Twinworld Game Reviews

Archive for September, 2020

BATH, England – Sept. 30, 2020 – Jetboard Joust, a joyous fusion of classic arcade shoot-’em-ups and modern roguelikes from publisher Freedom! Games and developer BitBull sets a course for Steam on PC and Mac on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 and Nintendo Switch in 2021.

A follow-up three decades in the making, Jetboard Joust springs into action 31 years following the launch of 1989’s ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, and Amstrad CPC title Skateboard Joust. Soar around circular arenas on a levitating jetboard and defend civilians from alien raiders. Wield an arsenal of heavy weaponry to protect the skies while balancing propulsive bursts to evade enemy fire and maintain altitude across a gauntlet of procedurally-generated levels.

Dogfight with more than 50 varieties of intergalactic invaders, including hulking mutants created from abductees then face off against massive bosses. Once the enemy armadas are defeated, challenging guardians appear as one final obstacle between the hero and a treasure trove of loot, weapons, and currency that will prove invaluable in overcoming the trials ahead.

Master action-packed combat where juggling weapon condition, ammo count, and shields is the key to survival. Harness momentum to transform the jetboard into a devastating projectile. Earn coins from destroying foes and saving citizens to purchase weapon and jetboard upgrades or save up to buy extra lives and return to the fight after falling in battle to keep the run going.

“Jetboard Joust is a fusion of classic and modern design that pays homage to the golden age of games I came up playing and making in the ‘80s,” said James Closs, founder, BitBull Ltd. “It’s been a long time coming but my partners at Freedom! Games and I are thrilled to finally reveal this over-the-top dose of arcade action is rocketing onto Steam on October 23!”

Jetboard Joust launches on Steam for Windows PC and Mac Oct. 23, 2020 for $9.99 USD with English, French, German, Spanish, and Portuguese language support available at launch. Japanese, Korean, and Chinese (Simplified and Traditional) localizations are also in the works. A Nintendo Switch version is also currently in development and primed for release in 2021.

Source: PR Email

September 30th 2020 – ININ Games is happy to announce the first collaboration with Sekai Project for one of Japan’s greatest adventure games, Root Double -Before Crime * After Days- Xtend Edition! The game will be published physically, and digitally, in North America and Europe for Nintendo Switch. ININ Games will also create an exclusive Limited Edition and Collector’s Edition, both of which will be only available at the Strictly Limited Partner Store. Pre-orders for the Limited and Collector’s Edition will start soon, with the retail pre-orders to follow soon after.

Developed by Regista and directed by Ever17 creator Nakazawa Takumi, Root Double -Before Crime * After Days- Xtend Edition follows the events of a nuclear meltdown at a research facility from two different points of view.

Leaving an unknown amount of survivors inside and a reactor at the verge of exploding, the rescue team is sent in to figure out the situation and save the ones left inside. Unfortunately the leader of the rescue team is suffering from amnesia, which makes the situation even more complicated. The player will uncover the events that have led to this disaster. Combining the stories of the different characters and experiencing every twist and turn is the only way to uncover the truth of what happened that fateful day.

What separates Root Double -Before Crime * After Days- Xtend Edition from contemporary games is its unique and highly involved Senses Sympathy System, in which the player must follow his senses and gut feeling and prioritize which character they want to focus on and follow, drastically changing the scenario and the outcome at every step. One wrong move can lead to their demise, and the many endings of the game are certainly not happy ever after…

The Switch port features fully HD graphics and crystal clear sound. This exclusive Collector’s Edition of the classic adventure game is a one of a kind with never before seen items and extras designed exclusively for ININ Games. Among the items are the new acrylic stand for fan favorite Yuri, an all new collector’s box design and a new artbook, as well as the fantastic soundtrack on a double CD-set with an all new jacket design.

• The Collector’s Edition for Root Double -Before Crime * After Days- Xtend Edition includes:
  Collector’s Box with magnetic latch
• Nintendo Switch Game with reversible Cover
• Acrylic Stand of Yuri
• Character Bio Art Cards
• Art Book
• Double CD Complete Soundtrack
• Mini Shikishi
• Poster
• Sticker Sheet

For the first time outside its original Japanese release, a limited set of body pillows, aka dakimakura, will be available exclusively in the Strictly Limited Games Partner Store.

Together with Sekai Project, we are extremely happy to provide you with some of Japan’s finest visual novel adventures, and Root Double -Before Crime * After Days- Xtend Edition is one of the greatest of all time and an unforgettable thriller from start to finish.

Source: PR Email

Liverpool, United Kingdom, September 30th 2020 – Independent developer Milky Tea Studios revealed a new Introduction to the HyperVerse video, detailing the lore, heroes, and core gameplay you’ll engage in as you seek to become the greatest hero in the universe in HyperBrawl Tournament, coming to PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch on October 20th.

This video delves into the lore of HyperBrawl Tournament as an ancient society of druids holds a contest to seek out the champion of the universe. You’ll choose from one of three classes of heroes. There’s the Swift class, which is fast and agile, but lacks endurance; the hulking Tank class, which can take and dish out the most damage at the expense of speed; and the Core class, which represents jack-of-all-trades heroes.

Each Hero comes with their own unique arena tied to their homeworld, offering a glimpse at their history and culture. Every arena is different, offering unique shapes and obstacles that require varied strategies to adapt to. You’ll have to master the HyperCurve to change the trajectory of your shots to take full advantage of each stage’s unique layout. But don’t forget to channel the HyperForce to power up your offensive capabilities to launch your opponents out of the arena.

You’ll earn a huge host of cosmetic rewards and accolades by completing challenges. These range from conquering stages in the Campaign Mode across several difficulties, to accomplishing win streaks in the online multiplayer modes.

HyperBrawl Tournament offers an unprecedent degree of depth as you assemble a team of two heroes from three classes and arm them with unique weapons to make for an entirely unique playstyle. With 12 heroes to choose from and eight cosmic weapons to equip, there are over 4,000 unique ways to customize your characters. Play against the AI in the fully fleshed out single-player campaign, or face off against up to three other players in the quickmatch Arcade mode or the more competitive online Blitz mode, complete with its own global leaderboards.

“HyperBrawl Tournament is an incredibly deep game with multiple layers of strategy and variety, but we wanted to make sure that its core gameplay is easy to understand and get right into,” said Jonathan Holmes, Founder & Studio Director of Milky Tea. “That’s why we made this video to give people an overview of how it all works in a brisk five minutes. We’re excited for people to start playing around with all the heroes, weapons, and arenas that we’ve spent years fine-tuning when HyperBrawl Tournament launches on October 20th.

Source: PR Email

Wreak havoc to the rhythm in the demo for Mad Rat Dead, available for free download from the PlayStation Store and Nintendo eShop. Players are also encouraged to enter the Mad Rat Dead Demo Contest: earn an S+ on the level(s) featured in the demo for a chance to win specialty items like the Mad Rat Peeker Sticker, a Sad Heart Dad Hat, and the Mad Rat Dead Limited Edition for PS4 or Nintendo Switch.

Mad Rat Dead releases on October 30 for North America and Europe and November 6 for Oceania.

Source: PR Email

SYDNEY – Sept. 29, 2020 – Projection: First Light, the illuminating shadow manipulation puzzle-platformer from publisher Blowfish Studios and developers Shadowplay Studios and Sweaty Chair Studio, is out now for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Steam.

Trace the history of shadow puppetry on a globe-trotting adventure as Greta, a young woman with the ability to manipulate light and control shadows. Traverse breathtaking environments reflecting the artform’s trail across China, Indonesia, Turkey, and Victorian England. Bend light to solve puzzles, discover secrets, and undertake a journey of self-enlightenment.

Shade the world around Greta, playing with light sources to create platforms that allow her to access new areas, walls to keep back enemies, and much more. Forge a path forward wielding her luminous powers to find creative solutions before facing off against mythological creatures. Call upon legendary heroes from an array of cultures to bolster Greta’s talents and learn more about her newfound abilities.

Explore richly detailed settings illustrating the evolution of shadow puppetry throughout history. Follow Greta’s journey through each beautiful location, accompanied by a sweeping score performed by period-authentic instruments. Developer Shadowplay Studios consulted with Australian shadow puppeteer and historian Richard Bradshaw to ensure that Projection: First Light shines as an accurate and respectful representation of this pastime through the ages.

“The Projection: First Light team formed to bring the story of shadow puppetry to a wider audience,” said Michael Chu, founder Shadowplay Studios. “So, naturally, we’re all beaming to deliver the game with the release on PC and consoles today.”

Projection: First Light is out now on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Steam for Windows PC for $19.99 USD / €17.99 / $24.99 AUD. It features English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Arabic, and Turkish language support. The game is available via the Apple Arcade subscription service and is also currently playable via free demos on both Steam and Xbox One.

Source: PR Email

Gothenburg, Sweden – September 29th, 2020 – Indie developer Elden Pixels has just announced that Alwa’s Legacy, the successor to the critically acclaimed 8-bit inspired platformer Alwa’s Awakening, is out now on Nintendo Switch for £13.99 / $17.99 / €14.99. Alwa’s Legacy released on Steam in June garnering high praise from players, now Nintendo players can experience this unforgettable adventure anytime, anywhere with the versatility of the Nintendo Switch.

“We’re so excited that Alwa’s Legacy has finally launched on Nintendo Switch,” said Mikael Forslind, Game Designer for Elden Pixels. “It has been quite a complicated and confusing year, which has meant that Nintendo players have had to wait a little longer to experience our love letter to the metroidvania genre. But we are immensely proud of what we’ve created and the wait was worth it. We’ve been able to add small improvements here and there in this time and now we’re launching with the definitive Nintendo Switch version of Alwa’s Legacy.”

After saving the land of Alwa following the events of the first game, Zoe is about to embark on her quest home. However, upon waking up she finds herself at the beginning of her adventure with the world feeling disparate yet familiar. In order to return home, she will need to help the inhabitants of this mysterious land and save it yet again from the mysterious curse it appears to be under.

Using Zoe’s magic staff, players must negotiate the land of Alwa to solve perilous puzzles and fend off monsters. New items and a character upgrade system allows you to craft your individual playstyle, centred on an offensive, defensive or explorative skillset. Using magical upgrades, novel pathways can be found as you explore the nonlinear interconnected world by summoning blocks to climb on, bubbles to bounce off of, and lightning bolts to attack with. Quick reflexes are needed to traverse challenging rooms while avoiding booby traps and pitfalls. Along this adventure, you will meet all manner of interesting characters, comb through dangerous dungeons, and uncover incredible secrets as you attempt to save the land from extinction.

Alwa’s Legacy honours the past with it’s thoroughly contemporary take on the metroidvania genre – full of puzzles to solve, dungeons to explore, magical items to acquire and ancient secrets to discover. Varnished with it’s 16-bit inspired visuals, mixing classical pixel art aesthetics with new visual flourishes such as a realistic lighting system and modern game design principles, Alwa’s Legacy offers a timeless play experience.

This is Elden Pixels’ second game after their homage to classic 8-bit platforming adventures, Alwa’s Awakening, which received rave reviews from the likes of Rock, Paper, Shotgun, Nintendo World Report, and Nintendo Enthusiast. Fans were so enthused by it that Alwa’s Legacy was funded on Kickstarter with 924 backers offering SEK 250,000 to see its production come to fruition. Though set in the same world with the same protagonist, Alwa’s Legacy is not a direct sequel to Alwa’s Awakening, but rather a standalone experience which can be enjoyed separately.

Source: PR Email

25th September 2020 – ININ Games is pleased to announce the challenging, colourful and addictive all out action game Umihara Kawase BaZooKa! is set for release on Nintendo Switch and Sony PlayStation 4. The release in Europe, Australia and New Zealand is both digitally on Sony PlayStation Store and Nintendo Store and physically on September 29th 2020. The North America release will follow a month later on 0ctober 30th 2020.

About Umihara Kawase BaZooKa!

Fast-Paced Battles with Party Appeal

Umihara Kawase BaZooKa! is a fast-paced action game where the player’s goal is to clear the screen of enemies by performing skilful combos with their Bazooka and an extraordinary fishing rod. Screens feature moving platforms, perilous obstacles and quirky enemy sea life. Umihara Kawase BaZooKa! offers multiplayer action at its very best and competitive gamers are bestowed with fast-paced battles.

Source: PR Email

Karlstad, Sweden / Giebelstadt, Germany / Köln, Germany, September 24th, 2020: Make sure you’ve got snacks and something to drink: Your favorite tabletop management sim is coming to consoles! Little Big Workshop will be available on XBOX ONE and PS4 on September 24th, 2020 and on Switch on October 1st, 2020. Enjoy endless hours of the hit game by keeping your workers in check, optimizing workflows, and creating cool gadgets! Supply products to clients in an ever-changing market and enjoy as your cute workers do all the actual work.

Start small and go big! It’s a sandbox experience where you can spend hours tweaking, improving, and trying around until you get it just right. As soon as you’re running multiple production lines, you’ll need to concentrate heavily on your organizational skills to meet your deadlines. Have no fear, clear instructions and out of the box thinking will help make your micromanaging dreams come true!

Little Big Workshop is developed by Mirage Game Studios in Karlstadt, Sweden. It was ported on all consoles by Massive Miniteam in Cologne, Germany. The game is published by HandyGames in Giebelstadt, Germany, and will be available for 19,99 ( EUR / USD / GBP ) on all platforms.

Source: PR Email

IRVINE, Calif. – September 24, 2020 – SEGA AGES Herzog Zwei is now available on Nintendo Switch eShop for $7.99. First released in 1989 for the Mega Drive in Japan before making its way to the west in 1990, the legendary Herzog Zwei set the standard for real-time strategy games, influencing many beloved series that would come after it.

How the Game Works

In Herzog Zwei, each of the eight featured maps will require strategy and planning to beat your opponent as you issue commands and take over Outposts to best your foe. You will protect your base and accumulate units to expand and achieve ultimate victory. Command a special mech unit to leverage and order around combat units, and most importantly, make sure to keep a keen eye on resources like “Energy” so you can be combat-ready at all times!

What’s New?!

With a variety of new improvements and features on the Nintendo Switch, now is the time to suit up and take control of the battlefield. The new improvements to SEGA AGES Herzog Zwei include:

• Sharpen Your Skills with an all new in-depth interactive tutorial mode
• Pit Your Skills Against a Friend in new online 2-player action, in addition to split-screen support from the original!
• No More Level Passwords thanks to new save state functionality
• Customize Difficulty to your skill level with the new “Helper mode”
• Get Strategic with new Weapon and Unit tables for easy reference
• Relive the Most Heated Moments with new Save replays
• Customize Your Game with a variety of screen options and wallpapers

Where Can I Buy It?

SEGA AGES Herzog Zwei is now available on the Nintendo Switch eShop in the Americas for $7.99 (with commensurate European pricing).

More About Herzog Zwei

In Herzog Zwei, players will control their very own mech pilot to traverse large battlefields with the goal of taking down the opposing force while producing support units and capturing outposts to achieve victory on the battlefield.

Choose between three different modes to achieve your goals: fighter plane, ground battle, and transportation. Travel faster and transport units to other bases with fighter plane mode. Manage energy usage and do ground-based damage in robot form.

Play against AI or friends via the online multiplayer mode only available in the SEGA AGES version of Herzog Zwei. If jumping into a game sounds too intimidating, try out practice mode, a robust robot tutorial. With save states and replays as well, this game is perfect for newcomers and Herzog Zwei veterans alike.

Source: PR Email

Stuttgart, September 24th 2020 – Strictly Limited Games and TAITO are pleased to announce Darius Cozmic Revelation, which will include G-DARIUS HD and DARIUSBURST Another Chronicle EX+. Darius Cozmic Revelation will be released physically on Nintendo Switch and Sony PlayStation 4 for the West as a Limited and Collector’s Edition. Pre-order starts on September 27th 2020 only at www.strictlylimitedgames.com.

G-DARIUS HD and DARIUSBURST Another Chronicle EX+ are the two 3D games of the Darius series, both of which will include updated features to appeal to newcomers and longtime fans of the series alike.

G-DARIUS HD is the port of “G DARIUS” in high resolution – developed by the emulation specialists at M2. The game can also be played in low resolution like in the original arcade version.

From the epic boss battles to the memorable soundtrack, G-DARIUS stood out when it first got released in the arcades and up to these days, critics and fans are praising this game as a prime example of how to bring a 2D game series properly to 3D.

DARIUSBURST Another Chronicle EX+ is the latest iteration of the awesome DARIUSBURST series which started in 2009 on PSP, with gorgeous 3D graphics and additional features to expand the arcade version from 2010. The game is developed by Pyramid and will include all features of the arcade version of “Another Chronicle EX”, as well as several new elements that will be revealed during the next weeks.

The limited edition is priced at 59,99€. The Nintendo Switch Edition is limited to 3500 copies worldwide, while the PlayStation 4 Edition is limited to 2000 copies worldwide.

Darius Cozmic Revelation Collector’s Edition is priced at 139,99€ and features a lot of great and exclusive items:

• Darius Cozmic Revelation Game (PS4/NSW)
• Papercraft – DARIUSBURST Arcade Game Cabinet
• Hardcover Book: 128 page Official Book “DARIUS ODYSSEY -COZMIC VOYAGER- fully localized in English, including special interviews and discussions with developers and game experts
• SLG-exclusive Flyer DariusBurst AC
• SLG-exclusive Flyer G-Darius
• SLG-exclusive BluRay (region-free) : “DARIUSBURST ANOTHER CHRONICLE Live in O-EAST -revolt-” including Bonus Track with Audi Sorlie and John Linneman
• OST : “DARIUS THE OMNIBUS III “（tentative name)
• SLG-exclusive CE Box with magnetic latch
• SLG-exclusive Retro PCB-Box
• SLG-exclusive 4-set acrylic art cards
• SLG-exclusive Acrylic Standee
• SLG-exclusive Darius Revelation Pin

The Nintendo Switch Collector’s Edition is limited to 2500 copies worldwide, while the PlayStation 4 Collector’s Edition is limited to 1500 copies worldwide.

Source: PR Email