Author: Dustin Murphy

Square Enix E-store Sale

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Square-Enix Online Store Gets a Back to School Sale
  Originally Published on the Official Blast Away the Game Review Facebook Page

                                                              Written by Dustin Murphy

If there is anything that is a bit of a bummer, it’s going back to school. If you ask any gamer; there is nothing fun about school, but Square-Enix has come up with a way to solve that. Starting now, gamers, fans, and anyone alike can head over to the Square-Enix Online store and receive a discount of 20% on a single title. Want Drakengard 3, but also want Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster (Collector’s Edition for PS3)? That’s not a problem! You can get both for 30% off or if you want, get three or more games and receive up to 50% off!

What games does this include? A lot of them, but the most recognized out of the games are as follows: Drakengard 3, Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster, Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII and Murdered: Soul Suspect. Those games alone are enough to cause someone to jump rather quickly at such an amazing sale. For more information regarding the sale, head on over to the Square-Enix Online Store now:
http://store.na.square-enix.com/store/

Moon Hunters Heads to Kickstarter This Week

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Moon Hunters Heads to Kickstarter This Week
Originally Published on the Official Blast Away the Game Review Facebook Page
Written by Dustin Murphy


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

Ever wondered what else would come around the crowdfunding site Kickstarter? Everyone seems to and that’s good! As of today, we’ve learned that Square-Enix Collective and Kitfox Games have banded together in order to crowdfund Moon Hunters; a pixel-art mythology-building RPG. For those interested, starting August 26th, they can head over to Kickstarter and help fund this title!


Square-Enix’s Collective is a curated platform, one that allows for developers of games to post their ideas, and you, the gamers, to choose whether or not these games should become a released title. These games are not, however, are not developed by Square-Enix, but instead, created by your very own neighbors within the gaming community. Luckily, the developers supported by Square-Enix’s Collective undergo a Team Assessment before they can begin their funding campaign to ensure that the team’s ideas are going to pan out, and they have the capability of delivering their title as Square themselves would.

Not familiar with Kitfox yet? Some of you actually may know them for their critically-acclaimed title by the name of Shattered Planet. The game released on mobile platforms and Steam Store. With it having launched and become such a huge hit, they are now ready to go into full development of Moon Hunters. The problem? They need 45,000 USD in order to complete their project.


Official Information from Square-Enix’s Press Release:


“The team is really eager to show off what we’ve been working on and get more input from the community,” commented Tanya Short, designer on Moon Hunters. “Collective has helped us find our audience for a mythology-building RPG, getting the word out about this beautiful game we’re trying to make.”


“Moon Hunters caught my eye very early on with its great visual style and design bursting with personality – and gamers echoed that with strong support during the game’s feedback campaign,” added Phil Elliott, project lead at Collective. “Since getting to know the team at Kitfox Games over the past 9 months, we’re really happy to be supporting them through their Kickstarter – we’ve learnt a great deal since Collective launched fully in April, and we’ll put all of that experience into this campaign and help the team get the best result they can.”


Before crowdfunding, Kitfox Games underwent a Team Assessment from Collective, a process to assess the developer’s skills, experience and plans for use of funds. This was led by an experienced development director at Square Enix. While this is not a guarantee on the part of Square Enix that the developer will accomplish every goal they’ve set, it’s an indication that we believe they have the capability to deliver a finished product according to their stated aims.


For more information regarding the Square-Enix Collective Visit: http://collective.square-enix.com/projects
For more information about Moon Hunters Visit: http://www.moonhuntersgame.com/



Trials Fusion Empire of the Sky

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 Ubisoft Releases Empire of the Sky for Trials Fusion
  Originally Published on the Official Blast Away the Game Review Facebook Page

Written byJustin DeMaio – PSN ID: CorePuncher

    I almost named this article “Ubisoft Releases Another Controller-Smashing DLC” or “Ubisoft Releases Another DLC That’ll Make you Quit Gaming” but I decided against that. Ubisoft released another Trials Fusion map pack called “Empire of The Sky”. This is their 2nd of six playable downloadable content packs for Trials Fusion. Coming on the heels of “Riders of the Rustlands”, which was the first DLC released for Trials Fusion, “Empire of the Sky” is very similar in terms of layout and just as challenging, if not more. Some games you’re just good at and some games you’re not and I have concluded that I am just simply not good at Trials Fusion. I can get towards the tops of leaderboards on easier difficulty tracks but when it comes to the Hard and Extreme difficulty tracks, I fail and fail again. I’m sure Ubisoft had this in mind when designing these tracks but I just can’t believe that they wanted someone to fault 200 times and still not be able to get past a particular obstacle.  By the way, I did finally get past that one I’m referring to but trust me, there are plenty more to come and some that are way more difficult. Trials Fusion is a great game, don’t get me wrong, but I am either missing something or just not very good at the game, plain and simple. 
   You can pick up this latest DLC track pack (like that?) for $4.99 or for free if you’re a Season Pass holder. “Empire of the Sky” brings new tracks, challenges, editor objects, and trophies. The maps have more of a futuristic design; even one has limited gravity so you kind of float, which is very cool. In total, there are nine new tracks which include one Supercross track, one Skill Game, and one FMX track. Some of the new editor objects include anti-gravity technology, force fields, and floating platforms to help you create some mind-blowing tracks. User created tracks is one of Trials Fusion’s best features.
   While I can’t spend hours upon hours playing Trials Fusion before starting to go crazy, it’s still an excellent game to pick up maybe once or twice a week and play for a little bit. It’s a great change-of-pace game and I look forward to what new and exciting tracks and features that Ubisoft can bring to the game.

PlayStation Network Hit By DDoS Attacks

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PlayStation Network Hit by DDoS Attacks

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


 With gaming, web browsing, streaming shows, or movies, there’s always that bit of a bump in the internet. Sometimes it’s the service getting overloaded with requests or the ISP unable to keep up with them, but sometimes there’s something more sinister, a group of bored people. As of the past twenty four to forty eight hours, multiple gaming services, and companies have been hit with DDoS attacks. Their games have been rendered offline, extremely slow, or unable to process enough data for everyone to connect. We have heard from multiple support accounts on twitter such as Blizzard Customer Service (@BlizzardCS), PlayStation Customer Service (@AskPlayStation), and even rumours going around that League of Legends as well other services were taken down last night and earlier today (august 23rd and 24th).


However, there are reports coming in that many of the services are beginning to stabilize. So far all services affected have stated that the “attackers” did not obtain any information or personal details. As far as it has been reported, this has simply been a server outage and won’t have any long term effects once the companies get everything up and running back to normal. We’ll report on this if anything else changes from what we do know.

Citizens of Earth Pushed to November

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Citizens Earth Gets a New Election Month!
  Originally Published on the Official Blast Away the Game Review Facebook Page
 Written by Dustin Murphy



If you are like me, this game looks like it’s going to be amazing! Playing in a JRPG world as the Vice President of Earth who needs their help! Unfortunately, due to him having spent some of his funding, we have to wait an extra month, but fear not! His election is on its way and we will be able to experience it for 14.99 USD and will be available for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, and PC. For those wondering, the countdown is coming to an end! Will you be able to stop the Vice President from his leisurely activities since he is seemingly relaxing as we await his appearance on our handheld and home consoles?


 For those who were a bit bummed about the delay, don’t feel down! The game will feature a 30+ hour campaign that plays like a classic JRPG, in both the world and play style! So get ready, prepare those consoles or handhelds, and get prepared for the most entertaining election of your life! 

 

 Stay tuned for our upcoming review this Holiday Season!

Far Cry 4 – An Introduction to Kyrat

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 Far Cry 4 – An Introduction to Kyrat
Originally Published on the Official Blast Away the Game Review Facebook Page

Written by Aaron Johnson 


In the most recent trailers for Far Cry 4, we are shown the fictional country of Kyrat in all of its splendor and glory. These are just glimpses of the vast landscapes we are to tackle in the next Far Cry. From high up in the Himalayan Mountains to the valleys in between, you will be exploring the country while a bloody civil war wages on that has split the country’s people in two with the imposter king Pagan Minn fueling the flames of this war. While exploring, you’ll come across animals never seen in a Far Cry game, like elephants with which you can mount and ride, just like at the circus. But this “circus” is none like you have ever seen; tigers mauling people to death, elephants stampeding into enemy cars or men, flying around the mountain side in a squirrel suit, keeping the wildlife in check, and visiting the spiritual world of Shangri La in your mind. Everything in Kyrat has the potential to be deadly, so tread lightly, explore everything, and try to keep your wits intact.


Another cool feature on Far Cry 4 happens to be the Keys to Kyrat, which are ten unique codes that can be given to anyone on your friends list that will enable them to join in on some multiplayer action for 2 hours per key, even if they don’t own the game themselves, I’m sure you will be able to give multiple keys to one friend, if that’s what you choose to do with your ten keys. I feel that this is exactly what Sony has in mind for their Share Play initiative and this is just testing the waters to see how well it works using the Gaikai technology that they acquired back in 2012 since the Keys to Kyrat are only available on the PS4 at this time.

Dead lsland 2 Gameplay reveal

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Dead Island 2 Game-play Reveal

 Originally Published on the Official Blast Away the Game Review Facebook Page
Written by Aaron Johnson

Sunshine and slaughter in beautiful, sunny California, a place where you may play with zombies all day or mutilate them rather. The newest Dead Island 2 trailer is full of game-play, but mind you its pre alpha, so who knows what will end up in the final game. Anyway, the game-play looks AMAZING! The trailer showcases the many different ways to kill a zombie from hacking off limbs with a fire axe to freezing them solid and shattering them to bits, one of my favorites was the weed whacker with a propeller on the end. Everything looked very smooth and fluid, from running a zombie through with a machete to stomping a head into the ground. You can tell the great folks over at Yager (the people making the game) have put a good amount of effort to make the experience unique compared to other zombie shooters. I want more Dead Island 2 now, but I know that’s not going to happen. I believe Yager and Deep Silver have a great IP and hope to see it continue in the direction it is moving.

Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragments Set to Release Next Week

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Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragments Set to Release Next Week!
Originally Published on the Official Blast Away the Game Review Facebook Page
Written by Josh Turner 


 Words cannot begin to express the level of excitement and hype I have for this game. You can ask any of my co-workers that have had the unfortunate experience of interacting with me the past few weeks.  All I talk about is SAO! SAO is an acronym for Sword Art Online, and unless you don’t follow anime or manga, you should have already known this. The series centers on an idea we have all toyed with at one time or another; what if we could play our video games from the inside? What if you and I WERE our characters, living out our actions and mistakes? Simple enough concepts, but it goes so much further from there.


During the launch of the game, players quickly find themselves locked in the game, unable to log off. It seems the creator of the game purposely locked the players within the world and has made it where if they die in the game. Their VR Nervegear will send out a high powered electrical shock frying their brains and ending their lives. The story follows Kirito, a young boy who has been playing this game since its beta phase, giving him a leg up on the competition, quickly earning him the title of a “Beater” (A Beta tester who withholds useful information for his own gain) among other players. Kirito has one simple goal, beat the game by clearing all 100 floors and save as many lives as he possibly can.

The reason I went into such detail around the story is this game and the show are one in the same. From all the pictures and early release data that have been gathered, you’ll be playing through Arc 1 and possibly Arc 2 (think seasons 1 and 2). Also worth noting is the inclusion of the original PSP Japan-only released SAO: Infinity Moment, which is getting a full graphical face lift for its re-release.

Even though this game is built off of an MMO’s premise, this is primarily a single player journey. However, there is local AD-HOC Multiplayer for up to four other players. Don’t fret, even though this is a single-player game set in a MMO’s universe, the developers have set out to make sure that all NPC’s interact and react as if they were living breathing players as well. 

You’ll also be able to interact with key plot characters throughout the game like Asuna, Leafa, and many more in and outside of combat. Battles in this game are meant to be as fast paced and high octane as their show counterparts. Players will have to master systems like Switch, Bursts, and Sword Skills in hopes of conquering all 100 floors and returning home safely!

Look for Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragments to be released this coming Tuesday on the PS Vita’s digital marketplace!

Capcom Announces Resident Evil Remake

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Capcom Announces Resident Evil Remake 
  Originally Published on the Official Blast Away the Game Review Facebook Page
 Written by Dustin Murphy


Have you ever wanted a reason to return to the Arklay Mountains and the Arklay Mansion where a horrible experiment went wrong? We know that Resident Evil has been a title that has been remade, remastered, and re-released on multiple platforms, and this is not surprising; it’s a classic. What we do know is that the terror is real, with its HD remake heading to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and PC. Unfortunately, we are surprised to not hear anything about it heading to the Wii U or even Linux, but we can only assume that this may happen in the future or that there just isn’t a presentable market at this time. Resident Evil is expected to release digitally across North America and Europe in Early 2015. Perhaps for those who do not have internet, they can expect a physical release to be announced at a later date.


 With having become one of the most popular franchises of all time, the Resident Evil series has smashed through 61 million units and counting to this date. What does this mean? That the game has received a critically acclaimed acknowledgement as a masterpiece, and will remain so for all time, with how much acknowledgement it carries. With having been “remade” back in 2002, players experienced new upgrades from graphics to game-play, clear to the new visual elements. These were things that earned the game a rather heavy nod once again. This time around, they aim to do so for both fans new and old to the series. With these upgrades, many of us hope to see the original clunky controls return, but the capability to switch between clunky and modernized controls (like those we experienced in Resident Evil 5 and Resident Evil 6) would be a great option. Either way, will be welcomed if we get to see the re-visit we had seen in 2002, but also the original trip in 1996 on PlayStation.


 With new age technology having come forth, Capcom plans on using the newest/latest resolution enhancements and 3D model technology in order to upgrade the games resolution, textures, and even the atmosphere, so that the game itself feels more alive, more realistic, and even more like what we’d expect when experiencing the events of Resident Evil. Think that’s all? No, not at all. Zombies, crows, and even hunters will be experienced in fully remastered  5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound. Players will also be able to experience the game in the original 4:3 screen ratio or the new and so far, beautiful 16:9 widescreen mode which will let the game be experienced in all of its HD remastered glory.


 There are several things that have been left to question and hopefully they will be answered soon. Will the original voice track be left intact? Will the original voice acting be there? If so and a new one is used, can we experience both new and old? There are things such as this that has yet to be revealed, but one thing has been, control schemes. For players wanting to play the title in the old school classic mode, this is actually fully possible. This will allow players to use the original d-pad in order to control Jill, but will also allow players to use the analog stick in order to control the character, which puts it in tandem with many current age games. The schemes for both screen ratio and control can be changed in-game at any given time.


Official Information Regarding Resident Evil:

 The intense horror fans first experienced with the release of the original Resident Evil is back. Taking place in the now notorious Raccoon City, players will choose to take on the role of either S.T.A.R.S. (Special Tactics and Rescue Service) team member Chris Redfield or Jill Valentine, who has been sent into the city to find the missing Bravo team. When the team is suddenly attacked by a ferocious group of mutated dogs, desperate for an escape, they take shelter in the Mansion, but will they ever get out alive again? Players will need to be brave as they venture through the dark, enclosed spaces searching out the horrors that await them. With limited ammo and survival items available, gamers will need to keep their wits about them to survive the various traps and puzzles that greet them at every stage.

Atlus Citizens of Earth article

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Atlus U.S.A., inc. Reveals Citizens of Earth
Originally Published on the Official Blast Away the Game Review Facebook Page

 Written by Dustin Murphy

Ever wonder what would happen in an RPG when the guy with the right intentions possibly goes a bit on the dirty side? In Citizens of Earth we get to see that! In this title, the Vice President of the World has muddied up his hands in order to save his people. By doing this, we mean that if one thing went wrong with his appearance, he’d look bad – really bad. We’re talking so bad that he’d look like he had just gone to a bad barber! In Citizens of Earth we learn that you, the player, will help him recruit a population in order to help the Vice President out. In the terms of helping him out, you’ll be fighting all his fights so that he doesn’t have to.

In this title the masses will not recruit easy, instead players will have to work hard, ask the people to help, and even possibly help make it so that his political party is staffed with the everyday average Joe. Who are these people possibly being recruiting or how? Simple; help them. For example that Atlus has given us, help the Cat Lady find her cats, help a conspiracy theorist find out some info by giving it to him, or perhaps maybe helping someone out in a way that suits their needs.

Citizens of Earth will be available on the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Wii U, and 3DS this October. Price and release date are not stated at this time, but go check out http://atlus.com/citizensofearth for more information!




YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx7dB-oeXPM