Twinworld Game Reviews

Archive for the ‘News’ Category

London, United Kingdom – November 9th, 2023 – Publisher Jetpack Collective and Snowcastle Games, an independent Oslo-based game developer, are excited to announce that their cosy co-op, Earthlock spinoff, Ikonei Island: An Earthlock Adventure, is out today on PC for $24.99/€24.50/£20.99. For console versions, Xbox will release on November 23rd, PlayStation on February 8th, 2024 and Switch will follow at a later date. Grab the launch day bundle including the wholesome and cosy game Spells and Secrets on Steam today.

Immerse yourself in a beautiful world full of cosy creature comforts with the breathtaking soundtrack composed by Theo Nogueira of Snowcastle Games which will be available November 23rd on all streaming platforms including Steam. The album contains a compilation of all the music present in the game, taken from a semi-procedural music system into a full linear soundtrack.

Explore the joys of farming with the excitement of building your own unique home. The game delivers a whole host of creative features, including the ability to build, upgrade and expand your home to your own vision, whether that be a cosy cottage with a garden, or a cute campsite with a sprawling farm. From lush gardens to cosy interiors, the power to shape your living space is in your own hands and the possibilities are endless.

Ikonei Island is a gorgeous, cosy adventure that you can play solo or with your friends. You explore the beautiful island, bond with magical creatures and harness their abilities, uncover hidden mysteries, collect items to craft a charming home, battle pirates and more. The game is reminiscent of cosy classics like Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing and My Time at Portia, but brings its own depth of narrative as it taps into the enchanting themes originally explored in Snowcastle’s Earthlock.

‘’We are so excited to finally launch Ikonei Island: An Earthlock Adventure on PC, with the game coming to Xbox, PlayStation and Switch at later dates,’’ said Oscar Clark, Jetpack Collective. ‘’Dive headfirst into the cute and cosy world of Ikonei Island, experience creature comforts and creative home building.’’

“Creating the sonic world of Ikonei Island, from its soundtrack to ambient sounds, has been one of my proudest projects,” said Theo Nogueira, Composer and Audio Director, Snowcastle Games. “My aim was to capture the essence of characters, creatures, and the mood of the Island and Earthlock Universe, and I believe we’ve succeeded.”

Source: PR Email

Pre-orders for Thunderful and The Station’s upcoming city-builder and dungeon delver, SteamWorld Build, are now open on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series S|X, and on Playstation 4 and 5 at a price of €/$29.99 ahead of the game’s release on December 1st. Newcomers to the SteamWorld franchise can also get their hands on SteamWorld Dig for just €/$5 in the SteamWorld Build & Dig Bundle.

The newest entry in the award-winning SteamWorld franchise welds the city-building genre to Dungeon Keeper-like underground mining and oils the cogs with that unique SteamWorld secret sauce. The game has been developed for PC and console simultaneously, meaning every aspect of SteamWorld Build has been designed to ensure that the game works just as well with a controller in hand as it does with mouse and keyboard, bringing a traditionally PC-centric genre to console without compromise.

As the architect of a SteamWorld mining town, break ground and raise houses for your steambot citizens, keep them fed and provide some rootin’-tootin’ entertainment. Venture into the abandoned mine sitting under your town, rumoured to be filled with ancient tech that holds the key to escaping impending doom. Using the natural resources above ground and the abundant ores buried below, expand your town, stimulate new residential tiers to join the quest to dig deeper, unearth untold riches and ultimately help them to hightail it off the planet!

For more information on everything SteamWorld Build related, check out the SteamWorld website.

Source: PR Email

Stockholm, Sweden November 2nd 2023 – Developed with love and passion over the last decade by Oskar Thuresson, the unique looking indie adventure game Orten Was The Case will launch November 29th on PC (Steam and Epic), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch. Get ready to embark on a journey like no other in this lore driven single player detective/puzzle/adventure game set in a fictional mid 90’s Swedish metropolis suburb.

Control Ziggy, a simple guy in his early teens with no high-flying ambitions whatsoever. He wakes up after a blackout seemingly clueless of what has happened, only to discover he’s now stuck in a time loop. Discover the mysteries of this very particular neighborhood inspired by the developer’s home town! What did the miners uncover in the Gravel Pit 60 years ago? What is the Midnight Council? Why are you stuck in a time loop and how can you break free?

Make your way down the deepest caves and tunnels below Orten where answers and more await…

A mind bending time loop mechanic

Happenings and events unfold dynamically as time passes by. NPCs living their life and doing what they do, each loop is the same. Unless you can change the outcome of things.. Solve puzzles, find hidden passages, collect clues and talk to the inhabitants of Orten. Someone, or something must have the answers needed to break free from the loop and it’s up to you to figure it all out!

About Orten Was The Case

Get ready to step into the (non-existent) shoes of Ziggy – an unexpected hero from a fictional Swedish neighborhood. Together, you’ll take on the daunting task of foiling a sinister scheme that could potentially devastate the entire world.

• Stuck in a Time Loop – Ziggy wakes up one day with a strange mark on his hand, clueless about what happened the night before. After a couple of minutes lost amongst the familiar streets of his suburb, Orten, an explosion brings him back exactly where he woke up moments before… He’s stuck in a time loop.
• Not everything is What it Seems – With no shoes or recollection of the past, Ziggy goes on a mission to discover what the hell is going on and how to avoid the destruction of his city. This won’t be easy though, cause the more he snoops in the wrong places, the more he learns that his hometown has a lot of secrets hidden. His weird neighbors become weirder, and he can only rely on his friends, and on his highly reliable brain.
• Knowledge is Power – If the day repeats over and over, then how can one progress? That’s the catch: Knowledge is your key to progress in Orten. Each loop you go through, you will learn something new that will let you progress the story further. With this time loop mechanic, you’ll retain clues, notes, and timeline events, eventually knowing how you can change the future in just 12 minutes on a casual Sunday.
• A Beautiful and unique Art-Style – Orten Was The Case offers a fully hand-painted art-style and a 2,5 D design. Walking around the town feels like evolving in a painting, a very stunning and curious one that is!

Source: PR Email

Paris, November 2nd, 2023 – Publisher Microids and IMPS are pleased to unveil the launch trailer for the 3D adventure/platform game, The Smurfs 2 – The Prisoner of the Green Stone. The trailer offers a glimpse into the legend surrounding the Green Stone, a source of extraordinary powers that also contains a fearsome danger, Stolas, a creature capable of spreading chaos. The Smurfs will be able to rely on SmurfoMix and its incredible abilities, which the player will unlock during the course of the adventure, to save the Cursed Land.

About The Smurfs 2: The Prisoner of the Green Stone

Handy Smurf has created a revolutionary invention: SmurfoMix! However, it’s missing a key ingredient, the Green Stone, which lays in the greedy clutches of Gargamel.

He sets off on a mission to retrieve the famous Green Stone, a key ingredient that would greatly help him  improve his invention, from Gargamel’s laboratory. But a fatal misstep causes it to explode, its fragments scattering throughout the Cursed Land. In addition to unleashing into the wild its incredible powers to copy and decompose matter, the Green Stone has set free the evil Stolas, a new order bent on creating a reign of terror.

A crack team of 4 Smurfs must then adventure to save the Cursed Land from the mighty Stolas! Well equipped, the Smurfs can count on the SmurfoMix and an unexpected ally… Gargamel himself!

Key features:

• Meet the team of 4 iconic Smurfs: Handy, Brainy, Dimwitty, and Storm.
• An accessible and intuitive gameplay that will delight both Smurf fans and action/platforming fans.
• Enjoy dynamic gameplay with exploration, platforming, and even more intense combat thanks to the SmurfoMix!
• For the first time in a video game, collaborate with Gargamel! Use his teleporters to travel through the Cursed Land and discover 3 brand new unexplored regions.
• Collect various resources to improve the Smurfomix throughout your adventure!
• Embark on the adventure with a friend or family partner in co-op mode.
• A new story which respects the franchise, set in a beautiful, well-crafted colorful universe!

Developed by OSome Studio, The Smurfs 2 – The Prisoner of the Green Stone is an all-new story releasing today – November 2nd, 2023 – digitally for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC.

In North America, the retail edition for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch will be available December 1st.

Source: PR Email

Indie publisher Sometimes You, together with talented indie developer, Nikolai Usachev,  release today a superb looking top down roguelike action-shooter, Fusion Paradox, on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch.

In this scrolling shooter and action roguelike game, you will have to fight the forces and anomalies that have captured the Agency. Defy the ancient goddess of war and free it.

Step by step, explore the Supernatural Threat Reduction Agency and discover its mysteries and secrets as you gradually make your way to the top floor, where one of the most important and mysterious finds of our time is being studied: the tomb of the ancient Goddess of War, Anath.

The main character is a special agent who came after receiving the red danger level signal. Waking up in a secret laboratory, the hero realizes that all of the Agency’s members have lost their minds and that he was subjected to strange energy effects that gave him short-term amnesia and the ability to change his state. Making your way through many obstacles and hordes of the possessed, you have to reach the threat’s main source to liberate the Agency and prevent the danger from spreading to the outside world…

Explosive Facts & Features

• Five distinct levels
• Puzzles galore
• Universal spells
• Hazardous armour
• Poison!!!
• Ice Storms
• Pistols
• Stingers
• Stone Guard Statues
• Grenades
• 69!!! Weapons!!!!!
• Bosses – Agency Boss Possessed King and more
• 4-6 hours. But some players spend even more than 20 hours in the game.
• … Too many to list!!

Let the action begin and play this supercharged classy indie title!

Source: PR Email

Paris, October 31st, 2023 – The most famous Asterix and Obelix are back! In a new trailer, they demonstrate the full extent of their power and abilities. With dynamic animation and breathtaking action, Asterix & Obelix: Slap them All! 2 promises fans and newcomers alike a gaming experience that is both intense and true to the spirit of the series. The game will be released on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC digitally on November 13, 2023 and physically on November 30, 2023. Get ready to be amazed!

Asterix & Obelix: Slap them All! 2 is a high-energy 2D Beat’em Up that immerses players in the imaginative world of René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. Get ready to take down enemies and unleash your strength, either solo or in local co-op… before the sky falls on your head!

Asterix, Obelix and the villagers are interrupted by the sudden arrival of Goudurix, who has come to ask for help. He reveals that his father, Oceanonix, has been imprisoned for a theft he did not commit…

The Aquila of Lutetia, the precious gold emblem of the Roman legions, has just been stolen and an innocent man has been thrown into prison! Asterix promises to investigate and asks Goudurix to stay safely in the village. The two Gallic warriors travel to Lutetia to obtain information from an acquaintance who is reputed to be well-informed about the rumours and intrigues of the city… And it’s obviously with slaps in the face that they will find the answers on their long journey!

Asterix & Obelix: Slap Them All! 2 is a high-energy Beat’em Up that takes us on an original story worthy of the greatest Gallic adventures. Explore a multitude of captivating locations: from mysterious ruins nestling in the heart of the forest, through an imposing Roman camp, to majestic Lutetia… Each stage of the journey offers new environments, as your journey takes you to far-flung lands, punctuated by thrilling encounters. And, of course, you can expect a generous helping of slaps in the face! Throughout this hectic adventure, there will be sketches to punctuate your journey, adding a dose of humour and emotion as well as advancing the plot.

This sequel pushes the limits of the action, with more fearsome enemies and bosses. But that’s not all! The experience is enhanced by a host of new features and gameplay improvements. Our intrepid Gauls, Asterix and Obelix, now have new specific moves they can charge up for even more powerful attacks. Battles are more dynamic, richer, smoother than ever, and our heroes can now trigger their Fury mode, increasing their strength, and unleash a devastating Ultimate attack. Our heroes can also destroy some elements of the environment to create chaos, as well as throwing barrels and menhirs at opponents during combat.

Overseen by the teams at Les Editions Albert René to guarantee respect of Asterix essence, this new episode is being developed by Mr Nutz Studio. The long-awaited sequel promises an adventure that pays tribute to the comics in an exceptional way. The developers have taken the artistic decision to create the characters, backgrounds and animations “by hand”, with absolute respect for the style of 2D animation. This aesthetic choice, imbued with nostalgia, will appeal to fans of the franchise and fans of retro games. You will be transported into a faithful visual universe, reminiscent of the marvellous illustrations in the Asterix and Obelix comic books. Dive into an immersive visual experience and admire the beauty of the craftsmanship carried out by the Mr Nutz Studio’s team.

Asterix & Obelix: Slap Them All 2! will be available digitally in North America on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC November 13, 2023. Get ready to be amazed!

Source: PR Email

Indie publisher ‘Sometimes You’, together with PigeonDev, on  27th October, releasedHer roguelite action-shooter fest Hero Survival on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Xbox One,  Xbox Series S/X and Nintendo Switch.

Hero Survival really does what is said on the box, in this case, press release, a game where players face hordes of monsters from classic movies where you will just want to get that little bit further into the game and win the day. BUT it is far from a breeze.

Simple and Varied

A simple storyline encases the moreish gameplay challenges. Combining recognizable monsters and heroes from horror and action movies, it is a setting that will entertain both the gamers and was set up for the mad god of time and space, who mistakenly dragged our protagonist, mistaking him for a great warrior.

Know Your Enemy

Face wave after wave of monsters – mummies, vampires, ghosts and many more, and take them down with an awesome arsenal of weaponry that’s available to you! But be warned, each enemy type has their own characteristics and skills!

Features, Facts and Horrid Events!

• A game to play in mini sessions or one long haul! But you WILL be back for more.
• Once hooked – urghhhhhhhhhh!.
• Fast and Furious Action and Challenges
• Monsters Galore
• Face 100s of Classic Horror Monsters!
• Rogue-like Action-Shooter
• Weirdo action
• Plus more………………

As players experience each individual run, they will choose which build they want to use! Combine skills (both permanent and those that give short-term bonuses) and loot.

However, one important thing to remember – because each level is a puzzle that you have to solve in an ever-changing environment. Players can always get the wrong skills and wrong weapons – they have no choice but to adapt to! And the more enjoyable it will be to find a way to complete the level even when things don’t go according to plan.

The diverse levels of this game offer visually stimulating environments such as lush green meadows, eerie cemeteries, icy wastelands, and warm sandy beaches. Each level is unique and will engage the player’s senses and keep them immersed in the game. Players will experience a range of challenges as they progress through the game, making this an exciting and captivating experience for players of all ages. Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or a casual player, the diverse and  captivating levels of this game are sure to keep you entertained for hours on end.

Source: PR Email

Montreal, Canada, October 26th, 2023 – Hey Buddies! Indie developer WildArts, in partnership with Dear Villagers, are happy to announce their upcoming adventure RPG Born of Bread will finally be ready for consumption on December 5th when it launches on PC, Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series platforms.

To commemorate this announcement, WildWarts has released an all new trailer teasing more of the wacky characters, wild worlds, strategic battles, and all manner of shenanigans when Born of Bread launches on December 5th.

Born of Bread is a home-cooked turn-based role-playing adventure that throws back to classic cartoony RPGs full of fun characters and charming stories for children and adults alike. Beings from another age are causing havoc across the land and their mischief comes as a great threat for everyone. The unlikeliest hero, Loaf, a golem born of bread who possesses a never-ending childlike wonder, will find himself and his newfound friends in the middle of a drama that’s thousands of years in the making.

Explore a wonderful world ripe with mysteries, ranging from the enigmatic ruins of the Forest of Roots to the freezing landscapes of Frosty Flats. With the help of your buddies, face off against menacing baddies and engage in fun, quirky turn-based /real-time hybrid combat.

“We’re so excited to be able to bring people Born of Bread in time for the holidays, as it’s a wholesome adventure that feels perfect for the whole family,” said WildArts Lead Designer and Programmer Nicolas Lamarche. “Born of Bread was inspired by classic comedy RPGs of our childhood that have remained a part of us in the decades that followed. Thankfully the genre has remained evergreen and we think fans of all ages will be nourished by Loaf’s journey.”

“Born of Bread is genuinely funny, endearing, has a strong visual identity, and best of all, it’s fun to play!” said Guillaume Jamet, Head of Publishing for Dear Villagers. “It really is an all-ages treat, and we can’t wait for players to finally get their hands on it in December!”

The full recipe to bake Born of Bread requires the following ingredients:

• One flour golem who possesses a never-ending childlike wonder and a set of odd abilities

• A wonderful world ripe with mysteries

• An eclectic cast of fleshed-out characters

• A wacky storyline

• A pinch of light puzzles

• Turn-based battles with a dash of real-time minigames

• Bright, colorful 2.5D graphics

• Side-missions (add to taste)

• A captive audience granting you bonuses in battle

To start with, you’ll want your flour golem, Loaf. Put him in a mystical land where he can mingle with his friends and local folk. Although he may not look like much, Loaf might be the hero this land kneads!

Stir in a story of beings from another age causing havoc across the land. And with their mischief comes a great threat to everyone!

Mold an eclectic cast of endearing characters, 2.5D illustrated setting, environmental puzzles, and unique turn-based /real-time hybrid battles. Be sure you know what your enemy is weak or resistant against, as it will take brains and reflexes to thwart Born of Bread’s throngs of foes.

Source: PR Email

Indie publisher Sometimes You, together with talented indie developer, Nikolai Usachev, today announced the soon to be released superb looking top down roguelike action-shooter Fusion Paradox.

Releasing on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch on 1st November 2023, this accomplished, all out action romp, mixes exploring, with fast paced shooting that delivers a high octane experience for gamers who like a challenge plus plenty of surprises.

Fight the forces and anomalies that have captured the Agency. Defy the ancient goddess of war and free it!

It’s up to you!

You assume the role of one of the special agents who arrived at the Agency for Supernatural Threat Reduction in response to a red alert signal. Waking up in a secret laboratory, the hero realises that all the agency’s employees have lost their sanity, and he himself has been subjected to strange energy influences, experiencing momentary amnesia and gaining the ability to change his state. Passing through numerous obstacles and battling hordes of the possessed, you will have to reach the source of the threat to free the agency and prevent the danger from spreading to the outside world.

The vision comes to life

Nikolai, succinctly described the game.”Fusion Paradox” combines the “Scrolling Shooter” and “Action Roguelike ” genres. The main distinctive feature is the switching of the hero’s binary state, where each state represents a unique power with its own characteristics and attributes. These powers can include unique weapons, skills, or magical bonuses. Additionally, some of the enemies are vulnerable only in specific states of the hero. It’s crucial for the player to know when to choose the right colour.

Explore, kill, solve and be bold

Fusion Paradox features secret rooms with engaging puzzles that provide additional bonuses. There are characters in the game who offer significant bonuses in case the player fails. Furthermore, the game incorporates classic roguelike mechanics, such as procedurally generated levels with each new playthrough after the hero’s death, dozens of weapon types, numerous unique skills and a variety of enemy types.

In the agency building, there are five floors located in different temporal and spatial dimensions. Mystical events occur here that transcend ordinary time and space. If a place is contaminated, supernatural phenomena can repeat in it even centuries later, as if disrupting the fabric of time. Scientists and magicians investigate the nature of the emergence of anomalous zones in various historical periods by travelling back in time. To reduce the growth and impact of unidentified threats, the administration decided to relocate these spaces from their temporal periods inside the agency building, allocating entire floors for them.

Progressing

During the course of progressing through the floors, the player may come across obelisks of power that provide permanent bonuses to various attributes: additional lives for the yellow and blue heroes, increased movement speed, damage boost, and reduced cooldown time between dashes. These enhancements stay with the player even after the character’s death.

Technically speaking

The look, attention to detail  and ever changing locations, are just some of the great features. Nikolai, ”Game engine graphics effects were utilised and meticulously fine-tuned manually, ranging from particle systems to shaders.”

Explosive Facts & Features

• Five distinct levels
• Puzzles galore
• Universal spells
• Hazardous armour
• Poison!!!
• Ice Storms
• Pistols
• Stingers
• Stone Guard Statues
• Grenades
• 69!!! Weapons!!!!!
• Bosses – Agency Boss Possessed King and more
• 4-6 hours. But some players spend even more than 20 hours in the game.
• … Too many to list!!

Random WOW Factor

After death, all floors are reassembled from scratch, with changes in the room placement and their sizes. New random spells, weapons, power obelisks and additional weapons appear on the floors. Some of the enemies are inaccessible during the initial playthrough and new ones gradually appear in subsequent playthroughs to avoid overwhelming the player initially and to provide gradual new challenges.

Source: PR Email

Paris,  October 20th, 2023 — Microids and Bilibili Games are delighted to announce that the Rogue-Lite game Warm Snow is now available digitally on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and Windows Store.

Since its arrival on Steam in January 2022, Warm Snow came into its own, earning a glowing reputation thanks to a ‘very positive’ rating from over 25,000 enthusiastic reviewers. The game was also honoured with three major awards: the Jincha Award for the most anticipated game of 2022, the 2020 Indieplay Nova Prize and the Bilibili 2022 Must-play. In May 2023, the studio proudly celebrated the sale of over 2 000 000 copies on PC and mobile.”

For the console versions, players will benefit from the “Nightmare Ashes” additional content. This expansion will bring a host of new features, including new powers, even more powerful weapons and a brand new skill tree for even greater customization of Bi-An, to suit every style of play. In addition, new items will be introduced to help players face the world of nightmares.

About Warm Snow:

In the year 27 of the Longwu era, a strange “Warm Snow” plunges the world into chaos, turning people into out-of-control monsters. Play as Bi-An, a mysterious wandering warrior, and embark on an epic journey to restore balance to the world. Free the 5 houses that once protected the world from corruption and unravel the mystery behind the Warm Snow. Choose your equipment according to your fighting style and plunge into the heart of epic battles!

Game features:

• A dynamic rogue-lite gameplay: adapt your arsenal of weapons, powers and elements to suit your personal fighting style.
• Art direction inspired by silk paintings: immerse yourself in breathtaking aesthetic visuals inspired by silk paintings, adding a unique dimension of poetry and elegance to the game universe.
• An exotic world drawn from Chinese folklore: explore a fantasy realm imbued with rich Chinese folklore, where legendary creatures and breathtaking landscapes create an authentic and immersive atmosphere.
• New languages: enjoy an even more immersive gaming experience with new languages available.
• Endless replay value: explore the game over and over again until you finally discover the truth about “Warm Snow” and put an end to it.
• Ash of Nightmare content included: discover the Nightmare system, new mechanics, items, skills, weapons and bosses

Warm Snow is available digitally on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and Windows Store on October 20th, 2023.

Source: PR Email