Play as Seven Heroes with Unique Combat and Trade Skills in a World Without Words
London, U.K. — 21 June 2023 — Marvelous Europe in collaboration with Marvelous Inc. and XSEED Games, today announced Silent Hope, a new action RPG title, that will launch October 3rd on the Nintendo Switch™ system and PC via Steam.
Preorders will soon be available for the physical standard edition on Nintendo Switch through the Marvelous Europe website for a suggested retail price of €39.99/£34.99. The digital version will also be available for €39.99/£34.99 on the Nintendo eShop and via Steam.
In a world without words, what hope is there for humanity? Silent Hope takes place in a once-peaceful land, silenced by the former King who stole people’s speech before escaping into the endless chasm known as The Abyss. Following these events, the Princess mourned her father’s actions and wept until she was entombed by her own crystallized tears. Now, years after these events faded from memory, seven heroes find themselves drawn towards the Princess. To break her free from her luminous prison, they must brave the depths of The Abyss to find the long-lost King and reunite the royal family.
Silent Hope harkens back to the glory days of isometric dungeon-crawlers while infusing them with a modern approach. Players will take the role of seven unlikely heroes, each with their own unique weapons, fighting styles, and non-combat jobs. After diving into The Abyss to battle enemies and collect materials, the heroes return to Base Camp to craft, cook, and rest up for their next adventure. Each journey into The Abyss will be a fresh experience, with randomized layouts ensuring every excursion has the element of chance, with even greater dangers lurking the further the heroes dare to venture.
Key Features
Seven Heroes, Seven Unique Fighting Styles – Choose from a motley crew of characters like the well-rounded Wanderer, long-range specialist Archer, or heavy-hitting Warrior to find whose skills suit your playstyle, and embrace new roles and abilities as you gain more experience.
A Home at the Edge of the World – Find new recipes and materials and return to your Base Camp at the edge of The Abyss, where each character has a unique job. From alchemist to blacksmith to cook, each hero brings something different.
Engaging Exploration and Dungeon-Crawling – Experience a new layout each time you enter the enigmatic Abyss, keeping you on your toes every moment. Stay on the lookout for Memory Rifts, where greater rewards and challenges await.
A Vibrant Storybook Aesthetic – With its mournful princess, spellbound kingdom, and everyday heroes, it feels like a fairy tale come to life – right down to the mysteries waiting to be uncovered in the visually stunning underworld.
Silent Hope will be published by Marvelous Europe for Nintendo Switch in Europe and Australia on October 3rd, 2023. XSEED Games will be publishing the Nintendo Switch version in North America and the PC via Steam version worldwide. This title has been rated PEGI 12.
About Marvelous Europe Marvelous Europe is the publisher behind Mandragora, Nova Antarctica and Ninja or Die, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marvelous Inc., developer of the beloved Story of Seasons (known as Harvest Moon prior to 2013) and Rune Factory series.
Established in 2012, Marvelous Europe is passionate about helping games to reach a global audience while nurturing emerging developers and studios. With decades of experience and strong ties to the worldwide indie game dev community, the highly skilled European team is committed to supporting studios worldwide find success, while continuing to publish and distribute select Marvelous Inc. content.
CHAOTIC COUCH CO-OP GETS A FUEL INJECTION WITH 4J STUDIOS’ MANIC MECHANICS
Manic Mechanics is the First Self-Published Game From 4J Studios, Best Known for Bringing Minecraft to a Worldwide Audience of Console Gamers
Dundee, June 21, 2023 – 4J Studios is excited to throw the covers off Manic Mechanics, an accelerated, mechanically-minded reinvention to chaotic couch co-op. Crashing onto Nintendo Switch on July 13, this high-octane party game with local and online co-op is the first game to be both developed and published by 4J Studios, the team that brought the gaming phenomenon Minecraft to consoles.
Manic Mechanics is available to pre-order on the Nintendo eShop here and the announcement trailer can be viewed here.
In Manic Mechanics, up to four players pull on their overalls and head to the gear-obsessed Octane Isle, looking to make a name for themselves as travelling mechanics. Players challenge the Master Mechanics who rule the island to prove their crew is worthy of joining the mechanics guild.
The aim of the game is to fix as many cars (or trucks, choppers, tractors, mini-subs, UFOs…) as possible before time runs out. This may sound easy, but the faster the mechanics work, the more chaos is unleashed. Intricate mechanical processes are hindered by fuel spills, exploding tires, short-circuiting robots, stampeding cows and even alien abductions, with hilariously chaotic consequences.
“When we decided to take 4J to the next level by publishing our own games, our aim was to create ‘games for everyone’ – and I don’t think we could have found a better way to start that journey than with Manic Mechanics,” says 4J Studios’ Chairman, Chris van der Kuyl. “Manic Mechanics is great fun in single-player mode, but it really comes to life when you bring your friends and family into the chaos. It’s been a huge hit in the studio for the past few months and I’m excited that we’re now finally able to let other people join in the fun. We can’t wait to see everyone’s reaction to this fantastic start to 4J’s next chapter.”
With five different neighborhoods on Octane Isle to experience, this won’t be an easy ride. So, grab your toolbelt, round up your friends and see if you have what it takes to become Master Mechanics.
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ABOUT 4J STUDIOS 4J Studios is a video game developer/publisher founded in Scotland in 2005 by Paddy Burns and Chris van der Kuyl, with offices in East Linton and Dundee. Best known for developing Minecraft for Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo games consoles, 4J’s experienced core team of designers, technology and game programmers is now on a mission to create ‘Games for Everyone’, bringing incredible new IPs to players across the world. The studio’s first self-published game, Manic Mechanics, is the product of the team’s commitment to innovation, creativity, and technical excellence, and marks the start of an exciting new chapter in the 4J story.
Musical minigames and pigeon pageantry showcased as gameplay for Glee-Cheese’s newest title is revealed at today’s Nintendo Direct.
Wednesday, 21st June 2023– Team17 Digital and Glee-Cheese have today revealed a first look at the gameplay for rhythm-based battle royale game Headbangers Rhythm Royale during today’s Nintendo Direct.Bringing musical minigame madness to PC, Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation®4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows Store on 31st October, 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?’
Naturally, the answer is music through a series of increasingly tense rounds of chaotic musical minigames, which test a player’s memory, rhythm, reflexes, reaction time, and (obviously) their ability to rap. Players will showcase their im-peck-able memory skills by copying the commanders’ instructions in Yes Commander; play the piano with a slingshot (yes really) in First Piano Shooter; be the first off the mark and into the solar system in To The Sky; and much, much more across 23 musically inspired minigames as they fight against up to 29 other avians to become the Master Headbanger.
Are you the Master Headbanger?:
Pigeons that flock together … also play games together, and with crossplay enabled multiplayer, no pigeon is too near (or too far) to join in on the Headbangers Rhythm Royale fun, regardless of their platform of choice. Before they can hit the dancefloor however, players will first prune and perfect their pigeon with a wardrobe bursting full of outfits, customisations, and taunts that can be purchased with delicious* breadcrumbs, which are earned by being crowned the top dog pigeon, the Master Headbanger.
*Please do not try and eat the digital breadcrumbs.
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 Twitter, 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 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.
Step into Trepang Studios’ bullet-riddled world of carnage and conspiracies today on PC, and join the bloodshed later this year on PlayStation®5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Wednesday, 21st June 2023 – Team17 Digital and Trepang Studios have today launched grisly, supernatural action shooter, Trepang2, on Steam, and announced that the game will be blasting onto PlayStation®5 and Xbox Series X|S later in 2023.
A spiritual successor to the fast-paced and over-the-top first-person shooters of the mid-2000s, Trepang2 pairs high-octane, first-person gun-fu gameplay with a devastating heavy metal soundtrack, as players embark on a supernatural journey of death, destruction, and corporate conspiracies. Stepping into the boots of a newly enhanced super soldier broken out from a government black site, they’ll arm themselves with an arsenal of weapons while mastering an array of newfound superhuman abilities, all the while hunted by their former captors and even more otherworldly foes.
Your mission begins now. Kill. Them. All.
Trepang2 Key Features
Over-the-top action: Dive into a bullet-filled world of death and destruction and put your combat skills to the test against thousands of highly trained special forces operatives, cultists, and otherworldly foes, who are out for your blood
Explosive Campaign and Horde modes: Play through a thrilling campaign and unravel a deadly supernatural conspiracy, or take on waves of ruthless spec-ops forces and see how long you can survive
Become enhanced: Master an arsenal of game-changing supernatural abilities including time distortion, invisibility, superhuman speed, and otherworldly strength to dominate your enemies
Brutal melee combat: Pulverise foes in close quarters melee combat and eviscerate what’s left in rapid fire gunfights. Punch, kick, slide and string together combos to crush enemies to dust.
Trepang2 is available to purchase from today on Steam for $29.99 US/£24.99/€29.99. To stay up to date, subscribe to the official YouTube channel, follow Trepang Studios on Twitterand join the community on Discord.
About Trepang Studios Trepang Studios was founded in 2019 by a group of four friends from all over the world. Passionate about video games and game development, the team started out as modders before breaking into the games industry. Their debut title, Trepang2, is now available on Steam.
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.
Bandai Namco Europe and Supermassive Games are pleased to announce The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan is available on Nintendo Switch.
After a thrilling first season of The Dark Pictures Anthology, the story that started it all is coming to Nintendo Switch. Players will be able to embark on the horrific and mysterious journey of Man of Medan, as Supermassive Games take their first steps on Nintendo Switch.
In Man of Medan, five friends set sail on a holiday diving trip, as the day unfolds and a storm rolls in their trip soon turns into something much more sinister and terrifying. Players will be able to explore the haunted ship and experience the full story and beyond with the extended playable chapter Flooded and the Curator’s Cut game mode available at launch as well.
Newcomers and fans of the franchise can experience the horrifying atmosphere of Man of Medan either alone or with friends, with online 2 player shared story multiplayer and the offline couch co-op modes with up to 5 players.
Set sail to the horror-stricken story of The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan with this trailer:
The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan is already available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, XBOX One, XBOX Series X|S, PC, and now on Nintendo Switch.
The Dark Pictures Anthology is a series of stand-alone, cinematic horror games, designed to present a new, terrifying experience on a regular basis. Each game features a brand-new story, setting, and new cast of characters.
About Bandai Namco Europe S.A.S.
Bandai Namco Europe S.A.S. is a leading global publisher and developer of entertainment content for platforms including, but not limited to, all major video game consoles and PC.
Bandai Namco Europe is producing intellectual property for a global audience and is building its reputation with franchises such as LITTLE NIGHTMARES™, PARK BEYOND™, and the upcoming UNKNOWN 9™ Awakening – developed by the recently acquired Reflector Entertainment based in Montreal, QC.
Bandai Namco Europe serves as the Headquarters of Bandai Namco Holdings Inc. for mainland Europe, which is known for creating and publishing many of the Toy & Entertainment industry’s top franchises, including PAC-MAN™, TAMAGOTCHI™, GUNDAM™, TEKKEN™, DARK SOULS™ and the recently released ELDEN RING™.
Supermassive Games is a BAFTA-winning independent game developer with a reputation for innovation in both storytelling and VR. The studio has released a number of successful titles and is best known for the critically acclaimed PS4 hit Until Dawn.
Throughout the years the Final Fantasy series has undergone many different changes, with each new release bringing something new to the table. The series has shifted from turn-based, to active turn-based, action with cooldowns, and more along with different tones, settings, and even turning into an MMO. Final Fantasy XVI on the other hand has seen some of the most drastic changes in the series’ history and while many may have been unsure about the direction that Yoshi-P would be taking the game in its next numbered entry, these changes have actually produced an incredibly intriguing and action packed character action game that may move away from the JRPG formula but stands strong on its own merits.
Story
For as long as its residents can remember the land of Valisthea has been blessed by massive magical crystals called the Mothercrystals. These gigantic crystals are used to produce smaller crystals that let anyone use magic capable of living comfortable lives, though those that can innately use magic are treated as less than human and are treated as slaves with brands planted upon their faces. These Branded are abused throughout the continents of Ash and Storm to the point of horrific death though in the nation of Rosaria the kind duke Elwin has made sure to treat Branded humanely, a trait passed down to his sons Clive and Joshua who too possess magical abilities though of a far different nature.
Joshua was born with the power of a Dominant, a being capable of wielding incredible power thanks to an Eikon held within their body. Joshua is the Dominant of the Phoenix and although Clive was not chosen as a Dominant he is still capable of wielding some of the Phoenix’s flames himself. One night as the Rosaria family begins to prepare for their future, they are betrayed by a powerful force that sweeps through their camp, killing Elwin and forcing Joshua to transform into his Phoenix form to survive. As Clive watches in horror, an unknown Eikon known as Ifrit appears during the battle and slays his brother Joshua, leaving Clive the sole survivor who is captured and becomes a new Branded for the Empire. With his brother slain and family betrayed, Clive will do anything to seek revenge against those who took everything from him, even if it means surviving for years as a slave to find his chance. Though far more dangerous forces move throughout the lands of Valisthea that make even the grandest political schemes pale in comparison and Clive will find himself in the middle of a series of events that will change the land forever and put the fate of humanity in his and his allies’ hands..
Final Fantasy XVI tells a grand tale filled with intrigue, plenty of complicated nations that are even further divided by certain factions moving within their borders, a detailed world history, and plenty of little twists and turns surrounded by epic battles on a massive scale that while we can’t go into detail, must be said reach some rather ridiculous levels of detail to the point of being some of the best cinematography I’ve seen in a game. The tone is decidedly darker than most titles in the series and isn’t afraid to show it as brutality is on full display as enemies and other sinister forces inflict pain on the world and especially on those that Clive would call allies. This doesn’t mean that there isn’t some room for levity as there are a few moments of comedy mixed in, primarily thanks to a few relatives that appear in the second half of the game, but players will need to be prepared for a darker story where innocents die for no reason, are killed for sport or as a warning, and much worse as well as a number of other darker themes.
The actual plot of Final Fantasy XVI is also quite detailed as players will initially follow Clive’s journey for revenge as he seeks out the one who killed his family and destroyed his life but not too long after players will begin to unravel a continent spanning tale of powerful machinations, betrayal heaped upon ambition, and a far darker force pulling the strings from behind the scenes. These developments have some great fore-shadowing and while a few twists aren’t as surprising as the writers may have liked, in fact a few are quite obvious including a character that anyone familiar with Game of Thrones will notice has been lifted near wholesale in their motivations as well as numerous other elements blatantly used as reference in the early half of the game, there are a number of shocking events that happen throughout the game as well as plenty of incredibly emotional moments that hit home quite effectively. It is also worth noting that, while the game features a massive cast of characters, it keeps it’s core focus tight with a small group of characters close to Clive that receive plenty of character development and lore that is explored throughout the course of the game, making any scenes they are part of all the more impactful.
One thing that was mentioned when Final Fantasy XVI was in development was that it offered an in-game glossary and while this isn’t anything new for a large RPG, the idea that players can access it at any time including during cutscenes, was. Active Time Lore, or ATL, is a feature that allows players to hold the game’s touchpad during cutscenes and map exploration to pull up a compilation featuring all of the important characters, locations, and even concepts that are currently being discussed in a scene. The game’s writing does use this as a bit of a crutch as there are only a few readable notes throughout the game, minus missives that Clive can receive, and a few concepts aren’t explained through actual dialogue and are only detailed through the game’s glossary. The ATL updates incredibly frequently, sometimes updating from sentence to sentence in a cutscene and offers a great way to not only have in-depth information about any location, faction, or situation but also stay on top of things when numerous factions begin making moves against each other. It also helps expand upon even minor NPCs, giving players a reason to care about their plight, especially when they appear occasionally throughout the course of the player’s journey.
Outside of the main storyline the side-quests that players can undertake in Final Fantasy XVI are also mostly worthwhile. These side quests expand upon the world greatly and show not only the nature of the populace but also some of Clive’s allies as well. In fact, many side characters receive some extensive development throughout side quests that they would otherwise not receive in the main storyline, meaning the real reward for many of these is actually for the story since the objectives are generally generic and rewards are usually awful. These quests may appear in a trickle near the beginning of the game, players will find quite a lot to take on in the second half. That being said, while the title does warn players that there is a certain point of no return near the beginning of the game, Final Fantasy XVI does lock side-quest progression for long periods of time in the latter portion of the game as well with no warning. This means it is entirely possible to be stuck with a number of pending side quests for a long period of time and, since there is no free roam once the game is completed, players will need to make sure they finish everything before heading to the finale.
Gameplay
Over the last few entries Final Fantasy has been shifting away from turn-based combat to the point that their most recent entry barely featured such elements but now Final Fantasy XVI has completed the transition entirely as the game has now shifted entirely into being a character action game with fast paced combat fueled by a flurry of combos, air combos, dodges, skills, parries that slow down time, and of course titanic fights of epic proportion when it comes to boss battles. Players will find themselves battling with only complete control of Clive as they make use of his standard ground combo, air combo, and ability to blast standard magic spells at a distance. Depending on the Eikon he has equipped Clive’s spell element will change and so will his movement skill with Phoenix allowing Clive to zip in close to deal damage, Shiva to dodge and freeze an enemy, Garuda to either grab and pull smaller enemies close to him or stun larger foes that are already partially staggered, and much more with each of the Eikon’s that he has equipped also offering two changeable skills that he can use that depend on cooldowns. While Clive can obtain seven different Eikons throughout the course of the game, he can only have three equipped at a time, swapping between these three on the fly during a fight.
While standard enemies can be defeated with ease simply by using combo attacks and special Eikon skills, larger enemies will feature a stagger gauge. Dealing damage, dodging and executing counter attacks, and hitting enemies with skills will deplete their meter and leave them staggered when it is broken. When an enemy is staggered players will be able to build up a damage multiplier the more hits they land, meaning the first blow may only deal an extra 1.05 damage while some final blows can max out at 1.5. This leads to some rather fun optimization as players try to time their skills properly to make the most of using fast hitting weaker abilities first before laying waste to an enemy with a powerful long cooldown spell to make the most out of a staggered damage boost.
There is a certain level of skill and optimization available in every fight and it must be said that Final Fantasy XVI‘s combat just feels incredibly smooth and fun to use. Perfectly dodging an attack to counter an enemy with a charged blow that sends them flying, zipping into the air after them and punishing them further is always a delight and makes for some excellent action gameplay that isn’t too deep but has plenty of room for complex combinations. Eventually players will gain the ability to “Limit Break” in Final Fantasy XVI which allows Clive to enter his “part-Primed” state with his Eikon. While in this mode not only does Clive restore health but also deals faster attacks with increased damage. The limit break gauge works the same as a certain series’ Devil Trigger except when canceled it burns the entire gauge. It is a bit disappointing that all skills related to buffing or debuffing are completely gone from the player’s skill set as only enemies will make use of buff spells and elemental damage types play zero factor into damage, such as flame enemies taking just as much damage from fire spells as ice. This lack of deeper complexity is a disappointment especially given the series’ RPG lineage.
Most of the time players will not be fighting alone and while the various NPCs that fight alongside Clive cannot be directly controlled, one that will almost always be alonside him can be given some commands and that character is the trusty wolfhound Torgal. Players can make use of the D-Pad to swap from their quick item use menu to Torgal’s commands and have him cast light healing, zip in to deal damage, or even work as a launcher that will send weaker enemies flying into the air giving Clive plenty of room to take them down with juggling skills. It is worth noting that those who want an easier and flashier experience can also make use of a number of accessories that make combat easier or offer some quality of life elements. These can be things such as making time slow down to allow for easier dodging to having Torgal fight on his own without the player giving him commands. Since players only have room for three accessories, these assistance items will make it so players cannot use others that provide stat boosts or reduce ability cooldown but, since most only offer minor boosts, they aren’t missing out on much.
Boss battles in Final Fantasy XVI are another beast entirely. While many may feature standard battling mechanics for part of a fight, they almost always evolve into massive scale battles that would put nearly any other big monster fight to shame. Combat in Eikon battles is simpler as players only have access to standard combo chains with two skills coming way too late into the game to be enjoyed. Since boss battles are treated as cinematic affairs, not only do they often feature a wide array of quick time events such as cinematic clashes, dodges, and strikes but even button mashing segments to provide extra flair. Unfortunately this cinematic nature does hurt combat sometimes as players can easily “out damage” a fight’s progress meaning they will deal no actual damage to the boss until enough time passes, though they will receive damage all the same. In one instance this led to a death that otherwise would have been completely avoidable if the boss wasn’t invulnerable for nearly a minute for dramatic flourish.
Now, it is worth noting that the RPG elements and exploration in Final Fantasy XVI is incredibly simple. As mentioned before players can only equip up to three accessories at a time and equipment boils down to Clive’s sword, armor, and one piece of extra gear. Players can use skill points obtained from fights to upgrade and master various Eikonic abilities, with a no cost reset being available for ease of customization, but otherwise players have very few options to actually customize their character outside of their skills. Exploring the world is incredibly basic with there being no real incentive to do so as chests offer pathetic rewards, usually in the form of crafting ingredients of which there is very little of worth to actually craft to the point I was hitting the item limit of some ingredients, and the linear levels that players travel through offer little in the way of unique monsters with the game quickly recycling the appearance of standard enemies with slight differences for each region with a number of signature enemies unique to Final Fantasy not being in the game.
What unique monsters are available are highlighted through a “Hunt Board” manned by the game’s only Moogle that gives clues as to where a special monster may be fought for a reward that often can only be used to craft an item that will quickly be overpowered by the next sword sold through the game’s main store. Town exploration is rather simple, with towns being small and featuring crowds of people with extra bits of ambient dialogue that change as the game progresses but, other than to take on side-quests, offer little else to do as all shops not in the player’s main hideaway are useless. As mentioned before, the side-quests’ true rewards are the story they unveil as actual gameplay involving these quests is very basic. They nearly all boil down to either talking to certain characters or killing an enemy somewhere in a field with the reward often being more crafting ingredients and renown. Renown can be accrued to obtain extra rewards such as new accessories and some quests even provide a boost to how much Clive’s potions heal or even how many he can carry, something that is essential as the starting amount is incredibly small.
Sadly outside of the aforementioned side-quests and hunting board, there is very little else to actually do outside of the main quest. Players will find that there is a combat trial option to test their abilities, a time attack mode that can be unlocked with extra challenges that limit what skills and equipment Clive can use that have small rewards, and a replay mode that allows players to go back through stages they’ve already beat to fight and obtain actual style points or gain extra XP and skill points, though even standard gameplay will see players out-pacing enemies by several levels. Once players complete the game Final Fantasy XVI does offer a New Game Plus option including a higher difficulty level that raises the level cap, unlocks the ability to obtain the game’s legendary weapon, and adjusts enemy and boss positions to spice things up for those looking to dive back into the game with their already powered up Clive.
Visuals & Audio
Final Fantasy XVI is a gorgeous game straight out. Players will find that not only are character models incredibly detailed but the special effects for everything ranging from the simplest Eikon skills used in combat to the epically bombastic boss battles are just amazing to watch. Seriously, some of these boss fights had cinematic segments that were simply unbelievable for a video game. That being said, it is best recommended to play the game in quality mode rather than in performance mode as quality mode at least tries its hardest to lock the game’s frame rate to a consistent state with only stacking large scale spells having any sign of slowdown. The same cannot be said about performance mode and while Square Enix did release a patch that was meant to address these issues, slowdown is still a frequent occurrence that is quite noticeable during even simple battles against normal enemies, let alone the Eikon boss battles. As such it is best to simply enjoy the graphical fidelity and consistent frame rate over performance mode.
With Final Fantasy XVI Square Enix developed the game primarily for the English dub and it shows as the English voice cast both sound amazing and fit their roles perfectly here. The soundtrack deserves some truly special praise as well as the game features such a wide array of music ranging from tender tunes for emotional moments to bombastic sounding music, including vocals sometimes, for the larger than life Eikon fights. Music played during exploration and standard fights flow together wonderfully and even the Chocobo riding music has returned. Final Fantasy XVI‘s soundtrack may just be the best one of the year at this point and easily the best that the series has ever had.
Overall
Final Fantasy XVI tells its epic by taking series lore in an entirely new direction and its use of ATL makes keeping up with Clive’s intricate journey a breeze. With such a gripping narrative, the game’s lack of worthwhile side content and minimal RPG mechanics may disappoint many but in its place comes an action packed combat system that is simply incredible and stands as one of the best feeling character action games in memory. Combine this with some of the most drop dead gorgeous cinematic clashes and an orchestral soundtrack that stands as one of the best in series history and Final Fantasy XVI stands out as an incredible action game with some growing pains.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
During today’s “Metaphor: ReFantazio Special Celebration Livestream!” in Japan, the Metaphor: ReFantazio development team announced that the upcoming fantasy RPG will launch on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 in 2024, in addition to the previously announced Xbox Series X version.
You can watch the entire English subtitled livestream video here.
In addition to the announcement of support for additional platforms, the team also broke down the trailer and discussed development of the title, the concept behind the game, the world and more with Studio Zero director Katsura Hashino, character designer Shigenori Soejima, and composer Shoji Meguro.
A standalone English subtitled interview video with them here.
Topics in the interview include:
What meaning does the word “Metaphor” signify in the game?
What does a true fantasy world look like in the style of ATLUS?
Tell us a little bit about the game world?
What message do you want to convey through this fantasy RPG?
How did the team envision the unique style for this game?
Do you have a message for ATLUS and RPG fans?
How did you express this game’s world through music?
From the creative minds of the Persona series – Metaphor: ReFantazio marks ATLUS’ first ever, full-scale fantasy RPG, brought to you by director Katsura Hashino, character designer Shigenori Soejima, and composer Shoji Meguro. Write your destiny and rise above fear as you step into a fantasy world unlike anything you’ve seen before. Fraught with unsettling mystery, the kingdom stands on a precipice. Now, you must embark on a journey, overcoming obstacles and forging bonds with friends.
Watch the announcement trailer for Metaphor: ReFantazio here.
Sydney, Australia, June 21, 2023 – Microids is very pleased to announce that the highly anticipated sequel to The Sisters: Party of the Year, the video game The Sisters 2: Road to Fame will be available on October 5th, 2023 in digital and physical editions on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and digitally on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC/MAC.
Go on an adventure, alone or with friends, in this new open-world Party Game, and enjoy a brand original story inspired by the bubbly and colourful universe of the successful comic series “The Sisters”, where creative ideas come as fast as silly ones! Complete mini games, take on a variety of quests in complete freedom, and become the next superstar of the networks!
About The Sisters 2 – Road to Fame:
Double the trouble, double the fun, our Sisters are back to cause twice the chaos!
The story begins when you and your favourite sister are gifted a tablet to reward your good grades. Your sister immediately creates an account on a trendy social network, not only to share her adventures with her best friends, but also for something else… As your beloved yet mischievous sister, she wants to surpass the fame of your own account to become the new popular influencer in town!
Our favourite Sisters will have to compete in a frenzied race for followers!
Features:
Explore the town with its new places and upgraded designs, meet the inhabitants and take up all the challenges of the 24 super-influencers in town in the Adventure Mode!
24 crazy new mini-games to beat the scores: Toma-throw, Laser game, Blop-blop diving, Crazy cooking…
Enjoy the 4 multiplayers modes to challenge your friends and your family.
Collect all the gift cards by completing all the missions, unlock stylish items and customise your Sister to become the fanciest!
Replay the game endlessly as Marine or Wendy and try to unlock the secret ending…
The Sisters 2: Road to Fame will be available on October 5th 2023 in digital and physical editions on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and digitally on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC/MAC.
About Microids
Microids is a French video game publisher. Founded in 1985, Microids’ editorial strategy now focuses on 4 major areas: adventure games, racing games, retro gaming and games inspired by iconic titles. By collaborating with renowned studios and authors (Revolution Software, Sloclap, Oddworld Inhabitants, Pendulo Studios, Eden Studios, Go Nagai, Charles Cecil, Benoît Sokal, Paul Cuisset…), Microids has become a major player in international video games. Taking inspiration from legendary titles, Microids reaches a wide audience and creates original adventures which give gamers the chance to play as some of their most beloved characters.
About Bamboo Edition
20 years ago, who would have thought that the small publishing house from Burgundy would impose its style in the comic book’s world and that it would make a series of success with the collections JOBS (The Teachers), SPORT (The Rugbymen) and GIRLS (The Sisters). Year after year, Bamboo has developed a rich and a family catalog having its heart on offering high-quality books. The birth of labels such as Grand Angle (emotions) in 2001, Doki-Doki (mangas) in 2006, Drakoo (fantasy) in 2019, and the purchase of the magazine Fluide Glacial in 2016, gives it the unmissable general publisher status. Today, passion for books and authors remains the same. And the group Bamboo overflows with ideas and projects to offer new perspectives while remaining faithful to its values: respect, sincerity, curiosity… and fun!
Today, Halo Infinite Season 4: Infection became available to play on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows 10 and Steam.
In addition to the fan-favorite Infection mode, Season 4 also brings:
Career Rank, a new career progression system
Two new maps – Arena’s “Forest” and Big Team Battle’s “Scarr”
New equipment including Threat Seeker and Quantum Translocator
Armor and weapon customization
An all-new 100-level premium Battle Pass that never expires
Forge updates, including a new minigame mode and forerunner objects
For more information on Season 4: Infection, check out the launch-day post on Halo Waypoint.
Last week on Xbox Wire, the 343 Industries development team detailed the new, upcoming content and the future of Halo Infinite live service.
The team also shared the Season 4 launch trailer and a livestream on YouTube and Twitch last week discussing Halo Infinite’s latest content. For all things Halo Infinite, stay tuned to Xbox Wire, Halo Waypoint and @Halo on Twitter.
It’s been one year since PlayStation rolled out the new PlayStation Plus tiered plans, and today PlayStation is celebrating this milestone with 10 days of exciting activities for PlayStation’s community.
From Tuesday, 20 June through Friday, 30 June, there will be a number of activities for both PlayStation Plus members and non-members to participate in. See below for a wrap of all the special events and updates as part of the PlayStation Plus Celebration, on top of the usual awesome PlayStation Plus features and benefits.
Join the PlayStation Plus celebration for an opportunity to win a PS5 console and the groundbreaking PS VR2 headset with the PS VR2 Sense controller. To participate, head over to the link above PlayStation Plus website and answer five questions about the service. This campaign runs from Tuesday, 20 June- Friday, 30 June. Be sure to check out the PlayStation Plus webpage for more details!
Starting in Australia on Tuesday, 20 June at 8PM – Friday, 30 June at 3:59PM local time.
(for PlayStation Plus members and non-PlayStation Plus members)
To mark this occasion, all members will receive a voucher code to redeem custom avatars that commemorate some of the popular titles offered through PlayStation Plus. Be on the lookout for an email, or check the link above for a voucher code that can be redeemed from Tuesday, 20 June to Friday, 30 June.
A free PlayStation Plus wallpaper illustration for desktop and mobile will also be available; check the link above between Tuesday, 20 June to Friday, 30 June to download the wallpaper.
As part of the celebrations, PlayStation is taking inspiration from the memorable 2022 PlayStation Plus Mr. Malcolm spot, which debuted alongside the new plan offerings. Three exclusive digital collectible rings will be available through the following campaigns, which will run from Tuesday, 20 June through Friday, 30 June.
(for players with or without a PlayStation Plus membership)
Sackboy is back to celebrate PlayStation Plus with another round of Speedrun challenges. Starting on Saturday, 24 June at 12:01am through Sunday, 25 June at 11:59PM AEST, enter for a chance to win a 3-month PlayStation Plus Deluxe membership. Sackboy: a Big Adventure is currently part of the Game Catalogue for PlayStation Plus Extra and Deluxe members, and non-members can also join the challenge if they own the title. To participate, simply select the challenge card from the Sackboy Game Hub on a PS5. Players can also locate the challenge in-game within the Knitted Knight Trials via the Pause Menu or World Map. More details are available on the link above.
Get ready for another online multiplayer weekend starting Saturday, 24 June at 12:01am through Sunday, 25 June at 11:59PM AEST and play against, or alongside, other players online. Online multiplayer is available without a PlayStation Plus membership during this time.
PlayStation Plus Celebration: Game Catalogue
(for PlayStation Plus Extra and Deluxe members)
Pay homage to PlayStation Plus Game Catalogue by playing any one of these recent Game Catalogue additions to get the Game Catalogue digital collectible: Final Fantasy VII Remake, Demon’s Souls, Yakuza Kiwami, Uncharted Legacy of Thieves Collection, or Assassin’s Creed The Ezio Collection.
PlayStation Plus Celebration: Classic Catalogue
(for PlayStation Plus Deluxe members)
Step back in time and celebrate a year of the PlayStation Plus Classic Catalogue with the Classics Catalogue digital collectible. To unlock this special digital collectible, players need to launch the four games that match the hints provided once the campaign begins.
