Twinworld Game Reviews

Montpellier, France, August 21st, 2023 – Indie developer La Moutarde in partnership with Dear Villagers have revealed an all new gameplay trailer for this upcoming turn-based RPG Terra Memoria ahead of its appearance at Gamescom, where the game will be playable at the Indie Arena Booth. Coming soon to PC, Switch, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series platforms, Terra Memoria is a ​​cozy exploration game with retro vibes made by RPG lovers.

“With this new trailer we wanted to showcase Terra Memoria‘s colorful characters and its lively towns and terrain, as well as offer a glimpse into creating a community by building a village and fighting monsters,” said François Bertrand, Game Director at La Moutarde. “Terra Memoria hearkens back to classic globe-trotting fantasy RPGs, with a new coat of paint and modern structure. Ultimately it’s about the spirit of adventure, and a group of misfits coming together through their travels. It’s a great, big hug of a game and we hope this trailer conveys its uplifting spirit.”

Terra Memoria sends players on a globe-trotting journey full of exploration, crafting, building, and friendship! A shortage of magic crystals and the sudden awakening of ancient robots pushes six new friends into a crazy investigation through Terra, a whimsical and cozy world combining 3D graphics and pixel art. Players control all party members, as each embarks on their own story and brings their unique skills to the table as they engage in Terra Memoria’s turn-based combat.

You’ll have to do more than fight though, as to save the world players will have to craft, cook, camp, and master Terra Memoria’s unique building system that allows them to create objects, solve environmental puzzles, and eventually build their own little village.

As players explore Terra Memoria’s different countries, they’ll have to find missing pages of regional guides, offering info on new recipes, important characters, clues to help you during your investigation, and more information about regional specialties.​ Understanding local customs is key to a fruitful expedition.

Source: PR Email

Paris, August 21st, 2023 – For Gamescom 20023, publisher Microids and IMPS are unveiling today a new video for the 3D adventure/platform video game, The Smurfs 2 – The Prisoner of the Green Stone. The trailer offers a glimpse of the Smurfomix’s exciting upgrades, while revealing a major surprise: Gargamel, the Smurfs’ sworn enemy, joins the adventure as an ally.

Faced with a threat more powerful than himself, Gargamel offers the Smurfs a temporary truce. He will then guide players through their adventure, opening portals between worlds to help them progress. This unexpected alliance adds a whole new dynamic to the story and promises unique interactions between the characters.

At the heart of this thrilling adventure, players will be encouraged to collect Flora Gems scattered throughout the enchanted worlds. These precious gems will be used to boost the Smurfomix’s stats, making it more powerful and efficient. The most exciting innovation is the discovery of rare substances such as StickAll, CatchAll and PushAll. These special elements can be added to the Smurfomix to give unique powers to this already formidable weapon. Players will be able to choose between more powerful shots, slimy projectiles to hinder enemies, or piercing shots capable of breaking through obstacles. Players will need to skillfully exploit the Smurfomix’s upgrades and special powers to overcome obstacles and tough enemies.

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 November 2nd, 2023, both in digital and retail versions in Europe for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC.

The game retail version is expected November 14th in North America.

Source: PR Email

August 17th 2023: Indie publisher Ratalaika Games, and solo developer Stranga, are pleased to announce the forthcoming release on 25th August 2023 of Ashina: The Red Witch. A stylised exploration based, engaging story led adventure game, full of puzzles to solve and interaction, with many intriguing characters as you explore through a mysterious spirit filled world. Coming on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Xbox One,  Xbox Series S/X and Nintendo Switch.

Setting the scene

Ashina: The Red Witch is a gripping action-adventure game set in a mystical world of the after-life. The central character, Ash, is a young ordinary girl, working in a bathhouse above her apartment. Ash will embark on a perilous journey through the spirit world to save her twin sister, Tena, and find a way home. Strange creatures, interesting characters and memorable moments will unfold as the story unfolds..

Throughout her long journey Ash must find a spirit known as a “Gatekeeper” to create a portal back to the land of the living and along her way help those spirits in need. She will forge an odd partnership with a mischievous spirit named Tanto who dragged her into this mess in the first place by stealing Ash’s late mother’s pendant.

‘Ashina: The Red Witch is designed to appeal to a broad audience of gamers who enjoy rich storytelling, atmospheric worlds, and immersive gameplay experiences.’

Get Ready – Its Begun

The game starts off in Ash’s cosy apartment after she and her sister gather some ingredients for a late night dinner. There are a number of objectives and tasks that will be part of the overall game experience. Finding items, exploring, repairing things, solving puzzles and a whole host more of cleverly devised action encased in an strong and intriguing storyline marks Ashina: The Red Witch as a little game full of surprises.

Hand Drawn Pixel Perfection!

Everything in Ashina: The Red Witch is hand-drawn pixel artwork with hand-drawn lighting to help bring the magical world to life. The game’s top-down and side-on perspectives provide players with a unique and dynamic visual experience as they explore diverse landscapes, from the town of Shiruta, the City and its sewers of Chikara, even the ancient forest.

A Feast for the Ears!

Ashina: The Red Witch offers an immersive original musical score that enhances the atmosphere and emotions of each scene. Each detailed element adds depth to the narrative, making the scenes emotionally charged allowing for a more engaging experience.

Facts:

• A unique and (hopefully) thrilling story!
• New and exciting characters, as well as some returning characters from ‘My Big Sister’ (prev game).
• Adventure-like puzzles.
• Character dialogue options to delve into the lore surrounding the universe.
• An Original Soundtrack.
• Achievements + Trophies!
• Impressive location and echoing locations from the small town of Shiruta to the city of Chikarra, inhabited by spirits and ghosts that bring these locations to life.
• A colorful cast of characters, including the mischievous spirit Tanto, the caring and gentle spirit Roku, and mysterious old woman Yoko.
•  Playtime of “Ashina: The Red Witch” is estimated to be around 3-4 hours, depending on the player’s choices

Filled with secrets to find and character’s to meet, where each item you find will have clues to where that may be used in more obscure situations is part and parcel  of Ashina: The Red Witch!  Exploration is the key that unlocks the mysteries of the spirit world, leading to extensions of the game’s ending. Every decision, big or small, influences Ash’s development and the world’s fate, creating a truly personalised and emotionally resonant experience for the players.

Source: PR Email

Hong Kong – August 11th, 2023 – Eastasiasoft Limited are proud to announce that their vibrant isometric strategy RPG, Rainbow Skies, is available now on Nintendo Switch for $19.99, £17.99 and €19,99. Prepare to immerse yourself in a world brimming with vivid visuals, intricate dungeons, and classic turn-based combat mechanics.

Set in a vibrant and dynamic universe, Rainbow Skies introduces players to Damion, a budding monster tamer aiming to pass his final examination. Unfortunately, a disastrous hangover sets off a chain of events that lead to both his exam failure and the accidental destruction of the monster compound. Attempting to cover up the mess only escalates the situation, throwing Damion and his examiner Layne into the midst of a conflict between two rival superpowers.

Explore a meticulously crafted world teeming with enchanting dungeons and engage in traditional turn-based battles that require both strategy and wit. Tame an array of captivating monsters and choose from an impressive arsenal of weapons, equipment, and skills to shape your characters as you see fit. Dive into a plethora of engaging side quests, bustling towns, and tantalizing secrets that beckon you to uncover their mysteries.

Features:

• Dynamic Trio: Embark on a journey following the intertwined fates of three young heroes, as they learn the true power of friendship.

• Unleash Your Potential: Upgrade characters, weapons, equipment, and battle skills to mold your heroes into formidable forces of nature.

• Hidden Riches: Unearth concealed treasures and valuable collectibles as you traverse the diverse landscapes of Rainbow Skies.

• Game Within a Game: Take a break from epic quests with a variety of mini-games, including a captivating turn-based fishing challenge.

• Vibrant Encounters: Meet a memorable cast of friends and foes in a world bursting with life and personality.

• Strategic Mastery: Engage in tactical turn-based battles and unleash devastating skills upon your opponents.

• Monster Companions: Breed and level up a diverse assortment of monsters to bolster your party’s strength and versatility.

Rainbow Skies is available now to download from the Nintendo eShop.

Source: PR Email

Berlin, Germany – August 10, 2023 – ININ is excited to announce that they are teaming up with TAITO to release the 2005 2D platformer Spica Adventure on consoles. ININ have made it possible for the game, previously a Japan-only, arcade-exclusive, to be available to players everywhere for the first time ever! In Spica Adventure, players will use their wits and quick reflexes to guide the heroine, Nico, through challenging stages filled with abstract and cartoony dangers. The game will be available on all modern platforms digitally – Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PS4, and PS5. Spica Adventure is scheduled to release in Spring 2024, with boxed editions available (for Nintendo Switch, PS4 & PS5) for pre-order on November 14, 2023.

To navigate the game’s challenges, players will rely on Nico’s trusty umbrella, reminiscent of the iconic yellow parasols from the beloved game Parasol Stars: The Story of Bubble Bobble III. Serving as a spiritual successor, Spica Adventure brings back the importance of the yellow umbrella as a vital device for the player. This versatile tool becomes a true lifesaver in tricky situations, allowing you to charge at enemies, float gracefully through the air, spring off walls with agility, and even reflect incoming bullets. Mastering the parasol’s various functions is essential to progress through the game, just as it was in the memorable adventures of Parasol Stars.

In Spica Adventure, you’ll race against time, as the stages are designed to be traversed as quickly as a screen-filling robot will start to pursue our heroine if she spends too long in any one stage…

After completing a stage, players will have a couple of choices for their next destination. Choose your next destination as the stages branch out, offering different challenges and rewards. Players must select their path wisely to lead the heroine to victory.

Features:

• Nostalgic 2D side-scrolling action with authentic TAITO arcade gameplay
• The triumphant return of the Parasol Stars umbrella: versatile weapon, shield, and movement tool
• Unique and charming retro pop art arcade aesthetics
• Online leaderboards for competing with other players worldwide
• Varied difficulty stages and mirrored levels for extended playtime and replayability
• Unique music composed by TAITO’s music team, “Zuntata”
• International debut and first-ever release on consoles

Get ready to beat toy robots in style in this cutesy but lethal TAITO release!

Source: PR Email

Vila-real, Spain – August 10, 2023 – Spanish indie game publisher BlitWorks Games is proud to announce they have partnered again with the Lithuanian studio Flazm to bring their acclaimed micromanagement tycoon puzzler Train Valley 2: Community Edition to Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 this October 17. At a price of 24.99 USD|euros, this edition of Train Valley 2 includes the DLCs Passenger’s Flow, Myths & Rails and Editor’s Bulletin and a selection of 158 community made levels carefully curated by the developers.

Drive forward the industrial revolution in Train Valley 2 Community Edition, build railroads, upgrade your locomotives, and keep your trains on schedule without delays or accidents to meet the ever-growing demand of the cities and industries in your tiny valley. Take your railroad company from the days of the Industrial Revolution and into the future, meeting the needs of the valley’s cities and industries.

If you’ve ever wanted to solve complex logistics and transportation problems, fancied yourself as a bit of a train mogul, or you just love solving puzzles – there is a lot for players both new and old. Even if you’ve never played the original, there’s a lot to do in Train Valley 2: Community Edition!

MAIN FEATURES

• A Unique blend of Micromanagement, Tycoon and Puzzle games, putting you in control of your own company – that needs to help its local community thrive.

• Train Valley 2 Community Edition not only includes the DLCs Passenger’s Flow, Myths & Rails and Editor’s Bulletin, but also a selection of 158 community made levels.

• Upgrade your stock of locomotives and acquire advanced engines, with 18 models to unlock.

• Keep your trains running on schedule across 50 levels in Company Mode.

• Discover the history of railroads in elegant low-poly graphics! Train Valley 2 is a joy to look at and immerse yourself in.

• Produce and ship increasingly sophisticated goods in 18 models of locomotives to unlock and more than 45 types of train cars – it’s up to you to keep things as efficient and cost-effective as possible, while the world around you gets more demanding!

Source: PR Email

Berlin, Germany – August 8th, 2023 – Natsume Atari Inc. and ININ are pleased to announce that a new title, “Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn” is currently in production. Following on the heels of last year’s hit title, Pocky & Rocky Reshrined, which sold more than 150,000 units worldwide, this is the fourth 16-bit style remake from TENGO PROJECT.

Announcement Details:

Title: Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn

Release Date: Spring 2024

Supported Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Steam.

Supported Languages (9 languages): Japanese, English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Korean, Simplified and Traditional Chinese

Price: TBA

About Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn

This trailblazer in ninja action games is returning after 33 years.

The original title was released on the Japanese Nintendo Family Computer by Natsume Inc. in 1990. At the time, it was one of the most polished Family Computer action games and rated as one of the best two-player coop games. It was also the first of a series of titles that solidified Natsume’s reputation as a master of action games.

Released as SHADOW OF NINJA in North America and BLUE SHADOW in Europe, this classic is finally returning in a completely new production.

Legendary two-player simultaneous action!

The acclaimed 2D ninja action side-scroller with simultaneous two player gameplay returns in this new remake. Choose between the male or female character and work together to defeat challenging enemies.

Incredibly detailed pixel art quality!

The commitment to the 16-bit-style pixel art that was so highly acclaimed in our previous title, Pocky & Rocky Reshrined, will be on display again in this latest release. Enjoy the carefully crafted pixel art as it brings the game to life!

Iku Mizutani, the star composer who helped create the iconic Natsume sound, is back on board!

Mr. Mizutani, who created the Natsume soundtrack for the original version of this title as well as the Shatterhand and Medarot series, has been confirmed for this new project. Classic gamers will find delight in his renowned guitar riffs and fast-paced 16-bit melodies!

Dynamic Production is once again taking on the visuals!

As with the 90s original, the key visuals and character illustrations will be handled by Dynamic Production.

Source: PR Email

Friday August 4th, 2023: Indie publisher Ratalaika Games, and Quill Game Studios, are proud to announce that Death Becomes You, a colourful and polished visual novel is released today on  PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Xbox Series S|X,  and Nintendo Switch.

The premise is simple – find out who killed your best friend. However, you must find out the truth before four suspects frame you for the crime instead! Death Becomes You is a mystery visual novel where you untangle the dark secrets of your fellow magic university students.

Introducing the cast

Sidney is a 1st year student at the Ira Royal Academy, and Lyra was her best friend and mentor. When the latter is found dead, she decides to investigate to find out who might have murdered her.

Was it you!?

Daniella is a 3rd year student and is the vice head mentor at the Ira Royal academy. She specalises in Transmutation, and is rumoured that she can turn underperforming mentees into crystal statues.

Apolline is a rare magic user skilled at two specialisations – Enchantment and Elemental magic,

Alice specialises in Elemental magic. She openly dislikes Lyra, who was Sophie’s

Mentor.

Sophie specalisies in Psychokinesis and is known as a prodigy being able to control not just objects but pure energy.

What to do!

There are multiple choices presented throughout the story, where you have to choose which suspect that Sidney investigates and learns more about. Each suspect has associated endings, depending on Sidney’s actions, these include earlier “dead endings” where you get Sidney killed! If you can make all the right choices, you can find out the complete truth. But don’t worry, the “dead endings” will help steer you toward the right direction, so they won’t be in vain!

Features:

• Replayability – multiple routes to unlock more and more of the truth.
• Characters with complicated motives and interpersonal history.
• 4 character route
• 10+ endings (plenty of bad ends).
• ~77,000 words!

Source: PR Email

Vienna/Austria, August 3rd, 2023: THQ Nordic is more than happy to announce that Gothic Classic is coming to Nintendo Switch™ on September 28th, 2023! For the first time, relive this amazing RPG on a handheld console and enjoy the game that revolutionized roleplaying games on the go! Dive into dark times and adventures with great performance and a well adapted UI and controls – the classic is back and still a very in-depth RPG with a lively simulation!

War has been waged across the kingdom of Myrtana. Orcish hordes invaded human territory and the king of the land needed a lot of ore to forge enough weapons, should his army stand against this threat. Whoever breaks the law in these darkest of times is sentenced to serve in the giant penal colony of Khorinis, mining the so much needed ore. You are thrown through the barrier into this prison colony. With your back against the wall, you must survive and form volatile alliances until you can finally escape.

Gothic Classic is coming to Nintendo Switch™ on September 28th, 2023. For all listed fixes and updates please visit the following website: https://rb.gy/vfjrp.

About Gothic

• A big RPG experience with over 50 hours of gameplay
• A large variety of weapons and spells for your character
• A unique character development systems that is tied to teachers that can be found in the world
• A simulated living world where people go to work, sleep, eat and fight to survive
• Make a choice between 3 different camps that all have their unique perspectives on the main story

Source: PR Email

Stuttgart, Germany – August 3rd 2023 – Strictly Limited Games, in partnership with Gameforge, are delighted to announce the upcoming release of Tiny Thor-Mjönir Edition, which also includes its predecessor Hammer Kid, which will be available for Nintendo Switch as a boxed Limited Edition with pre-orders kicking off on Sunday, August 6th, at 12 AM CET (midnight), only at Strictly Limited Games.

About Tiny Thor

Tiny Thor is a love letter to the challenging action platformers of the 16-bit console era, with contributions by two legends of their respective fields. Sporting magnificent pixel art by artist Henk Nieborg to feast your eyes upon and a soundtrack by duo Chris Hülsbeck and Fabian Del Priore, together create a nostalgic and immersive experience that will tug at the heartstrings of every retro-gaming enthusiast.

One area where Tiny Thor doesn’t stray too much from its inspirations is the challenge it provides. The refined gameplay with its focus on using Mjölnir for attack as well as traversal helps to tackle the obstacles head on and rewards you with the ultimate satisfaction when succeeding. Starting as a straightforward jump’n’run, “Tiny Thor” evolves into a fully-fledged adventure as players unlock a plethora of abilities throughout the game. With over 30 beautifully designed levels spread across three unique realms, players will encounter thrilling boss battles that will challenge even the bravest of gods.

The version included here features additional gameplay refinements and fixes based on community feedback to make a great game even better.

Also, a download code for the awesome soundtrack!

About Hammer Kid

Hammer Kid can be seen as the spiritual predecessor of Tiny Thor and features many of the same themes and gameplay beats that would be expanded upon and fleshed out for its younger brother. Beautiful pixel art, the hammer as a gameplay mechanic and nordic inspired setting among others find their start here.

While it is a simpler game overall, it’s fun to play in its own right and rounds out this release perfectly to get the whole hammer experience!

Features

Tiny Thor 

• Master ricocheting hammer throws to overwhelm enemies
• Learn awesome special abilities
• Explore over 30 handcrafted levels across three distinct realms
• Challenging boss fights, each with unique mechanics
• Rattle your brain to solve tricky environmental puzzles
• Discover tons of secrets and collect hidden gems to unlock challenge levels

Hammer Kid 

• 16-Bit Pixel-Art Platformer
• Nostalgic Soundtrack
• Use your hammer to defeat enemies
• Explore 40 handcrafted levels divided into 4 huge worlds
• Discover secrets and collect gems

Strictly Limited Edition

Strictly Limited Games is giving Tiny Thor and Hammer Kid the boxed legacy they deserve, available for pre-order exclusively via the Strictly Limited Games online shop.

The Limited Edition is limited to 4,000 copies for Nintendo Switch at a price of 34.99€, including a colorful game manual.

Source: PR Email