“Fight, Kamen Rider! Seize victory with those hands…!”
Bandai Namco announced that there will be an English version of Kamen Rider Climax Fighters with Japanese voice-overs releasing on December 7th, 2017. This version of the game is meant for distribution in Southeast Asia, and will be coming to Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines. Thanks to the PlayStation 4’s region-free setup, those interested in the title have the ability to import the game from these sources and play them on their own system, regardless of where it was purchased.
Bandai Namco also released a new trailer to show off many of the game’s upcoming features. Combat will be arena-focused with platforms and obstacles adding variety to the stages. Players will compete in one on one or two on two battles and can also enter into a four player battle royale at home or online. There will also be an online lobby where players can communicate with chibi avatars wearing their favorite Kamen Rider masks.
The game will feature Kamen Riders from the tenth series, Kamen Rider Kuuga, to the most recent installment, Kamen Rider Build. Each character will have their own special skills and techniques that set them apart on top of their already distinct appearances. Expect signature poses and catch phrases to fill the battlefield with one-of-a-kind, Kamen Rider flair!
There will be multiple versions of the game released in Japan. The limited Premium R Sound Edition will include 38 tracks that consist of theme songs from throughout the series as well as music from the game itself. Those who buy the Premium R Sound Edition early will also get seven design sheets of popular Kamen Riders within a uniquely made box. Those who purchase any version of the game early will receive a PlayStation 4 theme celebrating the game.
This is great news for Kamen Rider fans outside of Japan. Hopefully, this announcement is the beginning of Kamen Rider Climax Fighters‘ move westward!
Earlier today, Team Reptile announced the sequel to the hit baseball fighter, Lethal League, titled Lethal League Blaze. The new game will be coming to PC and console sometime in 2018.
Lethal League Blaze will feature additional characters like the (spoiler alert) final boss of the original game, Doombox, new game modes, improved, high-resolution 3D graphics along with a new “limited animation” style that is set to maintain the original’s fast-paced combat.
And, most importantly of all… “still no weak shit.”
Those wanting to hear direct announcements from Team Reptile can join in on the Reptile Hideout Discord channel. The Reptile Hideout is already abuzz with players excitedly celebrating this new title’s announcement.
The original Lethal League is one of my favorite games that I played this year, thanks to the console release. I cannot wait to see what improvements are made to an already incredible game. So far my only wishes have been granted, there’s more! And that’s enough to get me hyped! I strongly recommend those interested in Lethal League Blaze go and try out the original, which is currently available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
Check out the teaser trailer below, and get to batting practice!
Riders from across history battle in a clash of the ages
Kamen Rider fans unite! Bandai Namco announced a PlayStation 4 exclusive fighting game featuring the iconic characters from the famed Japanese franchise titled, Kamen Rider Climax Fighters. The announcement trailer was first shown during the broadcast of its most recent series, Kamen Raider Break. The trailer holds mostly pre-rendered cutscenes but there is a brief glimpse of gameplay at the very end. Based on the small showcase of gameplay, it appears to be a for player arena-based fighter.
Whether the title is going to have four players fighting simultaneously or two players battling with two partners similar to J-Stars Victory VS or JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Eyes of Heaven has yet to be seen. Everything is speculation at this point, but this appears to be a diversion from the more traditional 1v1 style from the earlier Kamen Rider Climax Heroes titles.
For those less aware of the Kamen Rider franchise, it all began 46 years ago when Cyborg 009 creator, Shotaro Ishinomori developed the series for Japanese television. Kamen Rider focused on more personal plots with a singular main character as opposed to the group based structure of the Super Sentai series. The series has spawned multiple seasons and is featured in a variety of media.
An American adaption of Kamen Rider Black RX was released in 1996 called Masked Rider and ran for a total of 40 episodes. The series was produced by Saban Entertainment and Toei Company, Ltd, the same companies behind the massively popular Power Rangers series which adapts content from the Japanese Super Sentai franchise. Kamen Rider saw a brief revival in 2008 with the independently produced, Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight. This series was adapted from Kamen Rider Ryuki and also lasted for 40 episodes but was not enough to ignite massive western interest like the Power Rangers.
It would be great to see more Kamen Rider content in the west, so here’s to hope that the game sees localization. Watch the announcement trailer below and brush up on your Kamen Rider knowledge to get the most out of the upcoming title! Henshin!
This fun trailer reignites the Xenoverse 2 flame for a new audience
While the upcoming Dragon Ball FighterZ is receiving a well-deserved amount of publicity, it is important to remember that Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 will soon be releasing on the Nintendo Switch, with a variety of new ways to play. Bandai Namco recently released a trailer showing off the port’s Switch-specific features, and they certainly take advantage of Nintendo’s unique hardware.
Up to six players can play together competitively or cooperatively both locally and online. Players can even go head to head with one set of Joycon controllers, effectively sharing the joy and frustration of couch-side combat. Perhaps the Switch version’s most unique feature is the addition of motion activated special moves. This feature echoes memories of the Wii versions of Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 2 & 3, but the Switch version’s motion controls are bound to be more accurate thanks to improved hardware. This might be the closest we get to feeling like Goku and company, aside from Dragon Ball VR, found in Bandai Namco’s VR arcade in Shinjuku.
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 releases on Nintendo Switch in just a few short weeks on September 22. Check out the entertaining new trailer and all of the Switch-exclusive features yourself down below!
First showcased during San Diego Comic Con 2017, the product listings for the S.H. Figuarts Akuma and Rainbow Mika are now live on Tamashii Nation’s Street Fighter landing page. These figures are the next in line of the Street Fighter series, following Rashid and Cammy who released on August 25 and the earlier-released Ryu and Chun-Li collectibles. Both of the highly articulated action figures will include multiple faces, hands, and accessories to help stage your favorite fights from Street Fighter V. (Ominous Raging Demon kanji not included.)
Akuma’s product description page is currently active giving more insight to what is included along with the figure, like his signature Gohadouken. R. Mika’s page is not yet available, but most details can be determined through the product photographs featured in the gallery below. Surely, additional details for R. Mika will follow soon. Hopefully, she comes with her handy microphone as displayed in her photo set. The Akuma figure is set to release in Japan this upcoming January, and according to the collectible specialized news site, Toyark, R. Mika will release shortly afterward in February 2018.
Metagalactic Blitz strikes a new note on what a fighting game can be
Metagalactic Blitz is an upcoming top-down fighter currently in development by Pixelvex, an independent game studio consisting of programmer Jared Cook and artist Peter Carlson. It focuses on intense dodgeball-inspired combat combined with a variety of arenas, and characters designed to be unique from the ground-up.
The rules of the game are simple; knock your opponent off the stage by attacking them with a dodgeball, while avoiding and reflecting enemy attacks. The varying stages are more than just different backdrops, they affect the gameplay by encouraging players to pay attention to elements like falling platforms and changes in layout. The upbeat electronic music composed by Matt Rottinghaus completes the game’s sci-fi atmosphere.
The game’s difficulty modes were designed to aid with the learning curve. The AI for the computer characters are given certain restraints that are unlocked as they are switched from easy, to medium, to hard, and finally, to Death Mode, which is basically playing the game dialed up to 11 and is not intended to be passable by any means.
“Hard mode is designed to teach players to be competitive online,” said Cook. “No one should be worried about how they match up against Death Mode, it was just kind of my joke! If you can consistently beat Death Mode, then it isn’t hard enough.”
Things like reflecting and certain abilities are reserved only for the more challenging difficulties. Hard mode was designed to give the impression of playing against a highly-skilled human opponent, instead of an all-powerful, yet predictable computer. This should lead to more favorable results online after practicing against the ever-ready AI Dodgebots.
From inspiration to realization to actualization
Metagalactic Blitz has been in development for almost three years, but it all began as a project in college. Cook and Carlson met at Iowa Staten University and began building a role-playing title for a capstone course. According to Cook, the game did not meet their expectations and the duo decided to retake the course, with a new vision for a more polished experience.
Their desire for perfection would lead them to create what would eventually become Metagalactic Blitz. The duo continued to work on their game after graduation, perfecting their concept until it was ready to be put through the Steam Greenlight program and was eventually released as an Early Access title on May 19, 2017.
The developers wanted to take similar physics to those in one of their favorite pastime titles — Super Smash Bros. — and apply it to an entirely new perspective. The aesthetic design of popular MOBA title League of Legends aided the developers in coming up with their own style. Originally, the balls were thrown in straight lines, but had a homing feature added to feel more engaging. This inspiration was gained from the action-indie title, TowerFall.
“The change of perspective had a huge impact on the gameplay,” said Cook. “We had to think of things that most other people making a game inspired by Smash Bros. never had to consider.”
The two developers went on to combine aspects of their favorite titles into something entirely new. The mechanics of a fighting game are all there. It’s got a rowdy cast of characters with unique abilities, and requires impeccable timing to set up your throws, dodges, and parries. Players will also find mechanics and play methods similar to traditional computer RPGs. Switching from a controller to a keyboard and mouse creates an entirely different experience for those more accustomed to the control scheme. It’s a fighter/MOBA fusion of sorts.
You can really feel the blending of genres the more you play Metagalactic Blitz, and yet, at the same time, it shifts and blooms into something new.
It’s about more than hyperactive dodgeball, it’s about making a connection
Metagalactic Blitz aims to set itself apart by creating positive social gaming experiences. One way it does this is by hosting in lobby chats between players while they pick their characters. This gives players a chance to exchange quick messages without having to open up a separate client to do so. And while other games don’t do much to add to the friendliness of friendly competition, Metagalactic Blitz implements an “Add Friend” button to its interface to bring players together. It’s all right there in the game.
“One of the main things I’ve tried to design for is a game that you can actually connect to someone with,” said Cook. “We hope that people will connect and see someone else’s playstyle that they find interesting and talk about it.”
By default, the game keeps players together instead of transferring them to a new opponent. This is done to keep the conversation going, whether it be through gameplay or through the lobby’s chat box. Cook hopes that this focus on the social space will change online competitors from being faceless opponents to familiar friends.
“My hope is that we can make a non-toxic community,” said Cook. “You can influence that a little bit with your mechanics.”
Time will tell how well these mechanics are received and if they achieve their intended goal, but Metagalactic Blitz‘s heart is in the right place.
Development is nearly complete and the team is eager for the release
Cook and Carlson have been putting in as much of their time as possible into Metagalactic Blitz all while holding down their own full-time jobs. Now that the game has gotten to its current point of polish, the feedback has been generally very positive, according to Cook. The team plans to keep working on finalizing the characters, implementing new stages, and updating the graphics until it fully launches.
“All I can ask is that players out there give it a chance,” says Cook. “There’s so much that our game has to offer. If you want something new, please check it out!”
Pixelvex has created a demo version of the game for players looking to give Metagalactic Blitz a shot. Those wanting to get a more in-depth look at the game after enjoying the demo can purchase the game as a part of the Steam Early Access program.
Pixelvex has truly delivered something that stands out among the fighting game genre. The matches are fast, fun, and best enjoyed with friends, which is something Metagalactic Blitz hopes to create more of.
Metagalactic Blitz is set for full release this November on Steam. Updates for the game can be found via the game’s Steam announcements and on Pixelvex’s Twitter account.
Arriving hot on the heels of the announcements made during the Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite panel at San Diego Comic Con 2017, a new trailer was released this morning giving us our first look at the recently-confirmed characters.
Spider-Man, Haggar, Frank West, Nemesis, Gamora, and Thanos show off their current-generation capabilities in this new trailer. While the returning fighters appear very similar at first glance, there are bound to be more surprises in store. This can be indicated by Spider-Man’s new Level 3 Spider-Sense hyper combo, which surely pays tribute to the battles with the Green Goblin(s) in the Sam Raimi Spider-Man films. The trailer can be found below!
The Capcom Unity blog shared additional background information about the new characters for those less familiar with them. The blog also included details on the Mind Stone and how it affects gameplay. It acts as a command grab that stuns the opponent, allowing for new set ups. The Mind Stone’s Infinity Storm automatically regenerates the hyper gauge, allowing for intensely rapid gauge-building.
IGN posted twelve minutes of direct gameplay footage with the recently-announced characters for those wanting to see the fighters in greater context. Watch the new characters duke it out below!
Fighting game personality,Maximilian also uploaded direct gameplay this morning, featuring the new characters. While this footage does not include additional commentary, Maximilian does state that there will be a more in-depth analysis of the characters and their early capabilities in the near future.
It won’t be long until Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite will be out for the masses to enjoy. The title releases on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on September 19, with a season pass and multiple collector’s editions. Stick around for more announcements leading up to the highly anticipated title’s release!
Head of Xbox, Phil Spencer excitedly presented the first ever gameplay footage of the highly anticipated Arc System Works developed title, Dragon Ball FighterZ at the Xbox E3 2017 press conference earlier today.
The trailer might not be long, but it shows off enough to give excited fans a vision of how battles will play out. In Dragonball FighterZ, the gameplay appears faster, fiercer, and more dynamic than any other Dragon Ball fighting game to date. This new fighter looks almost identical to the anime, thanks to its 2.5D presentation, which no doubt comes from the use of a modified version of the Guilty Gear Xrd engine. 3v3 battles take the stage with tagging, assists, and over-the-top super moves that only Dragon Ball can provide. We don’t currently know how far into the Dragon Ball mythos this title will delve into, but we can be sure to expect some Dragon Ball Super content, thanks to the Gold Freeza transformation in the trailer. So far, the confirmed playable fighters are:
Goku
Gohan
Vegeta
Maijin Buu
Freeza
Cell
The game is set to release sometime in early 2018 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. There are also plans for a PS4 and Xbox One closed beta at the end of the summer according to Bandai Namco Europe, so stay tuned for more information on how to sign up. It will be playable on the show floor, so expect plenty of impressions from those attending E3 2017!
Dragon Ball FighterZ is coming to XB1, PS4 & PC! Made by Arc System Works, play 2D 3V3 fights! CLOSED BETA on XB1/PS4 before end of summer!! pic.twitter.com/gygz767t3S
— BANDAI NAMCO Europe (@BandaiNamcoEU) June 11, 2017
The genre-blending fighter has finally made its way to consoles.
In the midst of all the hype gathered for AAA fighting games like Injustice 2 and Tekken 7, the indie title Lethal League found its way onto consoles early in May to prove there’s always room for something fun and new. The humble indie fighter originally released on PC in 2014, and has found a niche among dedicated fans. PlayStation 4 and Xbox One players now have the chance to get a taste of what the home run-hitting game has to offer. Lethal League‘s identity is defined by its eye-popping art, hip-hopping music, and devotion to giving players a grand slam of a good time.
Team Reptile provided us with a chance to try the game out on Xbox One. The gameplay is very easy to understand, but somewhat difficult to explain without either showing someone or playing for yourself. Combatants start each match spread out on the battlefield with an anti-gravity ball in the center of the arena. Unlike other fighters where you pummel each other directly to get the K.O., Lethal League requires players to hit one another with the ball to take out a stock. There is no single way to play Lethal League; you can try to trap your opponent by making the ball fly as fast as possible, you can rush your opponent to leave them little room to react, or you can run around and just go bonkers. You can play with any strategy that fits your style, and still meet some positive results.
Every character has unique attacks and special abilities designed to get the most out of each swing. Whenever things get too hectic, you can bunt the ball and set up a brand new combo string. Most matches tend to be one-on-one battles, but the gameplay really shines whenever four players are up to bat, especially in local versus mode. Online battles are fun in their own right, I experienced little to no issues during online play, but the lobbies can be a little less than crowded at times. Luckily there is a challenge mode that pits players against computer-controlled opponents in a similar fashion to the Super Smash Bros. Classic Mode. After a few rounds, new mini-game modes will appear like Point Mode, Strikers Mode, and other neat surprises. Training mode is also included, to give players the environment to hone their skills at their own pace.
Distinct art and sound keeps the ball moving.
Everything in Lethal League bursts with color and personality. Playable characters are loud and expressive in both animations and voice acting. My personal favorite character is the big-headed dandy Candyman, but there is a good selection of fighters to choose from. It’s always fun to watch the characters dash across the screen, leaping and bounding to gain control of the ball. It’s rare to see so much personality from simple actions like ducking or walking. The stages add as much character to the game as the fighters themselves. Fast moving trains, abandoned facilities, and even padded rooms create an atmosphere that fits every battle.
One of Lethal League‘s greatest features is its soundtrack. The music is expertly crafted to establish the rebellious tone; fans of Sega’s Jet Set Radio will find a lot to love with Lethal League‘s stoked soundscapes and upbeat notes. The music motivates players to go round after round, emboldened by the funky fresh beats. The soundtrack is also incredibly varied, showcasing the different possibilities within the “dub-hop” genre. The music is so important to the game, that a portion of the bottom of the screen is devoted to displaying the name of the song playing and its artist. The boom box plays another important role to the gameplay–but that’s something best experienced for yourself!
There are a few more nods to Super Smash Bros. like the character emblems, the announcer, and the pop-up text–but aside from that, this game is in a league of its own. Everything blends together so well. Lethal League confidently expresses its style in every way possible. It’s one of a kind flair is immediately recognizable to anyone who has experienced the stellar sights and shocking sounds. Nothing is quite as satisfying as the thunderous crack your weapon makes when it strikes the ball right before it blasts into a sonic boom. You will never forget the first time you break the speed barrier, or the second time, or the third. It’s just one of those things that never loses its luster.
It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing.
While I certainly wish there were more characters, stages, and songs, that’s my only real request for this title. I just want more. I want more ways to experience this world that was so carefully crafted. A story mode would be appreciated to learn more about the characters, their backstories, and their motivations. How did Latch the crocodile get his cybernetic enhancements? What motivated Switch the robot to quit his day job? Where did these anti-gravitational balls come from, and why does everyone need to hit each other in the face with them? Perhaps these questions don’t need to be answered, after all, they don’t take away from how fun the game is to play. Nevertheless, I can’t help but think about the day to day the characters experience in Lethal League.
Lethal League may seem bare-bones when it comes to content, but what it does have to offer is truly one of a kind. Players can really feel the love that Team Reptile poured into Lethal League. Whether you go up to bat solo or with your best buds there’s never a dull moment. No two matches are ever the same, and there’s always more to learn. It’s a game that needs to be experienced to see just how much potential the fighting genre still has to grow. I highly suggest checking the game out–whether it’s on a console, or on PC. Do it for yourself, do it for your friends, and do it for the Candymans.
The time has nearly come to unleash these high-quality figures!
Yoshinori Ono, the executive producer of Street Fighter V, recently shared new images of the vastly detailed Bandai Tamashii Nations S.H.Figuarts Ryu and Chun-Li figures on his Twitter account. The photographs were taken at Tamashii NationsAkiba Showroom, the official showroom facility of the Bandai brand, to exhibit their newest products.
According to Ono, the two famous fighters will headline the new figure line in Round 1, with Rashid and Cammy to follow suit in Round 2. Each figure will come with multiple hands and faces, special effect pieces and stands, and a backdrop sheet placing each fighter within an iconic stage from Street Fighter V. The collectibles will cost ¥6,480, which equals roughly $60 USD. More photographs can be found at the Bandai Corp. Collector’s Division Official Twitter account below.
The action figures were first listed back in December of 2016, so it’s nice to seem them back in the spotlight, especially so soon before their release. Ryu and Chun-Li are currently available for pre-order on Amazon for $59.99, with a release date of June 15. Lower prices are available at both AmiAmi (Ryu, Chun-Li) and the Lunar Toy Store (Ryu, Chun-Li) with varying release dates.
