There are quite few good titles coming out this month, mostly in the Action and RPG genre such as “Injustice: Gods Among Us,” “Star Trek” and “Dead Island: Riptide.” However, since these two genres are so popular, there is certain to be something for everyone to play.

Action

(4/2) “Defiance,” for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC

(4/16) “Injustice: Gods Among Us,” for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii U

(4/21) “Lego City Undercover: The Chase Begins,” for Nintendo 3DS

(4/23) “Star Trek,” for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC

“Defiance” is a game that was made as a tie-in to a Syfy show of the same name. Unlike other MMO’s, the game doesn’t have set classes for the player to choose from, but instead an origin, which doesn’t limit ability, outfit, or weapon choice. The players customize their characters in various ways, and will choose to either play as a human or an Irathient (a humanoid alien species). The players also choose from a large variety of weapons which they can modify.

“Injustice: Gods Among Us” is a fighting game based on characters from DC Comics. Locations for fights include the Batcave, Watchtower, and Fortress of Solitude, and will have interactive environments with several layers. For example, a powerful attack will launch an opponent into another layer. During a battle, players charge their “super meters” by executing combos or getting hit by an opponent. The super meter can be used to perform special moves or to counter an opponent’s moves. When the super meter is charged the player can use the strongest special attack.

“Lego City Undercover: The Chase Begins” is the prequel to “Lego City Undercover,” and follows the adventures of Chase McCain as a rookie cop.

“Star Trek” the game is based on the 2009 ‘Star Trek’ film, securing the voices and likeness of the main cast. The game will feature both single player and co-op gameplay as Kirk and Spock. The two characters have different gameplay techniques, with Kirk’s gameplay being that of a typical shooter and Spock having more stealth-based gameplay, using the Vulcan nerve pinch and mind meld. As players progress, the experience they gain will allow them to unlock new settings on weapons.

RPG

(4/23) “Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen,” for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360

(4/23) “Dead Island: Riptide,” for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC

(4/30) “Deadly Premonition: Director’s Cut,” for PlayStation 3

(4/30) “Soul Sacrifice,” for PlayStation Vita

“Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen” is the re-release of the original game but features new content. The player will have new quests to choose from, new monsters to battle, and valuable treasure to discover. The game will also feature improvements from the old game, such as easier travel and a more intuitive menu system. There will also be 100 pieces of new equipment, new high level weapons and armor sets. Players who own the original Dragon’s Dogma will receive 100,000 Rift Crystals (the currency), unlimited Ferrystones (a form of teleporter), and the Gransys Armor Pack, consisting of six brand new costumes, for free.

“Dead Island: Riptide” is a spin-off of the original “Dead Island” and picks up right where the last game left off. The five survivors arrive at another island that is overrun by zombies. The game will feature new vehicles, levels, and weather conditions. There will also be online multiplayer support, as well as co-op.

“Deadly Premonition: Director’s Cut” is the re-release of the game with the Guinness World Record for “Most Critically Polarizing Survival Horror Game.” This game will feature a new branching ending, as well as an in-game camera. The game will also have a graphical overhaul from the original game.

“Soul Sacrifice” is a role playing game where the primary mechanic involves the ability to sacrifice parts of their character’s body or items to unleash devastating attacks. However, there is a catch: each sacrifice will be permanently marked on the player’s body, so they will not be able to constantly draw upon their sacrifices. The player will be able to choose from different types of sorcerers to customize their character.

Image credit: IGN.com

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“Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch” is a RPG developed by Studio Ghibli makers of such animated film classics as “Spirited Away,” “Kiki’s Delivery Service,” and “Ponyo.” The game was released for the Nintendo DS (only in Japan) and the PlayStation 3.

The story of “Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch” follows thirteen-year-old Oliver, whose mother dies from heart problems. When a male fairy named Drippy tells him that there might be a way to save his mother by going to a parallel world called Ni no Kuni, the two set off together. They soon discover that Ni no Kuni is being subjected to corruption by the evil Dark Djinn Shadar. Now they must band together with fellow characters to stop his evil from taking over all of Ni no Kuni with the hope that he will also be able to save his mom.

This game was developed by Studio Ghibli, who designed the characters and settings in the game as well as created the animated cutscenes sprinkled throughout the game. These scenes perfectly set the mood for every new setting and character. The game’s graphics use cel shading (like in “The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker”) in order to keep Studio Ghilbi’s traditional animation style intact.

Like many RPGs, you collect more and more characters to the party, who the player can either take control of or allow AI to take over. This AI is very good, often able to take care of the characters in battle as well as help others in the party. However, if the player wants someone to perform a specific move, they will be able to give the AI orders during battle.

Something else that players are certain to enjoy is the Familiar system, in which they will be able to command a creature reminiscent to a Pokémon. They will also be able to evolve when they grow stronger like Pokémon. On top of that, the player will eventually be able to tame some of the monsters they face in battle into Familiars.

Speaking of battle mechanics, the battle system in this game is great. At first one might assume that it was a turn-based battle system (which to an extent it still is), but in fact the player will be able move around the area and even dodge some enemy attacks. This is not to say that battling is simple; in fact, the player will die regularly if they don’t use strategy for nearly every battle. There is also a ton of content in this game with quests and bounty hunts on top of the main story.

A considerable downside is that this game can be pretty hard. The player might even die several times during the beginning tutorial on easy mode, especially if it is their first time playing the game. This does not only apply to the bosses, but even against the regular enemies if the player does not know what they are doing. Then again, when the player does win, there is a great feeling of accomplishment for winning against a powerful boss. The controls are simple to pick up and the camera angle is perfect without much adjustment.

Another possible downside is that this game starts off much slower than other games. The player will be playing for a couple of hours and still be learning new mechanics in the game. This is not to say that it is boring! The game is entertaining throughout this time, and when something new is added it is just the icing to the cake. The voice acting is also exceptional, especially since several of the voice actors have to be able to pull off both a British and American accent. The voice actors do this wonderfully without their accents ever seeming stereotypical.

Rating 4.5/5- Overall “Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch” is a very good game with great gameplay, an intriguing plot, entertaining characters, and beautiful graphics. If you love JRPGs or Studio Ghilbi, this is definitely the game for you, but it definitely has enough to appeal to people outside these two groups!

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It has been five years since the last Paper Mario game with Super Paper Mario, a good game but the weakest in the series. In E3 2011, Nintendo announced a new Paper Mario game, simply known as Paper Mario 3DS. But at E3 2012 Nintendo reintroduced Paper Mario 3DS at their press conference giving Paper Mario its official name, Sticker Star. Due to the time constraint of their conference, the audience only got a taste of what was to come from this new Paper Mario game. Yet for those of us willing to sit through another hour of game showcases after Nintendo’s lackluster performance, we got a true sample of what is to come with Paper Mario Sticker Star.

Discussing and giving a play through of the game was Nate Bihldorff, senior localization manager and producer for Nintendo Treehouse (Paper Mario Series, Mario and Luigi series, and Animal Crossing). Nate talks about all the features of the game as he plays through it, showing the audience how the new fighting and RPG system work. The one key point Nate made about the Paper Mario series, is that Paper Mario always tries for something new. But what does Nintendo offer with the next Paper Mario installment?

Stickers! The title says it all, this Paper Mario game is all about collecting stickers, and these stickers are used for everything, from completing tasks to fighting. The combat system for Sticker Star is nothing like the previous three Paper Mario games, in that the player’s only means of attack are through the use of stickers. From basic jumping, to hammer attacks, to item and special attacks, the player must collect different types of in order to attack, or even defend. As for the real time action commands for attacking and defending, they are still there like in the first two Paper Mario games.

Another new feature added is the Battle Spinner. The Battle Spinner functions similarly to the bonus spinner from Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door, except the payoff is different. In Sticker Star, the player only has one battle slot to attack with, but when the player is up against multiple enemies at once, the player has the option to invest coins into the Battle Spinner. When the Battle Spinner is activated, a slot machine event pops up, and if the player gets matching images, they can increase their battle slots to gain the ability to use multiple stickers in one turn.

A new mode has also been added simply known as Paperization. In Paperization mode, Mario pops off the screen as it shifts into a isometric plane which Mario can then place stickers he’s earned to complete tasks such as placing flower stickers in a Toad’s garden, or placing a giant fan in the background to move a windmill. Paperization mode is used to complete various tasks and unlocking secrets which gains the players more stickers as well as special stats boost items.

These stat boost items replace the leveling up system as used in the previous Paper Mario games. The RPG element is still in the game but with a different twist. Instead of defeating enemies to earn XP to level up, players must explore different parts of the world to help the townsfolk or to find hidden passages to earn special items such as Health Boosts, Attack Boosts, and Increased Sticker Slots. This leveling up system is a bit of a stretch for many RPG fans, but is a concept that can only be critiqued through experience.

Paper Mario Sticker Star shows much promise and looks to be the true third installment of the Paper Mario series. With a completely new battle system, a new leveling up system, and beautiful design that can really pull off the true potential of the 3DS, Paper Mario Sticker Star looks to be a must have for the system. With the release date bumped back to the Holiday Season, fans anticipating the game must wait longer before they can go sticker crazy with Mario and friends.

Image Courtesy of  1000 Words / Shutterstock.com

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The ‘Tales of’ series is considered one of the three RPG giants in Japan, along with Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy. Here in the States and Europe, though, it is a different story. Some may remember ‘Tales of Symphonia’ for the Gamecube, the most hyped ‘Tales of’ game this side of the earth, but other than that, there has been little else.

Few of the games have been translated, and many of those that have suffer either from bad localization or bad voice acting. ‘Tales of the Abyss 3DS’ does not have these problems. Instead, its main problem is the fact that it is six years old, having been released for the PS2 both in Japan and America, and this version is less of an update, than a simple port.

While parts of it may seem stale, on the whole, it is a fulfilling journey. Luckily, nothing that was present in the older version has been cut for this one, not even voice acting. The gameplay is that of a typical Japanese RPG, with a world map to explore. There are no random battles here; enemies are visible on the screen, and the player can avoid battles if they wish (or are fast enough to avoid contact).

Battles, though, are where the game really shines. The player and three other AI-controlled players move around in real time on a 3D battlefield. Although the player can issue them commands if they want, the AI is good enough that players need not focus their attention on what others are doing all the time.

Those that were frustrated in ‘Tales of Symphonia’, because they had to stay in a straight line and were not free to roam the battlefield, will find comfort here. At the press of a button, players can run around any which way they want in the area. Attacks and blocks are controlled by the face buttons.

The graphics have suffered a bit in the transition from PS2 to 3DS. The world map, which looked bad enough on the television, is even worse now, and characters and environments are jagged. The game also was clearly not meant for the 3DS, as the 3D feature seems more distracting than anything else while playing.

The story is what one would expect from a ‘Tales of’ game. It is formulaic, and at times silly, with some plot twists being obvious way before they are revealed, but it is enough to keep the player interested. Spoiled brat Luke Fon Fabre, a young man who suffers from the ultimate cliché, amnesia, finds himself outside the comforts of his aristocratic household with a mysterious woman. Along the way, others join the party as they begin to realize they are the only ones who can save the world.

Overall, the game is fun, but with over 45 hours of main story gameplay, it drags a lot. If you have played the original PS2 version, you may want to stay away, as there is nothing new to entice a buy.  If you have not, give it a try, but be warned it is dated in some areas.

8/10

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With the continued promotion of Final Fantasy XIII-2 (FFXIII-2) and the eventual launch at the end of January 2012, fans are wondering if this game will be any different than past iterations of Final Fantasy. Known for stunning graphics and unconventional storytelling, Square-Enix needs Final Fantasy XIII-2 to do really well on the American market or risk losing veteran fans completely.

Fans lament the disappointing venture of the last two Final Fantasy games to hit American consoles, Final Fantasy XII and Final Fantasy XIII respectively. A great deal of hype was amassed for the launch of both titles, with similar fan expectations of another epic 3 disc adventure. While both games were fairly lengthy, the feel of the games hadn’t changed very much from the last decade beforehand.

Final Fantasy XIII had the unfortunate habit of pushing you forward and nowhere else. One of the best elements for RPG fans is to earn their items, to build a newer better weapon or to find that extra sword in a town with cave full of monsters nearby. What Square-Enix had removed was the human role of the Role Playing Game and substituted it with purely cinematic cut scenes and character back story.

This isn’t entirely a bad thing but in a series as renowned as Final Fantasy, it stops the player from engaging their character, and from stepping into that character’s mighty and loveable shoes. What you were left with is a sympathetic character being played on a screen in a living room.

Early footage courtesy of Square-Enix does reveal some good changes to the game, most likely owing to fan complaints. Players from FFXIII were notoriously known for telling their friends to still support the game, saying that it would get better as they played when it was more likely that players just played for the sake of playing.

Many veteran fans remarked that previous generation console Final Fantasy games were great and engaging from the very onset of the game and required no break in time at all. This has been a primary concern for fans of the newest game and it is a strong argument against the Square-Enix series.

The general feel of the graphics is expected to be quite cinematic as usual, with a healthy helping of bright colors and fantastic shading. Whatever players may gripe about with each new game, Final Fantasy is sure to deliver on the eye candy. The visuals are something that SquareSoft and now Square-Enix do very well, with stunning textures and fantastical creatures that are out of this world but still familiar to fans. Ifrit by any other name would still be red, have two horns, claws and an affinity for fireballs.

Long time fans that have played any number of Final Fantasy games will recognize the Active Time battle system and the Paradigm Shift system, which is both a blessing and a curse. The issue stems from the repetitive game play that emerges at the onset of the game, leading to eventual stagnant button pressing that isn’t even close to interactive.

The feel of the combat system has changed very little from years past since veteran players have already been using character roles for support, fighter and healer on their own long before the labeling of the Paradigm Shift System. Giving it a title and streamlining the process for XIII helped, but it didn’t seem to be enough for veteran fans last time around. Will it be enough this time?

The game design doesn’t seem to have evolved a lot, which is also a mixed blessing.  Both characters and environments designed so far look to be classical Square-Enix fare with what is most likely linear storyline and wide training fields. The back-story for the cast of characters will be familiar to players from the first title with the hunt for Lightening being the focus that drives the game forward.

Hopefully, unlike another Final Fantasy game with a dash two at the end of the title (Final Fantasy X-2), these characters haven’t gone downhill. One of the newest playable elements is the use of a time travel component to change up the game, which if done well can elevate the game play.

Players from Final Fantasy VII (Cloud) and VIII (Laguna Loire) will find this feature reminiscent of those games, using playable flashback scenes to open up the storyline  further. History is apparently a major corner stone of this Final Fantasy game and fans will hopefully praise rather than curse this new gameplay facet.

Thus far trailers have revealed larger maps that aren’t linear and a combat system that is familiar, but, hopefully, will be different enough for players. The characters are vibrant, relatable and accompanied by stunning visuals that should at least continue the series decently.

Despite the ‘classic’ feel of the game with the addition of the new Time Travel feature, XIII-2 needs to have a good balance of high and low moments with slow and fast pace changes, otherwise the game will be another vapid freight train on a collision course with the end of the story.

The straight and narrow is not a fun line to walk. It’s more engaging to step off that line and than to find your way back later in the game, which Square-Enix hopefully will not ignore this time with XIII-2.

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