Twinworld Game Reviews

Vienna/Austria, May 3rd, 2023: Get ready for a colorful adventure, filled with deadly enemies and dangerous environments that will test your every move! Biomutant is coming to Nintendo Switch, delivering a thrilling blend of intense martial arts combat and post-apocalyptic exploration. Step into a vibrant world teeming with unique flora and fauna in each of the seven regions, but tread carefully, as every decision you make on your way can carry weighty consequences. Get ready to unleash your inner warrior and embark on the adventure of a lifetime in Biomutant!

Biomutant is coming to Nintendo Switch, and is already available for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Owners of the Xbox One / PlayStation 4 versions can get a free upgrade (Xbox One to Xbox X/S, PlayStation 4 to PlayStation 5 only!) to the enhanced version. Please note, that an upgrade is not possible for those who own a physical PS4 disc but a PS5 without a disc drive.

About Biomutant

BIOMUTANT is an open-world, post-apocalyptic Wung-Fu fable RPG, with unique martial art styled combat system allowing you to mix melee, shooting, and mutant ability action.

A NEW TAKE ON 3rd PERSON COMBAT

The martial arts style combat system allows you maximum freedom of movement and agility while mixing shooting, melee, and powers from your mutations. Learning new Wung-Fu combat forms through progression and learning from masters you’ll meet, will constantly add to your choices and make sure combat never gets old.

EVOLVE YOUR GAME-PLAY

You’ll be able to re-code your genetic structure to change the way you look and play. This will of course affect your attributes and in addition to this, exposure to bio-contamination in the world will lead to mutations like the Turtleform and Mucus Bubble, while exposure to radioactivity found in bunkers from the old world will affect your mind and unlock psi-mutations like telekinesis, levitation and more.

NEXT LEVEL OF CRAFTING

You are totally free when crafting weapons. Mix and match parts to create your own unique 1H or 2H slash and crush weapons. Revolvers, rifles and shotguns and add modifications like cork-screws and battery-powered chainsaw modules to bio-contaminated sludge vials adding to your combat arsenal. There are even characters you’ll meet that’ll craft cool stuff for you, like bionic wings, a jump-pack and even let you modify your Automaton – the scrap-toy sidekick!

GEAR UP FOR ADVENTURE

You are totally free when equipping your character. Not only when it comes to choosing weapons you created, but what type of gear you wear. Equip a gas-mask and an oxygen tank for exploring the Dead Zones, thermos-resistant clothes for venturing into cryonic areas or protective gear for taking on bio-contaminated creatures, the choice is up to you.

SURVIVE IN A VIBRANT OPEN WORLD

You are free to explore the world and what lies beneath its surface, by foot, mech, jet-ski, air-balloon or area unique mounts. Explore the dying wildland, the tunnels and bunker networks of the underworld, and find your way up the mountains or out in the archipelago. There are lots of discoveries to be made, mysteries to unravel, creatures to confront, and weird characters to meet in this vibrant and colorful world.

AN UNUSUAL STORY WITH AN UNUSUAL END

Your actions play a major part in the unfolding of a story where End is coming to the New World. A plague is ruining the land and the Tree-of-Life is bleeding death from its roots. The Tribes stand divided, in need of someone strong enough to unite them or bring them all down… You are guided through the world by a Storyteller that narrates every step of your journey, but it’s your actions and choices that’ll decide how your story of survival ends.

Source: PR Email

Kirchheim unter Teck (Germany), 27th of April 2023: Arcade games of legendary Japan game developer irem will be available to modern gaming platforms. Tozai Games and ININ are teaming up to release the irem Collection with several volumes worldwide, with Strictly Limited Games to release the special physical releases on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 for fans and collectors.

Some of the greatest and most requested action arcade games will be available to modern gaming platforms. With iconic action titles such as R-TYPE, Air Duel or Hammerin‘ Harry, irem shaped the games industry since the 1980‘s and was one of the leaders in the arcade era. With very few exceptions many of these titles have never been brought to modern console platforms or remained Japan-exclusive.  Most of them even have never seen a release on physical media up until now. So ININ, Tozai Games and irem are finally joining forces to bring them to modern console gamers. Tozai Games and ININ will be responsible for Japanese as well as worldwide digital releases on Nintendo Switch, Sony PlayStation and Microsoft Xbox.

ARCADE MILESTONE FOR COLLECTORS

The outstanding quality of these games often even used as a benchmark for others in the genre make the upcoming releases an exciting experience for both (modern) retro enthusiasts and casual players looking for new -or so far unknown- gaming adventures around the globe. With the outstanding history of irem as a studio and their iconic games shaping an entire industry, the collection is particularly interesting to collectors of video games and players interested in video game history and culture. To process the rich story of irem games, Strictly Limited Games will publish several Limited and Collector’s Editions for the upcoming volumes of the irem Collection.

READY VOLUME 1

The first volume of the irem Collection is an updated homage to the Japanese-exclusive ‘Arcade Gears‘ series (released in the 1990s on Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation) and comprises three legendary shoot ‘em up games Image Fight, Image Fight II and X-Multiply.

Image Fight first appeared in 1988 as a vertical scrolling Shoot ‘em Up. It became one of the most successful table arcade games at that time in Japan and is still being regarded by many fans as one of the best shmups ever made. In addition to this arcade version, the upcoming volume will also include the PC Engine/TurboGrafx version as well as the NES version from 1990. The game is set in the year 20XX, the moon collapses after an explosion caused by aliens which proceed their offensive against mankind. To settle the situation, the player must go through an eponymous training process called “Image Fight”, before they are allowed to join the combat to fend off the invaders and earn everlasting glory.

Image Fight II was released in Japan in 1992, after the success of the first part. Unfortunately, the game never made it to the west (except for a Wii Virtual Console release, that is).   It is set in the year 2051, the alien forces try once again to exterminate humanity. The player must take over the role of pilot Sho, the main character in the story, switching to a new generation of ships. The story is really outstanding in this game, the introduction of visual scenes reminiscent of animes especially intended for the PC-Engine SUPER CD-ROM version strengthen the story and add depth and a second dimension to this game, shaping Sho as a real hero in this unequaled approach to building a SHMUP storyline.

X-Multiply is a side-scrolling shooter originally released in 1989 for arcade (M72). The combination of science fiction and biological elements makes X-Multiply extraordinary even though it flew under the radar of many gamers: The player is controlling a miniaturized ship getting ‘injected’ in an evidently humanoid body and is using tentacles attached to his ship to fight alien parasites killing humans in detailed as sinister designed stages located inside that corpse.

LIMITED PHYSICAL EDITIONS OF irem GAMES

The hardly rivaled quality of these games will be cumulated in outstanding Limited and Collector‘s Editions exclusively published by Strictly Limited Games.

The Limited Editions of the irem Collection Vol.1 include Image Fight, Image Fight II and X-Multiply, an exclusive titlesheet design and an English manual and are limited to 4,000 individually numbered copies for Nintendo Switch and 1,500 each for PS4 and PS5, at a price of 34.99€ / $34.99.

The Collector‘s Edition will frame the games and complete them with their matchless Original Soundtracks as well as physical collectibles to deep dive even further:

• The premium Collector Box will be realized in format 4:3 as an homage to the screen ratio at that time. The print quality and the magnetic closure collect all the items in a suitably exclusive way.
• The Original Soundtracks will be realized on 3 CDs sitting in a Digifile. The format gives room to every game and its unparalleled music.
• A Visual Compendium will include backgrounds on the games, their history, feature unique insights and lay out level and character designs, from pixel sprites to context art.
• A Collector Coin in a separate box will make another nice link between the different volumes of the irem collection. The design is inspired by classic arcade coins and includes not just both logos and key elements from the games‘ visuals.
• A package of Retro Print material will complete the collection. Next to reprints of flyers from back then which are now getting localized the first time into English, there will be mini-DIY reproductions in the style of the NES game box, a marquee sticker, a foil catching the vibe of arcade light panel designs and posters showing the key visual in impressive size.

They will be limited to 2,000 individually numbered copies for Nintendo Switch and 999 each for PS4 and PS5, at a price of 89.99€ / $89.99.

In time with Volume 1, Strictly Limited Games will offer bundles of both Limited and Collector‘s Editions including the upcoming volumes 1 to 5 of the irem Collection in an exclusively designed slip case. The Limited Edition bundle will be limited to 3,000 individually numbered copies for Nintendo Switch and 1,000 each for PS4 and PS5, at a price of 159.99€ / $159.99 and the Collector’s Edition bundle to 1,000 individually for Nintendo Switch and 500 each for PS4 and PS5, at a price of 429.99€ / $429.99.

The limited physical editions of irem Collection‘s Volume 1 will be available for Pre Order from 30th of April 2023 exclusively on StrictlyLimitedGames.com.

Source: PR Email

Friday 28th of April, 2023 – Indie publisher Ratalaika Games, together with Indie developer Route 5 Games, has the pleasure today of releasing the action puzzle extravaganza, Gematombe. Coming on Sony PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Xbox One,  Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch, this is one of the games that doesn’t date and you will be playing for years!

Blast from the Past

Gematombe draws inspiration from many titles, including Arkanoid, Puzzle Bobble, Breakout, Puyo-Puy, Touhou and many  others   but creates its own unique puzzle game mixture true to this genre.

Features/Facts:

• Cast of six characters, each with unique abilities
• Vs console or friend
• Progression Line
• 60 levels
• Multi modes
• Six campaigns
• Humorous cut scenes

Gematombe – a challenge that will have you always coming back for more!

Source: PR Email

Paris, April 27th, 2023 – Microids is pleased to announce the video game Inspector Gadget: Mad Time Party. Developed by Smart Tale Games, this new party game for 1-4 players will immerse you in the iconic world of Inspector Gadget. Stroll through the environments of the original series, meet characters such as Chief Quimby, Penny or the M.A.D. agents and use the various gadgets of the Inspector to fight the M.A.D. forces.

Inspector Gadget: Mad Time Party will be released this fall 2023, in physical and digital versions on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC on Steam.

About Inspector Gadget: Mad Time Party

Wowsers! Play as the iconic Inspector Gadget and join your friends in this new party game! Metro City has fallen under the control of the evil Dr. Claw. In order to save the city, Inspector Gadget must use a time machine to go back in time. Unfortunately, the machine breaks down and the inspector’s ancestors are teleported to the present.

Your mission: Explore Metro City and confront Inspector Gadget’s ancestors to recover the missing parts of the machine. You’ll have to solve mini-game quests to unlock the bolts needed to repair it.

Features:

• Embark on a fun and exciting adventure as the legendary Inspector Gadget and save Metro City from Dr. Claw!
• Explore Metro City and complete quests and challenges in Adventure Mode.
• Discover 16 entertaining mini games inspired by the Inspector Gadget universe, such as Count Them All, My Precious and Pass the Bomb!
• Have fun with family and friends in Multiplayer mode.
• Enjoy the exceptional soundtrack by Tanis Chalopin, the daughter of Inspector Gadget’s creator, Jean Chalopin.

Inspector Gadget: Mad Time Party will be released in fall 2023 in physical and digital versions on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC on Steam. Go go gadget!

Source: PR Email

April 26th, 2023 – Seaven Studio is very excited to announce that it’s bringing Space Gladiators to consoles next month on May 4th. It’s making this happen in cooperation with the game’s developer, Blobfish, a French solo dev who’s been making games since 2018. They’ve already published several games on their own on Steam, including Brotato, a wildly popular roguelite with an Overwhelmingly positive rating that’s sold over 1.5 million copies.

Space Gladiators showcases where a lot of Brotato‘s quirky space-faring potato energy started, also being roguelite with tight controls and tons of build options, but going for a side scrolling perspective rather than top-down. Escape from the hole and build up your gladiator with an astounding plethora of pets, weapons, & trinkets as you carve out a path forward through platforming challenges, combat rooms, and other weird encounters in between.

Available for preorder on the Nintendo eShop & Microsoft Store (and of course still available on Steam), Space Gladiators will be launching on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch on May 4th.

About Space Gladiators

Fight your way out of a planet prison in this 2D hand-drawn roguelite platformer!

You’ve been captured and sent to entertain aliens as a gladiator in a faraway planet called Tartarus. You will have to advance through randomly generated biomes with deadly traps and monsters blocking your path. Choose your opponents in the arenas, beat them for items and coins and you might be able to earn your freedom!

Features:

• Tight and fluid controls that allow you to dodge and fight enemies without taking hits – the only ceiling is your own skillset!
• Hundreds of hand-crafted rooms that are randomly picked to make every new run feel unique.
• 50+ enemies and 10 bosses to beat with different movesets and attack patterns.
• 300+ items including pets, weapons and trinkets that unlock new abilities for your characters. Pop your heart out to heal yourself, throw meatballs or fire a laser gun.
• 8 unique characters that fit different playstyles, including a potato and an alien worm in underpants.
• Customize your runs by choosing harder paths if you’re feeling confident or easier ones if you’re on the brink of death. High risk, high reward.

Source: PR Email

The Netherworlds of Hinomoto are home to a myriad of diverse characters. Meet the protagonists of Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless and see how a chance encounter will result in an intertwining of destinies!

Traverse the wastelands of Hinotomoto in this epic SRPG adventure bursting at the seams with with over 40 character classes, and loads of new features including Jumbification, Hell Mode, Item Reincarnation, new and improved auto-battle, and online ranked battles.

To hell, with honor!

Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless, coming to  Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5 and PC in fall 2023!

Source: PR Email

Paris, April 26th, 2023 – Publisher Microids, Microids Lyon/Paris Studios and Paul Cuisset are thrilled to unveil a new trailer for Flashback 2, the sequel of the legendary video game Flashback, originally released in 1992. Releasing November 2023 on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and PC (digital), the platform shooter, filled with exploration, puzzle-solving and of course adventure, will also be available as Collector and Limited Editions!

In 1992, Flashback revolutionized action gaming and gained legendary status, ranking amongst the top 100 video games in history! Developed by the game original creator Paul Cuisset, in collaboration with Microids Lyon/Paris studios, Flashback 2 will offer an experience faithful to the Flashback universe, bringing back together some members of the original Flashback team, such as Thierry Perreau in game design and Raphaël Gesqua, the renowned composer of the Amiga version of Flashback.

The limited edition, which will be available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X, will include:

• The game
• An exclusive Steelbook
• Flashback 2 digital Soundtrack

The Collector’s Edition, planned for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, will include:

• The full game
• The original Flashback video game in digital version
• An 8-inch (20cm) figurine of Conrad
• 3 lithographs
• An exclusive Steelbook
• A unique badge
• Flashback 2 digital soundtrack
• 2 stickers sheets

About Flashback 2

In the 22nd century, the United Worlds extends throughout the Solar System, but this tranquillity is threatened by the Morph invasion led by the fearsome General Lazarus.  In search of his lifelong friend Ian, Conrad B. Hart dives once again into a breath taking adventure full of twists and turns and revelations with the help of his few allies, including A.I.S.H.A., his iconic AI-powered weapon!

Game features:

• Immerse yourself in a vibrant sci-fi/cyberpunk universe and explore various environments (New Tokyo, New Washington, the Jungle…)
• Use A.I.S.H.A., a lethal adaptive weapon enhanced with combat AI.
• A gripping, fluid and intricate platform shooter.
• A 3D environment for even deeper immersion.
• Designed and developed by the creator of the original, Paul Cuisset.

Flashback 2 will be released in November 2023 on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and digital version on PC.

Source: PR Email

Stuttgart, Germany – April 25, 2023 – Hold onto your gaming seats, because we’ve got some news that’s going to blow your mind! ININ Games, Tozai Games and IREM have joined forces to launch a powerful, unsurpassed new collaboration! The dynamic trio is set to release an IREM Collection, consisting of five volumes of games, some of which have never been released in the West before. This Collection is set to delight retro gaming enthusiasts and introduce a new wave of gamers to these classic titles, ensuring that the thrill of these iconic games will be passed down for generations to come. Strap in and prepare to unlock the vaults of classic arcade gaming!

IREM gained its international claim to fame through their iconic 1980s arcade games. However, many IREM titles never made it outside of Japan… until now.

The first IREM volume will contain Image Fight, Image Fight II, and X Multiply on PS4/5, Nintendo Switch and Xbox.

• Image Fight: Relive the golden age of shoot-em-up arcade games as you play a pilot fighting against an alien invasion. This collection also contains Image Fight in its 1990 PC Engine version (previously only available in Japan), and the 1990 NES version (sold in Japan and North America).
• Image Fight II: Dive deeper into the narrative with new enemies, improved graphics and gameplay.
• X Multiply: Explore a new biological world with unique gameplay mechanics – such as tentacles that can be used as weapons or a shield.

Plunge into these classic titles with stimulating gameplay, nostalgic graphics and an unforgettable soundtrack!

Keep an eye out for news about the exclusive physical editions with extra goodies coming from Strictly Limited Games – more information coming soon!

Source: PR Email

Stuttgart, Germany – April 20, 2023 – ININ Games, together with TAITO Corporation, is excited to reveal new information about the upcoming action puzzle game “Puzzle Bobble Everybubble!”: EX stages, collectibles and much more!

Challenging elements of the Story Mode:

In this new Bub and Bob adventure, clearing each area of the Story Mode under specific conditions releases EX Stages, ex(tra) hard levels that will challenge even the hardest-core Puzzle Bobble players, but that’s not all! It will also allow you to unlock characters that can be used in Battle Mode, costumes for the assist characters Miniroon and Chack’n, new stage music and many more items. These puzzle-filled stages will tell new stories, ones that differ from the main storyline.

These EX stages, combined with the standard Story Mode stages, and Baron’s Tower, along with the stage variants available dependent on player numbers, the game offers hundreds of different stages to master.

A video from the development staff and the title’s protagonist, Bub, showing actual gameplay footage of the EX stage and details of the announcement will premiere today, Friday 21st of April at 12:00 CEST on Bub’s YouTube channel, Bub’s Broadcast.

Memory Album:

In the Memory Album, you can view descriptions and profiles of the skins and costumes of the characters and assist characters you collected in the Story Mode. You can also collect and listen to stage music, and compare two patterns: the normal music that seamlessly switches as the game develops, and the music played in a pinch.

About Puzzle Bobble:

Puzzle Bobble (a.k.a. Bust-A-Move) is an action-puzzle game where the brothers Bub and Bob, who have been transformed into bubble dragons by a wizard’s spell, go on a bubble-bursting adventure. The classic gameplay formula is simple but addictive: using various items and gimmicks, connect three or more bubbles of the same color to remove them from the field and progress. A spin-off from the 1986 arcade hit Bubble Bobble, Puzzle Bobble/Bust-A-Move has seen over 20 series titles across countless platforms since its 1994 debut. As the sole owner of Bubble Bobble and Puzzle Bobble’s worldwide IP, including copyrights and trademarks, TAITO will continue to expand both properties going forward.

Source: PR Email

Thursday 20th of April, 2023 – Today Indie publisher Ratalaika Games, together with Indie developer Route 5 Games, has the pleasure in announcing the soon to be released action puzzle extravaganza, Gematombe.

Releasing on Steam PC, Sony PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch, this one addictive and challenging game played either against a friend or console releases on 28th April, 2023.

Blast from the Past

Gematombe draws inspiration from many titles, including Arkanoid, Puzzle Bobble, Breakout, Puyo-Puy, Touhou and many others but creates its own unique puzzle game mixture true to this genre.

Gematombe is essentially a puzzle Vs game. The idea of every match is to ‘crush’ your opponent or ‘clear’ the screen of gems to win. Either you choose to combo the largest amount of gems to send an avalanche of obstacles to your opponent or destroy every gem on the field to achieve victory. There is also a possibility that your rival messes up themselves, but that could also happen to you, so be careful and you will win.

Go Go Go!

Launch the ball to hit and break consecutive gems of the same colour to achieve incredible chain reactions! Maximise your chain combos and clear your screen area of gems and win with a GEMATOMBE!

The Story

Help Pandora, the all-gifted heroine, in her wonderful adventure to capture all the evils that were released in our world!

Gematombe begins in the Hall of Jars, a Sacred place that holds holy and magical items created by the gods of Olympus, this place is protected by Pandora, our heroine. One day, for reasons unknown, one of the Jars fell and broke free the incarnations of many evil spirits known as Daemones. A Holy emissary named Lucciano (Lucy to her friends) descends from heaven and, after witnessing the events, offers his help to Pandora to capture back the daemones and restore peace to the world. But maybe, this adorable little cherub may know more than he lets on.

Homage

Gematombe’s colourful, delicate, and charming visuals draws inspiration from many Japan games of this ilk and its endearing qualities draws the player into the game’s ambience.

Route 5 Games, ”We feel very proud of ourselves if people would consider Gematombe a “clone” of many aforementioned games, since it was one of our goals to be considered in the same type of genre as Puyo Puyo and Puchi Charat. We wanted to keep a similar cute Japanese cartoon art style to be in the same circle as our inspirations. Even though we were inspired by other games of the vs puzzle genre, what separates Gematombe from others is unique and fast paced game mechanics.”

In the Mode

Arcade mode challenges the player to defeat all 6 of the characters and see how they interact between each other. Each character has its own goal and route to follow, play with all six of them to know all their stories. There’s even a secret to unlock if you play perfectly!

Practice and Survival modes. Practice mode challenges you to make longer combos and chains and keep them for as long as you can. Survival is the real test of your abilities, you will have to defeat an endless number of CPU opponents, while the ball gets faster and faster. Each opponent represents a floor on an endless tower, the higher you go the harder it gets. Can you get to the top of the tower? Vs mode lets you play locally with a friend in a versus match. Storymode – Pick a Character and start your journey to capture all the daemons back into the jar or to wreak havoc across the world!

…And finally the tutorial mode shows you the basics and also the intro to the main story!

Features/Facts:

• Cast of six characters, each with unique abilities
• Vs console or friend
• Progression Line
• 60 levels
• Multi modes
• Six campaigns
• Humorous cutscenes

Gematombe – a challenge that will have you always coming back for more!

Source: PR Email