2nd September 2021 – World of Tanks ANZ Premier League Season Three kicks off tomorrow, Friday 3 September 2021, with the competition’s biggest prize pool to date, eight Trans-Tasman teams competing for glory and the competition expanding to universities, with an exclusive competition and separate prize pool through a partnership with the Australian Universities Esports League!
Adelaide Action X, Brisbane Bulldogs, Melbourne Matildas, Perth Panthers, North Sydney Sentinels, South Sydney Skorpions, Auckland Archers, and Christchurch Conquerors return, to fight for bragging rights on the battlefield, and to win a share of the AUD$25,000 prize pool.
There will be 10 weeks of competition, with seven rounds of the regular season, playoffs, and a Grand Final match on November 13. Lockdown permitting, the Grand Final will once again be played in front of a live audience at Fortress in Melbourne.
Jake Truman, World of Tanks ANZ Product Manager, says there is heavy competition amongst the eight returning teams, especially with new format changes – a tie-breaker round and longer battles – and the return of the Fantasy League for the second season.
“Season Three has exploded bigger and better, with a larger prize pool, return of the ANZBL/Division 2 and the Australian Universities Esports League launching their own 3v3 league.
“The North Sydney Sentinels are the two-time champions, and I can’t wait to see the fierce competition this season and see who walks away victorious in November,” said Jake.
The World of Tanks ANZ Premier League returns with partners, Fortress Melbourne, HyperX, GameOnAus, Ironside Coffee Co., noblechairs, PCCG, Mwave and Alienware.
Prizes will not only be on offer for those competing in the League, but for tankers who participate in the weekly streams. Keep your eyes peeled for a weekly chance to win a custom HyperX Alloy Origins 60 keyboard, a year’s supply of coffee from Ironside Coffee Co. and noblechairs!
For more information on the World of Tanks ANZ Premier League Season Three, visit https://worldoftanks.asia/
Available on Steam ONLY Until Arcade Launch in 2022, Debuting New Content in Exit from Early Access
Brooklyn, NY — September 1, 2021 —ZOMBEEZ: A Killer Queen Remix (formerly code-named ABS vs THE BLOOD QUEEN), the first single-player Killer Queen game in BumbleBear Games’ franchise enjoyed by millions, buzzes out of Steam Early Access for its 1.0 launch on PC today, debuting the challenging final stage. Alongside the launch, BumbeBear Games revealed that ZOMBEEZ will be available on Steam until 2022, when the arcade edition of the title is officially released.
Built using the Killer Queen arcade engine, ZOMBEEZ features the same precise controls as the acclaimed arcade and console sensation for a retro-inspired platformer. Race through procedurally generated stages while avoiding swarms of undead bugs. Leap across burning hot lava pits, razor-sharp spikes, and other deadly traps. Utilize precise jumps and powerful abilities inspired by iconic 2D platformers to survive the onslaught of reanimated insects.
Beloved Killer Queen franchise staples return like riding on the backs of snails and transforming into powerful sword-wielding soldier bees to cut down enemies. With unpredictable placements of terrifying creatures like BloodBears, BumbleBats, BubbleSlugs, and FireSnails, as well as power-ups and secrets to uncover in each area, ZOMBEEZ builds upon a consistent “one more run” gameplay experience.
The 1.0 launch of ZOMBEEZ: A Killer Queen Remix introduces a new area to overcome. After surviving the gauntlet of Hell and The Outskirts, the Citadel of Blood Awaits. Progress through each environment to face fearsome bosses like the Zillipede, Slimefly, Bumble Genie 2.0 and the deadly monarch Blood Queen. Showcase platforming prowess by competing across Daily and Weekly leaderboards, ranking the entire playerbase.
“With the 1.0 launch of ZOMBEEZ: A Killer Queen Remix, we’re thrilled to deliver polished arcade-style action platforming to PC,” said Josh DeBonis, president, BumbleBear Games. “The Citadel of Blood awaits anyone brave enough to face the challenges on Steam today!”
ZOMBEEZ: A Killer Queen Remix is now available on Steam for Windows PC for $8.99. An arcade cabinet edition is planned for launch in 2022, at which point the Steam version will be retired. Like the short life span of an insect, ZOMBEEZ lives fast and dies young.
To learn more, please visit the game’s Steam page, watch for updates on the BumbleBear Games Twitter and Facebook.
About BumbleBear Games
BumbleBear’s mission is to redefine arcade culture and be the leading source of games for a new arcade era. The team prides themselves on game design that can only be experienced in meatspace — games that make you look to the person next to you, and you both say, “ok, one more round!”
Beautiful Rogue-Lite Action Game Pays Homage to Studio Ghibli
CALABASAS, Calif. — Sept. 1, 2021 —Rogue Spirit, an anime-inspired 3D rogue-lite action game published by 505 Games and developed by Kids With Sticks, a small team of gamedev veterans with experience on The Witcher 2, Dying Light, and Hellraid: The Escape, debuts on Steam Early Access today.
After thousands of years of relative peace in the Kingdom of Midra, the armies of Chaos crumbled the barrier between reality and the spirit world. The Demon King adds more to his ranks each day, possessing everyone crossing his path. In a last ditch effort, monks of the Forgotten Monastery summon the spirit of the Hero who sealed away the Demon King last time, Midra’s Prince from generations ago.
Dethrone the Demon King with clever use of the Prince’s newfound spirit abilities. Sneak up on enemies in his stealthy ghost form, then possess them to take control of their bodies in battle. Master the weapons, abilities, and playstyles of ten distinct enemies (twenty at full launch) to adapt to an ever-changing world. Strategically switch bodies on the fly to regain health and stay in the fight, all in the name of ending the evil presence corrupting the land.
Early Access debuts the first six procedurally generated levels within five different biomes, all rendered in gorgeous 3D art inspired by Studio Ghibli films like Princess Mononoke and Nausicaä. Explore forests, marshes, villages, and more. Discover secrets and challenge bosses designed to test the Prince’s body-swapping skills. Unlock permanent upgrades between runs and upgrade dozens of skills and essences that make each run a whole different experience.
“Thank you so much to all of our players that tried the demo,” said Andrzej Koloska, Head of the studio at Kids With Sticks. “Your feedback has already helped shape the experience in Rogue Spirit and we hope to continue to grow and improve with the help of our community throughout Early Access.”
Rogue Spirit is available now on Steam Early Access for $19.99/€19.99/£15.99 with an additional 10 percent off discount for a limited time, and will launch fully in 2022.
For more information and regular updates on Rogue Spirit, please visit the games’ official site and follow on @RogueSpiritGame on Twitter. For more information about Kids With Sticks, visit www.kidswithsticks.com. To learn about publisher 505 Games and its products, visit www.505games.com.
About 505 Games
505 Games, a Digital Bros’ subsidiary, is a global publisher focused on offering a broad selection of video games for players of all ages and skill levels.The company publishes and distributes premium and free-to-play games on console and PC platforms as well as mobile devices.
Publishing highlights include DEATH STRANDING (PC), Control, Assetto Corsa Competizione, Ghostrunner, Gems of War, Journey to the Savage Planet, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, and Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons.
505 Games has offices in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Australia, China and Japan. For more information on 505 Games and its products please visit505games.com.
About Kids With Sticks
Kids With Sticks is a small independent game development studio located in Wrocław, Poland. Formed by die-hard players and industry experts in late 2019 by Andrzej Koloska (previously Producer at Vivid Games, Techland, Strange New Things [now CD PROJEKT RED], Artifex Mundi), Kamil Kocot (previously Programmer at Tequila Games, Techland, Artifex Mundi), Daniel Stańczak (previously graphics artist at T-bull, Artifex Mundi) and Adam Węsierski (previously concept artist at Artifex Mundi). The Team behind ‘The Kids’ were involved in lots of games including The Witcher 2, Dying Light, Hollow, Hellraid: The Escape, Haunted, Real Boxing and many, many others.
The studio was formed thanks to a publishing deal with 505 Games.
Kids With Sticks are currently working on their first game: Rogue Spirit which is a third-person rogue-lite action slasher. For more information about Kids With Sticks, please visit kidswithsticks.com.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 1st, Warsaw, Poland.
The time has come to separate the boys from the men, as fighting Nazis while trying to hold the position that you’ve recently taken from them is no easy task. Check the entrance to your bunker, look after your supplies, count the ammunition you have at hand, and do all you can to get ready for the upcoming assault.
The game was published in Early Access on Steam with the development roadmap that you can check below:
ABOUT WW2: BUNKER SIMULATOR
WW2: Bunker Simulator is a unique mix of FPS, action, survival, and simulation game. Try to make it through each day while at the same time following orders from Command and fulfilling every military task they throw at you. Your fight will not only be with restless Nazis attacking when you least expect them but also with hunger, thirst, exhaustion, and sleep deprivation. Take care of yourself as much as your brothers-in-arms to make sure they will come to the rescue when you need them most. Scavenge for supplies, destroy military targets, fight back enemy waves, send encrypted supply drop requests, and do all you can to hold your ground. History will judge you, but until then, make sure that everyone knows you are in charge of this bunker.
WW2: BUNKER SIMULATOR – MAIN FEATURES
Take care of your basic survival needs. You are only human, and as such, you need to rest, eat, and regain your energy to be able to perform tasks entrusted to you by Command. There is a lot to be done, but the enemy will not wait for you to get ready. Make sure to keep the balance between taking care of yourself and taking care of the mission.
Remember that nobody wins the war alone. Command your brothers-in-arms, and do not forget about their needs. They know much more than just shooting and can support you when you need them most.
Scavenge for supplies and manage them wisely. You are on a battlefield, and that means shortcomings in every area, whether it is food, meds, or ammo. You cannot afford to ignore defeated enemies that may carry valuable items. Search them, and then ration whatever you are able to find.
Do not be afraid to call for backup. If all fails, and you find yourself in a situation where you do not have enough bandages, food, or ammunition, send an encrypted message to Command with a request for a supply drop. Then, anticipate enemy plans by decrypting any messages you receive with your supplies.
Destroy military targets. Follow Command and make good use of your machine gun, anti-aircraft gun, or even an anti-tank cannon.
Immerse yourself in the World War II setting. The realistic recreation of the war bunker’s construction and weapons used is designed to help ensure the most immersive feel possible.
WW2: Bunker Simulator was created by BEPLAYER and Art Games Studio and is available on Steam Early Access thanks to Art Games Studio and Gaming Factory.
More information about the game can be found on the official website, Steam, and Facebook.
About Art Games Studio
Art Games Studio S. A. is a Polish developer and publisher working on games for PC and Nintendo Switch. They’re working with developers, helping them to create, finance, and publish their games on various platforms. The team’s portfolio covers Bad Dream: Fever, When I Was Young, Alchemist Simulator, or S.W.A.N.: Chernobyl Unexplored. One of their projects, Climber: Sky is the Limit received two Gamescom awards nominations this year. https://art-games.com/
About BEPLAYER
BEPLAYER is a small independent game developer that creates video games with passion and desire by using their diverse skillset. After some experience with mobile games, WW2: Bunker Simulator will be the first PC title in their portfolio.
About Gaming Factory
Gaming Factory is a producer and publisher of PC and console games. Among the company’s main objectives are producing and publishing its own titles for consoles and PC and supporting independent development teams. https://gamingfactory.pl/
Download Today the Racing Hit to Unlock Exclusive Xbox-Themed In-Game Decals, Experience Cross-Save and Cross-Play with Windows PC, and for Xbox Series X, 4K and 120 FPS
PARIS, FRANCE – September 1, 2021 – Gameloft, a leader in the creation and publishing of games, is thrilled to announce that Asphalt 9: Legends, the latest game in the one billion downloaded multi-award winning arcade racing franchise,is now available on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, further securing Gameloft’s initiative to launch and engage with new platforms and players.
Features exclusive to these versions of the game include an exclusive Xbox-themed decal, cross-save and cross-play with the Windows PC version of Asphalt 9: Legends, and exclusive to Xbox Series X, Asphalt 9: Legends runs in native 4K and 120FPS. Asphalt 9: Legends for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One will have full content parity with the Windows and mobile versions.
Asphalt 9: Legends for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S can be downloaded here.
“Bringing Asphalt 9: Legends to Xbox is a major achievement for us at Gameloft,” said Guilherme Lachaut, SVP Strategic Partnerships. “Asphalt 9: Legends is playable on a variety of devices, and launching on Xbox X|S and Xbox One further cements our objective of joining a variety of platforms and engaging with those players. These versions will be a real delight to players new and returning. Those looking for a 4K 120FPS fast-paced experience will be in for a visual treat!”
More details about Asphalt 9: Legends and the Asphalt franchise can be found here.
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About Gameloft Leader in the development and publishing of games, Gameloft® has established itself as one of the top innovators in its field since 2000. Gameloft creates games for all digital platforms, two of which are featured in the “Top 10 iOS Games by All-Time Worldwide Downloads” from App Annie. Gameloft operates its own established franchises such as Asphalt®, Dragon Mania Legends, Modern Combat and Dungeon Hunter and also partners with major rights holders including Disney®, LEGO®, Universal, Illumination Entertainment, Hasbro®, Fox Digital Entertainment, Mattel®, Lamborghini® and Ferrari®. Gameloft distributes its games in over 100 countries and employs 3,600 people worldwide. Every month, 70 million unique users can be reached by advertisers in Gameloft games with Gameloft for brands, a leading B2B offering dedicated to brands and agencies. Gameloft is a Vivendi company.
Developer Sucker Punch is already known for its open-world games, such as the Infamous series. Released last year, Ghost of Tsushima goes for the tried and true historical and mythological themes as seen in games like Assassin’s Creed. What sets Ghost of Tsushima apart from the competition, as its name implies, is that it’s rooted in Japanese history. Something rarely seen in videogames. It’s also in part a homage to Japanese director Akira Kurosawa’s movies. Kurosawa is famous for titles like Seven Samurai, Rashomon, Dreams and many others. Ghost of Tsushima tries to capture the feel of Kurosawa’s movies with a lot of focus on it’s characters and their struggles.
The game does this all while mixing it with a richness of Japanese folklore and tradition. Ghost of Tsushima is an open-world, action-adventure game with stealth elements. The new Director’s Cut is essentially the same game with added fan requested tweaks, like the option to lock on to enemies in combat. This new version also adds a new episode covering the Iki island invasion. Iki island was invaded at the same time Tsushima was. The “Iki Island Expansion” features a new story, characters, activities and places to explore. Fortunately, the Director’s Cut upgrade can be purchased separately for those who already have the original game on their PlayStation 4. There is also bonus content that can be downloaded separately for free. This bonus content includes a digital artbook and a round table with some of the people involved in the production of the game.
For those who already played the original version of Ghost of Tsushima. Iki island awaits. With a new story focusing on Jin’s past. New quests, abilities and mini-games, were also added.
Story
In Japan, the year is 1274 CE. The Mongol empire successfully land in the island of Tsushima with a fleet composed of several ships and thousands of soldiers. Near the shore where the enemy general Khothun Khan lands. An army of 80 samurai await in a desperate attempt to fend off the Invaders. They know they won’t be coming back alive. But to die in battle, as a warrior, is one of the greatest honors a samurai can achieve. You assume the role of Jin Sakai, one of the 80 warriors and the last of his clan. After a bloody struggle, the Samurai are massacred. Their leader is captured. Only a few Samurai survive. Jin is lucky enough to be found by a peasant and nursed back from the dead. Now, it falls upon him to reunite what is left of the samurai and rescue their leader in order to have another chance at driving away the Mongol army even if it means breaking his code of honor.
Gameplay
Ghost of Tsushima places a lot of emphasis on its story and characters. After the exciting first battle with the Mongol army, things slow down quite a bit as the game lays the foundation for its background and teaches you the basic controls and game mechanics. The pace picks up after that as Jin forms his plan to take back Tsushima. The Mongol army already took control of most of the island. But, some samurai survived or simply weren’t able to take part in the battle. It’s up to Jin to recruit these warriors by helping them resolve their issues and convincing them to make a stand against the invading army. In the very beginning, you only have the option to take your enemies head on. Jin’s main weapon is a katana, a samurai sword. You can choose to start a battle with a “stand-off”, where Jin will challenge one of the Mongol enemies to an one-on-one duel. If you win, besides having one less enemy to worry about, the remaining ones will be scared for a short amount of time. Also, your resolve gauge wil fill a lot. The resolve gauge is an important part of the gameplay as it’s the only way to heal yourself in the mid of battle. More powerful techniques also require resolve, so it’s a good idea to try and replenish it whenever possible. You also have the option of rushing in and trying to take all the enemies at once, although you’ll be heavily in disadvantage at the beginning of the game.
A stand off, will allow the player to take out one or more enemies, by just timing your button presses right.
A bit further into the story you’ll gain the option of killing your enemies by stealth and will also acquire more weapons, including long ranged ones. As you complete quests, Jin’s legend will grow. Beyond acquiring points to learn new moves or upgrade already existing ones, you’ll also unlock “Ghost Weapons”. These weapons focus on the stealth part of the combat, such as smoke bombs, a throwing dagger called kunai, etc. You may think: what are ninja weapons doing in a samurai game? In fact, historically, most of these are all samurai weapons that are featured prominently in ninja flicks and games, popularizing them as only used by ninja. They’ll be a great help if you choose to tackle missions more furtively or when facing a great number of enemies. As you take back forts from the Mongol soldiers and defeat their leaders, you’ll also gain points that are used towards unlocking new fighting stances. The different stances will focus on a particular style of enemy, such as a shield or spear wielding one. Each stance and ghost weapon has its own tree of additional skills to unlock, allowing you to throw more kunai at once or, in the case of stances, unlocking new sword moves. Other abilities will unlock by just progressing through the story. There’s no shortage of options when it comes to choosing how to complete missions and fighting your enemies.
The combat will make you feel like a true, badass samurai.
Unlike some similar open world games, Ghost of Tsushima places great importance in its combat. Controls respond well. It allows you to take part in sword duels with enough precision and variety to not make it feel like a necessary nuisance. This allows you to move on smoothly to the next quest. The duels are actually fun. And, depending on the difficult you choose, they will require skill and fast reflexes from the player, especially if you are confronting one of the special duels in the game. These duels involve characters of greater importance and serve as boss battles.
The “boss” duels will test your reflexes.
Besides the main quest, you’ll encounter a variety of side activities as you explore Tsushima, from sub-quests that help give more insight and context to the story to more varied ones. These activities can be in the form of mini-games; like cutting through bamboo to hone your sword skills, relaxing in a hot spring and reflecting on the struggles of the past and the journey ahead, and writing Haiku, a type of Japanese poem. Writing Haiku is my favorite. The haiku I wrote doesn’t make much sense, but hey, there’s a nice vista to appreciate and a relaxing background song. I still play that song sometimes when i need to relax.
These golden birds will lead you to places of interest. Making the exploration feel more fluid and enjoyable.
The main story quests have very specific conditions that must be met, taking away some of the player’s freedom. If you step a bit out of the specified quest location, the game will warn you to go back or else they’ll do it for you. This same annoyance is present in another Sony title. Horizon: Zero Dawn. Horizon punishes the player even more harshly. In some cases, erasing a lot of game progress. Having said that, when you decide to play by the rules, the main quests can also be a lot of fun. It gives the player opportunities to experiment with the available tools in combat and the quest objectives.
Really…
There is also a seemingly never ending amount of trinkets to collect. There are charms that you can equip on your sword that grants advantages like restoring health when you kill an enemy and mere cosmetic ones, like hats, masks and new colors to your armors. Other sub-quests will have you searching for powerful, mythical equipment and techniques. It’s a good idea to do some of these, since they’ll not only grant new ways of dispatching enemies but will also give you more insight on Japanese folklore and the story in general. Most of these are completely optional. There are also other minor activities encountered as you roam through the forests and groves of Tsushima, like taking on a mongol caravan and freeing their prisoners. There’s so much to do, that it can certainly overwhelm some players. They can certainly get tiresome given their frequency and repetitiveness.
Visuals
What a beautiful place Tsushima is! Ghost of Tsushima, hands down, is one of the most beautiful open-world games in any system you can find today, from earth to sea to the sky. You can feel the amount of care Sucker Punch put in recreating medieval era Japan. The visuals are created with precision and artistry, such as temples with their bells and pagoda, populated with monks, busy in their activities; the many forests and groves with their rustling leaves, bathed in sunlight; to beaches and the soothing come and go of the waves, illuminated by the moon. In some locations, the camera will take an angle far from Jin to showcase the scenery around. It’s a sight to see. I, personally, couldn’t help but stop every few minutes to snap a screenshot given the overall beauty of the game. The character’s models and animations, are also very well done. The main characters faces are particularly impressive with some of them being modeled after real actors. Everything is rendered with such a high quality that it’s almost incredible a PlayStation 4 can handle all this with a solid performance. For fans of Kurosawa’s movies, there’s an option called “Kurosawa mode” that makes the game look and sound like one his old samurai movies. The PlayStation 5 version doesn’t change anything drastically as it ads only obligatory next-gen features such as dynamic 4K resolution and a 60 fps target. These upgrades are already a huge improvement. But don’t expect new models, effects and whatnot.
You can collect artifacts and other itens, that will teach you a bit about Japanese and Mongolian history.
Audio
The audio is varied enough. It focuses on minimalistic, ambient sound like sounds of nature, such as waves breaking on the shore, and of the animals that populate Tsushima. They give life to the game’s landscape. The music also reflects this more calm and ambient feel with the exception of more dramatic moments, like in combat or during a story sequence. There’s a variety of themes like more serene sounds when exploring and taking the views of Tsushima. When taking on a mission, like assaulting a fort or retaking a village, the music takes a more suspenseful tone featuring, sometimes, what appears to be Japanese or Mongolian chanting. This gives the overall ambience an even more exotic and mystic feel to it. Traditional Japanese instruments can be heard throughout the game. Examples of this are stringed ones like a Koto and Shamisen, Japanese flute called Shakuhachi, Taiko drums, among others. The combat effects are also very believable with clashing swords having a lot of impact and giving that extra edge to combat. I particularly enjoy a “samurai cinema” so I went with the Japanese voice-overs. The game also features english voice acting. When Ghost of Tsushima was first released on the PlayStation 4, the character’s lips only synched to the English voice-overs. Now, they added lip synch for the Japanese voices too. But this feature is only available on the PlayStation 5.
Ever want to play an Akira Kurosawa movie? Now you can.
Overall
Ghost of Tsushima is a love letter to Japanese history and culture. Add to this, Sucker Punch’s technical and artistic expertise. The developers tried to go back in time. Recreating, in game form, not only what once was the island of Tsushima, but also, a way of life that’s long gone. It’s very story-driven. But the story is interesting enough so you’ll want to see what happens next and with enough gameplay to keep anyone occupied for dozens of hours. It’s an open-world adventure like so many you see nowadays. The first main differences being its well done and fun combat. The second main difference is a rich background that isn’t explored much, like Eastern culture. Its game design is a bit marred by open-world games conventions. But it is still an outstanding achievement and a really good experience, especially if you happen to be a fan of Japanese culture and samurai movies.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
You know, it’s hard to get excited for games nowadays. And I know that I’m trying. I reviewed a lot, played even more and I’ve been burned too many times in order to still have faith in new releases. It’s just how it is. I remember one particular game where devs said they would never add microtransactions and then a few years later they did exactly that. I remember even more Kickstarter promising more that would put even Peter Molyneux to shame and after securing funds, they would release a barebone product of what we expected. Then we have obvious cash-grabs, sequels piggybacking on the fame of the originals, and so on. Considering that, it’s no wonder how a person can turn jaded and cynical. That’s why I was reserved when approaching Psychonauts 2 and partially expecting the worst. So, did I get the absolute worst or the absolute best? Read on and find out (how’s that for an incentive?)
Story
The game pretty much continues where the original game left us. Raz is finally a member of the Psychonauts, no more internship for him. Our first task is to figure out what is happening to the head of the Psychonauts, Truman Zanotto. Ever since he was kidnapped and rescued, he hasn’t been the same. And to make things even worse, later we find out that there might be a mole in our organization. And to make things extra uncomfortable for Raz, his family is making an appearance in this game. Can he successfully reconnect with them after running away from home? Who is the mole? What is happening with Truman Zanotto? Questions, questions. The answers to those (and some more that you never bothered to ask) are hidden deep within the game.
Gameplay
First of all, Psychonauts 2 is a self-contained sequel. It might seem weird, but having played the first game is no requisite to fully understand the story here. Although, if you haven’t played the original game yet……..why not? Go do that right now and come back then to finish reading this. In any case, playing the original is not necessary even though is highly recommended. Raz now has new powers, new abilities, and new enemies. But the good news is that the fluidity of the movement and smoothness of the platforming is as good as before. If you just finished playing the first game and jumped right into the sequel, it will feel like the same game in terms of the gameplay and controls. Everything is here just as you left it 16 years ago. Enemies now have health bars and some might be more tedious than the others (looking at you, Panic Attack) but once you unlock a complete set of your powers, all of the enemies become nothing more than a nuisance. The sequel is now introducing sidequests as well. As you imagine, they’re not mandatory, but completing them will reward you with new moves, skill points and just give you that warm fuzzy feeling in your tummy knowing that you helped someone. One particular sidequest will reward you with new costumes, so if you want to see Raz looking mighty suave in a business suit, you know what to do.
Visuals
I rarely get to play a game where the creativity of the devs is so well presented in the level design, but Psychonauts 2 is surely one of those. One particular level where you help the musicians to get together as a band is so unique and trippy and psychedelic that I’m already seeing it as the new Milkman Conspiracy. You know, the one that it’s so good that it has its own Wikipedia page so I think it’s just a matter of time before PSI-King’s Sensorium gets one later as well. There’s no one word that I could use to describe all the levels in the game and “creative” is simply an understatement. Depending on the worlds, they range from bizarre to trippy to downright disturbing but they surely leave a long-lasting impression on the player. I already 100% completed some of them (gathered all the figments, vaults, bags, etc) but I still replayed some just to admire the level design and the familiar absurdity that could only be found in Psychonauts.
Audio
Usually, when I get to this section it’s where a game (almost any game) loses its momentum. Not Psychonauts 2, however. The voice acting is top-notch, the humor never feels forced and flat. The soundtrack is amazing but it’s not like I expected anything less and the sound effects on some levels (along with the narration) elevate the gameplay to a whole new level. I only miss how this time the levitation ball is less “boingy” (is that even a proper word?) compared to the first game cause that sound of the bouncing around really grew on me.
Overall
Sometimes miracles do happen. A game comes out that’s not a full cash grab and it’s doesn’t want to squeeze its player for the last dime. Sometimes there is a game where its sole intent is to make you feel good, to get you to have fun and enjoy the gameplay as much as you enjoy the story. Psychonauts 2 is one of those rare gems. A game with immense creativity, a game with a heart, and filled with love and passion through every level. It’s one of those games where after you complete it, your first wish is to have your memory erased so you could experience it again for the first time. If there is one game in this year that you shouldn’t skip, it’s this one.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
The French studio Rebound CG is proud to announce the final release date of Tennis Manager after four months of Early Access that has achieved a “very positive” rating of 85% on Steam.
After a phase of private beta testing with a hundred passionate tennis fans and sports management enthusiasts, the game moved to Early Access where thousands of players gave feedback. Now, the game representing “the Football Manager of tennis” sees a definitive release.
This version takes into account a number of technical and graphical improvements, along with new functionalities such as mod compatibility (Epic and Steam Workshop), a history of records for men’s and women’s circuits since the Open Era, and a version for Mac.
The game is available on the platforms Steam, Epic Games, and the Mac App Store for the price of $39,99 // 39,99 € // 34,99 £GB.
Rebound CG, independent developer of the game, hopes that other new stories will be written around it, such as those of streamers Domingo and Rivenzi and professional players Clara Burel and Arthur Cazaux, who have met in real life after playing the game.
The French studio is counting on the success of this first title to build a successful new licence, which it hopes will become a cultural phenomenon, referenced in the same vein as Football Manager.
Information Platforms: PC & MAC Launchers: Steam & Epic Games & Mac App Store Category: Sports Management Simulation Early Access release date: 25th May 2021 Final release date: 7th September 2021
Founded in 2017 by a team of sports and video games fans, Rebound started their journey with the creation of a tennis management licence: Tennis Manager. Supported by some of the biggest names in the sport such as Patrick Mouratoglou, the studio’s first title Tennis Manager Mobile was released in 2019 on the App Store and the Play Store, receiving more than 1.5 million downloads. After two years of development and completion, Rebound is releasing a deeper PC and Mac Version of Tennis Manager in 2021.
Releasing later to other platformsSeptember 1st, 2021 — Gamious and Whitethorn Games announce their upcoming slice-of-life interactive story game Lake is out now on Xbox Series X|S, as well as Steam for Windows PC!
It’s September 1, 1986. You take on the role of forty-something Meredith Weiss, who returns from the big city to her quiet hometown. She exchanges her busy career at a software company to fill in for her dad, the local mail carrier.
During her two-week stay in beautiful Providence Oaks, Oregon, she runs into a few familiar faces as well as plenty of new folk. As Meredith, you get to decide who to talk to, who to befriend and perhaps even start a romantic relationship with.
Whatever happens, at the end of her stint she’ll have to make up her mind: return to her demanding job in the big city, or stay in the town she grew up in?
Play Lake and…
Escape to a beautiful, rustic environment without cellphones and the Internet.
Drive around the lake in your dad’s trusty mail truck, or let the auto-pilot do the work.
Talk to a range of engaging characters, each with their own personalities and quirks.
Choose after-work activities: hang out with your friends, help out your neighbors or stay home and read a book.
Experience two weeks of branching story that doesn’t shy away from slice-of-life themes.
Determine your own story: there are no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answers or endings, simply what you want to happen.
About Gamious We are Gamious, a game developer based in Haarlem, The Netherlands. A nice bunch of people who love to create original and accessible games with pure gameplay – games we love to play ourselves. We either self-publish, work with publishers, or a mix between these two, to get the games to the right platforms. Check out our website: https://www.gamious.com/
About Whitethorn Games We’re an indie game publisher focusing on pleasant, cozy games that can be played in pieces, that require no special skills or knowledge, and that anyone can pick up and play. We’re believers in accessibility, inclusion, and widening the audience that gets to play. We like to consider ourselves the defenders of easy games. Join in on the discussion via our Discord.
PlayStation 4 & Xbox One players are invited to join in the celebrations and combat The Boredom starting today
Seattle, Wash – (September 1, 2021) – Publisher Kalypso Media and developer Realmforge Studios have today launched the brand-new ‘Festival’ DLC for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One players – inviting console users to plan and party with El Presidente. The launch comes after the release of the PC version on August 26.
Tropico 6 – Festival invites players to the biggest console party that Tropico has ever seen, introducing a new party planning feature, new buildings and over 20 different festivals and 4 themes – helping El Prez stave off the ancient entity ‘The Boredom’ that threatens to engulf the archipelago.
Tropico 6 – Festival is available now through the Microsoft Store and PlayStation Store, and can also be purchased through the Kalypso Store and Steam for PC.
Party it up with the new ‘Festival’ mechanic: host 20+ types of festivals each based off different eras and ensure your soirees are the talk of the town for years to come
New scenario-driven campaign: take on The Boredom – an ancient evil threatening to engulf Tropico in clouds of mundanity and mind-numbing activities
8 new buildings: make use of 4 new festival areas and ensure your parties are well equipped with new buildings like the Balloon Factory and Fireworks Factory
Add a spring to your citizens’ step with the Dance School and keep your island visitor numbers healthy by adding a Ticket Shop for specific festivals
4 new tunes: keep the party going with an assortment of new tracks, each tailored to a different festival
3 new edicts: experiment with exciting new features like Funhouser Special, Customer Service and Laundry Festivals
2 new customization options: pick your perfect party outfit and set your palace to match
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About the Kalypso Media Group
Kalypso Media Group GmbH is a fully independent publisher, developer and marketer of interactive entertainment software with 150 employees in 10 locations throughout Germany, England, France, Japan, and the United States, including Kasedo Games, Kalypso Media’s digital-first label, and three development studios – Realmforge Studios (Dungeons series), Gaming Minds Studios (Railway Empire, Port Royale) and Claymore Game Studios (upcoming Commandos game). Kasedo Games also now holds a majority stake in France-based developer Bulwark Studios, increasing the Kalypso Media Group’s total development studios to 4.
Specializing in developing strategy games for a global audience on all modern platforms, Kalypso Media’s IP portfolio includes the full rights to the Tropico series, Commandos, Port Royale, Dungeons, Sudden Strike, Railway Empire, and others. Kalypso Media’s recent releases are Commandos 2 – HD Remaster and Praetorians – HD Remaster, Railway Empire – Nintendo Switch™ Edition, Dungeons 3 – Complete Collection, Railway Empire – Complete Collection, Port Royale 4, Tropico 6 – Nintendo Switch™ Edition, Commandos 2 – HD Remaster for Nintendo Switch™ and Spacebase Startopia. Upcoming releases include Spacebase Startopia for Nintendo Switch™ (9/24/21) and Disciples: Liberation (10/21/21). Kasedo Games’ recent releases include Filament, console and tablet versions of Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus, Distant Kingdoms (available in Steam Early Access) as well as City of Gangsters.
