This game is all about animals killing other animals

Omensight can best be described as a “murder mystery mixed with an action/adventure.” During a war between the empire-like Pygarians (a mixture of dogs, a cat general, and a bird emperor) and the rebellion-like Rodentians (a mixture of rats, a bear, and an owl), the Harbinger appears, a female cat/godlike figure who you control. The Harbinger only appears when the world is about to end.

Sure enough, after you wade through an introduction where you communicate with the recently deceased spirits of cat general Draga and resistance fighter bear Ludomir, the demon Voden appears and destroys the world. A witch whisks the Harbinger away before the time of destruction to an otherworldly plane, complete with the mystical Tree of Life. You are informed that the godless-priestess owl Vera was murdered before the day of obliteration under mysterious circumstances, which was the catalyst for the war and Voden’s emergence. It’s up to the Harbinger to return to the past, meet Draga, Ludomir, and others, and get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding Vera’s death.

Omensight has good voice acting, though its cutscenes have generic character portraits that aren’t animated

The player gets to visit the past through the witch’s magic and replay the day of destruction over and over again (similar to Majora’s Mask three day time limit). Here’s how a day in the past usually goes: you pick a character to go visit while in the Tree of Life hub world (either Draga or Ludomir at first, with two others being added as you start to unravel the mystery), use your Omensight power to show them THE TRUTH (more on this later), and travel with them to various locations while uncovering clues about how Vera died.

As you learn more about the characters and their motivations, you’ll unlock pieces of an investigation board, which helps flesh out the truth about Vera. Each day ends with Voden wrecking the planet and the Harbinger being whisked back to the Tree of Life. Rinse and repeat until the mystery is solved.

Be prepared to watch Voden destroy the world at least twenty times

I mentioned the power of Omensight before. As the Harbinger, you get access to visions throughout the game. These visions usually involve Vera and her demise. Using the power of Omensight, you can make your companions see the same visions you see. This will motivate them to seek out the characters they feel are responsible for Vera’s death. When you get to the accused, you can even choose to show them the same vision and see how they react, or kill them in cold blood.

You will need to explore both options on different repeated days to fully solve the mystery of Vera (the game wisely gives you the option to skip to the option you didn’t pick when you start the day over), though sometimes going for the “kill” choice makes no sense and just makes everyone think you’re a lunatic. As you progress through Omensight, you’ll see new visions that contradict old ones. This helps the game from feeling too stale, as you can approach your compatriots with these new sights and see them react in a totally different way.

Omensight has a unique style that I personally dig

The plot of Omensight is mostly good, with a few hiccups. Relationships between characters are fleshed out nicely, and there’s a great story of empowerment with regards to the two ladies, Draga and resistance rat Ratika, who rise up through their respective, male-dominated ranks and become leaders within their factions. As the Harbinger, you must join both sides of the war on different days to finally solve the game’s main riddle; it’s great juxtaposition to see the Harbinger slaughter soldiers one day and then resistance fighters when you repeat the day with a different partner. There are memories you can find of the different characters you meet, hidden away in chests, that add to Omensight‘s lore (these are usually locked behind colored seals you will gain access to by spending time with each of the game’s main characters).

The title even likes to throw curve balls at you; even with the power of Omensight, things are never how they seem at first glance. By the end of the Harbinger’s tale, as you learn the whole truth about why Vera died, you can see the world becoming more and more corrupted by Voden, which I thought was a nice touch. Sadly, it’s possible to miss certain story bits in a single playthrough, with no warning that you missed an important piece of information and no way to go back and follow a thread you accidentally overlooked. The ending is a bit of a mess, too.

Draga is my pick for Omensight’s MVP

Gameplay-wise, Omensight has both ups and downs. Combat can be fun: the Harbinger has access to some killer moves, and can gain more by spending energy at the Tree of Life. She can also buff her sword, health, and lower the cooldown of her special abilities with crystals she finds in various levels throughout her journey. The Harbinger can slow down time, grab and throw enemies from far away, shoot energy orbs, dash, dodge, and one hit kill baddies. Dodging attacks also helps you gain power to pull off some of the fancier powers. Fighting alongside Draga, Ludomir, or Ratika nets you the ability to call them in for a special attack, as well (though not the fourth partner, sadly). However, combat is also very clunky.

I can’t tell if it is due to design or frame rate, but the Harbinger does not flow smoothly from enemy to enemy, and her attacks seem delayed. It’s very easy to overshoot your jumps. Walking across a thin plank can mean a certain drop to your death due to a camera that doesn’t give you proper depth perception. At two different points, a character got stuck on some scenery, with the second time being during a boss battle that made it impossible to cause him damage. And even though you will come across different levels at different times of day with different party members during the length of Omensight, you still end up fighting the same types of enemies over. And over. And over again.

What good is flashy combat if it feels off?

Omensight is basically a roller coaster ride. It goes high with its story, the Harbinger has badass moves, it looks pretty, the music is on point, and the voice actors deliver their lines with genuine emotion. But Omensight also goes low: it’s tedious, the slick combat is marred with bad execution, the bits of platforming are weak, and the omission of a New Game + or option to visit any threads you left unexplored is baffling. Though I was satisfied (for the most part) in seeing Omensight through to the end, there were points in my adventure where progressing felt like a chore. And when a game becomes more work than fun, you start to wonder if an interesting concept can excuse shoddy gameplay.

This review is based on a retail copy of the game provided by the publisher.

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Sony says that they will continue to add to the PlayStation Hits lineup on a regular basis, so check out the PlayStation website to keep up to date with the latest releases. What games do you want Sony to add to the PlayStation Hits line?

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According to Krzysztof Sopata of (Red Limb Studio fame), Rise of Insanity looks to “represent mental illness in some original ways.” The player will step into the shoes of Dr Stephen Dowell, a psychologist whose latest patient is exhibiting some worryingly contradictory symptoms. The doctor’s murky personal life will become clearer the further you slip into the dark corridors of the asylum, as will the relevance of the psychological anomaly in the chair. Oh, and judging by the screenshots, it seems as though we’re visiting 1970s America.

Puzzle solving will play a central role, as will keeping your wits about you; the game is VR ready, and as such will make you jump on a frustratingly regular basis. Rise of Insanity‘s trailer shows off some hellish dreamscapes and grounded dialogue, subtly hinting at professional voice-work and (mostly) decent graphics. Since I’m a massive pansy, however, it is unlikely that I’ll ever be able to experience these technical milestones first-hand.

With a very positive rating on Steam, Rise of Insanity looks as though it offers a simple, visceral horror experience. As a result, I’ll be steering well clear; if horror is your cup of tea, however, Rise of Insanity is out now (without VR support) on Xbox One. If you’re the kind of lunatic who enjoys being terrified in virtual reality, the game has been out on Steam for a few months now: it costs GBP £7.19, and the store page is right here. There are plans for a Switch release in Q3 2018, and a PS4 one at some point after that.

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As is evidenced by the very Japanese sounding name, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is set in the era of 1500s Sengoku Japan. This is a nice, bloody, brutal period to be sending us to and as such we are being launched into a tale of life and death conflict. In the game’s single-player mode, you will take on the role of a hard-hearted warrior in your quest to save your master, a young lord, and exact harsh revenge on your arch nemesis. As Sekiro or The one-armed wolf you will experience many ways to strategically approach conflict and deal with your enemies.

“Collaborating with Activision on Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice has been a very exciting experience for us,” said Hidetaka Miyazaki, president and game designer at FromSoftware. “With Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice many FromSoftware team members, including myself, are thrilled to be exploring themes of Sengoku Japan and ninja for the first time. We can’t wait for everyone to discover what’s in store for the game.”

Fans of FromSoftware’s previous works will find familiarity in this third person action title with RPG elements. This is a game where combat reigns supreme and players will enjoy combining new features such as vertical traversal, with visceral head-to-head battle to fulfill their destiny in a vast world filled with beautiful vistas, enormous castles, bizarre weaponry and fearsome enemies.

“From Dark Souls to Bloodborne, FromSoftware has established a level of excellence that stands by itself in our industry, and we are increadibly honored to work with them in bringing Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice to fans worldwide,” said Steve Young, Chief Revenue Officer at Activision. “Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice will not only add a new and exciting genre to Activision’s portfolio, but will also give players and experience that’s unlike any other FromSoftware game to date.”

For those of you interested in this new title, you’ll be able to get your hands on a copy towards the beginning of 2019 for the family of Xbox One devices (including the Xbox One X), PS4, PS4 Pro and of course PC via Steam. Those of you that can’t wait and need to get your orders in now absolutely can. Pre-orders are available from selected retailers at the suggested price of $59.99.

So there you have it. FromSoftware are doing something new. I don’t by any means think this is a departure from what we have grown to know and love about this company. I very much doubt they will be dropping the difficulty curve as this is something that has made them absolutely legendary. It’s just going to be ninjas and Japanese monstrosities stomping your teeth in instead of hideous mutant nightmares. I haven’t actually played the Souls series; not because I don’t like it, but because I have far more fun watching other people prevail righteously or getting absolutely massacred. This being said, I might have to break that little promise to myself and give this one a go. If you’re very much like me, maybe it would be worth you considering doing the same.

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New Gameplay Trailer Analysis

In the early moments of the new trailer, take a look at Ellie’s facial expressions. Notice the way her eyebrows raise and lower, bites her lips, how small strands of her hair sway with no forced flow. It’s even more captivating for the ways she isn’t sculpted perfectly; her face is slightly dirty with a light perspiration forming, and her hair is slightly matted and frizzy, just like anyone’s hair would be in a crowded area with people dancing.

Look deep at how each character looks at each other; it’s almost as if there’s a real human being acting out these scenes in a movie, not just pixels. Then, when Ellie and the woman (Dana) kiss, look at the way Ellie’s lips pucker hesitantly and then lock with the other woman. The shock is present, then followed with the craning of their necks and a full kiss ensues.

Fans of the series are revving at what a remarkable thing Naughty Dog has done to capture something so astounding. These minor details are easy to miss at first glance because they are so natural to us in real life; they look the way people are suppose to look in these moments – awkward and slightly excited for what’s to come. Many games are still trying to figure out how to make these emotions happen within pixels, but when it happens the player creates an instant connection to the character.

Behind The Scenes

Turns out, making a scene this good required a ton of work. During E3, Director of the game, Neil Druckmann, explained that the studio could only shoot eight people at a single time. This particular kiss scene was shot over the span of 8 days. To capture Ellie’s deep expressions, Druckmann said that Naughty Dog developed more advanced facial capture. Check out the video panel below from E3 to learn more about the behind the scenes!

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BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe have just announced that Dragon Ball FighterZ is heading to Nintendo Switch in 2018. It combines classic 2.5D fighting game dynamics with the Dragon Ball universe.

Dragon Ball is one of the most popular and iconic anime franchises and has been enjoyed by millions around the world since its debut in 1984. It’s one of the most merchandised anime based series ever, with a whole host of toys and other items being released.

The game was developed with Arc System Works, the legendary developer of classic Japanese 2D fighting titles like Guilty Gear and BlazBlue. They’ve taken the signature action-packed and explosive gameplay and combined it with the portability of Nintendo’s flagship device.

Dragon Ball FighterZ will feature easy-to-play JoyCon controls while also providing support for Nintendo Switch Pro Controller for serious and competitive play.

The game allows you to play as your favourite Dragon Ball character, no matter your skill level. 3v3 battle mechanics give you an epic, action-packed feel to the game while the combination of 2D visuals and advanced 3D character models will give you the visual thrill associated with the fast-paced series.

To get the best out of the game, players will need to train and master more than one fighter and style. Only then will you be able to take out the competition.

Dragon Ball FighterZ for Nintendo Switch will be playable at the BANDAI NAMCO E3 booth (1647) in the South Hall at the Los Angeles Convention Centre and also in the Nintendo Booth in the West Hall.

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The beloved RPG has just celebrated its 10th anniversary with additional content for the west. Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition includes upscaled screen resolution, characters, events, and costumes never released outside Japan. The original English version of the game was only released on Xbox 360. An expanded port was released on PS3 in Japan, but not in the west.

Experience the original story of Yuri Lowell, a resident in the Lower Quarter of Zaphias and former Imperial Knight, as he accepts a mission to retrieve a stolen Blastia Core used to regulate his neighbourhood’s water supply. This mission spirals into a series of events that leads to Yuri befriending a colourful cast of characters, travelling to exotic locations, and being pushed into the middle of a nefarious plot that threatens destruction of the entire planet.

Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition features two new fully playable party members for the west: Patty Fleur, a young pirate searching for her lost memories, as well as Yuri’s rival and best friend, Flynn Scifo. The new edition of the game will also include additional scenarios and locations that will be all-new for players in the west. It will also include a specialised version of the TALES OF series’ Linear Motion Battle System for combat. Players control a single party member in real-time combat while the other three party members are controlled by a customised set of A.I. commands. Characters can be swapped between at any time during battle and can perform physical and Mystic Artes attacks.

Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition is due to release in winter.

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Release Date Confirmed

Ahead of E3 2018, Square Enix finally confirmed Kingdom Hearts III‘s release date, with a release planned for January 29, 2019 (FINALLY).

Square Enix also revealed a collector’s edition of Kingdom Hearts III during E3 2018.

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