News: August 2016
Adding To The Addiction
As Pokémon Go continues to rage in the hearts and minds of gamers the world over, a release date for the game’s physical add-on has finally been revealed. Set to hit store shelves in September, the Pokémon Go Plus is a portable device, best resembling a standard wristwatch, that will allow Go users to enjoy the game without having to actually look at their phones. Thanks to the power of Bluetooth, Plus users will be notified via an LED and vibration of key occurrences – like the appearance of nearby Pokémon – and then be capable of acting upon said occurrences via a button on the device. The Plus was originally scheduled for a late July release, but was delayed.
The One For You
For those of you yet to upgrade your old consoles, now might just be the perfect time, because the Xbox One S has officially launched on our shores. Featuring a frame that’s 40 per cent smaller and a fresh new coat of white paint, the One S offers High Dynamic Range (HDR) support for both video and gaming. In layman’s terms, that means your games will look extra pretty, while Netflix will be capable of streaming in 4K Ultra HD. The 2TB launch edition version of the Xbox One S is currently retailing for $549 but is only available in limited quantities. Alternatively, 1TB and 500GB versions will also be available from Tuesday August 23, starting at $399.
What’s On:
GAMESCOM 2016
Like E3 back in June, you won’t be able to actually attend Gamescom without first shelling out for a flight to Germany, but it’s still an event worth noting in your video game calendar. The conference will take place from Wednesday August 17 – Sunday August 21 in Cologne and primarily focuses on the European market (with which we tend to share more similarities than the US). With most of the big players in attendance, expect to see a whole lot more footage of the latest and greatest games on the horizon, so get excited and prepare to lose some sleep.
EB EXPO 2016
For an event you can attend, however, there’s this year’s EB Expo. Kicking off on Friday September 30 and running until Sunday October 2, this is video game nirvana for Sydneysiders – once again housed at Sydney Showground. Nearly every major publisher will there to blow your socks off, meaning you’ll be able to get your hands on the likes of Gears Of War 4, Tekken 7, Call Of Duty: Infinite Warfare, Final Fantasy XV and more. That’s not to mention a taste of the future with PlayStation VR. Should you wish to take a break from the bevvy of games, however, the event will also feature a cosplay showcase and cosplay competition, eSports competitions and stores to spend all your hard-earned cash in. Tickets start from $39.95 and can be purchased at ebexpo.com.au or by visiting your local EB Games store.
Review:
LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens
(PS4, XBO, PS3, 360, PC, 3DS, Vita)
The LEGO series certainly is a fascinating one – often blurring both the lines between faithful recreation and satire, as well as child-focused romp and nostalgic trip down memory lane. The latest in the group of games, LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens sits a little bit in the middle of both camps. It’s a thoroughly entertaining tribute to last year’s Episode VII that manages to respect the film’s lore and canon, while still revealing a few extra titbits of its own.
A large bulk of the game naturally follows the plight of our new favourite friends like Rey and Finn, allowing you to go hands-on with some of their tale’s most critical moments. What’s most refreshing about this, however, is that developer TT Fusion doesn’t treat this experience as a whirlwind tour of the film’s highlights – utilising the brick-based world it has to play around with instead. It also makes the most of its stellar voice talent. Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Anthony Daniels, Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac, John Boyega and Adam Driver all contribute to the star-studded adventure, adding a level of credibility for hardcore fans.
Even more amazing is that the actors aren’t merely re-recording their already existing lines, but new dialogue too, which either extends scenes or creates brand new ones to help add clarity to this world in a galaxy far far away. You’ll discover how Lor San Tekka found the map to Luke Skywalker and learn more about the previously unexplained smuggling operations of Han Solo and Chewbacca.
When you’re not geeking out to new information, you’ll be solving a multitude of puzzles that require multiple characters’ unique abilities to correctly solve and reach the end. Most of these abilities are enjoyable to use, however a few of the mechanics can start to feel a touch repetitive when they’re later relied on more often than they probably should be.
It’s also worth noting that this is still a LEGO game at heart, so if you’re hoping for deep and nuanced challenge, this probably isn’t the title for you. It’s not a big issue, however, because what LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens does possess is personality and charm, both in huge spades. If you’re a fan of block-busting adventures or a diehard Warsie, you owe it to yourself to embrace your inner child and pick this one up pronto.
★★★★
