Twinworld Game Reviews

Posts Tagged ‘Nicalis’

Turn your #NintendoSwitch upside-down with #VVVVVV, the gravity-defying action game by @terrycavanagh!
Available on Nintendo #eShop 11.17.17 pic.twitter.com/ib24kAcfRg

— Nicalis, Inc. (@nicalis) October 23, 2017

VV

SANTA ANA, Calif., October 11, 2017—Nicalis, Inc. continues its strong support of the Nintendo Switch console with the imminent release of its scariest game yet, Knight Terrors, an all-new horror-themed arcade-style side-scroller. Just in time for tricks or treats, Knight Terrors will be available for download from the Nintendo eShop in both North America and Europe on October 24.

Knight Terrors depicts the horrifying adventures of a mysterious suit of armor known only as “The Knight.” Armed with a mighty sword and equipped with blood-red wings that allow flight, the Knight desperately races through the countryside in the darkest of the night, never stopping for any respite or consideration. He must face and vanquish a never-ending onslaught of bloodthirsty ghouls, flaming skulls and unspeakable horrors while jumping over spiked pits and flying through small gaps. If he takes three hits or allows three enemies to pass, it’s “Game Over.”

Knight Terrors goes straight for the jugular, engaging players immediately with simple two-button controls, retina-searing sprite graphics and frantic neo-classical chiptunes. Special effects like screen shaking and time stopping magnify the impact of every enemy interaction. Once you’re hooked, the game keeps pulling you back in with earned power-ups, multiple unlockable game modes and high score tracking. What’s more, the procedurally generated levels ensure unlimited replayability—it’s a different game each and every time you play.

Developed by FreakZone Games and Nicalis, Knight Terrors will be available for download from the Nintendo Switch eShop in both North America and Europe on October 24.

About Nicalis, Inc.
Based in Southern California and founded in 2007, Nicalis, Inc. is currently celebrating its 10th year as a leading developer and publisher of highly polished, retro-inspired video games. Its best-selling recent releases include Cave Story+ for Nintendo Switch and The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ for Switch and PS4.

About FreakZone Games
Established in 2011 and headquartered in Gloucestershire, England, FreakZone Games is fond of doing things the retro way. It focuses on feel and challenge to create games that are fun and satisfying, always with a touch of humor.

Nintendo Switch is a trademark of Nintendo. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

SANTA ANA, Calif., October 10, 2017—Nicalis Inc. (publisher and developer of the Switch hits The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ and Cave Story+) is proud to announce the official release of Tiny Barbarian DX, the company’s latest retro-inspired neo-classic for Nintendo Switch. The game is available now for $29.99 as a physical game card in North America or as a digital download from the Nintendo eShop in both North America and Europe.

A tour de force of 2D platform-game excellence, Tiny Barbarian DX uses pixel art, chiptunes and time-honored gameplay mechanics to tell an incredible story in four exciting chapters. The protagonist is a savage swordsman in search of treasure, a hearty flagon of mead and the warmth of a fair maiden by the fireside. He may be tiny in relation to the gigantic boss characters he encounters or the epic scale of the game’s ultra-widescreen presentation, but there’s nothing tiny about his prowess, his ambition or his heart!

“If the Barbarian isn’t your favorite archetype already, it will be after playing this game.” says designer Michael Stearns of developer StarQuail Games. A huge fan of sword-and-sorcery pulp fiction and 16-bit-era video games, Stearns prefers to let his creation speak for itself. “But since it can’t talk,” he volunteers, “I’ll just tell you: Tiny Barbarian DX is the only game that matters this year.”

First run physical retail copies of Tiny Barbarian DX will also contain a deluxe full-color instruction manual and a branded microfiber pouch with a chibi Tiny Barbarian PVC keychain inside. The packaging artwork was created by legendary illustrator Susumu Matsushita, best known as the cover artist for hundreds of issues of Japan’s weekly video-game magazine Famitsu.

Developed by StarQuail Games in collaboration with Nicalis Inc., Tiny Barbarian DX is available now on Nintendo Switch and Steam for $29.99. The digital version is also available now in Europe for 29,99€ (£26.99 in the UK).

To view the Tiny Barbarian DX Launch Trailer, please click HERE

About Nicalis, Inc.
Based in Southern California and founded in 2007, Nicalis, Inc. is currently celebrating its 10th year as a leading developer and publisher of highly polished, retro-inspired video games. Its best-selling recent releases include Cave Story+ for Nintendo Switch and The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ for Switch and PS4.

About StarQuail Games
Founded in 2006 by two longtime friends, Lynnwood, Washington-based StarQuail Games strives to create highly polished games with great replay value.

SANTA ANA, Calif., September 13, 2017—Celebrating its 10th year as a leading independent video game publisher and developer, Nicalis, Inc. today reveals its new company logo and 10th Anniversary branding, kicking off a series of special events and promotions that will continue the celebration into 2018.

The new logo reflects many of the traits that have been hallmarks of Nicalis games since the company’s inception: it’s highly polished, friendly and fun, with a distinct retro vibe. The logo change also represents the start of a new chapter in the company’s evolution—a turning point ushering in an even greater era of video game entertainment after a decade of lessons learned.

The first event in Nicalis’ 10th anniversary celebration is BICFest 2017, the annual global independent games conference in Busan, South Korea on September 15-17. Nicalis is a platinum sponsor of the expo, which will feature many of the company’s upcoming games in a large, designated “Nicalis Zone.” The new Nicalis logo will be displayed in public for the first time at BICFest.

Nicalis also recently launched a completely redesigned website at www.nicalis.com, where fans can get a peek at some of the company’s upcoming games and learn more about the special events planned for the 10th anniversary celebration, among other surprises.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the success we’ve achieved in our first 10 years,” says Nicalis Executive Producer and CEO Victor Rodriguez. “It’s a testament to the creativity of our talented game development partners, the dedication of our experienced team and the passion of video game fans worldwide.”

Achieving worldwide recognition with its first published game (Daisuke Amaya’sCave Story), Nicalis has also developed and published multiple editions of the hugely popular The Binding of Isaac (Rebirth, Afterbirth and Afterbirth+). The company’s retro-inspired roster includes 1001 Spikes, NightSky and VVVVVV, and the cornerstone of its success was rebuilt in 2017 when Nicalis produced Cave Story+, an updated, enhanced edition for Nintendo Switch.

Upcoming Nicalis games include Tiny Barbarian DX, Ittle Dew 2+, Blade Strangers, The End Is Nigh, Redout and ’90s Super GP, with many more to be announced as the 10th Anniversary celebration continues.

“You’re going to see some very cool announcements from Nicalis over the next few months,” says Nicalis President Tyrone Rodriguez. “I can’t wait to reveal some of the 10th Anniversary surprises we have planned for fans of our games, and fans of classic video games in general.”

About Nicalis, Inc.
Independent game developer and publisher Nicalis, Inc. was founded in Southern California on November 27, 2007. The company’s first published game was Cave Story, arguably the most influential independent video game of all time. Nicalis’ proven track record also includes well-polished games like The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ and 1001 Spikes.

Source: PR Email

SANTA ANA, Calif., September 11, 2017—Mark your Hyborian calendars! Nicalis, Inc. hereby announces that Tiny Barbarian DX—the retro-inspired sword-and-sorcery extravaganza for Nintendo Switch™—will be available on October 10 for the suggested retail price of $29.99. The game will be available as a physical Game Card and digitally via the Nintendo eShop.

A tremendously satisfying platform-jumping/sword-swinging 2-D adventure from developer StarQuail Games, Tiny Barbarian DX is easy to learn and hard to master. “I’m not saying I hate tutorials in video games,” says designer Michael Stearns, “but this game starts out by telling you the functions of two buttons and then sets you on a mountain surrounded by enemies where you will surely die.”

The presentation may be pixel-art perfection, but Tiny Barbarian DX is not afraid to take a few liberties with the retro-gaming aesthetic. You might see the occasional transparency effect or hear more instruments in the soundtrack than you probably remember from your old 16-bit game cartridges…and the super-widescreen aspect ratio is an obvious concession to modern displays. But it’s all done with great taste and supreme reverence for the games that paved the way—some of which are directly referenced in the level designs or gameplay.

The initial print run of physical retail copies of Tiny Barbarian DX will include several free bonuses, including a full-color instruction booklet and a PVC keychain of the Tiny Barbarian in a microfiber pouch branded with the game’s logo. As previously revealed, the game’s box art was created by Susumu Matsushita, the beloved cover artist for hundreds of issues of Famitsu, Japan’s leading video game magazine.

Developed by StarQuail Games and published by Nicalis, Tiny Barbarian DX will be available for Nintendo Switch on October 10, with the complete Steam version to be released soon after. Suggested retail price is $29.99. The game has been rated E10+ by the ESRB.

Source: PR Email

SANTA ANA, Calif., August 29, 2017—Nicalis, Inc. today announces the addition of another retro-inspired action-adventure game to its 2017 line-up. The publisher of Cave Story+ and The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ will produce the charming platform adventure Save me Mr Tako: Tasukete Tako-San for the Nintendo Switch console and Steam service. The game is planned for release as a digital download in the fourth quarter of 2017.

Set in a world where humans and octopi are at war with each other, Save me Mr Tako: Tasukete Tako-San tells the tale of a pacifist octopus who rescues a human woman from drowning. An octopus fairy sees this act of kindness and grants Mr Tako (the game’s protagonist) the ability to survive on land, where he can learn more about the ways of humans and help to resolve conflicts between the two species.

Mr Tako navigates through the game’s environments by spitting ink at enemies, which turns them into platforms that he can jump on to reach even higher ground. He can also acquire and wear 50 different hats that give him special abilities, fight 19 deadly boss characters and explore 16 mysterious dungeons scattered throughout six huge worlds.

Save me Mr Tako: Tasukete Tako-San was designed by French indie developer Christophe Galati as a heartfelt homage to the many games he loved to play on Nintendo’s original Game Boy® handheld console. The game’s color palettes are directly inspired by that hardware’s crude LCD display (allowing no more than four onscreen colors at a time), and the sizes of the character sprites are intentionally limited to 1989 standards. The game’s soundtrack also uses Game Boy-era instrumentation to complete the authentic retro vibe.

Save me Mr Tako: Tasukete Tako-San is planned for a simultaneous release on Nintendo Switch and Steam in the fourth quarter of 2017. Pricing info and release date to be announced at a later time.

About Nicalis, Inc.
Based in Southern California and founded in 2007, Nicalis, Inc. is an independent developer and publisher with a proven track record that includes well-polished games like Cave Story, 1001 Spikes and The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth.

About Christophe Galati
Based in Paris, France, designer/writer/pixel artist Christophe Galati started to develop Save me Mr Tako: Tasukete Tako-San in 2014, in honor of the 25th anniversary of the release of the original Game Boy.

Source: PR Email

SANTA ANA, Calif., July 19, 2017—Nicalis, Inc. announced today that physical copies of Tiny Barbarian DX, the company’s upcoming sword-and-sorcery platform game for Nintendo Switch, will feature a dynamic cover illustration by world-renowned artist and character designer Susumu Matsushita. The game is currently scheduled for release in the fourth quarter of 2017 with an MSRP of $29.99.

Mr. Matsushita is best known as the legendary artist who created cover art for hundreds of issues ofFamitsu, Japan’s longest-running and most highly respected video game magazine. He is the creator of Necky the Fox, Famitsu’s mascot who appeared as a playable character in Nintendo’s Super Mario Maker via the Mario Costume mechanic.

Tiny Barbarian DX is an action-packed side-scroller that combines platform jumping with sword swinging, expertly blended with retro pixel art and loincloth-stirring chiptunes. After seeing gameplay footage and studying the production art created by StarQuail Games, Mr. Matsushita agreed that his immediately recognizable character rendering style would be perfect for the game’s box art. “Tiny Barbarian DX is a game I’d like to play,” he says, “and it’s been a while since I felt that!”

In addition to magazine covers, Mr. Matsushita’s acclaimed artwork has graced the packaging of many other video games over the past 40 years, including Motor Toon Grand Prix, Maximo and even the original Hudson’s Adventure Island for the NES and TurboGrafx-16. His Tiny Barbarian DX illustration shows the Tiny Barbarian and his counterpart Tiny Barbarina riding on the fearless Wasteland Wildcat while enemies from the game surround them on all sides!

Retail copies of Tiny Barbarian DX will also contain a full-color instruction manual that includes a featurette on the making of the box art. It describes Mr. Matsushita’s creative process, details his preferred art supplies, shows photos of him working at his drawing table and even identifies the 1960s rock instrumental that he listened to while he created the cover!

Developed by StarQuail Games and published by Nicalis, Tiny Barbarian DX is planned for release on Nintendo Switch in the fourth quarter of 2017.

Source: PR Email

Adventure your own way with #ittledew2
Coming to #NintendoSwitch
Preorder yours now! https://t.co/K7YJ2BwSlk pic.twitter.com/K8fUZ4UzuG

— Nicalis, Inc. (@nicalis) July 8, 2017

Free update for #CaveStory+ with classic graphics in August! Game available now at retail and eShop https://t.co/1uOiso2UOj #NintendoSwitch pic.twitter.com/ZeyzACLOZH

— Nicalis, Inc. (@nicalis) July 10, 2017

SANTA ANA, Calif., June 20, 2017—Nicalis Inc. has officially released the blockbuster Cave Story+ video game for Nintendo Switch in North America. With an MSRP of $29.99 ($39.99 in Canada), players can download a digital copy from the Nintendo eShop or acquire a physical Game Card from their favorite retail outlet.

An unforgettable, life-changing adventure, Cave Story+ puts the player in the shoes of a young hero who wakes up in a hidden wonderland of terrible danger and glorious reward. Unaware of his origin, his purpose or even his own name, the traveler soon encounters a race of rabbit-like creatures called Mimiga on the brink of extinction. Nearly every character he meets gives him another clue to piece together the story of the Mimiga’s oppression and the mystery of his own past.

A highly polished, finely tuned platform/shooting/exploration game, Cave Story+ uses the appealing visual aesthetic of classic 16-bit video games to draw players into a world deep with emotional storytelling. “It’s a big thrill to have Cave Story+ available on Nintendo’s newest game console,” said the game’s creator, Daisuke “Pixel” Amaya. “I hope everyone enjoys playing the Nintendo Switch version on the big screen and also on the go.”

At initial release, physical copies of Cave Story+ for the Switch will feature several fan-pleasing collectible bonus items in the case with the Game Card, including a full-color 32-page instruction manual and a free Cave Story+ Famitracks soundtrack mini-CD. Physical copies sold at GameStop will also include a “blind-bagged” chibi keychain featuring one of three Cave Story characters, randomly inserted. The PVC keychain comes in a branded microfiber drawstring pouch that doubles as a cleaning cloth to safely remove fingerprints from your Nintendo Switch screen without scratching it. The instruction manual/CD inserts and the GameStop-exclusive keychains will only be available in strictly limited quantities based on the game’s initial production run.

Developed and published by Nicalis, Inc., Cave Story+ is now available for Nintendo Switch for the suggested retail price of $29.99 ($39.99 in Canada). The game has been rated E10+ (for Everyone 10+) by the ESRB. Nicalis previously developed and published the Switch hit The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+, a hugely popular Roguelike game, and has also announced plans to release several additional Switch games in 2017, including the futuristic anti-gravity racing game Redout, the sword-and-sorcery platform adventure Tiny Barbarian DX and the retro-inspired platformer 1001 Spikes.

About Nicalis, Inc.
Based in Southern California and founded in 2007, Nicalis, Inc. is an independent developer and publisher with a proven track record that includes well-polished games like The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+, 1001 Spikes and Creepy Castle.

Source: PR Email