Test your morality and continue the family legacy in the criminal underworld in this gripping narrative RPG inspired by the bestselling book
TORINO, Italy – Feb. 16, 2023 – 34BigThings is launching its thrilling narrative RPG Gomorrahtoday on PC, iOS and Android. The game delivers a suspenseful, choice-driven tale set within the dark world of the Italian mafia and inspired by the award-winning, bestselling book of the same name by Roberto Saviano. The title has gained even further popularity following the international success of the Gomorrah TV series.
After a brutal attack on her family kills her mafia boss father, Nina Miniero must ascend as the new head of the famiglia, learning how to take his place atop the crime syndicate. In the gritty suburbs of Naples, players must help Nina navigate her dangerous new life, where her morality will be tested and the lines between good and evil will be blurred.
Gomorrah Features:
A Classic Interactive Crime Drama: Experience a twisting tale, combining a provocative narrative with strategic management of clan resources. Pick your battles and make important decisions — your choices will determine where the story goes.
Branching Narrative Outcomes: Each decision leads down a unique path, eventually concluding with one of eight total possible endings. How will you choose to lead the family? Will you walk the path of peace — or claim your right to revenge?
Lead a Diverse Family: Each clan member has their own strengths and weaknesses. Train up your scagnozzo and use the right one for each job, or risk hurting the family.
Take on Unique Scenarios: Missions are procedurally generated, providing new challenges and surprises to discover with each playthrough.
Handcrafted Art Design: Watch the story unfold in style with epic visuals drawn by supremely talented comic artist Luca Negri.
Gomorrah is available today on PC (Steam), iOS (App Store) and Android (Google Play) for $2.99. For more information, follow @34BigThings on Twitter.
About 34BigThings
Established in 2013, 34BigThings is a leading Italian developer for premium games across PC, console, and mobile devices which uses cutting-edge technology to create innovative, genre-defining games that receive critical acclaim and capture the imagination of gamers around the world. The studio has released over 10 premium games topping charts on most gaming platforms. 34BigThings joined Saber Interactive in November 2020. For more information, visit www.34BigThings.com, and follow the studio on Twitter.
LOS ANGELES – February 15, 2023 – Netmarble, a leading developer and publisher of high-quality mobile games, announces a new global update for the mobile role-playing gameSeven Knights 2. The update includes a new Legendary hero, a new pet, Expanded Upgrade Dungeons, outfits, events, and more.
Awakened Emotion Diana (Legendary / Attack type) is the latest playable hero to join the game. Her skill allows players to target enemies with low HP, making her the perfect choice for finishing off enemies. She can continue targeting enemies even if they are in disguise or become unrecognizable. Her attacks remove enemy buffs and strengthen herself as she keeps up the pressure.
Additional new game content includes the Legendary+ pet Valdur and expanded Gold Vault up to a total of 16 stages and increased rewards that will keep pace with Gold supply and player growth. Calm Night Sky and Fragrant Warm Breeze costumes are now available for Diana as well.
From February 15 through March 2, players can obtain a new hero, Diana by simply checking-in the game. Furthermore, for those who check-in for 10 consecutive days, Diana’s exclusive equipment is also available. In addition, players can complete in-game missions, check-ins or participate in push events, acquiring Diana’s Memory Orbs. These orbs can be exchanged at Diana’s Memory Shop for various items, including Diana’s Calm Night Sky costume and new profile icon. The Pet Step Up Summon Mission Event will offer additional bonuses according to the number of times that players summon pets.
The official sequel to Seven Knights, a game enjoyed by 60 million players globally, Seven Knights 2 takes place 20 years after the original and introduces beautiful open world gameplay. The story centers on the Daybreak Mercenaries who embark on a journey to find the last member of the Seven Knights, “Rudy,” after a series of events involving a mysterious girl named Phiné. Stunning cinematics and graphics powered by Unreal Engine 4 will immerse players in this epic game story filled with unique characters and powerful bosses. Players can collect and develop their heroes and experience a new combat system with powerful ultimates and suppressors.
More information on Seven Knights 2 can be found on the 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 leading developer and publisher of top-grossing mobile games worldwide. Through powerful franchises and collaborations with acclaimed IP holders, Netmarble strives to elevate the gaming experience and entertain audiences globally. As a parent company of Kabam and SpinX Games, and a major shareholder of Jam City and HYBE (formerly Big Hit Entertainment), Netmarble’s diverse portfolio includes Lineage 2: Revolution, MARVEL Future Fight, Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds, The King of Fighters ALLSTAR, The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross, and forthcoming PC games like Paragon: The Overprime. More information can be found at http://company.netmarble.com.
PlayStation Australia is always looking for ways to create meaningful and engaging experiences that celebrate players and for PlayStation Plus members, it’s a big month ahead with Horizon Forbidden West joining the Game Catalogue. PlayStation Plus Extra and Deluxe members now have a chance to experience the post-apocalyptic world with distant lands to discover, striking characters to meet, and enormous awe-inspiring machines to fight. Additional blockbuster titles include Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Borderlands 3, and more which will be added to the Games Catalogue next week. In addition to these games, PlayStation wanted to take this month one step further and provide players with over a week-long of activities to thank them for their support of the PlayStation Plus journey,
Starting today through February 24, PlayStation Plus members can find a range of activities to participate in during PlayStation Plus Festival of Play – from earning digital collectibles to joining tournaments to getting exclusive double discounts on select popular games from the PlayStation Store. Activities for those who are not PlayStation Plus members are available as well.
God of War Ragnarök Game Trial – for PlayStation Deluxe members
Get a taste of what it’s like to journey into each of the Nine Realms with Kratos and Atreus as they search for answers while Asgardian forces prepare for the prophesied battle that will end the world. As a PlayStation Plus member players will have access to God of War Ragnarök with a 3-hour time-limited trial. Trophies and save progress from this trial will carry over if players decide to purchase the full game.
PlayStation Stars Campaign – from now February 24
PlayStation Stars is a loyalty program that is free to join and doesn’t require a PlayStation Plus membership. However this month they’ll be unique digital collectibles during PlayStation Plus Festival of Play, including:
PlayStation Plus members will receive a “Festival of Play Party Favour” digital collectible for checking into the ‘A Gift from PlayStation Plus’ campaign and playing any game.
With Horizon Forbidden West joining the PlayStation Plus Game Catalogue starting on February 21, players can get “A Gift from the Past” digital collectible by checking into the “Welcome to the Forbidden West” campaign and earning the following trophies. This campaign is only available to PlayStation Plus Extra and Deluxe members who have yet to earn these trophies.
“Save the Daunt”
“Attend the Embassy”
“Obtain 3 Stripes at a Hunting Ground”
“Used Dyed Flowers”
“First Rebel Camp Completed”
“First Tall Neck Overwritten”
PlayStation Plus Double Discount – from now until March 1
PlayStation is kicking off a Double Discount promotion for PlayStation Plus members this week. Check out the sale here. Players who are both PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Stars members can earn PlayStation Stars points with eligible purchases on PlayStation Store.
Enter to Win a Sony Bravia XR OLED TV and more – from now until February 25
In celebration, players can enter a new contest for the opportunity to win a Sony Bravia XR OLED 55A75K TV, Dolby Atmos Soundbar HT-A5000, and Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones. Players can participate by going to the website and answering three questions about PlayStation Plus. Players will have until February 25 to answer the questions. For more details, head to PlayStation.com.
Online Multiplayer Weekend – from February 18 to 19
PlayStation will be holding an online multiplayer during the weekend of February 18-19 so players can go head-to-head with other players online during these dates even without a PlayStation Plus membership.
PlayStation Tournaments – from February 18 and February 19
There will be a number of PlayStation Tournaments happening during this timeframe, featuring FIFA 23, NBA 2K23, and Guilty Gear. Also, since the online multiplayer weekend starts during this same timeframe, those without PlayStation plus memberships will also be able to participate in the tournaments happening in this timeframe, Players who participate will get a chance to win a PlayStation Plus membership. See the website for more details.
To find out more about PlayStation Plus Festival of Play head to PlayStation.com.
BEIJING — Feb. 15, 2023 — Corpse Keeper, the medieval gothic action-strategy roguelike from developer Melancholia Studio and publisher Thermite Games, lurks its way onto PC via Steam Early Access and arriving on the Epic Game Store this February.
Assemble an unholy trio of rotting corpses to confront and destroy the demon haunting the city of Lenste in this dark and oppressing medieval world. Manage flesh and bone across 30 cursed characters, each with distinct traits, and fend off decay while upgrading the undead squad’s attributes.
Carve and hack a path to victory with realistic sword-fighting mechanics, and harvest the flesh of fallen foes to extend the life of undead soldiers. Even the playing field with perfectly-timed dashes, parrying tactics, and upgradeable weapons with special abilities.
Battle evil and time itself, carefully managing resources with a devilish level of detail for both exploration and combat. Held together by only black magic, the rotting flesh of the terrifying triad worsens with every passing moment. Mounting levels of decay eventually render each warrior useless, but “preservatives” can help stave off the inevitable.
Adapt to each challenge with an ever-changing rotation of temporary ghoulish grunts. Study the horrifying enemies and the ominous surrounding areas before every battle to craft the perfect plan of attack. Enlist new Grave Keepers, Knights, Plague Doctors and Assassins to replenish ranks, and explore six eerie areas in a hunt for the demon presiding over the cathedral.
“Corpse Keeper shakes up expected roguelike traditions by requiring adaptability from each decaying squad,” said HC Li, Producer, Melancholia Studio. “We can’t wait to see all kinds of strategies, builds, and squad combinations tested out in Early Access.”
Corpse Keeper is now available on Steam Early Access for $19.99 USD/19.50 EUR and supports English, Simp. Chinese, German, French, Spanish, Italian, and Japanese language options, and coming to the Epic Games Store this February.
About Melancholia Studio
Melancholia Studio is a development company that focuses on crafting challenging yet addictive gameplay experiences. With a deep respect for the player’s skill and an understanding of what makes for a rewarding difficulty level in games, Melonancholia Studio sets out to make memorable games, engaging experiences, and unforgettable encounters for gamers worldwide.
To learn more about Melancholia Studio, visit their official Twitter account.
About Thermite Games
Thermite Games is a publishing company behind hit titles such as Sophia the Traveler, Nobody the Turnaround, and Far Away. Founded in 2020, Thermite Games consists of young, passionate gamers and industry professionals based in Beijing, China.
To learn more about Thermite Games, visit their official website, and follow them on Twitter and Discord.
Rid the world of arachnids by any means necessary on Oculus, SteamVR, and PSVR
AUSTIN, TEXAS — Feb. 15, 2023 —Kill It With Fire, the first-person spider-hunter from developer Casey Donnellan Games and publisher tinyBuild, infests digital homes in VR on MetaQuest 2, SteamVR, and PlayStation VR 1 & 2 later this year.
Go toe-to-toe…to-toe-to-toe-to-toe against mankind’s most fearsome enemy: the menacing house spider. Tear rooms apart to reveal hundreds of their hiding places. Build an arsenal from household objects and military ordnance then hunt down the tiny demons before they slip away.
The leggy lurkers hide anywhere and everywhere. Even the odds collecting a bevy of weapons, utilising state-of-the-art spider-tracking technology, and mastering the new VRACHNID(™) gloves to better detect the eight-legged enemies.Follow the tracker and listen for the telltale squeaks indicating spiders, spiderlings, and other unholy abominations.
Smash arachnids with office supplies and frying pans, blast spiderlings with shotguns, and slice through eight-legged armies with ninja weaponry. Lob TNT at them for good measure. Still feeling phantom legs crawling around? Whip out that flamethrower and burn it all down.
Follow infestations out of the house and into a wide world filled with web-spinners to mow down. Leave no stone unturned while on a mission to take care of every last arachnid in office spaces, retail chains, barns, and scenic landscapes. Become humanity’s most heroic exterminator by fulfilling optional missions and honing spider-slaying skills in the Arachno-Gauntlet. Unlock a secret ending, and don’t forget to check under the pillow upon returning home, just in case.
“Fans have been asking for a VR version of Kill It With Fire since the very first footage of the original game,” said Casey Donnellan, solo developer of Kill It With Fire. “I’m really happy that we can finally put horrifying spiders on a screen less than an inch from players’ eyeballs!”
Kill It With Fire VR is coming soon to Meta Quest 2, SteamVR, and PlayStation VR 1 &2. The gameis available now on Steam for PC for USD $14.99 / €.14.99. Both titles will offer English, French, Italian, German, Spanish (Spain), Dutch, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese language support.
Casey Donnellan is an independent game developer and former AAA developer. After graduating from SMU Guildhall in 2012, he spent several years as an engineer at Certain Affinity before helping to found Rooster Teeth Games. Shipped titles include DOOM (2016), RWBY: Grimm Eclipse, Vicious Circle, and Age of Booty: Tactics. Casey lives with his wife, dog, and two cats in Austin, Texas. He does not like spiders.
About tinyBuild
tinyBuild is a global video game publisher and developer focused on creating long-lasting, sustainable franchises across multiple media formats. Responsible for over 70 titles including Hello Neighbor, Graveyard Keeper, and Potion Craft, the company has a dozen development studios spread across the US, EU, Serbia, and Ukraine.
Kingston offers Server memory and SSD products that meet enterprises’ most demanding workloads
Australia – February 15, 2023 – Kingston Technology, a world leader in memory products and technology solutions, today announced its 64GB, 32GB, and 16GB Server Premier DDR5 4800MT/s Registered DIMMs have been validated on the 4th Gen Intel® Xeon® Scalable Processor (formerly codenamed Sapphire Rapids). Kingston offers server memory and Data Center (DC) SSDs for the most demanding workloads, and supports the global needs to store, manage and instantly access large volumes of data in both traditional databases and Big Data infrastructures.
For over 35 years Kingston has been the memory brand trusted by leading server manufacturers and the world’s largest data centers. Server Premier is Kingston’s industry standard memory solution sold by specification for use in white-box servers, and is platform validated and qualified by leading motherboard/system manufacturers. Featuring a locked BOM (Bill of Materials) to provide a consistent brand and revision of primary components (including DRAM, register, PMIC, SPD hub, thermal sensors, and PCB), all Kingston server memory solutions are 100% tested and undergo a rigorous dynamic burn-in process designed to catch early-life failures at the factory.
Server Premier features include:
Locked Bill of Materials (BOM)
Part Change Notifications (PCN) – 90 days
8Q roadmap visibility
Server platform validation
Leading server motherboard manufacturer qualification
Limited Lifetime warranty
Industry-leading service and support
Intel’s 4th Gen Xeon Scalable Processor is their first to support next-generation DDR5 server-class memory and features eight memory channels, arranged in up to two DIMMs per channel, or 16 DIMMs per CPU socket. At 4800MT/s, each DDR5 Registered DIMM provides a peak bandwidth of 38.4GB/s, which when grouped in multi-channel configurations provides a marked increase in performance over DDR4-based servers. DDR5 introduces advanced features for a more reliable and more efficient memory subsystem, including on-die ECC (ODECC), double the number of banks and double the burst length, improved refreshes, inclusion of a power management circuit (PMIC), additional temperature sensors, decision feedback equalization (DFE), and dual independent 32-bit subchannels (40-bit for ECC).
“We’re excited to announce the validation of our next-generation server memory parts on Intel’s 4th Gen Xeon Scalable processor,” said Kingston. “Validation is always the first step for memory manufacturers to demonstrate the quality and compatibility of their memory solutions. DDR5 delivers the technology to scale in bandwidth and capacity to meet the performance requirements of tomorrow’s data centers.”
In addition to server memory, Kingston’s Enterprise SATA 3.0 and NVMe Data Center (DC) SSDs are storage solutions designed with a stringent set of development requirements and a thorough testing process. The Kingston’s SATA Data Center SSDs are reliable high-performance, low-latency drives built for data centers and efficient client systems. Kingston’s NVMe Data Center SSDs provides extreme speeds for exceptional Quality of Service (QoS) demands for extensive daily tasks to mission critical information. Offering enterprises a wide variety of products to choose from.
From big data, to laptops and PCs, to IoT-based devices like smart and wearable technology, to design-in and contract manufacturing, Kingston helps deliver the solutions used to live, work and play. The world’s largest PC makers and cloud-hosting companies depend on Kingston for their manufacturing needs, and our passion fuels the technology the world uses every day. We strive beyond our products to see the bigger picture, to meet the needs of our customers and offer solutions that make a difference. To learn more about how Kingston Is With You, visit Kingston.com.
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Kingston and the Kingston logo are registered trademarks of Kingston Technology Corporation. IronKey is a registered trademark of Kingston Digital, Inc. Kingston FURY and the Kingston FURY logo are trademarks of Kingston Technology Corporation. All rights reserved. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Sydney, Australia – 15th February 2023: The release of Atomic Heart, the hotly anticipated action-RPG set in the mad utopia of a fictional 1955 USSR, is finally within sight! Focus Entertainment and Mundfish celebrate the final stage of the countdown with a new video starring The Boys and Supernatural star Jensen Ackles. A week ahead of its 21st of February launch on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Xbox One, it isn’t too late to pre-order the game. Join Jensen Ackles in bringing your A game for the most Atomic release of 2023!
Watch the Atomic Way trailer here
Nothing beats the power of a punch—when you put your atomic heart into it!
Such an explosive release doesn’t land every day. Luckily, today’s video gets you in shape to survive the robot apocalypse, with Jensen Ackles’ accelerated course on blasting robots with deadly efficiency. Spoilers: in a world of technological nightmare, no magic trick will save you. There is only one way: the Atomic Way. So supercharge your AI-augmented punch and prepare for a far-from-bewitching, frenzied intrigue and not-so-enchanting, nerve-racking encounters.
You’ll explore the twisted utopia of an alternative 1955 Soviet Union, evolve your playstyle and grow a cutting-edge arsenal by taking on spectacular and unforgiving combat against killer robots, unsightly mutants, and bloodthirsty machines that roam the land of Facility 3826.
Atomic Heart releases 21st of February on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Xbox One.
An Ordinary Woman Doing Extraordinary Things: Everything You Need To Know About The Lead Character Kate
Sydney, Australia – 15 February, 2023: Scars Above will be hitting stores in less than two weeks, and to mark the occasion, the developers have released a video all about Dr Kate Ward; the lead character in the new challenging sci-fi third-person action adventure shooter set on a mysterious alien world.
Featuring behind the scenes interviews with the actor and development team, the video will give a real insight into the creation and evolution of Kate and how she ended up alone and lost on an exoplanet.
The developers also explain how Kate’s skill set – and using brains over brawn – directly influenced the design and flow of the game.
Kate is an astronaut and scientist, sent to explore a colossal and enigmatic alien structure – The Metahedron – that appears in Earth’s orbit. Things don’t go as planned and the Metahedron hauls Kate and her team across space onto a mysterious extrasolar planet where she wakes up alone on a strange and hostile world; determined to survive, she sets out to find her crew and unravel the mystery behind what’s happened.
Players need to examine their surroundings, scan and analyse alien fauna and flora of the dangerous extrasolar planet, then use the gained knowledge to create various elemental weapons, gadgets, and consumables.
They will also need to rely on offensive and tactical devices, use the environment to their advantage and exploit weaknesses of monstrous creatures to survive against the odds; all the while trying to unlock the mystery of an ancient alien civilisation and uncover the truth about what happened to Kate and her team.
The game releases 28 February 2023 on PC, Gen 8 and Gen 9 consoles.
About Prime Matter 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.
Back in the mid to late 1980s/90s, many of the big video game publishers that you know and love today such as Capcom, Midway, Namco, Konami and many others were competing for a chunk of a very profitable industry: Arcade gaming. Toaplan was one such company. Their “Shmup” – or shoot ‘em up – games enjoyed great popularity worldwide and they even received ports for many consoles of that era. This collection – although the titles are currently sold separately – includes four of their most beloved games: Twin Cobra, Truxton, Zero Wing and Out Zone.
Story
Since these are old arcade games, there isn’t any story to speak of. Some home ports did include at least a short description at the beginning of the game. In some cases, there were even cutscenes using static images. The Western version of Zero Wing for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis even gained worldwide notoriety because of its poor translation. Gems such as “All your base are belong to us” or “For great justice” are still quoted even today.
Gameplay
The games included in this collection are faithful conversions of their arcade counterparts. This means that they’re super hard. Unforgiving even. Players need not fret though: Bitwave was kind enough to include a number of options to help new players ease into the challenges ahead. Options that would otherwise only be accessible to arcade cabinet owners are readily available in the in-game menu. There, you can adjust the difficulty, number of lives and also choose between Japanese and Western ROMS.
The accessibility sub-menu features, among other things, adjustable health points, the option to toggle on auto-dodge, auto-fire and so on. There’s also a practice mode where players can choose the exact checkpoint that they’re having difficulty with. These options work in all four games and they can even be mixed to create new ways to enjoy these timeless classics.
The evolution in graphics, mechanics and sound between these titles is so perceptible, it’s almost palpable, especially considering that they’re separated by roughly three years; from Twin Cobra, released in 1987 to Out Zone which came out in 1990. They don’t look, sound or feel like such old games. It helps that they’re so much fun to play, of course.
Being the oldest game in the collection, Twin Cobra is also the simplest but just as fun as its successors. Twin Cobra is a military-themed shooter where players control a helicopter that can be equipped with four very distinct types of upgradeable weapons. Your ship is also capable of dropping bombs that cover a big portion of the screen. At the end of each stage, big bosses that are sometimes impossibly difficult await. This game’s pacing is a bit slower and more methodical when compared to the other games in this collection. Twin Cobra includes all the features that would become hallmarks not only in Toaplan’s subsequent shooters but also in the genre by and large.
Truxton is one of the most beloved arcade shooters that I know of. At first glance, it’s like Twin Cobra on steroids; Truxton uses a similar multi-scrolling gameplay: The screen scrolls vertically automatically, but as you move your ship sideways, more of the screen – and also enemies – is uncovered.
The graphics are a huge step up when compared to older Toaplan titles; everything is bigger, chunkier and crisper. Enemies are also more abundant.
The background this time is some sort of alien invasion. Aboard your ship, which resembles a moth, you must advance through the various stages infested with creatures that are sometimes a fusion between metal and flesh. It reminds me of R-Type but less grotesque. This time, your arsenal consists of a machine gun with a decent spread that’s very similar to the one in Twin Cobra, a powerful green plasma that can pierce enemies and a huge and beautiful blue laser that can lock in on multiple enemies and covers the entire screen at full power. Your bomb gives your ship invincibility much faster than in Twin Cobra, but it only covers the area around your ship.
The game progression in Truxton is fast and hard; the bullets come at you at a ridiculous fast speed. In later stages, your only way to advance is to memorize safe spots since it’s impossible to dodge all the bullets that enemies shoot at you. You can’t go wrong with any of the games in this collection but Truxton is definitely something special.
Zero Wing uses a similar thematic to Truxton, but, this time, the aliens are less mechanical and more “disgusting”.
Gameplay-wise, Zero Wing is a complete departure from the last two titles. It plays like a side-scroller similar to games such as Gradius or Darius. As such, you now need to pay attention to your surroundings since you’ll lose a ship if you collide with any obstacle; as a result, Zero Wing seems to be the least beginner-friendly game in the collection.
A pretty neat mechanic in Zero Wing is the tractor beam that replaces the bombs in the aforementioned games. The tractor beam can pull in most simple enemies – among other more explosive objects – that attach to your ship and provide defense from a single shot. You can also press the beam button again to use your enemies as weapons. This unique mechanic kept me curious and guessing what else I could do with the tractor beam. Maybe that’s why I died so much in my short time with this game.
Last, but not least, we have Out Zone: “A game nobody knows”. Jokes apart, Out Zone is pretty obscure. It was launched in arcades and that was it: No home port, no nothing. This is the first official version of Out Zone outside of arcades ever. “Better late than never” as they say.
Out Zone uses a high-tech military background. It plays like a run ‘n gun game with a top-down view. Technically, it feels like another generation; it’s just one of the many examples of how fast video games evolved at the time.
Out Zone features a curious mechanic that I have only seen in the first Wonder Boy game: Your soldier has a health bar that depletes as time passes. The only way to replenish it is by collecting “E” icons throughout the stages. If your life bar reaches zero you lose a life. The controls are fast, fluid and precise. Out Zone is a joy to play and it’s also the most distinct game out of the four.
Visuals & Audio
All the games look exactly like their arcade counterparts. If you play them in release order, the experience feels somewhat like a trip to a video game museum. Don’t be fooled though; the artistry employed in these games is impressive and timeless. It’s even better when you can customize your visual experience to such a degree thanks to all the distinct filters that can be tweaked in minutiae.
Unfortunately, the sound department didn’t receive such care. You can’t even adjust volume levels in-game. The games’ soundtrack is a huge part of what makes them so special, but here they feel a bit weak in some titles. The FX doesn’t sound that accurate either.
Overall
This a solid Toaplan compilation from Bitwave. The games included feel wonderful to play thanks to the low input lag. It’s a shame that Bitwave couldn’t quite get the sound right in some titles. Regardless, Toaplan Arcade Shoot ‘Em Up Collection is a perfect starting point for players new to Shmups and it’s also a decent way to play these games overall.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Raw Fury will be at GDC 2023 with Moonstone Island – come in to try a hands-on demo!
STOCKHOLM – Feb. 14, 2023 – Developer Studio Supersoft and publisher Raw Fury have a very special date night planned with the new gameplay trailer for Moonstone Island, the charming, open-world, deckbuilding life sim. This latest look at the title casts the spotlight on the game’s relationship mechanics, introducing the villagers you can befriend and romance, the dating system and more.
In Moonstone Island, players take on the role of a young alchemist starting a new life on a floating island in the sky. Armed with simple tools, alchemical recipes, and the ability to tame nature spirits, you’ll build a home and prove yourself as a true alchemist in a land threatened by dark forces.
By day you’ll fly between islands, gathering various resources, crafting different decks, and battling wild spirits to uncover the mysteries of this strange, shattered world. As night falls, you’ll explore its social side, building ties with villagers, taking part in events, and customizing your home to make it your own. Moonstone Island’s procedurally generated world features more than 100 islands to traverse, with a planned 100 spirits to battle and tame, items to craft and farm, relationships to nurture, and secrets to discover.
Raw Fury will be at this year’s Game Developers Conference (GDC) the week of March 20, 2023, offering hands-on demos for Moonstone Island andMr. Sun’s Hatbox(Kenny Sun), as well as an exclusive gameplay presentation forthe next standalone installment in the award-winning Kingdom series: Kingdom Eighties (Fury Studios).
Moonstone Island is expected to launch for PC, Mac and Nintendo Switch in 2023. It is available to wishlist now on Steam. Follow the title on Twitter @Moonstone_game for the latest updates.
About Studio Supersoft
Sandy Spink founded Studio Supersoft in 2021 with the goal of making nice games for nice people. The studio is based in Toronto, Canada, but the team is distributed across Australia, Malaysia, Brazil, and several other countries. Supersoft is currently working solely on Moonstone Island, an open-world, deckbuilding life sim inspired by Sandy’s seaside upbringing, as well as the ’90s video games and cartoons he was raised on.
About Raw Fury
Raw Fury is a self-proclaimed (un)publisher. We don’t care about genres or mechanics. We care about experiences and emotions. We want to help developers make magic.
