Twinworld Game Reviews

Archive for the ‘News’ Category

18 SEPTEMBER 2024 – Rablo Games is thrilled to announce the release date of Necro Story. The light-hearted creature collection RPG will soon delight players on PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S & PlayStation 5 on the 7th of October!

In Necro Story, you play as a (kind of) evil necromancer more into undead shenanigans than saving the world! Summon minions, outsmart foes, and snag their souls to power up your team. With witty banter from ghostly sidekick Vivi, expect strategic combat, laughs, and plenty of mischief.

Necro Story will be priced USD $14.99 (regional prices will vary) on all platforms and will be available with a 15% launch discount on Steam for a limited time.

To celebrate the announcement of the release date, a new trailer was made, ​​and it arrived just in time, with a narration delivered entirely in rhyme!

About the game

Necro Story is a light-hearted RPG that puts you in the shoes of Jaimus the Necromancer. Guided by the mischievous ghost Vivi, you’ll cast powerful spells, raise skeleton armies, sign dark pacts with demons, and capture souls in this hex-citing journey to the underworld. With a blend of humorous writing and strategic auto-battler mechanics, it’s a game that’s dying to be played.

Key features

• Master Over 20 Necromancy Spells: Explore 5 magical schools—Affliction, Darkness, Life Drain, Summoning, and Dark Pacts. Each spell comes with its own skill tree, allowing you to customize and perfect your necromantic abilities.
• Capture & Command Souls: Don’t let your enemies slip away! Capture their souls, transform them into formidable allies, and strengthen your undead army.
• Strategic Team Management: Choose your companions wisely, equip them with powerful gear, and manage their skills to maximize their potential. Transform into powerful demons or summon zombies and skeletons to enhance your squad and lead them to victory.
• Unlock Hidden Secrets – Pay close attention to your surroundings, as the game is full of hidden paths you can unlock through puzzles to gain access to unique equipment & items.
• Whimsical Storyline: Enjoy a unique blend of dark fantasy and humor as you navigate through a heartfelt narrative with plenty of witty banter and unexpected twists.

Source: PR Email

TORUŃ, POLAND, September 18, 2024 — Dark Point Games is excited to announce that their 2023 action RPG Achilles: Legends Untold launches today on Xbox One and PlayStation 4, and a Nintendo Switch version is also coming later this year. Alongside this release, the game receives today a new free expansion titled ‘Fate of Moira’, which introduces new gameplay modes that promise to extend the experience with additional hours of challenging content. The ‘Fate of Moira’ update is available now on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.

The ‘Fate of Moira’ update brings several new gameplay modes designed to challenge players even after they’ve completed the main story. These modes dramatically alter the core gameplay, offering fresh and intense experiences that require new strategies and approaches. Whether it’s surviving with minimal resources, facing relentless enemies, or adapting to changing conditions, these modes ensure that Achilles’ journey is far from over. Moira, who has been a mysterious and pivotal figure in the story, will now take center stage. With her guidance, players will face formidable enemies and puzzles that will test their resolve and intellect, including:

• Inevitable Fate of Atropos: Precision and caution are your greatest allies. Every melee hit you land instantly kills any non-boss enemy, but the stakes are equally high for you—one hit and Achilles falls.
• Fate of Clotho the Spinner: Achilles constantly loses HP, pushing you to play aggressively to stay alive. Using Hades Vision pauses the life drain, and you can heal by killing enemies with Drain Souls. However, you can’t attack or use weapon skills in Hades Vision, adding tension and strategy to every move.
• Fate of Lachesis The Allotter: A relentless Laistrygon hunts you on every map, immune to conventional damage but can be slowed or debuffed. It grows stronger over time, forcing you to survive through strategy and cunning. The Ariadne’s Thread can temporarily remove the threat, but be prepared—it will return stronger than before.

This content update is the latest in a long list of post-launch support releases that Dark Point Games has brought to Achilles: Legends Untold. These include four major updates that have added new difficulty levels, various quality-of-life improvements and balancing, new items in the form of amulets that provide buffs and trade-offs, new quests and areas to explore, new enemies, improvements to the combat system, and new co-op maps.

The team’s commitment to player feedback has brought the game to a 91% very positive rating in recent Steam reviews, and with the addition of last-generation consoles today and the newly announced Nintendo Switch version, Dark Point Games hopes to bring the adventure to many more. “Given the strong demand and numerous requests we’ve received from our community, we decided it was important to make our game accessible to a wider audience. That’s why we’re excited to announce that we will be releasing the game on older-generation consoles, including Xbox One, PS4, and Nintendo Switch. We want everyone to be able to enjoy the experience, no matter what platform they’re on.” – Paweł Waszak, CEO.

Achilles: Legends Untold is an action RPG in an isometric perspective set in the story of The Iliad. Dive into a world where mastering combat is key to survival. Block and evade attacks, then sever limbs and heads of your foes with any weapon combination that suits your fighting style. Develop your own tactics and achieve success over your enemies. Explore open worlds and take on countless challenges. If you fall in battle, don’t give up – try again and strengthen your character by enhancing their attributes and acquiring new skills in a deep RPG progression system. The multilayered story takes you through the diverse locations of ancient Greece, 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.

GAME FEATURES

• Action RPG with souls-like combat style.
• A variety of enemies to battle, each with a distinct combat pattern.
• Weapons, items, and skills that offer a unique playstyle.
• An open world ready for exploration.
• Over 20 hours of gameplay.
• A proprietary GAIA (Group AI Action) system that governs AI cooperation within the environment.

Achilles: Legends Untold is available on Steam, the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S for $24.99 USD / 22.99€ / ￡19.99. Players can join Discord for the latest updates and support, as well as news for their recently announced Achilles: Survivor game.

Source: PR Email

18th September, 2024. Today Ratalaika Games and FobTi Interactive, a small ‘one-man’ independent game development studio based in Slovakia, are pleased to announce the up and coming title ‘They Came from the Sky 2’, will be released on 20th September for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch. Best described as a fast paced arcade 2D action arcade retro experience, with humour, challenges and one or two surprises, with pixel graphics to enjoy!

Help!

Terror from space plunges the world into panic! Yes, again! Your mission: Save the Earth from mankind and make a delicious juicy Human Smoothie! Inspired by the legendary game from Amiga: Walker, an ionic classic and old good Defender. Aliens can no longer watch the earth being destroyed by the human race. It’s time to act!

Trained To Destroy!

You are an alien. It’s the game wherein you take the role of one of the giant Alien robots with one and only one Mission: Save the Earth from mankind and make a delicious juicy Human Smoothie!

Pow! Bang! Thud… KERBOOM!!!!!

Put simply, here we have a game, crammed with action, explosive power, guns and special abilities for fun to unlock in the Tech-Lab. From homing missiles to Black holes or an amazing DNA modifier. There are more than 20 brutal enemy types like: Grandpa, Skateboard Kid, or disabled person on Wheelchair. You can Shoot, Trample or Abduct them. Like in Pokemon, gotta catch em all! Importantly – Shoot, Trample or Abduct them all!  Try not to die.

Unlock new areas like Chinatown, Amusement park, etc. although you’ll need to beat the boss first and plenty more to uncover.

Features

• Replayability
• Chase for an high score
• Perfect to play – long or short sessions
• Find hidden classic movie references and artefacts
• Unlock weapons
• Music by Kevin Macleod
• Every changing settings
• Full Xbox controller support

Source: PR Email

11th September, 2024 – Australian developer Critical Games released their hit JRPG 8-Bit Adventures 2 on PC last year. Flushed from its success, and the critical fanfare it received from media, they’re eager to announce that the console versions – PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch – will release on October 16th 2024.

“After seven years of work developing and self-funding 8-Bit Adventures 2, I was overwhelmed and delighted with the positive response that the PC version received. The central storyline, cast, and battle system hooked fans of the RPG genre, and I look forward to sharing this experience with console players.” – Joshua Hallaran.

Game experience

Explore and immerse yourself in a vast and varied world, brought to life by vibrant 8-Bit graphics, memorable NES-accurate music, and an unforgettable cast of characters.

Players can enjoy strategic, dynamic turn-based combat which focuses on unique character skills, swapping party members, managing the turn order, and unleashing powerful Team Attacks and Omega Burst finishing moves – no random battles or mandatory grinding required. A perfect entry point into the series, this is a story for new and returning players alike!

Features

• Airship Travel – fly across an expansive World Map, filled with character-driven Side-Quests & challenging Super Boss battles!
• Nostalgia Perfected – vivid & vibrant Pixel Art visuals, with an enchanting & unforgettable Chiptune OST.
• Uplifting, Story-Rich Adventure which blends Fantasy and Sci-Fi.
• 30-40 Hours Playtime.
• Turn-Based Battles with Depth and Strategy. Freely swap allies mid-combat, and unleash Team Attacks or Omega Burst finishing moves!
• No Random Battles – enemies are always visible on the map.
• Seven Playable Characters, including a blind martial artist and an Exterminator-class robot.
• Constant Variety – everything from exploring ancient ruins to solving a robot murder mystery!
• Tightly Paced Story which balances the classic JRPG experience with modern design.
• A Tragic Villain with a Unique Twist – save the world from a vengeful Glitch!

The Story & Objective

When a mistreated child with impossible powers threatens to reshape the world, a hero’s disappearance kicks off a grand adventure – and a battle for survival!

This boy has unleashed chaos across the globe; raising an undead army, possessing a squadron of deadly airships, poisoning the land, and imprisoning an entire continent far above the clouds. He believes that this upheaval will create a new, more perfect world – a world which will have a place for him.

Granted special powers by an omniscient computer, the player must stop the boy before it’s too late. But can they also save him? Or was his fate sealed at birth?

Put simply, 8-Bit Adventures 2 features everything fans love about classic JRPGs. An earnest, engaging storyline; relatable, easy-to-love characters; strategic turn-based combat; deep party customization; an unforgettable soundtrack; and a large, fantastical world – traversed by Airship, and brought to life by vibrant 8-Bit inspired visuals.

While it may be a sequel, anyone can jump into this brand new adventure!

….if you want an entertaining, light-hearted, and endearing experience, this is the game for you… Noisy Pixel (USA)

Source: PR Email

Deck13 Spotlight and Just2D are proud and excited to announce the release date for their upcoming grim dark Pixel RPG DROVA  – Forsaken Kin which is set in a mystic Celtic world.  The brutal open world will welcome new travellers on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch on October 15th.

Enslave The Spirits of nature – or save them!

The druids whispered about a promised land called DROVA, a new horizon they claim to be paradise. But you will learn the truth in October: This world is anything but a Utopia. Drova is a grim world where every man is for himself.

Features:

• 40 Hours of Story-driven gameplay
• A brutal combat system with multiple weapon classes and magic
• A handcrafted seamless open pixel art world
• Join one of two factions to survive in this grim dark world
• Trust no one

A Release Date After All These Years

After more than six years of development, DROVA finally has a release date carved in stone: October 15th. During Gamescom countless people played the game on PC and Nintendo Switch, with creators of the original Gothic stepping in and revealing they were part of a public playtest. They have finally found a game which captures the spirit of the original Gothic for the very first time.

Grab your axe, sharpen your blades and explore a grim dark world when Drova – Forsaken Kin will launch on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch October 15th 2024.

Source: PR Email

THIONVILLE, France – Sept. 5, 2024 – Italian solo developer Roboatino and French publisher Goblinz Publishing are proud to announce that that Shogun Showdown version 1.0 is out today on Steam, GOG, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S at a price of 14.99 EUR|USD. Shogun Showdown is an innovative turn-based combat game with rogue-like and deck-building elements set in a pixel-art Japanese-inspired universe. After 14 months on Steam Early Access, the title has garnered more than 2300 reviews on Steam averaging a user score of 96%, players have praised the game’s fair and challenging game design, satisfying mechanics, variety of situations and the beautiful pixel art visuals full of personality.

KEY FEATURES

• Turn-based combat where every action counts. Carefully position yourself, build up and unleash your attacks at the right time!
• Upgrade your attack tiles and combo them!
• Gain new skills and build the best deck you can before facing the Shogun.
• Rogue-like: death is not the end, but the beginning of your journey towards mastery. As you play, you will unlock new characters, attacks, skills and more!

NEW CONTENT ADDED IN VERSION 1.0

• New location (Ieyasu’s garden) & new boss (Ieyasu the Patient)
• Day 7: New elite enemy type (Corrupted) and new enemy (Corrupted progeny), True final boss after Shogun fight: the Corrupted Soul
• Lore: Small cut scenes after you defeat a new Day for the first time (can also be accessed from the main menu: Other -> Endings). Reworked a lot of boss barks and descriptions
• 7 New Skills (Rogue Retail, Seiryu’s Scale, Fenghuangs’s Feather, Two-Faced Dancer, Overflow Guard, Chilling Combo, Odd Curse)
• 6 New Quests
• 7 New Tiles (Hookblade, Nagiboku, Sharp Turn, Ki Push, Thorns, Back-Smoke Bomb, Chakram)
• New Hero: Chain Master
• New “Stats” page in camp Archive

Source: PR Email

29 AUGUST, 2024 – Publisher Big Sugar is delighted to announce that after making its debut on PC last year, the hell-raising, head-banging shoot ’em up action of Valfaris: Mecha Therion is also now available to download for Nintendo Switch, PS4/PS5, and Xbox One/Xbox Series X|S, priced $19.99.

Developed by Steel Mantis, Valfaris: Mecha Therion is a sequel to the critically-acclaimed action-platformer Valfaris (ranked #16 Best PC Game of 2019 by Metacritic). It launched for PC late 2023 and currently has a 95% positive user rating on Steam.

About the game

Therion returns as the hunt for Lord Vroll continues. Pilot an advanced machine of death and destruction in this explosive 2.5D side-scrolling shoot ‘em up, and sequel to the critically acclaimed Valfaris. Strap in and unleash mecha hell!

After escaping Valfaris, Therion’s hunt for the evil Lord Vroll has taken him across the galaxy. As the final, inevitable showdown looms, Therion harnesses the awesome combat ability of his secret weapon – Mecha Therion!

Key features

• Pilot a behemoth suit forged of metal and fury
• Master a formidable selection of devastating weapons
• Annihilate waves of alien enemies and powerful bosses
• Collect module add-ons to enhance the suit’s capabilities
• Navigate a deadly world brought to life by the stunning art of Andrew Gilmour
• Succumb to another killer soundtrack by series composer Curt Victor Bryant

Source: PR Email

Berlin, 29th August 2024 – The wait is over. NatsumeAtari, in partnership with ININ, is proud to announce the global launch of Shadow of the Ninja: Reborn, the highly anticipated reimagining of the classic retro title. Available now on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S and Steam.

Reliving a Classic, Reinvented for a New Era!

Originally developed by Natsume and released in 1990 for the NES, Shadow of the Ninja (known as Blue Shadow or KAGE in some regions) stood out as a tough-but-fair side-scrolling action game that became a fan favourite among the retro gaming community. The game was praised for its challenging yet rewarding gameplay, two-player cooperative action, and atmospheric level design.

In this thrilling action-adventure platformer, you will use your striking katana, as well as the acrobatic finesse of a ninja to face the advance of powerful enemies. Our fearless heroes, Hayate and Kaede have undergone a major visual upgrade from their original 8-bit models. From the deadly foes to the no-less deadly stages, every part of this title has been faithfully remade in stunning high-quality graphics.

Special attention was dedicated to the already acclaimed 2-player mode, which now features upgraded cooperative gameplay dynamics, refined character interactions, and an overall optimised experience. So, grab a friend and engage in deadly shinobi combat to save the world in this dark action gem Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn!

This remake brings back Iku Mizutani, the star composer who helped create the iconic Natsume sound and renowned tracks for various NES games.

As with the original version, Dynamic Pro handled the illustrations!

The key visuals/character illustrations are also by Dynamic Productions, as was the case with the first version in 1990.

Features and Innovations

• Reimagined Visuals: Fully remastered in stunning high resolution, the game features hand-drawn 2D art mixed with dynamic environments, breathing new life into every corner of the original world.
• Enhanced Combat System: Refined combat mechanics introduce new ninja abilities, combos, and precision platforming that rewards skill and strategy.
• Expanded Storyline: Dive deeper into the lore of the Shadow of the Ninja universe with a completely new designed and added level, providing a more immersive experience.
• Co-op Mode Revamped: The beloved local cooperative mode has been reworked, offering seamless integration and more intense team-based action.
• A Star-Studded, Rockin’ Soundtrack: Play along with the legendary Hiroyuki Iwatsuki and Iku Mizutani’s electrifying guitar riffs and fast-paced melodies.

Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn is available digital for just €19,99 and physical for €29,99 (PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch). There is also a physical PS4 version available from SLG.

For the real retro game music lovers, Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn will also release a Digital Deluxe Edition for PS4/PS5, NSW, and Steam priced at €24.99, that includes the electric digital soundtrack by legends Iku Mizutani and Hiroyuki Iwatsuki!

Source: PR Email

THIONVILLE, France – Aug. 27, 2024 – Italian solo developer Roboatino and French publisher Goblinz Publishing are proud to announce the release of Shogun Showdown on Steam, GOG, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S this September 5 at a price of 14.99 EUR|USD. Shogun Showdown is an innovative turn-based combat game with rogue-like and deck-building elements set in a pixel-art Japanese-inspired universe. After 14 months on Steam Early Access, the title has garnered more than 2300 reviews on Steam averaging a user score of 96%, players have praised the game’s fair and challenging game design, satisfying mechanics, variety of situations and the beautiful pixel art visuals full of personality.

KEY FEATURES

• Turn-based combat where every action counts. Carefully position yourself, build up and unleash your attacks at the right time!
• Upgrade your attack tiles and combo them!
• Gain new skills and build the best deck you can before facing the Shogun.
• Rogue-like: death is not the end, but the beginning of your journey towards mastery. As you play, you will unlock new characters, attacks, skills and more!

NEW CONTENT ADDED IN VERSION 1.0

• New location (Ieyasu’s garden) & new boss (Ieyasu the Patient)
• Day 7: New elite enemy type (Corrupted) and new enemy (Corrupted progeny), True final boss after Shogun fight: the Corrupted Soul
• Lore: Small cut scenes after you defeat a new Day for the first time (can also be accessed from the main menu: Other -> Endings). Reworked a lot of boss barks and descriptions
• 7 New Skills (Rogue Retail, Seiryu’s Scale, Fenghuangs’s Feather, Two-Faced Dancer, Overflow Guard, Chilling Combo, Odd Curse)
• 6 New Quests
• 7 New Tiles (Hookblade, Nagiboku, Sharp Turn, Ki Push, Thorns, Back-Smoke Bomb, Chakram)
• New Hero: Chain Master
• New “Stats” page in camp Archive

Source: PR Email

Tuesday September 27th, 2024: After the successful release and reintroduction of Aero the Acro-Bat, Indie publisher Ratalaika Games and Tokyo-based publisher LLC Shinyuden, who specialise in retro game licences, are delighted to announce the sequel Aero The Acro-Bat 2 on September 6th 2024. This iconic and well loved and received hero flies onto PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch for another extravaganza from Aero the daredevil and the star acrobat of his circus!

After managing to stop Edgar Ektor’s mad plans to destroy the world of amusement, Aero decides to investigate the madman’s museum of horror. There he finds a strange floating magician’s box. When he gets inside to investigate it, he is suddenly transported to a mysterious place. However, unbeknownst to Aero, Edgar has managed to survive after being rescued by his minion Zero, and has asked him to execute plan B, but what could this mysterious plan be? More fun and colourful antics!

1 into 8

Split into eight worlds, all of them, except for the final world, with three ‘acts’ each. The levels are significantly longer, more challenging and inventive  than the first game with many secret areas. The goal of each level is to find the exit at the end of every act, defeating enemies and collecting power-ups along the way.

Aero has his stupendous  drill jump from the first game, an ability that can be aimed either diagonally up or down to reach enemies and platforms. New is the ability to aim the drill jump straight down, allowing Aero to attack enemies directly below him. Food can be collected for extra points, and stars can be thrown at enemies to defeat them, much like in the original game.

New features for a new version

A rewind/turbo function (ideal to practise for the speedruns that many influencers do), a save function to save wherever you want, cheats, and screen filters that you can find in many of Shunyuden’s previous games. As always, Shinyuden wants to deliver an experience that is as close as possible to the original, especially with a game that holds so well by today’s standards like Aero The Acro-Bat 2!

Source: PR Email