Twinworld Game Reviews

Archive for July, 2019

EMERYVILLE, Calif. – July 25, 2019 – Fantasy Strike, the new fighting game from Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix lead designer David Sirlin, launches today for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 while punching its way out of Steam Early Access on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Fantasy Strike is both a deep tournament game for hardcore genre fans and an introduction to the genre for newcomers. Its design philosophy centers around making the often-opaque aspects of the genre clear and understandable and helping players get to the strategic, decision-making phase of competition as soon as possible.

Beginners benefit from in-depth video tutorials for all 10 characters. These five-minute videos, available via a slick interface in the Learn section of the Main Menu, are narrated by game director David Sirlin. Novices and experts alike all benefit from innovative frame advantage visual effects — never seen in any fighting game before. This imagery communicates with each hit who will recover first and by how much, teaching players which attacks are risky and even shows moves that can be safe depending on timing and spacing.

The online play system seeks to further innovate in the genre by allowing one-click challenges from the in-game friends menu, as well as one-click spectating of any friend. The Ranked Mode uses built-on-the-fly tournaments and a team battle system unlike that of other games; it’s specifically designed to create maximum variety in character matchups for the community. The network code itself uses the excellent GGPO technology combined with proprietary latency-hiding tech that results in extraordinarily smooth online play for a fighting game.

Fantasy Strike also ships with a variety of single-player modes, including a traditional Arcade Mode with beautifully-illustrated story sequences, four Survival Modes, Daily Challenges, and a substantial Boss Rush mode where players build a deck of powerups against increasingly powerful AI bosses.

“I think it’s exciting that Fantasy Strike delivers as much or even more depth than players are used to in this genre while only needing a fraction of the complexity to do it,” said David Sirlin, game director, Sirlin Games. “We look forward to welcoming new faces into the community now that the game is available on consoles and in full release on PC.”

Fantasy Strike is out now via the Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store, and Steam for $29.99 / €32.99 / £28.99 / $46.99 AUD and supports English, French, Spanish, Norwegian, and
Japanese language options.

Source: PR Email

Today Kiss Publishing and developer Pixel Reign released a developer commentary video explaining the unique psychology-based level design behind Robbie Swifthand and the Orb of Mysteries, the 2D action puzzle platformer coming to Nintendo Switch on August 1st. Currently the game is available for preorder with 55% discount on the Nintendo Store.

The narrator takes viewers through a series of examples describing, in hilarious fashion, the intricate level design solutions developers came up with to trick players into their sudden deaths. Packed with countless fatal traps, each Robbie Swifthand level challenges players to think before they act and scan the level for any hidden “surprises”. The video also touches on the audio aspect of the game, introducing people behind various character voices, including Vassia Zacharopoulou, the voice of Anna in the Greek dubbing of the Disney movie Frozen and Dimitris Chavres, who voiced Kratos from God of War in the Greek translation of the game.

Source: PR Email

SYDNEY, NSW – July 24, 2019 – Infliction, the psychological horror game from Caustic Reality and Blowfish Studios that explores the darkness haunting the remnants of a suburban family, unleashes nightmares upon Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One in Q4 2019.

Wander through an interactive nightmare set within the confines of a once-happy household. Piece together the mystery behind a harrowing series of events while struggling to survive encounters with an entity that relentlessly stands in the way of finding absolution.

Explore a home crystallized by tragedy and uncover the heartbreaking secrets hidden within messages, artwork, household objects, and other vestiges of domestic life. Uncover clues and use items to unlock new paths and make discoveries while doing everything possible to avoid the malevolent presence inhabiting the residence. Hide under tables or beneath beds and harness light sources like camera flashes to stun the spirit and momentarily elude its pursuit.

Infliction couples a story-driven approach to horror with a dynamic atmosphere to produce an unsettling and unpredictable first-person experience that deals in mature subject matter. Imbuing familiar elements of everyday life with the supernatural, developer Caustic Reality delivers a terrifying otherworldly adventure that hits frighteningly close to home.

“Infliction explores fears that manifested after my wife and I started a family,” said Clinton McCleary, Caustic Reality founder and Mission Designer at Blowfish Studios. “I set out to create a horror experience grounded in real-world problems that resonates with players and am looking forward to scaring everyone when we unleash it on consoles later this year.”

Infliction will be available via the Nintendo Switch eShop, PlayStation Store, and Microsoft Store for $19.99, €17.99, £15.99, and $24.99 AUD. It features support for English, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese language options. Blowfish Studios will showcase the game at PAX West 2019 alongside other titles from the publisher’s catalogue.

Source: PR Email

Melbourne, Australia, July 23, 2019 — Fellow Traveller and Paranoid Productions are proud to announce their tale of choice and indoctrination, The Church in the Darkness, will be launching August 2, 2019, for PC, Mac/OSX, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4. They are also thrilled to reveal the game will be available on the same date on Nintendo Switch! With your infiltration of the Collective Justice Mission at hand, will you save your nephew or will he be lost to the cult forever?

Players are challenged to step into the shoes of ex-cop Vic as they infiltrate the South American compound of Freedom Town in a search of their nephew. Run by Rebecca and Isaac Walker, it’s up to the player to unearth their motivations, their plans, with the cult experience changing with every playthrough. Is the commune simply idealists looking to live in a socialist utopia, or is there something more sinister at hand?

It’s up to the player to sneak into the compound undetected, uncover the truth by finding and chatting with cult members, search cabins to unearth literature about the group, and finally locate Alex, the nephew.

The Church in the Darkness highlights the mystery surrounding cults, and how they are not always what they seem. There are multiple endings for each scenario and what ending you get will be influenced by the player’s stealthy or aggressive gameplay.

Feel the cult’s warm embrace by pre-ordering the game on Nintendo Switch or Xbox One at the 20% discount, which will then be available on all platforms for a week at launch. The discount is available for both the Standard and True Believer Special Editions; the former gets you a copy of The Church in the Darkness, while True Believers will receive the game, the Official Soundtrack and a set of special behind-the-scenes videos about the making of the game. The Standard Edition retails for $19.95 USD and the True Believer Special Edition retails for $29.95 USD.

Source: PR Email

OSLO, Norway – July 22nd, 2019 – With just a few more days go till the release of the expansion for critically acclaimed Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden, publisher Funcom and developer The Bearded Ladies today released a new video featuring the new playable character, Big Khan the Moose.

The smoking hot expansion Seed of Evil picks up where the original game left off and lets players continue their exploration of post-apocalyptic Sweden, this time with a new menace looming on the horizon. Powerful and ominous roots have emerged and seem to be taking control over the minds of friends and foes alike. Fortunately, a new hero has arrived, and he is probably the moost badass character ever to grace world of tactical adventure games.

Striding proudly in his Canada Moose jacket, Big Khan is not only skilled at landing critical hits, he comes with the unique mutations Ground Pound and Flame Puke, allowing him to set his foes ablaze.

The expansion and the retail release on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch is due July 30th. The expansion and the full game will also be available digitally on all platforms, including PC.

PC-gamers can pre-order the expansion on Steam for $ 14.99 / € 14.99 (pricing may differ across territories). A Digital Deluxe Edition will also be available, consisting of both the original game and the upcoming expansion. The Deluxe Edition will also be available in retail.

Source: PR Email

Paris – July 22nd 2019 – Microids and Pendulo Studios unveil today the first part of Blacksad: Under the Skin making of, a video dedicated to the transition from comic book to video game.

This video series shot during the development of the game will introduce viewers to the team behind the video game but also both the writer and the artist behind the original Blacksad comic book: Juan Díaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido.

Dive head first in the Blacksad 50’s film noir universe to learn how Pendulo Studios managed to give birth to this comic book masterpiece and how this original adventure came to fruition.

Discover unreleased documents, exclusive interviews and meet the international crew working on the project.

We hope that fans and newcomers alike will enjoy this sneak peak behind the curtain bringing them at the center of Blacksad: Under the Skin’s creative process!

The second episode will be released in a few weeks so stay tuned!

John Blacksad’s investigation is now set to start on the 5th of November 2019. The team will use this extra time to polish the game with only one goal in mind: deliver the best possible experience to our players!

Blacksad: Under the Skin will be released on the 5th of November on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC and Mac.

Source: PR Email

Planegg, Munich, July 19th 2019 – Buka Entertainment and Ravenscourt happily announce that the highly acclaimed top-down-action-brawler Redeemer: Enhanced Edition is now available for PlayStation 4, Microsoft Xbox, Nintendo Switch and PC.

“It was a really long journey. We’ve done a huge job and can’t wait for the upcoming release of the Redeemer: Enhanced Edition,” – said Dimitry Kachkov, Sobaka Studio CEO. “We literally feel the future excitement of a new players when they will launch the game on the consoles all around the world – that’s like the whole new planet is about to be born in the open space of the game industry!”

“Redeemer: Enhanced Edition is the first game Buka Entertainment is publishing on video game consoles. This is a very important milestone for both us and Sobaka Studio team as from this day on players can enjoy our title worldwide on any modern video game platform available. And thanks to our partners from Koch Media, it’s not only digital but also a disc edition!” said Artyom Studenikin, Buka Entertainment PR Manager.

“It was supposed to be my one thousandth morning of peace. I guess I need to reset that counter”, added Vasily, the protagonist of the Redeemer: Enhanced Edition.

About Redeemer: Enhanced Edition:

Redeemer: Enhanced Edition is an intense modern take on the Brawler genre where you will punch, hack and blast your way through enemies using fists, hammers, fire arms and even the environment.

Play as Vasily, once elite operative working for the biggest Cybernetic Weapon Manufacturer in the world, he narrowly escape to a secluded monastery when the corporation turned on him, willing to make him one of its cyborg soldiers.

For 20 years he tried to find peace and harmony amongst fellow monks until the corporation eventually found his trace and is now closing-in on Vasily’s location In so doing, they have given him one last shot at redemption.

Key-Features of the Enhanced-Edition:

Intense top-down action: Take out enemies using a wide selection of fire arms and melee weapons including combat knives, batons, fire axes, hammers and many more.

Unique kill system: Use three different types of kills to mercilessly eliminate enemies: sneak to stealth kills; use the environment to dispatch your opponents; utilize your combat prowess to beat down your opponents.

Brutal hand-to-hand combat: Take out enemies using a wide selection of fire arms and melee weapons including combat knives, batons, fire axes, hammers and many more.

Disarm-or-dismember system: Use a unique combat move to either disarm enemies of their firearms, or dismember certain enemies at will and use their limbs as melee weapons.

Parry System: Defend yourself whilst taking down your enemies by utilizing a well-timed block. Learn the movements and attack patterns of different enemy types to perfect your parry.

Story driven single-player: Discover Vasily‘s haunted past and experience a narrative journey of betrayal and redemption.

Co-op mode: Play with your friend in co-op mode on one console: Friendship is tempered in battle.

Leveling: In-game leveling is based on a gradual battle skills improvement – character’s proficiency with a skill is increased through practice of different attacks: kicks, punches, light and heavy melee weapons or guns such as handgun, shotgun, submachine gun, assault rifle or plasma gun.

Perks system: You have 50 perks to improve the killing efficiency of Vasily. Expand his abilities after every victory. Use new incredible fighting perks – electro punches, dragon breath kicks, explosive plasma and flame bullets etc.

Source: PR Email

Bring back childhood memories with unique graphics. Arrange, build tracks and solve logistical riddles. Step in driver’s shoes to operate the locomotive or take wider look on your plan and choose best routes for your train.

About Mini Trains:

Mini Trains contains 40 levels of logistical puzzles. Your objective is to collect stars on each stage – the tricky part is to keep an eye on each train’s route to avoid collisions.
All rail tools are for your disposal – switches, turntables and tunnels. Every stage has a few ways to reach the goal so be creative! With isometric camera and first person mode we convert VR experience into more accessible way. Catch a nostalgia train and travel to your youth!

Mini Trains – main features:

• Unique toy-like graphics, with isometric camera and option to take a closer look at the details from first person view.
• 40 levels, each with multiple solutions so you can find your own way to complete it.
• Many tools to deal with puzzles – switches, turntables, and tunnels. Use them to solve logistical problems.
• Childhood dreams without buying all expensive railway sets, on your console.

Source: PR Email

Warsaw – July 19, 2019 – SONKA is announcing Astro Bears has landed onto the Nintendo Switch today, just in time for the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11’s historic first manned mission to land on the moon.

“Astro Bears wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for the ambition of thousands of brave men and women who dared to go where no man has ever gone before,” says SONKA’s Rafal Sankowski. “The Apollo 11 mission marked an important point in human history, which is why we named one of our bears after the first man to walk on the moon, Neil Armstrong. We hope Astro Bears can deliver a fun experience for space lovers that will plant the seeds of imagination and exploration in a new generation of future astronauts!”

Astro Bears is the sequel to SONKA’s hit, Astro Bears Party, that has players competing against one another across various planets. With more chaotic gameplay, options for planet sizes, global leaderboards, and co-op Jetfish Hunting, Astro Bears will be the highlight of any party big or small!

Astro Bears features the following:

• 8 cute Astro Bears with different play styles,
• Local multiplayer for 2-4 players,
• Competitive mode for challenge-seeking players,
• Jetfish Hunting with single- and 2-player co-op mode,
• ‘80s-inspired soundtrack.

Astro Bears is now available on the Nintendo Switch eShop for $6.99. Owners of Astro Bears Party are able to receive the game for free, but they’ll need to download the game within one month of today’s launch.

Source: PR Email