Watch the Release Date Trailer For Daydream: Forgotten Sorrow Here!

BATUMI – May 22, 2023 – Ravenage Games and Frozen Line have officially announced Daydream: Forgotten Sorrow for PC on June 14, 2023. Immerse yourself in this award-winning atmospheric platformer that features Griffin and Birly, a young boy and his teddy bear, on captivating adventures in a dark and mysterious fantasy world. The game will be available via Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, and other digital platforms.

Additionally, Ravenage Games is happy to unveil the console edition of Daydream: Forgotten Sorrow. The exciting adventures of Griffin and Birly will come later this year to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. The release date will be announced soon!

In this puzzle platformer, you will embark on a touching journey through the surreal world of a person's mind as a young Griffin and his faithful bear, Birly. Overcome challenges, avoid traps and defeat enemies to help the man find peace.

Immerse yourself in the gripping story of a person who visualizes himself as a small child, accompanied by a cute teddy bear. Solve tricky puzzles, escape terrifying monsters, and avoid dangerous traps on a quest for inner peace.

Travel through a mysterious world of floating castles and craggy caves, fairytale forests and rolling plains. Prepare to be captivated by the enthralling world of Daydream, discovering the transformative power of resilience, and the bittersweet beauty of letting go.

Key Features

• Dive deep into a sprawling story, revealing secrets and unraveling the mysteries of an enchanting narrative;
• Meet memorable characters, such as the endearing young Griffin and his devoted teddy bear companion Birly;
• Command an adorable teddy bear friend that helps you get to hard-to-reach places;
• Enter an unforgettable world through dreamy melodies and mesmerizing music;
• Engage in a delicate blend of mind-bending puzzles that challenge you, and heart-pounding action that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Right now players have a chance to try the free and Very Positively reviewed Daydream: Prologue. This is the first act of the game where players can meet Griffin and Birly for the first time and become familiar with the key game mechanics.

Players can wishlist Daydream: Forgotten Sorrow on Steam. For more information, please visit the website and follow the game on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and join the Discord server.

About Ravenage Games

Ravenage Games was founded by a team united by one trait: substantial developer relations experience. The publisher believes that in this industry, decisions must be clear and lightning-fast to build trusting relationships with game creators and deliver quality products. For more information, please visit https://ravenage.games/.

About Frozen Line

Frozen Line is a three-person studio committed to developing storybook-like adventure games that can be enjoyed by everyone. Company’s first game Daydream: Forgotten Sorrow received the Best Unreal Engine Game award at Indie Cup 2021 and Best Art at the Indie Blast Awards 2020

Article by: Susan N.

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INFINITY STRASH: DRAGON QUEST THE ADVENTURE OF DAI LAUNCHES THIS SEPTEMBER!

New Trailer Showcases Thrilling Mix of Anime and Fast-Paced Action Gameplay

LOS ANGELES (May 30, 2023) – SQUARE ENIX® announced that Infinity Strash: DRAGON QUEST The Adventure of Dai is launching worldwide digitally on September 28, 2023, for PlayStation®5 (PS5™), PlayStation®4 (PS4™), Xbox Series X|S™, Nintendo Switch™ and PC via Steam® and the Microsoft Store. Infinity Strash: DRAGON QUEST The Adventure of Dai allows players to live through the story of the exhilarating anime series, DRAGON QUEST The Adventure of Dai, in an action role-playing game that combines stunning visuals with art from the famous anime and manga.

To view the latest trailer visit: https://youtu.be/vIR7evhx4ms

Infinity Strash: DRAGON QUEST The Adventure of Dai features two distinct ways for players to enjoy gameplay – Story Mode and the Temple of Recollection. While Story Mode delivers classic campaign progression, the Temple of Recollection allows players to delve into an evolving dungeon that changes with each play-through. Beat the monsters that dwell within for exciting rewards that will help you take down enemies that grow stronger the deeper you go.
 
Players can also collect and equip accessories known as Bond Memories, which augment the abilities and stats of the character they are equipped to. Additionally, each time a Bond Memory is unlocked, scenes from the original manga will be revealed. Bond Memories can also be further powered up by conquering the Temple of Recollection and it’s challenging ever-changing stages.
 
Infinity Strash: DRAGON QUEST The Adventure of Dai is now available for digital pre-orders and pre-purchase on PS5™, PS4™, Xbox Series X|S™, and PC via Steam® and the Microsoft Store. Pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch™️ version will be available at a later date. Players who pre-order or pre-purchase the game will receive Dai’s special outfit “Legendary Hero” and the Bond Memory “The Hero's Tutor.”

The Digital Deluxe Edition provides the full game download, along with the following bonus items:

• Popp’s special outfit “Legendary Mage”
• Maam’s special outfits “Legendary Priest” and “Legendary Martial Artist”
• Hyunckel’s special outfits “Legendary Swordsman” and “Legendary Warrior”

 

Related Links:

Official Website: https://dragonquest.square-enix-games.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dragonquest
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dragonquest
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DragonQuest
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/DragonQuest
#DragonQuest
 

About the Anime DRAGON QUEST The Adventure of Dai

DRAGON QUEST The Adventure of Dai originally was a popular manga series written by Riku Sanjo and illustrated by Koji Inada. It was first published in 1989, in October 2020, a new anime adaptation was broadcasted in Japan and released globally on platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, Crunchyroll, BBC iPlayer and Microsoft. DRAGON QUEST The Adventure of Dai has been praised for its unique blend of action, adventure, and humour, and has won multiple awards, including the Shogakukan Manga Award.
 

About DRAGON QUEST

DRAGON QUEST is a legendary series of role-playing games created by Yuji Horii and beloved by millions both in Japan and around the world. The first DRAGON QUEST was released in 1986, and the game made its US debut in 1989 as DRAGON WARRIOR. The critically acclaimed series has shipped more than 85 million units worldwide, spanning 11 main series titles, many spin-off games, as well as films, anime, novels, manga, merchandise and more. Celebrating its 37th anniversary this year, the wildly popular DRAGON QUEST franchise holds various Guinness World Records including “Longest-Running Japanese RPG Series.”
 
The visionaries behind the series, Creator and Game Designer Yuji Horii, Character Designer Akira Toriyama (creator of Dragon Ball) and composer Koichi Sugiyama, have long enchanted newcomers and long-time fans alike, with each new entry in the franchise comprising charming visuals, enthralling storylines, and captivating music. The latest instalment, DRAGON QUEST XI S: Echoes of An Elusive Age, was released to much critical acclaim, winning the Metacritic Must-Play game award and becoming Metacritic’s “#2 Best Switch Game of 2019” and “#3 Best PS4 Game of 2020.” It has shipped over 6.5 million units globally to date.
 
About Square Enix, Inc.
Square Enix, Inc. develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX® and TAITO® branded entertainment content throughout the Americas as part of the Square Enix group of companies. The Square Enix group of companies boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY®, which has sold over 173 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 85 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix, Inc. is a U.S.-based, wholly owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
 
More information on Square Enix, Inc. can be found at https://square-enix-games.com
 

# # #

 
©SANJO RIKU, INADA KOJI/ SHUEISHA, The Adventure of Dai Project
© 2020-2023 SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved.
 
DRAGON QUEST, Infinity Strash, the DRAGON QUEST LOGO, FINAL FANTASY, SPACE INVADERS, SQUARE ENIX, the SQUARE ENIX logo and TAITO are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Square Enix group of companies. The Adventure of Dai is a trademark of SHUEISHA. 

Article by: Susan N.

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Bat Boy - PC Review

Bat Boy by developers X PLUS Co., Ltd. & Sonzai Games and publisher X PLUS Co., Ltd.—PC (Steam) review written by Jim with a copy provided by the publisher.

Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes.

Bat Boy is a retro NES-style platformer where you play as Ryosuke, a high school student and baseball player but at night he becomes the hero known as Bat Boy. Along with his friends who are all also heroes all based on sports such as Racket Girl - Tennis and Aquaria – swimming.

One night Bat Boy and his friends come across Lord Vicious, an interdimensional mage. Lord Vicious brainwashes all of Bat Boys' friends and takes them to a new world to participate in the Trials of Darkness. It is up to Bat Boy to save his friends and stop Lord Vicious. All of the story at the start is played by a cut scene that reminded me a lot of the original Ninja Gaiden scenes on the NES.

There are twelve levels and 3 bonus levels in the game meaning the game is not very long. At about just under seven hours to beat for me, and to go back and find everything would take me longer. Each level has its theme like a water level, a factory level, and volcano level, and more. At the end of each level you will face a boss. Mostly they are your brainwashed friends who when you beat will teach you a special skill that has to do with their sport. Your main weapon and attack is of course your bat which lets you hit balls back at your enemies. One other main attack you will use a lot is to throw the bat and it will spin in place, You can use this to attack your enemies or you can jump on it to jump higher or farther. You will also need to use this to open some doors in the game. The enemies in each level would represent that level's sports theme and most of the enemies were pigs that were actually kind of cute.

Each normal level also has four hidden items: a red seed, a green seed, and a golden seed you can buy from a traveler named Rufus. Lastly, you can find a cassette tape that unlocks that stage's song to play at a place called the groovy house. The groovy house is a hub where all your friends go after you rescue them and is also a non-alcoholic bar. This is where the bonus levels come in. They can be a little tougher to beat, but once you do you will face a special boss. If you beat that boss they will give you an ingredient that you can give to the barkeeper at the groovy house to make a cocktail that you can now buy from him or vending machine. The first drink you get will restore your health when you use it. There are also a few NPCs at the groovy house with one of them who lost their puppies and kittens and will give you clues on what levels to find them and you can see if you can save all of them.

Once you progress enough in the game you will unlock two shops. One of them sells red seeds and can use red and golden seeds to raise your health bar and the other shop sells green seeds and can raise your stamina bar with green and golden seeds. Stamina is needed to use the special skills you receive for helping your friends.

For a game that was trying to be retro, it was very fair in giving checkpoints and giving you unlimited lives. I am glad for this as there was some trial and error on some levels and not having to start from the start of a level or the game was a good thing.

The 8-bit graphics are good if you are into the retro look and the music is top-notch chiptune. It felt like I went back in time and was playing an NES game way back when. For the most part, the game played as it should. I ran into two glitches in the whole thing, one being where I somehow got stuck in a wall. The other being I beat the last boss at the same time he was attacking and the attack he used still killed me. I also liked one character you meet early on who joins you and will talk during levels and help you out who just happens to be a talking crow.

Overall Bat Boy is a fun short retro-style platformer that I enjoyed. It plays well and was just the right difficulty for me. It's funny due to the crow named Garou and even Lord Vicious can be funny at times. If you are into these types of games then you should definitely check this one out. I will be going back to this to try to find all the hidden items, that's for sure.

Score: 8 / 10

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Time is your weapon in new multiplayer action game, TimeQuake

The Imaginati Studios Ltd revealed details of its new multiplayer action game TimeQuake, along with a teaser trailer.

Time is your weapon in this online PVP first-person team shooter. Opposing factions bend time to take out opponents, complete objectives and dominate the battlefield.
 

“The game combines the mechanics of Quantum Break with the gameplay of Wolfenstein Enemy Territory.” Martin Alltimes, CEO, Imaginati Studios

WAR IN THE FOURTH DIMENSION

Join in an epic conflict that will determine the future of the universe.

On a remote island, ‘The Infinity Corporation’ has been secretly developing a gigantic time machine, called the ChronoSphere. Their goal? To alter the course of human history and make themselves the de facto rulers of the world.

To stop ‘The Infinity Corporation’, coalition forces launched a military assault. During the attack, the ChronoSphere was damaged causing it to malfunction. This malfunction created a time bubble around the island which resets itself every 15 minutes. With each reset, the bubble grows. If unconstrained, it will engulf the whole planet. Eventually, the entire universe will be trapped in a time loop.

Do you want to “Protect our Past” or “Fight for a new Future”?

It’s time to decide whose side you’re on.
 

KEY FEATURES

Time is your weapon - combine weapons and time powers to take out opponents, accelerate and rewind yourself, and move objects backwards and forwards in time.

Missions not matches - sessions are won by teams working together to complete objectives.

A world of infinite possibilities - an ever-expanding universe of characters, locations and missions.
 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Teaser trailer: https://bit.ly/3OFmR3Y

Twitter: https://bit.ly/3OIJ5ly

Website: www.playtimequake.com

Discord: https://discord.gg/wPEXkRd8

Steam: TimeQuake on Steam (steampowered.com)
 

ABOUT THE IMAGINATI STUDIOS

The Imaginati Studios © is an small independent game developer based in Belfast, Northern Ireland founded by industry veteran Martin Alltimes. The studio is focused on creating original games based around novel game ideas.

Article by: Susan N.

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INTI CREATES excited about newest project “Umbraclaw!"

At Indie Live Expo 2023, held May 20th and 21st, INTI CREATES announced that development has begun on their newest project, Umbraclaw .

In the 2D side-scrolling action game, players take control of Kuon, a cat on a perilous journey through the afterlife known as the Soulplane. Kuon must brave the afterlife in order to return home to his master. Taking the helm of development on Umbraclaw, Blaster Master Zero director Satoru Nishizawa will show that cats are not just cute, but cool heroes as well. The game also features an enchanting, art-book graphical style with a hint of darkness that reflects its story. Will Kuon be able to break through the Boundary to return home safely...? More details to be announced soon. Wishlist Umbraclaw on Steam today! → https://store.steampowered.com/app/2428420/Umbraclaw/


The "Anima Revive" system will grant Kuon abilities from various animals.

These abilities granted by Anima Revive will be key to overcoming the obstacles Kuon will face on his journey. See an early look at Umbraclaw in action in the Project Kickoff Trailer on Youtube! https://youtu.be/9ZClJSwicMo

Find hope in death.



Official Site: http://umbraclaw.com


© INTI CREATES CO., LTD. 2023 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Article by: Susan N.

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FEED THE FIRE — ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON WILL LAUNCH GLOBALLY ON AUGUST 25!

First Armored Core Gameplay Trailer Showcases Intense Mecha Action by FromSoftware; Pre-orders are Available Now at Major Retailers  

IRVINE, Calif. — April 27, 2023 — ARMORED CORE™ VI FIRES OF RUBICON™, the latest high-octane action game by FromSoftware, Inc. and Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. will release globally on August 25. Combining the 25 years of experience developing the ARMORED CORE™ franchise and action games in the ELDEN RING™, and DARK SOULS™ franchise, ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON is full of mech action, including fast-paced battles, in-depth customization, and thrilling boss fights. The game is coming to PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC via Steam®, and is now available to pre-order at major video game retailers and at armoredcore6.com

A mysterious new substance called “Coral” was discovered on the remote planet, Rubicon 3. As an energy source, this substance was expected to dramatically advance humanity’s technological and communications capabilities. Instead, it caused a catastrophe that engulfed the planet and the surrounding stars in flames and storms, forming a Burning Star System. Almost half a century later, Coral has resurfaced on Rubicon 3, a planet now contaminated and sealed off by the catastrophe. Extra-terrestrial corporations and resistance groups fight over control of the substance. The player infiltrates Rubicon as an independent mercenary and finds themselves in a struggle over the substance with the corporations and other factions.

Featuring highly mobile and highly customizable mechas, ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON will put players in fast-paced battles, where they can make full use of offensive and defensive maneuvers on both land and in the air to overcome foes. To be the most successful and profitable mercenary on Rubicon 3, players must master rapidly changing combat distances, using the environment for protective cover, and omni-directional battles to overcome challenging enemies and situations.

In the first-ever global gameplay reveal for ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON, these crucial gameplay elements are highlighted in an all-new trailer available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlSfr6Wa5sc

Preorder now and get ready for the global launch of ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON. For the latest information, be sure to follow the game’s social channels on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The game will be part of PlayStation® Free Upgrades and Xbox Smart Delivery. Find out more about the game on the official website. 

About Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.

Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc., part of the Bandai Namco Group, is a leading global publisher and developer of interactive entertainment for major video game consoles, PC, online, and mobile platforms. The company is known for creating many of the industry’s beloved classic franchises such as PAC-MAN®, GALAGA®, TEKKEN®, SOULCALIBUR®, and ACE COMBAT®, and publishing the critically acclaimed DARK SOULS™ series and the blockbuster title ELDEN RING™. Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. is also the premier publisher in the Western hemisphere for anime-based video games including GUNDAM™, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™, DRAGON BALL™, and ONE PIECE®. Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. is headquartered in Irvine, California. More information about the company and its products can be found at http://www.bandainamcoent.com.

 

©Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. / ©1997-2023 FromSoftware, Inc. All rights reserved.
All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners. 

Article by: Susan N.

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Slash Your Way Through Zombies in Ed-0: Zombie Uprising in July!

OAKLAND, CA - May 18, 2023 - D3Publisher Inc., a leading Japanese games publisher, along with developer LANCARSE Ltd. today announced the full release of their zombie-filed survival rogue-like action title, Ed-0: Zombie Uprising for PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam on July 13, 2023. Additionally, the companies have announced pre-orders are now available on all platforms. Anyone who pre-orders Ed-0: Zombie Uprising will unlock a bonus mini-quest titled “Rounding up Thieves”. The game will retail for a MSRP of $29.99 / €28.99.

Ed-0: Zombie Uprising has been in Early Access on Steam since April 2022, and the developers have taken that time to add additional content and address community feedback by implementing major improvements that significantly enhance the overall player experience. Some of those improvements include the quality of combat, difficulty level, and a new option to save mid-game, in addition to regular bug fixing and ongoing changes to gameplay elements. The 1.0 launch also includes a handful of brand-new features, such as new blessings and charms, adaptive triggers for PS5, an EDO shader, which allows the player an option to toggle on a fun “Ukiyoe” style filter, and enough content for over 100 hours of gameplay!

Designed for brutal strategic battles in a rogue-like format, Ed-0: Zombie Uprising takes place in a fictional Edo-era Japan where hordes of hungry zombies have raided the isolated country. No dungeon run will be the same, so players’ judgment will be of the utmost importance, having to face “once-in-a-lifetime” challenges with a wide variety of random elements amid dangerous foes. Ed-0: Zombie Uprising includes various undead enemies, ranging from “newly interpreted” Japanese zombies to foreign invaders born after the “Zombie Industrial Revolution.” Players will unlock more as they play (and succeed) with an increasing number of possibilities to customize builds to their liking—with the option to bump up the level of difficulty to test one’s capability.

For additional information on Ed-0: Zombie Uprising, please visit the official Discord, the community page on Steam, and D3PUBLISHER Inc. to keep up with upcoming content and news.

About D3PUBLISHER, Inc.

D3PUBLISHER, a member of BANDAI NAMCO group, is a Japanese video game publisher. Established in 1992, the company has published console and mobile/online games from some of the industries most beloved franchises and series, including EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 5, Onechanbara, the Simple series, and more. For more information, visit https://www.d3p.co.jp.

©2022-2023 LANCARSE ©2022-2023 D3PUBLISHER

©2023 Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC. “PlayStation Family Mark”, “PlayStation”, “PS5 logo”, “PS5”, “PlayStation Shapes Logo” and “Play Has No Limits” are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.

Microsoft, the Xbox Sphere mark, the Series X logo, Series S logo, Series X|S logo, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X|S are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. 

©2023 Valve Corporation. Steam and the Steam logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Valve Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. All rights reserved.

Article by: Susan N.

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Monchrome Mobius: Rights and Wrongs Forgotten Arrives on PlayStation 4 & 5 in September!

After the mysterious death of his father, Oshtor must search for answers. With the help of the action ring, Oshtor and his friends can take up the fight. With his Overzeal, he can turn the tide of battle in his favor! There are many ways to change turn order and gain an advantage.

Check Out Monochrome Mobius: Rights and Wrongs Forgotten Trailer here:

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.

About PLAION

PLAION is a leading independent developer and producer of games and entertainment products, with nine development studios and five publishing units based all over the world. Founded in 1994 as Koch Media, PLAION offers a unique breadth of services and solutions, dynamically growing its business to push ourselves and our partners to the forefront in all the segments we operate in.

PLAION runs a multi-label strategy, with fully owned publishing units, such as Deep Silver, Prime Matter, Milestone, Vertigo Games and Ravenscourt, publishing games for consoles, PC and VR platforms across all physical and digital channels.

Additionally - as a global publishing partner - PLAION has formed long-term multinational publishing collaborations with numerous game publishers including Activision Blizzard, Bethesda, Capcom, Focus Multimedia, Giants Software, Koei Tecmo, Paradox, Sega, SNK, Square Enix, Techland, THQ Nordic, Tripwire, Warner Bros and many others.

With its parent company in Höfen, Austria - and the HQ in Munich, Germany - PLAION owns local publishing companies in Germany, UK, France, Spain, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Australia, the United States as well as Japan and Hong Kong.

PLAION owns nine game development studios: Deep Silver Dambuster Studios (Nottingham, UK), Fishlabs (Hamburg, DE), Warhorse Studios (Prague, CZ), Milestone (Milan, IT), Voxler (Paris, FR) , DigixArt (Montpellier, FR), Flying Wild Hog (Warsaw, Kraków, Rzeszów, PL), Free Radical Design (Nottingham, UK) and Vertigo Games (Rotterdam, Amsterdam, NL). Additionally, PLAION collaborates with numerous independent development studios around the world.

Part of PLAION is also PLAION PICTURES, a leading independent film distributor in Europe with a library of more than 1.400 titles. Further business operations include Sola Media, a sales agency and production company for family entertainment, Spotfilm Networx, a multi-channel streaming network, and a sub-label dedicated to Japanese animation.

PLAION also owns the leading video game merchandise company DPI Merchandising (Denver, Roseburg, USA and Munich, DE) and a Quality Assurance Facility in Olomouc, CZ.

PLAION is an Embracer Group company.

Article by: Susan N.

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Coming to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox Platforms is Dice-based deck-building roguelike Tamarak Trail

Denver, USA – May 18th, 2023 - Independent game studio Yarrow Games, in partnership with leading independent video game publisher Versus Evil, are pleased to reveal that its upcoming deck-bulding roguelike Tamarak Trail is coming to Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms, where it will launch alongside the Steam release this summer. Tamarak Trail is a turn-based deck-building roguelike that uses customizable dice instead of cards.

As a member of a secret society named the Sturgeon Lodge it’s up to you to piece together the mystery of a decaying earth, hunt down the source of this corruption and put a stop to it at all costs.

Embarking on this adventure, you can choose one of three characters; The Magician, the Tracker or the Detective, each with their own unique abilities and traits. Depending on your preferred playstyle, the character’s different skills and attributes allow you to craft a unique strategy for your character as they navigate the ominous trail. Procedurally-generated paths create a myriad of possibilities where you can encounter events, monsters, campsites, treasure and more. Every new discovery reveals new bonuses and strategies to explore.

To combat the monsters and nefarious foes you’ll encounter, you’ll have to be tactical in your dice-building, as each face could mean the difference between victory or defeat. Different dice sides can be used to attack directly, apply buffs and debuffs, inflict damage over time, defend yourself, to “flip” them to another side for combo awesomeness and much more. You can even apply “dice cores” to secure passive abilities. You’re given direct control of your dice rolls, and getting them to smack together allows you to create killer combo attacks. In true deck-builder fashion, dice faces can be customized with more abilities after each victory, adding new attacks, defenses and combinations to take forward into future battles.

With a beautiful hand-drawn illustrative style, the game's art direction has many inspirations, including the Group of Seven, the Canadian landscape painters of the 1920’s, and illustrator Ivan Bilibin. Tamarak Trail takes its inspiration from roguelike deck builders like Slay the Spire, and pays homage to innovative titles like Dicey Dungeons and Peglin, which have influenced the game’s feel and mechanics. Add to that a diverse and horrific bestiary influenced by Northern Ontario's wildlife, it culminates in a treacherous trail where danger and intrigue hides in every corner.

“Tamarak Trail is among the most deep, engrossing deck builders I’ve ever played,” ​​said Steve Escalante, general Manager of Versus Evil. “We think Tamarak Trail has such wide appeal that we’re committed to bringing it to all major platforms right out of the gate. Thankfully you won’t have to wait too long to play it, as it’s launching this summer!”

About Yarrow Games

Yarrow Games was founded in 2021. Tamarak Trail is the studio’s first title, although members Piotr Lipert (Programming, Game Design), Lynden Joudrey (Art, Animation) and Michael Noble (Music, SFX) had worked together in the past.

About Versus Evil

Founded in 2013, Versus Evil, LLC is the US based video game publisher behind critically acclaimed video games First Class Trouble, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire and The Banner Saga trilogy. Publishing games on all major mobile, PC and console platforms, Versus Evil works with independent development studios from around the world. The corporate philosophy is to champion for the independent game developer. For more information visit versusevil.com

Article by: Susan N.

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Nakana.io to Release an All-in-One Bundle for the Nintendo Switch on May 27th!

Warsaw - May 19th, 2023

We're a niche publishing label focused solely on games that tell important or emotionally-engaging stories, or explore new gameplay/artistic territories...in a nutshell, titles that give more than entertainment.

On May 27th, we'll release on Nintendo Switch one budget-friendly Bundle that features our entire catalogue. It will be available in Americas + Europe/Oceania.

All the titles are story-driven adventure games and their gameplay sub-genre varies from platform, puzzle, visual novel or survival. Most of them won prestigious awards at for example Tokyo Game Show, Indie Cade or A MAZE.

The games explore various themes such as:

• Art / Culture (games Please, Touch The Artwork or EQQO or Cosmic Top Secret);
• Substance abuse / Family issues (games Lydia or Cosmic Top Secret);
• Love / Relations (EQQO, Mythic Ocean, Stilstand, Journey of the Broken Circle);
• Introspection / Escape (Soul Searching, Infini, Stilstand, A Night at the Races)

Nintendo eShop page: 

https://www.nintendo.com/store/products/nakana-bundle-6-10-games-switch/

Article by: Susan N.

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Burnout: Dominator - Retro Reflections - TBT

Burnout: Dominator by developer EA UK and publisher Electronic Arts—PSP Throwback Thursday review written by Hamza. 2007.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Not since Stunt Car Racer did I have a more exciting time playing a racing game than Burnout: Dominator. Everything you are not given the permission to do in real life can be done here. From ramming to shunting, driving the wrong way, to drifting, near collision misses to taking down other drivers; this freedom is not just a glorified game mechanic, it is a vital part of the system and an integral instinct one has to adopt if he is ever to win races. The racing itself is futile; there are no points for coming first. You need to claim the top position with style. To me, Dominator is the first in the series to have perfectly fine-tuned the necessary aspects to making a white-knuckle, hair-raising, style-over-substance, ruthless metal against metal mayhem. This is vehicular porn, with its shattered window panes, broken doors, grinding metal, burning rubber and other results when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object beautifully and aesthetically choreographed.

Dominator thankfully doesn’t have a storyline. The last thing I need is the action to stop for a CGI-model advising me what I can and cannot do. Instead, what the game has is a lengthy career mode, which sees several distinct classes of vehicles and a chock-full of in-race missions and targets. For example, your primary objective would be taking down a rival car three times (to unlock it) and a secondary objective to drift over 9,000 ft. (for extra points). These two, coupled with the fact you need to come first if you’re after the “Get All Gold Medals in Every Race” trophy, are more than enough to permanently turn your knuckles white and possibly turn you into an insane person. But that’s what’s great about this game, the rewarding system. No matter which position you finish in, you must have done something during racing. The game takes notes of and rewards you with a surprise trophy or points.

The main pull of the game is the vehicle line-up. These inanimate monsters with an insatiable zeal for twisted metal all range from unassuming, two-tone saloons to impossibly fast supercars. My personal favourite class is the Hot Rod series. Though they controlled no better than the Factory or Super series, I think I managed to score twice as many takedowns with this series than any other. The Assassin stayed for a long time as my weapon of choice on the battlefield. True to its name, the Assassin proved to be the perfect hitman on the tarmac - due to its tough exterior and heaviness - mostly in Maniac and Road Rage, where your aim is to take down as many rivals as you can in a time period. Its slow speed proved to be an issue at times, but that’s where the Boost comes in handy.

The Boost bar is the yellow strip of flames that you see in the lower left corner of the screen. Once it turns blue, you know it is time to unleash hell. The more you fill it up, the more chain reactions you can pull off, and the more you do of that, the more you will dominate the race. However should someone dominate or take you out, the crashbreaker mode is here to save the day. This nifty mode enables you to steer your wreck in the path of other racers and take them out via Aftertouch – one of the many styles of taking a rival out. Alternatively, if the rivals are too far or have gotten ahead of you, you can press the Triangle button to cause a powerful explosion and take multiple out at once. But be careful, too many explosions and/or crashes can result in a critical condition of your car; and that means the next time it crashes, instant game over.

When it comes to the music, Dominator’s soundtrack had a tough act to follow: Need For Speed: Most Wanted. How exactly do you top Lupe Fiasco, Celldweller, Styles of Beyond, and Static-X? Ask your girlfriend, she might know.

This will date me, but Avril Lavigne’s Girlfriend was a moment in music. It was everywhere, it was constantly running on some speaker. It is easily one of the coolest and catchiest songs ever; and it makes for a great musical companion. To further prove this song’s dominance in the music industry, the game also features the Japanese, Mandarin, and Spanish versions of the song - the only one from the soundtrack to get such treatment. No matter what shenanigans the game’s asked you to do on the battlefield, Ms. Lavigne’s persistent - albeit censored - shouting of her wanting to be your girlfriend is pure bliss.

Unfortunately the game is not without its flaws. The major gripe I have with this game is the rather awkward controls. The Playstation 2 version had great, almost flawless steering, but this PSP version suffers from slight unresponsive controls. This is most noticeable while drifting. Another issue stems from magically appearing civilian vehicles. You could be on a hot burnout streak, and boom! a car just pops up from the ground. I didn’t encounter too many of these glitches, thankfully.

In conclusion, this hyper-kinetic road battler is a must-play for anyone. Think Destruction Derby; but with twenty times the mayhem. Think of whatever game that comes to mind, and Burnout: Dominator is x-times more than that!



Note: Screenshots from all platforms that were available at the time can be found here at Moby Games.


Score: 8.5 / 10

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Introducing New Action RPG Tako no Himitsu: Ocean of Secrets from Deneos

Indie studio Deneos, the creators behind Save me Mr Tako! have announced their new action RPG Tako no Himitsu: Ocean of Secrets at the AG French Direct. Tako no Himitsu will launch on Kickstarter this summer, with the full game coming to PC in 2025.

 

About the game

Tako no Himitsu: Ocean of Secrets is an indie Action RPG made as a tribute to the Game Boy Advance era of gaming. A spiritual successor to Save me Mr Tako, play in a world where Octopuses were erased from history.

 

Features

• Play as six different characters, each with their own unique abilities and Symbiosis power. Discover their individual stories and the traumas they must overcome to make a positive change in the world.

• Befriend and train magical Octopuses, the heroes of the past! Teach them spells that can aid in battle or help solve puzzles whilst exploring the world.

• Strategise in real-time combat and fight the shadow monsters plaguing the land. Swap between different characters to adapt to enemies and gain the upper hand, and keep ahead of the swarm with new equipment.

• Explore a vast, troubled world and learn the secrets of its past as you travel across the land. Discover the truth of the Shadow War and meet memorable characters in a great adventure to restore light to the world.
  
  

About Deneos

Deneos is a game company created by Christophe Galati. Their goal is to create great adventures with a JRPG spirit to pay homage to classical eras of gaming while sharing modern and personal stories. Their debut title Save me Mr Tako! has sold more than 30,000 units.

Article by: Susan N.

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Warner Bros. Games announced Mortal Kombat 1!

The Mortal Kombat Universe is Reborn, Set in a New Story with Iconic Heroes and Villains Reimagined as They’ve Never Been Seen Before

Warner Bros. Games today announced Mortal Kombat 1, a brand-new title in the acclaimed Mortal Kombat videogame franchise that has sold more than 80 million units since its debut over 30 years ago. Developed by award-winning NetherRealm Studios, the upcoming game will introduce a reborn Mortal Kombat Universe that has been created by the Fire God Liu Kang, featuring reimagined versions of iconic characters as they’ve never been seen before. Mortal Kombat 1 is scheduled to release on Sept. 19, 2023, for PlayStation®5 (PS5™), Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch™, and PC.

The Mortal Kombat 1 Official Reveal Trailer can be viewed and shared here:

NetherRealm’s genre-defining Story Mode returns with an immersive cinematic narrative featuring unexpected twists on classic rivalries and original backstories for a wide-ranging cast of legendary fighters, including Liu Kang, Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Raiden, Kung Lao, Kitana, Mileena, Shang Tsung, Johnny Cage, and many others. Mortal Kombat 1 will also introduce Kameo Fighters, a unique roster of partner characters that can assist during matches, creating expanded gameplay possibilities for players.
 
“With Mortal Kombat 1 we are bringing a reimagined universe to the legendary franchise which has captivated gamers for more than 30 years and continues to top itself,” said David Haddad, President, Warner Bros. Games. “The talented team at NetherRealm Studios continues to push the series forward in bold ways that have consistently expanded the global audience, and we believe Mortal Kombat 1 will continue to attract new players as well as thrill our core fans.”
 
“Mortal Kombat 1 marks a new beginning for the franchise and we couldn’t be more excited to share this original storyline and fresh take on classic characters with our fans,” said Ed Boon, Chief Creative Officer, NetherRealm Studios and Co-Creator of Mortal Kombat. “We’re also introducing our Kameo Fighter system which brings a unique roster of partner characters into the mix, and we are looking forward to showing this feature as well as more new elements of the game very soon.”
 
May 19th, Mortal Kombat 1 will be available for pre-order on all launch platforms*, including:

• Mortal Kombat 1 Standard Edition will be available physically and digitally on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC, including Steam and Epic Games Store.



• Mortal Kombat 1 Premium Edition will be available physically and digitally on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC (Steam and Epic Games Store) and will include all Standard Edition content, along with the Kombat Pack, early access to the game beginning Sept. 14, and 1,250 Dragon Krystals (in-game currency). The Kombat Pack will feature a Johnny Cage character skin with the likeness of famed actor and martial artist, Jean-Claude Van Damme (available at launch), early access to six new playable characters (available post-launch), and five new Kameo Fighters (available post-launch).



• Mortal Kombat 1 Kollector’s Edition will be available physically at select retailers on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S only and will include all Premium Edition content, and early access, along with a 16.5-inch Liu Kang sculpture designed by COARSE and an inspired Liu Kang in-game character skin, three exclusive art prints, a steel case, and 1,450 additional Dragon Krystals (2,700 total).

 
All Mortal Kombat 1 pre-orders will receive Shang Tsung as an in-game playable character, and those who pre-order the game for PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S will also receive access to the Mortal Kombat 1 Beta, which will be available in August 2023.
 
To learn more about Mortal Kombat 1, please visit MortalKombat.com or join the community conversation on Instagram (@MortalKombat), TikTok (@MortalKombat), Twitter (@MortalKombat), Twitch (NetherRealm), YouTube (Mortal Kombat), Facebook (MortalKombat), Discord (MortalKombat), or Reddit (MortalKombat).

Pre-Order Beginning May 19 to Receive Bonus Shang Tsung Playable Character and Access to Upcoming Beta; Kombat Pack to Include Jean-Claude Van Damme Skin

 

About Warner Bros. Games
Warner Bros. Games, a division of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Inc., is a premier worldwide publisher, developer, licensor and distributor of entertainment content for the interactive space across all platforms, including console, handheld, mobile and PC-based gaming for both internal and third-party game titles. Additional information can be found at WBGames.com.
 
About NetherRealm Studios
NetherRealm Studios is a leader in the development of interactive entertainment, and the creator of the billion-dollar Mortal Kombat franchise. Mortal Kombat has spawned two theatrical films, multiple television series, and has sold more than 80 million games to date. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the award-winning NetherRealm team has been working and creating games together since 1992. Additional information about NetherRealm Studios can be found at NetherRealm.com.
 
Mortal Kombat 1© 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Developed by NetherRealm. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.
 
Mortal Kombat, the dragon logo, NetherRealm Studios, NetherRealm logo and all related characters and elements are trademarks of © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
 
*Timing for pre-order availability may vary by region and retailer. Please inquire with local retailers for details.
 
*** These videos/trailers may only be displayed if it is behind an age-gate that: (1) is age-neutral (i.e., requires the user to input their date of birth or select it from a drop-down bar); (2) employs reasonable technical measures to keep underage users from re-entering their age after initially being denied access; and (3) does not display any ESRB rating information on the trailer player or the age-gate itself. Failure to implement these requirements may jeopardize your ability to obtain material of this nature from us in the future. ***

 WB GAMES LOGO, WB SHIELD: ™ & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
(s23)  

Article by: Susan N.

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Teach a Dog New Tricks in “To The Rescue!” on the Nintendo Switch May 25, 2023

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – May 16, 2023 – To The Rescue!, the heartfelt dog shelter management simulator from developer Little Rock Games and publisher Freedom Games, jumps onto the Nintendo Switch eShop on Thursday, May 25, 2023. 

Take charge of the local animal shelter to help stray pups find new and loving furever homes. In between belly rubs and sessions of playing fetch, ensure the inner workings of the shelter run properly. Foster a warm and welcoming environment for future pet parents to come and meet their soon-to-be companions. 

Taking care of adorable fuzzy butts isn’t all fun and games. Balance feeding, grooming, and exercise schedules for all of the dogs. Treat, pun intended, any illnesses that may arise to keep the pups in tip-top shape for the next game of tug-of-war. 

Find the perfect fit between people and puppers by matching between four dog sizes, seven breed types, and dozens of individual personality traits for adopters and doggos. It’s a bittersweet day when furry friends leave the shelter, but the happiness on their faces knowing they’ve found their families warms the heart every time.

Manage shelter resources by upgrading facilities and replenishing inventory, all on a budget. Maintain good standing with other members of the neighborhood to keep the shelter support strong. It may take an army, but those fuzzy faces make it more than worth it.

“To The Rescue! balances the wholesome feel of a loving and cozy animal game with some of the hectic realities of running a real animal shelter,” said Ben Robinson, co-founder, Freedom Games. “We wanted to pay respect to all of the hardworking volunteers running actual animal shelters and raise awareness for their profession through the power of video games!”

To The Rescue! will be available for $19.99 USD. For more information on To The Rescue!, check out the Little Rock Games website and join the community on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Discord. 

About Little Rock Games

Little Rock Games is a community-based tabletop game development studio and To The Rescue! is their first digital project. Focusing on making projects that emphasize local, ethical, and impactful elements, the studio aims to raise awareness of social issues as well as donate to organizations whose work inspires the subject matter of their games.

To learn more, check out the official Little Rock Games website.

About Freedom Games

Freedom Games is a publisher dedicated to offering best-in-class services to partners and providing players around the world with unique and memorable experiences. With over 50 years of combined industry experience at the executive level, Freedom Games seeks to leverage its expertise to facilitate great games and even better publishing experiences.

 

For more information, visit the official Freedom Games website.

Article by: Susan N.

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