Twinworld Game Reviews

Paris, France – September 12th – Red Art Games is pleased to announce that online pre-order for the physical boxed version of Kholat on Nintendo Switch are available now, with a limited edition of 3800 copies with a price of €29.99/£27/$35.

Billed as the most terrifying journey of your life, Nintendo gamers can experience this epic adventure game, which was created by Polish indie developer IMGN.PRO and narrated by famous British actor Sean Bean.

“We are very proud to announce the physical version of Kholat on Nintendo Switch – one of the best titles to usher in the new school term!” – Michael Binkowski – CEO of Red Art Games.

Kholat was previously released on PC /PS4 /XB1, where it sold over 700,000 units across those three platforms and accumulated over 3.5M users, becoming one of the most popular indie horror games. Kholat is an exploration adventure game with elements of horror inspired by the event known as Dyatlov Pass Incident. The player will plunge directly into the boundless scenery of the inhospitable Ural Mountains with the task of finding out what really happened. Controlling the main character you trace the steps of a group of nine Russian college students who went missing in February 1959 on Kholat Syakhl.

Kholat is told through a first-person horror adventure framework and presents an atmospheric storyline of intrigue and mystery. With standard survival equipment including map, compass and flashlight, the player must balance their health and well being with the challenges that unfold. A sense of unease will wash over the player as periods of time pass, the cold winds and wintery conditions that prevail as you move from location to location. Limited information in the form of notes and cryptic voiceover as the player journeys through the world add to the experience of feeling lost as ghostly figures roam looking for their prey!

Features

• Narrated by Sean Bean
• immersive exploration experience
• Chilling atmosphere and tension
• Self made story inspired by true events
• Non-linear open world
• Challenging exploration
• In-game navigation by map and compass

Source: PR Email

Copenhagen, Denmark – September 10th, 2020 – Lovable Hat Cults whimsical puzzle platformer Journey of the Broken Circle launches on September 18th on Steam for €8 / $9.99 / £7.20 and on Nintendo Switch for €8 / $8 / £7.20 via the eShop. As an added bonus, for 3 days after launch, owners of any games published by nakana.io can claim the Switch version of Journey of the Broken Circle for free! Embark on the story of an existential circle seeking fulfillment in a seemingly cold, uncaring universe.

Journey of the Broken Circle is a narrative-driven puzzle platformer about an incomplete circle yearning to become whole. As it rolls through a wondrous and hazardous land, it encounters a series of other shapes with unique personalities and skills that it uses to fill the hole left in its body. Each shape offers a unique mechanic, helping our pie-shaped person surmount obstacles and find inner peace.

As with all relationships, each character Broken Circle intermingles with offers it unique properties. Some will allow it to float into the heavens, others will cause it to cling onto surfaces, and some will cause it to tumble along with an extra spring in its step. Not all relationships were made to last however, so don’t get too attached!

“We wanted to make a game that reflected the experience of being human. So we made a game about a limbless circle. But a very human circle!” said Writer, Andrea Brasch. “We all feel insecure at times, and our relationships with others simultaneously lift us, but can also make us feel incomplete on our own. That’s never been more true than it is right now, so if our game can help people through this trying time, we know it will have been worth it.”

Source: PR Email

London, UK – 10th September 2020: Curve Digital, Sumo Nottingham and Lucky Mountain Games are delighted to announce that their blisteringly fast arcade racing game, Hotshot Racing, launches today for PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Developed by esteemed racing game veterans Sumo Nottingham (Outrun 2, Sonic & SEGA All Star Racing, Team Sonic Racing and more) and Lucky Mountain Games, Hotshot Racing takes the colourful and iconic arcade racing formula of the 90s and updates it for the modern generation.

Featuring tracks in playfully re-imagined locations from across the globe, drivers bursting with personality and an easy to pick up yet hard to master drift centered gameplay, this new release is sure to be a winner with anyone who spent their formative years slinging coins into driving games at arcades. Thankfully though this arcade racer is easy on the wallet…

Hotshot Racing’s recommended retail price is £15.99 / €19.99 / $19.99 USD but during the week of launch, prospective racers can purchase the game for 20% off that price. Additionally, there are no micro-transactions, and Sumo Nottingham and Lucky Mountain Games are already working on free post-release downloadable content in the guise of new tracks, a new championship and more! Further details on this exciting new content will be shared in the weeks ahead.

Xbox One Game Pass subscribers have even more reason to be excited as Hotshot Racing will be available on the service from launch.

For the full breakdown of Hotshot Racing’s extensive features, check out the rundown below:

– RACE AROUND THE WORLD

Hotshot Racing features 16 tracks set across the globe with sharp corners providing technical yet enjoyable challenges. Take in coastal, jungle, alpine and Las Vegas desert environments, with each course modeled with the most vivid colors and blue skies for miles.

– PLAY YOUR WAY (AGAINST AI, 8 PLAYER ONLINE and LOCAL 4 PLAYER SPLIT-SCREEN)

Time Trial and Grand Prix modes cater to those who like to compete in classic racing formats, while ‘Cops and Robbers’ and ‘Drive or Explode’ modes offer exhilarating new ways to play. Each mode is available in single-player, four-player split-screen and eight-player online, while Time Trial is single-player only. Smash lap records to rise-up the global online leader-boards or download ghost laps to match your racing lines against the very best.

– 60FPS ON EVERY PLATFORM

Thanks to the awesome Sumo Engine, Hotshot Racing runs at a solid 60 frames per second in all single-player game modes! This 60FPS performance promise also includes basic Xbox One and PlayStation 4 models, as well as Nintendo Switch.

– MEET THE HOTSHOTS

Keiko, Xing, Mike, Alexa, Aston, Toshiro, Marcus and Viktor – eight speed addicts that have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of being the greatest racing driver in the world. These racers have no qualms about rubbing fenders and quarter panels before reaching the checkered flag. Each racer has four unique vehicles which pay homage to some of the most iconic racing cars on the planet.

– ADDITIONAL RACE TYPES

In addition to classic single race and championship game modes, Hotshot Racing also features two new signature game modes; Drive or Explode and Cops And Robbers. In Drive or Explode players must keep their vehicle above a minimum speed which continues to increase at regular intervals. Drop below that speed and the car begins to take damage. Too little speed or too many bumps with your fellow competitors and BOOM – game over! Cops And Robbers is an eight-player game mode which casts players as law enforcement or criminals. The robbers need to flee their pursuers while the cops need to catch them. Each robber apprehended is immediately drafted into the cops in this frenetic yet fun game of cat and mouse.

– GOTTA UNLOCK ‘EM ALL

It’s only through mastery of these 16 courses that players will be able to unlock everything Hotshot Racing has to offer. Every race completed earns players dollars based on their performance which they can utilize to customize their ride from new chassis components to cockpit ‘improvements’ like furry dice and bobble-heads. There are dozens and dozens to choose from, some of which are unlockable with in-game currency whereas others are by achieving in-game objectives such as winning championships, drifting for a certain amount of time etc. All customization are purely cosmetic and ensure your ride will appear different to your competitors when you roar over the finishing line.

Source: PR Email

BURBANK, Calif. – September 10, 2020 – Adventures of Pip, the charming retro-inspired platformer from Tic Toc Games where a single pixel evolves (and devolves!) between three forms to become a hero, launches today on Nintendo Switch with updated features, optimizations, and quality-of-life improvements.

Set forth on a grand adventure as digital underdog Pip to save the land of Pixelonia from the evil Queen DeRezzia. Pip’s prophesied powers enable him to evolve from a single pixel all the way to a heroic 16-bit sprite. Transform between three equally awesome forms, traverse five themed worlds, save abducted villagers, and fulfill Pip’s destiny to rescue the princess.

Trek through beautiful stages like the Lava Labyrinth and Galena Caverns all while trampling Queen DeRezzia’s minions. Learn the art of weaving between Pip’s different forms in order to master every level. Glide through the air and slip through small chasms as 1-bit Pip, leap off walls, climb ledges, and punch baddies as 8-bit Pip, then cut down enemies and obstacles as the sword-wielding 16-bit Pip.

Search high and low for secrets, including 108 kidnapped villagers hidden throughout the world.Along the way, gather Gems held by enemies and hidden in treasure chests for powerful upgrades. Buy the Heavy Gloves to crush blocks as 8-bit Pip, or purchase the almighty Cerberus sword upgrade that lets 16-bit Pip launch blade blasts. Pip needs all the strength he can get to defeat towering bosses like the devious Cragken and colossal Lord Magmalith.

Adventures of Pip’s improved Nintendo Switch debut offers an even smoother experience than before. Pop back into town quickly with a new menu system. Check Achievement progress on the go by viewing them in the Pause menu. Zip around as 16-bit Pip with increased speed and automatically collect dropped Gems. There’s never been a better time to join Pip’s journey and jam out to Jake Kaufman’s (Shovel Knight, Shantae: Half-Genie Hero) triumphant soundtrack.

“Giving Adventures of Pip a new home on the Nintendo Switch system allowed us to make some tweaks that make the game even more delightful,” said Marc Gomez, Director, Tic Toc Games. “We hope Pip’s journey charms new and returning players alike.”

Adventures of Pip launches on the Nintendo Switch system today in North America, Europe, Great Britain, and Russia for $9.99. It features English-language support and is also available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows PC, macOS, iOS, and Android devices.

Source: PR Email

10 September, 2020 – Indie publisher Digerati is delighted to announce Guild of Darksteel, a dark fantasy adventure with an immersive story and beautiful pixel art. Developed by artist and one-man studio Igor Sandman, Guild of Darksteel will launch Q1 2021 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Steam.

Players can get an early hands-on with Guild of Darksteel courtesy of a Steam demo which has been released ahead of the upcoming PAX Online X EGX Digital festival. The demo is available now and will remain live for the duration of the festival.

A versatile artist with experience working across a broad range of creative mediums, and with nominations to his name for Best Art and Fresh Talent Prize from the Belgian Game Awards, Igor Sandman is the sole creator of Guild of Darksteel, having produced every aspect of it himself.

“The world of Guild of Daksteel is unforgiving: the rich exploit the poor, the strong trample the weak. It’s a world not unlike our own and ultimately, that is the story I need to tell,” Sandman says about his debut game. “Guild of Darksteel is a work of passion that took me years to complete, yet it will only be truly completed once you play it.”

About the game

Guild of Darksteel is a cinematic, side-scrolling adventure set in a lush, layered dark fantasy world.

Embark on a dark fantasy adventure and follow the Sellsword, an immortal, as he seeks a purpose in eternal life by joining the Guild of Darksteel. Become one of their immortal mercenaries and investigate the mysterious tunnels underneath the cities of Ravenrock.

Key features

• Engrossing Combat: Utilize a refined combat system to defeat anyone who stands in the way of your mission. Unlock combos and level them up to your liking. Chain your attacks together and determine a personal attack strategy that will guarantee your victory.
• A Living, Breathing World: Explore the fully-realized city of Ravenrock, and interact with its inhabitants. Each character carries a deep story, breathing life into the world of Guild of Darksteel. Friends of foes, their lives won’t leave you unmoved.
• A Deep and Nuanced Story: Inspired by classics like Flashback and Vagrant Story, Guild of Darksteel tells a gripping story of power struggle and soul searching, as its characters come face to face with their mortality… or lack thereof.
• Stunning Artistic Vision: The world of Guild of Darksteel is comprised of dark, yet evocatively detailed pixel art, and set against a foreboding and thought provoking soundtrack. A unique and daring color palette sets the perfect tone for your investigation of the darkness that lurks beneath Ravenrock.

Source: PR Email

10 September, 2020 – Indie publisher Digerati is thrilled to announce vertically-scrolling shmup Rangok Skies for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Steam. The game will launch in Q4 2020/Q1 2021. Developed by Samurai Games, Rangok Skies offers an authentic old-school challenge with shoot ’em up gameplay inspired by genre classics, such as DoDonPachi, Gunbird, and Strikers 1945.

A Rangok Skies demo has been released to coincide with the imminent PAX X EGX online event, which starts this weekend, and is available to download and play now on Steam. In addition to giving players an opportunity to sample the explosive over-the-top action, the demo includes three of the game’s four available characters, each with their own ship and attacks, and features online leaderboards.

About the game

War has started! Rangok Skies is a vertically scrolling arcade shooter inspired by the genre classics, such as DoDonPachi, Gunbird, and Strikers 1945. Highly replayable with 4 different characters, each with their own unique ship, weapons, and bombs. Includes 2-player local co-op.

Key features

• Choose your pilot: Four different characters, each with their own unique ship, weapons, bombs, and story endings
• Solo Mode: Start with three lives and three continue credits, and try to beat the game!
• Online rankings: Which leaderboard you’re ranked on – Terminators, Masters, Heroes, or Babies – is determined by lives lost, continues used, and score
• Auto-Shoot Accuracy: Hold down fire to slow your ship and enable more precise movements
• Special Weapons: For targeted mass destruction of most enemies and bullets
• Mega Bombs: Inflict screen-clearing devastation, perfect for tight situations
• Collect mini-items and rewards: Increase firepower, charge the Mega Bomb meter, boost your score
• Five intense stages: Each with their own enemies and huge end-of-level boss
• Local Co-op Mode: Play with a friend and defeat Lord Rangok together
• TATE Mode (縦): Supports turning your monitor vertically for the full arcade experience

Source: PR Email

Sept. 10, 2020 – MO:Astray, the narrative action platformer from publisher Rayark Games and developer Archpray, is now available for Nintendo Switch. A major update for the Windows PC version also springs into action today on Steam with two new game modes.

Explore a bizarre subterranean world as MO, an amorphous being guided by strange voices ringing in its head. Traverse a mysterious lab and haunting alien locales inhabited by parasitic creatures, overcoming obstacles by utilizing MO’s ever-shifting form. Scale cliff sides, launch across chasms, and evade hazards on a journey to uncover the secret of MO’s existence.

Master MO’s abilities in all-new game types. Race against the clock in Speed Mode, where discovering optimal routes through areas is the secret to setting record new times and achieving blisteringly-fast speed runs. Hone lightning-quick reflexes to survive the trials of Disaster Mode, which remixes the experience with deadly new environmental hazards, faster machinery, and other challenges designed to test even the most skilled platforming veterans.

Harness a range of powers to carve a path through MO’s perilous surroundings. Double jump, dash, float, and more to access new passageways, solve environmental puzzles, and uncover secrets. Unleash MO’s psychic skills by latching onto enemies to siphon their memories and unlock flashbacks that thread together and unravel an extraordinary otherworldly tale.

“MO:Astray draws inspiration from a long line of console platformers and feels right at home on Nintendo Switch,” said Ching-Yi Hou, producer, Archpray. “We’re excited to share our game with a new audience today and are happy to invite our die-hard fans back to get swept up in MO’s mysterious world all over again to speedrun and conquer the new challenge mode.”

MO:Astray is out now on the Nintendo eShop for $14.99 with support for English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), and Korean language options.

Source: PR Email

Baltimore, MD – Sept 10th, 2020 – Independent developer EVC in partnership with indie publisher Versus Evil are excited to announce that their narrative-driven tactics RPG Wintermoor Tactics Club is now available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch following its critically well received launch on PC via Steam, GOG.com, and VersusEvil.com.

Wintermoor Tactics Club is a narrative-driven tactics RPG married with visual novel elements. You play as Alicia, one of the members of the Wintermoor Academy Tactics Club, where students play the premier tabletop game of the time, Curses & Catacombs. A mandatory snowball tournament between all of the clubs is announced by the Principal and each losing club is disbanded. Now you and your friends need to use your tactical skills to fight rival clubs, while also exploring the school and investigating the Principal’s true motivations for the tournament.

Perfect for both veteran tactics gamers and for new players who like the idea of tactics games but don’t know where to start, Wintermoor Tactics Club brings an easy going and light-hearted sense of humor to RPG adventure. Players can delve into the mystery of the clubs as they wage fantasy battles, spy on rival clubs and make new friends through the course of the story.

As much as it is an RPG, Wintermoor Tactics Club tells a story about the importance (and challenges) of inclusivity, it’s designed to have a warm and inviting feel. Inspired by the concept of ‘hygge’, the gameplay is streamlined and accessible, while the art, music, and writing create a cozy space. Even when it deals with serious conflicts and grand fantasy battles, Wintermoor is designed to feel like curling up with a good book and a hot cup of cocoa on a winter night.

“Bringing great player experiences to new audiences has always been our passion as a publisher, so I’m thrilled that we’re helping to bring such a well-received and heartfelt RPG like Wintermoor Tactics Club to console”. Said Steve Escalante, Versus Evil General Manager.”Titles like this are rare indie gems, they deal with the complexities we face in our daily lives and wrap it into a beautifully told, cozy RPG we can all embrace.” He added.

With dozens of unlockable upgrades and seven playable characters across 40 battles, players get to test their strategic mettle against a host of different characters while writing tabletop campaigns and crafting adventures. Wrapped in a charming narrative, the game explores the intimate relationships and personal stories behind Wintermoor’s mix of colorful characters.

Source: PR Email

Kuala Lumpur, MY– September 10, 2020 — The frantically cute couch co-op bake-o-rama, Bake ‘n Switch arrives on Nintendo eShop today! Help Rosemary, Thyme, Parsley, Ginger, Sage and Salt defend the sweet and savory worlds of Tropic Toaster and Serradurra from the encroaching invasion of Mouldies! Pick up your copy on your Nintendo eShop today for $29.99.

Battle Mouldies and bake rambunctious Buns through over 100 levels of a’dough’rable party action. Choose from 6 Bakers, each with unique baking abilities, and play with up to 4 friends in co-op or against them in PvP or Team v Team in online or local multiplayer through the lush jungles of Tropic Toaster and the sweet but deadly desert terrain of Serradurra.

Those Buns might be cute, but each of the 7 different breeds have their own quirky behaviors – which could help or hinder your progress – so show no mercy and get those bouncing, rolling, burrowing and flocking Buns in the oven before time runs out! Max out your scores to win special costumes and challenge yourself in Stormy maps where weather and enemies are more unpredictable. Hey, it’s a breadful task, but someone’s gotta “dough” it!

“After much anticipation, tweaks and polish, we are beyond excited to launch Bake ‘n Switch on Nintendo Switch today,” said Stefan Baier, COO of Streamline Games. “But this is just the beginning of the Bun madness, as we have batches of new content baking even as we speak! Start honing your Dough merging, punching and baking skills because there’s lots more to come!”

Bake ’n Switch is set to receive various free DLC updates throughout the coming months. Based on player feedback during the Steam soft launch, Streamline will be implementing a Single Player Campaign, Ad-hoc Matchmaking and Chinese localization in addition to already planned new Co-Op and PVP maps and challenges to continuously expand the Bake ‘n Switch world. All SKUs of the game will benefit from this content.

Source: PR Email

If there’s a vision, there’s a way to make it come alive with RPG Maker MV, available now on PS4 and Nintendo Switch in North America, and will soon launch on September 11 in Europe and September 18 in Oceania. With a huge array of assets, many possibilities await: building maps, customizing characters, creating battle sequences, and much more!

The RPG Maker MV Player, a free separate application, allows creators to share their works online while players can download and play these creations even without owning the base game.

Source: PR Email