Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Arakawa Under the Bridge x Bridge Standard Edition Announced


Arakawa Under the Bridge x Bridge Standard Edition Announced!
Originally Published by Blast Away the Game Review on 4/30/2014



As of today NIS America is excited to announce that Arakawa Under the Bridge x Bridge Standard Edition, the wacky, hilarious continuation of the exploits of the denizens that reside below the Arakawa bridge, is now available for purchase across North America. Arakawa Under the Bridge x Bridge Premium Edition comes packaged with 13 episodes on 2 Blu-ray discs/2 DVDs and contains all the original bonus features included in the Premium Edition version. Additionally, the Standard Edition comes with a brief episode guide leaflet.

It is now available at the following select online retailers: Right Stuf, The Anime Corner Store, Anime Pavilion, and NIS America Online Store.

About the show: 
Just when you thought things couldn't get any weirder by the banks of the mighty Arakawa, they go ahead and get weirder by a whole lot. Rec, Nino, and the rest of the riverside residents return, and with the addition of another batch of nutty citizens the insanity gets turned up to eleven...thousand. Now Rec has to deal with a sci-fi loving comic nerd who's convinced he's a captain in the Earth Defense Force, and the less said about the Amazon woman living upstream with her demonic "female" Amazon followers, the better. On top of that, Rec struggles with the pressing issues of romantic expression, media obsession, weight loss, weight gain, beach parties, haunted houses, interplanetary travel, and the ever-present threat of global thermonuclear war!

Our Take by Dustin Murphy:

When it comes to picking up an anime, there is nothing quite like a good laugh and or anime that features quite a bit of creativity and imagination. This anime is no exception to that and we hope when you aren't gaming that you, our readers take some time to pick up this latest release from NIS America!

Ubisoft's Road to Paris Starts Tomorrow!


Might & Magic Duel of Champions Road to Paris Starts Tomorrow!
Originally Published on Blast Away the Game Review on 4/30/2014



Official rules are revealed and Finals will take place at the Eiffel Tower in January 2015

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – April 30, 2014 – Today Ubisoft® announced Might & Magic Duel of Champions Road to Paris 2014 is kicking off tomorrow, May 1. Switching the format from last year’s Road to Paris, this year the qualifiers will take place entirely online through eight months of competition. From there, the top eight players will be flown to Paris for the Grand Finale, happening in the iconic Eiffel Tower.

Leveling the playing field

The new qualifying system has been tailored to allow players from around the world to enter Road to Paris exclusively through online competitions. Depending on their monthly performance and activity, players will have an equal opportunity to be seeded in the Bronze, Silver or Gold Cups. Each cup will claim a victor at the end of the month, and rewards of 14 000€ of in-game currency will be doled out to participants.

Players striving to compete in the Road to Paris Finals will have to ensure their placement in the Gold Cup through active game participation. Participating in the Gold Cup will allow players to gather Season Points and climb the Road to Paris leaderboard.

On December 21, the top eight players with the most Season Points will earn their ticket to the Grand Finale, a chance to win part of the 15 000€ prize pool and most importantly, a shot at the World Champion title.

A world class eSports event

“Last year’s finals at Paris Games Week were a huge success and we wanted to make our 2014 competitive season bigger, more open and more connected than ever. To do so we have taken the competition entirely online and have created a dedicated website to cover the competition and provide personal dashboards to our players. In addition we will provide monthly live coverage of the Gold Cup finals on Twitch and community videos with tips, strategies and insights,” said Jean-Baptiste Pennes, Senior eSport Manager at Ubisoft.

“Our community drives us to continue pushing our game forward and improving it at every opportunity and we see this year’s Road to Paris competition as a way to level the playing field, meet our top players and ultimately give them the chance to be involved in this world-class eSports event. We are very excited to see top players go head to head through the qualifiers and see the best of the best at the Eiffel Tower in January,” said Samuel Jobin, Producer of Might & Magic Duel of Champions.

To register and for more information about the Might & Magic Duel of ChampionsRoad to Paris Tournament Series, please visithttp://www.road2paris.com/

To watch the monthly Gold Cup broadcasts on Twitch please visit:http://www.twitch.tv/duelofchampions.

To play Might & Magic Duel of Champions, please visit the official website http://www.duelofchampions.com/

About Ubisoft
Ubisoft is a leading creator, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and services, with a rich portfolio of world-renowned brands, including Assassin’s Creed, Just Dance, Tom Clancy’s video game series, Rayman and Far Cry. The teams throughout Ubisoft’s worldwide network of studios and business offices are committed to delivering original and memorable gaming experiences across all popular platforms, including consoles, mobile phones, tablets and PCs. For the 2012-13 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of €1,256 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com/www.ubisoftgroup.com.

©2012 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Might & Magic Duel of Champions, Ubisoft and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the US and/or other countries. iPad, iPhone and iPod touch are registered trademarks of Apple Inc.

Our Take by Dustin Murphy:

As a fan of eSports as always, it's interesting to see the new ones come around, and this is no exception. With what Ubisoft has done with Might & Magic Duel of Fates, and their Road to Paris. We can only state. May the best win!

Child of Light Available World Wide


Ubisoft®’s Child Of Light™ Now Available World Wide!
Originally Published and Copyrighted by Blast Away the Game Review on 4/30/2014
Written by Dustin Murphy



 Interested in the side scrolling JRPG title, Child of Light? Fear not any longer on the wait! Ubisoft has announced that, as of today, Child of Light is now available to download on XBox One, XBox 360, PS4, PS4, Wii U and PC world wide for the cost of 14.99 USD

 For those unfamiliar with it, Child of Light is a beautifully crafted re-imagining of classic fairytales that set a picturesque background inspired by the watercolor works of The Golden Age of Illustration. The game itself is a playable poem, a fairytale that takes players through an amazingly enchanting journey through the well crafted world of Lumeria. Players exploring the world will take the roll of a beautiful young princess by the name of Aurora, who has taken on the quest to take back the sun, the moon, and the stars, all of which have been taken away by the villainous and mysterious Queen of the Night. Child of Light will take people on an amazing platforming experience that is fused with the traditional turn-based combat seen in Japanese RPG games, which also provides a beautiful and rich storyline, along with an amazingly crafted soundtrack. This all weaves together by the talented and beautifully-rendered hand drawn art style. 





 Child of Light was created by a small team of developers in Montreal using Ubisoft’s UbiArt Framework, a powerful engine that lets programmers and artists to bring their art to life by allowing original concept art to be inserted directly into the game world. In Child of Light, the effect is that playing becomes akin to stepping into an interactive painting.

For more information on Child of Light, please visit: http://childoflight.ubi.com/

About Ubisoft
 Ubisoft is a leading creator, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and services, with a rich portfolio of world-renowned brands, including Assassin’s Creed, Just Dance, Tom Clancy’s video game series, Rayman and Far Cry. The teams throughout Ubisoft’s worldwide network of studios and business offices are committed to delivering original and memorable gaming experiences across all popular platforms, including consoles, mobile phones, tablets and PCs. For the 2012-13 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of €1,256 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.

New Mario Kart 8 Information Released

Nintendo Offers Gamers a Crash Course with Mario Kart 8 Info!
Originally Published and Copyrighted by Blast Away the Game Review on 4/30/2014
Written by Dustin Murphy



 Interested in buying a Wii U, but haven't had a reason yet? Well Nintendo has given us a reason to eyeball the Wii U, even if we have one with this anti-gravity, racing action, turtle launching, mushroom boosting, title. With this announcement, we are able to see a Nintendo Direct Video where users can view the new announcement such as Mario Kart 8 Bundle, a free downloadable game offer for those who purchase Mario Kart 8, awesomely cool new characters, and of course the new devastating items.



 Interested in what comes with the bundle? Well let us tell you! On May 30th, purchases can obtain the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Set, that will contain a Wii U Deluxe console, Mario Kart 8 game, and a red Mario Wii Wheel accessory and of course a red Mario wii Remote Plus controller. How much would this cost outside of the bundle? A staggering 329.99 USD. Though for those who already have this set up? The game itself will be well worth it alone! We hope to see you on the track soon.



Official Information from Nintendo:

“Everyone loves Mario Kart,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “It’s a franchise that brings people together for fun at a family gathering, a frenzied race against friends or just an afternoon break at the office. The numerous new features of Mario Kart 8 make this the most ambitious version yet, and one that will have players of all skill levels racing for the checkered flag.”

To view the Nintendo Direct in its entirety, visithttp://www.nintendo.com/nintendo-direct. Some of the new information announced today included:

Get a Free Digital Game: People who buy Mario Kart 8 and register the game with Club Nintendo before July 31 will receive a free Nintendo eShop download code for an additional Wii U game. Players can grow their Wii U digital game collections by choosing from one of these well-received Wii U games: New Super Mario Bros. U, Pikmin 3, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD or Wii Party U. That’s a two-for-one deal featuring some of the all-time great Wii U games. This offer also applies to people who get the game in the Mario Kart 8 bundle or digitally in the Nintendo eShop.

Online Multiplayer: Up to 12 players can race together online in four different multiplayer modes, as long as everyone has a broadband Internet connection. Like to trash-talk your friends while you’re preparing for a race? You’re in luck! Mario Kart 8 lets players chat with one another in the lobby area using the Wii U GamePad microphone or text phrases as they wait for their friends to join. Players also can create public or private tournaments for which they specify the day of the week, the time and the rules. Per tradition, players will be able to race against ghost data from friends or even the top 10 worldwide racers. They can try to beat them or just pick up a few tips and tricks from studying the best. If you beat the development team’s ghosts, you’ll get cool stamps for use in Miiverse posts.

Mario Kart TV: As previously announced, players can watch their highlight racing reels, rewind them, play them in slow motion or upload them to Miiverse. They can watch the world’s most popular highlight reels and comment on them. But players with Google accounts can also upload their reels directly to their YouTube channels.

New Items: Items are what make Mario Kart games so balanced. No matter how skilled racers are, they’re just a blue Spiny Shell away from disaster. A well-timed item can also turn defeat into victory in an instant. The new Super Horn blows away all other items – literally. Sounding the Super Horn issues forth a sonic shock wave that blasts away everything in the vicinity, including other drivers, Red Shells and even blue Spiny Shells. It’s a potent asset, especially for drivers trying to maintain their lead. Mario Kart 8 also introduces the Crazy Eight, a swirl of eight different items that lucky players can use one by one.

New Racers: Two new playable female characters make their debut appearances in Mario Kart 8. New heavyweight driver Pink Gold Peach glows with a golden light and makes a nice counterpart to Metal Mario. Baby Rosalina shows up for a play date with other Baby characters. As in past Mario Kart games, players can again choose to play as their Mii characters, which rounds out the field of racers to an even 30.

 Mario Kart 8 is now available for pre-order at major retailers throughout North America. A deposit may be required for pre-orders. See individual retailers for details. For more information about Mario Kart 8, visit http://mariokart8.nintendo.com/

 Remember that Wii U features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/wiiu.

 About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii U™ and Wii™ home consoles, and Nintendo 3DS™ and Nintendo DS™ families of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has sold more than 4.2 billion video games and more than 669 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii U, Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 3DS XL, as well as the Game Boy™, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DSi XL™, Super NES™, Nintendo 64™, Nintendo GameCube™ and Wii systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario™, Donkey Kong™, Metroid™, Zelda™ and Pokémon™. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company’s website at http://www.nintendo.com/

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Ragnarok Odyssey Ace Gets DLC Information

XSEED Games Confirms Ragnarok Odyssey ACE Demo Date, Launches Free SOUL SACRIFICE Crossover DLC
Originally Published on Blast Away the Game Review 4/29/2014



XSEED Games, the independent-minded console publishing brand of Marvelous USA, Inc., today announced that a demo will be available on May 13, 2014 for Ragnarok Odyssey ACE, the action RPG title for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and PlayStation®Vita handheld entertainment system. Additionally, free DLC releases with fan-favorite content lead up to the demo launch including the crossover “SOUL SACRIFICE” set, which is available now. The expanded follow up to the original hit PS®Vita release Ragnarok Odyssey, ACE comes with a host of all-new content, including cross-platform play between PlayStation®3 and PS®Vita, a first for the series. For more information about the game, including DLC details, visit: www.ragnarokodysseyace.com.


RAGNAROK ODYSSEY ACE: DLC LAUNCH SCHEDULE
*All listed DLC provided free of charge via the PlayStation®Store

Available today

  • SOUL SACRIFICE set: Noble Raiment (male & female), Sorcerer’s Hood (male & female) and Librom (headpiece)
  • Gapap Tentacle (headpiece)
  • Homesick Sakura (headpiece)


May 6

  • EMIL CHRONICLE ONLINE set: Tiny Costume, Tiny Alma, Tiny Doll, Tiny Hat, Tiny Headgear and game music
  • Cool Sunglasses
  • Ancient Tiara


May 13

  • PUZZLE & DRAGONS set: King Metal Dragon Helm and game music
  • Great Sage’s Hat
  • Silk Hat



 And plenty more updates in the following weeks to come, with details to be released at a later time.

 Ragnarok Odyssey ACE expands on the original Ragnarok Odyssey with all-new content, including the Tower of Yggdrasil, an enormous ever-changing dungeon that will challenge players with different layouts and enemies each time they enter. Furthermore, players will utilize the new “ACE Skill” system, an arsenal of powerful new moves that can be unlocked when enemies drop the “Proof of Expertise” item.

 Also new to Ragnarok Odyssey ACE are a dozen elite AI mercenaries. Solo players can recruit any two of these NPCs to fight at their side. AI mercenaries are available for hire in various classes and both genders, so players can pick and choose companions that offset or support their particular character.

 Ragnarok Odyssey ACE delivers on rich, new – yet familiar – content to explore. The game features a plethora of new bosses, items and features that expand upon the original Ragnarok Odyssey experience. Players of the original Ragnarok Odyssey will be able to transfer their character’s basic physical features such as name, face and job class (but not clothing), as well as weapon cards and monster cards (cards equipped to clothing or acquired via NEAR will not transfer over). Any additional DLC acquired can also be transferred by re-downloading it from the PlayStation Store.

 Ragnarok Odyssey ACE is developed by Game Arts, creators of the Grandia and Lunar series, together with GungHo Online Entertainment in Japan. Ragnarok Odyssey ACE is published by XSEED Games in North America and released on April 1, 2014. The European release scheduled for April 30, 2014 is published by GungHo Online Entertainment America. This title has been rated T (Teen) by the ESRB.

 For more information on XSEED Games products, please visit www.xseedgames.com. Fans can also follow XSEED Games on Facebook at www.facebook.com/XSEEDGames and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/XSEEDGames. 

 © Gravity Co., Ltd. & Lee MyoungJin(studio DTDS). All Rights Reserved. © GungHo Online Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Licensed to and published by XSEED Games/Marvelous USA, Inc. "PlayStation" is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. 


SOUL SACRIFICE: © Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
EMIL CHRONICLE ONLINE: © BROCCOLI/GungHo Online Entertainment,Inc./HEADLOCK Inc. Puzzle & Dragons: ©GungHo Online Entertainment,Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Our Take by Dustin Murphy:

 As a huge fan of both Ragnarok Odyssey and Soul Sacrifice, I'm glad to see the games crossing worlds, and providing us with more content. We can only hope to see these cross overs continue as time proceeds. Click the link below for our review. 

Blast Away the Game Review - Ragnarok Odyssey Ace Review

Nintendo Announces Plans for E3 2014

Nintendo Has Big E3 2014 Plans!
Originally Published on Blast Away the Game Review on 4/29/2014
Information Provided by Nintendo America

 REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Over the last few years, Nintendo has repeatedly reinvented its approach to E3 by creating unique ways to break news and get fans at home involved in the fun, while also offering great experiences for on-site attendees. That mission continues in 2014 as Nintendo offers a series of new channels to communicate news directly to its key audiences, including fans, media, analysts, investors and business partners. This includes a new format for unveiling news: the Nintendo Digital Event; a Super Smash Bros. tournament; a full slate of live, in-depth game demos from the Nintendo booth; and an opportunity for fans to play Super Smash Bros. for Wii U for the first time at their local Best Buy.

“We demonstrated last year that we are never afraid to reinvent a proven tactic or to break completely new ground if we believe it will provide the best experience for our fans, followers and partners,” said Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America’s president and chief operating officer. “So, whether you’re attending E3 in person or joining online, there’s an amazing lineup of games, experiences and events coming your way.”

At E3 2014, Nintendo will offer four unique experiences, all under the unifying banner of “Play Nintendo.”


 2014 will see the arrival of not one, but two new Super Smash Bros. games: Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. To commemorate this occasion, Nintendo is inviting 16 highly skilled Super Smash Bros. players to the NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles to compete in a Super Smash Bros. for Wii U tournament. Thousands of fans in the audience and countless more watching a live stream online will see new Super Smash Bros. characters clash with existing favorites in action for the first time. More important than declaring a winner, however, this event is a celebration of all things Super Smash Bros., and a great way for new and veteran fans to take part in a tribute to this legendary franchise. More information about the 16 invited participants in the tournament, the identity of the announcers, and how fans of the franchise can view the tournament in person and via webcast, will be communicated shortly.


 Every year, Nintendo looks for the best way to show its games and share its news with fans, media and other key audiences. In 2013, Nintendo decided to forgo a traditional press conference and use a video – in that case a Nintendo Direct – to share its news from E3. The company is building on that approach at E3 2014 with the “Nintendo Digital Event,” a new kind of video program that will reveal and provide further detail about the gaming experiences on the way for Nintendo platforms in 2014 and beyond. The Nintendo Digital Event will air at 9 a.m. PT on Tuesday, June 10.

Nintendo Treehouse: Live @ E3
 This year, Nintendo will offer fans a deeper look at Nintendo’s biggest games of E3, with information directly from the source. The “Treehouse,” the Product Development department at Nintendo of America, will provide in-depth game demos live and unscripted from Nintendo’s booth. This new program will be live streamed during all hours of the E3 show. Fans can get settled in, open their browsers and experience the Nintendo games at E3 like never before. 


 In 2013, Nintendo broke new ground by expanding its E3 activities outside of the walls of the Los Angeles Convention Center and letting fans play some of the games being played on the show floor at participating Best Buy stores. The partnership between Nintendo and Best Buy continues in 2014 and will mark the first time around the world that fans have had the opportunity to get their hands on Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

 More details about each event, including dates, times, locations and game content will be revealed shortly. To follow all of Nintendo’s E3 activities, keep an eye on Nintendo’s Facebook page, Twitter feed and YouTube channel. Or visit http://e3.nintendo.com./

About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii U™ and Wii™ home consoles, and Nintendo 3DS™ and Nintendo DS™ families of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has sold more than 4.2 billion video games and more than 669 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii U, Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 3DS XL, as well as the Game Boy™, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DSi XL™, Super NES™, Nintendo 64™, Nintendo GameCube™ and Wii systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario™, Donkey Kong™, Metroid™, Zelda™ and Pokémon™. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company’s website at http://www.nintendo.com./

Our Take by Dustin Murphy:

 Nintendo has always been a company I've found creative, ever since I was little. This aspect hasn't changed even as an adult. With their innovative to include fans in every aspect of their entertainment platforms, it has not been surprising to see they will continue their legacy in their creative manners, and this makes me even more interested to see what they will be doing as we get closer to E3, but also to newer platforms of consoles. I hope we see plenty of movement to help the Wii U grow.

New Stealth vs. Mayhem Trailer for Wolfenstein: The New Order

Wolfenstein: The New Order Gets a New Trailer
Originally Published and Copyrighted by Blast Away the Game Review on 4/29/2014

Written by Dustin Murphy



 If you've been interested in Wolfenstein, the new trailer should surely grab your interest this time, and not by a little bit. In this new trailer, MachineGames along with Bethesda-Zenimax, has decided to show off the different choices of combat we can partake in. From stealth killing with silenced weapons to roaring up the battlefield with machine guns: The choice is yours. This has definitely caught our interest as we also get to see the beautiful graphics engine that seems to be optimized for PC and next gen consoles.


The new trailer can be viewed here at the Bethesda YouTube Channel.

Official Game Information:


Wolfenstein: The New Order, the upcoming first-person action-adventure shooter under development at MachineGames, reignites the franchise widely recognized for pioneering the first-person shooter genre. Set in the 1960s, the monstrous Nazi regime has used mysterious advanced technology to win World War II. They now rule the globe with an iron fist. Wolfenstein: The New Order sends you across Europe on a harrowing mission to bring down the Nazi war machine.

Wolfenstein is slated for release in North America, Europe and Australia on May 20th on the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC. As an added bonus, everyone pre-ordering the game will be invited to access the DOOM beta with their copy of Wolfenstein. For more information on the DOOM beta access pre-order bonus, as well as applicable terms and restrictions, please visit: www.wolfenstein.com/doom.

Wolfenstein: The New Order has been rated M for Mature by the ESRB. For more information on the game visit:www.wolfenstein.com.

Ubisoft® Announces Watch Dogs™ Season Pass


Ubisoft® Details Watch Dogs™ Season Pass
Originally Published on Blast Away the Game Review on 4/29/2014


 SAN FRANCISCO, CA — April 29, 2014 — Today, Ubisoft revealed details on the Season Pass for the open world action-adventure game, Watch Dogs. The Watch Dogs Season Pass gives players access to a unique single-player story featuring T-Bone, the brilliant but eccentric hacker; a new Digital Trip game mode, Conspiracy!; an exclusive Untouchables Pack; plus new missions, weapons, outfits and more. At $19.99, the Watch Dogs Season Pass will be available for PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system, Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows PC.

Key Features:

All-New Single-Player Story – Take on the role of T-Bone, a brilliant but eccentric hacker who lives by his own rules.

Conspiracy! – A new Digital Trip game mode that lets players hunt down cyborgs in this mind-bending alternate game universe.

Exclusive Untouchables Pack – Pay homage to the classic Chicago mobster film with a M1 SMG weapon and a 1920s mobster outfit. In North America, the Untouchables Pack will only be available through Season Pass.

More single player missions, weapons, and outfits.
Save more than 25% over the individual downloadable pack prices.
Season Pass holders get one-week early access to all included Watch Dogs add-on content.

 In Watch Dogs, players will assume the role of Aiden Pearce, a brilliant hacker whose criminal past led to a violent family tragedy. Now on the hunt for those who hurt his family, players will be able to monitor and hack their enemies by manipulating everything connected to the city’s Central Operating System (ctOS). The ctOS controls almost every piece of the city’s technology and holds key information on all of the city’s residents. Access omnipresent security cameras, download personal information to locate targets, control traffic lights and public transportation to stop enemies and more. Watch Dogs allows the player to use Chicago as their ultimate weapon and exact their own style of revenge.

 Watch Dogs will be available worldwide on May 27, 2014, for PlayStation®4 system, PlayStation®3 system, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and Windows PC.

 Stay connected to Watch Dogs by visiting the official website, Facebook page and Twitter account.

About Ubisoft

 Ubisoft is a leading creator, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and services, with a rich portfolio of world-renowned brands, including Assassin’s Creed, Just Dance, Tom Clancy’s video game series, Rayman and Far Cry. The teams throughout Ubisoft’s worldwide network of studios and business offices are committed to delivering original and memorable gaming experiences across all popular platforms, including consoles, mobile phones, tablets and PCs. For the 2012–13 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of €1,256 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.

© 2014 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Watch Dogs, Ubisoft, and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the US and/or other countries. “PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Our Take by Dustin Murphy:

 As someone who has been eagerly awaiting Watch Dogs by Ubisoft since it got announced, this does not come with a surprise. I'm eagerly awaiting to see what more they can do in the realistic sci-fi like world they have created with the upcoming release of Watch_Dogs. I can only hope to see the title grow post-launch in order to keep us coming, undoubtedly, back for more till the release of the next Assassin's Creed we know as Unity.

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Demon Gaze Review - A Place Where Saving is Important

Demon Gaze  - A Place Where Saving is Important
Originally Published and Copyrighted by Blast Away the Game Review on 4/27/2014
Review by Dustin Murphy



Pros:
  • Unique party system that plays upon the hotel stay theme
  • Party members can be fully edited to your need
  • Character creation allows for gender choice and class choice
  • Stat points are not explained on the benefits they give
  • Traps within dungeons can lead to painfully fun exploration
  • Great sound quality on the title, which allows for a headset worthy experience
  • Classic take on RPG’s such as the days of Wizard


Cons:
  • Third person would have been a bit more enjoyable for this title
  • Character even if selected as female, will be referred to as a ‘he’
  • The story can be somewhat lost in the ramblings of the NPCs
  • Artifact items are not very well explained
  • Difficulty for some may be too hard on default setting


Verdict: 7.25 out of 10

Final Thoughts:   When it comes to JRPG’s and classic RPG’s, I’m not a stranger to their systems, difficulty scaling, and or even story telling. However, when it comes to Demon Gaze, there were moments where I found myself glaring at the game due to its difficulty. After having learned to buy enough gems to start getting items to sale, I was finally on the right track, and on my way to getting where I needed in the game. This is highly recommended to new players as they will find the making money aspect a bit difficult at first. With all those little things like that aside, Demon Gaze is a wonderful dungeon crawler that lets us explore the world of Mythrid as the character Oz (name can be changed by the player). Unfortunately to some, the graphics will not be grate, and will cause them to turn away. For those that could care less about graphics, Demon Gaze is right up your alley.




-Review - 
 Upon entering Demon Gaze, players will be greeted with a bit of back story behind the game, and almost instantly a character creation screen, which allows players to pick the desired look for our Demon Gazer; Oz. Luckily players can choose gender, appearance, voice type, and even Oz’s class. This is something that leads to a bit of our own mindset, which lets us feel as if our character does matter, and gives some form of connection to him. Once Oz has been created, we are thrown instantly into a dungeon where items will be given tutorials, fighting will be given tutorials, and of course a place where our story begins to take off. In this tutorial like introduction, we learn our protagonist (mine being Zephyr) has no memory of who, why, or what he was doing in the dungeon. For you ladies, who want a female character, your character will unfortunately be referred to as he whether you like it or not. Within minutes of this you meet your first NPC, a woman who we can refer to as the battle-scarred woman (not spoiling her name or interaction), she in turn gives you a weapon, tells you what’s going on. Within seconds of that, players will find themselves fighting off a demon. After having managed to fend off the demon. Once defeated, players will experience their first Demon Gaze, and thus the adventure begins.



You have your first demon to control, but with side-effects. These side-effects of course are explained to us in yet, another tutorial. This is something that will become common for about the first hour of the game as it explains the games basic functions. Once having defeated the demon, players will find themselves apparently having entered a contract to stay at the Dragon Princess Inn, this place being an odd location for a safe haven. Players learn quickly that the local mercenary groups come here in order to find a living while running through unsafe locations, which are the dungeons we, the player, will find ourselves fighting through. After having been introduced to Fran, the inn’s owner, we are introduced to many of the inhabitants. After having completed these mundane tasks, which is the talking, we are set off to head for new areas. Players can explore the end, strike up a pre-scripted conversation with the NPCs, or even head into the wilds. However, a cutscene does take place. Players will find themselves frustrated with the scantily clad women, and of course the at times almost always naked Lancelorna. Unfortunately, this is not limited to just the female characters in the game; even a few males have this issue. Luckily, the NPC’s have a sense of humour and well scripted guidelines that caused me to quickly grow to like them, and their stories.



After having done every little task possible in the inn before heading into the wilds, it was time to do so, and in a way: regretfully. The difficulty for the game at default is challenging. To some players, as mentioned in the pros and cons, almost too difficult. Players will take on multiple enemies, some of course being higher level, and much more powerful. In this case, it’s highly recommended that players tough through it, and or save often. It doesn’t get any easier from here on out. Luckily, players who manage to get the farming down and make money, can go back to the inn, pay their rent, which must be done after every mission, and hire new party members by “renting a room” and of course ”seeking your own” party member. For beginners, a healer class is highly recommended for the simple fact of difficulty and limitations on gear, as well as healing items. Luckily as players adapt to this, missions can be quickly cleared out, the story unfolded, and side-quests completed. Remember to grab those side-quests quickly as possible from the hall within the Dragon Princess Inn.

For those who explore, this game is not short on that at all, instead it encourages visiting past areas, fighting demons, using gems, and allowing players to adapt to each of the games mechanics all the while. Luckily, each gem has a type, and those themselves are luckily: self-explanatory. With a very adaptive combat system, unwavering enemies, and even tougher bosses, Demon Gaze will give players hours of enjoyment. From crawling through dungeons, furnishing rooms within the inn, to leveling up, and hunting down gear, Demon Gaze is truly a unique and difficult game. This is definitely one that will take time, will not be for the feint of heart, and will require a lot of patience.

Graphics: For some the classic 32-bit like graphics may be a bit of a drag, but thankfull it does not take away from the games actual play. Luckily, cut-scenes are much more detailed, and look as if they were pulled straight from an anime.

Sound: With quite a few lyric filled tracks in the game to rather detailed sound effects, Demon Gaze is just short of being a first person anime, which is amazing.

Controls: Very straight forward, very easy to learn, and very welcoming to any player; no matter their experience with games.

Release Date: April 22, 2014 in North America, published by NIS America.

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Trials Fusion Available Now on PC in North America.

Trials Fusion Available Now on PC
Originally Published on Blast Away the Game Review on 4/24/2014



SAN FRANCISCO — April 24, 2014 — Today, Ubisoft® announced that Trials Fusion™, the highly anticipated sequel to the massively popular platform racer Trials Evolution®, is now available for download in North America on Windows PC.

Trials Fusion is also available digitally for $19.99 on Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system and Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from the Xbox Live Games Store and on Sony PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system. A physical retail version including a Season Pass and bonus unlockable items is also available for $39.99 SRP on Xbox One and PlayStation®4 system.



Developed by RedLynx in collaboration with Ubisoft Shanghai and Ubisoft Kiev, Trials Fusion offers players an unlimited array of obstacles and challenges as they race against the clock – with players from around the globe – to set track records.

The game builds off the same maddeningly addictive physics-based gameplay of its predecessors while incorporating brand-new features, including the FMX tricks system.

Create tracks, made possible by the fan-favorite Editor mode, that stretch your imagination and skill, and put your friends to the test by sharing online with the bustling Trials Fusion community.



Whether players choose to race alone, against friends or in a worldwide tournament, the competition is endless. Just one run is never enough.

Check out the trial version of Trials Fusion, available now for download on Xbox 360, PlayStation®4 system and Windows PC.

For the latest information on Trials Fusion, please visit: trialsgame.com

For the latest on all of Ubisoft’s games, please visit: ubiblog.com

About Ubisoft:
Ubisoft is a leading creator, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and services, with a rich portfolio of world-renowned brands, including Assassin’s Creed, Just Dance, Tom Clancy’s video game series, Rayman and Far Cry. The teams throughout Ubisoft’s worldwide network of studios and business offices are committed to delivering original and memorable gaming experiences across all popular platforms, including consoles, mobile phones, tablets and PCs. For the 2012–13 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of €1,256 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.

© 2012–2014 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Trials Fusion, Ubisoft, and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the US and/or other countries. Trials Evolution and RedLynx are trademarks of RedLynx in the US and/or other countries. RedLynx is a Ubisoft Entertainment company. “PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Our Take by Dustin Murphy:

After having been thoroughly enjoying Trials Fusion on the PlayStation 4, it has been hard to not say that the game is fun, and simply amazing. It's one of those few games that bring in a true, competitive, but not required online multiplayer that can be accessed by letting the Ghost racers on your track in order to challenge your friends for their record times. We hope you too do enjoy this just as much as we have. Below we have provided a link for our review.

Blast Away the Game Review - Trials Fusion Review

Monday, April 21, 2014

Demon Gaze Launches on PlayStation Vita Tomorrow!

Demon Gaze Launches on PlayStation Vita Tomorrow!
Originally Published by Blast Away the Game Review on 4/21/2014
Written by Dustin Murphy



 Originally released in Japan on the PlayStation Vita on January 24th, 2013, we can finally say the wait is almost over. In less than twenty-four hours, gamers will be able to experience this amazing title that has been eagerly awaited by many fans of the Students of the Round series, which was also created by the amazing developer, Experience Inc.

 Players will finally be able to obtain this title in North America on April 22nd for 39.99 USD and in Europe on April 25th, 2014 for £29.86.

Official Websitehttp://www.nisamerica.com/games/demongaze/

Stay tuned for our upcoming review!



Game Information:

 Demon Gaze is a dungeon crawling based experience that puts players in the role as Oz, a young man turned demon gazer thanks to the magical powers within his eye, that allow him to seal demons away for all eternity. Taking place a thousand years after the events of Students of the Round, players will be familiar with world they enter. In the game, players will spend time fighting their way through carefully and uniquely crafted dungeons, but they will also spend a balanced time in the inn, where they will build relationships with NPC's or spend their currency in game on items, and equipment.

 Players will also be able to create secondary characters, which they will be able to party with, while also changing their appearances while having them "take a bath". The demons encountered and partnered with are apart of a "machine", and in this means, some of them can transform when they go into a rampage mode. After defeating them? Some fans of the Persona series will recognize the being able to summon them mechanic.



 In Demon Gaze: Oz awakens to find himself in Misred - a cursed land at the world's western frontier-with a dark shroud covering certain memories of his past. The land before him contains many labyrinths that hold both treasure and danger in equal volumes. Without knowing where else to go or what else to do, Oz decides to take up arms in order to hunt down artifacts and eke out a living in this world that feels so new to him. One day, he will have to face his past, but until then, he has no choice but to trust those around him, and in his new-found abilities as a "Demon Gazer".

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Opinion: Health and Being a Gamer

Health and Being a Gamer
Originally Published and Copyrighted by Blast Away the Game Review on 4/19/2014
Written by Dustin Murphy



 Sometimes we never think about something bigger outside of gaming. We know we sit at our consoles, handhelds, computers, tablets and or even phones for hours on end. Sometimes the entire day, but there's one thing we seem to be forgetting these days. Being healthy in the process. Even with being a gaming journalist, newsie, and of course blogger, health has become something I focus on due to being a rather husky guy. It's something that is always up there with how important running Blast Away the Game Review is. This sometimes means figuring out when it is best to put a workout rotation into my day. Be it for thirty minutes, forty five minutes, one or even two hours a day.

 Why do I bring this up? You may be wondering that. Seeing as how gaming is a big part of the team and my lives. It is something we've decided as a team was important to bring up, especially with obesity hitting the gaming community hard. In this article I'll be breaking down some amazing options that the game developers have actually offered in order to help us gamers get our exercise in so that we may actually lose weight and remain in a decent cardiovascular based health state.

 As I was growing up, games were not always get up, jog in place, flex arms, stretch and or jump. Instead we had alternatives in the means of Dance Dance Revolution, which forced us to get up on our feet, dance to the arrows, and hopefully not look completely goofy while we did it. It was those style games though that helped us get up, move around, and be active. In the light of things, thanks to the Wii, Wii U, XBox 360, XBox One, PlayStation 3 and of course the PlayStation 4, we have new alternatives that can help achieve this.

 On the mentioned consoles, gamers like you and myself, we have many alternatives such as Wii Fit, Dance Masters, Dance Central, Nike + Kinect Training, Your Fitness Evolved Franchise, and many other options. All of these of course requiring you the gamers to get up, move around, and get a bit of exercise in, but does this mean that's all you need to do? With health, we know movement is a big game changer in the fight to be healthy, lose some weight, and maintain some sort of physical activity. However, food is a new issue. As we game, we are known to binge on soda products, which is something unfortunately with being healthy can be difficulty to do. However, there are some amazing choices out there. Personally I've chosen Sparkling Ice as a brand to go to. Why? Instead of getting that crisp soda punch, I was able to find something refreshing, with a crisp flavor that offered a taste that was unique. Something that sodas don't often do.

 The next thing to think of? What you eat. Instead of having candy bars, pizza, and or a huge helping of random foods, find fruits, vegetables, oatmeal bars, that kind of thing. Why? They will help you lose weight by cutting out all the unnecessary foods that we don't need as sedentary gamers. Instead we need to also think of when enough food is enough while we are remaining sedentary, even with a healthy life style.

 Gamers. Now that you have read a few of our tips, what are ones you would recommend to other people? Would you recommend finding a gym, a trainer, and or a work out partner? What foods would you recommend to your fellow gamers in the community? Let us and them know in the comments.