Samantha Lienhard's Blog, page 134
May 24, 2017
The Chuusotsu Demo is Weird, But Interesting
A Kickstarter is currently running for the translation of a visual novel called Chuusotsu – 1st Graduation: Time After Time. They released a demo, so I decided to give it a try.
It was… really weird. But interesting!
In this visual novel, everyone gets an “Authorization Seal” that determines their job, strength, intelligence, etc.
When the main character, a girl named Arue, is unable to meet the requirements for her Authorization Seal after middle school, she becomes a “chuusotsu,” a person with the lowest possible power level.
Determined to gain a seal, Arue signs up for a program where she will need to room with two other chuusotsu, and… work on philosophy?
It’s hard to explain how weird this demo was. The basic premise for the setting is so bizarre. As a chuusotsu, Arue is weaker than even children. She can’t read maps or do addition anymore. I’ve never seen a world setup quite like it, and it made me interested in learning more.
Arue also loves anime and manga, and she has a tendency to start talking strangely and referencing RPGs when she gets really nervous. The other characters in the demo were also strange, especially Ahara, who rambles about saving the world from dark forces.
Even Chuusotsu’s narration was odd, with occasional commentary from the narrator outside of Arue’s own descriptions.
Before I played the demo, I saw the Kickstarter, but I couldn’t get a good grasp on what the visual novel really was. Three girls who didn’t get past middle school sharing an apartment and asking existential questions? What? Why is it so well-regarded?
Now that I have played the demo, I’m still not entirely sure how to describe what this visual novel is, but it left me intrigued by its premise and the characters. So take a look at the Kickstarter and try the demo, and let me know your own thoughts on Chuusotsu – 1st Graduation: Time After Time.
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May 22, 2017
Thrawn Is Back
Over the weekend, I finished reading Thrawn by Timothy Zahn.
When I first heard about Thrawn’s return to Star Wars canon, my excitement nearly overwhelmed me. That feeling returned as I read Thrawn, the first novel featuring Thrawn outside of the old Expanded Universe.
It is a rather slow-paced novel, but it’s worth it for its fantastic look at Mitth’raw’nuruodo, better known as Thrawn.
In the old novels, Thrawn was an oddity, a nonhuman Grand Admiral in the human-centric Empire, and it gave the impression that the Empire couldn’t ignore his skill but wished they could forget about him. Here, we see that in action, as Thrawn encounters the political machinations of xenophobic Imperials determined to see him fall.
But while Thrawn might not be used to such politics (and it’s interesting to see a Thrawn who isn’t good at everything), he’s the brilliant tactician he always was. The book is filled with scenes of Thrawn in his glory as he analyzes, strategizes, and out-maneuvers everyone around him.
In fact, Thrawn lets us get into the character’s head more than ever before. Each chapter begins with a short entry from his journal, and several chapters are told from his point of view. In these point of view sections, other characters’ reactions and physical changes are written in the present tense, and while that was jarring at first, it does demonstrate the way Thrawn reads people–and how he just thinks differently.
He isn’t the only viewpoint character, and while I wasn’t terribly fond of Arihnda Pryce (especially once she got ruthless), I loved Eli Vanto, who works alongside Thrawn as his aide.
While Eli is human, he faces his own struggles (he’s from Wild Space, and people from the core of the galaxy look down on him), and his growing bond with Thrawn was just as enjoyable as getting to watch Thrawn’s brilliance at work through Eli’s eyes.
It was so enjoyable, I was a significant way through the book before I remembered that I shouldn’t be rooting for these guys! They’re with the Empire! They’re the bad guys!
I think it’s part of what makes Thrawn so fascinating. He’s not like the typical Star Wars villain. He’s fair. He does everything he can to avoid the unnecessary loss of life. He’s… a good person? He’s one of the “bad guys,” and he’s incredibly dangerous, but it’s difficult to really dislike him.
Click for Thrawn spoilersIn fact, his overall goal is pretty interesting: ally with the Empire because it’s strong, rise high in the ranks, and become influential enough to make sure a more benevolent ruler eventually succeeds Palpatine.
His immediate motivation for joining the Empire parallels that from the original Expanded Universe. Here, Thrawn believes the Empire’s strength makes it a necessary ally against a far greater evil. In the original novels, Palpatine convinced Thrawn that an Empire would be necessary to stand against a greater threat lurking in the galaxy.
The “Far Outsiders” Palpatine warned about were the Yuuzhan Vong, but what are the threats Thrawn and the Chiss expect to fight in the new canon?
Will the Yuuzhan Vong become canon again? (That would be controversial, for sure.) Is a new greater enemy waiting in the shadows?
Or, is it whatever Snoke is? After all, we still don’t even know his species.
If you’re a fan of Grand Admiral Thrawn, you’ll probably love Thrawn… and if you’re unfamiliar with the character, this is a good chance to see why he’s so popular.
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May 19, 2017
New Details and Screenshots from Layton’s Mystery Journey
Layton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires’ Conspiracy might have a different structure than past Layton games, but the latest details and screenshots confirm it’s still the series we know and love.
The game is split into multiple mysteries, each with its own episode. Episode 01, “Clockwork Streets,” follows Katrielle on an investigation into the theft of Big Ben’s clock hand.
Level-5 introduced two supporting characters involved in this first episode, twin brothers Marc and Reggie Yanchatta. While they’re connected to the first mystery, we also got to see two characters who might be involved in the game’s overarching plot.
The “Seven Millionaires of London” are important to the game, and among them are Ridley Fremens, the mayor of London, and Clerk Gospec, a multi-millionaire who wants Katrielle to investigate an incident at his theater.
From its original title, I assume there is also a millionaire named Ariadone. Since they’re referenced in the game’s title, the seven millionaires will likely play a large role in the game.
As you investigate, you’ll use a magnifying glass to investigate areas on the screen and find puzzles, collectibles, and “Insight Coins.” Insight Coins reveal puzzle hints, and right now it’s unclear if there’s any difference between them and the typical hint coins.
You’ll also need to find a certain number of “investigation points” to advance the story.
Finally, just like every other game in the series, Layton’s Mystery Journey will have mini-games. The first announced is “The Ideal Diner,” where you must listen to a client’s request and create their ideal dinner.
While I’ve been excited for Layton’s Mystery Journey ever since it was first announced as Lady Layton, I was a little concerned that the new structure might dramatically change the gameplay. These screenshots have reassured me. I see plenty of familiar Layton gameplay here, and I’m more excited than ever for Layton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires’ Conspiracy.
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May 17, 2017
A Netflix Witcher Series Has Been Announced
Netflix and Platige Image have announced a new series based on The Witcher.
If this sounds familiar to you, it’s probably because of the Witcher movie announced in 2015. Back then, Platige described a movie based on “The Witcher” and “The Lesser Evil,” which would lead into a TV series.
I haven’t seen anything else about the movie, but this seems to be the series they had in mind.
It will be produced by Sean Daniel and Jason Brown, along with Tomek Baginski and Jarek Sawko from Platige. Among other things, Baginski directed the intros for the three Witcher games, as well as the trailer for Cyberpunk 2077.
They haven’t said what parts of the story the show will follow, but Andrezej Sapkowski is on board as a creative consultant and sounds enthusiastic about the series staying true to his books.
I’ve never watched a Netflix series before… or anything else on Netflix, for that matter. However, if this is well-received, I might give it a try.
On a similar note, I finally picked up copies of The Tower of Swallows and The Lady of the Lake, so stay tuned for more Witcher reviews!
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May 15, 2017
Announcing Destiny Chronicles, an Action RPG Inspired by JRPGs
I recently mentioned my work on new video game projects, and it’s time to unveil one of them.
As we finish up work on Ascendant Hearts, I’ve begun a new project with Visualnoveler: a fantasy RPG called Destiny Chronicles.
Destiny Chronicles follows a young squire named Celeste on a journey to reclaim an ancient artifact that was stolen from her. On the way, she’ll cross paths with a mage named Ruby and a mercenary named Valana, among other characters.
We’ve drawn inspiration from JRPGs, especially action JRPGs. In addition to action RPG combat, it will have a talent tree, an upgrade system, and more.
As the writer for Destiny Chronicles, I’m responsible for both the overall story and the character interactions. We’re aiming for a fun, lighthearted tone that nevertheless tells a compelling, intriguing story.
Here are a couple screenshots showing Celeste in two of the environments you can look forward to exploring once the game is complete.
We have a few sample songs from the soundtrack available, too.
You can check out the official Destiny Chronicles website here, and take a look at the press release here.
We’re currently in the early development stage and intend to launch a Kickstarter in the future. In the meantime, if you have any questions about Destiny Chronicles, especially about its story or characters, let me know!
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May 12, 2017
Alan Wake Is Being Removed from Digital Marketplaces
This morning, I went to Twitter and said to myself, “Huh. Why is Alan Wake trending? Wait–did they announce a sequel?!”
But it wasn’t about Alan Wake 2 or anything close. It was because of a big Alan Wake sale… ahead of the game being removed from digital stores.
Remedy announced that due to music licenses expiring, Alan Wake and its will be pulled from digital marketplaces next week.
Starting tomorrow, Alan Wake will be on sale for 90% off through Steam. No one knows yet if it will also go on sale at GOG.com or the Xbox Marketplace.
Alan Wake’s American Nightmare will be on sale, but it will not be removed. Only the original game and its DLC are being removed.
This sale will last until May 15, after which you’ll no longer be able to buy a digital copy of Alan Wake or its DLC. If you’ve already bought it, you’ll still be able to download and play it.
Alan Wake was a great game with many memorable moments. I enjoyed it a lot, and it’s disappointing to see this news. At least there’s a little time left for those of you who haven’t played it.
Remedy is “looking into relicensing the music” for Alan Wake, but it’s hard to say what will happen. Since physical copies will also be removed from stores (and don’t include the DLC episodes), you might want to grab a copy of Alan Wake during the sale if you ever intend to play it.
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May 10, 2017
Vanquish is Coming to PC on May 25
The Vanquish hints turned out to be exactly what we thought they were. Vanquish is coming to the PC later this month.
The Steam page is live now, and the game will be available on May 25. There is also a special 25% off deal for anyone who owns Bayonetta on Steam.
It will include unlocked frame rates and resolutions, graphics options, and Steam achievements/trading cards/etc., as well as Digital Deluxe content available for free with pre-orders.
Until I read the Steam description, I didn’t realize Vanquish was directed by Resident Evil director Shinji Mikami. That makes me even more interested in trying it.
Best of all, the press release suggests there is more to come, with a statement from Sega of Europe’s Senior Vice President of Commercial Publishing, John Clark:
“It was great to see the positive response from our community to the Bayonetta PC launch last month, and we are pleased that we are in a position to be able to announce VANQUISH, another of our highly requested back catalogue titles. There’s more to come from SEGA in this space, so stay tuned for further announcements.”
What Sega titles do you hope will come to the PC next?
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May 8, 2017
Vanquish Teased for PC
When we discussed the potential tease for Bayonetta 3, I mentioned hints that Vanquish would also be coming to PC.
Vanquish is a third-person shooter developed by PlatinumGames. When the PC version of Bayonetta was updated solely to add a Vanquish avatar to its files, fans took it as a sign that Vanquish was on its way.
Today, Sega added fuel to the fire by tweeting an image that reads “2017” next to the logo used by the Order of the Russian Star, the Russian regime in Vanquish.
This, together with the avatar, make it pretty likely that Vanquish will be available on the PC this year.
I’ve never played Vanquish, but since I enjoyed the Bayonetta games so much (and to a lesser extent, The Wonderful 101), I’m interested in anything from PlatinumGames.
For those of you who have played Vanquish, what is it like? Do you recommend it?
Share your thoughts on Vanquish and its potential PC release in the comments below!
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May 5, 2017
Top Star Wars Games I Want to See
Yesterday was Star Wars Day (one of the more well-known of our unusual holidays), and apparently today is National Space Day.
What better time to discuss new Star Wars games we want to see, especially with E3 just over a month away?
Republic Commando 2
Star Wars: Republic Commando was one of the first shooters I ever played, and it stands out in my memory mainly because of the humorous dynamic between the four main characters.
It almost got a sequel. In fact, two sequel ideas were debated. One, Imperial Commando, would have followed a group of the Empire’s elite troops. The other, Rebel Commando, would have followed Sev after the events of Republic Commando.
Unfortunately, it was cancelled.
I’d love to see a new Republic Commando game, especially one following the Rebel Commando concept. Last year’s rumors of a sequel turned out to be false, but trailers for the new Battlefront game just reminded me how much I want to see this series return.
Knights of the Old Republic 3
I almost made my Star Wars/Space Day post about Knights of the Old Republic, until I realized I wrote about it last year. That’s because I love that game so much.
When I first played Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, it blew my mind. Star Wars and a fantastic RPG? With an excellent story and great characters, too?
The sequel was also good, although rushed.
Like the Republic Commando rumors, plenty of Knights of the Old Republic 3 rumors have surfaced. Is it too much to hope one of them is true?
Knights of the Old Republic Reboot
If it’s too much to ask, then how about a Knights of the Old Republic remake or reboot to place it in Star Wars canon once again?
Phil Spencer wants more Knights of the Old Republic, too, so maybe this one could go somewhere.
All right, so my hopes for Star Wars games amounts to anything related to Republic Commando or Knights of the Old Republic, but I know there have been plenty of cancelled and rumored Star Wars games people want to see.
What Star Wars games do you most want to be announced?
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May 3, 2017
Let’s Look at This Mario x Rabbids Crossover Rumor
Several months ago, before Nintendo revealed the Switch, a rumor circulated about a launch-day crossover between Mario and Ubisoft’s Raving Rabbids series.
That sounded pretty weird, and even though it was supposed to be an RPG, it left me skeptical.
Then the Switch was unveiled, its upcoming lineup of games included no Rabbids crossover, and I assumed it was just a weird rumor with nothing more to it.
Now the rumor is back.
Kotaku says they’ve gotten to see art assets for Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle from an anonymous source.
Apparently it’s a turn-based RPG starring Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, and four Rabbids dressed up like them (why?) as playable characters, and they wield laser guns.
Can this possibly be true?
On one hand, it sounds plausible. Weird video game crossovers have come out before, and some have actually been good. On the other hand, even art assets can be faked.
This new rumor claims Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle will be out in August or September for the Switch, so if it’s true, I’d expect news at E3.
I’ve never played a Rabbids game before. Nothing about them appeals to me. However, I love the Mario RPGs (the ones that actually are RPGs). Still, I feel less enthusiastic about a Mario x Rabbids crossover than I do about Paper Mario: Color Splash, which I still haven’t played.
What do you think? Is the bizarre Mario-Rabbids crossover RPG real or fake… and do you think such a concept could be good?
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