As a longtime fan of the Fire Emblem series, I had a couple prominent reasons I wanted to review Fire Emblem Engage. Firstly, I had been excited to play it for a while now. For another, I was more than a little frustrated seeing the online consensus that it was utterly inferior to the last entry, Fire Emblem: Three Houses. While it’s true I had a lot of fun with Three Houses, I’m also of a mindset that there’s been very few total stinkers in the storied history of the Fire Emblem franchise. And while I wouldn’t say Engage is the very best of the series, it’s also a far step away from being close to the worst.

Story-wise, Engage reminded me a lot of Awakening right out of the gate. The whole amnesiac hero thing is more than a little overplayed in RPGs, but I could mostly tolerate it here. That said, Alear is somewhat of an interchangeable avatar, despite having his own hopes and fears. It’s clear he’s driven to do the right thing, even if he’s not entirely sure why. I mean, sure, his title is the Divine Dragon Alear, so you’d hope he’d want to accomplish noble endeavors. But that’s far from a guarantee, both in fiction as in real life. I enjoyed how they played with Alear’s amnesia in the first dozen or so chapters, and then gradually start to fill in the gaps. Honestly, my biggest complaint about Engage’s story was that I saw the biggest twists coming a mile away.

Like any good Fire Emblem, Engage has a vast roster of allies you can commit to your cause. You’ll acquire allies from all the countries of Elyos over the course of the game, even those that are clearly demarcated as villains early on. There’s a really satisfying and dramatic arc in the first portion of the game, though I’d be lying if I didn’t say the back half underwhelmed me somewhat. Not for lack of ambition, just for what I’d call somewhat clumsy plotting. By the final battle, I found myself wishing the big bad was less chatty so I could just rush into the battle.

Thankfully, you don’t necessarily play any Fire Emblem for masterful storytelling. The series is good at being twisty and occasionally unpredictable, but pretty much every game’s core plot falls apart under intense scrutiny. There’s always small details that remain unresolved and forgotten in the rush to the climax. There’s also plenty of engaging (see what I did there?) characters you’ll interact with as you strengthen your respective bonds. My favorites were the quirkier, darker ones (AKA Tharja 3.0), like a cheerful yet murderous thief named Yunaka, as well as a gorgeous magician that defies the odds and becomes a staunch ally midway through the adventure.

The game also keeps a weird tradition going and gives us yet another Anna, though this one is remarkably small, if no less ruthless. While I enjoyed the variety of characters that join your quest, I did feel many had pretty one-note personalities that didn’t get enough definition. That isn’t to say all of them by any means, but more than I was comfortable with. Engage also keeps the tradition of being able to marry any unit that you have a close enough bond with. Admittedly there was a bit of a censorship issue here, and some of the younger options were turned into close friends rather than partners for life. You can also marry either a man or a woman, depending on your preferences. For what it’s worth, I believe Engage has the most LGBTQ+ characters of any entry, and some really badass ones at that. But to the surprise of nobody, I married the most superficial woman in the entire game. In my defense, she’s gorgeous and also a total valkyrie, so I feel justified in my choice.

Now that we’ve covered some of the setting of Engage, it’s time to talk about the reason most fans get excited for Fire Emblem games – the combat. I admit, this was the part that got me the most hyped to play, and I wasn’t disappointed. Three Houses took a step into the Persona universe by introducing the school elements. Engage takes it further, and essentially has warrior spirits you can summon and fuse with during battle. Assuming you don’t touch the DLC, there’s 12 different Emblem spirits you’ll acquire over the course of the game, and which can be summoned with magical rings they reside in, not unlike genies and lamps. Each Emblem is an iconic Fire Emblem hero, including Roy, Corrin and of course Marth.

Any character can be equipped with any Emblem. By doing so, you’ll gain access to their passive abilities during battle. These can range from blocking allies from attack to moving again after combat, and much more besides. Each Emblem is totally unique, and their class determines the buffs and skills they provide to your units. You’ll also automatically Sync with the Emblems, having them join the attack. As a quick example, I bonded Framme and Sigurd early on, and turned a middling healer into a hard hitting fighter that can also use a lance when not helping her allies.

When your meter is full from attacking, you can Engage, fusing your unit with their Emblem. Not only does this further boost the stats of your character, but it allows you to unleash incredibly powerful Engage attacks. Though most of these deal damage, there’s a couple that are totally game changing, such as the Goddess Dance, which lets all adjacent allies act again. The only thing that keeps this from getting totally out of hand is that you can only be Engaged for a few turns, and can only use one Engage attack during that period. However, there’s nothing stopping you from powering up, so you can Engage again afterwards, opening up further uses.

Engage Further On Page 2 ->

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After I discovered Stegosoft Games was working on a new title, I knew that I had to review it. Even though Rise of the Third Power isn’t set in the same universe as their retro masterpiece, Ara Fell: Enhanced Edition, it was built with similar bones. It features many familiar mechanics and features, though there are some notable differences. One of which is the world this game takes place in is much less fantasy focused than Ara Fell was. Instead of vampires, elves and floating continents, the setting for the land of Rin is meant to evoke comparisons to World War II. The question I had was this – is Stegosoft Games able to successfully make lightning strike twice? Or was Rise of the Third Power an inferior follow up to Ara Fell: Enhanced Edition?

The land of Rin has just suffered through a horrendous Great War. While many just want to go about living their lives in peace, the Arkadyan Empire wants no such thing. They see the opportunity to make more strides during peacetime, and perhaps even bend events to their will. The only kingdom in their way is the Republic of Tariq, which remains ignorant of their schemes. Alone against Arkadyan dreams of conquest is a meager Resistance force. They’re the dredges of the world, pirates and vagabonds and even one unusual priestess. While they can’t hope to defeat the Arkadyan Empire nor their new Cirinthian allies, they hope to stall for time until they can pull a miracle out of their proverbial hats.

Let me say now that while the plot of Rise of the Third Power isn’t bad, and tells an interesting tale, it lacked something that Ara Fell had. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but as I played through Ara Fell, I felt the world and my understanding of it expand at the same time. I grew to slowly glimpse the complete picture, and appreciated it more for the process. Whereas in Rise of the Third Power, I felt they kept doing something I was taught to be a cardinal sin in school – telling instead of showing. We get huge info dumps early on about the Great War, and how it affected the various peoples of Rin. And while that’s okay, I would have much preferred seeing it myself firsthand. Because otherwise I felt like a random tourist hearing about the history of a place, not actually feeling it.

Which isn’t to say the writing is bad in the game, necessarily. Just that I didn’t feel quite as connected to this world as I did in Ara Fell. Sadly, the same can be said for the characters. Because while there’s an eclectic and diverse cast of characters that will join your adventure, I never felt all that connected to most of them. The lone exception is the fiery princess Arielle, who very much felt like a stand in for Lita from Ara Fell. Though I did grow to enjoy some of these heroes and heroines, I also felt the game used them more for comedic one liners than actually diving deep into their personalities. Which is a shame, since that was one of my favorite things Stegosoft Games has done in the past.

Another problem I have with Rise of the Third Power is the fact that Arielle isn’t technically the main character. I don’t know if my brain operates on baby bird logic or what, but in RPGs, I usually feel the first hero I’m introduced to is the main character. And in this game, that hero is actually a pair of vagabonds – Rowan and Corrina. Rowan is a hard drinking pirate that likes to deflect from his real emotions and Corrina is a sharp tongued young woman looking to die in a blaze of glory. There’s a bit more to their stories than that, but not as much as I was hoping for. Worse, I never really connected emotionally to Rowan, which hurt my immersion in the story. Sure, I grew to care deeply for Arielle, but as I stated before, she’s not really the main character, even though she is vital to the story itself.

Earlier, I talked about the many similarities between this game and Ara Fell. One is that in both games you craft and upgrade permanent equipment with resources you come across. I like that mechanic, and appreciate it returning here. What I appreciate less is the removal of natural resources you’d find on the world map. That really took away my drive to explore in Rise of the Third Power, since I knew any resources would only be found after battles or in sporadically placed treasure chests.

A handy new feature is that your entire party levels up together, which really takes away the need to grind overmuch in battles. That’s wonderful, but it comes at a cost – you also no longer can change classes for any characters like you could in Ara Fell. Sure, you can spend Talent Points to have each character learn new skills or traits. But since your team levels up together, that also means they share the same pool of Talent Points. Granted, you can reset their personal tree of Talents with items, but I would have much preferred having a more hands on way to customize my party. Lastly, while the last game employed Ultimate attacks, here you have combination attacks utilized with specific pairings of characters. I did like this, since it forced me to be more tactical in who I fought with.

As far as the combat in Rise of the Third Power, I enjoyed it just as much as I did in Ara Fell, and it works similarly. It does some things better and some things a bit worse, but it still works very well and was generally intuitive. The game even has handy tutorials, though I strongly suggest you screencap them when you have a chance. Reason being, you can never find a glossary of information or view a tutorial after the fact otherwise. Combat is pretty fast paced and you can even swap active members of your team with those waiting on the sidelines, which was neat. My biggest issue was that the game felt a bit too easy. So much so that after playing for a few hours, I turned the difficulty up to Hard just to challenge myself. Which it did, but not by very much. I can’t honestly remember if the difficulty was steeper in Ara Fell, though I do vaguely recall a couple of bosses that drove me nuts.

More Power on Page 2 ->

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20 years is a long time to wait for anything. Especially a video game, since most consoles only last a handful of years before being replaced by the next generation. And though we’ve had adventures set in the Metroid universe since Metroid Fusion, we’ve all been waiting a long damned time to actually play Metroid Dread. I still remember my complete shock when Nintendo unveiled it recently during E3. I nearly fell out of my seat, and spent the rest of the presentation hollering in glee. Now that I’ve rolled credits on Metroid Dread, I feel adequately equipped to cover the latest adventures of Samus Aran. And hopefully to answer the question of whether or not Metroid Dread lived up to 20 years of crazy expectations.

Right out of the gate, I loved how Metroid Dread continued Fusion’s focus on narrative. The early Metroid games didn’t have much of anything in the way of plotting or dialogue, even though the Prime games did. So I appreciated the narrative tool of Samus’ AI companion ADAM laying out the stakes as you progress. The game starts when you get a warning about a possible X-Parasite appearance on the distant planet ZDR. It’s set in a remote corner of the galaxy, one you’re not familiar with. Things go wrong very quickly. The EMMI robots sent by the Federation to investigate immediately go radio silent. Thus, it’s your job to be the badass bounty hunter again and put things right. Which would normally work out just fine, but this time you have the odds firmly stacked against you.

From the moment you land, you’re confronted by an unknown foe. Not only does it utterly thrash Samus, but worse yet, it appears to be a Chozo. The same race that not only saved Samus as a child, but helped empower her to face a future of deadly threats. So why is this one attacking you so viciously? All you know is you lose the fight, and wake up with most of your armor and upgrades stripped away. There’s also a gaping hole in your memory for most of the incident, so ADAM fills you in on what it observed. Which unfortunately isn’t much. All you know is you still have a job to do, and you’re bound and determined to do it, even in a much weakened state.

When I say Samus is weakened, I really mean it. All she has left are the bare essentials, her arm cannon and standard missiles. She’s lost her Morph Ball, her powerful element-resistant armor and her Power Bombs. And while you’ll eventually get all those back, there’s another issue. Samus is actively being hunted by the same EMMI sent by the Federation. Someone hacked them, and turned them into merciless hunting hounds that patrol distinct zones. I can honestly say I’ve never encountered this sort of threat in a Metroid game. Sure, SA-X would need to be escaped a few times before you could finally defeat it in Fusion. But here, no matter how strong you get, each and every EMMI encounter is a life or death chase. And what makes it more challenging is these nasty robots learn new tricks as you proceed, making each one a more effective hunter than the one that came before it. I never expected survival horror elements in this series, but they’ve effectively integrated them here.

I loved the atmosphere in Dread, both literal and figurative. ZDR is a strange planet unwilling to share its many secrets until they’re hard earned. Meanwhile, the story atmosphere is one of anxiety, mystery and, obviously, dread. While the thrill of exploring the unknown is still present, it’s minimized somewhat due to the newfound focus on survival horror. That’s not a complaint, necessarily. It’s just that on planet ZDR I often felt like a rat in a maze, especially when the cruel robotic felines started chasing me. The map isn’t as free to explore as in previous Metroid games, most notably Super Metroid, which I still revere as the best of the series. You’ll regularly be forced onto new tracks you have to explore to proceed. That said, there’s plenty this game still has going for it, and that includes the gameplay itself.

Much like the recently overhauled Metroid: Samus Returns, Metroid Dread showcases the talents of Mercury Steam. Besides her usual tricks, Samus also has her Melee Counter return, which can be incredibly helpful once you master the timing. And master it you must, since later bosses and foes feature QTE counter moments that must be accurately pulled off to defeat them. I had some mixed feelings about that, since it basically forces gamers to play a very specific way.

That said, I loved exploring in the game and blasting harmful alien species. It’s relatively easy to use the shoulder buttons to stop and aim your arm cannon, though less so in the heat of the moment. Honestly, the farther in the game you go, the more buttons you’ll have to hold at one time, which did frustrate me somewhat. Especially with regard to the Speed Booster and Shinespark maneuvers, which were inexplicably mapped to the same joystick. Honestly, if Mercury Steam just allowed the option to remap controls, this wouldn’t have been a problem whatsoever. But since they didn’t, I found it difficult to muster the patience to explore 100% of the map.

One area the gameplay shone, despite the challenge, was in the EMMI encounters. I’ll be the first to admit, I hate those crawling robotic monsters. But that just makes it all the more satisfying when you get the opportunity to slay them. This plays out like a classic survival horror segment, with a supercharged Samus aiming for their weak spot, blasting them frantically and striving to destroy them before she’s caught. And even though they’re ruthless as they chase you, I never felt the encounters unfair. They’ll just require fast reflexes, smart tactics and pattern recognition. Luckily, if you fail, you can just try again from the last checkpoint. It also doesn’t hurt when Samus gets the Phantom Cloak ability, which turns her invisible briefly. Just don’t rely on it overmuch, since EMMI can still hear you wandering around, even if they can’t see you.

Each EMMI you defeat will reward you with a new upgrade, as will Chozo Statues and a handful of boss battles. You’ll get really rad new abilities like the Spider Magnet, which lets Samus cling to specific types of terrain. You’ll also have returning favorites like the Grapple Beam. There’s a huge variety of upgrades just waiting to be found, though the very best are saved until the final moments of the game.

Continue the Battle on Page 2 ->

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Even though I had never played any of the original Wonder Boy games, I’ve been looking forward to Asha in Monster World for a while. The reason is quite simple – I loved the visual aesthetic of the game. It instantly spoke to me, and reminded me fondly of another series I love, Shantae. Sure, Asha’s not a genie. But she dresses an awful lot like Shantae, and she even gets her own genie of the lamp to teleport her around. Plus, both of them feature a lot of levity and fun platforming. The only question then is this – did Asha in Monster World live up to my hype? Or was it too old school for its own good?

The game starts off nicely, with a call to adventure for young Asha. She wants to prove her mettle as a warrior, so off she goes. Though all she can really do is swing her sword, use her shield, and run and jump, she’s pretty capable. Luckily, once the game starts in earnest she gets some new maneuvers thanks to her monster buddy, Pepelogoo. He’s basically Asha’s own personal Pokémon. Grabbing hold of him lets her float slowly down, and jumping while floating gives Asha a double jump, of sorts. You can also throw Pepelogoo into danger, using it cleverly to solve puzzles. He’ll even evolve as the game progresses, allowing new techniques. The rotund little guy is also unkillable, so you don’t have to feel any concern about using him like a crash test dummy. The one you have to worry about is Asha herself. Even though you can only take one heart’s worth of damage from anything, she’s pretty frail, and it’s easy to get steamrolled by overeager foes.

I should mention, you will gradually get more and more health by picking up blue gems, which should make it harder for foes to chip it away. But in my experience, I never had enough health. I especially didn’t have enough to prevent taking damage from traps and other cheap tricks. Perhaps my biggest complaint in the combat department is how some foes cause Asha to fly backwards when she touches them. Granted, she doesn’t take damage from this, but it’s easy to get stunlocked by enemy attacks once you’re cornered. An especially egregious example of this happened late in the game, when Asha gets shrunk down and has to face a giant slime. It keeps spawning more and more slimes that rush you, and your sword slashes can’t harm it. I was so frustrated by the fight I had to look online for how to win, and found you basically just have to survive long enough till you can finally damage the boss.

Which brings me to my real complaint with Asha in Monster World – the difficulty. In many ways, the game is fair. But it becomes apparent very quickly this remake is built on the bones of a sometimes unforgiving old game. You’ll get lost cause you can’t see a platform just out of reach, or work through a maze of interconnected rooms without a map. There’s even one pyramid you have to get through by using magic spells (essentially button prompts). The trick is, the game only tells you one spell, and has you guess the rest based off clues. Which I found pretty irritating. There’s also one water dungeon that required me to use Pepelogoo to help me navigate water currents. But I had missed a room that explained this mechanic, and so I kept falling into electrical traps and dying instead.

Also, while I generally enjoyed the combat, many of the mini bosses have a bad tendency of rushing you mercilessly. I even got knocked off the stage more than once by these foes, which of course resulted in the loss of a heart. I tend to prefer fights that have distinct patterns and visual or audio cues to let you know how to react. Though the boss fights are better, they can be a bit annoying as well, and they usually have a couple phases to get through. This game was much more frenetic and frustrating than I expected from the candy colored packaging.

There are a few things Asha has in her favor. One is that you can find magical elixirs that will revive her upon dying, so long as Pepelogoo is with you. These were literal life savers, and helped me get past the more difficult battles in the game. Asha also has a magical attack, activated by pressing two buttons simultaneously. I found the timing a bit tricky with this, and found the attack itself a bit underwhelming. That’s not to say it had no purpose, just that I expected a more bombastic technique.

As you play, you’ll get tons of cash you can use to upgrade your inventory, making Asha hit harder and sometimes evade damage. And worst-case scenario, you can always buy a ton of healing items from the vending machines found in dungeons. Another thing I found very helpful in Asha in Monster World is that you can save literally anywhere. They make it apparent this was not the case in the original, and it was really convenient. Especially given how each dungeon is progressively longer and more complex than those that came before it.

I really don’t want to be so harsh about the game, cause there’s a lot to love. Asha is freaking adorable, and full of giddy energy. She even wiggles her butt whenever she opens a chest, which is the cutest thing ever. Likewise, the artwork in the game is stunning and charming, with bright colors and expressive faces. The music is also catchy and enjoyable, though not life changing. If I were to review the game solely on the aesthetics, it would get a much higher score.

Ultimately, Asha in Monster World is held back by too many awkward design choices. I mentioned earlier your Pepelogoo can revive you with elixirs. What’s odd is you can’t buy elixirs, and only find them in random chests. Worse, late in the game you and your pet get separated, which means you face some bosses without the use of your restorative elixirs. This includes the boss of the game, which just adds insult to injury.

Much as I wish I could rave about how amazing the game is, it’s unable to reach the heights I thought it capable of. But since the ending hints there’s gonna be a remake of the next game in the Wonder Boy series, I hope that can fully realize its vision while still being a balanced experience. A fun trip down memory lane, but hard to recommend for anyone other than expert platformers, especially for $34.99.

Review Score
Overall

Review Copy Provided by Publisher

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Now that I’ve gotten all that off my chest, let’s talk about why this version of Freedom Finger is so worth owning. I’ve actually been intrigued by this game for a while, just due to the hand drawn art and inherent immaturity. I don’t say that as a slight. Some games are great because they aren’t trying to be serious, and this is one of them. It’s all about making fun of the industrial military complex, American patriotism and even Communism. But you don’t have to care about any of that to enjoy this game.

Freedom Finger is an insane SHMUP with fantastic and detailed art, and pumping tunes. Sure there’s a plot, but it’s mostly window dressing to make fun of everything. And I do mean everything. When one lead character is a ham fisted idiot named Major Cigar, you start to get the idea. And though some might take offense at the humor, I found it to be pretty sharp and witty. Thankfully, the gameplay is equally tight.

Unlike in most SHMUPs, here you can actually punch to deflect space debris. You can also grab enemy ships to fire them yourself like oversized pistols. It’s a lot of fun, and it’s frantic as hell. Best of all, the game also distinguishes itself with the Stealth Meter. Supposedly you’re on a stealth mission, and letting too many ships get past you results in defeat. The funny thing about that is nothing about this game is really stealthy, though that does provide a great mechanic to keep you on your toes. Oh and if you like insane boss fights, Freedom Finger has those in spades.

Like I said earlier, this game has been on my radar for a while. But owning it physically is just fantastic. Firstly, the box art is tremendous. Super Rare always includes cards, sticker and manual, but here all of those are especially eye catching. Much like with Old School Musical, the manual isn’t about controls. Instead it displays more of the amazing artwork. All in all, it makes for a really worthwhile little package. Especially for fans of the Nintendo Switch.

Once again, Super Rare Games has picked a winner. If you’re a Switch fan who loves physical games, stay tuned via Twitter. They have not disappointed me yet with their choice of games to publish. And their style is always on point. I appreciate the opportunity to check out this particular game, and look forward to whatever comes next on the horizon!

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It looks strange and fun, and best of all it’s out now! It’s developed by Greyhead Studio, and the only downside is it’s coming to every major console except Switch. Otherwise, it looks like a blast.

You can read more details about Exp Parasite below. Be sure to check out the trailer as well to see what it’s all about.

Greyhead Studio Launches Retro Arcade Platformer Exp Parasite Today on PC, Xbox One & PlayStation®4

Germany and California – September 17, 2020 – Relive the days of being a ‘90s arcade rat with nostalgic action platformer Exp Parasite from Greyhead Studio, now that the retro pixel-art game is available on Steam (PC), Xbox One, PlayStation 4, the Mac Store and the App Store for $7.99 USD.

Exp Parasite is a retro, hardcore 2D arcade game that features gameplay where every minute of gameplay is unique and consistently changing to keep you on your toes. Take control of an experimental parasite that infects different mechanical objects, overcomes countless obstacles, and fights powerful bosses to achieve goals set by an unknown puppeteer.

“If you’re looking for a fun game that won’t take up 20 or more hours of your time to complete, then Exp Parasite is for you, ” says Viktoriya Medvedeva of Greyhead Studio. “It’s a great time killer that provides a bevy of action in short one-minute bursts. Play for 15 minutes here, 10 minutes there, basically whenever you have free time and want a quick retro-gaming fix. The game’s intense action will have you clamoring to play for much longer.”

Key Features Include

• Each Minute of the Gameplay is Unique – Exp Parasite was developed with an emphasis on diversity. Every minute the gameplay changes thanks to varied gameplay filled with countless obstacles, enemies, interactive elements, leveling, bonus items, changing environments and more.
• Superpowers – Gain and improve powerful abilities such as Slowdown time (time in the game slows down for a short period of time) and Invulnerability (gain full immunity to any type of damage for a short period of time).
• Rewards – Earn rewards at the end of each level in the form of a limited number of power-ups (hyper cores). The maximum for each level is 4. If you’re unable to collect all four cores the first time, you can replay the level and pick up the remaining cores. These rewards can be used in the store to purchase additional lives and certain abilities.
• Unique Levels with Unique Bosses – Play a diverse range of levels each with their own boss that challenges you with their unique capabilities, techniques, strategies, and attacks. In order to advance to the next level, the player must defeat the boss in a variety of fight scenarios.

About Greyhead Studio
Greyhead Studio is a new indie publisher based out of Germany and California that is comprised of game industry veterans. The company formed in 2014 and focuses on creating as many excellent games as possible for all gamers to enjoy.

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Though it’s a bit til the Q1 2021 release window for Guild of Darksteel, you can actually try a demo on Steam today. In the meantime, you can learn more by reading the press release below. And be sure to check out that sweet trailer as well!

Guild of Darksteel – a new dark fantasy adventure coming to Switch, PS4, and Steam

Demo available now and for the duration of PAX X EGX online event

Sept 10, 2020 – Indie publisher Digerati is delighted to announce Guild of Darksteel, a dark fantasy adventure with an immersive story and beautiful pixel art. Developed by artist and one-man studio Igor Sandman, Guild of Darksteel will launch Q1 2021 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Steam.

A versatile artist with experience working across a broad range of creative mediums, and with nominations to his name for Best Art and Fresh Talent Prize from the Belgian Game Awards, Igor Sandman is the sole creator of Guild of Darksteel, having produced every aspect of it himself.

“The world of Guild of Daksteel is unforgiving: the rich exploit the poor, the strong trample the weak. It’s a world not unlike our own and ultimately, that is the story I need to tell,” Sandman says about his debut game. “Guild of Darksteel is a work of passion that took me years to complete, yet it will only be truly completed once you play it.”

Players can get an early hands-on with Guild of Darksteel courtesy of a Steam demo which has been released ahead of the upcoming PAX Online X EGX Digital festival. The demo is available now and will remain live for the duration of the festival.

About the game
Guild of Darksteel is a cinematic, side-scrolling adventure set in a lush, layered dark fantasy world.

Embark on a dark fantasy adventure and follow the Sellsword, an immortal, as he seeks a purpose in eternal life by joining the Guild of Darksteel. Become one of their immortal mercenaries and investigate the mysterious tunnels underneath the cities of Ravenrock.

Key features

• Engrossing Combat: Utilize a refined combat system to defeat anyone who stands in the way of your mission. Unlock combos and level them up to your liking. Chain your attacks together and determine a personal attack strategy that will guarantee your victory.
• A Living, Breathing World: Explore the fully-realized city of Ravenrock, and interact with its inhabitants. Each character carries a deep story, breathing life into the world of Guild of Darksteel. Friends of foes, their lives won’t leave you unmoved.
• A Deep and Nuanced Story: Inspired by classics like Flashback and Vagrant Story, Guild of Darksteel tells a gripping story of power struggle and soul searching, as its characters come face to face with their mortality… or lack thereof.
• Stunning Artistic Vision: The world of Guild of Darksteel is comprised of dark, yet evocatively detailed pixel art, and set against a foreboding and thought provoking soundtrack. A unique and daring color palette sets the perfect tone for your investigation of the darkness that lurks beneath Ravenrock.

The post Dark Fantasy Guild of Darksteel Coming Q1 2021 appeared first on oprainfall.

Othercide is developed by the partnership between Focus Home Interactive and Lightbulb Crew. If you love dark and brooding, then you should probably check it out. It reminds me of a mixture of Parasite Eve and Soul Reaver. But don’t just listen to my random opinion. Check out the press release and trailer below!

2Awesome Studio Helps Bring Othercide to
Nintendo Switch!

In partnership with Focus Home Interactive and Lightbulb Crew, 2Awesome Studio has ported Othercide for Nintendo Switch!

THE NETHERLANDS – [SEPT 10, 2020] – Today, 2Awesome Studio is announcing its latest venture; porting of Othercide to Nintendo Switch for release today! The announcement comes after Othercide’s Switch Release Date reveal, and in partnership with Focus Home Interactive and Lightbulb Crew, publisher and developer of Othercide, respectively.

Othercide is a dark and brooding tactical-RPG available on PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4, and boasts highly positive reviews across all platforms. IGN calls Othercide, “the best turn-based tactics game of the year so far,” and now, in partnership with 2Awesome Studio, is being introduced to the Nintendo Switch community today!

“Bringing Othercide to Nintendo Switch was one of the biggest challenges for us as a studio. When Lightbulb Crew approached us about this possibility we weren’t sure if it was going to be possible. Othercide has a unique color scheme and visual style that requires the use of advanced volumetric lightning, fog effects, PBR reflections and even cloth and hair simulation. The challenge was not just bringing it to Switch but making sure it would be as faithful to the original vision as possible making it a great portable experience. I can say I am proud of the results of our team”, said Alejandro Santiago, Co-founder and Lead developer at 2Awesome Studio.

From the Developer:
Descend into Humanity’s last hope. The Daughters, echoes of the greatest warrior to ever live, are all who stand before Suffering and death.

Lead your army of Daughters to battle with all the skill you can muster. Your prowess in combat will decide their fate, shape their abilities and personality. Make the toughest decision and sacrifice one to heal another – survivors will get stronger, ready to fight the next battle.

Combat is an intricate dance of spectacular actions and counters: plan ahead of time and set up impressive chains of abilities to outsmart the enemy. Fight in epic boss battles against the sources of Suffering – dread creatures pulled from the worst of Humanity’s crimes against itself.

You will fight. You will fail. You will rise again.

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Though I haven’t followed the Game Devs of Color expo in past years, there’s some great talent here. Some noteworthy developers include folks who’ve worked on games like No More Heroes, Psychonauts 2, Garden Story, She Dreams Elsewhere and more. Plus, if you’re more of a pen and paper gamer, there’s also board games on display.

You can read more about this year’s event by checking out the press release below. And if you’re interested in some compelling panels, be sure to tune starting next week!

Game Devs of Color Expo, Online-Only in its Fifth Year, Announces Full Lineup of Participating Games and Developer Talks

Event will take place online September 19-20, marking GDoCExpo’s biggest year yet

September 10, 2020 — Today, Game Devs of Color Expo – set to take its fifth edition fully online this year – announced its lineup of speakers, panels, and participating games for its upcoming conference. The 2020 Game Devs of Color Expo Online will take place Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20.

This year’s event will feature a diverse array of main presentations and panels within a private online conference space that encourages conversations between attendees.

Speaker Lineup

• Chase Bethea (Composer, Cubic Climber) – “Composing Music for In-Game Islands, Subterranean Areas and Beyond”
• Shana T. Bryant (Producer) – “No More Heroes: How Game Development Heroics is Killing Us”
• John R. Diaz (Technical Designer, Amazon Lumberyard) – “Culturally-Aligned Game Protagonists Design”
• Claude Jerome (Gameplay Designer, Probably Monsters) – “Advanced Game Feel”
• Sisi Jiang (Narrative Designer, LIONKILLER) – “Authenticity is Balls”
• Evva Karr (Creative Director, GLITCH) – “Rules and Restrictions Apply”
• Johnny Liu (Project Manager, Standing Stone Games) – “Exploring Inclusivity as a KPI Driver”
• Charles McGregor (Founder, Tribe Games) – “Sip the Juice: Adding Game Feel to Your Game”
• Limpho Moeti (Producer, Nyamakop) – “The Importance of Being Authentic”
• Sheila Moore (Co-founder, Combo Queens) – “Visibility in Indie Games”
• Xalavier Nelson, Jr. (Founder, Strange Scaffold) – “Kill Your Dream Game and Use its Body for Parts”
• Latoya Peterson + Mitu Khandaker (Founders, Glow Up Games) – “5 Things We Wished We Knew Before Launching Glow Up Games”
• Ethan Redd (Founder, Virtuoso Neomedia) – “Fight For The Future – Zodiac XX Post-Mortem”
• Salman Shurie (Independent Game Developer) – “Forming Ideas for Games You Don’t Have”
• Lisette Titre-Montgomery (Art Director, Double Fine Productions) – “The Art Of Psychonauts 2 – The Making of a Brain in a Jar”
• Victoria Tran (Communications Director, Kitfox Games) – “Failure Marketing”
• Calbert Warner (Composer) – “Carving Out a Niche in Video Game Music and Using Social Media to Attract Potential Clients”

Panels

“How to Pitch Your Game to Press”

Have you ever wondered why some games get covered, and others don’t? In this session, join three journalists as they answer developer questions related to the news pitching process and offer practical advice on how to get news coverage of your game. Attendees will leave with a stronger understanding of how games coverage gets picked and how newsrooms work. Panelists: Ana Diaz (MinnMax), Shannon Liao (CNN Business), Imran Khan (Kinda Funny), and Gita Jackson (VICE)

“Sex Positivity as a Design Pillar”

How do you meaningfully include sex, kink, & sexuality in games? What are the design & safety considerations? How can we create experiences that aren’t offensive or embarrassing? We will discuss & suggest games that approach the topic of sex in new ways and subvert common design tropes. Panelists: Naomi Clark (Consentacle), Sharang Biswas (Honey and Hot Wax: An Anthology of Erotic Art Games), Jonaya Kemper (Feeding Lucy), Clio Yun-Su Davis (Pass the Sugar, Please), and Rachel Li (The Cheaters)

Games Lineup

Game Devs of Color Expo also announced its 2020 lineup of video games and tabletop games. A showcase on Steam called “Gradient Convergence” will also take place during the event, highlighting Game Devs of Color Expo’s games lineup.

Video Games

• 1000 Deaths (Pariah Interactive)
• Aerial_Knights Never Yield (Aerial_Knight, Neil Jones)
• An Airport for Aliens Currently Run by Dogs (Strange Scaffold)
• Breakpoint (Studio Aesthesia)
• DON’T GIVE UP (Taco Pizza Cat Games)
• Duster (Coldrice Games)
• Finders, Keepers (Alex Francois)
• Garden Story (Picogram)
• Jumpala (Yokereba Games)
• Keylocker | Turn Based Cyberpunk Action (Moonana)
• KindFolx (Tristan Barona)
• Koshka’s Kofe (Koshka’s Team)
• LIONKILLER (Sisi Jiang)
• Love Shore (Perfect Garbage)
• Lucifer Within Us (Kitfox Games)
• Museum Multiverse VR (Made in Brooklyn Games)
• Mystic Pillars: A Story-Based Puzzle Game (Holy Cow Productions)
• OneBit Adventure (Galactic Slice)
• Onsen Master (Waking Oni Games)
• ProtoCorgi (Kemono Games)
• She Dreams Elsewhere (Studio Zevere)
• Skate Story (by Sam Eng)
• Solace State (Vivid Foundry)
• ValiDate: Struggling Singles in your Area (Veritable Joy)
• Xenosis: Alien Infection (NerdRage Studios)
• Yellowface – An Asian American Story (Mike Ren Yi)

Tabletop Games

• Design Eye | The Graphic Design Education Game (Deon Mixon)
• Dogs BOND (Alex Lu)
• Gladius (Cat Quartet Games)
• Hoop Godz (Board Game Brothas)
• Inequality-opoly: The Board Game of Structural Racism and Sexism in America (Perry Clemons)
• MonsDRAWsity (Eric Slauson)
• Tattoo Stories (Eric Slauson)
• The Girl and the Robot – The Card Game (Flying Carpets Games)
• Winsults (Davon Ford, Lanee Higgins)

2020 marks the Game Devs of Color Expo’s fifth year. In a historic first, the event moves entirely online so as to continue to champion access and inclusivity within its showcasing of games by creators of color, even as COVID-19 precludes in-person gatherings. The expo was first envisioned by founders Catt Small and Chris Algoo in 2016, who sought in conjunction with Brooklyn Gamery to construct a safe space where people of color from any and all intersections of identity could connect to discuss their passions and projects.

“Since 2016, the amount of excitement that this event has brought to the games industry has proven to be something we all needed,” said Catt Small, co-founder of Game Devs of Color Expo. “We’re looking to continue these vibes in 2020.”

Tickets for the 2020 Game Devs of Color Expo Online can be purchased on Eventbrite for a sliding scale of $5-10.

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Though not much is known about Space Robinson yet, other than the release on Switch today, you can read some more details in the official press release below. Here’s hoping this one joins the ranks of the great rogue games out there, and doesn’t get jettisoned into the atmosphere.

Space Robinson
is landing on Nintendo Switch!

San Diego, California – September 10th, 2020— Indie game publisher, Crytivo, with Luxorix Games, is proud to announce that Space Robinson, a challenging pixel art roguelite will be blasting its way to Nintendo Switch.

Space Robinson is a game for those who love a challenge. Death is just a part of life in roguelite games, and this one is no different. Explore your way through procedurally generated levels collecting resources and weapons to survive the unknown for a little longer.

Take on baddies with a loot snatching racoon, a good doggo turned hell hound, or a flying pig. We won’t judge.

Collect crystals, artifacts, and level up as you play. Upgrade, craft new weapons, and repair the colony units to increase your chances of survival.

Features

• Procedurally generated levels with a day and night cycle
• Summon a helping paw (or hoof) as you traverse the unknown.
• Craft, upgrade, and level your to victory with RPG elements

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Bartlow’s Dread Machine is slated to release later this month, but you can read up on more details below. And make sure to check out the latest trailer showcasing a new area from the game!

About Bartlow’s Dread Machine
Modeled after a mechanical penny arcade game created in 1907, Bartlow’s Dread Machine is devilishly fun arcade shooter that answers the burning question on everyone’s mind: What would a video game be like if it came out 113 years ago?

President Teddy Roosevelt has been kidnapped! Only you — a Secret Service agent made of tin — can save him from the Anarcho-Satanists intent on ruining the American way of life. Shoot down tin zombies, mechanical bad guys, and clockwork bosses in a rapid-fire chase to rescue the President and preserve the American Dream. Future generations are counting on you!

With six game worlds, 50+ guns, 16 playable characters, and all sorts of old-timey outfits and upgrades, Bartlow’s Dread Machine is brimming with possibilities. Plus, play solo or with a friend in couch co-op mode!

The Plot Thickens in Today’s Early Access Update
If you’ve been following along on Steam Early Access, then you know that President Roosevelt’s crafty abductors have taken our heroes on a circuitous route from New York City, across the great plains to San Francisco, and most recently through the Pacific Ocean.

Today’s Early Access update opens up a lush new jungle location — the Canal Zone — where construction of the Panama Canal has unearthed a mysterious structure containing untold horrors and dark magic. Will our tin toy agents be able to shoot their way out of this one? There’s only one way to find out!

In addition, Early Access players can now unlock two more playable historical characters:

• Mary Fields, the pioneering mail coach driver, with her deadly Hand Carronade weapon.
• Nicola Tesla, the iconic inventor extraordinaire, with his shocking Lightning Precipitator weapon.

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Like usual, this edition of Freedom Finger has all the SRG swag, including cards, manual and more. If you’re somehow not familiar with the crazy game, just keep on reading the full press release below. Maybe it’ll be worth your while to check out Super Rare Games in the coming days to pick up a copy. I know I’ve personally found some gems there.

Bat$#!% space shooter Freedom Finger gets an explosive physical Switch release next week!

Shoot ’em up, smash ’em up, and punch ’em up with the music-driven, sidescrolling shooter Freedom Finger! Super Rare Games is proud to finally reveal their partnership with Wide Right Games to release this crazy cartoon action game in physical form for the first time on the Nintendo Switch.

Only 4,000 copies will be available worldwide – pre-orders for the game open on September 17th at 6pm BST (10am PT/1pm ET) for approx £27 + tax ($31 USD/33€) – exclusively at superraregames.com.

Revealed as part of our #SuperRareWeek campaign and one of our most anticipated releases since its announcement earlier this year, this rare physical release includes all the content on its cart, a full-colour manual, interior artwork, an exclusive sticker, and three trading cards randomly selected from the five-card set.

About Freedom Finger

Freedom Finger features classic shmup gameplay blended with melee combat! You’re flying a ship shaped like a giant hand, so use it! Punch, grab, and shoot enemies to smithereens! The unique grab attack allows you to capture enemies and use their guns as power-ups!

? A fully voiced, fully animated Story Mode, starring Nolan North (Uncharted), John DiMaggio (Adventure Time, Futurama), Eric Bauza (Looney Tunes, Battletoads, Ratchet & Clank) and Sam Riegel (Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Fallout).

? A unique soundtrack including original music by Aesop Rock and licensed tracks from Red Fang, METZ, Power Trip, Com Truise, White Fence, Ty Segall, Makeup and Vanity Set, True Widow, The Radio Dept., Drab Majesty, John Maus, Vektroid, Cleaners from Venus, and many more!

? Fight your way through 40 handcrafted levels, spread out over 13 worlds! Each world features new enemies, power-ups, and challenges!

? A wide selection of difficulty settings! Whether you want to chill and enjoy the story or crank the difficulty for a butt-blasting ridiculous challenge, we’ve got you covered!

? A highly satirical storyline that explores hot-button topics such as communism, U.S. foreign policy, sriracha sauce, and, most importantly, crafting in video games.

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The first thing about Code Shifter that stuck out to me was the candy colored aesthetic style. It’s an attractive game that almost has a Pixar vibe to everything. You play Stella, a programmer that made the titular program, Code Shifter, in order to debug viruses. When you’re trashing viruses, your avatar is a powerful hero named Sera. She’s able to double jump, slash and generally bounce around each stage with impunity. At first I really liked how quickly Sera could get around, but I soon discovered her fatal flaw – Sera is about as physically intimidating as a bag of kittens. That’s not to say she can’t deal with foes, but rather that it takes plenty of rapid fire combos to deal with most serious threats. Thankfully, there’s another option to combating foes – transforming into hero codes you find in stages. These are pixelated representatives from many games from the Arc System Works library, and I recognized a few of them. They’re delightfully old school, and most of them pack a much more powerful punch than Sera. So letting her utilize them does help with her general weakness somewhat. Hero codes also can manipulate the environment a few ways. Some can trigger electrical devices and others can break boxes. This is actually indicated by the icon next to their name, a handy feature I discovered about an hour into my experience.

Other than using the power of hero codes, Sera can also equip skills before taking on a stage. You get these by beating any given stage with an S rank, which is a lot harder than I expected. You essentially have to beat a stage as quickly as possible while taking very little damage. If you lose one life, the best score you can get is an A. I actually found myself wishing that a score of A could provide one Skill, and a score of S could get another. But unfortunately that’s not how this system works. You can get more skill parts by beating stages on higher difficulties, but frankly Code Shifter is plenty challenging on Normal. What frustrated me most about skills is that most make a very slight difference to your stats. Many of them do things like increase attack power or jump range, but to a minuscule degree. They’ll boost you, but only by like 5%. And honestly, it’s hard to comprehend how much of a difference these boosts actually make. The skills that helped me the most were ones that enhanced my loadout of available hero codes, since initially you can only hold one at a time.

Another factor that can help you a bit are hero assists. These are ones you summon to the field for a variety of effects, from dealing damage to boosting Sera’s stats to healing you. This is cool, but the cooldown to use them again made them a feature I typically ignored, especially during boss fights. Overall the combat in Code Shifter is fine, but it lacks finesse. Sera has no dodge or block move, which makes most battles a frenetic scramble with enemies trying their best to stampede you. This is problematic when you’re transformed into a larger hero code, which makes you a perfect damage sponge. Another issue is that when you lose a life, you’ll lose all your hero codes with it, other than assist summons. And though I appreciate how the game displays Sera’s moveset from the pause menu, along with assist abilities, I found it odd hero codes you directly control don’t display their movesets anywhere. It’s really too bad, cause there’s a lot of speed and flexibility to the combat in the game. It just lacks the tightness and balance of a truly great example of the genre.

Besides the basic combat, there’s a mini game in Code Shifter. It’s called Colorful Fighters, and it features tons of pixelated reps from Arc System Works games. You start out with a handful, and can unlock more by beating EX stages. I like that in theory, but to do so you have to defeat demonic versions of the characters first, and they’re frankly more difficult than the regular bosses in the game. I managed to beat one, but since that stage featured a couple and required me to beat both to unlock either, I’m still working on making serious progress. Thankfully you can play with just the default characters, and Colorful Fighters is a chaotic scramble. It is 4 v 4 insanity, and it’s like a manic Smash Bros. I can’t say there’s much strategy to it, but it’s a fun diversion.

Now, despite my issues with the combat, I did find Code Shifter a moderately fun experience. There’s actually even a halfway decent plot here that might go someplace interesting. It’s all about a company getting a new game ready to launch when suspicious viruses start delaying progress. I’m not sure if this indicates an industrial espionage angle or what, but it’s fun watching things progress with Stella and her coworkers. The only downside is how they all speak. They sound like horny metal squirrels copulating. Normally I don’t mind gibberish talk in games, and have enjoyed it in Banjo-Kazooie and the SteamWorld games. But here it’s super irritating. Also annoying is moving about the office. It’s really easy to bump into invisible geometry and get stuck. Luckily you can pause to select a location you want Stella to move, and thus have her go there instantly.

Despite issues with combat, the platforming is actually pretty fun in Code Shifter. It’s basic, but there’s some tricky maps to navigate as you hunt for viruses to slay. The game makes use of disappearing platforms, warps, air vents and more to keep things interesting. And most areas don’t overstay their welcome, only featuring a handful of story stages and optional EX ones. Again, the big issue I ran into was how unbalanced and loose combat felt. Especially since the game inexplicably forces you to use the joystick to move around, instead of allowing that and D-Pad. Which is odd, since you can use the D-Pad to navigate sub menus. Altogether this made challenging parts of the game a real slog. I almost gave up entirely at one miniboss, who kept spamming a revolving shield. Eventually I got past it with a summon assist, but the lack of clear strategic options in the game doesn’t help matters. It’s never clear which heroes you should keep and which you should toss aside, other than ones you need for getting to the stage exit. And while I wish I could say I loved the bosses I’ve faced, they were just as awkward as the rest of the combat. On the plus side, the visual flair of the game is nice and the music is better. Each hero code you play as has an accompanying soundtrack, and that really livens things up.

Sadly Code Shifter didn’t quite pass muster with me, though it did make me curious about exploring more Arc System Works titles. There was a lot of potential here, but the ideas didn’t quite mesh enough for it to make a deeper impact. But if you’re a fan of platformers and want something different, Code Shifter might be for you. Especially since it’s available on many consoles. For everyone else, this one might not be worth your time.

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I’m quite excited by the revival of the Onechanbara series with Onee Chanbara Origin. While I would prefer it also head to Switch, at least it’s widely available on Steam and PS4. To read more details about the upcoming game, just check out the press release below!

The World’s Sexiest Zombie Slayers
Slash Through Zombies in Sensuous Style
as Reimagined “Onee Chanbara Origin”
Heads for PlayStation®4 and PC on October 14!

D3PUBLISHER Inc. Announces English Reimagining of the Classic Hack ‘n Slash “Onee Chanbara” Series for North America and Europe

Oakland, CA – September 8, 2020 — D3PUBLISHER Inc., a leading Japanese games publisher, is excited to announce today that Japanese high-speed action hack ‘n slash zombie slayer game, “Onee Chanbara Origin” will resurrect new life into a North American and European digital launch on October 14 for PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Windows PC via Steam®.

“Onee Chanbara Origin” is a complete HD remake with all new art style graphics and optimized storytelling, combining both “The Onechanbara” and “The Onechanbara 2” games, which were originally released for PlayStation®2 in 2004 and 2005. Now featuring all renewed main character designs, redesigned by main character “Onechanbara” series designer Katsumi Enami, “Onee Chanbara Origin” tells a new interpretation of the story of the two half-sisters, Aya and Saki, bound by mutual hatred and locked in a brutal fight to the death, eventually overcoming their cruel fate and fighting alongside one another to find their father in this high-speed action-adventure hack ‘n slash game series.

“Onee Chanbara Origin” follows the zombie-hunters, Aya and Saki’s fate into destroying each other and leads into the second of the series, “The Onechanbara 2”. After the sisters overcome their cruel fate in killing one another, they overcome their rivalry against one another and ally together to depart on their journey of finding their father, Oboro, after he leaves behind a message that names “Eva” as the mastermind behind his wife’s death and all of the chaos that ensued between the two sisters, including the vice that made Saki insane and hell-bent on avenging her mother. Little do they know they are coming even closer to the truth and their true enemy.

Play as a zombie hunter and battle through the stages with high-speed real-time swordplay, completing objectives and tasks while hacking and brawling through hordes of the Undead. Each character’s weapons become progressively covered in blood as players fight off zombies in gruesome detail. Occasionally, players may even transform into demons for short bursts of added power and energy with the downside cost of life energy. Each zombie hunter has her own unique abilities, and skillful play is rewarded for cooler combinations. Players can enjoy the game with full English voice-acting or play through with the original Japanese performances with English subtitles.

Developed by Tamsoft and published by D3PUBLISHER, “Onee Chanbara Origin” will be released digitally on PlayStation®Store and PC via Steam on October 14, which players and fans can now wishlist today. This game has been rated “M for Mature” by the ESRB.

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I want to start this by saying I’m not a lazy gamer. But I very much believe in convenience. There’s a reason I was a die-hard portable gamer for so long, supporting the GBA, DS, 3DS and even Vita. And that’s why I love my Switch so much, it’s convenient as hell. And the vast majority of the games on Nintendo Switch can be played just as well sitting on my couch as they do connected to the TV. So when I saw today’s Mario 35th Anniversary Direct, and the announcement for Super Mario 3D All-Stars, I had one question – does that game offer couch play?

That question burrowed into my head and refused to be dislodged. After all, I wanted an excuse to play Super Mario 64, Sunshine and Galaxy again on a better system. But I also was cognizant several of those games had very particular controls that weren’t optimized for sitting still while playing. So I took the initiative, and looked at the product page for Super Mario 3D All-Stars. And then I found the following disclaimer –

That could only mean one thing – Super Mario 3D All-Stars is only able to be played with the Switch propped up or docked with the TV. Meaning it’s not something you can play just with the Joy-Con attached to the system. And while many of you probably are wondering what the big deal is, I’m more than a little disappointed. Normally Nintendo is amazing about optimizing Mario games for each and every system, making subsequent releases just as fun as the original. But this news is making this gamer very hesitant to consider buying that collection.

As a lifelong Nintendo fan, I believe strongly in various ways of play. And the fact this collection won’t allow that is shocking to me. I’m sure many of you that play with your Switch docked could care less. But for those that like using the Switch as advertised, in any way they can, it’s a bummer. Thankfully I’m still hyped about playing the other collections announced during the 35th Anniversary Direct.

Chime in below! Does this news matter to you? Or could you care less?

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For more details, please read the full press release below!

[Spain / The Netherlands – September 3 2020] – Independent game developer, 2Awesome Studio, is proud to launch Batu Ta Batu, the wickedly vibe-y puzzle challenge, today on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One! It Arrives on Nintendo Switch tomorrow, September 4th, and on Steam, September 18th! Batu Ta Batu will launch for $4.99USD and is a result of the 2Awesome Partners Initiative featuring lead developer, Erik Zubiria. A 20% pre-order discount is available for Nintendo Switch!

Batu Ta Batu is the first game from Basque developer Erik Zubiria as EZ Software Development.
“The idea of Batu Ta Batu came from those memories, as a kid, where I remember playing with old plastic puzzles at my grandparents’ house. It was simple and fun, but brought on playful frustration at times. My goal was to create a more accessible and faster puzzle flow. Batu ta Batu is the result” – Zubiria

Slide, combine and match the tiles of the same color through hundreds of levels and several game modes!

Batu Ta Batu is a colorful tile based puzzle game from one up to four players. Slide the tiles and combine them with the ones of the same color to reach higher and higher levels of complexity across hundreds of levels and several game modes. Play fast against the clock but be careful as a wrong move can mean defeat!

Enter the world of the game and slide tiles, combine them and send them to their matching color across 10 different game modes with hundreds of levels. Batu Ta Batu (“join and join” in Basque) is an exciting puzzle game where you can play solo or join other players for a crazy challenge.

Features:

10 game modes that provide radically different challenges
Beat hundreds of levels or play in Endless mode for never ending fun
Easy to play, hard to master. Strategize and find better solutions to maximize your score
Original indie music
From contemplative to wild game modes
A journey through art, history and nature
Multiplayer mode up to 4 players

About 2Awesome Partners

2Awesome Partners is the publishing initiative of 2Awesome Studio. Its mission is to find the most awesome games, and deliver them to all the awesome places.

The post Enjoy Puzzle Sliding Madness in Batu Ta Batu appeared first on oprainfall.

But the reason all that’s relevant is today WayForward has announced another collaboration with Limited Run Games. And it’s gonna make both the original Shantae and Risky’s Revenge physical releases! Better yet, there’s one edition of the original game that is gonna be fully compatible with the Game Boy Advance. Which is a nice touch. You can read more all about it in the press release below!

WayForward is pleased to announce
The Original Shantae and
Shantae: Risky’s Revenge – Director’s Cut
Physical Preorders Begin Sept. 11

Get a double dose of Shantae on Nintendo Switch and as a GBC repro cart
from Limited Run Games!

About

Classic game fans’ wishes are about to come true — no magic lamp required! Independent development studio WayForward is ecstatic to announce that starting on Sept. 11, 2020, new physical editions of the first two games in the Shantae series will be available for preorder from Limited Run Games. Both the original Shantae and Shantae: Risky’s Revenge – Director’s Cut will be offered as physical releases on Nintendo Switch for the first time, alongside a highly demanded Game Boy Color reproduction cartridge of the original Shantae, which is fully playable on any compatible hardware. All versions will be available as open preorders for four weeks.

Shantae – GBC repro cart and Switch version

First launched in 2002 for Game Boy Color, the original Shantae is the groundbreaking action-adventure-platformer that introduced players to the eponymous Half-Genie heroine. Featuring a pixel-perfect adaptation of Shantae’s debut, the Switch and repro cart versions contain all of the hair-whipping, dancing, transformation-filled action that started it all, including the special Game Boy Advance functionality of the classic release.

Rated E by the ESRB, the game will be available as a standard edition ($29.99/Switch; $44.99/repro cart) and a collector’s edition ($64.99/Switch; $74.99/repro cart).

The Switch collector’s edition includes the game, SteelBook case, soundtrack CD, enamel pin, acrylic standee, silver-colored commemorative metal coin, and reversible poster in a foil collector’s edition box.

The GBC repro cart collector’s edition includes an exclusive atomic purple game cartridge (the standard cartridge is clear), soundtrack CD, enamel pin, two acrylic standees, gold-colored commemorative metal coin, and reversible poster.

Shantae: Risky’s Revenge – Director’s Cut

Shantae: Risky’s Revenge – Director’s Cut is an upgraded version of the second game in the Shantae series, which was initially released digitally for the Nintendo DSi in 2010. Expanding upon the gameplay of its predecessor, the game lets players once again take control of Shantae and explore a variety of environments as they battle the dastardly Barons of Sequin Land and Shantae’s nemesis, the nefarious lady pirate, Risky Boots. As with previous releases of the Director’s Cut, the Switch version is rated E10+ and includes enhancements such as improved navigation, HD character portraits, and an unlockable Magic Mode.

Both a standard physical edition and a collector’s edition (which includes the game, a SteelBook case, soundtrack CD, acrylic standee, enamel pin, commemorative metal coin, and reversible poster) will be available, priced at $29.99 and $64.99 respectively.

Digital Releases

For players looking to enjoy these classic Shantae titles digitally, the original Shantae will be available in the months ahead via the Nintendo Switch eShop, and Shantae: Risky’s Revenge – Director’s Cut will be downloadable on Switch, Xbox One, and Windows 10 in addition to currently offered digital platforms. Specific release dates have yet to be announced.

The post Shantae Gets Physical Courtesy of Limited Run Games appeared first on oprainfall.

The basic premise of Ponpu seems to be Bomberman with ducks. Below is a quick snippet of the game plot:

The all-seeing Duck God has had enough and the world has run out of time. Every 2 billion years the world must be refreshed through divine destruction and he has sent you, a Ponpu, as his herald. But, a nasty bump on the head during a crash landing took your memory and now you find yourself working against the Duck God in a carnage- fueled battle against other Ponpu to save the very world you were sent to destroy.

Across an expansive single-player campaign, your Ponpu will battle its way through 10 challenging worlds, while fighting off rival Ponpu and enormous, deadly and grotesque bosses. In the newly announced online multiplayer support, up to four Ponpu anywhere in the real-world can duke it out across three frenetic modes, including Coin Chase (get those coins before the competition!), Color Fight (your attack spread paint through the level, cover the most real estate with your color to win!), and good old- fashioned team deathmatch (kill, kill, kill!), with each win, kill and stat tracked via a handy new global ranking system.

Yes, that description made me instantly think of Bomb Chicken, another fantastic game. But Ponpu is very distinct from that title. For one, it features a really remarkably cool art style. It has the colors of Splatoon and the visual flair of games like RunGunJumpGun and Cat Lady. It’s really weird, and really visually appealing. Oh and did I mention it features multiplayer mayhem as well?

It’s being developed by Purple Tree Studio, who had only done one other console game before this and several mobile. But honestly that doesn’t phase me. Cause Ponpu looks utterly delightful. It’s also coming to all consoles and PC, so that’s something. If you’re a fan of Bomberman and need explosive new fun, stay tuned for more news of this promising game!

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Well, that’s all in the past. But the future is bright, thanks to Super Rare Games! Next week they’re bringing Dandara to physical formats for Nintendo Switch. Better yet, they’re bringing the updated build of Dandara, the Trials of Fear Edition. What, you want more? Okay. There’s gonna be two editions of the great indie Metroidvania. You can certainly get the very attractive standard edition, which will have 4000 copies printed. But if you’re a truly hardcore collector, you might prefer the Dandara: Trials of Fear Collector’s Edition. It’s limited to 1000 copies and will feature a massive guidebook, set of playing cards, music CDs, pendant and more! Obviously there’s a big price difference between the two editions, but either way you’re getting a great game in an ideal format.

If you’re a collector, there’s no better way to own a game than physically. Be sure to check out Super Rare Games next week for Dandara: Trials of Fear Edition, and let us know the coolest physical editions you own!

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Pretty quickly the game starts making you question what’s actually happening. The concept of an unreliable narrator is very dominant here, and I found myself uncertain who to trust. Your only way of progressing in the game is asking questions of your future self. You can pick from three types of questions – rational ones, questions that display empathy and assertive questions. The specific questions themselves aren’t spelled out. What you do is try and guess the right response to what you’ve heard to compel yourself to reveal more. If you do a good job, you’ll get rewarded with points attributed to the type of question you asked.

Those points roll over when time loops on itself. See, the people that captured you and your future self may or may not be on the level. They rewind things every time something happens that they don’t like. While you’ll forget the bulk of your revelations, the Insight points you acquire make it easier to catch up. You’ll also get little nagging thoughts that help guide you to a new course of action.

If that all sounds complex, it certainly is. But it’s also what I love most about Your Future Self. To put it simply, the game is a complete mind fuck. Thankfully it’s very well written, and thus far I am very invested in the plot. The whole air of paranoia and dystopian nightmare are constant, and I found myself toying with all sorts of possibilities.

The fact that there’s apparently a rebel faction that is trying to contact you in the midst of all the time loops was especially interesting. Though perhaps my favorite aspect of the plot is how relevant and urgent it feels in relation to current events. The pivotal crime your future self committed, though accidental and done for the right reasons, is in reaction to incredibly sinister events. Some of the themes present include extreme climate change, bioweapons, authoritarian governments and much more. I haven’t gotten to the truth of the game yet, but there’s a lot of elements that feel far too close for comfort given the world we live in.

Pretty much the one area that Your Future Self is weakest is the visuals. The whole game is written text, flickering screens and not much else. I would have killed for some character portraits or other significant art to steer things along. Then again, the lack of detail does make the whole dystopian vibe that much more relevant. And while the art is the low point, the music is actually quite catchy, and it does a good job of spurring you on with constant urgency.

Though I’m not done with it yet, I’m quite impressed by Your Future Self. Contortionist Games has hit it out of the park story-wise, and I’m really eager to see where it takes me. If you’re looking for a simple yet compelling adventure, look no further.

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