Electrician Simulator, a relaxing game where you make a career for yourself as an electrician, makes its PC debut on 21 September this year. The developers highlight that this unique title offers varied gameplay that will have you carrying out jobs (e.g., creating an entire electrical grid from scratch) and repairing various electrical items. In 2023, Electrician Simulator is also scheduled to release on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.
Electrician Simulator is a game by the independent Poland-based developer team from Take IT Studio! Their staff includes former developers from The Farm 51 with experience on Chernobylite and Chernobyl VR Project. The game’s publishers are Gaming Factory S.A. and Ultimate Games S.A.
In Electrician Simulator, you play a young electrician taking over the family business. The gameplay focuses on carrying out various jobs mostly consisting of story-based missions and repairing items in the workshop. The creators decided to emphasize variety – the different jobs include repairing an electrical socket, creating an entire electrical grid from scratch, restoring certain items to working condition (e.g., gamepads, kitchen appliances, and audio equipment), and more.
“Electrician Simulator is something entirely new in the gaming industry. The game takes direct inspiration from the real work of electricians, but, naturally, certain elements have been simplified. After all, it’s a game focused on relaxation and fun. We placed considerable focus on realistic lighting and ample variety in the gameplay. Interesting jobs, ranging from small repairs to replacing a building’s entire electrical grid, are interspersed with workbench jobs where you conduct repairs on realistically recreated electrical items,” says the COO of Take IT Studio!, Dorian Loewe.
The launch was preceded by the release of the free prologue for Electrician Simulator, entitled First Shock, in early January this year. It met positive reception from players (81% of nearly 1,400 reviews were positive). Since then, the different gameplay elements have been improved and considerably expanded.
In its final version, Electrician Simulator offers a wide selection of skills and plenty of options to expand your workshop. An electrician’s day-to-day job will also require the use of various tools, including screwdrivers, a cable detector, and a voltage tester.
“It’s a one-of-a-kind game, one that offers a realistic, albeit slightly simplified, approach to the work of electricians. It’s important to note that in 2023, Electrician Simulator will most likely also be released on consoles,” points out the COO of Ultimate Games S.A., Rafał Jelonek.
Electrician Simulator – main features:
an electrifying career;
30 varied story-based missions;
repairing various items at the workshop;
over 50 electrical items;
a wide selection of skills;
many useful tools;
expanding your own workshop.
The game’s release date for PC (Steam) has been set to 21 September 2022. Versions for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch have been scheduled for 2023.
Mega Cat Studios and Skybound Games are back in the ring, with the reveal of a brand new WrestleQuesttrailer.
Watch the new WrestleQuest Combat Trailer here:
Becoming a legend in the wrestling world is no easy feat. Even if you master all the moves and make it to the main event, you’ll probably end up on the receiving end of a Jeff Jarrett guitar shot to the head.
But fear not, the reigning champs at Mega Cat are here to provide an overview of what it takes to be a WrestleQuest icon, with a new trailer that showcases how to put on a 5 star match. It’s not just about learning how to do a powerslam, players will need to master hype to make sure the fans are on your side when you get the 1…2…3!
This brand new wrestling RPG features innovative turn-based wrestling and a gripping storyline both in and out of the ring, while starring some of the most iconic wrestling legends of all time, including “Macho Man” Randy Savage, Booker T, Andre The Giant, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Jeff Jarrett, and many more.
WrestleQuest is coming soon for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4 gaming consoles, Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam.
PARIS — Sept. 20, 2022 — Hardspace: Shipbreaker, the critically acclaimed and fan-loved zero-g, spaceship-salvaging workplace simulator from Blackbird Interactive and Focus Entertainment, is now available for Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. It is also free to play today with Xbox Game Pass. Welcome to the futuristic LYNX Corporation for an exciting deep-space salvaging career!
Console Launch Trailer:
Console players can now lead the life of a working-class shipbreaker in a realistic, industrial, sci-fi future world. Salvaging the dangerous husks of decommissioned spaceships requires cutting, destroying, and pulling apart vessels under the laws of an outstanding zero-g simulation.
With a thrilling campaign at the mercy of the LYNX megacorporation, as well as a casual free-play mode, players can choose to hone their technique and strategies under pressure, or while relaxing to the sound of laid-back Americana and synths.Hardspace: Shipbreaker is also out now on PC via PC Game Pass, Steam, the Microsoft Store and Epic Games Store. A GAME + OST Bundle is available on Steam and the Epic Games Store, as well.
Brands can now engage with a massive 1.3 Billion monthly active players in the most popular games from the greatest publishers through a unique network that complies with Gameloft for brands quality standards.
PARIS, FRANCE – September 20th, 2022 – Gameloft for brands, the world’s leading creator of gamified experiences for brands, is thrilled to announce “COMBO! The Gaming Media Network”, the largest premium in-game advertising network, giving brands access to 1.3 Billion monthly active players around the world thanks to an alliance with the top mobile game publishers.
With 3.2 Billion players worldwide, video gaming has become an exciting playground for brands. “COMBO! The Gaming Media Network” aims at helping brands engage with this massive audience by building meaningful advertising campaigns across prestigious IPs in a brand-safe mobile gaming environment compliant with the highest industry standards.
“We’re incredibly proud to launch “COMBO! The Gaming Media Network” in partnership with the world’s greatest publishers”, said Alexandre Tan, Senior VP Brand Partnerships & Advertising. “We’ve been working with brands for over two decades, helping them connect with their audiences in innovative ways, and we truly believe this newly-formed alliance is a turning point in the digital advertising industry.”
More details about COMBO! The Gaming Media Networkcan be found here
Discover the Announcement Trailer of COMBO! The Gaming Media Networkhere
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHNZ-T94aM0
About Gameloft for brands Gameloft for brands offers leading advertising and gamification solutions to help brands better connect with their audiences. Through interactive content and immersive experiences supported by its extensive in-game media network, Gameloft for brands leverages its longstanding gaming expertise to engage people in meaningful ways with an unparalleled level of transparency and safety following MOAT’s standards.
To date, Gameloft for brands has delivered more than 10,000 campaigns for prestigious brands such as Air France, Coca-Cola®, Ferrero, Ford, FOX™, Automobili Lamborghini, ING, Netflix, Procter & Gamble, Samsung and LEGO in over 40 countries around the world (North America, Latin America, Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, etc.) and our work has been honored with over 50 awards from marketing organizations.
A new challenge has arrived for arcade wrestling fans created by… YOU! Action Arcade Wrestling, the fast-paced wrasslin’ title with two-button mechanics and over-the-top ring antics, has launched a new update – the Arcade Gauntlet!
Available now on Steam for Beta testing, the Arcade Gauntlet is a mini-tournament creator that enables players to design a “gauntlet” of five continuous battles, each with different match types, opponents, and modifiers customized by players. You can create an Arcade Gauntlet to start with a tag team match with uranium-enhanced Biohazard and slithering Blue Serpent, then survive a 1-on-1 submission match against Forsaken with 50% damage reduced, only to enter a 4-way Elimination match with no power-ups and opponent damage increased… Arcade Gauntlet can be as challenging and deadly as you desire!
To celebrate the new update, Action Arcade Wrestling is now available for the promotional price of only $5.99 (60% off S.R.P.) on Steam.
Action Arcade Wrestling’s Arcade Gauntlet is currently Beta testing on Steam and will release later on consoles. The VICO Game dev team would appreciate that players report bugs and provide feedback for Arcade Gauntlet on the official feedback form: actionarcadewrestling.com/gauntlet.
Action Arcade Wrestling brings everything you love from ‘90s wrestling games with its own twist on chaotic fun. Join the action and step through the ropes in a fast-paced jawbreaking, body slamming extravaganza that superkicks overly simulated wrestling games out of the ring! Choose from a roster of 30+ outrageous wrestlers and use their superhero-like abilities to perform powerful (and sometimes sparkly) attacks in the most over-the-top wrestling game ever conceived.
Action Arcade Wrestling is now available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and Steam. Stay up to date on Action Arcade Wrestling by following the game on Twitter, “liking” us on Facebook.
Experience One of the Protagonists, Raymond Lawrence’s Story on PlayStation®5 (PS5™) console, the PlayStation®4 (PS4™) Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One
LONDON (Sept. 20, 2022) – SQUARE ENIX® today announced a free consumer demo for STAR OCEAN® THE DIVINE FORCE™ which is now available for the PlayStation®5 (PS5™) console, the PlayStation®4 (PS4™) console, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, offering players the chance to experience the beginning part of the game ahead of the full games launch on October 27,2022.
Developed by tri-Ace Inc., STAR OCEAN THE DIVINE FORCE marks a new chapter in galactic history and will tell a gripping story that seamlessly melds science fiction and fantasy elements. The game features dual protagonists, players can choose the protagonist of their choice and enjoy the story of Raymond, the captain of the space trading ship, Ydas, or Laeticia, the princess-knight of a kingdom on the underdeveloped planet, Aster IV. Fate will bring Raymond, Laeticia, and several other ally characters together, all designed by renowned artist Akiman (STAR OCEAN: Integrity and Faithlessness, STREET FIGHTER series).
In the demo, players will experience the beginning story of Raymond, offering a unique opportunity to sample this expansive sci-fi fantasy world with fast-paced action combat, rich exploration and an original story. *
STAR OCEAN THE DIVINE FORCE will be available as a physical Standard edition for the PS5™, PS4™, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. There is also a digital Standard edition and Digital Deluxe Edition for the PS5™, PS4™, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC via Steam®. Pre-Order now on all available platforms. The pre-order bonuses are available for the digital Standard Edition and Digital Deluxe Editions and includes the following weapons for the protagonists, with helpful factors that will come in handy from the beginning of the game:
Weapon exclusively for use by Raymond (greatsword): Lionheart’s Blutgand
Weapon exclusively for use by Laeticia (dual blades): Flashing Naglering
Early Purchase Bonuses** include: Pawns that can be used in the mini game, Es’owa. These can also be used as items of equipment. Obtain pawns modelled on characters from Valkyrie Chronicles and Radiata Stories, games also developed by triAce!
Mini game Pawn: Lenneth (from Valkyrie Profile)
Mini game Pawn: Lezard (from Valkyrie Profile)
Mini game Pawn: Jack (from Radiata Stories)
Mini game Pawn: Ridley (from Radiata Stories)
The Digital Deluxe Edition includes the following:
STAR OCEAN THE DIVINE FORCE
In-game equipment: set of 2 pieces
In-game accessories: set of 4 pieces
Digital Soundtrack
For more information, visit: https://www.square-enix-games.com/en_GB/games *This demo features a section from the full game that has been re-edited and places restrictions on certain features. Story progression or character levels cannot carry over to the full game. ** Early Purchase Bonuses available until 30 November 2022.
About the STAR OCEAN Series Developed by tri-Ace Inc. and published by Square Enix, the STAR OCEAN series is a long-running action-RPG series spanning multiple entries and commemorated its 25th anniversary in 2021. The series is known for its exciting gameplay, epic storylines, diverse cast of characters, as well as its innovative approach to action combat. In 2019, an HD remaster of the first installment in the series, STAR OCEAN First Departure R, released for the Nintendo Switch™ and PlayStation®4, delivering the classic title with updated visuals, audio, and several quality-of-life improvements to fans around the world. Releasing in 2022, STAR OCEAN THE DIVINE FORCE marks the sixth main installment in the series and will deliver a fresh and exciting gameplay experience to existing fans and newcomers alike.
About Square Enix Ltd. Square Enix Ltd. develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX® and TAITO® branded entertainment content in Europe and other PAL territories as part of the Square Enix group of companies. The Square Enix group of companies boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY®, which has sold over 173 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 85 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix Ltd. is a London-based, wholly owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
DRAGON QUEST, FINAL FANTASY, SPACE INVADERS, SQUARE ENIX, STAR OCEAN and THE DIVINE FORCE, the SQUARE ENIX logo, and TAITO are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Square Enix group of companies. Nintendo Switch is a trademark of Nintendo. Steam is a registered trademark of Valve Corporation. “PlayStation”, “PS5”, and “PS4” are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.
New Trailer Showcases Key Features Such As Temple of Recollection, Memento Bonds and More
SYDNEY (Sept. 20, 2022)– SQUARE ENIX® today announced that Infinity Strash: DRAGON QUEST The Adventure of Dai is launching in the west on the PlayStation®5 (PS5™) console, the PlayStation®4 (PS4™) console, the Nintendo Switch™ system and PC via Steam®. Infinity Strash: DRAGON QUEST The Adventure of Dai allows players to live through the story of the exhilarating anime series, The Adventure of Dai, first-hand in an action role-playing game that combines stunning visuals with art from the anime and manga. A new trailer was also shared, revealing more details about the game, with more to be announced at a later date.
View the latest Japanese trailer with subtitles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZDK4rLOhyw
Infinity Strash: DRAGON QUEST The Adventure of Dai will launch with a variety of unique and enticing features for fans to look forward to. The game will have two distinct ways to enjoy gameplay – Adventure Mode and Temple of Recollection. While Adventure Mode will feature a more classic story progression following the plot of the anime through the Sovereign Rock Castle arc, Temple of Recollection allows players to experience an evolving dungeon that changes with each play through, adding difficulty and rewards along the way.
Players will also have an opportunity to collect and equip rare accessories known as Memento Bonds, which further augment abilities and stats. Additionally, each time a Memento Bond is unlocked, scenes from the original manga will be revealed. Memento Bonds can also be further powered up by exploring the Temple of Recollection.
More information on Infinity Strash: DRAGON QUEST The Adventure of Dai will be shared at a later date.
About the Anime DRAGON QUEST The Adventure of Dai At one time, the world was suffering under Dark Lord Hadlar. That is, until peace was won back by a hero swordsman and his companions…
Time has passed… Monsters liberated from under the Dark Lord now live on Dermline, a solitary island in the south seas.
A boy named Dai is the only human on the island. He wants to become a hero, and he’s been living in peace with the monsters.
But his life is transformed when Dark Lord Hadlar is resurrected. A promise to a mentor; encounters with companions; an unescapable destiny… Young Dai begins his adventure to become a hero, and to save a world once again in crisis! Visit https://www.crunchyroll.com/dragon-quest-the-adventure-of-dai to watch!
About DRAGON QUEST DRAGON QUEST is a legendary series of role-playing games created by Yuji Horii and beloved by millions both in Japan and around the world. The first DRAGON QUEST was released in 1986, and the game made its US debut in 1989 as DRAGON WARRIOR. The critically acclaimed series has shipped more than 84 million units worldwide, spanning 11 main series titles, many spin-off games, as well as films, anime, novels, manga, merchandise and more. Celebrating its 36th anniversary this year, the wildly popular DRAGON QUEST franchise holds various Guinness World Records including “Longest-Running Japanese RPG Series.”
The visionaries behind the series, Creator and Game Designer Yuji Horii, Character Designer Akira Toriyama (creator of Dragon Ball) and composer Koichi Sugiyama, have long enchanted newcomers and longtime fans alike, with each new entry in the franchise comprising charming visuals, enthralling storylines, and captivating music. The latest installment, DRAGON QUEST XI S: Echoes of An Elusive Age, was released to much critical acclaim, winning the Metacritic Must-Play game award and becoming Metacritic’s “#2 Best Switch Game of 2019” and “#3 Best PS4 Game of 2020.” It has shipped over 6.5 million units globally to date.
About Square Enix, Inc. Square Enix, Inc. develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX® and TAITO® branded entertainment content throughout the Americas as part of the Square Enix group of companies. The Square Enix group of companies boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY®, which has sold over 173 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 85 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix, Inc. is a U.S.-based, wholly owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
DRAGON QUEST, Infinity Strash, the DRAGON QUEST LOGO, FINAL FANTASY, SPACE INVADERS, SQUARE ENIX, the SQUARE ENIX logo and TAITO are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Square Enix group of companies. The Adventure of Dai is a trademark of SHUEISHA. Nintendo Switch is a trademark of Nintendo. Steam is a registered trademark of Valve Corporation. “PlayStation”, “PS5”, and “PS4” are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.
AALBORG, Denmark — Sept. 19, 2022 — Realms Deep 2022, the annual digital showcase organized by 3D Realms and friends, concluded on Sunday, September 18, 2022, after a weekend of brand new reveals, exclusive first looks, and much more.
3D Realms started with a bang: Phantom Fury, a new game starring Ion Fury’s Shelly “Bombshell” Harrison from Slipgate Ironworks. Years after her last encounter, Shelly awakens with a bionic arm and sets off to secure a dangerous artifact. Embark on a road movie-inspired adventure across the USA with a crazy level of interactivity — environmental puzzles, arcade machines, even air hockey — 20 upgradeable weapons, and powerful abilities like an electric shield next year on PC and consoles.
Developers Slipgate Ironworks, 2B Games, and publisher Fulqrum Publishing unveiled Warpaws, a real-time strategy game coming to PC and consoles in Q1 2023. Duke it out as cats and dogs in a lighthearted alternate world where they’re kitted out with WWII-inspired weaponry. Tactically employ 16 different units and use the terrain to your advantage in a wacky world of warfare paying homage to old-school slapstick cartoons.
Several known 3D Realms projects also received release windows. Horror-inspired cult shooter CULTIC’s Chapter One arrives October 13, 2022. Quake engine-powered FPS WRATH will launch into 1.0 out of Steam Early Access in 2023.
Additionally, fans enjoyed developer interviews on Core Decay, an upcoming retro immersive sim, and Tempest Rising, an RTS inspired by the classics with more modern production and performance. Low-poly dieselpunk action-RPG Combustion’s new trailer showed off a motorcycle mini-game and previewed the game’s rogue’s gallery.
3D Realms had some excellent partners present during the showcase to reveal their upcoming projects. Publisher RETROVIBE revealed Project Warlock II’s Episode 2 as well as B.I.O.T.A. and Verge World announcements. Hyperstrange provided updates for EXCARNATE: Hordes of Hunger and INCISION’s Early Access release while Humble Games revealed PRODEUS’ highly anticipated launch date and Team17 charged forward with Marauders launch date announcement.
“And that’s a wrap on our third Realms Deep!” said Frederik Schreiber, CEO of 3D Realms. “We hope to keep this going, and so far, there are no signs of stopping. As long as we have cool friends with cool games, we want to keep highlighting them and celebrating with our community.”
All the content from the Realms Deep 2022 showcase is available on the RealmsDeep website. A special thank you to those who were able to join 3D Realms at their celebratory LAN party in Aalborg, Denmark. For more information, visit the official Realms Deep website, follow 3D Realms on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, join the team’s Discord and check out the official 3D Realms website.
About 3D Realms
Founded 30 years ago, 3D Realms was the publisher, developer, and creator of many legendary gaming franchises, most still going strong: Wolfenstein 3D, Duke Nukem, Shadow Warrior, Max Payne, and Prey.
Slipgate Ironworks is a game development studio located in Aalborg, Denmark, comprised of industry veterans and talent, having worked on both indie and AAA titles for the past 2 decades.
Slipgate Ironwork’s first title was the critically acclaimed Rise of the Triad, under the Interceptor Entertainment name.
Since then, they’ve been involved in a range of games, including, Ghostrunner, GRAVEN, Rad Rodgers, and most recently, Tempest Rising, their new AAA Real Time Strategy title.
The Giants of Light fight to protect the world in the latest event starting today
REDONDO BEACH, Calif. – September 19, 2022 – Unidentified S-Class Species Kaiju are invading the dungeons of Puzzle & Dragons as Ultraman joins GungHo Online Entertainment’s hit mobile puzzle game. Today through October 2, defeat the monsters that threaten humanity in this limited-time event. Recruit new allies and save the world from these massive monsters in five event-exclusive dungeons.
Join forces with the newly added Ultraman (Shin Ultraman) to stop the Kaiju swarm. Players can collect characters from the 6 Magic Stones! Ultraman Egg Machine and the Ultraman Memorial Egg Machine, which grants a free pull to all players that log in during the event. Fight alongside faithful allies like Ultraman Mebius and Ultraman Decker Flash Type, or command rivals like Trigger Dark and Dada.
Confront the Kaiju Threat Force back the rampaging Kaiju in five event-exclusive dungeons.
Ultraman lets players battle for a chance to earn rewards, including Ultraman Event Medal – Gold. These medals can be traded at the Monster Exchange.
Ultraman Challenge! rewards the strongest warriors with one pull from the Ultraman Memorial Egg Machine for clearing the dungeon as a first-time clear reward.
Multiplayer! Ultraman! is a 3-Player Multiplayer dungeon that rewards players with various medals for clearing the dungeon, including Ultraman Event Medal – Gold.
Ultraman (Fixed Team) rewards players for clearing the dungeon with fixed teams for every floor. Those who clear all floors will receive one free pull from the Ultraman Memorial Egg Machine.
Shin Ultraman (Fixed Team) also rewards players for clearing the dungeon with fixed teams for every floor. Those who clear all floors will receive one free pull from the Ultraman Memorial Egg Machine.
Special Bundles Collect iconic Ultraman from across the franchise’s history and save humanity together with special bundles:
30 Magic Stones & Ultraman Mebius Egg Machine: Grants 30 Magic Stones and one pull from the Ultraman Mebius Egg Machine for $29.99 USD. Players will also get a special Ultraman Event BGM Set when they get Ultraman Mebius for the first time.
15 Magic Stones & Ultraman Decker Egg Machine: Grants 15 Magic Stones and one pull from the Ultraman Decker Egg Machine for $14.99 USD. Players will also get a special Ultraman Drops 2 Orbs when they get Ultraman Decker Flash Type for the first time.
15 Magic Stones & Ultraseven Egg Machine: Grants 15 Magic Stones and one pull from the Ultraseven Egg Machine for $14.99 USD. Players will also get special Ultraman Orbs when they get Ultraseven for the first time.
20 Magic Stones & ★6+ Ultraman Egg Machine: Grants 20 Magic Stones and one pull from the ★6+ Ultraman Egg Machine that guarantees a ★6 or ★7 character for $19.99 USD.
1 Magic Stone & Ultraman Egg Machine: Grants 1 Magic Stone and one pull from the Ultraman Egg Machine for $0.99 USD.
Monster Exchange Once you’ve collected your Ultraman event medals, trade them in at the Monster Exchange for event-exclusive characters like THE CYBERNETIC COMPANION HANE2. Ultraman Event Medals can be earned as drops in the Ultraman and Multiplayer! Ultraman! dungeons, and as first-time clear rewards from the Ultraman (Fixed Team) and Shin Ultraman (Fixed Team) dungeons. Zetton (Shin Ultraman) will also be available at the Monster Exchange for 5x Event Medal – Black.
Puzzle & Dragons is a mobile gaming phenomenon that continues to see tremendous growth, featuring an addictive combination of puzzle, dungeon-crawling, and monster-collecting gameplay. In the game, players can capture, collect and evolve thousands of elemental monsters while incorporating quick thinking to chain combos and maximize the abilities and skills of their monsters. To date, Puzzle & Dragons surpassed 90 million downloads worldwide and can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play.
For information on GungHo Online Entertainment America, visit www.gunghoonline.com. Fans can also follow the latest Puzzle & Dragons news on Facebook and Twitter.
ABOUT GUNGHO ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA GungHo Online Entertainment America, Inc. (GOEA) is a multiplatform publisher dedicated to delivering the best titles, content, and support for the online gaming community. Established in 2012 and led by former Square Enix U.S.A. and XSEED Games executive Jun Iwasaki, GOEA is the US division of GungHo Online Entertainment (GOE), an established Japanese publisher. GOEA’s content partners include leading developers SUPERTRICK GAMES, Game Arts, Acquire, and Gravity, all of which are subsidiaries of GOE. GOEA publishes and distributes network-oriented games for console, handheld, mobile, tablet, and MMO-style games for PC. GOEA is located in Redondo Beach, CA. For more information, visit www.gunghoonline.com.
When the original Dusk Diver released three years ago few would have guessed that a sequel would eventually arrive in the West as well. With competent combat and an interesting enough storyline, the original title settled in nicely as a fairly solid action RPG developed in Taiwan and now the story continues almost directly with Dusk Diver 2. Now, with Idea Factory International behind the Western release and a few refined mechanics, is this sequel worth delving into?
Story
One year after the events of the first game, Yumo is continuing her training in order to master the Dragon Vein energy coursing through her body and the D.Arm weapon she uses to battle against the Chaos Beasts that still appear from fissures connecting her home in the shopping district Ximending in Taipei to the energy filled realm of Youshanding. Balancing her life as a college freshman and continuing to work as a Diver alongside her friends and allies at Tumaz Mart, she has come to welcome her new life despite occasional bouts of pain that still persist due to her human body containing Dragon Vein power.
Things suddenly take a turn for the worse when the otherworldly Youshanding begins to blend with the human realm and a strange and, once again, a mysterious boy begins to appear within the realm and is hunted by someone possessing abilities similar to Yumo. With her hometown in danger and more mysteries appearing left and right, Yumo must do her best to find the reason behind the latest disturbances and who or what may be behind it. Of course, Yumo is not alone in this fight as all of her friends from the past game have returned with her Zunlun allies ready to fight alongside her in the spiritual realm and her human allies willing to support her at home.
Now while Dusk Diver 2 does provide a brief recap of events that happened in the first game, it only provides the briefest of introduction to the actual world itself and most of the characters that players are meant to know. There are some extra details provided in the game’s glossary shortly after starting but beyond that, the game does very little to catch players up as to who characters are and what had happened in the previous game. This can make the introduction very rough for those who are jumping into the game now as the character interactions and plot progression act as if players are fully knowledgeable about the first game. That being said, the overarching storyline does eventually work decently for newcomers once it begins to unfold and reveal twists and major events at a rapid pace. Though, minus one highly unexpected reveal, players shouldn’t expect a highly memorable storyline in the end and this is partially thanks to the game’s pacing.
Between slowly introducing a few new characters, introducing various new factions, and bringing returning characters back into the party the storyline takes an incredibly long time to get going. Nearly the first half of the entire game feels like a slow drag which can be incredibly difficult to push through at times. Thankfully one thing that might help players push through the slow burn is the fact that the characters themselves are incredibly charming and each one has some time to shine as they continue to develop throughout the game. Even side characters can get some time to themselves which is a bit surprising given the overarching storyline. It is worth noting that although many side-quests that players can take on are incredibly bland or simply reveal more history about Ximending, there are also side-quests that help develop main characters and even the side characters of Tumaz Mart even more, making the characters the real driving force behind this mostly unremarkable storyline.
Gameplay
Dusk Diver 2‘s gameplay is split into two mostly separate parts as players will spend most of their time fighting Chaos Beasts in dungeons and through side-quests but will be spending the rest of their time walking around Ximending, preparing for fights, taking on quests that have to do without fighting, and of course interacting with most of the fast. The location of Ximending is filled with various things for players to collect ranging from items that can be used in battle to unlockable songs, concept art, and even costume pieces though most of these are found in dungeons. It is also filled with restaurants and food stands where players can choose to eat meals and order take-out to provide temporary stat boosts or other bonuses the next time they enter a dungeon.
Combat in Dusk Diver 2 is a fairly standard affair as players make use of light attacks to string together combos, harder hitting heavy attacks, and signature skills that requires SP to use. SP recovers over time though players can time their dodges at just the right time to not only instantly recover SP and temporarily slow time allowing for some powerful payback. Along with these players will also have a BP gauge that fills up as they deal damage as well as trigger break attacks on enemies. Once the gauge is filled up enough, characters can enter a Burst state that provides a massive damage boost and even unlocks an additional ultimate attack that players can obtain by laying into foes while transformed and building up yet another meter. Once the meter reaches 180% they can trigger an ultimate attack that decimates most standard foes and can instantly break the armor of bosses though an even more powerful version of an ultimate attack can be unleashed at max charge.
While fighting through dungeons players will almost always have at least some other characters in their party and it is possible to swap between them during combat to utilize each of their different fighting styles to take down foes. It is worth noting that there is a cooldown on character swapping and since some enemies take extra damage from certain allies, players will want to keep an eye on things themselves as the ally AI is incredibly awful. Even when set to be aggressive in a fight, allies will often fail to attack foes unless they are nearby making them feel a little useless at times.
This is a shame because despite how fluid the combo systems and special skills can chain together to make combat feel satisfying, it is held back by the aforementioned poor AI and the fact that nearly every enemy in the game is a health sponge. Even when properly leveled, and eventually quite overleveled, enemies in Dusk Diver 2 simply refuse to go down in a fight with combo strings easily reaching over 150 hits on foes before one is defeated, even with break strikes mixed in. This often makes enemy encounters that should have been completed in a minute take far longer than it should simply because the same enemy players fought in one of the first dungeons is back with a different color and way more health.
As players fight through dungeons they will earn EXP, obtain orbs and obtain various drops from enemies that can be used to craft orbs and refine equipment. Orbs can offer a wide variety of benefits when obtained and equipped to the player while equipment is standard fare for an RPG and mostly benefits from providing slots for orbs. It is worth noting that EXP is handled rather strangely in Dusk Diver 2 as all characters pull from the same pool meaning that to level up one character, another one will be missing out. As characters level up they will require extra EXP to grow stronger to encourage spreading it around however thanks to the fact that players will always have Yumo in their party and other characters will occasionally leave the party from time to time, it is best to focus on leveling Yumo and perhaps one party member to get the most out of their skills. That being said, those looking to boost every character and see what every character has to offer will find a readily available New Game+ option available after completing the game once.
Visuals & Audio
When it comes to design, Dusk Diver 2 often is a real treat as the character designs, especially Yumo and in her combat transformation, are bright and colorful to look at and there is some solid fan-service on offer from both female and male characters. The world itself is gorgeous looking with Ximending being rather meticulously detailed in some areas and most dungeons that players travel to are unique in a number of different ways. Unfortunately not everything is great here as the dungeons, while unique from one another, are often repetitive while traveling through them and the monster variations are absolutely dreadful. Often the game will act as if a new type of foe is approaching only for it to be a palette swap of a previously fought opponent with only boss battles really standing out and only occasionally.
This release of Dusk Diver 2 offers both the original Chinese voice track as well as a Japanese voice track accompanied by English subtitles. This works quite well as the Japanese cast handles their characters quite well and even exploration conversations are translated but it is worth noting that, even now, the game’s text does still have grammatical errors and misspellings from time to time. The soundtrack for the game features a shockingly amazing collection of tracks, including some with vocals, coming from a wide array of genres that vary from dungeon to dungeon and standard exploration through the city.
Overall
Dusk Diver 2 feels like a missed opportunity to really shine compared to its predecessor and if you happen to be a fan of the original then this will be an easy game to recommend. With character stories that are charming and engaging compared to its lackluster core storyline and enhanced combat that pits players against repetitive enemies with far too much health that drags fights out far longer than they should, there is a lot of untapped potential within Dusk Diver 2 but it never quite makes it to the point of being a great action RPG and instead settles into being only slightly better than the original.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
