SHERMAN OAKS, Cali. – Feb. 7, 2023 –Hell of an Office, the satanic speedrunning first-person platformer from developer 43 Studios and publisher Joystick Ventures, dashes through the fiery gates of the buttoned up corporate abyss and into Steam Early Access for PC on Tuesday, March 14, 2023.
Escape the literal business underworld and a boss that is the actual devil by precisely platforming through the Seven Ten Circles of Hell, racing against the lethal lava rapidly rising every second. Grasp the only tool for survival, an all-powerful stapler granting the power to dash, rocket jump, and grapple across 100 devilishly challenging levels. Only with the help of the company mascot, Mr. Stapley, can employees find a way out of this fire and brimstone.
Each circle of the inferno introduces a new threat to a healthy work-life balance at the company, HellO, like wall covered spikes, spinning saw blades, and searing lazer beams. Thrive in these fast-paced work environments by flying through wind tunnels, cathartically burning overwhelming stacks of paper, gaining a leg up over coworkers with bounce pads, and thinking outside the box with portals.
Rebel against the CEO of HellO, Stan Morningstar, and shakeup the management. Break the game to climb the corporate ladder and end up at the top of the online leaderboards. Create custom routes through each stage, thanks to versatile and addictive level design, to achieve all of the fabled Diamond Rank times, and maybe unlock a secret promotion…
“Speedrunning has become its own adrenaline pumping genre over the years and Hell of an Office is here to claim the throne,” said Ivan Carrillo, Managing Partner for Joystick Ventures. “Speedrunners can work hard at earning promotions toward the top of the leaderboards while taking their career frustrations out on a diabolical boss this March. The game offers a peek into the perception of what corporate office life is like from a group of Gen-Z’s. Honestly, I don’t think they’re far off!”
Hell of an Office submits its application to work at Steam Early Access on Windows PCs March 14, 2023 for $9.99 USD with English language support. For more information on Hell of an Office, please visit the official website, follow the game on Twitter and TikTok, and join the community Discord.
About 43 Studios
43 Studios is a Barcelona-based game development studio currently with a six-person team. As a developer, they aim to create games that are always funny, entertaining, and most importantly, fast-paced. Hell of an Office is the studio’s first commercial project but has already garnered multiple awards at Barcelona’s Indie Dev Day.
About Joystick Ventures
Joystick Ventures is a California-based investing and publishing company whose main goal is to encourage indie developers to stay honest and promote experimentation to push the limits of game design across all genres, styles, and geographies. They are most known for their 2022 release, Lost in Play, which has sold more than 100,000 copies.
Live the Unwritten in a New Hogwarts Adventure – Open-World, Action RPG Set in the 1800s Wizarding World is Now Available
Sydney, Australia. – Feb. 8, 2023 – Warner Bros. Games has announced Hogwarts Legacy, the new open-world, single-player, action RPG (role-playing game) is now available on Early Access PlayStation®5 (PS5™), Xbox Series X|S and PC and with Standard Editions launching on Feb. 10.
Hogwarts Legacy invites players to embark on an epic journey as a fifth-year student at Hogwarts, gifted with a rare ability to tap into ancient, powerful magic. Guided by the Wizard’s Field Guide and unique instruction from professors and other characters, fans will uncover a compelling storyline filled with thrilling challenges and mysteries. Developed by Avalanche Software and published by Warner Bros. Games under the Portkey Games label, Hogwarts Legacy introduces an original story that puts players at the centre of their own wizarding world adventure.
View the official Hogwarts Legacy – Launch Trailer
“Hogwarts Legacy truly fulfils the fantasy of being a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardryand delivers the Wizarding World game fans have been dreaming of for years,” said David Haddad, President, Warner Bros. Games. “The team at Avalanche has created an engaging game rich with mystery and immersive magic for fans and gamers to delve into and create their own magical stories.”
“As fans of the Wizarding World, we’re honoured to work with the franchise to create Hogwarts Legacy and provide fans a way to live out the fantasy of attending Hogwarts and exploring the world like never before,” said John Blackburn, Studio Head, Avalanche Software. “We hope players enjoy the attention to detail from our passionate team, the new narrative and all of the magical elements that went into making this game, which we are extremely proud of.”
In Hogwarts Legacy, players join Hogwarts as a new fifth year student. At the onset of their adventure, players can customise their character’s appearance with a range of options to the be the witch or wizard they want to be. They will join or be sorted into one of the four Hogwarts houses – Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or Slytherin — meet up with housemates in their common rooms and attend classes such as Charms, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, and Potions where they will meet their professors, learn to cast spells, grow magical plants, brew potions and more.
In addition to classes and spells, players will have access to a deep set of upgrades, talents and skills to aid their progression as a witch or wizard. They can complete challenges throughout the world as one opportunity to earn experience and level up their abilities. In between classes, players will be able to explore a fully realised Hogwarts Castle where they will attend classes, discover dungeons, secret passageways, and challenging puzzles. They will grow their character’s abilities while mastering powerful spells and hone combat skills to help them face off against deadly enemies.
The open-world game allows players to freely roam Hogwarts Castle and the surrounding overland, including new and familiar wizarding world locations like Hogsmeade and the Forbidden Forest. It is full of action-packed immersive magic where players fly broomsticks, tame and ride magical beasts, and battle against enemies such as trolls, spiders and dark wizards. Along the way, they will uncover an expansive world filled with perilous dangers tied to the wizarding world’s long forgotten past and an unusual ability that only they possess. Players will also encounter missions and scenarios that will pose difficult choices and determine what they stand for.
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The Digital Deluxe Edition of Hogwarts Legacy available now worldwide for PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S and PC which includes 72 hours of early access to the game as well as the Dark Arts Pack. The Dark Arts Pack provides access to an exclusive wardrobe via the Dark Arts Cosmetic Set, a flying Thestral Mount players can ride, and access to the Dark Arts Battle Arena where players can test their mastery of the Dark Arts against waves of challenging enemies. The physical Deluxe Edition is Available Now and Standard Editions launch on Feb. 10 for PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, on April 4 for PlayStation®4 and Xbox One, and on July 25 for Nintendo Switch.
The Hogwarts Legacy Digital Deluxe Edition will be available for $119.95 (SRP) across all platforms and includes the Deluxe Edition content as well as the Dark Arts Garrison Hat for PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles.
The Hogwarts Legacy Deluxe Edition will be available for PlayStation®4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch™ and PC for $119.95 (SRP) and for PlayStation®5 and Xbox Series X|S for $79.99 (SRP).
The Hogwarts Legacy Standard Edition will be available for PlayStation®4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch™ and PC for $99.95 (SRP) and for PlayStation®5 and Xbox Series X|S for $109.95 (SRP).
Hogwarts Legacy is available now for pre-order via the PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, Steam and Epic Games Store and available on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC. All players that pre-order will be able to obtain the exclusive Onyx Hippogriff Mount upon completing the relevant quest.
Tune in to the Hogwarts Legacy the Global Launch Livestream on Feb. 10 at 8am PST / 4pm GMT/ Feb. 11 at 3am AEDT on Wizarding World’s TikTok and YouTube.
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About Warner Bros. Games
Warner Bros. Games, a division of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Inc., is a premier worldwide publisher, developer, licensor and distributor of entertainment content for the interactive space across all platforms, including console, handheld, mobile and PC-based gaming for both internal and third-party game titles. Additional information can be found at www.wbgames.com.
About Portkey Games Portkey Games, from Warner Bros. Games, is the games label dedicated to creating new Wizarding World mobile and video game experiences that place the player at the center of their own adventure, inspired by J.K. Rowling’s original stories. Portkey Games offers players the opportunity to make their own narrative choices and engage with the Wizarding World setting to create new and unique experiences. The label was created to bring gamers and fans new gaming experiences that allow them to delve into the magic of the Wizarding World in immersive ways where they can define their own Wizarding World story.
About Avalanche Software
Established in 1995 in Salt Lake City, Avalanche Software has been creating interactive experiences for fans of the world’s largest franchises for over two decades. The studio joined Warner Bros. Games in 2016 and is currently working on Hogwarts Legacy, a new, open world, action RPG set in the Wizarding World. Additional information about Avalanche can be found at https://www.avalanchesoftware.com.
Sydney, Australia – 8th February 2023 : A brand new PC demo for System Shock – the fully fledged remake of the ground breaking original from 1994 – has gone live as part Steam Next Fest which runs until 13th February, 2023.
Combining cult gameplay with all-new HD visuals, updated controls, an overhauled interface and all-new sounds and music (it even has the original voice actor of SHODAN) the demo will allow players to experience the whole of the opening level – with no restrictions – as you face SHODAN and her terrifying minions.
Players will need to use a combination of stealth, cunning and futuristic weaponry to make their way through Citadel Station’s all-new areas, traps, puzzles and secrets to reach SHODAN.
Facing them is an army of hostile and mutated creatures – created and controlled by SHODAN herself – players will need to either fight or avoid to survive.
System Shock is available to pre-order for PC via Steam, GOG and the Epic Game Store. The title will also be releasing on PlayStation 4|5 and Xbox One and Series S|X.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
MINIMUM:
Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 7/8.1/10 (64-bit only)
Processor: Intel Core i5-2400/AMD FX-8320 or better
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 670 2GB/AMD Radeon HD 7870 2GB or better
DirectX: Version 11
Storage: 2 GB available space
RECOMMENDED:
Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 7/8.1/10 (64-bit only)
Processor: Intel Core i7-3770/AMD FX-8350 or better
Headquartered in Munich, Germany, Prime Matter the premium gaming label dedicated to delivering a range of diverse and immersive games from amazing gaming development talent 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 PLAION.
About Nightdive Studios
Nightdive Studios believes that classic video games should never be abandoned or forgotten. They should be available to play at any time, run out of the box without the hassle of installing outdated drivers, or using obsolete hardware. We know there are countless games that are still unavailable, and we’re doing our best to bring them back from the depths to be treasured once more..
Sci-Fi Third-Person Action Adventure Hitting Stores in Three Weeks
Sydney, Australia – 8th February 2023: A brand new gameplay trailer giving players an overview of key elements within Scars Above, unveiled overnight.
Created by Serbian developer Mad Head Games and published by Prime Matter, Scars Above is a challenging sci-fi third-person action, set in a mysterious alien world.
Boasting the latest gameplay footage, the trailer will allow players to see many of the core elements of the game – exploration, combat and research – as Kate fights her way through a surreal and dangerous word.
Watch the trailer here:
The Plot
A colossal and enigmatic alien structure appears in Earth’s orbit and stuns the entire world; humanity names it ‘The Metahedron’. The Sentient Contact Assessment and Response team (SCAR) – consisting of scientists and engineers – is sent to investigate.
Things don’t go as planned and the Metahedron hauls the team across space onto a mysterious extrasolar plane.
It’s here that Kate (our heroine) wakes up alone on a strange and hostile world; determined to survive, she sets out to find your crew and unravel the mystery behind what’s happened.
The game releases 28th February 2023 on PC, Gen 8 and Gen 9 consoles.
Headquartered in Munich, Germany, Prime Matter the premium gaming label dedicated to delivering a range of diverse and immersive games from amazing gaming development talent 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 PLAION.
About Mad Head Games
Mad Head Games is one of the pioneers of game development in Serbia. Founded in 2011, it quickly grew into an industry leader, blazing the trail for all up-and-coming domestic game developers. The company is known for its innovative approach to casual adventure games, and after years of consecutive successes, it is expanding into new genres, developing new projects and boldly making headway into CORE and F2P markets.
Officially launching on Feb 21, the Xbox Wireless Controller – Stellar Shift Special Edition will be available for AUD $99.95 and NZD $119.95 respectively across leading retailers.
Featuring a shimmering colourway of purple and blue hue, the Stellar Shift Special Edition controller is sure to take any gaming experience out-of-this-world.
CD PROJEKT RED, in collaboration with Epic Games, announces that The Witcher’s Geralt of Rivia can now be unlocked in Fortnite.
The famed monster slayer and protagonist of CD PROJEKT RED’s The Witcher game trilogy is available via Fortnite’s Chapter 4 Season 1 Battle Pass and is part of the Gaming Legends Series. Geralt’s Outfit, as well as a variety of Witcher-themed Cosmetics including Weapons of the Witcher Back Bling, Spray inspired by the Muscle Memory witcher skill icon, the Igni Sign Emote, a Geralt of Rivia Loading Screen, and the Steel Sword Pickaxe can be unlocked by completing unique Quests in Fortnite (must have the Chapter 4 Season 1 Battle Pass to complete Quests). The first set of Quests is now available in-game, with more coming February 28th, 2023.
All players can also participate in the School of Llama witcher training to earn in-game rewards. The School of Llama challenges contain four paths, each featuring a number of trials and community-created challenge maps inspired by witcher signs and iconic Witcher-world locations. By progressing in School of Llama, players can unlock rewards such as the Silver Sword Pickaxe, a “Geralt of Rivia” Lobby Track, School of the Wolf Spray, witcher school Emoticons, and witcher sign Banner Icons.
The Chapter 4 Season 1 Battle Pass is not required to participate in the School of Llama. Path 1 of the School of Llama training is available now and accessible via the official website, with Paths 2, 3, and 4 unlocking February 14th, 21st, and 28th respectively.
CD PROJEKT RED is a game development studio founded in 2002. It develops and publishes video games for personal computers and video game consoles. The studio’s flagship titles include The Witcher series of games, Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales, GWENT: The Witcher Card Game, and the futuristic AAA role-playing game — Cyberpunk 2077, upon which the Netflix anime series Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, created by CD PROJEKT RED and Studio Trigger, is based. Together with GOG.COM, a game store offering hand-picked titles for PC and Mac, CD PROJEKT RED is part of the CD PROJEKT Group. CD PROJEKT S.A. is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (ISIN: PLOPTTC00011).
About The Witcher franchise Created by CD PROJEKT RED, The Witcher is a series of fantasy role-playing games following the adventures of professional monster slayer Geralt of Rivia. To date, the series has sold over 50 million copies worldwide and garnered over 1000 awards. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, which released in 2015 for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and later in 2019 on the Nintendo Switch, won a total of 250 Game of the Year awards and has sold over 40 million copies worldwide. The Witcher games are set in the universe created by Andrzej Sapkowski in his series of books.
Spread the love with gift giving and unlock exclusive furni and items
Helsinki, Finland, February 7th 2023 – Love is in the air in Habbo! Starting today until the end of the month, players can celebrate Valentine’s Day with new rares, offers, furni, clothing items and bundles. Spread the love with hotel residents by gifting items and if enough presents are sent, get the chance of winning a special participation badge and an Obsidian Baby Penguin!
Fall in love with arcade games in Habbo this Valentines day with seven different machines to be collected, and if you purchase all of them, get access to a special bonus eighth furni – the Duck Hunt arcade machine! The event also brings a ‘Spaced Invaders’ game mode as well as a pickup line competition, where the best and funniest pickup lines are in for the chance to win a Glowing Bear Vendor rare and a Habbo heart-throb badge! For more information, visit: https://www.habbo.com/community/article/31650/3-valentines-2023-3
About Habbo Habbo is one of the largest virtual communities in the world. Founded in 2000, Habbo has expanded to nine online communities (or “hotels”), with paying customers in over 150 countries and more than 600,000 active users a month. Habbo was originally developed by Sulake, a Finnish company owned by Azerion. In December 2022, the Alpha for Habbo’s first fully Web3.0 integrated game, Habbo X, was launched. Habbo X will act as a Metaverse hub in connection with their NFT collections and marketplace items.
About Azerion
Azerion is a high-growth digital entertainment and media platform. As a content-driven, technology and data company, Azerion serves consumers, digital publishers, advertisers and game creators globally. Azerion’s integrated platform provides technology solutions to automate the purchase and sale of digital advertising for media buyers and sellers, supported by in market sales and campaign management teams. Through its technology, content creators, digital publishers and advertisers work with Azerion to reach the millions of people across the globe that play Azerion’s games and view its distributed entertainment content to increase engagement, loyalty and drive e-commerce. Founded in 2014 by two Dutch entrepreneurs, Azerion has experienced rapid expansion driven by organic growth and strategic acquisitions. Azerion is headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands and is a publicly traded company listed on Euronext Amsterdam. For more information visit: www.azerion.com
New trailer debuts first look at new content coming to Modus Studios-developed title, coming to consoles and PC this year
Walnut Creek, Calif. (Feb. 7, 2023) – Maximum Football is back. Modus Games today revealed a first look at the ultimate football simulation ahead of its release to Steam Early Access this spring. The trailer was revealed alongside the news of the Early Access release and that Maximum Football will be a free-to-play title, offering a premium football experience to fans far and wide at no cost. Today’s trailer showcased the game’s slick, physics-based gameplay, rebuilt from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5:
Maximum Football allows players to take control of their football destiny. Players will have the choice to take on the league with professional or college rule sets. This is your league now. Take charge of your team with Maximum Football’s endless levels of customization. From the roster to logos, jerseys and helmets and even individual pieces of equipment, craft your team exactly how you’d like, and then share it with the community.
Additionally, Maximum Football’s beloved Dynasty Mode is back, allowing players to step in as head coach of their team and build their ideal football program. Draft, recruit and manage the team of your dreams and lead them to greatness.
Ready to go head-to-head in online multiplayer? With the unmatched realism provided by Unreal Engine 5, your battle to the top will feel authentic and exhilarating. Maximum Football also features local competitive and co-op play, allowing football stars to play how they want whenever they want. With brand-new downloadable content to be delivered regularly after launch, there will never be a dull moment. A steady stream of new rule sets, modes, customization options, and features allow Maximum Football to truly be the go-to experience for all football fans. Maximum Football is available to wishlist on Steam now: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1691280/Maximum_Football/
Maximum Football will be coming to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S at a later date following its Early Access release on PC this spring. For more information about Maximum Football, please visit http://maximumfootballgame.com/ and follow @maxfootballgame on Twitter. For more information about Modus Games, please visit http://www.modusgames.com/
About Modus Games Modus Games is a global video game publisher focused on bringing the highest level of publishing services to the best developers around the world. Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, Modus leverages its expansive resources and global infrastructure to offer pain-free partnerships that disrupt traditional conventions and redefine the studio-publisher relationship. As one of the fastest growing publishers in the AA space, Modus has delivered notable titles such as Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince, Cris Tales, Super Animal Royale, and Soulstice. Modus Games is part of Maximum Entertainment. Visit Modus at www.modusgames.com.
About Modus Studios Modus Studios is the development division of Maximum Entertainment built of talented artists and programmers that create world class original IP. From the US to Brazil to Hungary and beyond, Modus Studios specializes in high-powered fighting games, sports simulations, and dynamic adventures told through immersive storytelling and compelling gameplay. Modus Studios is part of Maximum Entertainment. Visit Modus Studios at www.modus-studios.com.
About Maximum Entertainment Maximum Entertainment is a global entertainment company dedicated to creating high quality experiences spanning the entire value chain of video games, including development, publishing, transmedia, sales and operations. Maximum Entertainment provides collaborative resources to its partners through in-house publishing labels Maximum Games, Modus, Merge Games and Just For Games, as well as its development division, Modus Studios. With more than 300 titles in its catalogue, Maximum Entertainment has partnered with best-in-class creators and franchises around the world to deliver magic to the gamer in everyone. Maximum Entertainment has offices around the world, employs more than 200 professionals, and is a brand of Zordix AB (publ). Visit Maximum Entertainment at www.maximument.com.
Deliver Us the Moon was one of those titles that really gained steam from word of mouth, as the hidden gem gained notoriety for its strong storytelling and atmospheric design a few years ago, making it one of the past decade’s most notable digital releases. Fast forward today, and we are headed to Mars with a sequel. Deliver Us Mars dives right back into this narrative, attempting to deliver more interactive storytelling, with a lot of promise expected due to delays and anticipation from fans. Is this new entry out of this world, or does it have trouble getting off the ground? Let’s find out.
Story
If you never played Deliver Us the Moon, you are still in the clear to enjoy Deliver Us Mars as the narrative catches most players up on those events that took place as we hunted for a new energy source, but as someone who adores the first title, it is still recommended to get the full impact of what this follow-up brings to the table. This title puts players in the role of Kathy Johanson, a young girl who grows up to take a mission to Mars in order to assist with Earth’s struggle to rebuild, along with her sister and comrades. As we explore and prep for launch, we learn about her strained relationship with her family, great betrayal, and of course this small team’s hunger to finish their mission and save the planet – by any means necessary.
This tale plays out in multiple ways. The first is through flashback sequences, where you slowly peel back layers of a torn childhood. The other moments are mostly in the present, where Kathy discovers hologram data to decrypt what happened on Mars to her father, as well as the rest of the team that went looking for sustainable resources on the red planet. Without diving into any spoilers, I can say that KeokeN have delivered yet another journey that is not only a fascinating take on in-game interaction, but also just as intense and memorable as the first installment. This narrative takes a ton of twists and turns and manages to bring us into it with a great sense of immersion and urgency, where most will have no trouble powering through quickly as they explore and hunt for answers. There is something special about the way this story is told, and the payoff for those who stay until the end leaves for one of the most satisfying stories in years for any game of this scope.
Gameplay
The gameplay for Deliver Us Mars is a little more complicated to speak about. Not because of too many issues, however – but more because the narrative is so intertwined with the game’s design that even though you are fully in control of your character, the story never stops progressing. Players receive the basic tools to get started early on and are equipped with no weapons at their disposal. Instead, you have a laser cutting tool, two pickaxes for climbing, a scanner, and a robot that can assist you with your progression. Instead of fighting enemies, KeokeN have designed this world to be explored, where interactivity is the key to moving forward.
Most of the time, Kathy will be solving puzzles in a couple of different manners. The first comes by powering rays that generate energy to open doors. Players enter each area with very little explanation of what to do and must look around rooms to find switches that can power doors in order to proceed to the next area. This might sound mundane, but the execution here is outstanding as your radio along with dialogue from Kathy to her robot keep things interesting and involved as you tote beams and cut through obstacles with little hassle.
The pickaxes bring another layer of gameplay through climbing sequences where the player must traverse up (down, left and right) to get to new areas of the map. This is mostly done by alternating shoulder buttons, but there is some satisfaction to be found as at times, the challenge of focusing on climbing is difficult while the story adds a broad layer of intensity throughout. That said, if any area of gameplay needed polish prior to release, it would be how Kathy controls while climbing. Sometimes the lack of direction or instruction can be frustrating, as the game fails to provide simple instruction that leads to unnecessary delay in moving on. For instance, there is one area where I was stuck for a good bit, just because the game never showed how to jump at a 360 angle while climbing. Sure, it was sorted out eventually by trial and error, but this is one of those rare moments where prompts would have saved a chunk of time – instead of leaving the player alone to sort out basic unexplained mechanics.
I keep using the word progression during this review as there is such demand for it due to the way the game is designed. It makes this adventure so enchanting but can also test the player’s patience as they work through minor inconsistencies that are just not streamlined to meet the same sense of urgency. Sure, the game is still great, but sometimes I felt the only real challenge was navigating through small gameplay hiccups and odd checkpoints, rather than any actual increase in difficulty based on location.
Visuals
This may be the only area of the game that most will have an issue with, as while the environments look outstanding in Deliver Us Mars, the character models do not really have the best coat of paint. Facial animations are almost nonexistent, failing to meet the same level of emotion found in their dialogue. There are also some issues with screen tearing, and parts of the stages failing to generate correctly after reaching a checkpoint and dying. For example, I finished one puzzle with switches, but died immediately after. The game didn’t generate the puzzle as completed but did consider it done as I moved on to the next section. Yeah, not a huge inconvenience, but enough to slightly break immersion due to issues that hopefully will be fixed with future updates.
Audio
The soundtrack is stunning here. There really are no words to describe the level of atmosphere and tone that the music sets for this experience, as it makes even plain sequences feel important, creating tension and wonder in a game where the player must interact and explore. The voice cast also are phenomenal. I know this isn’t exactly a AAA release, but the performances within make it feel at that level and remain consistent throughout.
Overall
Deliver Us Mars is a worthy sequel to one of the most underrated gems of the last generation. The storytelling is incredible, with a “water-cooler talk” narrative that may not last a long time but can stick with the player hours after experiencing the moral choices of Kathy and her father. In some ways, I feel Deliver Us Mars is a masterpiece of game design. Despite its small flaws, no digital release has come close to feeling this important due to its amazing take on exploration and interaction with a well-thought-out environment. KeokeN nailed this sequel and hopefully will continue their trek through space, as Deliver Us Mars is a remarkable experience that never lets up until those credits roll.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
2K today revealed in-depth details surrounding WarGames, the new, much-anticipated event debuting in WWE 2K23. The Ringside Report created by the Visual Concepts team dives into the fan-favourite and chaotic WarGames, outlining the rules, arenas, gameplay details and more. Check out Ringside Report #1 below.
That’s right, the highly-anticipated WarGames is finally here in WWE 2K23!
Originally created by WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes in 1987, WarGames re-debuted with a new look at NXT TakeOver: WarGames in 2017 before making its way to the WWE main roster with Survivor Series: WarGames in 2022.
In WWE 2K23, players can finally step into the double-ring, double-steel cage match for the first time in a video game, competing in either 3v3 or 4v4 multiplayer.
BRINGING WARGAMES TO THE WWE 2K FRANCHISE
Internally, we’ve known that we wanted to feature this match type for a long time. While developing WWE 2K22, we were able to make some under-the-hood changes that would allow us to make this a reality for WWE 2K23. We knew this would require a team-wide effort, which would challenge us in almost every aspect of the game, from objects to the arenas, entrances, cage combat, dives, springboards, AI, and so much more.
As soon as we could play it, we immediately saw how much fun our players are going to have given all of the different situations that WarGames introduces such as Superstars entering the ring at intervals creating 2v1 or 3v2 situations. With cage combat, weapons, and the area between the two rings which we named “the trench”, we knew this would be a totally new space for combat, so we had to go to the drawing board and think about what kind of interactions users would expect to have there.
We had so much fun bringing this mode to life and I know our players will feel our passion and have a great time playing it.
MATCH RULES
So how does the WarGames match work?
– We begin with two Superstars in the ring while team members are contained in separate cages
– At regular intervals, alternating members of each team will be released from their respective cages and enter the match
– Once all team members have been released and have entered the match, WarGames will officially begin
– WarGames can be won by pinfall or submission or throwing your opponent off the cage
ARENAS
– NXT TakeOver: WarGames
– Survivor Series: WarGames
– MyRise-specific Arena
PLAYING SOLO OR MULTIPLAYER
With both 3v3 and 4v4 options, there is no shortage of mayhem, whether playing solo or with friends.
As part of the match setup, players also have the option to randomize the team advantage (which team gets the 2v1 advantage after the first new entrant) or to assign it to a specific side.
Players are also not limited to using WWE Superstars or Legends, as created wrestlers are allowed for both men’s and women’s matches. In addition, there is some customization allowed such as confining wins to only pinfalls or submissions, instead of both.
Entrance intervals can also be customized in 30-second increments. By default, Superstars enter the match every 90 seconds but can range from 30 seconds up to five minutes.
Once a match begins, players take control of the Superstar they chose. If that Superstar is waiting in a holding cage, they can either let the AI play until it’s their turn to join the match or by pressing the View button on Xbox or the Touchpad on PlayStation controllers to quickly swap which Superstar on the team they are controlling without having to go into the Pause menu.
But what’s a WarGames match without teaming up with friends or bringing the pain to them?
Fans can experience WarGames in local multiplayer with up to four players on Steam and PlayStation, and up to six on Xbox. Players can play on the same team or be split up into members of each team.
We’re also happy to give players the ability to play WarGames in online multiplayer for up to eight players across the same platform family, so get ready to line up your dream team and dominate the WWE Universe globally!
GAMEPLAY
With two rings and a double-wide steel cage, there’s plenty of carnage to be had during a WarGames match.
With no disqualifications, players can introduce objects into the match by digging around under the ring and pulling out tables, stop signs, kendo sticks, and more. And while each object provides an extra dose of danger, there’s no greater danger than the cage itself.
Players can steadily make their way up the cage wall, eventually sitting atop the cage before getting to their feet. Once on their feet, it’s a long way down, which is bad news for opponents on the receiving end of a massive splash!
With two rings to compete in, the action is frenzied and regularly takes place in both at the same time, including the space in between. This is a great spot to get in some additional offense while an opponent tries to escape to another ring or to reach into one of them to catch them off-guard.
OUTRO
WarGames’ introduction to the WWE 2K franchise has been a long time coming, and we’re eager for you to get in the ring and experience it for yourself! WarGames is just one of many exciting features you’ll find in WWE 2K23, but we don’t want to reveal everything just yet. Stay tuned for more Ringside Reports in the coming weeks for more information regarding your favorite Superstars and modes!
