Twinworld Game Reviews

Archive for the ‘News’ Category

MELBOURNE, VIC – July 15, 2020 – Necrobarista, the cinematic cel-shaded visual novel from Route 59 Games, pours onto Steam for Windows PC on July 22, 2020.

Discover a tale of mystery, magic, and, depending on who asks, the best/worst coffee around. Hidden in an unassuming alleyway lies The Terminal, a café that serves as a waypoint between the lands of the living and the dead, where any one of the patrons could be a spirit from beyond. With strict rules defining how long ghosts can spend in the corporeal realm before being forced to pass on, running this café is more complicated than your typical Melbourne coffeehouse.

Apprentice necromancer Maddy has just taken ownership of The Terminal and all its magical responsibilities. Follow her story and those of mechanics-obsessed teen Ashley, infamous Australian outlaw Ned Kelly, exasperated necromancer Chay, and a cast of other colorful characters through their dark pasts and the secrets behind the place linking them all together.

Stemming from a desire to elevate visual novels, Necrobarista moves beyond text boxes, making the narrative central to each scene with collectable keywords giving further insight into the characters and themes of the world. Every chapter of the story is interspersed with first-person exploration sequences that allow patrons to delve deeper into The Terminal while also providing the opportunity to choose which narrative threads to investigate next.

With each shot carefully composed, every new line of dialogue brings dynamism and elements of cinema to the experience. Inspired by anime, Necrobarista translates traditional 2D art styles into a vibrant 3D world and pairs those influences with a soundtrack by award-winning anime and games composer Kevin Penkin (Made in Abyss, Tower of God, The Rising of the Shield Hero, Florence).

“Necrobarista is an extra-caffeinated blend of our love for games, anime, and our hometown,” said Kevin Chen, lead designer, Route 59 Games. “The resulting brew is something uniquely Australian and we’re thrilled to finally serve up our magical world and immerse everyone in coffee puns when the game launches on Steam for PC next week.”

Necrobarista will be available for $19.99 / €16.79 / £15.49 / $24.95 AUD via Steam. Supported languages include English, French (European and Canadian), Italian, German, Spanish, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Japanese, Korean, Russian, Turkish, Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, and Dutch. Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 releases will be served in 2021.

Source: PR Email

Heroes across the land unite in the newest trailer for Trails of Cold Steel IV, coming to PS4 on October 27, 2020 and Nintendo Switch and PC in Spring 2021. How will these fighters stand alongside Class VII while facing their own trials ahead? Be a part of the vanguard with them by preordering the Frontline Edition, available at these retailers.

Source: PR Email

Tokyo, Japan – July 7th, 2020 – Chorus Worldwide and Alfa System are pleased to announce that Sisters Royale: Five Sisters Under Fire, the Japanese shmup from veteran Japanese developers Alfa System, arrives this week on Xbox One on July 10th, 2020. After successfully bursting onto PS4 and Switch in January, Xbox One gamers will finally be able to experience the cheeky, frenetic, bullet-hell joy of this spiritual successor to the classic ‘Castle of Shikigami’. The game is available to pre-order now.

Sisters Royale is inspired by the anime aesthetic of 2001’s ‘Castle of Shikigami’. Five sisters with unique magical powers race to capture the heart of an angel, Yashin. As with ‘Castle of Shikigami’, Sisters Royale deploys power boost mechanics that allow players to gain scores by taking high risks for high rewards. Now with global online leaderboard support, the game will appeal to everyone, from shoot ‘em up virgins to deft-fingered experts,  and every level of experience in between.

“We’re super excited to be working with Alfa System to bring Sisters Royale to a global audience” said Shintaro Kanaoya, Founder of Chorus Worldwide. “The original Castle of Shikigami series is a beloved classic of the genre and having Alfa System come back to make a modern spiritual successor is thrilling. With its tongue-in-cheek storyline, gameplay and production values from a team at the height of their 30 years in the industry, we think Sisters Royale will appeal to shmup fans of all levels, as well manga and anime lovers around the world.”

“After receiving many calls for a sequel, we are happy to introduce a brand new game that retains some key elements from Castle of Shikigami series”, Naoki Suda, Producer of Alfa System, “in Sisters Royale the players will find the same ‘high risk, high return’ game mechanics that they enjoyed in the series, with additional obstacles that redefine the game, including ‘slippery ice floors’ and ‘wind blowing windmill’.”

About Sisters Royale

The battle of the five sisters begins! Their mission is to capture the heart of the angel Yashin. Sisters Royale is a new vertical scrolling shmup from the veteran team at Alfa System, the studio behind the ‘Castle of Shikigami’ series. Five sisters with unique magical talents battle it out with Tension Bonus Systems (TBS), a point multiplier system based on distance from enemies, and the Power-shot System that boosts attack levels. Find hidden Secret Fairies to gain massive scores, but only if the players take additional risks by multiplying the TBS bonuses! Get to know the score boosting techniques and take your place on the global leaderboard.

About Alfa System

Established in 1988, Alfa System Co., Ltd is a Japanese game development company with more than 30 years in the industry. The company has developed games in various platforms, from Arcade and Consoles to Mobile.

About Chorus Worldwide

Chorus Worldwide is a game publisher that brings distinctive and unique games to players around the world. Established in 2014, based in Tokyo and Vancouver, Chorus Worldwide publishes games on the Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, Steam, and mobile games on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Source: PR Email

void tRrLM(); //Void Terrarium is now available to play on PS4 and Nintendo Switch!  Join a robot and and factoryAI in creating a safe haven for the last survivor of humanity, Toriko, in a toxic world overrun with fungi.

Source: PR Email

Paris, July 14th, 2020 – The Kingdom Majestic compilation is now available in the United States on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. The cult Kingdom series hits the shelves for the very first time!

This compilation includes:

• «Kingdom New Lands» released in 2016
• «Kingdom Two Crowns» released in 2018
• The newest update «Dead Lands»  – crossover event with the game Bloodstained
• All released DLCs

As a critically acclaimed and a massive commercial success, the Kingdom franchise is beloved for its innovative gameplay based on a minimalistic 3-button mechanic, stunning pixel art and an evocative soundtrack. Veteran rulers are already well aware of the cold sweat caused by the creatures of the night threaten your kingdom from dusk to dawn!

About Kingdom:

As a monarch, your goal is to grow your burgeoning kingdom while protecting your loyal subjects and crown from the Greed! During the day, you will travel the land atop your mount to recruit troops, order the construction of new buildings, and fetch your precious gold. At night, hordes of Greedlings will attack from both sides of your kingdom to break down your walls in an attempt to steal your crown!

Kingdom’s gameplay revolves around the management of funds, which is vital for recruiting new subjects, assigning them tasks, building or enhancing structures, and unlocking new mounts, NPCs, and lands to explore. Since 2015, over six million players have built their kingdoms in the series.

The Kingdom franchise is a partnership between Raw Fury, Fury Studios, Coatsink and director/designer Gordon Van Dyke (Stumpy Squid).

Kingdom Majestic is published by Microids SA.

Source: PR Email

New York City, USA – July 10th, 2020 – Digitart Interactive is happy to reveal Aluna: Sentinel of the Shards’ new Destiny Trailer, exploring the origins of Incan demigod Aluna. Sent as a small child from Spain to the “New World” of 16th century Latin America, Aluna embarks on a truly epic quest to lead her native people.

Coming to PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch in 2020, Aluna: Sentinel of the Shards stars comic book creator and actress Paula Garces (Harold & Kumar series, On My Block, Clockstoppers, The Shield) as Aluna, and Julio Macias (Oscar ‘Spooky’ Diaz from On My Block) as Aluna’s father, Franicisco Cortes.

Created by actress/producer Paula Garces and Antonio Hernandez in response to the underrepresentation of both latino and female superheroes in comics, Aluna went on to become a cult hit and is currently starring in the ongoing comic book saga, The World of Aluna, written by Assassin’s Creed and Batman: Arkham Origins scribes Ryan Galletta, Dooma Wendschuch, and Corey May. Aluna further made a name for herself in video games after becoming a playable character in S2 Games’ popular MOBA Heroes of Newerth, where she was played by Paula Garces herself.

Developed by Digiart Interactive and N-Fusion Interactive, Aluna: Sentinel of the Shards follows the exploits of Aluna, the warrior daughter of a Spanish conquistador and South American nature goddess Pachamama. Raised in early 16th century Spain, Aluna escaped to the New World only to realize it was her true homeland. Aluna: Sentinel of the Shards sets our heroine on a quest through Inca mythology as she strives to restore the amulet her goddess mother entrusted to her… and fulfill her true destiny.

Aluna: Sentinel of the Shards combines the deep action-RPG mechanics of Diablo with the revisionist mythology of God of War. Based around Inca lore, Aluna: Sentinel of the Shards features mythological gods, beasts, and tales that formed the backbone of 16th century Colombian culture. Venture from the Sanctuary seaside cliffs through the massive jungles of the New World, all the way to Nagaric’s Temple in the Volcanic Canyons in this epic historical adventure.

“Aluna: Sentinel of the Shards take players to a place we’ve never seen explored in gaming before,” said Digiart Interactive founder Antonio Hernandez. “We think Inca mythology and Latin American history is really fascinating, and there’s a huge population of Latin American gamers out there who aren’t reflected in their favorite pastime. We wanted to celebrate this oft neglected culture – and create a kick-ass swashbuckling adventure along the way!”

Source: PR Email

Uncover the secrets of Le Carré as York returns in this brand-new mystery adventure!

Gothenburg, Sweden – July 10, 2020 – Rising Star Games, the Home of Japanese Games, and TOYBOX Inc. are thrilled to announce today’s launch of Deadly Premonition 2: A Blessing in Disguise exclusively on the Nintendo Switch family of systems. The uniquely crafted mystery adventure is now available both digitally via the Nintendo Switch eShop and at retail for $49.99. Excited?

Deadly Premonition 2: A Blessing in Disguise is a sequel to Deadly Premonition that takes place in present-day Boston. Through unique storytelling, venture back in time to Le Carré and uncover the mysteries buried within the once peaceful town. Serving as both a sequel and prequel to the original Deadly Premonition, follow Agents Davis and Jones as they begin a new investigation into the Le Carré serial murders. Through the memories of a former FBI agent, go back in time to Le Carré and step into the role of Special Agent York to begin solving the case.

• Return as FBI Special Agent York and experience a brand-new murder mystery!
• Both a prequel and a sequel: A historic investigation to uncover the murder mystery in Le Carré
• An open-ended adventure: Travel around the town of Le Carré by foot or skateboard
• Mini-games: Bowling, Bayou Ride, Skateboard Challenge, and more
• Customization: Customize your character and upgrade your skateboard for improved speed and landing more difficult tricks

Source: PR Email

Frankfurt/Germany, July 9th 2020: It all started nine years ago. A bunch of friends who knew each other from the RPGMaker scene started developing their own HTML5 based engine and started what one day ended up being CrossCode. Seven years later, CrossCode left Early Access after nearly four years. And now, two years later, we’re proud to announce that CrossCode is finally out on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

But work hasn’t stopped. First patches for performance improvements are already in submission. Afterwards we’ll make sure to bring NG+ to the consoles as well. And don’t forget: A massive huge DLC is still in the works. But now: Enjoy CrossCode on consoles. And make sure to check out the exclusive content:

Each version comes along with an exclusive quest (and tomorrow the PC version will also get its exclusive part). And if all consoles and PC players figure out the mystery of these new quests, maybe players will be able to find something special in the CrossWorlds.

CrossCode is all about how it plays! Take the best out of two popular genres, find a good balance between them and make a great game. That’s what CrossCode does. You get the puzzles of Zelda-esque dungeons and are rewarded with the great variety of equipment you know and love from RPGs. During the fast-paced battles you will use the tools you find on your journey to reveal and exploit the enemies’ weaknesses and at the same time will be able to choose equipment and skills for a more in-depth approach in fighting your enemies.

A physical edition is set to be released in major retail stores across Europe and North American starting from 28/08/2020, with an exclusive and limited edition Steelbook and Collector’s Edition available from Strictly Limited Games.

Features:

• Dive into a massive adventure with a playtime of around 40-80 hours
• Explore a large world with 7 unique areas and hidden secrets all over the place
• Fight over 120 enemy types including 30+ boss fights
• Enter 8 expansive dungeons all with with unique themes and puzzle mechanics
• Master up to 100 combat arts and even more passive skills
• Solve over 100 quests with a great variety of tasks and unique challenges
• 60+ music tracks made by a rice ball (well, not exactly)

Source: PR Email

Boden, Sweden July 9, 2020. Limit Break Studio, an indie developer situated a mere snowballs throw from the Arctic Circle, are happy to announce that their retro side-scrolling shoot’em up 1993 Shenandoah is out now on the Nintendo Switch today.

20 Plus Years in Development

1993 Shenandoah is Krister Karlsson’s legacy to the gaming world, a project that began in 1992 but one that is now launching on Nintendo Switch, just a tad bit later and on an entirely modern day gaming platform than originally planned.

In West Coast city Alingsås born and raised, in his room with the Amiga he spent most of his days. Chillin’ out maxin’ relaxin’ all cool, developing a game with friends from school. Then a couple of guys that were up to no good… okay, this doesn’t work any longer. Enough with the 90’s references already!

1993 was the year that 1993 Shenandoah was supposed to be released, but teenage drama split the youthful team apart and the game never saw the light of day until some 20 years later. Fast forward to 2015 when Krister gathered a motley crew of less youthful people to convert the original game to a more modern game engine, but still only using the original graphics, sound, and effects from the Amiga production.

Now a few years later, 1993 Shenandoah is available on the Nintendo Switch, a console that is perfect for side-scrolling shoot’em ups, and a place the game can truly call home. Back in the day games were played with joysticks and today’s joypads actually work even better with the shoot’em up genre.

“Enormously proud, is probably the best way to describe how I feel about the 1993 Shenandoah being released on Nintendo Switch” says Krister Karlsson, Creative Director 1993 Shenandoah “This amazing console, that I have with me everywhere, is the perfect platform for Shoot’em ups and I can’t wait to share it with the world.”

4 Player Couch CO-OP

Up to 4 simultaneous players, many, many levels, pixel graphics from 1993 and everything needed to take you back in time, when games were sold on a floppy disc, social media wasn’t invented and people used phones for calling each other.

Source: PR Email

SYDNEY — July 9, 2020 — Boomerang Fu, the frantic boomerang brawler starring adorable yet lethal food creatures from Cranky Watermelon, invites up to six local players to duke it out on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and PC on August 13th 2020.

Select one of 12 unlockable food characters from the mighty Milk Carton to the awesome Avocado, then leave a delightful mess by tearing each other apart in fast-paced food fights. Learn the simple controls in minutes, then deftly dash away from danger and unleash a barrage of bladed boomerangs.

One hit means instant death. Master the basics, then learn advanced techniques including deflecting attacks, curving throws, and drawing the boomerang back across the map while playing defensively. Bank boomerangs around corners, off walls, activate traps or even toss them through teleportals for tricky feints. After acclimating to ordinary boomerangs, up the ante with stackable power-ups.

Power up boomerangs with flames, frost, or explosives to obliterate opponents, then take it a step further with telekinesis, multi boomerangs, or teleportation. Learn how each of the twelve power-ups work, find a spectacularly ridiculous combo and destroy the competition.

Practice the art of grocery-slaying through more than 30 deadly arenas inspired by Hong Kong action cinema, such as cloudy tranquil gardens, slippery bathhouses and ancient temples. Wreak havoc in these peaceful environments secretly filled with spike traps, crushing stones, and portals.

Create the perfect custom match with modifiers like win conditions, friendly fire, homing boomerangs to help new players and more. Add in formidable A.I. bots for solo practice or to fill out matches. Play Free-For-All matches to see who reigns supreme or form squads in Team Up mode. An additional asymmetrical mode tasks players with fighting for the possession of the Golden Boomerang, leading to glorious “one versus many” showdowns.

“Boomerang Fu combines everything I love: food, boomerangs, and Hong Kong action cinema,” said Paul Kopetko, founder of Cranky Watermelon. “Which food is best? Only razor-sharp boomerangs decide which veggie gets chopped and which dairy product is king.”

Boomerang Fu will be available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and PC via Steam in English, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Korean, German, French, Spanish and Italian for $14.99 USD. Play locally with up to six players, or use Steam Remote Play Together on PC to play online (experience may vary based on connection and network quality).

Source: PR Email