Twinworld Game Reviews

Posts Tagged ‘Nicalis’

Here’s our video review of Cave Story+ by Nicalis for the Nintendo Switch.

LOS ANGELES, Calif., June 12th, 2017—Independent publisher/developer Nicalis, Inc. is revealing four upcoming console games during the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). The announcements are sure to please fans of recent Nicalis neo-classics like The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ and Cave Story+.

The company’s 2017 line-up includes Tiny Barbarian DX (Nintendo Switch), Ittle Dew 2+ (Nintendo Switch), Blade Strangers (Switch and PlayStation 4) and The End Is Nigh (Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4).

• Inspired by heroic fantasy fiction, Tiny Barbarian DX is the action-packed adventure of one Barbarian’s quest for vengeance. Developer StarQuail Games has combined engaging 2D platform action and combo-based hack-and-slash combat with retro-style pixel art and a pulse-pounding chiptune soundtrack for Nintendo Switch. The game offers two-player cooperative action, unlockable game modes and multiple homages to classic 8- and 16-bit games in each of its four lengthy episodes.

• Sassy adventurer Ittle and her reluctant flying friend Tippsie return in Ittle Dew 2+, an upgraded and expanded Nintendo Switch version of the action/adventure puzzle game from developer Ludosity. Stranded on a mysterious island and armed with a few weapons as well as a magical map, our heroine explores the three-dimensional landscape in search of valuable loot and the eight scattered pieces of a raft that could be her ticket home.

• From veteran Japanese developer Studio Saizensen comes Blade Strangers, a hardcore old-school fighting game with online multiplayer battles for the Switch and PS4. Its refined four-button control scheme makes it easy for beginners to jump right in, but tournament-caliber players will relish the intricate combos, counters and specials. The fighter roster includes characters from previous Studio Saizensen games (like Code of Princess and Sayonara Umihara Kawase), Nicalis games (like Cave Story+) and other surprise entrants.

• The brand-new game from The Binding of Isaac creator Edmund McMillen and Tyler Glaiel, The End Is Nigh is a sprawling adventure/platformer. Players control Ash, a little black glob trying to make a friend out of the body parts he finds scattered throughout a post-apocalyptic world. As Ash leaps his way through a never-ending onslaught of decaying, mutant creatures, he can collect assorted tumors and hidden video-game cartridges that unlock fully playable mini-games.

All four games are planned for release in 2017, with Tiny Barbarian DX, Ittle Dew 2+ and The End Is Nigh scheduled for Q3 and Blade Strangers appearing in Q4.

Source: PR Email

LOS ANGELES, Calif., June 12th, 2017—Nicalis, Inc. today announces an all-new 2-D fighting game created by veteran Japanese development house Studio Saizensen. Featuring a character roster that’s partially drawn from the studio’s previous games, Blade Strangers is expected to launch on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Steam during the fourth quarter of 2017.

The stunning character animation in Blade Strangers is created using a proprietary process. 3D character models are used to render individual animation frames, which are then rasterized into sprites and manually touched up by experienced 2D artists. The result is smooth and realistic animation in which every single frame looks like a gorgeous anime illustration.

The game uses a four-button control scheme in which all attacks are triggered by various combinations of action buttons. By avoiding the use of traditional quarter-circle and half-circle input commands, Nicalis and Studio Saizensen hope that the less complex controls of Blade Strangers will allow new players to get into the fighting game genre. The development team’s goal is to revitalize a once-mighty fan community that has the potential to grow even larger.

“The first time I played Blade Strangers, I couldn’t believe that both the control and game mechanics were so intuitive,” says Nicalis president Tyrone Rodriguez, himself a longtime competitive fighting game player. “It was immediately fun. And even though it was just an early demo, I could see that it already had the gameplay depth of a classic 2D fighter from the 1990s.”

Another benefit of the simplified controls in Blade Strangers is reduced lag in online multiplayer competition, since there’s less data to transmit between opponents. The finished game will combine the excitement and subtle dynamics of a classic one-on-one brawler with the polish and features that a current-gen fighting game deserves.

Developed by Studio Saizensen and published by Nicalis, Blade Strangers is planned for release on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Steam (PC/Mac) in the fourth quarter of 2017. Pricing info and release date to be announced at a later time.

Source: PR Email

Share the Cave Story+ adventure with a friend on #NintendoSwitch 06.20.17 (local co-op coming late summer as a free update) pic.twitter.com/bLiI7oXXOB

— Nicalis, Inc. (@nicalis) May 3, 2017

SANTA ANA, Calif., April 7, 2017—Game publisher and developer Nicalis, Inc. today announces the definitive version of the 2D action game Cave Story+, coming to Nintendo Switch on June 20th, 2017, both at retail and digitally via the Nintendo eShop.

Like The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ (also developed and published by Nicalis, Inc.), Cave Story+ on Nintendo Switch represents the definitive version with new challenges, gameplay options and enhancements. Switch players can also look forward to more levels and additional subtle graphic improvements, future free content updates as well as a few bonuses that are yet to be revealed.

With its striking blend of platforming action, shooting and exploration, Cave Story+ offers plenty of “twitch” for the Switch. But storytelling is a huge contributing factor to its international success. Through a series of brief and often emotional conversations with various characters, players gradually learn the tragic history of the game’s cast as well as its amnesiac adventurer, whose athletic ability and weapon skills are much more advanced than his appearance would suggest.

Developed and published by Nicalis, Inc., Cave Story+ will release on Nintendo Switch on June 20. Pricing is set at $29.99. Nicalis, Inc. is also the developer and publisher of the definitive roguelike The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ and publisher of the hyperspeed racing game Redout on Nintendo Switch. All three games will be available in physical form at retail and digitally via the Nintendo eShop in 2017.

Source: PR Email

It's official, The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth comes to Xbox One, Wii U and new 3DS in North America July 23rd! pic.twitter.com/zAZ4PKcAHY

— Nicalis, Inc. (@nicalis) July 7, 2015

For a limited time, ALL Nicalis games are 50%OFF on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS eShop! What will you play? pic.twitter.com/vlh9XifNNQ

— Nicalis, Inc. (@nicalis) May 27, 2015

Pelikan13 has released Wii U footage for 90’s Arcade Racer. He’s currently working with Nicalis to bring the title to the Wii U.

Finally, after years of doubt and uncertainty, The Binding of Isaac – in its newer Rebirth form – is officially heading to Wii U and New 3DS.

If you’re unfamiliar with The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth, this remake of the 2011 top-down 2D dungeon crawler throws you into the maniacal world of Isaac, who must traverse through his mothers basement to escape religious sacrifice. During your adventure, Isaac will encounter various monsters and bosses that he will have to slaughter. The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth features an additional 17 new “normal” bosses, plus 3 new “final” bosses (including Mega Satan). It also contains all content from the original Binding of Isaac and its expansion, Wrath of the Lamb, in addition to new items, rooms, characters, and enemies.

There was a lot of disbelief that Rebirth would not come out for Nintendo platforms, based on the original game getting rejected on 3DS back in 2012, which was due to its “questionable religious content.” When creator Edmund McMillen announced the ports to Wii U and New 3DS on April 1st, he revealed a version of the game that would be edited for Nintendo platforms. Thankfully, that was just a joke, Nintendo seems perfectly fine releasing the uncensored game, and The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth will launch on Wii U and New 3DS intact. Older versions of 3DS and 2DS will not be able to play, unfortunately.

No date was revealed, but expect The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth to hit the eShop soon.

Source: 8-Worlds News.