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BANDAI NAMCO ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA INC. ROLLS OUT THE RED CARPET FOR THE LAUNCH OF KATAMARI DAMACY REROLL ON PLAYSTATION 4 AND XBOX ONE

BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.’s Beloved Roll-Em-Up Game Franchise Brings Updated Graphics and Recreated Cutscenes to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One

SANTA CLARA, Calif., (November 20, 2020) – Leading video game developer and publisher BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. today announced that Katamari Damacy REROLL is now available for purchase in the Americas for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Xbox One. Featuring truly unique gameplay that’s easy to pick-up and play and backed by a whimsical soundtrack, Katamari Damacy REROLL transports players to a magical world of delight and fun where anything and everything can be rolled up into a Katamari ball.

The King of All Cosmos has knocked out all the stars in the sky after a particularly rambunctious night of fun. Realizing his mistake, The King has tasked his young son, The Prince, to go to Earth and roll up as many things as possible to recreate the missing celestial bodies. Paper clips, books, cars, buildings, mountains, and continents, nothing is too big or too small for The Prince and his adhesive Katamari ball. For players looking to challenge their friends to a “roll-off,” Katamari Damacy REROLL features a head-to-head local multiplayer mode where the player who rolls up the biggest Katamari ball wins praise from the King of All Cosmos. 

“We are so excited to bring the wacky and zany adventure of Katamari Damacy REROLL to a whole new audience on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One,” said Abelina Villegas, Associate Brand Manager for BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. “We think everyone could use a light-hearted out-of-this-world escape right about now, and we hope that Katamari Damacy REROLL helps restore a little twinkle in the hearts of all who play it.”

For more information regarding Katamari Damacy REROLL and other titles from BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. please visit https://www.bandainamcoent.com, follow us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS, or join the conversation on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/BandaiNamcoUS.

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About BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc.

BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc., part of BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc., is a leading global publisher and developer of interactive entertainment for all major video game consoles, iOS, Android, and online platforms. The company is known for creating and publishing many of the industry’s top video game franchises including PAC-MAN®, GALAGA®, TEKKEN®, SOULCALIBUR®, and ACE COMBAT®. BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. is the premier publisher in the Western hemisphere for anime based video games including NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™, DRAGON BALL Z®, and ONE PIECE®. More information about the company and its products can be found at http://www.bandainamcoent.com or www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS

Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin Launches on Nintendo Switch™ and PlayStation®4 within Europe and Australia

A Spoiled Princess Reclaims her Birthright as the Harvest Goddess in Action Platformer and Rice-Farming Simulation Hybrid

London, United Kingdom – 20th November 2020 – Following on from the highly successful launch in Japan, Marvelous Europe Limited are today excited to confirm that action/simulation game Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is now available physically and digitally for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 within Europe and Australia.

Gameplay Video

The momentum around Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin continues outside of Japan having received positive reviews from critics, as commented by Marc Melton, General Manager of Marvelous Europe.

“We’re thrilled to see the reaction for Sakuna: of Rice and Ruin in Japan last week. We always knew this was a special title from a passionate and talented indie team and are excited to now bring their huge success to Europe and Australia today. We can’t wait to share the game’s unique combination of beautiful art, unique side-scrolling combat and rice farming to the gaming community in the West, we’re already seeing some incredible review scores from major sites across the continent!”

Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin delivers the unforgettable story of Princess Sakuna, a harvest goddess banished to an untamed island with a group of humans, has been brought to life by developer Edelweiss. Acclaimed for their work on the shoot ‘em up Astebreed, Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin presents a return to the combat-focused platforming roots of their earlier title Fairy Bloom Freesia, featuring refined action gameplay mixed with unique rice-farming simulation.

Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is available as a physical Collector’s Edition, known as Golden Harvest, for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4, and as a Digital Deluxe Edition on the PlayStation Store for the PlayStation 4. A standard physical edition of Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 are also available at selected retailers, and digitally from the Nintendo eShop and PlayStation Store, within Europe and Australia with an SRP of £34.99 / €39.99 / $59.95 AUD.

The Golden Harvest Edition of Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is available to order from selected retailers across Europe and on the Marvelous Games Store for £49.99 / €59.99.

Golden Harvest Edition Contents:

▪ Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin Game
▪ 132-page Artbook
▪ 3 Disc Soundtrack CD Collection
▪ Double Sided Poster
▪ Collector’s Box

The Digital Deluxe Edition is exclusive to the PlayStation Store for the PlayStation 4 and is priced at £44.99 / €49,99 / $69.95 AUD.

Digital Deluxe Edition Contents:

▪ Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin PlayStation 4 Game
▪ Digital Soundtrack App with 42 tracks
▪ 4 Exclusive PlayStation 4 Themes
▪ PSN Avatar Set with 9 Avatars

About Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin:
Developed by Edelweiss, the team behind acclaimed indie darling Astebreed, Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin combines side-scrolling action with deep crafting and rice cultivation. Players take on the role of Sakuna, a spoiled harvest goddess banished to a dangerous island with a group of outcast humans. As she explores the beautiful yet forbidding environments of the island, she will also find a home in a mountain village, proving herself worthy of her title by harvesting rice and bettering the lives of humanity.

About Marvelous Europe
Founded in April 2012, Marvelous Europe is the European based publishing operation of Marvelous Inc., overseeing operations for all European territories as well as South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East. Marvelous Europe has been responsible for publishing games across various platforms, including mobile, handheld, consoles and PC. Marvelous Europe is a 100% wholly-owned subsidiary of Tokyo-based Marvelous Inc., a publicly-traded company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

WARHAMMER VERMINTIDE 2 RELEASE NEW CAREER

All eyes on Bardin – The Outcast Engineer

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, November 20, 2020.  Independent developer Fatshark are proud to bring a new career to the award-winning and multi-million selling Warhammer: Vermintide 2.

Let us introduce the Outcast Engineer
Dwarfs are tradition-minded people, trusting the wisdom of their ancestors and their aged longbeards rather than any new ideas or innovation. Their traditionalism carries through to everything dwarfs do, including their engineering, and perhaps as a result dwarfs are the finest engineers in the world – just ask any dwarf. 

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1443780/Warhammer_Vermintide_2__Outcast_Engineer_Career/

“We are happy to add another new career in Warhammer: Vermintide 2” says Martin Wahlund, CEO Fatshark. “Fan favorite Bardin excels, and will bring a new arsenal with him to fend off Skaven and Chaos factions.”

About Fatshark®

Headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden and established in 2007 independent developer Fatshark is comprised of a team of 80+ experienced games developers, who strive to create compelling interactive experiences. Apart from Warhammer: Vermintide 2, the team has previously developed titles including Warhammer: End Times – Vermintide, Lead and Gold, Krater and War of the Roses. For more information, visit www.fatsharkgames.com

About Games Workshop®

Games Workshop® Group PLC (LSE:GAW.L), based in Nottingham, UK, produces the best fantasy miniatures in the world. Games Workshop designs, manufactures, retails, and distributes its range of Warhammer®: Age of Sigmar® and Warhammer® 40,000® games, miniature soldiers, novels and model kits through more than 529 of its own stores (branded Games Workshop® or Warhammer®), the www.games-workshop.com web store and independent retail channels in more than 50 countries worldwide. More information about Games Workshop and its other, related, brands and product ranges (including our publishing division ‘Black Library’ and our special resin miniatures studio ‘Forge World’) can be found at www.games-workshop.com.

PLAY MONSTER TRUCK CHAMPIONSHIP ON NINTENDO SWITCH™ NOW IN EUROPE AND ON NOVEMBER 24 IN NORTH AMERICA!

Lesquin, France, November 19, 2020 – NACON and the development studio TEYON are pleased to announce the release of Monster Truck Championship on Nintendo SwitchTM in Europe and in North America on November 24.

On October 25, the press and public were able to get their hands on Monster Truck Championship for PC, Xbox One and PlayStation®4. They were able to hail the game’s stand-out qualities: the realistic vehicle physics, deep customization of the monster trucks and almost instant fun! 

Now, owners of Nintendo Switch™ can experience the thrill of driving these powerful monsters. Take advantage of the portability of Nintendo SwitchTM to play Monster Truck Championship anywhere, alone or in online multiplayer, and start a race or freestyle session wherever you feel like it.

In Monster Truck Championship, you take the wheel of one of 16 vehicles and enter five types of event. In these championships, you will compete in 25 stadiums and circuits in various cities across the United States. Taking a realistic approach to driving rather than an arcade-game style, Monster Truck Championship gives players the chance to take part in frenzied races and pull off believable aerial and ground moves by learning the unique physics of these vehicles.

Monster Truck Championship boasts many features:

  • 25 circuits in different cities across the United States
  • 5 types of event: Race, Time-Trial, Drag Races, Freestyle and Destruction
  • 16 customisable vehicles with over 50 options
  • Realistic driving and physics, including independent front- and rear-wheel control, and adjustment of different mechanical elements, such as suspensions, gearbox and engine
  • An online mode for up to 8 players in monster-sized races
  • A Career mode where you manage the vehicle, sponsors and technicians to improve your performances and earnings

Monster Truck Championship is available now on PlayStation®4, Xbox One, Steam, and for the Nintendo Switch™ on November 24, 2020 in North America.

About NACON
NACON is a company of the BIGBEN Group founded in 2019 to optimize its know-how through strong synergies in the video game market. By bringing together its 8 development studios, the publishing of AA video games, the design and distribution of premium gaming devices, NACON focuses 20 years of expertise at the service of players. This new unified business unit strengthens NACON’s position in the market, enables it to innovate by creating new unique competitive advantages and achieve its ambition to become one of the world’s leading players in gaming. https://www.nacongaming.com/

About TEYON
Established in 2006, Teyon is a successful multi-platform video games developer and publisher. Teyon’s aim is to provide gamers with high-quality video games and software on a range of leading platforms. Teyon has three offices in Poland and Japan full of gaming fanatics! http://www.teyon.com/

Ubisoft Launches Their First Ubisoft Nano game Exclusively on Poki from Newly Opened Studio in Vietnam

Ubisoft recently teamed up with Poki to bring their first Ubisoft Nano game called Rabbids Wild Race to the web. The game is now freely accessible to millions of web users around the world!

Play ​Rabbids Wild Race game on Poki​ now​

Rabbids Wild Race continues with the tradition of uniting multiple players in one gameplay. However, there’s a twist. Instead of limiting the player count to 4, players will be able to play on Poki with up to 31 other players. 32 naughty Rabbids on one screen is a lot to take in and makes this game release extra special.

There is a direct competitive aspect of the game. You can bounce on other players to prevent them from winning. That’s your chance to throw your opponents into obstacles to end their runs. Rabbids seem cute but they can turn mischievous if left unchecked.  Rabbids Wild Race is Ubisoft’s first Ubisoft Nano production ever built and is being launched exclusively on Poki.

Ubisoft is proud to announce Rabbids Wild Race will be featured on the leading global web platform: Poki.

About Ubisoft Nano

Ubisoft Nano is a new and growing collection of multiplayer Free Fun-sized Instant Games based on Ubisoft beloved worlds. Accessible and enjoyable to everyone, Ubisoft Nano games are lively and easy to pick up, and designed to bring instant bursts of arcade fun to fans of Ubisoft characters, hypercasual gamers, and live-multiplayer aficionados, on mobile and desktop. Play, share & party live with millions of players from the four corners of the world with Ubisoft Nano!

About Poki

Poki is a global gaming platform on a mission to become the ultimate online playground for players and game developers alike. Poki is reaching over 30 million monthly players worldwide and is localized in 28 languages and on their web platform, you can find hit titles like Subway Surfers (by Kiloo), Crossy Road (Hipster Whale), and Stickman Hook (Madbox). They help a growing community of over 200 game developers achieve success on the web by offering their games to a wide audience and helping them monetize via premium advertisements. For more information visit Poki for Developers page.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Review

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X (Reviewed), PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC
Release Date: Available Now
Price: $59.99 USD – Available Here $99.95 AUD – Available Here

Overview

For many years now the Assassin’s Creed franchise has been experimenting with different changes to its formula to the point that anyone who saw the initial 2007 release would believe that the latest game, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, was from an entirely different franchise. Where previous games saw more focus on stealth and smaller scale locations, or plenty of boat combat, the latest trilogy of games has seen the series bloom into an action RPG with large maps and plenty of combat variety. So now that the story has traveled as far back as ancient Greece to as modern as Victorian London, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla places players into the role of a Viking from Norway setting out to England to make their own path.

Story

After a brutal childhood, the brash Viking warrior Eivor, who can be played as either a girl, a boy, or swapped between the two depending on the Animus and can be changed at any time should the player wish, finds herself learning she is doomed to an awful fate. With her clan arguing over the proper way to continue living, be it in peace under a new ruler or continuing the Viking way of expanding and pillaging, Eivor chooses to follow her sworn-brother Sigurd and many of the Raven Clan on an excursion that sees them leave the land of Norway for the war-torn shoes of England. Here Eivor and the rest of the clan establish a settlement and begin to carve their niche into the land, through blood and fire if need be.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla takes a rather interesting approach to telling its narrative this time around, though it ends up taking a bit too long to get going in general as most players will find themselves at least twelve to fifteen hours into the game before things start opening up properly. Rather than focus entirely on a driven narrative Eivor will find that they are tasked by Sigurd to ally with each of the four kingdoms of England: Wessex, East Anglia, Mercia, and Northumbria in an effort to secure the clan’s land and each of these kingdom alliances plays out as their own little narrative arcs that generally feature their own style of storytelling and characters that are unique to each section. This works rather well as players will find themselves always seeing something new as they progress the story, as each arc consists of some lengthy missions, but it does mean that there is no significant character development for the bulk of the side characters that players come across, especially since most of these characters never end up appearing in the story again outside of some exceptions.

Although the side characters may not be the best, Eivor makes up for this in spades by having a larger than life personality, plenty of charm and wit, as well as a brutally fierce attitude when it comes to fighting against fate. Players will make various decisions throughout the game that help shape Eivor a bit and these choices can range from having smaller effects on the world overall to the point that they seem inconsequential to playing a major but not immediate role. On the other side of the coin, the modern day storyline picks up after the events of the Odyssey’s final piece of DLC where the world is at the brink of destruction and only through the help of a mysterious and cryptic message leading the group to Eivor’s bones does there seem to be a way to avoid the apocalypse. As usual, modern day elements of the story don’t quite work as well as the events that take place inside of the Animus and while there are some extreme twists that happen on both sides of the story, it is quite evident where the focus is being placed here.

Outside of the main storyline players will find that the land of England and Norway have plenty of lore and extra short stories well worth their time. Many locations feature tidbits of lore about the land that the player is exploring and the world events that players will come across run the gambit from being hilarious to downright crazy depending on what the players are tasked with doing. There is such a wide variety to these world events that players really have no way of finding out how things will play out when they come across them, especially since a few can be handled in more than one way.

Gameplay

For the most part players will find that combat in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla remains mostly the same as the previous two entries in the series only this time around Eivor is capable of dual wielding every type of single-handed weapon, including shields which make for some rather astounding looking fight sequences at times. Any weapon that is dual wielded will deal more damage with the primary hand compared to the off-hand but players can mix things up in a variety of ways to best fit their playstyle, even if it simply remains “axe and board.” Two handed weapons can still only be used one at a time and players always have access to three types of bows that provide either standard shots, rapid fire shots without much chance to aim, and slow but more deliberate aimed shots. It is interesting to note that combat skills, both for ranged and melee attacks, are no longer unlocked through leveling up and are instead found from books discovered by exploring the world, with the first book teaching a skill and the second one improving it in some manner.

For players that want to focus a bit more on stealth, things remain a bit more action oriented but there are some elements here to make stealth and assassinations play more of a role this time around. Assassinating enemies remains a viable option, especially since players can quickly obtain a passive ability that allows Eivor to take part in a simple quick time event to properly assassinate an enemy even if they happen to be way stronger than she is at the moment and a number of sneaking, blending with a crowd, and even distractions can be used to distract enemies from seeing what Eivor might be up to.

Regardless of how players choose to take on the missions and enemies they come across, nearly every activity in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla provides XP in some form and helps Eivor level up and gain skill points that can be applied to a skill tree designed around constellations. Most of these points unlock various passive bonuses such as boosts to health, melee damage, stealth damage, etc. but there are a number of passive skills that can also be obtained through this system. This includes the aforementioned quick time assassinations on stronger targets, various additions to the melee arsenal, additional stealth abilities such as chain assassination, and more. Even gear is given a bit more freedom this time around as most equipment features the same stats that can then be improved through a blacksmith or player upgrades, allowing players to use equipment that can be a bit more cosmetic if they feel like it.

This level of freedom is continued a bit in the way that world exploration works. As soon as players set foot in England they have the ability to travel across most of, if not all, of the map should they so choose. Of course various regions will feature higher powered enemies but these encounters appear to be more like suggestions this time around as it is entirely possible to survive and even take down higher level foes, giving players plenty of chances to see everything the game has to offer whenever they feel like going off the beaten path or taking part in the numerous world events, side-activities, collectibles, and mini-games that dot the map in what is easily the largest feeling world the series has seen so far outside of maybe Black Flag, though this is mostly due to the fact that the Viking ship this time around is mostly used to simply travel through the riverways or transport Eivor’s fellow Vikings to a raid location.

Raids are a simple enough affair that often end up being far too easy for their own good outside of a few specific story related ones that scale up the amount of combatants to a surprisingly high amount. Players will aim their Viking ship towards the shore and blow the horn to send their men fighting through a monastery or enemy camp in search of riches and, most importantly, construction materials that can be used for Eivor and the Raven Clan’s settlement. Oddly enough even though Viking raids were likely bloody affairs that, while I’m far from a history buff, would probably see the deaths of innocents, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla threatens and will desynchronize players should they slay more than one or two innocents in the turmoil.

As mentioned before, players will spend many resources from their raids building up the Viking settlement through various building upgrades and additions. These range from creating an easy to reach trading post to sell random spoils and purchase items, various production sites to improve player buffs, buildings that can be used to customize Eivor’s appearance, train her mounts and raven, fish, and more. This provides an interesting area full of upgrades and the more time players invest in the settlement the more missions can come from it as most buildings offer unique objectives that players will need to accomplish, making sure that there is always a little something new to do.

Unfortunately with such a grand world to explore and so much variety in the way of side-activities and even main missions, there are a number of bugs that rear their head even on the next-gen Xbox Series X version of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. On more than one occasion entire world events needed to be reloaded as characters either would not spawn properly or react as they should to the actions taken by the player. Even standard environmental puzzles would glitch out entirely, with explodable walls not breaking when directly hit by jars or floating platforms not appearing. Most of these issues were resolved simply by reloading the game but these appeared far too frequently and even one significant boss battle was cut laughably short due to the opponent glitching and dying immediately.

Visuals & Audio

Players will be delighted to hear that Assassin’s Creed Valhalla has seen some significant graphical improvements on the Xbox Series X release of the game as the lands of both England and Norway are gorgeously represented here. Norway is shown in its snowy glory with some variety here and there while England truly shines as it ranges from lush fields, ruined locations of previously great buildings, swamp lands, and more. Combat features a variety of unique animations for every weapon type and the fights can be quite gory as enemies will readily be dismembered with heads or arms being sent flying from executions. It is also worth noting that the game loads incredibly fast be it through fast travel or simply starting the game up from a cold start, traversing the extremely large map and making use of quick travel spots ends up being a quick and easy endeavor thanks to such fast load speeds.

It is interesting to note that since players can swap between the male and female versions of Eivor at will, or randomly as chosen by the Animus, players have the option to experience the voice work of the character in either form and while Odyssey saw the female version of the main character providing the stronger performance, Valhalla‘s voice acting leans a bit closer to the male’s performance this time around though both put in a solid enough performance regardless of what players choose. The soundtrack features some great tracks that are extremely fitting for the theme of the game and players can even choose to listen to both songs as well as tales while traveling on their boat once again.

Overall

After spending two iterations of Assassin’s Creed trying out a new style of gameplay Assassin’s Creed Valhalla tightens the combat up with more customization and freedom than before while also giving stealth players at least some options to work with while also providing perhaps the biggest map to explore to date. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is a massive game that provides an almost exhaustive amount of content to explore as well as a solid storyline told in a unique manner that allows for easy breaks between focusing on story and spreading Eivor’s wings a bit to see everything else the game has to offer.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Destiny 2: Beyond Light Review

Destiny 2: Beyond Light

Developer: Bungie
Publisher: Bungie
Platform: Windows
Release Date: 10 November 2020
Price:  $39.99 USD/$59.95 AUD– Available Here

Video Review

Overview

Since Bungie began to independently publish Destiny 2 in 2018, the developers have been hard at work refining the game as a freemium title. The crown jewel of the Year 4 content is the new paid expansion Beyond Light. Guardians are going to Europa as part of a tenuous truce with the Fallen vandal Variks as Eramis holds the power of Darkness in her hands. She now threatens the entire galaxy with her mad plot to bring the Fallen back to their former glory.

Story

Destiny 2 was never a great entry point for players new to the franchise. It offered a ton of lore without providing much explanation. Players had to rely on playing the first game or doing external research to understand the full depth. While Year 4 and Beyond Light are taking big steps to address the issues, new players currently find themselves in an awkward transition period. The original campaign and DLCs have been archived and replaced with a short mission chain to introduce the very basics of the lore. Right now, there isn’t enough to set players on the right path to appreciate the lore. Bungie have not completely given up on bringing in players into the universe, but it can feel like it at times.

For those willing to just enjoy Beyond Light’s ride, the new expansion offers a very straight forward save the galaxy story with enough unique flavour to keep things interesting. The story is structured after a small war and has a good rhythm to it. Ghost is still a love it or hate it character. Ghost’s obnoxiously chipper and slightly black and white view of the world combined with his endless need to worry about the Guardian can wear on some people’s nerves, but his role as replacement dialogue for the Guardian who only utters two lines throughout the whole campaign is necessary.

Gameplay

Beyond Light is a refinement of Destiny 2, part of Bungie’s march towards finally releasing the game that should have launched in 2017. Returning players will find a lot of unbalanced old content was finally archived earlier this year. It killed a lot of unnecessary bloat and focused the experience. Several quality of life changes have also been added to the game, making Destiny 2 a lot more pleasant to play. The ability to grab old lost quests has been long awaited, and Destiny 2’s bank system continues to be a more refined system than what most MMOs have to offer.

At its core, Destiny 2’s gameplay has not changed significantly. The core gameplay loop is still there. Bungie is looking to lure back players who had issues with the quality of life in Destiny 2. They are not looking to convert the non-believers with Beyond Light. The campaign is unfortunately short, and the gameplay still leans heavily on PVP, raiding, and efficient grinding after the campaign is done. 

The most noteworthy addition Destiny 2: Beyond Light is the first Darkness powered sub-class: stasis. The new system seems to offer higher potential flexibility compared to the Light abilities, which leaves me to wonder if a Light overhaul is in the plans. Considering the more restrictive nature of Destiny 2’s build system, anything that brings more flexibility is welcomed.

Beyond Light is mainly set on the new Europa map. Size wise, it is in line with the other locales. The campaign focuses heavily on Europa, so players will see the same sections repeatedly with only a few new hallways opening up each run. The campaign’s difficulty level is on the higher end of mass market shooters, emphasizing slower and more methodical gameplay. The map design reflects the design decision, as there is ample cover placed throughout.

Visuals

While I am not familiar with the original Destiny’s version of Europa, Beyond Light’s take on Europa is a fun mix of open frozen wastelands, towering ruins, and high-tech labs. The map is visually distinct from the other locales while still being a Destiny 2 map thanks to common symbols and recognizable environmental assets.

The game’s graphics has aged well in the last three years. While it is no longer the sharpest game out there, the graphics are still enjoyable at high graphic quality. The longevity is probably attributed to a visual style that stops just short of hyper-realism.

Audio

The audio experience hasn’t changed too much in Beyond Light. The sound effects and soundtrack continues to be enjoyable. The voice acting is excellent. I am still mourning the loss of Nathan Fillion as Cayde-6, but Destiny 2: Beyond Light has a strong case of voice actors returning to the franchise. Dee Bradley Baker does an excellent job as the main voice of Beyond Light as Variks, even if the writers seem to throw in his chattering without much rhyme or reason.

Overall

Destiny 2: Beyond Light is not going to change the mind of people who just plain hated Destiny 2’s gameplay, but it may bring back a few players who were just turned off by the bloat and lack of focus that plagued the game’s early years. Unfortunately, Beyond Light hasn’t cured all the ills. The campaign is short and repetitive. The story is still a work in progress. The gameplay loop is still grind heavy. On the other hand, some good quality of life additions have been made, and Bungie seems to be committed long term to moulding Destiny 2 to match their original vision. Beyond Light isn’t the definitive fix Destiny 2 needs, but it’s a good step in the right direction.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Shenmue III Available Now on Steam

The legendary genre defining series is available now to purchase on Steam

Sydney (Australia), November 20, 2020 – Deep Silver and YS Net Inc. are pleased to announce the availability of Shenmue III to Steam players.
To celebrate the launch, Shenmue III will have great value offers across the main game, all 3 DLCs and the Season Pass for the entire weekend!

Pricing Details on launch weekend (Nov 20-Nov 23)

  • Shenmue 3 (base Game) for 69.95 with -66% discount
  • Shenmue 3 Deluxe Edition – 89.95 with -66% discount
  • DLC 1 Big Merry Cruise – 5.95 with -60% discount
  • DLC 2 Battle rally – 11.50 with -60% discount
  • DLC 3 Story quest pack – 8.50 with -60% discount
  • Season Pass bundle (3dlcs) – with -15% bundle discount

Shenmue III
Journey deep into rural China as you take on the role of Ryo Hazuki, a Japanese teenager hellbent on finding his father’s killer—a story of adventure, mystery, friendship, martial arts, and ultimately, revenge!

Key Features

One of the most anticipated video games in history, from legendary game developer, Yu Suzuki.

  • Epic Adventure – Immerse yourself in the stunning and magical world of Shenmue
  • Breathing, Living World – Explore inside and outside buildings, take on part-time jobs, play arcade games, and interact with local inhabitants of beautiful Chinese locales
  • Martial Arts Action – Put your training and upgraded skills to the test via intense free battles and Quick Time Events
  • Solve the Mystery – Converse with a colourful and diverse cast of characters and follow leads from those who hold the answers to the mysterious Phoenix Mirror…

Game Overview

•          Title – Shenmue III
•          Genre – Action-Adventure (Free Roaming)
•          Modes – Single Player
•          Platform – PS4 / PC
•          Setting – Shenmue Universe
•          Tech – Unreal Engine 4
•          Release – OUT NOW!

About Deep Silver 

Deep Silver develops and distributes interactive games for all platforms. The Deep Silver label means to captivate all gamers who have a passion for thrilling gameplay in exciting game worlds by creating products of the highest possible quality, always focusing on what the customer desires. 

Deep Silver has published more than 200 games since 2003, including its own brands like the open world extravaganza Saints Row, the zombie action franchise Dead Island, and the gritty, post-apocalyptic Metro series. Upcoming highlights from Deep Silver include the next entries into the Saints Row, TimeSplitters and Dead Island franchises. Deep Silver also owns the development studios Deep Silver Dambuster Studios in Nottingham, UK; Deep Silver Fishlabs in Hamburg, Germany, and Deep Silver Volition based in Champaign, IL, USA. For more information please visit www.deepsilver.com  

Koch Media is a leading producer and distributor of digital entertainment products (software, games and films). The company’s own publishing activities, marketing and distribution extend throughout Europe and the USA. The Koch Media group has more than 20 years of experience in the digital media business, and has risen to become the number one distributor in Europe. It has also formed strategic alliances with numerous games and software publishers: Bethesda, Capcom, Kaspersky Labs, NC SOFT, Sega, Square Enix and Tecmo-Koei, etc. in various European countries. With Headquarters in Höfen, Austria Koch Media owns branches in Germany, England, France, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, the Nordic regions, Benelux, Australia, Czech Republic and the United States.  

All product titles, publisher names, trademarks, artwork and associated imagery are trademarks, registered trademarks and/or copyright material of the respective owners. All rights reserved. 

About Koch Media  

The Koch Media Group is a global developer, publisher and distributor of video games, VR games, gaming hardware and merchandise. 

The group’s publishing activities, marketing and distribution extend throughout Europe, America, Australia and Asia. Koch Media has more than 25 years of experience in the digital media business and has risen to become a leading global publishing partner. The Koch Media Group runs a multi-label strategy with fully owned publishing units such as Deep Silver, Milestone, Vertigo Games and Ravenscourt which publish games for consoles, PC and VR platforms across all physical and digital channels. 

Additionally, as global publishing partner Koch Media has formed long-term multi-national publishing collaborations with numerous game publishers including Bethesda, Capcom, Codemasters, Konami, Koei Tecmo, Sega, Square Enix, Warner Bros and many others. With its parent company in Höfen, Austria, and the Publishing HQ in Munich, Germany, Koch Media owns local publishing companies in Germany, UK, France, Spain, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Australia, the United States as well as Japan and Hong Kong.  

The Koch Media Group owns seven game development studios: Deep Silver Volition (Champaign, IL / USA), Deep Silver Dambuster Studios (Nottingham / UK), Deep Silver Fishlabs (Hamburg / Germany), Warhorse Studios (Prague / Czech Republic), Milestone (Milan / Italy), Voxler (Paris / France) and Vertigo Games (Rotterdam /The Netherlands). Additionally, the Koch Media Group collaborates with numerous independent development studios around the world.    

Part of the Koch Media Group is also Koch Films, a European independent film distributor with business primarily in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Italy as a cinema, TV, online and Home Entertainment distributor. The Koch Media Group also owns Gaya Entertainment, a leading video game merchandise company in Munich, Germany, and the Quality Assurance Facility in Olomouc, Czech Republic.  

Koch Media is an Embracer Group company. 

About Yu Suzuki

Yu Suzuki joined Sega Enterprises Inc.  (currently, Sega Games) in 1983, and produced many big hit games as a programmer, director and producer.  His unique and creative works influenced the game industry in technology, art and culture, and his attitude to produce with the heart of pioneer is well respected by many top creators beyond game industry.  He received “Computer World Smithsonian Award from the Smithsonian Consortium in 1998 and received Hall of Fame award at the AIAS Summit in 2003 as recognition of his contribution to the game industry.  His master pieces of works include “Hung-on”, “Space Harrier” and “Virtua Figher” series and many more.

About Ys Net Inc. Ys Net Inc. was established in 2008 in Tokyo as an independent firm for Yu Suzuki to lead game software planning, producing, and development.  It expanded development studio in 2015 along with start of Shenmue III project.

Latest Borderlands® 3 Mini-Event LetsPlayers Load Up on Legendary Gear While Completing the Campaign

Latest Borderlands® 3 Mini-Event LetsPlayers Load Up on Legendary Gear While Completing the Campaign

Starting today, the new Golden Path Mini-Event guarantees Legendary rewards for select story missions, allowing players to level up new characters quickly

Your rewards for saving the universe are about to get Legendary – literally. From today through December 3, get Legendary item rewards for completing select campaign missions during the free Golden Path Mini-Event for Borderlands® 3.Get your mitts on the Lyuda Legendary Vladof Sniper Rifle, Handsome Jackhammer Legendary Hyperion SMG, Nemesis Legendary Dahl Pistol, Hellwalker Legendary Jakobs Shotgun, and more!

From today, select missions in the main Borderlands 3 story campaign are guaranteed to grant Legendary rewards. Note that this lucrative loot buff does not apply to optional side missions or any missions in campaign add-ons. This is the “golden path” we’re talking about, after all.

If you’re a veteran player, now is the perfect time to power-level a new character and try the additional Skill Trees included in the new Designer’s Cut* add-on, available separately or as part of Season Pass 2.* With any luck, you’ll snag the loot you’ve always wanted and reach the endgame ready to rock with a fully decked-out Vault Hunter. If you’re completing the campaign for the very first time, this Legendary loot will give you a killer edge as you race to defeat the Calypso Twins.

If you want the complete Borderlands 3 experience, be sure to pick up Borderlands 3 Ultimate Edition, which is now available on PC, Stadia, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. Ultimate Edition grants you access to the award-winning base game, multiple bonus cosmetic packs (including the recently revealed Final Form Cosmetics), and both the original Season Pass* and Season Pass 2*.

And just a reminder: Borderlands 3’s next-gen upgrade is now available for Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. All players who own or purchase both a copy of the game and a next-gen console will be able to download the upgrade within the same console family for free. Players who own a physical disc of Borderlands 3 will need the Xbox Series X or standard PlayStation 5 console model that includes a disc drive to take advantage of this feature.

Borderlands 3 has been fully optimized to take advantage of the next-gen consoles’ processing power, bringing a new level of graphical fidelity to the Borderlands universe. The Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 display Borderlands 3 at up to 60 frames per second in 4K resolution during single-player and online co-op. It can also reach up to 120 frames per second if you select the “Performance Mode” setting while using a display that supports those frame rates. In addition, all next-gen consoles support three- and four-player split-screen for local multiplayer, and vertical split-screen for two-player local co-op is now available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5.

Borderlands 3 is available now on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Stadia, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. For assets and additional information, please visit newsroom.2k.com.

*Requires a copy of the base game to play.

2K is a wholly owned publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).

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Tune in to 2KFest: A Global Celebration of Basketball Culture and 21 Years of NBA 2K

Tune in to 2KFest: A Global Celebration of Basketball Culture and 21 Years of NBA 2K

Experience the first-ever 2KFest with musical performances, giveaways, panels and more

Today, 2K will air the inaugural 2KFest, a 24-hour global livestream event bringing together the best of music, basketball, gaming and culture to celebrate the next generation of NBA 2K21. Beginning today, Nov 7, at 7pm and running through to 7pm on Saturday, the event will feature NBA and WNBA superstars and legends, musical talent and influencers from around the world, while offering exclusive giveaways through the day in the virtual extravaganza. Fans can tune in on the NBA 2K Twitter, with an additional livestream on YouTube.

2KFest is a celebration of the culture that surrounds the game of basketball. Everything from the sport and the superstars, to the music and the fashion, this is our way to recognize the lifestyle that’s inspired us over the last two decades,” said Alfie Brody, Vice President of Global Marketing at NBA 2K. “In a year that’s been marred by the widespread postponement and cancellation of live events, including sports and concerts, we are proud to bring this experience to our fans and celebrate everything we love about the game of basketball with the 2K community.”

2KFest will be hosted by sports broadcaster, Ros Gold-Onwude, and FIFA World Cup Golden Glove winner and current Real Madrid goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, who hosts “NBA 2K Sundays” with fellow soccer and basketball players weekly on his Twitch channel. With the help of some of the biggest NBA superstars and legends, the event will celebrate the history of the sport, and the game. In a series of unique segments and interviews, NBA 2K21 cover athletes, Damian Lillard and Zion Williamson, along with Vince Carter, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, Shaquille O’Neal, Candace Parker, Ben Simmons, and Jayson Tatum discuss how they’ve witnessed the sport influence and blend with other facets of basketball lifestyle, including fashion, art, music, and gaming with NBA 2K.

“My NBA career started around the same time as the first NBA 2K, and it’s really amazing to see how the culture has come to life and evolved within the series,” said Vince Carter, 22-year NBA legend. “2KFest is a true global celebration of that lifestyle and the event is loaded with great content for everyone. I’m thrilled to help celebrate basketball’s impact on culture as part of this event.”

Going beyond the court, and in a nod to the impact that music has long had in basketball culture and the 2K gaming experience, 2KFest also includes performances throughout the 24-hour event from some of the hottest artists in the world, including:

  • ASIA – 88rising Presents: Rich Brian, NIKI, CHUNG HA, Dumbfoundead, Audrey Nuna
  • UK/EUROPEAitch, A COLORS SHOW with Nayana IZ (UK), Captain Roshi (FR)
  • AMERICASQuavo, Saweetie, Dame D.O.L.L.A, J.I The Prince of N.Y, Hotboii, YSB Tril

“I grew up around 2K so I’m hella excited to be a part of 2KFest this year,” said Multi-Platinum rapper, actress, and entrepreneur, Saweetie. The soundtrack is fire every year and the 2KFest performance lineup features some of the best in the game. My ICY girls and guys will be in the building and I’m super hyped to perform for them, the basketball and entire NBA 2K gaming community!”

2KFest will be hosted across three different regions around the globe, beginning in APAC, moving on to Europe and culminating in North America. FOR EUROPE TERRITORIES: The 2KFest European segment runs from 2 p.m. GMT on November 20 through 9:00 p.m. GMT, and includes the following original programming and performances: OR INCLUDE THIS FOR APAC The 2KFest APAC segment runs from 4 p.m. CST on November 20 through 10:00 p.m. CST, and includes the following original programming and performances:

  • Musical Performances: Tune in for 88rising Presents: Rich Brian, NIKI, CHUNG HA, Dumbfoundead, and Audrey Nuna.
  • Evolution of Game: An engaging look at how the basketball experience has changed since 2010, both in NBA 2K21 and the NBA. Transitioning from hot highlights into an exclusive player panel, Kevin Durant, and Shaquille O’Neal discuss the impact 2K continues to have on their lives – from playing as a kid, to battling with teammates, to gaming in the 2020 “bubbles”.
  • 2K MoCap: Motion capture technology – and the motion capture team – is one of the game’s true unsung heroes. With the help of Ben Simmons and Zion Williamson, this segment explores the magic behind-the-scenes: from the state-of-the-art studio to the dedicated team to the athletes who make NBA stars come to life, making NBA 2K the most lifelike sports game today.
  • Everything is Game: Anthony Davis, Damian Lillard, Ben Simmons, Jayson Tatum, and Zion Williamson weigh in on the off-the-court elements that bring 2K to life, including unforgettable cover art, inspiration behind in-game fashion, and the influences behind the best soundtrack in gaming.
  • Courtside Reports: This guided conversation puts NBA 2K Executive Producer, Erick Boenisch, and Gameplay Director, Mike Wang, front and centre for a Q&A around the making of one of the most beloved gaming franchises in the world.
  • Home Court Advantage: An in-depth look at 2K Foundations, the program’s core objectives, previous accomplishments and future plans for global community engagement. Discover the program’s recent court renovation: Cal Johnson Court (Knoxville, TN), hear interviews from Candace Parker, Anthony Davis, and others, as well as kids who shoot on these courts every day, and key community members – all focused on what the court means to the community at large.
  • Open Gym: A showcase of how different communities around the world rule the 2K courts. From countries playing for continental bragging rights, to high-profile names claiming their crown in the first Next Gen NBA 2K21 tournament, get your first look at the game that is truly global.
  • 2K League Inside the Game: An exclusive Gamer Panel brings together top 2K League gamers for a conversation that traces their journey from amateur to professional, dives deep into the unique 2020 season, and looks ahead to the 2021 season and beyond.

Tune into 2KFest live on the NBA 2K Twitter, with an additional livestream on YouTube, and have the chance to get one of a limited number of free Digital PS5 Standard Edition Game Codes (see here for rules and eligible countries and/or territories: http://nba.2k.com/ps5-game-codes-giveaway-terms) and exclusive Locker Codes throughout the stream. Void where prohibited. . Additionally, only on November 20, players who enter The City or The Neighbourhood on NBA 2K21 get a 2KFest virtual sweatshirt for their MyPLAYER. Celebrate across social with #2KFest. Find more details at NBA.2K.com/2KFest.

NBA 2K21 was released on November 10 for Xbox Series X|S globally and on November 12 for PlayStation 5.

For more information on NBA 2K21, please visit https://nba.2k.com/.

Visual Concepts is a 2K studio. 2K is a wholly owned publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).

*PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S required to play the next-generation version of NBA 2K21.

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