Twinworld Game Reviews

Stuttgart, Germany – 25 May, 2022 – The evil Vaprak is back and once again it is up to Jim Power to travel to the virtual world and slay the evil monster. Strictly Limited Games is happy to announce the next physical limited release in partnership with our friends at QUByte and PIKO Interactive. Jim Power: The Lost Dimension is a re-release of the 90’s cult classic for PlayStation 4 (PS4) and Nintendo Switch with an experience that is true to the original spirit of the game. Additionally, collectors and fans are able to get their hands on the strictly limited retro cartridges of the game, compatible with SNES®, SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive, which was cancelled and never released, and as a newly developed version compatible with NES!

Jim Power: The Lost Dimension will be available for Nintendo Switch, PS4 and retro cartridges, coming in  Special Limited Editions, with pre-orders kicking off on Sunday, May 29th, at 12 AM CET (midnight), only at Strictly Limited Games.

About Jim Power: The Lost Dimension:

The evil alien Vaprak is threatening to destroy the earth, which is the last planet that stands between it and the entry to the 5th dimension. If Vaprak succeeds, his species will flood the galaxy and all will be lost. It is up to Jim Power to infiltrate and slay the evil. Originally released in the ‘90s Jim Power was hailed for its outstanding graphics and challenging gameplay. Now Jim is back and ready to do it all over again.

Jim Power: The Lost Dimension on Nintendo Switch and PS4 includes the NES® version of the game which has been developed from scratch by PIKO Interactive, and on top of that the SEGA Genesis version, which was supposed to be released back in the ’90s, but was cancelled last minute. Now, fans of the retro shooter can enjoy the classic Genesis version on their modern home console for the first time!

The re-release of Jim Power: The Lost Dimension for PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch includes several features, that underline the spirit of the cult classic:

• Single player side-scrolling action
• Newly developed NES® version
• First time officially released Genesis version
• Stellar pixel graphics and classic ‘90s gaming goodness
• Soundtrack by video game music legend Chris Huelsbeck
• Several unique stages
• Run & Gun, Jetpack and Shoot ‘em Up levels
• 16 Bit and an 8 Bit gameplay
• 4 screen filters and 3 screen types

Strictly Limited Editions:

Strictly Limited Games is giving Jim Power the boxed legacy it deserves, with two unique limited editions for modern consoles, available for pre-order exclusively via the Strictly Limited Games online shop.

The Limited Edition is limited to 2,000 copies for Nintendo Switch and 1,000 for PS4, at a price of 29.99€/34,99$, including a colorful game manual.

The Special Limited Edition is limited to 1,000 copies for Nintendo Switch and 500 for PS4, for 49.99€/54,99$, including lots of additional collectibles:

• Special Limited Edition Box
• Reversible Cover
• Original Soundtrack on 2 CDs
• Anaglyphic 3D Glasses
• Double-sided Artwork Poster (A3 / 42 x 29,7 cm)
• Jim Power Replica Flyer ( A5 / 21 x 14,8 cm)
• Lenticular Card (A6 / 14,8 x 10,5 cm)
• Sticker
• Colorful Game Manual

Retro Editions

The retro editions of Jim Power: The Lost Dimension will be available as:

• Cartridge compatible with SNES® including the game based on the digital, enhanced re-release of the SNES® version. Limited to 149 PAL and 222 NTSC versions.
• Cartridge compatible with NES® with the newly developed version of Jim Power! Limited to 333 units.
• Cartridge compatible with SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive coming with the never officially released Genesis version of Jim Power! Limited to 333 units.

Each version will be available for 49.99€ / $54.99.

For an ultimate Jim Power retro experience, there will be a Jim Power Bundle including all three retro cartridges as well as an exclusive soundtrack, an art card and a poster! This very special edition is highly limited to 33 PAL and 66 NTSC – and available for 149.99€ / $154.99.

Source: PR Email

Another chapter of the atmospheric horror series from Nippon Ichi Software has emerged from the shadows with a new story set in a frighteningly familiar world!

To break a curse placed upon her, a young girl must venture into the haunted streets of her town at night to search for her lost memories while evading the twisted spirits that lurk in the darkness.

Check out the official website for more information and be sure to preorder your limited edition today!

Yomawari: Lost in the Dark is coming to Nintendo Switch, PS4, and PC in fall 2022.

Source: PR Email

Stuttgart, Germany – 23 May, 2022: The Wonder Boy Collection will launch boxed and digital on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 – on June 3rd, 2022! ININ Games and Bliss Brain are happy to present another sneak peek at the four included cult classics from the ‘80s and ‘90s.

ININ Games together with Bliss Brain are happy to bring back this cult series with its most essential titles in one collection:

• Wonder Boy (1986)
• Wonder Boy in Monster Land (1987)
• Wonder Boy in Monster World (1991)
• Monster World IV (1994)

Gamers can expect lots of additional features like filter, shader, a rewind and fast forward option, an art gallery and a save anytime option.

The Wonder Boy Collection (Nintendo Switch/PS4) will launch 3rd June at retailers and digital stores in Europe and North America.

Fans from the US can check amazon.com to pre-order their copies while fans from all around the world should refer to iningames.com or blissbrain.co.jp for the latest updates and pre-ordering!

Limited & Collector’s Editions at Strictly Limited Games

To celebrate the 35th birthday of this beloved franchise, Strictly Limited Games offer the Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection (Nintendo Switch/PS4), including six games with 21 versions of Wonder Boy in total – the perfect edition for every fan or collector!

• Wonder Boy (1986)
• Wonder Boy in Monster Land (1987)
• Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair (1988)
• Wonder Boy: The Dragon‘s Trap (1989)
• Wonder Boy in Monster World (1991)
• Monster World IV (1994)

Pre-orders of the special limited editions including awesome exclusive items are still possible at strictlylimitedgames.com – only while stock lasts.

Source: PR Email

23rd May 2022– Hound Picked Games, together with Wako Factory, a French indie development studio, is excited to announce Samurai Riot Definitive Edition, after its successful launch in 2017 is soon to be rereleased on Nintendo Switch and PC. With constant community and forum requests for a console version, the Nintendo Switch releases on June 1st 2022 with new features and enhancements to make it as a 2D, solo or co-op arcade beat’em up not to be missed!

New, bigger, better, a must play!

Since the original incarnation this new definitive version offers lots, lots more,

New features:

• New animations @60fps
• New dialogs
• Pixel perfect stability and optimization (10 times lighter than the initial version)
• Slicker and improved combos (easier to make huge combos for average player)
• New updated backgrounds and ambiance

Fans of this genre can look forward to a visual treat, where a backdrop story compels the player to really think about their decisions in game and the ramifications of their choices . Having been hired to bring peace and tranquillity to the warring land, each choice you make as a Samurai, Tsurumaru/ Sukane, will have an influence on your destiny and, with an arsenal of deadly attacks at your disposal, the fight to make it through each battle will require guile, skill and forethought!

“We wanted to release Samurai Riot Definitive Edition on Switch because it’s an “old-school” cooperative game and the switch perfectly embodies the “couch game” aspect that we imagined, both in your living room or at a picnic table.”

-Charlotte Buchet – art director and co-founder of Wako Factory

Samurai Riot offers a plethora of choices and features including both solo and cooperative play, where the story immerses both players equally, with a multi-branching storyline, complete with eight different endings. Conversely, you could enter a PVP fight against your partner to win the lead! The more you play, the more you accumulate points to unlock new fighting schools for better replay value.

Easy to pick up and play, but difficult to master, Samurai Riot Definitive Edition rewards the more demanding gamer with deeper content. Players can choose from 14 fighting schools that add a plethora of gameplay variation to the character’s moves and the devastation they can unleash upon their enemies.

Features:

• A unique cooperative system with devastating combined attacks
• Multi-branching storyline with moral decision making
• 8 different endings
• 2D Arcade Gameplay
• Strong replay value: change your gameplay by choosing between various fighting schools
• Superb in game music and SFX

A skillful and delightful honed beat-up-up with a cool couch co-op option.

Source: PR Email

Stuttgart, May 20th, 2022 – Get your witch powers ready and prepare to fight the evil-doers to save the Fairland in Cotton Fantasy, which launches today. The title published by ININ Games for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 is now available, both digitally and at retailers worldwide. A full list of retailers can be found at iningames.com.

30 years after the start of the Cotton series, Cotton Fantasy marks a brand-new entry in the beloved “Cute ‘em Up” shooter franchise. Pick one of six playable characters, including exciting guest characters, all with their own attacks and different mechanics and master the 16 colorful stages on your way to defeat your enemies. Who knows, you might even unlock another secret character if you finish the game!

The game is also still available in a limited boxed edition at Strictly Limited Games or Gamesrocket. The Limited Edition comes at the same price as the retail edition but with alternative cover artwork and a game manual not included in the retail edition. Also available is a highly limited Collector’s Edition with exclusive, magical collectibles, including the official Cotton Nendoroid figure. This edition will start shipping at a later time this summer.

About Cotton Fantasy:

• HD graphics & brand-new shoot ’em up game mechanics
• 6 iconic, playable characters to choose from, each with different mechanics and attacks that totally switch up the experience
• Easily accessible Shoot ‘em up gameplay, perfect for newcomers, but with enough depth for veterans
• 16 colorful and varied scrolling stages to unlock, with vertical, horizontal, and 3D movement
• Light-hearted story with fun and charming cutscenes voiced entirely in Japanese (English, French, Italian, German, Spanish subtitles included)
• Exhilarating soundtrack featuring iconic remastered tracks from past games
• Unlockable content and different characters offer high replayability
• Aim for the high score in your nation and globally with the featured ranking boards

Source: PR Email

Denver, CO – May 19th, 2022 – Independent developer Room-C Games in co-production with Croteam and indie publisher Versus Evil are excited to announce that their rogue-lite RPG game The Hand of Merlin Version 1.0 will be launching on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and playable across Xbox Series S/X and Xbox One consoles on June 14th, 2022.

The console version will include all eight major updates from the PC version released during its time in Steam Early Access, and developer Room-C Games has implemented lots of new features and gameplay enhancements including meta progression, passive skills, alternate maps, varied difficulty modes and overhauled its visual VFX.

The Hand of Merlin is a turn-based rogue-lite RPG written by Jonas Kyratzes (The Talos Principle, Serious Sam 4) and Verena Kyratzes (The Lands of Dream, Serious Sam 4)  in which Arthurian legend clashes with dark sci-fi horror. Players recruit three mortal heroes on a desperate journey from Albion to Jerusalem to explore richly-imagined medieval lands on the brink of apocalypse – assaulted by an otherworldly evil. In The Hand of Merlin, choices are permanent, the decisions players make in the game can make all the difference to their party’s synergy and combat prowess.

Utilizing squad-based and turn-based combat, players can employ tactical cunning to use cover, set up ambushes and coordinate attacks to conquer both human and unworldly abhorrent foes looking to do them harm. With a large focus on exploration and encounter, players will traverse an intricately crafted multiverse as they jump from one parallel dimension to the next. Each world saved is saved forever, but each world lost is lost for all eternity, consumed into darkness. Adventurers will need to weigh the consequences of their actions in the decisions they make since their human form has its limits.

“We’re excited to be able to announce that The Hand of Merlin will be a multi-platform release that includes console and PC, merging a heavy dose of dark Sci-fi into traditional Arthurian legend gave us the creative freedom to bring something refreshingly different to the turn-based and squad based RPG genre,” said Robert Sajko, Creative Director of Room C Games.

The PC version of The Hand of Merlin will be available as both a standard edition and a Deluxe edition when it launches next month, with the Deluxe edition including a copy of the game’s soundtrack.

The battle for good against evil begins on June 14th. For more information on The Hand of Merlin head over to the Versus Evil blog or visit The Hand of Merlin Steam page.

Source: PR Email

Paris, May 19th, 2022 – DONTNOD Entertainment, independent video games publisher and developer, is excited to announce the release date for Gerda: A Flame in Winter, its first third-party published game developed by Danish studio PortaPlay.

In this poignant narrative game inspired by real life events, the Danish village of Tinglev is under German occupation during World War II. Players will walk the path of Gerda Larsen, an ordinary woman in extraordinary circumstances who is forced to take a stand after her life is suddenly turned upside down.

One day, Gerda returns home from the clinic where she works as a nurse. She notices blood as she enters the house and soon discovers that her husband, Anders, is being arrested by the Gestapo. He has left behind important resistance documents, and it looks like many Danish and German lives will depend on her next actions.

A tale told not on the front line, but within the intimate setting of the small Danish village Gerda has lived her whole life.

Armed only with her wits, compassion, and insight, the advantage she has as a civilian is the knowledge of her community and village. Gerda’s personality traits are her skills, and her connection with others will also determine how the story unfolds. Choices are made through a mix of exploration and dialog, as well as resource and relationship management. Each day, she writes about her experiences and the actions she took in her diary, which players will use to develop aspects of her personality to allow Gerda to deal with situations in different ways.

She will meet a large cast of characters throughout the game: her fellow villagers — both Danes and ethnic Germans — as well as members of the Resistance, and the occupying Nazis. Every interaction holds weight, and every decision is critical in times of turmoil and war. With lives on the line, your morals will be challenged, and beliefs compromised… How far would you go to protect your loved ones?

DONTNOD is honored to work with PortaPlay in bringing this untold story to life. The character of Gerda is inspired by a real Danish resistance fighter and grandmother of PortaPlay’s Head of Development, Hans von Knut Skovfoged.

“This game is important to us because it is inspired by true stories of World War II, including those of my grandmother. With Gerda, we hope to share an accurate vision of some of the struggles of occupied populations during that time and highlight that some people were faced with difficult choices that defied absolute judgement. Through this narrative game we hope to encourage the sharing of testimonies. We know there are many civilian stories that go untold in wars and occupations around the globe, many still in the middle of theirs right now. And we are glad to be able to tell at least one such story, with Gerda: A Flame in Winter.” shares Hans von Knut Skovfoged, Head of Development at PortaPlay.

Gerda: A Flame in Winter will be released on Nintendo Switch and PC (Steam) on September 1, 2022, and is already available to wishlist on Steam!

Source: PR Email

Stuttgart, Germany – 19 May 2022 – Today, Strictly Limited Games are announcing an exclusive, limited physical release for the Breakers Collection by QUByte Interactive, in partnership with VISCO. Included are the 90’s cult classic 2D fighting game Breakers and its sequel Breakers Revenge, coming to home consoles in the West for the very first time ever. Additionally, exclusive new features, like an online versus mode or a highly-requested training mode, are part of the collection.

Breakers Collection will be available for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 (PS4) and PlayStation 5 (PS5), as a boxed Limited Edition and Collector’s, with pre-orders kicking off on Sunday, May 22nd, at 12 AM CET (midnight), only at Strictly Limited Games.

About the Breakers Collection:

The Breakers Collection includes two games: Breakers, a 2D fighting game released by Visco on December 17, 1996, for the Neo Geo and Arcades in Japan, as well as its sequel Breakers Revenge, released on July 3, 1998. On top of that, there will be brand-new content for the cult classics like an online mode, a training mode, an art gallery, and more.

In terms of gameplay, fans can expect the same special action-based fights similar to other fighting games of that era. Each of the eight distinctive fighters in Breakers, as well as the two additional characters from the sequel, Breakers Revenge, can perform super moves by accumulating enough energy in their power gauge and performing the command. On top of that, genre-typical moves like dashing, back-stepping, or acrobatic combos complete the old-school fighting game experience you don’t want to miss!

Over 20 years after the original release, Breakers finally breaks out of obscurity. We are proud to present to you the upcoming physical versions of both Breakers and Breakers Revenge in one refined collection, courtesy of the magnificent remastering efforts by QUByte. Easy to learn but challenging to master – this is a fighting game gem for retro fans and newcomers of all ages. This also marks Strictly Limited Games’ first release of a 2D fighting game, and we could not be prouder that it is a title with such a storied history that aligns so well with our values and deserves a permanent, physical legacy!

Features:

• A hidden gem from the golden age of arcade fighting games, remastered for modern consoles
• Makes full use of the Neo Geo’s power to deliver beautiful pixel graphics
• Sophisticated gameplay with fast and sharp controls that rewards tactics over button mashing
• Up 10 characters to choose from, each with their unique fighting style (8 in Breakers and 10 in Revenge)
• Compete for life or death in the legendary FIST tournament in Arcade Mode
• Duke it out with your friends to assert dominance on your couch in classic Versus Mode
• Brand-new Training Mode, being a highly requested feature after the beta (Revenge only)
• Impeccable online multiplayer featuring rollback net code with casual and ranked modes, tested by the community during open beta (Revenge only)
• Global online ranking boards (Revenge only)
• Art Gallery Mode

Strictly Limited Editions:

Strictly Limited Games is giving Breakers and Breakers Revenge the combined boxed legacy they deserve, with the unique Breakers Collection limited editions, available for pre-order exclusively via the Strictly Limited Games online shop.

The standard Limited Edition is limited to 4,000 copies for Nintendo Switch and 1,500 for each PS4 and PS5, at a price of 29.99€ / $34.99, including a colorful game manual.

The Collector’s Edition is limited to 3,000 copies for Nintendo Switch and 1,000 each for PS4 and PS5, for 59.99€ / $65.99, including lots of additional collectibles:

• Collector’s edition box
• Colourful Game Manual
• Tia Langray Headband with Breakers Collection logo
• Two sweat wristbands with Breakers Collection logo
• Soundtrack with songs from both Breakers and Breakers Revenge
• Acrylic diorama featuring Tia Langray and Sho Kamui
• Arcade flyer for Crystal Legacy (original Breakers prototype), A5 size
• Double-sided poster with main visuals, A2 size
• Breakers collection die cut logo sticker
• 10 Character Cards, A7 size
• Lenticular card

Source: PR Email

The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero is coming to Nintendo Switch, PS4 and PC on September 27, 2022 in North America!

Lloyd Bannings is assigned to Crossbell’s Special Support Section where he and his new teammates must prove themselves as they fight to overcome the injustice of a city gripped by corruption! Meet the members of the SSS in the character trailer and see just how much potential they’ve got!

The Trails from Zero Character Poll is going on now through June 1, 2022! Vote for your favorite character for a chance to win the “In Good Company” 1000-piece puzzle!

Learn more about Trails from Zero by visiting the official website!

Source: PR Email

May 17th 2022 , Indie publisher Ratalaika Games, together with developer Next Game Level, is on a special countdown for its inspirational Shoot-em-up Remote Life due to be released on May 27th 2022. Releasing on all console platforms, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch, priced at a must have $18.99 / €17.99 / £14.99.

Top Marks

With a crazy number of distinguishing features, neat level design, 3D rendered graphics, insane creature design, cool music and SFX, with the most important focus on challenging gameplay, variety and playability, Remote Life really packs a punch in a retro visionsed game fit for the 2020s.

One Man – One Vision

Remote Life has been put together by a one man production team, with a skill set that is remarkable. Inspired by seeing and playing games from the past decades that have helped formulate and create his concept, design, gameplay elements and mechanics. From Commodore 64, SNES, Sega Genesis and Amiga 500, to current consoles, he has captured the essence of those games and their playability and game feel to create his own unique game – Remote Life…

…and so the story goes

A Huge and menacing Alien Hive is approaching our planet. The only way to defeat it is to get inside and destroy it from the centre. You are John Leone, an ambitious pilot, ready to fire all his ammo inside the jaws of horror! Take your space Jet and save our planet. Discover the reason why the aliens are attacking and experience a mysterious story behind this attack.

Insane and delightful

Insanely scary graphics, with a pointer to sci-fi films of the 80s and 90s, set in a credible alien world, Remote life will suck the player into the atmosphere of the game and create excitement with background music and sound effects that summon a nice balance to the pending chaos that unfolds.

A Message to Gamers

Developer, Mario Malagrino, gives a poignant message, “For Remote Life I tried not to be inspired by any specific game. That ensures its uniqueness in this genre. I don’t think that producing clones of other games is a great challenge . This allowed me to have a free mindset, and you can see that especially in the weapon system that is quite unique for shmups. Another thing that you do not see usually is the autosave of level progress. This allows you to finish the game in a longer timeline, and does not force you to play ‘restless’ the entire day. There are so many other features on offer”.

The Game, The Objective

To defeat each Final Boss on each level in this way the players progress until they arrive at the centre of HIVE. Mainly because, only from the centre of the Alien Hive, humans can launch a big missile and destroy the Hive. There are also special levels where the pilot (gamer) has to escort bigger vehicles that are carrying items that are needed to win this war. All these great features make sure that the game is really a great challenge every time you play without being boring or repetitive.

Exciting Elements:

• Aggressive, smart and ceaseless enemy attacks
• Use your brain to select the right weapons – there are lots
• Fabulous auto save function
• Unlock other spaceships that are faster and better suited
• Special Missions
• Guns galore with their own attributes
• 16 levels with great final bosses
• Mid level bosses
• 4 difficulty levels
• OnScreen frame rate to impress

Source: PR Email