Twinworld Game Reviews

Chained Echoes, the long awaited pixel-perfect JRPG developed by Matthias Linda and published by Deck13 Spotlight, finally receives a release date. Perfectly blending fantasy with Mechs and Airships, its arrival on December 8th on PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch and PC will immerse gamers into a story-driven epic!

A Magnum Opus 7 Years in the Making

After seven years of development, the Magnum Opus from solo developer Matthias Linda, Chained Echoes, a traditional, all encompassing JRPG, inspired by classics of the SNES and PSX era, is finally finished. Gamers from all around the world can now engage in an outstanding JRPG fantasy that is full of exciting challenges and appeal.

Players will find themselves within the continent of Valandis, which, after centuries of war, is finally at peace. However, this world they are in is marked by possible conflict, and rumors that a weapon of mass destruction is an imminent danger. Peace is fragile, conflicts lasting for centuries just won’t disappear, a new war could break loose anytime soon… Can a group of strangers restore peace? Can the weapon be destroyed?

Welcome to the Overdrive

Chained Echoes is packed; featuring magic, mechs, swords, boss fights, turn-based combat, a complex story and roughly 40 hours of content. While being a turn-based game, the Overdrive Combat System ensures that the fights are fast-paced while still offering massive tactical depth. Creatively tune the skillset of your party and slay even the most vicious foes like a whirlwind!

In Chained Echoes, medieval Fantasy meets modern Steampunk, so get ready for both sword duels and mech fights! An incredible, carefully crafted world awaits, filled with otherworldly creatures, multiple nations of humans and humanoid races, brimming with individual lore and culture for the player to dig into. In the wild, Valandis’ varied environments are a true paradise for adventurers, each with their unique look and special challenges, menacing bosses and exciting secrets!

The new trailer reveals a few more gameplay scenes, showing off the combat system, some mecha fights and some of the stunning pixel visuals Matthias created.

Chained Echoes will also be available through Xbox Game Pass on PC, consoles and via the Cloud on Day One.

Chained Echoes will also receive a physical release in Summer 2023 and is now available for pre-order.

Exclusively distributed by First Press Games, it will receive premium physical editions for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and PC DVD, with different variants that vary in terms of included goodies and merch. Esoundsignal’s Original Soundtrack as a 2CD release is also on offer separately.

For all details, visit First Press Games’ web store.

Source: PR Email

Indie publisher Ratalaika Games, joins together with Brazilian Studio Fractal Projects, in announcing Save Room out on the 11th November 2022 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch, priced at $4.99 EU 4.99. This Puzzle Inventory Management challenge has drawn inspiration from a giant of a game and has been acclaimed by a number of media for its simplicity, inventiveness, addictabilty and above all fun!

A touch of Evil to inspire

Fractal Projects, who have released a number of puzzle games, explained that this was created by their programmer who focused on the Resident Evil 4’s inventory system as his main inspiration. ‘Everyone that played RE4 remembers how fun it was to organise your items to fit in your suitcase. So I imagined that a short game with that mechanic could be a good project. What makes the game unique is this nostalgic feeling. The goal/aim is to make all the items fit in your inventory, while your guns are loaded and your life is not too low.’

Organization

When you enter a ‘save room’ you know you are safe, no danger can come to you, you can relax. Take advantage of this short period of time to organize your inventory, heal your wounds and reload your weapons. Can you make all the items fit in your inventory?

40 levels make up the game and the objective is really simple, you just need to arrange the items you are presented with and then fit them into your inventory space. You can move, rotate and combine the items. Also, all your weapons need to be reloaded and your life can be in a dangerous state so keep your eye on the screen!

The difficult curve is progressive, so in the first ten levels the player only needs to fit the items and reload their weapons. At levels 11 to 25 the player will have to use and combine healing items to keep the health metre away from the danger state. After that, a mechanism of combining gunpowder to create ammunition is presented. In the final levels………… (surprises!)

As the developer explained, ‘The gameplay mechanics are introduced at a pace that is easy for everyone and players who are familiar with RE4 find them very intuitive. When someone gets stuck on a level he just needs to restart and try to organize the items in a different way.’

Relax and Progress

There is no timer at all, and as many gamers have found out from the successful PC release, Save Room has a relaxing approach that is very calming, so the player can just relax and solve the puzzle at his own pace. Each level must be completed to unlock the next one, and the game has many achievements that encourage the player to complete levels and try new things.

Crafty idea!

Save Room blends puzzles within its puzzles, like when you begin crafting: using different vials of gunpowder to fashion specific ammo types, combining herbs to make healing items. The developer expanded on this, ‘As in Resident Evil games it’s common to combine herbs and gunpowder, I figured having some mechanics like that would bring back a lot of nostalgic memories. So, in Save Room, the player will need to combine herbs to create potent healing items and mix the right gunpowders to create specific ammunition. And when you combine items, you create more free space in your inventory, which is the key to solving some levels.

Source: PR Email

Paris, November 3rd, 2022 – Microids is delighted to confirm the launch of the Steam and Nintendo Switch version of Horse Tales – Emerald Valley Ranch in North America.

Developed by the studio Aesir Interactive, the game invites players to saddle up in a full-on equestrian open world adventure. Horse Tales – Emerald Valley Ranch is out now in Europe on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Nintendo Switch and PC. In North America, the game is already available on Nintendo Switch & Steam and will launch on PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®5 the 15th of November.

About Horse Tales – Emerald Valley Ranch

In Horse Tales – Emerald Valley Ranch, players will be tasked with restoring their family’s run-down estate back to its former glory. This quest will set them on a delightful open world adventure where they’ll explore the peninsula’s gorgeous and varied landscapes, from the colorful seashore of Coral Lagoon to the lush forest of Birchwoods.

They will make many friends along the way, including the nearby residents and of course… horses! Tame, breed, and establish a strong bond with your equine companions, as each is unique and possesses distinct abilities, personality traits, preferences, and training needs.

Make Emerald Valley your own by customizing your adventure: dress up your horses and your avatar with a wide variety of clothing and ornament options, and take part in rebuilding and decorating various buildings, stables, and horse care facilities.

Source: PR Email

Hamburg, Germany, November 2nd, 2022 – The murderous cooking sim Godlike Burger is now available on PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch. Players can become the deadliest chef in the galaxy and try their hand at creating the most delicious burger.

The trailer shows  Godlike Burger’s unique gameplay. As a space-traveling chef, players must lure in their alien customers, kill them and turn them into patties. Only by combining the perfect ingredients can they create the best burger in space and turn their little diner into the biggest intergalactic restaurant. However, players must take care to keep their murderous habits under wraps and avoid the space police’s suspicions.

Key Features:

• Cook the best burgers and turn your pitiful diner into the universe’s most famous restaurant. More prestige means more customers, new planets to visit, and more money!
• Kill your customers with a range of hidden traps, deadly sauces, or the good old meat cleaver!
• Improve your kitchen and find out what each alien race likes – uncover the secret of the perfect burger.
• Explore the galaxy and its worlds. There are different alien species and their individual strengths and weaknesses to discover.
• Don’t get caught! Leave no witnesses and keep the police’s suspicion low by playing and planning smartly.
• Manage your restaurant at night to do what every good restaurant owner must do: cook new “sauces”, buy ingredients, and upgrade your kitchen, traps, and weapons.
• Complete quests and solve dozens of different problems from clogged toilets and meteor showers to zombie attacks.

Godlike Burger is available now on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and PC via Steam.

Source: PR Email

Paris, October 27th 2022 – Microids is happy to announce the release of the video game Asterix & Obelix XXXL: The Ram From Hibernia on PC, Xbox consoles and Nintendo Switch! The PlayStation versions will launch on November 4 in North America.

Asterix and Obelix are taking us to Hibernia for a collection of brawls with zero rule! For the very first time in the series, the game is both solo and co-op for up to four players! Romans, hold on to your shield, these Gauls mean business more than ever!

About Asterix & Obelix XXXL: The Ram From Hibernia

The year is 50 BC. Gaul is entirely occupied by the Romans. Well, not entirely! One small village of indomitable Gauls still holds out against the invaders… Meanwhile, in Hibernia (today known as Ireland) Keratine, chief Whiskitonix’s daughter, is calling Asterix and Obelix to the rescue as they need help to overcome the Roman invasion and bring back her father’s beloved golden ram. For this mission, you’ll control your favorite heroes and use your fists and any surrounding objects to make your way whilst throwing Romans in the air! Our two Gauls will also be able to count on their trusty druid Getafix, who’s been working on a new magic potion recipe for extra power!

Wake up the Gaul in you thanks to this brand-new top down explosive adventure of your favorite Gauls. Get ready for non-stop action, mind bending puzzle solving, exploration and items to collect in this one-of-a-kind adventure as good as a boar stew!

Your journey through Hibernia will span across six chapters, each of them filled with Romans and collectibles. Be creative! The more combo styles and diverse items you use during the fight, the bigger the surprises! Sure, a hit with that barrel sounds nice, but why not try a tree stump as well?

Stronger together! Asterix & Obelix XXXL: The Ram From Hibernia will offer a co-op mode for up to four players on the same screen!

By Toutatis, these Gauls are crazy!

Source: PR Email

October 27th – Victoria, BC – Frosty Pop has conjured up a real treat with The Pinball Wizard launching today on Nintendo Switch & Steam. It’s a smooth-as-silk arcade dungeon crawling adventure that sees you climbing a treacherous tower, with each floor acting as its own self-contained mini pinball table.

“At Frosty Pop we love to meddle with genre conventions.  Trying to combine seemingly disparate mechanics – in this case pinball and dungeon crawling – often leads to something new and fun and additive to the specific cannons. In this case it’s made for an endlessly enjoyable title that we’re super proud of, and we’re extremely excited to be bringing it to new platforms.”

-Faisal Sethi, Founder of Frosty Pop

Built for short bursts of chaotic flipper focused fun, The Pinball Wizard is the perfect chance to practice your pinball fundamentals while pummeling monsters, leveling up, and collecting coins to upgrade your abilities. Flip, bump, and bounce your way up the tower to save the world, employing all sorts of magic powers along the way that feed on your growing mastery of angles and physics.

The Pinball Wizard is available now for both Windows & Mac via Steam and on Nintendo Switch for $7.99 USD, alongside a 10% launch discount.

About The Pinball Wizard

Oh, young Apprentice! Atop the Mountain of Shadow, at the foot of the castle tower, the wisdom bestowed upon you shall come to pass. A pinball dungeon crawler awaits to test your skill!

Ascend the castle tower. Level up your skills. Fulfill your destiny. Become the wizard you were born to be!

The Pinball Wizard is a dungeon crawler pinball hybrid, and an arcade adventure game, where the main character is propelled into action by a set of flippers, like the ball in a pinball machine. Each level (dungeon) of the game is a contained area inside a tower. The goal of the game is to survive and get to the top of the tower alive.

Key Features:

• Tower Mode: Climb a tower with twenty-one levels and defeat the big, bad, boss.
• Dungeon Mode: Survive as long as you can in a giant dungeon.
• Two Daily Dungeons: A randomized new dungeon, every day.
• Upgrade Skills: Unlock and maximize all 16 skills including Dash and Magic Orb.

Source: PR Email

Paris, October 27th, 2022 – Microids is delighted to announce that Arkanoid Eternal Battle is now available worldwide on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One consoles, Xbox Series X|S and PC. In North America, the retail versions will be available on November 8th. Developed by studio Pastagames, Arkanoid Eternal Battle invites players to discover or rediscover the iconic block breaker in a fully modernized and revamped version where players can compete online with up to 24 others in the Eternal Battle mode.

48-hour Free Trial on Steam and 10% launch discount on several platforms for a limited time!

Starting today 9am PT and for the next 48 hours, players will be able get their hands on the full game for free, including the thrilling cross-platform Eternal Battle mode.

Additionally, the game will be 10% off for a limited time on Steam, GOG and the Microsoft store.

Dive back into the 80’s Arcade frenzy with the game’s retro retail editions, coming soon!

The Limited Edition includes:

• The full game for PS5, PS4 or Nintendo Switch
• A 3D lenticular
• A 16-page instructions booklet
• The original soundtrack (digital format)
• A sheet of stickers
• Exclusive in-game bonuses

Arkanoid Eternal Battle marks the return of the emblematic block breaker game in a surprising, renewed version with 4 game modes:

• Retro: Teleport yourself in an old-school arcade parlor back in 1986 and enjoy the original game as if you were there!
• Neo: This solo mode expands on the classic gameplay with brand-new levels, a modern and stylish art direction & sounds as well as new unique blocks, bonuses and effects!
• Versus: Play locally with 2 to 4 players on the same screen!
• Eternal Battle: For the very first time, 25 players can challenge each other online in an exclusive Battle Royale mode! Use your power ups to gain advantage and aim at the top score to be the last one standing and win the game!

Source: PR Email

Stuttgart, Germany – October 27th, 2022 – ININ Games together with TAITO Corporation is proud to announce that Puzzle Bobble Everybubble! is coming in Spring 2023, exclusively for Nintendo Switch! The game that started it all comes back to you for another adventure with new enhanced features, which will be announced soon.

Only one we couldn’t wait to share with you: for the very first time in the history of the franchise, Puzzle Bobble Everybubble! will include a story mode playable with up to 4 players, and a 2 vs. 2 co-op battle mode.

The game will be published by ININ and can already be pre-ordered at certain retailers around the world: an ever-growing list of all participating retailers can be found at Iningames.com.

For nostalgic fans of this timeless franchise, ININ decided to make the original SNES version of Puzzle Bobble (Japanese) and Bust-A-Move (US) also available separately for download, so that even those who purchased the retail edition have the chance to relive these endless gems.

The first 2 vs. 2 co-op game in the series!

In the versus mode, players can play against either the computer or other players, and even send bubbles to their opponent’s board and disturb them by erasing or tearing off a large number of bubbles at once.

In this title, players can enjoy not only the traditional 1 vs. 1 battle but also, for the first time in the series, 2 vs. 2 cooperative battles between teams of two players, who can cooperate to erase each others awkward-to-aim-at bubbles and enjoy a more thrilling and faster-paced experience. Players can also play alone against the computer team, or team up with a friend to battle.

Source: PR Email

27th October 2022 – Indie publisher Hound Picked Games, together with independent Spain developer Tapioca Games, is pleased to announce the first detailed information on their multi-platform cooperative party game Welcome to Empyreum (WtE), that is set for release on PC, Xbox, PlayStation 4/ 5 & Nintendo Switch early 2023. This is the first release for the talented team and already excitement is growing as the early PC Steam demo has created a big and growing fan base!

Fun, challenge, achievements and addictable are just a part of what marks WtE as something really special. Put simply, it’s an expanding challenge that will have players hooked, as within WtE players main goal is to organise and clean numerous floors of the hotel with everyday appliances involving everyday chores (vacuuming or making the beds), and crazy tasks like taking care of alien babies or running away from ghosts!

One or 4 all!

WtE is a local co-op party game for up to 4 players and can, of course, be played by a single player. Conversely playing as a group the better the coordination and communication of the team, the cleaner the rooms will be and, therefore, the happier the guests will be during their stay. More hands make light work as the old saying goes. Remember: the guest is always right! (even if they are lazy sloths or gluttonous gummy bears…).

Cast for character redefining include Tommy, a narcissistic influencer; Miriam, a desperate mother; Elisabeth, a lucky girl, and Apolo, a depressed musician, who arrive at the Empyreum Hotel, an enchanted place that takes away what they love most.

Learn Fast

Intuitively the game opens up in the first section of the hotel, the Nursery, which acts as the tutorial and progression is fun as you learn and achieve many goals. It may be simple but be warned it’s hard work and perhaps a labour or love as you clean floors, charging around the room with your handy mop. Using conveyor belts to send items to the other side of the room, and pressing buttons to make the floor spin, so much to do and so little time……..

To complete a level and unlock the next, players must achieve at least 60% of the tasks, but if they clean more, they get better rewards (hats for the characters) and achievements or trophies. Reaching a 100% in all levels and unlocking all the hats are additional objectives, as well as unravelling the hotel’s story. There are so many challenges on offer and the incentive to progress is always a big motivational factor on wanting more, WtE will appeal to many gamers

Source: PR Email