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Kingston Launches Two New DataTraveler Storage Solutions for Users On-the-Go

  • Kingston DataTraveler Exodia Onyx and Kingston DataTraveler 80 M USB Flash Drive provide ultimate portability and reliability anytime, anywhere

Australia March 14, 2023 – Kingston Technology, a world leader in memory products and technology solutions today expanded its iconic DataTraveler® range by introducing the Kingston DataTraveler Exodia Onyx and Kingston DataTraveler 80 M. The two products will enable the on-the-go users to save and preserve their important files and memories, with excellent performance, functionality, and reliability.

Kingston DataTraveler Exodia Onyx for Mobility On-the-go

Kingston DataTraveler Exodia Onyx is an exemplary USB 3.2 Gen 1 compliant1 flash drive that delivers quick transfers for simple and easy storage. Designed with a sleek matte black casing and paired with a sliding cap to protect the USB connector and data while not in use, the DT Exodia Onyx is the perfect affordable companion for stylish storage. The lightweight and reliable storage device features a key ring loop that provides ultimate portability, making it easy to attach to anywhere needed.

Kingston DataTraveler 80 M for Portable Storage on USB Type-C® Devices

Kingston DataTraveler 80 M is a high-performance flash drive that is designed to work with USB Type-C laptops, desktops, smartphones, tablets or Mac computers without the need for an adapter. With extremely fast read speeds of up to 200MB/s2, the DT 80 M allows for quick and convenient storage and file transfers to fulfill all daily needs for work, school, photos and music, and to free up space on Android smartphones on the spot while traveling. The sliding cap design protects the drive without the risk of losing the cap, the key ring loop brings extra security and easy search to avoid any fuss during critical times.

“The tech generation are always on-the-move and require best-in-class storage solutions to keep their important files, photos and memories safe and secure; understanding their needs, we believe the two new DataTraveler USB drives will provide the storage they need whenever and wherever they go.” said Kingston.

Both new products areavailable in capacities up to 256GB3 and is backed by a limited five-year warranty. Customers will also be supported with free technical support and legendary Kingston reliability.

Kingston DataTraveler® Exodia Onyx Specifications:

  • Capacities3: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB
  • Speed2: USB 3.2 Gen 1 compliant
  • Dimensions :60.7mm x 21mm x 10.2mm
  • Weight :8g
  • Operating temperature :0°C~60°C
  • Storage temperature : -20°C~85°C
  • Warranty: 5-year warranty, free technical support
  • Compatible with: Windows® 11, 10, macOS (v.10.15.x +), Linux (v. 4.4 +), Chrome OS™

Kingston DataTraveler® 80 M Specifications:

  • Capacities3: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB
  • Interface: USB 3.2 Gen 1
  • Speed2: Up to 200MB/s read
  • Dimensions: 54.18mm x 21.81mm x 11.60mm
  • Weight: 6g
  • Operating temperature: 0°C~60°C
  • Storage temperature: -20°C~85°C
  • Warranty/support: 5-year warranty with free technical support
  • Compatible with: Windows® 11/10/8.1, macOS (v. 10.15.x +), Linux (v. 4.4.x +), Chrome OS™

1. Speed may vary due to host and device configuration.

USB Type-C® and USB-C® are registered trademarks of USB Implementers Forum.

2. Speed may vary due to host hardware, software and usage.

3. Some of the listed capacity on a Flash storage device is used for formatting and other functions and thus is not available for data storage. As such, the actual available capacity for data storage is less than what is listed on the products. For more information, go to Kingston’s Flash memory guide at kingston.com/flash guide.

For more information visit kingston.com.

Kingston can be found on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KingstonAPAC
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/KingstonAPAC

About Kingston Technology

From big data, to laptops and PCs, to IoT-based devices like smart and wearable technology, to design-in and contract manufacturing, Kingston helps deliver the solutions used to live, work and play. The world’s largest PC makers and cloud-hosting companies depend on Kingston for their manufacturing needs, and our passion fuels the technology the world uses every day. We strive beyond our products to see the bigger picture, to meet the needs of our customers and offer solutions that make a difference. To learn more about how Kingston Is With You, visit Kingston.com.

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Kingston and the Kingston logo are registered trademarks of Kingston Technology Corporation. IronKey is a registered trademark of Kingston Digital, Inc. Kingston FURY and the Kingston FURY logo are trademarks of Kingston Technology Corporation. All rights reserved. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Showgunners, the Electrifying Turn-Based Strategy Game from Good Shepherd Entertainment & Artificer, Premieres May 2 on PC

Lead your squad, win the crowd and become a legend on the future’s most explosive reality TV game show

THE HAGUE, The NetherlandsMarch 13, 2023 – Good Shepherd Entertainment and developer Artificer have announced that Showgunners (the original turn-based strategy game set on a dystopian reality TV show, previously titled Homicidal All-Stars) will debut on May 2, 2023, for PC via Steam and GOG.com. Crush your enemies, win the crowd’s favor, and you could be the next champion in this over-the-top tribute to beloved action classics like American Gladiators, RoboCop and The Running Man.

“This game began as a love letter to the outrageous sci-fi action movies of the 1980s, and we wanted a new title that truly honors its reality show roots while highlighting its fast-paced strategy and gameplay,” said Kacper Szymczak, CEO/Creative Director at Artificer. “So, welcome to Showgunners! We love our new name, we’re incredibly proud of everything we’ve put into the game, and we hope you’re as excited for its upcoming launch as we are.”

Starting today, the free Showgunners Steam demo sports an exciting new feature that lets the crowd directly impact the action: Twitch mode*! Twitch streamers can invite their viewers to join the carnage, acting as showrunners and voting in real time on events they’d like to see in game across an array of maps, each varying in scope, environment, and level interactivity. Will your fans help you out in a pinch and keep the hype train rolling? Or will they choose violence and send you to your doom?!

In a future society torn apart by extreme income inequality, climate change, and civil unrest, one show has taken the masses by storm, giving desperate competitors a shot at fame and glory. But first they’ll have to survive the arena. Each live-streamed broadcast delivers a hellish new obstacle course with a unique theme, traps and challenges. As a contestant with your own score to settle, you’ll have to battle other heavily armed combatants, explore for life-saving sponsorship packages, and outwit especially devious surprises from the show’s director if you hope to become the next champ.

KEY FEATURES

  • A Classic Revenge Story: Experience over-the-top, American Gladiators-style action and attitude inspired by sci-fi epics like RoboCop, Escape from New York and The Running Man.
  • Become a TV Legend: Defying death through skillful play will grow your fame and make you a star! Record confessionals, sign autographs for fans, and unlock sponsorship deals for bonus rewards to help you win the show.
  • Challenging Strategy Gameplay: Dive into a full single-player campaign featuring deep tactical combat mechanics that will test your skills across a variety of hand-crafted levels.
  • Create the Perfect Squad: Build your team from a range of classes with their own skill trees, and customize their loadouts with powerful weapons, implants and utilities. Level up your characters and discover new strategies to take on each episode’s uniquely devilish trials.
  • Survive the Future of Entertainment: Face off against fierce rivals outfitted with heavy weapons and cyborg augments, but watch out for surprise traps and twists from the show’s director, who’s more than willing to throw out the rules to boost ratings for his corporate overlords!

Showgunners is available to wishlist now on Steam and GOG.com. For more on the game, visit www.showgunners.com, and follow along with the latest updates on Discord.

*Twitch mode is a separate game mode not connected to the main single-player campaign. Your story progression does not impact your options in Twitch mode.

About Good Shepherd Entertainment

Good Shepherd Entertainment is an award-winning independent game publisher based in the Netherlands. The company has built a robust global footprint, shepherding talented development teams to create impactful games that innovate, challenge, and – most importantly – entertain. We’ve done this by pairing creators with writers, musicians and IP powerhouses and through strategic partnerships with some of the industry’s most notable names, including Devolver Digital, Croteam and Perfect World. In addition to the acclaimed John Wick Hex and Monster Train, GSE’s selection of titles includes Hellboy Web of Wyrd, Showgunners, Phantom Doctrine, the Transport Fever series, and the Hard West series. For more information, visit www.GoodShepherd.games.

About Artificer

Artificer is a Warsaw-based studio founded by the team responsible for Hard West and Phantom Doctrine. Artificer is equipped to punch above its weight class: the studio consists of over 40 talented developers, including many award-winning veterans who have previously worked on numerous acclaimed titles, including Call of Juarez, Outriders, The Witcher, Dying Light, Shadow Warrior 3 and the Dead Island series.

Led by the “measure twice, cut once” philosophy, with immense devotion to hand-crafted work and strongly established turn-based experience, Artificer is ready to present you with their latest turn-based title: Showgunners.

Rogue Spirit Officially Releases On PC & Console

13th March. 505 Games and developer Kids With Sticks have announced that Rogue Spirit is out now on PC (Epic Games Store/Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. Kids With Sticks are a small team of veterans with experience working on The Witcher 2, Dying Light, and Hellraid: The Escape. For those purchasing via Steam, there is 20% off until March 23rd.

Rogue Spirit is an anime-inspired 3D action rogue-lite, in which players become the Ghost of the Prince of the Kingdom of Midra. The prince must fight the evil presence that has corrupted the land, by possessing enemy characters and absorbing their unique skills. Master different playstyles, improve your skills, and adapt to an ever-changing world in this spirited adventure.

Rogue Spirit Features:

  • Action gameplay with stealth elements in a rogue-lite game loop.
  • 18 characters with different abilities, weapons and playstyles.
  • 10 procedurally-generated levels set in 5 different biomes.
  • Dozens of essences and skills, ensuring no two runs are the same.
  • Unlock permanent upgrades between runs to enhance your adventure.
  • Discover the legends and lore of the Kingdom of Midra.

Rogue Spirit is available to purchase on Steam, Epic Games Store, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. 

Find out more about Rogue Spirit over on the game’s website, Twitter, and Instagram. 

FIFAe launches new esports women’s inclusivity programme FAMEHERGAME

  • FAMEHERGAME initiative aims to increase women’s participation in FIFAe and esports
  • Part of the Good Game Promise launched in 2022
  • Unique chance for participants to be invited to FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™

Continuing from the Good Game Promise initiated in 2022, FIFAe today launched FAMEHERGAME – a new women’s programme that aims to increase visibility and build grassroots opportunities while creating a safe space for women competing in the FIFAe ecosystem.

Member associations across the globe are being empowered to run dedicated boot camps to provide unique chances for women to join FIFAe and build local communities. One nominated player from each member association taking part in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ will be invited to the FAMEHERGAME boot camp hosted by FIFAe in mid-2023. At the boot camp, players will receive coaching sessions and compete against each other, with the top two players winning an invitation to the tournament in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand later this year.

Interested players can now join the FAMEHERGAME Discord channel to become part of the initiative.

To watch the FAMEHERGAME video from FIFAe, please click HERE.

The programme is built on research conducted with women in the scene at the FIFAe Finals 2022 and aims to break down boundaries that women face in the community and competitive scene.

Speaking about the initiative, Fabienne Morlok, one of the leading women on the scene, said: “Esports is for everyone, and it’s time to showcase our skills to the world! With FIFAe’s support, we are looking forward to developing the women’s game and inspiring the next generation of aspiring players. I’m calling all women out there to join us in writing history and challenging the status quo.”

Member associations from across the globe such as France, Morocco and South Africa have already joined the initiative and will nominate one player to join the boot camp in the coming months. In addition, FIFAe will work closely with league partners such as the ECL – one of the leading FIFA esports organisations for women – to tell the stories of women throughout the entire year to help create new role models within the community, as well inviting the best players from the respective leagues to the FAMEHERGAME boot camp.

“FIFAe is a platform where everyone can take part, compete on the highest level and fame their game on the biggest stage. We believe that by increasing opportunities for women, we can help build a more diverse and inclusive esports environment together with the community,” added Adrian Rölli, Head of eFootball at FIFA.

Elite-level players from member associations and league partners will also be offered various support for coaching, content creation and other topics during a trip to the FAMEHERGAME boot camp. To conclude the boot camp, participants will compete in a high-stakes tournament with an exclusive trip to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia in prospect for the top two competitors.

You can find more information on participating member associations and other details here.

FAMEHERGAME is based on the belief that both men and women can compete at the highest level in FIFA esports. FIFAe is dedicated to creating an environment where anybody can become a hero and unlock their full potential, regardless of gender or background.

Further activations around the FAMEHERGAME campaign and the Good Game Promise will be launched throughout the year.Join the conversation by using #FameHerGame on social media.

Barotrauma Is Ready to Surface with its Official Launch on Steam Today

The co-op sci-fi submarine sim leaves Steam Early Access featuring new and improved monsters, missions, systems, visuals and more!

HAMBURG, Germany March 13, 2023 — After nearly four successful years in early access, the sci-fi submarine sim Barotrauma is ready to take on its biggest mission yet: full launch! The game will be officially available today on Steam beginning at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT. To celebrate this momentous occasion and take players into the depths of Europa, publisher Daedalic Entertainment and developers FakeFish and Undertow Games have released a new cinematic launch trailer teasing the horrors that await you and your crew beneath the waves.

Barotrauma is a sci-fi submarine simulator with both a single-player campaign as well as co-op modes with support for up to 16 players, who must navigate the depths of Jupiter’s frozen moon Europa and fulfill various missions to survive. Together with their passionate and active community, developers FakeFish and Undertow Games have greatly expanded and improved the game since its early access launch in summer 2019. They completely overhauled the campaign and tutorials, added new monsters, missions and outposts, improved graphics and environments, implemented a scripted event system, and much more.

All of this was only possible thanks to the feedback and support of more than 30,000 Discord members, as well as 60,000 player-made entries on Steam Workshop. To show the team’s devotion to their players and fanbase, the developers even added a player-made submarine to the base game as part of a community competition.

Barotraumas thrilling and often hilarious chaos is both fun to play and watch, thanks to procedurally generated levels, ridiculous ragdoll physics and full mod support. But beware: some threats are closer than you think. Multiplayer’s “traitor mode” option may randomly assign players as secret conspirators, complete with their own individual missions like assassination or sabotage.

More information is available on the game’s Steam store page.

About FakeFish and Undertow Games (Developers)

Barotrauma began as an open-development project by Undertow Games, the developer of the free open-source horror game SCP Containment Breach. In early 2018, the award-winning fellow indie studio FakeFish Ltd. joined the project with their team of industry veterans and fresh talents to launch Barotrauma on Steam. Now the joint studio, based in Turku, Finland, develops survival horror PC titles supporting extensive user-generated content and packed with built-in editors.

About Daedalic Entertainment (Publisher)

Daedalic Entertainment publishes and develops high-quality games for all platforms. The company has a diverse line-up of high-quality titles, including classic adventures, RPGs, and strategy and multiplayer games. With an international team of around 90 employees, Daedalic is currently developing a new line-up of innovative games across consoles, PC, and mobile platforms.

Based in Hamburg, Germany, Daedalic is one of Europe’s most acclaimed publishers and developers. With a total of 32 awards in the German Developers Award (including multiple accolades for ‘Studio of the Year’) and 12 German Computer Game Awards for genre-defining games such as Deponia, Edna & Harvey, Silence, Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun, Ken Follett’s The Pillars of the Earth, The Long Journey Home, and State of Mind, Daedalic is a record holder for the two most prestigious game awards in Germany. Recent publishing hits include Barotrauma, Unrailed!, Iratus: Lord of the Dead, Partisans 1941, and more.

Daedalic is currently developing The Lord of the Rings – Gollum. The story-driven adventure tells the story of Gollum from a perspective never witnessed before in any storytelling media, all the while staying faithful to the legendary books of J.R.R. Tolkien.

PLAION and Patches Paradise celebrate the launch of Mato Anomalies in Australia & New Zealand

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – 13th March 2023: PLAION is excited to announce they have partnered with Patches Paradise to create an exclusive collection of twelve bespoke vintage jackets to celebrate the launch of adventure RPG Mato Anomalies in Australia & New Zealand.

Australian small business, Patches Paradise, focuses on sustainable fashion through repurposing vintage denim jackets with art to create one-of-a-kind collectables. They were influenced by Mato Anomalies’ anime-inspired visual novel storyline, when hand-painting our protagonists onto the jackets. Only twelve limited-edition jackets have been created worldwide, turning Mato Anomalies dual protagonists, Doe and Gram, into wearable art.

In Mato Anomalies, players can gather intel as the private detective, Doe, or venture into rifts and battle demonic abominations as the resolute exorcist, Gram. The jackets will allow players to fully immerse themselves in Mato, the fantasised neo-futuristic version of a bygone oriental city, as they team up with unlikely companions and unravel the dark secrets in this story of Duty, Hope and Justice.

To celebrate the launch of Mato Anomalies, two fans across Australia and New Zealand could win one of the exclusive hand-painted jackets. Fans can head to PLAION ANZ’s Twitter page and follow the instructions for their chance to win: https://twitter.com/PLAION_ANZ/.

Mato Anomalies is now available digitally on PlayStation® 4, PlayStation® 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC (only on Steam). Mato Anomalies will release physically on 17th March 2023 across PlayStation® 4, PlayStation® 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo in Australia and New Zealand.

ABOUT MATO ANOMALIES:
Mato Anomalies is a turn-based RPG that takes players on a journey across Mato, a fantasised neo-futuristic version of a bygone oriental city. Take control of the Dual Protagonists Doe and Gram to investigate strange anomalies around the city, or venture into rifts to battle demonic abominations determined to bring about the city’s downfall.

ABOUT ARROWIZ:

Established in 2016 by creatives and executives from CCP, Take-Two, Marvel Studios and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, Arrowiz is a global video game developer with offices in Shanghai, China and Irvine, California. Initially established to develop products for the VR market with BEATS FEVER (published by Sunsoft in Japan and by Arrowiz globally), the team reimagined its focus towards story-driven video games, with its initial launch HERMITAGE: STRANGE CASE FILES (published by Bilibili for China and by Giiku Games globally) becoming the best-selling Chinese visual novel on Steam in 2019. Arrowiz aims to create innovative, original games and transform world-famous stories into wonderful experiences for global audiences.

ABOUT PRIME MATTER:

Headquartered in Munich, Germany, Prime Matter is the premium gaming label dedicated to delivering a range of diverse and immersive games from amazing gaming development talents all around the globe.

Working across projects of all styles, scopes and sizes, single-player, co-op to live ops, from producing to publishing, from ambitious teams taking their first step that need full support without compromising their dream to larger established successful studios searching that next step in the global market and building of brands.

Prime Matter looks to lead through creativity, expression and passion, with games that will grip and enchant with enthralling story-telling, winning an audience with its incredible moments and larger-than-life experiences. Prime Matter is a proud member of the PLAION Group, formerly known as Koch Media.

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.

Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse Review

Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse

Developer: Koei Tecmo
Publisher: Koei Tecmo
Platforms: Xbox One, Playstation 4, PC, Playstation 5, Xbox Series X (Reviewed), Switch
Release Date: Available Now
Price: $49.99 USD – Available Here

Overview

There was a time that when a game was released in Japan with no word of a Western release, fans would be left in the cold. This is especially true when it comes to some more niche titles or survival horror games and one such title that stung back in 2008 was Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse for the Wii. Despite the platform’s popularity, Koei Tecmo never localized this entry in the series leaving fans of the Fatal Frame series in the West with a nine year gap before the eventual Maiden of Black Water release on the Wii U. Following the enhanced multiplatform release of the former title, Koei Tecmo has seen fit to not only revisit Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse but also bring it to the West for the first time ever. So now that this horror title has arrived on current Western platforms, is this niche title worth checking out?

Story

Rogetsu Island has long since become a place where no one dares tread after a mass casualty event eight years prior to the start of the game led to rumors that the island was haunted by dark spirits. Five girls who were once kidnapped and taken to the island ten years ago have grown up but in the time since their recovery two of them have died horrific deaths due to mysterious means. With the surviving girls believing that their only way to stave off death is to return to the island and recover their lost memories of what happened to them when they were taken, Misaki and Madoka venture into danger. Shortly after Ruka Minazuki also arrives on the island to try and rejoin her fellow survivors only to find that the two girls have already gone missing and the rumors of the island being haunted are as true as the moon in the sky. With Ruka’s mother calling for his assistance, the detective that located the girls a decade prior Choshiro also arrives on the island to track down Ruka and perhaps find the serial killer he was searching for all those years ago.

As usual with the Fatal Frame games, Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is a mostly standalone title with only small references to past games that even longtime fans may not catch at first glance. The story throughout this entry is an interesting one since, outside of one, every playable character is suffering from amnesia and will slowly remember events as players begin to unravel the mystery about what happened to the island and the strange rituals that were held there. This slow build of tension works both narratively and moment to moment gameplay as well as players will often never quite know what they will be uncovering next or what type of specter might be ready to attack. Along these same lines, finding various documents and pieces of information throughout the journey helps tell a well-detailed backstory that lays the groundwork quite well for the events that happen to players and, thanks to the way ghosts are handled in this game there is even some extra details to be had here as well. 

Rather than throw generic enemies at players, every ghost that attacks the characters has a name that will be revealed when defeated with the Camera Obscura or Spirit Lens flashlight which will appear in a ghost list. This list can contain interesting tidbits about a ghost and it can make for some interesting revelations when players recognize a name that may have appeared in a document. Combine this with a tight setting that really accentuates the spookiness of any situation and there are a lot of scares and tension to be had throughout the game. This level of detail to building a creepy atmosphere on a mysterious island with a dark past shrouded in danger makes for one of the most intriguing storylines Fatal Frame has had even if it may be a bit slow at the start thanks to the amnesiac elements.

Gameplay

Between the game’s origins on the Wii and its design as a horror game, players should expect Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse to feel rather stiff as they play through the game. The fastest characters can move is at a slow jog but given the often tight nature of the corridors and rooms they navigate, this is for the best. Even grabbing items from shelves or the ground is slow and intentional as players will need to keep an eye out in case a ghostly arm tries to grasp at them losing health and the item in the process. Unfortunately, when it comes to actually trying to locate items in the environment things can be a bit on the rough side as well. A helpful light will appear when players are near an item but almost every object, outside of most notes, must first be revealed by the character’s flashlight. To do this the player must aim the flashlight at the item’s location or at least near it but thanks to an uncooperative camera and some strange instances that saw an object not be revealed multiple times, the mechanic does struggle a bit.

Thankfully the title does offer a quick-turn option which can be useful when encountering the many specters and wraiths that will attack everyone. As the girls, players will battle against the numerous ghosts that attack them using the Camera Obscura. Taking photos of ghosts damages them and will often stun them out of an incoming attack though waiting to take a shot until right before a ghost attacks will trigger a “Fatal Frame” that will not only deal a lot of damage while stunning the target but also allow for multiple photos to be shot in rapid succession rather than having to wait for the film to reload like usual. Choshiro on the other hand can make use of his Spirit Flashlight to dish out larger areas of damage at a rapid pace compared to camera flashes, but not only must the flashlight recharge by not being aimed at a target, players will also need to be careful of the lens it has equipped to it. Choshiro can indeed take photos of wraiths that appear randomly using a camera lens but this does zero damage to hostile ghosts, making his battles and exploration a bit of a juggling act.

As players take photos, they can make use of special lenses that use spiritual power to cause various effects to happen ranging from dealing extra damage to stunning ghosts for a long period of time while also being able to change what types of film they wish to use, with better film dealing more damage but coming in short supply. Of course, since these are ghosts players are dealing with they can not only teleport around the player but also travel through walls and furniture. Each character is given a directional compass that points roughly where a ghost will be coming from, but since they can appear through walls players will always need to be vigilant. 

In a rather interesting fashion, Mask of the Lunar Eclipse also features certain ghosts that can “bloom” after being defeated once, making them return in a stronger and more aggressive form that players will need to put down a second time. Combine these ghosts’ abilities to travel through objects, tight quarters, and some stiff movement controls and most encounters can feel incredibly tense while rarely feel cheap or too limited by poor controls. That being said, a few smaller encounters can feel a bit too basic as players wait for ghosts to travel through walls only to be shot and teleport back into a wall once again, becoming a waiting game with little actual danger.

Puzzles and exploration in Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse are handled quite well with a few being solid head-scratchers mixed in with some standard easy to solve challenges. Traveling around the derelict halls and decrepit areas of Rogetsu Island make for some solid exploration and catching glimpses of apparitions to take a quick snapshot of is always interesting. Unfortunately some directions are a bit on the vague side and players will often need to backtrack through locations a few too many times.

As players defeat ghosts using the camera and flashlight or take photos of non-hostile apparitions they will obtain points that can then be exchanged at save points. These points can be exchanged for healing items, stronger film to target ghosts, and for costumes and accessories. These costumes are a bit light on fanservice compared to more recent releases but are fairly fitting given the franchise’s history. It is also worth noting that healing items obtained for one character do not carry over to the rest of the cast, meaning players will need to be careful should they find themselves at low health only to find out that all of their health is with Rika. Something that is shared between characters are the various blue and red upgrade stones that players can use to upgrade the cameras, flashlight, and lenses to do things such as increase damage, reload faster, and more though the upgrades themselves are also character specific.

Visuals & Audio

With Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse originally releasing a decade and a half ago the team at Koei Tecmo has done quite a great job bringing the title to modern platforms. Most of the human character models are well-detailed with plenty of variety in costumes while the ghosts themselves are truly terrifying to see as many of their models have been touched up and look great when viewed through the Camera Obscura. The same cannot quite be said about some of the textures in the game as many locations throughout the game may look decent at a distance or simply walking through but look incredibly rough when viewed through the camera. It is also worth noting that nearly all of the game’s cutscenes that do not use the character models appear to have gone untouched.

As for the voice work, Koei Tecmo has chosen to release the game with only the Japanese voice track accompanied by English subtitles. This works well enough and is fitting given the game’s setting based around various elements of Japanese mythology. The sound effects and cries from the ghosts that players battle against provide some great atmospheric sounds making sure that players never quite know whether they are safe exploring an area, especially since some ghosts do reappear while backtracking.

Overall

With a great mystery to uncover alongside a solid storyline that takes a bit to get going, those looking for some classic Japanese horror will find that Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse delivers it in spades. This remaster of the 2008 release has certainly touched up the visuals in most regards and still delivers plenty of great scares thanks to the unique atmosphere combined with the janky limited controls of the era that still remain in this latest version of the game.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Mato Anomalies – Gameplay

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As Doe we explore the mysteries of the city to right some wrongs and uncover recent strange occurrences only to switch to Gram to battle against powerful demons that appear within demonic rifts in Mato Anomalies.

Mato Anomalies takes players on a journey through a neo-futuristic version of a bygone oriental city. Investigate strange happenings across the city and uncover secrets behind the walls. Join a cast of enigmatic unlikely heroes in this anime-inspired RPG experience.

Mato Anomalies
Developer: Arrowiz
Publisher: Prime Matter
Platform: PS4/PS5, Xbox One, XBox Series X, Nintendo Switch, PC (Steam)
Release Date: 11 Mar, 2023
Price: $39.99 USD

Available Now – https://arrowiz.com/games/mato-anomalies

Summary:

Not Recommended – Strong storytelling does little to make up for the poor gameplay mechanics that drag Mato Anomalies’ potential down.

Check out our Review for Mato Anomalies here!

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DECEIVE INC. Cross-Platform Open Beta Begins Today; Developer Sweet Bandits Studios and Publisher Tripwire Presents Share New Gameplay-Focused Developer Diary

DECEIVE INC. Cross-Platform Open Beta Begins Today; Developer Sweet Bandits Studios and Publisher Tripwire Presents Share New Gameplay-Focused Developer Diary

Developer Sweet Bandits Studios and publisher Tripwire Presents, are happy to share that the DECEIVE INC. Open Beta deploys today for all supported platforms ahead of the game’s full launch on March 21, 2023, for PC (via Steam and Epic Games Store), the PlayStation®5 computer entertainment system, and the Xbox Series X|S console systems. The team behind DECEIVE INC. has also shared a brand-new developer diary to celebrate the launch of the Open Beta, showcasing the setting, agents, and tactics players can employ in their mission to secure the objective against rival spies.

The DECEIVE INC. Open Beta, featuring cross-platform support, is scheduled to run from March 10 @ 2 p.m. EST through March 13 @ 11 a.m. EST, and will be available to play for free on all platforms that the game will support at launch. The open beta includes access to all eight launch-day agents and two maps: “Hard Sell” and “Fragrant Shore”, offering two distinctive locales to conduct expert espionage. Aspiring agents looking to stake their claim on upcoming super spy assignments can pre-order the DECEIVE INC. Standard Edition for a MSRP of $19.99 USD or the DECEIVE INC. Black Tie Edition for a MSRP of $29.99 USD. Players eager to learn more can join the DECEIVE INC. community on the official Discord or visit https://deceiveinc.com.

The latest developer diary takes a deep dive into the eccentric world of DECEIVE INC., exploring its colorful cast of characters, diverse gadgetry, and unique locations. DECEIVE INC. is set in a world where governments are prohibited from having their own intelligence services, which has led to a surge in privatized spy companies, including the titular DECEIVE INC. These agencies employ the best spies from across the globe, with each playable character having a distinct backstory and skillset to match a variety of different playstyles.

Regardless of the agent players choose, there are a host of high-tech gadgets to help on missions such as an inflatable bouncing pad for a quick escape, a spyglass to obtain intel from afar, and even a device to mimic surrounding objects to hide in plain sight! The developers also discuss the design philosophy for the maps and the look and feel of the game as a whole, citing a desire to blend classic spy fantasies with bright colors and bold lines to make each level, character, and object pop.

For further information on Sweet Bandits Studios please visit their official website and follow them on Twitter, Instagram, Discord, and Facebook.

For more information on Tripwire Presents please visit their official website and follow them on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

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SOLASTA: PALACE OF ICE INTRODUCES A CHILLING NEW CAMPAIGN THIS SPRING

Tactical Adventures ushers in the next ice age with an all-new story campaign that concludes the award-winning cRPG, Solasta: Crown of the Magister storyline

Friday, March 10, 2023 (Paris, France) – Two years on from the release of the award-winning, critically-acclaimed cRPG, Solasta: Crown of the Magister, Tactical Adventures has announced the biggest campaign in the series – Solasta: Palace of Ice, which will launch in May 2023.

The Palace of Ice campaign is a new premium DLC that gives players over 25 hours of new content, and that takes place following the end of the original Crown of the Magister campaign. Designed with higher level characters in mind (level 10-16), players will discover entirely new locations and weather effects, as well as new enemy types and high level character development (spells, items, armors, etc). 

And that’s not all! New dungeon maker environments have been added, as well as two new races to complete your party – Gnomes and Tieflings.

Solasta: Crown of the Magister has recently won an award for ‘Best Game as a Service’ at The Pegases Awards in Paris, France, on 9 March.

This new campaign sees the Soraks infiltrating Gallivan and threatening the Snow Alliance after making a deal with the demons. The heroes will have to deal with the Soraks and Demons to allow the Snow Alliance to elect a new speaker.

An all-new free content update will also provide more faces for character creation, the ability to play levels 12-16, plus a world map and NPC follower system in Dungeon Maker.

The brand new Palace of Ice DLC will release alongside Solasta: Lightbringers Edition. Available to purchase on PC at the end of May, this complete collection features the Solasta: Crown of the Magister base game, as well as all previous DLC content packs, like Inner Strength and Lost Valley. 

Mathieu Girard, CEO of Tactical Adventures, said: 

“We have been overwhelmed by the reception from the RPG community in the two years since we launched Solasta: Crown of the Magister. Having some media refer to our last campaign DLC – Lost Valley – as ‘the perfect DnD RPG’ has been humbling, and challenged us to deliver something equally as ambitious for Palace of Ice. Players can expect to explore more of the world of Solasta, meet new characters, and tackle new strategic scenarios in this challenging, high level campaign.”

The Palace of Ice DLC will retail for $14.99 / €14,99 / £14.99.

Players can wishlist the game on Steam here.

For more information on Solasta: Crown of the Magister, visit the websiteSteam pageGOG pageMicrosoft Store, or Humble store. Players can also follow on TwitterInstagram, like on Facebook, watch on YouTube and Twitch, and join the conversation on Discord or the official forums.

About Tactical Adventures

Tactical Adventures is a videogame development studio, created in 2018 by Mathieu Girard, who previously co-founded Amplitude Studios. Located in the heart of Paris, Tactical Adventures is a self-published studio, aiming to create immersive & tactical videogames within the RPG genre. One of the key strengths of the studio’s philosophy revolves around the recruitment of experienced team members, organized into agile teams, whose development process & decisions will be made in collaboration with their community.