At today’s PlayStation Showcase livestream, Tango Gameworks revealed a thrilling glimpse of Ghostwire: Tokyo through an exciting, brand-new trailer that stars the menacing Hannya.
Watch The Official Ghostwire: Tokyo Hannya Trailer Here:
Hannya has unleashed a catastrophic fog upon Tokyo that wipes out most of its population. In the aftermath, he leads the Faceless, a menacing group of loyal zealots who bend to his will. Where smiling citizens once walked now stands an army of one-of-a-kind creatures only Tango Gameworks can create: The Visitors.
Inspired by Japanese legends, folklore, and tales, The Visitors are striking, imaginative enemies that lurk throughout Tokyo. Many characters are from famed dark stories like “Kuchisake-onna,” characters that stay true to Tango’s desire to honour Tokyo through an authentic, never-before-seen game world.
Awakening in the famed Shibuya Crossing, Akito finds himself partially possessed by a strange spirit and surrounded by the dangerous creatures invading Tokyo. Desperate to ensure the safety of his sister, Akito must ally with the spirit and master powerful abilities to battle his way through Tokyo’s dangerous streets.
With the power and speed of the PlayStation 5® console, Tokyo is vividly brought to life thanks to the console’s stunning ray-tracing technology. As players walk its streets, reflections of gorgeous neon lights drip onto puddles that become glassy mirrors of the world’s vibrancy and beauty. Ghostwire: Tokyo also delivers faster loading times to keep players immersed, and haptic controls that allow players to tangibly feel their actions while traversing Tokyo’s streets and rooftops.
Ghostwire: Tokyo will be available worldwide for PlayStation 5® and PC in Spring 2022. For more information and news, stay tuned to our official website and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Make your ride a one-of-a-kind masterpiece of speed with the Livery Editor and host your friends in your unique version of the Basement
Mattel and Milestone unveiled today the Customisation Trailer, a closer look at how players can personalise the liveries of their beloved vehicles and make their Basement a unique place where they can invite friends to race and compete in special challenges.
The Livery Editor allows players to customise their cars in order to be recognisable and unique on track. Applying colours and shapes to Hot Wheels Originals and Real Manufacturer cars is just the beginning: players can also share with the world their creations or download the best ones from the community.
Last but not least, a new Environment is ready to join the race. The Basement is a fully customisable space, where players can personalise furniture and accessories. If a track is built in the Basement, every player that races on that track will see the Basement customisation. Building the most challenging tracks through the living room, the kitchen and the pool table is another way to make the Pure Racing Fun experience of Hot Wheels Unleashed™ even more personal and distinctive.
Hot Wheels Unleashed offers players the opportunity to drive the cars as if they were playing with the die-cast toys. The gameplay includes adrenaline-filled races, an extended choice of Hot Wheels vehicles with different attributes and rarity levels that players can customise with different skins, and jaw-dropping tracks set in everyday-life locations with special track modules and interactive items. The game also features a revolutionary Track Builder enabling players to customise tracks in any game environment and share them with the game’s community, and a Livery Editor to customise Hot Wheels Originals and Real Manufacturer Cars.
Founded in Milan in 1996, Milestone S.r.l. is one of the leading and longest established racing game developers in the world. The 200+ people team is responsible for hit series like MotoGP™, MXGP and Monster Energy Supercross – The Official Videogame, as well as RIDE and Gravel, Milestone’s own IPs.
Mattel is a leading global toy company and owner of one of the strongest catalogs of children’s and family entertainment franchises in the world. We create innovative products and experiences that inspire, entertain and develop children through play. We engage consumers through our portfolio of iconic brands, including Barbie®, Hot Wheels®, Fisher-Price®, American Girl®, Thomas & Friends™, UNO® and MEGA®, as well as other popular intellectual properties that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include film and television content, gaming, music and live events. We operate in 35 locations and our products are available in more than 150 countries in collaboration with the world’s leading retail and e-commerce companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in empowering children to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential.
Jump into NBA 2K22 today to experience gameplay enhancements, all-new basketball community experiences in The City** and Neighbourhood, expanded Seasons content, and much more
Sydney, Australia – September 10, 2021 – Today, 2K is excited to announce that NBA® 2K22, the next iteration of the top-rated NBA video game simulation series of the past 20 years***, is now available on both current- and new-generation platforms in Australia and New Zealand*. With its release, NBA 2K22 offers best-in-class visual presentation and player AI, historic teams, and a wide variety of basketball experiences with online community features and deep, varied game modes.
“Basketball continues to see rapid growth all over the world, both through the rising popularity of the NBA and the virtual world experienced in our game, so this year we’re celebrating the true globalization of the franchise,” said Greg Thomas, President at Visual Concepts. “Our team is proud to bring NBA 2K22 to millions of players in our community. This is our most expansive offering yet, and whether you love on-the-court action or prefer off-the-court experiences, there is something for anyone, anywhere to tap into the basketball world.”
View the gameplay trailer below
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcUzwnA569M
NBA 2K22 features several new additions and improvements, where veteran ballers and new players alike will find a variety of basketball experiences to dive into:
Step Up Your Game – New tactical offense meets an overhauled defence for a more competitive and immersive NBA 2K22. Add skill-based dribbling, shooting, dunking, and alley-oops to your bag of moves, and counter them with ferocious new blocks and contests on the other end of the court;
Your Journey, Your City** – MyCAREER and an all-new City become one in a groundbreaking NBA 2K22 experience for PlayStation®5 (PS5™) and Xbox Series X|S consoles. Embark on your personal journey to the pros – and a sprawling MyCAREER life – ALL within the City. Forge your own path in college, the NBA G League, or even by jumping straight to the NBA. Be a pro off the court by growing your personal brand in the music industry, fashion world, and more. And of course, ball out against the best and fiercest MyPLAYERs in the most vibrant and competitive basketball community in the world;
All Aboard the Cruise – Set sail for the high seas in NBA 2K22 in the all-new Neighbourhood, developed for PlayStation®4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Explore each level of the ship that is designed to offer various basketball activities, create your perfect MyPLAYER, level up for rewards, and express yourself through both your game and your style;
Your Dream Team – Collect, craft, and hoop in the ultimate NBA fantasy competition: NBA 2K22 MyTEAM. Build your dream line-up of NBA stars and legends across any era, and explore game-changing evolutions to the MyTEAM experience, with each addition introduced Season after Season;
New Seasons, New Discoveries – Every Season brings fresh opportunities to reap new rewards. Whether in MyTEAM, MyCAREER, or The W, compete against the best and discover what amazing rewards each new Season has in store;
First Fridays – New songs will be added to the soundtrack on every Friday throughout the Season. All-new partnerships with some of the most notable music labels in the world; Columbia Records, Def Jam Recordings, Low Profile/Casual Records, Ninja Tune, and Warner Records will offer music from both up-and-coming artists and world-renowned musicians.
View the city trailer below
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KDasyD5m1g
Global phenomenon and two-time NBA All-Star, Luka Dončić, graces the NBA 2K22Standard Edition and NBA 2K22 Cross-Gen Digital Bundle. The Standard Edition is available for $99.95 AUD, $109.95 NZ **** on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles, $89.95 AUD, $99.95 NZ on Nintendo Switch and PC platforms, and $109.95 AUD, $119.95 NZ **** on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The Cross-Gen Digital Bundle is available for $124.95 AUD, $134.95 NZ **** and grants players access to the Standard Edition across generations within the same PlayStation and Xbox consoles.
A trio of the NBA’s most impactful big men – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Dirk Nowitzki, and Kevin Durant – feature in a premium, NBA 2K22NBA 75th Anniversary Edition, showcasing how each of these athletes changed the game with a cover created by world-renowned artist Charly Palmer. The NBA 2K22NBA 75th Anniversary Edition is available for $149.95 AUD, $159.95 NZ **** for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC. The Cross-Gen Digital Bundle and NBA 75th Anniversary Edition provide dual-access for the PS5/PS4 and Xbox Series X|S/Xbox One platforms and provides a version of the game on each console generation within the same console family. The NBA 75th Anniversary Edition for Nintendo Switch is only available in a digital format in the EMEA region.
*New Zealand only release date of NBA 2K22 – Available Now (Digital) and 17th September (Physical).
** NBA 2K22 is available on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC platforms. PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S required to play the new-generation version of NBA 2K22.
**** Based on 2K’s suggested retail price. Actual retail price may vary. See local store for info.
About Take-Two Interactive Software
Headquartered in New York City, Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. is a leading developer, publisher, and marketer of interactive entertainment for consumers around the globe. We develop and publish products principally through Rockstar Games, 2K, Private Division, and T2 Mobile Games. Our products are designed for console systems and personal computers, including smartphones and tablets, and are delivered through physical retail, digital download, online platforms, and cloud streaming services. The Company’s common stock is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol TTWO. For more corporate and product information please visit our website at http://www.take2games.com
About 2K
Founded in 2005, 2K develops and publishes global interactive entertainment for console and handheld gaming systems, personal computers, and mobile devices, with product availability including physical retail and digital download. The Company is home to many talented development studios, including Visual Concepts, Firaxis Games, Hangar 13, Cat Daddy Games, 31st Union, Cloud Chamber, and HB Studios. 2K’s portfolio currently includes several AAA, sports, and entertainment brands, including global powerhouse NBA® 2K; renowned BioShock®, Borderlands™, Mafia, Sid Meier’s Civilization® and XCOM® brands; popular WWE® 2K and WWE® SuperCard franchises, as well as the critically and commercially acclaimed PGA TOUR® 2K. Additional information about 2K and its products may be found at 2K.com and on the Company’s official social media channels. 2K is a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).
Statements contained herein which are not historical facts are considered forward-looking statements under federal securities laws and may be identified by words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “projects,” “seeks,” “should,” “will,” or words of similar meaning and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the outlook for the Company’s future business and financial performance. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs of our management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to them, which are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Actual outcomes and results may vary materially from these forward-looking statements based on a variety of risks and uncertainties including: the uncertainty of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and measures taken in response thereto; the effect that measures taken to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic have on our operations, including our ability to timely deliver our titles and other products, and on the operations of our counterparties, including retailers and distributors; the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on both consumer demand and the discretionary spending patterns of our customers as the situation with the pandemic continues to evolve; the risks of conducting business internationally; the impact of reductions in interest rates by the Federal Reserve and other central banks, including on our short-term investment portfolio; the impact of potential inflation; volatility in foreign currency exchange rates; our dependence on key management and product development personnel; our dependence on our NBA 2K and Grand Theft Auto products and our ability to develop other hit titles; our ability to leverage opportunities on PlayStation®5 and Xbox Series X|S; the timely release and significant market acceptance of our games; the ability to maintain acceptable pricing levels on our games; and risks associated with international operations.
Other important factors and information are contained in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the risks summarized in the section entitled “Risk Factors,” the Company’s most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and the Company’s other periodic filings with the SEC, which can be accessed at www.take2games.com. All forward-looking statements are qualified by these cautionary statements and apply only as of the date they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
For a deep dive into the world of Rainbow Six Extraction, please watch the trailer that premiered at the PlayStation Showcase 2021 here:
For decades, Team Rainbow has been the shield against the worst global threats imaginable: hostage situations, biological weapons, the threat of nuclear war. But now, they face the greatest terror their world has ever known: a lethal, mutating alien threat.
Whether you’re a Rainbow Six fan, a Rainbow Six Siege player, or entirely new to the universe, Rainbow Six Extraction offers every type of player a thrilling, tactical PVE experience. Go it alone or in a squad of three when it launches in January 2022 on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Amazon Luna, Stadia, the Ubisoft Store on Windows PC and Ubisoft+, the Ubisoft subscription service.* Digital pre-orders will be available soon.
For more information about Rainbow Six Extraction, please visit R6extraction.com and follow us on social media at @R6Extraction.
For the latest about Rainbow Six Extraction and other Ubisoft games, please visit news.ubisoft.com.
*AUD$19.95 per month. Cancel anytime. The Deluxe Edition will be available as part of a Ubisoft+ subscription. More information at ubisoft-plus.com.
**Associate Ubisoft studios are Bordeaux, Bucharest, and Saguenay.
About Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction
Developed by Ubisoft Montreal,** Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction is a one to three-player cooperative tactical first-person shooter. Assemble an elite team of Rainbow Six operators to launch incursions into tense, chaotic, and unpredictable containment zones and discover the mysteries behind the lethal and constantly evolving Archæan alien threat. Knowledge, cooperation, and a tactical approach are the player’s best weapons. Band together and put everything on the line to take on deadly enemies and contain the parasite.
Enter the Just Dance Matrix to discover extraordinary and melodious places!
AUSTRALIA – September 10, 2021 –Today, Ubisoft® announced a new content update for Just Dance® 2021, the latest instalment of the #1Music Video Game Franchise of All Time*, to celebrate the upcoming season. This update offers Just Dance 2021 owners free new content including premium songs available for a limited time and online contests, as well as exclusive and iconic songs only accessible via Just Dance Unlimited**, the dance-on-demand-streaming-service. To celebrate the final season of Just Dance 2021, Just Dance Unlimited players will have the chance to play before anyone else some of the new Just Dance 2022 songs in Just Dance 2021 Season 4***!
The fourth season, The Traveler, will spotlight a mysterious guardian with a hood and a key to travel to all Just Dance Universes via magic portals. All players are invited to follow the guardian, starting a wonderful journey through extraordinary and melodious places. From vibrant spots to cryptic worlds, the whole Just Dance galaxy is calling for all players. The Traveler will include a Part 1 and Part 2 within Just Dance 2021.
Part 1 will be available starting today to September 23rd, including the release of a new and exclusive Just Dance 2022 track, “Rock Your Body” by Justin Timberlake, available for two weeks starting on today on Just Dance Unlimited***. This event will also bring a new playlist and songs from previous opus’ to Just Dance 2021 until the end of the part 1****, including “Old Town Road (Remix)” by Lil Nas X Ft. Billy Ray Cyrus and “Lights” by Ellie Goulding. Both songs are accessible for two weeks for all Just Dance 2021 players. Finally, the iconic track “Jump” by Studio Allstars will release on Just Dance Unlimited, and will be accessible with an ongoing Just Dance Unlimited subscription or an active trial period***.
Part 2 will be available starting October 7th until October 28th. As this season transcends all barriers, players will be able to discover another Just Dance 2022 song before anyone else on Just Dance Unlimited***. This song will be available for one week***, be prepared to reach a new galaxy!
In addition, this second part will be delivering a new playlist, 2 new exclusive songs and 3 hits from previous opus’ accessible via Just Dance 2021 with an ongoing Just Dance Unlimited Subscription or an active trial period. Among the new releases, players will be able to celebrate the return of 3 fan-favourite tracks:
• “Kiss You” by One Direction, available on October 7th
• “On The Floor” by Jennifer Lopez Ft. Pitbull, available on October 14th
• “When I Grow Up” by The Pussycat Dolls, available on October 21st
Along with the release of The Traveler, happy hours and tournaments will be available in the Just Dance 2021 World Dance Floor, the online mode of Just Dance.
For more information about Just Dance 2021, the Just Dance Controller App or Just Dance Unlimited, please visit justdancegame.com. Follow Just Dance on Twitter @justdancegame and use hashtag #JustDance2021.
These events are available for all Just Dance 2021 owners on Nintendo Switch™, the Xbox One family of devices including Xbox One X and Xbox Series S|X, PlayStation®4 Pro, PlayStation®4, and PlayStation®5.
*Source: NPD, GfK & GSD – August 2017
**Just Dance Unlimited is an additional subscription service available through Just Dance 2017, Just Dance 2018, Just Dance 2019, Just Dance 2020 and Just Dance 2021.
***Available with an on-going JDU subscription for all Just Dance 2021 owners.
****Free for two weeks for all Just Dance 2021 users.
About Just Dance Unlimited
With Just Dance Unlimited, get access to a diverse catalogue of more than 600 songs and exclusive new content every month, including international and local artists, along with great updates and community challenges all year long via Just Dance® 2021, and to over 400 songs via Just Dance® 2020, Just Dance® 2019, Just Dance® 2018, Just Dance® 2017 for the duration of your subscription. A 1-month free trial is available with each Just Dance 2021 copy. Internet connection required.
About Just Dance Controller App
The free Just Dance Controller App enables players to use their smartphone to play the game without any peripherals or added console cameras. Available on all platforms, the Just Dance® Controller App makes the game more accessible for current-gen and next-gen owners with its phone-scoring technology, which allows up to six players to dance without any additional accessories, available for free on iOS and Android™.
About Ubisoft
Ubisoft is a leading creator, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and services, with a rich portfolio of world-renowned brands, including Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, For Honor, Just Dance, Watch Dogs, Tom Clancy’s video game series including Ghost Recon, Rainbow Six and The Division. The teams throughout Ubisoft’s worldwide network of studios and business offices are committed to delivering original and memorable gaming experiences across all popular platforms, including consoles, mobile phones, tablets and PCs. For the 2019–20 fiscal year, Ubisoft generated net bookings of €1,534 million. To learn more, please visit: www.ubisoftgroup.com.
MADRID — Sept. 9, 2021 — Publisher Freedom Games is pleased to announce Ruin Raiders, the anthropomorphic turn-based tactical roguelike from Overpowered Team, will clamber onto Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store on October 14, 2021. Overpowered Team’s Godstrike, the boss rush bullet-hell shooter where time is everything, will also release on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One as well as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S|X via backwards compatibility on October 14, 2021.
Explore an unpredictable and ever-changing labyrinth in Ruin Raiders. Lead expeditions of animals on a one-way trip into the labyrinthine depths of a mysterious structure rumored to hold untold riches. Outfit squads with an armory of weapons, stat and skill-boosting upgrades, and items to fight against the strange automatons and creatures lurking underground.
Engage in tactical, turn-based battles where positioning is as key as dealing damage. Use animal-specific abilities to gain an edge in combat. Rhinos can boost their armor rating while Dogs can focus fire for a guaranteed hit. Flank foes to give allies overwatch support and lob grenades from cover at unsuspecting enemies to survive the myriad horrors that lie below.
Survival isn’t the only option. If a squad isn’t able to reach the ruin’s final floor, there’s still hope. Return to the base camp to unlock structures that supply upgrades, additional character slots, and more to give the next crew a better chance. Uncover blueprints to forge powerful weapons and attachments that persist from one run to the next. Experiment with an array of team configurations and push onward to overcome this challenging roguelite experience.
Face off against the avatars of a forgotten deity in Godstrike. Released for Nintendo Switch and PC earlier this year, the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of the game contain the same explosive action of this time-based bullet hell where time is both health and currency.
Survive multi-staged boss fights as the Herald, weaving oncoming fire to topple foes before time runs out. Avoid taking damage because the Herald only has as much health as time remains. Launch attacks to chip away at their health before unleashing powerful abilities like True Shot, a homing attack that curves around arenas, to deal massive damage at critical moments.
Slay a pantheon of increasingly imposing enemies across the campaign or take on alternative modes. Progress through Arcade Mode to start with all abilities and skills unlocked, dive into the randomized world of Challenge Mode, or compete in Daily runs with pre-set modifiers. Broadcast the action live to Twitch viewers and allow them to alter the Herald’s fights with a full-featured chat integration that allows an audience to vote on status effects and more.
“OverPowered Team’s work on Godstrike and Ruin Raiders encapsulates what is so exciting about indie studios,” said Benjamin Tarsa, Director of Publishing, Freedom Games. “These games are such disparate experiences but are both wonderful in their own way and were created with such passion and creativity that make them stand out in their respective genres.”
Ruin Raiders will be available on Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store with a 20% introductory launch week discount for $15.99 on October 14, 2021. Godstrike will be available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One as well as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S|X via backwards compatibility with a 20% launch discount for $11.99 on October 14, and also available for purchase on Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam. For more information on Ruin Raiders and Godstrike, please visit the official Freedom Games website.
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.
OverPowered Team is a Madrid-based independent game developer founded by college friends. They strive to create titles that expand upon familiar genres with unique mechanics and colorful art. Godstrike is the studio’s debut title. They are also creating tactical roguelike, Ruin Raiders. For more information on OverPowered Team, visit the developer’s official website
Pre-orders are now available for the brand-new fantasy looter shooter from Gearbox Entertainment and 2K, coming to PC and consoles on March 25, 2022
2K and Gearbox Entertainment today debuted an all-new trailer for Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, a new fantasy-fuelled take on the looter shooter genre from the unpredictable mind of Tiny Tina. The trailer features fans’ first glimpse of gameplay, revealing brand new mechanics like spellcasting, character creation, and the tabletop-inspired Overworld. The trailer also showcases the all-star celebrity cast for the very first time.
View the gameplay trailer below:
In addition, 2K and Gearbox announced that Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands will launch on March 25, 2022 across Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, and PC via the Epic Games Store exclusively at launch, and on other PC digital storefronts later in 2022. Pre-orders are now available across all launch platforms, and all players who pre-order the game will receive the Golden Hero Armour Pack, a unique armour preset. This in-game item is available for all editions on all launch platforms.* Players can also visit playwonderlands.com to register for the game’s newsletter and learn more about obtaining the Town Crier Pack in-game cosmetics.
In Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, players will embark on an epic adventure full of whimsy, wonder, and high-powered weaponry. As today’s trailer showed:
Tiny Tina is your disorderly guide through an extraordinary fantasy realm where rules rarely apply. Explore majestic cities, dank mushroom forests, foreboding fortresses, and more, all of which are connected by a vast Overworld;
Create your own hero with an expansive multiclass system that lets you mix and match six unique character skill trees, all with their own awesome abilities. Level up, refine your build, expand your arsenal, and become the ultimate Fatemaker;
Defeat evil with devastating spells, powerful guns, and unique Action Skills in frenetic first-person battles. Use your firepower to vanquish legions of enemies, including smack-talking skeletons, land-roaming sharks, and colossal bosses;
Enjoy the story solo or start a party with up to three friends in seamless online multiplayer or local split-screen. Share the spoils or rush to get the shiniest loot—how you play is up to you!
Joining players for the experience are headstrong captain Valentine (Andy Samberg), rule-obsessed robot Frette (Wanda Sykes), and the beloved, bomb-chucking Tiny Tina (Ashly Burch), who makes the rules and changes the world on the fly. During their quest to defeat the Dragon Lord (Will Arnett), players will meet a cast of lovable misfits like a lute-wielding Bardbarian and their very own Fairy Punchfather.
Developed by Gearbox Entertainment, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands is rating pending. For screenshots, key art, and other visual assets, please visit newsroom.2k.com. To learn more, please visit playwonderlands.com and follow @PlayWonderlands on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
*Pre-order offer available through March 24, 2022. Digital pre-orders: Golden Hero Armour Pack will be delivered via game at launch. Physical pre-orders: Golden Hero Armour Pack will be delivered via code in box to be redeemed in game. Terms apply.
In the more recent years, there’s been a resurgence of action-adventure games in the “metroidvania” sub-genre. Most of them coming from indie developers through Kickstarter or small unknown publishers. It’s just natural that these game’s focus is on gameplay to the detriment of more modern graphics and sound since the budget simply isn’t there. They’ll normally use pixel-style graphics and chiptune music with varying degrees of emphasis on their art or music, like Blasphemous and Axiom Verge for example. Despite having low production values, some of them are acclaimed titles both amongst critics and players alike. With the successful kickstarter campaign of Bloodstained back in 2015 and its subsequent release in 2019, we took a good look at what a metroidvania using more modern technology and a higher budget would look like. Ender Lillies is one such game that, beyond gameplay quality, also features a more modern presentation. It uses high-resolution, hand-drawn graphics, and even a musical score composed by the Japanese group Mili. Ender Lillies is an action-adventure, dark-fantasy themed game. The graphics use dark shades of colors, and the art and animation have a distinct Vanillaware game feel to it. The developers describe it as a “dark fairy tale” which I think is very fitting; just by looking at some screenshots, you’ll be able to see this instantly. The music also adds a lot to the game’s gloomy feel with moody and sometimes melancholic themes. Ender Lilies was originally released on PC through Steam’s early access program. Releasing as a complete game on June 21 this year. A bit later it was also released for consoles.
Story
Once upon a time… -This is supposed to be a fairy tale, albeit a dark one- there was Land’s End. There lived white priestesses, knights and mages. One day, a rain fell upon the land turning all of it’s inhabitants into undead known as “blighted”. The knights tried to fight the undead horde with help from the priestesses and mages but in the end not a single human remained alive except for a little girl… Lily awakens in a room in a church all alone, or at least she’s the only human remaining in Land’s End. A spectral knight is by her side; one of the few who still retain some manner of conscience. With his help, Lily sets out to find the cause of the rain of death and, possibly, restore Land’s End to its original glory. As you progress through the game, the umbral knight will make remarks on what happened in a given place and will also talk to Lily. Item descriptions also elaborate on the lore a bit. The main story parts are memories that are triggered when Lily meet certain characters. The story is told in a minimalistic but meaningful fashion and tries not to interrupt the flow of the game.
Gameplay
As Lily, the player will explore the different areas of Land’s End while collecting items, learning more about the story and dispatching enemies in your way. Things start slow and easy but the pace picks up fast with the addition of some traps and enemies doing more damage or appearing in larger numbers. You’ll also encounter other types of enemies with different attack patterns and of course huge bosses. Ender Lillies focus isn’t exactly on difficulty: throughout Land’s End, you’ll find resting places that will allow you to save your progress and recharge Lily’s life and abilities among other options. If you die, you’ll go back to the last resting place you visited but will retain all the progress you made including items you collected, chests you opened, etc. You also have the option of returning to these resting places at any time by pausing the game and choosing the corresponding option.
The game was clearly designed to be as accessible as possible. That doesn’t mean the game is a walk in the park. To counterbalance all the advantages you have, enemies do a lot of damage and Lily has a very limited number of life refills. Lily is just a child and has no combat abilities of her own; she can jump or throw herself onto the ground which serves as a dodge. She can also heal herself a small number of times. It’s with the help of spirits that Lily can summon that she is able to dispatch enemies. You begin with only the umbral knight as your ally, and as you defeat more powerful enemies, they will also lend their help to Lily granting new attacks and abilities. Think of the spirits as weapons you can equip. You begin with two sets of three slots each. In each of these slots, you can equip a spirit allowing Lily to command them to attack with the press of one of the face buttons. That means the player can potentially have six different attacks at their disposal as it’s possible to change between sets instantaneously with just a press of a button. This gives a lot of dynamism to the combat as you are able to not only customize your arsenal but also change it as needed on the fly.
The flow of the game is as you’d expect from a title like this. It combines action, platforming and light RPG elements. As you explore the game’s many areas, you’ll come across items like relics that can be equipped and will give some type of bonus. Other items will be used to level up your spirits and are normally located after discovering a secret passage or after acquiring a certain ability. This dynamic of exploration, discovery, overcoming challenges and acquiring that new skill or item so you can access a previously unreachable place is very rewarding and will hook fans of adventure and action games.
Visuals
Ender Lilies uses hand drawn art. I love this type of look in videogames so I may be a bit biased when I say it’s the best looking metroidvania I played to this day. The animations follow this same standard of excellence with a lot of frames in each jump and attack. In some moments, it’ll look like a painting in motion. Not everything are lilies though; some areas can be very simple looking and the overall dark color scheme of the game may make it a little bit difficult to appreciate the finer details. It’s still a delight visually and certainly one of the most beautiful 2d games in any genre.
Audio
Audio is another department that Ender Lilies excels at. The soundtrack was composed by a Japanese group called Mili. Every area has its own theme like games of old used to have. The music, as the overall look and themes of the game also has that somber feel to it but isn’t limited to only gloominess; there’s also more varied pieces as the soundtrack tries to fit the area you’re in. The witches domain for example has a very pleasant magic adventure type of theme while the desolated village plays a calm and soothing tune, even featuring female vocals like it’s trying to lull the departed citizens to their eternal rest. That song in particular is my favorite: it elicited in me calmness and also melancholy. Changing my mood in a matter of seconds. I’m not afraid to say that it almost made me cry sometimes. I believe that any piece of media that is able to make you feel, doesn’t matter what emotion, is certainly something special but when a videogame is capable of doing this it certainly warms my soul. The sound effects also play their part well with nice weather and battle sound effects; the sounds of weapons swinging and hitting enemies are satisfying enough.
Overall
I personally didn’t expect Ender Lilies to have the impact it had on me. I had a bad habit of looking at most indie games with some skepticism. It’s not unjustified, at least not for me as many indie titles that looked promising ended up disappointing me. Ender Lilies shows that when care and passion is put in a game, something truly special might come out.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Remakes, reboots, spin offs, and revivals of long dead franchises are currently all the rage in the video game industry. King’s Bounty was released in 1990 and is finally getting its sequel 31 years later. King’s Bounty 2is reimagined as a combination of third-person exploration and traditional turn based tactical combat.
Story
King’s Bounty 2 struggles with a dull story. The pacing is very bad. The main story is both abrupt and dragged out. It sounds like a contradiction, but it’s a surprisingly accurate description. The main quests move at a quick, clipped pace, yet at the same time are dragged out due to the sheer number side missions the players are encouraged or even required to do to move onto the main mission.
The game also offers an alignment system where players choose some combination of strength or magic and order or anarchy. Like most games, King’s Bounty 2 is plagued with a lot of black and white decisions that will determine the character’s alignment. These aren’t particularly inspiring or ambitious.
Gameplay
King’s Bounty 2 modernizes the original game by switching to a closely zoomed third person perspective when exploring the overworld. Here, players will acquire combat quests, perform fetch quests, manage their army, and generally engage in some light RPG elements. At set points in the world, the player will battle it out in hex-based tactical combat.
The RPG elements of the game are on the light side and very standard for the genre. The level cap and sheer volume allows players to create viable builds. On the other hand, the talents are incredibly dull. For the exception of a few talents, almost all are boring stat bonuses that fail to ignite any excitement. Equipment bonuses are in the same vein, offering stat bonuses oriented for different builds
The combat is enjoyable thanks to its heavy reliance on good tactical decisions. Unit composition is just as important as making the right moves in battle, as players need to be mindful of the alignment of each unit and their damage type. Terrain height, movement, line of sight, restricted special abilities, and limited troops all add an extra layer of complexity to combat. The special abilities are tuned well that they feel like they have actual effect in battle that can turn the tide. Enemies are on rather even footing as they have access to these skills which adds a predictable challenge in combat. I particularly like players being unable to heal a unit to full in the middle of combat. Instead, as induvial members die, healers can only top off the surviving members. It is a more believable system than many other tactical games where healers magically resurrect troops.
Th level design is poor. The quests are predictable and very standard for RPG titles. Players can be expected to be an NPC’s personal assistant as they complete the usual fetch and kill quests. The odd puzzle is thrown in, but they are often simple and straight forward affairs that barely count as a puzzle. The standard quest design on its own is fine, but it’s the organization that makes King’s Bounty 2 so miserable. Players will spend more time exploring the semi-open world map for collectibles and side quests than actual combat. Often, the game’s quests need to be done in a certain order requiring players to run around the map. As a result, players may be forced to do several side quests before they can continue with the main storyline. If the player is losing a unit every other battle, they can expect to be doing more side quests to gather the resources to compensate. At this point, the actual challenging puzzle in King’s Bounty 2 is figuring out the correct order and number of quests to complete, not determining the right order of statues to interact with to open up an area.
Compounding the problem is the agonizingly slow movement speed. The so-called jog feels like a fast walk, while the actual walk feels like the sort of leisurely slow pace everyone takes when they have a great night out with friends and aren’t quite ready to go home yet. I usually don’t mind fetch quests as it’s often free rewards for a small bit of my time. The pacing just turns fetch quests into an agonizing slog that I’d much rather avoid if it wasn’t for the fact I desperately need the rewards.
The learning curve is brutal for new players. The tutorials are a bare bones affair focusing on teaching players the very basics yet miss the intricacies of the game needed to actually be successful. Resources are limited and finite. As a result, players can easily run into a “dead end” that requires a player to go back to a much earlier save in hopes of salvaging the run. In the worst-case scenario, a completely new game might be needed. At the time of publishing, there is only one difficulty setting to make the situation worse for new players.
The user experience is poor. I am always a fan of developers providing players the freedom to choose how they input commands into the game. King’s Bounty 2 is clearly catered to those using a controller, leaving mouse and keyboard users feeling like an afterthought. The game’s UI overemphasizes button input. Combat fares the best as most of the functions can be done with a mouse. On the other hand, the item management menus and vendor interaction buck the basic conventions players can expect from a good PC RPG such as double-clicking items to sell or clicking on an icon to trigger it’s listed action. To add insult to injury, the key binding system is very limited. While many lesser used keys can be rebound, there are a set of main functions that are locked. I already dislike the fact that those not using a standard English QWERTY keyboard layout or prefer alternative movement cluster like ESDF are left out, but not listing these keys to a separate heading stating the bindings can’t be changed is an even worse design.
The game is missing important quality-of-life features. Messing up a battle has long term consequences. Retrying fights to achieve a near perfect result will be common, yet the game lacks a quick save/load function that would speed up the process of reverting back to an earlier state. The game conveniently lists the difficulty of battle before combat starts. It gives players a chance to adjust their army or take on a few other quests before coming back. Since movement speed is so slow, it would be beneficial to list the current difficulty when hovering over the combat icon on the map so players don’t have to make the long jog back just to find out they are still too underpowered for the fight.
Visuals
King’s Bounty 2 offers the standard fantasy style. The landscape full of stone castles, wooden structures, old ruins, and sprawling country sides. The warriors usually wear practical armour while mages are decked out in their exquisite robes and jewelry. The game leans heavily towards a realistic take. While there is nothing separating King’s Bounty 2 from the crowd stylistically, the style is well done.
Audio
The audio has its ups and downs. The soundtrack is enjoyable with its standard fantasy video game soundtrack that uses lots of orchestral style music. It never distracts from the gameplay but does an excellent job of nudging the player’s emotions in the right direction. The sound effects are decent. It is nothing special, but it does the job well enough. The voice acting is where the audio falls apart. There are a few actors who are passable for an AA title, but a large portion of the acting is poor. Several actors struggle with overacting and some just can’t hit the right tone for their character. To make matters worse, the game relies heavily on idle chatter to make the world feel populated, but there is an extremely limited number of lines that are used almost every time the player is near an NPC.
Overall
King’s Bounty 2 is a game with only few bright spots. The combat is punishing in a good way, but everything else falls apart from there. The level design is poor to start with, but the painfully slow movement speed turns it into a frustrating experience. The story and RPG mechanics are uninspiring. User experience falls short, especially for PC gamers using a mouse and keyboard. While the developers have promised fixes to address some of the complaints, the game just feels too frustrating to be worth the time or money to salvage. It’s time to move on and hope for a better game in King’s Bounty 3.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
First Story Trailer Showcases New Details About Protagonist Frey Holland, Reveals More Characters, Hollywood Talent, and an Autumn 2022 Release Window
SYDNEY (Sept. 10, 2021)– SQUARE ENIX® today unveiled a new story trailer and official Autumn(ANZ) 2022 release window for Luminous Productions’ debut title, Forspoken. The new footage reveals more details about the protagonist Frey, a directionless, gritty yet street smart young woman who has persevered despite her rough upbringing in New York City.
Watch the new Forspoken story introduction trailer here:
The new story trailer also gives fans a closer look at Forspoken’s magic-infused combat and swift, dynamic movement, playing a key role in gameplay. Through the course of her journey, Frey will learn to cast and harness dozens of different types of magic and cast powerful spells as she traverses through the beautiful yet cruel land of Athia. Frey’s quest in Athia will take her through a variety of diverse environments where she will use magic enhanced parkour. This dynamic and acrobatic movement, enhanced by Frey’s mystical abilities, enables her to magically flow, zip and float across the vast landscapes of Athia in a fast and fluid manner.
Other key characters in Forspoken are highlighted in the trailer, including Frey’s companion ‘Cuff,’ a magical sentient bracelet, voiced by actor Jonathan Cake (Stargirl), who helps her navigate the sprawling landscapes of Athia. Players are also introduced to Tanta Sila, a maddened and evil ruler who is the strongest and most formidable Tanta, or matriarch, in Athia, as she and Frey face off in an explosive and action-packed battle. Performed and voiced by actress and musician Janina Gavankar (True Blood), Tanta Sila’s debut offers fans a glimpse of the formidable enemies that await in Athia. Keala Settle (The Greatest Showman) and Monica Barbaro (Top Gun: Maverick) also make an appearance as Johedy and Auden, fellow Athians who befriend and assist Frey with her journey.
SQUARE ENIX and Luminous Productions worked in collaboration with Hollywood writer Gary Whitta (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story), who conceived the original concept, and award-winning writer/director Amy Hennig (Uncharted series), who developed the story concept in 2019 (prior to heading Skydance New Media). Taking the reins as Lead Writers on Forspoken’s story and script, talented entertainment writers Allison Rymer (Shadowhunters) and Todd Stashwick (Devil Inside) have crafted a thrilling tale about self-discovery and finding out where you belong in the world.
“Writing Forspoken has been a magical experience,” said Rymer. “The main character Frey is strong, complex and very relatable. I am excited for the players to connect with her.” Stashwick added, “Like Frey, it’s been a long, amazing journey for us. I’m thrilled to finally have people adventure through the story we have built. I’m so proud to be part of this team, giving a contemporary, fun, spin on the fantasy genre.”
SQUARE ENIX and Luminous Productions also unveiled that the score is composed by BAFTA award-winning composers Bear McCreary (God of War (2018) and TV series The Walking Dead) and Garry Schyman (Bioshock series). Together, they set the unconventional tone of the game by immersing players into a world of twisted beauty while fusing contemporary electronic beats with a fantasy tone.
“We’re incredibly excited to be working together to compose the soundtrack for Forspoken. When we first read the script for the game, we were moved by Frey’s dynamic character and the contrasting themes of modern and fantasy that run throughout the story, which is something we wanted to reflect in the music we compose for the soundtrack,” said McCreary and Schyman.
Designed for the PlayStation®5 console (PS5™), Forspoken will harness the full power of the console and demonstrate Luminous Productions’ philosophy to provide a gaming experience like never before, fusing together the latest technology with creativity. The game is being developed simultaneously for the PS5 console and PC (via STEAM® Store, Windows Store and Epic Games Store) and is set for release in Autumn(ANZ) 2022.
# ENDS #About Square Enix, Inc. Square Enix, Inc. develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX®, EIDOS® and TAITO® branded entertainment content throughout the Americas as part of the Square Enix group of companies. Square Enix, Inc. is affiliated with a global network of leading development studios such as Crystal Dynamics® and Eidos Montréal™. The Square Enix group of companies boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY®, which has sold over 163 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 83 million units worldwide; TOMB RAIDER®, which has sold over 84 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.
