Twinworld Game Reviews

Archive for the ‘News’ Category

21st February, 2024: Indie publisher Sometimes You and Indie developer BOV, a team of two, are pleased to announce their forthcoming release Cat and Ghostly Road. Launching on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch on 6th March 2024. An atmospheric and beautiful graphically stylized adventure title where the player has to go on a dangerous journey to the world of ghosts and demons.

Setting the scene

Fifteen years ago, in the cold autumn a white cat was found under a bridge by developers from the BOV team. Nobody was looking for him and so they took him in and has lived with them since. The cat’s name is Lune (symbol of a good beginning Yan) and they grew very fond of him, and, so, he became the prototype for our hero.

One day a misfortunate incident happened to the old man…. Now you will need to help the man and save him from death. To do this, you have to go on a dangerous journey to the world of ghosts and demons. Not all things are what they seem: in order to see their true form, you have special vision. Did we forget to tell you, you assume the role of the cat, a very special feline!

Cat Napped inspired!

Bov, the developer, highlighted, “The inspiration for creating the game was our cat! Because the cat is white, he resembles a moon cat. We gradually became imbued with the idea of fantasy in an Asian style. Everything else fell into place naturally. The main goal of the game is for the cat to save his friend’s soul that’s been taken by a demon. Secondary goals include helping fairytale characters.”

Sneaky

Cat and Ghostly Road is quest driven and you will interact with a large number of characters through dialogues and by using items from the inventory. There are quite a few diverse characters and among the key characters, it’s important to mention the cat-girl, where you will gain a new and interesting mechanic.The main goal is to free the soul of the cat’s human friend from the demon’s captivity. You need to solve numerous tasks along the way: help a carp, find the dead flower, locate a skull for a ghost, drive away rats from an old ship, retrieve a phoenix feather. There are many varied tasks, and the cat/you will need cunning and special abilities, which are gradually acquired throughout the journey.

Designed for a challenge and gameplay!

Cat and Ghostly Road is designed in such a way that you can’t skip any landscape. While some locations can be revisited, once the player progresses further, they lose the opportunity to go back. The storyline remains unchanged, but the game features a variety of diverse scenes. Some of the most memorable locations include the “Garden of Souls”, where one of the main scenes takes place, the “Spirit Cemetery”, a meditative walk through the “Pearl Tree”, and the “Ghostly Bazaar,” where you can encounter amazing characters. Plus a few more that gamers will find!!!

Features

• Cat’s visions – allow the player to see demons
• Mini Puzzles– playing the clay flute (ocarina) – a game involving zodiac signs plus lots more
• Gameplay – 3+ hours
• Dialogue – simple straightforward, yet challenging
• Cat and Ghostly Road – atmospheric and meditative in nature
• Music/SFX – Expertly crafted and incorporated

Visually Cat and Ghostly Road is a title that has a focus on its looks and ambience to create a tranquil and enticing story so that gamers can enjoy both the environment and the mental challenges. The luxurious hand drawn screens are detailed and varied and inspired by Asian culture and art.

Cat and Ghostly Road’s intuitive presentation and tasks allow for gradual progression and interaction utilising objects is also balanced but at the same time challenging adding interest for the player to continue their exciting journey of exploration and achievements.

Source: PR Email

Los Angeles, USA – 20th February 2024 – In the wake of the success of Baldur’s Gate 3, RPG fans looking for their next fix can set their sights on March 8th, when Burst2Flame are delighted to announce their simultaneous turn-based tactical RPG, Stolen Realm, will be releasing on PC, Xbox and Switch. Stolen Realm takes the core of the RPG experience and distills it down into a fast-paced experience free of RPG-bloat so that you can focus on making important choices. That includes strategic decisions in combat, how to take advantage of a highly flexible class system that lets you build everything from spell-slinging assassins to shadow-infused knights, and the opportunity to make dubious deals with demons in just one example of the attribute-altering events you might encounter on your journey.

Play Stolen Realm solo, or in co-op with up to six heroes, as you build a unique hero from a pool of over 300 skills in 10 distinct skill trees and arm yourself with over 700 unique lootable items, each fully customisable with modifiers. Frictionless drop-in/drop-out systems give players the flexibility to join or leave mid-quest, with the game automatically scaling difficulty based on the number of players currently active.

Garnering overwhelming positive user reviews during its time on early access on Steam, Stolen Realm takes the deep tactical systems of RPGs like Baldur’s Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin and gives it a unique twist. Simultaneous turns allows all members of the player and enemy team to take their actions at once, creating the kinds of fast-paced encounters you’d typically find in action RPGs, without sacrificing the strategic richness that turn-based RPG fans love.

As you explore procedurally generated dungeons that range from frosty peaks to overgrown jungles, picking your path between battles, story events, resource gathering, shops and treasure rooms on your way to the final boss, you can discover and customise awesome gear that can radically change the way you play. Wield Abbadon the Soul Crusher, a mythic mace that raises slain enemies as skeletal warriors to fight for you, or unsheath the Bloodletter, a cursed sword that grants additional power at the cost of your lifeblood. D&D-like attribute based rolls that have permanent effects on your character in special events add further variety and intrigue to your adventure.

With the game launching out of Early Access on PC and hitting Xbox and Switch on March 8th, the game will be getting a complete story, as well as a brand new streamer mode. The streamer mode allows viewers of a stream to step onto the role of dungeon master, voting and deciding on the enemies and events the streamer will face. These updates add to a roguelike mode, hardcore more and 6 difficulty levels.

“After years of dedication and hard work, our small team is really excited to be launching Stolen Realm on PC, Xbox and Switch on March 8th,” said developer Jason Jolley. “The success and praise we’ve had during Early Access has been wonderful and we’re looking forward to introducing the game to a bigger, wider audience on March 8th.”

Source: PR Email

February 18th – Warsaw, Poland | QubicGames has announced that Woodturning 3D by Voodoo will be released for the Nintendo Switch on February 23.

Unleash your inner carpenter and shape incredible wooden sculptures!
Grab a chisel, carve a shape, color it with sprays, and sell your masterpiece to customers!

As an aspiring carpenter, you must exercise patience and precision, carving out some of the most complex pieces with attention to minute details – much like real-life woodworking.

In this engaging universe, every stroke matters. You are not just randomly using your tools. Instead, you work like a sculptor who turns ordinary wood chunks into unique and colorful artwork.

It’s less about speed and more about accuracy – a refreshing break from usual arcade fare – making it perfect for casual gamers and those seeking a challenging new venture!

Features:

• Grab chisels of 3 different shapes and start carving!
• Use tools precisely and carefully because any wrong movement can affect the final appearance
• Accept customer offers for various sculptures and earn money
• Decorate your wooden artwork with colorful sprays and stencils!
• Perform special tasks to get cash rewards
• Put cool skins on your tools to look like a pro
• Upgrade your studio and give it a new look
• Decide if you want to sell your sculptures or if you want to put them on your collection shelf
• Conduct auctions of your works and see who bids the highest!

Transform wood into amazing sculptures and master the art of precision!

Source: PR Email

There’s just eight days before the release (on 27th February 2024) of Piczle Cross: Story of Seasons, the next instalment in the series. Coming from Japan publisher, Rainy Frog, this lavish and much anticipated title offers hours of compelling puzzle challenges presented in a beatifically crafted setting for Nintendo Switch and  PC Steam gamers to enjoy.

Features and Facts

• Checkout the seasons as you progress
• A  new title from leading  Japan developer
• 100+ page almanack with information from five Story of Seasons games
• Fab and relaxing music
• Achievements
• Fun, and challenging
• Intuitive
• See you farm expand as you progress
• A cosy game to really get to
• Brain teasing – 350 puzzles

A Cosy Challenge Awaits!

Source: PR Email

Friday the 16th of February, 2024: Indie publisher Ratalaika Games and one man, solo, indie developer Diedermor Studio are pleased to announce their forthcoming release Unlife. Launching on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Xbox One,  Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch on 1st March 2024. This is a dark and apocalyptic experience set in a world destroyed by nuclear war, where instead of land only the Black Ocean and its dangerous inhabitants exist!

Simply effective

Unlife may appear to be a straightforward 2d platformer in which you need to overcome various obstacles – swim under water, search for weapons and supplies, and destroy merciless monsters but there is a lot more to it. The hero will have to move between platforms on a large submarine from the Second World War and will also have the opportunity to personally control a smaller submarine. By collecting various trash, you can create items on the workbench necessary for survival. The genetic material of the killed creatures can help cure the hero of the disease, which will affect the end of the game.

Apocalyptic World

The player’s first task will be to reach an old submarine located on a sea platform where the character wakes up. The player will have to explore various oceanic stations, some of which are submerged. Visit an abandoned ship, navigate through an underground subway inhabited by numerous nightmarish creatures. The player will encounter various horrifying entities resembling spiders, mutant humans, a colossal kraken, and a terrifying monster from the depths of the Black Sea.

Monsters are quite dangerous and their attacks significantly harm the character, so it’s crucial to act swiftly. By defeating a monster, the character obtains DNA from which they create a cure for the parasite.

2 into 1

Unlife narrative is linear, but there are two possible endings depending on whether the player can cure their character of the parasite living inside them.

An dark, horrifying experience – a post-apocalyptic challenge not to be overlooked!

Features and Facts:

• Dark mysterious atmosphere
• Hand-drawn graphics
• Dynamic gameplay and battles with dangerous monsters
• Submarines and water locations
• Two endings
• Themed dark soundtrack
• Run, dodge attacks, climb ladders, scale ledges, and swim underwater
• Melee weapons for attacks and firearms for shooting
• First aid kits restore health, and canned food temporarily increases stamina
• Monsters
• Keyboard hints at the initial stages

Diedermor Studio’s Dmitriy, who created ‘Unlife’,  summed up how he sees his work and the experience offered to gamers. “ I love this game for its atmosphere, unique world, and setting. I managed to create a wonderful soundtrack that accentuates the character’s solitude in this dark adventure. I am proud to have successfully completed this challenging project, which is one of the most complex ones for me so far.”

Source: PR Email

Denver, USA – February 15th, 2023 – Yarrow Games are proud to reveal that their upcoming turn-based dice-oriented deck-building roguelike Tamarak Trail is coming to Switch, PlayStation, Xbox Series consoles, and PC on February 29th for $14.99, with a 10% discount available on Steam during launch week. Pre-orders are now available on Switch and Xbox.

You won’t have to wait that long to try it out though, as a demo is currently available on Steam. This lets players try out the first section of the map playing as the Detective, where you’ll be able to face the game’s first two bosses. For this demo, all abilities will be available, and you’ll be able to start updating the Sturgeon Lodge, teasing the permanent upgrades that will be available in the full game.

“We’ve been consumed by Tamarak Trail for so long, ensuring that it’s as pristine, balanced, and atmospheric as possible,” said Piotr Lipert, Lead Designer at Yarrow Games. “Being able to finally share it with everyone has us champing at the bit, and we can’t wait to see what kind of strategies people come up with when Tamarak Trail launches on February 29th.”

More about Tamarak Trail

As a member of a secret society named the Sturgeon Lodge, it’s up to you to piece together the mystery of a decaying earth, hunt down the source of this corruption and put a stop to it at all costs. Embarking on this adventure, you can choose one of three characters: The Magician, the Tracker or the Detective, each with their own unique abilities and traits. Depending on your preferred playstyle, the character’s different skills and attributes allow you to craft a unique strategy for your character as they navigate the ominous trail. Procedurally generated paths create a myriad of possibilities where you can encounter events, monsters, campsites, treasure and more. Every new discovery reveals new bonuses and strategies to explore.

To combat the monsters and nefarious foes you’ll encounter, you’ll have to be tactical in your dice-building, as each face could mean the difference between victory or defeat. Different dice sides can be used to attack directly, apply buffs and debuffs, inflict damage over time, defend yourself, or flip your dice to another side for combo-extending awesomeness. You can even apply “dice cores” to secure passive abilities.

You’re given direct control of your physics-based dice rolls, allowing you to smack them together to create killer combo attacks. In true deck-builder fashion, dice faces can be customized with more abilities after each victory, adding new attacks, defenses and combinations to take forward into future battles. Modify your dice to find a play style that suits you!

Features:

• Craft fully customizable dice!
• Use dice sets with physics-based rolls and infinite combos
• Play as one of three character classes with distinctive gameplay
• Immerse yourself into a meticulously hand-drawn, randomly generated trail full of mysteries and challenges
• Discover eldritch artifacts that drastically change your battle style and strategy

Source: PR Email

A boundless sea of adventure and discovery awaits you in Ys X: Nordics, coming Fall 2024 to Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, and PC!

This milestone entry offers exhilarating, fast-paced combat, a moving story of unexpected bonds, and naval exploration across the vibrant Obelia Gulf. Adol Christin and his unlikely ally, the pirate Karja Balta, must learn to work together to save the people of the gulf from the mysterious immortal monsters known as the Griegr.

We hope you will enjoy this thrilling adventure when it comes to consoles and PC (Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG). Additionally, PC versions will include a language option for Japanese!

Source: PR Email

February 13th – Warsaw, Poland | QubicGames has announced that Bucket Crusher by Voodoo will be released for the Nintendo Switch on February 16.

Will you manage to completely destroy the wall until not a single brick is left standing?

Immerse yourself in the most satisfying casual game where you tear down walls brick by brick using a circular saw! Push the bricks into your Bucket Crusher to convert them into cash, but watch out because you can run out of fuel!

Once you complete the first wall, there are various colorful and interesting mosaics with different shapes waiting for you to dig into and pull to pieces!

Upgrade your machinery after each level and think carefully about the wisest way to invest your money. Increase the length, power, size, and fuel capacity to get more bricks with every run of the level!

If you want to knock down walls faster and earn more cash, consider buying special permanent upgrades that cost prestige points, but there’s a catch here. To get them, you have to reset all your progress!

Features:

• tear down various brickwork mosaics using your saw!
• earn coins for each brick you claim and reset your progress to get Prestige Points!
• upgrade your machinery for more power, size, length, and fuel capacity
• buy a variety of improvements: treadmill, tank, multiplier, discount, and servo!
• change the look of your saw with different skins!
• relax and de-stress after a long day
• beware because the game is very addictive!

Source: PR Email

February 6th – Warsaw, Poland | QubicGames has announced that The Nom by Voodoo will be released for the Nintendo Switch on February 9.

The new powerful form allows you to walk on walls, absorb scientists to grow, morph into objects, and blend with the environment when you are outside the view of humans!

Your quest is to find and defeat Dr. Vial to regain your human form. Face fierce guards and powerful bosses who will stop at nothing to prevent you from achieving your goal!

Explore a world filled with danger and mystery as you fight your way through each level, using your wits and strength to overcome the challenges that lie ahead!

Features:

• show your dominance using various attacks like throwing, exploding, or smashing into your enemy!
• avoid enemy vision and, when needed, morph into objects to prevent detection
• climb on walls and attack from above!
• upgrade your armor, move speed, growth speed, and fever charge to increase your advantage over your enemies!
• beat your records on bonus levels. Push guards in the void to go as far as possible, but be careful because the ground is falling!
• challenge yourself and beat Stealth Mode levels where you must escape unnoticed! Here is a twist – you can’t attack here!
• earn keys found on the levels to open prize boxes
• expand your observation base
• put on different skins to look even more dangerous!

Will you be able to defeat Dr. Vial and become human again?

Source: PR Email

February 5th, 2024 – Get ready to blast into some blistering arcade action with the latest title from Brain Seal Entertainment, Geometry Survivor, which is launching later this month on both console & PC!

Taking the popular Bullet Heaven formula and bringing it back to the neon glory days of early 80’s gaming, Geometry Survivor pits you against unyielding waves of vector based enemies. Fire off smart missiles, mega-lasers, blackholes, and more in an attempt to stop the horde, working run after run to figure out which combination of weapons will deliver the most powerful phosphor glow tinted payload. Keep those bullets firing as you spend the credits earned during your runs on new ships and upgrades, helping you survive just that little bit longer each time before having to put in another hypothetical quarter.

Geometry Survivor will launch on February 21st across Steam, PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox One & Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.

About Geometry Survivor

Geometry Survivor is a rogue-lite auto shooter where you must survive for 20 minutes. Fight against waves of geometry ships, defeat their formations and survive the grid world.

Features

• One hand gameplay: Use just one hand to control the direction of your ship
• Auto-Shooter: Your weapons fire automatically, letting you concentrate on staying alive
• Weapons: Each run allows you to get a unique combination of weapons
• Credits: Earn credits and permanently unlock new upgrades
• Enemies: Enjoy the multitude of enemies each with their own AI
• 20 minutes of intense gameplay
• Retro visuals and music straight from the 80s
• Delicious gameplay!

Geometry Survivor is the ultimate survival game, do not miss it!

Source: PR Email