The dynamic duo headline a broadcast-style presentation with play-by-play commentary to celebrate – and skewer – your best and worst achievements
2K has revealed the PGA TOUR® 2K21 commentary trailer starring in-game, play-by-play commentary team Luke Elvy and Rich Beem. A veteran broadcaster of almost 20 years, the Australian Elvy has mainly focused on golf in his stints with outlets including CBS Sports and FOX Sports. The American Beem is a three-time PGA TOUR winner, including a win in the 2002 PGA Championship, and currently serves as a Sky Sports television commentator and golf analyst.
In the game, Elvy and Beem provide analysis and insights to anchor a broadcast-style presentation with state-of-the-art graphics, dynamic cutscenes and a seamless replay system. But be warned: While they’ll celebrate your best shots, they’ll also flame you for your worst duffs. PGA TOUR 2K21 gives Elvy and Beem an opportunity to cut loose and improvise with some unorthodox calls they may not try out on TV. Be on the lookout for Beem’s signature “Super Chicken!”
Cartoon network’s popular series comes to life in a herotastic co-op open world adventure
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe, Cartoon Network, the number one global animated series network, and worldwide family entertainment publisher Outright Games, working with developer studio PHL Collective are thrilled to announce, “Ben 10: Power Trip”, a brand-new video game from the iconic kids’ franchise. This all new adventure sees Ben team up with longtime rival Kevin 11 to battle the evil magician Hex, launching October 9th, 2020 on PlayStation® 4, Nintendo Switch™, Xbox One, PC digital.
“Ben 10: Power Trip” takes place in the animated universe of Ben Tennyson, where he uses his trusted Omnitrix to transform into different alien creatures and save the world. The game tells a unique story where Ben must uncover the truth behind four mysterious crystals that threaten to take over his world. Players will be able to transform into powerful aliens and work together to battle fearsome foes in this co-op adventure.
“Ben 10 is a beloved kids’ franchise and we are beyond excited to again be creating a game with these characters” said Terry Malham, CEO of Outright Games. “Our long running partnership with Cartoon Network has allowed us to take big steps forward with this title and create a game that will entertain Ben 10 fans and their families as they play together in this brand-new adventure”
“Ben 10: Power Trip” will launch on October 9th, 2020 on PlayStation® 4, Nintendo Switch™, Xbox One and PC digital and is available to pre-order now from local retailers.
For more information about the game and other products from BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe please visit our website or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or subscribe to our YouTube channel.
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About BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe S.A.S. BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe S.A.S., 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™, ACE COMBAT™ and DARK SOULS™. BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe is the premier publisher for anime-based video games including NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™, DRAGON BALL™, and ONE PIECE™.
Outright Games is a global video games publisher with a focus on quality family entertainment to a worldwide audience. Founded in 2016, Outright Games has established its place in the market delivering engaging interactive games of beloved entertainment licenses globally. Outright Games brings stories and characters to life with titles including such favorites as Adventure Time: Pirates of the Enchiridion and Ben 10 with Cartoon Network, Hotel Transylvania 3: Monsters Onboard with Sony Pictures and Dragons: Dawn of New Risers with NBCUniversal. With an Outright Games title there will be fun for all the family to enjoy. For more information please visit: www.outrightgames.com
Cartoon Network is a division of WarnerMedia and the #1 global animated series network, offering the best in original content for kids and families with such hits as Ben 10, Craig of the Creek, Steven Universe, The Amazing World of Gumball, The Powerpuff Girls, and We Bare Bears. Seen in 187 countries, over 450 million homes and in 33 languages, Cartoon Network inspires the next generation of creators and innovators by engaging its audience at the intersection of creativity and technology. Its award-winning pro-social initiatives, Stop Bullying: Speak Up and CN Buddy Network are acknowledged and often used resources for kids and adults looking for tools that can assist in dealing with the ongoing issue of bullying.
WarnerMedia is a leading media and entertainment company that creates and distributes premium and popular content from a diverse array of talented storytellers and journalists to global audiences through its consumer brands including: HBO, HBO Now, HBO Max, Warner Bros., TNT, TBS, truTV, CNN, DC, New Line, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies and others. WarnerMedia is part of AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T).
About PHL Collective:
PHL Collective is a video game studio comprised of artists and programmers who are passionate about creating unique, bold and exciting titles. Since its inception, PHL Collective has designed and released award winning titles for console, mobile, PC and VR focused on gamers of all ages. Strong releases like Ben 10: Omni-Charged, We Bare Bears: Food Truck Rush and ClusterPuck 99 have fueled PHL Collective’s growth into a trusted development partner.
A random fact about me: sometimes I dabble in cooking. It is an exquisite art of combining two or more ingredients into something new and as a reward – you get to eat it later! And you can’t eat video games (although I imagine some definitely tried out of losing rage). Video games are also trickier cause when you mix two or more ingredients into something new, there is a good chance it might turn into something bad. What I have now in front of me is a game that tries to mix shooting with some real-time strategy, so let’s see how well that goes.
Story
Set in the near future on Earth, the only hope for human survival is through Integration, a process developed to preserve human brains in robotic armatures. You play as Romer Shoal, a former Gravcycle pilot in command of a small resistance force still grasping onto the fading memories of their human selves. With the domineering Rayonne forces set on eliminating the final remnants of human society, it’s up to Romer and his crew of Outlaws to fight back and reboot humanity. The good old question of how much of ourselves define us. Is a mind alone what makes a human and does our shell matter as well? I suppose it does since Romer wasn’t too keen on letting all of it go.
Gameplay
Now we get to the interesting part(s). There is a short tutorial teaching you the basics of the game that you definitely do not want to skip. The hallmark of the game, Gravcycle, is a weaponized hoverbike that you can upgrade later on. You’re also not alone on your path to violently disassemble robots. On most of the missions, you’ll be accompanied by a couple of friendly ground units that you can give commands to. These range from attacking specific clusters of enemies, liberating prisoners, or activating health pods for your Gravcycle (or health packs, pretty much). What’s good about your AI units is that they’re not only there as a distraction for enemies and to draw enemy fire away from you. They do some considerable damage and careful planning and issuing of commands will sometimes be a defining factor in completing a level or not. What’s not good about them is that there isn’t much I in AI. I would often find them not running away from enemy grenades and focusing on enemies further away while another one is shooting a meter away from them. While it feels incredibly fun organizing stakeouts and ambushes against enemy troops, wining is anything but exciting. Enemy units will often run for cover through an open area and be absolutely demolished by my soldiers. Throwing a grenade at them is a sure hit since they’re too slow or perhaps just lazy to hide.
Visuals
Although there is a variety in different areas as you progress through the game, I couldn’t help to think that something was missing. Pretty soon I realized that something was pretty much everything. While the levels are huge and offer enough space for planning the attacks, the whole area, no matter where you are, feels incredibly empty. There’s you, your units, enemies that are hidden somewhere, a deserted building here or there ad that’s about it. Rinse and repeat that design for the next dozen of levels, if not more. While the visuals occasionally shine, they’re marred by the uninspiring design behind it.
Audio
Unfortunately, the same translates to audio. Aside from cutscenes and main menu, there is little to no gameplay music Eventually, I gave up waiting for something to happen so I fired up a random Spotify playlist to keep me company while I blast away through enemy troops. The occasional emptiness in the game world can be a good thing if executed correctly, but it has no place in an action-oriented game where you spend most of the gameplay on shooting.
Overall
What I’m going to give Disintegration will be some good points for trying. And not much for anything else. It is an admirable mix that works in theory but falls flat due to a lack of content. I expected more when it came to my customization of Gravcycle, more options when commandeering my units, and definitely more variety in enemy and level design. If there is one thing Disintegration does well, it’s that it is a perfect game for the “wait for a sale” tag. With a hefty price, lack of polish and occasional bugs it feels like you’re playing a beta that’s very near to be released out of Early Access. Disintegration is a story of what could have been and a harsh lesson of what it shouldn’t be.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Adorable Dough Creatures are Invading Your PlayStation Soon!
It’s official! The baking bonanza is coming to PlayStation! Today at Japan’s virtual BitSummit Gaiden conference it was revealed that the couch co-op and PvP party game Bake ‘n Switch will also release on PlayStation with a brand new gameplay video showing off the game’s loveable Bakers and Buns! Bake ‘n Switch is slated for launch on PC and Nintendo Switch later this summer, the release date on PlayStation has not yet been set.
Bake ‘n Switch is a party brawler that features co-op and PvP party action for up to 4 players with online multiplayer capabilities and increasingly challenging levels in a deceivingly cute package. Play as one of the four Bakers through exquisitely beautiful and colorful levels, punching, merging and baking adorable dough creatures to appease the Guardians of Dough. Make the biggest Buns to score the highest points before time runs out! Hey, it’s a breadful task, but someone’s gotta dough it!
Bake ‘n Switch recently passed its Kickstarter to be offering full online and local multiplayer capabilities at commercial launch later this summer when the game will be available on PC and Nintendo Switch. Recipient of several awards, including Outstanding Gameplay, and Visual Excellence, Bake ‘n Switch is the violently cute party game that you’ll want to play again and again.
About Streamline Games Streamline Games is a Malaysian-based independent, multi-platform game development studio focused on creating and supporting full-scale video game productions from indie to AAA. Built upon long-term co-development partnerships, past major clients include Square Enix and Sony. Bake ‘n Switch is Streamline Games’ upcoming self-published title launching on PC and console platforms. STREAMLINE GAMES is part of the Streamline Family of companies, which include STREAMLINE STUDIOS and ALL PIXELS.
About Streamline Media Group Streamline Media Group is a global video game developer and game development services company. Working through its business divisions, Streamline Studios, All Pixels by Streamline, Streamline Games, Streamframe, and Day Zero, Streamline Media Group creates games, technology, and solutions that gamers love and drive the industry forward. For more information, please visit http://www.streamline-mediagroup.com.
Developer Walkthrough video for old school RPG The Revenant Prince
Jakarta, Indonesia – June 29th, 2020 – Nomina Games has revealed more details about its upcoming retro RPG The Revenant Prince coming to PC this summer. Lead Designer Darrel Wijaya provides more insight into the games characters, combat and story with this short developer walkthrough video.
About The Revenant Prince
The Revenant Prince casts players as Troy, a prince who awakens after a near death experience with the ability to control time. Guided by a mysterious voice that may or may not have his best interests at heart, Troy embarks on an epic quest to fulfill his uncertain destiny. As Troy continues on his adventure he will come to meet all manner of colorful characters and come face to face with difficult decisions. How you treat people and what actions you take on this quest will dictate how the story plays out. With all outcomes being irreversible, every playthrough of The Revenant Prince will be a fresh, new experience.
Features
Single-player gameplay with potentially irreversible consequences.
Time-based battles with an arsenal of weapons and magic!
Interactions with a menagerie of enemies with a variety of interesting outcomes.
The ability to play god (literally) and toy with the lives of many!
A simple blend of pixelated and painterly art styles.
About Nomina Games Based in Jakarta, Indonesia, Nomina Games was created with the belief that games today are more than simply fun toys: they’re an expression of creativity, the driving force behind all art. Nomina Games wishes to inspire this creativity in others by providing thoughtful, evocative experiences. Its first game is the RPG The Revenant Prince, coming to PC in Fall 2020.
New Trailer for Next Episode Focusing on Story and World Structure
SYDNEY, 29th June 2020 – SQUARE ENIX® is excited to announce the second OUTRIDERS™Broadcast. The OUTRIDERS Broadcast gives players a glimpse of an epic journey into a dark and desperate world. Players will learn about the visceral powers, brutal combat and enthralling environments that awaits them in the highly anticipated upcoming RPG-Shooter from People Can Fly, the developers of Gears of War: Judgment and BULLETSTORM, andSquare Enix External Studios, the minds behind SLEEPING DOGS® and JUST CAUSE®.
Entitled “Beyond the Frontier,” the second OUTRIDERS Broadcast features new environments, breaks down the structure of the game, and presents a deeper look at the Pyromancer class.
The second episode of the OUTRIDERS Broadcast will air on Thursday, July 2nd at 9am PDT | 5pm BST | Friday, July 3rd 2am AEST. Tune in at www.twitch.tv/squareenix
“We’ve built an immersive game world with the player at the centre. You will make your mark on the world of OUTRIDERS, your actions and accomplishments are recognized by the people of Enoch’s towns and settlements. Your journey through the wild frontiers of a world that has hyper-evolved to kill Humanity will be an epic tale of power, discovery and the price we pay to reach beyond the horizon”, said Bartek Kmita, Creative Director at People Can Fly. “We can’t wait to give players a better look at how the campaign, side-quests and additional content all fit together. There’s definitely going to be a lot for players to do in OUTRIDERS, whether they’re playing by themselves or in co-op.”
OUTRIDERS will release on PlayStation 5®, PlayStation 4®, Xbox Series X, the Xbox One family of devices, and PC in Holiday 2020.
Information about Tales of Arise has been fairly scarce since it was first revealed last year for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC and it seems that recent events are at least partly the reason for that. Bandai Namco has announced that Tales of Arise will no longer be releasing sometime in 2020 and will now be releasing at some point after that as the company has not created a new release window for the game at this time.
Yusuke Tomizawa, the producer of the game, made a message to fans saying that the COVID-19 pandemic affected numerous parts of the game’s development and although the team did its best to adapt to their new working conditions, the game will need to be delayed to meet expectations.
The full statement can be found below:
As you may have already seen in media stories and on our social media channels, we have made the decision to delay the launch timing of “Tales of Arise”, the latest title in the “Tales of” series.
The goal for Tales of Arise is to provide a familiar but innovative gameplay experience to fans of the series, while pushing the technical envelope to deliver a high level of graphical quality to impress both long-time players and those who have never played a Tales of game. Development on the title has move steadily forward in 2020 as we overcame challenges along the way.
While COVID-19 has affected some aspects of development, we’ve done our best to adapt to the situation and have implemented remote development capabilities for our team.
However, to achieve the quality and provide the gorgeous experience we envision for our players, we will need more time to realize that vision and therefore we decided to delay the launch timing for Tales of Arise.
A new launch window update will be provided once we have more details to share.
Fans have been waiting eagerly to see what Halo Infinite has to offer since it was first revealed two years ago with little information about what type of threat the Master Chief and the UNSC will be facing off against this time around. There are always the standard Covenant forces and Sentinels to worry about as well as the possibility of the Flood but this latest teaser from Microsoft is pointing towards a powerful foe returning from the RTS series, Halo Wars.
The teaser features the voice of Atriox, leader of the Banished and a member of the Brutes that first appeared in Halo 2. The Banished, which appeared in Halo Wars 2, were a radical group that rebelled against the Covenant and this time around it seems that they will be featured in at least some form when Halo Infinite is released later this year. Though for now, fans can expect some form of news likely coming this next month during Microsoft’s planned July streaming event.
Hardspace: Shipbreakerputs players in the role of a novice shipbreaker who has joined the Lynx Corporation under contract and has now found themselves under a massive debt. To work themselves out of their debt slavery, players will need to break down dangerous ships into processable parts for credits.
The game is currently on Steam Early Access. The first act of the campaign and a free play mode are available. Three ship models can be broken down as of publishing. The game is mostly feature complete with future updates focusing on quality of life and content additions.
Hardspace: Shipbreaker offers players a unique gameplay experience. The danger in the game is not some creature mercilessly stalking the player or a trap laying in wait, it is the player’s own carelessness. Players use lasers to cut apart ships and grapple guns to haul parts into the appropriate bin for money to pay off their loans. If they fail to check where they cut, remember where hazardous equipment is located, or treat dangerous equipment without proper care; then they will get hurt or worse, destroy valuable materials. As players fulfill specific work orders on the ship, they are awarded points used for equipment upgrades that will make them faster, stronger, and tougher. A gentle time pressure of fifteen minutes per in-game day is applied, with bonuses assigned to players who can complete everything within the time limit.
The game uses Newtonian physics style controls. Players don’t move in a direction but rather push themselves in a direction and the force will carry them forward until they hit the brakes. This leads to interesting tricks like flinging oneself at high speeds using the reel on the grapple gun and using the brakes to stop at the intended destination. Combined with the six degrees of freedom, Hardspace: Shipbreaker can be incredibly disorienting and a little frustrating initially for players used to gravity. It takes a few hours to get used to the idea that there is no such thing as up and down in general. Once that learning hump is crossed, the lack of gravity adds a layer of complexity as it stops being a hinderance and becomes one of the tools in the belt to break down ships quickly.
The actual controls are not too much of a departure from traditional first-person games, allowing players to focus more on learning the physics instead of wrestling with a ton of new keys. The biggest problem is the initial version of the game released with no bind editor. Players are simply issued with a one size fits all layout that seems oddly appropriate for the in-game corporate overlords. The developers have announced an editor for both controllers and mouse/keyboard combos will be available in the next build. Considering this is a game launched exclusively for PC, it’s a bit confusing why the developers thought this was an appropriate omission right out of the gate. The other main issue is the function of the F button, which currently severs the function of grabbing items to use and pushing items away with the grapple gun. Considering the already floaty nature of the game’s Newtonian-like physics, accidentally shoving away a data disk when the player attempts to float by and pick up is an unnecessary annoyance. The two functions need to be split up to different keys or one of the functions needs to be paired with a less disruptive function.
The difficulty in Hardspace: Shipbreaker is a bit rough right now. The tutorial is basic and is missing a lot of tips and hints that would make the initial learning process easier. While several guide writers on Steam have filled in the gaps, I hope the developers do a little expansion of their own before the release of the game. Because there are only three ships right now, the jump in difficulty between ship classes is severe. The tutorial ship and the light Mackerel ship is very similar, but the gap between the Mackerel and the Gecko is enormous. The game does offer a freeplay mode for players to experiment with breaking ships, but the features are very basic with only unlimited resources. Something that would allow players to “reset” parts of the ship or the whole ship while in game would be a lot more helpful.
The audio/visual experience is solid so far. The visual style is very industrial. The ship designs are angular and practical, looking more like they were manufactured to be as cheap and durable as possible without the fancy bells and whistles. The sound effects are well done. The spatial effects are excellent and even become a game mechanic for avoiding environmental dangers with the correct in-game upgrades. The voice acting is a mix of human and computer-generated voices. While the computer-generated voices can be a little odd for a game, I will give the developers a little leeway as it does fit in with the space setting. The soundtrack is excellent so far with classic space electronica mixed with relaxing Americana. It evokes a feeling of blue-collar work in space.
There are a few improvements that I would like to see in future versions. The hard fifteen-minute time limit isn’t for everyone. I found myself pining for more time during the first few attempts on new ships. Getting the balance right might be a little tricky, but I think offering players a slider to set their own day length and adjusting the stats for the leaderboard accordingly would be the fairest solution. The last improvement may be a long shot, but Hardspace: Shipbreaker has all the hallmarks of a great co-op game. The emphasis on efficient action and the absolute chaos the physics and hazard systems are capable of creating would be perfect for two to four players.
Hardspace: Shipbreaker is already an excellent game with a bright future ahead of it as more content is added. The constant swing between zen-like labour and tense pressure creates an addictive gameplay loop. Although the game gives players some milestones, it’s the unspoken milestones that evoke the most joy in the game, like looking at the very first fully gutted ship. In its current state, the game is already worth a purchase.
A lot of people in the industry bring up games that are ported and brought out to every platform, every single generation. Skyrim and Resident Evil definitely get the most notice, but one franchise floats by like a little bee, spreading its namesake without question or contest, with little complaints from audiences. Namco Museum has been around for decades now, ensuring we get our Pac-Man and Dig Dug fixes, while offering other arcade classics to check out in low-cost bundles. As you would guess, Namco Museum Archives Volumes 1 & 2 seem to be a perfect fit for the Switch and have brought back some favorites with new features for the portable platform. How do these play? Let’s find out.
Story
Well, to be honest – aside from the mild narratives within a few of these titles, there is no engrossing story as most of these titles are simply arcade-centric gameplay, with a few bits and pieces of dialogue sprinkled in for progression’s sake.
That said, the titles featured within both of these bundles are as follows:
Volume 1
Dig Dug (1985)
Dragon Buster (1987)
Dragon Spirit: The New Legend (1989)
Galaxian (1984)
Mappy (1984)
Pac-Man (1984)
Pac-Man Championship Edition (2007)
Sky Kid (1986)
Splatterhouse: Wanpaku Graffiti (1989)
The Tower of Druaga (1985)
Xevious (1984)
Volume 2
Battle City (1985)
Dig Dug II (1986)
Dragon Buster II (1989)
Galaga (1985)
Gaplus (1984)
Legacy of the Wizard (1987)
Mappy-Land (1986)
Mendel Palace (1989)
Pac-Land (1985)
Rolling Thunder (1989)
Super Xevious: GAMP no Nazo (1986)
Gameplay
It would take quite a while to detail every game in both collections, so I will save you from having to hear me detail how Pac-Man plays and talk about the unique features brought by these new versions of old favorites. First, and this may have been around for a while, I have to talk about the rewind feature as while I am sure other Namco Museum collections have had this, it definitely feels useful here as players can erase their own mistakes. I think Nintendo and Sega refined this in a lot of their ports, and it feels natural for Namco here as I cannot tell you how many times I had to erase bad decisions in Galaga and Xevious, which can get a lot harder than I remember as you progress.
Players can also make use of the “save” option, where they are able to load one of four prior save files that can be created anywhere. Those of us who have always wanted to go until the end of Pac-Man now will find that goal much more possible with these features in play. This was also the first time I have played Splatterhouse: Wanpaku Graffiti, which is a side-scroller with a lot of character that I honestly enjoyed way more than I should have. Pac-Man: Championship Edition also was a nice addition, but this version is a “demake”, featuring the same quick gameplay, but with graphics more tuned to the original. Sure, it will not be a selling point, but a nice addition, nevertheless.
Both Namco Museum Archives volumes featured are absolutely fine compilations, and the features are all rather traditional for these types of releases, but I did feel a little disappointed to not see a little more applied to these ports. The menus are a bit barren and bland, and I feel like some unlockable content and unique variations of the titles within could have made it feel a little more special, as a whole. That is just a quick nit-pick and the value for what you are getting is still excellent, but I do think it would have been fantastic to get a more “museum” type experience if we got some history lessons and details of how these games came to be.
Visuals
The visuals work as they should, and I never had any slowdown or stuttering from any port I played. After how many times we have seen this compilation ported I feel that should be expected, but it is still good to see that Namco still insert quality control into even what could be considered a quick port-job. I also want to take a moment to state that it would have been nice to have wallpapers that were more focused on the titles we are actually playing, rather than the generic galaxy background or a bunch of icons from Galaga.
Audio
The audio is also fine, as titles like Pac-Man to Dragon Spirit still have maintained their same melodies and sound effects that are sure to bring out that nostalgia from those looking to visit the past. That also brings up another missed opportunity, as an in-game jukebox would have been awesome to have, and considering most modern compilations do have that feature, I find it a bit odd that Namco have yet to add it in after all of these years.
Overall
Namco Museum Archives: Volume 1 and 2 is yet another worthy compilation that feels right at home on the Switch. That said, with other companies adding more and more fan service to their own collections, getting the “bare bones” treatment here makes this release feel like a cash grab, rather than a true tribute. The games still play great and that is what matters, so those itching to play their favorite Namco romp will be happy with the offerings here, where the portability and value easily make up for any shortcomings.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
