Twinworld Game Reviews

Posts Tagged ‘11 Bit Studios’

Warsaw, Poland – August 3rd, 2022 — South of the Circle, the latest gem in 11 bit studios’ carefully tailored publishing portfolio, is available today on PC (Steam, GOG), Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4.

Featuring a compelling story revolving around the emotional impact of choices and promises, and brought to life by a stellar cast, South of the Circle represents 11 bit studios’ motto of ‘meaningful entertainment’ to perfection. Taking place amidst the chilling reality of the 1960s Cold War soon after the signing of the Antarctic Treaty, South of the Circle was crafted by the BAFTA-winning team, State of Play.

“I am fascinated by Antarctica’s surreal beauty, particularly in the 60s, because of the low tech that was there at the time,” states Creative Director Luke Whittaker. “We had a family friend who was out there back then and all of his photographs were incredibly inspiring. He told us many stories and some of them even made it into the game. We explored what happens to a person when they are taken away from all the structures they’re around in everyday life. Who are we when we‘re separated from all the political and social constructs? It was a great way to explore someone’s mind because when you’re in a setting like that what else do you have?”

Players will explore the mind of Peter, a Cambridge academic teacher, who ponders on his past as he wanders through a snowy landscape after a catastrophic plane crash. He will come to realize how political powers influenced him and his love-interest Clara’s lives, and how he perceives his path and the promises he made along the way. South of the Circle’s cast includes Anton Lesser (“Game of Thrones”, “Star Wars: Andor”), Gwilym Lee (“Bohemian Rhapsody”), Olivia Vinall (“The Woman in White”), Richard Goulding (“The Crown”), Adrian Rawlins (“Chernobyl”), and Michael Fox (“Downton Abbey”).

Source: PR Email

Warsaw, Poland – April 7th, 2021 — Children of Morta’s biggest update yet is now live on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. Family Trials is a combat-focused game mode and all users can now hop into the fast-paced action for free. Children of Morta is an action-RPG hack-n-slash produced by Dead Mage and published by 11 bit studios.

Zyklus, a unique and abnormal dungeon located somewhere in the world of Rea, is a central part of the Family Trials mode. Zyklus is affected by world-consuming Corruption. Its rapidly changing rules and environments mean that upon entering the dungeon you may never be fully prepared for the mortal dangers that lay ahead.

Family Trials is separated from the story-focused main game mode. It offers new systems, items, character build possibilities, and more – all set in a series of completely randomized dungeons. It also brings a new challenge to the game – most of your progress is lost when you die – so you better learn from your mistakes!

Family Trials Mode:

• Objectives – Complete main objectives and optional side-objectives to advance to the next floor.  Objectives vary from protecting the Rea Laborers from waves of enemies to fighting in the arena to surviving the flood of corrupted adversaries, and more!
• Additional difficulty levels – Unlock two additional difficulty levels: Hard and Insane. The higher difficulty, the more levels you have to beat!
• Character builds – Experiment with your character builds and learn from your mistakes to best your consecutive dungeon runs.
• Each level is a new adventure – Levels are completely randomized each time you enter the dungeons.
• It’s the whole family – All Bergson family members and their active abilities are available from the very beginning.

New systems, items and features:

• The Skill Tree is replaced with a new Talent System – Each time a character levels up, they get to choose a new Talent.
• Runes no longer drop in the dungeons – They become a part of the Talent System instead.
• Divine Relics and Divine Graces have two additional power tiers – You can upgrade them in the special shop or find them in dungeons.
• Item upgrades vary from simple stat boosts to additional special traits unlocked for each item.
• 40 talents per character – Stack upgrades and modifications for your skills and passives to dominate your enemies.
• In-game deeds with special rewards to help you survive Family Trials. Complete them to start your run with bonus HP, instant level up, extra gemstones, or even free items.
• Gem shards work as the main currency in Family Trials mode – Use them in the new shop to gamble for rewards, upgrade your equipment, and buy new shinies.

Source: PR Email

Warsaw, Poland – June 24, 2020 — Children of Morta is an action-RPG all about the bonds of the courageous Bergson family, but that doesn’t mean the Bergsons’ home is a place where fellow adventurers aren’t heartily welcomed. 11 bit studios and Dead Mage are proud to present another free update to their indie hit, introducing Apan – a seventh playable character joining the party.

Apan – known as Clan Mother in her homeland – came from the far north of Mount Morta. She is as skilled in providing vital support for companions on the battlefield as she is in wielding a sturdy staff. Her weapon’s reach makes Apan perfect for delivering deadly mid-range strikes, her special Asva Pulse dash ability leaves opponents hindered in the dust, and her spells cover a large area of effect. In defence, all of the Bergsons can take advantage of Apan’s medical knowledge as she also boosts the effects of healing potions, and a new mechanic lets the family gain shields from items, abilities, and Apan’s Rage skill. Simply put, Apan’s presence makes them all stronger, especially in battle.

The exciting new character design was created by one of Children of Morta’s Kickstarter backers and his partner, who both believed in the project since its very early stages. Here’s what these backers – known as AgaRar and GlueBubble – had to say about the idea that inspired the Apan’s creation, “The idea for Apan came from the brainstorming of myself and my partner. We originally made her an orphan, but later changed her to a mother to better compliment the Children of Morta story and family theme. A strong leader of nomadic healers who allies herself with the Bergsons to aid them in their fight against Corruption. We hope that our inspiration, and Dead Mage’s hard work, translates into a character that you all will enjoy for years to come.”.

The Bergsons’ House free update is available on all platforms: Xbox One, PC (Steam, GOG.com, Humble Store), PS4 and Nintendo Switch. The free update contains:

• A brand-new character with a unique skillset designed to play in single-player, but also shine in co-op playthroughs
• Special shielding skills and passive healing mechanics
• 32 new Apan-specific Runes
• 9 new story cutscenes
• A few HUD and UI tweaks
• Additional bug fixes

Source: PR Email

Warsaw, Poland – May 20th, 2020 — Sharpen your sword and make some change for the shop! Between Dimensions is making its long-awaited console debut on May, 29th! 11 bit studios and Digital Sun announce that the biggest expansion to the world of Moonlighter will be coming to Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 and will be available in all digital stores for $6.99! Are you ready to join the brave hero-merchant for more adventuring and looting?

Between Dimensions expands the world of highly-acclaimed shopkeeping RPG, Moonlighter, by opening the gates to an all-new interdimensional dungeon fit for only the most fearless of adventurers while simultaneously filling current dungeons with new creatures, weapons, armors, shop items, and rings.

In this new expansion, players will learn that the serenity in Rynoka hadn’t lasted long. Worried chatter spreads amongst the villagers concerning the appearance of a mysterious cryptic portal, causing widespread anxiety about this unknown threat. While the Interdimensional Dungeon certainly seems to be dangerous, Will’s merchant senses are telling him that where there are monsters, there may be profitable loot as well!

Accessing the Between Dimensions content requires players to finish the main game first. Please note that some content listed below will be available to all owners of the game free of charge.

Between Dimensions expansion features:

• A brand-new Interdimensional Dungeon (with a chance for it to appear as a Corrupted Dungeon in the original dungeons!)
• 10 all-new original enemies and 5 minibosses
• A full set of weapons with a new short sword, a large sword, bow, gloves, and spear
• A new set of armor with a helmet, chest, and boots
• Trick weapons – 10 unique weapons in total – both powerful… and punishing!
• New rings for boosting Will’s passive abilities
• New shop upgrade allowing Will to showcase his new Interdimensional Items
• New customers wanting to trade and an unfamiliar NPC: The Trader
• Additional story and lore
• New thieves to invade your shop (free content)
• A new client – the indecisive customer (free content)
• A bothersome bird terrorizing your customers (free content)

Source: PR Email

Warsaw, Poland – May 7th, 2020 — The brave Bergson family continues their journey along the Children of Morta development roadmap with the addition of the Setting Sun Inn update. This free update includes New Game+ content with tons of additional lore in stunning new cutscenes and quests. Join the family for another round – it’s on the house.

Developer Dead Mage and publisher 11 bit studios are excited to provide fans of their popular action-RPG, Children of Morta, with the second free content update in the series planned for 2020. This New Game+ mode encourages players to follow the Bergson’s journey again, this time with an increase in difficulty, character skill point caps, and upgrades in both Ben’s workshop and Margaret’s lab.

The lore in Children of Morta is enriched with more than 50 new cutscenes, home events, and activities. These additional pieces of story will strengthen the player’s bond to the Bergson family and the wondrous world of Rea. In addition to the New Game+ content, new family-related quests have been added to the dungeons and will appear during the first playthrough as well. The update is available on all platforms: PC, Xbox One, PS4, and Nintendo Switch.

Setting Sun Inn update contains:

• New Game Plus mode where players keep previously unlocked characters, skill tree progress, resources, Ben’s workshop and Book of Rea upgrades, all while playing through even more challenging content
• 20 new cutscenes
• 8 new Home Interactive Events to liven up the Bergson family home
• 26 new Home Idle Activities to keep the Bergsons occupied
• 14 new Family Events and Quests in the Dungeons
• 3 new Side Quest Traits
• Balance changes and bug fixes

Source: PR Email

Warsaw, Poland – February 6, 2020 — New challenges await in Children of Morta as Dead Mage and 11 bit studios release the first content update in the game’s extensive 2020 roadmap! The successful indie, action-RPG featuring elements of rogue-lite and hack n’ slash gameplay has wowed players and critics alike since its release and its first free content update, Shrine of Challenge, is now live and available on PC, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 4.

The Bergson family fought the Corruption without a glimpse of respite, but their journey is far from over. Shrine of Challenge marks the first stop on the 2020 roadmap of free updates and brings with it a wealth of fresh content. The addition of Hard Mode provides an even greater challenge and gives players the experience rewards to match it. Battle-hardened players will find themselves challenged at every turn. Along with new fight rules and enemies, all-new items are available to help the fearless Bergsons purge their homeland of evil. Are you up for the challenge?

Shrine of Challenge update contains:

• Hard Mode – Increased enemy damage and health, bigger XP rewards
• New Enemies – Dark Blade and Mech Constructor
• 18 New Items – Granite boulders falling from the sky, bolts of electricity lighting up your enemies, and so many more to discover
• New UI with larger HUD option
• Balance Tweaks for Normal Mode and other fixes

Source: PR Email

Warsaw, Poland – Nov. 20th, 2019 — After its well-received debuts on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, Children of Morta has now made its way to Nintendo Switch! The stunning action-RPG indie hit from developer Dead Mage and publisher 11 bit studios is now available on the Nintendo eShop for $21.99 with retail versions arriving on Nov. 22, 2019.

Children of Morta is a story-driven rogue-lite RPG game focused on a brave family of heroes, the Bergsons. Fighting to protect their homeland and the legendary Mount Morta from an ancient evil, the family’s harrowing journey sees them learn a lot about themselves while facing untold danger at every turn.

Lead the Bergsons, with all their flaws and virtues, against the forthcoming Corruption. Will you be able to sacrifice everything to save the ones you care for?

“We had to postpone the Nintendo Switch release a bit, but in my super-biased opinion as a producer, this was the right decision as it’s a fantastic console for Children of Morta — it was meant for this handheld. And we’re already going further as I can tease that a roadmap for 2020 is in the works and we will tell more about it soon”, Children of Morta executive producer, Marek Ziemak.

Children of Morta in a nutshell:

• Gameplay – It’s a unique mix of the action-adventure RPG, rogue-lite, and hack and slash genres. By leveling up, you develop not only individual characters but the entire family as a whole. There is no permadeath and you can change family members between dungeon runs.
• Story – The story takes place in a distant land but copes with themes and emotions common to all of us: Love and hope, longing and uncertainty, and the loss and sacrifice we are willing to make to save the ones we care about the most. Ultimately, it’s about a family of heroes standing against the encroaching darkness.
• Dungeon Crawling – All the dungeons in the game are procedurally generated, which means their layout is different with each adventure. There are two to four levels in each dungeon, with a unique boss fight at the end. You can always get back to the previous dungeons to get extra XP or finish all the side quests.
• Characters & Skills – Ranged attacks, magic spells, blocks, stuns, evasions, and passive skills – it’s all there for you to discover, unlock, and upgrade. You can choose from six different family members, each one having unique skill sets.
• Art Style – A combination of hand-painted pixel art and frame-by-frame animations paired with modern lighting techniques bring the beautifully dangerous world of Children of Morta to life!

Thanks to a partnership with Merge Games, the retail edition for all platforms will be available on November 22nd. For gamers who love extra spicy limited editions, there will be PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch Signature Editions that include a pocket artbook, enamel pins, and more.

Source: PR Email

Warsaw, Poland – Oct 7, 2019 — Developer Dead Mage and Publisher 11 bit studios are announcing today the delay of Children of Morta for Nintendo Switch. Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions will release as planned on Oct. 15, 2019, while the Switch version is being pushed ahead to Nov. 20, 2019. Not willing to compromise the quality of the game or release a product to paying customers that’s half-baked, the team made the difficult decision to delay and allow developers the extra time they needed. In an open letter to players, 11 bit studios and Dead Mage had this to say:

To the players and our fans,

Spending 5 years creating a game is exhausting. Spending 5 years creating a game and then having to delay it — that’s just brutal — but when you’re aiming for excellence and you know it’s within your grasp, you just do it. Such is the case with Children of Morta on the Nintendo Switch. We still have a couple of kinks to work out and are pushing for quality over anything else. The community may forgive us for the delay, but forgiveness won’t come so easily if we release a game that’s not working perfectly. As delivering the best performance is our highest priority, we are simply delaying the game to November 20th to allow ourselves the time we need. Xbox One and PlayStation 4 releases are going as planned on the 15th of October.

At 11 bit studios, there is no space for compromise when it comes to quality. For players, it means a bit more of a wait. For us, a bit more hard work which we’re glad to do because, in the end, we all have the same goal — a fantastic game.

Kind regards,

Dead Mage & 11 bit studios

Source: PR Email

Warsaw, Poland – Sep. 26th, 2019 — Anticipation is rising as 11 bit studios and Dead Mage’s Children of Morta — an action RPG with rogue-lite gameplay and hack n’ slash battles featuring a family of courageous heroes — arrives on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch in less than three weeks. Landing on consoles on October 15th, 2019, Children of Morta unconventionally marries rogue-lite character development with the engrossing plot of a family of heroes protecting the world from a vicious Corruption. Spreading from Mount Morta, the Bergsons are the land’s only hope. Learn about the six unique guardians of Mount Morta in the brand new Characters Trailer!

Children of Morta for is currently available for pre-order on the Xbox Store and on the PlayStation Store. Nintendo Switch pre-orders will arrive soon!

About Children of Morta

The Bergson family has guarded Mount Morta for generations but now face their most dangerous trial. Corruption has spread, morphing the once peaceful mountain into a violent and monster-infested nightmare. Take part in their journey and experience what it means to be in a family of heroes.

An emotional roguelike with gorgeous pixel-art, Children of Morta combines a powerful narrative of familial ties with intense hack-and-slash gameplay in an ever-changing world. Choose the best character for your playstyle, craft new items for your adventure, and fight to find out what is the real source of evil.

Source: PR Email

Warsaw, Poland – Sep. 13th, 2019 — Children of Morta, the highly-regarded action RPG following the harrowing journey of a family of heroes, launched on September 3rd and has covered its cost of development after only a few days on the bestseller lists of online game stores like Steam and GOG.com. Following years of hard work and dedication, developer Dead Mage and publisher 11 bit studios could not be more pleased with its success. Coming to Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch this October 15th, both teams are looking forward to carrying this success onto consoles. The triumph of Children of Morta proves that strength and perseverance, much like the bonds of the Bergson family, are what it takes to overcome even the mightiest of obstacles.

11 bit studios have continued their tradition of the “11 facts about” videos by creating a brand-new gameplay trailer explaining every bit of the game under the unsurprising title “11 facts about Children of Morta!”

Children of Morta is an action RPG with a rogue-lite approach to character development, where you don’t play a single character – but a whole, extraordinary family of heroes. Hack and slash through hordes of enemies in procedurally generated dungeons, caves, and lands in order to lead the Bergson family, with all their flaws and virtues, against the corruption oozing from Mount Morta.

The game is available on PC in digital stores and soon, thanks to a partnership with Merge Games it will become available at retail for consoles as well.

Source: PR Email