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Code Vein:
I didn’t spend a lot of time with Code Vein, but in my brief time playing the game, it still struck me as evocative and dripping with atmosphere. Think Dark Souls with vampires. One you’ve got that image in mind, you’ll be pretty close to visualizing the look and feel of the Code Vein demo.
Code Vein will be on the way to the PlayStation 4, Windows PC and Xbox One during the course of 2018. (Note: did not play demo)
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New Gundam Breaker:
New Gundam Breaker was another one of the “headliner titles” made available for demo. The game, in a nutshell, is about players being able to assemble and customize their Gunpla model mech suits on-the-fly, with all sorts of parts collected during battles — even while still in the midst of the battle. In the demo area I played, Running, flying, edged and projectile and energy weapons ablaze, I fought wave after frenzied wave of mechs in an oversized room turbned arena at the Gunbre High school, a training area for new players. Players can engage the game solo or co-op, including a 3v3 mode.
New Gundam Breaker is scheduled for release later in 2018, only for the New Gundam Breaker demo at the showcase event.
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Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet:
February is shaping up to be a busy month for Bandai Namco. Their upcoming Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet game, featured at the event, is hybrid (1st and 3rd person) action-heavy game. It’s slated for release on the 23rd of the month for Steam (Windows), Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Check out the latest trailer to sample the action in the game. (Note: did not play demo)
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DRAGON BALL FighterZ:
I jumped right into the commercial-ready DRAGON BALL FighterZ game on demo and immediately observed the brand-perfect visuals, as if the fighters and backdrops were lifted from the anime. The eye candy has to be one of the first observations almost anyone who has seen the source material and then this version. Then again, it was developed by Arc System Works, the artists behind the fighter franchises of Guilty Gear and BlazBlue. Look for the familiar voice actors from the American versions of the anime to top off the voice work.
The action of the game will be accessible for combat veterans and newbies alike. With only quarter circle forward and back moves at the ready, anyone can put up a splashy and reasonably effective fight. Of course, it’s the attack and defensive strategy nuances learned over time and practice that will make anyone a master of the game. The game’s potential as a tournament fighter game was teased at the recent Tekken 7 tournament in San Francisco, so the game has potential above to be in the the hyper-competitive world of eSports too, Still, it’s nice that the game makes it easier for anyone to jump in and enjoy the game right after boot-up.
DRAGON BALL FighterZ officially launched on January 26th, hitting the platform trifecta of the Xbox One, Steam and PlayStation 4.
Here’s the launch trailer to see the game in motion.
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PAC MAN CE2:
In development for Nintendo’s Switch, the Championship Edition 2/PLUS version of the seemingly evergreen Pac-Man franchise is a sequel that’s been around for a while on other platforms. First released in September 2016 on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 and Steam for Windows, the game will soon find it’s way to Nintendo’s new console
There’s more to the game than snazzy effects, of course. Sporting single or a new multiplayer co-op play mode on the Switch, this game still is all about collecting pellets and avoiding ghosts to complete a maze. After that, the similarities end. Collecting enough pellets opens up a Power Pellet to turn ghosts blue and edible or collect fruit to hop into the next maze. The ghosts take a few touches before getting “angry” and then being able to take out Pac-Man. There’s even the occasional huge pixelated ghost bosses, which will take all your skill to maneuver around and take out.
If you’re familiar with (and enjoy) a modernized arcade game like Tempest 2000, you’ll feel right at home with this splashy, neon-y twist on the classic pellet-gobbler game formula.
Expect this game for release on the Nintendo Switch on February 22nd.
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TEKKEN 7:
Tekken 7 was showcased not because it’s new (it’s not), but because a new character will soon be added to the tournament fighter game’s extensive character line-up. At the Tekken 7 tournament finals in San Francisco, Geese Howard from numerous SNK fighter games was the star of the show. This time, a couple months later, it’s Final; Fantasy XV alum, Noctis Lucis Caelum, who was featured. Noctis will be landing in-game this spring.
In my time playing the game with Noctis, he was a player it was possible to button-mash some surprisingly good moves from, but to really master his moves, he has to be treated as a skill player. Special moves are extracted from Final Fantasy XV, which should prove familiar to fans of both games. Most weapons-based specials for Noctis rely on his trusty Engine Blade, but his Rage Art is all about his Armiger (phantom weapons) attack, that sequences multiple weapons attacks together before dropping an axe on the opponent for an edgy finish to the move.
See Noctis in action in Bandai Namco’s reveal trailer from last last year.
Keep an eye out for news from Bandai Namco as these titles, and more, are released into the wild!
