Originally Published on the Official Blast Away the Game Review Facebook Page
Written by Dustin Murphy

 If you are like any WARRIORS fan out there, KOEI TECMO has something right up your alley in preparation for the SAMURAI WARRIORS 4 launch that is about to assault the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation Vita on October 21st, 2014. What does this mean? Players will be able to enjoy the franchise’s 10th anniversary of course! We also have gotten some information regarding the games new regions called Legend of Kinki and Legend of the Uesugi Regional stories. Both of these will be capable of opening up an entire new experience from what we’ve seen before.

One thing that will entertain many is the large roster. Boasting 55 warriors in total, the roster itself will feature unique warriors such as Takatora Todo, who serves Ieyasu Tokugawa and will appear emotionless, making him an intense person to look upon as all emotions are locked deep within him. To counter this they are introducing the newest Kagatsu Uesugi, will be there, he speaks with his actions and is dedicated to his training so that he may keep up with his fathers title as “God of War”. Will names such as Muneori Yaygu, who trains as a Shinkage style swordsman, be able to bring forth life and death in the battlefield?

 With all those new characters, who doesn’t want to hear something about the old? KOEI TECMO has also announced that they will be giving some polishing to original characters such as Aya, Masanori Fukushima, Kiyomasa Kato, Kanbei Kuroda, Keiji Maeda, and more. The list is amazing and one that will not disappoint the fans.

Writers Note: For those interested, on our Facebook page we have provided screenshots presented to us by KOEI TECMO so that you may see the new upgrades via screenshot comparisons from the PS3 and PS4 versions of the game! We hope you enjoy them just as much as we did!

Official Information from KOEI TECMO:
The deeper focus on each faction’s dramatic history in SAMURAI WARRIORS 4 tells their legendary tales through Regional stories which carry to the main story of unification. The Legend of Kinki follows Nagamasa, young ruler of the Azai Clan that rules Northern Omi, as he sets out alongside his wife, Oichi and his retainers Takatora Todo and Yoshitsugu Otani, in pursuit of his dreams. In the Legend of the Uesugi, Kenshin Uesagi, known as the Dragon of Echigo and the God of War goes forth to aid those desperately pleading for his aid and continue to emblazon his majestic strategies into the memories of all who witness his destruction.

SAMURAI WARRIORS 4 is developed by Omega Force and published in North America by KOEI TECMO America. The PlayStation 3 and PS Vita versions will be available digitally exclusively through the PlayStation® Store for $49.99 and $39.99, respectively. The PlayStation 4 standard edition will be available for $59.99. Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the series, the SAMURAI WARRIORS 4: Special Anime Pack is filled with content for fans including the SAMURAI WARRIORS: Legend of Sanada anime, the official game soundtrack and several DLC packs will be available exclusively for the PlayStation 4 system at participating retailers for $74.99. This title has been rated T for Teen by the ESRB.

Originally Published on the Official Blast Away the Game Review Facebook Page
Written by Dustin Murphy

 For many people whom have gotten their hands on the franchise known as ALIEN have a lot to be excited for with October quickly approaching. Why is this? The latest entry into the ALIEN universe created by Ridley Scott through his impeccable ability as a director, we are about to witness the events that pick up shortly after Ellen’s adventure in the NOSTROMO after an incident occurred on the planet LV-424. With the title we have learned that the game, at its core, will be a horror survival. The player will not be able to kill the Alien that is hunting them, and will be forced to evade it’s learning tactics, and adapt to them as well. With this game being what it is, we have also learned that the titles Survivor Mode is officially announced and will be getting additional content through the add-on packs that will be available through the games Season Pass, which is now available from GameStop for those in North America.

 The Survivor Mode was revealed earlier this year at E3 and was well received by fans who witnessed the game mode for the first time. This mode will challenge players to participate in a one-to-one confrontation with the games enemy, the Xenomorph, which will hunt them deep within the core of the Sevastopol Station. This hunt is not going to be easy, and will test the steadfastness of anyone who dares to take on the creature. Why? Resources will be limited on each map, and with a hunter such as the Alien on the loose, players will need to take advantage of everything that can be gathered up. While doing this, players will be completing objectives, which will be unique to each scenario, and will help lead to their overall escape from the Xenomorph.

 “At this year’s E3 and a number of subsequent events, we put the Survivor Mode demo into the hands of the world’s press and consumers and the reception was incredible,” said Al Hope, Creative Lead on Alien: Isolation. “This is the game in its purest form; it’s you against the creature and it’s against the clock. It was just fantastic watching players leave the demo with a strange mix of joy, terror and relief at simply surviving, before jumping back in and try to tackle it in a different way to beat their time!”

The title itself will have a Survivor Mode demo on a single map called ‘Basement’. The map will allow players to test the mode and see what the talk is about, which will undoubtedly, not disappoint. For those getting the season pass or interested in each content separately, the DLC will start releasing on October 28th, and will allow players to enjoy the first of five add-on packs available for the mode. Players also will be able to purchase the Season Pass in order to obtain more content for the overall game which will allow players to set objectives, challenges, and even access a new playable character and experience a very of enemy types that will try and stop the player between each of the escape points hunted.

For More information regarding the title, check out the trailer via the link below or read the statement from SEGA regarding this title below!

Also available to purchase from launch will be the Alien: Isolation Season Pass, offering access to all five Survivor Mode add-on packs, at up to a 25% discount. All add-on content packs are scheduled to be released by March 2015.

Alien: Isolation is a first-person survival horror game capturing the fear and tension evoked by Ridley Scott’s 1979 classic film. Players find themselves in an atmosphere of constant dread and mortal danger as an unpredictable, ruthless Xenomorph is stalking and killing deep in the shadows. Under-powered and under-prepared, you must scavenge resources, improvise solutions and use your wits, not just to succeed in your mission, but to simply stay alive.

Alien: Isolation will be available from October 7, 2014, for Xbox One the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Windows PC, Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system.

For more information and to keep ahead with the latest news, find us at alienisolation.com, follow us on http://www.facebook.com/alienisolation and join the conversation on twitter.com/alienisolation.

*For Xbox One and Xbox 360, this is a purchase of an Xbox Gift Card equivalent in value to the Alien: Isolation Season Pass. The customer may redeem the value to download the Season Pass, or for other content available from the Xbox Live Marketplace.

Originally Published on the Official Blast Away the Game Review Facebook Page
Written by Dustin Murphy

AKIBA’s TRIP: Undead & Undressed has been one of the most adventurous open world action-rpg’s that I’ve ever played. With a very believable and well sculpted Akihabara. It is without a doubt a game worth taking an adventure through Tokyo with, but do not go without this warning. AKIBA’S TRIP: Undead & Undressed is a game that players will adventure through this while taking on the vampire-like creatures, the Synthisters. The Synthisters prey upon both game and anime-obsessed targets. Will you be able to use your laptops, motherboards, fans, and even baseball bats as weapons to stop them? Find out by checking out the new screenshots that have been released by XSEED Games.

For those wanting more content, XSEED Games and Marvelous USA, Inc., have announced that there will be DLC released that is free of charge throughout September in preparation and a thank you to the fans for making the PlayStation 4 version possible..

AKIBA’S TRIP: Undead & Undressed is developed by ACQUIRE and published by XSEED Games in North America. The PlayStation®3 and PlayStation®Vita system versions are now available at participating retailers, as well as digitally via PlayStation®Store, for $39.99. The PlayStation®4 system version will be released this Holiday season with pricing and additional details to be made available at a later date. So make sure to keep your eyes out, but do note that the game is rated “M” for Mature and may not be suitable for all audiences. Parental discretion is advised.

More information on the game can be found via the official website at www.akibastrip.com. For information on XSEED Games products, please visit http://www.xseedgames.com. Fans can also follow XSEED Games on Facebook at www.facebook.com/XSEEDGames and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/XSEEDGames.

Originally Published on the Official Blast Away the Game Review Facebook Page
Written by Dustin Murphy

 It’s now time to ready up those weapons, and prepare to set forth on the adventure of your lifetime. Prepare to take on a battle unlike any other by accident, not choice. For those looking for a great turn based RPG, developer COMPILE HEART, and publisher NIS America are proud to announce that the PlayStation 3 exclusive is now available through physical and digital formats. For those in Europe, your wait is almost over. This title will launch on September 19th and will be one to highly enjoy!

Originally Published on the Official Blast Away the Game Review Facebook Page
Written by Dustin Murphy

 26 Years ago, the world was enlightened by the charming sounds of FINAL FANTASY when the first title released on the Nintendo Entertainment System. The game was at the time was not at the time, as heavily followed as it is now, and that set it into a league of its own. Twenty-six years later, SQUARE ENIX has one of the largest franchises in the gaming industry, and has shared it’s music for many to enjoy in a beat rhythm style game. With the songs being composed by Nobuo Uemtasu, one can only wonder why this masterpiece of a title is exclusive to Nintendo, and the question is simple; it launched where it began. As of today, Players can enjoy new the original play style of FINAL FANTASY THEATRHYTHM and the new game modes that have been launched within this title. With over 221 songs to choose from as well as 60 playable characters, one can only admire this beautiful masterpiece.

Players who purchase the title will be able to tap along to the memorable beats, harmonies, and even chorus’ to some of the most famed songs of all time. The music spans across the full breadth of the FINAL FANTASY franchise and leaves no pages unturned. Each of the characters are stylized around their song, battle, and the quest through their worlds thanks to this music. Thanks to over twenty wonderful titles, THEATRHYTHM allows players to experience the uniqueness of each title while merging them into one beautiful cinematic visual title, that also meshes together their role-play elements.

Unlike before, CURTAIN CALL introduces characters and songs from the recently released FINAL FANTASY XIII trilogy, FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn, and FINAL FANTASY TYPE-0. Even with those, the game alone does not even begin to touch the fan favorites such as FINAL FANTASY TACTICS and last, but not least, FINAL FANTASY VII: Advent Children. With these newest entries into the score, players can also experience a new way to play each of the newly released title. This time around players will be able to enjoy this games new playable modes such as Versus Mode where players will go head-to-head in a screen-tapping showdown against one another, for those that don’t want to, Quest Medley may be right up your alley. What does this mean? You’ll be able to go here in order to customize their party to their favorite characters and take to the games beautiful fields and dungeons in order to play in music-based battles against bosses from the famed series franchise.

In FINAL FANTASY THEATRHYTHM Curtain Call, players will be able to unlock new characters, songs, and collectible cards, CollectaCard Crystarium to power up character’s stats. How do you do this? By playing levels and earning Rhythmia by completing songs through the game itself!

“With THEATRHYTHM FINAL FANTASY CURTAIN CALL, we wanted to capture the memorable musical elements that have been a huge part of the franchise,” said Ichiro Hazama, producer of THEATRHYTHM FINAL FANTASY CURTAIN CALL. “Our fans are in for a nostalgic rhythmic experience that will have them fall in love with their favorite FINAL FANTASY soundtracks all over again, from the original FINAL FANTASY in 1987 all the way through the recently released LIGHTNING RETURNS: FINAL FANTASY XIII and FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn.”

With having had the game played before it’s release, it has been getting high amounts of positive feedback, and has been called one of the best games released by SQUARE ENIX’s Japan Studio. So lets take a true look at what the companies are saying about it with some scores below.

“…Curtain Call is well worth the encore…” -Gamezone (9.5/10)

“Curtain Call is one of the best releases from Square Enix’s Japanese division in years.” -EGM (9/10)

“An early contender for my favorite handheld title of the year.” –Nintendo World Report (9/10)

With those ratings, one can only wonder, will you pick it up? It is something we highly suggest after having had plenty of time to join the previous entry, which was entitled to plenty of beautifully sculpted pieces of music. Below; SQUARE ENIX has outlined the list of upcoming DLC’s. So take a peek, and see what is in-store for the future of this title!

Check out the official trailer below:

Available Today:

Songs

• “Battle 2” (FINAL FANTASY V)*
• “Roses of May” (FINAL FANTASY IX)*
• “Blitz Off!” (FINAL FANTASY X)
• “Library of Ancients” (FINAL FANTASY V)
• “Shuffle or Boogie” (FINAL FANTASY VIII)
• “Tough Battle #2” (FINAL FANTASY XI)
• “KUON: Memories of Waves and Light” (FINAL FANTASY X-2)
• “Crazy Chocobo” (FINAL FANTASY XIII-2)

Character

• Yuffie (FINAL FANTASY VII)

On Sale Thursday, September 25th:

Songs

• “Protect the Espers!” (FINAL FANTASY VI)
• “Battle 1 – arrangement – from FINAL FANTASY IX” (DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY)
• “Promised Grace” (FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES)
• “Aerith’s Theme (Piano Version)” (FINAL FANTASY VII: ADVENT CHILDREN)
• “Battle Theme A” (FINAL FANTASY II)
• “Good King Moggle Mog XII” (FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn)
• “Thunder Plains” (FINAL FANTASY X)
• “Canto Mortis -An Undocumented Battle-“ (DISSIDIA 012[duodecim] FINAL FANTASY)

Character

• Rosa (FINAL FANTASY IV)

*Available for free until Tuesday, September 30th. Otherwise, each track/character is available for $0.99.

THEATRHYTHM FINAL FANTASY CURTAIN CALL is available today for $39.99 exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS™ system. The game is rated T (Teen). Fans can download a demo of the game from the Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS™. Stay tuned for our upcoming review due out soon!

-Related Links-

Official Homepage: www.theatrhythm.com

Official Facebook® Page: https://www.facebook.com/theatrhythm

Official Twitter®: @FinalFantasy

Originally Published on the Official Blast Away the Game Review Facebook Page
By: Devon Day

 Soo… it is not a secret… Watch Dogs is, without a doubt, successful. 8 million copies sold worldwide and counting, and with a new DLC, Ubisoft really has set the tone for the current gen of consoles, along with their internal studio; Ubisoft Montreal. All current gen consoles…. except for the Wii U. Forced to wait, Wii U gamers were wondering if they ever would get the adventure filled hacking game. Well now, your wait is almost over. Coming November 18, Watch Dogs will utilize the Wii U Gamepad in many ways, such as navigation and off-TV play.

For those of you who have yet to get the game, the story relies around a brilliant hacker by the name of Adien Pierce. His criminal past led to a violent family tragedy. Sought for revenge and using the Chicago Central Operating System, he seeks to get vengeance on these people. I would like to go a little more in depth, but, that is for those of you who haven’t played it to find out!!

That wraps it up. For those of you who have played Watch Dogs, did you enjoy it? Were there area’s that the game needed improvement upon? What was your favorite moment? Would you like a sequel? Please leave your thoughts below!

Again, thank you for reading and hope to see you next time. Until then, this is Devon Day

Checking Out

Originally Published on the Official Blast Away the Game Review Facebook Page
Written by Dustin Murphy

Are you one that wants to whip a pistol out and prepare to unsheathe a sword in mid attack? Are you the one who would rather clash two robotic fists together and charge into combat? Fairy Fencer F is preparing for you to unleash your inner fighter this month on the 16th for North America and the 19th for Europe. Developer COMPILE Heart (known for their published titles by the name of Hyperdimension Neptunia), has prepared to unleash their turn-based RPG upon the world with characters designed by Tsunako (Hyperdimension Neptunia series). Many will remember the beautiful concept art by Yoshitaka Amano and the beautiful music by famed Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts composure, Nobuo Uematsu.

For those looking to dust off their pistols, polish their robot hands, and brandish their swords, it is time for them to prepare as Fairy Fencer F prepares its launch soon. For those unfamiliar with Fairy Fencer F or games published and or developed by Compile Hearts, we’ve been lucky enough thanks to the amazing people over at NIS America, to be able to tell you about it!

 Fairy Fencer F takes place in a world that had once been tainted by a dreadful war that was once fought between the Goddess and the Vile God. Them having fought gave them reason to create weapons of many assorted types. These weapons were enhanced by their powers, each of them contained a special essence, the life force of a fairy. With both the Goddess and the Vile God armed with these weapons, the two continued their once terrifying war against each other until they became imprisoned into what was called “The Great Unknown”. Time has passed since their conflict occurred, but these weapons did not simply disappear. Instead their weapons lay dormant; these “Furies” are sought out by many. These warriors that wield them are called “Fencers”, known for their capability to use a Fury. Once collected by a Fencer, they are said to get a single wish, which in turn puts a young man named Fang in for the adventure of his life. Will he once more awaken the Vile God and the Goddess and once and for all put their indefinite fight to an end? Find out soon on the PlayStation 3 when the game launches! Also stay tuned for our upcoming review! For those interested below we have provided the official Key Features from NIS AMerica for you to read!

X

Key Features as released by NIS America:

Robust Combat System – Witness the next evolution of Hyperdimension Neptunia’s battle engine! Move your characters in a fully 3-D environment as you link combos in thrilling turn-based combat! Exploit enemy weaknesses to trigger Avalanche Attacks and watch your party gang up on opponents! Send your enemies sky high with Launch Attacks, then follow up with an Air Attack to send them crashing back to Earth! And if fights get really tense, simply transform into your upgraded Fury Form and really bring the pain!

Untold Levels of Customization – Use the Furies you collect to give your characters powerful abilities, or use them to customize dungeons to your exact specifications! Need a little more “oomph!” in your swing? We’ve got a Shaping Effect for that! Want some extra experience points after battle? We’ve got a Shaping Effect for that too! But what if you’re a masochist who wants everyone—allies and enemy alike—to deal DOUBLE damage? Oh, you best believe we’ve got a Shaping Effect for that!

Artistic Pedigree – Enjoy the dulcet tones of renowned composer Nobuo Uematsu, the composer for many of the Final Fantasy titles. With character designs by Tsunako (Hyperdimension Neptunia) and Yoshitaka Amano (Final Fantasy I-VI), the line between cute and menacing has never been more blurred!

For those interested, you can check out the latest trailer below!

Originally Published on the Official Blast Away the Game Review Facebook Page
Written by Dustin Murphy

 If you are a fan of RPG games that have a visual novel element to them, fans can definitely begin their bit of excitement that is rising within them. As oftoday, Atlus and Aquaplus have released a few screenshots and character descriptions of their new men and women who are entering the title. Hitting the market on October 14th, exclusively for the PlayStation 3, Tears of Tiara II: Heir of the Overlord welcomes into the lunacy of over 80 hours of story, tactical, and turn based combat. Oh, did we mention the silliness of elephants? Yes literally, war Elephants that will march on in combat and allow you to try and triumph over the battlefield. Something you can experience for an amazing 39.99 USD.

So before first and foremost, let me welcome up to the article, the official release information regarding this new characters as released by ATLUS themselves! Hope you enjoy and we look forward to bringing you our review of this title once it hits the streets.

-Saul-

The borderlands platoon leader who protects the Rhenus River fortress near the western border of the Empire. He has worked his way up from an ordinary civilian and accrued plenty of battle experiences. His platoon also places a lot of trust in him.

In order to protect the peace in the frontier, Saul does not skip a day in patrolling the border. He originally hails from Lusitania, located in the western regions of the Empire, but has battled in the eastern frontier when he was young. Due to his extended stay in the frontier, Saul’s crude use of language stands out, but his overwhelming might is feared even by the tribes.

-Charis-

A girl acknowledged as a temple priestess. She serves the head priest Hamil and the goddess Tarte. Charis may be a bit young, but knows exactly what needs to be done, whether it be running errands for Hamil or cleaning the temple in the village.

Ever since Tarte descended upon the world, Charis has served as her handmaiden. With a bright and lively personality, she looks up to Hamil and Tarte as older siblings.

-Izebel-

Acting governor of Hispania, and commander of the Imperial Army of the western border.

Izebel was one of the closest subordinates of the previous governor (Hamil’s father), but as soon as she learned about plans of rebellion, she switched allegiance to the Empire, which led to his death. She was awarded with authority equal to the province’s governor and now rules over Hispania.

Though she has a memorable, voluptuous smile and behaves like everyone’s best friend, she is cunning and cold-blooded. Izebel becomes a fearsome enemy in battle.

-Aemilia-

 An engineering bureaucrat who was around at the birth of the Divine Empire. Aemilia has directed construction and transportation in the old Empire, and is also well-acquainted with finances.

Aemilia firmly believes in three things: that she is a genius, that technology can solve any problem in the world, and that advancement in technology is the best means to lead humanity to happiness. She’s a workaholic and favors efficiency, even dressing like a man in order to increase her mobility in the Empire.

As the old Empire shifted to theocracy, the engineering bureaucrats – many of whom share the same beliefs as her – have strayed away from the Divine Empire.

-Laelius-

 An Imperial knight in Izebel’s council of advisors. Laelius was born into a family of knights and vows absolute loyalty to the Empire. He still holds onto the antiquated mindset of chivalry and is unyielding in his belief, but that stubborn quality of his earns him the trust of the Imperial Army.

He looks up to Izebel and believes that the Imperial moral code and way of life lie with her. Laelius’s wish for order and stability in the Empire is second to none, so he cannot forgive the rebellion in Hispania. He will mercilessly punish anyone who betrays the Empire.

-About ATLUS-

Atlus U.S.A., Inc. has become known across the industry as a mark of high-quality, deeply immersive, uniquely Japanese video game experiences. With award-winning titles that reach across a variety of genres and platforms, including the Shin Megami Tensei® and Persona® series of role-playing games, the ground-breaking action-adventure/puzzle game Catherine™, and the much-celebrated RPGDemon’s Souls™, ATLUS is committed to offering the highest standard in interactive entertainment experiences. www.atlus.com