Today marks the console release of all-female tactics RPG Empire of Angels IV for consoles in North America and Europe, now available for Xbox One and PS4 with Nintendo Switch to follow tomorrow, June 24th.
An additional 10% launch discount will be available on all platforms for a limited time. PlayStation 4 discounts apply to Plus subscribers only. Empire of Angels IV physical editions for Nintendo Switch are expected to start shipping from online distribution partner Playasia in July.
About Empire of Angels IV
Offering a fresh perspective on the history of Asgard, Empire of Angels IV reintroduces its lore, characters and mechanics with no prior knowledge necessary to enjoy this brand new adventure. Deep fantasy-themed political intrigue and the looming terror of war are balanced by light-hearted character interactions, slice-of-life humor, alluring designs and the ability to shatter your all-female opponents’ armor!
This release will mark the first time the Empire of Angels series has been on consoles since the series began in 1993. As the latest entry in the storied tactical RPG franchise, this updated edition of Empire of Angels IV features lush 3D graphics, strategic turn-based combat and an all-female cast of characters fully voiced in Chinese, along with revised localization for English text support.
Join the Namtar Investigation Team as they patrol the Land of Asgard to maintain order against a plague that drives ordinary people to mindless violence. After Niya, captain of the Valkyrie Kingdom’s legion, witnesses a shining orb fall from the sky, everything she understands about Asgard’s history and fragile peace is called into question. Accompanied by trusted allies as well as new friends, Niya leads the team in a world-spanning mission to uncover the truth, all as the mysterious plague threatens to tear them apart.
Dark fantasy adventure arrives July 15th with launch discounts
23 June, 2021 – Digerati is thrilled to confirm the release date for Guild of Darksteel. The dark fantasy adventure will launch July 15th on Nintendo Switch and PC (Steam, GOG, Greenman Gaming, Humble, Nuuveem), and will be available with a 25% discount for a limited time.
Guild of Darksteel is the debut game from developer Igor Sandman. A versatile artist with experience working across a broad range of creative mediums, and with nominations to his name for Best Art and Fresh Talent Prize from the Belgian Game Awards, Igor Sandman is the sole creator of Guild of Darksteel, having produced every aspect of it himself.
Guild of Darksteel is a cinematic, side-scrolling adventure set in a lush, layered dark fantasy world.
Embark on a dark fantasy adventure and follow the Sellsword, an immortal, as he seeks a purpose in eternal life by joining the Guild of Darksteel. Become one of their immortal mercenaries and investigate the mysterious tunnels underneath the cities of Ravenrock.
Key features
Engrossing Combat: Utilize a refined combat system to defeat anyone who stands in the way of your mission. Unlock combos and level them up to your liking. Chain your attacks together and determine a personal attack strategy that will guarantee your victory.
A Living, Breathing World: Explore the fully-realized city of Ravenrock, and interact with its inhabitants. Each character carries a deep story, breathing life into the world of Guild of Darksteel. Friends of foes, their lives won’t leave you unmoved.
A Deep and Nuanced Story: Inspired by classics like Flashback and Vagrant Story, Guild of Darksteel tells a gripping story of power struggle and soul searching, as its characters come face to face with their mortality… or lack thereof.
Stunning Artistic Vision: The world of Guild of Darksteel is comprised of dark, yet evocatively detailed pixel art, and set against a foreboding and thought provoking soundtrack. A unique and daring color palette sets the perfect tone for your investigation of the darkness that lurks beneath Ravenrock.
About Digerati As a publisher, Digerati is dedicated to helping independent developers bring their creations to market and into the hands of gamers. We take care of funding, distribution, marketing and production, leaving developers to focus on what they love – making incredible games and unique experiences.
About Igor Sandman A lifelong storyteller, Igor has an extensive background in film and television production, and worked as an animator on the strategy card game, Faeria. This breadth of experience is on full display in Guild of Darksteel, Igor’s game development debut. https://www.igorsandman.net/
Guide the Only Human Left Through a Gorgeous World Filled with Challenging Platforming as you Jump, Dodge, and Chop Through Diverse Combat Encounters
Wiesbaden, Germany 23rd June, 2021 – Publisher Assemble Entertainment and developer Grimbart Tales have announced their genre-blending action-adventure title ITORAH is coming to Windows PC via Steam later this year. In ITORAH, the lush and verdant land of Nahucan is under threat from a deadly and mysterious plague! It’s up to the titular Itorah — who appears to be the last human left — to battle her way across multiple gorgeous biomes, combatting deadly foes and the even deadlier landscape to stop the threat and save the land of Nahucan.
ITORAH harkens back to the Nintendo Gameboy titles that inspired the team at Grimbart Tales. A loveable and scrappy cast of characters, a looming evil that threatens a colorful fantasy land, and of course, progressively more difficult platforming elements are but a few of the genre hallmarks awaiting players when the game drops later in 2021. As Itorah journeys through the world of Nahucan, she’ll meet a colorful cast of quirky characters, including her chatty and loud-mouthed weapon, which also serves as a guide, to help her understand the events of the past. She’ll need all the help she can get in order to make her way through the winding paths of Nahucan on her quest to save the land and battle the malignant contagion that threatens it!
“ITORAH is a game any player will feel instantly familiar with,” said Assemble Entertainment CEO Stefan Marcinek. “It takes all the best elements of the 8 and 16-bit platforming days and top-quality features that contemporary players expect and combines them with a hand-crafted vibrant aesthetic with tight, fluid gameplay and a heartwarming story filled with endearing characters.”
“With Assemble on board as our publishing partner, the launch of ITORAH becomes a reality and we couldn’t be more excited. ITORAH is an absolute labor of love, and our first game, so it’s really a thrilling time for us. As indie developers, we have the creative freedom to envision a universe that is shaped by numerous memories that fascinated us as children. Our goal is to create similar experiences for future generations and to pass on our passion for the fantastical,” said Artur Bäcker, Creative Director and Co-Founder of Grimbart Tales.
Key Features of ITORAH Include:
Hand-Crafted Quality: Explore a beautifully realized world inspired by South and Central American landscapes, each lovingly hand-painted by the development team to breathe life into the world of Nahucan
Moves like Jagger: Enjoy a staggering 200+ animations that truly bring Itorah and her amazing range of abilities to life in the hands of players
Make Friends Along the Way: As the old saying goes, the “real treasure is the friends made along the way,” and Itorah will need the help of her new friends and allies to help her defeat the great evil threatening the land
Good ol’ Fashioned Platforming: When she isn’t hacking and slashing her way across the landscape, Itorah will need to keep her jumping and dodging skills as sharp as her axe as she conquers progressively more difficult puzzles and platforming sections
Unravel the Mystery: Is Itorah the only human left, and if so, what happened to everyone else? Get to the bottom of the mystery with plenty of exciting twists and turns along the way as the brave young warrior battles her way through lush forests, ancient temples, and more on her quest to save Nahucan!
Grimbart Tales received significant recognition and won 3rd place for ITORAH — the studio’s very first title — in the Indie Award category during Devcom 2020, the official game developer conference of Gamescom.
ITORAH will launch for Windows PC via Steam later this year. Add the game to your wishlist here.
About Assemble Entertainment
Based in Wiesbaden, Germany, Assemble Entertainment is an independent games developer and publisher best known for modernized award-winning Leisure Suit Larry series, featuring two new entries in the iconic decades-spanning saga, and the multi-award-winning Endzone – A World Apart, that challenges players to survive and thrive following an environmental apocalypse. Assemble Entertainment also organizes GermanDevDays, an annual conference that attracts more than 1,200 attendees from across the German-speaking video game development industry.
About Grimbart Tales
Founded in 2018, Grimbart Tales is an independent Development Studio based in Kaiserslautern, Germany. At Grimbart Tales we want to cherish wonderful memories and create games like the ones that thrilled us in our childhood by focusing on delivering high quality art combined with good old platforming gameplay. Learn more about us at https://www.grimbart-tales.com/.
Explore a Rich World Teeming with Content: Quests, Rich Lore, Thrilling Combat, Pets, Custom Houses, and More This July
KARLSRUHE, GERMANY (JUNE 23, 2021) – Gameforge—leading Western publisher of popular multiplayer online games including NosTale, OGame, Metin2, and TERA—with partners Wangyuan Shengtang & Aurogon, are extremely excited to announce that their massively multiplayer online role-playing action game Swords of Legends Online will launch on July 9! In just a few weeks, players will be able to immerse themselves in the rich, expansive, visually stunning world and delve into the mystical story told through fully voiced cutscenes. Legendary warriors will play as one of six initial classes and embark on incredible quests, join forces with formidable allies to take down challenging foes, and rest their weary heads in a home among the clouds—easily accessible thanks to their trusty flying mounts!
Watch the latest Swords of Legends Online Release Date trailer below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIZ8QxTCPy8
Based on the legends that inspired the multi-award-winning television series, several movies, novels, and a series of games including the recent MMORPG Gu Jian Qi Tan Online—which first launched in China in July of 2019—Swords of Legends Online introduces a fully remastered edition of the popular AAA saga to a whole new audience in Europe and the Americas, presented in glorious, high-definition visuals. Following a successful Beta phase where players were able to test the waters, MMO fanatics in North and Latin America and Europe will soon be able to jump into the action themselves and explore a fascinating and strikingly gorgeous world steeped in and inspired by the poetic lore of ancient Chinese culture.
Key Features:
A Fantasy World Unlike Any Other: Inspired by the cultural myths and legends of ancient China, Swords of Legends Online features a vibrant tapestry of rich characters, fantastical settings, and a visual aesthetic that pays tribute to the lore that influenced the game—from historically accurate costumes down to the distinct flora and fauna of each region.
Gods, Demons, and Brave Warriors: A fascinating tale of an ancient war between light and darkness only scratches the surface of an ongoing story that features powerful artifacts, epic battles, ferocious monsters, cults, brave warriors, and a quest to unlock the power of the Ancestral Sword!
A Class for Every Playstyle: Whether you prefer the up close and personal melee warfare of the Berserker or the healing and support abilities of the Bard, with six initial classes Swords of Legends Online allows you to play to your strengths and be an effective party member.
Fast, Fluid Traversal: With such a vast amount of content available to explore, the ability to move quickly and gracefully across the map is vitally important. Characters in Swords of Legends Online can utilize sprinting and double-jumping in classic Wuxia style.
Post-Raid Chill Zone: After a long day of battling demons for the fate of the world, players can retire to their home in the clouds, with fully customizable houses on their personal private islands in the sky! If you don’t feel like hosting, hop on a flying mount and explore a neighborhood filled with other players’ cozy abodes!
Swords of Legends Online will launch on July 9 for Windows PC via the official Gameforge client, Steam, and Epic Games Store with text language support in English, French, and German, and English or Chinese voiceovers. The game is available in three editions: $39.99 USD (€39.99), $59.99 USD (€59.99), and $99.99 USD (€99.99). Players who pre-purchase the game will receive a pre-order bonus which includes exclusive cosmetic in-game items. Additionally, the pre-purchase will also provide access to character name reservation and character creation before the official launch.
Beijing Wangyuan Shengtang Entertainment Technology Co., Ltd. is a Chinese culture inheritor connecting legendary stories to the world through excellent gaming experiences. With three high-level Dev teams including Shanghai Aurogon, Beijing Joyfun and Beijing Xiang Yue, Wangyuan has created iconic game brands such as the renowned “Gujian” Series and “Faith of Danschant”.
Founded in 2002, Gameforge is a leading Western publisher and operator of widely acclaimed Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) and Browser-based game titles. Gameforge builds highly active and enduring global communities by supporting players through the greatest quality LiveOps, provision of localized content, engaging community management, and frequent delivery of meaningful updates.
Gameforge’s diverse portfolio of highly successful gaming brands provides different worlds with engaging experiences for players from all walks of life: core MMORPG titles Swords of Legends Online, AION, TERA, and Metin2, beloved anime MMOs Elsword and NosTale, strategy-focused browser games like OGame and Ikariam, along with other classic titles such as 4Story and Runes of Magic.
New concept art and vampire design details revealed in Interview with Art Director Johan Wahlbäck
Skövde, Sweden – 23rd June, 2021 – Stunlock Studios today have published a Dev Update interview with Art Director Johan Wahlbäck for their open-world vampire survival game, V Rising, coming to PC on Steam with the Beta planned later this year. While the Beta version is coming soon, excited fans have wasted no time sending in questions to gain greater insight into the dark and wonderful world of V Rising. This Dev Update is full of information regarding the atmosphere of the game, the design of characters, the gothic themes across the game’s architecture and the violent contrast between humanity and the bloodthirsty vampires. The art director warns that bloodshed is a key part of the vampire’s visuals, but it is contrasted with their darkness and beauty.
Stunlock Studios’s previous game Battlerite is a competitive game where readability is a crucial element of the intense tactical gameplay. With V Rising’s more detailed graphics and higher fidelity, there are concerns that visual clarity may be affected. Art Director Johan allays those fears with the following statement:
“Even though readability isn’t as crucial as in a competitive arena game like Battlerite, we still work a lot with this in V Rising to make the player feel they are in control of the various gameplay situations. Since the world is high in detail, we chose to simplify the shapes of our characters to make them read better. We’re using an approach similar to what you see in traditionally animated Ghibli and Disney movies, where the characters are outlined to stand out on watercolor-painted backgrounds. This direction enables us to design more distinct characters for better readability without compromising the atmosphere-heavy and richly detailed world.”
Sharpen your fangs and get ready to rule the twilight as V Rising enters Beta in 2021. Sign up for the V Rising Beta and Newsletter here:http://www.playvrising.com
More on V Rising V Rising is an open-world vampire survival game. Awaken as a weakened vampire from centuries of slumber and survive a world full of peril. As a vampire, you need to hunt for blood in nearby settlements to regain your strength and quench your thirst. Build and customize your castle, invite friends to join your clan, and convert humans to servants to grow your empire. Engage in real-time combat and compete for world domination with PvP and PvE challenges. Will you become the next Dracula?
About Stunlock Studios Stunlock Studios is one of the leading independent Swedish game developers in Skövde and most known for arena brawler Battlerite. Since the launch of Battlerite, more than 6 million unique players have tried their luck in the arena, shooting Battlerite up to the peak of the ‘top-selling’ free-to-play games on Steam on several occasions. With a passion for multiplayer action games, the studio crafts groundbreaking and community driven games, always with their players in mind. Visit: https://www.stunlockstudios.com.
Tokyo, Japan – June 23rd, 2021 –My Hero Academia: The Strongest Hero is celebrating its first month of launch with a series of in-game events, new characters, and a fresh mode. The hit-anime based game first arrived on the scene back on May 19th in Europe. Since then, it’s been downloaded over 1.8 million times for both Google Play and the iOS store.
The two newly added characters introduced are Endeavour & Shota Aizawa. Both of them are S rarity heroes, harnessing great power. Endeavour can be acquired using tickets earned by competing in the game’s special access event, while Shota Aizawa is available at the beginning of July. During this event, the exclusive hero’s active card drop rate will significantly increase and their passive card will be easily available as well.
More exciting content will be added over time. In the coming weeks we’ll see a new roguelike gameplay mode for PvE play. Also, a featured Group Battle mode will be introduced with Boss Raid, allowing teams of players to tackle a series of bosses to reap greater rewards. German and French language options are also on the way.
For more on the differences between S, P or T heroes, here are some quick tips:
With an S hero, pulling off an extreme dodge will initiate a time slowdown effect; if the player is using a P hero, an extreme dodge will put a dizzy effect on certain enemies; while a T class hero will automatically heal themselves with a certain percentage of their HP level upon performing an extreme dodge.
In Mock Contest, there are special mechanics that can strengthen or weaken a Hero’s attributes if they fight against another class of Hero. For example, when an S Hero encounters a T Hero, they get a damage boost buff. Buffs are likewise granted if a T Hero faces off against a P Hero, or a P Hero fights an S Hero. Think of it like a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors.
To max out one hero, players have to remember the three most important things to focus on are their Gear, Support Card, and Chip. Watch the video here:
About My Hero Academia My Hero Academia is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kōhei Horikoshi. It follows the story of Midoriya, a boy born without superpowers in a world where everyone else has them. Japan’s greatest hero All Might chooses this unlikely candidate as his successor and enrolls him in a prestigious academy for heroes in training. Since debuting in 2014, My Hero Academia has sold over 50 million copies globally and spawned a popular animated series by Bones, which debuted in 2016, had three feature length spin-off films, and a fifth season will premiere in 2021.
About A PLUS JAPAN INC. A PLUS JAPAN INC. focuses on Japanese anime-based mobile game development and publishing. They have a solid long-term partnership globally with several anime IP and broadcast / distribution channels. Under the mission of “Bring fun to the world”, they continue to get exciting games derived from anime to players all over the world.
About Crunchyroll Crunchyroll connects anime and manga fans across 200+ countries and territories through the content they love. Best known as a top streaming service delivering AVOD and SVOD content, Crunchyroll also provides experiences to deepen fan engagement and community through social, events, games, consumer products, content distribution, content creation, and manga publishing. More information can be found at http://www.crunchyroll.com
On July 15th, reminisce about what was and what could have been.
Cologne, June 23, 2021 – Headup announced the release date for their upcoming narrative adventureLost At Seafor next-gen consoles and PC. Fans of unique adventure games, emotional storytelling and Studio Fizbin can look forward to Lost At Sea’s launch on July 15th.
Studio Fizbin are the critically-acclaimed creators of the beloved The Inner World adventure franchise and the studio behind the 2020 IGF honorable mention Minute Of Islands
Lost At Sea is a game about universal themes like life and death, coming to terms with your past and family. Set on a beautiful island, this game will force you to face your fears and take stock of your life through imaginative minigames and a relatable story. What are the most important moments of your life, and how do you want to live it?
With Lost At Sea, the developers are taking a whole new direction: psychological aspects, first-person gameplay, free exploration and, for the first time ever in their games, an omnipresent feeling of imminent danger.
“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans” – John Lennon
Lost At Sea tells the story of Anna, who, in the later stages of her life, has come to be alone. To live her new future, she will first have to take stock of her past. Construct her memories by finding objects and solving puzzles on a strange island, and face the question we all face eventually: “Did I do it right?”
In Lost At Sea players experience poignant moments in Anna’s life, moments that we can all relate to, moments that make us all wonder how life can suddenly take a hold of us, instead of the other way around.
Set on a mysterious island, where every biome represents a phase of life, you will explore your surroundings and solve riddles to reclaim memories. All the while your fears are chasing you, trying to trap you in your misery and prevent you from moving on. In the end, this is a game about the things you want to remember, the things you wish for and about life as a whole.
FEATURES INCLUDE
A personal story: Experience moments from someone’s life first-hand and help the main character relive and re-assess them to move on
Island of the mind: Explore the different phases of life, each of them with their own beautiful biome on the island
Beautiful memories: Gorgeous illustrations capture the essence of the most important moments in Anna’s life, while elaborate sound design brings her deepest fears to life
Face your fears: Did I make the right choices? Did I fail my loved ones? As Anna, face all fears head-on, or walk away from them until you’re ready
Game to remember: Unlock memories with specifically designed minigames and puzzles that capture these memories in unique gameplay
About Headup
Headup is a hybrid games publishing and development company providing players worldwide with the best content in the independent gaming sector. Established in 2009, it is active on all major platforms such as consoles, mobile devices, and PC and was awarded as “Best Publisher” at the German Developers Awards in 2012, 2013, 2017 and 2019. With over 80 million customers served on mobile and further several million players on the PC and consoles, Headup is always looking to raise awareness and commercial success for developers thinking outside the box. More information can be found at www.headupgames.com and twitter.com/headupgames.
About Studio Fizbin
Studio Fizbin is an Independent Games Studio located in Ludwigsburg and Berlin, Germany. Founded in 2011, the studio strongly focuses on story-based games and interactive apps with exciting and unique characters, worlds and tales. Their first project “The Inner World“ received tremendous critical acclaim. Critics love the intense atmosphere, the intelligent puzzle design and the funny, ambiguous humor. Studio Fizbin also creates games for clients, such as a multiplayer-game-table for a museum or the elephant-app, based on the famous German TV show. The Studio won several awards for their projects, including “Best Family Game”, “Best German Game“ and “Best Innovation“, which reflects their high standards of quality. More at www.studio-fizbin.com and twitter.com/studiofizbin.
Traditionally, Dungeons & Dragons video games have stuck to the tabletop RPG’s roots, leaning heavily on turn based combat. Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Allianceis the latest title to join the small group of D&D branded games to offer a new take on the long running franchise. This action RPG combines elements of Dark Souls and D&D inspired progression.
Story
The game uses the ever popular Icewind Dale setting, previously explored by other video games like Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer and several novels. Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance is set after the events of R.A. Salvatore’s novel The Crystal Shard, the first book in The Icewind Dale Trilogy. Players do not need to read The Crystal Shard or the other novels in Salvatore’s extensive bibliography to appreciate Dark Alliance’s plot, but it will help significantly. Without the background, the game’s plot feels a bit on the shallow side.
Gameplay
First 30 Minutes of Gameplay Video
Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance is a Dark Souls lite action RPG. The game offers four characters from Salvatore’s novels, each representing one of four D&D classes. Combat mechanics emphasizes stamina management, effective combo usage, and avoiding damage. The RPG mechanics in the game have elements of the pen and paper version of D&D, but it is not a 1:1 match.
The combat in Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance is just barely passable. The combat isn’t nearly as difficult as Dark Souls type games, but it isn’t as easy as a mass market hack ‘n slash either. There is a large range of difficulty levels so everyone can find something that provides the desired degree of challenge.
The offensive flow is good. Stamina management is a big part of the game, so players can’t just spam attacks without consequence. Not only do players burn stamina in the short term, their soft cap lowers over time too. The combo system feels solid. Each character has a good number of purchasable moves and abilities to expand their arsenal. I like that many moves have specific purposes in mind, such as disengaging a target or dealing massive damage to a single large enemy. Yet at the same time, there isn’t an overwhelming number of moves to learn.
Defense, on the other hand, is poorly executed. The dodge mechanic feels like it has either no invincibility frames, or the frames are poorly timed. Several large enemies have unblockable hits with short telegraph animations that are impossible to dodge unless the player is willing tank the shot or make one hit, then retreat to see what the enemy does and finally dive in for another hit. The parrying isn’t great either. It is supposed to be a high risk, high reward action that raises the stamina soft cap. The refunded stamina soft cap is simply not enough to be meaningful considering how risky parrying can be.
The biggest problem with Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance’s combat is how easy it is for players to cheese their way through the game. As the difficulty rises, the enemies hit harder and elemental protection becomes more important, but it doesn’t address the fact the AI is dumber than a sack of bricks. There is a large area where the enemy AI will not respond to repeated ranged attacks. The AI will also stare at a player who has retreated across a gap instead of hurling rocks, chasing after the player, or doing anything beyond spewing hurtful insults. The fact each group is limited to only to one archer is probably the game’s only saving grace.
Stamina management is completely broken. The stamina soft cap, especially for the archer, is supposed to force players to close the gap with the enemy so the soft cap can be recovered with parries. Because the soft cap refund is so pathetic, it’s exponentially more efficient to only carry health and fully upgraded stamina potions to ensure there is at least a 50% chance for every chest to drop stamina potions. Then take the talents to gain more potions from small chests and higher potion capacity. As long as players remember to top up their health and stamina before opening every small chest, players can maintain a high soft cap for most of the run.
The RPG mechanics are enjoyable, although nothing stands out. While several elements use similar terminology as Dungeons & Dragons, the mechanics are more in line with the instant gratification offered by video games. Instead of the more varied level up rewards of the tabletop RPG, level ups simply provide points to unlock feats and upgrade attributes. Magical gear drops regularly in dungeons, similar to isometric action RPGs, so players will usually haul back a pile of rares and the odd epic or legendary equipment each run.
The level design is good. Players are free to explore the expansive levels or push through efficiently to the end. Completionists will be able to explore the many back alleys littered with loot and gold. Most of the optional areas are marked with red cloth or paint, but really keen-eyed players can find secret areas that simply look out of place. There’s also a number of optional side quests and puzzles for extra rewards, including bonus feat or points.
One of the glaring issues plaguing Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance is the utter lack of quality-of-life features. It appears little thought has gone into making the experience accessible and efficient. Mouse and keyboard users will discover the extremely limited key bind options. There’s no mark as junk and mass sell function, which is desperately needed considering how slow it is to sell items to begin with. Small chests that drop gold and potions are automatically distributed to the whole party, but each party member is required to visit the larger equipment chest to retrieve their gear. Gold bags sitting on the ground needs to be picked up manually. Games have ditched this mechanic en masse in the last decade, and this mechanic has not aged well at all.
The end of levels is unnecessarily slow and clunky. I am not sure if the game is hiding a load screen by making the process involve a 10 second timer to the score screen, followed by the unskippable score screen, then an option to return to town, followed by a return to the game level, where the player must wait until they suddenly get pushed to the loading screen for town. If the game is loading things behind the scenes during this extended process, the developers need to be more up front about it by putting the loading logo in the corner of the screen to let players know what’s the hold up.
Visuals
The graphics are solid. Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance sticks to the standard high fantasy aesthetic commonly associated with the tabletop franchise. The architecture and environments are an enjoyable walk through different racial styles, from the Dwarves towering stone structures to the rickety goblin huts. I really like how the artists use bright colours to signal points of interest in contrast to the darker and earthen tones in the game.
Audio
The audio experience is a hit and miss. The voice acting is iffy. Some voice actors are solid, including those providing idle enemy chatter. There are a few who are a step or two behind, such as Cattie-Brie’s actor. The sound effects are enjoyable, but the real gem is the soundtrack. It’s an excellent mix of traditional video game scores, choral music, and some Tuvan throat singing. It’s a soundtrack I’ve happily added to my streaming library.
Overall
Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance is a nice change from the other D&D video games that almost exclusively are pure RPGs, but that doesn’t mean the game itself is good. It needs serious fixes. It’s too easy to cheese the game. The defense mechanisms are poorly balanced. The AI is impressively stupid. The quality-of-life features is almost non-existent. With some major polishing, the game might become a diamond in the rough, but I’m not sure if the public can wait that long.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Team17’s real-time annelid action shooter available across all console platforms from today; Xbox and Nintendo Switch players receive free, platform specific skins.
Wednesday, 23rd June 2021 – Team17 has today completed docking procedures and launched Worms Rumble, the first real-time action instalment in the beloved, multi-award-winning Worms series, onto Nintendo Switch, Epic Games Store, and on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One (via the Microsoft Store and Xbox Game Pass. The release of the game, which first launched on PlayStation consoles and Steam for PC in November last year, will coincide with the availability of a brand-new and free arena – Spaceport Showdown – across all platforms.
Enjoy ‘orbit’ of the new space-age Worms Rumble trailer:
Set far above the stratosphere, the Spaceport Showdown features a new, randomly generated, low-gravity mechanic that slows the action down during battle and joins the existing available maps: Deadly Dockyard, Battlegrounds Bank, Missile Mall, Portal Park, and Transforming Towers. New 1extra-terrestrial premium skins, banners, and emotes will help acclimatise the weapon-toting annelids to their new surroundings. A free exclusive outfit, the Series Green Hoodie, will be available to Xbox players, while those on Nintendo Switch can enjoy the free Patchwork Bear outfit.
Worms Rumble key features:
Fast-paced, arena action: Open fire in six varied arenas in up-to-32-player, real-time combat across five solo and team-based game modes, including Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, and the battle royale mode, Last Worm Standing
Take aim across the platforms: Take on friends, frenemies, and unfamiliars whatever the platform, with cross-play matchmaking
Make your Worm its own: Choose and unlock over 1000 options to full customise your worm, from outfits and hats, to eye colour and teeth shape; further personalise the weapons they wield with additional skins to unlock
Lock and load your arsenal: Crates across the arenas contain a host of weapons and items, including fan favourites like the Sheep Launcher, Holy Hand Grenade, and Grapple Gun.
Regular Lab events: The time-limited event Lab mode provides preset maps, weapons, and gameplay mechanics for players to master and unlock new skins
A physical release2 for Worms Rumble is coming to all console platforms on 13th July.
To keep up to date with all the information on Worms Rumble please like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and join us on Discord.
Notes to Editor
1The Spaceworm and Alien downloadable content pack includes three spaceworm outfits (Voyager, Apollo, and Pioneer) and three alien outfits (Grey Alien, Green Alien, and Pink Alien), the Invasion and Rocket Banners, and two Emotes (Salute and Come In Peace) for $4.99/£3.99/€4.99.
2The Nintendo Switch physical edition will feature the case and a downloadable game code.
About Team17 Group plc
Founded in 1990, Team17 Group plc is a leading developer, video games label, and creative partner for developers around the world. Floated on AIM in 2018, Team17, with its extensive portfolio of over 100 titles, embodies the spirit of independent games. In addition to the award-winning Overcooked!, Yoku’s Island Express, and the iconic Worms, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2020, Team17 has helped bring critically acclaimed titles including Hell Let Loose, Moving Out, Golf With Your Friends, Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair, Blasphemous, and The Escapists to gamers everywhere.
This morning we announced Minecraft is partnering with Sega to release the Sonic the Hedgehog DLC pack in the Minecraft Marketplace!
Players can fulfill their need for speed at famous Sonic the Hedgehog locations such as Green Hills Zone and Chemical Plant Zone. Collect rings, dash past obstacles, defeat bosses and build momentum as you run toward a high score.
Players can also pick up a free Sonic the Hedgehog Character Creator item and celebrate Sonic’s 30th birthday this year by joining a special server event hosted by The Hive starting June 28! The two-week special server will feature Sonic-themed mini-games and additional surprises.
For more information on this Sonic the Hedgehog DLC and Minecraft’s latest news, please visit Minecraft.net.
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Time to celebrate Sonic’s thirtieth year!
Phew! You’ll have to give me a second. I ran all the way over here, and I am a little out of breath. I was busy playing the new Sonic DLC when I realized, it’s Sonic’s 30th birthday tomorrow and I’m already late for the party! Sadly, I was sweating profusely before I started sprinting, so there’s no real excuse for that. Maybe the trailer will reveal how Sonic has yet to break a sweat after three decades of running but all it takes for me is a glance at my sneakers.
What a relief! I never have to make up an excuse for not voluntarily jogging, because now I have an infinite 3D runner at my fingertips. I can get all the need for speed my system craves in the different acts and procedurally generated locations instead. Boring forest trail? Tired beach route? Pass! I’ll stick to the Green Hills Zone and Chemical Plant Zone, thank you very much.
Look, before we go any further, let me address the elephant in the room. Yes, there are rings to collect. They are the blockiest rings you have ever laid your eyes on and I love them. I’m not saying there was anything wrong with the original rings, but these right angles just feel right. The rings aren’t the only thing that Sonic brought with him, there are also plenty of obstacles to dash past, bosses to defeat, and momentum to build as you run towards a high score.
Sonic isn’t only known for his speed or spikes, but also as a generous celebrator of birthdays. He doesn’t expect gifts on his special day, he hands out his own! That’s classy. Get your hands on a Character Creator item, available for free in the Minecraft Marketplace.
You can also celebrate Sonic’s birthday by joining the special server event! Starting soon, The Hive are hosting a two-week server-hub takeover featuring mini-games and a few festive surprises. I heard a rumour that something special is happening on one of the weekends, so make sure to check in regularly! Keep an eye on @minecraft on Twitter for details!
Hurry up and get the Sonic the Hedgehog DLC so I can meet you at the finish line! Go on, I’ll be there as soon as I catch my breath.
