Capcom has just given us the word that their latest installment of the Devil May Cry series (DmC), which is now in its fifth iteration, will be releasing on January 15th, 2013. Ninja Theory (Enslaved), as most of you know, have taken the reins. Hopefully they’ll be able to provide a fluid combat system that fans have come to expect from the stylish devil-beating franchise.

Though the game will reportedly not be running in 60fps, Ninja Theory is adding something that the series has never had: worlds that morph on a consistent basis.

Kat, psychic surveyor of Limbo

I believe Kat is getting an eyeful here.

Capcom also gave out some new details about one of the protagonists of the game: Kat. She’s a runaway who joined The Order. She has the ability to see the demon realm, but is not able to interact with it. As the right hand of The Order’s leader, she’ll be helping Dante on his mission through Limbo. Her primary mission is to gather intelligence on Limbo, which may cause some conflicts of interest and problems with Dante. However, based on the screenshot above, I think Dante will be able to convince her to side with him.

DmC is scheduled to be released on Xbox 360 and PS3 on January 15th, 2013 in North America and Europe. A PC (Windows) version is being worked on and should be released at a later date in 2013.

In recent years, Nintendo has been streaming events to the world via its own channel, and this year you can expect to see even more coverage than ever before. They’ve set up their own website, which will be updated throughout E3 with videos and screenshots of their latest titles. Be sure to keep in mind that their presentation will also be streamed live at 9 a.m. PT on Tuesday, June 5th. Nerd Reactor will be in attendance, so who knows, you might even see us in the audience!

Nintendo will also be reaching out to the fans via Facebook. Nintendo’s Youtube channel will be host to various videos, including interviews with game developers. For all of you Twitterers, you can look forward to Nintendo reps tweeting about all (Nintendo) things E3 (@NintendoAmerica).

Just as an extra, convenient option, cable owners can view Nintendo’s E3 2012 presentation on Spike TV or MTV2. Viewers of these two channels can also look forward to exclusive trailers and inside looks at the Wii U and new Nintendo 3DS games. However, the Nintendo conference is just one part of their coverage. You can expect more than 17 hours of multi-platform footage as a part of Spike TV’s “E3 All Access Live” telecast.

For hands-on coverage of E3, be sure to check back with Nerd Reactor daily during (and after) E3 as we give you our opinions on this year’s best (and worst) video games.

Do you see the “outer door”? Imagine that what’s behind it is Aliens: Colonial Marines, the game. Now imagine that this door will not open until February 12th, 2013. Pretty harsh, “outer door”; I’m not sure I like your MO. There’s no word on exactly why the title was delayed, though a rogue band of facehuggers keeping Gearbox Software from their computers can’t be ruled out just yet. It’s scheduled to be released for PC, PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii U. For now, marines, your duty is to study this new trailer. Oorah.

Here’s the latest Prometheus featurette on Charlize Theron and her character Meredith Vickers. She talks about how her character creates tension on the ship. She does remind me of Sigourney Weaver’s character in Alien, except she actually tries to do something to prevent a catastrophe from happening. We are also informed that Vickers works for Weyland and is in charge of making sure others are doing their jobs.

Prometheus hits theaters on June 8, 2012.

Everyone I know is talking about Diablo III. Hardly anyone ever mentions Max Payne 3, so it was a shock to find out that Max Payne 3 did better in sales compared to Diablo III in the UK. Max Payne 3 has also outperformed Max Payne 2 ten to one.

I still have to check out Diablo III, but I have finished Max Payne 3. If you’re a fan of the Max Payne series or love bullet-time and guns, then you should do anything you can to play the game now. Check out our Max Payne 3 review.

Here’s the top ten game sales in the UK for the week ending on May 19.

1. Max Payne 3
2. Diablo 3
3. FIFA Street
4. Sniper Elite V2
5. FIFA 12
6. Prototype 2
7. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
8. Battlefield 3
9. Assassin’s Creed: Revelations
10. Mario and Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games

Source: Chart-Track

The free Xbox 360 deal is back!!! It’s a deal that Microsoft did last year for students looking to buy a new desktop computer or laptop. If you missed it last year, now is your chance to get a free Xbox 360 with a purchase of a new computer. US retailers participating on this are Best Buy, Dell.com, Fry’s Electronics, HPDirect.com, NewEgg, and Microsoft Stores.

All that is needed to get the free Xbox 360 offer is a verification of school enrollment, which can be done by you or your parents. Last year it was limited to students 16 years or older. This year the offer is not just open to college students but all students. That is not the only difference from last year’s offer, this year Microsoft did not mention anything about getting a 10% off your purchase if you did not want an Xbox 360.

So if you are looking to buy a desktop PC or laptop for your student or if you are looking for one yourself, then you may want to jump on this deal. But I would suggest waiting until after June 2nd because that is when the new Windows 8 comes out. That is because there is a rumor that the upgrade may not be free. The offer is from May 20 until September 8, 2012, so you have some time to decide.

Source: NewEgg Promotions

The Wolverine’s production has been delayed for a while, but now Hugh Jackman has confirmed that it will begin shooting in August.

The story takes place in Japan as Wolverine falls for a Japanese woman. The problem is that she’s going to be married to another man, and her family consists of warriors out to stop Wolverine’s advances.

Wolverine! What’s up with you going for other dude’s girls? Cyclops, anyone? And speaking of Cyclops, actor James Marsden’s movie characters can never really get a break. In The Notebook his girl gets taken away by Ryan Gosling, in Superman Returns Brandon Routh takes Lois Lane away from him, and then who can forget Wolverine trying to steal Jean Grey away. James, you need to find a new agent.

starts shooting in August!!! “@MarkGreen74: @RealHughJackman Hi Hugh, any updates on the next Wolverine film for all us geeky fans?”

— Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman) May 19, 2012

The Wolverine was originally going to have Darren Aronofsky directing, but due to conflicts in scheduling, he had to bail out. James Mangold (Knight and Day) is now set to direct with Christopher McQuarrie (The Usual Suspects) writing the script.

The Wolverine hits theaters on July 26, 2013.

Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar released his new official song for Ghost Recon: Future Soldier called “War Is My Love.” If you’re a hippie, I suggest you cover your ears because it’s definitely glorifying war. With lyrics like “A warning shot to let em know I’m serious”, “I’m ready for a war,” “I guess war is my love,” and “The secret for determination: I’ll terminate ya quick,” I want to go outside and start terminating things left and right to let them know I’m serious.

“When I recorded ‘War Is My Love,’ I did my best to put myself in the shoes of the Ghosts from the video game and capture that feeling of being willing to wage war and do whatever it takes to claim victory,” said Kendrick Lamar. “And when I started really getting into the game, I thought it actually matched perfectly.”

The song is produced by Soundwave. Ghost Recon: Future Soldier is in stores starting May 22nd, 2012.

Here’s the full lyrics:

[Kendrick Lamar]
Look into my eyes and tell me you see a warrior
I never felt that feeling of euphoria
Pain forever, prolong the prose
The cons of prosperity is strong
Wake up in the morning and I gotta win
Not taking the victory, that’s my only sin
And so I send a message to your messenger
A warning shot to let em know I’m serious
I’m ready for a war
When I roar I can break a glass window
The only thing for sure: the perfect way
To pin you on your back
Even if I gotta slither through the cracks
I get crack every culture, deliver I attack
Every ? when I sit it on the tripod
Even if you try hard, you can still die hard
Run with your game high: white flags
You can pull em out fast
And tell me your last goodbye

Before the flood comes
And all my flock is drowning in the wagons
I guess war is my love

[Kendrick Lamar]
Make sure your next move is slick
Your best move is nothing
You know I take risk: dark clouds, I love it
Cause I can hide in the mist
Hop out and crush every soldier you’re with
So I’m 6 for 6
The secret for determination: I’ll terminate ya quick
I lead the pack, I follow no rules
I see the traps, I know you’re close to
Following your faith
Unload reload hearing another case
Explode, explode: the fire of my eyes
Is waiting on your demise
I hope your hope is close by

Update: Cole MacGrath voice actor Eric Ladin has confirmed that Nolan North and David Hayter will be reprising their roles as Nathan Drake and Snake, respectively. But what about Kevin Butler?

Though not all of the cast has been revealed for this brawler game, PlayStation has announced and confirmed a small roster of players for PlayStation All-Star Battle Royale. It is safe to assume that there will be more to come in the coming weeks and months. But if you cannot wait for the teasers of upcoming characters, then head over to IMDB’s site and check it out. Since it is on IMDB, you can treat this as a rumor.

There are two new names that I am excited to see. One is David Hayter and the other is Jerry Lambert; some may recognize the name David Hayter, he is the voice of Snake in the Metal Gear series. And the second name is the real name of the VP of [insert title] for Sony, Kevin Butler.

As a big fan of the Metal Gear series I’m glad to see that David Hayter has decided to join the fight. And as for KB, I’ve been a big fan of his since the first commercial he was in. This line-up has me getting more excited for the launch of this game.

A recent press conference in Cannes for the movie “Chinese 12 Zodiac”  Jackie Chan stated that he will no longer be staring in action movies. UNTRUE. According to Chan himself as per his facebook account, not happening.
Source: http://www.facebook.com/jackie

Hello all my friends and fans,

Yesterday in my press conference in Cannes for Chinese 12 Zodiac I said that this movie was my last big action movie.

Today I was shocked when I woke up to read all the news coverage that I was retiring from doing Action movies.

I just want to let everyone know that I am not retiring from doing action movies. What I meant to say is that I need to do less of the life risking stunts on my movies. After all these years of doing so many stunts and breaking so many bones, I need to take better care of my body so I can keep working.

I will continue to do international action movies.

And I will keep improving my English

I love all of you!

Jackie

This can also be interpreted as using stunt doubles for dangerous scenes or starring in roles that require less dramatic action sequences and more dialogue.
We can expect to continue seeing our childhood’s ultimate martial artist/entertainer in many more roles to come.

Take it easy Jackie, you deserve it.

A forum post has revealed the upcoming release date for the DVD & Blu-ray versions of The Avengers will be September 25th this year. There 3 different versions confirmed: the standard DVD, a 2-disc Blu-ray set and a 4-disc 3D Blu-ray set. There is also rumored to be a possible 10-disc super set that will include the individual films for all of the Avengers characters. That means in addition to the 4-disc 3D Blu-ray, you would also be getting Iron Man, Iron Man 2, The Incredible Hulk, Thor and Captain America. To me, that is one hell of a deal.

Currently, The Avengers is still setting box office records, with the most recent being that they broke the $1 billion dollar mark. As for the DVD and Blu-ray combo sets, I’m pretty sure there will be a lot of bonus material to check out. Especially since Joss Whedon stated that about 45 minutes of footage was cut out of the final release. Check out what’s included on the 4-disc and DVD set as well as the different box art:

4-Disc BD Combo Pack, 2-Disc BD Combo Pack and 2-Disc DVD Combo Pack
1. AUDIO COMMENTARY BY DIRECTOR JOSS WHEDON
2. MARVEL ONE-SHOT: ITEM 47
3. SECOND SCREEN
4. GAG REEL
4. DELETED SCENES
- Alternate Opening – Maria Hill Interrogation
- Extended Scene – Loki & Barton Strategize
- Steve Rogers – Man Out of Time
- Nick Fury & World Security Council
- Extended Viaduct Fight – Raw Footage
- Fury & Hill Discuss the World Security Council
- Extended Scene – Banner and Security Guard
- Alternate Ending – Maria Hill Interrogation
5. FEATURETTES
- A Visual Journey
- Assembling the Ultimate Team
6. SOUNDGARDEN MUSIC VIDEO – “Live to Rise”

DVD
1. AUDIO COMMENTARY BY DIRECTOR JOSS WHEDON
2. FEATURETTES
- Assembling the Ultimate Team

Source: Blu-ray.com

Written by guest writer Jia Wei

Max is finally back for the third iteration of the series, Max Payne 3. This time the developer reins have been handed over to Rockstar and everyone is asking: do they have what it takes to satisfy the fans of the originally Remedy Entertainment franchise or is playing through the game just a Payne in the ass?

The Premise

The games starts out showing Max heavily drinking in New York looking for a purpose in life. The scene then transitions into Max drinking at a party in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Max is as cynical as ever, drinking to forget about his past. It is revealed that he is working as private security for the Branco family, a very rich and politically active family in Sao Paulo. The main members of the family are: Rodrigo, the oldest brother and businessman who hired Max, Victor, the middle aged brother and a local politician and Marcelo, the wild younger brother who is just a rich idiot. Max also has his own partner by the name of Passos. Fabiana, the wife of Rodrigo, is what causes a great rooftop party in Brazil to become a horrendous nightmare for the Branco family. A local street gang has kidnapped her and causes Max to become entangled in the web of crime and conspiracy of Sao Paulo while trying to save Fabiana.

Graphics

The graphics in the game look great with smooth animation and sharp detail. The game makes you feel as if you’re really in Sao Paulo. Whether you are feeling claustrophobic in the slums or exposed in the open urban environments, the game’s Euphoria physics engine only adds to the incredible amount of immersion. Another nice feature is that loading screens are hidden within cutscenes so that your experience is streamlined.

Sound

The sound design is awesome, with a great soundtrack that adds a lot to the experience of the game. American rock band Health and Brazilian rapper Emicida, did a great job and really added to the immersion with the music in the game. The theme of most of the tracks is a sense of
urgency because time is always a concern in a hostage situation. The warping of sound during the slow-mo sequences is also very impressive.

Bullet-time

The thing that separates the Max Payne franchise from any other generic third person shooter is bullet-time, and it is a much more refined system compared to the first two games. Diving into walls and obstacles actually causes the player to collide and drop out of bullet time instead of simply sinking into the walls/obstacles. This mechanic is both a blessing and a curse, as it may create immersion but limit the player to diving in open areas. The cover system is very reminiscent of GTA IV, which we all know is another game by Rockstar. Max is able to take cover and gain bullet-time to take on multiple enemies. Also present is a “Last Man Standing” mechanic in which if the player possesses painkillers and is killed, they are given a chance to take out the enemy who dealt the killing blow to automatically consume a painkiller and continue playing. The use of bullet time is an integral part of the gameplay and many parts of the game are very difficult to pass if this system is ignored. The game is built around this system and taking advantage of it is expected of the player to beat the game.

Weapons

Max is now limited to two one-handed weapons such as pistols, sawed off shotguns and machine pistols. He is also only able to carry one two-handed weapon such as a rifle, full-sized shotgun or heavy machine gun. Unlike the first two games, Max is unable to carry more than three weapons at a time. The limit of three weapons makes the game more immersive and realistic. Unfortunately, grenades and molotov cocktails have been taken out of the game and there are no melee weapons. Melee is activated by simply running up to an enemy and shooting them at close range. A collection system is also part of the game in which you are able to collect golden parts for weapons to upgrade their damage and capacity levels.

Score Attack

For replay value, there is a Score Attack mode in which you can play through and try to compete in global high scores. A time attack mode called New York Minute is also included in which the goal is to get through the game without letting the timer get to zero. You start with one minute and gain time for every enemy killed.

Multiplayer

Also part of the package is a multiplayer mode that is surprisingly deep. The amount of customization and level up options along with a burst and item system is sure to have the most dedicated fans grinding away to unlock everything. There is also a playlist filtering for whether aim-assist is present or not. The major concern I had was how they were going to implement bullet time for multiplayer. Rockstar opted to make it line of sight and it works amazingly well. The item system also needs mentioning because it also adds to the strategy of multiplayer. Items such as the radio allows you to see every enemy that a teammate spots and gives an amazing advantage, especially if you don’t notice a random enemy that cannot be shot by your teammate due to them being in cover, but you have full view of.

Burst System

The burst system is interesting because it is run on adrenaline. Adrenaline is what you get for killing or completing objectives in multiplayer. Each burst has 3 levels and each level is a more powerful version of the previous levels’ burst. For example, the Trigger Happy burst grants the
player a more powerful weapon. At level one, it grants the player armor piercing rounds for 20 seconds. At level three, it grants the player a grenade launcher. Saving up adrenaline and activating the burst at an appropriate time is a big part of the strategy in multiplayer.

Multiplayer Modes

Besides Deathmatch, there is also an objective mode called Gang Wars, which implements a story for each faction. Objectives include collecting bags of money or taking over control points. Most of the story is shallow, such as a feud involving a drug exchange, but it is better than having no story at all and just a bunch of random people shooting each other.

There is also a mode called Payne Killer, in which two players are randomly selected to be Max and his partner, Passos. These two players will possess powerful weapons and special abilities. Points are calculated by the number of kills whether you are Max, Passos or generic enemies.
The great thing about this mode is that the player who happens to kill Max or Passos becomes them. This can become very chaotic as teammates can switch very quickly. Obviously, killing enemies will be easier as Max and Passos, so teamwork between these two characters can help you to win or lose. Rockstar also plans to support the game with a ton of DLC which can be pre-ordered for a great deal if the multiplayer is to your liking.

The Bad

Although the game is absolutely amazing overall, there are a couple gripes that need mentioning. Even though hiding the loading screens within cutscenes sounds like a good idea, it makes the scene unskippable. If you die multiple times, there is a good chance that you will be watching the same cut scene over and over. Also after every cut scene, Max changes to his one-handed weapons automatically. What if you wanted to hold onto the two-handed weapons? You have to press the weapons switch every time and this is very tedious. Another thing that may intimidate people is the difficulty factor. Even on normal, dying multiple times may cause intense frustration. The game also suffers from situations in which the stream of enemies may seem like they are never-ending. Unfortunately, during my playthrough I encountered
a couple times where the game froze when loading a cutscene. Texture popping is also a problem in some parts, even though I had the game installed.

Conclusion

So does Max Payne 3 warrant a purchase? Absolutely! Although I mentioned some technical difficulties, the vast majority of the game runs silky smooth. Also, the difficulty curve only adds to the satisfaction of beating a level and especially so if bullet-time is put to good use. Max
Payne 3 is an amazing package and a must play for any Max Payne fan and/or third-person shooter fan.

Final Grade: B+

*Version reviewed is the Xbox 360 version

How do you follow up an act like Diablo II?

That is the question Blizzard had to find an answer to when working on the third title in the legendary franchise. There are expectations to meet, standards to adhere to, and the satisfaction of millions of fans to satiate. For a title that people have been waiting more than a decade for, it’s not easy to meet such high standards, especially you have such a volatile fanbase as Blizzard’s. So the question that remains would be such: does Diablo III, a game that people have been anxiously waiting years for, deliver on its promises? Was the game worth the long wait?

Graphics

While highly anticipated, in this department Diablo 3 was quite a letdown. The physics engine is wonderful but when looking at raw graphic quality, even on the highest settings D3 still pales in comparison to current-gen games. Zooming into my character revealed high amounts of jagged textures and items ghosting into each other. On the other hand, environment detail is simply stunning. From deserts to tunnels and from demonic fortresses to heaven, they all are beautiful renderings with dynamic moving backdrops, which made the experience much more enjoyable.
Item skins are repeated and highly generic, with the exception of legendary items which all have some unique textures. All in all, I have seen maybe 100 different item skins by level 42.

Gameplay

Simply perfect. D3 is a game that can be quickly picked up by gamers of any level. While those experienced in ARPGs will have a challenging time keeping themselves up through some serious burst damage, they will not be truly challenged until hell or inferno mode.  For experienced players I suggest the demon hunter or wizard.

For players new to the genre, this is an easy “pick up and play” game. Normal mode will provide some sort of challenge for them and nightmare+ will begin to truly test their skills and make them start thinking about builds, itemization, and party composition. For new players I suggest the Monk or Witch Doctor classes.

Some more hardcore players will want to use the “Hardcore” mode, which is extremely risky but can provide wonderful rewards. Although facing possible perma-death, item and gold drop rates are increased.

The rune system basically turns every ability into 6 different ones and increases player customization. Without cookie-cutter builds and stagnant optimization, the player can tune his/her avatar into however it suits their style of gameplay.

Although Achievements and Banners add a bit to the game, they are rewarded for every baby step.
Economy

Diablo 3’s economy completely revolves around the auction house system. Players buy and sell equipment, gems, scrolls, and just about anything they find in the world. With the real money auctions hitting live servers on the 22^nd of May, many will try to cash in by farming for countless hours. Estimated prices of legendary items will vary anywhere from $5 to $500.

Although Blizzard will be taking $1 + 15% for every transaction, there is still a possibility of a nice little paycheck boost from your travels in D3.

This also brings about a new issue. With the chunk that Blizzard will be taking, many sites with *Free Transactions* will pop up all over the web, selling D3 items without that $1 + 15% charge.

With high drop rates on items and easy farming, the economy should be stable by around April, and we will truly see if this was the best choice for Blizzard.

Audio/Video

The battle sounds, voiced over text, and epic cinematic sequences, Diablo 3 will keep both the audiophiles and video junkies highly satisfied. One amusing moment arose when an NPC trapped in a barrel began to speak to me, and for some odd reason the voice was highly familiar. For those of us that have seen Kung-Fu Panda, this will definitely ring a bell, and if not, think Noodles.

Every ability has a different sound and enemies have a wide array of death and decapitation sounds. The environment also has great audio combined with the physics engine. Ambient sounds fill your ears as everything from the floorboards to the huge chained demons creak and scream at you from all directions in a symphony of terror.

Replay Value

This is Diablo. The series is famous as with all Blizzard titles for their replayability and overall addictiveness. Although I have to say I was not nearly as pulled in as I had been with both World of Warcraft and Starcraft series.

This game is definitely more fun with one vital aspect, friends. Without friends to play with and do dungeons, mess around, do stupid combinations and just overall explore, this game will bore you to death after completion of normal mode.

Graphics: B-
Gameplay: A
Economy: B
Audio/Video: A
Replay Value: A

Final Grade: A-

Tips/Tricks:
Play the auction house and learn to recycle your gear. Buy something, use it, and resell it. Simple. In the end you should have as much or more gold than you paid for the item.

Monk is a great class for new players, while more experienced gamers will enjoy the Wizard for the wide array of utility they possess.

Do not only focus on your main stat, pick something like vitality as an off stat.

Gold/Magic find is vital to keeping a steady amount of gold in your pockets.

Developed by Gust, Meruru has 3 years to help increase the population of Arls and make it grow through her alchemy. If she fails to do so she gives up her dream to be an alchemist. But if she does well she can continue. Rufus begins helping her by creating tasks for her whenever requests are made for her. This way she can concentrate on her alchemy and creating beneficial things the people need. The main problem becomes traveling, collecting materials and synthesis with alchemy. With 3 years to meet the deadline, time is valuable.

While this isn’t my first Atelier title, I started at the end of the Atelier Arland Trilogy, so there will be some jokes and events I won’t understand.

As Meruru you will need to focus on quite a few things. You’ll have to check your available dates, as time flies in the game when you synthesize, fight, gather materials and travel, since they can easily take days, weeks and months away. Everything else you do takes no time away from you, so go ahead and talk to everyone. You can even let the controller down and let the game run for half a day and nothing will change. Alchemy is roughly the most important thing in the game. There are over 100 recipes, and quests require many of these.

As you start your adventure,Meruru is accompanied by two members of Arls; Keina, Meruru’s personal maid and best friend, and Lias, Rufus’ unlucky younger brother. As time passes you meet certain requirements, new friends, teammates and even shop keepers from Arland. You’ll get to see more character interactions and story of what happened to your favorite character, each with their own skills and abilities. You can even have a team of alchemists if you want to.

The world map is very large, and you can travel to any areas you unlock to fight, gather materials and deliver quest items. More become unlockable as you clear an area by clearing out all enemies until you have a very large map with each area unique with collectibles and beautifully detailed backgrounds, you chose where you want to go and if you want to battle. Battles are simple by touching an enemy you enter battle which are turn based and based on characters speed, Meruru (eventually Totori and Rorona) can also use Alchemy items and attack, while other characters can use skills and attack as well. What makes the battle more interesting is your other two characters get 2 bars one for a special and the other for additional attacks. As the battles go on and your other 2 characters attack, defend and use skills a bar fills up, when that bar fills they can do one of two things, 1st when Meruru uses an alchemy attack item they can follow up character once leading into both characters adding extra damage outside of their turn, second if Meruru is going to be attacked they will defend her each action costs a bar. The second bar is a special bar and as more attacks and additional attacks are used each character awakens a special attack that can do massive damage which is great in boss battles. So by combining status effects and attacks, plus alchemy items with those skills and specials is important to win. Don’t forget to visit the weapon shop to create more powerful weapons and armor.

The part I enjoyed quite a bit is the animation and art in the game, Atelier Meruru uses a combination 2.5D anime style with cell shading and detailed backgrounds, cut scenes and in game scenes all use the same animation makes it something great to watch, and just like many of NIS America’s title you can switch between English and Japanese voices and for this game I highly recommend the Japanese voices since I didn’t like the English dub at all.

Strategy within games I can do, fighting and creating easy enough time management on the other hand can be a pain, especially when the searching, hunting and traveling. Completing synthesizing quests and tavern requests, while not impossible on my first play through, I feel like I was very under leveled for the final side battle. By the end of year 5 even at level 50 (Max Level), I was able to defeat a large majority of the requested hunts. Even at my best level I was short a few alchemy items, which may of helped me in the end. I was already equipped with the best equipment I can make via weapon Synthesis. Since I have what I think are the best weapons and armor, I can createthings in the game that will help me for my next playthrough.

Don’t forget to create the Gate Warp as soon as you can to save you many traveling days.

For more information and to listen to some great music from the game, you can head over to NISA’s Atelier Rorona page.

Grade: B+

There is also a Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland Limited Edition: Grand Finale Set that comes with the games, an OST, artbook and T-Shirt available only at NIS America’s website for $64.99.

Here’s a new preview for Arrow, an upcoming CW TV show loosely based on the Green Arrow. I say loosely because The CW changed his name from Green Arrow to just plain Arrow. And instead of living in Star City, he now lives in Starling City.

At least his real name is still Oliver Queen and he’s still a billionaire playboy who’s dressed up like Robin Hood. Let’s just hope that as the show progresses, “Green” Arrow will sport the ridiculously long Van Dyke beard. That thing is beast!

Arrow will premiere Wednesdays this fall on The CW.