Twinworld Game Reviews

Archive for the ‘News’ Category

Paris – December 6, 2019 – Microids, Pendulo Studios and YS Interactive are unveiling today the North American launch trailer for Blacksad: Under the Skin! Already available on Steam, the hunt for clues is about to begin on consoles as Blacksad: Under the Skin will release on December 10 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.

Let the launch trailer take you back to the 50s and discover some of the main characters as well as an introduction to the consequences of player’s choices during the investigation.

Will you be a tough investigator using violence to get what you want? Or will you be more subtle to get your questions answered? Grab your notebook and let this investigation begin!

Game features

Investigation phases and deduction

As the story progresses, players will be able to explore the game areas (with more or less freedom depending on the situation), in order to find clues and question potential witnesses.  Blacksad must analyze the clues gathered to draw conclusions. This deduction system enables players to link up various elements (clues, observations, etc.) in order to come up with theories and open up new leads. If the association work matches up, the detective will come to a conclusion. If the deduction fails, the clues will remain available for a new attempt.

Multiple choice dialogue

Dialogue scenes offer players the chance to move the conversation in different directions. They will need to choose the options they think will be the most useful to their investigation. These choices will decide Blacksad’s development and relationships, as well as future opportunities. Players will have the option to remain silent during certain exchanges, directly affecting his profile, unique to each player.

Cat senses

Being a cat gives Blacksad several significant advantages. His sharp feline senses like his vision, smell and hearing will help analyze certain situations with more depth. By doing so, players will be able to identify previously inaccessible details.

Quick Time Events

QTEs can be related to various actions or action scenes and must be completed in order to progress through the game (all failed attempts will have to be replayed). Players will face two types of QTE: pressing a given button at the right time or filling a bar by repeatedly pressing a button.

The story

The 50s, New York City: Joe Dunn, owner of a boxing club, is found dead. Meanwhile, rising star Bobby Yale, due to take to the ring for the most important fight of his career, has mysteriously disappeared. Sonia Dunn, Joe’s daughter, takes over the gym and must deal with its financial woes. She hires private detective John Blacksad to investigate Yale’s disappearance. The highly anticipated boxing match of the year is drawing closer and the club’s finances would not survive a no show from Bobby Yale. During its investigation, John Blacksad will find himself swimming with sharks in a universe where corruption is everywhere.

Source: PR Email

5 December, 2019 – Indie publisher Digerati is unleashing the skin-crawling screen-warping terror of Tamashii on consoles later this month. Created by Brazil-based independent developer Vikintor, Tamashii is a harrowing platformer that blends challenging traversal, unique puzzles, and unsettling horror inspired by obscure Japanese games of the late ’80s and ’90s.

Tamashii‘s horror-infused puzzle-platforming will be available to download 17/18 December on PS4 (NA/EU respectively), 24 December on Xbox One, and 25 December on Nintendo Switch.

Recently announced as a ‘Game of the Year’ nominee in the Brazil Game Awards, Tamashii‘s eerie combination of puzzles and platforming among eldritch monstrosities and haunted temples creates a uniquely disturbing experience.

“With Tamashii I tried to express to players the same feeling of discovery and confusion that obscure titles of the past provided, using context instead of nostalgia as a primary point,” explains developer Vikintor. “The game was made keeping a balance between puzzle platforming, cryptic story and eerie atmosphere. Kind of a darker Monster Party (NES game from ’89)”

Since it’s release earlier this year on PC, Tamashii has garnered critical and audience praise.

About the game

Inspired by obscure Japanese games from the 90s and late 80s, Tamashii is a unique puzzle-platformer set in a distorted world of striking horror and unsettling imagery.

An eldritch entity lurks inside the temple, a disturbing domain of death and danger. A mysterious stranger is summoned to this twisted hell to discover the source of evil that emanates from within. Can you survive the devilish traps, tricky puzzles, and monstrous beings looming in Tamashii’s dark corridors?

Key features

• Pixelated aesthetic and atmosphere inspired by Japanese titles of the 90s and late 80s
• A harrowing blend of platforming, puzzles, and skin-crawling horror
• A mysterious tale, complete with secrets and Easter eggs to uncover
• Time trial/score attack modes for additional challenge
• A ‘slow-motion’ accessibility modifier to assist players

Source: PR Email

Baltimore, MD – December 4th, 2019 – Independent games publisher Versus Evil and developer Obsidian Entertainment today announced that Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire – Ultimate Edition will launch on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 on January 28^th 2020, with a Nintendo Switch release date to be announced early next year. Originally released for PC and Mac, Deadfire received universal critical acclaim.

Priced at $59.99, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire – Ultimate Edition features all the major updates and expansions available for the PC version. In addition to the games vast main campaign players can heed the call of Vatnir in the Beast of Winter or face the challenges of the Crucible of Kazuwari in Seeker, Slayer, Survivor or battle their way through the bowels of a vengeful, sleeping god in the Forgotten Sanctum.

Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire – Ultimate Edition builds on the foundation of classic tabletop gameplay more than ever before, providing players with a deeper single player RPG game experience with either Turn-Based Mode or Classic Real-Time with Pause.

Featuring an enormous open world, a massive cast of characters, budding adventurers can explore the depths of infinite possibilities, including detailed character customization, total freedom of exploration, and meaningful choices at every turn.

“Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire – Ultimate Edition delivers the freedom of tabletop role-playing that allows console gamers to craft their own definitive adventure,” said Steve Escalante, General Manager of Versus Evil.

Consumers can digitally pre-order the Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Ultimate Edition through the Microsoft Store and PlayStation Store fronts today. Deadfire will also have a physical release in the form of a Standard Edition and the Ultimate Collector’s Edition courtesy of THQ Nordic, and will be available on January 28th 2020 for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 at an SRP of €59.99 | $59.99 | £49.99 and €129.99 | $129.99 | £119.99, respectively.

The Ultimate Collector’s Edition will contain the following items:

• Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire [including the 5.0 PC patch], and all DLCs: Beast of Winter, The Forgotten Sanctum, Seeker, Slayer, Survivor
• 10″/25cm Od Nua Statue
• Spacepig Keychain
• Metal-optic 3D Sticker
• Premium Box

Source: PR Email

4 December, 2019 – Indie publisher Digerati and developer Peter Cleary are thrilled to announce that the madcap twin-stick action of XenoRaptor will be rocket-blasting its way to consoles later this month. A fast-paced sci-fi shooter, XenoRaptor pits a customizable cyberdragon equipped with a tactical arsenal against relentless waves of futuristic foes, in battles that stretch from Mars to unknown frontiers of space.

XenoRaptor will be available to download 17/18 December on PS4 (NA/EU respectively), followed by Xbox One on 24 December, and Nintendo Switch on 25 December.

XenoRaptor combines tactical loadouts, clever foes, and pulse-pounding arcade mayhem to create a fast-paced, challenging shooter.

“XenoRaptor is a passion project aimed at blending the arsenal and enemy variety of classic FPSs with the situational awareness and intense dodging of a top down game,” says XenoRaptor creator, Peter Cleary. “Games such as Geometry Wars were a big inspiration, so I’m really excited that XenoRaptor is coming to consoles.” 

About the game

XenoRaptor is a frantic and frenzied twin-stick shooter, pitting ridiculously armed space dragons against an interstellar armada. Strip your defeated foes of their parts to assemble the ultimate weapon. From evasive teleporting and defensive mines, to railguns, tractor beams, and mind control, XenoRaptor is bullet-hell action with countless tactical possibilities.

Key features

• Arm your cyberdragon with various hulls and engines, and weapons such as lightning shotguns, laser nukes, ghost missiles, and more
• Face the might of a space skeleton armada and defeat screen-filling bosses
• Strategically turn environmental hazards – such as asteroids, mine fields, and radioactive clouds – against your enemies
• Test your skills in the campaign, boss rush mode, and alongside friends in local co-op

Source: PR Email

The legend begins anew for Trails of Cold Steel III, now coming to Nintendo Switch! As the first title within The Legend of Heroes series to debut on the platform, players can experience this acclaimed JRPG handheld in Spring 2020.

Watch the Announcement Trailer for all the action and more details!

Source: PR Email

PHILADELPHIA – Dec. 3, 2019 – EarthNight, the hand-drawn action-platformer set during the dragon apocalypse and featured in this year’s Nintendo Indie World presentation, lands today on Nintendo Switch and Steam for Windows PC and Mac.

Skydive from humanity’s last refuge in outer space, plunging down from orbital colonies into the dragon-infested skies below. Liberate the planet by taking the fight to these beasts, running and bounding along the creatures’ serpentine backs toward weak points to deliver a final blow.

To survive until that moment, heroes Sydney and Stanley must harness their distinct abilities to overcome a gauntlet of obstacles and swarms of enemies that stand in their way. Sydney, a teen with ethereal powers, can double jump and make swooping attacks; meanwhile, Stanley can hop high in the air, perform long leaps, and slice through enemy formations with his sword.

While surmounting these challenges, the pair can search for secrets, warp zones, and helpful items hidden throughout the levels to aid them in their journey. Between runs, they can trade water and trophies like dragon eggs, teeth, and eyes to Dr. Dave the Appraiser in return for powerups, including enchanted weapons, shields, magical potions, a mind-control device, and more.

With more experience and new gear, the dragon hunters can press deeper into enemy territory, reaching new layers of the atmosphere closer to the Earth’s surface where dangerous new foes and tantalizing treasures await. Each dragon and aerial layer are different from the last, offering up new tests and rewards as the fast-paced action builds toward an intense final battle.

Throughout the journey, EarthNight is a breathtakingly beautiful experience brought to life by Paul “Mathattan” Davey, who painstakingly rendered tens of thousands of frames of animation by hand. The energetic soundtrack, composed by Paul “Chipocrite” Weinstein, combines chiptunes created with Game Boys and with real-world instruments, and features contributions from Final Fantasy Tactics, Final Fantasy XII, and Valkyria Chronicles series composer Hitoshi Sakimoto.

“EarthNight has been an epic challenge to complete for myself and the rest of the development team these past seven years,” said Rich Siegel, founder, Cleaversoft. “This journey has been an incredible ride and we hope the community loves the game as much as we enjoyed making it.”

EarthNight is now available for $14.99 / €13.99 / £12.59 / $21.00 AUD via the Nintendo Switch eShop and Steam for Windows PC and Mac. The game is also available on Apple Arcade and will be coming to PlayStation 4 very soon. It features English-language text support.

Source: PR Email

3 December 2019 – Indie publisher Digerati is happy to officially announce the console release dates for arcade-style arena shooter, Demon Pit. Players will be able to start purging the legions of hellspawn from 17/18 December (NA/EU respectively) on PS4, 24 December on Xbox One, and 25 December on Nintendo Switch.

Inspired by FPS classics of the 1990s, such as Quake, Quake II, Doom, and Blood, Demon Pit tests your reflexes against endless waves of the demon horde in a constantly changing arena. Your goal is a high score on the leaderboard, the price is your soul. Far from God’s light, there is only Hell.

A collaboration between DoomCube and Psychic Software, two developers based in Galway, Republic of Ireland, and with music by composer Thomas O’Boyle, Demon Pit is a throwback to the FPS classics of the 1990s. It combines retro-authentic low poly 3D graphics, with uncompromisingly hardcore skill-based gameplay.

“Creating Demon Pit has been an exercise in balancing speed, challenge, purity and chaos,” explains DoomCube’s Paul Conway, artist and designer on Demon Pit. “I want players to fight forward, experiencing its unrelenting pace as they progress through waves of enemies and grasp for their place on the leaderboard.”

About the game

Arise Demon Hunter. It is time. The years you spent slaughtering demon-kind in the mortal world did little to cleanse your soul. Your sins have been laid bare and you have been judged. You are damned for eternity. The pit awaits!

Inspired by the fast-paced FPS games of the 1990s, Demon Pit is an intense arcade-style arena shooter. Armed with a series of ranged weapons and a soul grapple, you must fight and out maneuver endless waves of demons in a constantly changing environment. How long can you survive before they rip your flesh and claim your soul?

Key features

• Battle 10 types of hideous hell spawn
• Repel the demon horde with 7 varied weapons
• Use your soul grapple to traverse the arena quickly and avoid the oncoming legion
• Master movement to survive the changing environment and its hazards
• Constantly kill to keep your multiplier alive and compete for leaderboard immortality

Source: PR Email

2 December, 2019 – Indie publisher Digerati and developer Caiysware are delighted to announce the surreal shoot ’em up action of Straimium Immortaly will be unleashed on consoles later this month. The frenetic follow-up to Caiysware’s Skelly Selest, Straimium Immortaly combines the developer’s unique pixel-art aesthetic with a mountain of loot to collect, upgrades to unlock, and weapons to wield.

Straimium Immortaly will be available to download 17/18 December on PS4 (NA/EU respectively), 24 December on Xbox One, and 25 December on Nintendo Switch.

Straimium Immortaly drops players into the Cubicus – a peculiar and perilous procedurally-generated realm of outlandish oddness where they must explore, power-up, loot, and shoot to survive!

“With Straimium Immortaly I wanted to create a love letter to classic games of yore but with a modern roguelike twist,” says developer Anthony Case. “Combining NES shoot-em-ups like Sector Z and Gradius with Metroid sci-fi spaceship exploration, big boss battles, oodles of unlocks, and the modern procedural generation magic that keeps gameplay fresh.”

About the game

Bosses and beasties abound in this bizarre and vibrant roguelite/shump/dungeon crawler hybrid. Armed with a jetpack and a smorgasbord of weapons and power-ups, Straimium Immortaly pits your lone warrior against the forces of the Queeni Emperess. Agility, precision, and loads of loot are your only means of surviving the Cubicus.

Key features

• A world like no other: explore the bizarre, butts-hard procedurally generated and monster-filled rooms of the Cubicus
• Otherworldly pixel-art: old-school pixels meet vibrant new-school style
• Fly quickly, carry a big gun: from the Ionic Laser to the lightning-blasting Electra Casta, wield an arsenal of 25+ upgradeable weapons and 50+ items
• Unleash ninja powers: discover and harness a variety of mysterious shinobi abilities
• KO XL baddies: defeat a myriad of huge monstrous bosses in your bid to rid the galaxy of Queeni taint!
• Your fight, your way: unlockable classes, mutators, cheats and hats. Level seeds and size options to customize your run. Boss Rush mode, Incursion mode, and more
• A whole ton of stats: keep track of your progress through leaderboards, achievements, and compendiums of enemies, bosses, weapons, items, and more

Source: PR Email

Gothenburg, Sweden – November 28th, 2019 – Rising Star Games and Amplify Creations are thrilled to announce that Decay of Logos is now available on the Nintendo Switch. Players looking to get into a merciless fantasy world full of powerful foes can download Decay of Logos via the Nintendo Switch eShop today for the price of €19.99 / $19.99.

Decay of Logos is a story-driven, third-person action/adventure RPG with an emphasis on player exploration with minimal hand-holding and challenging combat. Immerse yourselves in the high-fantasy world of Decay of Logos through the eyes of a young adventurer named Ada, accompanied by a mystical Elk. Both are fatefully brought together the day her village is burned down by Crimson Knights bearing the Royal Crest. Motivated by revenge, she sets out on a journey to unveil the truth behind the attack.

Developed by Amplify Creations and published by Rising Star Games, Decay of Logos is also available on PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4.

Source: PR Email

London, UK – November 27th – Brain Seal Ltd is proud to announce that Story of a Gladiator is available now on all platforms. Take on the role of a new inductee to the pits, and cut a swath through a series of battles set across the Roman Republic looking to become the new champion of Rome. As your legend grows you’ll be able to spend coin on new weapons and armor, use your experience to learn devastating skills, and offer tribute to the gods in exchange for their support in battle.

About Story of a Gladiator

You are a common man who has lost everything in the war against the Roman empire. Your family is dead, your friends are dead, your house has been burned down and your land is now under Roman rule. Despite such misfortune you have managed to escape slavery or worse. You spend much of your time in the streets of Rome looking for some sort of meaning in your life and wondering why the gods have spared you.

One day fate finally reveals itself, are you ready to accept it?

Features:

• Learn combat skills and moves that will dazzle your enemies
• Over 80 enemy gladiators and 20 ferocious animals each with unique fighting strategy
• 3 arenas with 36 battles and 3 bosses
• Win the favor of the crowd and receive unexpected help
• Pray to the gods and call upon them to help you win battles
• Train your very own tiger pet
• Choose your origin, from Greece, Carthage or Egypt
• Rogue-like mode available for those who were born gladiators

Source: PR Email