Nintendo Reveals New Partnerships And First Indie Games Coming To Nintendo eShop On Nintendo Switch

Nintendo Reveals New Partnerships And First Indie Games Coming To Nintendo eShop On Nintendo Switch

NINTENDO REVEALS NEW PARTNERSHIPS AND FIRST INDIE GAMES COMING TO NINTENDO eSHOP ON NINTENDO SWITCH

More than 60 quality indie games confirmed for Nintendo Switch throughout 2017

1^st March 2017 – The Nintendo Switch console launches on 3^rd March, and people can expect an exciting line-up of games on Nintendo eShop for day one and beyond. Nintendo has been working closely with independent publishers and developers to deliver a steady flow of unique and original experiences to Nintendo eShop.

More than 60 quality indie games are confirmed for Nintendo Switch this year alone, and many games take advantage of unique Nintendo Switch features, including multiple play modes (TV mode, handheld mode, tabletop mode), flexible control options, local and online multiplayer*, and innovative Joy-Con functionality like HD rumble. In a Nintendo Switch Nindies Showcase video, Nintendo highlighted some of these games that are in development.

To view the Nintendo Switch Nindies Showcase video in its entirety, visit the Nintendo Australia and New Zealand YouTube channel. Along with Nintendo Switch exclusives and timed exclusives, some of the highlights revealed in the video include:

• Runner3 from Choice Provisions: Runner3 continues the joyous adventures of CommanderVideo from BIT.TRIP RUNNER and Runner2. Players will encounter quests, branching paths, item shops, new Retro Challenges, new character moves, new dance moves, and a roster of characters that somehow manages to rival the strangeness of Runner2. The game is scheduled to launch exclusively for Nintendo Switch this spring.
• SteamWorld Dig 2 from Image & Form Games: In the sequel to the award-winning original you must dig deep, gain riches and explore an underworld riddled with danger. The game is scheduled to launch this winter.
• Yooka-Laylee from Team17 and Playtonic Games: Explore huge, beautiful worlds, meet an unforgettable cast of characters and horde a vault-load of shiny collectibles as buddy-duo Yooka (the green one) and Laylee (the wisecracking bat with the big nose). The buddy-duo platformer is coming to Nintendo Switch soon, with multiplayer functionality perfect for the system.
• Blaster Master Zero from Inti Creates: The same elements that made the original Blaster Master a hit are back, including side-scrolling vehicular combat, top-down adventuring and a huge sci-fi landscape, in addition to a host of new and improved gameplay systems. The game includes a two-player mode and will have numerous character cameos coming soon. Blaster Master Zero launches exclusively on both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS family systems in March.
• Pocket Rumble from Chucklefish Games and Cardboard Robot Games: This deep 2D fighter makes players want to throw down, anywhere, anytime. The battles get even more intense with the inclusion of HD rumble: when players get hit by a weak attack, it’ll feel very different from getting rocked by a strong one. The game is scheduled to launch as a console exclusive for Nintendo Switch in March.
• Flipping Death from Zoink Games: Welcome to Flatwood Peaks, a small whimsical town with a problem – Death is on vacation. Play as Penny and help the ghosts with their peculiar problems on The Otherside. This puzzling adventure game is scheduled to come to Nintendo Switch later this year.
• Mr. Shifty from tinyBuild and Team Shifty: Shift through bullets, and master lightning-fast takedowns in a new kind of action game. Mr. Shifty follows a teleportation-fuelled heist to break into the world's most secure facility. Shift through walls, through bullets, cover huge distances and be everywhere at once. One shot kills. Survive on skills. HD rumble allows players to feel every punch, shot and crash. The game is scheduled to launch first on Nintendo Switch this April.
• WarGroove from Chucklefish Games: This turn-based strategy game offers local and online** matches for one to four players. The game is scheduled to launch later this year.
• Stardew Valley from Chucklefish Games and ConcernedApe: Nintendo Switch will be the first console to support the game’s new multiplayer feature. The open-ended, country-life RPG is scheduled to launch this winter.
• Shakedown Hawaii from vBlank: This 16-bit spiritual successor to Retro City Rampage aims to be twice as good with twice the bits. From the boardroom to the streets, Shakedown Hawaii parodies big business and the white collar crimes that go alongside. Build your empire, monopolize the markets and collaterally re-zone the island’s destructible sandbox. It’s scheduled to launch first on Nintendo Switch this April.
• Graceful Explosion Machine from Vertex Pop: Skilfully pilot the advanced Graceful Explosion Machine (GEM) fighter while blasting swarms of crystalline enemies with your ludicrously overpowered quad-weapon array. This side-scrolling arcade shooter features HD rumble support, which means players will really be able to feel those machines explode. The game is scheduled to launch this April.
• Tumbleseed from aeiowu: A small seed heads up a mountain to save his home in this physics-based puzzle game. More than 30 unique upgrades help the seed overcome challenges and enemies. HD rumble means players will feel seeds traversing across the screen. The game is scheduled to launch on Nintendo Switch this autumn.
• Overcooked: Special Edition from Team17 and Ghost Town Games: In Overcooked, players must journey through a variety of cruel and unusual kitchens on their quest to become master chefs capable of conquering an ancient edible evil which plagues the land. Play solo or engage in classic, chaotic couch co-op for up to four players in both co-operative and competitive challenge modes. The special edition features the original game, plus all of the DLC. HD rumble integration means players can feel every chop through a tomato and the slosh of soup in a pot. Overcooked: Special Edition is coming later this year.
• The Escapists 2 from Team17: The sequel to the hugely popular prison escape series supports drop-in/drop-out co-op for up to four players***. Players can tie together knotted sheets and use them to climb down high windows in new multi-level prisons and find other new ways to make a break for freedom. The Escapists 2 is coming later this year.
• GoNNER from Raw Fury and Art In Heart: GoNNER is a score-based, procedurally generated platformer with roguelike elements. GoNNER is also a story about friendship between Ikk, Death and a space whale named Sally. The console version of the game launches first on Nintendo Switch with additional content tailor-made for the console later this year.
• Kingdom: Two Crowns from Raw Fury and Noio: In Kingdom: Two Crowns, attend to your domain, border to border, or venture into the wild to discover its wonders and threats. First revealed today, two players can come together in co-op mode to rule a kingdom. Their choices bring hope or despair to their subjects. The game is scheduled to launch later this year.
• Dandara from Raw Fury and Long Hat House: Dandara has awoken to reshape the world. In this strange world of quirky characters, nothing is as it seems. In this bizarre, gravity- bending world with hidden beauty, it's up to Dandara, jumping from surface to surface, to restore order and direct a directionless world. The game is scheduled to launch on Nintendo Switch this winter with exclusive features and functionality, including HD rumble support.

To access Nintendo eShop, a system update that will be available on launch day is required. The system update downloads in the background, is designed to install quickly and doesn't disrupt gameplay.

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands - A World With No Heroes

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands - A World With No Heroes

DISCOVER ‘A WORLD WITH NO HEROES’ EXPERIENCE WEBSITE & EXPLORE THE WILDLANDS.

SYDNEY, AUSTRLIA — March 1, 2017 — Ubisoft has announced that the Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands ‘A World With No Heroes’ experience website is now available allowing all fans to discover the full map of the Wildlands.

To view the trailer click the image below

‘A World With No Heroes’, a digital experience available on mobile and desktop* let’s players discover the vast and living open-world of Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands before the Ghosts’ arrival in Bolivia. Composed of 50 cameras displayed into the full in-game 3D map, ‘A World With No Heroes’ allows players to witness suspicious activities and recon various intel across the 21 various provinces of the game as the Cartel takes control. By collecting enough information, players will get rewarded with an in-game bonus pack, including customization badges and limited XP booster for the main game. The experience is available** from  https://noheroes.ghostrecon.com/en-GB/index.html

Set in the largest action-adventure open world ever created by Ubisoft, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands takes place in Bolivia, a few years from now, as the country has been turned by the vicious Santa Blanca drug cartel into a narco-state. Players are tasked with eliminating the cartel by any means necessary. The massive and responsive open world encourages a variety of playstyles allowing players the freedom to choose how they execute any and all missions.

New Alien Covenant trailer drops

New Alien Covenant trailer drops

A brand new trailer for Alien Covenant has just been released.

Take a look at the Ridley Scott helmed Alien Covenant below:

Critically Acclaimed 'The Walking Dead: The Telltale Series - A New Frontier' Now Available at Retail

Critically Acclaimed 'The Walking Dead: The Telltale Series - A New Frontier' Now Available at Retail

Critically Acclaimed  'The Walking Dead: The Telltale Series - A New Frontier'  Now Available at Retail Series Continues with Episode 3: 'Above the Law' Arriving in March

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Feb. 28, 2017 -- Leading publisher of digital entertainment Telltale Games and Robert Kirkman's Skybound Entertainment, announced today that the critically acclaimed The Walking Dead: The Telltale Series - A New Frontier is now available on a special season pass disc at retail.   Beginning today at North American retailers, and March 3rd at European retailers, The Walking Dead: The Telltale Series - A New Frontier is available for purchase on a special Season Pass Disc for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles. The season pass disc includes the critically acclaimed two-part premiere episodes, and grants access to all subsequent episodes in the five episode season for download as they become available.  The two-part premiere of The Walking Dead: The Telltale Series - A New Frontier launched to widespread critical acclaim. In their review of the premiere, IGN.com said that, "Smart characterization and writing for Javi and his family, plus the return of Clementine, add weight to a largely unfamiliar but already engaging new frontier that I can't wait to continue to explore," adding that its "uncharted territory feels familiar and, excitingly, fresh." GamesRadar said that A New Frontier, "demonstrates the resonant power of interactive storytelling," and that it, "finds the right balance between rewarding longtime players who've shaped their own version of the story and welcoming those who might be hopping aboard this grim adventure for the first time." Game Informer said the two-part premiere has, "shocking deaths, intense betrayals, and split-second decisions to second-guess," claiming that "Everything leads up to a hell of a cliffhanger, making me intrigued to see what happens next."  The series is set to continue with the much-anticipated Episode 3: 'Above the Law' debuting later in March. Look for more details on the episode in the coming weeks.  When family is all you have left... how far will you go to protect it? Years after society was ripped apart by undead hands, pockets of civilization emerge from the chaos. But at what cost? Can the living be trusted on this new frontier? As Javier, a young man determined to protect his family, you meet a young girl who has experienced her own unimaginable loss. Her name is Clementine, and your fates are bound together in a story where every choice you make could be your last.   The Walking Dead: A New Frontier acts as both a new beginning for players fresh to the series and unfamiliar with Clementine, as well as a continuation for players who have experienced Seasons One and Two. Players new to the series are able to start a story that is tailored to this new beginning. Players continuing onward from prior seasons have multiple options for quickly configuring their tailored backstory, or importing past save files from various platforms.   The Walking Dead: The Telltale Series - A New Frontier Episode One: 'Ties That Bind' Part I is rated 'M' (Mature) for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, and Use of Drugs by the ESRB. Episode Two: 'Ties That Bind' Part II is rated 'M' (Mature) for Violence, Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, and Strong Language by the ESRB. Future content in the season is yet to be rated.   To date, The Walking Dead: A Telltale Games Series has sold more than 50 million episodes worldwide, earning more than 100 Game of the Year awards from outlets including Metacritic, USA Today, Wired, Spike TV VGAs, Yahoo!, The Telegraph, Mashable, Polygon, Destructoid and GamesRadar, and was also the recipient of two BAFTA Video Games Awards for Best Story and Best Mobile Game.    The Walking Dead is set in the world of Robert Kirkman's award-winning comic book series and offers an emotionally-charged, tailored game experience where a player's actions and choices affect how their story plays out across the entire series.

GTA Online Stunt Race Event: New Races, Double Cash, Unlockable Stunt Suit & More

GTA Online Stunt Race Event: New Races, Double Cash, Unlockable Stunt Suit & More

Suit up, strap in and get ready for the 2017 GTA Online Stunt Race Event, featuring 15 brand new Stunt Races plus Double GTA$ & RP across the full spectrum of Rockstar Created and Rockstar Verified Stunt Races. Find the Stunt Series icon to quickly jump straight into the racing action and claim the dashing Pink Jock Cranley endorsed Stunt Jumpsuit just for logging in.

NEW ROCKSTAR CREATED STUNT RACES

All the hair-raising thrills and stomach-churning twists from Stunt Races are back and bigger than ever with 15 brand new Rockstar Created tracks. You'll race up glass towers, plummet through clouds, dodge turbines and clatter though bowling pins on your way to the finish line. We've updated the in-game Stunt Series on your map with these new Races, but you can also bookmark them individually on Social Club using the links below:

Green Machine | In The City | Raton | Around The Docks | Pier Race | Big Drop | Trench III | Spinner | 45° | Mountain Drop | Gauntlet | Plummet II | Big M | Lift Off| Wall Climb

To reward adrenaline junkies for their bravery (and lunacy), we're offering Double GTA$ & RP on all Rockstar Created and Verified Stunt Races from today through March 13th.

STUNT IN STYLE

There's no point in barrel-rolling through a ring of fire while flipping off your adversaries unless you look the part while you're doing it. Tackle the new Stunt Races in style with the Pink Stunt Jumpsuit, a free unlock for all who log onto GTA Online at any point between now and March 13th.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE

Since we're celebrating the arrival of 15 new Stunt Races, it only makes sense to discount some of the hallmark vehicles and clothing of Cunning Stunts now through March 13th. Enjoy 25% off the following: 

• Annis RE-7B 
• Emperor ETR1 
• Vapid Desert Raid
• Vapid Trophy Truck 
• Obey Omnis 
• Lampadati Tropos Rallye 
• Liveries
• Stunt Tattoos 
• Stunt Clothing 

And for multi-tasking Stunt Racers with fledgling criminal enterprises, invest your hard earned 2x GTA$ into a Vehicle Warehouse for 25% off, which brings missions to steal and deal vehicles for a profit and unlocks access to Special Vehicles.

PREMIUM RACE SCHEDULE:

• 2/28 - 3/6: "Pier Race" (Locked to Super class vehicles)
• 3/7 - 3/13: "In The City" (Locked to Sports class vehicles)

Launch Premium Races through the Quick Job App on your in-game phone or via the yellow corona at Legion Square. Premium Races pay out GTA$ winnings for the top 3 finishers and all racers receive Triple RP.

TIME TRIALS SCHEDULE: 

• 2/27 - 3/5: "Up-n-Atom"
• 3/6 - 3/12: "Maze Bank Arena"

Set a Waypoint to the Time Trials marker on your map and enter via the purple corona, then beat the par time to reap sizable GTA$ & RP rewards.

Alliance French Film Festival Q&A with director Dorothée Basel

Alliance French Film Festival Q&A with director Dorothée Basel

Before settling in New Zealand with her Kiwi husband and two children in 2015, Dorothée Basel worked in film distribution and on festivals in England and Germany. With an M.A. degree in Film and English studies from the Free University of Berlin, Germany, Dorothée worked on the Semaine du Film Français, the French Film Festival, in Berlin for several years, showcasing French contemporary and classic cinema. Dorothée also has an extensive background in distributing and presenting repertoire, ‘classic’, cinema, especially from East Germany.

You've got quite a prestigious background in cinema abroad in Europe - how do we differ in approaches to film compared to there?

The main difference would probably be that in Europe you have an easier access to the films of other nations and cultures. The film choice at an arthouse cinema in the larger French or German cities would definitely be very wide and international. But then I was surprised and impressed to see how many foreign films make it to NZ screens. And the reception the Alliance Française French Film Festival receives here every year underlines that interest and open mindedness to other cultures and languages.
Having a bi-cultural background myself and working here in NZ representing a different culture but bringing it to a NZ audience, I wanted to put a focus on co-productions and francophonie in the Festival. A programme section such as ‘Across the Borders’ puts forward co-productions and a creative exchange between countries and cultures that also leads to a transformation of identity (for the characters in the films).

There's a focus this year on female directors - what are the talents in the programme this time and how do you feel movements like 52 Films by Women is helping to change things?

When I started selecting films for the programme I quickly noticed how many films were made by women directors. From original first feature films such as Baden Baden by Rachel Lang to award-winning Festival titles such as Things to Come by Mia Hansen-Løve (Best Director, Berlin 2016), there are films of all genres and topics. So putting these films in a section ‘Women to the Fore’ offers the chance to present some of the very talented women filmmakers working in France today, telling stories from a particular feminine point of view, films on unusual and strong women (150 Milligrams by Emmanuelle Bercot or In Bed with Victoria by Justine Triet). Across the other programme sections are another 6 films by women directors, so maybe making films in France and being a woman is something quite ‘normal’.
However raising awareness on gender inequalities, differences in access to jobs and education due to gender etc., remains important everywhere and in any professional field.
So specialised film festivals presenting films by women or campaigns such as #52FilmsByWomen help to raise awareness and also offer a platform for distinct female voices and point of views that otherwise might not get heard.

Rebecca Zlotowski is going to be a guest for screenings of Planetarium, what can we expect from the film and the Q&As?

Rebecca Zlotowski has a great talent for emotionally dense stories and impressive cinematography. This is particularly highlighted in her latest film Planetarium, set in Paris in the 1930s in the cinema milieu and starring Natalie Portman and Lily-Rose Depp (both fluent in French). The film offers a great story, convincing acting and beautiful set and costume design. Rebecca has quite a visionary approach to story telling and the mise-en-scène that will captivate the audience I am sure. The Q&As we will run at the screenings in Wellington (12 March) and Auckland (13 March) should be very inspiring. Furthermore Script to Screen and WIFT New Zealand offer a masterclass in Auckland (13 March) which will focus on a detailed discussion of the script of Planetarium and how to bring the script to the screen.
The attendance of a filmmaker from France means a lot to the Festival as it offers a unique chance to get in touch with the audience here and also build ties between the New Zealand and French film industry.

How do you rate France's film output at the moment, - is the industry starting to shape products based on their reactions to horrific events like what transpired at the Bataclan?

France’s film output remains one of the strongest worldwide. It’s the second largest film exporter after the USA and every year there are about 300 feature films produced.
The quality of French cinema is that it remains so diverse, offering a wide range of talents, producing films of all genres. And a credit given to French cinema in general is that the characters are often so real and credible. True stories are told about real people.
We have several films in the programme that tackle more challenging issues and reflect concerns of contemporary society today. I would like to mention here the ‘cinema engagé’ of the Dardenne brothers (The Unknown Girl) or the film A Decent Man by Emmanuel Finkiel. A first film not a direct answer to the Bataclan events, but a film that raises strong questions about violence and self justice.

I'm quite intrigued by your animated offering, Adama, what can you tell us about this?

The films offered this year in the section for the younger audience ‘Education Outreach’ are films that present rather serious issues. Be it mourning and growing up (My Mommy is in America), the First and the Second World War (Adama, Fanny’s Journey) or a difficult adolescence (Standing Tall, presented in cross-section with the main programme), the characters in the films have to face quite harsh realities. However, what all films have in common is an unshakable belief and optimism and the strength of friendship. The film Adama is particularly fascinating. Retelling an initiation story of a young African boy who travels to the war front of WW I in Verdun in search of his brother, the film brings a new perspective on the Great War. The colonial past is evoked, a different spiritual way of seeing the world is suggested and here again the strength of childhood beliefs are put forward. Technically the film is also very interesting, mixing drawing, painting, modelling and 3D techniques which add to the realism of the film.

You're travelling the breadth of the country, taking in some real differing centres. Outside of the metropolitan areas, how does the festival go down?

I find it fascinating to make a Festival not only aimed at the audience in the larger city but at an audience across New Zealand. From Auckland to Dunedin the Festival is presented in 12 cities. This wide network of Festival venues has partly been established through the presence of the Alliance Française and its French associations in 9 of these cities. However we experience that the reception of the Festival is particularly positive in the smaller centres where this event has clearly become an established date in the annual cultural calendar.

You must be expecting the Umbrellas of Cherbourg to be popular, given the success of La La Land…

It’s wonderful to see how a film genre such as the musical, so popular during the height of US studio cinema in the 30s-50s, can get a ‘rejuvenation’ and attract a new audience. Jacques Demy in his ‘comédies musicales’ of the 1960s brought the genre a daring step further, making a melodrama entirely sung and danced (all dialogue is sung), an opera of the everyday. Audiences can expect an explosion of colours and dance and a beautiful young Catherine Deneuve. Associating this classic in our programme with the modern Julie and the Shoe Factory (a musical and social comedy!) and also pairing a classic film noir (Le Doulos) with a modern genre example (Dark Diamond), offers the chance to shine a fresh light on classic cinema in general.

Give me your audience-pleasing 3 picks from the festival and explain why they will rate well with cinema-goers

There are of course films with ever-popular actors that will definitely appeal to a larger crowd: Omar Sy in Monsieur Chocolat, Dany Boon in Penny Pincher! and Gérard Depardieu in Saint Amour. On the actresses side, films with Isabelle Huppert (Things to Come), Nathalie Baye (Moka and It’s Only the End of the World) and Marion Cotillard (From the Land of the Moon and It’s Only the End of the World), films that should all be popular.
But I would like to mention here a few of the ‘feel good movies’ we have programmed: the very charming One Man and his Cow, a road movie on an Algerian farmer and his cow travelling by foot up to Paris; the romantic comedy Just to be Sure with François Damiens and Cécile de France that we show as a world premiere and the very entertaining Up for Love with Jean Dujardin and Virginie Efira.
But there are thrillers, films noirs, comedies, dramas, romances, films that offer to travel the world and a world of emotions and all en français bien sûr, I am sure everyone will find their favourite pick.

What is your top film and why?
This question is impossible to answer as I have at least one favourite in each programme section and this would already be 8 top films… Our opening and closing night films, The Odyssey and A Journey Through French Cinema maybe sum up all the richness French cinema and this year’s programme has to offer: moving stories, great actors, captivating cinematography and the continuity of film history, both guarantee an eventful journey.
But if I have to name just one film, I will go for Baden Baden by Rachel Lang: highly original, funny and serious, introducing new faces and talents, a film by a woman, a beautiful portrait of an everyday moment and deeper reflection on life.

How do you see the future of the French Film festival developing and what would you like to see next year?
The Festival has grown a lot over the last ten years, adding new venues and cities to the Festival circuit each year. We still do get new requests to play the Festival in other venues. An idea for 2018 could be to present a ‘Best of’ in selected additional venues.
Each year will of course request its new programming and artistic development. Looking at the emerging talents I see promising material for many Festivals to come.

Full details of the Alliance French Film Festival can be found here - allons-y!

Introducing Xbox Game Pass: Unlimited Access to Over 100 Games

Introducing Xbox Game Pass: Unlimited Access to Over 100 Games

Today, Xbox announced a new gaming subscription service called Xbox Game Pass, which gives you unlimited access to over 100 Xbox One and Xbox 360 backward compatible games on Xbox One for NZ$10.95 a month.

Xbox Game Pass will begin rolling out to select members of the Xbox Insider Program at 6 a.m. PST today, and will launch to the broader community later this spring - US. If you’re part of the Xbox Insider Program and would like to take the update right away, you’ll need to reboot your Xbox One; otherwise, Xbox Game Pass should appear on your dashboard within an hour or so.

A few things about Xbox Insider Program:

·         As is common with new features and programs going into preview, Xbox Game Pass will be an early build with some feature limitations and will not be on par with the final experience that will be available later this spring.

·         Most notable for users in the Xbox Insider Program will be a limited catalogue (i.e. approximately 20 titles in preview, many of them arcade) and potentially some slight tweaks to the user interface. Most AAA titles in the Xbox Game Pass catalogue will begin appearing in when the program launches to the broader Xbox community later this spring.

·         You can expect to run into bugs while in the Xbox Insider Program. Note that the main focus of Preview is to test features and report bugs so the team can refine the experience before it launches broadly.

·         Xbox Game Pass will initially launch to the Xbox Insider Program without full localisation, meaning the product description and channel names will appear in English. When the program launches to the broader Xbox community later this spring, the product description and channel names will be localised appropriately.

Some of the great titles coming later this spring when Xbox Game Pass launches to the broader Xbox community include: “Halo 5: Guardians,” “Saints Row IV Re-Elected,” “NBA 2K16,” “Mad Max,” “LEGO Batman,” “Mega Man Legacy Collection,” “Terraria,” “Payday 2,” “Gears of War: Ultimate Edition,” “Fable III,” “SoulCalibur II” and “Tekken Tag 2.” Note that these titles will not be part of the Xbox Insider Program.

Horizon Zero Dawn: PS4 Review

Horizon Zero Dawn: PS4 Review

Developed by Guerrilla Games
Platform: PS4

Delivering a new IP is not an easy task these days.

In the gaming world, sequels and established titles rule and creativity is largely confined to indie games.

However, Guerrilla Games has just changed all that with the dropping of Horizon Zero Dawn, a new IP and a game that would easily and safely be a contender for Game of The Year come December time.

Set in a post-post apocalyptic world of Earth where nature has taken back the planet and where robot creatures / animals roam the countryside, this third-person action game sees you taking on the role of the outcast Aloy.

With her ginger hair and outcast status, Aloy's aloof in a world of tribes and desperate to know why she's been so removed from the world she lives in. With her trusted carer from birth, Rost, himself outlawed for their connection, Aloy must find her way in the world and discover the mysteries within.

However, with this massive world, side quests and other things to do such as salvage parts from hunting the beasts within, Horizon Zero Dawn has a hell of a lot of stuff to do. From setting traps and using trip wires to snare the metallic beasts, the game's quick to introduce you to a world that feels natural and feels rich in both wildlife and story.

Even though some of the dialogue and interactions can feel a little clunky as you negotiate your way through the world of Aloy and her awakening, the choices you make bring different facets of Aloy to life. From a simple interaction to helping others with their plights, the difference to her is marked. Be it showing empathy or giving you a feeling of her loneliness for being cast out for reasons unknown to a child, there are moments of great heart with Horizon Zero Dawn waiting to be explored.

Equally, there are moments of wonderment too.

The nature and robotic creatures are excellently realised. From the Raptor-like Watchers stalking the undergrowth to the Strider horse like creatures, all efforts from Guerrilla have gone into ensuring this feels like a David Attenborough Walking With Robot Dinosaurs writ large. Either from the small head movements of the creatures or the way they stick to packs when attacked, everything feels like a metal evolution of the animal kingdom - and it's intoxicating to behold.

Crafting, collecting and attacking feels like a mesh between Far Cry and Tomb Raider's collective ethos, but that's no bad thing and as you build your skill set and weapon traits, the game's opening up feels more intuitive. It's a good thing too as you can't simply wallop a creature with a spear later on, ensuring you need to apply your hunter mentality to guaranteeing your health doesn't take a major beating.

As the game opens up beyond its initial small yet somehow big scale, it's quite jaw-dropping. From an uptick in the creatures that roam and threaten to what you can do - corrupting machines and riding them, setting up other quests and side missions; you could spend your time doing anything but the main story missions. The scope is incredible and will eat plenty of your time with ease.

All in all, Horizon Zero Dawn is a great open world game - there's more than a lot to do, and more than a lot will be rewarded in the exploring. While some of the more human elements and the basics are a little clunky at times, the lushly rendered environments and the critters within more than make up for the shortcomings.

It's to be hoped there's more to come from Aloy's world because Horizon Zero Dawn does much to ensure that deep diving into it pays off in spades.

Win a Horizon Zero Dawn prize pack

Win a Horizon Zero Dawn prize pack

Horizon Zero Dawn™ an exhilarating new action role playing game exclusively for the PlayStation 4 system, developed by the award winning Guerrilla Games, creators of PlayStation’s venerated Killzone franchise. As Horizon Zero Dawn’s main protagonist Aloy, a skilled hunter, explore a vibrant and lush world inhabited by mysterious mechanized creatures.

Embark on a compelling, emotional journey and unravel mysteries of tribal societies, ancient artifacts and advanced technologies that will determine the fate of this planet, and of life itself.


KEY FEATURES

A Lush Post-Apocalyptic World – How have machines dominated this world, and what is their purpose? What happened to the civilization here before? Scour every corner of a realm filled with ancient relics and mysterious buildings in order to uncover your past and unearth the many secrets of a forgotten land.

Nature and Machines Collide – Horizon Zero Dawn juxtaposes two contrasting elements, taking a vibrant world rich with beautiful nature and filling it with awe-inspiring highly advanced technology. This marriage creates a dynamic combination for both exploration and gameplay.

Defy Overwhelming Odds – The foundation of combat in Horizon Zero Dawn is built upon the speed and cunning of Aloy versus the raw strength and size of the machines. In order to overcome a much larger and technologically superior enemy, Aloy must use every ounce of her knowledge, intelligence, and agility to survive each encounter.

Cutting Edge Open World Tech: Stunningly detailed forests, imposing mountains, and atmospheric ruins of a bygone civilization meld together in a landscape that is alive with changing weather systems and a full day/night cycle.

Horizon Zero Dawn hits PlayStation 4 exclusively from March 1st and now you can win a prize pack, including a copy of the game and T-shirt!

All you have to do is tell me Who is the Star of Horizon Zero Dawn?

To enter simply answer this question and email your answer to this address: darrensworldofentertainment@gmail.com or CLICK HERE NOW!

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Middle Earth: Shadow OF War Announced

Middle Earth: Shadow OF War Announced
 

WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES 

MIDDLE-EARTH: SHADOW OF WAR, SEQUEL TO CRITICALLY-ACCLAIMED MIDDLE-EARTH: SHADOW OF MORDOR

Monolith Productions Expands on the Award-Winning Nemesis System and Offers Each Player Unique Personal Game Worlds

Sydney, Australia. – February 28, 2017 – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment today announced Middle-earth: Shadow of War™, the sequel to the critically-acclaimed Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor™, winner of more than 50 industry awards, including 2015 Game Developers Choice Awards’ Game of the Year, Outstanding Innovation in Gaming at the 2015 D.I.C.E. Awards and the BAFTA for Game Design. Developed by Monolith Productions, Middle-earth: Shadow of War features an original story with the return of Talion and Celebrimbor, who must go behind enemy lines to forge an army and turn all of Mordor against the Dark Lord, Sauron.

The official Middle-earth: Shadow of War Announcement Trailer can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlZc8dPRrbs

In Middle-earth: Shadow of War, players wield a new Ring of Power and confront the deadliest of enemies, including Sauron and his Nazgul, in a monumental battle for Middle-earth. The open-world action-adventure game is brought to life through the expansion of the award-winning Nemesis System. The robust personalization from the first game is now applied to the entire world where the environments and characters are all shaped by player actions and decisions, creating a personal world unique to every gameplay experience. 

Middle-earth: Shadow of War will be available for Xbox One, Project Scorpio, Windows 10 PC (Windows Store and Steam), PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®4 Pro beginning August 23, 2017.  Middle-earth: Shadow of Warwill be available as an Xbox Play Anywhere title. 

“Monolith Productions continues to innovate by introducing deeper, more personalized gameplay experiences, coupled with authentic storytelling,” said David Haddad, President, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “Middle-earth: Shadow of War truly drives the genre forward by taking the Nemesis System to new heights and allowing players to create their own personal journey within Middle-earth.”

“Following the amazing reception to Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, we massively expanded every dimension of the game, including the world, the story, the RPG systems, the core gameplay and of course the personal player stories of the Nemesis System,” said Michael de Plater, Vice President, Creative, Monolith Productions. “As lifelong fans of Middle-earth, we are so grateful to have the privilege to bring to life the most incredible fantasy world ever created in a new way, for a new generation. With Middle-earth: Shadow of War, we can’t wait to see the amazing stories players are going to create and share.”

The innovative Nemesis System created unique personal stories through procedurally-generated enemies who remember every encounter and are differentiated by their personality, strengths and weaknesses. Middle-earth: Shadow of War expands this innovation with the introduction of Followers who bring about entirely new stories of loyalty, betrayal and revenge. The Nemesis System is also expanded to create a unique personal world through Nemesis Fortresses, which allows players to utilize different strategies to conquer dynamic strongholds and create personalized worlds with their unique Orc army.

Set between the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, Middle-earth: Shadow of War continues the original narrative of Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor. Players will be engrossed in a richer, more personal and expansive world full of epic heroes and villains, iconic locations, original enemy types, even more personalities and a new cast of characters with untold stories.

As an Xbox Play Anywhere title, players can purchase a digital version of Middle-earth: Shadow of War once and play it on both Xbox One and Windows 10 PC. Gamers can pick up where they left off on another Xbox One or Windows 10 PC, bringing all the saves, game add-ons and achievements with them at no additional cost.

All available assets are up on the WBIE press-site here

For more information or to join the Middle-earth: Shadow of War conversation, visit www.shadowofwar.com

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About Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, a division of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Inc., is a premier worldwide publisher, developer, licensor and distributor of entertainment content for the interactive space across all platforms, including console, handheld, mobile and PC-based gaming for both internal and third party game titles.

About Monolith Productions

Developing immersive gaming experiences for more than 20 years, Monolith Productions continues to create innovative games including the 2014 release of the critically-acclaimed Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor. The title introduced the cutting-edge Nemesis System and won more than 50 industry awards worldwide. Additional information about Monolith Productions can be found at www.lith.com.

About Middle-earth Enterprises

The Saul Zaentz Company d/b/a Middle-earth Enterprises is the holder of worldwide motion picture, legitimate stage, merchandising, and other rights in the literary works of  J.R.R. Tolkien including The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.  SZC has been producing and licensing films, stage productions and merchandise based on the Tolkien works for more than 35 years.  Its headquarters are located in Berkeley, California and its website may be found at www.middleearth.com.