The Jackbox Party Pack 7 Is Coming to PlayStation®4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch & Steam on October 15!
CHICAGO — Sept. 28, 2020 — Jackbox Games has announced that The Jackbox Party Pack 7, the latest fun-filled pack in the hit series, will come to PlayStation®4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Steam, and other major digital platforms on October 15.
The Jackbox Party Pack 7 features five incredible new party games:
Quiplash 3, a head-to-head battle of wits as you write hilarious responses to quirky prompts while everyone else votes for their favorite! (3-8 players)
The Devils and the Details, the collaborative chaos game where you’re a family of devils working together to survive in suburbia. Can you handle the daily torture of human life? (3-8 players)
Champ’d Up, the drawing fighting game where you get to create absurd characters that battle each other over unusual titles. Can you take down the heavy favorite? (3-8 players)
Talking Points, the make-it-up-as-you-go public-speaking game. Give a speech responding to picture slides you’ve never seen before, or be the Assistant and approve pictures as fast as you can. Just keep talking whether it makes sense or not! (3-8 players)
Blather ‘Round, the pop culture guessing game. Describe your secret prompt with a very limited vocabulary and hope that someone can figure it out in time. (2-6 players)
Games in The Jackbox Party Pack series support phones, tablets, and computers as controllers. Just go to Jackbox.tv on your device and enter the room code to play. Up to 10,000 additional audience members can join specific games to affect their final outcome.
Jackbox Games is a developer and publisher of party games on major gaming platforms and home entertainment devices. The studio is best known for comedic party games like YOU DON’T KNOW JACK, Fibbage, Quiplash, Drawful and Trivia Murder Party. Jackbox Games “makes the world’s best party games,” according to Business Insider. YOU DON’T KNOW JACK has been called “the greatest quiz-show game ever made” by The Onion’s A.V. Club. All current-generation Jackbox Games titles feature the innovative use of mobile devices as controllers, allowing anyone with an internet-connected phone, tablet or laptop to join a game without the need for extra game controllers. Players connect to games on their devices by visiting Jackbox.tv and entering the custom game code displayed via the system hosting the game. This unique concept also allows for games that involve secret player input. Jackbox Party Packs have been called “the definitive party game of a generation” by GQ Magazine. The company is located in Chicago, Illinois.
Free Upgrade Path Available for Xbox Series X | S and PlayStation 5 Versions of Yakuza: Like a Dragon
IRVINE, Calif. – September 28, 2020 – SEGA today has announced that its one-of-a kind RPG Yakuza: Like a Dragon will be launching on Xbox Series X | S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Windows 10 and Steam on November 10, 2020, aligning the release dates for all current-generation releases with the Xbox Series X | S launch date. As previously revealed, the Xbox Series X | S versions will offer a Smart Delivery upgrade path for Xbox One owners of the game.
SEGA is happy to announce that Yakuza: Like a Dragon will be launching on PlayStation®5 in the West on March 2, 2021, following the game’s PlayStation®4 launch on November 10, 2020. Once players purchase the digital PS4™ version of Yakuza: Like a Dragon at PlayStation®Store they are able to download the PS5™ version at no extra cost when it launches on March 2, 2021. The PS5™ version of Yakuza: Like a Dragon will also be available standalone on March 2, 2021 for $59.99, with commensurate pricing in EMEA.
An experience like no other, Yakuza: Like a Dragon brings dynamic RPG gameplay to the streets of Yokohama, Japan, with an epic adventure that combines the intense brawls, crushing drama, and over the top hilarity that the Yakuza series is known for. The game also features voice acting from a dynamic cast of actors, including George Takei, Kaiji Tang, Andrew Morgado, Greg Chun and Elizabeth Maxwell.
About the Yakuza / Ryu Ga Gotoku Series:
With over 12 million units sold worldwide since its creation in 2005, the Yakuza / Ryu Ga Gotoku series was created with the core concept of “Entertainment geared towards mature audiences” in mind, this series portrays the life of relatable people living in Japan’s red-light districts. Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio excels at bringing players into a true-to-life realization of modern Japan while exploring themes of love, humanity, and betrayal, creating an experience unlike any other in digital entertainment.
About SEGA® of America, Inc.: SEGA® of America, Inc. is the American arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA CORPORATION, a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home. The company develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Interactive Entertainment. SEGA of America’s website is located at www.sega.com.
KOEI TECMO’s Legendary Franchise Prepares to Pounce on Current and Next-Gen Systems
Burlingame, Calif. – September 28, 2020 – During Sunday’s Tokyo Game Show livestream, KOEI TECMO and developer Omega Force revealed their exciting new project and the latest addition to the highly-revered DYNASTY WARRIORS franchise: DYNASTY WARRIORS 9 Empires. The strategic battle experience is currently in development and will release across a plethora of systems in Early 2021, including the PlayStation®5 and PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles, Nintendo Switch™, and digitally on Windows PC via Steam®.
“This is the 20th anniversary of DYNASTY WARRIORS,” says producer Akihiro Suzuki, “and we couldn’t be more excited than to celebrate with our faithful fans by delivering the first new WARRIORS series game on next-gen consoles, and the first new DYNASTY WARRIORS series game on Switch.” Combining the 1 vs. 1,000 action of DYNASTY WARRIORS with the addition of strategic elements, including unit command, DYNASTY WARRIORS 9 Empires sets players on a quest to conquer ancient China by both sword and strategy. Powerful Siege Battles enable commanders to deploy units to capture strategic points on the map like castles. Experiencing high-stakes fights at every turn, players can now take control of these central points on the battlefield through the use of fire attacks or other stratagem, siege weapons, and, at times, simply by force as commanders execute their strategies and attack enemy troops by issuing vital commands to units throughout the skirmish.
Also added is an enriched edit function that enables gamers the ability to create the officers of their dreams and interact with the heroes of ancient China through an expanded domestic system. Players will be able to live the life of an independent officer, govern as a kind ruler, or act wickedly as a villain, helping create a more lifelike and fulfilling Three Kingdoms world with ever-changing human relations and dramatic events where the relationships between characters will have a greater influence on gameplay than ever before.
Adds Suzuki: “This is the first new Empires game in five years, and I can’t wait to deliver the ultimate Empires experience our fans have been waiting for.”
For all of the latest information on DYNASTY WARRIORS 9: Empires, visit the official site, Like us on Facebook @KoeiTecmoUS, Follow us on Twitter @KoeiTecmoUS, and Follow us on Instagram @KoeiTecmoUS.
ABOUT KOEI TECMO AMERICA CORP.
KOEI TECMO AMERICA CORP. is a publisher of interactive entertainment software for current generation consoles, handhelds and digital download content based in Burlingame, California. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD., headquartered in Yokohama, Japan. KOEI is best known for its Dynasty Warriors® and Samurai Warriors® franchises. TECMO is best known for the Dead or Alive®, Ninja Gaiden®, Tecmo Bowl®, and Fatal Frame® series.
“PlayStation”, “PS5”, and “PS4” are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox One, Xbox One X, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Live, the Xbox logos, and/or other Microsoft products referenced herein are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
We are excited to announce that we are launching the epic stickman fighter One Finger Death Punch 2 on PlayStation 4 on September 30th.
This is a sequel packing serious punch, with addictive mechanics that are easy to learn but challenging to truly master. Control the action with just two buttons, endure waves of enemy attacks and take them down as fast as you can in order to survive! One Finger Death Punch 2 gets you started with intuitive tutorial stages, laying the foundation for increasingly intense showdowns.
One Finger Death Punch 2 is the ultimate brawler for any occasion. Developed by Silver Dollar Games and ported & published by eastasiasoft, One Finger Death Punch 2 will be available on September 30th at US$8.99/€8.99. PlayStation Plus subscribers can enjoy a special 20% launch discount for two weeks.
If you would like to cover One Finger Death Punch 2, the following review codes will be available upon game launch:
PlayStation 4 (please state region: NA, EU, Japan, Asia)
About One Finger Death Punch 2
Spectacle blends with addictive simplicity in One Finger Death Punch 2, a two-button brawler that bleeds style with every kung-fu inspired flurry. Surrounded and outnumbered, you’ll need to use any weapon you can get your hands on to take down waves of relentless opponents. Learn a huge variety of skills to unleash with frenetic speed and precision. Attack left or right, survive the onslaught and emerge victorious!
Sydney, Australia, 28 September 2020 – Ravenscourt and Voxler have announced the tracklist for Let’s Sing presents Queen. The dedicated iteration of the critically acclaimed Karaoke-Game franchise celebrates the biggest rock band ever with 30 of their greatest hits. The highlight-packed tracklist for this special entry in the Let’s Sing series takes you on a trip through several decades with all-time classics such as “We Will Rock You”, “Under Pressure”, “A Kind Of Magic”, “The Show Must Go On” and many more that will leave nothing to be desired.
Full Tracklist:
A Kind of Magic
Another One Bites The Dust
Bicycle Race
Bohemian Rhapsody
Breakthru
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Don’t Stop Me Now
Fat Bottomed Girls
Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy
Headlong
I Want It All
I Want To Break Free
Innuendo
It’s A Hard Life
Killer Queen
Now I’m Here
One Vision
Play The Game
Princes Of The Universe
Radio Gaga
Save Me
Somebody To Love
The Invisible Man
The Show Must Go On
Tie Your Mother Down
Under Pressure
We Are The Champions
We Will Rock You
Who Wants To Live Forever
You’re My Best Friend
About Let’s Sing presents Queen
Game Modes:
Classic: Take the stage alone or with friends. Hit the right notes, prove that you have what it takes to be a star and crack the high score!
Feat.: Teamwork is key! Grab a friend or even team up with the legendary Freddie Mercury in single player mode. The better your voices match, the higher your “compatibility score”.
World Contest: It’s you against the world! Climb to the top of the leaderboard by challenging friends or another singer online on the other side of the world. The game will show your performances as if you were singing together.
Mix Tape 2.0: This game mode guarantees hours of fun and a playlist that’s never the same: Each Medley in this innovative game mode is a dynamically generated mix.
Jukebox: Lean back and enjoy a list of songs for your next jam session.
Let’s Party: The ultimate challenge for your Let’s Sing party! Two teams with up to four players each and only one mic per team face off in randomly chosen game modes to determine who the real stars are.
Features:
Strong playlist with 30 of Queen’s greatest hits and original music videos
Sing solo or with up to eight players
PS4: choose between within maximum of 4 Smartphones or 2 USB-Mics + 2 headsets or 2 USB-Mics + 2 SingStar-Mics
Xbox One or Switch: choose between within maximum of 4 Smartphones, 2 USB-Mics and 1 headset
Six exciting game modes: ‘Classic’, ‘Mixtape 2.0’,’feat.’, ‘Jukebox’, ‘World Contest’ and ‘Let’s Party’
No mic at hand? It doesn’t matter – with the Let’s Sing Microphone-App, you can turn your smartphone into a microphone in no time at all
Climb the online leaderboard
Let’s Sing presents Queen will be available from 2nd of October on PlayStation®4, the Xbox One family of devices including the Xbox One X, and Nintendo Switch™.
Product details:
Title: Let’s Sing presents Queen Platforms: PlayStation 4 / Xbox One / Nintendo Switch
Genre: Singing Game / Karaoke Players: Single player / Local 1-8 players
Developer: Voxler Publisher: Ravenscourt Age Rating: G – General, Online interactivity Release Date: October 2, 2020 Price:
Solus: $59.95 2-Mic: $89.95
About Koch Media
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 Planegg near Munich/Germany, Koch Media owns branches in Germany, England, France, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, the Nordic regions, Benelux and the United States. www.kochmedia.com
About Voxler
Voxler is a French developer of music games. The company was created in 2005 and the team focuses its energy on developing great music games based on advanced technology. Voxler develops or has developed several games on all platforms (Wii™, Switch™, PlayStation®3, PlayStation®4, Xbox 360® and Xbox One®) and on iOS, Android and PC. The team’s key commitment is to give players unforgettable moments in high-quality games. The studio works with leading worldwide publishers and invests continuously in order to exploit the full potential of each platform. More information at http://www.voxler.fr.
World of Tanks launches brand-new event that will see the return of the notorious Waffenträger – pitting players against the beast in 7v1 battles
World of Tanks is excited to announce the launch of a brand-new event between September 28 and October 12, The Last Waffenträger! For the first time in World of Tanks history, players will be tasked with taking on a single enemy tank, a colossal Tier 10 tank destroyer – the Waffenträger Auf E 110.
Played across three breath-taking maps (Fisherman’s Bay, Studzianki and Redshire), tankers must work together as a team to vanquish the Waffenträger, destroying its AI-controlled sentinels to unlock upgrades for their tanks – and making the Waffenträger easier to attack.
The event will introduce 6-minute asymmetric warfare – and players can win a bespoke reward pack and earn the chance to command the Waffenträger themselves!
To take on the might of the Waffenträger, players will crew modernised T-55 tanks, using teamwork to outwit the immense power of the boss – and becoming more powerful as they destroy its sentinels, leaving the Waffenträger vulnerable to destruction.
At the apex of the event, the challenge becomes even more interesting; with tankers getting the chance to take on a Waffenträger Auf E 220 crewed by World of Tanks developers and celebrity guests! If a team destroys the Waffenträger Auf E 220 in these battles – then the whole team will win premium reward packs!
“Many tankers will remember the Waffenträger was previously playable in game, but its power proved too much, and so we had to address the balance by removing it” states Max Chuvalov, Publishing Director, World of Tanks. “But it seems that players were still attached to this mechanical behemoth, and asked us to bring the Waffenträger back. So, for this time limited event, we did. Get ready for fearsome battles and amazing prizes – because the Waffenträger is back with a vengeance!”
In game, separate battle missions will unlock exciting reward packs – including event themed vehicle customisation elements (2D styles, unique decals, emblems), in-game goodies and even the chance to play as the Waffenträger Auf E 110.
World of Tanks is the first team-based, massively multiplayer online action game dedicated to armoured warfare. Throw yourself into the epic tank battles of World War II with gamers all over the world. Your arsenal includes over 600 armoured vehicles from 11 nations, carefully detailed with historical accuracy.
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 5000 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.
ENTER A WORLD OF DANGER, DESPERATION ANDEXTREME COMBAT WITH NETMARBLE’SALL-NEW DARK FANTASY OPEN WORLD RPG – A3: STILL ALIVE
Global Pre-Registration Now Open for Warriors Eagerto Prove their Superiority on the Battlefield
LOS ANGELES – September 25, 2020 – Netmarble Corp., of the fastest- one growing mobile game companies in the world, is set to unleash a beautifully dark world of strife, conflict, and turmoil to players with the world reveal of A3: STILL ALIVE. Pre-registration is now open for the App Store® and Google Play™, as a series of high-value and powerful items are available for those who dare to pre-register and experience the twilight fantasy adventure.
Based on Netmarble’s original A3 online PC game from South Korea, A3: STILL ALIVE is a cross-genre mobile experience that pairs the enormous and living worlds of Open-World RPGs with the extreme combat of Battle Royale. Set in an apocalyptic fantasy world of swords and sorcery, players must be vigilant in an always-open Player vs. Player (PvP) environment as they fight against enemies with intense hack & slash combat in the search for powerful gear.
Players can prove their mettle with a variety of PvP and Player vs. Everyone (PvE) engagements including Castle Siege, Dark Presence and World Boss Content. To complement the extreme combat, A3: STILL ALIVE is beautifully rendered with splendid console-quality 3D graphics that are brought to life thanks to the outstanding optimization of the Unity Engine.
“A3: STILL ALIVE was first released in the Korean market and gained great popularity, ranking first in the App Store and Google Play downloads. Global version will complement the Korean build to provide more high-quality features and services. We feel now is the perfect time to reintroduce what makes the game so special with the global release of A3: STILL ALIVE”, said Joong Sun Chang, Executive Producer of Netmarble, “Thanks to the integration of Battle Royale’s intense combat-centric elements, the dark and dangerous world of A3: STILL ALIVE has never been more fully realized, and we anticipate many will gravitate towards the title at launch.”
Starting today, pre-registration begins worldwide for players, with rewards such as:
In-game items valued at $20 USD are given based on the number of pre-registrations achieved, including:
Over 200,000 registrations: 200,000 Gold
Over 400,000 registrations: 100,000 Mana Stones
Over 600,000: 60 Topazes
Over 800,000: 3-star Hannemorin Soulstar x1 (*Soulstar’ is an in-game item that summons Soul Linker, an AI partner mercenary fighting with players)
Over 1,000,000: Level 60 Hero Armor x1
100,000 Gold and 50 Blue Diamonds, along with one Silvadu’s Ring for Apple users or one Errel’s Ring for Android users
Players can also earn points on A3: STILL ALIVE’s website, with up to 12 points offered if they pre-register the game on the website or through the App Store or Google Play, if they share the promo video on social media, and if they invite friends for pre-registration. Points can be redeemed for a chance to earn rare in-game items and others including:
In-game Items
Brilliant Soulstar
Brilliant Accessory Chest
Soulstar
Macbook Pro
Rewared to one person by draw
A3: STILL ALIVE is available for pre-registration in the App Store and Google Play, in 172 countries around the world.
For more information, please visit the official website and forum, and follow A3: STILL ALIVE on Facebook and YouTube.
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About Netmarble Corporation
Established in Korea in 2000, Netmarble Corporation is a top developer and publisher pushing the boundaries of the mobile gaming experience with highly innovative games including Lineage 2: Revolution, The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross, Blade&Soul Revolution and MARVEL Future Fight. As a parent company of Kabam, and a major shareholder of Jam City and Big Hit Entertainment, Netmarble strives to entertain audiences around the world with a variety of mobile games based on its powerful franchises and collaborations with IP holders worldwide. More information can be found at http://company.netmarble.com
FOREIGN TRIBES OFFER NEW STRATEGIC POSSIBILITIES INROMANCE OF THE THREE KINGDOMS XIV: DIPLOMACY AND STRATEGY EXPANSION PACK
Unique Events Unfold in the Newly Revealed ‘Switch Kingdoms’ Mode!
Hertfordshire, 25th September 2020 – KOEI TECMO Europe and famed developer Kou Shibusawa today revealed fresh information for Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV: Diplomacy and Strategy Expansion Pack, ahead of its Winter launch. The expansion pack is set for release digitally on the PlayStation®4 Computer Entertainment System and Windows PC via Steam®, while also making its series debut as the first ruler-based Romance of The Three Kingdoms game on Nintendo Switch™.
The Diplomacy and Strategy Expansion Pack allows players to interact with cities of foreign tribes, including the tribes of Wuhuan, Xianbei, Qiang, Nanman and Shanyue. While it has always been important to deal with conflicts in the central areas of China, now players must think twice about strategies on the borders where tense battles can now emerge.
If players decide to open trade with the foreign tribes of the region, they can send envoys to develop their relations after acquiring certain geographic advantages. For example: conquering Yo Province allows friendships to form with Wuhuan, while conquering Bing Province allows strong relations to form with Xianbei. Players will also have the choice to deploy their troops to conquer these tribes.
Once players form strong relations with, or successfully conquer the tribe, an Outlander Officer will join their forces. These extremely powerful officers utilize the “Siyi” formation to gain the upper hand in mountainous areas or forests. In fact, each tribe has a unique trait assigned to them — Qiang officers can activate “Bow Cavalry”, while Xianbei officers are equipped with “War Chariot”. Strategically recruiting Outlander Officers with desired traits will be pivotal in unifying China, while ensuring the officer’s conditions are favourable will ensure they do not leave the ally forces, as these units can easily turn on the player’s forces if their relationship changes for the worst.
Also announced today for the Diplomacy and Strategy Expansion Pack was the new “Switch Kingdoms” mode. When starting a new scenario in this new mode, the location of forces will be randomly shuffled causing events to unfold in fresh new ways.
For all of the latest information on Romance of The Three Kingdoms XIV: Diplomacy and Strategy Expansion Pack, check out the official site, ‘Like’ us on www.facebook.com/koeitecmogames, and Follow us on Twitter @koeitecmoeurope.
ABOUT KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD.
KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD. is a publisher of interactive entertainment software for current generation consoles, handhelds and digital download content based in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, UK. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD., headquartered in Yokohama, Japan. KOEI TECMO’s best known for their signature ‘one versus thousands’ Warriors series, the fan-favourite Ninja Gaiden and fighting entertainment title Dead or Alive. Through collaboration with strong existing franchises, such as A.O.T. Wings of Freedom (Attack on Titan), has brought fan-favourite shows to life in video game form. The company’s desire for innovation and diversity has seen the creation of the critically acclaimed dark-samurai action title Nioh, which takes on new and unique gameplay styles. The company’s acquisition of GUST, developer of a variety of heart-warming titles, has seen their flagship Atelier series span generations of consoles and fans alike. More information about KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD and its products can be found at www.koeitecmoeurope.com
While the inevitable Mafia 4 project is still shrouded in mystery, Hangar 13 has turned its sights on the previous three titles in the franchise. While Mafia 2 and 3 received simple remasters, Mafia: Definitive Editionis a more ambitious remake of the original 2002 title. The game uses an updated version of the Mafia 3 engine to breath new life into Lost Haven. The game also received an expanded story, new gameplay content, and quality of life features.
Story
Mafia’s plot has aged well for the most part. It is a gritty story with no real good guys in sight. The plot fits in well with mafia films and is still enjoyable to this day. There are a few lines of dialogue that now borders on the edge of being racially inappropriate, but it’s important to keep the game’s 1930s setting in mind and the fact that what is acceptable has changed in the last 18 years.
The updated story feels a little more fleshed out as certain parts have been expanded, while other parts have been completely rewritten to make more sense. More importantly, the dialogue has been given a good polish. The result in a smoother and more believable story.
Gameplay
While Hangar 13 practically gutted the house and replaced the innards, the foundation of Mafia is still intact. The game is a linear action-shooter with some open world elements during the missions. The mission structure is heavily guided, with players being moved from one story mission to the next without a serious chance to do side missions. The action tends to be well paced due to a balanced mix of shooting, stealth, and driving segments. There are a few sections in the game that are frustrating as they must be done right early in the mission, otherwise the player is just dragging out inevitable failure. The escape from St. Michael’s Church is an excellent example.
The combat is enjoyable, but it is showing its age. The shooting is tuned for mass market appeal with a slight lean towards realism. There is a passable cover system, but it feels a little awkward to use. Enemy AI puts up a decent fight, though their strategy emphasizes holding their ground and keeping the player pinned in one place. The mêlée combat is the blandest part of Mafia: Definitive Edition’s combat. While its simplistic approach would be tolerable in small doses, there are enough mêlée segments to make brawls dull.
Driving is still an enjoyable venture in Mafia. Handling is very forgiving and is squarely in the arcade camp. There is a large roster of period appropriate cars to find throughout the city. The Definitive Edition also marks the introduction of motorcycles to the game. Lost Haven’s roads tend to be very narrow, so the ability to zip between cars is a welcome addition.
The quality of life changes added to the game is a major reason why Mafia: Definitive Edition holds its own in 2020. The ability to skip drives between mission objectives feels like Hangar 13 is openly embracing Mafia’s linear action-shooter nature by keeping the action moving at a quick pace. Originally, Mafia was known to have one of the strictest police behaviour in its time, with police fining and eventually arresting players for more mundane infractions like running red lights and driving over the speed limit. It seems like the public didn’t take to realism so kindly considering the harsh enforcement was dropped in Mafia 2. Players can now pick between the original Mafia ruleset or the more lenient one adopted by later titles in the options menu.
The controls likely aged the worst. On the PC, functions are spread out over a lot of keys. There are some rarely used ones that could easily be doubled up with the game automatically deciding the right function based on context. Side buttons on the mouse can’t be bound, so it’s like playing on a mouse from 2002 all over again. Elements of the controls are still controller-centric, such as the item wheels designed for thumbsticks and the separate keys for thrown objects.
Visuals
Mafia: Definitive Edition offers solid, modern graphics. The art team has done a fantastic job updating the environment. When viewed side by side with the original game, the world feels more alive. Rural environments are lusher instead of looking like a green desert. The cityscape has more diversity and detail, feeling less like a neighbourhood of copy-pasted assets. The graphics fall a little short compared to the near perfect realism of fresh AAA titles. The models and textures look great, and PC users will have access to a high-resolution texture pack to boot. The animations are a little weaker. It might be an issue related to lack of variety, but many death animations are inappropriate for the actions leading up to the NPC’s untimely end.
Audio
The audio experience is enjoyable. The sound effects are good, though directionality can be over-exaggerated at times for headphone users. The music was rescored for the Definitive Edition. The new soundtrack is an excellent mix of period music and cinematic video game scores. The voice acting was also redone as new dialogue was added to the game. The voice acting is strong, but there is a clear divide in skill level between main characters. Many actors decided to adopt accents to reflect the diversity of Lost Haven, but some are unable to maintain them in a consistent manner. Paulie’s voice actor is probably the worst for consistency as Paulie’s distinctive nasally tone varies wildly between scenes and even between lines. On the other hand; Tommy, Don Salieri, and Frank’s voice actors give very strong performances that help carry their less skilled colleagues.
Overall
Mafia: Definitive Edition is a shining example of how a game should be remade. While there are a few issues related to the PC port, animation quality, and how well the gameplay has aged; the updates were focused on maintaining the spirit of game while bringing it into the modern era. It would have been easy for Hangar 13 to port the game to the new engine, slap on a shiny coat of paint, and call it a remake. Instead, all aspects of Mafia were revamped to modern standards, from small quality of life features to completely re-recording the voice acting. The loving care Hangar 13 put into the game makes Mafia: Definitive Edition a worthy pick for veteran gamers looking to relive the nostalgia of the early 2000’s and new gamers looking to finally experience one of the best mafia-games to be released.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Seafaring trade sim crosses the date line on PC, PS4, Xbox One, launch trailer and screenshots available
Sydney, Au – (25th September, 2020) –Publisher Kalypso Media and developer Gaming Minds Studios today shared that seafaring trade simulator Port Royale 4 is out today on PC via Steam, PlayStation 4, and digitally for Xbox One. A link to the launch trailer is available above.
Port Royale 4 is the ultimate trading simulator, offering a 12 million square kilometre playground of pristine 17th Century Caribbean scenery to both settle and explore. Players can create intricate production lines spanning multiple territories while fulfilling tasks for their nation’s viceroy to earn fame, accrue wealth and upgrade their settlements with an assortment of ships and buildings.
Those interested in a more action-focused experience can opt to attack rival nations, targeting their fleets and settlements while keeping a keen eye for pirates and other privateers who might be looking to do the same. Port Royale 4 also features a series’ first turn-based approach to naval combat, allowing up to 10 ships to do battle with onboard artillery and special tactics unique to each nation.
Port Royale 4 is out now on PC via Steam, PlayStation 4, and digitally for Xbox One, with a Nintendo Switch version set to dock in 2021.
Review keys are available on request.
Information Title:Port Royale 4 Platforms:Windows PC, PlayStation®4, Xbox One Developer:Gaming Minds Studios Genre: Trade simulation Release: 25/09/2020, Nintendo Switch™ (2021) Hashtag:#PortRoyale4
Information: In Port Royale 4, set sail and join the colonial powers of Spain, England, France and the Netherlands in their fight for supremacy of the Caribbean in the 17th century. Take control of a colony as a young and ambitious governor and learn what it takes to manage and grow a small settlement into a bustling trader city.
Develop production chains connecting multiple islands and create complex trade routes across the Caribbean, covering the ever-growing needs of multiple cities. Make use of the detailed sea map to avoid stormy weather regions, cliffs or shallow waters. Fulfil tasks for your nation’s viceroy, earning more fame to unlock town buildings, ships and more. Conquer the cities of rival nations or hunt down their fleets with a letter of marque while also keeping a keen eye out for pirates and other privateers.
Introducing: naval battles! For the first time in series’ history, combat encounters are turn-based, with up to 16 ships battling at once. Turn the tide with tactical captain manoeuvres to ensure a glorious victory each and every fight.
Features:
Choose from four colonial powerhouses: England, France, Spain and the Netherlands, each providing different benefits and unique gameplay styles
Four single player campaigns following each nation on a path to glory
Appoint a leader from four different character classes: The Explorer, Merchant, Buccaneer and Pirate
Establish and manage trade with 60 Caribbean cities in a huge game world
Navigate cliffs, shallow waters and stormy weather regions to optimize your trade routes
Choose from 50 buildings to produce goods such as rum and luxuries
Construct town buildings with neighbourhood effects to optimize productivity and manage the happiness of your citizens
Sail 18 historically authentic ships from the late 16th and 17th centuries
Engage in tactical, turn-based naval battles with powerful captains
Unlock licences, building permits, new buildings and ships by growing reputation within your chosen nation
About the Kalypso Media Group Kalypso Media Group GmbH is a fully independent publisher, developer and marketer of interactive entertainment software with 100 employees in 8 locations in Germany, England and the United States, including Kasedo Games, Kalypso Media’s digital-first label, and three development studios – Realmforge Studios (Munich), Gaming Minds Studios (Gütersloh) and Claymore Game Studios (Darmstadt).
Specializing in developing strategy games for a global audience on all modern platforms, Kalypso Media’s IP portfolio includes the full rights to the Tropico series, Commandos, Port Royale, Dungeons, Sudden Strike, and RailwayEmpire. Kalypso Media’s recent releases are Commandos 2 – HD Remaster and Praetorians – HD Remaster, Railway Empire – Nintendo Switch™ Edition, Dungeons 3 – Complete Collection and Port Royale 4. Upcoming releases include Spacebase Startopia (Spring 2021). Kasedo Games’ recent releases include Filament. Upcoming releases include Distant Kingdoms.
More information about the Kalypso Media Group is available at www.kalypsomedia.com.
