Twinworld Game Reviews

Archive for January, 2016

Dual Core is a vibrant, futuristic, “twin-stick” style, shooter, with a strong focus on local co-op multiplayer (up to 4 players). Lots of robots, lots of lasers, lots of aliens, lots of explosions! The numerous retro arcade influences are front and center, but spiced up with a colorful modern style, a generous helping of sci-fi intrigue, and a dash of RPG ELEMENTS! This isn’t an arena shooter (though there is an arena-style arcade mode); there’s a full story mode with a ton of handcrafted levels to explore, and battle through.

Dual Core has been in development for several years now, and originally was conceived as a mobile/tablet game – however, somewhere along the line, I realized that very few of my favorite games were actually on mobile devices, *most* of them were in fact, on the Wii U, and usually because of the local multiplayer. So I decided to trust my instincts and that became the focus – our goal is to get players having a blast, working together, laughing, and (occasionally) yelling at the each other! One of my fondest gaming memories was playing co-op Gauntlet as a kid, and that’s still a strong influence today.

But it’s not just multiplayer – even in single player, you don’t play alone; your robot buddy “Corby” sticks with you, and battles by your side through the whole game. So in a way, it’s co-op multiplayer, even when it’s not.

Source: Nintendo Life

So far SteamWorld Heist is an even bigger success than SteamWorld Dig. Not just in terms of sales: Reviews and community feedback are through the roof!

At the time of writing SteamWorld Heist is tied with Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate for the highest rated 3DS game of 2015 (not counting remakes), according to Metacritic. We have no sales figures to share today, but rest assured we’re very pleased with the numbers.

Before our inflated egos won’t fit through the front door anymore we’d like to thank you. Without your support this wouldn’t have been possible!

…

The first SteamWorld Heist update (containing the French, Italian, German, Spanish and Russian translations) was originally planned for release on Nintendo 3DS this month. Time constraints have pushed this forward a bit.

We’re working hard to ensure it’s downright excellent and expect to have the update out before you know it. To make up for the delay we’re throwing in new surprises and lots of polish. Stay tuned!

Source: Image & Form

Wolf Brew Games and Digerati Distribution has announced Slain! has been delayed and will now launch on March 24.

According to an update submitted to Shacknews, Wolf Brew Games has admitted Slain! needs a few last-minute tweaks as the developer deems the game is just too difficult at this point. “Right now no mortal man or woman could possibly get past Slain!’s intense platforming, traps and monstrosities,” Wolf Brew Games shares.

Slain! is also expected to release on Wii U, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation Vita in May 2016. Hopefully its PC delay won’t have an effect on its console release.

[Update: A PR representative for Slain! confirmed the console versions of the game will also be delayed as a result of its PC delay. In a statement submitted to Shacknews, the PR representative tells us the console versions will now release “1-3 months” after the PC version. Seeing how we expected the console versions to release in May 2016, this now means it should now be expected to release somewhere between May 2016 to July 2016.]

Source: Shack News

Two person indie studio Open Form Games have announced their new sci-fi game is heading to the Wii U. Originally starting as an indie comic, the game features classic 90s cyberpunk stylistic presentation with “street-level and subterranean hacking missions”. Open Form says the game is very, very close to release.

Source: Nintendo Enthusiast

FreezeME releases on USA, Canada & Mexico on February 4th with a limited time discount! More info here: https://t.co/bK7cWfcRrr #nindies

— FreezeME (@RNC_FreezeMe) January 25, 2016

Shovel Knight version 2.2.1 is now available on Steam. Additional platforms will be updating in the near future too. https://t.co/1uxMeOI142

— Yacht Club Games (@YachtClubGames) January 23, 2016

Here’s the patch notes:

• Fix: Crash when fishing up the same object multiple times while underwater.
• Fix: Pickups which overlap the player sometimes not being picked up until moving away and back again.
• Fix: Autoscrolls sometimes incorrectly crush player when moving near the edge of the screen.
• Fix: Moving spiked ceiling in Tower of Fate: Ascent not colliding as spikes.
• Fix: No longer able to jump right after triggering a catapult warp.
• Fix: [Shovel] Jump cancelling Dust Knuckles on hit only results in a double jump if you are above the ground. Characters with no air jumps can never air jump.
• Fix: [Shovel] Fixed possible lock-up when Plague Knight summons vats. Occurrence chance was particularly higher on Mac and Linux platforms
• Fix: [Shovel] Can once again bounce off Plague Knight’s summoned vats.
• Fix: [Plague] 2nd part of Boss no longer kills player if offscreen.
• Fix: [Plague] Staff of Surging Arcana no longer goes through vertical crushing ceilings/floors when crushed.
• Fix: Minor option menu fixes.

A new indie title called Asteroid Challenge has been announced exclusively for the Wii U eShop. The game comes from Magique Productions, and is an arcade style shoot ’em up. Asteroid Challenge draws inspiration from classic arcade games such as asteroids, space duel, centipede, and others. The basic concept is to shoot your way through waves of asteroids, enemy ships, and other obstacles while collecting power-ups, special weapons, and achievements. A few notable features are:

• 1080p 60fps HD game play
• 3 retro graphics modes
• single player, single ship mode
• single player, linked ship mode
• two player, individual ship mode
• two player, linked ship mode
• 70 levels consisting of 7 sectors of 10 levels each
• Boss battles on the final level of each sector
• Power-ups and Special Weapons

The Gamepad is being used solely for off-TV play. The developers plan to submit the game to Nintendo by January 31st with a release within Q1 2016.

Source: Nintendo Enthusiast

FreezeME got approved by NOA! I´ll announce the release date soon,in the meantime here is the Wii U trailer https://t.co/zCMwvbv3bm #nindies

— FreezeME (@RNC_FreezeMe) January 21, 2016

VANCOUVER, B.C., January 21, 2016 – The Nintendo games launching in the first part of the year are going to include some fun amiibo functionality. Games like The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD for the Wii U console and Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games^™ for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems, both launching in March, use a wide variety of different compatible amiibo figures. Some new amiibo figures will also launch in March, including the legendary Wolf Link amiibo that is included in every physical version of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD, as well as three new figures in the Animal Crossing amiibo series, featuring fan-favourite characters like Timmy & Tommy, Kapp’n and Rover. The previously announced Ryu, Roy and R.O.B. (Famicom Colors) amiibo figures will also launch in March.

“New amiibo figures and functionality will keep surprising fans in 2016,” said Pierre-Paul Trepanier, Nintendo of Canada’s General Manager and Senior Director. “All the upcoming amiibo prove that the must-have figures are continuing to evolve in unexpected and fun ways.”

When the physical version of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD launches on March 4 at a suggested retail price of $79.99, it will include a beautiful Wolf Link amiibo figure based on the same character from the classic game. Purchasing The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD and Wolf Link amiibo bundle will currently be the only way to get this amiibo figure. When tapped to the Wii U GamePad controller, this legendary lupine opens the Cave of Shadows, a challenging new bonus dungeon in the game. After completing the Cave of Shadows, players can save their remaining hearts to the Wolf Link amiibo, and then use those hearts inside the Cave of Shadows to replenish life energy.

After conquering the cave, players can save a record of their remaining hearts to the Wolf Link amiibo and attempt to beat their score at any time. Some of the data stored on the Wolf Link amiibo figure can also be used with The Legend of Zelda game for Wii U, which launches this year. More details about this functionality will be revealed in the future.

In addition to the Wolf Link amiibo, other amiibo figures in the Super Smash Bros. series like Link, Toon Link, Zelda, Sheik and Ganondorf will work with The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD. By tapping the Link or Toon Link amiibo, players can replenish their arrows. Tapping Zelda or Sheik will refill the player’s hearts, while, in a devious twist, tapping the Ganondorf figure will actually make Link take double the damage!

On March 18, new amiibo figures in the Animal Crossing series will launch in stores, including characters like Timmy & Tommy, Kapp’n and Rover. Digby will also be made available as a stand-alone amiibo. The next series of Animal Crossing amiibo cards also launches in March, bringing the grand total of available amiibo cards to be used in games like Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival for Wii U and Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer for Nintendo 3DS to a whopping 300. Let the collecting begin!

Fans who are ready to compete in Rio de Janeiro with Mario, Sonic and the gang in Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games will also have to warm up their amiibo-tapping fingers. When the action-filled game launches for Nintendo 3DS on March 18 at a suggested retail price of $49.99, both Mario and Sonic amiibo figures will be compatible*. By tapping the Mario or Sonic amiibo figures to the New Nintendo 3DS system (or on a Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo 3DS XL or Nintendo 2DS system using the NFC Reader/Writer accessory), players can boost Mario and Sonic’s outfits with that character’s power for the day.

To celebrate the 20^th anniversary of Pokémon, some of the Pokémon amiibo will be made available again at select retailers. Fans should be on the lookout for Charizard, Greninja and Lucario to once again return to shelves right next to Pikachu.

Finally, Star Fox Zero delivers a new beginning for the classic shooter series. With a unique control scheme that uses both the TV screen and the screen on the GamePad, players pilot multiple vehicles through intergalactic levels with Fox and his classic crew. The game launches exclusively for Wii U on April 22 and will feature amiibo compatibility. More details will be revealed at a later time.

For more information about amiibo, visit http://www.nintendo.com/amiibo.

Wii U and Nintendo 3DS feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/wiiu or http://www.nintendo.com/3ds/.

Like the Nintendo of Canada Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nintendoofcanada.

Follow Nintendo of Canada on Twitter: https://twitter.com/nintendocanada.

*Games, systems and amiibo figures sold separately.

About Nintendo:
The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii U^™ and Wii^™ home consoles, and Nintendo 3DS^™ and Nintendo DS^™ families of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System^™, Nintendo has sold more than 4.3 billion video games and more than 686 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii U, Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 3DS XL, as well as the Game Boy^™, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi^™ and Nintendo DSi XL^™, Super NES^™, Nintendo 64^™, Nintendo GameCube^™ and Wii systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario^™, Donkey Kong^™, Metroid^™, Zelda^™ and Pokémon^™. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company’s website at http://www.nintendo.ca

About SEGA® of America, Inc.:

SEGA® of America, Inc. is the American arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA Games Co., Ltd., a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home.  The company develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.  SEGA of America’s website is located at http://www.sega.com/.

About ISM:

ISM is the IOC’s exclusive worldwide licensee for Interactive Entertainment Software. In addition to these exclusive rights, ISM is one of the world’s leading providers of sports fantasy games working with a number of sport’s governing bodies. Visit the company’s website at http://www.ismltd.com/ and http://www.olympicvideogames.com/.

TM IOC/USOC 36USC220506. Copyright © 2016 International Olympic Committee (“IOC”). All rights reserved.

VANCOUVER, B.C., January 20, 2016 – Nintendo provided new details about several of its upcoming role-playing games for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems. This included the announcement of a special Fire Emblem Fates Edition New Nintendo 3DS XL system launching February 19 and the reveal of a Collector’s Edition for Bravely Second: End Layer, which includes the upcoming sequel to the acclaimed Bravely Default game that launches on April 15.

“Fans of role-playing games have just received a boost to their excitement stat,” said Pierre-Paul Trepanier, Nintendo of Canada’s General Manager and Senior Director. “Nintendo platforms have always been home to high-quality RPGs, and with even more games launching in 2016, this trend is set to continue in a big way.”

The Fire Emblem Fates Edition New Nintendo 3DS XL system (game sold separately) launches on February 19 at a suggested retail price of $239.99 and features gorgeous art inspired by the game on the front of the hardware. Players can choose to purchase one of two versions when the Fire Emblem Fates games launch on February 19 at a suggested retail price of $49.99 each. In Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright, players battle a corrupted king. And in Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest, a misguided kingdom must be changed from within. Each path is a complete story and a complete game. Playing both will show players two different sides of one brutal conflict. After completing Chapter 6, players will have the option to download the other version of the game and experience a new adventure for only $24.99. In addition, a third story, Fire Emblem Fates: Revelation, which finds the game’s main character choosing neither the “Conquest” nor “Birthright” path in the story, launches as DLC on March 10 for $24.99 for players that already own the “Conquest” or “Birthright” version of the game.

A special edition will also be available that includes all three games on a single game card, an artbook and a Nintendo 3DS XL pouch at a suggested retail price of $99.99. When the game launches, further downloadable content in the form of new maps will also be released on a regular basis, with the first map launching on February 19. Players can choose to buy each of these maps individually, or purchase Map Pack 1 for $22.49 to get access to them all at a discount once they are released. For more information about Fire Emblem Fates, visit http://fireemblemfates.nintendo.com/.

When Bravely Second: End Layer launches exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems on April 15, a Collector’s Edition will also be available for purchase. The Collector’s Edition includes the massive game, a 10-song original soundtrack and gorgeous 250-page deluxe art book. A demo version of the game, Bravely Second: End Layer – The Ballad of the Three Cavaliers, will launch in the Nintendo eShop prior to the full game’s launch. This demo includes a unique story different than the one found in Bravely Second: End Layer, as well as new jobs and areas to explore. StreetPass tags and bonuses from the demo will also carry over to the main game.

In addition to Fire Emblem Fates and Bravely Second: End Layer, role-playing fans are in for an absolute treat in the first part of the year, as a wide variety of RPGs will soon launch for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems. These games include FINAL FANTASY Fantasy Explorers from Square Enix on January 26, Project X Zone 2 from Bandai Namco Entertainment America, Inc. on February 16 and the originalPokémon games (Pokémon Red Version, Pokémon Blue Version, as well as Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition) in the Nintendo eShop on February 27. Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past will launch this summer, with Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King launching later this year.

Nintendo 3DS features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/3ds/.

Like the Nintendo of Canada Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nintendoofcanada.

Follow Nintendo of Canada on Twitter: https://twitter.com/nintendocanada.

About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii U^™ and Wii^™ home consoles, and Nintendo 3DS^™ and Nintendo DS^™ families of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System^™, Nintendo has sold more than 4.3 billion video games and more than 686 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii U, Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 3DS XL, as well as the Game Boy^™, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi^™ and Nintendo DSi XL^™, Super NES^™, Nintendo 64^™, Nintendo GameCube^™ and Wii systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario^™, Donkey Kong^™, Metroid^™, Zelda^™ and Pokémon^™. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company’s website at http://www.nintendo.ca