Watch the trailer for ABYSS X ZERO!

From the developer team Studio Pixel Punk whose game Unsighted hit the Steam store in September of 2021 is creating a new metroidvania called ABYSS X ZERO!

Head on over to Steam to wishlist the game!

About Studio Pixel Punk

Studio Pixel Punk is @TianiPixel and @ironfairy42

 

About the Game

From the Steam page:  

ABYSS X ZERO is a stylish 3D Metroidvania, with expressive low poly visuals made by the two person indie team Studio Pixel Punk, that also brough you the award-winning indie hit UNSIGHTED. Explore an expansive world with carefully-crafted dungeons and stylish combat. Take control of two different characters, fated to battle each other: Codename A and Codename Z, both legendary heroes with unique abilities that change how you fight and interact with the environment.

 

Article by: Valerie



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Last Epoch - PC(Steam) Review



Last Epoch by developer and publisher Eleventh Hour GamesPC(Steam) review written by Richard with a copy provided by the publisher.
 
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes 

A tale across time and space, in order to protect the future of the world. Last Epoch is a sort of more traditional hack-and-slash with some modern amenities added in. A good old action RPG with a lot of customization and plenty of options to play your character. Let's take a bit more in-depth look at it.

Last Epoch tells a tale of traveling through time to prevent the end of your known world. Using shards of an artifact left by a long departed being of great power, you are flung through time, attempting to make the world a better place, one step at a time. Along the way you will meet some interesting characters and learn more about the fate that plagues your future. Are you up to the task, or will your journey end in nothing but another dead end future?


Last Epoch is a very interesting title that gives me a lot of nostalgic vibes from some of the games in my my aged collection, albeit with a much more modern presentation. Old school Diablo, Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance, and a little bit of Chrono Trigger thrown in as well, mostly for story related purposes. You'll be exploring a number of different biomes, fighting off different types of creatures; some natural, and some not, as you explore on your quest.

The control scheme of Last Epoch consists of point and click movement with different attacks being assigned to the Q, W, E, R, and right click. As you defeat enemies, you'll be earning exp that will let you level. As you level, not only do you earn stat points, you also earn points for your abilities, both passive and your active masteries. While you may start out with just your basic attack to get you by, as you level you unlock more skills to be used. Some of these are "free use", and others come with resource costs and cooldowns. Once you hit a certain point in the game, you also unlock a "class" mastery, giving you access to new attacks skills and passive trees.

In addition to the skills earned from leveling, you also earn skills by putting points into your passive trees. A set number of points will unlock a new skill. In addition to this, you can choose skills to "specialize" in every set number of levels. You have a big skill tree full of nodes you can put earned points into, which can alter your skills in certain ways, such as changing the elemental damage type of the skill, to improving it, such as more damage on hit.


Basically what I'm trying to get at here is that there is a lot of customization. For example, I built out a wizard that focuses on fire damage, but you could specialize in lightning or frost instead. Or you could go for a more up close build. There are three different class masteries per basic class type, meaning there are fifteen different classes among all the character types. Add into this the amount of different builds you can work with and there's a lot of room for customization to do what you want to do.

Last Epoch functions are largely similar to any Diablo type game you've maybe played. You roam around exploring and fighting monsters and enemies, collect loot, wear loot, sell unneeded loot, reforge loot with ability shards to bolster your gear, and go back into battle again. You have a lot of different equipment slots and abilities that can be affixed to your gear. A little frustrating when you only get physical damage bonuses while playing a purely magic based wizard, but what can you do?

As a cool side point, while most of your skill points are probably earned through standard combat, there are also side quests that award character stats or related unlocks or bonuses, which is a nice incentive to actually complete the side quests other than for just basic rewards. I know one of my personal; biggest pet peeves in a game is completing a side quest at a time when it's relevant and receiving very little worthwhile for it. Thankfully that isn't an issue here.


Whether you decide to play on your own or with friends, Last Epoch is definitely and action RPG that delivers. The combat felt fun and making builds was exciting, the storyline is interesting and not just there for filler, the loot drops felt pretty decent, despite my poor luck, and the crafting system is basic enough not to be frustrating, but with enough utility to make it certainly worthwhile.

To add to the package, the ambiance, graphics, and musical tone play nicely together to frame the area you're currently making your way through. Whether it be gardens overrun with killer plants or a cavern full of eldritch horrors, the areas definitely suit their themes.

Good news to all you new to the style of gameplay: it's accessible for both those used to the genre and those new to these types of games. There's an in-depth in-game reference guide that helps explain things, which can be linked in the in-game chat so you can reference things, or have them referenced to you. Also, based on what I've seen, most people in the community are more than willing to chat about questions you have or their experiences.


Overall, I'm extremely happy to have had a chance to play Last Epoch. The sheer amount of customization available to you, the different build types you can make, and the engaging storyline all great points to highlight the quality you get from Last Epoch. I can definitely say, if you're a fan of ARPGs or Hack and Slash type games, Last Epoch is certainly a title to have on your radar.

Score: 9 / 10
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Become a Vampire Therapist and Help Battle Demons!

Berlin, Germany — March 14, 2024 | What does a therapist for the undead do? Do they live in a castle, cavort with hundreds of mortals or stare at mirrors hoping to see their reflection? Maybe on the weekends, yes — but 9-5, Monday to Friday they’re offering the undead a second chance at living, and Vampire Therapist’s brand new trailer offers a tantalising taste of what to expect.


In Vampire Therapist, players will discover the types of distortions that haunt both vampires and mortals. Taking on the role of Sam, a new devotee to vampire therapy, players will challenge their fellow undead to face up to their distorted versions of reality, and see if they can battle their demons and come out on the other side.

“We are dead, don’t we deserve to rest in peace?” asks Andromachos, a reformed warrior and assassin, and mentor to players on their therapy journey with the terminally blood-thirsty. 

All of the techniques shown throughout the game and in this trailer have been created with the help and support of licensed therapists, lending authenticity to the game and its overall message.


For the latest on Vampire Therapist, check out the key links below: 

About Little Bat Games

Little Bat Games is an indie games studio funded in partnership with Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg. Helmed by Cyrus Nemati, Little Bat Games aims to create titles with rich stories, engaging characters and innovative mechanics that will resonate with players long after they have finished playing. This is all underpinned by a dedication to sustainable studio practices.

    Article by: Susan N.
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    WWE 2K24 - Xbox Review

    WWE 2K24 by developer Visual Concepts and publisher 2KGamesMicrosoft Xbox Series X review written by Nick with a copy provided by the publisher.

    Estimated reading time: 5 minutes


    Last year was a return to form for the long-running WWE 2K series, and I’m happy to say that WWE 2K24 puts on another great performance.

    A few years ago, the 2K series had a sort of midlife crisis, with a couple of lackluster releases that had fans wondering where things had gone wrong. Thankfully though, last year the studio managed to right the ship and deliver an entertaining, hard-hitting experience that I thoroughly enjoyed.

    For starters, the sheer amount of content here is incredible. The modes include both online and single-player, scripted stories and lots of freedom to create your own WWE landscape. From the more structured standpoint, the Showcase mode is better than ever. Generally these follow a person through the highs and lows of their career, but here wrestling fans get a trip down memory lane with some of the biggest names and matches in history. Here you wind up with a series of objectives to complete in each match. Sure, you can roll out and just try to win, but the idea is to authentically recreate how the match went, with highlights and specific moves that can sometimes frustrate due to those requirements, but often thrill as well.

    As great and nostalgic as the Showcase mode was, I spent a ton of time in the MyRise mode. This is 2K’s heavily story-based mode (similar to what we see in NBA 2K games), where you can take a male and female wrestler of your creation through branching stories that lean into fictional ‘what if WWE universes. While the scenarios are made up and deviate from the reality of where the WWE is at now, the narrative still leans in heavily to the established characters and histories that have occurred and makes the whole experience more immersive. There’s some decent replay value to be had here too, as you can make choices along the way that veer the story one way or the other. It was also fun seeing past MyRise characters pop up (again, similar to NBA 2K) that again just sort of added some familiar texture to the tale.

    MyFaction is another matter altogether. It’s the microtransaction part of the game (the 2K games tend to lean into these), and the format is the familiar combination of ‘fantasy card collection’ and objectives-based gameplay that serves as a play, collect, improve gameplay loop. This is never really my favorite mode, but there’s some fun to be had there as you build up and collect better versions of wrestlers here. I am not one to spend actual money on the virtual packs of cards, but I know this mode has its fans.

    MyGM feels a lot like last season structurally, but some of the quality-of-life updates are appreciated and this feeling of trying to build your own roster to create a better brand than your competitors is entertaining. There’s still a decent amount of administrative grind to be had here, but improvements to how contracts are handled and roster tweaking is certainly welcomed.

    Universe Mode returns as well (lacking the My naming convention), and man – this is fun. It’s such a massive sandbox of options as you create all sorts of insane scenarios using both real and created / imported wrestlers, both past and present. This is a mode that’s incredibly easy to lose hours of your life into, though it perhaps has seen the least amount of change from last year’s release. There’s some new cutscenes and I enjoyed the new ‘Special Referee’ sub-mode (which shows up in some other places as well), but there’s still a lot to do here.

    So outside of all of these modes, how does the game play? Pretty well overall. I mean, the presentation is pretty top-notch with authentic voicing and commentary and generally excellent visuals (though clothing and long hair can get a bit floppy and weird at times). Most of the core gameplay is the same as last year (which is a good thing given how much better it was than the prior couple of years), with strikes and slams feeling authentic and appropriately weighty. There’s loads of accessibility options that let you rapidly press buttons or hold on, choose mashing versus timing-based mini-games to break out of pins or escape submission attempts.

    That’s not to say there’s nothing new sprinkled into the gameplay itself. There’s the aforementioned Guest Referee that may favor one player versus the other (until they tip their hand too many times and get yanked from the match), a new mini-game where you are trading strikes with your opponent that feels like something you’d see out of an actual match and the ability to store up three finishes for a sort of ‘super attack’ that launches all of the finishers back-to-back to try and close down the match. There’s even a new type of match, which is really just an alternate version of a submission or out of the ring game, but the coffin match that characters like Kane and the Undertaker made famous has been introduced.

    There were a few unfortunate crashes, a couple of times where servers were unavailable (which kicked me mid-game to boot), some glitchy fine detail visuals and a handful of frustrating match objectives that sometimes took the shine off of WWE 2K24. These however, were few and far between and certainly the overall package is an impressive one that fight and wrestling fans should enjoy for many hours of play.

    Score: 8.5 / 10

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    Announcing New IP from Young Indie Studio Baby Robot Games Coming Soon!

    BARCELONA – March 13, 2024 – The young small independent studio Baby Robot Games is happy to announce that, after 5 years of hard work, their debut title Ereban: Shadow Legacy (Steam page, trailer, press kit) will be arriving to Steam and Epic Games Store on April 10. 


    This fast-paced, story-driven stealth platformer combines stunning visuals and innovative third-person shadow merging mechanics in a morally grey universe. The game introduces an innovative mechanic to the stealth genre: the ability of merging with the shadows (or Shadow Merge), that gives the main character Ayana an extraordinary level of mobility and strategic options to infiltrate into her enemy domains and find out what happened to her people.

    Developed with very humble resources, but having main inspirations coming from big names as Metal Gear, Splatoon, Aragami and Assassin's Creed, Ereban: Shadow Legacy sets players in control of female protagonist Ayana, the last descendant of the Ereban race that holds the precious power of merging and roaming freely within the shadows.  

    As they uncover the enigmatic connection between the cryptic energy megacorporation Helios and her people, players will master the combination of Ayana's agility with her mystical shadow powers and high-tech gadgets to either cleverly avoid or mercilessly defeat anything and anyone that stands in her way in pursuit of the truth.
    “When we started this adventure 5 years ago, we couldn’t imagine that what started as a love letter to stealth games would grow this much and turn into such a solid project. It has been a long and difficult journey, pandemic included, but after a lot of love and effort we are finally here. It is a dream come true that this is going to be our first game for many of us. We really hope you enjoy it, and can’t wait for you to become one with the shadows on April 10th!” - Alejandro Marquez (Game Director at Baby Robot Games).

    MAIN FEATURES

    Become one with the shadows. 

    Experience an unprecedented blend of stealth and shadows with the Shadow Merge ability. Dive into shadows and move freely through them to climb walls, reach inaccessible places, attack from cover or advance unseen.

    Combine agility, powers and gadgets. 

    Absorb echoes to learn more lethal and non-lethal shadow powers, craft high-tech gadgets, and combine all this with your agility to infiltrate Helios lines and investigate what they are hiding. 

    Play your way. 

    Approach each level with your own strategy. Use your powers to move like a ghost or strike as a deadly shadow in this fast-paced stealth game that combines platforming and puzzles. 

    Define your legacy. 

    Avoid or kill. Spare or consume. Save or doom. In this world where actions go beyond good and evil… how far are you willing to go to uncover the truth?

    Explore a dying, beautiful world. 

    Discover the ruins of lifeless cities, infiltrate sci-fi facilities carved into ancient temples and forge alliances to unravel the mystery of who you are and what happened to your people.

    Ereban: Shadow Legacy will be released this April 10, 2024 on Steam and Epic Games Store. The game can already be wishlisted on Steam. For more information, visit the official website: https://ereban.com.

    ABOUT  BABY ROBOT GAMES 

    Baby Robot Games is a young indie studio from Spain. Passionate about video games since we were children, we want to give back what this industry gave us. Our goal is to create highly enjoyable experiences with original mechanics, strong visuals and compelling stories. Currently working on our debut title, 
    Article by: Susan N.
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    Surprise! Snacko, a farming cat-venture, is OUT MEOW in Early Access on PC!

    Snacko will also bring its charming farming, island curses, and fluffy cows to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 in 2024!

    Edmonton, Canada — December 6, 2023 — Today, during the Wholesome Snack: The Game Awards Edition showcase, developer Bluecurse Studios and publisher Armor Games Studios announced that the highly anticipated farming cat-venture Snacko surprise launched today in Early Access on PC!

     

    In Snacko, you play as Momo, a former big city kitty sick of the monotony of their 9-to-5 office job. In the search for something more fulfilling, Momo and their best friend, Mikan, trade the bustling metropolis for easy, breezy island life. However, not everything is as it seems, and with a mysterious curse, monsters, shrines, and even an ancient goddess lurking beyond the peaceful exterior, they’ll discover there’s more to this place than they could’ve ever imagined.
     
    Join Momo and Mikan as they rejuvenate the ruinous island by raising crops, exploring distant lands, and building, decorating, and customizing homes and furniture as they please, all to grow a hopeful community of charming characters and make the island of Snacko their comfy new home.
     
    Features:

    • Did Someone Say Fluffy Cows? - Fill your farm with cuddly animals and delicious crops across each season, and explore the island beyond to find even more resources to cook and craft with, or give as gifts!

    • Revitalize a Ruined Town - Using robust crafting and building mechanics, grow and decorate your budding community any way you please, and invite a cast of unique characters to live there.

    • Play Your Way - Delve into the island’s farthest reaches to lift a curse... or don’t, and spend your days farming, fishing, exploring, and building using the game’s extensive decorating and design options!

    • Explore a Beautiful World - Go beyond your farm to a mysterious forest, snowy plains, and more, all brought to life with an original soundtrack by composer Dale North.

    Snacko, years in the making from a passionate and absurdly talented husband-and-wife team, is out now in Early Access on PC! Find out more about what Early Access means for Snacko on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1125510/Snacko/
     
    Key links:
    Launch trailer: https://youtu.be/WQFL3WYkhUc
    Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1125510/Snacko/
    Website: https://armorgamesstudios.com/games/snacko
    Developer Twitter: https://twitter.com/snackodev
    Publisher Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArmorGameStudio 

    About Bluecurse Studios:
    Bluecurse Studios is comprised of husband-and-wife duo Erisa Liu and Jordan Gonzalez and is located in Vancouver, Canada. Snacko began as a passion project for their cats, Momo and Mikan, in 2018, and since then, both the game and their cat family have grown into something big and amazing. You can read more about the developers (and their cats) at snacko.land, and can find them on Twitter @enralis and @recursive404.
     
    About Armor Games Studios:
    From its roots as a popular portal for online gaming, Armor Games Studios is a publisher that aims to work directly with and help foster talented indie developers to create unique and engaging games of all types for all platforms. For more information, visit www.armorgamesstudios.com, and follow the company on Twitter @ArmorGameStudio.


    Article by: Susan N.

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    Granblue Fantasy: Relink - PC Review


    Granblue Fantasy: Relink by developer and publisher Cygames, IncPC (Steam) review written by Robert with a copy provided by the publisher.

    Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes
    One of the terms I think that best describes Granblue Fantasy: Relink's approach to gaming is, "Respectful." This comes at odds for me, as I have a strong aversion towards mobile gaming design commonalities. While I do think mobile gaming has its place, it's just not something I find any enjoyment in (Gacha-style content/gaming is a hard no for me) and struggle to connect in any real way to the platform. There are echoes of Granblue's mobile heritage all throughout Relink and because of that, for me, playing Relink was like walking through a bakery with that fresh-baked bread smell, only to occasionally catch a whiff of something extremely foul-smelling; it's noticeable, horrible, but gone in an instant and replaced with that wonderful smell of fresh-baked bread.

    The core quest line, when pacing yourself (and not playing on the lower difficulties) should see you complete the campaign in 18-24 hours, and while that seems like a hefty time investment for those of us that don't have as much time to spend gaming as we used to, the way that those 20 or so hours play out do so in a way that respects the time of busy gamers. Namely in its quest design, Relink focuses on moving you from scene to scene, point of action to point of action with very little fluff.

    While it is entirely possible to drop 40 hours into a first play through, unlike the typical JRPG, Relink doesn't have a strong focus on the grind found in the genre. Start a mission, flashily hack, slash, and bash, your way through an aesthetically stunning level (whose design sometimes leaves a lot to be desired, even if they are quite gorgeous), beat a boss, rinse and repeat. It's actually not as dull and boring as it sounds as the simple combat is engaging, storyline is enjoyable (if not extremely robust or deep), has an absolutely spectacular soundtrack.
     

    However, you can feel the mobile gaming bones to the game and it sets it just off-kilter to other action RPGs of a similar nature. There is a strong Gacha-like feeling to Relink, through some of the characters, and though the core group of characters is solid at times (Katalina, Rackam, and Io, were my personal favorites, who were yours?), I found it difficult to connect as deeply with the cast as I might in a more grounded series like Tales or Star Ocean. Where I am conflicted is in the fact that even though I struggled to connect with nearly half of the cast, I still found myself really enjoying the Fate episodes (character-specific stories/arcs, think a more focused Skit if you're familiar with Tales). 

    The entire game is littered with this ghost of mobile frameworks that still confounds me as I prefer the thicker, meatier, and often more bloated experiences found in traditional console RPGs. Where I was expecting to grind like I might in a Soulslike title or be able to get lost for hours while exploring every nook-and-crannie the way I might in Xenoblade, instead I found myself appreciating the trimmed down "get to the action" style that Granblue brings to the table. Loathe as I am to admit it, the thinner, less "fluff-filled" mission structure of Granblue was greatly appreciated, so much so to the point that Relink is one of those spanning RPGs that you can pick up and put down after a short play session. A trait far more common in mobile gaming than in console-based roleplaying games and one that plays in Granblue's favor, especially when Relink's primary competition can clock in at four or five times longer. 

    That's not to say that the structure is perfect either, as it can make the story feel more episodic even though I don't believe it's designed to feel like that. This leaves parts of the various arcs feeling insincere in its urgency while leaving you with a stop-and-go feeling not all that uncommon from sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic. The "Diet RPG" approach to Granblue is appreciated though the structure of the Fate episodes is very much the most mobile-esque (and the weakest) aspect of Relink and it's hard to shrug the less-desirable influences of mobile gaming's influence.


    While the story may stutter at times, where Relink shines is in its post-"campaign" gameplay and in its action. I spent much time feeling like a less intricate/finessed version of the Tales franchise's combat. There's nothing inherently wrong with the combat in Granblue Fantasy: Relink, it's just simple, straight-forward, and while wonderfully flashy, fairly no-frills. In fact, I found myself yet again begrudgingly-appreciating the slimmed down version of the roleplaying experience; combat is fun and engaging but not as complicated as the Tales games' combat can be. Characters each have their own styles, from the more traditional swordsman in Gran to Io's magic-y goodness to other more rogue-ish styles, there's something here for everyone. I personally enjoy Gran's basic sword-swinging ways for most of the game since I'm about as spicy as plain milk, but there is plenty here for everyone. The main cast is diverse in style so whether you're dropping into some co-op multiplayer or just tinkering around, there is always something here for everyone.

    Where I am absolutely floored by the quality is in the quality of animation, art, and sound/music designs, Granblue Fantasy: Relink is hands-down one of the best looking anime-esque games out there. The 2d character art found in menus puts Xenoblade to shame- I'm horribly colorblind and every single time I popped up the menu I would take a minute to just marvel in the popping colors and crisp, clean lines. Every aspect of Granblue is beautiful, if not always presented in the most flattering of ways. 

    Models and animations are stunning and don't have the more wooden animation qualities I've come to recognize as a trait in RPGs coming out of the East. Where this is lost is in the Fate episodes; while they are essentially text-heavy slideshows that aren't playable (hence the feeling of them being borne from Tales's Skits). Comparing that to the more cinematic storytelling of the main quest arcs and you can feel the lopsided mobile-inspired gaming roots. Where anime-style games can feel in-expressive and flat, Relink's facial animations are great in conveying emotion- from anger and frustration to adorably cute and touching, the range of emotion conveyed is rather impressive. 


    Tying together the wonderful character art and stunning environment art are some great performances by the actors overlaying a phenomenal soundtrack. While it isn't going to dethrone titles like Final Fantasy VI or The Witcher II: Wild Hunt with regard to having a memorable soundtrack, the sweeping scores that underpin the more cinematic elements could feel at home in a massive Square-produced title and I'm here for it on every level. Composed by Nobuo Uematsu and Tsutoma Narita and containing a wonderful mix of more traditional fantasy scores, there are times when you might get a bit of guitar and drums peeking through here and there and it gives the music a complexity that outshines its story-based components more than once.

    Granblue Fantasy: Relink was an interesting experience for me; my own personal disconnect with mobile gaming had me feeling the ghost of its influence throughout the entirety of my time with the game. This left me feeling a bit off throughout the entire experience- not enough to take so much away that it took me so far out of the game that I couldn't reconnect, but enough to be noticeable. While respectful of my time, it feels like it came at the cost of the more natural and flowing progression found in more traditional RPG experiences. 

    The one unexpected benefit of the more focused, trimmed-down storytelling method found in Granblue Fantasy: Relink is in the fact that I was able to put the game down for a few days then come back to it without scratching my head wondering where I was. How many of us have sat down to a Final Fantasy, Persona, The Witcher, or other massive, sprawling title and thought to ourselves, "crap, now where was I?" The mission structure found in Relink, given the no-nonsense style, is far easier to put down then pick back up again than its contemporaries. 


    Yet another win on Relink's side of things... which is where I'll leave you- Granblue Fantasy: Relink hasn't just made a successful transition from mobile franchise to serious RPG contender, but they did so in away that could change the way action RPGs are presented to us. In a world split between innovative gameplay mechanics and maintaining traditional roles, Granblue bridges the gap between the two in a way that is a win for all gamers.

    Score: 8.5 out of 10
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    The Sinking City 2's Mystery is Releasing in 2025!

    6 March, Kyiv Ukraine | In partnership with Microsoft and their 2024 Spring Showcase, Frogwares has revealed The Sinking City 2, a game that will be taking the developer in a newer direction.


    The Sinking City 2 is a survival-horror game, set in Lovecraftian 1920s United States. It takes place in the infamous city Arkham, now plagued by a supernatural flood that has brought decay and Eldritch monsters to its streets. Fight nightmarish abominations, explore a rotting city as the rising waters change the landscape, and discover what dark mysteries brought you to this forsaken place. The Sinking City 2 will feature a new, stand-alone story separate from the one told in the original game.

    Game Features

    • Fight to Survive: Use an arsenal of 1920s-inspired firearms and melee weapons to fight against Eldritch-inspired admonitions.
    • Explore The Decaying City of Arkham: A semi-open world of decaying mansions, flooded markets and abandoned hospitals. As you progress the flood waters will rise, changing the layout of locations when you return.
    • Find and Use What You Can: Scrounge for limited resources and balance a finite inventory as you decide what to bring and what to leave behind
    • Choose to Investigate Further: Solve optional puzzles that let you investigate your surroundings deeper to uncover secrets, alternate options, and more lore
    • A Twisted Lovecraftian Tale: Experience a morally grey and captivating story set around the Lovecraft mythos of cults, mutant creatures and incomprehensible gods


    Reinventing The Studio - New Genre and Unreal Engine 5

    With the Sinking City 2, Frogwares hopes to pivot the studio to a “horror-first” focus with gameplay primarily built around combat, exploration, and its Lovecraftian setting + story. The team has also finally been able to move over to Unreal Engine 5 to utilize the technological leaps and bounds the engine is offering developers.
    “The original Sinking City is still one of our most successful titles, most likely because of stronger horror genre leanings and setting. We created quite a few detective adventures in the past, so now we’re going to mix things up to keep doing what people love about us - meaning story-rich experiences - while still being able to evolve. It’s exciting but at the same time risky. We’re a totally independent studio that for the past 24 years has become known for detective games. But we need to start taking bolder moves. The industry is changing around us and we want to secure the studio’s future.” - Sergiy Oganesyan, Publishing Director, Frogwares

    Be a Detective Only If You So Choose

    On top of strong storytelling, The Sinking City 2 will have Frogwares’ other hallmark feature - the ability to be a cunning detective. However, this time around the feature will be entirely optional. Players can decide when and where to put on their sleuthing caps to unveil new secrets, lore, ways to progress etc...
    “We want investigation to be a beneficial part of the game but just for those who want it, offering tangible gameplay bonuses and eureka moments without it being a requirement to progress. By taking time to piece together clues, you’ll arm yourself with more knowledge and awareness of your options vs just coming across them by chance. We are also doing this for our existing fans who have come to love this feature from us, so they don’t feel left out. For those not keen on combat and survival-horror mechanics, we will also have various accessibility features to help.”  - Denys Chebotarov, Executive Producer, Frogwares


    As War Still Rages, Frogwares Turns to Community

    As Ukraine is still in a state of war, Frogwares has decided to turn to Kickstarter again to create a safety net for the studio as well as help secure some additional features for the game.
    “At this stage, we have learned and adapted to our reality but the ongoing war adds an ominous layer of uncertainty, and the additional funds will help us deal with potential disruptions on top of helping fund various extra features we would love to implement. Our previous game, Sherlock Holmes The Awakened, was fully developed and released during the war. Through Kickstarter and our supporters, we built ourselves a safety net that saved us more than once. From power cuts as our electrical infrastructure was targeted for months to the need for team members to relocate at very short notice, this financial safety net proved invaluable to us. So we need to do the same now with The Sinking City 2 as this game is vastly bigger and more complex.“ - Wael Amr, CEO, Frogwares

    The campaign is expected to launch soon, but for now, fans can sign up to be informed by Kickstarter once the campaign goes live:

    Kickstarter Coming Soon

    https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/frogwares/the-sinking-city-2

    Article by: Susan N.
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    Move Over, TMNT, The Time Of The Ultra Mega Cats Has Arrived!

    A Major Co-Op Roguelike Shooter Ex-purr-ience Launches This Summer

    [Warsaw, Poland - March 6th, 2024] Fans of 90’s Saturday morning cartoons take heed! Imagine if the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the Biker Mice from Mars had a feline makeover and decided to embark on an epic, rogue-like adventure. That’s precisely the kind of radical ride you’re in for with Ultra Mega Cats, the latest roguelike multiplayer shooter from Fallen Leaf. Set to pounce onto Steam in summer 2024, this game is all about clawing and shooting your way through hordes of enemies in chaotic combat with a purr-pose. After all, who doesn’t love cats in mechs?

    Dive whisker-first into Ultra Mega Cats and join the feline frenzy as you take on the role of the Mega Cats. These aren’t your average kitties; they’re on a mission to free the three Ancient feline gods from the clutches of corporate prisons. With Kagero’s ninja stealth and BBkat’s tank-like resilience, you’ll navigate through a labyrinth of randomly generated rooms, each more challenging than the last. And that’s just the beginning – more characters are set to join the fray, each bringing their own unique flair and abilities to the table.

    But Ultra Mega Cats isn’t just about flexing those claws and pouncing on enemies. No, sir! It’s a story-rich journey that delves deep into the personalities and tales of each Mega Cat, setting it apart from other roguelikes. This game has heart, soul, and plenty of cat-itude, offering players not just a game, but a fun and chaotic experience where every playthrough is a step closer to restoring cat-topia.

    Fear not, for you won’t have to face the dangers alone! Ultra Mega Cats is all about sharing the thrill with your pals, featuring two-player co-op play at Early Access launch, with plans to expand to four by full release. Imagine tearing through enemies with your fur-ever friends by your side, each of you complementing the other’s strengths and weaknesses. Together, you'll work like a well-oiled machine – or should we say, a well-groomed clowder of cats – on your quest to topple the rodent, reptile, and wolf adversaries standing in your way.

     

    Key Features:

    • Five cat-tastic characters: Choose from five different ultra cats (two at Early Access launch) with different playstyles and personalities. Each cat has 50 different M.O.D.S that can be unlocked, offering more variety.

    • Friends fur-ever: Streamlined, arena-based co-op PvE combat. For two players in Early Access with up to 4 players co-op planned.

    • Paw-crafted combat arenas: Each arena is arranged into ever-changing biomes through level generation. Thanks to different Coalitions (each consisting of different Aspects), all playthroughs are different.

    • It’s purrdy: The game’s stunning, vibrant art style packs as much punch as your cat hero will, ka-pow!

    • Create a claw-some cat haven: Work together to free the three Ancient Cats from their enslavement and create a new cattopia for felines everywhere.

    Get ready to mark your calendars and wishlist Ultra Mega Cats on Steam for a 2024 Early Access release that promises to be nothing short of a feline frenzy. With its vibrant art, dynamic gameplay, and a whole litter of characters to choose from, this game is set to be the cat’s meow of the gaming world. Stay up to date by following Ultra Mega Cats on Twitter and Facebook.


    About Unseen Silence

    Unseen Silence is an independent Warsaw-based Polish studio founded in 2020 with the aim to deliver games that a lot of people can enjoy. Unseen Silence is currently developing Ultra Mega Cats and Terror: Endless Night to be released in 2024 while working on two more unannounced projects.

    About Fallen Leaf

    Fallen Leaf is an independent Polish studio that aims to deliver games that combine great visuals with outstanding stories. Fallen Leaf’s first game – science fiction narrative thriller Fort Solis – was released in 2023. Alongside Ultra Mega Cats, Fallen Leaf is working on a new immersive game.

    About Black Drakkar Games

    Black Drakkar Games is a Polish studio founded by industry veterans. The team co-develops various game projects, including Ultra Mega Cats and an unannounced sci-fi project. The company's portfolio includes the co-development of Fort Solis, which is available on PC and PlayStation 5. 

     

    Article by: Susan N.



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    Garden Life: A Cozy Simulator - PS5 review

    Garden Life A Cozy Simulator by developer Stillalive Studios and publisher NaconSony Playstation 5 review written by Jim with a copy provided by the publisher.

    Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes.


    Sometimes I like to play a game to relax, unwind, and to get away from more violent and long games. This is the reason I decided to give Garden Life a try. As the name implies the game is about gardening but unlike most other gardening games there are no fruits or veggies to plant, this game is all about planting flowers and other such flora.

    There are two modes of play: story or creative. In creative mode, everything is unlocked and you can design the garden any way you like by planting anything and placing any decorations you want. I spent most of my time in story mode. I was the new caretaker of a garden that was meant to be for the whole town to use and enjoy. When first starting I had to clean up the place by pulling out weeds and then used a compost bin to put them in to make compost or fertilizer. After that I was given a few seeds to plant. Then I had to water them and then end the day. This was just the tutorial. The next day I was told I could prune the plants to get flowers. Flowers are used in requests at first to earn money. Later on, you can sell them, turn them into bouquets, or donate them to make flower statues. Flowers grow fast so you won't have to wait long for them. One of the things I liked was you never know how the plant would grow. Take rose bushes for example, two bushes that were alike they would grow in different ways. Once you prune or cut them they would grow back in different ways. It's neat and from what I can tell is random!

    Flowers will produce seeds after a while and if you are lucky you will unlock a new color for the plant. This is needed because the requests will be for all different colors and sometimes you won't even have the one needed to complete the request. There is no way to cancel or deny a request, so this did get me a little frustrated. Even the story quests will ask for things I didn't have yet or could buy seeds for. There was a strange glitch I ran into when one of the townsfolk asked me for some seeds. When I fulfilled the request the game never took my seeds, but I still completed the request and got paid.

    At first, all you have are some simple tools like a watering can that you have to refill after a bit. Luckily once the shop is unlocked you can buy new tools like a hose to water plants without having to refill anything. If you allowed a few weeds in the garden then you will also need the bug spray. It is free at the shop, so don't make the same mistake I did. You do not have to buy more than one because once it runs out you can refill it by pressing the X button a few times. You can buy a bug house to help by placing it in the garden and a certain area in a circle around that hose will not have bugs. One other helpful tool that can be bought is a weed machine that works the same way as the bug hose, but it will leave a pile of leaves to pick up to put in the compost bin. You can buy new seeds, decorations, and crafting materials. One thing I found strange is that you have to buy sticks. You can’t find them on the ground unlike rocks which you can. They can be picked up, but only the amount that you see. Once I had them all I had to buy more. They won’t respawn.

    There is a little light crafting in this game where you can turn your flower cuttings into bouquets and make new decorations for the garden to make it look better. Some plants like the Ivy, like to climb so you will have to craft something for them to climb like a fence or trellis. Some requests will also have you crafting.

    There isn't a lot to see in the game. There is a very small town with one shop and the flower stand you get after a bit. Other than that there is the garden that will get bigger later in the game, but it will cost money and a request must be completed first. The townspeople in the game are nice and there is even a friendly ghost! But you only really see them when there is an event and even then it's just a portrait. The voice acting is decent enough for this game as I wasn't even expecting there to be any.

    There is an in-game day cycle. Once it gets too late plants will stop growing. You can prune them all to get the flowers in this time as it won't change days until you take the bus home. There is also weather in the game, so if it is rainy then you don't have to water the plants. Every thirty in-game days there will be a new season. Seasons do not impact plants though as they all grow in any season.

    Graphically the game looks very pretty along with the music and sounds. It can be a cozy little game, but I ran into a large amount of crashes to the point where I just didn't want to play it anymore. I tried everything I could think of to try to fix the issue, but nothing worked and as of this writing the problem persists. I would lose a whole day of progress in the game just by a crash.

    Overall I wanted to really like this game, but the crashes came way too frequently for me to get anywhere. And then some of the requests needing things I couldn't get yet made this game more stressful than cozy even if there wasn't a time limit to the request. I don't want to wait hours just to advance the story and deal with a ton of game crashes. Hopefully, they will fix the crashes and I can get farther in the game without having to start days over. Until then I have to say I didn't enjoy the game as much as I could have.

    Score: 5.5 / 10

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    Kalypso Media advocates for visibility of Women

    Kalypso provides tips in celebration of International Women's Day

    Bracknell, UK, March 8th – Kalypso Media is eager to embrace International Women’s Day to help spotlighting the importance of equality and gender justice by advancing the visibility of women in our industry. We therefore want to break down barriers and encourage women to find their way into the lively, exciting, and diverse working environment.

    We've approached four bullet-proof members of the Kalypso HQ team to share their advice for women considering entering the industry:
     

    (from left to right: Dr. Bettina Albert, Nadine Wolf, Dr. Anika Thun, Jeanette Motzek, Carina Wolff)

     
    “I have found fulfillment in the gaming industry and can only encourage you to pursue your passion for gaming and consider a career in this dynamic field. The industry offers endless opportunities for creativity, innovation and growth, and your unique talents can greatly help shape the future. As a woman at the top of the company and as a mentor, I would like to advise you to build a personal network early on and take advantage of mentoring opportunities. Look out for role models and start asking questions – mentoring programs are a good opportunity to learn from other women and network, but you won’t necessarily need an institutionalized framework to kickstart your career. Read, connect, engage & stay curious!”
    Dr. Anika Thun, Managing Director of Kalypso Media Group

    “Art doesn’t care for gender – and everyone is welcome in our team. Make sure to have a solid toolset ready at your fingertips – creativity is core, but doing artworks for a company is a craft you need to master. Experiment with different software tools, study the latest trends and design techniques, and most importantly, don't be afraid to push the boundaries of your creativity.”
    Carina Wolff, Head of Graphics
     
    Break the ‘likeability’ bias. That doesn’t mean you should stop being nice to people, but pursuing your goals might require you to use traits some people still view as ‘male’.  If you don’t feel like smiling on that picture, don’t. However, if you feel like wearing that pink dress, wear it. Don’t try to be what you feel is expected. Be whoever you are. Be authentic, follow your goal and you will succeed.”
    Dr. Bettina Albert, Head of Customer Communications
     
    “Don’t stop dreaming. And dream big. As a gamer girl, even when studying a non-games related subject, I always dreamt of working in games. I did some internships to check out options and directions – but scored with my first job after university. There might be less women working in games than in other fields, yes. But don't wait to be noticed – YOU control what happens and YOU have the skills, determination and creativity to make it happen.”

    Nadine Wolf, Junior Social Media Manager
     
    Kalypso Media values the impactful and ongoing movement of International Women’s Day, and would like to thank all women in their 200 employee team for their dedication, power and strength!


    ###


    About the Kalypso Media Group
     
    Kalypso Media Group GmbH is an independent publisher, developer and marketer of interactive entertainment software with over 200 employees at 10 locations across Germany, England, France, Japan, and the USA. The Kalypso Media Group includes Kasedo Games, the digital label of Kalypso Media Group, along with four development studios: Realmforge Studios (Dungeons series), Gaming Minds Studios (Railway Empire, Port Royale, Tropico 7), Claymore Game Studios (upcoming: Commandos Origins), and Bulwark Studios (Warhammer 40,000 – Mechanicus).
     
    Specialising in the development of strategy and simulation games for a global audience on multi-platforms, Kalypso Media Group's IP portfolio includes full rights to the Tropico series, Commandos, Port Royale, Dungeons, Sudden Strike, and Railway Empire, among others. Kalypso Media's most recent releases are Tortuga - A Pirate's Tale, Railway Empire 2, Dungeons 4, The Inquisitor, and the upcoming Commandos: Origins, 2024. Recent releases from Kasedo Games include City of Gangsters, the console and tablet versions of Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus and IXION (upcoming: Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop). Find out more at www.kalypsomedia.com.



    Article by: Susan N.
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    Announcing RPG MAKER WITH!

    Santa Ana, CA (March 7, 2024) – NIS America is excited to announce that RPG MAKER WITH is coming Fall/Autumn 2024 to Nintendo Switch™ and in 2025 for PS4® and PS5®! With user-friendly tools, intuitive controls, and online sharing, RPG MAKER WITH is the ultimate tool for creating your perfect game.


    Learn more at: http://nisamerica.com/rpg-maker-with/

    About the Game:

    As the latest installment in the RPG Maker series, RPG MAKER WITH features more tools and greater accessibility than ever before. The user-friendly interface and intuitive controls make it easy to choose between creating simple or complex assets and functions, so you can dive right in, regardless of skill level. Not sure what to make? Head online to play other creators’ games and get inspired, then inspire others by sharing your own. And, for the first time ever in a console RPG Maker title, you can even share your assets and unfinished projects!

    Key Details:

    ● Create Your Way: Making your own game has never been easier! Whether you’ve never made a game or are a seasoned professional, user-friendly controls and options for simple to complex creations make it easy to dive right in.

    ● Share with Others: Share custom assets and unfinished projects! Post your creations online and play other creators’ games to gain inspiration, feedback, and inspire others.

    ● Oodles of Assets: Utilize premade sample games and tons of assets to help you get started working on your ultimate RPG! Then, flex your creativity even further by crafting your own assets from scratch once you’ve become familiar with all the tools RPG MAKER WITH has to offer.


    Title: RPG MAKER WITH
    Release: Fall/Autumn 2024 (Nintendo Switch™) / 2025 (PS4®, PS5®)
    Platforms: Nintendo Switch™, PS4®, PS5®
    Genre: Game Creator
    Players: 1
    Text Languages: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish
    Audio Language: None
    Rating: ESRB: Rating Pending
    Publisher: NIS America
    Developer/Licensor: Gotcha Gotcha Games Inc.

    About Gotcha Gotcha Games Inc.:

    Gotcha Gotcha Games Inc. is a video game publisher and developer based in Tokyo. Their mission is to deliver an exciting experience that allows anyone to become a game creator, regardless of skill level. They are known for the RPG Maker and Pixel Game Maker series.

    About NIS America:

    In 2003, NIS America was established in Southern California to bring exciting, one-of-a-kind Japanese culture to North America.

    NIS America’s team members devote themselves to the fans. Their respect for their fans is at the heart of everything they do. As an established entertainment publisher in the U.S., NIS America is committed to continuous growth and improvement.

    NIS America is a subsidiary of Nippon Ichi Software, Inc., a company famous for its unique line of strategy RPGs with titles such as Disgaea and Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk. In keeping with its mission, NIS America also publishes other popular Japanese games, like the highly acclaimed title, Ys IX: Monstrum Nox.

    ###

    ©2024 Gotcha Gotcha Games Inc. Licensed to and published by NIS America, Inc. 

     

    Article by: Susan N.



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    Get This Totally Tubular Arcade Classic in April This Year

    28th February 2024: Cowabunga! The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are breaking out of the arcade with today’s announcement of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade: Wrath of the Mutants, an expanded version of the 2017 Raw Thrills' arcade classic. Play as the Turtles solo or in action-packed local co-op for up to four players when Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade: Wrath of the Mutants releases 23rd April 2024, on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam.

    Join Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo from the 2012 Nickelodeon series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in this exciting arcade-beat-em-up inspired by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time. Battle your way across Coney Island, Dimension X and more on a mission to defeat the Foot Clan and your arch-nemesis Shredder!

    Key Features:

    • Double the Mayhem: Fight your way through six stages and 13 boss battles, including three all-new stages and six new boss battles not present in the original arcade release.
    • Play as the Four Turtles: Leo, Raph, Donnie and Mikey, voiced by the talents of the 2012 TMNT series (Seth Green, Sean Astin, Rob Paulsen, Greg Cipes), are ready to fight against the evil Foot Clan!
    • Unleash Turtle Power: Use special super attacks unique to each Turtle to devastate waves of enemies and find tokens to summon mutant backup to help clear your foes.Team Up in Local Co-op: Play with your friends in four-player local couch co-op.

    Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade: Wrath of the Mutants launches 23rd April 2024, on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam for £24.99.

    Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade: Wrath of the Mutants is developed by Cradle Games and Raw Thrills and published by GameMill Entertainment. For more information, visit tmntwotm.com.


    About GameMill Entertainment

    GameMill Entertainment, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a third-party publisher of console and mobile games for passionate fans around the world. Development platforms include PC, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft consoles including the Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, Sony consoles including the PlayStation®5 and PlayStation®4, and mobile devices. With development across the globe, GameMill is a source of entertaining and fun games for all ages. For more information, visit https://gamemill.com, as well as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.

    About Nickelodeon

    Nickelodeon, now in its 44th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The brand includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, digital, location-based experiences, publishing and feature films. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon is a part of Paramount’s (Nasdaq: PARA, PARAA) global portfolio of multimedia entertainment brands.

    About Paramount Consumer Products

    Paramount Consumer Products oversees all licensing and merchandising for Paramount (Nasdaq: PARA, PARAA), a leading global media and entertainment company that creates premium content and experiences for audiences worldwide. Driven by iconic consumer brands, Paramount Consumer Products’ portfolio includes a diverse slate of brands and content from BET, CBS (including CBS Television Studios and CBS Television Distribution), Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures and SHOWTIME®. With properties spanning animation, live-action, preschool, youth and adult, Paramount Consumer Products is committed to creating the highest quality product for some of the world’s most beloved, iconic franchises. To view our range of consumer products and Paramount branded apparel, visit ParamountShop.com. Cradle Games and the Cradle Games logo are trademarks and or registered trademarks of Cradle Games, Inc.

    Copyright 2021 Raw Thrills, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 

     

    Article by: Susan N.

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