Much like our universe, DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE 2 continues to expand, delivering more hot DRAGON BALL goodness to loyal fans. In its latest DLC update known as the Legendary DLC Pack 2 – launching on Friday, November 5- players will be able to experience and enjoy the following:
Legendary DLC Pack 2 contents:
3 New Missions
1 New Stage called the “Volcanic Wasteland”
4 New Playable Characters, including: Jiren (Full Power), Gogeta (DB Super), Caulifla (Super Saiyan 2) and Kale (Super Saiyan 2)
4 New Parallel Quests
10 New Skills
4 Super Souls
A plethora of new costumes and accessories
Accompanying Legendary DLC Pack 2 is a Free Update which will include:
New Raid Quests
New Ultimate Skills
Dual Ultimate Attacks
Photo Mode Goodies
More costumes and accessories
And more!
Lastly, for all the Xenoverse 2 fashionistas, there will be a DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE 2 Super Fashion Contest where fans can submit their customized avatars to see who’s got the most style and flair! Participation details are in the trailer.
Now jump on your Nimbus Cloud and fly on over to the following YouTube link trailer below:
DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE 2 is available now in the Americas for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC via STEAM, Stadia, and Nintendo Switch.
Blackwind Eradicates Alien Threat on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac on Jan. 20, 2022
SYDNEY — Nov. 2, 2021 —Blackwind, the sci-fi action-platformer with hack-and-slash combat, from Drakkar Dev and publisher Blowfish Studios, arrives on, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC via Steam and GOG, as well as the Mac App Store on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. Physical versions lock-on to retail shelves courtesy of Perp Games on Friday Jan. 21, 2022 in European regions with North American copies arriving at a later date.
The peaceful human mining colony on the planet Medusa-42 suddenly faces an invasion by the Raknos, a ruthless alien race hellbent on destroying everything in sight. James Hawkins, a teen with no formal training, finds himself alone after a crash landing in his father’s revolutionary battle mech prototype. Fortunately, the Battle Frame’s AI, Blackwind, provides all the companionship and protection Hawkins needs. Only together can the pair fight their way through the hostile planet, find Hawkins’ father, and destroy the alien threat.
Hack-and-slash through dynamic isometric locations with energy blades, blasters, missiles, mines, and grenades to clear out the barbarous alien threat. Solve brain-teasing environmental puzzles while leaping and grappling around obstacles and adversaries. Rip through the hordes of Raknos bipeds, spiders, drones, swarms, and other dangerous forms with a wide range of melee and ranged attacks. Unleash devastating blows with brutal termination finishers before moving on to the next foe.
Deploy the detachable Battle Frame Drone to extend combat and exploration capabilities. Evolve the Battle Frame by expanding three skill trees with dozens of upgrades and abilities. Choose between three difficulty levels to traverse the planet alone or with a friend in local co-op mode where Player One controls the Battle Frame while Player Two attacks using the agile Drone to deal damage throughout imaginative sci-fi landscapes.
March across sand-swept deserts, scale snowy mountains, and trek through dense forests, all full of deadly bosses like massive alien war beasts or time-bending shamans. Search top-secret scientific research facilities across the campaign to defeat the Raknos threat and solve the mystery behind their true mission.
“Blackwind’s beautiful terrain is nearly ready to purge of the vicious alien threat,” said Manlio Greco, Designer, Drakkar Dev. “We hope everyone will take on the challenge of classic fast-paced sci-fi action and meticulously search for all the secrets we’ve hidden within.”
“Blackwind is all about fast, brutal action and we love it” said Rob Edwards, Managing Director at Perp Games. “We are very proud to be working with Blowfish and Drakkar Dev, to bring you the physical boxed version of this frenetic mech shooter.”
Blackwind will be available for $19.99 / £12.99 / €15.99 with support for English, Italian, French, Spanish, German language options.
For more information, please visit the official Blackwindwebsite and join the Blowfish Studios community on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, as well as search for #Blackwind on social media.
About Drakkar Dev
Based in Catania, Italy, Drakkar Dev seeks to create video games for multiple platforms including consoles, PC, and mobile. Their past experience in the game industry gave them the tools they need to streamline production. Drakkar was chosen for the ancient Viking ship and communicates a sense of travel, adventure, and discovery. Drakkar also literally means “dragon,” and dragons are always cool!
Blowfish Studios is an award-winning independent game developer and publisher based in Sydney, Australia. We strive to release original multi-platform games while also collaborating with developers from around the world. As developers first, we bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to any partnership. Our team provides development services to get the game release ready, porting to all major platforms, platform approval, marketing, and promotion to the world.
Perp Games is a global video games publisher, with a proud track record of publishing award-winning titles, exciting indie games and some of the world’s most recognized franchises, from the most talented studios. Perp Games is an established and recognized global force in entertainment, bringing extraordinary and exciting games to market, across multiple formats and media.
Experience Shantae’s first HD adventure plus all the extras in one complete package on PS5
Valencia, Calif. – November 2, 2021 – Half genie. Half human. All hero! Independent game studio WayForward is pleased to announce that the digital version of Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Ultimate Edition is now available natively on PlayStation 5. The ultimate version of Shantae’s first HD adventure, this crowdfunded crowd-pleaser is bursting at the seams with modes, transformations, and silky-smooth platforming action. The game is available as a PS5 purchase for $29.99, or as a free upgrade for those who already own the game digitally on PlayStation 4, and is rated T by the ESRB.
Initially brought to life through a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2013, then released on multiple platforms in 2016, Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is the fourth installment in the fan-favorite Shantae series. As Shantae, players utilize hair-whip attacks, a variety of spells, and dance-based animal forms to traverse various regions of Sequin Land and defend it against a rogue’s gallery of villains, including the explosive Ammo Baron, the terrifying Hypno Baron, and Shantae’s nemesis, the scourge of the Seven Seas, lady pirate Risky Boots!
Alongside the Main Game, Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Ultimate Edition also includes the following modes, offering captivating new play mechanics and gameplay features:
Hero Mode: Replay the adventure with the main transformations unlocked!
Hard Core Mode: A classic, tough-as-nails difficulty setting for those craving an “old-school” challenge.
Pirate Queen’s Quest: Play this alternate storyline as the nefarious Risky Boots!
Friends to the End: Play a new adventure as Shantae’s friends – Sky, Bolo, and Rottytops!
Ninja Mode: An arcade-style adventure! Dash and slash with ninja speed!
Beach Mode: An arcade-style adventure! Hit the beach and don’t get sunburned!
Officer Mode: An arcade-style adventure! Switch up your surroundings!
Jammies Mode: Prepare for the ultimate pillow fight!
As with previous releases of the Ultimate Edition, the game comes complete with an assortment of bonuses, including alternate outfit colors (Shantae’s blue costume, Risky’s black costume, and Shantae’s blue swimsuit) and Shantae’s Tinkerbat transformation. The PS5 version also adds system-specific features such as DualSense support and Activity functionality.
Hot on the heels of Shantae: Risky’s Revenge – Director’s Cut, Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Ultimate Edition is the second of several WayForward titles making the jump to PlayStation 5. Games scheduled to follow in the months ahead include the original Shantae, Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse, Shantae and the Seven Sirens, and River City Girls. For more information on Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Ultimate Edition or other WayForward releases, please visit www.wayforward.com, or follow @WayForward on Twitter or Facebook.
Summary
Name: Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Ultimate Edition Publisher/Developer: WayForward Release Date: November 2, 2021 Platform: PlayStation 5 Players: 1 Price: $29.99
Key Features
Shantae’s trademark moves return! Dance to transform into all-new and classic creatures, or summon magical attacks! Over a dozen dances to discover in all!
Relic system allows players to unlock new powers and customize moves for Shantae and her many forms!
Conquer arcade-style action stages that unfold into a full world to explore. Fast action and quest-style exploration rolled into one!
When Shantae’s story ends, you’re just getting started! Additional modes introduce new characters, levels, and enemies!
Huge bosses, humorous dialogue, and the wonderfully weird Shantae cast return, now in fully animated HD!
About WayForward
Based in Valencia, California, WayForward was founded in 1990 and has remained an independent game developer for more than 30 years. It is home to many talented individuals including programmers, environment artists, animators, modelers, illustrators, audio wizards, designers, and team leaders. With new avenues for distributing games directly to fans, they are finally able to make the games they have always wanted to.
New DLC Campaign Begins a New Adventure Featuring Kirito and Eugeo Continuing from the Conclusion of the Main Story Campaign
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. today announced that SWORD ART ONLINE Alicization Lycoris’ first DLC expansion, Blooming of Forget-me-not, is available now in the Americas for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, and PC via STEAM® through digital storefronts. Blooming of Forget-me-notmarks the first DLC for the popular action JRPG and portrays a new adventure for protagonist Kirito and fan favorite character Eugeo, as Kirito embarks upon a quest to become a greater swordsman to protect all his loved ones in the vast virtual world known as “Underworld,” where A.I.s behave like humans. The DLC is available now for all players who own the base game’s Premium Pass and is also available for separate purchase on the PlayStation, Xbox, and STEAM digital storefronts.
A new launch trailer has been produced to celebrate the debut of Blooming of Forget-me-not, and to showcase the compelling narrative and visuals of the brand new adventure.
In the base SWORD ART ONLINE Alicization Lycoris game, players take on the role of series protagonist Kirito as he becomes immersed in the “Underworld.” The gamefeatures epic battles, stunning JRPG visuals, and an expansive world to explore. Blooming of Forget-me-notcontinues right where that story leaves off, presenting an all new single-player campaign that takes place over the course of multiple chapters. As it’s set at the end of the Alicization Lycoris narrative, players are required to complete the base game’s story before beginning the Blooming of Forget-me-not DLC; it is also recommended that players reach level 70 or higher before embarking on this new adventure.
SAN DIEGO – November 2, 2021 – Psyonix, the San Diego video game developer, and BMW announced that the BMW M240i will be available in Rocket League beginning November 4 on all platforms! In addition, the collaboration sees BMW teaming up with Rocket League Esports for sponsorship of a Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) Regional and introducing the BMW Freestyle Tournament.
The sleek BMW M240i will be available in the Item Shop before it is available to consumers in the real world, and comes with BMW M240i Wheels, Thundernight Metallic Decal, United In Rivalry Animated Decal, Bavarian Hat Topper, and the BMW Player Banner. The BMW M240i will be available for 1100 Credits from November 4 until November 10.
BMW will also be the title sponsor for the BMW Rocket League Open, which is the second regional tournament in the RLCS 2021-22 European circuit, taking place November 5-7. Before the top EU RLCS teams face off in the BMW Rocket League Open, 16 of the world’s best Rocket League freestylers have been invited to compete in the two-day, single-elimination bracket, BMW Freestyle Tournament for a chance to win part of a $25,000 prize pool. The first day of the competition will take place on November 4 and will conclude after the second Semifinal of the BMW Rocket League Open on November 7. The BMW Rocket League Open and BMW Freestyle Tournament can be viewed live on Twitch.
To learn more about the BMW M240i, BMW Rocket League Open, and BMW Freestyle Tournament, please read the latest blog post HERE.
If you or a member of your team is interested in a code for the BMW M240i please let us know and we will send you a code when it becomes available in the game on November 4.
ABOUT ROCKET LEAGUE Winner or nominee of more than 150 “Game of the Year” awards, Rocket League is one of the most critically-acclaimed sports games of our generation. Rocket League is a high-powered hybrid of arcade-style soccer and vehicular mayhem with easy-to-understand controls and fluid, physics-driven competition. Available on Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on Epic Games Store, Rocket League includes nearly endless customization possibilities, a fully-featured offline season mode, multiple game types, casual and competitive online matches, and special “Mutators” that let you change the rules entirely.
To learn more about Rocket League, please visit www.RocketLeague.com, “Like” it on Facebook, and follow it on Twitter @RocketLeague for all the latest developer updates and news.
ABOUT PSYONIX™ Based in San Diego, CA, Psyonix is a critically-acclaimed video game developer and a leading expert in Unreal Engine technology. For more than 15 years, the studio has been a driving force behind some of the most successful games in the industry, including Gears of War, Mass Effect 3, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, Bulletstorm, Unreal Tournament III, Unreal Tournament 2004, and the award-winning Sports-Action hit, Rocket League®. Psyonix joined the Epic Games family in 2019.
About BMW Esports BMW has been collaborating with five of the world’s best teams as a partner in the classic League of Legends game since 2020. Cloud 9, FNATIC, FunPlus Phoenix, G2 Esports and T1 fly the BMW colours in the biggest events in the industry. The highlight of the first collaborative season in 2020 was the Worlds, in which G2 esports and FNATIC made it to the knock-out stage of the finals in the battle of the world’s best teams. G2 Esports even made it to the semi-final. The Dota 2 specialists OG Esport are a new addition to the ‘United in Rivalry’ squad as of 2021. The involvement in Esports gives BMW completely new touch points with a dynamic, rapidly growing community; making Esports an important future field for BMW marketing activities. BMW has prominent representatives in sim racing as well, and has integrated BMW SIM Racing into its racing programme as a standalone pillar. The BMW SIM Cups attract the world’s best sim racers, who do battle for wins, titles and attractive cash prizes in virtual BMW racing cars. BMW SIM Racing teams are taking part for the first time in 2021. BS+COMPETITION, G2 Esports, Team GB and Team Redline represent BMW on various simulation platforms.
For the first time, battle hundreds of zombies on the go as the hit World War Z series makes its Nintendo Switch debut
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Nov. 2, 2021 — Saber Interactive has released World War Z, the best-selling zombie shooter inspired by Paramount Pictures’ blockbuster film and experienced by over 15 million players worldwide, on Nintendo Switch. World War Z is available today on the Nintendo eShop and at major retailers for $39.99. World War Z – Deluxe Edition, featuring a bounty of bonus weapons and skins, is available digitally for $49.99.
World War Z is the biggest zombie game on Nintendo Switch, delivering a thrilling action experience powered by Saber’s dynamic Swarm Engine™ and developed by the team at Saber that produced the acclaimed Switch edition of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Battle for humanity’s survival against the relentless forces of the undead apocalypse alone or in up-to-four-player co-op in thrilling story campaign episodes in New York, Moscow, Jerusalem and Tokyo. Take on massive hordes of hundreds of bloodthirsty zombies across multiple game modes with seven unique classes and an arsenal of deadly weapons, explosives, turrets and traps.
World War Z on Nintendo Switch features:
Battle the Terrifying Zombie Swarm: Face hundreds of zombies on screen for the first time ever on Nintendo Switch, all brought to life in gruesome detail with incredible set-piece battles featuring explosive firepower and action.
Story-Driven Co-op Campaign: Outlive the dead through intense campaign episodes around the world set in New York, Moscow, Jerusalem and Tokyo. Play solo with AI teammates or in squad co-op for up to four players.
Get Stronger & Never Surrender: Choose from seven distinct character classes, unlock powerful weapon upgrades, and take on even greater battles in Challenge mode.
World War Z – Deluxe Edition, available digitally, features bonus content including the Lobo Weapon Pack, Biohazard Weapon Pack, Military Weapon Pack, Last Aid Weapon Pack, Signature Weapon Pack, War Heroes Character Skin Pack, and the Professionals Character Skin Pack.
World War Z’s Horde Mode Z game mode and the Marseille story missions episode will arrive on Switch as free post-launch DLC at a future date. The PvPvZ game mode is available now as a free download in North America and is coming soon to all other Switch players around the world.
World War Z is also available on PC, PlayStation®4 and Xbox One as the newly updated release World War Z: Aftermath. For more on the series, visit www.WWZgame.com, and follow along on Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.
About Saber Interactive
An Embracer Group company headquartered in the U.S., Saber Interactive is a worldwide publisher and developer operating across 19 studios in the Americas and Europe, including Saber development offices in Russia, Spain, Belarus, Sweden and Portugal. Creating games for all major platforms based on both original and licensed IPs, Saber’s titles include World War Z with over 15 million players worldwide (built on the proprietary Swarm Engine™), SnowRunner, the NBA Playgrounds franchise, and the upcoming Evil Dead: The Game. Founded in 2001, Saber is known for two decades of development partnerships with AAA publishers, producing The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt for Nintendo Switch and next-gen consoles, Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Crysis Remastered, Quake Champions and many others.
About Paramount Pictures Corporation
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of ViacomCBS (NASDAQ: VIAC; VIACA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, and Paramount Players. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.
New DLC expansion massively builds on the world of the award-winning Kingdom series, with a free demo out now on Steam!
STOCKHOLM – Nov. 2, 2021 – Raw Fury, the bearded indie publisher from Sweden, and developer Stumpy 🐙 Squid are excited to announce the upcoming release of Kingdom Two Crowns: Norse Lands, the first premium DLC in the history of the Kingdom game series, on November 16. With Norse Lands, the world of the award-winning Kingdom Two Crowns will expand on PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation®5, Xbox One, PlayStation®4, Nintendo Switch™, iOS and Android. A free demo is already available for PC on Steam.
Heavily inspired by Norse culture and mythology, Kingdom Two Crowns: Norse Lands is a full new campaign that expands the world of Kingdom Two Crowns with a brand-new setting and unique challenges. In Norse Lands, you’ll not only establish a kingdom, defend it, explore the world, and conquer, but also unleash abilities drawn upon from Norse gods. To face a new and powerful enemy, you’ll have to solve challenging puzzles, build Viking-inspired armaments and command mighty Norse units.
Key Features:
Sit atop mighty Norse steeds and wield the powers of the Norse gods themselves.
New units such as the mighty Berserker, an extraordinary warrior who defends the kingdom and pushes back greed at all costs with a shield in hand.
To Valhalla! Defend the lands and fight to the end with peasants, vanguards, farmers, archers, and builders.
New weather effects reflect the harsh north. Experience both the beauty and unforgiving nature of the Nordic lands and feel the cold winters to the core.
New enemies in the form of a new breed of greed are waiting to be defeated in the Norse Lands.
Kingdom Two Crowns: Norse Lands, the first premium DLC for Kingdom Two Crowns, also includes many new features and enhancements, such as new puzzles, challenges and graphics. The scope of Norse Lands will captivate both experienced Kingdom players and newcomers alike.
Future Vikings who want to take a first look at Kingdom Two Crowns: Norse Lands can now try out the free demo on Steam. Further information can be found on the official website: https://www.kingdomthegame.com.
About Raw Fury
Raw Fury is a boutique indie (un)publisher founded in 2015 by Jonas Antonsson, Gordon Van Dyke, and David Martinez. We don’t care about genres or mechanics. We care about experiences and emotions. We want to help developers make magic.
About Fury Studios
Fury Studios, founded in 2019 by Raw Fury, is based in Zagreb, Croatia. Almost twenty employees are currently taking care of the development of the Kingdom franchise and West of Dead. In addition, Fury Studios supplies 2D / 3D asset production and animations, technical support, multi-platform porting, code optimizations and quality control for Raw Fury’s various partners and titles.
About Stumpy🐙Squid
Stumpy🐙Squid is an independent games studio founded by Gordon Van Dyke in 2020 with a quest to build games that spark curiosity and ignite imaginations. The team is currently supporting Kingdom Two Crowns with new content and working on an unannounced game.
Online 50v50 Multiplayer Game Built on the Blockchain Economy Paves a Sustainable Path for NFTs and Cryptocurrency Ecosystems
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 2, 2021 – From the show floor @nft.nyc, the Metalcore Foundation announced today its massive, multiplayer mechanized combat title MetalCore. Led by video game developer Studio 369 and built with Unreal Engine 4, MetalCore is a first-person mechanized combat game set in an expansive open world. Players can engage in 100-person PvP mega-battles, smaller-scale cooperative PvE fights, and faction-based, open-world clashes.
MetalCore combines the engagement of traditional gaming with the growing blockchain economy. Unlike traditional Free-to-Play games where players buy digital items with no inherent value, MetalCore builds a solid core economy, and puts ownership into the player’s hands. MetalCore will have a private Alpha for selected players on PC in spring 2022, with its first NFTs available for presale in January 2022.
MetalCore players will collect rare weapons, cosmetic meshes, and skins that can be taken into battle and traded as NFTs in an open marketplace. By beating missions and earning rewards, players will become landowners to mine resources and generate tax revenue. They’ll build towering fighting vehicles, recruit pilots, and lead guilds into brutal territory wars.
In MetalCore, everything has value: each vehicle, pilot, land and blueprint is an NFT. The game is built around a unique cryptocurrency economy that incorporates Play2Earn and Win2Earn mechanics.
MetalCore is being developed by an accomplished team with experience at Activision, Disney, Lucas Films, Midway, and on projects such as the MechWarrior 2 franchise, Mortal Kombat and Gears of War. The team also includes Hugo Award-winning concept artist Stephan Martiniere, who worked on Magic the Gathering, Fallout, Elder Scrolls, God of War, and Sky.
Blockchain Game Growth and Potential Blockchain game popularity is moving from casual to hardcore gamers. MetalCore’s gameplay intends to incorporate the best of both worlds. According to DappRadar, Q3 of 2021 demonstrated that blockchain games, heightened by the play-to-earn (P2E) movement, are becoming more popular among both traditional and blockchain gamers. The report also highlighted that Unique Active Wallets (UAW) connected to game apps reached 754,000, representing almost half of the industry’s activity during that time period. In-game NFTs accounted for more than 20% of the record Q3 NFT trading volume.
Studio 369 has built a pedigree of developing online multiplayer games using Unreal Engine tech for PC, consoles, and VR. To learn more, please join the conversation at discord.gg/metalcorenft and visit www.metalcoregame.com.
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ABOUT STUDIO 369 Founded in 2020, Studio 369 is an independent development studio specializing in online multiplayer games and Unreal Engine tech for PC, consoles, and VR. The team is currently at work on the online action game, MetalCore, and an unannounced AAA multiplatform title. Studio 369 is also developing the VR version of World of Mechs for Oculus. Look for more Studio 369 info at www.369.fun.
Habbo fans will be able to mint the new NFTs as long as they own an NFT from the Habbo Avatars collection
Helsinki, FI — November 2nd, 2021 — Sulake, part of the leading pan-European digital entertainment and media platform Azerion, announced today that owners of their Habbo Avatars will be able to mint one new profile picture NFT per Habbo Avatar they own in a new collection called Habbo Portraits. Habbo Avatars is a collection consisting of 11,600 NFTs Sulake launched in September, which sold out in 26 hours. This opportunity for new NFTs comes only at the cost of minting the NFT (the process of turning digital assets into a part of the Ethereum blockchain) but otherwise these assets are free; Sulake is providing this service to thank people for taking part in the Habbo Avatars sale and will receive no direct monetary compensation. Additionally, avatar owners can download a profile picture of their own avatar for free, which is not an NFT.
Habbo Avatars NFT owners who want to get their hands on a Habbo Portrait will have to connect their MetaMask wallet to the website to verify that they do indeed own a Habbo Avatar NFT, and that no-one has already minted a Habbo Portraits NFT using that Avatar. This profile picture NFT will then function as a completely separate asset from Habbo Avatars, from which it originated.
Sulake has revealed some of the portraits themselves and how they will look in the brand new OpenSea collection.
“After the tremendous success of the Habbo Avatars collection, we wanted to thank the community by offering them a Habbo Portrait for their portfolio for free,” said Valtteri Karu, CEO of Sulake. “Collectors will only have to pay the gas fees required to mint the NFT, and it will allow collectors of our Habbo Avatars to add more to their Habbo collection. ”
Profile picture NFTs are some of the most popular of their kind, with many of the most valuable NFTs (CryptoPunks, CyberKongz, BAYC etc) representing this style of artwork. Profile picture NFTs have a variety of uses. They can be displayed as digital art in metaverse-style locations such as Isotile, The Treeverse or The Sandbox. Additionally, social media sites like Twitter are adding support for these assets to be integrated into their platforms so that an NFT used as a profile picture can be verified on the site.
Sulake has entered into partnership with Offsetra who measure the carbon emissions from the NFT minting transactions and then offset these emissions through a variety of ecological initiatives and programs, such as Bull Run Forest Carbon and Agrocortex REDD Project.
About Habbo and Sulake 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 media and technology company Azerion. www.sulake.com
About Azerion Azerion is a fast-growing and leading pan-European digital entertainment and media platform. Our integrated platform provides technology solutions to automate the purchase and sale of digital advertising for media buyers and sellers. Content creators, publishers and advertisers work with us to reach millions of people across the globe that play our games and use our entertainment concepts to increase engagement, loyalty and drive e-commerce. Founded in 2014 by two Dutch entrepreneurs, Azerion has experienced rapid expansion thanks to organic growth and strategic acquisitions. Azerion is headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Few anime/manga properties have exploded in popularity quite like Demon Slayer has in recent years. After an initially slow start in 2016 the anime adaptation in 2019 saw the series’ popularity skyrocket to the point that it is nearly impossible to not recognize at least one character from the franchise even if you’ve never actually seen an episode. As such, it only makes sense that CyberConnect2, the developer with the highest pedigree of working with popular anime and usually creating fighting games out of them, would be tapped to make the first console title for the series. So now that Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles has been released, is this a solid and enjoyable enough adaptation for both newcomers and longtime fans?
Story
Tanjiro Kamado had been living a fairly simple life as the only one capable of supporting his family until one day, after returning from a short trip, he returns to find that nearly his entire family has been slaughtered by a demon. Only his younger sister Nezuko has managed to survive the onslaught but has been turned into a demon herself as a result. With Nezuko somehow able to retain some semblance of her humanity, Tanjiro begins his search for a way to curse his sister. This search sets Tanjiro on the path of becoming a member of the Demon Slayer Corp who are specially trained fighters capable of slaying the demonic threats that roam the land, killing humans to consume their flesh.
It is interesting to note that thanks in part to the fact that the Demon Slayer anime series has only received one season and a film so far that the actual game chooses to only focus on covering these two story arcs. This includes the Unwavering Resolve and Mugen Train arcs and given the fact that the developers have not been forced to cram numerous arcs into the plot, the story actually has room to breath a bit as a result and this allows the plot to remain almost entirely faithful to the original anime or about as close as possible. This means that longtime fans of the series will be able to enjoy a great re-creation of these arcs alongside some seemingly new side-content while newcomers to the franchise won’t really be missing out on too much outside of some smaller details here and there.
These story segments are split between both major battles in the show as well as plenty of fragmented scenes that are unlocked throughout each chapter. Players are also able to meet and learn quite a bit about a numberthe other main characters that play pivotal roles in the storyline, giving them just enough detail to work well within the confines of the game and encourage fans to search for more once the story is wrapped up.
There is a small issue with pacing however as most chapters feature lengthy exploration segments in-between plot points and these areas tend to drag the experience down quite a bit as they offer very little narratively and only slow down the story as a whole. This level of detail is quite nice which is great considering the fairly lengthy narrative is where players will be spending most of their time considering the story mode is mostly all Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles has to offer.
Gameplay
Players will be spending most of their time in Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles playing through the game’s story mode, something that may be a bit odd as far as an arena fighter goes but this is due to how the game’s unlocks are structured. In an effort to give players incentive to play through the story nearly the entire roster and extra costumes have been locked behind story progression. This choice may be a fairly surprising one but it ends up being a rather welcome decision in the end as players are able to learn how to handle the game’s combat system and the unique playstyle of most of the cast within the confines of the story before trying their skills online or locally in versus mode.
Combat in Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles may seem simplistic at first as players can easily string together light attack combos as well as “Skill” attacks that are special for every character while either blocking or dodging incoming attacks from their opponents but it won’t take long before players learn how to perform heavy blows, grabs out of guards, alternative skills, boosts, and of course unleash their ultimate skills to finish a fight off with a flourish or try and turn the tables in a dire situation. This style of combat is fairly straightforward but also feels rather in-depth as nearly every character on the roster feels unique thanks to their skill attacks offering plenty of variety. It also helps that players will rarely be battling alone and can often call in an assist with a cooldown to either attack or break out of a combo, or in some cases, completely swap characters should your current fighter feel like a bad match.
In the game’s story mode most fights tend to be against humanoid opponents in the form of either other characters or cannon fodder demons that play similar to every other fight, however boss demons are far more challenging. Bosses in the game are often incredibly threatening and can utilize AoE style attacks, deal massive damage with unblockable attacks, and even avoid flinching from blows dealt by the player making sure that players truly have mastered most of the game’s mechanics to try and survive. These boss battles were always the highlight of the series itself and truly feel like they are the best of what the game’s combat can offer as well.
On the other side of the coin are the aforementioned exploration segments. Throughout the game’s chapters players will often explore various locations such as towns, forests, etc. and in these areas there are various sub-quests that players can complete for unlockables but unfortunately none of these quests are actually interesting. Most of them simply involve standard exploration or talking to every NPC in an area before continuing on to progress the actual storyline, dragging down the experience as a result.
Outside of the story mode Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles offers a rather anemic set of modes as players can either partake in custom versus matches locally against a friend or computer or take the fight online and test their skills against others. Unfortunately the online experience fighting against other players is a rather tedious affair as the game’s net code still appears rather rough as even the best matches can suffer from a bit of lag and, considering how flashy the game often is, these laggy fights are troublesome but can still be fairly manageable most of the time.
Visuals & Audio
CyberConnect2’s pedigree of working with anime licenses truly shines through with their handling of Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles as the game’s character models and flashy special moves are handled perfectly which will please fans of the franchise. Even the demons are varied enough with the boss battles actually showing battle damage that accumulates throughout the fight. It is a bit unfortunate that the game does lack some of the more in-depth costume customization that past game’s from the developer have seen as even alternate costumes are rather sparse here.
With Sega’s release of Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles in the West the company has provided both a freshly recorded English dub as well as the original Japanese voice track. Both voice tracks feature the original voice actors that previously handled their characters so fans will certainly appreciate the consistency and quality here. As for the soundtrack the title features a fairly standard set of background music fitting the theme of the game as well as some of the signature background music from the series itself though not all of it.
Overall
Once again CyberConnect2 has proven that they can take an incredibly popular anime series and create a solid game out of it as Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles is not only a highly enjoyable arena fighter but also one that is incredibly faithful to the source material. So much in fact that even newcomers can jump in without feeling as if they are missing out on too much. It does unfortunately suffer from lackluster exploration and doesn’t offer quite the same level of customization as similar arena fighters but both those who want to see what the fuss is about and longtime fans will find that Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles is certainly a satisfactory offering for this franchise.
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