Showing posts with label Mages. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mages. Show all posts

Thursday, May 11, 2017

Operation Babel: New Tokyo Legacy

From "Operation Abyss: New Tokyo Legacy" to "Operation Babel: New Tokyo Legacy" not much has changed. That which has changed, and been added onto though is significant enough in it's own right. This time around you'll find a new story arch following the CPD's, and Xth Squad's joint involvement in a new case surrounding a  mysterious giant embryo that has manifested via an abyss above the 20XX version of Tokyo. You'll also find much more in the way of squad customization, and a couple of new mechanics that are thrown into the game to beef up gameplay. The experience, at it's core, is one of the classic dungeon crawling variety, and features many of the same characters and creatures that you've encountered in the previous installment. The biggest difference among those encounters being the introduction of you as an entirely new Code Riser, and Xth Squad recruit. As the new man, woman, or gender varied individual you'll be taking your squad members of various roles and character classes into abyss labyrinths to deal with variant threats while investigating the happenings surrounding the embryo phenomenon. You can make the experience at hand as personal, or as strictly basic as you like. Either way the game features a lot of content, and plenty of hours worth of tasks to take on as you solve the latest mystery, and face an omnipotent force that thinks your destiny is that of extinction.

Friday, September 9, 2016

PSYCHO-PASS: Mandatory Happiness (PS4)



Modeled after the anime series of the same name NISA's, MAGES', and 5pb's addition to the ongoing plot that is "PSYCHO-PASS" takes place somewhere in the midst of season one with two new playable characters, and a new villain the likes of which fans of said series will not yet have seen. All of which is presented in an interactive visual novel style experience with exceptional attention to detail abound. For those of you have never heard of the anime, or it's story you'll be surprised to know that it's not quite as far fetched an idea as anime usually is. In fact, dare I say it, it kind of mirrors the direction our own society is currently taking with the secretive collection, and assessment of private data tied to persons of interest by corporate entities. The premise in the anime series, like our own real world plight, revolves wholly around a managed society where enforcers operating under an AI judicial system known as the "Sibyl System" track down latent, or potentially latent criminals through their personal "Psycho-Pass". The 'Psycho-Pass', as it were is an accessible psychological evaluation that takes into account a person's stress level (Hue), and criminal capacity (Crime Coefficient) for the sake of maintaining a peaceful society. Criminals found with a certain Hue will either be counseled, enforced by the Inspectors/Enforcers via a non-lethal paralysis shot, or will be executed on site with a Dominator pistol which evaluates the criminal status of the individual before firing the fatal shot through one of the Enforcer's or leading Inspector's handling of said weapon. Inspectors, and Enforcers of the Public Safety Bureau (MWPSB), as a result of the use of this system are effectively judge, jury, and executioner of anyone deemed suspect. Even latent criminals found among themselves. Of course this game picks up on that base story element, and builds greatly upon it in a case by case, and chapter by chapter basis where three main characters' involvement intertwines through their unusually connected circumstances.

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Phantom Breaker Battlegrounds Overdrive (PS4)

Back in early April of 2013 Mages, and their publisher 5pb released onto the Xbox 360 XBLA library a substitute game for a planned Phantom Breaker 2D fighter. This unsuspected yet brilliantly delivered anime beat 'em up that was "Phantom Breaker Battlegrounds" ended up surprising even me. It turned out to be a game that incorporated deeply involved fighting game elements into a "Streets of Rage" style brawler. It could be played solo, or in the company of friends as a co-op, or competitive game making it all the more intriguing. There was both local, and network play included in the affordable retail cost. The art style that accompanied said gaming experience was of a cutesy chibi-anime design, and was done up in a way that utilized pixels for character builds. One might think that such an odd combination of features would screw with the game's intended quality, but in the end it was the perfect genre blend. When 5pb announced the release of an upgraded version of the same game for the PS4 earlier this year I was once again excited to take that trip down memory lane, and see what changes, if any had taken hold of the original experience. To my dismay I did not notice any real changes other than the inclusion of a former DLC character, and some possible tweaks to the character management system, and modes. Regardless of these possible basic improvements, and the lack of truly new content I still had a blast playing through the game. It definitely lived up to the asking price, and it's former glory.

Thursday, June 4, 2015

Operation Abyss: New Tokyo Legacy (PS VITA)


Set in a futuristic Japan, "Operation Abyss: New Tokyo Legacy" tells the tale of a special operations team known as the 'Xth Squad', or "Xianth TransHuman Squad" who specialize in abilities known as 'Code-Rise'. Code-Rise, as it were is an ability which allows said individuals to summon the power of Bloods (historical/mythological persona) through codes in order combat the genetically altered sub-species that is plaguing humankind. It is these gifted undercover students who face off against the violent sub-species known as 'Variants' who themselves are being manipulated, and engineered behind-the-scenes by an unknown source who selfishly aims to do harm to the citizens of the Hinowa District for their own benefit. In collaboration with the TPF (A suspicious peace driven organization) the Variant puppeteers also aim to sway the balance of the world's current governing authority, the XPD.

Passing back, and forth from a dimension referred to as 'Abyss' the Variants are able to travel from Japan, and the alternate dimension while doing the bidding of those who would use them for such a threatening cause. Many students from the Hinowa Academy (which acts a front for the Xth Squad's base of operations) have been killed in this escalating battle of good versus evil while the XPD, and Xth Squad continue to work together in an effort to prevent more murderous attacks. Thankfully the main protagonist who was soon to become a Variant's snack himself was spared with the help of a former Xth member, and was recruited together with various other members sporting the Code-Rise ability. Posing as Hinowa Academy students these pupils are to be trained in secret via the CPA Headquarters to become the saviors of the human race. Whether or not they'll succeed is yet to be seen ...

Monday, March 4, 2013

Phantom Breaker: Battlegrounds (XBLA) "A Retro Beat 'em Up With Fighting Game Mechanics"

Around 2010 it was announced that video game publisher 5pb, and game developer 7sixty were going to release a 2D fighting game that included characters from various anime, and manga series. Among the included anime, and manga were the popular titles "Steins;Gate", and "Chaos;Head". This extensive fighter was supposedly going to introduce new fighting game mechanics, and was ultimately slated for a release here in the states. Unfortunately due to some issues the developer, and publisher of the game never released it to the US public. Sadly it ended up being a Japan only release.

After 2011, and 2012 passed rumors emerged through various video game related sites that a "Phantom Breaker" spin-off title was scheduled for release on the Xbox 360. It turns out that these rumors were indeed fact, and that a new "Phantom Breaker" was actually on it's way to the US marketplace. Through some research I found out, as most of you likely did that the new "Phantom Breaker", titled "Phantom Breaker: Battlegrounds" wasn't going to be the fighter that many of us had hoped for. Instead the new game was going to be a retro styled beat 'em up with fighting game mechanics. The idea sounded off-the-wall to me, but after getting my hands on a review copy I found out otherwise. The game was solid in every aspect, and offered a truly fun experience, the likes of which I haven't seen in a very long time. The new publisher Mages, and developer Division2 have produced a digital product that was definitely worth having regardless of the fact that it isn't the initially scheduled fighting game release.