Twinworld Game Reviews

Archive for September, 2020

Hamburg, Germany – August 18th, 2020 — Daedalic Entertainment and Indoor Astronaut are happy to announce their successful Steam Early Access title Unrailed! will fully release on September 23rd, not just on PC, but also on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

Unrailed! is a true test of your friendships: Work together in local or online multiplayer with up to four players to guide your train through dangerous terrain filled with obstacles and meddling local wildlife in order to reach the safety of the next station. Communication and cooperation are key to ensure you always have enough resources to build new tracks, stop your train from overheating, and can fend off animals pestering you. Without quick decision making and strategic planning your train will derail quickly, which makes the game all the more challenging — especially in team versus mode where it’s all about building the longest track possible.

When Unrailed! launches on September 23rd, a whole new Biome and additional wagons will be available. The new Mars biome is the most challenging so far, featuring a hazardous environment with a mysterious entity that blocks your path and shoots at your train, and you’ll have no water at all. You have to make good use of your energy shields and your ability to fly through space in order to avoid a space transportation catastrophe.

Additionally, the full release PC and console versions will feature all the updates that have been implemented during Steam Early Access, like:

• New Wagons: The mine wagon, break wagon, collector wagon and slot machine wagon can help you collect resources or save you from sticky situations
• Single Player Mode: A single-player mode with bots to replace your friends – You can order them around and they are going to cooperate without complaining!
• Sandbox Mode: A sandbox mode in which you can upgrade your train right from the start with all the features you have already unlocked
• New Character Models

Source: PR Email

Oslo, Norway – September 15th, 2020 – Inconspicuous Creations is pleased to announce that its jazzy puzzler about a worm shuffling its way through a series of mazes, Worm Jazz, is coming on September 21st to the eShop for Nintendo Switch and Steam for PC. Can you dig it?

Worm Jazz is a unique, wriggly puzzle game that combines the elongating body mechanic of  Snake with the explosion-heavy demolition of Bomberman. You take control of Mr. Mark, an earthworm with a taste of smooth jazz and dapper headwear. Writhe your way through the many intricate, mind-bending mazes filled with mines, wormholes, and powerups! Shrink when you blow yourself up and expand when you scarf down some chow. Are you able to gobble up all the food on each stage to reach the highly coveted golden apple?

Worm Jazz appeals to every type of player: from puzzle aficionados who will enjoy unearthing the path through the labyrinthine levels, to the completionists who will attempt to gobble all the food in each stage; while casual players will enjoy the challenge of progressing through the 50+ stages. The open world overworld structure allows players to prioritise which tasks to tackle first, with wormholes and boulders popping up as new environments become available. With no timer, Worm Jazz can be played at your own pace and every move can be undone. This laid back atmosphere is complemented by a swanky soundtrack composed by jazz maestro Oliver Getz, who painstakingly put together loops of calming, upbeat tunes to chill out to. Worm Jazz can at times confound challengers, so this smooth soundtrack offers the chilled vibe needed to master the maze.

“I’m looking forward to hearing what people think of Worm Jazz when it makes its debut this September,” said Inconspicuous Creations founder and developer Yu He. “It’s our first ever title on PC and Switch. Hopefully, people will resonate with the unique mix of mechanics, smooth jazz, puzzles and a stylish, hat-wearing worm as the protagonist.“

Launching on the eShop for Nintendo Switch this summer Worm Jazz will be available in English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Norwegian (Bokmål), Norwegian (Nynorsk), Russian, Polish, Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Japanese and Korean.

Source: PR Email

BURBANK, Calif. – Sept. 14, 2020 – B.ARK, the interstellar animal adventure cute ’em up for the whole family from Tic Toc Games featured in a Nintendo Showcase earlier this year, blasts into space for fun, challenging adventures Q4 2020 as a timed-exclusive on Nintendo Switch.

Carefully crafted by some of the minds behind Shovel Knight, Contra 4, and A Boy and His Blob, B.ARK feels like a Saturday-morning cartoon for the whole family. When a cybernetic army of sea creatures known as the Dark Tide threatens the universe, humanity’s only hope is Team Bio-Interstellar ARK (B.ARK), an awesome crew of animal pilots!

Assemble for a family game night and join B.ARK’s four furry heroes on their journey to save the Solar System. Barker the Dog, Felicity the Cat, Lucio the Bear, and Marv the Rabbit all possess Super-Duper abilities to help turn the…tide…against the Dark Tide. Barker temporarily turns baddies into goodies while Felicity can double her bullets for extra damage. Create a powerful barrier for the whole team as Lucio, or slow down every on-screen enemy with Marv.

Coordinate with up to four local pilots to activate Super Fusion Combos that can take down even the most powerful revenge-seeking sealife. Though B.ARK soars through space in top-of-the-line ships, their fishy enemies put up quite the fight. When they take too much damage, crew members can attach to friendly ships in Side-Car Mode to stay in the fight. But a bit of friendly competition never hurt anyone — tally the results at the end of levels to see who played best.

Journey through our corner of the Milky Way discovering animated friends and foes while visiting colorful planets. Battle sea creatures like Guppies, Hammerheads, and Crush-taceans piloting powerful mechs. And what sort of cute ‘em up would be complete without tough bosses?

B.ARK invites families and friends to reconnect for a night of fast-paced fun. Charming hand-drawn animation, epic space-faring music that keeps the action lighthearted, and an all-ages setting means anyone can pick up the game, start playing, and start smiling in mere minutes.

“With B.ARK, we’ve created a seamless story experience from the opening cinematic to the menus, and into gameplay,” said Marc Gomez, director, Tic Toc Games. “We hope players and their teammates find themselves immersed in the colorful world we’ve presented to them and fall in love with the different animal heroes of the B.ARK team!”

B.ARK releases on Nintendo Switch as a timed-exclusive in North America, Europe, Great Britain, and Russia in English for $9.99.

Source: PR Email

IRVINE, Calif. – September 12, 2020 – SEGA of America during PAX Online provided a first look today at the colorful story of Puyo Puyo Tetris 2, giving players a chance to plan their pops and strategize their stacks for the game’s Adventure mode.

Reunite with Ringo, Tee, and a lovable cast of returning and new characters from Puyo Puyo Tetris for a new journey! The worlds of Puyo Puyo and Tetris have merged thanks to a mysteriously powerful being known as the Dimensional Parasite. With this threat looming, Ringo, Tee, and friends must traverse the world to pop Puyos and clear Tetriminos to rescue their pals from a dark corruption. But they’ll quickly learn that there’s more to their quest than meets the eye when they face the Dimensional Parasite, with new mysteries and clues to uncover as their out-of-this-world journey unfolds.

As a reunion of two puzzle legends, Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 features a brand-new story that brings together the game’s vibrant cast and various gameplay modes for players to explore. With a new overworld map to navigate, new special mission conditions, and a progression system during the new Skill Battles, Adventure Mode brings a whole new layer of depth to the game’s campaign.

New Adventure mode features:

• Overworld: Navigate from stage to stage along branching paths and optional levels in a new overworld map, and replay stages freely for higher scores and better rewards! A separate shortcut menu lets players quickly access stages, check in on overall star progress, and more!
• Skill Battles: Featured in Adventure Mode, players can utilize the play style they prefer in Skill Battles, earn EXP to level up character stats, and experiment with different difficulty levels based on the team’s strength! After practicing in Adventure mode, players can take their hard-fought finesse and ingenuity to Skill Battle mode, a new separate mode in Puyo Puyo Tetris 2.
• Unlockables: Players will unlock Item Cards that give special abilities and options in Skill Battle, key to winning matches in the new Skill Battle mode. New playable characters, backgrounds, bonus stages, and more can be unlocked by players as they progress through Adventure mode while they earn credits to spend on even more cool things in the in-game shop!

Pre-Order Now While Supplies Last and Get Special Item Cards from the Sonic the Hedgehog series!

Boost your strategy and power your team in Puyo Puyo Tetris 2‘s brand-new Skill Battle mode with a pack of eight in-game rare Item Cards–including three special cards featuring items from the Sonic the Hedgehog series! This pack is exclusive to the Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 Launch Edition. The Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 physical Launch Edition is available for pre-order now on Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and the Xbox One family of devices, including Xbox Series X, for $39.99. More information on digital pre-order and the game’s Steam release will be announced at a later date.

Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 releases December 8 on Nintendo Switch and the Xbox One family of devices, including Xbox Series X, and PlayStation 4, with the PlayStation 5 version coming Holiday 2020.

Xbox Series X Smart Delivery & PS4 Upgrade Support

Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 will support Xbox Series X Smart Delivery immediately on release, ensuring players only have to buy the game once and will be able to play it on their favorite Xbox console. Additionally, buy the digital PS4 version from PlayStation Store or the physical version from a retailer and play the PS5 version at no extra cost when the game launches.

Source: PR Email

Paris, France – September 12th – Red Art Games is pleased to announce that online pre-order for the physical boxed version of Kholat on Nintendo Switch are available now, with a limited edition of 3800 copies with a price of €29.99/£27/$35.

Billed as the most terrifying journey of your life, Nintendo gamers can experience this epic adventure game, which was created by Polish indie developer IMGN.PRO and narrated by famous British actor Sean Bean.

“We are very proud to announce the physical version of Kholat on Nintendo Switch – one of the best titles to usher in the new school term!” – Michael Binkowski – CEO of Red Art Games.

Kholat was previously released on PC /PS4 /XB1, where it sold over 700,000 units across those three platforms and accumulated over 3.5M users, becoming one of the most popular indie horror games. Kholat is an exploration adventure game with elements of horror inspired by the event known as Dyatlov Pass Incident. The player will plunge directly into the boundless scenery of the inhospitable Ural Mountains with the task of finding out what really happened. Controlling the main character you trace the steps of a group of nine Russian college students who went missing in February 1959 on Kholat Syakhl.

Kholat is told through a first-person horror adventure framework and presents an atmospheric storyline of intrigue and mystery. With standard survival equipment including map, compass and flashlight, the player must balance their health and well being with the challenges that unfold. A sense of unease will wash over the player as periods of time pass, the cold winds and wintery conditions that prevail as you move from location to location. Limited information in the form of notes and cryptic voiceover as the player journeys through the world add to the experience of feeling lost as ghostly figures roam looking for their prey!

Features

• Narrated by Sean Bean
• immersive exploration experience
• Chilling atmosphere and tension
• Self made story inspired by true events
• Non-linear open world
• Challenging exploration
• In-game navigation by map and compass

Source: PR Email

Copenhagen, Denmark – September 10th, 2020 – Lovable Hat Cults whimsical puzzle platformer Journey of the Broken Circle launches on September 18th on Steam for €8 / $9.99 / £7.20 and on Nintendo Switch for €8 / $8 / £7.20 via the eShop. As an added bonus, for 3 days after launch, owners of any games published by nakana.io can claim the Switch version of Journey of the Broken Circle for free! Embark on the story of an existential circle seeking fulfillment in a seemingly cold, uncaring universe.

Journey of the Broken Circle is a narrative-driven puzzle platformer about an incomplete circle yearning to become whole. As it rolls through a wondrous and hazardous land, it encounters a series of other shapes with unique personalities and skills that it uses to fill the hole left in its body. Each shape offers a unique mechanic, helping our pie-shaped person surmount obstacles and find inner peace.

As with all relationships, each character Broken Circle intermingles with offers it unique properties. Some will allow it to float into the heavens, others will cause it to cling onto surfaces, and some will cause it to tumble along with an extra spring in its step. Not all relationships were made to last however, so don’t get too attached!

“We wanted to make a game that reflected the experience of being human. So we made a game about a limbless circle. But a very human circle!” said Writer, Andrea Brasch. “We all feel insecure at times, and our relationships with others simultaneously lift us, but can also make us feel incomplete on our own. That’s never been more true than it is right now, so if our game can help people through this trying time, we know it will have been worth it.”

Source: PR Email

London, UK – 10th September 2020: Curve Digital, Sumo Nottingham and Lucky Mountain Games are delighted to announce that their blisteringly fast arcade racing game, Hotshot Racing, launches today for PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Developed by esteemed racing game veterans Sumo Nottingham (Outrun 2, Sonic & SEGA All Star Racing, Team Sonic Racing and more) and Lucky Mountain Games, Hotshot Racing takes the colourful and iconic arcade racing formula of the 90s and updates it for the modern generation.

Featuring tracks in playfully re-imagined locations from across the globe, drivers bursting with personality and an easy to pick up yet hard to master drift centered gameplay, this new release is sure to be a winner with anyone who spent their formative years slinging coins into driving games at arcades. Thankfully though this arcade racer is easy on the wallet…

Hotshot Racing’s recommended retail price is £15.99 / €19.99 / $19.99 USD but during the week of launch, prospective racers can purchase the game for 20% off that price. Additionally, there are no micro-transactions, and Sumo Nottingham and Lucky Mountain Games are already working on free post-release downloadable content in the guise of new tracks, a new championship and more! Further details on this exciting new content will be shared in the weeks ahead.

Xbox One Game Pass subscribers have even more reason to be excited as Hotshot Racing will be available on the service from launch.

For the full breakdown of Hotshot Racing’s extensive features, check out the rundown below:

– RACE AROUND THE WORLD

Hotshot Racing features 16 tracks set across the globe with sharp corners providing technical yet enjoyable challenges. Take in coastal, jungle, alpine and Las Vegas desert environments, with each course modeled with the most vivid colors and blue skies for miles.

– PLAY YOUR WAY (AGAINST AI, 8 PLAYER ONLINE and LOCAL 4 PLAYER SPLIT-SCREEN)

Time Trial and Grand Prix modes cater to those who like to compete in classic racing formats, while ‘Cops and Robbers’ and ‘Drive or Explode’ modes offer exhilarating new ways to play. Each mode is available in single-player, four-player split-screen and eight-player online, while Time Trial is single-player only. Smash lap records to rise-up the global online leader-boards or download ghost laps to match your racing lines against the very best.

– 60FPS ON EVERY PLATFORM

Thanks to the awesome Sumo Engine, Hotshot Racing runs at a solid 60 frames per second in all single-player game modes! This 60FPS performance promise also includes basic Xbox One and PlayStation 4 models, as well as Nintendo Switch.

– MEET THE HOTSHOTS

Keiko, Xing, Mike, Alexa, Aston, Toshiro, Marcus and Viktor – eight speed addicts that have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of being the greatest racing driver in the world. These racers have no qualms about rubbing fenders and quarter panels before reaching the checkered flag. Each racer has four unique vehicles which pay homage to some of the most iconic racing cars on the planet.

– ADDITIONAL RACE TYPES

In addition to classic single race and championship game modes, Hotshot Racing also features two new signature game modes; Drive or Explode and Cops And Robbers. In Drive or Explode players must keep their vehicle above a minimum speed which continues to increase at regular intervals. Drop below that speed and the car begins to take damage. Too little speed or too many bumps with your fellow competitors and BOOM – game over! Cops And Robbers is an eight-player game mode which casts players as law enforcement or criminals. The robbers need to flee their pursuers while the cops need to catch them. Each robber apprehended is immediately drafted into the cops in this frenetic yet fun game of cat and mouse.

– GOTTA UNLOCK ‘EM ALL

It’s only through mastery of these 16 courses that players will be able to unlock everything Hotshot Racing has to offer. Every race completed earns players dollars based on their performance which they can utilize to customize their ride from new chassis components to cockpit ‘improvements’ like furry dice and bobble-heads. There are dozens and dozens to choose from, some of which are unlockable with in-game currency whereas others are by achieving in-game objectives such as winning championships, drifting for a certain amount of time etc. All customization are purely cosmetic and ensure your ride will appear different to your competitors when you roar over the finishing line.

Source: PR Email

BURBANK, Calif. – September 10, 2020 – Adventures of Pip, the charming retro-inspired platformer from Tic Toc Games where a single pixel evolves (and devolves!) between three forms to become a hero, launches today on Nintendo Switch with updated features, optimizations, and quality-of-life improvements.

Set forth on a grand adventure as digital underdog Pip to save the land of Pixelonia from the evil Queen DeRezzia. Pip’s prophesied powers enable him to evolve from a single pixel all the way to a heroic 16-bit sprite. Transform between three equally awesome forms, traverse five themed worlds, save abducted villagers, and fulfill Pip’s destiny to rescue the princess.

Trek through beautiful stages like the Lava Labyrinth and Galena Caverns all while trampling Queen DeRezzia’s minions. Learn the art of weaving between Pip’s different forms in order to master every level. Glide through the air and slip through small chasms as 1-bit Pip, leap off walls, climb ledges, and punch baddies as 8-bit Pip, then cut down enemies and obstacles as the sword-wielding 16-bit Pip.

Search high and low for secrets, including 108 kidnapped villagers hidden throughout the world.Along the way, gather Gems held by enemies and hidden in treasure chests for powerful upgrades. Buy the Heavy Gloves to crush blocks as 8-bit Pip, or purchase the almighty Cerberus sword upgrade that lets 16-bit Pip launch blade blasts. Pip needs all the strength he can get to defeat towering bosses like the devious Cragken and colossal Lord Magmalith.

Adventures of Pip’s improved Nintendo Switch debut offers an even smoother experience than before. Pop back into town quickly with a new menu system. Check Achievement progress on the go by viewing them in the Pause menu. Zip around as 16-bit Pip with increased speed and automatically collect dropped Gems. There’s never been a better time to join Pip’s journey and jam out to Jake Kaufman’s (Shovel Knight, Shantae: Half-Genie Hero) triumphant soundtrack.

“Giving Adventures of Pip a new home on the Nintendo Switch system allowed us to make some tweaks that make the game even more delightful,” said Marc Gomez, Director, Tic Toc Games. “We hope Pip’s journey charms new and returning players alike.”

Adventures of Pip launches on the Nintendo Switch system today in North America, Europe, Great Britain, and Russia for $9.99. It features English-language support and is also available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows PC, macOS, iOS, and Android devices.

Source: PR Email

10 September, 2020 – Indie publisher Digerati is delighted to announce Guild of Darksteel, a dark fantasy adventure with an immersive story and beautiful pixel art. Developed by artist and one-man studio Igor Sandman, Guild of Darksteel will launch Q1 2021 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Steam.

Players can get an early hands-on with Guild of Darksteel courtesy of a Steam demo which has been released ahead of the upcoming PAX Online X EGX Digital festival. The demo is available now and will remain live for the duration of the festival.

A versatile artist with experience working across a broad range of creative mediums, and with nominations to his name for Best Art and Fresh Talent Prize from the Belgian Game Awards, Igor Sandman is the sole creator of Guild of Darksteel, having produced every aspect of it himself.

“The world of Guild of Daksteel is unforgiving: the rich exploit the poor, the strong trample the weak. It’s a world not unlike our own and ultimately, that is the story I need to tell,” Sandman says about his debut game. “Guild of Darksteel is a work of passion that took me years to complete, yet it will only be truly completed once you play it.”

About the game

Guild of Darksteel is a cinematic, side-scrolling adventure set in a lush, layered dark fantasy world.

Embark on a dark fantasy adventure and follow the Sellsword, an immortal, as he seeks a purpose in eternal life by joining the Guild of Darksteel. Become one of their immortal mercenaries and investigate the mysterious tunnels underneath the cities of Ravenrock.

Key features

• Engrossing Combat: Utilize a refined combat system to defeat anyone who stands in the way of your mission. Unlock combos and level them up to your liking. Chain your attacks together and determine a personal attack strategy that will guarantee your victory.
• A Living, Breathing World: Explore the fully-realized city of Ravenrock, and interact with its inhabitants. Each character carries a deep story, breathing life into the world of Guild of Darksteel. Friends of foes, their lives won’t leave you unmoved.
• A Deep and Nuanced Story: Inspired by classics like Flashback and Vagrant Story, Guild of Darksteel tells a gripping story of power struggle and soul searching, as its characters come face to face with their mortality… or lack thereof.
• Stunning Artistic Vision: The world of Guild of Darksteel is comprised of dark, yet evocatively detailed pixel art, and set against a foreboding and thought provoking soundtrack. A unique and daring color palette sets the perfect tone for your investigation of the darkness that lurks beneath Ravenrock.

Source: PR Email

10 September, 2020 – Indie publisher Digerati is thrilled to announce vertically-scrolling shmup Rangok Skies for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Steam. The game will launch in Q4 2020/Q1 2021. Developed by Samurai Games, Rangok Skies offers an authentic old-school challenge with shoot ’em up gameplay inspired by genre classics, such as DoDonPachi, Gunbird, and Strikers 1945.

A Rangok Skies demo has been released to coincide with the imminent PAX X EGX online event, which starts this weekend, and is available to download and play now on Steam. In addition to giving players an opportunity to sample the explosive over-the-top action, the demo includes three of the game’s four available characters, each with their own ship and attacks, and features online leaderboards.

About the game

War has started! Rangok Skies is a vertically scrolling arcade shooter inspired by the genre classics, such as DoDonPachi, Gunbird, and Strikers 1945. Highly replayable with 4 different characters, each with their own unique ship, weapons, and bombs. Includes 2-player local co-op.

Key features

• Choose your pilot: Four different characters, each with their own unique ship, weapons, bombs, and story endings
• Solo Mode: Start with three lives and three continue credits, and try to beat the game!
• Online rankings: Which leaderboard you’re ranked on – Terminators, Masters, Heroes, or Babies – is determined by lives lost, continues used, and score
• Auto-Shoot Accuracy: Hold down fire to slow your ship and enable more precise movements
• Special Weapons: For targeted mass destruction of most enemies and bullets
• Mega Bombs: Inflict screen-clearing devastation, perfect for tight situations
• Collect mini-items and rewards: Increase firepower, charge the Mega Bomb meter, boost your score
• Five intense stages: Each with their own enemies and huge end-of-level boss
• Local Co-op Mode: Play with a friend and defeat Lord Rangok together
• TATE Mode (縦): Supports turning your monitor vertically for the full arcade experience

Source: PR Email