Dishonored 2 release date unveiled

Dishonored 2 release date unveiled

DISHONORED® 2 AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE NOVEMBER 11, 2016

World Gameplay Premiere on June 12^th at Bethesda’s E3 Showcase

May 3, 2016 (London, UK) – Bethesda Softworks®, a ZeniMax® Media company, today announced Dishonored 2 will release worldwide on Friday, November 11, 2016 for the Xbox One, PlayStation® 4 computer entertainment system and PC. Dishonored 2 is the highly-anticipated first-person action game under development at Arkane Studios, and the follow-up to the 2012 ‘Game of the Year’, Dishonored.

The world premiere of Dishonored 2 gameplay will take place during Bethesda’s 2016 E3 Showcase being held in Los Angeles, California on June 12^th beginning at 7pm PST, and streamed live around the world via Twitch and YouTube.

Reprise your role as a supernatural assassin in Dishonored 2 – the next chapter in the award-winning Dishonored saga by Arkane Studios. Play your way in a world where mysticism and industry collide. Will you choose to play as Empress Emily Kaldwin or the royal protector, Corvo Attano? Will you make your way through the game unseen, make full use of its brutal combat system, or use a blend of both? How will you combine your character’s unique set of powers, weapons and gadgets to eliminate your enemies? The story responds to your choices, leading to intriguing outcomes, as you play through each of the game’s hand-crafted missions. 

ONE PIECE BURNING BLOOD Developer Diary #1 Released

ONE PIECE BURNING BLOOD Developer Diary #1 Released

Watch our exclusive developer diary with the team behind the upcoming One Piece Burning Blood. Look forward to three more videos as we get closer to the launch on June 3rd 2016!

Blood Bowl 2: The Norse team charges from the far north onto the field!

Blood Bowl 2: The Norse team charges from the far north onto the field!

Winter is coming to Blood Bowl 2 on PS4, Xbox One and PC 

Blood Bowl 2, the sequel to the video game adaptation of Games Workshop's famous board game that combines American football with the fantasy world of Warhammer, welcomes a new race on its pitch: The Norse. The new screenshots show off the fearsome Norse players, their impressive Big Guy and their bestial Star Players - all included in the Norse DLC available today on PS4, Xbox One and PC.

To respect the PC players of the first Blood Bowl game, which accumulated 23 races through 3 paying editions - we have heard their frustration - we decided to create the FOUNDERS INCENTIVE for PC players of Blood Bowl 2: players will receive the Norse, the Undead, the Necromantic and the Nurgle teams for free, as long as they purchased the game before the races release.



The Norse Team

Hailing from a far north peninsula of the Old World, Norsca, the Norse are fearsome warriors who naturally benefit from the Block skill - making a Norse line one of the more resilient Blood Bowl defensive walls. Norse players also have low Armour value, meaning they're built for dishing out damage, not taking it. We're excited to see how new Norse Coaches plan around the team's weaknesses and exploit their strengths.

The Norse DLC pack includes new types of players, including the Ulfwerener. These werewolves encourage damage-dealing plays with their high Strength and their brutal Frenzy skill. The Norse Big Guy is the Yhetee, a vicious Snow Troll with Claws built for shredding high armoured players. Finally, two Star Players are joining the Norse: Icepelt Hammerblow, Yhetee, and Wilhelm Chaney, Ulfwerener. 

VEEP: The Complete fourth season: DVD Review

VEEP: The Complete fourth season: DVD Review

Rating: R13
Released by Roadshow Home Ent and HBO

Seinfeld's Julia Louis Dreyfus continues her trajectory to America's comedic sweetheart with this latest seasons of the political comedy that's garnered her plenty of critical acclaim.

Starring as the president Selina Meyer, this latest season sees the likes of Hugh Laurie joining the comedy as Tom James alongside the likes of Anna Chlumsky and Tony Hale.

Razor sharp writing and an unique style help the season transition from contenders to White House dwellers, but as ever with VEEP, there are continuing situations to get under control from data breaches to freeing journalists.

As ever, VEEP manages the satirical incredibly well and thanks to the impressive work by the ensemble cast, the series is a must watch for any fans of comedy.

Captain America: Civil War: Film Review

Captain America: Civil War: Film Review

Cast: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Don Cheadle, Anthony Mackie, Jeremy Renner, Elisabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Paul Rudd, Tom Holland
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo

That the latest Captain America is perhaps one of the better Marvel entrants should come as no surprise, given how strong the first two of this trilogy have been.

That it achieves this with a taut mix of action, thrills, a re-invented Spider-man and a film of some degree of consequence should be no surprise either.

But that it manages to blindside you in its final act is the real surprise of the piece, whipping the carpet with such aplomb from under your weary cynical expectations of where the story may go.

Taking a lead from Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, the 13th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is all about collateral damage, both of the physical and emotional variety.

When Captain America's team inadvertently cause a series of deaths and destruction while trying to save the world, pressure grows to build a system of accountability for the Avengers and their ilk. But the proposed status quo fractures the Avengers, with Robert Downey Jr's Tony Stark in favour of it after his conscience is pricked by a mother whose son died in the events of Age of Ultron.  

However, Chris Evans' plucky straight arrow Steve Rogers isn't as in favour, fearing the bureaucracy could limit their abilities to save the world... and so, a show down is set between long time friends and new potential enemies.

Distraction is the name of a lot of the game here (complete with plenty of globe-trotting and juggling many balls in the air): and while many will head to this slightly overlong flick with the delicious anticipation of an Avengers internal clash (which delivers in a set piece that does what you'd expect), the larger joy in among all the buzz of the clearly and concisely executed CGI clashing, is that Captain America Civil War has the smarts to realise the smaller emotional moments of devastation as sides are drawn and friendships tested are where the true strength of the red white and blue lie. 

Captain America: Civil War is a film where the veracity of character moments shine and where the strength lies (something perhaps Guardians of the Galaxy realised earlier on and went to more comic extremes thereof) and not a routine rote CGI Smash-and-grab ending that has blighted the rest of these films.

It's in the heart of the film and the heart within the film that the success of this one lies - Cap's main raison d'etre is to do right by his old pal Bucky aka The Winter Soldier (Stan in an expanded role from previous outings) and his ethics come into direct contrast and clash with Stark's ideologies. The series has been building to this - and that it pays that set up off well is perhaps testament to not only the investment we've had in the characters but that also our patience to get to this point was tested too.

Both Evans and Downey Jr rise to the occasion, underplaying their hands respectively and helping ground the film in a more human edge that it needs.

It also helps that Captain America: Civil War proffers up some thrilling set pieces of action that dazzle with effortless ease, as well as some throwaway humour to enhance the engagement. 

When the visceral action is shorn of the CGI trickery, there are chase scenes that elicit gasps and dazzle with their freshness of execution - both Joe and Anthony Russo have managed to up the game once again with a clear concise vision of what the audience wants and what will engage the non-fans. (Although there is perhaps one or two mano-a-mano sequences too many).

Juggling the introduction of new characters into the MCU with ease and lack of distraction is not easy, but there won't be many who will come away feeling that the new faces are under-served (and perhaps Tom Holland as Spider-Man is the real find of the piece; a Peter Parker who is a kid from the comic-books). And don't even get me started on the energy that Paul Rudd brings to the piece with his spiky electric Ant-Man.

Daniel Bruhl also deserves commendation for his mournful role - it's a smaller, more subtle touch that he brings and his involvement in the piece provides more than can be discussed in this spoiler-free review.

That said, Captain America: Civil War is not perfect.

For a film about consequence, there are still troublingly less than realistic physical ramifications for the central gang - while there are thrills to see Cap and Iron-Man go at it, there's never really a feeling that either will fall (and perhaps nor should there be) but there is a feeling of seeding of buds of emotional unrest that will continue to ripple out.

And some characters fall by the wayside as the third act plays out, simply fading away into the peripherary as their narrative use loses traction.

Equally, at 2 hours 27 minutes, it's overlong in the final stretch but it's hard to say where the trim could have come from. This is a film that feels full, but never bloated; an important distinction as the past transgressions storylines come to a head and the Captain America trilogy wraps up.

Ultimately, while there had been signs of apathy threatening to overtake the onslaught of Marvel Cinematic Universe films (stand by for Doctor Strange, coming soon), Captain America: Civil War emerges as a contender as one of the best of the run, thanks to character moments, limited chaos and a concisely executed and fresher vision of what a genuine action blockbuster can offer.


Rating:

New Call of Duty announced

New Call of Duty announced

CALL OF DUTY: INFINITE WARFARE REDEFINES THE FRANCHISE WITH CLASSIC WAR STORY IN A BOLD, NEW SETTING

All-New Call of Duty Arrives on Friday, November 4

Acclaimed Studio Team at Infinity Ward to Deliver Timeless Hero’s Journey, Immense Multiplayer Action and Original Zombies Experience

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Legacy and Digital Deluxe Editions Includes

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered for the Ultimate Fan Package

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND. – May 3, 2016 – Call of Duty® is returning to its roots for a classic, epic battle of two armies unlike anything seen before in the record-setting series. Call of Duty®: Infinite Warfare will launch worldwide Friday, November 4, immersing players in a war story that, for the first time in franchise history, extends beyond the reaches of Earth into the vast expanse of our solar system. Published by Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard (Nasdaq: ATVI), and led by Infinity Ward, Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare will also be available as the Infinite Warfare Legacy Edition, which includes the return of the full campaign and 10 multiplayer maps from the famed Call of Duty® 4: Modern Warfare®, released in high-definition brilliance as Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® Remastered*.

Infinite Warfare and the Infinite Warfare Legacy Edition, featuring Modern Warfare® Remastered, will be available for PlayStation® 4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, and PC.

“This year, we’re both honouring the heritage of Call of Duty while taking players to incredible new heights," said Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing. “Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare is a bold, new vision from the studio that created the original Call of Duty and Modern Warfare, and an adventure on an insanely epic scale that only Call of Duty could deliver. And Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered is one of the most beloved games of all-time, reborn for a new generation. We have lovingly remastered it with a whole new level of graphical fidelity and realism that wasn’t possible when the original was released. It’s going to be a great year for Call of Duty players.”

“With Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, we are taking Call of Duty to places fans have never experienced in the series,” said Dave Stohl, Studio Head of Infinity Ward. “On one hand, this game is the kind of gritty, boots on the ground, visceral war story that Call of Duty is known for. On the other, its future setting takes players on a journey of epic scale and proportions, providing incredible gameplay innovations and new experiences for our fans. This is a grand scale, old-school, all-out war in an epic new-school setting. And it’s going to be a hell of a lot of fun.” 

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare puts storytelling front and centre in a rich, immersive narrative. Infinity Ward breaks new ground by exploring the weight of leadership and its responsibilities. In a desperate time of overwhelming adversity, the player, as Captain of their own warship, must take command against a relentless enemy. Experienced soldiers are thrust into extraordinary circumstances that will test their training and reveal their true character as they learn to lead and to make the hard decisions necessary to achieve victory. The game also introduces stunning, never before seen environments, new weaponry, and inventive player abilities to Call of Duty. The entire campaign – from boots-on-ground combat to piloting high speed space-fighters – occurs as a near seamless experience with few visible loading times, and delivers the hallmark, blockbuster franchise moments that fans love.

For online action, Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare promises to strike with maximum impact in a world where every second counts as it delivers the future of warfare. The game’s Multiplayer mode features an evolution of Call of Duty’s movement system with an emphasis on front-line engagement. Additionally, Infinite Warfare will introduce an original cooperative Zombies mode that takes players on a wild ride through a new storyline with unique gameplay features and mechanics. More details about multiplayer and the new zombies experience will be announced at a later date.

One of the most critically acclaimed titles in the series, inspired by overwhelming community interest, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is being remastered for current generation consoles. Executive produced by Infinity Ward and developed by Raven Software, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered* puts players into a modern-day action-thriller filled with the heart-stopping moments that made it one of the most critically-acclaimed games of all-time.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered boasts vibrant current generation visuals, with fully improved texture resolution and detail, high-dynamic range lighting, lit and shadowing VFX particles, revamped animation and audio, stunning sound, and much more. Fans will relive the full, iconic campaign as they’re transported around the globe with Capt. Price, Gaz and Soap across all the missions from the original game, including “All Ghillied Up,” “Charlie Don’t Surf,” and “Crew Expendable.” Players will also experience the online multiplayer mode that redefined Call of Duty by introducing killstreaks, XP, Prestige and more, and battle head-to-head in 10 fan-favourite maps from the original multiplayer mode, including classics such as “Crash,” “Backlot” and “Crossfire.”

“The original Modern Warfare raised the bar on video games and forever will be remembered as one of the best. It’s an honour to be developing the remaster and we are committed to faithfully remastering this classic for Call of Duty fans,” stated Brian Raffel, studio head of Raven Software.  

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered* is included with the following editions of Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare:

·         Legacy Edition and Digital Legacy Edition – Includes both Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered.

·         Digital Deluxe Edition – Includes Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered and Season Pass.

·         Legacy Pro Edition – Includes Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered, Season Pass, collectible Steelbook^TM, official game soundtrack and additional digital items.

*Check local retailers for availability of all Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Editions.

*Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered contains only 10 MP maps from the original Call of Duty: Modern Warfare game.  Modern Warfare Remastered is a full game download.  Internet connection required.  For more information, please visit www.callofduty.com/MWR_FAQ.

For the latest intel, check out: www.callofduty.com, www.youtube.com/callofduty or follow @CallofDuty and @InfinityWard on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.  Call of Duty: Infinite Warfareis scheduled for release on PlayStation® 4 system, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, and PC.  The title is not yet rated.

Silicon Valley Season 2: Blu Ray Review

Silicon Valley Season 2: Blu Ray Review

Rating: R16
Released by Warner Home Video

In the second series of the brilliant Silicon Valley, it's back to our inept team of wannabes at Pied Piper as they continue their slow ascent to greatness.

This year, the gang are faced with the death of one of their potential buyers and threatened with lawsuits from Google rip-off Hooli, as well as forced to deal with the potential theft of their algorithm.

But it all builds up to a shock at the end of the season when the CEO of Pied Piper faces an insurmountable threat that could ruin their future as a company.

Treading the fine line between awkward and hilarious, Silicon Valley's second season remains as fresh as the first with the politics of corporations coming under scrutiny as much as the inept leadership of start ups.

Both Thomas Middleditch (as Hendricks) and TJ Miller (as Bachman) stand out in a cast that impresses all around. While they're given the majority of the dramatic weight, they're still prone to the more slapstick elements of the stories. However, there's equally enough from the rest of the ensemble who find themselves in situations beyond their control.

Funny, satirical and strongly written Silicon Valley Season 2 remains as fresh as the first season. With the third season on the way, there are no signs of this slowing down and no signs yet of any of the writing starting to flag.