Twinworld Game Reviews

Archive for March, 2021

HAMAR, Norway – March 15, 2021 – As revealed yesterday at The MIX’s Game Dev Direct, Klang 2, the rhythm-action game with hypnotic beats and high-speed combat from publisher Ratalaika Games and developer Tinimations, will dash to the beat on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S as a native app. These will launch alongside the previously announced Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Steam for Windows PC editions in Q3 2021.

Strike enemies in rhythm with a mighty tuneblade. Sense the cadence of incoming attacks across 30 handcrafted stages with semi-procedural elements. Defeat powerful bosses who can alter the fabric of a universe formed around melody. Strive for perfection, taking on six sections of increasingly difficult songs at both normal speed and unlockable faster versions of each using mouse and keyboard, gamepad, drawing tablet or touch controls.

Crystal caves and ice cream deserts depicted in a techno-greek art style, with inspiration drawn from synthwave, musical symbolism and Mediterranean sculptures, set a beautiful backdrop for the pulsing journey. Follow the sound of 30 intense EDM tunes from lead audio collaborator bLiNd as well as Otographic Music, City Girl, James Landino, and other artists down a narrative path exploring Klang’s past, the darkest corners of his mind, and what comes next.

“Klang 2’s gripping story will flesh out the details laid out in the original Klang while providing an improved rhythm-action experience everyone will love,” said Tom-Ivar Arntzen, Tinimations founder and solo developer of Klang 2. “I’ve listened to feedback from players and fine-tuned the gameplay, focusing on what players loved most and making it even better.”

Klang 2 will be available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Steam for Windows PC in Q3 2021. The game will support English, French, German, Spanish, and Japanese on all platforms, with Russian, Korean, and Chinese (Simplified) available as well on Steam for Windows PC.

Source: PR Email

BRISTOL, England — March 15, 2021 — Chasing Static, the retro psychological horror game from developer Headware Games and publisher Ratalaika Games S.L., brings a vision of PS1-style horror to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One along with the previously-announced Steam version, in Q3 2021. A free demo is available now on Steam for a limited time, as revealed during Game Dev Direct.

Seek shelter from a crushing storm as Chris Selwood, a man traveling through rural Northern Wales in the dead of the night following his father’s funeral. After a warm coffee courtesy of a charming waitress at a roadside café offers a short respite, Chris witnesses unspeakable terror as he sees the waitress violently pinned to the ceiling by an indescribable monstrosity. Chris passes out and later awakens to the long deserted ruins of the café, his world now shrouded in darkness.

To save himself and escape this nightmare, Chris must uncover the truth about a decades-long government conspiracy. Using strange technology, listen for signals acting as aural cues to navigate these haunted places, learning puzzle solutions by listening to the static-laden conversations of long-lost souls.

Rendered in a graphical style harkening back to horror games on the original PlayStation, explore foreboding locales including dense woods, abandoned villages, shadowy government facilities, and a mysterious bunker. Piece together what happened to the residents of the long-abandoned village of Hearth, and discover shocking revelations about Chris, his father’s past and the mysterious Echo Garden Facility.

“The PlayStation era had so many great horror games that made an impact on me and gave me nightmares for years,” said Nathan Hamley, Founder, Headware Games. “Chasing Static is my attempt to pay homage to those classics and that visual style while scarring a whole new generation with ideas I’ve had percolating for a while.”

Chasing Static releases on Steam for Windows PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One this Q3 2021 with English language voice acting and English, French, German, Spanish, and Japanese text with additional language support to be confirmed.

Source: PR Email

SAN FRANCISCO – March 15, 2021 – As announced Saturday during The MIX’s Game Dev Direct, Read Only Memories: NEURODIVER will come to PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Epic Games Store in Q1 2022 simultaneously alongside the previously announced Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Steam for PC and Mac editions.

Queer-focused developer MidBoss knows fans are eager to play the next entry in the cyberpunk point-and-click adventure series enjoyed by more than half a million sleuths sooner and presents the first NEURODIVER demo today through Steam and Epic Games Store. This prologue introduces the protagonist ES88 and her psychic abilities allowing her to dive into the memories of others. Help a bounty hunter recall what happened during a shady business deal gone wrong.

The trade paperback version of the Read Only Memories comics, brought to life by IDW Publishing with writing from The Walking Dead, X-Men, and Iceman veteran Sina Grace, will launch in August 2021. Collecting the full series into one volume with additional content such as interviews, the book will also include a Steam game key for 2064: Read Only Memories.

In NEURODIVER, return to thriving and vibrant Neo-San Francisco a few short years after the events of 2064: Read Only Memories. Reunite with franchise favorites including former police detective Lexi Rivers, elite hacker TOMCAT, and expert attorney Jess Meas. Investigate a new mystery with the powerful psychic abilities of series newcomer ES88, who wields a bioengineered creature known as the Neurodiver to amplify her mind-reading abilities.

Explore the corrupted memories of a colorful cast of diverse locals to track down an elusive psychic menace known only as the Golden Butterfly. Equipped with her trusty Neurodiver, ES88 must dive into and follow Golden Butterfly through the victims’ minds in hopes of capturing Golden before they can further corrupt and distort people’s memories into oblivion.

“Our passionate community is in love with Neo-San Francisco and we’re happy to give them a taste of what we are working on ahead of the console and PC releases later this year,” said Cade Peterson, CEO of MidBoss, “This demo shows off the new puzzle mechanics and some of the characters adding flavor to the next entry in our LGBTQ+-friendly world.”

Read Only Memories: NEURODIVER will support English and Japanese upon launch. Japanese localization and voice over as well as Xbox One support for all regions will be provided by Chorus Worldwide.

Source: PR Email

Paris, March 13, 2021 – Today, during the Media Indie Exchange showcase, Microids unveiled that the detective game Murder Mystery Machine, developed by studio Blazing Griffin, joins its publishing label Microids Indie. Already available on Apple Arcade, the game will soon launch digitally on PC (Steam), Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch.

“By launching Murder Mystery Machine on new platforms, we’re pleased to allow more players to enjoy this unique and thrilling experience” declares Vincent Dondaine, VP of Microids Indie. “We’re proud to accompany Blazing Griffin through this process, a studio renowned for the quality of their previous games such as The Ship: Remasted and Murderous Pursuits.”

Justin Alae-Carew, Co-Head of Blazing Griffin Games, added “We are thrilled to be working with Microids Indie and are excited to receive their support and expertise to bring Murder Mystery Machine to new platforms and new audiences.”

In Murder Mystery Machine, you join the D.C.A., the District Crime Agency. Your mission consists in helping detectives Cassandra Clarke, the young recruit, and Nate Houston, the experienced inspector, to solve numerous cases. It all begins when politician Frank Daniels is found dead in what looks like a burglary. Our two heroes will soon find themselves involved in a series of complex and interconnected crimes. Will you be up to the challenge and uncover the truth?

You will have to investigate multiple crime scenes putting your analytical and deduction skills to the test. Collect clues, connect evidence, interrogate suspects and find out who the culprits are.

Game features :

• A plot written by masters – Murder Mystery Machine’s story was written by professional film & TV writers to ensure that it delivers a compelling experience from start to finish.

• Engaging deduction mechanics – Deduce, solve, accuse. Every piece of evidence you collect will be added to your detective workspace. A dedicated place where you’ll have to use your deduction skills to recreate your own version of events as you connect a complex web of suspects, motives and clues to unveil the truth.

• Detailed & varied environments to explore – Dive into crime scenes you can rotate, zoom in and explore, each presented as a beautiful diorama.

• A modern noir art style – Enter a modern noir stylish world! The dark scenes are lit with a neon glow and the atmospheric staging enhances the game’s wider sense of mystery.

Murder Mystery Machine is the third game to join the Microids Indie label, after Fallback and the Kingdom Majestic compilation. Microids Indie is a publishing label aimed at providing support to indie studios and developers with the launch of their games.

Source: PR Email

Bratislava, Slovakia,  March 10th, 2021 – What do a steampunk-technology-filled tower, unsuspecting protagonist hunting murderous fiends, and brain-teasing puzzles have in common? Developer Fatbot Games is thrilled to announce its answer with a grid-based action adventure:

Vaporum: Lockdown, coming to the Nintendo Switch on March 22, 2021, following a successful launch on PC, Mac, and Linux. To celebrate, Fatbot Games has released a brand new trailer to highlight all of the dungeon-crawling magic Switch players can expect.

Vaporum: Lockdown is a grid-based dungeon crawler in an original steampunk setting, inspired by classics such as Dungeon Master and Eye of the Beholder, or the new Legend of Grimrock series. Lockdown, a prequel to critically acclaimed Vaporum, expands on everything that made the original game good.

About Vaporum: Lockdown

Vaporum: Lockdown, a prequel to the critically acclaimed Vaporum expands on the previous tale in an all-new adventure. Follow Ellie Teller, a young scientist, working on teleportation research in a grand secret project — Arx Vaporum — hidden in the middle of a vast ocean. Experience the last moments of her normal day job before things go very wrong, forcing her to quickly adapt to omnipresent danger and to confront her own past.

Game Features

• Explore an old-school grid-based dungeon crawler with modern audiovisuals and controls.
• Forge yourself in battle with first-person combat against deadly foes with varied abilities and behaviors.
• Improved accessibility thanks to the stop-time mode and an added-on-screen directional pad, allowing players of all abilities to better engage in combat with their own style and pace.
• Experience an intriguing tale, following a fully voiced female protagonist.
• Featuring a unique gadget-based RPG system with tons of customization, loads of loot, and mind-bending puzzles and hazards that will keep you plugged into this portable steampunk adventure.
• Localized in 8 languages: English, German, Spanish, French, Russian, Polish, Japanese, and Chinese.

Source: PR Email

Paris – March 11th 2021 – Studio Revolution Software, creators of the popular Broken Sword series, and French publisher Microids, are thrilled to announce today the signing of a publishing deal for the release of Beyond a Steel Sky on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. Already available on Apple Arcade & Steam, the retail and digital versions of the game will launch in Q3 2021. From Charles Cecil, creator of the Broken Sword series, with art direction by Dave Gibbons, legendary comic book artist behind Watchmen, Beyond A Steel Sky is the sequel to the classic Beneath a Steel Sky.

Beyond a Steel Sky stands as a thrilling story of loyalty and redemption set in an eerie and terrifying world of AI-driven social controls. Set a decade after the events of the first game, Beyond a Steel Sky immerses players once again in the captivating Union City – a dystopian cyberpunk city full of mysterious, sinister secrets. With Dave Gibbons’s breathtaking comicbook art style, the game is a hugely ambitious adventure which redefines the genre by allowing the player to subvert the world, populated by AI-driven characters, with interesting solutions to puzzles emerging from their actions.

“Signing this publishing deal with the renowned Revolution Software studio delights us!” says Stéphane Longeard, Microids’ CEO. “We’re thrilled to give players the possibility to (re)discover the long-awaited sequel to Beneath a Steel Sky on consoles by diving into a captivating story supported by clever gameplay mechanics and gorgeous graphics.”

Charles Cecil, Founder, CEO & Game Director at Revolution Software, states: “I am delighted to be working with Microids, a company with such a great reputation for publishing high quality adventures – they are the ideal partner for Beyond a Steel Sky, our most ambitious adventure to date”.

“Revolution has built an excellent reputation for writing intelligent adventure games that combine high drama with humor – leaving players not sure whether to laugh, gasp or both” says Dave Gibbons, co-Creative Director on the game. “I am thrilled with how Beyond a Steel Sky has turned out – it surpasses my expectations in every way”.

About Beyond a Steel Sky:

You are Robert Foster. A child has been abducted in a brutal attack. You have vowed to bring him home. The trail has led you to Union City, one of the last remaining mega-cities in a world ravaged by shattering wars, and political meltdown.

Union City is a utopia, its people loving life under the control of an altruistic AI: ever-attentive androids, designer living, piazzas and bars. What’s not to love? But this City has a dark underbelly…

Beyond a Steel Sky is a dramatic, humorous, cyberpunk thriller in which engaging puzzles drive a fast-paced narrative set in a dynamic game world that responds to – and is subverted by – the player’s actions.

Source: PR Email

London, United Kingdom – March 11th, 2021 – UKIYO Publishing and Overhype Studios are proud to announce that its critically acclaimed procedurally-generated tactics title Battle Brothers is available now on the eShop for Nintendo Switch. Switch owners can purchase the game for $29.99 / £22.99 / €27.99, while a comprehensive bundle that includes the main game and premium DLC expansions: Beasts & Exploration, Warriors of the North, and Blazing Deserts, is also available for $60.98 / £50.98 / €58.98, offering an additional 5% in savings. For further information on all the add-on packs, check out their descriptions on the Nintendo eShop now.

“The community has been requesting and patiently waiting for a portable version of the game for a long time. We went to considerable effort to make the most of the Nintendo Switch’s control options and bring the game over in a truly console-optimised fashion. We’re thrilled fellow tacticians can now enter the gritty, tactical world of Battle Brothers wherever they go”, said Jan Taak of Overhype Studios. “The game is designed to both challenge players and their tactics, while generating memorable, unique stories, and now they can lead their own mercenary companies when commuting or even flying ten thousand feet in the air. ”

“We are really excited that Battle Brothers is finally available on the Switch. It’s a perfect fit for gaming on the go, as well as playing on the big screen while you’re at home,” said Martin Hann of UKIYO Publishing. “It has many compelling stories to tell, and we can’t wait for more players to experience them.”

Having launched on PC to rave reviews in 2017, Battle Brothers is a turn-based tactical RPG in which players accrue their own mercenary gang in a gritty, medieval fantasy world. On Nintendo Switch the game has been re-engineered to best make use of the hardware and its control options. You decide who to hire, where to go, what contracts to take on, and how to manage your private militia. Running a company requires blood, sweat and tears as you balance your budget, equip your crew, and do whatever it takes to put food on the table as you wander through this unforgiving world.

Once in combat, Battle Brothers is a different kind of tactical affair, as you position your players into place. They best be well equipped, however, as different weapons will have different advantages and disadvantages against the rogue gallery of cronies. Split shields with axes, stun enemies with a mace, form a phalanx with spears, or crush enemy armor with a warhammer. Everything in Battle Brothers is permanent, so once you lose a soldier, they’re gone forever. And if you lose your whole squad, it’s game over! The world of Battle Brothers is rough and unforgiving, ensuring that the stakes are always high both in battle and in the monetary management outside of it.

Source: PR Email

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Feb. 25, 2021 – To The Rescue!, the heartfelt dog shelter management simulator from developer Little Rock Games and publisher Freedom Games, adopts an Autumn 2021 release window for Nintendo Switch alongside Steam on Windows PC and Mac.

Build a shelter and help stray pups find good new homes with loving families. Construct an ideal environment to meet the needs of man’s best friend and maximize their chances to be adopted. Caring for dozens of doggos is rewarding, but the mission has its share of challenges as well.

Every pooch has their own personality. It’s important to get to know each dog and find out what makes them unique. People have their preferences too, so learning what they’re looking for in a pupper is critical when making matches that will last a lifetime.

Between visits from potential pet parents, there’s never a dull moment. Shelters have plenty of mouths to feed and treating illnesses like kennel cough is always a concern. Then there’s logistics to worry about. It takes no shortage of supplies to keep the operation up and running.

Meanwhile, someone has to manage the finances and make sure to keep the lights on. Shelters need to be thrifty and make hard decisions. Hiring staff and dealing with investors is as much a part of the job as scritching Rex behind the ears and giving Fido belly rubs. There can be tough times, but at the end of the day helping dogs find their forever homes is always worth it.

“The challenges dog shelters and their volunteers face every day truly inspire us,” said Olivia Dunlap, co-founder, Little Rock Games. “It’s a setting we felt was ripe for exploration in games and we look forward to bringing this world to Nintendo Switch and Steam later this year.”

To The Rescue! will be available in late 2021 for Nintendo Switch as well as Steam on PC and Mac for $19.99. The development team pledges 20 percent of profits to pet shelters.

Source: PR Email

9 March, 2021 – Indie publisher Digerati and developer Glee-Cheese Studio are delighted to announce A Musical Story for PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and iOS. The game is scheduled to launch this summer.

A music/narrative experience set in the 1970s, A Musical Story is part rhythm game, part interactive art, and uses the connection between music and memory as a central theme. There’s no text or dialogue – the entire story is told through the game’s original music (influenced by bands such as Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and Air) and distinct animated art style.

Starting work on the project in 2017, the four-man team at French developer Glee-Cheese Studio experimented with many different prototypes, each one exploring various story concepts, and musical and visual styles, before settling on a final vision for A Musical Story they felt would set it apart from other music/rhythm games.

“We wanted to make something different, something that would stick in the minds of players, both for its gameplay and story. It took a huge amount of time to find the right formula, but this one was the most inspiring,” says Charles Bardin, the game’s designer and co-composer.

“In most musical games, there’s a visual timeline, showing exactly when to play the notes. We’ve focused instead on creating an experience that relies on the listening skills of the player, so they must feel the music, understand it, to progress and unveil the story.”

About the game

A Musical Story is a rhythm game set against a 70s backdrop. Explore the memories of Gabriel, a young man trying to come to terms with his situation through the connections to his musical memory. Each correctly played melody opens a new chapter into Gabriel’s past, bringing him closer to the truth.

Key features

• Rekindle Gabriel’s memories with rhythmic button presses in time with the music
• Storytelling without words – discover Gabriel’s journey through music and visuals alone
• Gabriel’s story comes to life through a beautifully crafted art style created by Alexandre Rey
• A unique original soundtrack featuring 26 songs, composed and performed by Charles Bardin and Valentin Ducloux
• Play every song perfectly to unlock a hidden chapter

Source: PR Email

London, UK. – March 5th, 2021 – Rising Star Games are proud to announce Harvest Moon: One World is available now across Europe for Nintendo Switch. The game is rated PEGI 3 and USK 0 and is available across Europe physically and digitally for £39.99 / €49.99*.

“Harvest Moon: One World is our largest Harvest Moon game yet,” said Hiro Maekawa, President and CEO of Natsume. “With five different lands inspired by real life places, mystical Harvest Wisps, innovative tools that help you quickly travel and take your barn with you, and new rare and exotic animals, this is truly a new world for players to explore. Players will ride camels across the deserts of Pastilla, venture deep into the snowy mountains of Salmiakki, and even visit a volcano near the cozy mountain town of Lebkuchen!”

Can you imagine a world without cabbage, tomatoes, or even carrots? Believe it or not, that’s the world you’ll find yourself in at the beginning of Harvest Moon: One World, as the Harvest Goddess, the queen of crops herself, has vanished…

However, before the Harvest Goddess disappeared from this world, she imbued the tiny Harvest Wisps with the knowledge of various seeds, thus ensuring the various fruits and vegetables of the world would not be lost. Using the power given to these Harvest Wisps, you’ll unlock various seeds as you progress through the game! But the Harvest Wisps can be tricky to find, as they all appear at different times and places. You’ll need to use your noggin to make sure you seek out as many of them as you can!

• Explore five unique and colorful areas: the sprawling grasslands of Calisson, the gorgeous beaches of Halo Halo, the searing desert heat of Pastilla, the cozy hills of Lebkuchen, and the snowy mountains of Salmiakki!
• Choose your main character and meet all of the five handsome bachelors and five beautiful bachelorettes, each with their own unique personality and backstory!
• Raise and keep animals such as cows, sheep, goats, and even reindeer!
• Use your Expando-Farm to easily travel from one area to another!

Season Pass & Four DLC Packs

The farming fun continues in four DLC packs! Interior Design & Tool Upgrade Pack and the Season Pass are available today. Far East Adventure Pack, Precious Pets Pack, and Mythical Wild Animals Pack will be launching later this Spring.

Live your best life! Customize the interior of your house with five fabulous designs! You will also be able to upgrade your hoe, watering can, hammer, axe, and fishing rod an additional level, making growing crops, fishing, and mining easier and faster! This pack includes an additional level for all of your tools and five Different Interior Design Sets: Farm, Castle, Steampunk, Spaceship, and Starlight!

The Interior Design & Tool Upgrade Pack is available NOW!

Purchase the Season Pass today to receive access to all four DLC’s for a special price*. DLC’s launching after March 5th will automatically update in-game on their release dates.

Source: PR Email