The first part of Sonic Superstars: Fang’s Big Break, a digital comic book developed by Sonic Team, has been released on official Sonic social channels.
Sonic Superstars: Fang’s Big Break predates the story of Sonic Superstars and recent animation Trio of Trouble, reintroducing Fang’s character and his initial adventures on the Northstar Islands. The story was penned by writer Ian Flynn and drawn by illustrator Evan Stanley. For more, check out the first four pages on Sonic socials!
Sonic fans can sign up for our newsletter by the 31st of January 2024 to earn a classic, redefined skin for Amy Rose in Sonic Superstars when the game is released on the 17th of October, Please visit the Sonic Superstars official website for full terms and conditions.
CD PROJEKT RED has announced that the expansion to Cyberpunk 2077, Phantom Liberty is now available digitally on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and on PC through Steam, GOG, the Epic Games Store, and GeForce Now.
Phantom Liberty is an action packed, spy-thriller expansion to Cyberpunk 2077, offering a complex story, a new district to discover, a powerful new skill tree, fresh gigs and side quests, new weapons and items, and infinitely replayable open world activities.
“Phantom Liberty is the culmination of years of hard work on the part of all of our teams,” said Game Director, Gabe Amatangelo. “During our first foray into Night City, we couldn’t have expected how much that experience would affect us. Since then, we’ve learned plenty, but one thing never changes — our passion for creating games. Phantom Liberty is the best example of that passion.”
Watch Launch Trailer
Players will once again become V, a cyberpunk for hire who is thrown into the shadowy world of spies. They will cross paths with a new cast of characters, including veteran secret agents, cunning political players, and bloodthirsty mercenaries. V will be joined by NUSA secret agent Solomon Reed (Idris Elba) for their most difficult mission yet, one filled with tough choices and many twists and turns.
Phantom Liberty brings the players to Dogtown — the most dangerous district of Night City ruled by arms dealer and warlord, Kurt Hansen. As well as new gigs and characters, the district also offers new boss fights, infinitely replayable open world activities in the forms of airdrops and courier missions, and much more to discover.
As part of the expansion, players will also gain access to over 100 new items (vehicles, weapons, clothing, and cyberware) as well as a whole new Relic skill tree with unique Relic perks, which bring even more freedom and flexibility to playstyle curation.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty is available now on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC through GOG, Steam, the Epic Games Store, and GeForce Now. For more information about Cyberpunk 2077 and Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, visit the official website, Facebook, and X.
About Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 is a narrative-driven, open-world RPG set in Night City, a megalopolis obsessed with power, glamour, and body modification. The game tells the multilayered, mature story of cyber-enhanced mercenary V. Players are faced with choices and consequences as they customize their character and playstyle, take on jobs, and build their reputation. The game has sold over 20 million copies and won over 200 awards, and is also the inspiration for the award-winning Netflix anime Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, created by CD PROJEKT RED in collaboration with Studio Trigger. Its spy-thriller expansion, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, is slated for release in September 2023. Cyberpunk 2077 is set in the universe of the classic pen & paper RPG system, Cyberpunk 2020.
About CD PROJEKT RED
CD PROJEKT RED is a game development studio founded in 2002. It develops and publishes video games for personal computers and video game consoles. The studio’s flagship titles include The Witcher series of games, Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales, GWENT: The Witcher Card Game, and the futuristic AAA role-playing game — Cyberpunk 2077, upon which the Netflix anime series Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, created by CD PROJEKT RED and Studio Trigger, is based. Together with GOG.COM, a game store offering hand-picked titles for PC and Mac, CD PROJEKT RED is part of the CD PROJEKT Group. CD PROJEKT S.A. is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (ISIN: PLOPTTC00011).
Patches 6.51 and 6.55 Coming Late October and Mid-January Respectively
26 September 2023 – During a special broadcast of the 79th Letter from the Producer LIVE from Tokyo Game Show, Producer and Director Naoki Yoshida announced FINAL FANTASY™ XIV Online’s Patch 6.5: “Growing Light” will launch on Tuesday, 3 October 2023 (AEDT).
A brand-new trailer offered players a first look at the adventures still to come when the patch launches, including new main scenario quests, an alliance raid, trial, and more.
You can view the trailer for Patch 6.5 below.
Details on Patch 6.5 can be found below:
New Main Scenario Quests (Part 1) – The next chapter in the story of the Warrior of Light.
New Dungeon – New challenges await in the Lunar Subterrane.
New Trial: The Abyssal Fracture – A challenging new battle against Zeromus awaits in both Normal and Extreme difficulties.
New Unreal Trial –Fight in the Singularity Reactor (Unreal) against the fearsome Thordan.
New Alliance Raid: Myths of the Realm #3 – Explore the mysteries of Thaleia.
Duty Support Expansion –With the addition of Duty Support to the Drowned City of Skalla, the Burn, and the Ghimlyt Dark dungeons, it is now possible to play through all main scenario dungeons from A Realm Reborn™ to Endwalker™ solo.
Various Job Adjustments
Player Versus Player Updates
PvP Series 5 Begins
Crystalline Conflict Minimap and UI Updates
Island Sanctuary Updates – New sanctuary ranks, visions, and gathering area, as well as new materials, craftable items, crops, animals, isleworks handicrafts, structures, and more!
New Custom Deliveries Client: Margrat
Miscellaneous Updates – Ability to store optional items in the armoire, as well as new fashion accessories, mounts, minions, emotes, and more!
During the broadcast, Yoshida also shared further details on new content to come in Patches 6.51 and 6.55, which include:
New Variant Dungeon – Aloalo Island (Patch 6.51)
New Criterion Dungeon – Another Aloalo Island / Another Aloalo Island (Savage) (Patch 6.51)
Crystalline Conflict – New Arena: The Red Sands (Patch 6.51)
More information on the recently announced fifth expansion, Dawntrail will be shared at the FINAL FANTASY XIV Fan Festival 2023 in London on 21 – 22 October 2023 (AEDT), as well as during the Fan Festival 2024 in Tokyo, scheduled for 7 – 8 January 2024 (AEDT). For future updates on how to watch the livestreams of these events, please keep an eye on the Lodestone: https://eu.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodestone/
With more than 27 million total registered players, there has never been a better time for newcomers to begin their adventures in the critically acclaimed FINAL FANTASY XIV Online saga. The expanded Free Trial now includes all content from A Realm Reborn™ and the Heavensward™ expansion (and updates through Patch 3.56), as well as an additional playable race (Au Ra), and three additional playable jobs (Dark Knight, Astrologian, and Machinist). Free Trial players can enjoy hundreds of hours of award-winning gameplay and story experiences equivalent to two full FINAL FANTASY titles, without limit on playtime. More information can be found at: http://sqex.to/FFXIVFreeTrial
Square Enix Ltd. develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX® and TAITO® branded entertainment content in Europe and other PAL territories as part of the Square Enix group of companies. The Square Enix group of companies boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY®, which has sold over 180 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 88 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix Ltd. is a London-based, wholly owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
“PlayStation” and the “PS” Family logo are registered trademarks and “PS4” and “PS5” are trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – 25 Sept. 2023 – LunarLux, the action-adventure pixel RPG set in the distant future from developer CosmicNobab Games and publisher Freedom Games prepares for an otherworldly escapade as it blasts off to PCs via Steam today!
In the year 30XX, humanity’s survival hinges on the lunar world of Luna, the only sanctuary remaining after a devastating comet forced the community to abandon their once home planet Terra. With the same comet responsible for Terra’s demise returning, set forth alongside the Lunar Warrior Bella on a perilous mission to annihilate it before Luna meets the same fate.
Embark on this extraordinary quest, where science, truth, and justice pave the path to salvation. Traverse the lunar terrain and engage in intense battles against enigmatic foes known as the Murks, using a unique hybrid turn-and-action-based battle system. Dive deep into the Moon’s enigmas, unveiling the secrets of a lost civilization, and rise as its savior.
Accompanied by Tetra, Bella’s trusty robotic sidekick, explore the rugged lunar landscape by foot, soar through the skies in a sleek jet suit, or pilot a highly customizable spaceship, all while interacting with Bella’s surroundings – pet adorable dogs, befriend the locals, and unearth hidden easter eggs at every turn.
Master an array of battle mechanics, boasting 40 active skills and 30 support skills. Amplify the Lux Meter by skillfully stacking abilities into thousands of special sequences, unleashing up to 30 powerful Lux Combos. Venture into malfunctioning networks with Tetra’s guidance, conquering mini-game challenges specific to each network.
“Venture through this masterfully woven anime-inspired tapestry of adventure in LunarLux, where the power of Lux awaits your command. ” said Benjamin Tarsa, Director of Publishing, Freedom Games. “Get ready to reach for the stars on an interstellar journey like no other on PCs now!”
LunarLux saves the galaxy on PC on Monday, 25 September 2023 for $19.99 via Steam, Epic and GOG. For more information on LunarLux, visit the official CosmicNobab itch.io page, follow @LunarLuxGame, and search for #LunarLux on social media.
About CosmicNobab Games
CosmicNobab Games is a one-developer studio specializing in retro-inspired RPGs. Previously developing the MegaMan Battle Network fangame MegaMan Cosmic Network, LunarLux is their first original title.
About Freedom Games
Freedom Games is a publisher dedicated to offering best-in-class services to partners and providing players around the world with unique and memorable experiences. With over 50 years of combined industry experience at the executive level, Freedom Games seeks to leverage its expertise to facilitate great games and even better publishing experiences.
From September 27-30, the annual conference will showcase voices of color in the games industry
September 25, 2023 – The 2023 Game Devs of Color Expo begins its eighth annual online event this Wednesday, September 27, featuring discussions, panels, interviews, and game announcements from creators of color in the games industry.
The event kicks off at 11 a.m. EDT with a commencement from the organizing team, as well as hosts DaPurpleSharpie and Josh Boykin. At 1 p.m. EDT, the GDoCExpo Direct, an exhibition of more than 25 new game announcements from creators of color, will be broadcast on the GDoCExpo YouTube and Twitch channels. Also returning this year is the Game Devs of Color Expo Steam Sale, featuring game demos and discounts until September 30. The 2023 GDoCExpo will conclude that Saturday with a closing ceremony where two grants – The Game Devs of Color Expo “Made in NY” Grant and The Game Devs of Color Expo Grant, sponsored by Humble Bundle – will be awarded.
The 2023 Game Devs of Color Expo Online schedule can be found here.
Game Devs of Color Expo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to amplifying the creative power held by people of color in games. Creators of color make great games but are often pushed to the margins. We fight to create a better games industry that is intersectional and equitable by organizing revolutionary events, uniting our vibrant community, and building access to knowledge, funding, and opportunities.
The wait for the next big party game hit is over! Join the cosmic party and either choose to be humanity’s savior or shake things up as Earth itself.
25 September, 2023 – Call your friends and ask them to come over for an earth-shattering good time, as Project Planet – Earth Vs Humanity is out now on PC! The party begins today on Steam and will be priced at $24.99 with a 20% launch discount for a limited time.
Project Planet – Earth vs Humanity is the debut game from Dutch developer, Fifth Harbour Studios, born from the challenges of a pandemic-stricken world. The game draws inspiration from real-world scenarios but gives players a chance to shape the outcome.
Will you wield the power of Earth to reduce humanity to zero, using a virus, asteroid impact, or other means of devastation? Or will you rally with up to five friends, assuming the roles of World Leaders, Industry, Media, Scientists, and Public, in a bid for survival? The choice is yours.
How to Play
Project Planet – Earth vs Humanity can be played alone, but it’s even more fun with friends! Whether at home on a couch or online through a stream, you can invite up to five friends to join in for FREE. No app or extra controllers are necessary and only one copy is needed for your entire party.
Your friends can use any web-enabled device (like a smartphone, tablet or PC) to join the game and play along. Your browser will become your controller. When playing remotely, you can use a video conferencing tool like Zoom, Steam Broadcast, Discord, and more to stream the game. Just don’t forget to enable audio streaming!
Key features
Party up! – Enjoy a 1 vs 5 party game where you unleash Earth’s fury or try to survive a wide range of disasters as Humanity. Only one copy is needed to entertain a group of up to 6 players.
Pick a side – Destroy Humanity with virus outbreaks, asteroid impacts and more as Planet Earth, or play as one of 5 Humanity roles, each with unique gameplay and impossible dilemmas that come close to real-life parallels.
Work together – Use abilities to cooperate with other players, or punish those who don’t act in the group’s (or your own) best interest! But remember to pursue your own goals. In the end, there can only be one winner!
No two games are the same – Branching narratives create limitless ways to experience the disasters.
About Fifth Harbour Studios
Sjors had always dreamed of making games, so when the pandemic presented an opportunity, he seized it. He enlisted his friend and game designer Rik to help, and together they built a team to create a game based on the concept of “Earth vs Humanity”.
Can we PC gamers talk about souls-like games without mentioning that B word? You know, Bloodborne. And that comes with the usual assumptions and dreams of a PC port that is “just around the corner”. And game companies eventually caught wind of that so they’re using Bloodborne allusions in the promos and not-so-subtle references. Then you have cheap imitations and even worse copies but every once in a while a game comes out that takes something out of Bloodborne and souls-like games while having its own identity. Could Lies of P be one of those games? Read on and find out.
Story
Inspired by the familiar story of Pinocchio, Lies of P is an action souls-like game set in the dark, Belle Epoque-inspired city of Krat. Once a beautiful city, Krat has become a living nightmare as deadly puppets run amok and a plague sweeps the land. You play as P, a puppet who must fight his way through the city on his unrelenting journey to find Geppetto and finally become human. Your androgynous protagonist will have to master all kinds of weapons, perfect blocking, fable arts, dodging, and who knows what else to get to the end.
Gameplay
Do you know what’s the main distinction between this game and Bloodborne? Can’t believe I’m writing this but – it’s way more challenging. As usual, it draws you in with a fairly easy tutorial section but after 20 minutes or so, things really start to get interesting. You don’t have a shield in this game (except one that you unlock halfway through the game, but his usefulness is questionable at best) so if you want to stay alive, blocking the enemy attacks is the second-best thing you can do after dodging. Invincibility frames here are almost non-existent and the block window is pretty small so you really have to master this.
On top of that, every once in a while some enemies will flash red and perform a super strong attack that will take a big chunk of your health or straight-up kill you – that is, unless you nullify it with a perfect block. You can upgrade your weapons or even better, disassemble them and combine them into something new. How so? Well, every weapon comes in two parts; a blade and a grip. Let’s say you have a katana and a scythe. You can disassemble them both and make a new weapon with a scythe blade and katana grip and vice versa.
Obviously, Lies of P has a pretty big arsenal of melee weapons so when it comes to this, the weapon experimentation is almost limitless. Then you have fable arts that are basically special attacks and you can also stagger enemies as well for massive damage. And that’s the thing about Lies of P, there are no shortcuts. The game is challenging and requires mastering everything it has to offer so you can properly experience it for what it is.
Visuals
My good old 1080 is slowly coming to its last days but as of right now, I can still play most of the new releases. When it comes to Lies of P, it ran without any hitches and the optimization is insanely good. The sections are cleverly interconnected via shortcuts and even though enemy placement can look a bit overpopulated at times, you’re never overwhelmed or cornered by them. One interesting thing that I have to mention about our titular character is the great variety of costumes that you can unlock for him. Some you get just by talking to friendly characters, some by exploring throughout the game and some are locked behind somewhat challenging puzzles and treasure hunts.
Audio
The soundtrack is on the level of quality with pretty much everything else in the game but where it really stands out is during boss fights. And make no mistake, you’ll memorize a lot of those tracks considering how many times you’ll die over and over (I’m looking at you, King of Puppets). Voice acting is also surprisingly great which took me by surprise, cause that’s one part of the game where I (wrongly) assumed that they’ll cut corners. Good on me for being wrong.
Overall
Lies of P takes a lot of inspiration from souls-like games, that much is obvious. However, by finely tuning the combat system and adding something new to the weapon dynamic, it emerges in the end with a well-crafted identity on its own. Sure, there are some cracks here and there like my characters passing through objects or some sections of the level not loading properly (which can be easily fixed by reloading the last checkpoint) but all in all, this is a game worth all of your attention.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Sometimes nothing can be more satisfying than a great strategy game. The Swordman Studio have put a lot of love and effort into their PC release for Wandering Sword, a wuxia romp that aims to deliver an experience with its deep combat mechanics and stunning pixel-art presentation. Does this release measure up to similar titles, or is it one that still needs some time in the oven? Let’s find out.
Story
The Chinese “wuxia” setting has appeared in games before, but not too often compared to other eastern locales. Wandering Sword embodies this, with players taking the role of Yuwen Yi. After being poisoned in a skirmish, our hero begins to recover in Jianghu due to the help of a new mentor and his loving but rebellious daughter. Soon, his mentor/healer is killed, with his daughter being kidnapped. It is Yi’s job to save the girl while taking out rivaling groups who plague the land with evil. Sure, its a bit tropey, but the narrative is actually quite nice and well told, so most should be able to find these characters likable as the script is stellar and genuinely interesting. I do think some things in the world could use some fleshing out as a lot of side characters are a bit one dimensional, but alas – what here is serviceable and most should still find the over-arching story quite charming.
Gameplay
In some ways, the gameplay here is both the best part while still being the biggest opportunity for Wandering Sword. The game is a traditional strategy RPG in the same vein as Final Fantasy Tactics. Players do battle in a grid format, where their placement is pivotal in terms of survival. Party members can be recruited often, and must be arranged accordingly or face greater danger, so the player must pay attention to projectile attacks and who may align behind them to reduce the odds of a critical hit that may be their demise. Yeah, nothing too new, but the battle system does work, outside of some minor takeaways, like not being able to heal while in combat.
This world is quite expansive and interactive to boot, making the exploration the greatest highlight within this package. There are tons of areas to trek through, and decent rewards for poking and prodding within this lush landscape. A leveling system tracks progression, with a skill tree that can level the player’s stats up as they gain experience from battle. There are different types of classes and attacks that can be unlocked, but I feel most don’t offer too much of an advantage, as most of these seem to be light on benefit, as the skill tree while deep, can feel a bit shallow due to the lack of substance as you progress in later hours.
If I had one main issue with Wandering Sword, it would be the way the game is put together. Listen, I get it – PC games deserve to be played on a mouse and keyboard. That said, this title feels very clunky and non-responsive with a controller, and the optimization just isn’t there. Even with playing with a mouse and keyboard, the menus feel cumbersome and chaotic at times, as simply finding the right technique or item to use can be quite tedious. There really just needs to be more streamlining of menus. Every option has to be confirmed before selecting, and that just feels dated as even 2D RPGs from years ago dropped a lot of these nuances as the genre became more accessible.
Audio
The soundtrack is pleasant, with music capturing the setting well to bring us some needed atmosphere. There however is no voice acting and the sound effects and snippets come off as sounding like stock effects, which can be quite intrusive within the game. Its the inconsistent audio that makes the game feel a bit under-baked, as it almost feels like an RPG Maker game from years ago due to the lack of cohesiveness of the sound overall.
Visuals
At times, the visuals are amazing. With 2D sprites and beautiful environments featuring lovely animation, you can tell this team put a lot of effort into the graphical design. That said, the lack of facial expressions or ways to convey emotion from the characters themselves kind of makes sentiment fall flat, leaving us with yet another opportunity that the game seems to have. Sure, it looks great when it wants to, but Wandering Sword‘s beauty is usually forgotten quickly due to the mess of menus and lack of character design outside of the 2D style it holds dearly.
Overall
Wandering Sword is a bit of a mixed bag. It’s a decent enough strategy RPG, and the story works well enough to keep you progressing. However, the lack of polish or optimization makes it feel dated and as if the game simply got delivered when it was functional, rather than fully complete. For wuxia fans, there is a lot to enjoy here, but other RPG lovers looking for their next great adventure may want to await some updates as this current version just feels a tad too clunky and dated compared to similar titles on the market.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
When it was revealed that NetherRealm was taking Mortal Kombat yet again, many fans of the franchise grew a bit weary, especially since the series had undergone a soft reboot of sorts a little over a decade ago, but it turns out that not only has Liu Kang’s actions in Mortal Kombat 11 brought about a reboot to the world of Mortal Kombat, it also gave the developers a chance to start things with a fresh coat of paint with plenty of familiarity beneath the surface. Such is the case with Mortal Kombat 1, where familiarity and fresh new mechanics blend to offer a highly entertaining, gore filled fighting game that more than lives up to the franchise’s reputation.
Story
While nearly every fighting game offers some form of story content, Mortal Kombat really stepped it up back in 2011 when they reset the storyline the first time around and became something of a groundbreaker for how expansive and cinematic a fighting game storyline can be and Mortal Kombat 1 is no slouch in this regard. With fifteen chapters spread across four acts, each chapter will place players in control of a specific Mortal Kombat 1 fighter and follow the grand tale across hours worth of cutscenes interspersed with fights and the occasional “Test Your Might” moments.
The storyline itself is an interesting one, as those familiar with the ending of Mortal Kombat 11 will find that it continues Liu Kang’s victory over Kronika with him becoming Fire God Liu Kang and ushering a “New Era” by recreating the universe as he saw fit using the power of her Hourglass. Despite things going quite well for some time, with Liu Kang being a benevolent enough creator to not only revive EarthRealm and Outworld but all the other realms as well, things slowly start to spiral beyond his control. What begins as an annual competition between Earthrealm’s chosen champion and Outworld’s warriors quickly begins to escalate, showcasing familiar faces with brand new roles, showcasing new story elements, character motivations, and much more as the story winds through countless twists and turns as more details are revealed.
Although it may feel like Mortal Kombat 1’s storyline ends a bit on the soonish side, especially given the biggest twists happening in the latter half of the story mode, it is an incredible ride in more ways than one. Not only does this “New Era” allow long established characters to be rebuilt and showcased with new story elements, including some rather surprising ones getting spotlighted and given more storyline and development than they may ever have had before in franchise history, but it is also presented incredibly well, with lengthy cutscenes that tie in perfectly with the fights that players will have with other characters throughout the story, with even the aforementioned “Test Your Might” moments being surprising little additions that will keep players involved in the mostly well-crafted storyline throughout its entire run.
Outside of the Story mode players will still be able to obtain unique character endings by completing an arcade-style Towers match with characters of their choice, though it is worth noting that Kameo characters do not have any endings. The other story mode is an incredibly thin one in the form of the seasonal “Invasions.” After a tutorial that sees players interacting with Johnny Cage, they will enter the Invasion proper, with this first season involving a vengeance seeking Scorpion leading a massive army. The story throughout Invasion is presented with limited artwork and a bit of voice work through each stage but not much else, leaving the mode more for single player content than actual story, though I guess it is nice that there is at least some story included here for those that want it.
Gameplay
The best way to keep things feeling fresh for a fighting game is to add in a brand new mechanic and while many elements of Mortal Kombat 1 will feel just as familiar to longtime fans such as having a button for block and a fairly stiff feeling combat system overall compared to other fighters on the market, there are plenty of new options available. This time around we have the Kameo system as well as a number of ways that players can now manage their meter with only a single meter dictating enhanced special moves and combo breakers, the adjusted Fatal Blow now featuring a start-up making it easier to block unless players work it into a combo of sorts, and other mechanics, such as Krushing Blows have been removed entirely. It is also worth noting that, unlike a certain other fighting game franchise that came out this year, there is no “Modern” control scheme, meaning players will need to practice with their favorite fighter if they want to pull off their moves and combos well.
Thankfully the tutorials and practice options available in Mortal Kombat 1 are quite detailed, though some characters get more love than others. Players will be able to learn the proper way to make use of the game’s various fighting mechanics that have undergone changes and even freshen them up on others, including how certain match-ups play out. As mentioned before, some characters don’t get quite as many tutorials and practice options as others which is a strange choice, especially when the game’s impressively large roster of fighters, and collection of Kameo characters, make for a massive amount of combinations.
Now, back to the Kameo system and how it is a game changer of sorts for Mortal Kombat as a whole. Outside of a few story fights, players will always have a second character that will accompany them into battle, being able to be called upon for assistance during the fight. Any mode outside of the story allows players to select from a list of fifteen total currently available Kameo fighters, each with their own special abilities that can be activated by spending a separate meter that recharges quickly throughout the match. Each Kameo has three different specials that they can use as well as their own Fatality and Brutality that players can choose to use to finish a match if they feel like it. Kameo fighters also work as the “Combo Breaker” mentioned earlier, costing the player’s entire meter to use but helping them escape a possibly dangerous series of attacks.
While it may not seem like a lot, these few extra options add a massive amount of tools to a player’s move-set as it is entirely possible to use your Kameo character’s assist attacks to set yourself up for a combo that may otherwise be a risky one, fake out your opponent by aiming high only for your Kameo to freeze them low, or even work as a protected stand-up mechanic by calling an assist as soon as you get up, driving back an eager attacker. They can be used in all manner of ways to extend a combo or even pop-up an enemy to open them up to an air combo. All of these systems can be explained throughout the tutorials and help ease players a bit into the complicated elements of choosing a Kameo that best fits their favorite fighter’s playstyles, though it is quite obvious that there are some balance issues among the Kameos already, with some simply being far more helpful than others in almost any situation.
As mentioned before, players will find a variety of gameplay modes available to them with a number of single player options. This includes the aforementioned Story Mode, Invasion Mode, and Towers that all offer single player content with Story and Towers being predictable enough affairs while Invasions works as Mortal Kombat 1’s long-running single player draw by offering seasonal content on pre-designed “game-board” style maps that will, seemingly, be changed and altered between seasons while also offering new customization options for the entire roster that also refreshes every season, all of it included in the game at no extra cost and offering plenty of credits to buy anything players may want from the unlock shop.
Invasions itself will allow players to use whatever fighter they wish, though there is a strange elemental system in play that will have certain fighters take way more damage or less damage from others depending on their character’s element. Alongside elements it also features an RPG style system where players can level up and apply stat points to their character of their own will, even grinding XP for an advantage or using items to boost their stats, have infinite meter for a match, etc. to try and help them win a particularly difficult fight. The game board that players travel through will be almost entirely made up of fights with “Test Your Might” and “Survive” objectives popping up here and there as well as a Shop and Forge. Players can use “talismans” to trigger special effects in a match such as trigger fireballs, summon sawblades, or even give themselves armor and these talismans can be upgraded in various ways. All in all Invasions has a ton of content and while some of it may be a bit on the easier side of things, some fights being so easy that a perfect is almost guaranteed, it does allow plenty of content for players to sink their teeth into that promises to refresh regularly with single players in mind. It even contains hourly, daily, and weekly towers that really up the ante and test a player’s skill in some rather ridiculous situations.
As mentioned before, player’s can use seasonal currency earned from Invasion to buy specific items for their favorite fighters, with some having more than others at the moment though this promises to change. This includes palette swaps, different equipment like Johnny Cage’s sunglasses being different types or Nitara’s wings, to entirely different costumes for some characters. Players will also unlock extra customization options the more their “fighter mastery” improves by using their favorite characters and Kameos to fight. It is worth noting that there is a paid currency in the game where certain customization items are only available but, between seasonal content, unlockable content through standard use, and even the randomized shrine purchases from gold, there is tons of content to unlock without ever even touching the paid shop.
The online multiplayer in Mortal Kombat 1 works incredibly well with the game seeming to offer satisfying netcode that can support multiple friends playing King of the Hill without an issue and players can choose to take part in the ranked Kombat League if they wish to obtain various rewards depending on their rank or simply partake in player matches. Oddly enough, there is no way to wait for a match to be found during another gameplay mode, like Towers, though finding opponents online is an incredibly fast endeavor at the moment.
Audio & Visuals
With Mortal Kombat 1 being able to focus solely on releasing on the current generation of consoles, leaving the others in the past, NetherRealm has been able to truly craft an absolutely beautiful looking game here. Every fighting stage is unique looking with plenty of interesting details to see in the background to the action while the character models themselves are easily the best they have ever looked with plenty of expressions throughout the story mode and even during fight introductions. Customization options are plentiful and the gore is just as intense as usual, from bruises/scratches/slashes showing up on fighters during a battle to the blood-spewing Brutalities and Fatalities that players can trigger at the end of a match, they have never looked better. Even the bone-breaking X-Ray style Fatal Blows are as fancy looking as ever, combining moves of both the selected fighter and the Kameo character into a brutal combo.
For the most part the voice acting for Mortal Kombat 1 is fitting with all of the characters sounding excellent in their roles here, even if the action can get a bit cheesy at times. I say mostly, as, once again, NetherRealm has included a celebrity to voice one of their fighters with newcomer Nitara being voiced by Megan Fox during her intro, story, and finishing scenes. Megan’s performance is lackluster and often flat feeling, especially when talking directly with other characters, which is odd as it sounds like an entirely different voice actress handled her in-fight voicelines, grunts, and screams. The soundtrack features a solid collection of music that works great during the menu screens and as background music.
Overall
Mortal Kombat 1‘s design as being a soft reboot while continuing the story of the franchise as a whole allows for some great story developments and unique interactions to occur all while giving NetherRealm plenty of excuses to change up and add new mechanics to the game, with Kameos being an amazing addition that adds plenty of depth to an already enjoyable combat system. That being said, the premiere single player mode, Invasions, is a bit on the simple side despite being the only real mode outside of the story mode that doesn’t involve fighting online, though the online netcode is still great, if a bit dated at times with its set-up. These hindrances do little to dampen Mortal Kombat 1’s gorgeously brutal presentation and combat that feels like it has the most to offer in quite some time, allowing this “reboot” to more than live up to fan expectations.
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An event featuring iconic heroes from the international pop-culture phenomenon is available now
REDONDO BEACH, Calif. – September 25, 2023 – Protect Earth from kaiju as Ultraman returns to GungHo Online Entertainment’s hit mobile puzzle game Puzzle & Dragons in a limited-time event. Today at 18:00 through October 9, 17:59 (UTC-8) fight alongside Ultraman as he takes on monstrous threats in seven exclusive dungeons.
Team up with newly added titular heroes from throughout the brand’s history, including Ultraman Ginga, Ultraman Orb Spacium Zeperion, Ultraman Jack, and Ultraman Blazar, with pulls from the 6 Magic Stones! Ultraman Egg Machine and Ultraman Memorial Egg Machine. The latter will grant a free pull to all players who log in during the event.
Defend the World
Save humanity and serve as a guardian of peace in seven unique dungeons:
Ultraman is a dungeon that lets players battle for a chance to earn rewards, including Ultraman Event Medal – Gold. Players can also receive one pull from the Ultraman Memorial Egg Machine as a first-time clear reward for clearing the Giant of Light-Expert floor.
Ultraman Colosseum! rewards teams headed by a specified leader character with a drop rate of 100%, guaranteeing Rainbow Metal Dragon and more. Players will also receive an Event Medal – Black for clearing the dungeon for the first time.
Multiplayer! Ultraman Colosseum! is a 3-player mode of Ultraman Colosseum!
[Ultra Hero] Title Challenge! is a special dungeon that challenges players to use a fixed Helper and clear within a certain time limit. Players will receive the [Ultra Hero] title as a first-time clear reward.
Ultraman – Fixed Team rewards players that clear all floors using a fixed team with a pull from the Ultraman Memorial Egg Machine. Players will receive various rewards for clearing each floor, including Ultraman Event Medal – Gold.
Jugglus Juggler Descended!-Assists Invalid rewards players that defeat the boss with a guaranteed Jugglus Juggler drop. Players will also receive one pull from the Clear Reward! ★6+ Ultraman Egg Machine as a first-time clear reward.
Multiplayer! Jugglus Juggler Descended!-Assists Invalid is a 3-player mode of Jugglus Juggler Descended!-Assists Invalid.
Monster Exchange
Use Ultraman Event Medals collected from the Ultraman, Jugglus Juggler Descended!-Assists Invalid, and Ultraman – Fixed Team dungeons to trade for select characters at the Monster Exchange. The Monster Exchange lineup features event-exclusive characters, like Absolute Tartarus.
Special Bundles
With these limited-time bundles, players can recruit intergalactic warriors to help preserve the well-being of the planet:
30 Magic Stones & Ultraman Orb Egg Machine: Grants 30 Magic Stones, 5x Event Medal – Black, and one pull from the Ultraman Orb Egg Machine for $29.99 USD, guaranteeing Ultraman Orb Spacium Zeperion. Players will also get the Ultraman Event BGM Set 2 when they get Ultraman Orb Spacium Zeperion for the first time.
30 Magic Stones & Ultraman Mebius Egg Machine: Grants 30 Magic Stones, 5x Event Medal – Black, and one pull from the Ultraman Mebius Egg Machine for $29.99 USD, guaranteeing Ultraman Mebius. Players will also get the Ultraman Event BGM Set when they get Ultraman Mebius for the first time.
20 Magic Stones & Ultraman Blazar Egg Machine: Grants 20 Magic Stones and one pull from the Ultraman Blazar Egg Machine for $19.99 USD, guaranteeing Ultraman Blazar. Players will also get the Ultraman Event Orbs 3 Skin when they get Ultraman Blazar for the first time.
20 Magic Stones & ★6+ Ultraman Egg Machine: Grants players 20 Magic Stones and one pull from the ★6+ Ultraman Egg Machine for $19.99 USD, guaranteeing a ★6 or ★7 Rarity character.
15 Magic Stones & Ultraman Decker Egg Machine: Grants players 15 Magic Stones and one pull from the Ultraman Decker Egg Machine for $14.99 USD, guaranteeing Ultraman Decker Flash Type. Players will also get the Ultraman Event Orbs 2 Skin when they get Ultraman Decker Flash Type for the first time.
1 Magic Stone & Ultraman Egg Machine: Grants 1 Magic Stone and one pull from Ultraman Egg Machine for $0.99 USD.
ABOUT PUZZLE & DRAGONS
Puzzle & Dragons is a mobile puzzle adventure game developed and published by GungHo Online Entertainment, Inc. with over 90 million downloads worldwide. Puzzle & Dragons combines match-three-style puzzles, monster collecting, and dungeon crawling mechanics for a definitive free-to-play experience that’s kept players hooked since 2012. Regarded as a landmark release in mobile gaming, the game continues to evolve with each new update and collaboration. Puzzle & Dragons is available on the App Store and on Google Play.
ABOUT GUNGHO ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA
GungHo Online Entertainment America, Inc. (GOEA) is a multi-platform developer and publisher dedicated to delivering fun & unique titles like Puzzle & Dragons, Ninjala, and LET IT DIE. GOEA is the US division of GungHo Online Entertainment (GOE), whose studios include leading developers SUPERTRICK GAMES, GAME ARTS, Acquire, and Gravity. GOEA distributes games for consoles, handhelds, mobile devices, and PC. GOEA is located in Redondo Beach, CA.
