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Explore the Shore: New Way of the Hunter DLC Aurora Shores Releases on the 23rd!

Sydney, Australia – February 21st, 2023: Become a graduate of the Wildlife Trooper School on February 23rd (February 24th AEDT)! Protect the natural resources of Aurora Shores as you explore untouched nature and choose from a broad selection of hunting equipment to score the top trophies – Alaska and all its natural wonders await. Experience Alaska’s breathtaking landscapes and the diverse wildlife in the upcoming expansion for Way of the Hunter: Aurora Shores!

The Aurora Shores DLC for Way of the Hunter is coming to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on February 23rd , 2023 (February 24th 2023 AEDT).

As a newly graduated Wildlife Trooper, your mission is to preserve the region’s natural resources. Immerse yourself in the untamed wilderness and encounter 14 different species, from Kodiak Bears to Roosevelt Elk and beyond. As a trooper, it’s up to you to manage the delicate ecosystem by controlling the population of certain species for the benefit of others. Discover the diverse beauty and open-world habitats of Aurora Shores, from verdant grasslands to soaring mountaintops and lush rainforests. Despite the harsh Alaskan winter, the region boasts breathtaking landscapes year-round. Explore the Nianuk Rise peaks and the sprawling Aivuk Rainforest, and be captivated by the idyllic charm of this unique wilderness.

Free DLC content available
With the Aurora Shores DLC comes a free content patch for the Way of the Hunter base game, which introduces a new weapon class: Crossbows! These are the perfect weapons to hunt silently without disturbing other animals in the vicinity.
Also completely free is the UTV DLC, which was released on January 19th, claim your free ride here:
Steam: https://thqn.net/woth-utv-steam
Xbox: https://thqn.net/woth-utv-xbox
PlayStation: https://thqn.net/woth-utv-psn

Way of the Hunter – Aurora Shores is coming soon to PC, PlayStation®5, and Xbox Series X|S. The base game of Way of the Hunter is required to play. Way of the Hunter is available now for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

Get the game here:
PS5:
EB Games: www.ebgames.com.au/search?q=Way+of+The+Hunter
JB HIFI: www.jbhifi.com.au/products/playstation-5-way-of-the-hunter
Digital: https://store.playstation.com/en-au/product/EP4389-PPSA05732_00-WAYOFTHEHUNTER00

XBOX:
EB Games: www.ebgames.com.au/product/xbox-series-x/283356-way-of-the-hunter
JB HIFI: www.jbhifi.com.au/products/xbox-series-x-way-of-the-hunter
Digital: https://www.xbox.com/en-AU/games/store/way-of-the-hunter/9NCR68J4R20V

PC:
Steam: https://thqn.net/woth-steam
GOG.com: https://thqn.net/woth-gog
Epic Game Store: https://thqn.net/woth-egs

For more info:
Website: http://wayofthehunter.com
Discord: https://discord.gg/wayofthehunter

Follow Way of the Hunter on social media:
https://facebook.com/WayOfTheHunterGame
https://www.instagram.com/wayofthehunter
https://twitter.com/THQNordic
https://www.youtube.com/THQNordic  
https://www.tiktok.com/@thqnordic

About Way of the Hunter – Aurora Shores DLC
The grasslands of Aurora Shores are full of life and wonder. Gray wolves and red foxes, surf scoters and wild ducks, even Alaska’s own moose… Here any hunter can find prey worth their shot.

Aurora shores’ incredible diversity is fully present here in the highlands. Hunters will not only be challenged by fierce weather conditions but by an array of rare prey, such as Roosevelt elk and wood bison, waiting to be found by both seasoned hunters and vicious predators alike.

Features:

  • 14 majestic species of animals to encounter
  • A new landscape to discover – Aurora Shores offers a wide area, 64 square km / 24,7 square miles big
  • New environment types: enjoy rainforests or icy mountain peaks
  • A new storyline to follow: take over the duties of a Wildlife Trooper

Way of the Hunter Website

Notes for Editors:

About THQ Nordic

The THQ Nordic official boiler plate can be found here: https://thqnordic.com/company/about

THQ Nordic Website

About Nine Rocks Games
Nine Rocks Games is a game development studio headquartered in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. “The team consists of veteran game developers with great experience in making successful games, including global hits like DayZ, Soldier of Fortune: Payback, Chaser, or many of the multimillion-selling Cabela’s line of hunting games, including Big Game Hunter and Dangerous Hunts.

Nine Rocks Games Website

THQ Nordic Reveals Brand New AEW: Fight Forever Match – Hangman Adam Page vs The American Dragon Bryan Danielson!

Sydney, Australia – February 21st, 2023: THQ Nordic GmbH and All Elite Wrestling (AEW) revealed a brand new AEW: Fight Forever match featuring Hangman Adam Page vs The American Dragon Bryan Danielson as a part of IGN Fan Fest.

Developed by YUKE’s Co. Ltd, AEW: Fight Forever is the arcade wrestler that harkens back to the Golden Age of wrestling gamesPlayers can look forward to pulling off the most current wrestling moves seen on wildly popular AEW programming. This, in addition to innovative tandem offensive moves. Online co-op wrestling is going completely next level with Tag-Team matches that feature sequences of team manoeuvres performed with simple commands. A long roster of the most popular AEW wrestlers, deep career mode, wrestler customization, signature AEW arenas, multiple match types and even some good ol’ fashioned, unsanctioned fun await! 

AEW: Fight Forever is coming soon to to PS4™, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC and Nintendo® Switch. Follow @aewgames for news and updates!

For more info visit: https://aew.thqnordic.com

Visit AEW on Twitch: http://twitch.tv/aewgames

Follow AEW on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AEWGames

About AEW: Fight Forever

Features:

Match Types
Single Matches
Tag-Team
3-Way
4-Way
Ladder Matches
Casino Battle Royale
Falls Count Anywhere
Unsanctioned Lights-Out (allows use of weapons)
Exploding Barbed Wire Death Matches
Career Mode
Wide Range of Customisation Modes
Custom Wrestlers (attire and appearance)
Custom Move-Sets
Custom Entrances
Custom Teams
Custom Arenas
Online Multiplayer
Leaderboards

About THQ Nordic

The THQ Nordic official boiler plate can be found here: https://thqnordic.com/company/about

About AEW

Founded by CEO, GM and Head of Creative Tony Khan in 2019, AEW is headlined by CM Punk, Jon Moxley, Thunder Rosa, Chris Jericho, Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli, Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson), Adam Cole, Sting, FTR, Jungle Boy, Jade Cargill, Dr. Britt Baker, Scorpio Sky, Hangman Page, Sammy Guevara, Matt Hardy, Samoa Joe, Swerve Strickland, Miro, Lucha Bros., PAC, Wardlow, Darby Allin, Nyla Rose, Red Velvet, Ruby Soho, Toni Storm, Hikaru Shida, Athena, Malakai Black, Andrade El Idolo, Christian Cage, Eddie Kingston, Ethan Page, Orange Cassidy, Ricky Starks, Powerhouse Hobbs, Luchasaurus, Lance Archer, Keith Lee and many more. For the first time in many years, AEW is offering an alternative to mainstream wrestling, with a roster of world-class talent that is injecting new spirit, freshness and energy into the industry.

“AEW: Dynamite” airs every Wednesday from 8-10 p.m. ET on TBS and attracts the youngest wrestling audience on television. The fight-forward show “AEW: Rampage” airs every Friday from 10-11 p.m. ET on TNT. AEW’s multi-platform content also includes “AEW Dark” and “AEW Dark: Elevation,” two weekly professional wrestling YouTube series, “Being the Elite,” a weekly behind-the-scenes YouTube series, and “AEW Unrestricted,” a weekly podcast series. For more info, check out:

Twitter.com/AEW

Instagram.com/AllEliteWrestling

YouTube.com/AEW

Facebook.com/AllEliteWrestling

https://www.allelitewrestling.com/

About YUKE’S Co., Ltd.
After developing the world’s first 3D wrestling video game engine for the PlayStation, YUKE’S has continued to lead the world in fighting game technology. YUKES’ main expertise lies in having the foresight and planning ability to methodically research the subject matter of an upcoming title to be able to transform the product into the optimal consumer gaming experience, and having the technology at hand required to do so. YUKE’S has undertaken the planning & development of numerous game titles which have been released across markets worldwide. We will continue to
provide entertainment, dreams, and profound inspiration to people around the world through the creative expression of innovative ideas.

https://www.yukes.co.jp/en/

Like a Dragon Ishin! Gameplay

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Take a trip to the past in Like a Dragon: Ishin! as Ryoma returns home, faces off against numerous samurai with everything from his fists, katana, and even a revolver as he begins to deal with the corruption that has engulfed his hometown.

Don the clothes and weaponry of the elite to become the samurai of legend, Sakamoto Ryoma. Draw your blade and join the revolution in this heated historical adventure.

Like a Dragon: Ishin!
Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
Publisher: SEGA
Website: https://ishin.sega.com/
Platform: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation®5, Xbox One, PlayStation®4, Steam and Windows 10
Release Date: 22 Feb, 2023
Price: $59.99 USD

Available now on Steam – https://store.steampowered.com/app/1805480/Like_a_Dragon_Ishin/

Summary:

Recommended – Like a Dragon: Ishin!successfully brings classic Yakuza gameplay to Edo era Japan with a satisfying story and tons of side-content to sink hours into.”

Check out our Review for Like a Dragon: Ishin! here!

Check out all the latest in the world of video games, anime, and entertainment at Capsule Computers:

Website: https://www.capsulecomputers.com.au/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CapsuleComputers
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/capsulecomputer
Steam Page: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/2666558-Capsule-Computers/
Pinterest: https://au.pinterest.com/capsulecomputer/

Like a Dragon: Ishin! Available Now on Xbox and PlayStation

Sydney, Australia – 21st February 2023: Today, SEGA and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio launch their highly anticipated samurai epic Like a Dragon: Ishin! for PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X, and Xbox One. The game is available in stores now.

Check out our review for Like a Dragon: Ishin! Here!

In this historical adventure, 1860s Japan is plagued by widespread inequality, and one swordsman will change the course of history in the sunsetting era of the samurai. Follow the tale of Sakamoto Ryoma, a dishonored swordsman in search of his master’s assassin to clear his name, whose actions set in motion a revolution.

Like a Dragon: Ishin! Key Features:

  • Over the top action and diverse weaponry: Engage in visceral combat that combines feudal-era firearms and swords as players switch between four different combat styles: Swordsman, Gunman, Wild Dancer and Brawler. A deep roster of varied weaponry marks the historic transition between classic sword fighting and modern armed warfare as players train and upgrade skills to unlock even more powerful abilities.
  • Trooper Cards: Players can collect and level up Trooper Cards – items that grant temporary power-ups or special abilities, such as new attacks or stat boosts. Several of these cards feature cameo appearances from special guests like wrestling icon Kenny Omega, actor Rahul Kohli, and more. All special guest Trooper Cards are available worldwide on all platforms as free downloadable content.
  • Historical samurai epic: An optional in-game glossary supplements context to the historical basis of the people, places, and events featured within Like a Dragon: Ishin!
  • Old meets new: Like a Dragon: Ishin! expands upon its 2014 Japan-exclusive predecessor with localisation support, all-new content, exquisitely remastered graphics and enhanced capabilities for modern platforms in Unreal Engine 4.

Players can purchase the Physical Standard Edition for AUD $99.95

About SEGA® of America, Inc.

SEGA of America, Inc. is the American arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA CORPORATION, a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment. Established in 1986, SEGA of America publishes innovative interactive entertainment experiences for console, PC, mobile and emerging platforms. In 2020, SEGA ranked #1 among Metacritic’s Annual Game Publisher Rankings. Its globally beloved franchises include Sonic The Hedgehog™, Like a Dragon™, Virtua Fighter™, Super Monkey Ball™, and Phantasy Star Online™, along with Atlus’ Persona™ and Shin Megami Tensei™ series. Since its debut more than three decades ago, Sonic has become a pop culture icon featured in dozens of games, TV series, and movies, with a new major motion picture currently slated for release later this year. SEGA of America has offices in Irvine and Burbank, California. Visit www.sega.com.

ⒸSEGA. All rights reserved. SEGA is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. SEGA, the SEGA logo and LIKE A DRAGON ISHIN are registered trademarks or trademarks of SEGA CORPORATION. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are property of their respective owners.

Whacky Beat-Em-Up Bare Butt Boxing Punches it’s Way to Steam Early Access May 4

VANCOUVER, Canada — Feb. 18, 2023 —Bare Butt Boxing, the comically chaotic multiplayer brawler from AAA visual effects studio Tuatara Games, prepares to enter the PC ring via Steam Early Access on Thursday, May 4, 2023, followed by the full 1.0 release across PC, Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4|5 later this year. 

Travel the Earth and beyond as a gaggle of mischievous aliens with a taste for chaos and a killer competitive nature. Punch, pummel, and uppercut up to 5 fellow extraterrestrial brethren in local or online multiplayer matches. Sabotage friendships in vibrantly designed arenas and reign supreme as the true heavyweight champion.

Defy the laws to the land, gravity, and boxing by collecting various power ups to shock, explode and catapult opponents, leaving them seething with rage. Romp and bobble around obstacles, then strategically, or spasmodically, throw hands to deliver an instant K.O. Be the best butt standing when the bell sounds to rise to the top of the leaderboards, then gloat in the group chat.

At the core of Bare Butt Boxing is a powerful physics mechanic capable of sending foes thrashing across the map. Learn from every hearty blow to build a winning strategy that sends fellow opponents down for the count! Put loyalty and friendships to the test, in an amusing adventure that is fun for everyone!

“Get ready for a gleefully chaotic, free-for-all party brawl with all your mates in Bare Butt Boxing just in time for summer break,” said Klemen Lozar, founder of Tuatara Games. “Hours of laughter, and screaming, await in the high-energy scuffles that are about to ensue. The entire team is ecstatic for all of our fans to experience the intensely enjoyable matches that we’ve had developing over the past few years”

Wishlist Bare Butt Boxing now ahead of itsSteam Early Access launch, and follow Tuatara Games across Twitter, YouTube, and Discord to stay up-to-date with news and console launch updates. To check out the rest of Tuatara Games’ portfolio, head to the official website

About Tuatara Games

Tuatara Games delivers stunning results in the field of visual effects for AAA studios like Riot Games (Valorant), Epic Games (Fortnite), Counterplay Games (Godfall), and many more, but their passion doesn’t stop there. By supporting small indie developers and developing their own original experiences and games, Tuatara keeps experimenting and pushing interactive entertainment forward. Their first self-published game, Bare Butt Boxing, embraces chaos and whimsy in a world that often feels like the former, but could use more of the latter.

MAYBELLINE NEW YORK LIFTS LID ON DISCRIMINATION IN AUSTRALIAN GAMING INDUSTRY

MAYBELLINE NEW YORK LIFTS LID ON DISCRIMINATION IN AUSTRALIAN GAMING INDUSTRY

Maybelline New York has today launched a campaign, Through Their Eyes, to showcase the lived experience of the alarming discrimination facing women, non-binary people and other LGBTQIA+ communities in Australian online gaming.

The #1 makeup brand in Australia is lifting the lid on the devastating impacts discrimination is having on gamer mental health, as part of their Brave Together program — a global initiative committed to destigmatising the conversation around anxiety and depression, and increasing accessibility of support for all impacted.

The campaign comes off the back of a 2023 Bastion Insights National Gamer Survey looking into the level of discrimination across all genders in the Australian gaming space which sparks serious concerns about the safety and inclusion of gaming environments, particularly for female-identifying players.*

Results from the survey revealed 83% of female-identifying gamers have directly

experienced and/or observed offensive behaviour or language while online gaming, 73% would consider the harassment they receive online as severe, and 76% of female-identifying gamers feel harassment and discrimination in online gaming is unsafe.

Maybelline Marketing Director, Alexandra Shadbolt said the discrimination facing women, non-binary people and other LGBTQIA+ communities in Australian gaming is alarming.

“Data from Digital Australia’s 2022 Report showed us that women over the age of 18 make up 46% of Australia’s gamers, so we know female identifying make up a significant amount of Australia’s gaming space,” Ms Shadbolt explained.

“It’s unfair that such a significant portion of this community, along with non-binary and other LGBTQIA+ players, are facing the wrath of constant discrimination, bullying and harassment in an environment that should be bringing them fun and enjoyment.”

The Bastion Insights National Gamer Survey also revealed that more than 50% of female-identifying gamers feel the harassment they receive online gaming has a negative effect on their mental health, and more than 75% feel this impacts their enjoyment of gaming.

Tracey Campbell, Director of Marketing and Fundraising at ReachOut said online spaces can be positive places for young people but can also breed discrimination, bullying and harassment.

“Online spaces can be positive places for young people to learn, relax and connect with their communities. And, we know that gaming has many positive impacts on the lives of so many young people across Australia that love it. However, young people also tell us at ReachOut that they also experience things like discrimination, bullying and harassment online.

“ReachOut continues to call on online platforms to do more to make their products safer spaces for young people.

“We also encourage young people and their parents to take a proactive approach to staying safe while gaming, and to seek support if they need it from places such as Kids Helpline, ReachOut and the eSafety Commission.

Despite being one of Australia’s most prominent female gamers, 26-year-old Amber — best known by her gaming username “PaladinAmber” — is aligned with the 55% of female-identifying players surveyed who admitted to turning off their microphones when playing to avoid harassment.

“I’d say I have experienced hate in gaming ever since I started playing first-person shooter games back in highschool,” Amber explained.

“We’d often play in teams of three or four and it was unheard of for one of those players to be female. I used to wonder why, until I would see female-identifying players booted from group games with abuse rallied at them from the other players. Since witnessing this, I just got into the habit of playing under aliases so people couldn’t see my gender.

“It’s really heartbreaking to see a space that I just love playing in and brings me so much joy, also be able to bring me so much resentment and sadness. The sorts of comments thrown at women, non-binary and LGBTQIA+ just wouldn’t see the light of day in so many day-to-day environments but from behind the security of being online, the abuse can be horrible.”

To showcase the reality of these findings for the campaign, Maybelline ran a simulation with prominent Australian male gamers, Joel “JoelBergs” Bergs and Drew “DrewD0g” Warne. The two players participated in a first-person shooter game with female-altered voices and fake female profiles to see the experience through female eyes. Within less than two hours of game play with altered voice, the male players are bombarded with abusive comments whilst well-known female-identifying gamers watch on, finding similarities to the discrimination they face in their own experiences.

To learn more about Maybelline New York’s Through Their Eyes campaign and view the film, visit maybelline.com.au/throughtheireyes.

Young people concerned about their mental health can call a crisis service such as Lifeline (13 11 14), Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800), visit ReachOut.com for information and support, or make an appointment with a GP or mental health professional.

*Survey conducted by Bastion Insights in February 2023 across over 600 Australian gamers

aged 16+.

Safe Reporting

Media are encouraged to refer to the Mindframe guidelines when reporting about mental ill health.

About Maybelline New York

Maybelline New York is the number one makeup brand in the world** and is available in over 120 countries. By combining technologically advanced formulations with on-trend expertise and New York edge, Maybelline New York’s mission is to offer innovative, effortless, and affordable cosmetics for every one.

Maybelline New York’s brand purpose is to give everyone self-confidence to express their beauty, to play and to make change. Through their Brave Together initiative, Maybelline are committed to destigmatising the conversation around anxiety & depression, whilst increasing accessibility of support to all; in conjunction with their NGO partner Reach Out.

L’Oréal Groupe’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Mission

Maybelline New York is part of the L’Oréal Groupe. The L’Oréal Groupe’s objective is to be the most inclusive beauty leader and contribute to a society in which everyone can live safely, peacefully and equally. For over a century L’Oréal has been dedicated to one sole vocation: creating beauty. Our goal is to offer each and every person around the world the best of beauty: for all skin and hair types, all genders, all identities, all cultures, all ages.

● It means developing formulas that ensure quality, efficacy, and safety for all of our consumers and their specific needs
● It means celebrating the infinite diversity of beauty in our advertising
● It means working to eliminate bias in algorithms
● It means recruiting diverse teams and prioritising inclusive leadership and management
● It means partnering with responsible suppliers who share our commitments

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion fuel the innovation, inspiration, and ambition that help us to create the beauty that moves the world.

Musical Metroidvania 9 Years of Shadows Leaves the Darkness Behind on 27 March

Illuminates Nintendo Switch in Q3 2023

GUADALAJARA, Mexico – 18 Feb. 2023 – 9 Years of Shadows, the radiant pixel art Metroidvania from developer Halberd Studios and publisher Freedom Games, brings color to the world on PC via Steam and Epic Game Store beginning Monday, 27 March 2023, as well as Nintendo Switch in Q3 2023.

Return hope and color to a cursed, grayscale world as Europa, a young warrior who refuses to continue to live life in the shadows. Alongside her mysterious healing teddy bear Apino, battle against primordial enemies and bosses to reach the source of Castle Talos’s curse. Convoke elemental powers from legendary gods like Poseidon, Gaia, and Helios to boost attacks, take advantage of enemy vulnerabilities, grant new traversal options, and dawn beautiful armor. 

Traverse the handcrafted pixel-art castle, inspired by nostalgic 90s anime and filled with sinister secrets to uncover. Starting in the golden hallways of Talos’ Entrance, map out junction points between the dark Forgotten Pond, oriental Eucalyptus Garden, lonely Upper Quarters, among other zones. Discover hidden paintings evoking feelings of Hope, Despair, and Demise that transport Europa and Apino to hidden, other-worldly temples that will test their bond.

Revitalize the world with colorful attacks in tempo to a breathtaking soundtrack, meticulously scored in a soothing 432hz by celebrated composers Michiru Yamane (Castlevania series) and Norihiko Hibino (Metal Gear Solid series). Meet these songsmiths as in-game NPCs who aid in Europa’s journey and teach ability granting musical pieces. Embrace the visual and musical art that is the soul of 9 Years of Shadows and restore that same beauty.

“Painting the visuals of this world alongside the melodists behind the soundtracks that defined our younger years has been a surreal and defining experience,” said Miguel Hasson, Creative Director of Halberd Studios. “We value the positivity and patience from our community and have no words to express our thanks. Hopefully delivering a high-quality Metroidvania will do more than just fine!”

9 Years of Shadows will be available on PC via Steam and Epic Game Store on 27 March 2023 for $19.99 USD with English and Spanish language support. The Nintendo Switch version will arrive in Q3 2023. To learn more, visit 9 Years of Shadows’ official website, join the community on Twitter and Discord, and search #9YearsofShadows on social media.

About Halberd Studios

Halberd Studios is a Mexico-based development team that emphasizes the power of the narrative in games. Starting out as a freelancing firm assisting other studios with things like asset production, animation, concept development, and more, they are now marking their first personal project developed in-house with 9 Years of Shadows.

About Freedom Games

Freedom Games is a publisher dedicated to offering best-in-class services to partners and providing players around the world with unique and memorable experiences. With over 50 years of combined industry experience at the executive level, Freedom Games seeks to leverage its expertise to facilitate great games and even better publishing experiences.

For more information, visit the official Freedom Games website.

Returnal Review

Returnal

Developer: Housemarque
Publisher: PlayStation PC
Platforms: PlayStation 5PC (Reviewed)
Release Date: 15 Feb 2023
Price: $59.99 USD – Available Here $124.95 AUD – Available Here

Overview

Is there an appeal in repetition? When it comes to gaming, there is quite a lot of that. You finish a game and you often go to replay your favorite sections, levels, or chapters. Maybe that last mission in Hitman 3 where you can go nuts and murder absolutely everyone on the train. Or robbing the same banks in PAYDAY 2 but this time with new weapons & skills. And come to think of it, didn’t Warframe make repetition its whole shtick? They actually managed to make the grind seem fun.

Story

Returnal is another game where repetition and trying the same thing over and over again is the core part of the gameplay. You play as an astronaut Selene Vassos and after a crash landing on a quite unwelcoming alien planet, you are fighting for your life and a chance to escape. Isolated and alone, Selene finds herself fighting tooth and nail for survival. Again and again, she’s defeated – forced to restart her journey every time she dies. Through fast, relentless gameplay, you’ll discover that just as the planet changes with every cycle, so do the items at your disposal. Every loop offers new combinations, empowering you to push your boundaries and approach combat with a different strategy each time.

Gameplay

The loop is simple – every time you start at your crashed ship, look around and venture deep into the unknown. The goal is to make it through multiple biomes (in one run, preferably) and uncover the secrets of the planet and learn more about Selene’s story. Each of the thematic biomes is made out of multiple sections/rooms often filled with alien monsters, traps, and secrets. At the end of each, you’ll have to take down a boss which opens access to a new biome and often gives you a new gadget or an upgrade as a bonus.

Your starting pistol is enough to take you through just enough rooms but soon enough you get a better weapon either from containers or from enemies. Basically, the goal is to beef yourself up with more health, abilities, and a better weapon so you can take down a boss at the end. The alien life in Returnal is anything but friendly. They use melee, charge at you and shoot colorful spheres in your direction that you have to evade constantly. And bosses are a different story, they’re such a grandiose display of visual art that I feel like they belong more in this next section.

Visuals

Returnal often feels like six games in one. That’s because each of the six biomes is so distinguishable and thematic that it often comes as a breath of fresh air after you take down a boss and venture deeper into a new landscape. After the dense flora of Overgrown Ruins, you will find yourself in the barren and dry desert of Crimson Wastes. Thrown is some cold & snowy biome of Fractured Wastes followed by a creepy underwater landscape of Abyssal Scar and it will never feel like you’ve seen the same sections twice.

It’s not only biomes and alien life that could be described as thematic. The bosses at the end of each biome are wonderfully designed as they are challenging. For example, the boss Hyperion at the end of Echoing Ruins is nothing short of amazing in terms of design. Also, each boss has three health bars (aka three phases) that you need to bring down in order to claim victory. But, going back to Hyperion, we find him lurching over some alien-like pipe organs, waiting for you. The battle with him perfectly syncs with the music in the arena and his attacks are occasionally telegraphed if you pay attention to the music his playing while attacking you. Just marvelous.

Audio

The music in Returnal will also vary depending on the biome you’re in but notable mention also goes to the small arsenal of weapons that you’ll be wielding throughout the game. The sound effects for each are distinctive and they even change their sound a bit depending on the pickups and upgrade you get for them in your run. The overall soundtrack balances a fine line between orchestrally majestic and tense horror undertones.

Overall

You need to learn to love Returnal. It doesn’t offer you much at the start, you’ll die at least 20 times in the first biome until you memorize the enemy patterns, what to focus on every time you enter a new area, how to evade & when to attack, and so on. And that’s when all finally clicks. It’s not an easy game but also not an unfair one. The fluid gameplay coupled with astounding visuals (especially when it comes to enemy design) will make you eventually go for another playthrough just so you can refine your shooting & dodging skills even more.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Like a Dragon: Ishin! Review

Like a Dragon: Ishin!

Developer: RGG Studio
Publisher: Sega
Platforms: Xbox One, Playstation 4, PC, Playstation 5, Xbox Series X (Reviewed)
Release Date: February 21, 2023
Price: $59.99 USD – Available Here $99.95 AUD Available Here

Overview

There was a time that fans of the Yakuza series would wonder whether or not they would ever see another Western release of the franchise. Following a less than stellar reception to a zombie spin-off, the silence surrounding the localization of another spin-off followed by a couple year delay on the latest core entries didn’t inspire much confidence. Now years later the franchise has seen such a surge in popularity not only has the latest entry seen an English dub for the first time in years but the series has even returned to its original name, Like a Dragon. Now with Sega bringing the previously Japanese exclusive Like a Dragon: Ishin! to modern platforms, fans in the West get their first chance at this unique take on the past, bringing classic Yakuza gameplay to the streets of late 1860s Japan.

Story

Set back during the Bakumatsu era in Japan near the end of the Edo period players step into the role of Sakamoto Ryoma who has just arrived back in his hometown of Tosa after finishing his swordsmanship training in Edo. Shortly after arriving Ryoma quickly gets into a scuffle exposing the strict class system that runs so deep in Tosa that those of a higher class can cut those below them down with no fear of repercussion and those who stand up to them are treated as criminals. After escaping the situation, Ryoma reunites with his adopted father Toyo Yoshida as well as his sworn brother Hanpeita Takechi and learns that the pair are leaders in a revolutionary group planning on overthrowing the Tosa government and freeing the people of the class system. 

When things take a horrible turn, Ryoma finds himself suspected of murdering Yoshida and self exiles himself from Tosa in an effort to track down the killer using only the knowledge of their unique sword style to go off of. Finding roots in Kyo, he takes on the name of Hajime Saito and learns that the elite law force known as the Shinsengumi may house the very man that he is hunting. With a target in sight, Ryoma chooses to join the notorious and ruthless Shinsengumi in an effort to reveal the identity of the man that took nearly everything from him.

After a slower than usual start for a Yakuza game players will find themselves deep in the middle of the political turmoil that reigned over the Bakumatsu period. Not only will players interact with multiple historical figures but they will also play a role in various historical events as well though the game puts its own twist on things. It is also interesting to note that longtime fans of the series will be in for something of a treat as things like Ryoma looking just like Kiryu are only the tip of the iceberg as everyone from close allies in other Yakuza entries to even enemies and side characters will make appearances throughout Ishin only under the guise of a historical figure rather than who fans know them as. That being said, this may be a bit confusing for some newcomers to the series or even those who only started with Yakuza: Like a Dragon. It is nice to note that the game also offers a glossary that can be accessed at any time, even in the middle of conversations, should they happen to find themselves confused by an unknown term or faction being brought up. That being said, the storyline for Like A Dragon: Ishin! can occasionally be a little on the predictable side but even then players will find themselves easily entrenched in the world as they try to uncover the secret behind what happened to Ryoma’s family, unexpected twists, and the numerous pieces moving behind the scenes. That is of course, when they aren’t side-tracked with numerous sub-stories and second life activities.

As usual with the franchise Ryoma will find himself turning a corner and stumbling into a new substory quite often. While the zaniness of some of these stories are a bit toned down compared to what happens in modern day settings, players will still find that many of them not only provide some insight into the social elements of the time as well as have their own flavor of humor as well. These substories range from simply bringing items to people or animals, using certain shops enough, and more often are rather interesting but there are periods that players may literally move less than a block before triggering a new storyline. As for the “second life” storyline, players will find themselves eventually given the option of running a small homestead featuring an extremely familiar name as a caretaker where the story may be on the simpler side but provides some nice slice-of-life moments and enjoyable interactions.

Gameplay

You can take the Yakuza out of Kamurocho and even change its name but at its heart it will remain mostly true to what fans have come to expect from the series. Now it is worth noting that while the game has seen some refinements to its various mechanics, Like a Dragon: Ishin! was originally released back in 2014 and it does show its age a bit compared to more recent releases. Players will still find themselves exploring the relatively pared down city of Kyo, encountering countless ronin, bandits, and “Bad Men” to take on in random battles as well as countless side-activities to take part in. Some staple side-games return while others have been modified to fit the game’s setting while other new additions such as fishing, wood chopping, buyo dancing, replace some more modern side activities. Along these same lines, gambling on chicken races or taking part in arena battles and even karaoke remain staple diversions.

When it comes to battling in Like A Dragon: Ishin! players will find themselves with a fairly familiar action combat system, especially found in Yakuza 0 and the Kiwami titles. In nearly every fight Ryoma can swap between four fighting styles take on opponents with the Brawler style resorting to brutal punches, grabs, and use of objects to take down enemies while also parrying their blades using Ryoma’s bare hands, Swordsman being a self-explanatory sword based style that feels a little rigid but is a balanced style best for one-on-one combat and dealing out plenty of damage, Gunman that makes use of firearms exclusively with special ammo dealing extra effects and can deal damage from afar at the risk of placing the player in danger from close foes, and finally Wild Dancer. 

WIld Dancer offers the most freedom in action as it merges East and West with Ryoma wielding both his pistol as well as his samurai sword allowing him to deal flowing damage with the blade and work in distant shots as finishing blows or becoming a whirlwind of slashes and gunfire. This style is by far the most enjoyable, especially at higher upgrades, though players can choose to tackle the game as they please. Series staple heat actions remain a tried and true method of dealing plenty of damage and outright finishing foes with each fighting style offering their own unique actions that are incredibly powerful though often require a few quick time events to properly complete. That being said, the game does offer a few Accessibility options such as automatically succeeding all QTEs to make things a bit simpler. It is also worth noting that every combat tree can unlock a special weapon that can be used in combat, ranging from a spear, nodachi, and even a cannon, if properly upgraded. These upgrades come in the form of using certain fighting styles in combat as well as general level-ups. Style orbs can only be used in their matching upgrade grid however standard level orbs can be used anywhere and even replaced for use elsewhere should players choose to use a proper colored orb in its place.

Where Like a Dragon: Ishin! does change things up are Trooper Cards. Eventually players will find themselves as a member of the Shinsengumi and gain subordinates that will be able to not only provide passive bonuses such as health boosts, regenerating health, and more but can also be used to call in various abilities in the middle of combat. Up to sixteen cards can be equipped to the player at a time and recharge as players fight using their equipped style. When fully charged a trooper card’s ability can be activated and some of them can be extremely ridiculous, ranging from throwing fireballs or lightning strikes onto enemies to summoning a tiger to slash away at a foe or having a dancing dog charm everyone in the area. These Trooper Cards can be incredibly powerful to the point that they may make the game’s combat a little unbalanced in favor of the player if used properly so be ready to wipe most enemies as a result of these cards being available everywhere. Troopers themselves can be recruited by battling random foes or completing Shinsengumi hunting missions.

These side-missions see the player entering a number of extremely repetitive looking locations to complete various tasks, defeating every enemy in their way. While players do not need to do these, they are the best source for weapon and armor upgrade materials and a steady source of income. Outside of these, the biggest diversion is the aforementioned “Second Life.” Here Ryoma can manage a farm, adopt cats and dogs, and even cook using ingredients he has grown to complete various deliveries to earn money and improve his relationship with the girl living alongside him. The second life is a fun diversion and one that players can just as easily ignore or spend quite a lot of time on should they please.

It is worth noting that nearly everything players do in Like a Dragon: Ishin! is tracked in some form and players will often be rewarded “Virtue” and reputation boosts for completing various goals. These can range from running a certain distance or drawing water from a well to defeating enemies, catching fish, or even harvesting enough strawberries to earn points as well as completing bond stories. Virtue can be spent on various improvements to side-activities as well as improving aspects such as how long Ryoma can run before getting tired, how much he can carry, and more. All this gives players an absolutely massive amount of side-content to enjoy outside of the main story should players want to see everything the title has to offer.

Visuals & Audio

With Like a Dragon: Ishin! arriving on current consoles the game has seen a rather significant graphical improvement with most character models looking exceptionally detailed. This is great, especially since this is the first time some of these characters are being represented on modern platforms after appearing earlier in the Yakuza series. Of course, there are some rougher areas such as the layout of Kyo being a bit barren in many locations outside of a few key areas and clipping issues from time to time. It is also nice to note that, considering characters wield swords and guns, there is quite a lot of blood involved throughout the game as well, something that the series has previously only used for dramatic effect.

As for the game’s voice work, players will want to note that this game has only been released with the Japanese voice track and considering the game’s origins and setting, it feels completely fitting in this case. It also helps that these voice actors have all returned to reprise their roles of the characters they represent. As for the soundtrack, the game features an exceptional collection of background music that is both thematically fitting as well as impressive sounding, making for some great sound to accompany many of the game’s dramatic moments and even a few familiar themes to match the aforementioned characters.

Overall

Although it took nearly a decade for Like a Dragon: Ishin! to make its way to the West the game has proven to be just as solid of an entry in the franchise as ever. The story, while a bit predictable, remains compelling with plenty of side content that delves both into historical themes and slice-of-life moments to enjoy. With plenty of side-content to sink hours into in a less than stellar city and solid combat that has a couple styles that far outperform others, Like a Dragon: Ishin! is a great spin-off from the main series that fans won’t be disappointed by. 

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Returnal Gameplay

0

Watch as Selene dies over and over again while trying to break out of a loop on an alien planet that’s anything but friendly. Every time you advance a bit further while obtaining new weapons and encounter new enemies.

BREAK THE CYCLE Fight to survive as this award-winning third-person shooter brings Selene’s story to PC. Take on roguelike challenges. Engage enemies in bullet hell-fuelled clashes. Share your journey through Returnal™ with another player.

Returnal
Developer: Housemarque, Climax Studios
Publisher: PlayStation PC
Website: https://housemarque.com/games/returnal
Platform: Windows, PlayStation 5/4
Release Date: 16 Feb, 2023
Price: $59.99 USD

Available now on

Steamhttps://store.steampowered.com/app/1649240/Returnal/
PlayStation PS5https://www.playstation.com/en-au/games/returnal/

Summary:

Recommended – Returnal is a masterclass in fluid gameplay and creativity on the visual end. Engaging as it is unforgiving. It’s a perfect example of that “just one more try” addiction.”

Check out our Review for Returnal here!

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