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WrestleQuest Review

Dustin Spencer
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WrestleQuest Review

WrestleQuest

Developer: Megacat Studios
Publisher: Skybound Games
Platforms: Switch, Xbox One, Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (reviewed)
Release Date: 22nd, August 2023
Price: $29.99 – Available Here

Overview

Wrestling is one of those entertainment mediums that has been around forever, amassing a ton of fans worldwide. While the sport is no stranger to the industry, the idea of it fitting into a turn-based RPG certainly is. WrestleQuest is an all-original title, featuring mechanics never really seen in the video game world thus far, along with a lively cast of famous talent from the past and present. Does this title have what it takes, or does it job before the finish? Let’s find out.

Story

WrestleQuest‘s story isn’t really as fleshed out as it is odd, but in a good way. Players take the role of an action figure dubbed “Muchacho Man Savage”, a toy that idolizes the wrestler Macho Man Randy Savage, and dreams of being a big Superstar by setting out on a journey to learn the pastime with other names such as Brink Logan, who also is defining his path from zero to hero. Along the way, there is plenty of talent in this world of toys to show you the ropes and a ton of cheeky humor mixed in, which keeps the experience light and fun throughout, so most wrestling fans will easily have enough to chew on as they get a kick of nostalgia as they level up and conquer the mat.

As much as I love WrestleQuest‘s concept, I do think that the story can get a bit stranded by its own identity. There are some fun things going on and you don’t have to take it too seriously, but WrestleQuest is an RPG, and as such I think I expected the story to be a bit more than what it was. The opening hours feel oddly paced when telling the narrative, and aside from having a plotline, the game never seems to utilize storytelling to progress for a lot of it, instead leaning on those cameos and booked appearances to pull it through. Sure, it’s still entertaining, but a game that kind of gets lost by the amount of ideas that went into this part of the finished product. To put it simply, it’s hard to really understand what the focus is a lot of the time, as WrestleQuest has a lot to show, but not a whole lot to say.

Gameplay

This is where a lot will be made up for RPG fans who feel the pain of the under-achieving narrative. WrestleQuest is a pixel-art RPG, and has the player go from town to town, battling foes in combat in the same vein of the likes of Final Fantasy, Chrono Trigger, and Dragon Quest. Players control a squad of characters and can select to strike, perform a special technique, or even showboat to win battles appropriately, which is honestly a lot of fun. Gear and moves can be unlocked as you level up and progress, which of course benefits your toy in battle, making you eventually feel quite immortal in and outside of the ring.

Each battle can spawn a ring almost anywhere, and most of the combat comes down to winning a mini-game (or maybe even a light quick-time event) in order to dish out extra damage. You see, the main goal of each battle is to pin the opponent, and the player has to perform like a wrestler to win. Go figure, right? Everything from pinning to following up strikes has a quick little “match the button prompt” command that ensures a hit, keeping the game far more engaging than most other RPGs on the market with the same styling. In order to win, you do not just select an attack – you have to perform it, and that makes these mechanics feel interesting and involving throughout.

Outside of combat, there are a lot of secrets, cameos, and wrestling nods and finds to discover, which makes exploring this world fun, even if it isn’t as deep as your typical run in a standard RPG. As a lifeline fan of the sport, the game had me “marking out” several times, as I encountered some hilarious references and abilities that those who know the sport will be more fond of. I can imagine those who are less familiar will be a bit more hesitant to indulge in this world, but I found it lovely – even if it could have used a bit more of a play on a deeper tale to bring out a bit more of a personal touch.

Visuals

Pixel art was the assignment, and this team delivered on that through and through. The character models are lovely and endearing, resembling 16-bit toys of not just wrestlers, but almost everything under the sun. The world is also well crafted, with environments resembling your standard yet classic RPG towns and dungeons, but with an over-the-top flair where the sport comes out and shines in dramatic fashion as you dive into the details.

Audio

I hope you like Macho Man impressions. There are a ton of them here as your main character is built on his very persona. That isn’t a bad thing, but hearing the constant “Oh yeahhhhhhh!” can make moments where you play as someone else feel like a needed breather. There are other voice lines that repeat often, but I don’t think I really take that as a bad thing as these are toys and wrestlers, and the repetition just kind of fits into what the game is going for. The soundtrack is also a lot of fun, playing tunes that are sure to be enjoyed as you battle your way through the silly yet good-natured plot.

Overall

There is an episode of Nickelodeon’s Doug where Doug enjoys music and makes a band. Eventually, more and more characters keep joining the band with their own favorite instruments and it becomes congested, where he gets so overwhelmed by the chaos that he falls into the background of his own creation before eventually being kicked out altogether. The band still moves on without him and he goes back to playing with his friends, rediscovering his passion yet again for music without all of the weight of fame and fortune. I know that is a weird reference to bring up here, but it kind of reminds me of WrestleQuest.

There is so much to love here for a wrestling fan. The issue is that the charm of the plot kind of gets lost in all of the cameos and weight of the experience, making it feel weighted down by its own gimmickry, where you lose track of what the core of the narrative even is. I love a good cameo, but cameos here are treated like props. taking the player out of the immersion of a video game and that kind of hurts the overall product as a result. Sure, there are still a lot of great things here, but if Megacat ever does a follow-up, I would want to see a little more of a wrestler exploring the world and their own story, without ill-fitting surprises that kind of overshadow and weigh down the entire narrative. Either way, I still give credit for such a unique and bold take, and fans of the sport still have a lot here to pull them through.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Atlas Fallen Review

Travis Bruno
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Atlas Fallen Review

Atlas Fallen

Developer: Deck13
Publisher: Focus Entertainment
Platforms: PC, Playstation 5, Xbox Series X|S (Reviewed)
Release Date: August 10, 2023
Price: $59.99 USD – Available Here $99.95 AUD – Available Here

Overview

For some time now Deck13 has focused heavily on offering difficult action RPGs that would fall under the soulslike category, putting their own unique spins on the formula to try and set themselves apart from others in the genre. While Lords of the Fallen back in 2014 may have been fairly close in nature, their later The Surge series saw the developer experimenting more to some rather solid success. Now Deck13 has moved to try something a bit different with Atlas Fallen, instead offering an open world action game focused on fast-paced combat and powerful monsters. Has this German developer managed to find treasure in the desert that is Atlas Fallen?

Story

The world of Atlas Fallen has suffered under the tyrannical rule of the sun god Thelos for as long as history can remember, with humanity toiling away for the god to harvest Essence that will then be offered to the god in an effort to keep it happy and keep the dangerous wraiths that exist in the world at bay. Players take on the role of an Unnamed, someone deemed lower than a slave by the ruling class but when a powerful sandstorm tears the caravan apart and allows wraiths to run wild, the player has a chance to search outside of the camp only to stumble upon a mysterious relic, simply known as the Gauntlet. After quickly battling against their captors and witnessing the rage of Thelos upon the land, players find themselves with a new friend as the being within the Gauntlet, known as Nyaal, has promised that there is far more to the world than they may know and while he may not remember much now, their journey to free the people from the rule of Thelos and class system will bring everything to light.

Although Atlas Fallen has an interesting set-up as well as some solid world lore that players will discover throughout the game, most of the story is a bit on the bland side that feels like it doesn’t live up to its potential and rarely comes off as a surprise, even feeling a bit rushed near the end despite being a fairly short game as far as open world RPGs are concerned. There are a couple of simple twists here and there but most developments are incredibly easy to predict or something that anyone who has played games before has seen countless times before, especially in regards to character tropes. That isn’t to say that there aren’t interesting characters, there are quite a few actually. Unfortunately most of them are simply side characters while the player character and Nyaal serve as the most generic pairing of lead characters around. Perhaps this is due to the incredibly poor voice acting for nearly the entire cast but the story rarely feels like it makes the most of its potential given the setting. It is nice to note that while Nyaal can chime in during standard gameplay, a growingly familiar mechanic, players can also adjust how often they want character banter to happen or shut it down entirely should they truly wish to.

Gameplay

Atlas Fallen features four main zones with its open world and many of these locations are actually quite impressively designed. Sure, a few locations may be a bit on the barren side, but the amount of locations to explore, side-quests to undertake, and collectables to gather never feels overwhelming thanks to the layout of these locations. It also helps that, although some areas in certain maps aren’t accessible right away players will eventually unlock extra abilities, such as longer jump glides, additional object manipulation, and more to help give these locations some extra life. This in-depth exploration is certainly optional, especially since the game doesn’t feel too challenging, but players who want to get the most out of a location will find many useful upgrade materials, essence stones, and more offered as rewards for their efforts.

One element that makes exploration in Atlas Fallen enjoyable are the movement options that open up as players progress through the game. They will quickly gain access to the sand surf ability, allowing for quick movement along the desert as well as double jumps, air dashes, and more to help keep movement fast paced. This level of movement carries over to combat as well as the game’s combat system prefers to keep players moving while offering plenty of choices for customization. Of the three weapons offered, the Sandwhip offers the most movement options as it allows players to use its strong attack to zip towards an enemy, unleashing a combo on them before disengaging which works just as well in the air as it does on the ground. Alongside the Sandwhip the Dunecleaver Axe serves as the initial default weapon that works fairly well but quickly will find itself overshadowed by the elaborate Knuckledust weapon once players obtain it, if not for its great looking design when used in combat then certainly for its power.

One of the most unique features of Atlas Fallen’s combat system is the Momentum Gauge. As players dash around the battlefield and attack enemies, they will quickly build momentum that has three tiers as well as additional slots that correspond to the various Essence stones that players equip. On the surface, the Momentum Gauge is a bit of a risk and reward system as the higher the gauge the more damage players deal to enemies but the more they receive should they be struck. It also allows their weaponry to assume stronger forms, extending their basic combo attacks and offering new options in fights. Players can burn their entire Momentum Gauge by triggering a powerful Shatter attack that will devastate most foes in the area with their health even indicating when a Shatter will instantly slay them. 

Now, the Essence Stones that have been mentioned before are various buffs and abilities that players can locate around the world, craft from ingredients, and obtain from completing quests. Each stone can only be slotted into certain spots on the Momentum Gauge but once the gauge reaches it, it will automatically apply the buff or allow players to use the ability at will. For example, creating a mini sand-tornado may require the bar to be filled halfway while a passive buff to allow for easier or even automatic sandskinning to parry enemy blows may take nearly a full momentum gauge to apply. This level of risk and reward in fights makes most encounters exhilarating, especially since the sandskin ability, that works as the game’s parry, is easy to use and manages to lock down attacking enemies in a temporarily crystalized state. 

Learning to master the game’s combat elements is easily the best part of Atlas Fallen, especially when facing down the larger beasts that players will need to take down. While the general wraith enemies that players fight are relatively normal sized or just a bit large and twisted, there are an abundance of extra large creatures that all have unique attack elements as well as certain parts of them that can be broken off for better loot and to deal massive damage to them. Taking down these massive beasts with their sand warped appearances never fails to delight as most of these encounters really highlight how fun the combat is in the game. One annoyance that persists throughout Atlas Fallen however is the fact that nearly every larger enemy has the ability to summon smaller wraiths to battle against while you take them on which often ends up being more of an annoyance thanks to how often they respawn than an actual challenge and this issue happens constantly throughout the larger enemy encounters.

Between the amount of character customization available through the Essence stones players can really outfit their character to best fit their playstyle and as mentioned before, those who want to explore will find plenty to enjoy besides collectables as there are various elements of platforming, extra strong Wraiths to hunt down, and even some extra tasks here and there outside of the usual side-quests. That being said, while the exploration may be fun, the actual missions throughout the game are mostly generic in nature. Nearly all of them involve simply being a fetch quest and even main story quests can often feel like busywork rather than anything meaningful.

One element that is immediately offered when starting is the ability to play the entire game in co-op and while we weren’t able to test this out too much outside of a few instances, any time we played with a co-op partner saw the game running perfectly smooth with our partner being able to immediately jump into the game without much of a hassle. With how enjoyable combat is in single player, it can get quite hectic and enjoyable with a partner though it does appear that there may be some issues with progression if players aren’t quite matched up in the story. 

Visuals & Audio

The design of the world in Atlas Fallen is fairly impressive by how it makes use of the game’s focus on being in a desert world where most life is barely hanging on. Surfing along the sand and exploring is a real delight for the most part and there are a number of unique locations and environments to explore through the game, though the oft endless desert can be a bit repetitive sometimes. The character models are fairly generic with armor design being the true standout here while enemy designs are wonderful looking, especially larger threats and bosses, but it would be nice if there was more variety to them. This wouldn’t be too much of an issue if players weren’t constantly needing to battle against wraiths as they explore side-content or take on side quests and fight the same foes they’ve faced countless times before.

As mentioned earlier, the voice work in Atlas Fallen is bad. There are some side-characters that are handled fairly well and it is quite evident as most of the decently voiced characters also have the most interesting stories. Unfortunately the main characters are a complete disappointment and drag the story down more than they should due to the relatively generic developments. The soundtrack features a solid collection of music that works well for both exploration and combat though doesn’t quite stand out outside of a few of the larger foe themes that help make these battles feel even more epic in nature.

Overall

Deck13 stepped outside their usual wheelhouse for Atlas Fallen and that deserves some credit, especially since they have created an incredibly fun combat system with some great movement options to help make exploration through the open world an enjoyable experience, making both combat and traversal feel tightly designed outside of a few niggling jumping issues. Sadly Atlas Fallen is held down by the lack of interesting writing, repetitive objectives, and some of the flattest voice acting for a main cast of characters that you can imagine. That being said, those looking for a decent open world action game will find Atlas Fallen’s momentum based combat a fitting offering, just don’t expect great writing to go with the excellent feeling combat.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Atlas Fallen – Gameplay

Travis Bruno
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Atlas Fallen – Gameplay

In a world torn asunder and most people treated like less than a grain of sand, we rise from being a nameless servant to a powerful warrior as we face down wraiths and learn some of the history in the world of Atlas Fallen.

Rise from the dust and glide the sands of a timeless land, filled with ancient dangers, mysteries and fragments of the past. Hunt legendary monsters with powerful sand-infused weapons and abilities in spectacular, super-powered combat.

Atlas Fallen
Developer: Deck13
Publisher: Focus Entertainment
Platform: Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X
Release Date: 11 Aug, 2023
Price: $49.99 USD

Available now – https://www.focus-entmt.com/en/games/atlas-fallen

Summary:

Recommended – “Atlas Fallen’s momentum focused combat makes this open world action RPG shine like a gem in the desert but poor writing and acting tarnish its quality. ”

Check out our review of Atlas Fallen here!

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Check out all the latest in the world of video games, anime, and entertainment at Capsule Computers:

Website: https://www.capsulecomputers.com.au/
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WrestleQuest – Gameplay

Dustin Spencer
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WrestleQuest – Gameplay

Join us in the first moments of Wrestlequest, as we learn the basics of this RPG and start out on a journey filled with bumps, bruises, and charm with some familiar faces popping up throughout.

TAG TEAM WITH DESTINY! Pro wrestling and RPG fantasy collide in the ultimate pixel-powered adventure. “Macho Man” Randy Savage and tons of other icons offer guidance as you powerbomb your way to glory beyond the ring. This hero’s journey ain’t just an epic quest, it’s WRESTLEQUEST!

WrestleQuest
Developer: Mega Cat Studios
Publisher: Skybound Games
Platform: Windows, PlayStation 5/4, Xbox SeriesX, Nintendo Switch
Release Date: August 22nd, 2023

Available here – https://www.wrestlequest.com/

Summary:

Recommended – “Wrestlequest has some fantastic combat mechanics and a ton of nods to the world of wrestling, but gets weighed down by its own substance far too often.”

Check out our review of WrestleQuest here!

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Check out all the latest in the world of video games, anime, and entertainment at Capsule Computers:

Website: https://www.capsulecomputers.com.au/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CapsuleComputers
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/capsulecomputer
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SAINTS ROW´S THIRD DLC EXPANSION, FREE UPDATE AND STEAM LAUNCH DATE

Philip Federico
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The LARP-inspired “A Song of Ice and Dust” lets players defend The Dustfaire from the Frostlanders, paintball by paintball

Sydney, Australia, August 9th 2023 | Deep Silver and Volition announce that Saints Row’s third DLC expansion is out now. It follows a major free patch that set the game in the new District of Vallejo. Saints Row is also set to release on Steam on August 24th.

A Song of Ice And Dust is a LARP-themed tale set in the crumbling district of Vallejo. Players will experience the epic climax to Saints Row’s popular Dustmoot story, a tale of two “frenemies” (the Boss and Gwen) who, despite their differences, still really hate each other.

After a brutal bloody wedding betrayal of the Dustlanders, it´s time to join forces and defend The Dustfaire from the clutches of the Chill Queen and the Frostlanders, paintball by paintball.

Watch the trailer for A Song of Ice and Dust here:

The DLC comes within 5 new campaigns missions, a new enemy faction (The Frostlanders), 4 new vehicles, weapons, and more than 20 outfits and cosmetics. It follows the game’s third major free update includes an entirely new district for all players, as well as more fixes and quality of life improvements. A Song of Ice and Dust is available now to buy and is also included in the Saints Row Expansion Pass.

Saints Row Update Overview:

  • A Song of Ice and Dust DLC for Expansion Pass holders is out now and also available to buy separately
  • The free Dustfire Update Patch launched in August is available for all players and includes:
    • New Vallejo District added to the map
    • New @atcha and wingsuit saboteur activities
    • Improvements to customisation including improved layering on clothing
    • New pop-up shop, discoveries and threats
    • Challenge tracking and achievement/trophy fixes for completionists
    • More main game improvements and bug fixing in multiple areas
  • Saints Row launches on Steam on August 24th

See the latest blogs for full details: https://saintsrow.com/au/news/a-song-of-ice-and-dust-out-now-on-thy-magic-machine

A Song of Ice And Dust is the final Expansion coming to Saints Row this quarter, after the previous releases of The Heist and the Hazardous and Doc Ketchum’s Murder Circus.

All Expansion Pass packs will also be available to purchase separately. Check your preferred platform store holder for local prices.

Saints Row is out now on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, the all-in-one games and entertainment systems from Microsoft, the PlayStation® 4 and the PlayStation® 5 computer entertainment systems, and on Epic Games Store for PC.

For more information on Saints Row visit the website SaintsRow.com follow us on Twitter and Instagram @SaintsRow and on Facebook at Facebook.com/SaintsRow.

©2023 and published by Deep Silver, a division of Koch Media GmbH, Austria.  Developed by Deep Silver Volition LLC. Deep Silver, Saints Row, Volition and their respective logos are trademarks of Koch Media GmbH. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are property of their respective owners. All Rights Reserved.

ABOUT DEEP SILVER

Deep Silver develops and distributes interactive games for all platforms. The Deep Silver label means to captivate all gamers who have a passion for thrilling gameplay in exciting game worlds by creating products of the highest possible quality, always focusing on what the customer desires. Deep Silver has published more than 200 games since 2003, including its own brands like the open world extravaganza Saints Row, the zombie action franchise Dead Island, and the gritty, post-apocalyptic Metro series. Upcoming highlights from Deep Silver include the next entries into the TimeSplitters and Dead Island franchises. Deep Silver development studios include Deep Silver Dambuster Studios and Free Radical Design, both in Nottingham, UK; Deep Silver Fishlabs in Hamburg, Germany, and Deep Silver Volition based in Champaign, IL, USA. For more information please visit www.deepsilver.com. All product titles, publisher names, trademarks, artwork and associated imagery are trademarks, registered trademarks and/or copyright material of the respective owners. All rights reserved.

ABOUT DEEP SILVER VOLITION

Deep Silver Volition combines long-standing industry experience and state-of-the-art technology with creativity and a strong dash of humor, to create the truly unique gaming experience their fans know and love. Its portfolio comprises the critically acclaimed Saints Row series of games, Agents of Mayhem, Red Faction, Descent/Freespace and Summoner series. The studio is in downtown Champaign, Illinois. The Champaign-Urbana metropolitan area is home to the University of Illinois and is a diverse, growing community that combines the arts, a vibrant technology sector, and affordable housing. Deep Silver Volition currently employs over 240 talented people. In 2013, Volition joined PLAION / Deep Silver as one of their three international development studios. Four years later, the group was acquired by Embracer Group. To learn more about Deep Silver Volition, please visit the official website DSVolition.com, and follow on Twitter @DSVolition and Facebook @VolitionGames.

ABOUT PLAION

PLAION is a leading independent developer and producer of games and entertainment products, with nine development studios and five publishing units based all over the world. Founded in 1994 as Koch Media, PLAION offers a unique breadth of services and solutions, dynamically growing its business to push ourselves and our partners to the forefront in all the segments we operate in. PLAION runs a multi-label strategy, with fully owned publishing units, such as Deep Silver, Prime Matter, Milestone, Vertigo Games and Ravenscourt, publishing games for consoles, PC and VR platforms across all physical and digital channels. Additionally – as a global publishing partner – PLAION has formed long-term multinational publishing collaborations with numerous game publishers including Activision Blizzard, Bethesda, Capcom, Focus Multimedia, Giants Software, Koei Tecmo, Paradox, Sega, SNK, Square Enix, Techland, THQ Nordic, Tripwire, Warner Bros and many others. With its parent company in Höfen, Austria – and the HQ in Munich, Germany – PLAION owns local publishing companies in Germany, UK, France, Spain, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Australia, the United States as well as Japan and Hong Kong. PLAION owns nine game development studios: Deep Silver Dambuster Studios (Nottingham, UK), Fishlabs (Hamburg, DE), Warhorse Studios (Prague, CZ), Milestone (Milan, IT), Voxler (Paris, FR) , DigixArt (Montpellier, FR), Flying Wild Hog (Warsaw, Kraków, Rzeszów, PL), Free Radical Design (Nottingham, UK) and Vertigo Games (Rotterdam, Amsterdam, NL). Additionally, PLAION collaborates with numerous independent development studios around the world. Part of PLAION is also PLAION PICTURES, a leading independent film distributor in Europe with a library of more than 1.400 titles. Further business operations include Sola Media, a sales agency and production company for family entertainment, Spotfilm Networx, a multi-channel streaming network, and a sub-label dedicated to Japanese animation. PLAION also owns the leading video game merchandise company DPI Merchandising (Denver, Roseburg, USA and Munich, DE) and a Quality Assurance Facility in Olomouc, CZ. PLAION is an Embracer Group company.

Beloved SEGA Classics and K-Pop Hits Headline Samba de Amigo: Party Central DLC Roadmap

Philip Federico
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0

First DLC packs to arrive alongside game’s launch, with more to arrive in September

Sydney, Australia – 9th August 2023: SEGA has announced the first details of the paid post-launch downloadable content coming to Samba de Amigo: Party Central on Nintendo Switch™, starting when it launches on the 29th of August!

With 8 different packs planned for release, players can look forward to plenty of music sure to get the party grooving. Here is the breakdown of the first three music packs set to be individually released:

29th August

  • Sonic the Hedgehog Music Pack ($7.70 RRP)
  • “Open Your Heart” from Sonic Adventure™
  • “Reach For The Stars (Re-Colors)” from Sonic Colors™: Ultimate
  • “I’m Here” from Sonic Frontiers™!
  • Japanese Music Pack ($7.70 RRP)
  • “Kaikai Kitan” by Eve
  • “MATSUKEN SAMBA II” by Ken Matsudaira
  • “KING” by Hatsune Miku

27th September

  • SEGA Music Pack ($7.70 RRP)
  • “Baka Mitai (Taxi Driver Edition)” from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
  • “Go Go Cheer Girl!” from Space Channel 5™: Part 2
  • “Rhythm Thief Theme” from Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure™

A K-Pop Music Pack will launch on the 27th of September, so please stay tuned for more details on that set.

Finally, for those who decide to purchase either the physical or digital Standard Edition of the game, a “Deluxe Upgrade Bundle” ($18.00 RRP) will also be available on the 29th of August that includes all the bonus items the Digital Deluxe Edition provides over the Standard Edition!

We’ll have more to share about the exciting lineup of tracks coming to Samba de Amigo: Party Central for Nintendo Switch soon.

About SEGA of America

SEGA of America, Inc. is the American arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA CORPORATION, a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment. Established in 1986, SEGA of America publishes and develops innovative interactive entertainment experiences for console, PC, mobile and emerging platforms. In 2020, SEGA ranked #1 among Metacritic’s Annual Game Publisher Rankings. Its globally beloved franchises include Sonic the Hedgehog, Like a Dragon™, Virtua Fighter™, Super Monkey Ball™, and Crazy Taxi™, along with Atlus’ Persona™ and Shin Megami Tensei™ series. Since its debut more than three decades ago, Sonic has become an entertainment icon featured in several dozen games, TV series, movies, merchandise and more. SEGA of America has offices in Irvine and Burbank, California.  

ⒸSEGA. All rights reserved. SEGA is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. SEGA, the SEGA logo, Samba de Amigo and Samba de Amigo: Party Central are registered trademarks or trademarks of SEGA CORPORATION. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are property of their respective owners.

PLAY THE BEST OF THE ASSASSIN’S CREED FRANCHISE FOR FREE THIS WEEKEND!

Philip Federico
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0

Discounts up to 75% off all Assassin’s Creed® games!

Sydney, Australia – August 9th, 2023 – Today, Ubisoft announced a free weekend event with up to five Assassin’s Creed® games on Xbox Series X | S, Xbox One, PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, as well as Windows PC through the Ubisoft Store and the Epic Games Store.  Depending on the platform, Assassin’s Creed® II, Brotherhood, Revelations, Black Flag and Valhalla will be available to play for free starting on August 10th until August 14th*.

New players will have access to the full main game content** for all five titles. Those who want to continue their journey will keep their game progression and enjoy discounts on the Assassin’s Creed Games:

  • PC via Ubisoft Connect: From August 9th until August 17th, players can get up to 75% off Assassin’s Creed Games as well as receive an additional AU$7 credit in their Ubisoft Store Wallet to spend on any item in the Ubisoft Store until October 19th, including Assassin’s Creed Mirage at launch.
  • PlayStation: From now until August 15th, players can get up to 80% off Assassin’s Creed Games.
  • Xbox: From August 10th to 14th, Xbox will have a unique “Buy One Get Two free” offer on select Assassin’s Creed games, including Black Flag and Valhalla. After that, between August 15th and 28th, players can get up to 85% off select Assassin’s Creed titles, including the games available in the Free Weekend.

For more information on the Asssassin’s Creed Deals please visit : https://store.ubisoft.com/deals

A friend referral program will allow Assassin’s Creed Valhalla players to invite their friends to play during the Free Weekend and earn rewards. A Twitch Drops campaign will reward players for watching the streams of any creator playing Assassin’s Creed main titles, with up to three cosmetic rewards to redeem in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla***.

Assassin’s Creed games offer an immersive experience where players embody formidable and elusive assassins and their abilities to protect free will at pivotal moments in human history. Assassin’s Creed II, Brotherhood and Revelations take players on a journey through the life of Ezio Auditore. He will learn the ways of the Assassins and get vengeance for the betrayal of his family through 15th- century Renaissance Italy, into Rome, and finally in 16th-century Constantinople. Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag embarks players on the ship of Edward Kenway, a young, cocky, and fearsome pirate exploring the ruthless Caribbean lands and seas at the dawn of the 18th century. In Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, become Eivor, a mighty Viking raider and lead your clan from the harsh shores of Norway to a new home amid the lush farmlands of ninth-century England and build your own Viking legend.

To get all the information related to the Free Weekend please visit: https://assassinscreed.com/freeweekend

For the latest news on Assassin’s Creed Franchise and other Ubisoft games, please visit: news.ubisoft.com

* The availability of each game depends on the platform. For Ubisoft Connect, Assassin’s Creed II, Brotherhood and Revelations are the originally released games. On consoles, these games are available in their remastered editions as part of the Ezio Collection. On Xbox One and Series X/S, all five games are available as part of the free weekend. On Ubisoft Connect, Assassin’s Creed II, Brotherhood, Revelations and Valhalla are available as part of the free weekend. On PlayStation, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is available in the free weekend, while the Ezio Collection and Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag are available as part of the PlayStation Extra subscription service. Finally, on Epic Games Store, only Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is part of the free weekend. On PC, the Free Weekend of the franchise will be available on Ubisoft Connect and the Epic Games Store from August 10th at 4:00PM UTC until August 14th at 12:00PM UTC. On Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and Xbox One, the Free Weekend can be accessed from August 10th at 5:00PM UTC until August 14th at 8:00AM UTC UT with an Xbox Live Gold subscription. Finally, on PlayStation®5 and PlayStation®4, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is playable for free from August 10th at 6:00PM UTC until August 14th at 12:00PM UTC. Pre-load on AC Valhalla will start on August 8th at 4:00 PM UTC on Playstation, Ubisoft Connect and Epic Games Store. For the other games (AC 2, Brotherhood, Revelations and Black Flag), the pre-loads will start on August 8th at 4:00PM UTC, only on Ubisoft Connect. There won’t be pre-loads in any other cases. For more details please visit: https://assassinscreed.com/freeweekend

**Any progression made during the Free Weekend will carry over when players upgrade to the full game, on any platform of their choice thanks to our cross-platform cloud save system. An online connection might be required to start the game as a free player. The multiplayers features won’t be available to free players.

***The friend referral program will take place from August 10th to September 20th. The Twitch Drops campaign will take place from August 10th 6PM CET / 9 AM PT to August 14th 6PM CET/ 9 AM PT. Any content creator can participate. Content creators need to stream any Assassin’s Creed HD title (AC 1, AC 2, Brotherhood, Revelations, Liberation HD, Black Flag, Rogue, Unity, the Ezio Collection, Syndicate, Origins, Odyssey & Valhalla). Players will win 3 items in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: The full High Elf Tattoo Set (from 30mn of watching), Yggdrasil Leaf (from 1 hour of watching), The full Mystical-Settlement Pack (from 1h30 of watching).

About Assassin’s Creed 

Since it first launched in 2007, the Assassin’s Creed® series has sold more than 200 million games worldwide. The franchise is now established as one of the best-selling series in video game history. Recognized for having some of the richest, most engrossing storytelling in the industry, Assassin’s Creed transcends video games, branching out into numerous other entertainment media.

About Ubisoft 

Ubisoft is a creator of worlds, committed to enriching players’ lives with original and memorable entertainment experiences. Ubisoft’s global teams create and develop a deep and diverse portfolio of games, featuring brands such as Assassin’s Creed®, Brawlhalla®, For Honor®, Far Cry®, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon®, Just Dance®, Rabbids®, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six®, The Crew® and Tom Clancy’s The Division®. Through Ubisoft Connect, players can enjoy an ecosystem of services to enhance their gaming experience, get rewards and connect with friends across platforms. With Ubisoft+, the subscription service, they can access a growing catalog of more than 100 Ubisoft games and DLC. For the 2022–23 fiscal year, Ubisoft generated net bookings of €1.74 billion.

© 2023 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Ubisoft and the Ubisoft logo are registered trademarks in the US and/or other countries. 

Netmarble Releases its New MMO RTS Game Grand Cross: Age of Titans, Tonight

Philip Federico
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JOIN THE BATTLE AND SAVE SKYNA! NETMARBLE RELEASES ITS NEW MMO RTS GAME GRAND CROSS: AGE OF TITANS, TONIGHT

LOS ANGELES – August 8, 2023 – GRAND CROSS: AGE OF TITANS, the newest MMO RTS game from leading developer and mobile game publisher Netmarble will launch globally tonight at 5 P.M PDT. Players can pre-download the game now by visiting the official website (PC), Google Play Store (Android), and App Store (iOS). The game will be available at Google Play Games Beta as well.

Players can check out a new cinematic video that showcases the massive warfare in Skyna and actions of the Titans on the official YouTube channel.

Developed by Netmarble F&C, the maker of the popular RPG game Seven Deadly Sins: GRAND CROSS, players will enter a thrilling new MMO RTS experience. Large-scale, immersive siege wars engulf the battlefield, across land and air, presented in beautiful anime art style graphics. Using a dynamic combat system, players will have the ability to plan and execute their unique strategies to overcome their opponent. Multiple troop-types are at the player’s disposal including Infantry, Archers, Cavalry, and Siege Weapons as well as Ranged Archers and Air Units. 

Player’s individual strategy and combat skills will be tested through multiple PvE and PvP modes, including Single Player stages, Hunting and Gathering, World Objects Capturing, Server vs. Server War, Story Chapters, Territory Expansion, and Territory Customization. In Castle War, battles are fought against other Alliances featuring intense siege warfare with MMORPG mechanics as well.

The world of Skyna has erupted with battles from the invading armies of Chaos. Players will experience a captivating story through the main characters, Mio and Eugene, who were summoned to the continent to meet Destina, the princess of the Skyna kingdom. Expand territories, as well as obtain heroes, items, decorative buildings, and more to drive Chaos away from the lands. 

To celebrate the game’s launch, players can participate in various events and have the opportunity to obtain many in-game rewards, including:

  • Call of Destiny: Players who check-in the game for 14 days can receive rewards like Claudia (legend level hero), 60 Claudia Manastones, 50 Star Level Fragments (legend level), and a Talent Reset.
  • A Cross on the Back of Your Hand: Complete certain words by acquiring alphabet letters from defeating monsters to receive items such as Castle Skin (Atlantis Castle), Advanced Summoning Scroll, and more.
  • Ready for Action: Receive growth materials and Manastone by completing missions across a 7-day period with a hero selected by the player.
  • Roxana’s Gift (for Google Play Games): Players who check-in can obtain Stamina which is needed to hunt monsters.

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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Team17 to publish WW1 survival horror CONSCRIPT from Australian developer Catchweight Studio

Philip Federico
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A lone French soldier fights for survival amidst the terror and danger of mankind’s most brutal and horrifying conflict, in a new and original take on survival horror, coming to PC in 2024

Tuesday, 8 August 2023. Team17 and Australian developer Catchweight Studio today announced a partnership to bring CONSCRIPT to PC in 2024. Created over six years by a solo developer in Melbourne, Australia, CONSCRIPT plunges players into the trenches of World War 1 in a survival horror experience inspired by the classics of the genre.

Set in 1916 during the Great War, CONSCRIPT blends the punishing mechanics of classic horror titles into a cohesive, tense, and original survival horror experience. In CONSCRIPT players explore the trenches of Verdun as a lone French soldier searching for his missing-in-action brother to ensure a home goes unbroken. 

Plan. Explore. Survive. Players will dive into the madness of war, engage in brutal combat against enemy soldiers, manage limited supplies, and solve complex environmental puzzles.

To go hands-on with CONSCRIPT, play the demo now on Steam. Media can contact Team17 PR representatives for meeting opportunities at the Australian Pavilion in Gamescom’s Business Hall.

CONSCRIPT Features:

  • Experience classic and methodical survival horror gameplay in a unique historical setting: the Battle of Verdun.
  • Highly re-playable with various difficulty settings, multiple endings, unlockable costumes, and bonus weapons.
  • Fend off a variety of enemy soldiers and combatants with a variety of WW1 melee weapons and firearms.
  • Survive in an intense, harrowing atmosphere boosted by a unique pixel art aesthetic and oppressive sound design.
  • Navigate intricate level design that promotes item management and route planning, whilst solving complex environmental puzzles.
  • Distinct WW1 themed areas that intertwine and overlap.

“Catchweight Studio is really just me,” says Jordan Mochi, founder of Catchweight Studio. “So, after six years of development, I’m glad to have backup from the experienced people at Team17. CONSCRIPT emerged from my own love of history and my love of survival horror. I’ve long dreamed of making games and of creating stories for people to play. Over the last six years, I’ve been happy to see a community of players grow around CONSCRIPT, and I’m looking forward to working with Team17 to launch the game for the community and players around the world in 2024.”

CONSCRIPT is being developed by Catchweight Studio. Learn more about CONSCRIPT at CONSCRIPTGame.com and CatchweightStudio.com.

Developer Jordan Mochi will be available at Gamescom’s Business Hall on the Australian Pavilion (Hall 3.2 Stand CO10-DO19) where a demo of CONSCRIPT will be available to play.

About Catchweight Studio

Catchweight Studio is a one-man game development studio based in Melbourne, Australia. Currently developing World War 1-themed survival horror game CONSCRIPT. CONSCRIPT was developed with support from VicScreen, Screen Australia, and Austrade, along with backers on Kickstarter. 

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 comprised of over 120 titles, and fully encapsulates the spirit of independent games. Team17 Digital’s 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, and Overcooked! franchise.

FARMING SIMULATOR AT PAX WEST: DOUBLE PREMIERE FOR GIANTS SOFTWARE

Philip Federico
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0

Publisher and developer GIANTS Software is taking part in PAX West for the first time as an exhibitor, showing the latest content for Farming Simulator to the US audience. Visitors to the event will be able to play an exclusive preview version of the Premium Edition for Farming Simulator 22 before its release on November 14th, 2023, directly after gamescom in Cologne, Germany.

From East to West

From September 1st to 4th, GIANTS Software exhibits in Seattle and thus, after several appearances at PAX East, will now be present at PAX West for the very first time. Visitors to booth 856 in the expo hall will personally experience their premiere of Farming Simulator 22: Premium Edition – the official announcement trailer offers a sneak peek.

All those who want to get competitive are invited to try the Bale Stacking Mode for Farming Simulator 22, where the fastest bale stacker receives all the glory. GIANTS Software also offers gaming stations for the mobile offshoot Farming Simulator 23, which has recently become available for Nintendo Switch™, iPhone, iPad, and Android™ devices.

Growth in the US Market

“After Pax East in Boston and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, this is already the third major consumer event on US soil this year,” sums up Boris Stefan, Head of Publishing at GIANTS Software. “Together with our Chicago office, this clearly underlines our ambitions to continue growing in one of the world’s most important markets and let Farming Simulator sprout everywhere.”

Farming Simulator 22 is available for PC, Mac, PlayStation®5 (PS5™), Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation®4 and Xbox One. The Premium Edition will be released on November 14th for the same formats and includes two expansions and seven packs in addition to the full version. The mobile version Farming Simulator 23 is available as Nintendo Switch™ Edition in retail shops and in the Nintendo eShop, the mobile versions for iPhone, iPad, and Android™ devices are available in the App Store and on Google Play respectively. Further information can be found on the official Farming Simulator website.

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About GIANTS Software

GIANTS Software is an international video game developer and publisher from Switzerland established in 2004 and known worldwide for creating the popular Farming Simulator series. The team with offices in Switzerland (Zurich), Germany (Erlangen), USA (Chicago) and Czech Republic (Brno) is very committed to maintain close contact to the agricultural industry and to engage with the community.

About Farming Simulator
Since 2008, over 30 million units of Farming Simulator have been sold worldwide. The game series has been released on all popular platforms including consoles, mobile phones, tablets and PCs since then. From the start, the team enabled users to create mods with the company’s own GIANTS Engine. With the Farming Simulator League (FSL), the series introduced a competitive esports mode in 2019 – with teams competing in professional tournaments and many acclaimed brands and sponsors on board.

2023 Published and developed by GIANTS Software GmbH. Farming Simulator, GIANTS Software and its logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of GIANTS Software GmbH. All manufacturers, agricultural machinery, agricultural equipment, names, brands and associated imagery featured in this game in some cases include trademarks and/or copyrighted materials of their respective owners. The agricultural machines and equipment in this game may be different from the actual machines in shapes, colors and performance. © 2023 Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC. “PlayStation”, “PS5” and “PS4”, are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.

Microsoft, the Xbox Sphere mark, the Series X logo, Series S logo, Series X|S logo, Xbox One and Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X|S are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. “Mac” is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. All other names, trademarks and logos are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

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