playstationvita Archives - Shane the Gamer

A.O.T. Wings of Freedom Goes Beyond the First Season

STG News — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 09:38:44 +0000

Koei Tecmo has confirmed to us at StG that the narrative (story) within A.O.T. Wings of Freedom will extend beyond the events of the first season of ‘Attack on Titan’. A brand new launch trailer (above) has been revealed alongside the announcement in anticipation of the upcoming release of the fast-paced action game based on the hugely successful manga and anime series ‘Attack on Titan’.

Showcasing the Scout Regiment as they repel the fearsome Titans threatening humanity, the launch trailer for A.O.T. Wings of Freedom officially reveals that players will be able to play beyond the end of the show’s first season via extra game-exclusive missions! Capturing intense, action-packed combat and impressive attack moves, the launch trailer reveals two sinister new types of Titans for players to take down.

The Armored Titan, a 50 foot tall behemoth with immense strength and speed can destroy anything in its path, and the monstrous Beast Titan is a gigantic ape-like creature that uses immeasurable amounts of force to crush its foes! These extra missions offer additional high-octane battles and exhilarating action within the ‘Attack on Titan’ universe.

A.O.T. Wings of Freedom will release on the 26th August 2016 for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, as well as digitally for the PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation Vita and also Windows PC via Steam.

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A.W. Phoenix Festa (PS Vita) Review

Blair Loveday — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 02:20:38 +0000

Part dating simulator, part hack and slash fighting game and part Outlook calendar management simulator (I may have made that last genre up) and yet in a weird way those elements work to make one unique experience. Not only do all of these elements from A.W.: Phoenix Festa work, it made me want to try a dating sim and even more impressive than that, I enjoyed it.

Following the story from the anime A.W.: Phoenix Festa is set before the annual Phoenix Festa where schools go head to head in fights. You take up as either the lead character named Ayato Amagiri or your own character before the Festa registrations close. Choosing Ayato will result in some pre-set relationships and some more filled in story and with 13 days until registration closes for the Festa, whereas creating your own character gives you 85 days until the Festa registrations close, so more freedom to create your own story. This is the first thing I like about the game; it really gives freedom to choose how it plays out. When registrations close you will have to pick a partner, which is assisted by the relationships you have built with the characters.

Relationship points in the game before and after registration are achieved by saying the right thing during story events, going on dates where you say and do the right things, or winning in duels throughout the game. The game does prompt for some of these events but the bulk of it is achieved by inviting people to either duel or go on a date. Either can be declined when you invite them so you need to take into consideration how far away the appointment is as shorter notice is less likely to be accepted. For dates your relationship level, where you invite them to have the date, the day of the week and the time of day which can be either AM or PM.

You can also choose to not pre-plan those half days and fill them in with training, doing jobs which involve some kind of combat and pay differently depending on how hard they are, going shopping, or resting to regain your mood and health. The planning sounds weird but it both gives the game urgency by having the countdown and a reason to strategize in certain ways to make the relationships you want to develop count.

Once the Festa starts you still plan what to do between fight days, but the Phoenix Festa fights are the important part. They are a step up to most fights, except some job fights and you make your way through to the final to finish up the story. The end does feel like a little bit of a let-down, as with the amount of time you spend preparing for the tournament, it just comes to an abrupt end, with not too much story to finish off the play through.

The positive thing is it does allow you to carry the progress of your character through to another play through, which is handy due to the amount of variation a second play through at a minimum feels necessary just to try out another partner and some new dialogue trees.

The game also has a battle mode if you want to do some battles without the rest of the gameplay, which is fine as the battles themselves are great. They function well, the camera moves correctly which is not common with hack and slash games on the Vita. There is not too much depth to the fighting but that is not really an issue in the context of the game. There is also a Battle Survival mode which is what you would expect, fight after fight until you lose as they get harder and there is also Ad Hoc multiplayer which means you can play someone else if they have the game and a Vita physically near you.

Ultimately A.W.: Phoenix Festa is a game I enjoyed far more than I could have expected. The dating sim aspect helps support the battles and plot and for someone unfamiliar with the Asterisks War anime I never felt like I was missing too much in the story. The whole package tied together nicely for a fun game to have on the go.

A.W. Phoenix Festa (PS Vita) Review

Released: July 2016
Rating: PG
Platforms: PS Vita
Genre: Strategy
Developer: BandaiNamco
Publisher: BandaiNamco

4.0Overall Score

Gameplay

Graphics

Audio

Replayability

Reader Rating 0 Votes

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A.O.T. Wings of Freedom Developer Interview

Judalene Cheetham — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:08:51 +0000

Recently Shane the Gamer was exclusively invited by QVS Software and Koei Tecmo to have a chat with the developers of the video game adaption of the anime series Attack on Titan about their upcoming A.O.T Wings of Freedom game. Our video gaming journalist and anime fan, Judalene Cheetham had a one on one.

Judalene: Can you give us a brief description of the game Attack on Titan: Wings of Freedom and what we can expect from it?

A.O.T. Team: A.O.T. Wings of Freedom takes the anime Attack on Titan and puts it into game form.

The story focuses on the first season of the anime, but adds Titans and battles that have not yet appeared in the anime to make the game unique. With regards to gameplay, there is the exhilaration from flying around using the Omni-Directional Manoeuver Gear, and a battle system that draws upon allies and items to confront the powerful Titans to replicate the tense battles of the manga and anime.

It is a game that not only fans of the original manga and anime will enjoy, but action game fans as well.

Judalene: Attack on Titan is quite a popular anime series, were there any precipitating factors that brought about this particular adaptation?

A.O.T. Team: One factor is that we worked with the publisher Kodansha on the game Arslan: The Warriors of Legend, and Kodansha also publishes the Attack on Titan manga.

Another factor is that we strongly wanted to reproduce Attack on Titan in game form, and have many gamers play that game.

Judalene: The universe has characters traversing the world in broad amount of ways. Did this versatility in movement on many planes present any particularly challenging aspects in the development process and how much navigational freedom has actually been allowed in gameplay?

A.O.T. Team: Movement through the air, on land, and by horse each has different speeds and elevations so we had a lot of difficulty with the camera controls. In addition, it took a lot of time to adjust the collision detection between objects and characters.

For the Omni-Directional Manoeuver Gear, the anchor needs objects in the environment to point to, so as long as there are objects, the player can freely fly around in any direction.

Judalene: The art direction is similar to that of the anime series. With such a gruesome and cruel world to work with did you try to stick to the dark themes the universe has to offer as well?

A.O.T. Team: Yes, we wanted to please the many fans of the anime so we felt that it was necessary to keep the anime’s cruel and catastrophic world. On top of that, we included visual flair that only a game can depict, and aimed for a fusion of realistic and anime-like design.

Judalene: Were there any deliberate deviations from the series, why or why not?

A.O.T. Team: The core of the game covers the storyline of the anime’s first season, but we included additional elements such as Titans that have not yet appeared in the anime and a storyline of Titans attacking Trost District as experienced by the Scout Regiment.

We felt that we needed to add these new elements to give viewers of the anime some new surprises to enjoy in the game.

Judalene: From a story perspective how much of the series does it cover and can we expect anything new?

A.O.T. Team: The first season of the anime is covered. In addition, there is an original storyline that includes Titans that have not yet appeared in the anime, and the game’s climax is a fierce battle between certain Titans that fans of the original manga have been waiting for.

Judalene: Summing up can you give us your best description of the main unique aspects Attack on Titan: Wings of Freedom has to offer both players and fans of the series?

A.O.T. Team: The game features the Omni-Directional Manoeuver Gear for exhilarating action and freedom to move about, the Titan battle system with tactical elements drawing upon allies and limitation of resources, and battles filled with the same dramatic tension as in the manga and anime.

The visuals and the story of the anime’s first season are recreated in game form, as well as the inclusion of an original storyline. In addition, there are conversations and events that can only be experienced in this game, so players will feel more emotionally involved with the characters. There are also collection elements such as a Titan Field Guide that displays details of the Titans defeated, so we hope players will play the game and see for themselves.

Judalene: Thanks guys for your time today. We are both excited and looking forward to the release of the game.

A.O.T Wings of Freedom releases on the 26th of August 2016 for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, as well as digitally only on the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita and PC via Steam.

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ONLINE FEATURES REVEALED FOR A.O.T. WINGS OF FREEDOM

STG News — Sat, 09 Jul 2016 01:05:00 +0000

KOEI TECMO has revealed the new multiplayer Scout Mode as well as additional gameplay mechanics available in A.O.T. Wings of Freedom, the titanic action game based on the worldwide anime hit ‘Attack on Titan’, alongside a new gameplay video.

The fast-paced Scout Mode allows players to recruit up to three companions online to venture outside the wall and face the eerily human-like Titans together. Starting at the camp, team members are able to upgrade their gear, change their costumes and prepare resources for an upcoming onslaught. The leader of the group is able to choose from a wide selection of missions taking place across a variety of different stages, including the Forest of Giant Trees, the Ruined Town, a Farm Village and even the Stohess District. These missions, separate from the main campaign, offer further action-packed events to face as a team.

Throughout A.O.T. Wings of Freedom players will have the opportunity to upgrade their titan-slaying gear. The Omni-Directional Manoeuver Gear, blades, and scabbard can be enhanced at the camp with materials found from slaying Titans on single player and multiplayer missions. Enhancements to the Omni-Directional Manoeuver Gear include improved anchors, allowing them to attach on to Titans from a greater distance and at faster speeds. Blades can be sharpened, as well as improved to become longer and more durable, with scabbard upgrades allowing additional blades and gas canisters to be carried. It is important for players to raise their equipment’s level to perform more effectively on the battlefield.

KOEI TECMO released a new gameplay video (above) highlighting the Decisive Battle Signal. Rescuing regiment members in danger and slaying titans will fill up the Decisive Battle Meter which, once used, calls everyone in the player’s vicinity to their side to deal a great amount of damage. When activated their attack damage will be heightened, with the blunting of blades and depletion of gas momentarily stopped.

A.O.T. Wings of Freedom is a titanic action game that successfully replicates the claustrophobic atmosphere and fast paced battles of ‘Attack on Titan’, one of the most celebrated new anime IPs of the last few years, and follows Eren, Mikasa and Armin through the events of the first series. Set in a land where three walls have been built around the settlements, to protect themselves from Titans, three young scouts Eren, Mikasa and Armin witness the end of 100 years of peace. As a Titan breaks down one of the outer walls humanity is once again threatened, and they must fight off the Titans and discover the mystery behind them. Players will experience a claustrophobic atmosphere and fast paced battle action as they repel the fearsome Titans.

The game will release on the 26th of August 2016 for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, as well as digitally only on the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita and PC via Steam.

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Enter to Win a Copy of Looney Tunes: Galactic Sports on PS Vita

Shane Thomas — Sun, 10 May 2015 07:41:41 +0000

NOW CLOSED – Our friends at PlayStation NZ have supplied Shane the Gamer a copy of Looney Tunes: Galactic Sports for PlayStation Vita to Giveaway!

Exclusive to Vita, Looney Tunes: Galactic Sports will bring everyone’s favourite Looney Tunes characters together, including; Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Taz and Wile E. Coyote to name just a few.

Hosted by the notorious Marvin the Martian, the Galactic Sports takes place on (and above) his home planet of Mars.

Spread across ever increasingly fiendish torments, these intergalactic athletes will get set to compete in a variety of zany sports. Race to the finish line in Space Races, take aim in Galactic Archery or duke it out in Space Boxing.

To Enter our Game Giveaway, you will need to answer this Question, correctly:

Tell us who your favourite Looney Tunes Character is and why.

Please keep it to a few words only and there is of course no wrong or right answer.

You can give us your Answer by placing a Comment below, hitting us up on Facebook, Tweet to us, or Email Us.

* Winner(s) will be randomly selected from those that Comment below / Facebook Comment / Email in accordance to the above question. Winner will receive a New Copy of Looney Tunes Galactic Sports for PS Vita. Competition ends the 30th of May 2015. Looney Tunes Galatic Sports is Rated PG in New Zealand and Australia.

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Return of a Classic: Grimm Fandango – News

Shane Thomas — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 09:41:50 +0000

GOG.com and Double Fine Productions, in collaboration with Lucasfilm, are pleased to announce that Grim Fandango Remastered is now available for pre-order at on Windows, Mac, Linux in anticipation for its January 27th, 2015 launch date.

Pre-order bonuses will include exclusive wallpapers for those who purchase before launch. The game is also available for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita via PlayStation Network and even sports a new PlayStation 4 dynamic theme as a pre-order bonus.

Lucasfilm and Double Fine are thrilled to introduce the title to both new platforms and the next generation of Grim Fandango fans.

Over 16 years since the game’s original release, Tim Schafer’s final game from his LucasArts adventure game days is soon to be making its way back to fans sporting both a literal and figurative new coat of paint.

With updated graphics, a new live orchestral soundtrack, additional control schemes, developer commentary, and more, players will be able to experience the game with a whole new layer of polish and love, straight from Double Fine and some of the folks who developed the original game.

Or they can always flip to the original art and tank controls and party like it’s 1998.

Grimm Fandango Remastered is available for pre order at gog.com now.

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Tetris Ultimate Now on Next Gen – News

Shane Thomas — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 02:28:46 +0000

Oh where would videogaming be now without the origins of classics such as Tetris! Ubisoft have informed us that Tetris Ultimate is now available as a digital download on next gen consoles – Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

Tetris Ultimate is the latest iteration of the world’s most loved puzzle game that offers fun features, unique visuals and addictive gameplay for all ages. Featuring six exciting modes, anyone can test their skills solo or against friends, with up to four players who can get in on the action.

There are six differing game modes that can be played; Battle sees you knock out challengers and be the last person standing, or Battle Ultimate is similar to Battle mode but with crazy power-ups.

Compete in the ultimate battle showdown using power-ups to clear away lines, shower opponents with blocks or shift their Matrix to the left after each move.

Also, Marathon is available after you complete Level 15 and rack up as many points as you can. Endless has you going and going and going to keep clearing lines until your stamina runs out. then Ultra is a race to score as many points as possible before time runs out in this three-minute challenge. And finally Sprint where you need to clear 40 lines as quickly as you can.

Tetris Ultimate is also currently available for Nintendo 3DS at retailers and digital through the Nintendo eShop. The game will also be released in 2015 for Windows PC and the PlayStation Vita.

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