Twinworld Game Reviews

Archive for the ‘News’ Category

August 7, 2024. Today publisher Treasure Boy and developer Kindermann Corp. are delighted to give a shout-out about the worldwide release of Shikon-X today on PC Steam and the Nintendo Switch priced at $12.99 / €10.79 / £10.29. A hard-to-describe – let alone categorize – game in that, as a story-rich drama, intergalactic point-and-click adventure without any actual pointing or clicking, sort of open-ended experience – it offers a lot from that ‘golden age’ – a real blast from the past!

Set out on an epic quest to unravel the mysteries behind the war against humanity. Even when pitted against a cosmic threat, there’s always time for a bit of pinball…

Shikon-X is totally ‘retro’ focused, with its stylized colourful graphics, it harks back to the good old 8-bit days but offers challenges and immersive gameplay in a wild, whacky, moreish way!

• Streamlined ‘point-and-click’ experience without the pointing and clicking
• Gameplay designed with approachability in mind
• Intergalactic adventure inspired by 80s and 90s anime (the best kind!)
• Arcade mini-games that help drive the narrative forward

PLAY

Meet Major Daaia, the best pilot the Federation has ever seen! During a routine defense operation, Daaia receives a mysterious message from humanity’s mortal enemy, the Rolars. The message kick-starts her intergalactic adventure of epic proportions inspired by 80s and 90s anime. Visit alien planets, meet all kinds of weird and silly characters, and uncover the truth behind the war with the Rolars.

GAME ON

Shikon-X features a variety of playable arcade mini-games throughout the adventure. Fend off invaders from space in a retro-inspired arcade shooter, or flaunt your flipper skills in a fully-featured pinball table. Every mini-game serves a purpose, with certain story beats developing through these scenes!

Fight, explore, challenge, chat, pilot, defend, solve mysteries, planet hop, meet locals, visit bars,……

GAME OVER

Source: PR Email

Montpellier, France – August 6, 2024 – Dear Villagers and Studio Plane Toast are happy to announce that their cozy, semi-open world exploration adventure Caravan Sandwitch will be launching this September on PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), PS5 and Nintendo Switch platforms. The title sets the player in a Sci-Fi Provence-like world, driven by a mystery through your missing sister that unfolds with each step you take. Players will traverse a rich landscape in their customizable van, interacting with various inhabitants and uncovering the mysteries of Cigalo.

With an emphasis on inclusivity and environmental themes, the life in Caravan Sandwitch is simple: no combat, no death, no timer, just you, your van, and the world. Today it also marks the release of the single Pensée Dérobée by the artist Antynomy available on all streaming platforms (full Caravan Sandwitch OST available on release).

KEY FEATURES

Explore a Provence-like World

Equipped with your van and an array of essential tools, you set out on a quest to find your missing sister. Upgrade your van throughout your adventure and explorations to open up new passages and ruins. From navigating treacherous terrain to uncovering ancient ruins, every step of your journey brings you closer to unraveling the truth behind your sister’s disappearance.

An hopeful Post-Apocalypse

From a green planet to a desertic one due to human activities and sur-exploitation; discover on Cigalo the impact of humans and its population through your road trip. Meet the Reinetos, an old aboriginal species, the Robots left behind after the planet exploitation, the humans who stayed after everyone left for another planet, and the mysterious SandWitch. All of them live peacefully in Cigalo and help each other in this unwelcome environment.

Meet a diverse cast of characters

As you interact with the diverse characters you meet along the way, you’ll come to understand that your community is your home. Help everyone and contribute your piece to the edifice, enabling everyone to live in harmony in an environment hostile to all civilizations due to over-exploitation.

A Game developed for All

Plane Toast made a huge effort to create a game in which everyone can feel included, representing their vision of a world where communities help each other to overcome the environmental consequences of our world.Caravan SandWitch is written with an inclusive script, that represents a real community with its people and representation.

Accessibility options are available.

Source: PR Email

Victoria, Australia – Thursday 1st August, 2024 – Independent game studio Drop Bear Bytes is excited to announce that their isometric RPG Broken Roads is out now on Nintendo Switch for $34.99 / £31.49 / €34.99 with an additional limited 20% off launch discount, and PlayStation and Xbox consoles for $39.99 / £32.99 / €39.99. Broken Roads is developed by a passionate indie team of CRPG fans led by Colin McComb, who previously worked on Planescape: Torment and Fallout 2. The game released earlier this year on PC and other consoles and received multiple updates that expanded and improved the experience.

“We’re all really happy to see Broken Roads launch on Nintendo this week” said Craig Ritchie, Game Director at Drop Bear Bytes. “We designed the game to run great on handheld from the beginning and we’re excited to see what Switch players think of it, especially since they’ll be experiencing the best version of the game from day one.”

More about Broken Roads:

Broken Roads is a narrative-driven RPG that brings exploration, strategic turn-based combat and meaningful philosophical choices to an all-new Australian post-apocalyptic setting. Broken Roads skillfully blends traditional and all-new role-playing elements on top of a classless system offering near-unlimited character development options built around four philosophies: Humanist, Utilitarian, Machiavellian, and Nihilist. Furthermore the game presents players with an original morality system: the Moral Compass which sees dialogue options and questing decisions influence, and be influenced by, a character’s philosophical leaning and the tough decisions they make along the way.

Broken Roads’ locations are all authentic recreated from the team visiting towns and landmarks in West Australia and taking photos, videos and audio recordings for it to be as true as possible. Furthermore, even the game’s atmospheric soundtrack composed by Tim Sunderland is composed with instruments constructed from everyday objects which brings a wholly unique and distinctive tone to the game.

Source: PR Email

Berlin, 1st August 2024 –  Plunge right into the depths of nostalgia as the legendary side-scrolling shoot ‘em up, X-Out, returns in a stunning remake X-Out: Resurfaced! Be prepared for this ININ x Ziggurat partnership as they make waves with this classic underwater shooter to all platforms this winter!

Rainbow Arts, one of the top game developers of the 80s, originally developed and released X-Out for home computers in 1990. Celebrated as “the dream of every action freak,” and “the ultimate shoot ‘em up,” (Amiga Joker) X-Out quickly became a classic on the Commodore 64, Amiga and Atari ST.

While most shooters released at the time were set in the air, or outer space, X-Out goes deep beneath the ocean. Now, 35 years later, X-Out is being reimagined for a new generation of players, bringing enhanced graphics, updated gameplay, and even more thrilling new features.

X-Out: Resurfaced stays true to the essence of the original, while introducing modern twists! Although the exciting features are not yet announced, just know that X-Out: Resurfaced will definitely make gigantic soundwaves… Stay tuned for more news on this exciting remake!

Source: PR Email

São Paulo, Brazil – August 1st, 2024 – Independent developer QUByte Interactive has today announced that their hotly anticipated science-fiction intergalactic metroidvania MARS 2120 has been released on PC via Steam; PlayStation 4 and Playstation 5; Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One; and Nintendo Switch at £17.99 / $20.00 / R$60,00 / €20.00, with a 10% launch discount on Steam, Nintendo Switch and Xbox. Following a successful Early Access period, the game dubbed “the Brazilian Metroid Dread”’ is now ready for your exploration.

Explore a post-colonization Mars in a cinematic Sci-Fi experience, using incredible elemental abilities to traverse various biomes in your quest to discover the secrets of Mars and save the colony from unknown and enigmatic threats.

“We’re so excited to blast off and finally release MARS 2120,” said Bruno Carvalho, associate & game designer at QUByte Interactive. “At QUByte Interactive, we’ve aimed for the stars to pay homage to the intergalactic, and that’s to say, ever-expanding canon of great metroidvanias, we hope that the fans of everything from Castlevania to Hollow Knight, and Super Metroid to Dead Cells, have something they can enjoy in our sci-fi adventure.”

About MARS 2120

In MARS 2120, humanity has successfully colonized various planets in our solar system, allowing people to escape an increasingly grim situation on Earth. After the UN receives a worrying distress call from Mars, it’s up to Sergeant Anna “Thirteen” Charlotte and an elite team of space marines to answer the call and rescue the first colony.

In order to reach the colony, you’ll have to traverse a series of intense biomes and harsh Martian landscapes. fighting formidable and mysterious foes using a mix of ranged and melee attacks alongside useful elemental skills. How you dispatch your enemies is up to you, with the game offering players a non-linear approach to combat as well as exploration. Inspired by pioneers of the genre such as Super Metroid and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, MARS 2120 is an action packed metroidvania that offers an engaging combat experience alongside cinematic flair. Will you survive?

Source: PR Email

August 1, 2024. Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo – Neos Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, Chair of the Board: Masashi Ikeda), a subsidiary of Tecmira Holdings, Inc., is proud to announce the release of “Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town” on Steam for worldwide distribution and on Nintendo Switch in Western markets on October 24, 2024 at a price of 29.99 USD/EUR and 39.99 USD/EUR respectively. The title will be on sale on Steam for 26.99 USD/EUR from the launch until November 7, 2024. The game was released in Japan and Asia earlier this year and won the Visual Arts Excellence Award at the CEDEC AWARDS 2024.

A bundle sale will be held on both platforms from the start of sales until November 7, during which time this title and “Shin chan: Me and the Professor on Summer Vacation -The Endless Seven-Day Journey-,” which marks the 3rd anniversary of its release, will be available for purchase at a discounted price of 39.99 USD/EUR on Steam and 49.99 USD/EUR on Nintendo Switch. Additionally, the price of this previous Shin chan title on Steam will be revised from 39.99 USD, 49.99 EUR to 29.99 USD/EUR, matching the price of “Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town.”

In addition, in partnership with U.S. game publisher Limited Run Games, the game will also be released in a physical version for Nintendo Switch in the U.S. and Europe. This edition will be available for pre-order at LRG’s official online store for a limited time this fall.

Experience a New Adventure in the World of Shin chan

In “Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town,” Shin chan and the Nohara family visit the town of Akita. The game depicts Shin chan’s daily life as he and Shiro experience various things while travelling between the two worlds of reality and a mysterious town. The game can be enjoyed by people of all ages and genders, from “Crayon Shin chan” fans to video game fans who want to experience a full-fledged story.

The Nohara Family Goes to Akita Prefecture!

Hiroshi is sent on a sudden business trip to his native Akita. The Nohara family arrives in a small village near Hiroshi’s parents’ home and rents a traditional Japanese farmhouse. Nestled in this tranquil rural landscape, they begin their carefree and quiet life in the countryside. Shinnosuke’s grandfather, Ginnosuke, teaches him the secrets of countryside games such as bug catching and fishing. In the evenings, everyone enjoys sitting around the sunken hearth to savour delicious Akita dishes. In the village, Shinnosuke interacts with farmers and makes new friends. Every day, he enjoys his life to the fullest until…

Shinnosuke Follows After a Soot-Covered Shiro

One morning, Shiro shows up at the house, covered in soot. As a confused Shinnosuke looks on, Shiro suddenly runs away…! Shinnosuke chases after Shiro, and he notices a mysterious train he’s never seen before. Shinnosuke follows after Shiro and accidentally boards this train.

Welcome to Coal Town

The mysterious train stops in a lively and prosperous town that seems to have been frozen in time since the Showa era. In this town, called Coal Town, energetic working class people go about their daily lives. After meeting a mysterious young girl, Shinnosuke becomes friends with these people. And so begins Shinnosuke’s newest adventure…!

Shin chan’s mysterious daily life begins, as he travels between the two worlds: the village in Akita and Coal Town

STEAM version details:

• Target countries: More than 70 countries worldwide.
• Text languages: Japanese, English, Spanish, German, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Korean
• Audio languages: Japanese, Chinese, Cantonese, Korean
• Text and audio can be selected at startup,

Nintendo Switch Western (digital) version details:

• Target countries: More than 40 countries worldwide.
• Text languages: Japanese, English, Spanish, German.
• Audio language: Japanese.

Source: PR Email

August 1st , 2024: Indie publisher Ratalaika Games and Tokyo-based publisher LLC Shinyuden, specialised in retro game licences, are delighted to announce, a day before the release of retro icon Aero The Acro-Bat’s debut on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Xbox One,  Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch, three more titles from this iconic and well loved IP will be released throughout 2024.

With Aero The Acro-Bat’s release on all consoles 2nd August it will be followed by Aero the Acro-Bat 2 (6th September), Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel (4th October), and Aero the Acro-bat: Rascal Rival Revenge (1st November) – marking this the first time the whole collection being available, digitally!

Aero The Acro-Bat 2 – (6th September 2024 SW/XB/PS4/5)

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!

Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel – (4th October 2024 SW/XB/PS4/5)

While working on Edgar Ektor’s evil plan, Zero receives a letter from his girlfriend telling him their forest is in danger and her father has been kidnapped. When he tells Edgar that he needs to go to protect his forest, Edgar refuses, but Zero leaves without permission. Now Zero needs to head back to his forest as soon as possible, but the evil madman Edgar Ektor doesn’t take no for an answer and is not planning to make it easy for the hero to go save his beloved forest.

Aero the Acro-bat: Rascal Rival Revenge – (1st November 2024 SW/XB/PS4/5)

Remade originally for Game Boy Advance with better sprites and animations, “Aero The Acro-Bat: Rascal Rival Revenge” brings an enhanced first chapter of the adventures of Aero, a circus bat with acrobatic skills. Aero must once again confront his arch-nemesis, Edgar Ektor, who has returned with a new plot to take over the world. Players guide Aero through a series of challenging levels, utilising his acrobatic abilities to navigate obstacles, defeat enemies, and collect power-ups. With colourful graphics, catchy music, and fast-paced gameplay, Aero The Acro-Bat: Rascal Rival Revenge offers an enjoyable platforming experience for fans of the series and platforming genre.

More Revelatory Retro Releases Coming Thru 2024 – NOT To Be Missed!!

Source: PR Email

Gateshead, United Kingdom – July 31st 2024 – Coatsink and Ghosts are excited to announce that their exhilarating high-speed racer, Phantom Spark, is launching on PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch on August 15th. Inspired by adrenaline-fueled games like Trackmania, WipeOut,  F-Zero and Thumper, Phantom Spark challenges players to push for the best times while speeding through otherworldly architecture.

Phantom Spark features a full single-player campaign where you must challenge the domain champions, as well as a split-screen multiplayer mode where you can take on your friends. Global online leaderboards will test your skills to the limit as you seek to hone your abilities and set record-breaking times.

Compete against ghost opponents to see the current best time in action, allowing you to improve your racing line and find those extra fractions of a second that can make all the difference. With instant restarts, you stay in the rhythm, keeping focus as you refine your times on each pathway.

“For three years the leaderboards have been just us, friends and testers. I’m excited about what strategies players will find, and seeing the responses to the design of the world and the pathways”, said Joo Van Hove, Design & Developer of Ghosts. “We (the developers) are reserving our internal competition until after launch, and seeing if we can even make it into the top 10.”

Source: PR Email

Stuttgart, Germany – July 25th – Strictly Limited, in partnership with Retroware, is delighted to announce that Iron Meat, the highly anticipated indie run-and-gun game, will be released as an exclusive physical Limited Edition for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5 on September 25th 2024.

These editions will only be available via Strictly Limited and will be the ONLY physical versions of the game worldwide.

About Iron Meat

Iron Meat is a fast-paced, run-and-gun shooter that immerses players in a world overrun by The Meat – an all-consuming interdimensional biomass. With a mix of classic arcade and console mechanics, players will battle against mutated victims and machines, dodge bullet barrages, and crush bosses in nine levels of gore-ific brutality. As Vadim, players will fight against The Meat and stop the terrors spawned from scientist Yuri Markov’s experiments on the Moon.

Features

• Multi-phase boss fights: Iron Meat pays homage to classic run-and-gun titles from the past, with intense boss fights fixed into multiple phases. With three difficulty settings to choose from, players can put their skills to the test, where a higher difficulty is rewarded upon completion with an even more challenging boss battle.
• Multiplayer couch co-op: Who says you must take on The Meat invasion alone? With 2-player couch co-op, you can grab a buddy to leave a trail of bloody, Meat-infected corpses together! It’s double the firepower, double the carnage, and double THE MEAT!
• Over 30 unlockable skins: You don’t have to be a soldier to fight against The Meat. Hell, you don’t even have to be a HUMAN to do so! With over 30 unlockable skins to choose from, players can customize their character the way they want. Each skin comes with interchangeable parts, allowing for greater customization with mixing and matching. Want a shark head on a robot body with dinosaur feet? DONE. Maybe a half-human, half-doggo? YOU BET! Or how about a cowboy with a tail and demon wings? Hmm…YEP!

In addition, Iron Meat will make its European debut at Gamescom 2024 in Cologne, one of the world’s largest gaming events. Attendees will have the amazing opportunity to experience the game firsthand at the Strictly Limited booth in Hall 10.2, Nr. 051g. Participants will have the chance to win an exclusive limited promotional soundtrack and other goodies. Don’t miss your chance to defeat The Meat!

Limited Editions

Strictly Limited is giving Iron Meat the boxed legacy it deserves, with two unique exclusive limited editions for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5. More news will be shared about their availability soon, so stay tuned!

Source: PR Email

18 JULY ​ – The award-winning indie platformer, SCHiM, jumps out of the shadows on PC & consoles today. It’s available on Steam, Xbox One/Series X|S, PlayStation 4/5, and Nintendo Switch for $24.99 (regional prices will vary) with a 10% launch discount on Steam & the Nintendo eShop for a limited time.

To celebrate SCHiM’s launch, the team has put together a cute new trailer with a charming stop-motion intro, an uplifting soundtrack by Moonsailor and some flattering quotes from early reviewers who appreciated the originality and visual appeal of the indie title!

Here is what early reviewers had to say:

“SCHiM is an adorable and delightfully unique game, and one that feels both gloriously clever and easy to pick up in equal measure.”
​8/10 – TheSixthAxis

“A carefree shadow-hopping puzzler whose colour and charm makes for a ribbiting time.” – RockPaperShotgun
“SCHiM is a wonderfully inventive puzzle platformer that challenges you to explore a familiar world through a completely different lens. I found myself absolutely absorbed by the world and the satisfying loop of jumping from puddle to puddle.” ​
​9.5/10 – PlayStationUniverse (PSU)

“SCHiM is a relaxing and artistic little game. With a clever take on platform puzzles, a cute little shadow frog, and a surprisingly heartwrenching story.” ​
​9/10 – TryHardGuides

“SCHiM is the perfect recreation of one of our childhood games. With fun and challenging gameplay, unique and minimalistic art style, and a relatable and touching story that empowers every other aspect of the game, it’s a platformer that stands out among its peers.”
​10/10 – GameLuster

Let’s Get Physical!

Outside of a digital release today, a physical release is planned for the PS5 & Switch versions, find out more below:

iam8bit Physical

​The cover art for the iam8bit physical is made by Owen D. Pomery, a British illustrator known for his graphic novels: Victory Point and The Hard Switch. Pomery’s ligne claire style and isometric work makes this a perfect match for SCHiM!

iam8bit’s edition shows the striking architectural Dutch world of the game, zoomed out to let you discover all the minute details.

PLAYISM Physical

The cover art for the Japanese physical is created by Keiichi Arawi, a popular mangaka from Japan. Better known for his debut manga: Nichijou, a series known for its surreal humor and finding special moments in ordinary life, later adopted into anime by Kyoto Animation.

About the game

SCHiM is a charming indie game about helping a lost shadow find its way back to its human by hopping around in the shadows. As you look for clever ways to move around in the world, you uncover small stories and charming details hidden in the environment.

Key features

• A story of a person losing their shadow – A schim is the soul and spirit of an object or living being. Everything in the world has one, and it should never be separated! You need to find your way back to the human you belong to, before it’s too late!
• Unique 3D platforming – You can only move in the shadows, so you’ll need to find clever ways to leap into the shadows of animated objects and moving beings to use them as your pathways.
• A beautiful abstract world – The color palette changes in each level to capture the setting, time of day and mood of every location you explore.
• Each level has a story to tell – Each new level has its own living scenery with small stories to uncover, inspired by real Dutch/European cities and rural locations.
• Hidden in the shadows – There are lots of hidden items to discover in SCHiM, and when you find them, you help other schim restore the connection to their thing.

Source: PR Email