Encounter mesmerising new dinosaurs with Jurassic World Evolution 2: Feathered Species PackFeaturing four stunning land and air-dwelling feathered species
Cambridge, UK – March 23, 2022 Frontier Developments plc (AIM: FDEV) today announced Jurassic World Evolution 2: Feathered Species Pack, a new PDLC available Thursday 30th March on PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, Windows Store and GeForce Now, PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation®4 and Xbox One for a suggested retail price of £5.99/$7.99/€7.99.
Jurassic World Evolution 2: Feathered Species Pack invites players to expand their parks with four eye-catching prehistoric species, each sporting magnificent plumage that is bound to captivate guests.
Yutyrannus, whose name translates as ‘feathered tyrant,’ lives up to its moniker as one of the largest known feathered carnivores ever discovered. First discovered in Northeast China, this bipedal predator boasts a light yet dense coat that insulates against cold weather conditions.
Equally as mesmerising is Jeholopterus, an agile flying reptile whose only paleontological specimen is among the best preserved of any pterosaur. The smallest species to weave through the skies in Jurassic Word Evolution 2 to date, Jeholopterus is said to have exhibited a coat of short, delicate fibres. Guests will be able to spot the diminutive species feeding from the new insectivore feeder.
Park managers can also welcome Deinocheirus, one of the largest ornithomimosaurs ever discovered. While its long arms, duck-like bill, and humped back cut an intimidating figure, Deinocheirus is the second omnivorous species to arrive in Jurassic World Evolution 2, and is the first to feed on both plants and fish.
As well as these majestic marvels, Sinosauropteryx is a fascinating addition to any park. Discovered in 1996, this compact pack-hunter’s fossil was the first to suggest the existence of feathered dinosaurs. Guests will delight at its long, striped tail and thick feathered coat.
The PDLC arrives alongside an exciting free update offering existing players a range of new features and enhancements. The new Log Viewing Gallery and Dome Viewing Gallery bring avid builders even more ways for their guests to observe pre-historic residents, while the introduction of a Cinematic Camera Mode allows players to capture their parks in all their splendour. Zip line variants and additional square levels allow players to get even more creative.
Jurassic World Evolution 2: Feathered Species Pack and free content update require the Jurassic World Evolution 2 base game to download and play. Jurassic World Evolution 2 is available onPC via Steam, Epic Games Store, Windows Store, and GeForce Now, PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation®4, and Xbox One for a suggested retail price of £49.99/$59.99/€59.99. Jurassic World Evolution 2 is also available to play via Xbox Game Pass.
About Jurassic World Evolution 2 Jurassic World Evolution 2 is the critically acclaimed sequel to Frontier’s highly successful Jurassic World Evolution, building upon the ground-breaking and immersive 2018 management simulation. It introduces a compelling, new narrative campaign, incredible new features and awe-inspiring new dinosaurs brought to life with captivating authenticity. Together with expanded construction and more customisation options, the result is an even bigger, better and more authentic Jurassic World game.
About Frontier Frontier is a leading independent developer and publisher of videogames founded in 1994 by David Braben, co-author of the iconic Elite game. Based in Cambridge, Frontier uses its proprietary COBRA game development technology to create innovative genre-leading games, primarily for personal computers and videogame consoles. As well as self-publishing internally developed games, Frontier also publishes games developed by carefully selected partner studios under its Frontier Foundry games label.
About the Jurassic World Franchise
From Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment, Jurassic World immerses audiences of all ages in a new era of wonder and thrills where dinosaurs and humankind must learn to coexist. Jurassic World is more than a film franchise. At every turn, this nearly $6 billion film series delivers a larger-than-life destination for exploration, discovery, and epic adventure. Dinosaurs live again and they live in Jurassic World.
About Universal Games and Digital Platforms Universal’s Games and Digital Platforms group leverages the vast portfolio of IP and characters from NBCUniversal. The Games and Digital Platforms group is a business unit of Universal Products & Experiences (UP&E), which is chartered with globally expanding the company’s intellectual properties, franchises, characters and stories through innovative physical and digital products, engaging retail and product experiences across our expansive global theme park destinations (for both owned and 3rd party IP), location-based venues, e-commerce product platforms, and retailers around the world. Along with global brand strategy and creative, UP&E’s three lines of business include Consumer Products, Games and Digital Platforms, as well as Theme Parks Products & Retail. The company’s extensive portfolio includes properties created by Universal Pictures, Illumination, DreamWorks Animation, and NBCUniversal Television and Streaming. UP&E is part of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. www.universalproductsexperiences.com.
Steam wishlists now open for the free-to-play, online multiplayer third-person shooter with more than 2.3 million registered players
March 22, 2023 | Nicosia, Cyprus – Following extensive global playtests and a European open beta, 1C Game Studios is officially releasing its free-to-play, tactical team-based shooter, Caliber, worldwide Q2 2023.
An online multiplayer third-person shooter, Caliber’s gameplay is based on tactical cooperation between players, who each take on one of four roles represented by dozens of operators. Offering PVP and PVE, the key to victory in Caliber is a proper assessment of the situation at hand and coordinated teamwork among all players.
There are 68 playable operators in Caliber, with 17 real-world special forces units across 12 countries, including USA, UK, Israel, Germany and France. Each operator in Caliber has a unique set of skill sets, weapons and special abilities:
Assault – The fastest unit, capable of flanking the enemy to get behind their lines.
Marksman – Provides cover and eliminates targets at long range.
Medic – Heals and revives allies and is effective in combat at close and medium range.
Support – Heavily armed operator with lots of HP and armor. The Support’s main goal is to divert the enemy’s attention and disrupt their attacks.
Caliber was launched into open beta during late 2019, and has been constantly evolving from player feedback since then.
Steam wishlists for Caliber are now open, with the publisher confirming language support in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
ABOUT 1C GAME STUDIOS 1C Game Studios was founded in December 2012.In 2014, the studio’s first project, IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad, was released. Almost ten years later, more than 30 games have been released in the IL-2 Sturmovik: Great Battles franchise.All the while, the world-renowned flight simulator continues to evolve. In 2023, 1CGS plans to release new products in the series.
In January 2015, we began developing Caliber, a tactical online shooter. In December 2019, we launched open beta testing. In early 2023, the project’s audience reached 2.3 million players. 1C Game Studios actively supports existing projects as well as developing new works that are yet to be announced.
Video game publisher and developer Bandai Namco Europe S.A.S. announced today Ni no Kuni™ II: Revenant Kingdom – The Prince’s Edition launching for Xbox Game Pass on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows PC.
Five years after its first release, the critically acclaimedNi no Kuni™ II: Revenant Kingdom – The Prince’s Edition joins the Microsoft platform, launching today for Xbox Game Pass on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows PC. Developed by LEVEL-5, the game is a result of the collaboration between two Studio Ghibli legends: animator and graphic designer Yoshiyuki Momose, who worked on character design, and world-famous music composer Joe Hisaishi.
Ni no Kuni™ II: Revenant Kingdom – The Prince’s Edition tells the story of Evan Pettwhisker Tildrum, whose promised throne of Ding Dong Dell was lost in a coup. The young Evan and his friends set sail on a journey to establish a new kingdom and unite the world under the reign of happiness.
Players will be able to discover the endearing story of Evan and play the two DLC included in the Prince’s Edition: The Lair of the Lost Lord, and The Tales of a Timeless Tome. Both contain new quests on which the young hero and his friends embark, as well as new items, equipment, and one dungeon each: Labyrinth and Solosseum Slog.
For more information on Ni no Kuni™ II: Revenant Kingdom – The Prince’s Edition and other products from Bandai Namco Europe please visit: www.bandainamcoent.eu. Join the conversation on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/BandaiNamcoEU
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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™.
TUCSON, Ariz. – March 22, 2023 –POSTAL 4: No Regerts®, the stress-relieving first-person shooter in Running With Scissors’ classic franchise enjoyed by millions, criticized and scorned by the media, governments, and courts for the past twenty-five years lights up the PlayStation party with a two-for-one launch on Sony’s PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 today.
For the first time, experience the current new offering of Running With Scissors’ POSTAL franchise on a Sony console. Bigger, bolder, and better than ever before, POSTAL 4 lets degenerates define their experience by choosing their identity, wardrobe, and voice – including performances by the iconic original Rick Hunter, Corey Cruise, Zack Ward, and the legendary Jon St. John. Suit up and step into a chaotic spin on the American Dream where poorly made decisions, comedic disasters, and more guns than a doomsday prepper could dream of are all par for the course.
Start a new life in the city of Edensin as the POSTAL Dude attempts to adjust to the 9-to-5 grind. Spend a week to achieve the American Dream in a surreal and ironic open-world sandbox setting where anything is possible. Take on challenging and eclectic gigs to earn cash, like moonlighting as a bidet installer, helping American citizens escape to Mexico to find work, and high-octane scooter racing. Approach open-ended errands and side missions creatively, opting to play as a Good Samaritan favoring pacifism, or use an over-the-top arsenal to deal with problems directly.
Conduct an orchestra of disorder with an imaginative armory of weapons and tools like the Dilbow (we’re not kidding) and the Fournicator (get your mind out of the gutter, it’s a four-barreled shotgun) boomerang machetes, cat-induced silencers, and much more. Immerse yourself in Edensin like never before thanks to DualSense-exclusive features empowering the POSTAL Dude to unzip his pants with a single swipe of the trackpad, and feel the kick of each weapon with tailored haptic feedback and adaptive trigger pulls, among other enhancements and improvements.
“The day is here after twenty-five years in the making. Today’s launch of POSTAL 4: No Regerts on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 marks the first time a mainline POSTAL game has graced Sony’s hardware and we couldn’t be happier,” said Vince Desi, founder of Running With Scissors. “Take a trip to Edinsin and experience true immersion like never before. After all, what other game gives you the ability to unzip your character’s fly with a simple swipe?”
Founded in 1996, Running With Scissors is one of the oldest indie studios in the game industry. RWS focuses on creating socially conscious games andsignature experiences focused more on making people laugh than making sure everyone is comfortable.
To learn more aboutRunning With Scissors, please visit the website at gopostal.com.
SANTA MONICA, Calif. – March 21, 2023 – Crash Bandicoot™ and his team are back in an all-new spin on Crash™ with a 4v4 team-based multiplayer unlike anything fans have seen before! In development by Toys For Bob™ and published by Activision Publishing, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI),Crash Team Rumble is expected to launch on June 20, 2023. Starting today, fans can pre-order Crash Team Rumble to receive access to the Closed Beta*, scheduled to take place April 20-24. This early preview allows fans to play the game ahead of launch, and provides Toys For Bob the opportunity to partner with the community to create the best game experience for launch.
The Crash Team Rumble Closed Beta will feature five heroes and villains from the Crash universe and three unique arenas full of color, danger, and surprising strategic advantages, with the charm and personality that Toys for Bob is known for. Fans who jump into the Closed Beta can play as Crash Bandicoot, Coco, Tawna, Neo Cortex and Dingodile – and will be able to pair their hero with unique equipable powers and strategically use special moves and abilities to win. In the Closed Beta, squads can select from three colorful and varied maps – each varying in size, layout, challenges and Relic Stations that unlock unique powers to give teams the upper hand against their opponents.
“We’re incredibly excited for fans to get an early hands-on with Crash Team Rumble during April’s Closed Beta” said Paul Yan, Co-Studio Head at Toys For Bob. “We truly value the community’s feedback and will use this input to fine tune the game for an amazing player experience on launch day. See you in the Closed Beta!”
In Crash Team Rumble, fans can play from a roster of friends and frenemies from the Crash universe, each of which fall into one of the three roles – Blocker, Booster, or Scorer. Teams strategically utilize the different roles to work together to be the first to bank the most Wumpa fruit in their drop-off zone, while simultaneously defending their opponent team’s drop zone. Unique Relic Powers bring an additional strategic element to the game, which squadmates can use to gain the upper hand when scoring, leading their team to victory. Crash Team Rumble features cross-platform play**, allowing players across multiple consoles to squad up and jump into the competition.
Crash Team Rumblewill be released on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox® Series X/S and Xbox One® for $29.99 SRP for the Standard Edition, and $39.99 SRP for the Deluxe Edition. The Crash Team Rumble Standard Edition features the full game, additional post-launch seasonal content and limited time modes, access to the Closed Beta (for those who pre-order) and the Season 1 Premium Battle Pass. The Deluxe Edition features all the content from the Standard Edition, plus 25 Battle Pass Tiers Instantly Unlocked during Season 1, the Season 2 Premium Battle Pass, and the digital “Proto Pack,” which includes a host of customization options for each hero and villain at launch and other items. Both editions grant players access to exciting post-launch seasonal content.
For more information and to pre-order, head to theofficial Crash Bandicoot site, and be sure to follow @CrashBandicoot onInstagram, Twitter, Facebook andTikTok for more news and information about Crash Team Rumble.
About Activision
Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision is a leading global producer and publisher of interactive entertainment connecting hundreds of millions of players around the world through the joy, fun and thrill of competition enabled by epic entertainment. Activision maintains operations throughout the world and is a division of Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI), an S&P 500 company. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company’s website at www.activision.com or by following @Activision.
Check out the new gameplay teaser for the next entry in the award-winning micro-strategy series, coming later this year to PC and consoles
STOCKHOLM – March 20, 2023 – Raw Fury has announced that Kingdom Eighties, the next standalone game in the award-winning micro-strategy series previously revealed for PC, will also launch later this year on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch. The news was unveiled at The MIX Direct Spring 2023 Online Showcase with a new gameplay teaser exploring the levels of Kingdom Eighties, which will take the franchise to urban settings for the first time.
Raw Fury is currently booking press appointments for Kingdom Eighties at this week’s Game Developers Conference. Kingdom franchise creative director Gordon Van Dyke will be on hand to showcase an exclusive overview of the game’s second level.
Kingdom Eighties is a love letter to the nostalgic days of summer camps, riding bikes, and sitting around in your pajamas on a Saturday morning in front of the TV. You play as the Leader, a young camp counselor who must protect the town from the relentless attacks of the mysterious Greed. The neighborhood kids will be at your side, and you’ll also find some new friends along the way: The Champ, the Tinkerer, and the Wiz will lend you their skills and support in battle.
Key Features:
A Kingdom Game for All: Kingdom Eighties adds a new storytelling approach that builds on the series’ well-known mechanics. Recruit neighborhood kids, assign them roles as builders or soldiers, and expand your territory while uncovering the secrets of your family lineage, the Greed, and the Crown of Creation.
Stronger Together: You don’t have to ride alone in this story of four unlikely heroes and their friendship. The Champ, the Tinkerer and the Wiz will join your band and offer a variety of strategies to discover with their unique abilities.
Hit the Streets in Style: Travel to new locations never before seen in a Kingdom game, crafted with the series’ distinctive pixel-art magic. Find fresh wheels at the skateboard park, visit the shops on Main Street, and free the New Lands Mall from the Greed.
Kingdom Eighties is available to wishlist now on Steam. For more information, visit the game’s official website.
About Fury Studios
Fury Studios, founded in 2019 by Raw Fury, is based in Zagreb, Croatia, and Stockholm, Sweden. Almost thirty employees are currently taking care of the development of the Kingdom franchise and West of Dead. In addition, Fury Studios supplies 2D/3D asset production and animations, technical support, multi-platform porting, code optimizations and quality control for Raw Fury’s various partners and titles.
About Raw Fury
Raw Fury is a boutique indie (un)publisher founded in 2015 by Jonas Antonsson, Gordon Van Dyke, and David Martinez. We do not care about genres or mechanics. We care about experiences and emotions. We want to help developers make magic.
To celebrate the launch of the next generation of virtual reality gaming, the PlayStation®VR2, PlayStation Australia teams up with Aussie larrikins, Aunty Donna in a hilarious new skit. In the video, Aunty Donna’s Mark Bonanno is excited to show off the new PlayStation®VR2 to his best mates, Zach and Broden, and have them play Horizon Call of the Mountain… until he realises he has accidentally double booked them and only has one headset!
To avoid awkwardness, Mark creates a makeshift headset to try and replicate the immersive experience only found on PS VR2 including the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers of the Sense controllers, 3D audio, and 4K OLED display.
See if you can spot which headset is real and which is fake.
In the video, viewers can see the different environments you will encounter in Horizon Call of the Mountain including climbing and swimming as well as encountering some of the deadly machines from the world of Horizon.
Horizon Call of the Mountain allows you to experience the majestic world of Horizon like never before with PlayStation®VR2. The stunning visuals and innovative features of the new PS VR2 Sense controllers fully immerse you into the world of Horizon for an experience like no other. Ascend the towering peaks of the Carja Sundom as Ryas, a disgraced former soldier, and unravel a new mystery surrounding the machines to redeem yourself and save your people. You will also meet Aloy, other familiar faces, and new characters along the way. To find out more about Horizon Call of the Mountain, head to PlayStation.com.
A media kit featuring the full video and hi-res imagery can be found here.
There is a reason that Resident Evil 4 has been released on nearly every console since it was released on the GameCube back in 2005. The title ushered in a drastic change in the Resident Evil series that saw it shift from a fixed camera perspective and survival horror into a faster paced action horror game that still featured classic elements from prior entries, creating a unique title that established itself as a classic that many fans remember fondly. Now with Capcom bringing out the excellent Resident Evil 2 and mostly great Resident Evil 3 remakes, it is time for this classic game to get the same treatment. So now that it has been remade, is Resident Evil 4 perhaps everything that fans could have hoped for or was this classic best left untouched?
Story
It has been six years since Leon survived the events of the zombie-filled streets of Raccoon City, escaping just before its ultimate destruction. As a survivor of such a bio outbreak, Leon found himself selected by the US government to undergo special training and now with this training under his belt, this latest mission may be his most challenging yet. Leon has been sent to a deeply rural location in Europe to rescue the President’s daughter after she was kidnapped and taken away with no mention of a ransom. When he arrives, not only does his local police escort quickly meet their demise but Leon finds himself facing off against the seemingly psychotic and obviously infected residents of the village, but with the ability to speak, wield weapons, and seemingly coordinate with each other, this is far different from Raccoon City.
Playing through Resident Evil 4 feels like slipping on a favorite suit that has been freshly tailored to expand a few areas and tightened up in others but a little itchy here and there. The remake features nearly all of the same story elements of the original but has expanded quite a few areas of the game to not only make a bit more sense but also provide extra details and lore behind certain characters. Along these same lines, the game has toned down a few of the more ridiculous areas as well, though hints about them are still present should players keep their eyes out. Speaking of toned down, one element that is unfortunately changed a bit is the way the campy dialogue is approached.
When the original Resident Evil 4 was released it featured plenty of the series’ familiar camp to go along with its new action-oriented gameplay and while Leon will still make quips and various wise-cracks while fighting enemies and repeat signature lines from the original with a solid amount of humor here and there, the overall camp has been reduced, especially in the Castle section of the storyline. One element of the storyline and the atmosphere itself in Resident Evil 4 that has seen an upgrade is the horror element. Players will be in for quite a sight in many areas as grotesque displays aren’t uncommon throughout the village and other horrors await deeper into the game, especially when it comes to providing some solid scares to highlight that Resident Evil 4 is still an action horror title through and through.
Now, while we can’t go into specifics here, it is nice to note that the characters in Resident Evil 4 are also far more developed than before between the aforementioned expanded lore and the many new interactions the cast have with one another. This not only allows players to get an extra glimpse into this familiar cast but shines a new light on some elements, especially in regards to Luis as well as the growing familiarity between Ashley and Leon throughout their escape. It is a bit unfortunate however that, despite the fact that Separate Ways has been a long-standing inclusion in all versions of Resident Evil 4 after the original release that it is not actually included in this remake, leaving players with only a New Game+ with some small additional offerings once the story is completed.
Gameplay
Although Leon may be facing off against unknown dangers, his training and combat skills make him more than up to the task to survive the horrors that await him. Players will find that the ability to move while aiming and shooting makes the game feel far more fluid than before, though movement does come at the cost of precise aiming. This level of mobility also means that the enemies that players face off against have also been given a significant improvement both in number and hostility. While one standard enemy won’t stand a chance against Leon, many encounters involve facing off against multiple foes who will swarm, flank, throw weaponry, and even grab the player to leave them wide open for attack. This aggression means that players will always need to be on their toes and make use of their weapons as best as possible since ammunition can still be a bit limited, though a new crafting mechanic that allows for ammo to be crafted can help alleviate some of these troubles.
Of course, should Leon be damaged he still has access to a wide array of healing items ranging from the classic herbs including the yellow herb that increases his maximum health to fish, eggs, and even vipers. It is also worth noting that while players always had to be wary of both Leon’s health as well as Ashley’s health in the original game, that is no longer the case in Resident Evil 4. Rather than have a health bar, Ashley will now be “incapacitated” when struck and immediately killed if hit again in this position, though rescuing her is a simple button press that takes no resources. That being said, she can still be grabbed and carried away if players are a bit too careless when it comes to enemy management.
Perhaps one of the biggest changes to combat in Resident Evil 4, outside of the ability to crouch and sneak around, is the way the knife is handled. Rather than only being used to smash crates and take swipes at downed enemies, the combat knife now has a durability meter and can be used for a large number of things during fighting, though everything drains some of its durability. Players can now parry incoming attacks from enemies including weapon slashes, grabs, and even crossbow bolts with proper timing with a “perfect” parry not only reducing the amount of damage done to the knife but often stunning the enemy as well. The knife can also be used to instantly escape from an enemy grapple including a wide variety of boss attacks though using it in this manner drains a large amount of meter. Along these same lines, players can make use of the crouching stealth mechanics to stealth kill enemies from behind and also deal with a new enemy mechanic. In the original, defeated enemies would occasionally burst into large deadly threats when killed and that is still the case in the remade Resident Evil 4 however Leon can now finish off a downed enemy before it transforms using his knife. Should his trusty knife break, Leon can have it repaired at the merchant and even upgraded to be sturdier, though players can also find a number of weaker expendable knives in their journey.
Not only are enemies far more aggressive this time around but many have also been given small revamps in various ways. Not only does this include the various transformed enemies and the way they can attack players but even the bosses themselves as a number have been reworked and retooled in surprising ways. It is also nice to note that an entirely new enemy type has been added into the game. One thing that has been removed, mostly for the better, are all of the quick time event sequences that were present throughout the original release. That being said, players can still be prompted to press a button to dodge some of the larger attacks from bosses and some standard enemies.
Alongside the revamped enemies, players will find that nearly every area in Resident Evil 4 has been revamped in some way, often expanding it to be far larger than before. This includes a surprisingly open location giving players room to explore and this level of expansion is also applied to the various puzzles throughout the game. While none of these puzzles are truly difficult, they have all been modified from the original release with a number of new ones being implemented as well to help keep things interesting.
The merchant has returned in the same way as before and, as mentioned, can not only repair Leon’s tools but also apply upgrades to his equipment as well as sell new firearms. The merchant also serves as the turn-in point for a number of brand new requests that have been added into the game. These range from selling a golden chicken egg to shooting blue medallions and, when completed, will reward the player with Spinels. Previously Spinels were the cheapest treasure to sell but now they can be traded for special items such as treasure maps, attachments, and more. It is also worth noting that players will still need to manage Leon’s attache case and its limited space, though a lazy option to automatically sort is available as well as the ability to stow firearms, attachments, and first aid sprays into storage at typewriters.
Another aspect that has unfortunately dialed back here is unlockable bonus content. Not only has Separate Ways, Assignment Ada, and the Mercenaries mode not been included in this release as part of the post-game content but even unlockables are dialed back heavily. While a New Game+ does allow players to tackle new challenges far stronger than before, the fact that there is only one unlockable costume for Leon and Ashley is extremely disappointing, instead offering random head accessories, as well as an anemic offering of bonus weapons.
Visuals & Audio
With Capcom remaking Resident Evil 4 from the ground up using their RE Engine fans will find themselves in for a real treat. Character designs are incredibly detailed and the monsters that players face off against have never looked more gruesome and blasting away at these enemies with high-powered weaponry can tear limbs off a foe or blow a head clean off leading to plenty of gore. Boss designs deserve their own special mention here as many have been given a facelift in more ways than one while others remain as familiarly horrifying as they were in the past. Each of the core areas that players travel through has been expanded upon greatly and given a lovingly recreated attention to detail to provide familiar but fresh designs with even the few removed elements still hinted at through environmental objects.
The voice work throughout the game remains incredibly solid though, as stated before, some of the campier lines have been modified a bit in this release. That being said the English cast handles all of their characters well and the dialogue fits the setting of the title better as well with proper accents and pronunciations. The atmosphere of Resident Evil 4 does an exceptionally good job of being spooky and tense while still offering plenty of action, especially when players can hear a threat waiting for them in the distance.
Overall
Many may have been concerned that Resident Evil 4 didn’t need a remake but Capcom has proven them wrong as this latest release of Resident Evil 4 is a wonderful recreation of a classic game that expands upon the original in almost every way while delivering some of the best action horror gameplay that players could ask for. The unfortunate lack of extra content and unlockable bonuses is disappointing and some may be a bit put off by knife durability but anyone looking to experience this classic for the first time and especially longtime fans of the franchise will find Resident Evil 4 a masterclass at what it does.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
SHERMAN OAKS, Cali. – Mar. 17, 2023 – Toy Tactics, a family-friendly, physics-based RTS encompassing the history of warfare from developer Kraken Empire and publisher Joystick Ventures, creates a canvas of combat on PCs via Steam Early Access today.
Embrace creativity as both an artist and troop commander. Strategically sketch star, circle, or heart-shaped unit formations to turn the tide of battle, but any shape imaginable is viable. Relive childlike bliss through tactical planning, toppling tons of mass-produced rival toy armies. Charge into battle with either the Imperium, Pendragon, or Kyoukai armies, each with their own special powers based on their real-world counterparts.
Under the guidance of renowned military general Sun Tzu, follow his words from The Art of War to restore the balance of Erebus, an afterlife for warriors beyond time and space. Fight against eight tough toy types and find ancient Artifacts granting special passive abilities.
Unleash summoning spells varying from healing units back from the brink of death, to raining down Jenga-like cinder block walls. Watch plastic pieces of each enemy bounce across the sandbox in silly slapstick fashion to reminisce of the good ol’ days on the playground.
“Die-hard RTS fans and first-time families are all welcome to draw toward victory in Toy Tactics,” said Ivan Carrillo, Managing Partner for Joystick Ventures. “Everyone on the team remembers their first RTS game. We’ve created something special for others to easily join in as well, while maintaining a high skill ceiling to keep them coming back. Painting privateers, your time is now!”
Toy Tactics is available now on PCs via Steam Early Access with English and Spanish language support. To learn more, visit Toy Tactics’ official website, join the community on Twitter, TikTok, and Discord, and search #ToyTactics on social media.
About Kraken Empire
Kraken Empire is a Spain-based development studio with more than a decade of experience that focuses on game creation across a multitude of avenues and exploring newfound territory in technology. Previous projects like the free-roaming shooter Kromaia, and educational applications like Hi Score Science (created alongside the third-largest research council in Europe) are proof of these efforts.
About Joystick Ventures
Joystick Ventures is a Sherman Oaks-based investing and publishing company whose main goal is to encourage indie developers to stay honest and promote experimentation to push the limits of game design across all genres, styles, and geographies. They are most known for their 2022 release, Lost in Play, which has sold more than 100,000 copies.
Cottagecore Collect-a-thon Mail Time, High School Brawler TroublemakerBoth Receive Release Dates During The MIX @ GDC
Mail Time Delivers Warm Fuzzies on 27 April, Troublemaker Throws Fists on 31 March
SAN FRANCISCO – 17 March 2023 – Game publisher Freedom Games delivered two release dates during The MIX @ GDC. Mail Time, the adorable cottagecore collect-a-thon platforming adventure from solo developer Kela Van Der Deijl, arrives on doorsteps on PCs and Mac via Steam, Epic Game Store, and GOG Thursday, 27 April 2023 with Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4|5 coming this Summer. Troublemaker, the 3D beat-’em-up set in a high school from developer Gamecom Team, rebels against authority on PCs via Steam, Epic Game Store, and GOG starting Friday, 31 March 2023.
Explore the delightful hidden forests of Grumblewood Grove in Mail Time. Meet the cuddly creatures around the Grove, learn their stories, and build fruitful friendships. Help new acquaintances as a Mail Scout, taking on delivery requests. In between mailing letters and looking for collectable bottle caps, personalize the experience with robust customization options.
Dress up for deliveries with a wide variety of clothing, hat, backpack, and pronoun choices, collectively offering more than 46,000 potential combinations. Take in the sublime sights of the forest without the worries of a timer or threats to avoid, just simply a wealth of opportunities for leisure and laughter.
On the more rebellious side of things, Troublemaker explores the most brutal time of life: high school! Prepare to beat up bullies as a fresh transfer student and battle to the top of the social ladder. Recruit a crew to take part in the school’s annual student fighting tournament, “Raise Your Gang,” destroy foes and friends alike, and maybe get a few A’s and dates along the way.
Master more than 30 iconic fighting moves inspired by modern day beat-’em-up classics. Create special combos by combining Light, Heavy, Advanced, and Sick moves to keep enemies on their toes. Uncover 20 secret collectibles throughout the campus while avoiding arrest or even worse… expulsion.
“Q1 was a smash success for us this year and we are already on the edge of our seat to keep the ball rolling later this month,” said Benjamin Tarsa, Director of Publishing, Freedom Games. “Gain some fighting cred a few weeks from now in Troublemaker, and then take a quick hop, skip, and a jump into Mail Time next month. This is just the beginning of many thrilling announcements our community can look forward to this year!”
Mail Time will be available on PC and Mac via Steam on Thursday, 27 April 2023 (Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5|4 this Summer) for $19.99 USD with English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, and Portuguese language support. To learn more, visit Mail Time’s official website, join the community on Twitter, TikTok, and Discord, and search #MailTime on social media.
Kela Van Der Deijl is the 23-year-old Netherlands-based creator of the Mail Time development project. Originally starting out as a solo developed passion project, once Mail Time went viral on TikTok it garnered praise and support for its strong presentation as a first time game. Mail Time’s team now consists of nearly ten people contributing to the project all sharing a similar love of cottagecore aesthetics, cute frogs, and the LGBTQ+ community.
Gamecom Team is an Indonesia-based game development studio with a staff of around 30 designers, with diversity and equality at its core. With a 50/50 studio required gender split among the staff, the team is on a global mission to elevate Indonesian game development and bring it into the spotlight. After their two previous titles,Troublemaker marks the team’s biggest endeavor yet, more than doubling the studio’s original size of only 12 people.
Freedom Games is a publisher dedicated to offering best-in-class services to partners and providing players around the world with unique and memorable experiences. With over 50 years of combined industry experience at the executive level, Freedom Games seeks to leverage its expertise to facilitate great games and even better publishing experiences.
