Twinworld Game Reviews

Archive for January, 2025

Edmonton, Canada, January 29th, 2025 – Caldera Interactive has unveiled its cozy farming sim / tower defense hybrid The Rabbit Haul, coming to PC and Switch in 2026. As a fleet-footed rabbit, you must nurture your garden by day, then defend it from mischievous raccoons by night.

The Rabbit Haul places players in the role of a cute cottontail trying to rebuild their hometown after it’s been ravaged by greedy raccoon gang the Trash Panda Posse. During the day, you must tend to your crops, replenish your food reserves and economy, water your farm, add harvested produce to your haul, and grow defensive tower plants that will help thwart off invaders. Be strategic in your placement, as an ideal garden will make use of synergies created between harmonious plants.

When you choose to switch over into nighttime, you must defend your haul against the assailing Trash Panda Posse. They’ll grow stronger with each wave, with different enemy types attempting to spoil your riches, so you must upgrade your weapons and defenses to ensure you can survive the night!

No two playthroughs are ever the same, as The Rabbit Haul features a sprawling, randomly generated world full of quests and treasures. Explore the overworld to discover unique items and allies that will help rebuild your town and reinforce your defenses even further. Between runs, you can upgrade your towers, unlock new merchants, and prepare yourself for your next adventure. With an array of unique weapons, upgrade paths, powerful towers and crops to unlock, The Rabbit Haul offers countless playstyles to master!

“With The Rabbit Haul we wanted to combine our love of relaxing cozy games with the strategy of tower defense titles and the random adventure of roguelikes,” said Titus Lo, game designer at Caldera Interactive. “We won the GDC 2024 Pitch competition for it, so it seems like there’s an appetite for The Rabbit Haul, and not just because the crops look tasty – though that helps!”

Source: PR Email

Stuttgart, Germany – January 23rd, 2025 – We thought they’d come from space… We were wrong, very wrong!

After 35 years, one of Rainbow Arts’ finest pieces of home computer entertainment “resurfaces”. ININ, Kritzelkratz 3000, and Ziggurat have collaborated to bring you the remake of a real shoot ‘em up classic of the Amiga era: X-Out: Resurfaced!

Go for an action-filled dive on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series and Steam. Available for Digital Pre-order now on Nintendo eStore and PlayStation Store (Xbox very soon) at €19,99 and ready for the big plunge on February 20th.

90s Home Computer Excellence

The year is 1990, and the end of the home computer era is fast approaching, but Amiga, C64, and Atari ST still reign. Right at that time a fresh challenger to the sprawling shoot ‘em up space appears from the ocean deep: X-Out!

Build your Ship and ride the Synthwave!

Unlike its competitors X-Out dazzled its players with ominous underwater worlds, a synth-laden soundtrack from composer legend Chris Huelsbeck, and an innovative shop system, bringing variety, flexibility, and a high degree of replayability to the classic horizontal shoot ‘em up experience.

Bigger. Better. Resurfaced!

Some 35 years later, X-Out is coming back for the first time on modern platforms, massively improved and rebuilt from the ground up while preserving what made it great in the first place.

For X-Out: Resurfaced we didn’t just want to replicate the original but actually capture its spirit, so we added a – for the era – typical trainer menu: Knowing how unforgiving the original was and the remake still is, we provide some helpful cheats while giving a little nod to the home computer “scene”.

Another “absolute must” addition over the original is the new 2-player co-op (Steam Remote Play supported). There is nothing better than gaining an edge on the deep sea enemies by enlisting a trusty friend.

Finally, for the shoot ‘em up veterans and X-Out pros, Mirror mode will flip the script and provide a fresh new challenge.

Features:

• Not just re-treading the same waters but a remake that sets a fresh course while staying true to its heading.

• Put on your dive mask and feast your eyes on faithfully transported sprite work as well as completely new particle and lighting effects!

• Speaking of beautiful art: As a tribute to the artist of the iconic cover of the original version, the late Celal Kandemiroglu, we’ve worked with his brother and co-creator Ogan Kandemiroglu.

• Heed the call of the sea and groove to a stunning synth soundtrack completely remixed and greatly enhanced by composer legend Chris Hülsbeck. In addition, the original soundtracks of the C64 and Amiga versions are available too!

• Pick our pre-configured load-outs or build your fleet and ships from scratch in the modernized and improved shop system!

• Enlist the help of a fellow sub cadet and confront the alien threat together in a 2-player couch co-op dive! (Steam Remote Play supported!)

• Get your perspective flipped in the new Mirror Mode!

What’s in the box?

To properly celebrate the 35th Anniversary of Rainbow Arts’ home computer masterpiece ININ has prepared a physical Special Edition filled with goodies, that can now be pre-ordered for €49.99 exclusively on ININgames.com!

X-Out: Resurfaced 35th Anniversary Special Edition contains:

• Physical game for Nintendo Switch or Sony PlayStation 5

• Original Soundtrack composed and remixed by the legendary Chris Hülsbeck on CD

• Colorful History Artbook featuring Interviews with the original Rainbow Arts Developers  and helpful in-depth tips about the ships and weapons for new X-Out cadets

Source: PR Email

January 22nd (Valencia, Spain) — Mika and the Witch’s Mountain fully launches today for all platforms: PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series.

The team have also continued expanding this adventure with free content patches (two of them already available on Steam) and improving the experience thanks to the community’s feedback and support. This content added new quests, minigames, characters and cosmetics, but there’s more to come.

The final content patch: Into the Mont Gaun, will be put out in the following weeks, adding three Zelda-like dungeons that let you go deep into the depths of the mountain. Prove yourself and unveil the secrets of the elements.

After 5 months in Early Access and very positive reviews, the game had sold over 60k copies. With all the new content that’s since been added, this charming indie game now offers +8 hours of gameplay, maybe more for those who need-to-get-all.

About Mika and the Witch’s Mountain

Mika and the Witch’s Mountain is a fantasy adventure about an aspiring witch who delivers packages to the townspeople of a small island. Explore every nook and cranny and soar through the sky with your magic broom. Take your magic broom and discover all the secrets hidden in the mountain while getting to know its charming inhabitants. Work hard and get a magic broom good enough to achieve your goal: to go to the top of the mountain. This coming-of-age journey will take us to the top of the mountain through a story of effort, friendship, and community; and will let our hearts fly free.

Features:

• Fly over a beautiful island. Explore a mini open world full of secrets and magic.
• Protect the packages from the elements as you fly around the island.
• Play as a little witch who works delivering packages on a small island.
• Complete your collection with different outfits, trails, treasures and more.
• A cozy light-heart story for you to unwind and relax.

Source: PR Email

LONDON, United Kingdom (January 22nd, 2025)— Avast, ye swabs! SNEG Ltd. has revealed that Captain Blood will FINALLY embark on his long-awaited adventure on Tuesday, May 6th, 2025, and will be available for PCs on Steam and GOG, Mac, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox X|S, and Nintendo Switch. While it is undoubtedly worth its weight in gold doubloons, it will be priced at $24.99 USD, with no pre-order required.

Originally intended to be released in 2010 for Xbox 360, the planned launch was scuppered when the original publisher went bankrupt, and a slew of legal challenges prevented the developers from releasing the game themselves. Fifteen years later, with SNEG Ltd. at the helm, those challenges have been resolved, and the game has been tweaked to bring it back in line for modern gamers while conserving the retro look and feel of the decade it was created.

When discussing finally being able to bring Captain Blood to gamers, albeit 15 years later than intended, SNEG co-founder Artem Shchuiko said: “Captain Blood is a love letter from a bygone gaming era, when you could start and finish a fun, linear, and QTE-heavy games in a weekend and still have time left to debate next-gen console specs. So much love and passion went into making this one, from the original dev team to our crew at SNEG Ltd. We know gamers, young and old, have been craving an old-school pirate adventure, and here it comes!”

You play as Captain Blood, the manliest pirate captain ever to drink grog while romancing maidens across the Spanish main. When the local magistrate’s beautiful buxom daughter is kidnapped, he swallows his pride and hires you and your crew to rescue her. Expect wild adventures with cannon firing, pistol shooting, swashbuckling sword fights, and plenty of pirate shenanigans. This action-packed hack’n’slash features fierce hand-to-hand combat, hordes of enemies, and a classic fighting system with flashy combos and epic finishers.

Key Features:

• Epic Pirate Shenanigans: As Captain Blood, live the life of the bravest and most fearsome pirate on the Spanish Main (or at least fake it convincingly).
• Retro Gaming Vibes: Crisp Xbox 360-era graphics, quick time events, and features gamers expected back in 2010 are updated while maintaining their classic look and feel.
• Intense Action: Dive into fiery hand-to-hand combat and show enemy pirates and landlubbers alike who’s the boss with various slick combat techniques.
• Ship Deck Brawls: Fight off enemy pirates trying to board your ship with unique moves, combos, and executions while blasting enemy ships to pieces with your cannons!
• Arsenal of Awesomeness: Arm yourself with cutlasses, pistols, muskets, throwing knives, and hand bombs. Don’t forget those sneaky pirate tricks!

Source: PR Email

January 15th 2025 – When the stars descend on Kaikala they choose a young boy to leave childhood behind and become a legend. It’s time for Kirm, a mute but skilled boy, to overcome the challenges that await in the wisdom, courage & spirit paths in this touching story with several endings!  The adventure will take you to the improved island of Kaikala in this remake of a classic adventure, completely made from scratch with better controls, graphics and much more!

Artax Games is thrilled to announce that A Rite From the Stars: Remaster Edition will be launching on Steam (PC), Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series, PS4 and PS5 on January 30th, 2025.

About This Game

A legend is born when the stars descend on Kaikala Island and choose a young boy of the Makoa tribe to guide him through the ancient rites. But something out of the ordinary is happening, fewer and fewer young ones pass the rite that allows them to leave childhood behind, and some guiding stars have not returned to the firmament…

Join Kirm and his guiding star Hoku on this completely remade adventure full of puzzles, exploration and growth to unveil a beautiful coming of age story with multiple endings. Explore the revamped and improved island of Kaikala, meet unique supernatural creatures and new companions along the way, cooperate with them and conquer the wisdom, courage and spirit paths!

28 LEVELS IN 3 PATHS WITH DIFFERENT MECHANICS, WILL YOU PASS THE RITE?

• Wisdom: Solve the puzzles by picking the right items and bring them where they are needed.
• Courage: Control Kirm and Mirk (his Power Meerkat) at the same time to solve puzzles and navigate a jungle full of dangers.
• Spirit: Explore The Spirit World and switch between dimensions in a dreamy alternative reality.
• Over 28 levels and 15+ hours of gameplay!

FUN ACTIVITIES IN A LIVELY, PACKED WITH FUN, BIZARRE YET CAPTIVATING ISLAND!

• Conduct a singular rock orchestra. Like, composed of literal rocks. Yes. They sing!
• Play a match of dodgeball against a a crazy monkey armed with coconuts. Be sure to dodge though, or you might die. Oh, also, you can’t throw them back at him. A bit unfair you say? I don’t think so!
• Escape from a burning ancient temple, take a leap of faith and drift in zero gravity, face a giant snake, play a seagull piano… there is always a new surprise around the corner!

A UNIQUE COMING OF AGE STORY IN A WORLD THAT GRABS YOU FROM THE START

• 6 different endings that will shape Kirm’s journey to adulthood.
• A lively world full of endearing creatures, fun moments and beautiful scenery.
• Award winning Original Soundtrack with 2 hours of masterfully composed music.
• A handcrafted language, the Makoan, present in the dialogs, OST and symbology.

EXTRA CONTENT, SECRETS AND LORE AWAIT!

• 48 in-game achievements. Think out of the box and complete deliriously funny tasks to find them all!
• 20 collectibles to find through exploration and skins for Hoku and Kirm.
• Unlock secrets, extra mini games and lore by getting achievements.

Source: PR Email

Singapore – January 16th, 2025 – Terror comes to home consoles with today’s release of DreadOut Remastered Collection on Nintendo Switch & PlayStation 4/5. Published by Singapore-based publisher Soft Source Publishing in co-operation with the developer Digital Happiness, this release lets players relive this Indonesian horror classic in its entirety, bringing the original release and it’s follow-up DreadOut: Keepers of the Dark.

Survive the dread and pick up DreadOut Remastered Collection now for $29.99 USD on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4/5.

About DreadOut Remastered Collection

DreadOut Remastered Collection includes the original cult-favourite DreadOut, and DreadOut: Keepers of the Dark.

DreadOut

When a group of high school students went astray from a field trip, When a group of high school students went astray from a field trip, they come across something unexpected; a long-forgotten town, trapped in a state of slumber. What seemed like an innocent stroll turns into disaster as the town reveals its dark and terrible secrets.

DreadOut: Keepers of the Dark

Taking place in the DreadOut universe, help Linda navigate The Mirror Realm; a portal of worlds that connect to 8 haunted dominions ready to greet her.

Source: PR Email

Montpellier, France – December 12th, 2024. Italian developer Caracal Games and publisher Dear Villagers are proud to announce the release date for their eagerly anticipated indie open-world action-adventure, Star Overdrive. It will launch on Nintendo Switch on April 10, 2025.

As players traverse the game’s expansive alien world, they will face challenging enemies, solve intricate puzzles, and uncover secrets hidden across diverse biomes. The game also lets players customize their hoverboard, adapting its speed, handling, and gravity to their personal style or the challenges at hand.

During the reveal, the developers cited The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild as one of their biggest inspirations. While Star Overdrive draws inspiration from classic open-world action games, its hoverboard-based navigation and physics-driven powers offer a truly distinct experience.

After intercepting a mysterious distress signal, you’ll start your daring adventure through an uncharted alien planet. The journey reveals stunning landscapes ranging from shimmering deserts to vast aquatic zones, each biome pushing their traversal skills to the edge. Along the way, players will encounter remnants of an ancient civilization and piece together the mystery behind the signal.

Combat is a creative blend of physics-based powers, melee strikes and the Hoverboard companion’s special moves, challenging players to find new ways to outmaneuver and defeat enemies.

Every challenge brings players closer to uncovering the connection behind the distress signal, the protagonist’s past and the fate of the galaxy.

KEY FEATURES

• Hoverboard Navigation and Racing: Speed through vast landscapes, perform incredible tricks, and gain the edge in intense combat.
• Emergent Physics-Based Gameplay: Unleash and combine powers to battle enemies, bend the laws of physics, and solve intricate puzzles.
• Mysterious and Diverse Alien World: Journey through four uniquely distinct biomes, each brimming with challenges and secrets to uncover.
• Epic Battles Against Creatures of All Sizes: Engage with unique creatures, from small-scale rivals to towering bosses, each requiring strategy and skill to overcome.

Source: PR Email

STOCKHOLM – Jan. 14, 2025 – Everhood 2, the Unconventional Action RPG (UARPG) sequel to one of 2021’s best-reviewed indie games with over 600,000 units sold, blows out the candles for the franchise’s fourth birthday with Everhood 2’s launch on PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch on Tuesday, March 4, 2025.

Developer Foreign Gnomes asks: are you prepared to determine the color of your soul?

Laugh in the face of existential dread as a curious soul swinging between realities. Engage in interdimensional battles of fickle fates dancing the transcendental tarantella. Bob and weave while flowing through musical battles with over 100 pulse-pounding songs in a mind-bending universe on the brink of destruction. Learn your soul color and set off on a quest to slay the mysterious Mind Dragon before the world decays.

Forge bonds with a coterie of friendly creatures like the all-knowing celestial Raven, Joan of Arc, and others, all hanging in the balance of time and space. Dance with a diverse cast of sentient mushrooms, chill at the hangout with fresh and familiar characters, and bear witness to intense, trippy trials and tribulations.

Arm yourself with an arsenal fueled by friendship, ancient curses, future technological advancements, and otherworldly skills. Upgrade animated weapons like the legendary pair of Moon Blades or the skull-axe Ragnarok. Use each weapon to collect color-coded energy like Willpower, Wisdom, and more. Maintain an unbroken combo to cast heavy-hitting counterattacks for massive damage.

Explore alien worlds like the war-torn Vegetable Kingdom. Seek meaning in a narrative mambo of madness while chatting with Carl Jung, squaring off against Rasputin, and diving into philosophical discussions with Terrance McKenna as wayward souls search for absolute truths.

“We wanted to expand Everhood’s most eclectic aspects with our sequel,” said Chris Nordgren, co-founder of Foreign Gnomes. “You can still subdue evil carrot mages, time cops, robust slime creatures, and all that good stuff to the dulcet tones of Electronic Psychedelic Power Rock, but there’s quite a lot more discovery here. We even surprised ourselves! Quite a few unknown mysteries await for Everhood fans — and for anyone new, we hope this refinement of our original ideas speaks directly to your soul, whatever color it may be.”

Everhood 2 will open third eyes on PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch (North American and European territories) on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. Everhood 2 will launch on Nintendo Switch in Asian territories on Thursday, March 6, 2026.

Source: PR Email

TORUŃ, POLAND, January 13, 2024 — Dark Point Games is excited to announce that their critically acclaimed action RPG Achilles: Legends Untold is coming to Nintendo Switch on January 23, 2025. Players will become Achilles – the greatest warrior the ancient world has ever seen – as they embark on a rich story through a vast world that rewards exploration and offers challenging enemies to overcome. Become the hero who defied the gods and rewrite history!

Originally released via Early Access on PC, Achilles: Legends Untold features souls-like combat, with unique weapons, items, and skills, set in the world of Ancient Greece. After the War of Troy, you return to Greece and find your homeland plunged into chaos. The multilayered story takes you through the diverse locations of ancient Mycenae, where danger lurks at every corner. Learn how to cope with your new nature and step on the hero’s journey to save the mortal world from impending doom.

Unveil the story, improve your skills, and choose your combat style in this original action RPG with an isometric view, a vast world design that rewards exploration, and a challenging enemy AI that demands a thoughtful approach to combat. Level up your skills, combine weapons and gear, and choose the fighting style that allows you to emerge victorious battle after battle against foes that are both human and beasts.

Key Features:

• Souls-ish – An action RPG with souls-like combat, and  a variety of enemies to battle, each with their own unique combat patterns.
• Choose Your Combat Style: Select your ideal weapon, from wielding a one-handed sword and an axe in the other, to the might of two-handed swords.
• Fight and Learn: Dive into a world where mastering combat, from defense tactics like blocking and evading to a wide array of attacks, is the key to success.
• Face Unique Challenges: Engage in battles against foes utilizing an innovative GAIA (Group AI Action) system.
• Develop Your Character: Harness a wealth of skill points to expand your hero’s capabilities.
• Explore Ancient Greece: Ascend mountain passes, venture into the deepest dungeons, and battle for survival in otherworldly rifts.

Achilles: Legends Untold will be available on Nintendo Switch on January 23rd, 2025 for 24.99 USD.  The game is also available on PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One. A spinoff title, Achilles: Survivor is coming to PC in Q1 2025.

Source: PR Email

Get ready to embark on an action-packed journey back to the 1980s! Ninja 1987, a retro side-scrolling platformer, from developer SEEP and Ratalaika Games, is set to release December 13th, 2024 on Xbox One and Series S & X, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch.

A true action platformer in the classic 8-bit style, Ninja 1987 pays homage to the great ninja games of the past. Dive nostalgically into the 80s with pixel art graphics and chiptune music that captures a true vintage sound. Seven levels filled with enemies and traps for our hero to traverse,  whilst wielding shurikens and unleashing powerful Ninjitsu attacks.

Fiendish levels test the player’s ability. Precision jumping, climbing, and double-jumps require mastery and gamers can expect encounters with challenging end-level bosses remaining true to the inspirational arcade gameplay of the 80s era.

Features

• Seven distinct levels, each ending with challenging bosses.
• Authentic 8-bit style graphics and a soundtrack to match.
• Smooth platforming mechanics, including double-jumps and climbing.
• A quirky, 80s B-movie style storyline.
• Unlockable achievements for hardcore players.
• The game combines nostalgic visuals with modern precision gameplay, offering hours of exhilarating action. Players wield shurikens, unleash powerful Ninjitsu attacks, and face intricate traps while improving their skills and scores.

Ninja 1987 – Where Skills Are Tested To The Mettle!

Source: PR Email