Microprose Announces Classic Empire Builder for Steam!

We are happy to announce that Empire Eternal, a game that rekindles the nostalgic charm of classic empire-building strategy, is joining the MicroProse catalog!

This ambitious title promises a captivating journey across epochs, from the primitive origins of human civilization to an enigmatic, technologically advanced future.

Empire Eternal introduces a groundbreaking approach by dividing factions along cultural lines rather than traditional national divides. With each historical era offering unique challenges, players will command diverse units, manage resources, shape governance, and adapt strategies in a dynamic and ever-evolving world.

Key Features:

• Expansive Combat: Command land, sea, and sky units across different eras, from primitive warriors to futuristic war machines, adapting strategies to evolving combat mechanics.
• Resource Mastery: Balance resource acquisition and management across epochs, ensuring the growth and sustenance of your civilization.
• Civilization Governance: Shape the destiny of your people by implementing policies, managing cities, and navigating societal evolution.
• Adapt and Conquer: Embrace the challenge of constantly evolving mechanics and technologies, devising new strategies to maintain supremacy.
• Varied Victory Paths: Achieve glory through multiple avenues, including territorial expansion, resource control, base construction, or military conquest.

About MicroProse

MicroProse, founded in 1982, is a world-famous simulation software company known for developing groundbreaking, classics and cult titles like, the Falcon, F15 Strike Eagle, Silent Service, Gunship, Grand Prix, Civilization, B-17 The Mighty Eighth, and X-COM series and many more simulation products that sold millions of copies each at retail.

Today, MicroProse is not only remaking select classics from its past but also paving the road to next-generation, state of the art games that will create the memories and experiences of the demanding new generations of gamers.

About EPO Games

The team at EPO Games lives and breathes strategy games like Age of Empires, Total War, and the revered Empire Earth. Fueled by a passion for these classics, they've set out to redefine challenging gameplay experiences. Their commitment to redefining challenging gameplay experiences resonates within a dedicated, youthful, and determined team.

Article by: Susan N.

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Journey Through the Most Metal Action RPG Coming to Steam in 2025

Rome, Italy, September 24, 2024 | Morbidware Studio and Stockholm Kartell unveil the game MÖRK BORG Heresy Supreme and announce the launch of an upcoming Kickstarter campaign.

Set in the grimdark fantasy universe of the MÖRK BORG tabletop RPG, the game is scheduled for release at the end of 2025 on Steam. Players can already follow on Kickstarter, and pledge their support for the game when the campaign starts in early October. Kickstarter backers will receive exclusive rewards at launch.

MÖRK BORG Heresy Supreme is a doom-metal action RPG set in the world of MÖRK BORG. Wretched antiheroes explore a side-scrolling, semi-procedural grimdark fantasy world, searching for a way to prevent the apocalypse or make the suffering worse.

• The world's loudest tabletop RPG brings ruin to video gaming - Take control of the vilest scum ever to crawl upon the earth and wander the dying lands of the original game through a graphic style inspired by the book. Evade deadly flails aimed to crack your skull open in a combat system both dynamic and unforgiving that’ll require a strategic, ruthless approach. Face horrific quests testing your skills to the brink of the Apocalypse. Literally.
• Journey through the dark path - You wake up in Galgenbeck, a decaying city under the shadow of the Cathedral of the two-headed Basilisks. A voice from its spires proclaims the world's end, demanding an offering to delay the inevitable. In the filthy alleys, a rumor spreads: those who appease this demand will receive Arch-Priestess Josilfa Migol’s blessing and be cleansed. As a cursed walker, plagued by visions of damnation, you seek salvation — any way you can.
• Gather Your Party - Cursed walkers in MÖRK BORG Heresy Supreme aren't heroes. In this dying world, everyone seeks salvation, wealth, or vengeance. You can form a party, but each companion has their own agenda. Betray them, and they'll turn their back or just stab you. Trust is rare in this brutal realm.
• Explore the Dying World - The world outside Galgenbeck’s walls is divided into regions, each one worse than the other. Locations and adventures are dynamically generated based on your progress and the quests you’ll stumble into. Quests, adventures, bosses, and special items reset on every playthrough. Explore the dying world but don't get lost in it. You won't get out alive.

• Getting Better (or worse) - MÖRK BORG Heresy Supreme doesn’t have XP or the like. Instead, you level up by performing certain actions during your adventures. When you level up, some of your characters’ abilities will get better, but some will get WORSE. The more you level up, the higher the chances you may lose something in the process. Can’t teach an old goblin new tricks! They’ll kill you.
• Miseries - The world crumbles as foretold in the Calendar of Nechrubel. Miseries (apocalyptic events) devastate the world as you delve deeper into the filth. The more you play, the more Miseries strike, bringing the doomsday closer. Some say they can be delayed, but prevention is heresy and the cost is unbearable.
• Omens - This world is unforgiving, but Cursed Walkers have a secret trick: Omens that can be spent to deal max damage, reroll an ability check in a crucial situation, absorb the damage from a fatal blow, or guarantee a safe outcome from wielding the Power of a scroll. So remember, you can rely on the fickle fates of alternate worlds tangled with the eyes of eldritch watchers if you want… just don’t tell the Inquisition.
• Arcane Catastrophes - Some classes can wield Powers from esoteric and ancient scrolls. In the dying world of MÖRK BORG, conjuring such witchcraft is never guaranteed. Every scroll has a chance to trigger an arcane catastrophe, and nobody can foresee what kind of disaster it could bring. You may get dizzy and start puking… or explode. However, some arcane catastrophes might even be better than the intended effect. Use at your own risk.
• RPG Elements - Every character has four abilities — Strength, Agility, Presence, and Toughness — that determine your likelihood of survival. They affect mechanics and interactions with the world, enemies, and other characters. Some encounters, events, and choices require you to roll a d20 modified by the relevant ability. You should always put your life in the hands of a die roll. That’s why it’s called die roll.
• The End is (always) - Once you gather the relics demanded by the two-headed Basilisk, travel to the Valley of the Unfortunate Undead to face Verhu and Gorgh. Can you appease them in time, cleanse your soul, and delay the apocalypse—or will your suffering lead to Heresy Supreme?

What is MÖRK BORG?

MÖRK BORG is a groundbreaking grimdark fantasy tabletop RPG by Pelle Nilsson and Johan Nohr of Stockholm Kartell. Unleashed upon the world in 2020, it won three gold ENNIES for Product of the Year, Best Writing, and Best Layout as well as silver for Best Game. MÖRK BORG’s dark, dying world is mid-apocalypse, and its wretched denizens cower in the shadow of the godlike two-headed Basilisks. Life is short, cheap, and full of terrors, but despite this, MÖRK BORG is currently enjoyed by thousands of players scattered around the globe, and the creative community surrounding it thrives.

Diego Sacchetti, co-founder of Morbidware, commented: “One day the MÖRK BORG rpg rulebook appeared in our hands and we were just like "this is perfect material for the next Morbidware video game". The narrative, the setting, the style and rules were so over-the-top in the greatest way possible and all design elements for a video game were so clear in our minds. We decided to contact Johan and Pelle to make this project happen and... well... here we are making together this amazing game.”

Johan Nohr of Stockholm Kartell, visual artist and cocreator of MÖRK BORG, added: “MÖRK BORG Heresy Supreme is a big milestone project and I couldn't be more pumped for it. Not only because Morbidware really GETS the grim world, the dark humor and the whole philosophy of the original game, but also for the amount of extra stuff we're creating specifically for this Kickstarter campaign. It's gonna be a damn fine video game, but we're not just making a video game. It's a whole apocalyptic package.”

Players can now wishlist the game on Steam and follow our Kickstarter campaign now.

ABOUT MORBIDWARE

Morbidware was officially founded as a game-developing company in 2024. The team worked together during the creation of The Textorcist: The Story of Ray Bibbia, but all members of the team have 10+ years in their fields of expertise, with self published indie games, screenwriting jobs for tv and cinema, and freelancing jobs for companies like Team17 and Headup Games. All the members are avid tabletop role-players and enjoy experimenting with new gameplay mechanics that independent productions bring into the gaming world. https://morbidwaregames.com/

ABOUT STOCKHOLM KARTELL

Stockholm Kartell is a creative coven of writers, designers and idiots playing and making rules-light, flavor-heavy tabletop roleplaying games about terrible, ending worlds.

Article by: Susan N.

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Check Out Super Mario Party Jamboree for Nintendo Switch Releasing Oct 17th!

Are you ready to join the biggest Mario Party yet? Nintendo has an early look at the new Super Mario Party Jamboree game for the Nintendo Switch family of systems, releasing October 17.

Jam-packed with fun, Super Mario Party Jamboree features over 110 minigames, 22 playable characters (including newcomers to the series, Pauline and Ninji) and more ways to play than ever before.

Here are just some of the many festivities that await in Super Mario Party Jamboree:

• Mario Party Mode – Travel to a tropical party paradise and play your way across a total of 7 distinct boards with friends, including the brand-new Goomba Lagoon and Rainbow Galleria boards! Plus, Super Mario Party Jamboree includes two returning favorites: Mario’s Rainbow Castle from Mario Party and Western Land from Mario Party 2. Hit the Dice Block and you may come across a Jamboree Buddy along the way – characters who unlock game-changing abilities, from copying opponents’ items to launching you across the board.
• Minigame Bay – Explore an assortment of minigames in this mode, like daily challenges and 2 vs. 2 matches.
• New Motion Control Modes* – Grab your Joy-Con controllers and fly through the air in Paratroopa Flight School, move your way through Toad’s Item Factory and cook to the beat with Rhythm Kitchen.
• New Multiplayer Online Modes** – Join the 20-player race to finish first in Koopathlon, where you’ll collect coins during minigames to advance through a giant racecourse. Or take on Imposter Bowser in Bowser Kaboom Squad, a cooperative battle for up to 8 players.

Plus, a 3-month Nintendo Switch Online Individual Membership is also included! Anyone who pre-orders or purchases the game prior to March 31, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. PT will receive a Nintendo eShop code for a 3-month Nintendo Switch Online Individual Membership (not valid with Nintendo Switch Online Family or Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack memberships)! The code never expires and will come either in a packed-in pamphlet (while supplies last) with physical versions of the game, or by email if the game is purchased digitally.

And as you can expect from a Super Mario Party game, there are still even more surprises in store! The party kicks off with the release of the game next month. Pre-orders for Super Mario Party Jamboree are available right now!


-- Your friends at Nintendo

* Joy-Con controller required for motion-control minigames. Motion-control minigames not compatible with online mode or Nintendo Switch Lite.


** Any Nintendo Switch Online membership (sold separately) and Nintendo Account required for online features. Membership auto-renews after initial term at the then-current price unless canceled. Not available in all countries. Internet access required for online features. Terms apply. nintendo.com/switch/online

Article by: Susan N.

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Halls of Torment 1.0 is Available on Steam!

Stuttgart, Germany – September 24, 2024 | The German 5 people indie studio Chasing Carrots is proud to announce that the 1.0 version of Halls of Torment is Out Today on Steam at a full price of 6.66 EUR|USD and with a release discount of 25% during the first week after launch. Halls of Torment is a casual roguelite action rpg presented in a pre rendered retro look reminiscent of RPGs from the late 90s. Choose one of 11 hero characters and descend into the deadly Halls of Torment. Fight unholy horrors from beyond and survive wave after wave until you face one of the tormented lords. Advance your hero with character traits, abilities, and items. Create a new powerful build during each run. Explore various underground expanses and find new powerful items that enable you to venture even deeper into the abyss.

An exceptional reception from the community during Early Access

During the 16 months in Early Access, Halls of Torment has received more than 21500 reviews from players from all over the world, averaging a 96% positive rate. Here are some numbers that represent the feedback shared by its engaged and fantastic community:

Replayability. The average playtime per user is 20h and the median playtime is 12 hours. 

Large amounts of content at a great price. The conversion rate from wishlists to purchases during the Early Access period ranged between 50 and 70% with a total sales of 905K copies to date and only 3% of refunds.

A unique visual approach to 90s retro graphics. The studio took the original impressions and tried to amplify the 90s games aesthetics as players would remember them with nowadays standards.

The most satisfying skeleton destruction sounds in town!

"We're very excited for the 1.0 release of Halls of Torment. It's been an extraordinary journey for us so far, and we're looking forward to seeing the players' reactions to the feature complete version of the game. We've added a lot of late game content for seasoned HoT players, but at the same time we've also improved the experience for newcomers. We think it has become a solid and well-rounded game, and we hope a lot of new players will enjoy it." - The Chasing Carrots team

Main Features

• Old school pre-rendered art style
• Quest-based meta progression
• Large selection of diverse abilities, traits, and items, all enabling you to create interesting synergies
• Diverse bosses featuring unique mechanics and attack patterns
• Several distinct characters allowing for many different play styles
• Unlock and explore multiple interesting and challenging underground worlds
• Unique items can be sent up to the overworld and used to customize future runs
• Craft magical tinctures to direct fate in your favor
• Unlock the power of each class and combine them with your chosen character
• Defeat the Lords of the underworld and explore infinite growth
• Find rare item variants to further improve your builds
• Put your strategies to the test in the late game against the unbeatable Shrine of Torment

Full Content List

• 6 stages with unique environments
• 11 playable characters & character marks
• 25 blessings that make you stronger for each run
• 60 unique items to retrieve and unlock
• 240 higher rarity item variants
• 74 abilities and ability upgrades
• 30 artifacts to customize your game experience
• 35+ unique bosses
• 70+ unique monsters
• 500 quests to complete
• 1000+ traits that upgrade characters and abilities

NEW FEATURES AND CONTENT 

• The last main Stage, The Vault. With a price to pay…
• In the Vault the time ticks up and you decide how much time you spend in it.
• Introducing the Shrine of Torment for new challenges.
• Find artifacts for the Shrine of Torment to modify the game.
• Shorter game modes, more enemies, traps and additional loot!
• Rescue the Scriptor from the Frozen Depth for unlimited growth.
• Character can reach new heights with the 5th tier Traits
• New uncommon item variants and introducing rare variants exclusive for high difficulty levels.
• Uncommon variants can now be retrieved and offer even more targeted customization for each run.
• 16:10 and widescreen support arriving, as well as many other QoL features!

About Chasing Carrots

Chasing Carrots is an independent game development studio located in Stuttgart, Germany. Since their founding in 2011, they have been passionate about crafting games that captivate and entertain. They pride themselves on producing nearly every element of our games in-house, ensuring a high level of quality and consistency. Driven by their love for gaming, they focus on innovation, creativity, and delivering player-centric experiences.

Article by: Susan N.

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Memorable Music in Gaming #50

After a long sabbatical, here's the latest Memorable Music article from Hamza! There's a lot of key aspects to a video game. Visuals, storytelling and frankly, just if it's fun to play. Music however, is often one of the most memorable aspects to any video game. At least, if the music is done well - and Chrono Trigger seems to top the list of Memorable Music in gaming this week.

 

Chrono Trigger (SNES) - Secret of the Forest

It's no secret that Chrono Trigger has one of the finest soundtracks in gaming history. The vast wealth of fantastic tracks could easily have an entire article written around them - but to choose just five for this series, I'll go with these.

This is among my most-repeated tracks, so ethereal and soothing it is. The sustained hollow notes give off goosebumps like no other.

Chrono Trigger: Secret of the Forest [Original] 

 

Chrono Trigger (SNES) - Corridors of Time

There’s something positively addictive about the tribal-esque, thumping nature of this track. It at once conjures up mystical and mythical imagery.

Chrono Trigger Soundtrack - Corridors of Time [HQ]

 

Chrono Trigger (SNES) - To Far Away Times

This one has all the hallmarks of a typical progressive rock song, à la Dream Theater or Opeth. The starting is all upbeat pop tempo, which then leads way to an excellent melodious interlude, before sending us off on long flowing notes.

To Far Away Times - Chrono Trigger 

 

Chrono Trigger (SNES) - Peaceful Days

How appropriate is the title? Just the opening notes are enough to turn any day into a peaceful day, guaranteed. Listening to this makes one ready to pack up for a wonderful, unforgettable adventure.

Peaceful Days 

 

Chrono Trigger (SNES) - Wind Scene

I’ll die on the hill that Wind Scene is perhaps the quintessential track of Chrono Trigger. If you have a friend who hasn’t played the game, play Wind Scene. This is bound to convince them, no words required.

Wind Scene 

 

 

Article by Hamza 

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Action Packed Roguelike 13Z by Mixed Realms Can Be Playtested Right Now!

Singapore, September 19, 2024 | Mixed Realms is thrilled to announce the first global playtest of their latest action-packed roguelike adventure, 13Z.

Starting today, September 19th, gamers around the world are invited to participate in this exclusive event, getting a firsthand look at the intense hack-and-slash gameplay inspired by the mystical Chinese Zodiacs. This is your opportunity to prove your worth and vie for the title of the legendary 13th Zodiac Guardian.

While 13Z takes center stage with its global playtest debut, Mixed Realms will also be showcasing 13Z at the Tokyo Game Show 2024. Attendees can dive into a live demo featuring Lyra the Fox in a high-stakes battle against a formidable Zodiac Guardian. Whether you're at TGS or joining from home, this playtest is your gateway into the dynamic world of 13Z.

Be sure to wishlist 13Z on Steam to stay up to date with all the latest news and be among the first to take on the trials of the Zodiac Guardians in 13Z’s 1st global playtest.

About 13Z

In 13Z, players embark on a daring quest to ascend as the 13th Zodiac Guardian. Confront an array of monsters and the revered Zodiac Guardians themselves in vibrant, ever-evolving arenas. Sharpen your combat skills, strategize against cunning foes, and interact with a lively village that grows and thrives with your achievements. Each run through the Zodiac Trials not only tests your prowess but also enriches the bustling hub at the heart of 13Z.

KEY FEATURES

• Ascend to Zodiac Stardom: Engage in epic battles across mystical arenas, wielding extraordinary powers to claim the title of the 13th Zodiac.
• Choose Your Challenger: Play as unique characters like Lyra the Fox, Raven the Herald of Death, Panda the Warrior, or Cat the Ninja Assassin, each equipped with distinctive abilities.
• Built for Replayability: Customize your abilities, unlock powerful transformations, and make pivotal choices that make every playthrough unique.
• Solo or Co-op Gameplay: Face the trials on your own or team up with up to three friends for an unforgettable cooperative experience.

ABOUT MIXED REALMS

 

Mixed Realms is a Singapore-based indie game studio that doesn’t just make games—they craft experiences that get your heart racing. Known for the high-octane action of Sairento VR and Hellsweeper VR, and the strategic depth of Gordian Quest, Mixed Realms is all about community-driven development. Translation: They listen, they adapt, and they make sure every game they launch is something players can truly call their own.

Article by: Susan N.

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Enjoy Country Life in Farm It on the Nintendo Switch!

September 18th - Warsaw, Poland | QubicGames has announced that Farm It by CrazyLabs will be released for the Nintendo Switch on September 20th.

Farm It by CrazyLabs:

Plow the field, plant seeds, water the soil, and watch your crops grow!

Enjoy the country life with other fun activities like fishing, feeding chickens or cooking yummy food, ensuring there's never a dull moment on your farm!

Grow different crops, from carrots and radishes to oranges and big watermelons! Take orders and keep your customers happy with delicious meals and drinks made with your very own ingredients!

Express your unique style by changing the look of your character and spending your earnings on a wide range of clothes, shoes, hairstyles, and hats!

Relax with soothing sounds and enjoy satisfying visuals as you farm it all!

Features:

• live the country life as a real farmer!
• harvest carrots, eggplants, apples, and all your favorite fruits and vegetables
• feed chickens, geese, donkeys, and buffaloes to gather resources
• go fishing in a nearby pond and catch different kinds of fish
• cook food using your own ingredients and sell it in the local market
• customize your character with over 190 clothes and hairstyles!

Start your farming adventure and create the farm of your dreams!

About CrazyLabs:

CrazyLabs is a top-three mobile game publisher and developer with over 6.5 billion downloads and more than 250 million monthly active players in the hyper-casual, hybrid, and casual gaming space. Check out our best games here.

Article by: Susan N.

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Besiege from Spiderling Studios Available Now on Nintendo Switch!

Besiege, the best-selling PC game from British indie developer Spiderling Studios, is now available on Nintendo Switch in Europe & America! (With Asia coming 12th December).

Spiderling has teamed up with Ultimate Games S.A. to bring the Top-250 rated Steam game (95% positive) to the Nintendo Switch, with Ultimate Games acting as the console game’s publisher. PlayStation 4 & 5 versions are set to release later this year, as well!

Besiege is already available on Xbox One & Series X|S, but the Switch version has received extra attention, offering the seamless integration of the Switch’s Touch Controls, to the classic gameplay experience.

Core Features

• Single player Campaign with 55 Levels
• 3 Sandbox Environments
• 70+ Weapons, Blocks, Devices & Mechanisms to build machines
• A suite of Advanced Building Tools
• A “Workshop” to download other player’s machines or upload your own to share
• Touch controls for interactive building and destruction

About Besiege

Besiege is a physics-building game about constructing mechanical machines to annihilate armies, obliterate castles and overcome challenging obstacles. Players can conquer their way through a 55-level campaign or experiment & explore in expansive sandbox environments.

Create tanks, planes, helicopters, sports cars, catapults, rockets, giant mechs- anything you can imagine- with Besiege’s intuitive & flexible building system and extensive 70+ block collection!

Besiege’s intricate physics system creates a satisfying building & simulation experience, whether you’re the harbinger of destruction or your machine is falling apart.

Conquer your way through a singleplayer campaign of 55 destructible levels. Spanning across four island nations, each with its own environment, the campaign will pit you against unique civilizations ripe for conquest.

Cruise through Besiege’s huge sandbox levels, terrorizing their inhabitants, honing your craft & testing your ingenious prototypes.

The console version also includes its own “Workshop” where players can browse through machines created by other players or upload their own creations to share with the community!

Touch Controls

Besiege on Nintendo Switch offers a new way of playing the classic game, with the portability of the Switch allowing players to enjoy the creative sandbox anywhere, anytime. The intuitive controls and touch-screen capabilities of the Switch have been seamlessly integrated, offering new ways to interact with and build your machines. Place blocks with a tap of your finger and use the drag god tool to smash enemies and fling your machine about.

Get Besiege on These Platforms:

Nintendo eShop: 

• https://www.nintendo.com/store/products/besiege-switch/

Microsoft Store:

• https://www.xbox.com/games/store/besiege-console/9ppfbqg81q5j

Steam:

• https://store.steampowered.com/app/346010/Besiege/

Article by: Susan N.

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Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Plus - PS5 Review

 

Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Plus by developer and publisher Spike Chunsoft—Sony PlayStation 5 review written by Pierre-Yves with a copy provided by the publisher.

Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes

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Potential trigger warning(s)

Master Detective Archives: Rain Code Plus has multiple themes that could be upsetting to some.

Please research beforehand to ensure the safety of your mental health before playing.

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Waking up in a lost and found, our protagonist finds himself unable to remember anything. Finding a piece of paper with his name on it, Yuma Kokohead, Yuma also finds a train ticket for the Amaterasu Express which is currently leaving the station. Boarding it by jumping on with no leads, Yuma is about to have a haunting adventure as he heads towards a place known as Kanai Ward.

Full disclosure, Richard has been hounding me for… checks initial release date… roughly one year to dive into this adventure. He's mentioned next to nothing other than I should REALLY open my Nintendo Switch Collector’s Edition. Spoiler alert, it's still sealed. So when the opportunity came up to visit the Plus version of Master Detective Archives: Rain Code? I threw on my trusty detective’s hat and jumped into the mystery.

And in all seriousness, what the hell did I sign up for!? Bonkers is what probably comes to mind. To be fair, I should have also expected this when a lot of the talent behind Danganronpa was along for the ride. What a ride it's been. 

At its core, Rain Code is a murder mystery adventure through both the real world and the paranormal in a giant city known as Kanai Ward. Locked away from most of the world, this mysterious location has plenty of mysteries to uncover including why it’s raining all of the time. This constant somber atmosphere really helps set the tone for the adventure. With the help of the Death God named Shinigami (Japanese for Death God, yes this is the joke), Yuma will need to investigate and analyze the real world murder scenes before diving into the paranormal to truly solve the case.

Some of these scenes are grisly, so I'll leave those visual details to your imagination to also avoid potential spoilers. You'll need to experience it all first hand. When you come across these scenes however, that's where you're going to want to inspect every little detail. Each of these clues, red herrings or otherwise will be important for your final verdict as to who did it.

What I really enjoyed with Rain Code over Danganronpa is that while they share the same formula, murders and investigations, Rain Code uses full 3D environments. Yuma can walk through the scene and then choose to further inspect certain areas either solo or with an ally. It definitely helps to sell the atmosphere because it's not just a still 2D landscape, it's an interactive environment with plenty to see. Not to say the other style doesn't work, far from it, but this felt more engaging for the task at hand.

If Rain Code had just been this formula, it would have been a good, if not great, title. The pacing is smooth. The voice acting is great and the timing of the auto feature makes it all feel natural to listen to. But that isn't the end of it. Unlike the Danganronpa series, not everything you need is available in the real world. Some of it is hidden within a paranormal world known as the Mystery Labyrinth and Shinigami will take you there.

My biggest concern with the mystery labyrinth was going to be repetition. Yes, me, of all people who love Soulslikes and Musou titles, I know. But in all seriousness, exploring a crime scene is one thing, but the more action oriented Mystery Labyrinth is another. Needing to basically conquer a gauntlet of challenges to find the truth, there was a risk that each subsequent visit could just be a chore if it followed the same pattern. 

Thankfully that's not quite the case. From just the first to second trips to the mystery dungeons, there are enough differences to keep you on your toes. Starting with what each has in common are the labyrinth corridors. These were perhaps my least favorite feature until I realized that as long as I let all of the dialog go by, I wouldn't be running forward endlessly wondering why I wasn't making it anywhere. If all these were necessary to listen to dialog? These should have been made into automated sequences.

What these corridors will lead to however is at all times anyone’s guess. Deathmatches with the rendered psyche of those in the real world that stand against you will be the most common. In these fights, Yuma will need to dodge, jump and duck under the flying words of the enemy until the time is right to strike back with the truth. Other events will contain the human form of Shinigami in a barrel waiting for you to clue in to the key work in question. For these, you’ll be on a time limit to strike at the proper letters rotating on the barrel. You’ll have to be careful though as each wrong guess will take away from your precious time.

These are perhaps the more common ones compared to other surprises that may be dungeon specific. It’s very hands-on which helps to change the tempo of the otherwise very heavy narrative experience. Very, heavy, narrative experience. This is not a complaint, far from it as I spent a few amazing evenings simply watching the “movie” go by before control was handed over to investigate or essentially dungeon crawl. The point that I want to make is that Rain Code is a giant time investment. You can’t simply play five or ten minutes here, five or ten minutes there. You’ll need to block off some serious time as you may not know when the next time you can save is.

Because there is so much, I was also very happy to have a constantly updating journal to keep track of everyone and everything. Persons of interest, key words, key locations, everything can be accessed at almost any time to look things up. Stayed up too late playing the night before and can’t quite remember where you left off? Not a problem.

So as mentioned above, while I can’t comment on Nintendo Switch to Sony PlayStation 5 performance differences, I can say that the PS5 version is very smooth. What I also appreciated is that the size of the text is also of decent size so if you wanted to simply take your PlayStation Portal to go, that’s not a problem. As a final bonus to these, is that Rain Code on the PS5 also contains the Switch DLC ready to go from the main menu. Thankfully there is a disclaimer that it’s better to finish the main story first in order to avoid potential spoilers.

Overall I loved my time with Master Detective Archives: Rain Code Plus. While it could be a lot to handle at times, either because of the nature of the murder mysteries or the reserve over the topness that the creative minds behind the Danganronpa series are known for, it was worth it.

Score: 9 / 10

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