Test the waters now with a new demo for Black Salt Games’ upcoming sinister fishing adventure and book a spot on deck before launch.
Friday, 3rd March 2023 – Team17 and Black Salt Games have today announced that pre-orders for the upcoming, sinister fishing adventure DREDGE are now available on PC and console platforms*. Nintendo Switch™ fisher-folk who can’t wait until launch on 30th March can head to the Nintendo eShop now to check out a brand-new demo.
PC anglers can lock in their pre-order now for the DREDGE base game or Digital Deluxe Edition on Steam and GOG, while console captains can reel in theirs at the Nintendo eShop, the PlayStation® Store, and the Microsoft Store. A Physical Deluxe Edition is also available for pre-order at participating retailers and includes a physical poster and meticulously crafted artbook and sticker set, the game’s digital soundtrack, and additional in-game items to help players kick-start their sea-faring adventures.
Keep an eye on the seas and the skies, and check out a brand-new pre-order trailer below:
*DREDGE base game pre-order price is £21.99/$US 24.99/€24.99 on Steam, £21.99/$US 24.99/€24.99 on Nintendo Switch, £19.99/$24.99/€24.99 on PlayStation 5|4, and £21.99/$US 24.99/€24.99 on Xbox.
The Digital Deluxe Edition pre-order is £31.00/$US 35.06/€35.06 on Steam, £23.99/US $26.99/€26.99 on Nintendo Switch, £21.99/$26.99/€26.99 on PlayStation 5|4, £23.99/US $26.99/€26.99 on Xbox and includes the Blackstone Key DLC, granting players access to the mysterious workshop on Blackstone Isle. Pre-orders for all platforms also include an exclusive in-game fishing rod.
Pre-order for the DREDGE Physical Deluxe Edition is £29.99/US $39.99/€39.99 for Nintendo Switch, £24.99/US $29.99/€29.99 for PlayStation 5|4 and £24.99/$29.99/€29.99 for Xbox. DREDGE Key Features
Unravel a Mystery: Captain your fishing trawler across a collection of remote islands, each with its own inhabitants to meet, wildlife to discover, and stories to unearth
Dredge the Depths: Scour the sea for hidden treasures and complete quests to gain access to strange new abilities
Study Your Craft: Research special equipment and upgrade your boat’s capabilities to gain access to rare fish and valuable deep-sea curios
Fish to Survive: Sell your discoveries to the locals to learn more about each area, and upgrade your boat to reach even more secluded locations
Fight the Unfathomable: Strengthen your mind and use your abilities to survive trips out on the water after dark
DREDGE is being developed by Black Salt Games. To keep up to date, wishlist the game on Steam now, like it onFacebook, follow onTwitter and join the community on Discord.
About Black Salt Games Black Salt Games is a small indie studio from Christchurch, New Zealand driven by a love for video games. The team’s debut title, DREDGE, is due to release on PC, Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5, and Xbox consoles on 30th March 2023.
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.
Nintendo Switch is a trademark of Nintendo.
“PlayStation” is a registered trademark or trademark of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
Today on Xbox Wire, Michael Schorr, Forge Lead Designer, 343 Industries revealed that since its launch as part of the Winter Update in November, the Halo Infinite Forge Beta has passed more than 1 million creations (as of January 2).
Additionally, as of January 2, through the Custom Game Browser, more than 8.5 million custom matches had been played since it was added in December.
The Halo community continues to blow the team away with the breadth of its imagination and innovation, and there are many more plans for Forge, from a Mini Game mode to new map budget categories to help support player creativity.
For more information, including a refresher on the recently added Community Collection playlist (the most popular playlist since Halo Infinite launched), head over to Xbox Wire.
Just in case you missed it, PlayStation Australia revealed PlayStation Plus Essential, Extra and Deluxe Monthly Games for March in last week’s State of Play episode.
For PlayStation Plus Essential members; team up with friends on multiplayer Battlefield 2042, take on enemies as you discover a new adventure in Minecraft: Dungeons, and team up and embark on a journey to the ends of hell to unlock your past and escape your living nightmare in Code Vein.
All three titles will be available to PlayStation Plus Essential, Extra and Deluxe members from Tuesday, March 7 until Monday, April 6.
What’s more, PlayStation has a truly amazing deal for non-PlayStation Plus members*.
For just $1 non-PlayStation Plus members can play friends online with a one-month PlayStation Plus Essential membership. Or they access the Game Catalogue through a PlayStation Plus Extra membership – one month for $3. And for only $5, they can get a month of PlayStation Plus Deluxe. Players will get access to benefits like Game Trials and the Classics Catalogue.
Existing members can also expand their experience and save 35% to upgrade to a PlayStation Plus Extra or Deluxe membership today**. Enjoy all the great benefits of PS Plus, including the Game Catalogue – featuring great titles like Horizon Forbidden West, The Quarry, Resident Evil 7 biohazard and more – and Classics Catalogue. Or try out God of War Ragnarök with a 3-hour time limited trial as part of Game Trials.
Pick any plan to play March’s Monthly Games, featuring Battlefield 2042, Minecraft Dungeons, and Code Vein.
Let’s take a closer look at the Monthly Games.
ESSENTIAL
Battlefield 2042 | PS4, PS5
Battlefield 2042 is an exhilarating first-person shooter that marks the return of the iconic all-out warfare the franchise is well known for. Set in a near-future world transformed by disorder, you’ll have to adapt and overcome dynamic battlegrounds with the help of your squad and an arsenal of cutting-edge weapons and vehicles.
With support for 128 players on PlayStation 5*, Battlefield 2042 brings unprecedented scale on vast battlegrounds across the globe. Participate in massive experiences, from updated multiplayer modes like Conquest and Breakthrough to the all-new Hazard Zone.
Minecraft: Dungeons | PS4
Fight your way through an all-new action-adventure game, inspired by classic dungeon crawlers and set in the Minecraft universe! Brave the dungeons alone, or team up with friends! Up to four players can battle together through action-packed, treasure-stuffed, wildly varied levels – all in an epic quest to save the villagers and take down the evil Arch-Illager!
Code Vein | PS4
In the not too distant future, a mysterious disaster has brought collapse to the world as we know it. Towering skyscrapers, once symbols of prosperity, are now lifeless graves of humanity’s past pierced by the Thorns of Judgment. At the centre of the destruction lies a hidden society of Revenants called Vein. This final stronghold is where the remaining few fight to survive, blessed with Gifts of power in exchange for their memories and a thirst for blood. Give into the bloodlust fully and risk becoming one of the Lost, fiendish ghouls devoid of any remaining humanity. Wandering aimlessly in search of blood, the Lost will stop at nothing to satisfy their hunger. Team up and embark on a journey to the ends of hell to unlock your past and escape your living nightmare in CODE VEIN.
To find out more about the updates to PlayStation Plus head to PlayStation.com.
Rake in Profits with Bonuses on Security Contracts, Payphone Hits, and The Data Leaks
Plus, Get the White DJ Pooh Tee, Double Rewards on the Community Series, and More
In The Contract, procuring an Agency and getting into the private intelligence trade with legendary Los Santos street hustler Franklin Clinton opens up a number of profitable endeavors. This week, collaborating with the F. Clinton & Partner crew is even more lucrative — with bonuses on Security Contracts, Payphone Hits, and even for assisting the incomparable Dr. Dre in tracking down his stolen phone.
For those yet to establish their Agency, the fine folks at Dynasty 8 Executive are offering 40% discounts on their available Agency properties — as well on select accoutrements.
2X GTA$ and RP on Security Contracts
Utilize the computer in your Agency to rescue a client from attackers or compromise rival gangs to a permanent end in Security Contracts, paying out 2X GTA$ and RP all week long.
1.5X GTA$ and RP on Payphone Hits
Franklin may appear far removed from the action at street-level, but he’s only one call away from getting his hands dirty again for the right price. Be Franklin’s boots on the ground this week by completing Payphone Hits — available after completing three Security Contracts — and enjoy 50% more profit.
2X GTA$ and RP on The Data Leaks
A day in the life of a professional celebrity fixer can range from chasing down disrespectful passersby to hacking into the FIB. Wherever the search for Dr. Dre’s missing files takes you, investigating The Data Leaks will earn you 2X GTA$ and RP for your hard work.
Get the White DJ Pooh Tee
Pick up a coveted collector’s item and honor the legendary host of West Coast Classics by logging in this week to receive the White WCC DJ Pooh Tee.
West Coast Classics is also the home of DJ Pooh’s Dre Day Tribute — and completing The Data Leaks unlocks six Dr. Dre tracks in GTA Online that debuted in The Contract and feature a star-studded assortment of guest artists including Anderson .Paak, Eminem, Busta Rhymes, Snoop Dogg, Nipsey Hussle, and Ty Dolla $ign.
These tracks are also available outside of GTA Online across all major digital music services — including Apple Music and Spotify.
Only on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S
Premium Test Ride: Grotti Brioso R/A Many would look at the Grotti Brioso R/A (Compact) and think it better to leave a sensible civilian vehicle alone — there’s no reason to turn a two-seater into something it’s not. Not Hao, though. Visit Hao’s Special Works inside the LS Car Meet to take this week’s petite Premium Test Ride for a drive or upgrade other eligible vehicles from your own garage.
This Week’s HSW Time Trial
Cross the city in double-time as you test eligible rides on the quick trip between Del Perro Beach and Murietta Heights in this week’s HSW Time Trial.
2X GTA$ and RP on Into the Wild
Into The Wild offers a modern twist on the classic Capture the Flag. A team of Runners must deliver their score to a hideout in Raton Canyon before they’re taken out by their airborne foes in Buzzard helicopters. Whether you’re shooting from above or driving below, you’ll receive 2X GTA$ and RP for competing.
2X GTA$ and RP on the Community Series
The GTA Online community is overflowing with creativity, ingenuity, and innovation. The current crop of player-created Community Series Jobs is proof positive of this, and we are sweetening the pot by persistently doubling payouts for checking these Jobs out going forward.
Premium Deluxe Motorsport Showroom
Visit the Premium Deluxe Motorsport showroom to check out Simeon Yetarian’s latest curated vehicle roster, take them out for a spin, and buy them on the spot:
Lampadati Viseris (Sports, 40% off)
Vapid Ellie (Muscle, 40% off)
Progen Itali GTB (Super)
Pfister Comet Safari (Sports)
Dewbauchee Seven-70 (Sports)
Luxury Autos Showroom
Get a glimpse of the A-List lifestyle when you pass by the elegant windows of the Luxury Autos showroom. Swing by Rockford Hills to peek at two luxurious Sports cars — the Ocelot Locust (Sports, 30% off) and Överflöd Imorgon (Sports).
On The Diamond Casino Podium: Obey Omnis e-GT
Fortune favors those who take their chances, especially when said chances include spinning the Lucky Wheel inside The Diamond Casino & Resort. Give it a spin and cross your fingers that you get to take home the Obey Omnis e-GT (Sports) on the podium nearby.
LS Car Meet members who place Top 3 in the Pursuit Race Series for three days in a row will receive the Obey Omnis (Sports). And visit the Test Track inside the car meet to try out the Dinka Jester Classic (Sports, 40% off), Karin Futo GTX (Sports, 40% off), and Invetero Coquette BlackFin (Muscle).
GTA+
GTA+ Members can claim the following rewards and bonuses through March 15:
The new 50-vehicle Eclipse Blvd Garage, with your choice of décor
An Emperor Vectre (Sports) with Mambas 24 and Sword Boy liveries
Exclusive Gun Van discounts and Lucha Libre tints for the Knife and Baseball Bat
50% off Supplies for your Acid Lab
All of this and more, for just $5.99 a month, including a bonus of GTA$500,000 delivered upon billing and deposited automatically into your Maze Bank account. For full details, visit the GTA+ website.
DISCOUNTS
Accelerate your rise to the top of the Los Santos food chain by purchasing an Agency, outfitting it with an Armory, and customizing the décor,all for 40% off this week.
Fortify your Armory’s arsenal with various discounts at the Gun Van, including 40% off the Heavy Rifle, 45% off the Unholy Hellbringer (GTA+ only), and much more.
Additionally, enjoy sales on the following vehicles, including vehicles in showrooms city-wide:
Mammoth Patriot Mil-Spec (Off-Road) – 30% off
Ocelot Locust (Sports) – 30% off
Dinka Jester Classic (Sports) – 40% off
Karin Futo GTX (Sports) – 40% off
Vapid Ellie (Muscle) – 40% off
Lampadati Viseris (Sports) – 40% off
Prime Gaming Benefits
GTA Online players who connect their Rockstar Games Social Club account with Prime Gaming will receive GTA$125,000 for playing anytime this week.
All bonus GTA$ will be deposited into your Maze Bank account within 72 hours at the start of the next weekly event. To ensure access to future benefits, make sure to visit Prime Gaming and sign up.
HELL-A, CALIFORNIA, 2nd March 2023 (Sydney, Australia, 3rd March 2023) | With just under two months to go until Dead Island 2 is releasedworldwide, Dambuster Studios and Deep Silver unveil an extended look at gameplay, kicking off the action at the very beginning of the game in Bel Air, Los Angeles.
Armed with an array of weapons, each with their own unique, brutal fighting style and endless opportunities for upgrades, slayer Dani meets Standard zombies (Walkers, Shamblers, Runners), Variant (grenadier walkers), and Apex (hyper mutated zombies), all with unique powers and behaviours.
Hailing from the mosh pits of County Cork, Ireland, Dani’s unique slayer characteristic – tenacious yet balanced – is well-suited to an agile style of combat. Her mission? To get to the Halperin Hotel.
Players will also see how tapping into curveballs and combining a powerful set of Skill Cards, enhancing abilities and tailoring to style of play, assist Dani as she hacks and slashes her way through the first part of the game.
Dambuster Studios’ dismemberment tech – known as FLESH (Fully Locational Evisceration System for Humanoids) – means crushing bones, slices zombies and melting flesh has never been so satisfying.
As an infected, but somehow immune slayer, finally witness what happens when the slayer activates their corrupted DNA and triggers Fury Mode.
Please note: for the purpose of this trailer, some weapons and skills have been unlocked that won’t be available until a later stage in the game.
PRE-ORDERS & LIMITED EDITIONS
The highly covetable Dead Island 2 HELL-A Edition is full of unique items to further the immersion of every fan.
The HELL-A Edition includes:
Exclusive SteelBook® with game disc
Expansion Pass
Venice Beach Travel Map
6 x Slayer Tarot Cards
2 x Pin Badges
1 x Patch
Golden Weapons Pack
Pulp Weapons Pack
Character Packs 1 & 2
Players who pre-order any edition of Dead Island 2 will receive the Memories Of Banoi Pack, featuring two unique weapons that celebrates the original Dead Island game and a special skill card.
The Memories of Banoi Pack includes:
Banoi War Club
Memories of Banoi Baseball Bat
Weapon Perk – Balanced
Personal Space Skills Card
Furthermore, there’s a hand-painted resin collector’s figurine of Amy in the iconic Burger 66 diner after a zombie slaying session. This standalone, premium figurine is available to purchase exclusively from Deep Silver at www.DeadIsland.com.
ABOUT DEAD ISLAND 2
Dead Island 2 is a First Person Action RPG set in a hellish, yet stylish and vibrant, gore-drenched vision of Los Angeles, nicknamed HELL-A. The series’ unique formula, dark humor and over the top zombie-slaying returns, with all the swagger and charisma you’d expect from Dead Island.
Dead Island 2 will release on 21st April, 2023 on Xbox Series X and Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment systems from Microsoft, PlayStation®5 and PlayStation®4 computer entertainment systems and the Epic Games Store for PC.
For more information on Dead Island 2 follow us on Twitter, Instagram and on Facebook at @DeadIslandGame.
Deep Silver develops and distributes interactive games for all platforms. The Deep Silver label means to captivate all gamers who have a passion for thrilling gameplay in exciting game worlds by creating products of the highest possible quality, always focusing on what the customer desires. Deep Silver has published more than 200 games since 2003, including its own brands like the open world extravaganza Saints Row, the zombie action franchise Dead Island, and the gritty, post-apocalyptic Metro series. Upcoming highlights from Deep Silver include the next entries into the TimeSplitters and Dead Island franchises. Deep Silver development studios include Deep Silver Dambuster Studios and Free Radical Design, both in Nottingham, UK and Deep Silver Fishlabs in Hamburg, Germany. For more information please visit www.deepsilver.com.
All product titles, publisher names, trademarks, artwork and associated imagery are trademarks, registered trademarks and/or copyright material of the respective owners. All rights reserved.
ABOUT DEEP SILVER DAMBUSTER STUDIOS
Deep Silver Dambuster Studios is a AAA game developer with a heritage spanning over 20 years, with around 170 designers, narrators, artists, programmers and engineers making up the talented team.
Established in Nottingham (UK), the studio was founded by a passionate team of games industry veterans, with the genesis of the studio traced back to the late 1990s, when several people formed Free Radical Design where they worked on TimeSplitters.
In 2014 the studio was acquired by Deep Silver and rebranded Deep Silver Dambuster Studios. It released Homefront: The Revolution for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC in 2016. In the 12 months following the launch of Homefront it released additional Resistance Mode content and three individual story expansions; The Voice of Freedom, Aftermath and the final story bookend, Beyond the Walls.
The studio is now developing the next instalment in the highly successful Dead Island series of games.
LOS ANGELES – March 2, 2023 – Netmarble, a leading developer and publisher of high-quality mobile games, releases a new update for the mobile role-playing gameSeven Knights 2. Starting today, players can experience a new hero, equipment, events, and more.
This latest update adds Knight of Darkness Evan (Legendary+ / Attack type), a new hero whose skill allows players to suppress enemies’ passive skills. Evan’s passive skill is triggered by Area of Effect (AoE) Damage, allowing players to disable enemy units that might be affecting the battlefield. Players will have to work hard to keep Evan alive as his health pool is lower than others using Recovery items, or else he’ll be short lived on the battlefield.
New Mythic Grade equipment makes its debut, allowing players to further upgrade their characters’ Legendary+ weapon and armor. This new tier of equipment affects 11 existing types of equipment, and can be accessed by using Mythic Upgrade Stones. This further enhances both the stats and options of the equipment. Additional content includes an alternate costume for Evan, the Knight of Oblivion outfit, as well as the Victory outfitfor Dellons.
From March 2 through March 15, players can experience several limited-time events, including:
Blue Teddy Bear’s Gift! Crafting Event: Players can obtain Blue Bear Coins by checking-in the game and completing in-game missions. With the coins obtained during the event, players can acquire the Legendary+ Evan costume, summon tickets, Enhancement Stones and Mythic Upgrade Stone.
Collect cute Blue Bear Coins in March: As more players collect Blue Bear coins, additional rewards will be offered such as Rubies, Mythic Enhancement Stone, Legendary+ Weapon/Armor Selection Ticket and Mythic Upgrade Stone.
March 3.3.3 Check-in Event: Players who check-in the game during the event period, can acquire Blue Bear Coins, Pet Fragment Chests and Legendary Pet Summon Voucher Fragments.
March Pet Fest Begins!: Upon dispatching/summoning Pets or fuse Pet Soulstones, players can receive either Blue Bear Coins, Pet Step Up Summon Tickets or Legendary Pet Summon Voucher Fragments.
Several improvements have been made in order to provide an enjoyable experience for all players. The Pet Dispatch System has been upgraded for convenience, while a newly added Training System allows players to easily measure your party’s combat power. More rewards have been added as the criteria for Account Combat Power has changed from 8 million to 10 million.
The official sequel to Seven Knights, a game enjoyed by 60 million players globally, Seven Knights 2 takes place 20 years after the original and introduces beautiful open world gameplay. The story centers on the Daybreak Mercenaries who embark on a journey to find the last member of the Seven Knights, “Rudy,” after a series of events involving a mysterious girl named Phiné. Stunning cinematics and graphics powered by Unreal Engine 4 will immerse players in this epic game story filled with unique characters and powerful bosses. Players can collect and develop their heroes and experience a new combat system with powerful ultimates and suppressors.
More information on Seven Knights 2 can be found on the officialFacebook page, YouTube and forums or by visiting Netmarble’s Global YouTube channel.
About Netmarble Corporation
Established in Korea in 2000, Netmarble Corporation is a leading developer and publisher of top-grossing mobile games worldwide. Through powerful franchises and collaborations with acclaimed IP holders, Netmarble strives to elevate the gaming experience and entertain audiences globally. As a parent company of Kabam and SpinX Games, and a major shareholder of Jam City and HYBE (formerly Big Hit Entertainment), Netmarble’s diverse portfolio includes Lineage 2: Revolution, MARVEL Future Fight, Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds, The King of Fighters ALLSTAR, The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross, and forthcoming PC games like Paragon: The Overprime. More information can be found athttp://company.netmarble.com.[LL(R2]
New Film Will Bring Prime Horror Multiplayer Game – Dead by DaylightOut of The Fog and Onto the Big Screen
Los Angeles, CA – March 2, 2023 –Atomic Monster and Blumhouse are teaming up with the largest Canadian gaming studio, Behaviour Interactive, to develop a feature film adaptation of Behaviour’s global hit horror multiplayer game, Dead by Daylight.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to work with Jason Blum and James Wan, two giants of the horror film industry, to further expand the Dead by Daylight universe,” said Stephen Mulrooney, Executive Vice President at Behaviour Interactive. “At Behaviour, our motto is to create unique moments, together, forever. Atomic Monster and Blumhouse are the ideal partners to craft Dead by Daylight’s killer entrance onto the big screen.”
Atomic Monster Founder and CEO James Wan added, “In Dead by Daylight the Behaviour team has created a love letter to the world of horror, building an incredible environment teeming with atmosphere and terrifying villains — perfect for a scary cinematic adaptation. We’re big fans of the game at Atomic Monster, and are thrilled to be teaming up with Blumhouse to bring this frighteningly visceral world to the big screen.”
The companies are commencing their search for a director and a screenwriter to propel the Dead by Daylight franchise to a new medium.
“We know there are so many fans of Dead by Daylight out there and think it’s imperative we find someone who appreciates and loves the world as much as we do, to help us bring the game to the big screen,” said Jason Blum, Blumhouse Founder and CEO. “We know our partners at Behaviour and Atomic Monster will help us bring the best version of this game to life.”
Since its launch in 2016,Dead by Daylighthas reached over 50 million players worldwide, with two million players stepping into The Fog every day. The game features a vast universe where classic horror survives and thrives. Having welcomed iconic characters from TV, film, and gaming, it’s only fitting that the franchise expands to new horizons to tell its story.
James Wan, Jason Blum and Stephen Mulrooney are producers on the film. Behaviour Interactive’s Rémi Racine; Atomic Monster’s Michael Clear and Judson Scott; Blumhouse’s Ryan Turek, and Striker Entertainment’s Russell Binder are executive producers.
About Behaviour Interactive
Behaviour Interactive is the largest Canadian gaming studio, with more than 1,200 employees worldwide. Behaviour is best known for its flagship franchise, the multiplayer survival horror game Dead by Daylight, which has entertained over 50 million players across multiple platforms. The studio is currently expanding its portfolio of original IP with multiple projects, including the highly anticipated base building and raiding title Meet Your Maker. Behaviour has also established itself as one of the world’s foremost providers of external development services.
The company has partnered with many of the gaming industry’s leaders, including Microsoft, Sony, EA, Warner, Netflix, and Take-Two, among many others. Over 30 years, Behaviour has developed an unparalleled, award-winning culture. The company was named one of the Best Places To Work in Canada by GamesIndustry.biz, and has been recognized with Deloitte Canada’s Enterprise Fast 15 and Best Managed Company awards. Headquartered in Montreal, Behaviour has expanded its global presence with studios in Toronto (Behaviour Toronto), Seattle (Midwinter Entertainment), and the United Kingdom (Behaviour UK – North).
Atomic Monster is James Wan’s production company, which launched its film slate with Annabelle (2015) and followed with Lights Out (2016), Annabelle: Creation (2017), The Nun (2018), The Curse of La Llorona (2019), Annabelle Comes Home (2019), Mortal Kombat (2021), The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021), Malignant (2021), and There’s Someone Inside Your House (2021). Most recently, the company released the global hit M3GAN, starring Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, and Ronny Chieng, for which a sequel has already been announced. In television, Atomic Monster executive produced several series across genres including MacGyver, Swamp Thing, I Know What You Did Last Summer, Archive 81, Aquaman: King of Atlantis, and Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles. Upcoming for Atomic Monster is the Wan directed and produced Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, the sequel to DC’s box-office smash Aquaman (2018); Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot, starring Lewis Pullman, Alfre Woodard, and Bill Camp; and New Line’s The Nun 2, starring Taissa Farmiga and Storm Reid. In TV, Atomic Monster will executive produce the Untitled Ian McCulloch Project for Peacock, which the streamer recently picked up for a full series order.
About Blumhouse Productions
Blumhouse is a multimedia company regarded as the driving force in horror. The company has produced over 150 movies and television series with theatrical grosses amounting to over $5 billion. In film, the company has produced iconic, genre, film franchises like Halloween, Paranormal Activity, The Purge, and prolific films like the box-office juggernaut M3GAN; Scott Derrickson’s The Black Phone; Glass, The Visit and Split from M. Night Shyamalan; Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman; Get Out from Jordan Peele; among several others. This year, the company has David Gordon Green’s The Exorcist and Chris Weitz’s film They Listen slated for a theatrical release. The television company operates in genre and provocative programming through acclaimed scripted and unscripted series and documentaries, such as the upcoming series The Horror of Dolores Roach, starring Justina Machado, for Amazon; The Thing About Pam, starring two-time Academy Award winner Renée Zellweger, for NBC; the upcoming original series The Sticky, produced by Jamie Lee Curtis for Amazon; The Jinx for HBO; Our Father for Netflix; and the lauded Showtime series The Good Lord Bird, starring Academy Award nominee Ethan Hawke, among others. The company also produces streaming anthology series like Welcome to the Blumhouse for Amazon and a slate of horror/thriller films for MGM+.
Kirby has had a pretty good tenure on the Nintendo Switch during the console’s lifespan. One of the most important titles in the franchise’s lifespan however has been missed up until recently, and that was Kirby’s Return to Dream Land, which was released on the Wii an entire decade ago. A port of an older game at full price can be rather controversial, but with such an acclaimed title being packed full of new content, is the Deluxe offering worth a new helping? Let’s find out.
Story
If you’re new to this title in any way, it is rather easy to get caught up in its cheeky, yet endearing plot. When a mysterious ship comes to Dream Land, a new foe by the name Magolor tricks Kirby and his friends into gathering ship parts so he can steal the “Master Crown” and take over the Universe. Kirby then must restore the world and put a stop to Magolor once and for all, in what is a classically built platformer tuned to the same direction as the original titles in the franchise. Yes, the remake is beat for beat the same, but the plot still works and is enjoyable enough to trek through yet again. Magolor also has his own story, which has the player control him as he works to regain his powers in an all-new adventure dubbed “Magolor Epilogue: The Interdimensional Traveler”, providing a few more hours into an already solid experience.
Gameplay
As far as the gameplay is concerned, Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe, not much has changed aside from platform. The game still controls incredibly well, with our pink puff and friends featuring their main abilities and attacks in a gentle platformer. I feel like you could best compare this package to that of Kirby Super Star Ultra, as it follows the prior compilation title’s beats quite closely. Players have the main story mode and the previously mentioned Magolor mode to trek through, but there is a lot more this time around to keep them coming back in for more.
The concept stays true to the original experience, as co-op is still a focus for those who want to join in with friends. I have always heard the original game’s difficulty being its main critique, and while nothing has changed, I feel it is also relevant to remind weary folk of why that argument is still quite silly overall. Kirby isn’t about platforming as much as it is discovery. Instead of making it difficult to complete simple tasks such as making it from point A to point B, this game is built around a sense of discovery, where the player is rewarded for finding new items, collectibles, and so on. Sure, it’s easy to beat as a standard platformer, but difficult to do so in a burst as the game is filled with content and collectibles, and this time features some fun additions to make the playthrough even more enticing as players try to see everything it has to offer. Stress is meant to be low, so players take in the world and get the most of it. If you are new to this pink mascot’s offerings, the mainline of games are built around this mindset, allowing players to have the joy of executing new abilities in order to create a unique experience for each and every person who joins in.
Those who want new gameplay options are in luck, as a new carnival-esque styled mini-game compilation is also present, where players can collect tickets to unlock new mini-games, with most built around a multiplayer format that all come off as a welcome addition. Again, the extras here bring about a similar structure to that of Super Star, but with far more content to offer that allows deviation from the main story with hectic and fun little squabbles to take place in-between. There is a lot new to do and see, but it’s good to remind folks of how well built the original title was, and still is within this new offering. Deluxe brings a few new copy abilities, but still maintains every brilliant piece of game design and pacing the original had years ago, yet still feels fresh as the minor new additions do so much to make this new trek feel engaging and unique. Return to Dream Land is a special game, built around a formula that asks the player to slow down and take in what the development team built for the player, and it was a joy seeing it all again with these new offerings.
Visuals
Kirby’s Return to Dreamland maintains its stellar presentation with the addition of black outlines on the main character models, which seem to fit well enough here. Animations and other graphical portions have been enhanced as well but do keep in mind that the game was only ten years old and came out very late in the Wii’s lifespan, so there wasn’t too much that really needed an update. From the bold colors to the lavish world designs, it’s nice to get lost in this landscape yet again and the team did well to bring this to the Switch with almost zero optimization issues.
Audio
The soundtrack is also fantastic. I mentioned this years ago when I first reviewed this title, but the lovely beats and tunes should keep you immersed and smiling until the very end. Minor sound effects also do well at capturing the charm of the characters and enemies within, with top-notch quality stitched throughout for an audibly pleasing experience.
Overall
Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe is a familiar joy that is more than welcome on the Switch. Kirby isn’t about difficulty; he is about innovation. It’s a lot harder to create an experience that can highlight simplicity and keep it engaging, rather than aim for difficulty and challenge within game design. That is what this title is all about, and its execution of the concept is flawless. Is an upgraded port worth full price? Well, that is really up to the consumer, but those wanting Kirby’s best will have a full buffet here, as this offering is easily one of the easiest recommendations to give for the platform. Absolutely wonderful.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
When it comes to creating an incredibly difficult action game there are few developers as experienced as Team Ninja. Long before the rise of the various Souls games the developers at Team Ninja were making games that could frustrate players to no end with their challenging difficulty and in recent years the company has put their own spin on the Souls style of games with their Nioh series and now their latest effort is Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. This time around though rather than setting the game in Japan their latest effort takes some tips from fellow Koei Tecmo developer Omega Force by placing the game in historic China during the fall of the Han Dynasty as well as placing far more weight on deflection mechanics. With all these new elements, has Team Ninja’s latest effort in creating a unique take on the genre been worthwhile?
Story
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty begins with players taking their heavily customizable created militia soldier into the middle of a battle where a small village is being sacked by the forces of the Yellow Turban rebellion. The Han Dynasty is in its last days and is beginning to crumble as new forces begin to rise and others make their own moves, but unlike what many are familiar with, this story now has a fantastical element to it. After saving a mysterious boy and being revived from death, the player finds themselves battling against demonic forces that fight alongside the Yellow Turbans as allies only to come face to face with their general, Zhang Liang, who wields demonic powers of his own.
Those familiar with the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history, or even those familiar with the Dynasty Warriors series, will likely be able to guess many of the background story beats as they progress through the game as the battles against the Yellow Turbans continues to play out the same way, only this time with a darker mystical element involved as a dark Taoist is using a mystical Elixir that is capable of unlocking powerful Qi in those who use it at the cost of their humanity. Many forces begin to take advantage of this Elixir while players and many names from Three Kingdoms history such as Liu Bei, Cao Cao, and many more join as allies against those using the Elixir for evil.
While this new mystical element does add some intriguing elements to the storyline, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a bit on the predictable side primarily thanks to how it is structured. While there are some unique and original locations as well as original characters implemented throughout the story, most of the developments occur through a cutscene at the start of a stage and then one at the end, and sometimes not even then all while usually being paired with a historical ally to fight against a boss that is also historically significant. Along these same lines, characters introduced early will vanish for long periods of time or completely, even as summonable allies, with little explanation. Even the characters based around the hub area are incredibly simplistic and offer little extra lore and what notes players do gather are often incredibly short and provide only a small amount of backstory to what happened before players arrived. There are some interesting twists that begin to occur right near the end of the game but these happen far too late to revive this story as being more than a dark fantasy twist on familiar early Three Kingdoms conflicts.
Gameplay
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty takes a familiar playstyle and puts its own unique spin on things in such a manner that players may find it incredibly difficult to adapt initially. Players will still be able to make use of fast-paced combo attacks while wielding a wide variety of weapons and unleashing magical spells but the true difficulty not only comes from hard-hitting enemies but the parrying, or Deflection, mechanic that almost all combat is based around. In fact the game’s very first boss, as exhibited by our countless losses in the video above, serves as a hard skill check barrier to entry to the rest of what Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty has to offer by making sure that players learn the concepts of deflecting incoming blows, managing their spirit gauge and morale, and much more before opening up a bit and easing things down. It is a bit strange that the very first boss, a two-stage one at that, ends up being far more difficult than nearly every other boss in the game but it helps set the tone that Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty will not go easy on players who are unprepared.
As mentioned, while players can block some incoming attacks the primary defense in the game is deflecting incoming blows. This is done by dodging just as an attack is about to strike and often leaves an enemy open to a counter attack while also draining their spirit gauge. Any enemy with a fully drained spirit gauge can be attacked with a flashy fatal strike for massive damage that will often weaken them as a result. Along these same lines the more players attack an enemy and deflect incoming attacks the higher their own spirit gauge will fill, giving them chances to deal more damage as well as spend some of the gauge to execute martial arts that are tied to the weapons players have equipped and spells. Of course, should the player’s own spirit gauge be drained by using too many spells, martial arts, dodging too much or getting hit too much, they will also be temporarily left open.
It is also worth noting that deflecting attacks plays a pivotal role in managing morale as well. Every stage players begin with zero morale and as they slay enemies throughout a stage it will increase all the way to a maximum of twenty five. The catch here is that any enemy in the game, ranging from a simple zombie to an imposing mid-boss, is capable of performing a critical strike. Critical Strikes see the enemy glow red and unleash an unblockable attack that, should it connect, will deal lots of damage and decrease the player’s morale by one, though deflecting such a blow will often break an enemy’s demonic armor or leave them wide-open for a flourish of attacks.
As players fight through a stage they will encounter banner stands that flags can be placed in with larger banners serving as both checkpoints should players fall in battle but also mini-hubs for leveling, traveling to other battlefields, summoning allies, and even buying items. Smaller marker banners can often be found in hidden locations or areas that are off the beaten path, giving players plenty of reason to explore beyond simply trying to get more loot because every banner placed increases the minimum morale the player will have in that battle. Not only is this important since death will immediately drop a player’s morale to the minimum, but also since morale plays a massive role in how much damage players can take as well as dish out.
For example, battling a group of grunts with only one morale but the enemies all have ten morale will often be a losing fight, especially since most of their blows can kill in a few strikes should players be unprepared. The opposite is just as true though, with players at maximum morale being able to dish out tons of damage to enemies and cut through standard foes mostly with ease. Of course, this plays a massive role in boss battles as well. This means that, should players be having trouble with a boss, such as the troublesome Zhang Liang, simply going to grind morale to the maximum and returning to resume the battle can make all the difference in actually making sure players know what they are doing.
These boss encounters tend to be real special feeling as many of them provide a nice balance of choosing when to attack or play defensive. Many simpler moves from bosses will actually be more dangerous than their critical strikes as these are not only heavily telegraphed but also, if properly deflected, leave the boss wide open for punishment. This can lead to some truly wonderful balancing acts, especially against some of the tougher bosses in the game that we won’t spoil here. It is worth noting that there are a couple bosses that are a bit too easy and will be blown through like nothing, but many of these fights are real standouts.
Managing the aforementioned Morale is a major factor to difficulty but players can also make things a little easier on themselves by summoning help. Nearly every battlefield, outside of duels against signature characters, will allow players to summon up to two allies to fight alongside them through the stage at the cost of a tiger seal. These seals are obtained from defeating invaders, enemies that have slain other players, and even randomly throughout some stages. AI companions can serve as useful allies to draw attention away from the player, allowing them to sneak attack, cast powerful spells, or simply maneuver around a fight a bit easier. It is worth noting that we did not have much chance to try out online help with other players nor did we get invaded by others during this review period, though the game does feature NPC invasions in certain locations as well.
As usual with a game like this, players will gain levels by obtaining “Genuine Qi” from defeating enemies and should the player fall in battle, they will only lose half of their Qi compared to losing everything. This Qi can then be used to level up, at increasing amounts, by applying points into one of five elemental categories that increase things such as spell capabilities, deflection timing window, health, the amount of spirit gauge spent for spells and martial arts, and more. Of course, leveling or even accessing any banner will respawn most enemies in the area as well as refill the player’s Dragon Cure Pot. Leveling is a fairly straightforward element and comes at a reasonable rate though gear progression is another story entirely as Team Ninja has once again made use of some incredibly frustrating design here.
All gear dropped from enemies, be it weapon, armor, or even an accessory will have standard stats attached to it and these generic stats are improved simply by refining the gear to a higher level, but the real RNG comes from the various effects each piece of gear has and just how much is thrown at players. Fighting through a battleground can often reward the player with nearly a hundred pieces of gear that are almost entirely worthless, leaving them to be scrapped for materials players already have plenty of and rarely a useful skill that can be embeded in a different piece of gear, or simply sold for money. This also means that players will need to sift through hundreds of pieecs of gear should they want to see if anything is actually an improvement over whatever they have equipped. With each gear offering different upgrade levels, star ratings, and random buffs this can be a lot and frankly, unless players care a ton about special bonuses, is far too much to worry about compared to simply upgrading the gear player’s are already familiar with. It is nice though that all gear can be given a cosmetic shift to look like any other piece of equipment of the same category, allowing players to dress up as they feel like while still taking advantage of their preferred loudout.
It is a bit unfortunate that for a game that requires some extremely precise timing during combat, especially during boss battles, the game’s performance is quite rough. While most fights against standard enemies and even larger opponents will flow perfectly fine, other times the on-screen battle will freeze for just a moment before jumping ahead, often with the player being hit in the process and there is often no hint as to what triggers these hitches as large-scale attacks can come off perfectly fine only for a small flurry to freeze the screen. It is rather frustrating and has led to an extra death on more than one occasion as well as a complete crash to the dashboard during what ended up being one of the simpler boss fights.
Visuals & Audio
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty looks rather impressive thanks to some great art direction and enemy designs. The character models for everyone’s favorite heroes and villains from The Three Kingdoms remain mostly true to form only upgraded to match the graphical fidelity of the rest of the game. Standard enemy designs begin to get a bit stale halfway through the game but thankfully all boss designs are exceptional looking, especially in motion when performing critical strikes. It is also nice to note that there is a solid amount of level variety to be found in the game and, since banner stands could be anywhere, there is actually reason to explore every location.
Players will find that the game offers both the original Japanese voice track as well as an English voice cast as well. The English voice actors have handled their jobs well enough here though lip-synching is rather poor in many cutscenes. As for background music, the game’s soundtrack features a solid collection of action music reminiscent of what may be heard in other Three Kingdoms styled games though no track really stood out.
Overall
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty can be incredibly difficult to master but once players start to get the hang of the deflection system, it is one that is not only incredibly rewarding but also quite fun to play and see in action when it isn’t hitching up. Fast paced action with plenty of weapon variety and spells at the player’s disposal means that players can tackle almost any obstacle how they want and even make things a little easier on themselves along the way should they choose. The poor loot system and a somewhat lackluster story do hold it back a bit but Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is an outstanding game that those looking for a challenge should be eager to try.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Make Friends With the Adorable Kana in 13 Worlds and 300 Hand-Crafted Levels in the Upcoming Educational Match ‘Em Up
Erie, Pennsylvania (March 1, 2023) — Whitethorn Games – publisher of inclusive, accessible, low-stress games including Lake, Calico, and Wytchwood – and developer Not Dead Design are bringing the kawaii Kana match ‘em up, Kana Quest, to Nintendo Switch™. Available on March 28, 2023, in North America and Europe, and in Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea on March 30, 2023, players will soon be able to make friends with all the adorable Kana as they play through 13 worlds and enjoy 300 hand-crafted levels. Whether at home or on the go, learning Japanese has never been so fun!
“Kana Quest is a fun, at-your-own-pace way to learn Japanese, and we’re pleased to be able to share it with even more players, thanks to our Partners at Nintendo,” said Dr. Matthew White, CEO of Whitethorn Games. “We’re glad they agree that Kana Quest should have a home on the Nintendo Switch™.”
Watch the new Kana Quest trailer here:
Kana Quest offers a unique twist on the educational game genre, teaching players to read Japanese through engaging tile-swapping puzzles. In Japanese, each phonetic letter is called a Kana. In Kana Quest, players must rearrange a grid of Kana in order to match tiles with shared sounds. When all Kana in a level are connected by matches, the puzzle will be complete! Whether players know how to read Japanese or not, Kana Quest offers hundreds of brain-bending puzzles that will challenge even fluent speakers, all set in an adorable, pixel-art retro-arcade aesthetic!
Key Features of Kana Quest include:
Match and Learn: Puzzles and lessons for all skill levels! Kana Quest was designed for anyone to enjoy, no matter your level of Japanese.
Double the Fun: Know how to read Hiragana already? No problem! Swap between Hiragana and Katakana at any time to add to your knowledge of the Japanese language!
No Tests, No Problem: Unlike other educational games, Kana Quest features ZERO pop quizzes so that players can learn in an interactive and engaging way!
Kawaii Kana: Beautiful sprite art and catchy music will accompany players on their language-learning journey.
Kana Quest will be available on Nintendo Switch™ on March 28, 2023, in North America and Europe, and on March 30, 2023, in Japan, Hong Kong, and South Korea. It is currently available for purchase on PC via Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/725850/Kana_Quest.
About Whitethorn Games
We’re an indie game publisher focusing on pleasant, low-stress games that can be played in pieces, that require no special skills or knowledge and that anyone can pick up and play. We’re believers in accessibility, inclusion, and widening the audience that gets to play. We like to consider ourselves the defenders of easy games. While our games might challenge you, they’ll respect your time, they’ll make sure you can play, and most importantly, they’ll never punish you.
About Not Dead Design
Not Dead Design is a small Melbourne-based game studio. We focus on making focused games that have an impact after you finish playing – “designs that keep on kicking”.
