Operation Backlog Completion 2024
Aug 242016
 

Spirit-of-Justice-eshop-screenThe demo for Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Spirit of Justice will be available to download tomorrow, and Spirit of Justice’s eShop page is live.

It’s also led to much excitement that Spirit of Justice’s DLC will be available in the West, as one of the screenshots includes a menu with three choices:

  • Episode Select
  • Extras and DLC
  • Options

Of course, it doesn’t specify what extras and DLC it has. Japan received a set of alternate costumes, two free short bonus episodes, and a full-length case called Turnabout Across Time.

In Dual Destinies, the “Extras and DLC” section contained cutscenes, illustrations, and costumes, along with an option to visit the eShop to check out the DLC. Once bought, Turnabout Reclaimed had its own option on the menu.

So really, the eShop screenshot doesn’t necessarily confirm Turnabout Across Time will be released here. Nevertheless, if Spirit of Justice follows Dual Destinies’ path, we should get both Turnabout Across Time and the costumes.

As for the short episodes, we’ll have to wait and see.

Spirit of Justice’s demo comes out tomorrow and the full game will be available from the eShop on September 8. All our questions will be answered then.

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Aug 222016
 

Final-Fantasy-XV-Ardyn-and-partyToday, several of the English voice actors for Final Fantasy XV were revealed.

  • Noctis is voiced by Ray Chase, who has been in several other things, including Xenoblade Chronicles X as L.
  • Ignis (my favorite party member so far) is Adam Croasdell, who isn’t in anything else I’m familiar with, but sounds good as Ignis.
  • Prompto is Robbie Daymond, whom I know best as Sorey in Tales of Zestiria.
  • Gladio is Chris Parson. He isn’t in anything I’ve played, but he’s Junkrat in Overwatch.
  • King Regis is Jim Pirri in the game, who I’m also not familiar with.
  • Luna is Amy Shiels in the game (and I’m not familiar with her past roles, either).
  • Cor is Matthew Mercer, who has done many voices, including McCree (Overwatch), Lao (Xenoblade Chronicles X), Alvin (Tales of Xillia), and Henry (Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask).
  • Ardyn is Darin De Paul, who is yet another Overwatch character (playing Reinhardt) and sounds like he’ll be fantastic in this role.
  • And finally, Aranea is voiced by Kari Wahlgren, whose numerous voice credits include Raine from Tales of Symphonia, Shelke from Dirge of Cerberus, and many other roles.

A special new trailer introduces these voice actors (except for Kari Wahlgren) and has them give their thoughts on the characters.

There are several characters whose voice actors we still don’t know, including some of the villains, but I’m happy with what we’ve seen of the cast.

(Not that I get too worked up over voice acting… I’d never survive Baten Kaitos if I did.)

What do you think about the newly-revealed English voice actors for Final Fantasy XV? Who is your favorite so far?

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Aug 192016
 

Cabinet-of-CuriositiesAlmost three years after I read the fantastic novel Relic, and a year and a half after I read its less-stellar sequel Reliquary, I finally moved on to the third book in the Agent Pendergast series, The Cabinet of Curiosities.

In The Cabinet of Curiosities, 36 bodies are discovered beneath New York City, victims of a serial killer who lived over a century ago. Nevertheless, Special Agent Pendergast takes an interest in these old murders… and soon identical killings begin to take place across the city.

Like Relic, this book is tense and gripping. It kept me glued to the pages and thinking about it at night (plus the occasional nightmare, but don’t worry, it’s more a thriller than horror).

It leaves behind most of the previous characters to focus on new ones, although Smithback returns… as does Pendergast.

The focus on science isn’t quite as strong, but Pendergast is in top form. Almost too much so. I have to admit, I struggled to suspend my disbelief the first time he did a “memory crossing” and mentally transported himself to another time through studying and meditation.

(It’s basically the MASON System from Apollo Justice, except using Pendergast’s mind instead of a computer simulation.)

Superhuman Pendergast or not, he’s still up against a dangerous foe and his extraordinary detective skills don’t eliminate the sense of danger.

He’s definitely the star of the show, but the other main character, an archaeologist named Nora Kelly, also takes a good role. As for Smithback, he’s as infuriating-but-well-intentioned as he was in the previous novels. And you have to love how his reaction to seeing Pendergast is to wonder what horrible nightmare is about to happen this time.

But the plot itself takes precedence over the characters to some degree, and it’s an exciting ride. Interestingly, while it lays out enough pieces early on for you to have suspicions about what’s happening, it keeps the mystery strong until the end.

Some parts of the conclusion are slightly underwhelming, but that can be forgiven when the journey to get there is so enjoyable.

If you liked Relic, or just enjoy thrillers in general, I highly recommend less-stellar sequel Reliquary, I finally moved on to the third book in the Agent Pendergast series, The Cabinet of Curiosities, and I can’t wait to try the next in the series.


Buy The Cabinet of Curiosities from Amazon

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