Gamecca Magazine June 2013

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Race ChampionIts all about speed in GRiD 2

Kiddie-NoirInvestigating with Diggs Nightcrawler

Metro: Last LightGRiD 2Star TrekSoul Sacrafice

and more...

DarknessMetro: Last Light is here

Free Online Mag

The lives and times of the Last of Us...

Free Online Mag

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The Next AngleSamsungs fresh approach to photography

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Addictive mobile gaming applications

Obsession

www.gladgetmag.comSimplicity in information!

From the Editor

Got MailLetters from our readers

10 on 10Ten guys who helped us waste time on games...

IDoubleDQDThe E3 cycle...

Love, Devastation and DesperationThe Last of Us: a touching tale at the end of mankind

PreviewsSixteen games hitting the shelves in the coming months

The SoapboxDRM woes...

Console GeneralWill this work?

ReviewsEight games investigated

Ramjets RantalityAnother bandwagon

A Year in Games1996... a great vintage!

HardwareMore stuff you need in your life

From SpaceA quick run-down of new titles...

CompetitionsAshes Cricket 2013Razer Mouse & Keyboard Bundle

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THIS MONTHS COVER

Surviving extinction in The Last of Us.

See our feature on page 14.

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Inside

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Deadpool

Batman: Arkham Origins

Assassins Creed 4: Black Flag

Sacred 3

Animal Crossing: New Leaf

Le Tour de France 2013 100th edition

Game & Wario

The Raven: Legacy of a Master Thief

Knights of Pen and Paper +1

Madden NFL 25

Castle of Illusion

One Piece : Pirate Warriors 2

Dragons Crown

MotoGP13

Armored Core: Verdict Day

The Last Crown: Haunting of Hallowed Isle

Metro: Last Light

GRiD 2

Star Trek

Mars War Logs

Soul Sacrifice

Fast & Furious: Showdown

Wonderbook: Diggs Nightcrawler

Carmageddon

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g amec c a48 5Copyright 1337 Media CC 2009 - 2013

GAMECCA is published by 1337 MEDIA

Taking fun seriously!All rights reserved. No content may be reproduced, copied or transmitted without the express permission of the publishers. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editors and publishers. All Trademarks and Registered Trademarks are the sole property of the respective owners.

Editor:Walt [email protected]

Writers:Alex ScanlonCharlie FrippChristo van GemertIwan PienaarJames Francis Lein BaartNthato MorakabiPippa TshabalalaRob EdwardsSarah SnymanSuvesh ArumugamWalt Pretorius

Letters:[email protected]

Competition Entries:[email protected]

Newsletter Subscriptions:www.gameccamag.com

Design & Photography:1337 Media cc

Marketing Contact:Katia [email protected]

GAMECCA Vol. 3 Issue 48June 2013

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New Stuff...by Walt Pretorius

Issue 48 yes, this issue marks the end of the fourth year of Gamecca Magazine. Next month will see our fourth birthday issue go live, kicking off the fifth volume. I, for one, am pretty excited about that. I hope you are too.

I have, in the past, mentioned a couple of things that were in the pipeline-future projects and added stuff that we wanted to produce for our readers and fans. In all honesty, they were ear-marked for going live with the release of the fourth birthday issue but and I admit this openly I am far too impatient to wait. So this last month saw two new offerings go live. Theyre still in their early stages but I am confident that, with your support, they will grow quickly.

The first project is the launch of the Gamecca Pod Squad. These podcasts are going to be published every Friday (at this time there are already two episodes available) and feature Pippa Tshabalala, Charlie Fripp and

myself talking about video games and related stuff. Yes, there are many other gaming podcasts out there, but were aiming high with Gamecca Pod Squad. Not only will we bring you news and informed opinions, but we will also be recording exclusive interviews with local and international gaming industry insiders more than a bunch of guys running a podcast in their moms basement can do.

Gamecca Pod Squad can be found at gamecca.podbean.com, or via the link on the official Gamecca site (www.gameccamag.com). You can even download apps for Android and iOS devices, and have it delivered directly to you!

The second project is Gamecca Video. As the name implies, these are video reviews (for now) of the latest games. In future, were also going to bring video interviews and other interesting titbits of a visual nature. The videos, at the moment, will focus on bigger game releases,

although we will do our best to get as many game reviews of this kind out there as we can.

Our video reviews can be seen at www.youtube.com/gamecca, or you can (once again) follow the link from the official site.

So yes, we have been rather busy over the last while, preparing these two new offerings for you. We hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoy creating them.

E3 2013 is just moments away, and there will undoubtedly be a blast of gaming goodness coming from the expo. Think of it not one, but two major consoles at the show, and all the launch titles that go with it. Hopefully both Sony and Microsoft will be shedding more light on their offerings, which will both be available around the end of this year (hopefully here in South Africa at the same time). Whatever the case may be, it is an exciting time - not only for us here at Gamecca Magazine, but in the gaming industry as a whole. gF

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Hi David

The video game industry follows a very complicated release pattern that I have only just managed to scratch the surface on understanding.

In truth, the cycle of releases is not only yearly, but also follows a pattern that repeats itself every four or five years.

The Festive Season is when most people spend money buying gifts for others, and so the publishers want to try and take advantage of that boom. This gets more and more intense as the years pass until it reaches fever pitch. At that point, though, many games suffer poorer sales than anticipated, because people get more selective, despite the larger number of games available. Then everything becomes smoother again, with more releases happening earlier in the year.

But the early part of the year also features a build up to E3, when most publishers want to squeeze just a little more exposure out of their titles.

It has been that way for ages - as long as I have been doing this, at least, and thats a long time! And it doesnt look likely to change.

Oh, by the way, with two new major platforms coming at the end of this year, its oing to be a crazy one again!

Ed

Quick!

Dear Ed,

Quick! Choose! Xbox One or PS4?

CheersRudi

Hi Rudi

I want both.

Ed

Even Flow...

To the Editor,

I find the way that game releases arent spaced evenly to be very irritating! Why do games companies keep all the good games for the end of the year, and release nothing else in the beginning?

From what I know, people will buy games all the time, not just at Christmas time!

Regards,David MacDonald

Got MailLe

tter

s

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Send us a letter and let us know whats happening in your head, your games or your community.

What Are They Thinking?

Hi Ed,

I have been a gamfor many years, and I have been a PlayStation fan for a long time. But when the Xbox 360 came out I bought one and really enjoyed it. Since then, I have been buying more games for Xbox.

But after reading about the new Xbox One (Xbone) I think I might become a PlayStation gamer again.It looks like Microsoft dont want people to play games on the new Xbox! All they talked about was TV and

Kinect controls.But what I am really upset about is that they wont let people borrow games anymore. I have a lot of games,

and I let my friends use them. Sometimes I also try out games from friends before I buy them. What I have read seems to say that I wont be able to do that any more.

I dont sell my old games, but it seems like that will also be a problem with the new Xbox One.Is this because of pirates? Does this mean that people who buy games properly are going to get punished

because of what pirates are doing?I also read that Sony has promised that the PlayStation 4 will not have the hectic control systems that will be

in the Xbox. I think I might have to change back to PlayStation after many years of enjoying Xbox.

RegardsTJ Neethling

Hi TJ,

II have also been watching the news about the Xbox One very carefully, and I must say that the things I am seeing worry me too.

While it is understandable that a company will try to protect its property, as well as the property of their third party publishers, I am concerned that Microsoft has become disconnected from what their public want. There are a lot of people out there that will loan games to try them out before buying them - that wont be able to happen with this new system. Neither, for that matter, will rentals. I think the owner of my local video store is going to be pretty upset when he loses that chunk of business!

Microsoft need to approach the matter of DRM more carefully, I think. Perhaps they were rushing to get an announcement ready, to give Sony a run for their money. Whatever the case may be, it seems that Microsoft have made a few errors in judgement, and they know it.

Panic, at this point, is uncalled for. E3 2013 is just around the corner, and both console makers will be making new and further announcements at the expo. Perhaps we will see Microsoft rethinking their DRM strategy, after all the fuss it has created.

Also, keep in mind that Sony havent said anything about DRM yet... but that doesnt mean it wont be there.

Basically, we have too little information to make judgements yet. Perhaps we will still be pleasantly surprised.

Ed

Our Letter of the Month writer will be recieiving a set of Turtle Beach Z1 headphones, courtesy of

Apex Interactive.

Letter of the Month

Got Mail

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Send your mail to [email protected].

Letter of the Month writer will win a prize Sponsored by Apex Interactive.

* Prizes for South African residents only.

101010

Who have helped usTe

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Waste our timeThings

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If our parents are right (and were not saying that they are) about video games being a waste of time, perhaps we should apportion blame where it is due. The list below is hardly exhaustive, but the ten men covered are certainly responsible for a lot of time that you have wasted on games. Get your folks to talk to them.

Will Wright is responsible for the most addictive thing since video games started out the Sims. Yes, its all his idea, if youre looking for someone to blame.... But Mr Wright didnt start there in fact, his initial contribution was in the form of Sim City (another piece of gaming crack). When hes not involved in making things that chew up all of your time, Will does things like race cars, builds robots and collects odd things (like leftovers from the Soviet space programme).

Will Wright1

Peter Molyneux2Another guy that is responsible for colossal amounts of your time being chewed up by video games is Peter Molyneux. He provided the concept for Populous, the first ever god-game for PC. He also made games like Dungeon Keeper, Black & White, The Movies, Theme Park and the Fable series (or, at least, came up with a lot of the ideas behind these games.) A whole lot of your time gone, right there

John Carmack3This guy wow. He has probably killed more of your time than you know, albeit a bit indirectly. See, John Carmack is widely considered to be the father of the first-person shooter genre. So, not only did he make games like Doom, Quake, Wolfenstein and Heretic (among many, many, many others) but he pretty much gave the idea for a massive amount of games to the entire industry. And while you are killing all your valuable time playing games based on his ideas, hes out making rockets.

John Romero4John Romero and John Carmack both worked on projects like Doom and Wolfenstein, so maybe you can shift the blame a little. But his influence was a bit different hes one of the guys that made multiplayer FPS gaming possible. I mean, hell, the word is that he came up with the term deathmatch. So while he didnt necessarily create the whole FPS thing like his buddy did, he made it even more addictive. Or was one of the guys that did. Or something either way, thanks John. Thanks.

Guy

s

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Who have helped us

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Nolan Bushnell5This one is personal, because Nolan Bushnell started the company that made the product that got me hooked. He and a guy called Ted Dabney started Atari. Freakin Atari, man! The amount of time that, as a result of Atari, has been lost to video gaming is incredible. Not that Mr Bushnell lost much he has started more than 20 companies, although it seems that he still regrets not investing in

Don Daglows influence is felt far and wide. Not only did he create the first ever graphical MMORPG in the form of 1991s Neverwinter Nights, but he created one of the first sports simulation game. Like, ever. Back in 1971 he created a baseball simulation, and the world of gaming has never been the same since. He also, by the way, wrote Dungeon, the first ever computer role playing game. There. Now you know who to blame.

Don Daglow6

Sid Meier7You cant entirely blame Sid Meier for all the time you wasted on Civilization not entirely. See, Sid was inspired by Will Wrights SimCity. In fact, he spent most of the 80s designing flight sims like F-15Strike Eagle and F-19 Stealth Fighter (which he should be held accountable for, anyway). But in the 90s he started making massive time wasters like Railroad Tycoon, Civilization and Alpha Centauri. These and many others he has been involved in may have caused some serious Vitamin D deficiencies.

Trip Hawkins8Harvard educated William M Hawkins III didnt start any gaming trends. Instead, he founded a little company in 1982 that would publish a few titles that took up our valuable time. The company? Electronic Arts. Yes, thats right. EA. With the sheer volume of games that this company has released including some major licensed sporting titles it is pretty certain that Trip Hawkins owes you more than a few hours.

9 Richard GarriottRichard Garriott created his first game in 1979, for fun. But a computer store owner got him to sell it, and that started a career that for those of us gamers that are older saw many, many hours of Ultima gaming released. Although Ultima games werent the only titles Garriott made, there were 21 releases with the word Ultima in their titles. And considering how addictive the Ultima games still are, thats a lot of time spent gaming. Oh, he created City of Heroes and City of Villains, too. Thanks for that. And he has spent time in space.

Gabe Newell10Gabe Newell hasnt only cost you time, but he has theoretically cost you money, too if youre a PC gamer. See, Gabe helped create Half-Life with Mike Harrington. Thats a lot of time gone right there, if you consider sequels and spin-offs. But while development of Half-Life 2 was happening, Mr Newell was working on another project Steam. So, all those games you bought via Steam. Yeah.

I ts that time of the year again. Its coming over the horizon like a hulking beast, moving its slow thighs and all that poetic nonsense.

I despise the mass onslaught of new releases that inspires and simultaneously drains my mind and my wallet around the time of E3. It isnt even in the next week and Im feeling the weight on my shoulders. Last year, I honestly dont recall sleeping for around four days. I could not bear to be out of the loop on any releases. I had to watch all of the trailers, tune into all of the broadcasted key note speeches, follow all of the right people on twitter and keep an eye out for any previews on the net. I wrote E3 game previews until I was blue in the face. And then, when the release

dates were announced, I hit the shopping carts. Pre ordering everything I could shove onto my credit card, calling in favours from foreign ex-lovers and stopping at nothing to be one of the lucky ones when the title hits SA. A week later, I am broke and exhausted. Vice it another few weeks or maybe months and the releases start appearing in the flesh. Suddenly, Im sliding the shiny disc of the newest game into my console. Sometimes, its a sequel to a game that should have been put to death years before... Im in awe! Im ecstatic! I cannot get past this game menu! Who designed this awful user interface?! Why is my PlayStation making that noise!? Why do I need to update my system again!? Why are all of

my controllers flat? Why did they make this game? Why are the protagonists breasts even bigger!? I MISS MY PC!!

And then comes the self-loathing. The hype is over, only one or two releases impressed you and actually delivered on the hype. Suddenly... Youre in the gaming desert again.

There is a vision in the distance. It seems to be emblazoned with an Easy logo! It isnt a sequel! You sprint towards it, leaving the latest warfare shoot-em-up in your wake!

Run gamer, Run!!Its so close! You can see

the undisturbed, virginal shrink wrap glinting in the desert sun!

Run!!!Oh balls. Its a mirage.

Its another FIFA sequel. FIFA 48. Now with some British guy you couldnt

care less about. There are some ten year old boys circling above the vision of false hope. Picking ruthlessly at the rotten but revived release.

Behind you are some jocks. Theyre arguing over a controller and insulting women. They have popped collars.

You are alone alone in the desert.

Youre sunburnt, your net is down and you cannot even go back to an MMORPG. Welcome to May.

And despite all of this, the endless horrors youve been out through... E3 comes around again and now all you want in a can Ooooh Jaa... Ouya... Or however the cool kids pronounce it nowadays. Youre not a cool kid. Youre a slave to silicon valley. Bow slave, bow.. g

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Console-ing Myself

IDo

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leD

QD

by Sarah Snyman

ADistributed Exclusively by Apex Interactive Tel: (011) 796 5040 www.apexinteractive.co.za Email: [email protected] All rights and trademarks and logos are copyright of their respective owners. www.apexactive.co.za

Available at these leading retailers:

com

Love Devastation & Desperation

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Fea

ture Finding humanity through despair

Devastation

Love Devastation & Desperation

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Finding humanity through despair

Devastationby Lein Baart

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Fea

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Were in an age where photorealism is not the distant dream it once was, and where more than ever games have cinematic sequences that rival anything a blockbuster film can produce. Its a time of heart-stopping, pulse-pounding, breath-taking scripted events, and where your latest adrenaline fix is never more than a few clicks away. And yet Naughty Dog isnt happy with the status quo. The golden boys of Sonys stable of developers are looking to shake things up, and provide one crucial element thats been missing for so long: emotional attachment.

Or at least thats what their current take on the industry is. As writer and creative director Neil Druckmann puts it, We mistake quantity for quality. We dont focus on characters, we focus on monsters

or the gruesome. Recent times have seen a shift in this direction, with the likes of Metro: Last Light and BioShock: Infinite raising the bar to amazing heights. But The Last of Us is going for an altogether different approach, eschewing epic plotlines in favour of something far more subtle. Naughty Dog wants The Last of Us to be a love story, a tale about a father-daughter-like relationship. The trailers are full of these moments, and as cheesy as it might sound, even these brief snippets of interplay between Joel and Ellie are riveting.

The Last of Us is something of a first for Naughty Dog, being the first time theyve released a second IP in the same console generation. The studio, with a rather venerable history stretching all the way back to 1984, has been responsible for some of the most iconic

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the future, The Last of US shows an Earth in which humanity has been decimated, not by Armageddon or meteors or nuclear wars, but by a fungus, with those not dying mutating into creatures known as the Infected. The plot, which is so central to the development of the game, revolves around Joel, a black market smuggler, and Ellie, a fourteen year old girl that Joel has promised to smuggle out of a quarantine zone. Ellie, who has never known a world beyond of the confines of a brutal and totalitarian settlement, flees with Joel to find the Fireflies, a resistance group located in the wilderness that is now America. Plot details are understandably scarce, however Naughty Dog have stressed how integral the story is to the game. According to Druckmann, a narrative should tell you something about the human condition, to

characters in all of the PlayStations incarnations, having developed Crash Bandicoot, Jak and Daxter, and of more recent fame, the Uncharted series. Inspired by the BBC documentary Planet Earth, in which a fungus that infects and kills insects was shown, an 80 man team began work on The Last of Us shortly after the 2009 release of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. Naughty Dog kept things extremely quiet, not wanting to showcase their work before it was ready. The secret nearly unravelled multiple times, most famously when gamers spotted an easter egg in Uncharted 3 that alluded to a mysterious infection, but by and large, when Naughty Dog first revealed the game at the 2011 VGAs, the were met with complete astonishment. And then the gaming world exploded with the news.

Set in a post-apocalyptic world twenty years in

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draw you in so completely that when horrible things happen you feel something. To this end, the studio has taken pains to emphasise that The Last of US is not a zombie game. Considering the setting, there will undoubtedly be moments of terror, but in the end what really matters is the relationship between Joel and Ellie.

The gaming community would not be so ablaze with anticipation over just the narrative though. Absolutely everything that Naughty Dog have shown has only whetted the appetite, and this is in no small part thanks to the gameplay clips that have been released. Combat, while not the main focus of the game, will still be vital, as Joel and Ellie go up against not only the Infected, but human scavengers as well. Gameplay footage is astounding,

showing confrontations that seem to almost be lifted straight from a set piece or QTE. Whats stood out the most from these videos is the A.I., both that of the enemies as well as Ellie, who will be A.I. controlled throughout the entire game. The Last of Us will utilise a system called Balance of Power, which promises to drastically humanise enemy behaviour. Factors like the weapon Joel is carrying, the amount of wounded or dead and the number of foes in a group will all affect how aggressive or defensive enemies will be. Ellie, despite her age, has on more than one occasion shown that she is quite capable in heat of combat, and will aid Joel with tactics such as distracting or killing enemies that Joel is currently engaged with. If that is not enough, your playstyle will have to adapt depending on what you are facing, with Infected requiring different

Fea

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to life the absolute desolation of the setting. This is echoed in Naughty Dogs choice of composer, two-time Oscar winner Gustavo Santaolalla, with Druckmann stating, With this music were trying to get emotion - were not going for horror.

If there has been a game that has been more hyped up in recent times than The Last of Us, my memory has failed me. While its always wise to be cautious here, as the hype machine is a fickle beast at best, it seems that The Last of Us can do no wrong. Everything that Naughty Dog has revealed about this game, every tiny piece thats been picked apart and stripped bare by the gaming media, has only pushed its anticipation up to fever pitch. As Neil Druckmann put it, Naughty Dog wants to change the f#*king industry, and with The Last of Us, they look poised to actually do it. g

strategies than human opponents. This will also not be a run and gun game, as resources are scarce and ammunition is precious. What this all adds up to then is an experience that will likely be terrifying, exhilarating and extremely satisfying. And all this is before the crafting system, which will allow Joel to cobble together supplies and weapons, which seems to be both well thought out and enjoyably deep

While it is never a measure to hang your hat on, the screenshots and videos paint The Last of Us as a title that will be simply stunning to behold. In all likelihood this will be the swan song of the PS3, a final display of its true capabilities before the PS4 comes barging through the door. From the decaying remains of villages and cities to the wilds of the country, everything looks lovingly rendered and gorgeously detailed, bringing

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DeadpoolThe ultimate comic bad-ass...

Batman: Arkham OriginsBack to basics

Assassins Creed 4:Black FlagMy pirate grand-pappy

Sacred 3More CRPG adventures

Madden NFL 25Hard-hitting grid iron returns

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With E3 just a few days away, we thought wed throw our net just a little wider this month. Our previews in this issue include games that we know about but will be released towards the end of the year.

Why did we do this? Well, we hope that E3 2013 will be full of new announcements and exciting stuff, so were making space for all the anticipated previews that well be running in the last half of this year. See, makes sense, doesnt it? g

Highlights

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Because Deadpool is awesome like that.

Mutants, Weapons and Chimichangas

by Nthato Morakabi

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If one were to mention Marvel comics, it is no doubt that a series of certain mutants come to mind. Metal-claws, iron suits and Norse gods are some examples, but the Marvel universe is... Colossal (no pun intended...maybe). So it come as no surprise then, that a Marvel title, soon to grace our gaming consoles, will feature Marvel characters that some would only very vaguely know. True Marvel fans however will be pleased to know that the weapons expert, sword master merc-with-a-mouth Deadpool will be starring in his very own game.

The plot follows Deadpools latest assignment, the assassination of an infamous news reporter. The evil genius Mister Sinister is also part of the plot, as he seeks to acquire DNA samples from the mutant haven

Genosha, in order to build his own army.The game will feature a roster of mutants that many

might not recognize without being Marvel fans who have followed the worlds and characters of the expansive Marvel universe. The roster consists of protagonist Deadpool (of course) and his array of melee weapons and armaments. Cable, the son of Cyclops and Madelyne Pryor (a clone of Jean Grey) as well as his girlfriend Domino (a mutant marks woman) and the telekinetic martial artists Psylocke. Antagonist, Mister Sinister, the genetically altered mutant and general mastermind will oppose Deadpool through his band of mutants known as the Marauders. The Marauders consist of perception altering mutant Vertigo, beefed up, shockwave blasting

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also be available for use from sledgehammers to sais to laser guns and more.

Deadpools mutant ability of accelerated healing will be visible in game as Deadpools body slowly breaks down should he sustain damage. Reattaching severed limbs or waiting for them to grow back are options players will face as they lead the merc through enemy frontlines.

This title is not for the faint-hearted who pass out at the sight of bloodas the game features quite a lot of it. If its not through the decapitation of enemies it will be through the dismembering of limbs or the resultant blood stains on the floor. In short, players will be getting the full Deadpool experience, complete with his arrogant humour, skilful brutality and signature Chimichangas. g

chick Arclight and the brute of a mutant Blockbuster. Also to appear in game is the embodiment mutant-being, Death, the ever present Marvel legend Wolverine and other familiar guest characters.

The game will be played from a third person perspective giving players an all guns-blazing, barrel of fun experience or some gory head-chopping stealth attacks. An interactive Deadpool will speak to players frequently, based on the players skill and progress. Progression through the game will allow players to upgrade Deadpools range of combos and actions. These combos personify Deadpools character in both their brutality and at times humour. Although Deadpool will be armed, by default, with his customary gun and sword, a series of weapons will

Genre: Third-person action

Step into the shoes of the facetious, egocentric, mercenary mutant of note, Deadpool, as he slices and dices through enemies in his upcoming self-titled game.

Developer:Publisher:Distributer:

High Moon StudiosActivisionMegarom

ETA

TBC 2013

AT A GLANCE:

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DS3DS

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PC


But this is not the Batman we know

In the Beginningby Pippa Tshabalala

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Batman: Arkham Origins is the latest in the Batman franchise published by Warner Bros Interactive, but this time around not developed by Rocksteady, who worked on both the previous games.

Considering the success of both Asylum and City, Im a little anxious about the release of Origins, but based on the trailers, it still seems to hold a fair amount of potential. Luckily the new developers havent decided to change it up too much, and Origins will feature similar gameplay to the other games.

There are also some new gadget introductions like the Remote Claw, which will allow Batman to target two objects or enemies and pull them together. Using it to join two walled points will allow Batman to create a

tightrope that he can then walk across. Other gadgets will make a return, including the Batarang, the Explosive Gel and the Cryptographic Sequencer.

Another new introduction is the fast travel system, which will allow Batman to summon the Batwing to transport him to other areas of the map. Honestly Im not sure how I feel about this, as half the fun of getting from location to location is traversing the city, but lets see how this plays out. There are limitations, as enemy towers in certain areas will have to be disabled before the Batwing can be summoned. You also wont be able to fly this craft as the Batwing is not player controlled.

Batman will be able to improve his reputation by assisting the Gotham City Police Department with

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Arkham City prison is not yet walled off, or flooded. In terms of storyline, the Black Mask, ruler of Gothams

criminal underworld after having done away with his rivals, has now placed a bounty on Batmans head however, and he must discover why. The Gotham City police department are not yet Batmans allies, so he has more than just the criminals to contend with.

Even with my anxiety around a new developer, I am incredibly excited about this game. The trailers still have a wonderful amount of tension, the storyline looks exciting, and Im a big fan of the Batman games in general, so this is one Ill be waiting for with baited breath.

Batman: Arkham Origins will be released later this year across all major platforms. g

Crimes in Progress. The Most Wanted mode also allows Batman to pursue villains outside of the main storyline, and he can use his radio scanner to locate various side missions.

A large cast of characters will be present in the Origins story including Joker, Captain Gordon, Penguin, Bane, Deadshot and Alfred. Arkham Origins also debuts Black Mask, Deathstroke Anarky, Commissioner Loeb and Alberto Falcone.

Arkham Origins is set several years before the events in Arkham Asylum in Gotham City. Batman is not yet recognised as the superhero portrayed in the previous games, and the police are still unsure as to his vigilante status. The section of Gotham that will later become

Genre: Action

This is Batman before he was the superhero we know. This is a side of him we havent seen before.


Warner Bros. Games MontrealWarner Bros. Ster Kinekor

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Oct 2013

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Piracy in its golden age

Taking to the Seasby Charlie Fripp

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There is no denying that the success of the Assassins Creed titles contributed to the franchise becoming one of the most loved and most played games of all time. While maybe not on the same scale as Halo or Call of Duty, it still has a very loyal following taking players on a wild ride to different locations.

The previous titles took gamers to Jerusalem, the Middle East, continental Europe and even the wild woods of the American frontier, but the next iteration of the franchise might be the most ambitious project yet.

Assassins Creed 3 incorporated a sea-faring aspect into the title in the form of short side-missions, in which players had to ship goods to different ports. Developer

Ubisoft probably received so much praise for their efforts that they decided to build an entire game around it.

And that is where Assassins Creed 4: Black Flag comes in the title will take place during the golden age of high-sea plunder and piracy, as gamers will assume the role of Assassins Creed 3s main characters grandfather.

Focussing on the main ports where piracy was rife in the early 1700s, gamers can look forward to laying anchor in Havana in Cuba, Kingston in Jamaica, and Nassau in the Bahamas. Each of the cities will be under a different countrys influence, except Nassau, which was a haven for sea robbers.

Ubisoft is promising that the title will give players a bit more freedom when exploring, and that the missions

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open-ended ship-based exploration with naval combat.The hunting aspect has also been brought back from

Assassins Creed 3, where players will be able to track and kill wild animals to sell in order to further their quest and raise a bit of money. In what raised the ire of PETA, whaling is also possible from the ships.

Assassins Creed 4: Black Flag is set to be one of the most ambitious games in the franchise, and if developer Ubisoft can actually pull it off without any major hitches, it will be one of the best games of the year.

Everybody loves pirates, and what can be better than going sword-to-sword with the infamous Blackbeard and Calico Jack (who popularised the now-famous Jolly Roger)? g

encountered will be similar to many of the quests in the first Assassins Creed, while exploring over 50 locations.

In terms of plot, players will assume the role of Edward Kenway, a British pirate and member of the Assassin Order, who is also the father of Haytham Kenway from Assassins Creed 3. While there were rumours that present-day Desmond would disappear from the franchise, it was previously revealed that players will still have to control him when the games plot switches between present and past.

But gamers suffering from seasickness shouldnt worry too much, as there will be a 60/40 split between land exploration and actually being on the open waters. For those with sturdier legs (and stomachs), there will be

Genre: Action-adventure

Taking a departure from the usual setting, sea-faring in Assassins Creed 4 should be awesome.


Ubisoft MontrealUbisoftMegarom

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Oct 2013

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Will it realise its potential?

Back to Ancariaby Lein Baart

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Sacred, as a series, has never quite reached its potential. Its always had most of the right boxes ticked, essentially being a Diablo clone with its own unique high fantasy setting, coupled with a decent RPG system that created some interesting moments. The trouble is, despite everything just said, it always felt a bit half arsed, as if the developers had forgotten when the deadlines were, or (more likely) fallen asleep after reading the plot summary. Ascaron Entertainment, developers of the first two games, have closed shop since Sacred 2: Fallen Angel, but with the rights picked up by Deep Silver, and with a new developer at the helm, the Sacred series is far from dead.

Once again were returning to the world of Ancaria, though apparently 900 years after the events of the second game. The world has forgotten about the Seraphim and the role they play in keeping the peace, and the Ashen Empire has since risen with Lord Zane at its head. The story will pit you as one of a group of heroes opposing the Ashen Empire, as Lord Zane seeks to claim an artefact called the Heart of Ancaria from the Seraphim by opening portals to the underworld, flooding the land with demons.

Sacred 3 is not going to deviate to far from the gameplay of the franchise, still consisting of your standard hack and slash fare, coupled together with combat arts, Sacreds version of special abilities. The

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release Sacred 3 with as few of the flaws that haunted the franchise as possible. With regards to the bugs and glitches that plagued the previous title, Martin Wein, PR manager at Deep Silver, has stated that quality assurance will be a big part of the process. Likewise, the screenshots are showing a vibrant and fantastically crisp world, a stark contrast to the somewhat bland graphics of Sacred 2.

Its too early to tell whether Sacred 3 is going to be the game everybody is hoping it will be, but the signs are all positive. With a strong focus on action packed, cooperative gaming backed up with gorgeous visuals, Sacred 3 might just be a worthy contender to the hack and slash throne. g

classes from the second game are gone, and though Deep Silver and Keen Games are holding their cards very close to their chests, the two classes that have been announced are the Ancarian Lancer and the Safiri Warrior. Theres a strong emphasis on multiplayer and cooperative gameplay, with combat arts from different classes that can be chained together to increase both damage and score. Despite Deep Silvers insistence that Sacred 3 will not be a MMORPG the game will feature 4 player co-op permanently, and even should you decide to take the game on in single-player, Sacred 3 will provide 3 A.I. controlled party members.

Deep Silver seems to have taken the criticisms from the second game to heart, and are making efforts to

Genre: Hack and Slash RPG

Theres a lot to look forward to with Sacred 3, provided all the bugs are ironed out before its release


Keen GamesDeep SilverApex Interactive

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An array of sights and sounds open up, as worlds collide in this upcoming Nintendo 3DS exclusive Animal Crossing: New Leaf. Humans and human-like animals live together in one expansive world in which they work and play together. Players can look forward to creating their very own utopia, filled with lovable characters, an ever changing world to explore and a host of fun activities to be immersed in.

Players will step into the shoes of the new mayor in town and it will be their responsibility to make sure that their village prospers. With the help of Isabelle, the canine assistant, players will receive advice on making the most of their new home. They will also be aiming towards gaining the favour of the residents and neighbours of the village in order to improve and develop the village through the building of various structures.

Experience the chills and spills of changing seasons, the joys of birthday parties and the interesting visits from travellers from out of town. Participate in various events and competitions from bug-catching competitions and fishing tournaments to meeting one of Santas reindeer for a special gift.

Animal Crossing New Leaf will not just offer fun activities and changing seasons but also a customizable world that players will be able to shape as they wish. From creating their own custom designs for clothing and furniture, to building cafs, police stations and other structures for their town. It will be possible to have up to three other players visit one village for some multiplayer exploration and Nintendo have revealed other cool multiplayer features, for all who will be looking to grab this exclusive title. g

Time to turning over a new leaf.

A New Mayor in Town.

by Nthato Morakabi

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Genre: Life Simulation

Immerse yourself in the wonderful world of Animal Crossing as the new Mayor, ready to bring a new village to life.


Nintendo EAD Group No. 2NintendoCore Group

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Q2 2013

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As the next round of the Tour de France is scheduled to get underway at the end of June and run into the middle of July, another video game will be released that ties into the biggest cycling tournament in the world.

As the tournament, the title has gradually improved over the years, and as the actually cycle race enters its 100th anniversary, game developer Cyanide Studio has thrown everything they have into the latest addition.

The title allows players to take the position of a rider the in the coveted race, battling it out with hundreds of other riders for the yellow jersey, and ultimately crossing the finish line first. Players will have to keep an eye on their speed, stamina and technique, as everything will play a huge role in the quest for glory.

While the previous game had good graphics, Cyanide Studio promises that the 2013 version of the title will have a fully-revised gameplay mechanic, richer and visually superior to the previous effort, and will also feature a more dynamic game speed that will give players extra control on the road.

Cyanide actually took suggestions and comments from the cycling community and gamers on how to better the title, and incorporated them into the title. Players can look forward to a title that promises to be a lot smoother and more dynamic than previous titles.

The Tour de France franchise is probably the only cycling game that covers the actual title, so if gamers are into cycling, then this is the franchise to invest in. It seems as though Cyanide made the necessary changes to bring the title and the franchise into mainstream gaming, and if they deliver, it can be rather good. g

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Its all downhill from here

Battle of the Bulgeby Charlie Fripp

Le Tour de France 2

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Genre: Sports

If the developers deliver, it will be an awesome cycling game


Cyanide Studio Focus Home InteractiveApex Interactive

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Jun 2013

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Nintendo has been known for taking its older successful titles and reworking them, utilizing the same characters and ideas from previous generations and revamping them for each new console they bring out. The question anyone should ask is: Does it work? Well, do fish swim in water?

Game & Wario is yet another Nintendo re-make, or rather a continuation of the WarioWare mini games that have featured as either separate titles, or as mini games in other Nintendo titles. Each set of mini games that players will have to complete is based around a particular character from the WarioWare crew.

The Wii-U game pad comes to life as a bow and arrow, sketchpad, dance floor and as many other paraphernalia that players must use to complete given challenges. Players take part in various games, helping the quirky, funky and downright weird Wario Ware characters in completing 16 amusing levels. The Wii-Us gyroscope ability will get players guiding the afro toting Jimmy T on the slopes or using the game pad as a camera to help Mona snap a pic for the latest scoop; various other uses will be possible with each game.

The title will feature an artwork community, integrated with the Wii-Us social network Mii-Verse, allowing players to share their artwork through the MiiVerse Sketch community. Players will be able to browse through the artwork others have posted on the sketch community or they can play a quick-sketch mini game in which they must attempt to recreate one of the available drawings in 60 seconds.

Game & Wario is a great way to enjoy the diverse capabilities of the Wii U, enjoying the eccentric characters and peculiar games. g

16 ways to use your Wii-U gamepador something like that.

WarioWare Inc Returns!

by Nthato Morakabi

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Genre: Adventure

The Wario Ware team is back with its zany characters and whacky mini games, sure to display the potential capabilities of the Nintendo Wii U.


Intelligent SystemsNintendoCore

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TBC 2013

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VGA_DirectCU_Thematic_Adv_A4_EN_o.pdf 1 5/31/2013 11:30:44 AM

The Raven: Legacy of a Master Thief is a crime adventure game in three episodes that combines a classic whodunit with a thrilling heist story.

The story follows the gentleman master thief The Raven, who is terrorising Paris, committing spectacular burglaries. Young investigator Nicolas Legrand confronts the thief and fatally wounds him.

Four years later and a whole country away in London, the legendary Eyes of the Sphinx, an ancient ruby, is stolen from the British Museum and a raven feather is found at the crime scene. Nicolas Legrand is back on the case to find out if someone is trying to follow in the infamous Ravens footsteps.

Legrands stellar career, apprehending the Raven in Paris, has made him the most famous investigator at Interpol, but he still harbours doubts as to whether he really caught the right guy, and when these new burglaries begin, he takes up the chase.

Simultaneously in Zurich Constable Anton Zellner has no idea that his life is about to change when he picks up the ringing phone next to him. Zellner is a good policeman but what his superiors think of as a troublemaker. His dream of solving a big case might become reality if he can emerge unscathed from the deadly game hes gotten himself into.

The Raven is slated as a thrilling crime adventure that immerses you in both sides of the story. The production value certainly looks pretty decent and it appears that developers Nordic Games have really committed on delivering a quality product.

With multiple modes catering to a variety of gamers, it seems as if this will be a decent adventure game, if not a AAA title. g

Conspiracies, theft and mystery abound

Return of the Whodunit

by Pippa Tshabalala

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Genre: Adventure

It might not be a much anticipated title, but it seems like a good, solid crime adventure in the making


Nordic GamesKING ArtTBC

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TBC 2013

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Mobile releases come thick and fast nowadays, with seemingly every second triple A title having a handheld accompaniment. But its a sign of the times, and the power of the platform, that were starting to see things shift in the opposite direction. First there was Angry Birds, the ultimate cathartic time-suck, but now Paradox Interactive have joined the fray, straying from their usual flavour of grand strategy with a rather quirky mobile to PC port, Knights of Pen and Paper +1 Edition.

For those that havent played the mobile version, Knights of Pen and Paper is an RPG, albeit not what you would expect. As you may gather from the title, this has a lot to do with classic Dungeons and Dragons and its ilk, but rather than playing as the mage or the knight, you play as the players playing the game. Its a whacky concept, and its been hugely popular on the mobile market, aided in no small part by its casual pick up and play nature.

Paradox doesnt seem to be changing much in the way of core design for the PC port. Indeed the graphics are lifted straight from the mobile version, and arent so much retro (as Paradox are calling it) as they are archaic. It adds to the charm though, and more than anything it suits the atmosphere of the game. There have been several additions though, including new dungeons and options in combat, as well as a new feature called the Tavern, where heroes can be saved and swapped out as needed. If youre looking for something funny and light, Knights of Pen and Paper +1 should be a good bet. g

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An RPG with a difference

Play the Playerby Lein Baart

Knights of P

en and Paper +1

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Genre: RPG

Knights of Pen and Paper is looking to be a fun, humorous title that should help you while away the hours


Behold StudiosParadox InteractiveTBC

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Q2 2013

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The National Football League (or NFL, as its more popularly known) is one of the biggest sporting franchises for Electronic Arts, and while there isnt a great amount of support from South Africas shore, its a popular as ever elsewhere.

The latest title to be released, Madden NFL 25, is the 25th anniversary of the entire series, and EA opted to add the 25 at the end of the name, instead of the usual numbering, which would have been NHL 14.

Previous titles have improved a lot over the years, with better graphics, hit detection and animations, but this iteration promises to be the best one yet. In a quest to deliver the best experience, the title will once again make use of the Infinity Engine 2, which will provide better physics simulation, and will also introduce the new Force Impact System.

Apart from all the players and teams included into the playable roster, EA will also be doing things a bit different this year, as they opted to include all 17 NFL referee head officials into the game with their likeness.

Players can look forward to clashing with some of the biggest names in the NFL as they try to lead their team to victory for the all-important Super Bowl win at the end of the season. Players will have to make a decision on how to lead their team either as a player, or as a manager.

While the franchise has never really disappointed, it seems as though EA is going all-out with NFL 25, updating the graphics, the physics and game dynamics. If players are into a bit of rough and tough sports, NFL 25 will be right up their alley. g

Winning the ball is half the battle

Crushing Headsby Charlie Fripp

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Genre: Sports

It promises to be the best NFL games of the last 25 years


EA SportsEA SportsEA South Africa

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Aug 2013

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Mickey Mouse returns once again in a remake of the classic Disney game Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse. Its an HD reimagining of the classic Sega Genesis game, and is set for release towards the middle of 2013.

This revival will be a 2D/3D experience that utilises the current generation of consoles processing power to showcase this story with new graphics and adventures while at the same time remaining true to the spirit of the original game, which came out in 1990. No indication whether or not it will be released on next gen consoles, although somehow it seems unlikely to me.

Interestingly the director of the original game is now at Disney Interactive, and the developers have worked together with her closely in order to ensure that the experience of the remake is as close to the original as possible, incorporating ideas that were simply not possible in 1990 due to technical limitations, and which now have the potential to be realised.

Many iconic elements remain intact in an effort to not only enthral lovers of the existing game, but to capture the hearts of a whole new generation of gamers. Castle of Illusion follows hot on the heels of the announcement of another Disney platformer remake, Ducktales Remastered.

The teaser trailer, which came out a little while ago, shows the toy soldiers from the original game as well as the main villain, and its atmosphere is suitably dark and stormy.

Release dates at this stage are vague, with only a mention of Summer 2013 which presumably means sometime in the middle of the year based on Northern Hemisphere standards. g

In the remake of this Sega classic

Mickey Mouse Returns

by Pippa Tshabalala

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Genre: Platformer

It seems to be a trend at the moment, but theres nothing wrong with a good old HD remake.


Sega Studios AustraliaSegaSter Kinekor

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Q3 2013

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I have had to sit through a lot of One Piece. I love a more stylised set of anime, but I have never been a fan of the incessant yelping, massive eyes and completely mismatched bizarre dialogue that is so evident in One Piece. Judging by the info available, this is going to be a standard Namco Bandai release, localised and resulting in a confusing, colourful, inside joke filled explosion. The story of One Piece is quite original as far as anime goes, and it has been one of the most successful series in the genre. Although this is localised sequel to Pirate Warriors, there have been countless iterations of One Piece games in Asia. Munky D. Luffy is a boy who accidentally ate Gum-Gum fruit and now seems to have elastic limbs which he can stretch obscene distances. He has a little waistcoat and a straw hat and runs the troop of Straw Hat pirates while they search for the titular treasure. The game will allow the player to play through adventure mode, allowing battles as various characters. There are also several stories that are independent to the storyline, exclusive to the game. One piece is not for everyone, it was evidently never for me. But at the end of the day, it is a light hearted, humorous adventure full of unexpected heroes and a great deal of scrawny kids who are actually adults despite the way they are animated. It has received great reviews in Japan and sold over 655k copies in its first week; I will be interested to see if the local anime fans agree with the Japanese audience. g

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Munky D. Luffy and his crew are coming to PS3!

Migraine Inducing Anime

by Sarah Snyman

One P

iece : Pirate W

arriors 2P

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Genre: Action

A well-loved anime series transformed into a game and localised for the English audience. A light hearted pirate themed escapade for the whole family.


Tecmo KoeiNamco BandaiMegarom

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Aug 2013

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For producer George Kamitani, Dragons Crown is a dream thats been a long time coming. Conceived nearly 15 years ago, Kamitani originally planned for Dragons Crown to be released on the Sega Deamcast, but failed to pick up support from publishers. But then Ignition Entertainment, impressed with Kamitanis artwork and unique style signed on, and though the publishing rights have now shifted to Atlus, Dragons Crowns release date is right on our doorstep.

The plot doesnt look likely to win any awards, serving instead as the vehicle to deliver the action, which should be fast, furious and filled with spectacular effects. There will be six classes to choose from, namely the fighter, elf, dwarf, sorceress, wizard and amazon, each with a unique play style. Dragons Crown will have RPG elements as well, with each character levelling up and able to equip item drops to boost stats.

Multiplayer will be a big part of the title, with various classes working together to offset their own weaknesses. Allowing up to four players to wreak archaic havoc both online and locally, Dragons Crown will even allow saves to be shared between the PS3 and Vita, assuming youre willing to shell out for both versions.

Theres an immense feeling of quality about this title. The graphics seem dazzling, with a blend of western and anime styles that evoke the atmosphere of a classic fantasy tale in a world populated with wide-eye peasants and heaving cleavages. Likewise, the animations are fluid, clear and bring to life the chaos the title strives to achieve. With all this in mind, Dragons Crown is definitely a title worth keeping an eye on. g

The heyday of gaming still lives

Modern Classicsby Lein Baart

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Genre: 2D Adventure

While comparisons to classics like Golden Axe are inevitable, Dragons Crown is looking to advance a genre which just may still have something to offer


VanillawareAtlusTBC

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Aug 2013

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2012 Voyetra Turtle Beach, Inc. (VTB, Inc.) All rights reserved. Turtle Beach and the Turtle Beach Logo are either trademarks or registered trademarks of VTB, Inc. All other trademarks are properties of their respective companies and are hereby acknowledged.

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As the 2013 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season got underway at the beginning of April, players will once again be able to step into the racing boots of some of the worlds best driver and fight for the tarmac title as the best racing driver in the world.

The official videogame of the 2013 Grand Prix motorcycle racing championship, MotoGP13 will be jam packed will all the action and excitement that goes with burning rubber and high speeds across the finish line.

The new title will include all the official mode of the sport such as the coveted MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3, as well as all the official riders, teams, tracks and rules. With a tagline of Forged to be a Champion players will be able to compete and battle their way to the top of the leader boards.

Developer Milestone also promises that photorealistic graphics will transport rider to all the well-known tracks around the world, while being loyal to the MotoGP spirit in all aspects of the title, including an authentic TV style interface, reworked menus, and all the familiar sounds from the track and pit.

Similar to previous iterations, Milestone has also added realistic handling (so that) you can really feel the bike in your hands. Having a number of difficulty settings to suit every type of rider, players will be able to engage scalable aids for beginners, while more experienced racers can take to the track with simulative settings, while will provide for an authentic race.

The camera angels have also been given an update, as players will now be able to make use of a helmet cam, and first person elements like 3D pits as well as a reworked career mode for added authenticity. g

Spinning wheels and burning rubber

Tyres to the Tarmac

by Charlie Fripp

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Genre: Racing

With a number of tweaks, this edition should prove to be exciting


MilestoneTBATBA

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Jun 2013

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The future is bleak. Marred by war and ravaged of its resources, it is no place for man to live. Only the desolate grounds known as No Mans Land offer any form of hope. As the last remaining land with resources, and with every other faction seeking to claim this land for themselves, No Mans Land is no safe haven. Survival lies in these resources, scavenged and fought for, bringing war to an era in need of peace.

Players can anticipate dashing through bullet hazed levels, weaving through enemy fire, battling through devastated landscapes while in command of a squadron of Armored Core Units. This fast paced, third-person shooter puts players in the seat of these customizable war machines, with the ability to cause mass destruction to all who stand in their way.

Innovative customization will see players tweak their mech load out with over 150 parts, using these upgrades to strategically adapt the weapon system for optimum destruction.

Fight through 7 battle ridden continents, from dusty desert dunes to frigid snow-capped terrain in 90 new missions. Be part of a faction, taking control of enemy territory and strive to be the dominant force.

Take the action online alone or with friends and lay waste to anyone who stands in the way of victory. Players will have the option of taking unmanned, A.I units equipped with A.I chips that will allow them to adapt and fight strategically, balancing the playing field in online matches.

The previous instalment was not so well received however, this newest title is being built to address its predecessors failures. How that will fare we shall see as the title shows much potential. g

A dystopian future, AI units and customizable Mechs.

Whats Your Final Verdict?

by Nthato Morakabi

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Genre: Third-person action

In a future ravaged by war, players must battle for resources and territory in this tactical action packed mech simulation.


From SoftwareNamco BandaiMegarom

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Once again, Nigel Danvers and Lucy Reubens are poking their ghost hunting noses in things they shouldnt. The two young ghost hunters have now decided that its a great idea to look into the new Crown mystery on Hallowed Isle. As is to be expected, this is a moody island in the UK. The people who lived there and worked there and murdered there are now haunting the living bejeesus out of the island what a delightful place to go on a trip. Being an investigative mystery game, youll need to find countless clues and use your collection of ghost hunting skills and tools to work your way around the landscape and find out why this place is so damn spooky. You will have tools like the Ghost Gadget which allow you to see the dead, but they can also see you which really isnt ideal. Youll also have the stock standard EVP tools and the odd occult artefact used in phsychometry, Nigels psychic skills. Then there is Napper the crow. This bird attacked Nigel and now he has some kind of bond with the feathered holder of secrets. One of these secrets would be who on earth is feeding this captive bird on an abandoned island? These games offer everything the mystery/horror fanatic desires. Haunted TVs, Witchcraft and black magic, abandoned prisons, bubonic plagues and an old peoples home. This is a genre which follows a very specific formula, but the formula works! I am looking forward to this release, even if it is for pure cheese factor on Halloween. The build-up material has been adequately spooky, I hope the game follows suit. g

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Another terrifying crown, hopefully the last one.

More Ghouls, Spooks & Surprises

by Sarah Snyman

The Last Crown: H

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Genre: Adventure

More Ghost hunting adventure, in black and white, with spooky music involving monks and classical musicians... its a formula that works, and theyre working in again.


Jonathon BoakesIceberg InteractiveTBC

ETA

Halloween 2013 (obviously)

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Lets go back a few years. The world has discovered downloading. Hard drives are getting bigger and with everything from movie rips, illegally leaked music albums and cracked games flooding the net, theres a desperate scramble by publishers to stem the tide. Early DRM (Digital Rights Management) methods ranged from light to ludicrous. Some required online registration, while other required a complex series of codes and confirmation sequences to ensure that you were who you said you were, and that no-one else could use what you claimed to have bought. But controlling the internet is less like making sure that everyone pays for their movie ticket and more like trying to empty the ocean with a bucket (that has a hole in it). Pirates were taking DRM apart as quickly as software developers could develop them and access to faster bandwidth was growing at a pace that made fighting pirated content a losing battle.

Companies like Netflix (rightly) predicted a change in media consumption culture. Even with petabyte drives, consumers could never have enough storage to have everything, and eventually this culture would lose momentum. By introducing reasonable fees (especially a monthly subscription vs pay per download model) they offered an alternative. Instead of downloading everything you may conceivably one day consume; to get what you want, when you want it (without breaking the bank). As bandwidth prices drop, and even dedicated torrenters get tired of constantly deleting, copying or moving files, its started to take off and people are thinking about entertainment differently. With documents and photos already stored on Google Drive or SkyDrive, most people would rather stream Hulu and Grooveshark on their iPads, than lug around clunky laptops and PCs for their media.

The best part about streaming is that its more

DRM friendly. Granted, nothing is unhackable, but content creators seem happier with this model with more control over the product, which is not necessarily bad for the consumer. After all, it cant be a great feeling to be the schmuck who paid $9 for the latest blockbuster that your neighbour just downloaded for free.

It was clear that it wouldnt be long before gaming would follow suit. While games are becoming more graphics intensive, technology is also becoming a lot more suitable to have games stream directly from servers, and directly to your console or PC. This was Sonys vision last year and Microsofts proposed DRM features also hint at a move towards games not dependant on local storage media. Since May 21st, many gaming fundis critised DRM saying people should be able to trade their titles and not be restricted to online or online activated gaming (Sony were quick to announce that

they would relax their DRM policies in the wake of the outcry).

The advantages of streamed content are definitely good for publishers wallets, and has some benefits for consumers, like accessing content wherever they, even if its from someone elses console. But the potential for preventing people from enjoying their purchases, and from discouraging a vibrant secondary market for pre-played games is also a concern. Well have to see if new streamed games will be priced so that buying (or subscribing to a service) can be affordable to the average gamer. Perhaps the US judge who ruled that reselling digital content (in this case iTunes purchases) was illegal on ReDigi did so prematurely, as physical product will surely start being replaced by completely online media. But if we cant trade or use what we buy the way we want to, maybe most will choose to keep pirating for free.. g

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Pay to Play

The S

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by Suvesh Arumugam

Weve been reading all about the Xbox One and the PS4 for a few weeks now. Discussion boards, gaming news sites and social media are buzzing about the two consoles, and speculation is rife. There are a great many people who have expressed displeasure at the route Microsoft seems to be taking, while Sony quietly posts up new ads poking sticks at the wounds that the Xbox maker has inflicted on its reputation.

Amid all of this, one has to wonder what about the Wii U? Its no secret that I like the console, and that I believe that Nintendo were on to a good thing when they created it. But its also no secret that the Wii U is failing miserably. Sales are extremely low, for both hardware and

software. When a company like EA who publishes on everything but the kitchen sink says that they currently have no games in development for a platform, thats not a good sign.

But there is a bigger picture here. See, the Wii Us shortcomings in terms of market share could be put down to many things, but consumer apathy towards the product seems to be the root. What does that tell us? Perhaps Nintendo did something wrong in their marketing strategy they aimed the Wii at casual gamers, in an effort to draw them in to the activity. But casual gamers dont have the kind of mentality that has them rabidly chasing upgrades. They already have a game console why do they need another?

Aiming at the hard core

market was probably also a misstep for the Wii U, because hard core gamers dont associate their gaming with Nintendo. It just is what it is.

Is that what went wrong? What if the situation with the Wii U is indicative of a far deeper problem? See, its the second major platform release to go through a very rough patch, with the first being the PS Vita. Neither of these units have been big performers in terms of sales, which lead to a lack of games, which lead to even weaker sales, and so on. What if the problem that these platforms faced is one that amounts to the global financial situation? What kind of future does that hold for Sony and Microsoft, who will be releasing their new consoles at roughly the

same time?Thats another thing;

while there arent many people out there who own more than one console, there certainly is a portion of the market that do. But it was easy to get both, in money terms, because they were separated by a year. Now thats not going to be the case. Those all-important early-adopters of the Xbox One and PS4 are going to have to make tough choices, if they are tempted by both.

The console war, in years past, was a cold war. Things are about to get turned up, and the rivalry between Sony and Microsoft may get very aggressive indeed. It seems that what we though was a console war before was just a few minor clashes. The real thing is coming at the end of this year. g

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Forming Up...

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by Montgommery Paton

18 Distributed Exclusively by Apex Interactive Tel: (011) 796 5040 www.apexinteractive.co.za Email: [email protected] All rights and trademarks and logos are copyright of their respective owners. www.apexactive.co.za

Available at these leading retailers:

com

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Metro: Last LightBraving the dark in the Metro

GRiD 2Fast, faster, fastest!

Star TrekNow what did you expect, really?

Mars War LogsAdventuring on a budget...

Wonderbook:Diggs NightcrawlerA kiddie-noir treat

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We all love the exciting news that E3 brings, but it really messes with our gaming. Releases have been slow, but the good news is that theyll be picking up pretty soon, before making that mad rush towards two major console releases at the end of the year. We have around six months to prepare ourselves...

In the meantime, we have eight games on review, ranging from cool to not-so-much... g

Highlights

The fate of Metro: Last Light was something that a number of people wondered about when the news of THQ closing its doors came up. However, that publishers IPs were snapped up by numerous other publishers; Last Light went to Deep Silver, which allowed it to be released pretty much on schedule.

The game takes us back to the devastated world of Moscow after a nuclear holocaust. Survivors of the disaster have found refuge in the dank, deep and dark tunnels of what was once the Moscow Metro. Here they fight to exist amid crime, corruption, violence and political rivalries. Its a miserable place to be, and developers 4A manage to capture that feeling beautifully. But well get to more of that a bit later.

The original title in the series Metro 2033 was

based on a best-selling novel by Dmitry Glukhovsy. This new work is inspired by that same novel and once again puts the player in the shoes of the near-mute Artyom, the hero of 2033. As the game kicks off, we learn that his actions in 2033 have seen him elevated to the status of Ranger, working with the Spartan Order. This group holds no affiliations to any of the Metro political movements, but rather acts as a self-appointed security detail, trying to keep the Metro safe. Soon, though, new threats to the people of the Metro see Artyom hurtling along a path that leads him to uncovering a terrible conspiracy.

Unlike most shooters out there, Last Light is very reliant on its plot. The story is not complex at all in fact, it gets rather predictable and a little pedantic towards the end. But it is refreshing to see a first-person

Putting the dys in dystopian

Doom and Gloomby Walt Pretorius

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the only thing going on, and as much as this drives the plot forward, it may not sit well with some.

Speaking of dialogue, one could be excused for thinking that the voice acting is a bit poor in Last Light. But all of the actors are native Russian speakers, bringing even more authenticity to the game through heavy accents and often strange pronunciations. This authenticity is furthered by excellent character models. The devil is in the details; whether youre encountering a political leader, an underground fisherman or a stripper offering you a lap-dance, all the characters in Last Light are memorable. There is some repetition in character models, but this does tend to be in the case of uniformed enemies and mutants that the player needs to fight off.

Graphically, the game is pretty decent overall. The PC version is the strongest in terms of visuals, with some

shooter that isnt all about headshots and killing hordes of enemies. The story, simple as it is, is central to the experience.

This means that Last Light doesnt play out like other shooters. There are a lot of scripted events, and the game is extremely linear. A single play-through is likely all that you will get to, unless you are a massive fan. Additionally, Last Light needs the player to pay attention not just during combat sessions, but also during the often protracted cut-scenes. In fact, even walking around a corner may have the player happen upon a conversation that is vital to the plot, or helps further the idea of life in this dystopian future.

That play style does exclude all those players who are just after unbridled action and there are a lot of them. There are long stretches in this game where dialogue is

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weak textures showing up in the console versions. However, the lighting effects which are core in a game that often dumps the player into very dark areas are excellent.

The overall play dynamic of the game feels, at times, rather chaotic. Combat sequences can have the player either stealthing around in the dark, or running in guns blazing. Both will work, because the enemy AI is not the greatest. It is better than that of 2033, but it still leaves a bit to be desired. Mutant enemies tend to swarm the player, resulting in intense fire-fights. While ammo can be scarce, the player who takes the time to gather up resources will likely never run out of bullets and makeshift grenades, particularly if they do a little exploring in the limited number of areas that allow them to do so.

Because of this, the game doesnt really go through a difficulty curve, but rather peaks and troughs. Its more realistic, really, adding a somewhat organic feel to the games progression. The players weapons are the same scratch-build type of items from the previous game, and ammo is a commodity. So much so that high grade military rounds are treated as currency. They can also be used to add a little more damage to the players attacks, but the game never gets that tough that you will be spending your money on killing bad guys rather than buying useful stuff.

Another aspect of the game is going outdoors. Artyom will need a gas mask and air filters to do so, as well as to access certain hazardous areas in the Metro itself. This is the same as the previous game, but Last Light tends to be more generous with air filters, meaning that the

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as a good example of how a story can be told in a first-person shooter. The pacing isnt break-neck, and the combat sessions tend to be smaller more personal, even than what we generally get. Both of these are refreshing aspects to the game, making it stand out in the crowd. Sure, not everyones going to love it, but for those who want to play a game to be entertained, rather than earning kill-ratio bragging rights, Metro: Last Light is a great option. Having played the original helps, but it isnt essential the story here is interesting enough for it to stand on its own two feet.

Moving away from the norms of first-person shooters is a fairly bold move for 4A games to make, but they have a story that they want to tell, and experiencing the tale of Artyoms second set of adventures in the Moscow Metro is worth the effort. g

time constraint on missions is lessened. That said, the claustrophobic tunnels of the Metro are easier to deal with in combat situations, because to you know more or less which direction trouble will be coming from.

With a cast of memorable characters, unique weapons (including an awesome four-barrelled shotgun) and a heavy dependence on the narrative, Metro: Last Light is a fairly unique title. And as is so often the case with unique titles, it will have a smaller following than the next iteration of any given copy-and-paste military shooter. Its lack of multiplayer and linear delivery will limit replay value, although Ranger mode (which is available as a download) can allow for a tougher second experience, should the player choose to re-experience the tale.

Even with just a single play-through, Last Light stands

AT A GLANCE:

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Score

Genre: First-person shooter

Its not a thrill-a-minute game... rather, Last Light relies heavily on setting and narrative to tell a tale.

Similar to: Metro: 2033, Deus Ex: Human Revolution

MaxPlayers Local 1 Network 0 Online 0


4A GamesDeep SilverApex Interactive

Parental Advisory Accessibility

18+Casual

Hard-Core

Medium

PrejudiceDrug UseSexLanguageViolence

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Racing games are always a hotly contested genre for the video game industry. When it comes to street racing in other words, games that use cars that you might actually see driving by on the street there are only a few names that stand out. Microsofts Forza sprints immediately to mind, as does Sonys Gran Turismo franchise. EAs Need for Speed games have had a spotty record of late, but they are also viable entrants into the genre. These three form an almost unassailable beach-head on the genre.

When it comes to other developers like Codemasters, one generally thinks of games dedicated to specific racing disciplines, like F1 or the DiRT series. However, Codemasters did take on a more diverse racing approach before when they released Race Driver: GRiD several years ago. It

proved very popular, and so it was quite surprising that there wasnt another GRiD title lined up for the race to pole position shortly after.

Those that hoped for Codemasters return to the broader, slightly more arcade-like style of Race Driver: GRiD have had their long wait rewarded with the release of GRiD 2. Here is a game that allows player to try a few dozen cars not only along different tracks scattered around the world, but also in a number of street racing disciplines. And it has a story, too.

True, its not much of a plot, but it does serve the game well, cobbling the disparate racing disciplines featured in GRiD 2 together quite nicely. The player takes on the role of a figure-head for a new racing league, called World Series Racing. This is the brain-child of a semi-mysterious wealthy guy who wants to

Whether you need it or not

All About Speedby Alex Scanlon

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GRiD 2 has: fans.Instead of money, popularity is key here. While other

games require the player to earn cash and buy vehicles and upgrades, GRiD 2s benefactor makes sure that the player has the cars that are needed. New cars will be presented to the player from time to time, with a choice of two vehicles being the norm. Once one has been chosen, the other can invariably be one in an upcoming manufacturer showcase. So, no money needed Daddy Warbucks supplies you with cars.

The same can be said for upgrades. The cars in the players stable cannot be tweaked beyond visual customisation, which may leave some fans feeling flat. But thats not what is at the heart of GRiD 2. Rather, this game is about driving really, really fast, and participating in a wide variety of events. Even the car

see all the various street racing types around the globe unified under a single banner. The players mission is simple; travel to various regions (first the US, then Europe and then Asia and the Middle East)to drum up support for the fledgling WSR. To do so, the player needs to impress racers at club level, and garner support for WSR. Once enough support has been gathered, a WSR event becomes available in the region.

Its simple, yet effective. The player gets to take part in numerous race events featuring disciplines like street racing, point to point, touge, drift competitions, checkpoint racing and head to head challenges. In between, the player will get to earn new cars by taking part in manufacturer sponsored showcases, and will also be able to take part in promo events. All of the above help to earn the player the only kind of currency that

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roster is much smaller than one would expect from a game of this type, totalling a few dozen rather than a few hundred. This allows for more focus, and for the player to get more familiar with specific vehicles; an important thing, considering the variety of events.

So if youre not racing for cash, or a massive stable of cars, whats the point? Well, quite simply, the thrill of it. GRiD 2 is all about getting your car through the event as fast and skilfully as possible, and pulling a 100 metre drift through a long curve on a course before snapping out and blasting down a straight is undeniably thrilling. This is one of the aspects that leans GRiD 2 more towards an arcade racer than a nuts-and-bolts simulator; there are no nuts and bolts. Rather, its about a more focussed group of cars, and what driving them might feel like.

Graphically, GRiD 2 is a treat. The repetition one would expect from the tracks particularly in terms of dcor and spectators is min

Gamecca Magazine June 2013

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