Tales of Berseria

The latest mothership title of the two-decade-long Namco Tales franchise, Tales of Berseria, breaks the tradition of past Tales titles because for the first time in Tales history, a heroine will be the star of the new game, under the name of Velvet, a young woman who has a thirst for vengeance following a string of tragic events. Exclusively for the Playstation consoles, PS4 and PS3, this new installment is a Tales game unlike any other, giving a fresh new spin to the two-decade-old franchise that wowed millions of fans, new and veterans alike.

Tales of Berseria (PS4)

Set years prior to the events of last year's title, Tales of Zestiria, Velvet Crowe will be accompanied with different allies such as Laphicet, Rokurou Rangetsu, Magilou, Eizen, and Eleanor Hume, as they set sail through different islands in different adventures all in the name of redemption.

Just like any other Tales games from its 20-year back catalog, the people behind the franchise worked really hard to deliver a promising feel to the brand new mothership title. You get lots of anime stuff in the game featuring cutscenes made possible by anime studio ufotable. Just by sitting back and enjoy the anime cutscenes, this game really have you hanging for more and right before your very eyes, you might just find which is your favorite Tales of Berseria moments when you hit the SHARE button on your PS4 controller. 

Anyway, if the anime cutscenes didn't put you on, the gameplay has been the hallmark for the Tales franchise and here in Tales of Berseria, it's a completely different experience. You are introduced by a brand new Liberation-Linear Motion Battle System where you can add new option to map artes to control pad buttons for chained combo attacks. You can even take advantage of your character's special abilities courtesy of the Soul Breach combo attacks with other allies. With battles so intense, you can really feel the thrill of it just by attacking multiple hostiles on the battlefield and because up to four players can join battles, it's a lot more enjoyable to help others while battling different enemies.

While you're not exploring through dungeons, caves, or any other field of adventures, there are many ways to spend time getting to know the game while taking a break from the main story. From secret objects hidden through different locations, the landmark chat system where you can get to know about your favorite characters, riding on the rare board, the possibilities are near endless if you are playing Tales of Berseria just for fun.

For added fun, Tales of Berseria will offer DLC outfits over the coming weeks ranging from summer wear, school uniforms, maid and chef outfits, IDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls costumes, and more, just to have fun with your favorite characters while on the go.

So, thoughts on the latest Tales titles? While this game breaks tradition from past titles, it still delivers the same Tales action and adventure while delivering the thrills fans are hoping for. With the game now out exclusively for the PlayStation consoles, fans are eager enough to play this new Tales game and see which part that made fans enjoyed the most. Having a woman become the star of the Tales game like Velvet, this is just one sure thing to prove that girls are tougher than boys in lead roles in video games and another thing that gets you noticed that if you enjoyed this latest Tales game the most, well, you get the idea but feel free to do what's next when you had this game for the thrill of it.

Gran Turismo 6: Round the World in a Delorean

It's Back To The Future day so let's celebrate by getting to know more about the legendary DeLorean, the unsung American-made sports car that became a pop culture icon thanks to the time-traveling adventures of Doc Brown and Marty in the Back To The Future trilogy. Man, it's been an honor to take this time-traveling hero for a spin even though it doesn't have the same gadgetry as Doc Brown's.



It all began when John Z. DeLorean, who was the vice president of General Motors in the '60s and the man behind the Pontiac brand, left the company in the late '70s to start his own car company. His car company, the DeLorean Motor Company, put up its own base in Ireland and their first mass-production model was the DMC-12.

DeLorean wanted to create a sports car that is reasonably priced and stylish to please the crowd but due to lack of originality, they have to outsource the DMC-12 from elsewhere. With handling by Lotus, styled by Giugiaro, and a wheezy 130bhp Renault engine mounted at the back, the DeLorean should have been the best of both worlds but the DeLorean gained a bad reputation for being one of the worst cars ever made, even worse is some numerous owners got trapped inside by the failing electrics.

In 1981, when production has reached 6,500 units, John Z. DeLorean was arrested for suspicion of drug possession. When pleaded not guilty, his company went bust two years later and by the time production ended, the total production of the DMC-12 was only 8,500. It was a disaster until 1985 when Steven Spielberg made it a time-traveling hero car in the Back To The Future trilogy. Thanks to the Back To The Future trilogy's success, the DeLorean became a pop icon and you can see one of these at major car museums or at Universal Studios.

In the mid-2000s a new DeLorean car company in the USA is in charge of the remaining inventory and updated it with this, the S2. It may look like the classic DeLorean but its 3.0L engine has been uprooted to 197HP of power and 211.9ft-lb of torque. It may not sound much by modern standards but Great Scott! It feels good.

In honor of DeLorean's pop culture stardom thanks to the Back To The Future trilogy, I guess it's time to send this time machine star a world tour it will never forget. That's right. I'm going around the world in a DeLorean that became famous for having Doc Brown and Marty travel through time and get things right. Besides, it's already October 21, 2015, after all, so let's get cracking!




After all of time and space later, its world tour has finally finished...



So, the DeLorean. How was it? At the start, it felt like a marketing disaster because of all the things that went wrong at the hands of consumers but when it became Doc Brown's time machine (with a hint of Mr. Fusion on it that turns garbage into power), it was immortalized to the hall of fame for star cars. Although I haven't seen the BTTF trilogy in ages, I was enamored by the DeLorean's star power that woos car enthusiasts for generations after generations, and making the year 2015 felt like it was the actual 2015 as seen in the Back To The Future films. With some of the 2015 stuff from the Back To The Future films becoming real, there's one thing I wish real at this moment in time...a DeLorean that can travel through time and space.

Happy BTTF day!

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
(PS3)

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
(PS4)

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
(XBOX One)

The so-called final chapter of the Metal Gear Solid prequel saga has arrived and it's definitely worth the wait for those who want to jump out from their cardboard boxes just to try the latest installment of one of the most influential video game franchises ever. The Phantom Pain pushes the Metal Gear formula to greater heights because, for the first time, MGS goes open world. Because it's now open-world, players have been given the freedom to unleash their stealth tactics or whatever means necessary to complete series of missions as well as gaining items to build their own Mother Base and defend against rival players worldwide.

Set years after the tragic events in Ground Zeroes, Snake was left in a coma by a mysterious intelligence network known as Cipher. Aided by his old enemy, Ocelot, Snake sets on a trail to Afghanistan to rescue his partner, Kaz Miller, who was held by Soviet troops. As the search for Miller progresses, the conspiracy behind Cipher lurks and who's the enemy is Snake facing on now?

With lessons learned from Ground Zeroes, the newest bits in the world of Metal Gear has been implemented in The Phantom Pain such as taking advantage of means of transportation, CQC takedowns, and so much more. That's just the beginning because while this game is best played with next-gen consoles such as XBOX One and the PS4 (we'd recommend playing that game on that one), The Phantom Pain feels more realistic than ever thanks to realistic passage time and realtime weather. That looks realistic but further stealth measures need to be implemented while harnessing the elements thrown at you.

In some missions, you are never alone because thanks to the Buddy System, you can seek help from elsewhere to finish the mission with efficiency and cleverness. You can summon help from wolves, have several uses with a horse, and get a little help from a character named Quiet.

Gaining resources as learned from Peace Walker is now more than ever because apart from using Fulton Recovery (which is time-efficient than dragging them to your ally chopper called Morpho, amidst their limited quantities) on your enemies and vehicles, you can even use it on animals and other objects. As you get more, you can use them to build your own Mother Base and, for an added bite, defend against other players trying to steal your valuables from your Mother Base. If you had the urge to steal other players' stuff from the Mother Base, feel free to do so.

If you had enough fun with the innovative solo gameplay, you can turn over to multiplayer gameplay via the return of Metal Gear Online but you have to wait till next month to do so. With MGO's return in TPP, gamers must work together to defeat opposing teams in series of multiplayer matches and win.

With The Phantom Pain now out on both Playstation and XBOX consoles as well as for PC users via Steam, players can witness the end of the prequel saga that tells the secret origins of the legendary mercenary known as Big Boss. It's kinda shame that despite the marvelous work poured in by the Metal Gear people, this is nothing more of a parting gift from the man behind the franchise, Sir Hideo Kojima himself. But let's not get to wistful about it because even though this is the parting gift from Kojima-san himself, this is by no means the best Metal Gear played ever and, for once, you can't really put a cardboard box-related joke on it.

For those who have it, as always, best of luck!

Gran Turismo 6: Goodwood 2015 and SRT Tomahawk

Coinciding with this year's event, the Goodwood Hill Climb on Gran Turismo 6 has been updated for 2015 and to match this year's event, a sculpture featuring the Mazda 787B and the LM55 Vision Gran Turismo has been featured. With this year's Goodwood FoS kicked off for the weekend, looks like this will be the ideal place to showcase some of the cars appeared from numerous updates but first, let's bring our very own VIP guests...



Well, this is one of them. This is the latest addition to the Vision Gran Turismo lineup; the SRT Tomahawk.

The Tomahawk Vision Gran Turismo is the two-decade vision of Chrysler's Street and Racing Technology division to deliver performance unlike any other. It's a single-seat MR-AWD (midship-engined all-wheel drive) created on a purpose-built composite chassis and designed around an aggressive powertrain. It's a hybrid racing machine armed with a 6.98L V10 engine and two Pneumatic Power Units; one is a Variable-Fin Quad-Stage in the front and a similar one connected to the V10 engine. This is the most powerful of the Vision GT cars because of its over-thousand HP of power output and that's not the end of the story because the Tomahawk comes with three versions;



This is the S model which is the entry-level version and considered as a beginner-level machine suitable for those who want to get to know more about the SRT Tomahawk in the first place before getting ready for more advanced versions like the GTS-R and the X versions. Despite being an entry-level model, it still has insane power-to-weight ratio capable enough to outpace even the feistiest of the racing machines.



Next is the GTS-R model, which is a track-focused version of the Tomahawk with increased power output, reduced weight, and increased handling grip. Because of such improvements, the driver needs to wear a special G-suit, provided as a gift after the update, to counteract the physiological effects of extreme lateral g-forces. The GTS-R's aerodynamics are enhanced with a dual-element version of the active rear wing and to avoid any high pressure buildup in the wheel wells, each of the four fenders in the car is vented.



Lastly and notably the most extreme of all the Vision GT cars, is the Tomahawk X. With over 2,000HP of power output and the cornering force of a fighter jet, this is the ultimate vehicle for the chosen elite because its performance completely shattered the laws of physics as well as the human reflexes.

The biggest party piece of the X is the low-drag mode and when you hold down the R1 button, all of the X's panels are retracted and seal against the body. This is handy when you're going on the straights and catch them by surprise.

With the three Tomahawks introduced, I sent them to the Goodwood FoS to see which one is the quickest but a word of warning for these three is because of such inhuman performance, drivers need some precise skills and talents to master the Tomahawk trio. Whichever Tomahawk you're driving, you need to be very careful about handling with Vision GT's most powerful machines because there might be some run-offs and run-offs can be very messy and painful if you're not careful. Anyway, not time for advice-giving because I managed to set these three some lap times round the Goodwood FoS and here are the results;

Tomahawk S - 0:44.304
Tomahawk GTS-R - 0:36.074
Tomahawk X - 0:32.117

Based on these results, it's no wonder why these three are like stages of manhood. You started off as a boy, then you work your way up to become a real man. Useful bit of science there but this is no Problem Solving here, this is the appliance of science with the SRT Tomahawk. You start mastering the essentials with the S and work your way up to master the extremely difficult but highly amusing X.

Anyway, with the Tomahawk trio done their thing, it's time for the other cars to let loose and enjoy Goodwood like they never done before!



At the end of the day, here are the lap times they've posted at my very own GT6 Goodwood Festival of Speed;

TS030 - 0:45.140
Concept 2020 - 0:48.300
DP-100 - 0:46.029
GT-R Nismo - 0:51.074
FT-1 VGT - 0:46.065
M4 M Performance - 0:54.625
VIZIV GT - 0:49.924
Chaparral 2X - 0:38.354
Infiniti Concept - 0:50.781
LM55 - 0:40.356
Clubman VGT - 0:49.157
LF-LC GT - 0:45.510
Alpine VGT - 0:47.464
Alpine VGT Race - 0:46.954
GTI Supersport - 0:45.604
Z11SN - 0:47.313
Peugeot VGT - 0:43.112
GT-R LM NISMO - 0:45.148

You know what, these lap times didn't matter here. What matters most in Goodwood is the pride of the cars themselves and it's a great way to represent a carmaker to a much greater audience for the greater good. That's why the Festival of Speed is made; not just for setting lap times but also impressing the crowd with its own visuals, vocals, and dances.

Gran Turismo 6: Nissan's GT-R LM NISMO

If you made it on the final round of the annual Nissan GT Academy, you have been given the chance to try out the GT-R LM NISMO, which brings Nissan back to the world of LMP1 prototypes at Le Mans after their 16-year hiatus.



Just what is the GT-R LM NISMO? Back in 2014, Nissan announced that they will compete at the LMP1 hybrid class at the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans with a car wearing a GT-R badge, marking the return after a 16-year hiatus since the R391 of 1999.

This car was unveiled minutes after the airing of Nissan's Big Game ad during the Super Bowl match between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots (you may remember that, right?) and if that wasn't enough, the Nissan GT-R LM NISMO is the world's first front-engine/front-wheel drive LMP1 prototype.

Why is the GT-R LM NISMO FF? Over the years, all good racing cars should be either rear-wheel drive or have its engine in the middle or both but when Nissan decided that their new LMP1 car is front-engined, front-wheel drive, the motoring world shocked like a powerful quake of some sorts.

Ben Bowlby, the LMP1 Team Principal/Technical Director behind it, says that its unquestionable powertrain benefits traction and packaging. The long bonnet that accommodates its twin-turbo 3.0L V6 engine generates much greater downforce as possible, making it more efficient in the corners and in the straights

Believe it or not, the idea of a front-wheel drive racing machine carried their lessons learned from a prize-winning Nissan Primera Touring Car used in the British Touring Car Championships and with this uncanny powertrain, this car focuses on fuel-efficiency, mobility, and stability, rather than power itself.

This car will be driven by top drivers Michael Krumm and Tsugio Matsuda as well as GT Academy graduated Lucas Ordonez and Jann Mardenborough, former F1 drivers Marc Gene and Max Chilton, and sports cars drivers Alex Buncombe, Harry Tincknell, and Olivier Pla. They will run two cars starting from the first round of the FIA World Endurance Championships and entering this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans, with the sole purpose of winning the race. Best of luck.



With heavy hearts and wide eyes, mastering the GT-R LM NISMO requires precise driving skills but it feels more accessible if you get it right. This FF racer served as your final test for this year's GT Academy and for those residing in nations hosting the GT Academy will be able to advance to the national finals by placing in the top ranks of this time trial. If you're not in the mood for that, you can drive at least 1 full timed lap to take home the GT-R LM NISMO for use in-game.

You have until the deadline set in-game to complete all four rounds of the annual Nissan GT Academy so if you haven't been into it, hurry because the latter half gives you access to two unheard cars, the Zytek Z11SN Greaves Motorsport and the GT-R LM NISMO, for a limited time.

Gran Turismo 6: Peugeot Vision GT

In the distant past, Peugeot has been well known for creating sturdy cars like the 504 Break, sporty cars like the 205 GTi, and now, terrible cars like the 307 and the 407. Peugeot is all about changing their minds through the years and because of their unquestionable automobile history, the French carmaker decided to create an unquestionable concept car capable of unleashing its unquestionable potential.



This is the Peugeot Vision Gran Turismo, the latest entry of Gran Turismo 6's Vision Gran Turismo lineup of concept cars that are suitable in the world of Gran Turismo. It incorporates Peugeot's motorsport history into one unique package and it delivers unquestionable aerodynamics that generate powerful downforces directly through the body panels, reaching to a mere 1.04 meters.

This car has an uncanny performance because the 3.2L V6 turbo engine delivers 875PS of power and the same amount for weight, meaning it can deliver an unparalleled 1kg/ps weight-to-power ratio and a 0-100kph time of less than two seconds. Less than two seconds in a concept car made by the French!

Peugeot claims that this car has an ultra-direct steering but sadly, its handling is very sensitive so when you turn hard at high speeds, it tends to understeer without warning so you have to be very careful while trying to handle this car with precision. If you set it up right, it becomes much easier.



I managed to try this one in a Special Event held at the Tokyo R246 track and what am I doing is aiming for the Gold Target Time, knowing how good this car is. While plagued by the diabolical understeer at high speeds, the straight line speeds are unquestionable and having managed to survive the Peugeot VGT's unquestionable mobility and stability, I managed to clear the Gold Target Time and I did it in 1:29.559. Not the fastest I ever done, but this is proof that how good this Peugeot concept car is.



The Peugeot Vision Gran Turismo is one of the fastest-accelerating cars in Gran Turismo 6 but it requires precise driving skills to get this thing round corners due to its understeering issues. This car is one of the many proofs why Peugeot remains one of the most unquestionable carmakers in history because of its unquestionable history of making tough cars, sporty cars, and terrible cars.

Expect more cars coming at the Vision Gran Turismo range very soon!

Gran Turismo 6: What's Z11SN?

If you made it on Stage 3 of the annual Nissan GT Academy, you may have noticed that you are behind the wheel of a never-before seen vehicle for the first time in Gran Turismo 6 while trying to set a qualifying lap round Spa-Francorchamps. What you're looking at here is the Zytek Z11SN, specifically it's a #42 Greaves Motorsport Zytek Z11SN driven by GT Academy graduates Lucas Ordonez and Jann Mardenborough, alongside veteran racer Michael Krumm.



Used in the 2013 24 Hours of Le Mans, this Z11SN is powered by Nissan's race-spec version of the no-longer-available-in-their-Japanese-cars VK45DE 4.5L V8 engine, lifted from race-spec GT-Rs used in the Super GT500 class of the Super GT, but accommodated with a new ECU and custom intake/exhaust materials, to comply with the rules that all LMP2 class cars must have mass-produced production engines.

This #42 Greaves Motorsport Zytek Z11SN was an important milestone between Nissan and Gran Turismo because aside from racing veteran Michael Krumm, GT Academy graduates Lucas Ordonez and Jann Mardenborough were behind the wheel of this LMP2 prototype and it placed 4th place in the LMP2 category, making it the fastest out of the Zytek entries. Not bad for their results.



For a limited-time, during the course of the Nissan GT Academy 2015, you can participate Round 3 and drive at least one full timed lap to acquire this new machine in game while gunning for a lap time that will take you to the final round of the Nissan GT Academy 2015 next month where you'll be driving a never-before seen vehicle and your chance to be part of the professional racing programme courtesy of Nissan.