Will you be able to uncover the woodlands darkest secrets?
SYDNEY, 1st November 2323 – Square Enix Collective® has today released Little Goody Two Shoes™, a mysterious new fairytale anime adventure with a dark twist. The narrative-focused fairytale horror adventure is developed by AstralShift, an independent game development team based in Portugal specialising in creating stunning cinematic games with immersive storylines and evocative soundtracks.
Little Goody Two Shoes is set in the hand-painted fairy tale environment of the devout Kieferberg Village. Beware, there’s more than meets the eye here, while the village may appear normal on the surface, you must manage multiple aspects of Elise’s life in the village to stay alive.
During the day, players will need to strengthen Elise’s bonds with her fellow villagers and work to make a living by playing fun minigames. Once the moon rises, make sure to keep Elise fed, healthy and sane in the multiple encounters with deadly foes as she makes her way further into the Woods. Your decisions and actions will lead to one of 10 possible endings to discover.
Little Goody Two Shoes is visually inspired by 90s adventure games and anime, immersing players in a beautiful world full of nostalgia and sights to see!
Be ready to step into Elise’s shoes and find yourself immersed in mysterious and treacherous world.
Little Goody Two Shoes is OUT NOW on Steam, Windows, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch™, and PlayStation®5 (PS5®).
About AstralShift
AstralShiftPro LDA is an independent video game software development company based in Portugal. Officially founded in 2022, AstralShiftPro’s story started in 2016 with the release of the popular RPG maker title Pocket Mirror. With video games as its medium, AstralShiftPro specializes in the production of narrative-driven and artistically ambitious titles, with the goal to create immersive and unforgettable experiences.
About Square Enix Ltd.
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 185 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.
SQUARE ENIX, SQUARE ENIX COLLECTIVE, the SQUARE ENIX COLLECTIVE logo and the SQUARE ENIX logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Square Enix group of companies.
Medieval RPG Wartales Rallies Troops for Xbox Today
BORDEAUX, France – 1 Nov. 2023 – Wartales, the medieval open-world tactical RPG with more than 800,000 copies sold across Windows PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch, leads its sellswords to Xbox and PC today.
Developer and publisher Shiro Unlimited invites everyone to lead their troop to glory in lands rife with peril from a century-long plague. Mercenary work is in high demand for souls brave, or desperate, enough to take on any job. Recruit a ruthless warband and collect bounties to keep your mercenaries’ pockets lined. Venture forth armed with a diverse arsenal of weapons and manpower.
Survive by any means necessary, accepting quests and succeeding in challenging turned-based clashes. Hold one’s own against wild animals, calculating crooks, and corrupt peacekeepers, tactfully positioning party members to execute the perfect kill. Trek through snow-capped mountains and bustling kingdoms to uncover grave mysteries.
Set up camp for the night to address the needs of the group: treating wounds, repairing armor, training sellswords, and eating a warm meal. Upgrade stats using skill points for each comrade and craft new weapons and shields to prepare for the next adventure. Travel through several regions on an everlasting journey to achieve a life filled with gold and infamy in this treacherous realm.
Alliances are crucial for the warband’s survival. Team up with up to three other trusted comrades in four-player co-op, complete with crossplay capabilities for Xbox, and PC Game Pass users. Freely immerse in the content-rich open world on either platform simultaneously with the convenient cross-save feature.
Wartales is available now on Xbox and Xbox Game Pass as well as Nintendo Switch and Windows PC via Steam with English, Chinese, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Polish, and Portuguese language support.
Shiro Unlimited, the publishing arm of independent game development studio, Shiro Games, was created by video game veterans Sebastien Vidal and Nicolas Cannasse to bring new innovative games to life. Based in Bordeaux, France, the studio released its first project Evoland in 2013 and its acclaimed sequel Evoland 2 in 2015. Shiro Games then launched its popular Viking strategy game Northgard on Steam in 2018, which has gone on to sell nearly 3 Millions units across various platforms, followed by the medieval tactical RPG Wartales in 2021 and the critically acclaimed 4X RTS game from a renowned franchise Dune: Spice Wars in 2022.
For more information on Shiro Unlimited, please visit the official website.
LOS ANGELES – October 31, 2023 – Netmarble, a leading developer and publisher of high-quality mobile games, released a new update forThe Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross (7DS) featuring the popular anime franchise Overlord. This collaboration update features new heroes, special events, rewards and more.
Players can now add four new Collaboration Heroes [Ruler of Nazarick] Ainz Ooal Gown, [Bloody Valkyrie] Shalltear Bloodfallen, [Guardian of the Glacier] Cocytus, and [Pure-White Devil] Albedo.
Starting today, players can experience a variety of Overlord-themed content and events, including:
Collaboration Pick-Up Draw: This event gives the opportunity to earn 4 new Collaboration Heroes. SSR heroes are guaranteed at 300 mileage while Collaboration Heroes are guaranteed at 600 mileage (choose 1 of 4).
Special Mission: Players can experience five different missions and earn 10 Collaboration Pick-up Tickets, Super Awakening Token and SSR Evolution Pendant. Complete all missions and receive the [Guardian of the Glacier] Cocytus.
Event Death Match – Riku Aganeia: Material Box for Collaboration Holy Relics and Growth Materials will be provided based on the number of clearing the event battle. Event items can be exchanged for the Material Box of Collaboration Holy Relics, costumes for Collaboration Heroes,and UR Evolution Pendants.
Collaboration Special Underground Labyrinth: Players can experience Collaboration Hero in a basic set deck. Diamond, Underground Labyrinth Artifact, Collaboration Pick-up Ticket and Legendary Seal can be earned.
Check-in Event: A total of 100 Diamonds and 10 Collaboration Pick-up Tickets can be earned across the 14 day check-in period.
Collaboration Heroes’ Holy Relics: Four different materials for Holy Relics of Collaboration Heroes are provided for free by participating in the collaboration events.
The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross translates the storytelling and adventures of [The Seven Deadly Sins] into a highly engaging and entertaining mobile gaming experience. The game features stunning, high-resolution 3D graphics, more than 100 dramatic cutscenes, and is brought to life with the cast of the original Japanese voice actors reprising their characters.
The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross is now available for download on theApp Store and Google Play. For more information, please visit the game’s official website and Facebook.
Based on the manga “The Seven Deadly Sins” by Nakaba Suzuki originally serialized in the weekly SHONEN MAGAZINE published by Kodansha Ltd.
Established in Korea in 2000, Netmarble Corporation is a leading developer and publisher of top-grossing mobile games worldwide. Through powerful franchises and collaborations with acclaimed IP holders, Netmarble strives to elevate the gaming experience and entertain audiences globally. As a parent company of Kabam and SpinX Games, and a major shareholder of Jam City and HYBE (formerly Big Hit Entertainment), Netmarble’s diverse portfolio includes Lineage 2: Revolution, MARVEL Future Fight, Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds, The King of Fighters ALLSTAR, The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross, and forthcoming PC games like Paragon: The Overprime. More information can be found athttp://company.netmarble.com.
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 Launches Digitally on All Platforms November 7 – Mr. Krabs, Zuko, Rocksteady and Iroh Join the Brawl in the Season Pass!
MINNEAPOLIS – Oct. 31, 2023 – GameMill Entertainment and Nickelodeon today present a first look at the original campaign of Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2, launching digitally on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam on November 7! Brawlers can also get a peek at the eclectic cast of characters joining the fun in the Season Pass post-launch.
In the Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 campaign, it’s up to you to defeat Danny Phantom’s archvillain Vlad Plasmius as he wreaks havoc across the Nickelodeon universe. Master your skills, unlock unique power-ups, fight fearsome foes, meet unexpected allies, and journey through an exciting roguelike campaign as your favorite Brawlers.
If you’re looking for additional single-player fun, jump into the arcade mode, minigame modes like “Pop the Slime Balloons” and “Whack-a-bot,” and a boss rush mode featuring the exhilarating and unique bosses featured throughout the campaign. For Brawlers seeking an extra challenge, these single-player modes feature a speedrun option to test your skills and achieve the fastest possible times!
The Brawl Gets Even Bigger Post-Launch!
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 releases with an expansive roster of 25 Nickelodeon All-Stars, but the fun doesn’t end there! GameMill also teased today the roster of Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2’s Season Pass, featuring: Mr. Krabs, Zuko, Rocksteady and Iroh. Mr. Krabs will be the first to join the fun in early 2024, and more details on these four brawlers will be available soon.
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 releases digitally on November 7 for PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. Physical editions of the game will be available on December 1 and are available to preorder at retailers now:
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2
Base Game: $49.99
Digital Deluxe: $69.99 [Contains Season Pass content at discounted bundle price]
Ultimate Edition: $79.99 [Contains Digital Deluxe content + the Costume Pack at discounted bundle price]
Launch Bonus: Patrick’s exclusive Elastic Waistband Costume, for players who digitally purchase any edition of the game from November 7-14 or preorder the game physically.
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 DLC
Season Pass: $24.99 [Contains all 4 New DLC Brawlers + Exclusive SpongeBob Quickster Costume]
Costume Pack: $19.99 [Contains 1 additional costume for each character]
Future Individual DLC Brawlers: $6.99 for each new character (+3 costumes included), coming next year!
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 is developed by Fair Play Labs and Ludosity and published by GameMill Entertainment. For the latest updates on the game, visit nickelodeonallstarbrawl.com, and follow the team on Twitter.
About Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon, now in its 44th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The brand includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, digital, location-based experiences, publishing and feature films. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon is a part of Paramount’s (Nasdaq: PARA, PARAA) global portfolio of multimedia entertainment brands.
About Paramount Consumer Products
Paramount Consumer Products oversees all licensing and merchandising for Paramount (Nasdaq: PARA, PARAA), a leading global media and entertainment company that creates premium content and experiences for audiences worldwide. Driven by iconic consumer brands, Paramount Consumer Products’ portfolio includes a diverse slate of brands and content from BET, CBS (including CBS Television Studios and CBS Television Distribution), Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures and SHOWTIME®. With properties spanning animation, live-action, preschool, youth and adult, Paramount Consumer Products is committed to creating the highest quality product for some of the world’s most beloved, iconic franchises. To view our range of consumer products and Paramount branded apparel, visit ParamountShop.com.
About GameMill Entertainment
GameMill Entertainment, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a third-party publisher of console and mobile games for passionate fans around the world. Development platforms include PC, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft consoles including the Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, Sony consoles including the PlayStation®5 and PlayStation®4, and mobile devices. With development across the globe, GameMill is a source of entertaining and fun games for all ages. For more information, visit https://gamemill.com, as well as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.
Musical minigames and pigeon pageantry await as Glee-Cheese’s newest title flocks to PC and consoles today.
Tuesday 31st October 2023 – Glee-Cheese and Team17 Digital have today launched rhythm-based battle royale Headbangers Rhythm Royale on PC1, Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation®4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows Store. Also available on Xbox Game Pass for Xbox and PC, Headbangers Rhythm Royale places players into the perfectly preened plumage of a pigeon, finally answering the age-old question, ‘What is going on in their head?’
Take to the sky dancefloor:
Headbangers Rhythm Royale invites players to tap, flap, and rap their way to victory in a series of manic musical mini games against 29 other player-controlled pigeons, battling their way to become Master Headbanger. Featuring cross-platform multiplayer, no pigeon is too near (or too far) to join in the medley of minigames, with players memory, rhythm, reflexes, reaction time, and (obviously) their ability to rap being put to the test across 23 unique challenges.
Headbangers Rhythm Royale Key Features
Ruffle feathers: Memory, rhythm, reflexes, and reaction times will be put to the test across 23 minigames, each with their own unique musical twist
Preen away: With hundreds of unique items to choose from, including full outfits, hats, glasses, voices, and taunts, players can take the top spot and fluff their feathers with their very own personalised pigeon
Peck and earn breadcrumbs: Challenges and unlockable customisations await in the in-game battle pass, with players able to spend their hard-earned crumbs to help them be the most stylish pigeon in the flock
Cross-flock support: Play with up to 29 other pigeons with crossplay enabled, friends and frenemies alike can battle in musical madness regardless their gaming platform of choice
Talon tapping music: With unique scores across each minigame, loading screen, and pigeon accessory menu, the party never stops with the bespoke scores written and created by the Glee-Cheese team.
For more information on Headbangers Rhythm Royale please follow us on X, TikTok, and Facebook.
About Glee-Cheese
Glee-Cheese is an independent video game studio based in France, striving to develop innovative games with a strong artistic identity. Their debut title A Musical Story launched in 2022, and their newest title Headbangers Rhythm Royale is currently in development.
About Team17 Digital
Founded in 1990, Team17 Digital is a leading developer, video games label, and creative partner for developers around the world. Part of Team17 Group plc, which floated on AIM in 2018, Team17 Digital has an extensive portfolio of over 120 titles, and fully encapsulates the spirit of independent games. Winner of the ‘Publishing Star’ award at the 2023 Develop: Star Awards, Team17 Digital has assembled a portfolio of multi-award-winning and award-nominated in-house brands include Hell Let Loose, Golf With Your Friends, The Escapists, and the iconic Worms franchise, alongside its games label partner titles, including the award-winning games Blasphemous, Greak: Memories of Azur, DREDGE, and the Overcooked! franchise. Visit www.team17.com for more info.
Nintendo Switch is a trademark of Nintendo.
“PlayStation” and “PS5” are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
Get your claws into even more cat-tastic action ahead of the full game launch.
Limassol, Cyprus – October 31, 2023. Indie publisher ESDigital and developer Prikol Team are thrilled to announce the cat-tastic playable prologue for Cats on Duty is now available to download for free via Steam.
Cats on Duty is a purr-fectly hilarious and action-packed blend of real-time strategy, tower defense, and match-3 mechanics, where heavily armed battle-hardened cat veterans of rodent skirmishes and yarn tangles take charge in defending their homeland (and litter boxes) against the forces of great evil!
The Steam Prologue contains the whole first chapter of Cats on Duty spread over 10 captivating levels, each showcasing a unique challenge and certain game feature. There is even a minigame, and a full boss fight to get your claws into, to prepare you for what’s to come in the final game.
That’s not all! Here, you can try out the co-op mode with your friends or family. One player focuses on the tile-matching field of the game screen to win the food needed to recruit and upgrade your battle cats while the other builds an unbreakable line of defense. Co-op mode can be easily activated or deactivated from the start menu or as you play.
With ‘cat’ and ‘kitten’ difficulty levels available, you can adjust game difficulty on the fly should you find the current level too hard or too easy for your skills or mood. You will also be able to carry over your Prologue save files into the main game, so you can either continue from where you left off or reset the game progress in the settings menu and start over!
Watch the Cats on Duty Prologue announcement trailer below:
Prikol Team has also been collecting valuable feedback from players and has made some crucial updates and changes to the gameplay, including:
The language auto-detect feature sets the game language according to the system language.
On ‘Kitten’ difficulty level, players can now choose the position of the cat tower after upgrading it. This way, it’s easier to plan your defense.
The game font is changed from Mono to Sans for a more comfortable to reading experience.
New warning sounds and texts to notify players when there are no more swaps left on a tile-matching field.
Improved settings menu design: Find your way with easier with bigger and highlighted navigation arrows.
Option to show or hide blood effects during battles.
Gamepad controls info in the settings menu.
Various English language localization improvements.
Cats on Duty will be released for PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, PlayStation and Xbox consoles and Nintendo Switch. Fans can wishlist the game on Steam and PlayStation now!
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About ESDigital Games ESDigital Games is a global video games publishing company specializing in premium indie and mid-core games for both PC as well as consoles. ESDigital Games portfolio includes the 80s-themed point-and-click adventure Unusual Findings, the tactical card combat game Deck of Ashes, the Early Access release of roguelike action RPG Scholar of the Arcane Arts and the release of martial arts adventure Shuyan Saga for PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch consoles. Their upcoming releases include twin-stick shooter REMEDIUM, RTS tower defense and match-3 mechanics title Cats on Duty, 3D action RPG game Awaken – Astral Blade as well as exciting unannounced games.
Something spooky has hit the haulage business in Alaska where things have taken on a touch of the macabre, giving Alaskan Road Truckers a terrifying twist! Green Man Gaming Publishing, Movie Games S.A and Road Studio invite you to buckle up and check out the free Halloween Truck or Treat update for the recently released Alaskan Road Truckers for PC via Steam.
Here’s what’s in store for the truckers brave enough to download the Truck or Treat update:
New horrifying Halloween skin for every truck
20 terrifying Halloween decals
Spooktakular customization parts such as vampire bat wings
Special new cargo: THE WORLD’S BIGGEST PUMPKINS
And maybe something lurks deep within your HQ. Maybe you should go there…or not…
This spine-tingling event is live now, and runs for two weeks – so download the free update via Steam and hit the road and experience the scariest season of all from the comfort of your truck!
Alaskan Road Truckers is more than a simulator. You aren’t just a truck, you play as a trucker with a focus on life both inside and outside of your vehicle. Deliver cargo, build a successful business and get out of your truck to explore Alaska while maintaining your vehicle and taking care of your own health and needs. As you navigate treacherous conditions on the road, remember that your character’s well-being is just as crucial as the cargo you’re hauling.
Watch the Truck or Treat update teaser trailer below:
Watch the recently released PC launch trailer narrated by Lisa Kelly below
Alaskan Road Truckers is out now for PC via Steam for $21.99 / €21.50 / £18.49. PC via Epic Games Store, Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 versions will launch soon.
Follow Alaskan Road Truckers on the official game channels Facebook / Twitter / Discord / TikTok / Reddit
Battle through the heart of Arizona in an all-new campaign episode featuring three new maps, four new characters and new zombie threats!
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Oct. 31, 2023 – Saber Interactive is excited to reveal the next major content installment for World War Z: Aftermath, the ultimate co-op zombie shooter inspired by Paramount Pictures’ blockbuster film. Arriving Dec. 5, 2023, on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, “Valley of the Zeke” will introduce the first new premium campaign episode for Aftermath since it debuted in 2021, set in Arizona and featuring three brand-new maps and four new playable survivors. There will also be new premium character and weapon skins, as well as a free update for all players featuring new zombie varieties, the new Desert Eagle weapon, and additional surprises for challenge mode.
Watch the “Valley of the Zeke” Trailer below:
Available on December 5 for $9.99*, the “Valley of the Zeke” campaign episode features three new maps that will take players to Arizona with a new story set in the heart of the American Southwest. Play as four new characters and lead a convoy of survivors to salvation through the desert and humanity’s fallen urban strongholds.
New premium character and weapon skin packs are also coming on December 5 just in time for “Valley of the Zeke.” Players will be able to grab the “Pre-Apocalypse Character Skins Pack” and the “Burning Skulls Weapons Skin Pack” for $4.99 each*.
“Valley of the Zeke” will also deliver a free update for all owners of the original World War Z and World War Z: Aftermath on December 5 featuring even more heart-pumping action and gameplay, including:
New zombie enemy types that will appear in all episodes, including the Juggernaut, a special zombie unit that can dish out the pain while charging down your line, as well as new military zombies with combat armor for an even greater challenge.
The new Desert Eagle secondary weapon, a large-caliber pistol that packs tremendous stopping power when you need it most.
A new set of exciting mutators for Challenge Mode and Challenge Horde Mode. Equip all auto-turrets with explosive ammo (but with reduced lifespan), embrace the Wild West theme by forcing everyone to use repeating rifles and revolvers, and more!
The addition of the recently released Rome XL map to Challenge Horde Mode (available only for Aftermath on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S).
Powered by the next generation of Saber’s dynamic Swarm Engine™, World War Z: Aftermath lets you play on your own with AI squadmates or in co-op for up to four players with full crossplay between PC and consoles. Take on hordes of ravenous zombies with all content from World War Z: Game of the Year Edition, featuring full episodes in New York, Moscow, Jerusalem, Tokyo, Marseille, Rome (including Vatican City), the Kamchatka peninsula, and coming soon, Arizona! Experience the heart-pounding immersion of Aftermath’s optional first-person mode, decimate the undead with a new melee system, and level up eight unique classes with distinct play styles and customizable loadouts.
“Valley of the Zeke” debuts Dec. 5, 2023, on PC via the Epic Games Store and Steam, PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One. For the latest World War Z news, visit WWZgame.com, and follow the series on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
*Owners of the original World War Z on PlayStation and Xbox will also be able to purchase the “Valley of the Zeke” premium campaign episode DLC, as well as the “Pre-Apocalypse Character Skins Pack” and “Burning Skulls Weapons Skin Pack” DLC.
About Saber Interactive
An Embracer Group company headquartered in the U.S., Saber Interactive is a worldwide publisher and developer consisting of over 20 studios in the Americas and Europe. Creating games for all major platforms based on original and licensed IPs, Saber’s titles include Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando, World War Z, SnowRunner and Evil Dead: The Game. Founded in 2001, Saber is known for two decades of development partnerships with AAA publishers, producing The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt for Nintendo Switch, Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Crysis Remastered and many others.
About Paramount Consumer Products
Paramount Consumer Products oversees all licensing and merchandising for Paramount (Nasdaq: PARA, PARAA), a leading global media and entertainment company that creates premium content and experiences for audiences worldwide. Driven by iconic consumer brands, Paramount Consumer Products’ portfolio includes a diverse slate of brands and content from BET, CBS (including CBS Television Studios and CBS Television Distribution), Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures and SHOWTIME®. With properties spanning animation, live-action, preschool, youth and adult, Paramount Consumer Products is committed to creating the highest-quality product for some of the world’s most beloved, iconic franchises. To view our range of consumer products and Paramount branded apparel, visit ParamountShop.com.
A special boxed edition is coming to European stores this year.
Barcelona, Spain – 31st October 2023. SelectaPlay is thrilled to confirm a new publishing deal with developer Shiro Games to release a special boxed retail version of Evoland 10th Anniversary Edition, the unique time-travelling RPG title, for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 later this year.
SelectaPlay will launch the 10th Anniversary Edition as a special boxed retail release designed to commemorate 10 years since the original launch. Specifically created for PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch, the Evoland 10th Anniversary Edition will contain the Evoland and Evoland II full games, a set of four deluxe commemorative coins of the two male and female protagonists, a game logo sticker sheet and a postcard containing a code to download the digital soundtrack of the games, all housed in a beautifully crafted chest-shaped box decorated with landscapes and images from the game.
The Evoland titles are a journey through the history of action/adventure gaming, allowing you to unlock new technologies, gameplay systems and graphic upgrades as you progress through the game. Inspired by many cult series that have left their mark on the RPG video gaming culture. Evoland takes you from monochrome to full 3D graphics and from active time battles to real-time boss fights, all with plenty of humour and references to many classic games.
Watch the Evoland 10th Anniversary Edition trailer below:
SelectaPlay will also announce another exciting physical release on Thursday this week in collaboration with a leading video game publisher. More information soon!
Evoland 10th Anniversary Edition will be available as a special boxed retail version for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 later this year across European specialist retailers.
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About Shiro Games
Shiro Games is an independent Bordeaux-based studio founded by video game veterans, with the objective of offering rich and innovative game experiences. After the commercial and critical success of Evoland and Northgard, the studio has enriched its offer with two new games, Wartales and Dune: Spice Wars, and is already working on other unannounced projects. For more information, visit https://shirogames.com/
About SelectaPlay
SelectaPlay is SelectaVisión’s video games publishing branch. The company works with talented studios on unique video games and helps them publish their titles in both physical and digital formats in Europe and worldwide.
About SelectaVisión
SelectaVisión is a video publishing company founded in 1984. Based in Spain, SelectaVisión’s catalog includes anime and live-action feature films, TV shows, and movies.
When it comes to superhero games, they can be a bit hit or miss. Whether it comes down to balancing their powers, delivering captivating gameplay that takes advantage of everything a fan would hope for, or even making the best use of the long established lore of a hero, it can be quite the daunting task. It just so happens that Insomniac Games managed to hit a home run when it came to their first Spider-Man game that not only was the developer able to expand upon the story with Miles Morales, but now has arrived with a full-blown sequel ready to take advantage of everything the PlayStation 5 has to offer. After delivering an amazing experience throughout their first two Spider-Man games, is Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 just as spectacular?
Story
Both Peter Parker and Miles Morales find themselves stuck in a difficult situation. On one hand, they both have superpowers and an obligation they have taken upon themselves to protect the city and their loved ones from harm. On the other hand, they are still trying to live out their normal lives with Peter trying to keep a job while Miles struggles to deal with his future, constantly putting off his plans for getting into college. Of course, when Sandman starts demolishing parts of Brooklyn, any hopes for a normal day fly out the window. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is quick to demonstrate the human element to the story of these pair of superheroes as they struggle with finding balance in their lives, be it demonstrating how their superhero activities can strain their future prospects or get in the way of friendships.
Things grow even more dire once the powerful warrior Kraven and his army of hunters arrives in New York City, planning on making it his personal hunting ground as he targets supervillains both reformed and imprisoned. With this new powerful threat endangering both those close to them and even their current and former enemies, Peter and Miles find their abilities put to the test all while trying to handle their personal lives as well. Going too much further into how certain events play out, other than the highly advertised fact that Peter finds himself bonded with the Venom symbiote and undergoes various changes as a result of it, would be spoiling things best experienced by the player.
Insomniac Games’ writing staff has seemingly mastered the balance between showing off the two halves of a superheroes life. Throughout the roughly fourteen hour long campaign, with at least five or six hours worth of side-content to explore, players will watch Peter as he deals with his relationship with Mary Jane as well as his newly returned friend Harry Osborn alongside trying to obtain a steady job all while Miles is doing his best to feel at home again after losing his father and figure out his own future, his friends all being accepted into college while his work as Spider-Man gets in the way of his own attempts. Watching these two characters grapple with their personal lives one minute and then battling it out against Kraven and his hunters the next makes for an exciting and unique take on a superhero’s life. Combine this with the eventual introduction of the aforementioned symbiote that starts to affect Peter’s personality and Spider-Man 2‘s character interactions and development remain the true stars of this already impressive storyline.
Outside of the main quest there are also quite a few story threads to explore through the numerous side-quests on offer. Sure, they are a bit of a mixed bag as some of the side-quests feel almost like busy work compared to others, but the vast majority of them feature compelling developments that players will want to see through to the end. This is especially true for a few specific questlines that we won’t spoil here, but they can be quite emotional once they reach their conclusion, both heartwarming and heart wrenching being key feelings throughout many of the better side-quests. If there is anything to criticize when it comes to Spider-Man 2’s narrative is the fact that older villains from the first game, as well as a number of referenced enemies that longtime fans of the franchise will quickly pick up on, are kind of given something of a disservice here. Many of Spider-Man’s most sinister foes appear either as child’s play in an attempt to lift up Kraven as a threat or given barely enough time to feel like nothing more than cameos. That being said, a couple more noteworthy ones at least get a series of side-activities devoted to them. This can be a bit disheartening to fans hoping to see some of the Spider-Man’s rogue’s gallery get more of a chance to shine here, though the way that Insomniac handles Kraven as well as Venom does work exceptionally well in their place.
Gameplay
For the most part, Insomniac Games has taken the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach to Marvel’s Spider-Man 2‘s gameplay as those familiar with its predecessors will feel right at home the second they start swinging around New York City. That isn’t to say of course that this familiar territory isn’t spiced up with plenty of new additions and reworked elements to help make the already exceptional gameplay even better. Swinging around the city feels as good as ever and, thanks to the additional traversal options for swinging and ability to adjust the assistance level, players can truly feel like they have control of Spider-Man’s momentum if they so please. Web-swinging has seriously never felt as good in a Spider-Man game as it does in this one, though strangely enough Insomniac has crafted a few other ways to get around should players choose.
One of which is an unlockable quick-travel option to quickly traverse through the city, something that can be useful when completing side-quests or collectables but feels like a waste at times as well as the new Wingsuit. The wingsuit, while a quick way to literally fly through the city using apparently never-ending wind gusts, will likely be a point of contention for some players as it is a quick way to navigate and immediately go back to swinging should players choose, it does feel a bit… odd to be included at all even if it is integrated into a few side-quests. There are numerous points in the expanded map that also feel like they were designed specifically for the wingsuit to be used, otherwise players will need to navigate long distances without useful web-swinging points. While the wingsuit works well and isn’t required to be used, it feels as if it will be a bit hit or miss compared to the excellent feel of web-swinging.
Combat at the same time feels as wonderful as ever and flows fluidly together no matter how poorly the player may feel like they are doing at times. That isn’t to say it isn’t a challenge though, as players will need to always be careful of incoming attacks and people shooting at Spider-Man as they deal out their combo attacks, launchers, web-pulls, and of course finishing moves. New to the arsenal this time however is the ability to counter attacks from both simpler enemies as well as bosses. Counters work similar to a parry and can be used to quickly turn the tide on a standard foe or survive the onslaught from a boss with helpful “spidey-sense” indicators. Alongside the standard combos players will also gain access to a sadly dialed back set of gadgets that feel a bit less impressive compared to the previous game but can be used far faster during a fight thanks to their quick-activation method. While standard combat as either Miles or Peter will feel mostly the same, their special abilities is what sets them apart. While Peter may start with the mechanical spider arms as assistance his powerful Symbiote powers are spectacular looking in a brawl while Miles’ electrical abilities and ability to temporarily turn invisible can make for some great action sequences kicked off by a few sneaky takedowns.
It is nice to note that the Stealth mechanic is also revamped a bit this time around. Both Spider-Men have the ability to eventually use the web-line to now create their own walkways allowing for easier stealth-eliminations of foes, no longer limiting them to pre-existing beams or walls to string a foe up from. The stealth sections where players control Mary Jane also return and have been reworked to be less frustrating as she now no longer instantly fails if seen as she has ways to defend herself or simply avoid detection long enough to resume her stealthy approach.
It is nice to note that the advertised feature that players can swap between Peter and Miles at nearly any time they want was delivered fairly solidly here as well. While story missions can often only be triggered by one of the Spider-Men or have specific pieces of side-content specific to the character, players can usually free-roam as whoever they wish. The game will even automatically swap to the required Spider-Man depending on the side-quest they are taking on, not requiring players to have to manually swap. Speaking of side-content, as mentioned before nearly every side-quest in the game feels worthwhile to complete outside of a few duds as the storyline is great but they are also quite rewarding with XP and upgrade parts used to boost the strength of the player’s arsenal and characters. There are a few types of collectables/simple missions that dot the map that can feel a bit redundant, especially when it comes to a few that require the heavy use of the returning series of mini-games.
It must be said that the DualSense controller is really given a chance to show off its unique elements while playing Spider-Man 2 as it makes use of every feature available. The controller will make plenty of noises between phone notifications, chiming collectables, and more while the haptic vibrations work wonders to help make players feel like they are in the action. The trigger resistance also works quite well when it comes to web-swinging or taking part in the numerous mini-games that appear in the game, even if they are on the excessive side.
Ironically, Spider-Man 2 has more than its fair share of bugs. These range from simpler issues such as clipping NPCs or the occasional strange animation to more troublesome ones that result in the loss of progress. These have ranged from enemies spawning in the ground or getting launched and stuck in the level geometry requiring a reload of the mission to straight up crashes. These crashes were rare, happening only twice in my time with the game, but still problematic.While the general experience throughout my time with Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 was fine, these small bugs quickly became noticeable enough that they are worth mentioning.
Audio & Visuals
Insomniac Games once again has proven that they can craft a truly exceptional city and series of action-packed set pieces so incredible they feel like a movie sequence at times as Spider-Man 2 is just that impressive looking. Throughout my time with the game I primarily played using the Fidelity mode that locked the game at 30FPS but presented an absolutely wonderful looking city to swing through and a delightful extra bit of flair to every combat encounter. The facial animations for the characters in cutscenes is truly impressive and the suits that players can unlock and use are fairly solid as well. While some of the more classic Spider-Man suits seem to have been ignored in favor of MCU references, and a few of Miles’ are straight up terrible, many of the costumes players can choose to unlock and use are great looking as well. It is also nice to note that, even at our worst, the combat always felt fluid and fast-paced, even if we ended up dying to an encounter it only made the returning revenge feel all the better as we got used to the combat system against ever more challenging foes.
The voice cast behind the characters in Spider-Man 2 truly put their all into their performances here and the story excels because of it. The emotionally charged conversations between the characters during cutscenes made them feel all the more impactful when combined with the great character animations. Along these same lines the soundtrack features a great collection of background music as well as atmospheric music to enjoy while swinging through the city.
Overall
Insomniac Games has proven once again that they know exactly how to make a superhero game work. By capitalizing on the excellent elements they already perfected in the first game and expansion they have made the experience in Spider-Man 2 all the more enjoyable by expanding upon it in nearly every way while not going overboard. Sure, this does mean that some of the elements are already a bit too familiar and surprisingly a large number of bugs have snuck through with this pair of Spider-Men but the this spectacular superhero adventure is full of incredible moments with a storyline that may not make the best use of Spider-Man’s rogues gallery but still feels truly exceptional thanks to its emotional weight and balance between action and development.
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