by Megan Spurr, Community Lead, Xbox Game Pass • Dec 8, 2022 @ 1:00pm
You may remember the little nugget that we announced during the Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase in June, that Riot’s biggest PC and mobile games will be available soon with Game Pass. I’m excited to share that soon is extra soon — all Game Pass members can access Riot’s biggest titles and unlock benefits starting Monday, December 12!
To get ready, just make sure you have the Xbox App on PC installed and updated on your PC. Starting December 12, there will be easy instructions on how to connect your Riot account and Xbox Game Pass accounts (and help you create a Riot account if you don’t have one yet) and unlock all the great benefits.
Let’s look at everything to get you into top shape for your favorite MOBA, strategy, and competitive games!
Valorant
All current Agents
Access to every new Agent as soon as they’re released
20% Match XP boost given to Battle Pass, Event Pass, and active Agent Contract progress
League of Legends
All 160+ champions
Access to every new champion as soon as they’re released
20% XP boost
Legends of Runeterra
All cards in Foundations Set
Teamfight Tactics
1-Star Rare Little Legend Tacticians
4 Arena Skins available until April 2023, and 1 Arena Skin that’s on a monthly rotation thereafter
League of Legends: Wild Rift(coming in January) unlocked benefits include:
All 80+ champions
Day-one access to every new champion as they’re released
20% XP boost
Plus, as an added benefit, players who link their accounts before January 1, 2023 will receive even more bonus rewards from Riot:
Valorant – Pocket Sage Buddy
League of Legends – Masterwork Chest and Key
Teamfight Tactics – Little Legend Rare Egg
Wild Rift – Random Emote Chest
Legends of Runeterra – Prismatic Chest
You’ll hear more from us and our friends over at Riot in the coming days, so go charge your phone, get some fresh batteries in your mouse, and prep your monitor – we’ve got some games to play. Talk to you soon!
Join the Awaceb team on a journey through New Caledonia
LONDON (Dec. 8, 2022) – Fight those winter blues and dip your toes into the upcoming tropical adventure, Tchia. In the first of a development-focused mini-series, follow the game’s creators as they explore New Caledonia and uncover the real-world inspirations that helped shape the game’s vibrant world.
Founded by two childhood friends from New Caledonia, Awaceb is a small, 9-person Montreal-based studio creating a big adventure. Tchia takes inspiration from all aspects of New Caledonian culture, from folklore and traditions to landscapes filled with recreations of iconic landmarks, biomes and local fauna. Though set in a fantastical world, Tchia is a true love letter to the team’s hometown with a unique soundtrack and cast of characters brought to life by local talent.
Check out the part one of the series, Our Journey, here:
Tchia is an open-world sandbox that invites players to jump into the adventure of a lifetime. Players can explore the ocean depths or become one with nature, with the game’s unique soul-jumping mechanic allowing them to take control of over 30 animals and hundreds of objects, turning the environment into the ultimate tool.
Not everything is calm and relaxing in Tchia. The island Tchia, the game’s heroine, calls home has been invaded by strange fabric creatures called the Maano, who, under the orders of the archipelago’s evil ruler, have abducted her father. Players will have to use everything at their disposal to take them out. In between the action, players can rest, take a break and jam with a fully playable ukulele.
Tchia is set to release in Spring 2023 for PC, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. For more information, visit https://www.awaceb.com/tchia.
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About Awaceb:
Awaceb is a small studio based in Bordeaux, France. Founded in 2016, the studio’s first game was Fossil Echo, a story-driven 2D platformer. Tchia, Awaceb’s latest title, is a love letter to New Caledonia, the home of the studio’s two co-founders.
About Kepler Interactive:
Kepler Interactive – led by the founders of Kowloon Nights – is a developer and publisher that operates on a co-ownership model. Its studios are given strategic leadership roles, all while continuing to develop their games their way, with no creative limitations. Kepler’s partner studios are as varied as they are talented, including A44 Games in New Zealand, Alpha Channel and Timberline in North America, Awaceb, Ebb Software, and Sloclap in Europe, and Shapefarm in Asia. Kepler Interactive itself is headquartered in London.
In February 2023, newly added Williams classic The Addams Family joins a killer lineup of more than 70 tables and amazing new features from the world’s foremost developer of digital pinball, as Pinball FX enters full release on Epic Games Store as well
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Dec. 8, 2022 – Now celebrating 15 years as the worldwide leader in videogame pinball, Zen Studios has announced that its all-new Pinball FX will debut on consoles in February 2023, complete with advanced features and more than 70 tables at launch – including the Pinball FX series’ digital debut of the bestselling physical table of all time, Williams™ Pinball: The Addams Family. This console release includes Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, with Nintendo Switch coming later in 2023. Also in February, Pinball FX graduates from early access to full release on the Epic Games Store, where player feedback has helped Zen refine its new long-term digital pinball platform since March.
Williams Pinball: The Addams Family Table Trailer:
Pinball FX Console Trailer:
The Pinball Show:
Zen also announced it will continue to bolster the early access library with the December 15 releases of Peanuts Snoopy Pinball and the DreamWorks Animated Pinball Collection (Trolls, How to Train Your Dragon and Kung-Fu Panda) for the Epic Games Store.
Pinball FX evolves the world’s leading digital pinball brand with stellar original tables as well as many based on entertainment’s biggest brands, allowing players to customize their own 3D dream game room – the Pin Hall – full of collectibles and rewards unlocked by playing the game. Pinball simulation is now powered by Unreal Engine and features Pro Physics, 4K HDR visuals, and ray tracing. In the months and years following Pinball FX’s initial release, players can expect exciting new features – most notably Pinball Royale, a frantically exciting multiplayer action mode incorporating battle royale-style gameplay.
Meanwhile, The Addams Family introduces the 1992 bestselling physical pinball machine ever released to the Pinball FX family for the first time ever. Like all other Williams tables brought home thanks to Zen, this includes both a perfect simulation and – switchable at the touch of a button – an enhanced version complete with 3D character models and dazzling visual effects only possible in a video game.
Early access at the Epic Games Store has influenced Pinball FX in several ways, including these notable changes that will take effect across all platforms with the console launch in February:
Tables will be purchased in multi-table packs from first-party stores rather than through the purchase of individual tables using in-game currency, as has been used throughout early access. Pinball Pass – which enables unlimited access to almost every table via monthly subscription – will continue to use the in-game currency system.
Major Pinball FX game features including Tournaments, Seasonal Events, Pro Mode, Friends Score Chase and Leaderboards will be cross-platform enabled.
Pinball Pass is going cross-commerce! Access your Pinball Pass subscription on any platform that supports Pinball Pass.
Pinball FX New Content Release Details:
Williams™ Pinball: The Addams Family will be released for Pinball FX on Xbox, PlayStation and the Epic Game Store in February 2023 for $9.99, and free to download for Pinball Pass subscribers.
DreamWorks Animated Pinball Collection featuring Trolls, How to Train Your Dragon, and Kung-Fu Panda will release for Pinball FX early access on Dec. 15, 2022, for $14.99, and free to download for Pinball Pass subscribers. These tables are currently available in Zen Pinball Party on Apple Arcade.
Peanuts Snoopy Pinball will release for Pinball FX early access on Dec. 15, 2022, for 60 in-game tickets, and free to download for Pinball Pass subscribers. This table is currently available for Zen Pinball Party on Apple Arcade.
Keep up with the latest updates, weekly challenges and grand tournaments by visiting www.PinballFX.com and following the team on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
About Zen Studios
Zen Studios is a leading global producer and publisher of interactive entertainment software for all major digital game platforms. Recognized as one of the premier gaming studios in the world, Zen has worked with some of the most iconic entertainment studios, including Lucasfilm, Marvel Entertainment, NBC Universal, Funko and FOX Digital Entertainment.
Zen’s Pinball FX franchise has defined video game pinball excellence since 2007, and critically acclaimed titles like Circus Electrique and Operencia: The Stolen Sun have proven its devotion to creating captivating RPGs. Zen Studios joined Saber Interactive in November 2020. For more information on Zen’s library of titles, visit https://zenstudios.com.
LOS ANGELES – December 8, 2022 – Netmarble, a leading developer and publisher of high-quality mobile games, announced the latest global update for the mobile role-playing gameSeven Knights 2 is available today and adds new heroes, pets, expanded content, limited-time events and more.
New hero Steps of Atonement Clemyth (Legendary+) is a legendary explorer and outstanding technician who, as a buffer, makes allies’ buffs and debuffs undispellable. Led by her staff’s guiding light, Steps of Atonement Clemyth arrives to Seven Knights 2 with the abilities to increase an allies’ ultimate gauge, erase enemy territorial skills and free allies to use their skills with increased cool time immunity. New pet Legendary+ Clemyth also joins Seven Knights 2 as part of the update.
Forbidden Magic Li (Legendary), another hero added today, brings along his dark powers including the ability to reduce enemy attack power at the start of battle. He can also strengthen allies by increasing their chance of blocking along with himself and can deal great damage to a one target enemy using the ultimate ability. Max level Legendary Li can be acquired for free via in-game events.
New content includes a new Side Story Chapter 2 Scenario “Bitter Cold Light.” Players can join Spike and Clemyth as they return and start their journey to go to Abyss.
Additionally, five news stages have been added to Maze of Trials, expanding it from 10 to 15 stages. New reward Essence of Soul is also available, which is used to transcend Mythic grade heroes. To celebrate this expansion, Light Crystal Shards will be offered upon the completion of each stage.
Limited time in-game events offer players new and added rewards as part of the update. Players can take part and reap the rewards:
Forbidden Magic Li Special Check-in Event (Dec. 7 – Dec. 21): Check-in everyday for 14 days to obtain up to 220 Forbidden Magic Li Soulstone. These can be used to fully transcend Li to the max level (Lv. 60)
Sealed Karin Earrings Release Celebration Event: Players that complete all 7 in-game missions can acquire up to 3 Sealed Karin Earrings.
Clemyth Upgrade Support Event: As players level up the Clemyth, they can acquire Clemyth Soulstones and Clemyth Coins. Clemyth Coins can be exchanged for the exclusive Halloween Witch Outfit.
1st Anniversary Carnival Event: The celebration continues with the special check-in event taking place until January 18, offering players 3 Legendary+ Hero Selection TIckets and 3 Legendary Pets.
Seven Knights 2 takes place 20 years after the original Seven Knights, and 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. Starring an array of characters depicted with stunning graphics powered by Unreal Engine 4, Seven Knights 2 will immerse players in a true sequel featuring the fun and innovative gameplay of Seven Knights enjoyed by players around the world. Players can collect and develop charismatic heroes while engaging in a deep and immersive cinematic story.
More information on Seven Knights 2 can be found on the official Facebook page, YouTube and forums or by visiting Netmarble’s Global YouTube channel.
About Netmarble Corporation
Established in Korea in 2000, Netmarble Corporation is a top developer and publisher pushing the boundaries of the mobile gaming experience with highly innovative games including Marvel Future Revolution, Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds, Lineage 2: Revolution, The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross, Blade & Soul Revolution and Marvel Future Fight. As a parent company of Kabam, and a major shareholder of Jam City and HYBE (formerly Big Hit Entertainment), Netmarble strives to entertain audiences around the world with a variety of mobile games based on its powerful franchises and collaborations with IP holders worldwide. More information can be found at http://company.netmarble.com.
Become the director of your own Kung-Fu movie with new replay editor, new cheats and modifiers rolling out
PARIS (Dec. 8, 2022) – One of the year’s most successful games, Sifu, rolled out its anticipated Fall update today across PC, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch platforms bringing fans the ability to become the director of their own Kung-Fu movie with the addition of the replay editor, new cheats, modifiers, outfits and much more.
Record your best moves with Sifu’s new replay editor, a complete set of recording tools that allows fans the ability to create cinematic replays from within the game. Place the camera wherever you want, change its parameters, set up camera movements, add effects, slow down or speed up the action and create your very own Kung Fu movie shots. These shots can then be used on any external editing software and pieced together to create a full-on cinematic masterpiece.
Also debuting in today’s Sifu update are four new cheats and three new modifiers allowing for new play styles, including Free Throw, which allows you to unconditionally throw your foes, age-decreasing perks with the Vampire modifier and a sweet new Touch of Death ability that immediately knocks enemies out if an attack lands correctly.. Additionally, we’ve added some long-awaited quality of life changes such as the option to carry your unlocked skills over from a previous save to a new one, as well as the ability to set your own camera distance during takedowns and bring the dynamic takedown camera close-ups back!
And no update would be complete without the addition of new outfits: now you can roundhouse kick your way while looking fly with three unlockable outfits including a slick-looking Wing Chun outfit, available in dark and light versions. The tough-as-nails “Stunt Double” outfit is available only to Deluxe owners.
Sifu launched on Feb. 8 of this year from developer and publisher Sloclap (Absolver) and is available today on PlayStation, Switch and on PC through the Epic Games Store for $39.99. Sifu unfolds a story of revenge and redemption set to a backdrop of a fictional Chinese city where players uncover an ancient mystery via a series of difficult confrontations that test their skills to the limit. To overcome seemingly insurmountable odds, fighters need to rely on a mastery of Kung Fu and a magical pendant that revives them after death. The cost of magic is dear, however, and drastically ages a fighter with each revival: time is the price paid for revenge.
The game launched to globally positive reviews from international critics, and currently boasts several Game of the Year nominations across a variety of categories from respected media outlets around the world.
Sifu tells a fictional tale of revenge in a fictional city, but the game’s authenticity shines through in its true-to-form combat and also in the level of detail Sloclap included in the game’s visually stunning environments. Sifu’s attention to detail provides players with an elevated sense of immersion as they traverse through a fictional city on their path to redemption.
Sifu is available for $39.99 USD for the standard edition and $49.99 USD for the Deluxe Edition.
For more information, please visit www.sifugame.com and check out @sifugame on Twitter.
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About Sloclap: Sloclap is an independent game development studio founded in 2015. Comprising more than 50 team members, the studio’s core focus revolves around martial arts combat games for PC and consoles. The studio’s debut project, Absolver, released in August 2017 on PC and PlayStation 4, followed by a release on Xbox One in January 2019 and achieved a player base of more than 3 million people around the world. The studio’s sophomore title, Sifu, has sold more than 1.5 million copies worldwide and has been lauded by international critics around the world.
Ring in 2023 with ‘Carol Clash’ and New Year’s Battle Pass, alongside $5 bounty to mark five years of World of Warships on Steam
AUSTIN, TEXAS (December 8, 2022) – Wargaming, publisher and developer of World of Warships has released the full details of its December update, celebrating the holiday season and five years of the world’s most popular naval MMO on Steam.
Players can ring in the new year with a fresh shipment of free content and goodies, and a new ‘Carol Clash’ event which sees two teams of Santa Clauses from the North and South Poles compete to deliver gifts at speed. To wrap things up, there is an all-new Battle Pass including boatloads of free and premium rewards, and Early Access to Japanese Light Cruisers continues.
Check out the video overview here,
Take on Santa in Carol Clash
The headline addition in the December update is the new temporary event ‘Carol Clash’. This will see players form two teams of Santa Clauses from the North and South Poles clashing in a gift delivery race. Players will need to choose between the North and South Pole teams, that will provide different rewards upon completion. The fastest team of ‘Santas’ will win one of two themed Commanders and one of two permanent camouflages for the tier X destroyer Holland or tier X battleship Conqueror.
‘Tis The Season of Giving
Players won’t just be delivering gifts in this update; they will also be receiving them by the boatload! Players will be able to earn Coal, Steel, Research Points and New Year’s Certificates through playing with ships Tier V and higher. A New Year Certificate is a temporary resource that can be exchanged for 375,000 Credits or any of the three types of Santa’s Gift containers.
The free content doesn’t stop there, as World of Warships launch their New Year’s Battle Pass, with a free track full of Containers, credits, different boosts, resources and more! Players can also boost their Battle Pass with doubloons, to earn even more rewards through the premium track.
Return of the Hamburg Dockyard
The Hamburg Dockyard return for World of Warships’ shipwrights to take on their next task: building the Tier IX Admiral Schröder. Once built, this cruiser is armed with as many as eight 305 mm guns placed in four main battery turrets. She is well suited for combat at medium and short ranges due to her quite solid durability and decent armour protection for the class.
Players will need to work through 30 phases of building, completing combat missions or spending doubloons to progress. Along the way, players can also earn for free the Tier VII battleship Renown ’44, a new port slot and a 6-skill commander.
Five dollars for five years!
Finally, there has never been a better time for new players to join the World of Warships armada on Steam. The leading MMO is offering an even easier method for new players a $5 USD Steam Wallet credit. New players who complete the “Amateur” achievement by winning 10 random battles before December 17, will see this credit added to their Steam Wallet within a week of completing the challenge. Update 0.11.11 also sees a fresh wave of map updates, bug fixes, and tutorials for new players added to the game. For a full overview of the update, click here
About World of Warships World of Warships is a free, historical, online combat PC game from Wargaming. With its massive fleet of most iconic war vessels, including four different ship classes and strategically designed environment, World of Warships provides the ultimate naval warfare gaming experience, suitable for everyone. Thanks to its largest collection of historically accurate ships available to play, World of Warships prides itself as a digital ship museum and a focal point for naval history enthusiasts. New thematic content and innovative game modes are being added on a regular basis, providing a diverse and exciting gameplay to its broad player base.
One franchise – multiple platforms After the successful launch of World of Warships on PC, its unique gameplay and design has been adapted to bring free massive naval battles to other platforms with World of Warships: Legends available on PlayStation and Xbox and World of Warships Blitz on iOS and Android mobile devices. Official website: http://www.worldofwarships.com
About Wargaming
Wargaming is an award-winning online game developer and publisher headquartered in Nicosia, Cyprus. Operating since 1998, Wargaming has grown to become one of the leaders in the gaming industry with 17 offices around the world, including studios in Chicago, Prague, Shanghai, Tokyo and Vilnius. Millions of players enjoy Wargaming’s titles across all major gaming platforms. Our flagship products include the free-to-play hits World of Tanks, World of Warships and World of Tanks Blitz.
PARIS – Dec. 8, 2022 –Chained Echoes, the long-awaited pixel-perfect JRPG developed by Matthias Linda and published by Deck13 Spotlight, is out now! Perfectly blending fantasy with mechs and airships, the game is available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC. This immersive, story-driven epic is also playable through Xbox Game Pass on PC, consoles and via the Cloud.
Watch the official launch trailer here!
A Magnum Opus Seven Years in the Making
The magnum opus from solo developer Matthias Linda, Chained Echoes, a traditional, all-encompassing JRPG inspired by the classics of the SNES and PSX era, is finally finished after seven years of development. Gamers from all around the world can now engage in an outstanding JRPG fantasy that is full of exciting challenges and appeal.
Players will find themselves within the continent of Valandis, which, after centuries of war, is finally at peace. However, this world they are in is marked by possible conflict, and rumors that a weapon of mass destruction is an imminent danger. Peace is fragile, conflicts lasting for centuries just won’t disappear, and a new war could break loose anytime soon… Can a group of strangers restore peace?Can the weapon be destroyed?
Welcome to the Overdrive
Chained Echoes is action-packed, featuring magic, mechs, swords, boss fights, turn-based combat, a complex story and roughly 40 hours of content. Although Chained Echoes is a turn-based game, the Overdrive Combat System ensures that fights are fast-paced while still offering massive tactical depth. Creatively tune the skillset of your party and slay even the most vicious foes like a whirlwind!
In Chained Echoes, medieval fantasy meets modern steampunk, so get ready for both sword duels and mech fights! An incredible, carefully crafted world awaits, filled with otherworldly creatures plus multiple nations of humans and humanoid races brimming with individual lore and culture for players to dig into. In the wild, Valandis’ varied environments are a true paradise for adventurers, each with their own unique look and special challenges, menacing bosses and exciting secrets!
The game’s new trailer celebrates today’s release, showing once more what makes the title stand out: stunning pixel visuals, mecha fights, incredible boss monsters and tons of regions to explore.
The official soundtrack for Chained Echoes by Eddie Marianukroh includes 50 tracks and is available through Bandcamp and Steam.
Chained Echoes will also receive a physical release in summer 2023, now available for pre-order. Exclusively distributed by First Press Games, these premium physical editions are on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and PC DVD, with different variants in terms of included goodies and merch. Esoundsignal’s original soundtrack as a 2CD release is also on offer separately.
Hack and slash action games and anime girls have gone together quite well through the years with quite a few popular series taking the formula to its limits. Many of those series have now either come to an end or are focusing more on spin-offs but there is always room for more anime action. As such, when it was revealed that D3 Publisher would be bringing Samurai Maiden to the West it seemed like a perfect fit for fans eager for something new. So now that it has arrived and offers plenty of blossoming female action, is this a worthwhile action game?
Story
Tsumugi is a relatively average “Gen Z” girl that occasionally takes part in her family’s swordsmanship dojo but one day while staying late after school and studying for a test, she hears a mysterious voice calling her the Priestess of Harmony and telling her she must put a stop to the revival of the demon lord. Without warning Tsumugi is then transported back in time to the burning temple in Honnou-Ji in 1598. There she meets Oda Nobunaga who is doing his best to survive an enemy attack that history would see him die as a result of, though through this intervention he now survives. Rather than knowing these facts, Tsumugi is stunned and given a sword to help defend herself only to be greeted by three ninjas that all have come to serve as her guides through the underworld to stop the demon lord.
Samurai Maiden‘s storyline is a fairly generic one at the best of times and kind of a slog at worst. This is primarily due to the way that characters will regularly repeat themselves and even repeat entire discussions occasionally in what eventually feels like padding. It is also something of a disappointment that, despite being sent back in time, the game does very little with its actual setting other than include a few historical figures as characters. Although it may seem like an action game, Samurai Maiden‘s storytelling is more akin to a visual novel than anything else. Players will witness lengthy discussions between characters at the beginning and end of nearly every mission with a few missions even having interactions in the middle of them.
While the actual story may not be the most interesting, the actual main characters help things quite a bit despite their trope-filled nature. Tsumugi is a lovable idiot that wears her heart on her sleeve and the three ninjas that join her happen to be Iyo, a ninja under Nobunaga’s employ that lacks confidence but quickly begins to crush on Tsumugi, Hagane who comes from an alternate world and serves as the big-sister type and is very touchy-feely, and finally the tsundere kitsune Komimi whose bristly nature hides a soft side and fluffy tail.
The interactions between these four girls is enjoyable, especially when they focus on things other than the demon lord, and saying that only Iyo has a crush is a bit of a lie as there is plenty of love to go around. Oddly enough, most of these more intimate interactions only occur in the side-stories players will unlock for characters in their “Bubble Worlds” while the core storyline keeps the yuri relationships a bit to the side in the form of small side-discussions. As such while the core storyline may feature a generic storyline with only a couple of telegraphed twists and a disappointing ending, the interactions between the four heroines are the real highlight here.
It is worth noting that, while the translation is handled well enough for most things, there have been a number of creative liberties taken. Obvious adjustments such as Tsumugi mentioning that she is in high school are replaced with “Gen Z” and multiple other phrases that anyone familiar enough with Japanese will recognize have been translated differently. At one point an entire exchange seemed to have an entirely different translation form what was being said, making these edits an incredibly strange change.
Gameplay
Samurai Maiden is a fairly straightforward action game with players only ever having control of Tsumugi as their primary fighter. When fighting enemies players will be able to make use of a light attack combo, a standing heavy combo, or a lunging heavy stab forward as well as the ability to perform some simple attacks while in the air as well. Tsumugi’s combo chains are incredibly basic with players able to obtain an extra attack per combo by raising their affinity with their three ninja partners, though even then most of her combos are stiff with a dodge roll that only provides a minimal amount of invulnerability before leaving the player open to attack. In fact, players won’t even have the ability to parry or quickly recover from being knocked in the air or to the ground without raising affinity first. Eventually, players will also unlock an ability to temporarily supercharge Tsumugi using one of her allies’ elemental abilities though this only provides a minor damage boost and health regeneration.
As players take down enemies, they can have one of the three companions out with them but they will not actively fight. Instead they can be called into using their special ninjutsu when their gauge is filled, dealing either targeted damage from Iyo, sustained damage from Hagane, or area of effect with Komimi. These girls can also obtain special enhanced moves eventually that will cost three full bars to unleash but can be quite powerful. Iyo can make use of various ninja tools such as bombs, healing pots, and decoys though her ability to actually place them is a bit on the rough side, Hagane will use her mechanical arm to swing from various floating orbs, and Komimi can throw bombs that are laying around.
As players fight alongside their three companions, they will gain little hearts as enemies are defeated. These hearts increase a character’s affinity and can then be used to unlock the aforementioned special side-stories, extra abilities such as more attacks or defensive moves, and special Bubble Worlds. These Bubble Worlds are simpler stages that focus more on the game’s stiff platforming elements and incredibly light puzzles and help provide a bit of fresh air from the hack and slash combat. Every basic stage through the story is simple at best with only a few side locations that may contain a chest that will either unlock concept art or increase the maximum amount of certain ninja tools.
Enemy encounters in these stages are once again incredibly basic. Players will almost always have to fight a larger foe surrounded by smaller minions and while early levels will seem far too easy, late stages increase the difficulty by simply filling the small arenas players fight in with more foes. This can include having to fight multiple boss level foes at the same time while also dealing with minions that will either randomly attack or simply stand back and watch. Unfortunately thanks to the fairly close camera angle and lock-on that is best ignored, players will often not see attacks coming from behind if they are focusing on a boss. Combine this with the way that bosses will still unleash attacks even after they have been stunned and the fact that players will not be immune to damage after taking a hit, and players can find themselves going from full health to almost dead in an instant should foes all attack at once. It is also worth noting that while not incredibly difficult, these areas can be frustratingly annoying to deal with especially since players are only given one checkpoint to revive at and should they fall in combat again, will have to redo the level from the beginning.
There is some minor customization available for Tsumugi and her friends though it is often rarely useful. Weapons can be enhanced and have various passive bonuses unlocked but since the character’s health and attack strength is tied to her equipped weapon, trying to upgrade a new sword that will not offer any new combo attacks is actually a detriment since players will find themselves incredibly weak until it is on par with their usual gear. Iyo, Hagane, and Komiko’s weapons will offer various attack bonuses as well as certain passive increases as well and are generally worthwhile upgrades but also happen to cost nearly as much as ten improvements to one of Tsumugi’s weapons.
As far as performance goes, Samurai Maiden is a shockingly rough game to play at times. While early stages with few enemies will run smoothly, there were multiple occasions that the entire game would stutter during exploration on the PlayStation 5 and even come to a halt in combat only to pick back up a few seconds later. This often would happen in the middle of battle and on more than one occasion resulted in a death, so hopefully this can be refined a bit once a patch is released.
Visuals & Audio
Samurai Maiden has some gorgeous looking character designs for its main cast. Tsumugi and her friends as well as the various historical figures, and the game’s own take on them, have nicely detailed models with plenty of animation poses when used in the game’s visual novel scenes. Combat stages are unfortunately a bit on the bland side though seeing a few stages the second time around makes for a few unique elements. Enemy designs are unfortunately rather generic and also happen to be re-used and re-colored a lot so players will be fighting only three or four enemy types the entire game.
As far as fanservice goes, things have been censored at least a little bit. Clothing on both Tsumugi and her friends will tear and get dirty while fighting but it will not expose anything and while there are plenty of panty shots during gameplay, the game does place a black censor underneath every characters’ skirt when paused. Thankfully, none of the yuri interactions have been censored in any form and while it only goes as far as kissing, there is at least that.
The Western release of Samurai Maiden only offers the original Japanese voice track but this works quite well as the game features a rather impressive level of talent. This includes Iyo’s voice actress starring in numerous anime and idol groups as well as Nobunaga’s voice actor being the same voice as a certain yakuza. The title features a catchy theme song but for the most part its soundtrack is fairly stereotypical for a game set in the warring states era of Japan.
Overall
Although Samurai Maiden may have wanted to make a splash as a new anime action game it ends up barely making a ripple. The straightforward and predictable storyline is only helped by a charming cast of characters that are fun to see interact with one another and learn more about through side-stories while its combat, though serviceable enough, is often a bit limiting and features a number of cheap difficulty spikes. With minimal censored fanservice but still plenty there for yuri fans, Samurai Maiden may not be a noteworthy action game but it is at least serviceable enough for those looking for something to scratch the anime itch.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Sydney, Australia, December 8th, 2022 – Microids is thrilled to announce that the retail versions of New Joe & Mac: Caveman Ninja for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 are available now, as well as the PC versions (Steam and GOG).
When “Rock & Roll” was just rock and “fast food” a dinner running away from you, two cavemen named Joe & Mac were living quiet lives in their peaceful village. Peaceful until a bunch of Neanderthal primates ransack the village and kidnap all the women!
Watch the game’s launch trailer here
It’s time for our cavemen to go head to head against dangerous dinosaurs and other carnivorous plants to free their beloved wives! Don’t be fooled by these entirely reworked graphics, New Joe & Mac promises to be brutal and completely crazy!
Developed by Mr. Nutz Studio (Toki, Asterix & Obelix: Slap Them All!) this new iteration of the cult arcade classic will invite players to discover a trustful remake and enriched with an Arcade Mode, offering a remaster of the original game, as well as a longer version of the story mode called Extended. Just like the original game developed for arcade play in the 90’s, New Joe & Mac: Caveman Ninja will offer a local two player co-op mode. Additionally, the game will also contain a training mode, a boss rush mode and even a speedrun mode!
New Joe & Mac: Caveman Ninja will offer an incredibly fun and complete arcade experience!
New Joe & Mac: Caveman Ninja will also be available in a limited – T-Rex Edition including:
The game New Joe & Mac: Caveman Ninja
2 sticker sheets
One trading card
A 3D keychain
New Joe & Mac: Caveman Ninja is now available for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 & PlayStation 5 as well as the Steam and GOG versions for PC.
Microids is a French video game publisher. Founded in 1985, Microids’ editorial strategy now focuses on 4 major areas: adventure games, racing games, retro gaming and games inspired by iconic titles. By collaborating with renowned studios and authors (Pendulo Studios, Eden Studios, Benoît Sokal, Paul Cuisset, Philippe Dessoly and Pierre Adane), Microids has become a major player in international video games. Taking inspiration from legendary titles, including Asterix & Obelix, and Titeuf, Garfield, Fort Boyard, XIII and Blacksad, Microids reaches a wide audience and creates original adventures which give gamers the chance to play as some of their most beloved characters.
About G-MODE Corporation
G-MODE Corporation is a game content planning and development manufacturer from Japan that has been developing its business mainly in the PC and mobile content markets since its establishment. Also, engaged in the licensing business of the “Data East” title, which has gained popularity in arcades and consumer game consoles. In 2018, we started the publishing business of our own titles and indie creator titles for consumer game consoles.
DATA EAST and DATA EAST logo(s) are trademarks in United States and other countries or registered trademarks in European Union and Japan of G-MODE Corporation.
PGA TOUR® 2K23 Tees Up a Festive Holiday SeasonWith New Course, Playable Nadeshot and Apparel from 100 Thieves and Barstool Sports
New, limited-time challenges, Dude Perfect and Greyson gear round out upcoming offerings
PGA TOUR 2K23 is geared up and ready to bring the holiday spirit this December with a golf bag packed full of goodies, including a new course, new playable character, limited-time challenges and apparel.*
Torrey Pines Golf Course is a 36-hole public course perched atop seaside cliffs in the scenic La Jolla area of San Diego, CA, and host of PGA TOUR’s Farmers Insurance Open. With their picturesque views of the Pacific Ocean on full display, both North and South courses will be free to all PGA TOUR 2K23 players via an automatic game update starting December 2.**
Matthew “Nadeshot” Haag, Founder & CEO of premium lifestyle brand and gaming organization 100 Thieves will make his debut as a playable character in PGA TOUR 2K23 on December 15. An avid golfer and PGA TOUR 2K player, Nadeshot previously made his mark on the franchise with a Course Designer collaboration called ‘Thieves Landing,’, and appeared in the PGA TOUR 2K23 ad campaign. Following Nadeshot’s in-game appearance, a 100 Thieves “100 Holes Challenge” will tee-off in game in early January. Over the course of five weeks starting on January 5, players will be challenged to play 100 holes per week. Players who complete 100 holes will receive the corresponding reward for that week, the following Monday. Keep an eye out for the in-game notification announcing the start of the 100 Holes Challenge in January for more information.
From December 8-14, players can also participate in a new challenge with the “Barstool Break 90 Ladder Challenge”, featuring branded gear from the largest and most influential digital sports, entertainment and lifestyle multimedia brand, Barstool Sports. Players will be challenged to break a score of 90 as many times as they can in 18-hole rounds. The more times they break 90, the more Barstool-branded items they’ll earn. More information on the “Barstool Break 90 Ladder Challenge” will be announced via an in-game notification.
Finally, Greyson Clothiers apparel, as worn by PGA TOUR pro and PGA TOUR 2K21 cover athlete Justin Thomas, as well as a new Dude Perfect-branded black hoodie will also be available this month and free to all players to swag out their MyPLAYERS in the Pro Shop. Players will also be able to spend their VC on a selection of festive holiday gear available via the in-game store.
PGA TOUR 2K23Deluxe Edition, Tiger Woods Edition and Standard Edition are available now for PlayStation®5 (PS5™), PlayStation®4 (PS4™), Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Steam.
*PGA TOUR 2K23 required to access content. Some cosmetic items and consumables may require unlocking with virtual currency (earned or paid) or via gameplay. Online Account (13+) required to access online features. See www.take2games.com/legal and www.take2games.com/privacy for additional details.
