allowing you to focus more on spacing and footsies. Your execution in games still matters, of course, and you'll want to put time into training mode, but you should be able to spend less time on difficult execution training and more time developing strategies for conquering your opponents.
The other big change revolves around the V-System, which replaces focus attacks and the revenge meter. It uses a V-Gauge, which like the ultra meter in SF4, is built up by taking damage, but also by successfully using your V-Skill. When the V-Gauge is full, you can activate your characters V-Trigger, which powers up your character through higher damage, different properties to attacks or higher speed. It's a comeback mechanic, but you still have to earn that comeback through smart play, especially as you can no longer chip out your opponent.
Why buy it now though? Well, it sucks that we're only getting a full story mode several months down the line. But truly, the most exciting time to play a fighting game is in those early hours, days and weeks after launch, where everyone's new, everyone's trying out new combos, strategies and moves, and you'll have the widest possible variety of people to play against. It's a magical time, and one that we on PC haven't had the chance to enjoy with previous fighting game releases. But with SFV, we finally have that golden opportunity.
X-COM 2 - Spirited
XCOM 2 is the highly anticipated follow-up of the 2012 reboot,XCOM: Enemy Unknown, of the cult classic 90’s strategy game X-Com: UFO Defense. This new installment in this series both develops on the core gameplay xcom: enemy unknown built and further add new mechanics to keep it fresh.
Even though I can already see complaints about the addition of more missions with a timer attached to the objective.
So you haven’t actually won a XCOM: Enemy Unknown campaign yet, only lost? So you’re worried that you won’t understand the plot and story of this follow-up?
Well that won’t be a problem because NOT REALLY A SPOILER you got the canon ending.
The game takes place in 2035, 20 years after the events in the previous game. As XCOM wasn’t able to stop the alien threat they got betrayed by their council nations and became nothing more than a resistance force that went off the radar to escape persecution. The planet is now under the alien puppet ADVENT Administration which has done much to over time improve the opinion of the aliens by rewriting the history to them coming in peace and promise a brilliant future for humanity.
You start of by taking the role as the commander which has for unknown reasons been placed in alien stasis until recently, you will command an alien supply barge rebuilt to a XCOM mobile base from which you will travel between regions for the missions.
In the mobile base you’ll meet the now deceased Dr. Raymond Shen’s daughter, chief engineer An-Yi Shen and a rogue ADVENT scientist, Dr. Richard Tygan. They will be the ones who steer up the laboratory and engineering departments of the ship while Central Officer Bradford returns as the key coordinator to the XCOM’s anti-alien efforts.
You will be able to set your soldiers to be one of the 5 classes present in XCOM 2.
The Ranger is the equivalent to the to the XCOM: EU assault. Sporting the usual shotgun or rifle loadout but now also having a sword as it’s secondary weapon which makes melee and interesting prospect. The unit can be leveled either to be a nimble scout or you could jack up the damage to make him the ultimate damage-dealer.
The Grenadier is the evolution of the heavy from earlier games equipped with both the minigun and grenade launcher. The grenadier has the chance to either focus on their minigun with skills like shredder and rapture or go down the demo expert tree which gives bonuses to the more explosive personality of the grenadier.
The Sharpshooter is like the sniper from XCOM: EU but now able to specialize in pistols as well with the gunslinger path of upgrades. The sharpshooter still use the high caliber sniper rifle as his primary weapon and pistols as secondaries but the sharpshooter does not need to change to the pistol to use it with the pistol overwatch ready to use at any time.
The Specialist is a master of tech with greater affinity for hacking terminals or turrets but that’s not the main point of this class, the Gremlin is. It’s a remote-controlled, airborne drone which will be able to both hack targets and attack enemies as well as give buffs to your allies. Though whatever you do with the Gremlin will end your turn for the specialist too.
Last but not least is the Psi Operative which is an optional and powerful class which is the product of immense training in the psi Lab. This class learns new abilities by training in the labs and will be able to get every single one in both trees.
The psi operative is equipped with the usual assault rifle but also the psi amp which lets him use all the psionic powers like domination which lets him take control of an enemy for the whole mission.
The enemies has also getting a fresh flavour with new ones as well as a fresh coat of paint on the ones from XCOM: EU.
To begin with the new low-level threat isn’t the the Sectoids but the advent’s soldiers which has become the personal police force of the aliens.
These of course comes in a few variations with the usual ones packing an assault rifle while the more advanced troops like the Shieldbearers that can provide a shield bonus to all it’s allies or the Stun Lancer which will do everything to get close to your units to stun them or the most dangerous of them all the Sectopod which has gotten multiple advantages over the old XCOM: EU Sectopods.
Through human gene manipulation both the Sectoid and the Muton has gotten themselves a more human look.
The Sectoid which has became bigger while also getting some new fancy psionic abilities leading to it no longer being the grunts and more of an early-game threat.
The Muton however got themselves some well needed intellect after the gene manipulation which will make them something more than just pure bruteforce.
This is not the only units that has gotten themselves a makeover, the Viper and the Archon which is the thinman respectively the floater of XCOM 2, but detailing all the new or improved units would be quite a task but let’s say there’s at least 5 more which has gotten a similar change or are completly new to XCOM 2.
XCOM 2 has also greatly expanded the amount of appearance and other character customization. This together with the new character pool where edited units may pop-up in later games as soldiers to not make the customization in vain when your sergeant sharpshooter that you so meticulously customized dies.
The customization will also surely lead to being more invested in your characters as if you weren’t already when you’ve named them all after SteamGaf members
The game will also have randomly generated levels which “glue” together tiles of the same theme into a believable environments which will lead to less repetitive maps which for me at least was a big problem with XCOM: EU where in the end I knew where I should go with my soldier on this map for everything to go good without any major surprises.
Firaxis has also been pretty vocal about the mod support they’ve implemented for XCOM 2 which will be pretty extensive if you go by their word even if they haven’t shown much of their tools yet.
Though they are working together with Long War studios to make a mod for launch and we can all hope it will be long war+.
Danganronpa - Se7enSword
The story takes place at Hope's Peak Academy, an illustrious private school that only accepts "Ultimate" students: the best of the best. The criteria extends to any niche, so in addition to ultimate geniuses and athletes, they take ultimate idols, Ultimate gang leaders, and ultimate nerds. This is the first game in the series.
The ultimate theme of the game is hope versus despair, featuring a cast of interesting and colorful characters which appear tropey at first, but you find out more about them through social interactions or during class trials. The story and characters are quite enjoyable, sprinkled with subversions and some moments that may hit you in the gut. When the game hits it stride, it moves at a lightning quick pace though you'll have to give it time as the first trial doesn't happen immediately.
The game is basically 999/Virtue's Last Reward crossed with Ace Attorney. The former was definitely an influence as one of the trophies is a clear reference to 999 (same devs too). As for the comparison to AA, there are trials involved and you also have to find clues about trials and study the possible motives and alibis of others, the meat of the gameplay (Other than some small minigames).
The class trials have an interesting setup. The way the "court" is arranged is that every character is stationed at a stand which are all designed in a circle so everyone can see each other face to face. The students then attempt to throw out statements one after the other discussing how the crime was committed and who they believe did it. Your job is to fire "truth bullets" at statements you believe are contradictions to the truth. In essence, all the evidence and important statements you find during the investigation phase become "truth bullets" which you "fire".
That's not the only action that occurs though...lets discuss the minigames I mentioned. Other phases include moments where questions come up and you must figure out what the conclusion is from multiple choices you are given. All of this occurs at a swift pace. When you come close to the end of a trial, you must recreate the entire crime. The crime is presented in manga format with missing panels and you must fill in those missing panels. And when you finally confront who you believe to be the killer, you enter into a rhythm game where you must "shoot down" their insults in order to deliver the final piece of evidence.
The multi-phase setup works really well and goes at such a fast pace. If you like visual novels, it is a must have for you! If you don't like visual novels, you should still give it a shot!
Agatha Christie: The ABC Murders - Tizoc
An upcoming adventure game based featuring Hercule Poirot. It uses a cel-shade like visual presentation and is said to be lengthy at around 10 hours to complete.
At best the game would be a relaxing break from bigger titles such as Witness or Rise of Tomb Raider. Features French and English audio as well.
Blazblue CPE - Leafhopper
Blazblue:Chronophantasma Extend continues the insane events of Kagutsuchi to the new area of legend, Ikaruga. Now with much more on the line rivals and enemies have to team up to fight against this powerful force. With new faces abound and some coming out of the shadows to join the fray BBCPE is one of the most diverse fighting games character and mechanic wise. The new overdrive system, introduced in normal BBCP, will allow a player to do more efficient and damaging combos to nullify their opponent with style. With the character count now at 28, there is bound to be something for everyone. With a very sizable story mode, and extra single player modes, someone who isn't up for fighting against the AI can enjoy this game just fine. Finally it is armed to teeth with tutorials and challenges for new players and explaining the story so far for people that have not been keeping up.
The best part about it? This marks Blazblue finally catching up to the console versions of the game as well.
SuperHOT - More_Badass
Originally conceived in 2013 for the 7 Day FPS Jam, SuperHOT revolves around a relatively simple concept: time only moves when you move. But that mechanic promises to deliver a slick stylish blend of first person shooter and time-slowed puzzler.
Combine the rapid-fire slaughter of Hotline Miami with the careful planning of turn-based strategy, and that's SuperHOT in a nutshell. You die in one hit, weapons have limited ammo, and there's no time to reload in the midst of SuperHOT's onslaughts. No, you need to make every movement and every shot count, watch every angle as you weave between bullets, stagger enemies with brutal blows, grab guns as they tumble through the air, and reduce your foes to crystalline shards.
Lop heads off with shuriken. Slice bullets in half with katanas. Shatter legs with bats. Throw enemies into oncoming trains. SuperHOT presents it all in a stylish abstract style of crystal fragments and glass shards and bullets gracefully flying across the screen. You'll be able to test your skills across a campaign with new game modifiers, survival, and speed-running.
The original prototype is still available here.
