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PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for August: PGA Tour 2K23, Dreams, Death’s Door

PlayStation Australia is pleased to reveal the PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for August. The Monthly Games lineup of PGA Tour 2K23, Dreams and Death’s Door will be available to PlayStation Plus members from Tuesday, 1 August until Monday, 4 September.

Let’s take a closer look at each of the games…

PGA Tour 2K23

Players can take their skills on the PGA Tour and become the next FedExCup Champion as they compete against Tour pros and establish new rivalries. For the first time, play as male and female pros including Tiger Woods, in online and local play. Players can level up their MyPLAYER with new skills and Archetypes and bring the swag to the green with new licensed gear and apparel. Players will also be able to run their own online societies to manage tournaments and seasons or test their skills against their friends in Divot Derby and Casual mode. Create their own dream course with the Course Designer, which features thousands of customisable objects and cross-platform sharing.

Dreams

Dreams is an extraordinary, ever-expanding game universe from the award-winning Media Molecule, creators of LittleBigPlanet and Tearaway, where players can discover community-made games from around the world… and learn to make their own. The latest evolution of the studio’s Play, Create, Share maxim, Dreams gives players the opportunity to unleash their creativity. Bring their ideas to life with innovative, easy-to-use tools, then share them with a global community. Whether you want to create games, music, paintings, animation, sculpture, movies or anything in between, Dreams is an extraordinary digital playground where anything is possible. 

And that’s not all! As part of Dreams coming to PlayStation Plus, Media Molecule’s latest game, Tren, will be available to play in Dreams. Tren is a nostalgic adventure that puts players in the driving seat of a remarkable toy train, and tells a personal tale about growing up – and the transformative power of play.

Death’s Door

Experience a sombre yet darkly comedic tale, utilising melee weapons, arrows, and magic to overcome a fantastic array of beasts and demigods in this isometric action adventure. Players can gain an edge by customising character stats and mastering the abilities and upgrades they obtain as you explore a land full of twisted inhabitants and countless secrets, bringing hope to the weird and wonderful characters you’ll meet along the way.

PlayStation Plus members have until Monday, 31 July to add Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, Alan Wake Remastered and Endling – Extinction is Forever to their game library.

To find out more about the titles available at launch, head to the PlayStation Blog.

For the latest PlayStation news, follow PlayStation Australia on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram

MARVEL FUTURE FIGHT NEW GAME UPDATE FEATURES WAR OF THE REALMS THEMED UNIFORMS, UPGRADES, AND MORE

LOS ANGELES – July 26, 2023 – Netmarble, a leading developer and publisher of high-quality mobile games, releases a new content update inspired by the War of the Realms comic event for its blockbuster mobile RPG MARVEL Future Fight. Players can experience newly added uniforms, content systems and tier upgrades.

Starting today, four new uniforms are now available for Odin (AVENGERS 1,000,000 BC), Angela (Asgard’s Assassin), Malekith (War of the Realms) and Enchantress (War of the Realms).  New agents can also experience newly added buffs to boost growth for a certain period of time after starting the game. A new filter system has been added to guide agents to find heroes that fit certain roles as well.

New character tier upgrades have been added for Odin (Tier-4 with new Striker Skill), Enchantress (Tier-3 with new Ultimate Skill). Awakened Skills have been added to characters including Malekith and Ulik.

MARVEL Future Fight has over 150 million players across the world with the game currently available worldwide in the App Store® and Google Play™.

For more information, please visit http://marvelfuturefight.netmarble.com.

About Netmarble Corporation

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 at http://company.netmarble.com.

About Marvel Entertainment

Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.

For more information visit marvel.com. © 2023 MARVEL

App Store is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the US and other countries.  App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Google Play is a trademark of Google Inc.

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LEGO 2K Drive Adds Vehicle Creation Sharing with the Creators Hub

Take other player’s rides for a test drive and share the vehicles you’ve built with the world in the Creators Hub

Today, 2K and the LEGO Group will begin launching the Creators Hub for LEGO 2K Drive via a free update for all players. The new, highly anticipated feature allows players to share their awesome vehicle designs with the world, as well as browse and download creations by other players.

When you first open up the Creators Hub menu, you’ll be in the Depot, where the hottest vehicles on the block are showcased. Right away, you’ll see the Most Upvoted and Most Downloaded creations from the LEGO 2K Drive community. The Creators Hub includes a number of features that encourage creativity and sharing:

  • Filtered Browsing – By switching from the Depot to the Browse tab, you can peruse the ever-growing selection of uploads from other players! You can browse with a variety of filters, including Street, Off-Road, and Water vehicles, vehicles uploaded by your 2K Account Friends, and vehicles you’ve previously Downloaded or Upvoted.
  • Vast Search Features – Along with filters, you can also sort the Creators Hub vehicles by alphabetical order, how recently they were uploaded, total number of upvotes, total number of downloads, or total number of bricks used to construct the vehicle. You can also search by 2K Account Name, a vehicle’s identifying Share Code number, or vehicles made by someone on your Friends list, with the same Filter and Sort By options as the rest of the Creators Hub.
  • Adding Vehicles To Your Collection – When you’ve found something you like in the Creators Hub, simply hit Download and confirm your decision to add it to your Garage! Whenever you visit your Garage, you’ll see any Downloaded vehicles listed underneath the Downloads tab. When you’re ready to get behind the wheel of any vehicles you’ve acquired from the Creators Hub, simply add them to your Loadout and show Bricklandia your newest rides!
  • Sharing Your Vehicles – Any vehicle created solely by you in the Garage is eligible to be uploaded to the Creators Hub. All Creators Hub submissions go through a moderation process before they’re shared with the LEGO 2K Drive community, giving players a selection of player-created vehicles. Each player is allowed to upload a total of 30 vehicles to the Creators Hub with any new uploads you want to make beyond that will need to be swapped in place of old ones.

To use the Creators Hub, you’ll need internet access and a 2K Account; from there, you can start uploading your custom vehicles and browsing other players’ creations. If other players really love what you’re making, your designs could be shared all over the world!

Online Account (13+) required to access online features. See www.take2games.com/legal and www.take2games.com/privacy for additional details.

Visual Concepts is a 2K studio. 2K is a wholly owned publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).

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Dying Light 2 Stay Human celebrates The Walking Dead comics’ 20th Anniversary

Wrocław, Poland – July 26, 2023 – Techland is throwing a huge birthday party within Dying Light 2 Stay Human in honor of the iconic franchise: Skybound Entertainment’s The Walking Dead comic books are turning 20 this year and players will be able to join the celebration in-game.

The Walking Dead Event is a week-long series made up of a variety of challenges, yielding different rewards from Wednesday, July 26, 7 am PT / 10 am ET, until Wednesday, August 2, 7 am PT / 10 am ET.

Each day will present a new Personal Goal, such as killing enemies using ranged weapons or dismembering the infected, rewarded by a unique Comic Cover – think Dying Light 2 Stay Human meets The Walking Dead aesthetic – that can be gathered by players in-game. Each collectible, featuring stylized art from famed Polish artists Marek Oleksicki and Łukasz Owdziej, is made available only on a specific day, as it is assigned to a corresponding Personal Goal. Players who manage to get all 7 Comic Covers can try to reach the Collection Goal. Those who complete it will claim The Walking Dead memento weapon charm as a prize.

A very special treat awaits particularly dedicated fans: Lucille – Negan’s infamous barbed wire bat! This weapon can only be won by the most ruthless players. To get the item with a blueprint, you need to complete the Weekly Goal by killing 850 enemies in total throughout the event. But that’s not all – there is one more prize to be claimed. If Dying Light 2 Stay Human players prove themselves to be truly ferocious and slay 160 million enemies together, the Global Goal will be fulfilled and everyone will get Rick’s Hat as a reward!

For those seeking to complete the look, The Walking Dead Bundle is available for purchase for USD $7.99, offering Rick Grimes’ Outfit as well as The Walking Dead Paraglider for added flavor. But if iconic weapons are what you’re after, this bundle will also meet your needs, and then some. Lucille is, of course, the queen of that bunch – but Michonne’s Katana is no less emblematic of the comic book series. Add to that Negan’s Knife, and you’ve got yourself an arsenal capable of repelling any enemy, alive or undead. All three weapons are available with their blueprints. Neither walkers nor infected will get into the Pilgrim Outpost – but you can visit it for more information. Don’t forget to check out the trailer, too!

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To help us create unforgettable experiences for all Dying Light 2 Stay Human players, we invite them to join the conversation on Discord, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube – we’ll be waiting!

For more information about Dying Light 2 Stay Human and Techland, head to www.dyinglight2.com

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About Techland

Techland is one of the biggest and best-known Polish game developers with studios in Wroclaw and Warsaw. For over 30 years, we’ve carried a tradition of providing gamers with unforgettable experiences. We’re an international team of over 400 highly-skilled professionals driven by a passion for gaming, always striving for the best quality.

We’re fueled by the support of our global community built on the foundation of successful AAA franchises such as Call of Juarez, Dead Island, or Dying Light. The gamers’ trust in our games has resulted in our newest project, Dying Light 2 Stay Human, selling more than 5 million copies across all platforms within the first month after release.

On top of continuously growing the world of Dying Light through a robust post-launch support plan for Dying Light 2 Stay Human, we’re also working on an unannounced AAA Open World Action RPG set in a brand new fantasy universe; our biggest project to date.

Techland’s mission strictly determines every aspect of our work: we want to create unforgettable experiences.

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About Skybound Entertainment

Skybound is the company for creators. We’re known for using the Wheel of Awesome to make cool stuff, no matter the platform. We place creators and their projects at the center of the wheel and work with them to keep the integrity of their vision as it becomes a comic, game, TV series, film, audio series, or all of the above.  

Skybound builds global franchises. We’ve been the home of The Walking Dead and Invincible since 2010 and are leaders in creating universes that become pop culture phenomena from our library of over 150 properties, including the emerging tentpole Impact Winter.  

Skybound is a force in games. We publish, produce and distribute video games across every genre, including the blockbuster The Walking Dead series and the BAFTA award-winning Before Your Eyes. 

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NETMARBLE’S TOWER OF GOD: NEW WORLD LAUNCHES WORLDWIDE

Answer the Call of the Tower in this stunning, fast-paced action RPG

LOS ANGELES – July 26, 2023 – Leading mobile game developer and publisher Netmarble is proud to announce the worldwide launch of Tower of God: New World on both iOS and Android platforms. Players can also download the PC version from Google Play Games Beta.

After its debut on WEBTOON, Tower of God became a global megahit, amassing over 6 billion views worldwide, and later spawning a hit anime series, now in its second season of production. The story of Twenty-Fifth Bam, the boy who is climbing the Tower in a quest to be reunited with his friend Rachel, has resonated with fans around the world.

In Tower of God: New World, players can take a more active role in the story as they take control of fan-favorite characters to ascend the Tower. Join Twenty-Fifth Bam – and 69 characters – as he fights his way through the Tower in gorgeous 3D animation that will make players feel like they have stepped into an anime world. Players will not only enjoy fast-paced battle mechanics, but a unique Slot System, which allows players to power up a particular “slot” instead of a specific character. This eliminates the grind of leveling up new characters – they can immediately be placed into the slot to become powerful teammates.

  • High-Quality Graphics: Characters, settings, abilities, and cutscenes are rendered in striking 3D animation. 
  • Collectable Cast: 69 characters are available to collect and play at launch.
  • Story Mode: Accompany Twenty-Fifth Bam and his friends on their journey, taken straight from the Webcomic story.
  • Adventure Mode: Assemble your own unique team and ascend the Tower your way. Strategize to defeat the worst the Tower has to offer.
  • Shinsu Link System: A unique system that levels up a slot, not the character in the slot; so once you get your favorite character, just pop it in the leveled-up slot and you’re ready to go. No unnecessary grinding required!
  • Loot System: Earn rewards to help you level up even when taking a break!
  • Daily Arena: Compete in daily PVP matches for rewards.

To celebrate the game’s global launch, players will be treated to abundant rewards with following events.

  • Regulars Welcome Check-in event: Players can earn plenty of rewards including Normal Summon Ticket, SSR Soulstones and more. On the 7th day of check-in, Main Character Selection Chest, which either Bam, Ha Yuri, Khun Aguero, Rak or Endorsi is available, will be offered. Also on the 14th day of check-in, Normal Summon Tickets(x20) can be obtained.
  • A New Regular’s First Mission!: Those who clear daily missions for 7-days can earn different rewards including Normal Summon Tickets and Suspendium. Once they clear all missions on the 7th day, Normal Summon Tickets(x20) will be offered.

The game can be downloaded from either Google Play or the App Store, Players are also encouraged to sign up for the Discord and other social channels (YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook) for the most recent information on launch events, rewards, and upcoming news and updates.

About Netmarble Corporation

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 at http://company.netmarble.com.

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Old School RuneScape Quest ‘Desert Treasure’ Gets Thrilling Sequel 20 Years in the Making

Desert Treasure II launches today in Old School RuneScape

CAMBRIDGE, UK – July 26, 2023 – Launching today in Old School RuneScape, Desert Treasure II – The Fallen Empire is a Grandmaster quest that is two decades in the making, introducing four brand-new bosses, an iconic sequel to a much-beloved storyline, and a host of mystical and powerful rewards.

The original Desert Treasure launched in 2005 and introduced a whole generation of players to the Mahjarrat and the questline surrounding this ancient, mysterious people. In Desert Treasure II, players will embark on an epic quest as they journey through four new areas, battling four fearsome new bosses to gain access to an ancient vault and the great riches that lies within. However, opening the vault has the potential to change Gielinor forever!

These four bosses each have their own abilities, mechanics, and strategies that players will test their mettle against. These bosses can be replayed post-quest for additional rewards, including the mighty Virtus Armour.

Desert Treasure II will reward players with four new best-in-slot rings to boost strength, ranged skills, magic, and melee, as well as a fully upgraded Ancient Sceptre which gets stronger with every defeated boss. Each boss will also drop one of four pieces of a unique two-handed axe for felling the toughest foes.

This year, the Old School RuneScape team began the process of adding a new skill for the first time in the game’s 10-year history. Passing the pitching stage, the new skill Sailing will now enter refinement before it is put before the community for the lock-in vote. Learn more about community polling and the skill development schedule over on the Old School RuneScape website.

About Old School RuneScape 

Old School RuneScape is the industry-leading collaboration between the community and developers. Embracing its nostalgic heritage, hundreds of thousands of active players control the direction of the game with an in-game polling system. Featuring adventures for solo play through to 100-player strong raids, Old School RuneScape caters for every brave adventurer. Old School RuneScape continues to innovate, introducing its first ever new skill in 2023 to commemorate its 10th anniversary, arriving later this year. Play now at http://oldschool.runescape.com 

About Jagex  

A leader in creating deep and engaging live games on PC and mobile, Jagex’s flagship MMORPG, RuneScape, has welcomed over 300 million player accounts to its world and is a $1 billion lifetime revenue franchise. Today the RuneScape franchise exists beyond running games in live operations; our titles are living games that connect and inspire millions of players, with content and experiences both inside and outside of inexhaustible game worlds. Both RuneScape and Old School RuneScape, on PC and mobile, offer ever-evolving, highly active worlds and our community-focussed development ethos empowers players to have a real say in how each game is shaped. Jagex Partners expands our portfolio working with living game developers across the globe including Gamepires, Snowcastle Games, and Pipeworks Studios. Jagex employs more than 450 people at its Cambridge headquarters.

“OPERATIONAL PLAN: NISIR’S SUMMIT” ADVANCES TOWARDS THE FINAL SHOWDOWN IN NEXON’S BLUE ARCHIVE

Highlights:

  • Players can band together with the students of Kivotos to face against an impending danger
  • A new Trinity General School Student, Mika, joins the battle
  • A Free 100-Recruitment event starts Tuesday, Aug. 1

SEOUL – July 26, 2023 – Popular mobile RPG Blue Archive pits players against an otherworldly threat alongside new student Mika as Kivotos descends into chaos in the Main Story Part 1 Final Episode Chapter 2, “Operational Plan: Nisir’s Summit.”

From NEXON Korea Corp., Blue Archive has players step into the shoes of Sensei, an advisor for the Federal Investigation Club, Schale, shortly after the disastrous disappearance of the General Student Council president. As anarchy takes over, it’s up to Sensei to mobilize the eccentric students of the academy city of Kivotos and take matters into their own hands. Armed with military tact, players will resolve the endless incidents that occur in Kivotos while forging strong bonds with charismatic allies, brimming with unique personalities.  

In the latest chapter of Sensei’s story, available until Tuesday, Aug. 8, trouble in Kivotos has come to a head in the Main Story Part 1 Final Episode Chapter 1, “Operation Recapture Schale,” setting the stage for the action-packed Chapter 2, “Operational Plan: Nisir’s Summit.” As events descend into pure chaos, players are thrown into an intense battle where they must command a squad of students in combat against six raid bosses, including Perorodzilla (Chroma) and Binah (Chroma). Various rewards await the victorious defenders of Kivotos, including Pyroxenes, Recruitment Tickets and Elephs.

“Operational Plan: Nisir’s Summit,” prepares Kivotos for battle, with features including:

  • New Student, Mika – A highly anticipated new student, available through Fest Recruitment, is making her grand debut amidst the high stakes and comes with her own unique abilities. A formidable Striker from Trinity General School, Mika uses her EX skill to deal massive damage proportional to her ATK, and depending on her enemy’s health, it can pack an even more powerful punch.
  • Quality-of-Life Improvements – In addition to the new student, Nexon raised the account level cap to 85. A new difficulty level for Commissions, as well as 37 pieces of Abydos Classroom themed furniture for players to decorate their Cafes have also been added.
  • Update Celebrations – Players who log in to the game between Tuesday, Aug. 1 and Friday, Aug. 11 at 1:59 a.m. (UTC) will be able to claim and use 10 Free Recruitments each day. In addition, players who log in to Blue Archive every day until Tuesday, Aug. 22 will be able to snag some fantastic goodies, such as 10-Recruitment Ticket x1 and Superior Fusion Keystone x10.

Adding to the excitement that comes with the end of Blue Archive’s Main Story, Nexon revealed a plethora of fan events planned through Sept. 5. in a Final Episode Special Live Stream.

For more information about Blue Archive’s Main Story update, “Operational Plan: Nisir’s Summit,” players can visit the official Blue Archive communities.

  • Blue Archive Special Webpage: [LINK]
  • Blue Archive Official Forum: [LINK]
  • Blue Archive Official Discord: [LINK]
  • Blue Archive Official Twitter: [LINK]
  • Blue Archive Official Facebook: [LINK]

About NEXON Co., Ltd. https://company.nexon.co.jp/en/

Founded in 1994, NEXON Co., Ltd. (Nexon) (3659.TO) is a company engaged in the production, development and operation of online games and Virtual Worlds. First listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in December 2011, Nexon was placed on JPX400 in 2015 and added to the Nikkei Stock Index 300 in 2017. In 2020, Nexon was added to the Nikkei 225. Nexon currently has more than 45 live games on multiple platforms including mobile and available in more than 190 countries. Major game franchises include MapleStory, KartRider and Dungeon&Fighter. In 2021, Nexon completed the acquisition of Embark Studios AB, a company based in Stockholm, Sweden, developing multiple projects for global release.

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Fate/Samurai Remnant is now available for pre-order

Hertfordshire, 26th July 2023 – Today, KOEI TECMO Europe and developer Omega Force, in collaboration with TYPE-MOON and Aniplex Inc., have announced that the new epic Action-RPG Fate/Samurai Remnant is now available for pre-order on Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation®5, PlayStation®5, and PC Windows via Steam®. This new chapter in the Fate series is currently in development and will be available in Europe on 29th September 2023.

In addition to the standard version, players can pre-order a Digital Deluxe Edition that includes:

  • The base game.
  • A Digital Artbook & Soundtrack featuring beautiful illustrations and complete music scores such as the theme song.
  • The Season Pass, which will include three DLC sets.*
  • The in-game equipment item “Hallowed Relic Sword Mountings” as a Season Pass bonus.

All players who digitally pre-order the Standard or Deluxe Edition by 28th September 2023 will receive the “Phantasmal Dress ‘Miyamoto Musashi’” digital pre-order bonus.

Previously, KOEI TECMO Europe announced a special TREASURE BOX version of Fate/Samurai Remnant, available exclusively through the KOEI TECMO Europe Online Store. The TREASURE BOX includes the stunning Fate/Samurai Remnant material (art book), a B2 sized cloth poster, original soundtrack CD, Command Spell stickers, bonus costume DLC (set of two costumes), the Official Short Story Translation book, and a collectible box.

These products are now available to pre-order. To learn more about these special editions, and future offerings, be sure to sign-up to the KOEI TECMO Europe Online Store mailing list.

For more information on Fate/Samurai Remnant, be sure to visit the official site, Like us on Facebook, Join us on the KOEI TECMO Europe Discord server, and Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

ABOUT KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD.

KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD. is a publisher of interactive entertainment software for current generation consoles, handhelds and digital download content based in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, UK. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD., headquartered in Yokohama, Japan. KOEI TECMO’s best known for their signature ‘one versus thousands’ Warriors series, the fan-favourite Ninja Gaiden and fighting entertainment title Dead or Alive. Through collaboration with strong existing franchises, such as A.O.T. Wings of Freedom (Attack on Titan), has brought fan-favourite shows to life in video game form. The company’s desire for innovation and diversity has seen the creation of the critically acclaimed dark-samurai action title Nioh, which takes on new and unique gameplay styles. The company’s acquisition of GUST, developer of a variety of heart-warming titles, has seen their flagship Atelier series span generations of consoles and fans alike. More information about KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD and its products can be found at www.koeitecmoeurope.com 

©KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD. All rights reserved. Omega Force is a trademark of KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD. The KT logo is a trademark of KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD.

©TYPE-MOON/KOEI TECMO GAMES All rights reserved.

Production Cooperation Aniplex Inc.

“PlayStation”, “PS5”, and “PS4” are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.

Nintendo Switch is a trademark of Nintendo. ©2023 Valve Corporation. Steam and the Steam logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Valve Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries.

LISA: Definitive Edition Review

LISA: Definitive Edition

Developer: Dingaling Productions
Publisher: Serenity Forge
Platforms: Switch, Xbox One, Playstation 4, PC, Playstation 5, Xbox Series X|S (reviewed)
Release Date: Available Now
Price: $19.99 – Available Here

Overview

Now and then there comes an experience that breaks through and becomes a cult classic. LISA was one of those titles. The dark, yet humorous RPG released on the PC years back, gaining a loyal following in the process. Dingaling are now bringing their gem to consoles with LISA: Definitive Edition, with both the Painful and Joyful editions of the title. Do these definitive Editions have legs on consoles? Let’s find out.

Overall

After an event dubbed “the flash” wipes all women from existence, a loner named Brad finds a baby girl and raises her. Named “Buddy”, he keeps her close and protects her at all costs until his own habits get in the way, causing him to lose her due to a break-in. Now, Brad must set out and attempt to save his daughter in a grim adventure where he must face his own demons in order to progress forward.

LISA: The Painful and its follow-up LISA: The Joyful play quite similarly, with the latter focusing more on the events after the title beforehand. The plot is not for the weak, either. Filled with disturbing themes and laced with jokes to make it easier to consume, LISA is a polarizing experience that some may not be able to find accessible as even though the plot is deep and meaningful, it has a very juvenile execution which attempts to make the player understand the plot from the perspective of our unwilling hero. I get it, and I think it mostly works, but even though the plot is interesting, I found it to be a bit uncomfortable to actually go through. Again, that’s the point here, but abuse, suicide, and so on may not hit the right note with all audiences, so please go in with an open mind and know what pill you are taking before plunging in unexpectedly.

Gameplay

For the gameplay, LISA is a cross between its obvious inspiration of Earthbound and platformers from the SNES era. Players explore a large map (think a Metroidvania), where the story plays out as they progress and smash foes along the way. Combat is turned-based, where players and their respective party do damage by unleashing various abilities. Exploration really is the core here, with players travelling to various paths while encountering new allies and foes alike.

This world is grim, and even one wrong step can lead to a permanent pit death – so the game wants you to be on your toes as you traverse it as all things come at a cost if executed incorrectly. There are a lot of humorous interactions, ailments, and so on to find along the way, much of which effects the outcome of future battles by giving the player boosts or deficits to their combative styles. These party members keep battles fresh and engaging, even if the core mechanics do not evolve all too much for much of the experience. Mini-games and other side fare can also be nice distractions to the norm, breaking up the combat for what feels original yet familiar to the player at all times.

Visuals

The art style is certainly something for LISA: Definitive Edition. The pixel art is ugly and the models are hard to look at with abrasive imagery littered throughout the game. Of course this is intentional to give that feeling of discomfort, so for that, the art style is at least successful. Not all will love it, but much like The Binding of Isaac and other “dark” adventures, some are sure to find something to their liking by exploring this chaotic world ahead.

Audio

The music is no more pleasant that the visuals. With sound that can cut you in half, it is rare to find a pleasant beat within LISA. Again, the point to make the player “feel” the atmosphere within is felt here, with moments of brilliance found in the warm notes found during the humorous segment. Its like putting an ice cube on a burn. The pain is still there, but its more tolerable, even for just a short time.

Overall

LISA: Definitive Edition at the very least is an accomplishment as it will make you feel things. The dark plot, and uncomfortable themes, and tough visuals and audio all come together with a lot of grit to attempt to put a pit in the player’s stomach. In the 90’s, there were comics that came out strictly to try to make readers feel awkward or discomfort. They were edgy and brutal, and not very smart, even though their content was more adult. I think that kind of was my lasting impression of LISA overall. There is a fun game here that has a lot of cuts and bruises that have been applied to make you, as the player feel something. Some are going to find this more accessible (or meaningful) than others, and many will leave early if their form of escapism from these themes is an actual video game without the salt. Either way, LISA: Definitive Edition is certainly an experience that will not be easily forgotten as its as intentionally polarizing as it is thought provoking.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON EXTENDED GAMEPLAY PREVIEW TRAILER HIGHLIGHTS FAST-PACED, OMNI-DIRECTIONAL ACTION

Bandai Namco Europe and FromSoftware, Inc. (ELDEN RING™, DARK SOULS™) reveal a new extended gameplay walkthrough trailer for ARMORED CORE™ VI FIRES OF RUBICON™. Narrated by the developers, the video is the deepest look yet at the game’s intense action, sprawling levels and challenging battle sequences.

As the video showcases, success in ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON will come from tinkering with highly customizable mech builds, a signature feature of the series, and learning the right strategies and techniques such as staggering enemies with the right weapons, combining ranged and melee attacks, and taking every advantage in battle.

Watch the new gameplay preview trailer here:

ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON, the latest high-octane action game by FromSoftware and Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc., promises fast-paced mech action with intense omni-directional battles, in-depth customization, and thrilling boss fights.

ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON is set to release on August 25th for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC via Steam, and is available for pre-order.

For more information about ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON and other titles from Bandai Namco Europe please visit: https://www.bandainamcoent.eu, or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoEU and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bandainamcoeu/. Join the conversation on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/BandaiNamcoEU.

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