The cute, colorful, wholesome adventure is available today in digital format for all major platforms, and with pre-orders for physical copies open
Philadelphia, 2 August 2022. Publisher Top Hat Studios, in conjunction with developer Molegato, launch their charming, highly anticipated platforming adventure Frogun today on PC (Steam, GoG, EGS), Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and Series X|S, and PlayStation 4/5. Frogun is a nostalgic 3D platformer where players take on the role of Renata, a little girl with an unusual sidekick, a frog that’s a gun – the Frogun – but also her best friend.
In Frogun, players take on the role of Renata as she sets out to rescue her parents, who became lost venturing into Beezlebub’s ancient ruins. Luckily, they left behind their latest invention – the Frogun, an intelligent, frog-shaped grappling tool. Through mystical jungle ruins, dark depths, freezing snow caps, and scorching lava swamps, you’ll hunt for treasure, dodge perilous hazards, and fight dastardly bosses along the way in Frogun.
Full of things to do over 40 levels across six unique themed worlds, the game is stuffed with collectables – ranging from coins, explorer’s notes, unlockable cosmetics, special emeralds, and medals aplenty – Frogun has plenty to discover. Upon 100% completion of the game, players can unlock an expert time trials mode which provides a set of pro times to beat for each level and should serve as a speed runner’s dream.
Digitally, the game is in 2 editions with a 20% discount for launch – the base game ($14.99) and a Digital Deluxe edition ($24.99), which adds various extra goodies such as a 50 page artbook with BTS peeks and concepts, a digital manual, and original soundtrack.
The physical copy of the game contains all digital extras in-game included on-disc or cart, with a Collector’s Edition adding extra swag for collection enthusiasts!
Frogun Features:
Explore colorful levels full of crispy pixelated ruins, freezing snow caps, and scorching lava swamps in a modern representation of the classic 90s 3D platformer aesthetic
From levers to buttons, lethal traps, and adorable enemies, there are countless ways to use your Frogun to navigate the world
Race across levels against Renata’s rival and take on the challenge of huge bosses
Find secret areas and shortcuts by mastering the grappling mechanics
Collect emblems by fulfilling level challenges
Visit the hatter to trade your coins for hats, bestiary entries, behind-the-scenes looks at concept art, and more
Unlock 2-player duel arenas to challenge your friends
Over 30 achievements available on all platforms, with an in-game medal viewer for Switch
A posable photo mode to show off your creativity!
ABOUT THE PHYSICAL EDITIONS:
All physical versions of the game will not require an internet connection or download.
STANDARD EDITION (SWITCH, PS4, PS5) $34.99
Includes a physical copy of FROGUN (manual inclusive)
COLLECTOR’S EDITION (SWITCH, PS4, PS5) $69.99
Includes a physical copy of FROGUN (manual inclusive)
Collector’s cover box with special hand-drawn watercolor art
Reversible 18×24 poster
Original Soundtrack
Sticker Sheet
Artbook
RENATA PLUSH DOLL ALSO AVAILABLE SEPERATELY
Frogun launches today, the 2nd of August on PC at 10am Eastern/3pm UK time. On consoles – Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One & Series S|X, and Nintendo Switch – the game will launch at 12pm Eastern/5pm UK time. Pre-orders for the physical editions of the game also open at selected retailers in North America and Limited Run Games direct order.
About Top Hat Studios: Top Hat Studios is a trailblazing East Coast-based indie publisher and porting house, a proud supporter of games from blockbuster productions all the way to niche and boutique experimentations. Notable successes include Ova Magica, Frogun, Cloudscape, Toasty: Ashes of Dusk and more. The firm provides a full suite of publishing, business development, and porting expertise to both indie and solo developers, and are also the industry’s leading Kickstarter success consultants.
Launching on Nintendo Switch™, Xbox One, and PlayStation®4, alongside the previously announced PC version.
Tuesday, 2nd August 2022 – Team17 and Wonderscope Games have today announced community life sim Hokko Life will launch on 27th September 2022, and will be coming to Nintendo Switch™, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 alongside the previously announced PC version. Having launched into Steam Early Access in June last year, Hokko Life invites players to customise and cultivate their very own cosy community, with mini-games, friendly villagers, and an intricate design tool all coming together to create a charming environment for players to put their own stamp on.
Step through to the welcoming world of Hokko Life:
Throughout its time in Steam Early Access, Hokko Life has been regularly expanded with new content and gameplay mechanics including: The Farming Update, which added a new area to the game and gave players the opportunity to flex their green fingers; The Village Chic Update, which introduced over 250 new hats, masks, glasses, and other accessories; The Super Shopper Update, which allows players to visit a new city centre location;The Narrative Update, which overhauled the introduction of the game, and introduced four new friendly villagers to Hokko Life; and most recently the Mayor Merits Update, allowing players to complete activities in game in exchange for ‘mayor merits’ that unlock perks designed to make life in Hokko a little easier.
Get Creative: The workshop awaits as players take control over every aspect of Hokko, with the 3D design tool, every aspect of a player’s creation can be tailored to perfection
Dare to Design: No detail is too small, everything from the colour, fabric, and angle of the pillow on a chair can be edited
Sharing is Caring: Players will be able to share their meticulously crafted designs with friends and other players around the world
Back of the Net: A lazy afternoon in Hokko can be spent with a net or pole in hand, catching and collecting the critters crawling around town
Meet the Neighbours: Hokko’s townsfolk offer a warm welcome, and with varying personalities, they all make for fantastic friends.
Physical editions of Hokko Life will also be available for Hokko Life at launch for the Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4.
About Wonderscope Games Wonderscope Games is based in Stockholm, Sweden and headed by British-Swedish developer, Robert Tatnell. The studio’s debut title, the community life simulator Hokko Life, is currently in development for PC. Visit www.wonderscope.games for more information.
About Team17 Digital Founded in 1990, Team17 Digital is a leading developer, video games label, and creative partner for developers around the world. Part of Team17 Group plc, which floated on AIM in 2018, Team17 Digital has an extensive portfolio comprised of over 120 titles, and fully encapsulates the spirit of independent games. Team17 Digital’s portfolio of multi-award-winning and award-nominated in-house brands include Hell Let Loose, Golf With Your Friends, The Escapists, and the iconic Worms franchise, alongside its games label partner titles, including the award-winning games Blasphemous, Greak: Memories of Azur, and Overcooked! franchise.
BANDAI NAMCO EUROPE ANNOUNCES ITS LINEUP FOR GAMESCOM 2022
Bandai Namco Europe is proud to announce its lineup for gamescom 2022, which includes three upcoming titles: Park Beyond and The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me, playable for the first time, as well as One Piece Odyssey.
Park Beyond is a brand-new take on theme park management simulation, developed by German-based studio Limbic Entertainment. As a visionary architect, players will take on the fantastic task of building and managing every detail of their own amusement park with a twist.
The Devil in Me is the new entry in The Dark Pictures Anthology, a series of stand-alone, branching cinematic horror games, designed to present new terrifying experiences. In The Devil in Me, the Lonnit Entertainment TV crew receive a pressing and mysterious phone call from a man called Granthem Du’Met, with a promise of a tour around a faithful recreation of the H. H. Holmes murder castle, an idea that Lonnit Entertainment founder Charlie Lonnit believes might just save his show.
ONE PIECE ODYSSEY transports the Straw Hats to a mysterious new island where they will embark on quests and engage in exciting turn-based battles against powerful enemies and massive bosses. In the game, players take on the role of nine of their favorite pirates, playing as Monkey D. Luffy, Roronoa Zoro, Nami, Franky, Sanji, Usopp, Nico Robin, TonyTony Chopper and Brook.
Bandai Namco Europe S.A.S. is a leading global publisher and developer of entertainment content for platforms including, but not limited to, all major video game consoles and PC.
Bandai Namco Europe is producing intellectual property for a global audience and is building its reputation with franchises such as LITTLE NIGHTMARES™, PARK BEYOND™, and the upcoming UNKNOWN 9™ Awakening – developed by the recently acquired Reflector Entertainment based in Montreal, QC.
Bandai Namco Europe serves as the Headquarters of Bandai Namco Holdings Inc. for mainland Europe, which is known for creating and publishing many of the Toy & Entertainment industry’s top franchises, including PAC-MAN™, TAMAGOTCHI™, GUNDAM™, TEKKEN™, DARK SOULS™ and the recently released ELDEN RING™.
Serene Sandbox Survival Game Retreat to Enen Finds Meditative Center On PC Today
Take a Pause, a Deep Breath, and Follow Along In-Game Meditation Sessions
SEATTLE – 1 August 2022 –Retreat to Enen, the tranquil sandbox survival game from developer Head West and publisher Freedom Games, harnesses harmony on PC via Steam and Epic Game Store today.
In the distant future, the denizens of a war-torn Earth reflect on the endless violence, choosing to move forward in a more naturalistic direction. Society finally puts forth efforts into restoring nature, inspired by the ways of its ancestors. Come to the island of Enen and harmonize with wildlife, in a right of passage bettering each individual, granting them a newfound peace.
Live off of nature’s boons like plants, fruits, animal meat, and other materials to truly appreciate these blessings. Build a shelter, fire, and other crucial survival tools using more than 100 different resources to create a true home away from home. Explore the island to discover key meditation spots in order to maintain an in-sync spirit across newly discovered ruins and treefall gaps, flourishing in a peaceful journey of self-actualization.
After establishing a base and taking care of basic human needs, participate in real meditation sessions and bask in the beauty of the flora and fauna. Succumb to the magical music of billowing trees and willowing winds in a safe, convenient space for those unable to venture out into local forests and mountaintops. Reflect on Retreat to Enen’s peaceful sentiments and discover new ways to appreciate the world around us on a personal level.
“Simulating nature’s tranquility in a digital space with Retreat to Enen was a very personal and important journey for our team,” said Justin Hosford, Founder, Head West. “It’s hard to look past the world’s hardships at times, so we wanted to share some positive energy in a relaxing space. We hope Retreat to Enen can comfort those in need and maybe even teach you some new meditation techniques.”
Retreat to Enen is available now on PC via Steam and Epic Game Store for $24.99 with English language support. To learn more, visit Retreat to Enen’s official site and join the community on Twitter and Discord, and search #RetreatToEnen on social media.
About Head West
Head West is a Seattle-based development team, with Retreat to Enen being their first game. The company’s focus is to create immersive games based in nature for players to find a safe haven. Founder Justin Hosford named the company Head West after his habit of heading to the mountains and lakes to the west to clear his head and hopes to create that same experience with the games Head West puts forward.
About Freedom Games
Freedom Games is a publisher dedicated to offering best-in-class services to partners and providing players around the world with unique and memorable experiences. With over 50 years of combined industry experience at the executive level, Freedom Games seeks to leverage its expertise to facilitate great games and even better publishing experiences.
Survival: Fountain of Youth Sets Sail Toward PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S Launch in Q1 2023
Updated Demo Available on Steam Featuring Gameplay Improvements, Additional Localizations
LOS ANGELES – August 1, 2022 –Survival: Fountain of Youth, the single-player survival game set in the 16th-century Caribbean islands from developer Odinsoft, charts a course for a worldwide launch on Steam for Windows PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S in Q1 2023. An updated demo debuts today in conjunction with the Steam Survival Fest, featuring new gameplay systems and full gamepad support.
Experience the dawn of the Age of Discovery as a member of Juan Ponce de Leon’s expedition crew on a search for the fabled Fountain of Youth. After surviving a shipwreck and waking on the shores of an uninhabited tropical island, search these strange new surroundings for the rest of de Leon’s crew, relying on wits and skill to outlast the elements.
Forage materials to craft items and stay alive. Make a campfire to ward off the cold and cook wild game to stave off the ever-present threat of hunger. Stay fed and hydrated to keep energy levels high, assemble makeshift shelters and clothing, and turn branches and stones into resource-gathering tools. Develop the skills to build hundreds of items — simple spears, metal armor, leather-drying stations, muskets capable of taking down all manner of dangerous wildlife — all in the name of survival.
Build sea-faring vessels and travel to different islands, transporting vital commodities to and from each location. Master five vessel types, including basic rafts, schooners, and catamarans, upgrading them for added durability and increased storage space to create a floating base. Fish off the side of boats, cook food for long journeys, and spend restful nights sleeping onboard. Marine exploration is vital to finding new locations, but be wary, because sudden storms and unpredictable currents can change the tide of any expedition.
Traverse over 20 islands, bright and vivid during the day and home to a variety of flora, fauna, and resources awaiting discovery. Map nearby surroundings to get a lay of the land and move towards points of interest to uncover traces of former shipmates and long-forgotten secrets left by an ancient civilization.
Survival: Fountain of Youth provides a deep single-player survival experience set against a historically inspired backdrop. Triumph over nature: ward off dangerous predators like wolves and sharks, take refuge from unpredictable weather, and more all while exploring a richly detailed collection of islands. Follow the main story threads or head into the open-world environment to carve creative new paths forward in the face of myriad challenges.
“Challenge is at the heart of Survival: Fountain of Youth because of its emphasis on scarce resources and the clever management of them,” said Stas Ignatov, Head of Publishing, Odinsoft. “Survival: Fountain of Youth aims to create an unparalleled experience in the survival genre by balancing that challenge with a beautiful, historically inspired setting when it arrives on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S in Q1 2023.”
Survival: Fountain of Youth will arrive on Steam for Windows PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S in Q1 2023 with English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Brazilian Portuguese language support. An updated, free demo is available on Steam featuring new English, French, Chinese, German, and Russian-language support
Odinsoft is an independent game development studio based in Los Angeles, Ca. with development offices in Turkey. Composed of numerous game-industry veterans, Odinsoft seeks to create highly immersive experiences for players across the globe. Survival: Fountain of Youth is Odinsoft’s debut title.
For more information about Odinsoft, please visit the official website.
Dying Light 2 Stay Human Patch 1.5 and Second Seasonal Chapter Coming Soon with New Missions, Bounties, and Enemies
Techland unveils first details about the upcoming second Chapter and introduces Shen Xiu—the newest Chapter Agent!
Wrocław, Poland — August 1, 2022 — The second seasonal Chapter for Dying Light 2 Stay Human, entitled “A Huntress and a Hag,” will debut in a couple weeks alongside the upcoming Patch 1.5. Like Chapter 1, “In the Footsteps of a Nightrunner,” this upcoming second Chapter will be an essential part of the post-launch support plan for Dying Light 2 Stay Human. Moreover, a new “At The Fish Eye” episode, released today, examines what these content drops are.NEW CHAPTER AGENT – Shen Xiu
Meet Shen Xiu, AKA The Huntress—our newest Chapter Agent! Who is she? Where does she come from? What is her business in the City? For now, just know this extremely proficient tracker and archery expert has a very special task for Nightrunners. Will you become the hunter… or the prey? Stay tuned in the upcoming weeks as we reveal more information about new missions, bounties, enemies, and weapons that the second Chapter will introduce.
NEW “AT THE FISH EYE” EPISODE
Check out thenewest episode of Techland’s “At the Fish Eye” series, where Senior Brand Manager Anna Kubica and the Game Designer responsible for the vision behind the Chapters, Karol Langier, explain the philosophy behind this new in-game content. Who knows… they might even give some additional insight into the upcoming second Chapter!
Techland is one of the biggest and best-known Polish game developers with studios in Wroclaw and Warsaw. For over 30 years, we’ve carried a tradition of providing gamers with unforgettable experiences. We’re an international team of over 400 highly-skilled professionals driven by a passion for gaming, always striving for the best quality.
We’re fueled by the support of our global community built on the foundation of successful AAA franchises such as Call of Juarez, Dead Island, or Dying Light. The gamers’ trust in our games has resulted in our newest project, Dying Light 2 Stay Human, selling more than 5 million copies across all platforms within the first month after release.
On top of continuously growing the world of Dying Light through a robust post-launch support plan for Dying Light 2 Stay Human, we’re also working on an unannounced AAA Open World Action RPG set in a brand new fantasy universe; our biggest project to date.
Techland’s mission strictly determines every aspect of our work: we want to create unforgettable experiences.
Indie publisher Wired Productions showcases the breadth of their current lineup with games spanning genres and platforms.
Watford, UK – 1st August, 2022 – Indie publisher Wired Productions is proud to announce gamescom 2022 will be one of their biggest yet, showcasing an impressive five titles as well as having a couple of new announcements up their sleeves. Whether you’re looking for an arcade paradise, a charming toy-sized adventure or want to stick it to ‘the man’, Wired Productions’ diverse line up has something for everyone in Cologne this month.
Kicking things off is Tiny Troopers Global Ops, which will see its first public hands on at gamescom in the Indie Arena Booth in Hall 10.2. Tiny Troopers Global Ops is the latest instalment of the multi-million selling TINY TROOPERS franchise that’s returning with the bite-sized arcade action and quirky fun the series is loved for. Save the day with friends via couch or online co-op with up to 4 players. Tiny Troopers Global Ops will be available on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and PC.
Wired Productions is also presenting The Last Worker, a hotly anticipated first person narrative adventure centred around our struggle in an increasingly automated world. With an all-star cast including Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Jason Isaacs, Clare-Hope Ashitey, David Hewlett, Zelda Williams and Tommie Earl Jenkins, The Last Worker promises a uniquely immersive and thought provoking experience delivered in a hand crafted art style. The Last Worker will be available on PC, Xbox Series S|X, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and Oculus.
Next up is a puzzle adventure wrapped in a powerful tale of love, Tin Hearts. Set in an alternate version of the Victorian era, Tin Hearts will see players guide a troop of mischievous toy soldiers through a world of beauty, magic and mystery. Brought to life by makers of the Fable series, Tin Hearts may be toy-sized but has the heart of a giant. Tin Hearts will be available on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PSVR, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC and Quest.
Gori: Cuddly Carnage will also be tearing up gamescom this year as part of Wired Productions’ line up. A dark, humorous hack ‘n’ slash, Gori: Cuddly Carnage is a rebellious adventure set in a neon-glowing futuristic world that sees players join Gori, F.R.A.N.K and CH1-P as they take down the Adorable Army of toy unicorns. Gori: Cuddly Carnage will be available on PC.
Last in this list but by no means least, Wired Productions will be presenting their upcoming title, Arcade Paradise. Overflowing with 90s nostalgia, Arcade Paradise sees players turn rags to riches as they manage the family laundromat on the surface and behind closed doors fulfil everyone’s ultimate dream of creating a booming arcade. Arcade Paradise is overflowing with arcade games that players can try their hand at too, adding their scores to the leaderboard in the hope of being the best. Arcade Paradise will be available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X and Nintendo Switch.
Wired Productions is packing a punch with its return to gamescom and is looking forward to sharing its current line up, and a couple more announcements, with everyone from the world’s largest computer and video games event.
Brew potions, craft clothes and work with local sorcerers to banish evil gnolls and restore balance to the village!
Helsinki, Finland – August 1st 2022 – Feel the magic this Summer, as Sulake, part of the digital entertainment and media platform Azerion, today announced that the Habbo medieval fantasy event launches this month, tasking players to save local villagers from the perils of evil gnolls! The event features new furniture and items, including wearable fantasy clothing, demon-style horns and a community favorite: a fire-breathing dragon, with limited availability.
Brave a new quest this summer as Habbo residents are hired by Prince Balthasar to help him source unique potions needed to purify the village’s main water supply from the contamination by nefarious gnolls! The village can’t survive for much longer, so it’s down to Habbos to work with an old wizard to brew the appropriate elixirs and save the day.
In addition to the main quest, Habbo residents can also work with a blacksmith to create exclusive items of clothing using unique materials from crackable supply chests, found in the in-game shop. This summer event brings new items and furni, which allow users to create their own medieval-style fantasy village and let their imagination come to life.
Sulake is a social entertainment company focused on providing a safe and fun online service for self-expression through its games, Habbo and Hotel Hideaway. Sulake was founded in 2000 by a small team of passionate people and now after 21 years, Habbo is still one of the largest virtual communities in the world, reaching players all over the world each month. With paying customers in over 115 countries and over 850,000 active users a month, Habbo continues to be a hugely popular and globally recognised brand.
Sulake’s mission is to enable its users to meet new people, make friends and give them a place to create and share their user-generated content in fun virtual surroundings. Sulake is a leader in ensuring online safety for children and was acquired in 2020 by Dutch digital entertainment and media platform Azerion. www.sulake.com
When it comes to recognizable characters few companies have quite as many to choose from as Warner Bros. While we have seen plenty of multiplayer brawlers over the years, some focusing on wholly original characters, others focusing on a single brand, and of course Nintendo’s very own Super Smash Bros, none of these have the sheer variety to pull from that Player First Games’ Multiversus. After a number of closed tests and an early access to the beta, Multiversus has been fully released in open beta and while some aspects are still yet to be added and changes are still being made on a weekly basis, now that it is available to everyone as a free to play title is Multiversus a brawler worth sinking time into?
Gameplay
On paper Multiversus feels like a perfect match for those looking to scratch that brawler itch. After a short tutorial to give players at least a handle of how certain in-game combat mechanics work, the title opens up and allows them to tackle any of the multiplayer modes that they so choose. This includes the game’s favored mode, 2 vs 2 team combat, a four player free for all with only one victor, and a standard one on one battle. These matches can currently be fought against other players online, against bots for practice, and eventually in a ranked mode that is currently unavailable. Also included are some local play options as well as custom lobbies to play against friends without any interference but it is worth noting that these do not allow for progression in any way.
When starting a match, currently Multiversus offers seventeen playable characters to choose from and appears to rotate the free characters on a regular basis. Characters that aren’t free must be unlocked either through gold currency that is obtained in-game from fighting matches or by using the premium currency Gleamium or a character ticket obtained from purchasing a launch copy of the game. The rate that players earn gold to unlock characters feels like it is a bit on the slow side but not punishing to the point that it forces players to spend money as playing three or four hours can usually earn enough to unlock a character. Unfortunately it is worth noting that since some Battlepass missions, which we will discuss later, require specific classes or franchises for use, they can be locked away should players not have certain characters.
Once players are actually fighting, it plays just like one would expect from a Smash Bros. style game as health isn’t drained from an opponent but instead builds up at an ever increasing rate. Dealing damage to an enemy raises their number and makes it easier to launch them off of the stage towards the edge of the screen for an elimination. This is done through two attacking methods that vary depending on character but always come in the form of a standard attack and special attack that have variations depending on if they are performed as neutrals or while holding the analog stick up, down, or left and right. Many characters offer chargable attacks that can potentially launch opponents further if landed correctly and all characters come with a powerful “spike” downward aerial blow that can be used to send an already airborne foe plummeting down.
To avoid elimination players will find that they have perhaps the most mobility available in a brawler like this yet. Not only can characters use two special attacks in mid air but they can also make use of an extra jump and two dodges to try and make their way back to a stage or, if they feel risky, chase after an opponent to try and eliminate them. It is worth noting that there is no edge grabbing in Multiversus but instead there is wall clinging. Players can reach the wall of a stage and cling to it, allowing for some last chance jumps to safety.
Now for the characters players are able to use, there is a wide array to choose from and while they are classified into specific classes such as bruisers, tanks, assassins, mages, and support they all play differently. Bruisers are meant to deal plenty of damage and launch characters with Shaggy and Batman filling these roles while the original support character Reindog can use a magical tether to drag their ally back from danger. Along these lines we have Velma who can not only send word bubbles to attack foes but also buff her partner while healing herself, Superman that can take plenty of damage and fly around a stage, grabbing foes and throwing them around, Bugs Bunny that summons rockets and safes all while digging underground for a surprise attack, and much more. With the game being primarily focused on team battles, there are a number of moves that also help synergize and buff your teammate as well and making use of these skills can often make or break a match. There is a lot of variety here and players can experiment with every character in “The Lab” training room even if they haven’t unlocked them, giving them something to try before sinking hard earned gold into a character.
As players use characters they will level up that specific character and unlock various perks. These perks are small little improvements that do things such as reduce damage, increase the amount of damage dealt by attacks in the air, reduce “bounciness” after being launched, etc. with three of these smaller perks being able to be equipped at a time and occasionally synced with your teammate to increase their effectiveness. There is a fourth perk that is character specific and provides a unique boost to various moves such as allowing for Shaggy to enter enraged state when reaching 100 damage or causing a pillar of flame after Superman’s diving attack.
As for character balance… well things are ever changing in that regard. Lebron James just launched and will likely be modified while Taz has seen a significant debuff to his signature tornado attack already with upcoming patches to make changes to Bugs’ attacks as well. This is to be expected in a live service game such as this and while some characters are getting weakened, others have seen small buffs. That being said, there is still plenty of room for improvement here and this will likely get better with time.
One thing that seems to be almost perfect right out of the gate is the game’s online play. Multiversus makes use of both crossplay and cross progression as well as a rollback netcode that has allowed for matches to not only be found incredibly quickly, with the longest wait time being around thirty seconds at odd times of night, but almost always run flawlessly when the fights are happening. Combine this with the fact that the end of every first match offers an immediate rematch option for a best of three style of matches and players will easily find themselves battling with little downtime. Only on two occasions across over a hundred matches have I seen rubberbanding matches that saw characters jumping around the stage and being nearly unplayable but outside of these rare occurrences there were no issues. That being said, it is a bit annoying to say that should any player in a lobby disconnect either by quitting or dropping connection it immediately quits the match for everyone.
Now onto the monetization elements. First and foremost Multiversus makes use of a BattlePass system where players can choose to simply stay on the free side of things and earn small unlocks and cosmetics or purchase the Battlepass with Gleamium and unlock additional content at the same time. Regardless of whether the player has purchased the pass, they will be given six daily missions and, at least so far in this early BattlePass, six seasonal missions. Completing these missions provides a large progression boost alongside simply finishing matches in general but, as mentioned before, some of these missions may require elements that some free players won’t have easy access to and although a mission can be rerolled for free once a day, subsequent rolls cost precious gold. This can mean that BattlePass progression can be seen as rather slow overall, especially so for those missing certain character classes or franchises, and it will be interesting to see how it is handled during a longer season.
Elsewhere the monetization for the game’s Gleamium comes almost entirely in the form of cosmetics, though it can also be used to buy characters it is not recommended. These cosmetics range from backgrounds, elimination effects, announcer packs, and of course character skins. Character skins can be rather egregious when it comes to their prices as some are incredibly expensive compared to many other available cosmetics in the game with the most expensive currently being a Batman skin priced at nearly $20. It also doesn’t help that in many cases, the amount of Gleamium that players can purchase in any given bundle often doesn’t quite equal the price for a cosmetic. Meaning players must either buy two smaller packs to get the closest amount of Gleamium possible or overspend and have some left over afterwards. Of course this is all optional but still problematic nonetheless.
Visuals & Audio
MultiVersus makes use of a cartoonish art style that has allowed every character added into the game so far to feel like they fit in perfectly. This includes the likes of the large Iron Giant and human characters such as Arya Stark and Lebron James matching perfectly as they face off against Bugs Bunny, Shaggy, and even Batman. There are optional costumes for every character but, as mentioned before, nearly every one of these must be purchased using the premium Gleamium currency outside of a few offered in the current Battlepass. These costumes do actually change the character’s voice lines as well which is a nice touch. As for the stages, there is a solid enough mix of stages that are instantly recognizable from certain properties such as the Batcave, Haunted Mansion, and even the rare appearance of a Rick and Morty song stage but for every recognizable one, there are also bland areas that feel like fillers more than anything else.
It must be commended that Player First and Warner Bros have put a lot of effort into reprising all of these characters’ voice actors to record fresh lines for Multiversus. With the exception of Lebron James who does not voice himself, every character has recorded brand new lines that will directly speak against opponents they are facing off against or cheering on a team mate that is fighting on their side. This is a really nice touch that helps keep games fresh especially since, even after well over a hundred matches, new dialogue continues to pop up. As for the background music, Multiversus appears to use instrumental versions of many of the representative series as stage music which is quite enjoyable but it is often drowned out due to the action.
Overall
Multiversus has taken the strengths of Warner Bros’ massive library of beloved characters and their unique skills and talents and crafted an incredibly fun and unpredictable brawler that stands nearly toe to toe with the other big names in the genre. Player First Games has really managed to capture something special here, especially since most matches are not only fun but also feel incredibly fair, with even losses feeling like they were still great fights most of the time and even when they aren’t, players are able to almost instantly find a new fight to test their skills in. The BattlePass may not be the most balanced at the moment while the monetization of cosmetics is especially rough but MultiVersus’ potential is already quite evident even at this early stage and it is only up to the developers to see just how well they can capitalize on this strong start.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
What is one thing that draws you to multiplayer games? Graphics, attention to detail, gore, atmosphere? I suppose if either of those listed is done well, that’s enough to pull you in on its own. But for me, the feeling of greatness is another selling point. Knowing that you’re a nobody, one of the hundreds or thousands in a large-scale multiplayer skirmish. Knowing that your life might end instantly with one well-placed sniper bullet shot from miles away. Or one well-aimed mortar shell could take you and 5-6 people around you. The stakes are so but so is the reward. If anything I wrote so far resonates with you, then you might also see why Hell Let Loose might be your cup of tea.
Story
Story? What story? This is a multiplayer-driven game after all so any kind of story depends on your imagination and level of immersion. You can pretend to be one of those unfortunate soldiers in the opening minutes of Saving Private Ryan or as a sniper from Behind Enemy Lines. There is a significant selection of roles that you can take including an officer, medic, machinegunner, commander, crewman, and sniper. In the end, your level of immersion and self-made storytelling is only limited by your imagination. In other words, a perfect game for Second World War LARPing.
Gameplay
What separates Hell Let Loose from the rest? Complete mayhem, large-scale battles, and a complete lack of visual gimmick that you see in every shooter nowadays. As of right now, the game offers two modes: offensive and warfare. Nine maps in epic 50 vs 50 multiplayer battles and a decent selection of vehicles as a bonus. This is a barebone shooting sim in the best way imaginable. No hit markers or any sort of visual help telling you that you hit your target but there is far more focus on recoil and different weaponry. Every weapon and playing class is a story for itself. Now……why this game might not be everyone’s cup of tea?
Insanely high learning curve. In the first few battles, you’ll have no idea where are you, or where should you even go. There’s very little handholding in terms of objectives and map guidance. The best strategy in the first few hours is just to stick to someone more experienced, follow them, and try to stay alive as long as possible. With all that said, this is a game that really benefits from voice communication. Every single server I joined had a couple of people on my team coordinating attacks and planning defenses through voice chat. The battles are somewhat long, from 45 minutes to an hour on average, so this isn’t a game where you can just rush in, stack up a few killstreaks and watch that level-up bar greatly fills up after every match. This is a game that rewards communication, coordination, and patience.
Visuals
This is a tricky bit. The visuals in Hell Let Loose isn’t something that I could broadly define since, strangely enough, they depend on whatever map I’m currently in. It’s interesting, really. Feels like every map was done by a different dev team. Some have a crazy attention to detail and intricate level designs while in others I managed to stumble upon some rather grainy textures and copy-paste structures. I would like to single out the Omaha Beach map as one of my favorites. Everything from level design to atmosphere is top-notch, especially if you manage to get into a 100 players server. The feeling of being an expendable nobody while mortar shells are falling all around you and with planes flying over is something that you have to experience for yourself.
Audio
There is good attention to detail when it comes to weapons, level atmosphere, and vehicle sounds. Strangely, this is one of the few games where I’m perfectly fine with the absence of climactic music (and music in general) since it only adds to the realism. Every weapon is a story for itself not only when it comes to handling but also regarding sound design. After a while, you’ll get so familiar with some that you’ll eventually be able to recognize MG42 from afar.
Overall
There is only one thing you should know before starting Hell Let Loose. Know what you’re getting into. This isn’t a game for instant gratification or one that rewards going full Rambo. Another one would be – unity in numbers. You won’t get far alone. You’re a nobody just like everyone else and not some future hero. This is a game that requires a great deal of patience from you and knowing how to take a loss. In Hell Let Loose you play to learn and only later you get to play to win.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
