Independent Developer BitFinity Packs Musical Adventure withExclusive Track, Portable Play, and More
Baton Rouge, La. – January 21, 2021 – Face the music in Tadpole Treble Encore. Independent developer BitFinity are thrilled to announce the release of Tadpole Treble Encore for the Nintendo Switch™ system today. In this unique approach to the rhythm game genre, players embark on a thrilling adventure through sheet music. As Baton, you’ll literally “play along” with the game’s music as you dodge past predators and obstacles who take the place of the notes for each level’s song. Avoid enemies and hit percussive notes on the beat to accumulate points and fill your Treble Charge to blast through anything in your path.
Tadpole Treble Encore comes packed with new unlockables, Handheld Mode support, and a brand-new stage exclusive for its Nintendo Switch system debut. All in all, there are over 30 original music compositions and 14 levels (including 5 boss battles). In addition to the story mode, the game includes bonus content such as unlockable music, a large bestiary, and in-game commentaries for every level. Best of all, the robust and easy-to-use Composition Mode lets players create their own original levels and music!
“As two lifelong gamers and Nintendo fans, we couldn’t be happier to be launching Tadpole Treble: Encore on the Nintendo Switch today,” said Michael Taranto, co-creator of Tadpole Treble Encore. “We’d like to thank our Kickstarter supporters and players who helped spread the word of Tadpole Treble on Wii U and Steam – and helped make this exciting encore a reality.”Tadpole Treble Encore is developed and published by BitFinity and is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB. Find it today on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch for $8.99 USD. To keep up on the latest from the developers and updates on Tadpole Treble Encore for the Nintendo Switch and Tadpole Treble for Steam and Wii U, please visit the official website and follow developers Matthew Taranto and Michael Taranto on Twitter.
About BitFinity
A small team with big ideas, BitFinity was founded by two brothers who are lifelong gamers. Inspired by Nintendo’s works, BitFinity aims to focus on gameplay-driven concepts to create unique and fun experiences. The company’s founder, Matthew Taranto, already had a sizable audience with his popular parody webcomic, “Brawl in the Family,” but wanted to use the strip as a launching point for bigger ideas. Today, BitFinity is working on an action/rhythm game Tadpole Treble Encore for the Nintendo Switch system, the follow up to the critically acclaimed release of Tadpole Treble for Wii U and Steam.
Legendary collection releases on 29th January 2021Retro masterpiece makes a great comeback
Stuttgart, Germany, January 20th 2021 – ININ Games will release on January 29th both the physical boxed and digitally eagerly anticipated and legendary Turrican collection – Turrican Flashback on Nintendo Switch and Sony PlayStation4.
Developed by legends in the video game industry and remastered by lifelong fans, Turrican’s long awaited return to the market is finally here with a prestigious and carefully selected collection of some of the most amazing titles. The endless exploration and challenge of the classic Turrican 1 & 2 explodes alongside the arcade perfection of Super Turrican and Mega Turrican in Turrican Flashback, bringing you 4 of action gaming’s finest examples of the genre.
Released originally on the classic home computer system, The Commodore Amiga, followed by sequels on Super Nintendo and Mega Drive, these remasters bring brand new elements to the tried and true formula offering both old and new fans something unique for this edition. Play tested and tailored by lifelong Turrican fans from across Europe, the new control scheme makes each Turrican game intuitive and easily accessible for all players as each button and command corresponds to action, and allows for even more precise shots and jumps than ever before.
The all new “Rewind” feature also allows for an optional easier challenge as the pitfalls for older game designs can be overcome by trial and error instantly. For those who wish to come back to the adventure at a later time, the save states are there to let you pick up exactly where you left off.
For those who miss the scanlines and curvatures of retro monitors, Turrican Flashback is not just a travel through time in terms of the games, but even the presentation! Use one of the best CRT shaders in the industry and customize your display to bring the action as close to the way you remember it looking on your nostalgic monitor, or opt for the new dynamic pixel perfect display which allows you to minimize the on screen icons and focus entirely on the gorgeous in-game graphics which still stands the test of time!
All this and of course, we cannot forget about the music! Chris Huelsbeck’s legendary scores are on full display and the games have been painstakingly programmed to ensure the highest quality playback of the original audio across the various sound chips Mr. Huelsbeck perfected. Enjoy the 7 minute epica that is “The Final Fight” in Turrican 2 in pristine original quality, or thump your feet to the beat of “Air Combat” in Mega Turrican, each and every track across every game is a bonafide classic!
Features:
4 classic titles: Turrican, Turrican II: The Final Fight, Mega Turrican and Super Turrican in one awesome package!
Reworked modern control scheme that streamlines the series and makes them more approachable than ever before.
Customize your experience with shaders, wallpapers and different display options.
Gigantic levels, heart-blazing action and huge boss fights. Suit up and prepare for mayhem!
Rewind feature and save states allows you to take on the challenge… with some help!
Timeless and critically acclaimed soundtracks by composer Chris Huelsbeck!
About ININ Games
ININ Games focuses on the digital and physical publishing of high-quality, feel-good retro and arcade games. ININ Games brings retro games to life and creates the classics of the future. They are best known for “Bubble Bobble 4 Friends – The Baron is Back”, “CrossCode”, “Darius Cozmic Collection”, Slaps and Beans” and “The Ninja Saviors – Return of the Warriors”. Numerous other milestones of classic gaming culture are in the planning and will be announced in the coming months. ININ Games is part of United Games Entertainment GmbH. For more information visit http://inin.games.
About Factor 5
Factor 5 is an independent video game developer and technology pioneer founded in Cologne, Germany. The team achieved early success with the classic Turrican series, and after partnering with George Lucas’ LucasArts, created the multi-million-selling Star Wars: Rogue Squadron franchise, gaining a reputation for continually pushing the hardware to its limits across many gaming landmarks.
Following an expansion to California, Factor 5 became a technology partner in the development of Nintendo consoles and member of the Sony PlayStation ICE group. They pioneered many advances in interactive audio and visuals, often in collaboration with partners like Dolby, THX, and AMD/ATI. Creating key streaming and web technologies, the team has been instrumental in bringing services like Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube to many millions of devices, culminating in their current work for Fortnite and Unreal Engine as part of Epic Games.
Turrican, Super Turrican, Rainbow Arts, and Factor 5 are trademarks of Factor 5 GmbH.
RIDE 4 IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR PLAYSTATION 5 AND XBOX SERIES X
The Ultimate Two-Wheel Racing Experience is Riding Through Next-Gen
Sydney, Australia, January 21st, 2021 – Milestone today announces that RIDE 4, the latest chapter of its beloved franchise dedicated to all two-wheel lovers, is finally available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Players who purchased the PlayStation®4 version of the game, are now able to download the PS5™ version at no extra cost until April 30th, 2021, including all DLCs already purchased. While Xbox One players can automatically download the Xbox Series X version at no extra cost thanks to the Smart Delivery feature.
Thanks to the powerful next generation hardware, RIDE 4 is now capable of amazing performance, both for resolution and Frames Per Second. Players now have the chance to ride 200 HP bikes through smoother gameplay running at 60FPS and resolution up to 4K. The incredible quality of models and the density of details will now shine like never before. Additionally, players who really live for competition will experience online races with 20 riders competing for victory and glory!
On PS5™ players will also have the opportunity to play with the innovative PS5 DualSense™: advanced haptic feedback will push the gameplay experience in a new immersive way, letting riders feel vibration, gas and brakes in the most realistic way possible. Moreover, SSD guarantees improvements in terms of loading times, shorter waiting before races and also a much faster streaming of textures. This means an adrenaline filled riding experience that players won’t forget.
RIDE 4 features a cutting-edge level of visual fidelity thanks to original CAD and 3D scans of real models, bringing to life the most iconic bikes of the world. A renewed career mode will bring players into fast-paced challenges all over the world, culminating in the Ultimate Championship with the most powerful Sportbikes, enriched by the new Endurance Mode, the hardest challenge that riders can face. Dynamic Lighting, weather conditions and Pit Stops for tires and fuel management will enhance reality and simulation. A.N.N.A., an acronym for Artificial Neural Network Agent, a revolutionary Artificial Intelligence based on neural networks, has now been improved to push players through an incredible level of challenge. Last but not least, players who want to be unique and recognisable will have access to a deeper editor for bikes, suit and helmet.
RIDE 4 is now available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, featuring free upgrade on PS5™ until April 30th, 2021, and Smart delivery feature on Xbox System.
“ “, “PlayStation” and “” are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved.
About Milestone
Founded in Milan in 1996, Milestone S.r.l. is one of the leading and longest established racing game developer in the world. The 200+ people team is responsible for hit series like MotoGP™ and MXGP – The Official Motocross Videogame, Monster Energy Supercross – The Official Videogame series as well as own IPs Ride and Gravel. For more information please visit www.milestone.it
Pirates, powerful artifacts, endless secrets and even a dog’s birthday await you in this epic adventure!
Vilnius, Lithuania — January 21st, 2021 — Finally, Blackbeard’s days of terror are numbered! Join the protagonist Tilia on her quest to defeat the evil pirate as the anticipated pixel-art adventure RPG, Ocean’s Heart, launches on Steam and GOG for $14.99/€14.99/£13.49. Brought to life by the creator of Yarntown, Max Mraz, and publisher Nordcurrent, Ocean’s Heart pays homage to the genre classics, enriching tried and true roleplaying concepts with a modern flair.
Check out the first 50 minutes of gameplay for Ocean’s Heart here:
Ocean’s Heart is a charming pixel-art action RPG set in a spirited world brimming with secrets, magic, and perilous affairs. As Tilia, a young girl who’s father has been kidnapped by the ruthless pirate Blackbeard, you must set off on a treacherous journey through a vast and dangerous wilderness to rescue him, unraveling a web of pirate conspiracies on the way. Gather items along your journey to craft potions as well as expand and upgrade your ever-growing arsenal of weapons, constantly increasing your skills to fight boss adversaries and survive deadly dungeons.
“Ocean’s Heart was created by pouring out my love of playing in the woods, going on hikes, and discovering cool ravines or ruins. It’s about exploring, and the sense of satisfaction of finding a mystery out there, and trying to figure out what it means,” said Max Mraz, the developer of Ocean’s Heart. “So it lures you off the path by being full of hidden areas that hint at stories and hide new monsters and treasure. Creating the world of Ocean’s Heart and doing all the art, music, writing, and design myself has been a terrific challenge, and I’m thrilled to let everyone else into it.”
“It’s been a pleasure partnering up with Max to help launch his first commercial game for PC,” said Artūras Surgutanovas, Head of Marketing from Nordcurrent. “We love his vision and inspiration from the classic RPGs of the 80s and 90s, and we think that Ocean’s Heart achieves this nostalgia, offering hours of exciting top-down roleplaying action, an engaging story crafted with clever humor, and a beautiful pixel art aesthetic.”
Ocean’s Heart is translated into English, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, and Simplified Chinese.
About Nordcurrent Founded in 2002, Nordcurrent is a video game developer and publisher headquartered in Vilnius, Lithuania. With over 50 game releases under its belt across various platforms, the studio is mostly known for its biggest hit, Cooking Fever, a food-themed time-management game with 250 million downloads and 15 million monthly active users on mobile. Additionally, the studio is proud of its recent award-winning and nominated release, Murder in the Alps, an action-packed shooter Sniper Arena. For more information, visit: https://www.nordcurrent.com
About Max Mraz Max Mraz is an American solo developer based in Ohio. He is the creator of Yarntown, a 2D The Legend of Zelda-inspired version of Bloodborne, and Hallow’s Eve, a Halloween action game set in the 90s about a Pumpkin ghost trying to rent Jurassic Park from the human world. Both are available on Itch.io. Max’s first commercial release is a pixel-art adventure RPG, Ocean’s Heart, now available on Steam and GOG. Follow Max on Twitter.
In case you missed our recent Winter Showcase video, here’s a quick reminder that we are launching the 2D shoot’em up Project Starship X for PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch next week.
Project Starship X will be available digitally on January 27th for US$9.99/€9.99, with an additional 20% launch discount on select platforms.
Blast off for a cosmic Lovecraftian parody in Project Starship X! In this rogue-lite shoot’em up, pilot a star-fighter as Swagthulhu and a diverse cast of other unique pilots. CRASH-KILL your enemies with crazy tactics and absurd power-ups. Using procedural generation to keep you on your toes, this mission will test even the best pilots with its tough-but-fair challenges. Chiptune music and 16-bit graphics get a modern arcade twist in this addictive and over-the-top take on vertical shooter action!
About Project Starship X
Project Starship is back with a wacky take on cosmic horror. In this rogue-lite shooter, you’ll take the role of the tentacled-yet-hip Swagthulhu as you CRASH-KILL comical abominations in flashy 16-bit style! With multi-purpose dodge mechanics and tons of crazy pick-ups, you’ll be able to crash your ship straight through the enemy and emerge unscathed. Project Starship X celebrates genre conventions by turning them upside-down!
Part III: The Twist Concludes “Return of the Goddess of Time” Storyline
TOKYO — January 20, 2021 —Another Eden: The Cat Beyond Time and Space, the mobile adventure game across time and space from WFS, debuts Ver 2.6.100 on the App Store and Google Play Store today with the exciting conclusion to “Return of the Goddess of Time – Part 2 Tales from the East.”
In Part III: The Twist, protagonist Aldo and his friends arrive at the Chapel of the Goddess of Time after countless trials and tribulations. Within, the final piece of the puzzle awaits. Furthermore, new character Heena joins Another Eden’s roster of over 100 playable party members.
Ver 2.6.100 introduces a limited-time campaign, from now until Saturday, March 20, in which users can obtain a 5★ class character in celebration of the latest main story release. Please see below for full details.
Watch the trailer for “Return of the Goddess of Time – Part 2 Tales from the East” Part III: The Twist:
Added Part 2 Tales from the East “Return of the Goddess of Time” Part III: The Twist
Added new maps and areas
Added new background music
◆ Encounters
Part 2 Tales from the East “Return of the Goddess of Time” Part III: The Twist… New character Heena is available
Fateful Encounter (Paid, 1 Time Only) is available
Star Dream Encounter is available (Paid, 1 Time Only)
In the Star Dream Encounter, after the 10 ally Encounter, you will receive a Star Dreams Piece that can encounter a 5-star class character
Note: The characters that are encounterable in Star Dream Encounter and the Star Dreams Piece are only those released as of version 2.5.400. Characters added in later versions will be unavailable
Note: Previously obtained Star Dreams Pieces cannot be used in the version 2.6.100 Star Dreams Piece Encounter
The expiration date of the Star Dreams Piece is 30 days from the time of initiating the Star Dream Encounter
Encounter Kikyo (Paid, 1 Time Only) is available
You will encounter Kikyo (5★: Lila Blitz) on the 10th character encounter
The “Ally Encounters” under Regular Encounters were updated.
◆ Campaign Information
1) Chronos Stone Sale Information
A limited time 2000 Chronos Stone package
A limited time 4000 Chronos Stone package
Duration: January 20, 2021 3:00 (UTC) – January 28, 2021 14:59 (UTC)
Each Chronos Stone package can be purchased only once
2) Campaign where users can get a Rainbow Radiance Drop if they start one of the continuations to the main story
Use the Rainbow Radiance Drop to select one element among fire, water, wind, or earth and then encounter a character from that element (5★ guaranteed)
Each user can receive a maximum of one Rainbow Radiance Drop by starting one of the specified continuations to the main story after updating to version 2.6.100
3) Chapters included in campaign:
Chapter 26 of the main story
Chapter 45 of the main story
Chapter 56 of the main story
Chapter 67 of the main story
4) Campaign Duration: From updating to 2.6.100 to March 20, 2021, 14:59 (UTC)
Note: Applies to only main stories started after updating to version 2.6.100.
Note: Each user can only receive one Rainbow Radiance Drop (even if the user meets multiple requirements, they will not receive multiple Rainbow Radiance Drops).
Note: The Rainbow Radiance Drop encounters consist of characters released in the Gallery of Dreams from version 2.4.400 or earlier. You will get one random 5★ class character with elemental skills corresponding to the element of the encounter you choose.
Please see the in-game notice for details.
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About Another Eden: The Cat Beyond Time and Space
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Title: Another Eden: The Cat Beyond Time and Space
Wargaming releases details of Update 0.10.0 including new themed ships, changes to the Commander skills system, new Clan Brawls and a galleon of discounts and bonuses
AUSTIN, TX (January 20, 2021) – Today Wargaming developer and publisher of the widely popular, free to play naval combat game World of Warships (WoWS), has announced the game’s first update of 2021.
To celebrate the Lunar New Year, starting January 20, commanders will have access to brand new themed content, alongside updates to Commander skills, new Clan Brawls and continued construction on the Kure dockyard, alongside a roster of balance changes, discounts and daily shipments.
Embark on your Journey to the West For this year’s celebration of the Lunar New Year, World of Warships brings a new challenge where players can complete combat missions to earn “Journey to the West” and Lunar New Year containers that can drop various Pan-Asian ships, permanent camouflages and other rewards.
“Journey to the West” containers can also drop one of the new ships Wujing or Sanzang — in permanent Sha Wujing and Tang Sanzang camouflages. Players will also find an updated Dragon Port, as well as new patches and flags. To cap it all off, the final reward for completing combat mission groups is Anshan with a 6-skill-point Commander and Port slot.
The ships, Commanders, and camouflages are named after the heroes of the epic Chinese novel – “Journey to the West” – former celestial General, Sha Wujin; a Buddhist monk, Tang Sanzang; the Monkey King, Sun Wukong; and a sorcerer, Zhu Bajie.
Commander Skills update With the first update of the year, comes big changes to the Commander Skills system that are designed to give players a wider choice of effective battle builds for many different styles of play.
All commanders’ skills will automatically be redistributed, using a recommendation system, providing a skill build that’s effective for each specific ship in the new system. Players can take advantage of the opportunity to reset Commander skills free of charge.
A full overview of the changes can be found in the patch notes here, but in summary:
Each Commander now has a separate skill section for each ship type.
The maximum possible number of skill points available to one Commander has been increased from 19 to 21.
Skill recommendation system, which tailors to the selected ship, has been added.
Commanders with less than 21 skill points will bring players additional Elite Commander XP.
Elite Commander XP can be obtained by dismissing unused Commanders.
A revamped interface of the Commander skill system.
Besides resetting skills and dismounting modernizations for free for the duration of the update, there will be a discount for retraining commanders.
Also, players with Access Level 8 and higher will receive 500 doubloons when they first log in to the game during Update 0.10.0, and there will be a way to get up to 600 more doubloons by completing special combat missions
New Clan Brawls The 14th and 15th Clan Brawls will be fought in a 7 vs. 7 format, with Brawls open to all players, even if a player isn’t currently in a Clan.
They will take place in the Arms Race mode, with huge Coal, Credits and Elite Commander XP rewards up for grabs. The 14th Brawl will be available January 27 – February 1, and the 15th Brawl will be available February 10 – 15. For an outline of how to take part, players can follow this link.
Kure dockyard The construction of Hizen continues! Until the end of Update 0.10.0, players can complete Shipyard combat missions and progress through 22 out of 26 shipbuilding phases. The ability to purchase phases in exchange for Doubloons will continue to be possible until the end of Update 0.10.1.
Full patch notes, including detailed balance changes, can be found here
About World of Warships World of Warships is a free, historical, online combat PC game from Wargaming. With its massive fleet of most iconic war vessels, including four different ship classes and strategically designed environment, World of Warships provides the ultimate naval warfare gaming experience, suitable for everyone. Thanks to its largest collection of historically accurate ships available to play, World of Warships prides itself as a digital ship museum and a focal point for naval history enthusiasts. New thematic content and innovative game modes are being added on a regular basis, providing a diverse and exciting gameplay to its broad player base.
One franchise – multiple platforms After the successful launch of World of Warships on PC, its unique gameplay and design has been adapted to bring free massive naval battles to other platforms with World of Warships: Legends available on PlayStation and Xbox and World of Warships Blitz on iOS and Android mobile devices. Official website: http://www.worldofwarships.eu
About Wargaming Wargaming is an award-winning online game developer and publisher headquartered in Nicosia, Cyprus. Operating since 1998, Wargaming has grown to become one of the leaders in the gaming industry with 4500+ employees and offices spread all over the world. Over 200 million players enjoy Wargaming’s titles across all major gaming platforms. Their flagship products include the massively popular free-to-play hit World of Tanks and the strategic naval action game World of Warships. Official website: www.wargaming.com
There have been many long running video game franchises throughout the years but most of these series change things up from time to time in the form of reboots, spin-offs, and numbered entries that tell an entirely new story with no relation to past events. When a series does try to tell a long-running narrative, it also tends to not be an RPG of all things and that is what makes The Legend of Heroes franchise something special, especially in regards to the Trails of Cold Steel set of games. Telling a grand story arc over the span of six years across four games that feature some story elements introduced over a decade ago, it will be a challenge to see if The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV manages to stick the landing with its current arc before the series continues in the future, so have they succeeded?
Story
While it may be obvious, it is worth mentioning right out of the gate that Trails of Cold Steel IV is not friendly to newcomers in any form and any attempt to try and glean details from contents provided within the game will not be enough to understand most of the events happening in the game. In fact, thanks to the addition of older characters from outside the Trails of Cold Steel storyline, even those who have only played these releases will still feel a bit out of the loop when it comes to some interactions and references to events that have happened in earlier games.
Only two weeks have passed after the climactic battle at the end of Trails of Cold Steel III and now the new Class VII must not only deal with the fallout of these events but try and make a comeback by bringing everyone back together despite the significant loss that they’ve just endured. Since things quickly begin to enter spoiler territory given the immediate results that players will need to be dealing with, we’re going to refrain from mentioning specific details about the story and instead focus on the meat of what has always made the Trails of Cold Steel series great, the character development and the non-stop worldbuilding that has allowed the series to develop into such a massive tale.
Throughout the series players have seen numerous story threads woven together to reveal various twists and turns that have kept them guessing and while some of these plot threads have been solved before, it all comes to a head here in Trails of Cold Steel IV and we can thankfully state that the writers have managed to stick a fairly solid landing this time around as nearly every plot point comes together in one form or another as players progress through the game. Given the scale of the world building and the conflict that the characters find themselves embroiled in, there is a certain sense of excitement and dread at times that the story can easily convey whenever key story elements are revealed or characters make drastic decisions, especially for the longtime fans who have been with some of these characters for four roughly hundred hour long RPGs.
It is a bit unfortunate however that while the grand overarching storyline is handled exceptionally well, the pacing itself is a bit on the rough side and the game suffers a bit from having far too many characters to know how to handle them all. To begin with, while dealing with the initial fallout from what happened at the end of the previous game reveals new sides to the new members of Class VII as they step up to the plate and take on more responsibility and try to lead their comrades, this slowly ends up becoming a bit of a grind as players will find the plot boiling down to having to track down characters to add them to their cause or solve a simple problem that takes far longer than it should.
As mentioned before, another aspect that hinders Trails of Cold Steel IV a bit is the fact that it suffers from bloat. By trying to tell such a grand tale it also brings with it all of the available members of the new Class VII, the older members of the graduated Class VII, and even main characters from both the Crossbell and Trails in the Sky series as both playable and plot relevant characters. This wouldn’t be too much of an issue as a whole if it weren’t for the fact that all of these characters are meant to be interacting with one another all while an intricate storyline is being told in the background. As a result only some of these characters actually get a chance to shine, especially later when there are over ten characters all trying to chime in on a single conversation.
The writing team does try its best to try and balance interactions as much as they can but it quickly will become evident that most of the new Class VII members are given the focus here, even when it comes to interacting with those from Sky and Crossbell, meaning fans of the original cast of characters from the first two games will continue to be disappointed here. This large cast of characters is fitting given the fact that the story culminates here, but it does mean that those characters that don’t have proper development are left to be rather one-note in nature and simply go off of what players are expected to already know of them from past experiences.
That isn’t to say that the story is bad by any means since, as mentioned, the overarching storyline is an epic tale that has been built up to such a grand scale over the years with many characters that players have come to know so players will not want to miss out on this, despite the fact that character bloat hurts overall development and the pacing is a bit rough. It is also worth noting that players should be prepared for both a standard ending as well as a true ending that requires a bit of extra work that is fairly easy to unlock, but may catch players off guard at first.
Gameplay
Considering the fairly quick turn around for these lengthy RPGs, it isn’t much of a surprise that those who are familiar with the gameplay elements of Trails of Cold Steel III will find that Trails of Cold Steel IV has only seen some minor tweaking to the various mechanics as a whole. Some of these improvements involve an increase in maximum “Battle Points,” heavier reliance on Arts in combat, and Brave Orders playing key roles in combat with some of these orders now capable of being leveled up by completing various trials that players will encounter in the world. This means that while Trails of Cold Steel IV’s combat plays basically the same as the previous game, the minor tweaks are noticeable enough to smooth a few wrinkles that still existed plus the ridiculous number of playable characters that players can have access too at times can really spice up combat and offer plenty of variety for longtime fans.
Outside of the game’s combat system Trails of Cold Steel IV once again follows a fairly standard JRPG formula as players take on story driven missions, delve into dungeons to complete an objective, take on various side-missions, bonding with the numerous characters in the game through side-interactions, and even a number of mini-games both old, such as fishing and Vantage!, and new, such as Pom Pom Party!, to offer a bit of extra content for players to explore. It is also worth noting that player exploration is made much easier this time around as players will quickly gain access to an air-ship that allows for revisiting most areas once they are completed, allowing players to sometimes take on challenges, such as the aforementioned trials, that they may not have been able to beat upon finding them the first time.
Visuals & Audio
While the Trails of Cold Steel franchise has never really stood out as one of the best looking games from Falcom players can see that the developers have tried their best here to offer plenty of detailed character models and unique enemies for players to battle against and areas to explore. It is worth noting that, once again, players shouldn’t expect much of an improvement over the past game but it is a really nice touch to see so many old faces from the franchise return and make their high-definition debut so many years after their own games were released.
Players can choose to either have the original Japanese voice track or the new English cast who have returned to reprise their roles from the previous entry. The English cast handles their characters quite well though so most players will be pleased with their performances here. The soundtrack for the game once again proves to be outstanding as there are tracks that fit the most grandiose moments of the story as well as some amazing smaller tunes that work perfectly while exploring the world and interacting with the numerous characters and NPCs.
Overall
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV manages to successfully pull off a highly pleasing conclusion to this long running saga by taking everything the series has built up over the years and delivering an epic tale that may drag at times but delivers nearly everything that fans could have hoped for. That being said, longtime fans may feel that Trails of Cold Steel IV is just a bit too “similar” to the previous entry in the franchise by offering very little in the way of gameplay improvements and character bloat, that while great for pleasing fans and offering variety, hinders the story development for most of the cast.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Chief Developer Nicola Piovesan dives into the robotic future of Neo-Berlin and all the details that bring his passion project to life
Wiesbaden, Germany. 20th January, 2021. Publisher Assemble Entertainment and developer Chaosmonger Studio are inviting you behind the scenes of the upcoming point-and-click adventure game, ENCODYA, with Chief Developer Nicola Piovesan. ENCODYA brings players to the dystopian near-future of Neo-Berlin, where a young orphan girl named Tina teams up with a hulking mass of metal and wiring named SAM-53 to bring light and happiness back to the hellish cyberpunk landscape of 2062.
In this new featurette, Piovesan takes players behind the scenes and dives into the little details that truly bring the world of Neo-Berlin to life. A point-and-click adventure game succeeds when it offers a believable fantasy world for players to explore and discover, and as Piovesan explains in the video, ensuring each element of the game lends itself to the experience is key to doing so. From the creation of completely original billboards and advertising jingles to simple things like the dialogue between NPCs on the street, Piovesan takes viewers through the creation process, providing developer insight into how creating an authentic world is possible with a strong narrative and plenty of subtle background detail.
Key Features of ENCODYA:
Entirely Original Soundtrack and Audio: Not only will players enjoy a unique, custom soundtrack, but everything from the character dialogue to the advertising jingles are self-produced audio tracks, not simply sound bites from an audio-library
A Robust Script: To really bring the world of ENCODYA to life, more than 4,000 lines of dialogue provide an engaging and immersive cinematic experience
This Puzzle Was Different Last Time…: Puzzle randomization adds replay value and a fresh challenge for players looking to enjoy multiple trips to Neo-Berlin
A Full Cast of Characters: With 34 distinct NPCs, the dystopian world of Neo-Berlin is brought to life with a whole host of fully-realized individuals
Keep up to date with ENCODYA by following the game on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Join the Assemble Entertainment community on Discord for even more news!
ENCODYA will be available on Windows PC, Mac, and Linux platforms via Steam, GOG and ENCODYA.com on 26th January, 2021, for £21.99 for the standard edition, and £31.99 for the ‘Save the World Edition’. Both can be pre-ordered now with a limited time 20% discount.
Based in Wiesbaden, Germany, Assemble Entertainment is an independent games developer and publisher, best known for Leisure Suit Larry: Wet Dreams Don’t Dry, the latest installment in the humorously naughty point-and-click adventure 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 1,100 attendees from across the German-speaking video game development industry.
About Chaosmonger Studio
Based in Tallinn, Estonia, Chaosmonger Studio has over 20 years of experience in producing various forms of entertainment ranging from documentaries, sci-fi films, animations, music videos, and video games. Founded in 2000 by Nicola Piovesan, Chaosmonger Studio has since created numerous award-winning pieces of content and has participated in world-renowned film and content festivals, which have earned the studio nearly 100 awards. Learn more here: http://www.chaosmonger.com.
Encodya will be available on Windows PC, Mac, and Linux platforms via Steam and GOG on January 26, 2021, for $24.99 USD. To learn more and add the game to your wishlist head over to the Steam page.
Keep up to date with Encodya by following the game on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Join the Assemble Entertainment community on Discord for even more news! If you’d like to check out the game for yourself, simply hit the code request button at the top of this form and we’ll get you sorted. If you’d like to chat with Nicola Piovesan about his two-year passion project, let us know and we can set up a chat!
A Vibrant Puzzle Game Developed by the Team Behind the Popular ‘The Coma’ Series
Cologne, January 20, 2021 – Publisher Headup and the developer of popular The Coma series, Devespresso Games, are delighted to announce the launch of Scarlet Hood and the Wicked Wood on Steam Early Access on February 10.
Featuring Devespresso’s signature manhwa-style with hand-illustrated graphics by Minho Kim and a non-linear story written by T.L. Riven, Scarlet Hood and the Wicked Wood is a puzzle adventure set within a vibrant Oz-esque fantasy world. The game features a recurring time loop (think Groundhog Day) with unique branching story paths.
The initial launch will reveal the first four chapters of the game, followed by several updates including a content update with additional chapters in late February. The final chapter, featuring multiple endings, will arrive with the official release scheduled for March.
Scarlet, the protagonist and a diva in the making, awakes in the realm of Glome after being flung over by a rogue tornado. She discovers an electrifying world brimming with magic, beauty, and artifacts from a mysterious bygone culture. Her strange journey begins when she takes up the mantle of the Red Witch and leads a troupe of Munchkins through the forbidden Wicked Wood. In a world full of riddles and wonders, she encounters witches, a tin knight, talking beasts, monsters, and many fearsome creatures to overcome.
The fledgling witch soon discovers a Recursion Hex has her reliving the same day. However, each death presents new opportunities to branch the adventure in exciting new ways. Ultimately, her decisions lead to multiple endings. In the deep wood, where a bad hungry wolf roams and a wicked witch casts her evil spells, Scarlet must rely on her wits and a cute fox, acting as her pathfinder, to overcome the disasters that await her at every turn.
The only way to get through the wood is by solving puzzles that require logic, or by finding clues that are scattered across the wood, in the shapes of items, conversation with the NPCs, writings on the walls, and much more. If stuck, players are encouraged to visit the community on Steam or Devespresso’s Discord server to discuss and find solutions to the puzzles with other players.
About Scarlet Hood and the Wicked Wood
Scarlet Hood and the Wicked Wood is a story-driven adventure game. As Scarlet, you must relive seven days of misfortune, and make a series of decisions to guide your Munchkin troupe safely out of the Wicked Wood. Experience branching outcomes based on your decisions. Most importantly, immerse yourself in a bewitching story of fantastic adventure!
Survive a narrative time-loop.
Solve ridiculous puzzles.
Follow your own multi-path story.
Unlock multiple endings based on your decisions.
Ogle the hand-illustrated graphics.
Use Scarlet’s witching skills to avoid detection.
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, Twitter and Discord.
About Devespresso Games
Devespresso Games is an independent, four-man team based out of Seoul, South Korea and San Francisco, USA. The team focuses on crafting interactive stories, immersive worlds, and memorable characters through the medium of games. The guys followed up on the success of their console debut and cult hit, The Coma: Recut, with the fantasy, roguelike adventure game, Vambrace: Cold Soul. Their last game, The Coma 2: Vicious Sisters, was released in 2020 on PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch and Xbox One. Currently they are working on Scarlet Hood and the Wicked Wood. More at www.devespressogames.com.
