Twinworld Game Reviews

Paris, August 24th, 2022 – Microids is pleased to share a new gameplay trailer for the game Horse Tales – Emerald Valley Ranch as well as some new screenshots and the game’s release date. Developed by studio Aesir Interactive, the game will invite players to embark on a full-on equestrian open world adventure. Horse Tales – Emerald Valley Ranch is set for release on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and PC on November 3rd. In North America, the game will launch on November 15th.

In Horse Tales – Emerald Valley Ranch, players will be tasked to restore their family’s run-down estate back to its former glory. This quest will set them on a delightful open-world adventure that will have them 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 through a wide variety of clothing and ornament options, and take part in rebuilding and decorating various buildings, stables and horse care facilities.Additionally, players who pre-order the game at participating retailers will get access to a Unicorn tack set, an exclusive in-game cosmetic content to dress up your horses!

Gallop into adventure with Horse Tales – Emerald Valley Ranch, coming out this November!

Source: PR Email

Bruxelles & Paris, August 22 2022 – Moulinsart and Microids are delighted to reveal the very first screens for Tintin Reporter – Cigars of the Pharaoh’s video game adaptation. Developed by the Spanish studio Pendulo Studios, renown for their adventure games spanning over three decades, Tintin Reporter – Cigars of the Pharaoh will be released on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC in 2023.

Inspired by an iconic adventure from the comic book series “The Adventures of Tintin” created by Hergé selling more than 275 million units worldwide, this new video game will sign the return of the famous reporter to the interactive medium thanks to a dynamic co-production by Moulinsart and Microids.

Tintin and his faithful dog Snowy will set sail for incredible adventures! After meeting with the Egyptologist Sophocles Sarcophagus during a Mediterranean cruise, the famous reporter decides to investigate the Pharaoh Kih-Oskh’s tomb. What terrible secret does the tomb hide? From Egypt to India and Arabia, Tintin and Snowy will follow a lead on narcotics trafficking all the way to the far east.

This new adventure game will immerse players into the captivating comic book’s universe and make them the heroes of an epic action adventure masterpiece. With an art direction faithful to Hergé’s drawings, this game is lining up to be a jubilant adaptation!

For Stéphane Longeard, CEO of Microids: “Being able to work on an adaptation of the famous Belgian reporter’s adventure is a delight. We started working on the game a few years ago and we cannot wait to show more to our players worldwide. If I had one thing to add, I’d say that we’ll do everything in our power to pay tribute to Hergé’s work and offer the fans the adaptation of their dreams”.

Nick Rodwell: Director of Moulinsart adds “The production of a new immersive video game for PC and consoles carries the adventure legacy of the most famous reporter. Our ambition is first and foremost entertaining and friendly to please the whole family. Microids is the perfect partner to accompany Tintin for this new adventure!”

Tintin Reporter – Cigars of the Pharaoh will be released in 2023 on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC.

Source: PR Email

Stuttgart, Germany – 19 August 2022 – Back in the 80s, Jaleco first released one of their most-known franchises Ninja JaJaMaru-kun in Japan, spanning several sequels over the coming decades, some of them never released in the West! ININ Games is happy to announce that they will publish three amazing Ninja JaJaMaru collections from the great developers at City Connection. These compilations will be coming to PlayStation 4 (PS4) and Nintendo Switch in 2023, with pre-orders starting soon.

Ninja JaJaMaru: The Great Yokai Battle – Deluxe Edition is the must-have for everyone who loves the iconic Jump & Run franchise or wants to dive into it for the first time ever. Adding to the amazing collection from City Connection, which has only been released in Japan, this compilation consists of six classics of the franchise spanning over multiple decades and platforms.

Starting with the original “Ninja JaJaMaru-kun” (1985, NES®), on to “Super Ninja-Kid” (1994, SNES®), and culminating in the brand-new 2022 game “Ninja JaJaMaru: The Great Yokai Battle”, players in the West can finally experience some of these classics for the first time ever, restored to new glory and including additional features. On top of that, ININ Games includes something completely new in this collection: A colorization of the 1990 Game Boy title “Oira JaJaMaru! Sekai Daibouken” that you can play on modern consoles.

Ninja JaJaMaru: The Great Yokai Battle – Deluxe Edition will be available digitally and boxed, featuring the following titles:

• Ninja JaJaMaru-kun (1985, Famicom/NES®)
• JaJaMaru’ no Daibouken (1986, Famicom/NES®)
• Oira JaJaMaru! Sekai Daibouken (1990, Game Boy)
• Ninja JaJaMaru – Gingadaisakusen (1991, Famicom/NES®)
• Super Ninja-kid (1994, Super Famicom/SNES®)
• Ninja JaJaMaru: The Great Yokai Battle (2022)

Besides this collection of Jump & Run classics, ININ Games will also publish Ninja JaJaMaru: The Lost RPGs, a bundle of two RPG entries of this franchise that have never been released outside Japan before. For the first time ever, fans in the West will get the chance to play “Ninja JaJaMaru: Ninpouchou” and “Ninja JaJaMaru: Gekimaden – Maboroshi no Kinmajou” – fully localized in English! Ninja JaJaMaru: The Lost RPGs will be available as digital download.

Ninja JaJaMaru: The Lost RPGs is comprised of the following titles:

• Ninja JaJaMaru: Ninpouchou (1989, Famicom/NES®)
• Ninja JaJaMaru: Gekimaden – Maboroshi no Kinmajou (1990, Famicom/NES®)

The third and last collection will be available digitally-only and is the best bet for all fans of the franchise out there who want to get the full picture. JaJaMaru: Legendary Ninja Collection includes all titles of the previously mentioned collections and will be released for PS4 and Nintendo Switch.

The following games are included in the JaJaMaru: Legendary Ninja Collection:

• Ninja JaJaMaru-kun (1985, Famicom/NES®)
• JaJaMaru no Daibouken (1986, Famicom/NES®)
• Ninja JaJaMaru: Ninpouchou (1989, Famicom/NES®)
• Ninja JaJaMaru: Gekimaden – Maboroshi no Kinmajou (1990, Famicom/NES®)
• Oira JaJaMaru! Sekai Daibouken (1990, Game Boy)
• Ninja JaJaMaru – Gingadaisakusen (1991, Famicom/NES®)
• Super Ninja-kid (1994, Super Famicom/SNES®)
• Ninja JaJaMaru: The Great Yokai Battle (2022)

An exclusive physical collection for the retro gaming enthusiasts out there & retro console-compatible cartridges!

For collectors who would love to hold all of these Ninja JaJaMaru games in their hands, Strictly Limited Games will create exclusive, limited editions of the JaJaMaru: Legendary Ninja Collection. Besides all of the titles, this collection, exclusively available via Strictly Limited Games, will include several physical collectibles that cannot be bought anywhere else. Pre-orders start on August 21 at midnight CEST via strictlylimitedgames.com.

Source: PR Email

Amstelveen, August 18th, 2022 – Mindscape, in partnership with publisher Just For Games and developer FRAG Games, announced today that Life in Willowdale: Farm Adventures has passed final certification and will launch on September 27th for Switch and PC, with a launch on PS4 and PS5 following on October 18th.

Featuring farming gameplay in a cozy town filled with friendly locals, as well as adventures across the region, Life in Willowdale: Farm Adventures is now available for pre-order on the Nintendo eShop or physically at a local retailer near you.

“We’re excited to announce that we’ve gone gold, and now we are in full swing until launch!” said Marcel van der Steen, Commercial Director at Mindscape. “Life in Willowdale is a great family-friendly game for the upcoming fall and winter seasons with lots of outdoor adventures when you are cooped up indoors. We look forward to welcoming everyone to Willowdale!”

Once such a lively country town, Willowdale is in chaos. The mayor’s daughter dislikes the countryside and wants to transform and modernize the town, but now the animals are neglected and the villagers no longer feel at home. The mayor and townspeople need your help to restore Willowdale to its former glory. Set up a bustling farm, construct buildings and make friends with the colorful villagers while also setting off on adventures to rescue and bring back animals that have left.

The game will launch on Nintendo Switch, and PC for Steam on 27th September. The game will launch on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on 18th October.

Pre-order the physical version at your local retailer or the Nintendo eShop and wishlist now on Steam.

Source: PR Email

Golfenburg, Sweden – August 18th – Thunderful and Chuhai Labs are delighted to see their heavily anticipated ‘Golf-Like’, Cursed to Golf, drive its way onto PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch today. Cursed to Golf is a genre-twisting 2D roguelite golfer that features outlandish special abilities, diverse biomes, challenging bosses and a soundtrack that slaps harder than any heard in a golf game before.

“We’re so excited that people are finally being let loose on our dungeon-like course today on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch and PC,” said Chuhai Labs’ Game Director Liam Edwards. “Best of luck beating my scores on the online leaderboard!”

“A quote? Dude I dunno, just like… buy it,” said Mark Lentz, Producer at Chuhai Labs. “It’s a Thursday, treat yo’self.”

Step into the (golf) shoes of a would-be golf champion who tragically dies just as he’s about to win a tournament. Instead of making it to heaven (or hell), you find yourself in Golf Purgatory. If you can golf your way through the ever-changing 18 hole course spread across four biomes (Purgatory, The Oasis, The Caverns and Hell), you’ll be able to ascend back to life. Prepare for dungeon-like holes, often with multiple paths to the flag, littered with Grave Grabbers, deadly spikes, explosive TNT boxes and all manner of other traps and hazards.

Fear not, cursed golfer. For all the hazards that stand in your path, consider Chuhai Labs your friendly caddy, handing you a host of helpful tools to give you a chance of overcoming them. Shot Idols are a blessing from the golf god, awarding you extra shots for smashing through them, teleporters will take you closer to the flag, even TNT boxes can sometimes hide shortcuts, should you detonate them properly! On top of that, ACE CARDS offer you awesome single-use abilities that you could never use in real life. Rewind time with a Mulligan, freeze water with the Ice Ball, guide your ball to its target with the Rocket Ball, get out of sticky situations with a Portal and blast your ball into three with the Scattershot. These are just a few of the over 20 power ups you’ll have access to.

In between holes, you’ll be able to drive around the map in your Golf Cart. You might discover some treasure chests, card packs, or come across a totally-not-shady-at-all guy who will meet you at forks in the road and help you choose a path to take. It’s always a good idea to stop by the Eterni-Tee shop to buy card booster packs, switch up your outfit, or store a few special cards in your binder so they can survive in between runs.

Source: PR Email

Denver, CO – August 17th, 2022 – Super indie publisher Versus Evil, in partnership with indie development studio Drop Bear Bytes, today announced that they will publish Broken Roads, a traditional isometric RPG coming to PC, Switch, Playstation and Xbox in 2023. Broken Roads presents a post-apocalypse future with real-world locations and landmarks serving as the backdrop for the complex stories of Australia’s survivors wrapped in an intricate hand-drawn aesthetic.

Drop Bear Bytes headquartered in Australia, brings a wealth of revered industry talent to the fold with a team comprised of talented developers, artists and writers from Australia, South Africa, Canada, USA and the UK. RPG genre professionals including Colin McComb (Fallout 2 and Wasteland 2) Creative Lead, and Leanne Taylor-Giles (Rainbow Six Siege and Torment: Tides of Numenera), Narrative Director, have also contributed their expertise to the whole team.

Broken Roads skillfully blends traditional and all-new role-playing elements on top of a classless system offering near-unlimited character development options built around four philosophies: Humanist, Utilitarian, Machiavellian, and Nihilist. Furthermore the game presents players with an original morality system: the Moral Compass which sees dialogue options and questing decisions influence, and be influenced by, a character’s philosophical leaning and the tough decisions they make along the way. In addition, the in-game locations are all authentic recreated from the team visiting towns and landmarks in West Australia and taking photos, videos and audio recordings for it to be as true as possible . Furthermore, even the game’s atmospheric soundtrack composed by Tim Sunderland is composed with instruments constructed from everyday objects which brings a wholly unique and distinctive tone to the game.

“Versus Evil has a history of partnering with some of the best creatives in the industry and publishing highly engaging RPG titles enriched with deep narratives and killer visuals. Drop Bear Bytes have a clear vision and a collective talent that will bring an exciting addition to the Versus Evil RPG family of published titles and we look forward to sharing their passion project fans of the genre” Said Steve Escalante, General Manager of Versus Evil.

Broken Roads is another compelling addition to Versus Evil’s impressive RPG catalog and joins other critically acclaimed titles in the genre such as The Banner Saga Trilogy,  The Hand of Merlin and Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire.

Source: PR Email

17th August, 2022 – Indie publisher Ratalaika Games, together with SoftColors, is happy to announce the upcoming release of Aquadine which has already been described by the media as ‘amazing’ when released on PC Steam last year. The 26th August 2022 sees the console release on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch ($19.99/€19.99) for a really exciting visual novel experience!

Aquadine is a beautiful kinetic visual novel where most of the crafted story is pretty straightforward and totally immersive. Players will initially learn more about Aquadine’s characters and culture, giving everyone a chance to see which characters they may like to follow in a casual environment before the story gets more serious.

Setting the Scene

A character select screen will then appear that depicts four main characters: Anya, Diana, Cameron and Elisabeth. Clicking any of them will lead players to that route, and they can be read in any order. If all four are cleared, an epilogue titled Memories will be unlocked at the start screen. That is the true ending of the story.

Each of the main characters are memorable in their distinct personalities, their speech patterns, and their own stories. There are many fun scenarios where the main cast interacts with each other in the common route and while players are experiencing one route at a time, the other main characters may still be important to them. Everyone is connected, and reading all four will unlock the important epilogue.

The Setting

Aquadine is a very special town where one could take a vacation and really embrace the beautiful scenery. It’s rich in culture and mythology while inhabited by many lovable characters. The most unique feature of this visual novel would have to be the town of Aquadine itself.

While this setting draws much inspiration from Venice, the mythology is actually about an ancient merfolk civilization. Players will witness how this intertwines with the modern day setting and the importance to the overall plot. The protagonist’s mother also has a very strange combination of symptoms that has never been seen before.

The Game

As players go deeper into the story, they’ll slowly uncover the many secrets inside. One of the most memorable early scenes is an encounter with a beautiful mermaid. But much like Ciel, she also has her own secrets. Players will learn a bit more about her before the heroine routes diverge into four different options. There are too many memorable scenarios to list. They’ll discover the mermaid’s true identity, enjoy Diana finally bonding with her excessively strict mother, witness Cameron savagely beat the living crap out of her martial arts team, learn how Elisabeth comes to terms with her trauma, and feel how desperate Ciel is as he does whatever it takes to save his mother.

And there is more…………

“With the exception of the epilogue, Aquadine is written in third-person perspective which allows additional scenes from the heroines’ private lives, especially with family, and it wouldn’t feel natural if the main character is always present. Visual novels are traditionally told in first-person so the readers could immerse themselves through the main character’s eyes and make choices, but we wanted to explore other options. This approach itself is a challenge, because it can be risky to commit to something different from what’s expected. The third-person narrative without choices enabled the flexibility to flesh out major characters much deeper than what can be told in a simulation.” Brian Trieu, Director of Aquadine

Fact and features

• Four heroine routes
• Stunning visuals
• Gallery feature allows players to relive their favourite art and music
• 25 Songs
• Partial voice acting
• Sound preferences
• Anime influence
• Impacting story
• And much, much more…

Summing up!

Aquadine is about a gondolier boy who works to save money for his mother’s hospital bills; however, she has a very strange disease that none of the doctors know what it could be.

Source: PR Email

Stuttgart, Germany – 17 August 2022 – Following the smashing success of the Kickstarter campaign for Slaps and Beans 2, the sequel to the hit pixel-art brawler starring Bud Spencer and Terence Hill, ININ Games, Buddy Productions and the developers at Trinity Team have once again teamed up. As part of this collaboration, Bud Spencer & Terence Hill – Slaps and Beans 2 will be released digitally and in retail for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. A digital release for the Xbox family of consoles is also planned.

Bud and Terence are back and in their second original video game adventure, they will stop more scoundrels with earth-shattering slaps and flying kicks – always with a crisp line on their lips. Slaps and Beans 2 builds on the success of its predecessor with an enhanced combat system, fun mini-games, more detailed pixel art, a co-op mode, and a dedicated competitive party mode for up to four players.

By popular demand from the amazing community, the sequel will now be fully dubbed for the first time in English, German, Italian and Spanish, to provide an even more authentic experience. Paired with more iconic soundtracks from the movie composers Oliver Onions and the faithfully recreated characters, Slaps and Beans 2 will make the hearts of fans around the world beat faster.

Slaps and Beans 2 is in development for all current consoles. The game is scheduled for release in Spring 2023 and will be distributed both digitally and physically through ININ Games. Special Limited Editions will be available via Gamesrocket.com.

Source: PR Email

Stuttgart, Germany – 16 August 2022 – Get ready for the wildest fighting game on the block! ININ Games is excited to announce that they will bring Tanuki Creative Studio’s fast-paced 2D beat ‘em up adventure Jitsu Squad to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 (PS4) and PlayStation 5 (PS5), for online stores and retail. A digital release for the Xbox family of consoles is also planned for a later date. Fans can expect whacky-chaotic battles with the four unique members of the Jitsu Squad, either alone or with up to four people in co-op mode.

Jitsu Squad is a fast-paced fighting game inspired by old-school brawlers, paired with the intense and exciting fights of modern beat ‘em ups. Play alone or with up to four people in co-op mode against waves of enemies while amassing massive combo-chains and unleashing powerful and flashy super moves. To set the right mood for 90s fighting games, Jitsu Squad not only comes with a hand-drawn cartoon look and stunning visual effects but also music by none other than Crush 40 singer Johnny Gioeli, famous for the iconic SONIC The Hedgehog music.

Story

Containing the soul of a powerful demon, the legendary Kusanagi Stone can grand godly powers to those who awaken it but has remained hidden over the centuries. Now, the wicked sorcerer Origami, destroyer of worlds and lord of darkness, has summoned ancient warriors to find the stone for him, cursing their souls and turning them into animals. Luckily, a mysterious monk called Ramen manages to save four warrior souls from Origami’s call: Hero, Baby, Jazz, and Aros, together are the Jitsu Squad!

Features

• Fight lightning-fast, adrenaline-tingling battles
• 4 playable characters – Turn your warrior into a real legend with the upgrade system and unique secondary weapons that open up new combos
• Slay your enemies in style with 100+ chain-combos, infinite juggles and Epic Super Specials that will make your heart beat faster
• Powerful in-game character transformations will get your blood boiling
• Tons of unique enemies to slay and 8 different planets to save
• Up to 4-player local couch co-op fun
• Team up with a friend in 2-player tag-team mode, where each player can choose up to 2 characters
• Enter the battlefield while blasting original tunes by Crush 40 singer Johnny Gioeli, famous for the iconic SONIC The Hedgehog music
• Fighting game input commands provide a nice 90s throwback

Jitsu Squad will release digitally and in retail on PS4, PS5 and Nintendo Switch later this year. More information about the planned release for the Xbox will be announced at a later date. Special Limited Editions will be available via Gamesrocket.com. Additional information can be found on the official ININ website.

Source: PR Email

Gothenburg, Sweden – August 16th, 2022: In collaboration with the LEGO Group, Thunderful are delighted to reveal the platforms that the anticipated LEGO Bricktales will be releasing on. The new digital adventure from the developers behind the Bridge Constructor series will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch in Q4 2022.

In LEGO Bricktales, journey across 5 different LEGO themed biomes and use an intuitive new brick-by-brick building mechanic to solve puzzles and bring your solutions to life. From purely aesthetic creations, such as market stands and music boxes, up to functional physics-based puzzles like building cranes and gyrocopters, LEGO Bricktales offers a host of challenges and quests to test your imagination and building skills.

Through the deepest jungle, sun-drenched deserts, a bustling city corner, a towering medieval castle and tropical Caribbean islands, you’ll be treated to delightful environments packed full of secrets, challenges and fun characters.

In each diorama, there are LEGO Minifigures who need your help, as well as the opportunity to unlock new skills for your good deeds. While exploring these colorful environments, you will discover a variety of construction spots with their own sets of bricks – it’s up to you to figure out a unique build that will work. Whether you’re being asked to put on your designer hat and build a throne fit for a king or testing your engineering skills to build a bridge that will get a digger across a river, how you construct your builds and meet the challenges you’re being offered is up to you!

“We know that LEGO fans across the world will be incredibly excited to get their hands on LEGO Bricktales,” said Dieter Schoeller, Vice-President of Production at Thunderful. “That’s why it’s so great to be able to announce that the game is coming to such a wide-range of platforms. Across PlayStation, Xbox, Switch and PC, we are ensuring that as many people as possible are able to play and enjoy this title and its intuitive brick-by-brick building mechanic.”

Source: PR Email