Originally Bandai Namco and Supermassive Games were hoping to continue their anthology of horror games this summer with the release of The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope but that will no longer be the case as the developer wished to make sure that its workers were protected from COVID 19 as best as possible.
Since the Supermassive Games team was working from home, things did slow down a bit and now in an effort to deliver “the best possible game” Pete Samuels, the CEO of Supermassive and executive producer of the title, announced that the game will now be releasing sometime this fall for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
For now, those who want a small taste of what to expect from the game can always check out the first game in the anthology, The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan which was released August of last year.
Summer in Marais a crafting, exploration, and farming game. Players take on the role of Koa, a girl who is now in charge of a little farm after the passing of her adoptive grandmother. Koa is struck by the need for adventure, desiring to leave her tiny island and explore new places. Her wish comes true when a mysterious creature lands on her island and an evil alien corporation appears in Mara.
Story
The story is the sort of relaxed and heart-warming fare that is perfect for a player looking for a calm andd enjoyable gaming experience. It is just as much about the journey as it is the completion. The writing rarely gets too heavy and is generally joyful and lighthearted. Getting to know the citizens of Mara is an important part of the game, and the people are mostly loveable, even if it takes a little time to warm up to them.
Gameplay
Summer in Mara is a laid-back game that runs at the player’s pace. The game mixes Harvest Moon with the island-hopping elements of Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. The world is set to a day/night schedule where players have a limited amount of energy to expend on whatever task they wish to do. While energy and hunger can be replenished with food, energy is consumed at a faster pace as the evening wears on. Sleeping for the night will restore energy, but only sleeping in the comfort of home will bring Koa back to full energy in the morning.
The farming and resource gathering gameplay is pretty standard fare. Players buy seeds from the vendor, plant it in their plots, and harvest their crops several days later. The plots are quite limited to begin with as they can only be constructed in pre-determined spots. Some of the spots are blocked in the beginning and can only be cleared as the player progresses through the story. While the hardcore farming sim fan will be disappointed with the restrictions, the limited number of plots is balanced well with the shorter day/night cycle and the rate energy is expended. There are just enough plots to maintain every morning while still having enough time to run to town to restock supplies, do a few missions, or explore an island and still be able to make it home to sleep.
How Summer in Mara handles water and fertilizer is unique. Instead of having each plot consume a single charge of a watering can or similar implement, players simply need to run over a plot while holding a bucket of water or a bag of fertilizer. Players do need to plan their path for maximum efficiency as the bucket and the fertilizer bag can only be carried for a limited number of steps. The system is an interesting twist, but I would have preferred to see the bucket and the bag last for a few more steps, so an extremely efficient route could hit all the plots. This would be a great way to reward skill while keeping the original design in mind.
The crafting system is decent, but it could use some quality of life improvements. Players gain a large number of items to craft over the course of the game. The need to return home to craft is a bit restrictive and frustrating, especially when players need to take two boat rides to turn in the quest after. I would have preferred to have the ability to craft some simple recipes on the boat right away. I would have also liked to see the number of raw materials in my inventory when crafting, instead of having to back out to the inventory to check. Finally, a faster way to craft missing raw materials for complex recipes would have been a great time saver, whether it meant automatically crafting the needed material or offering some sort of shortcut to access the missing material.
The questing system is how Summer in Mara tells the story, but also drives crafting progression forward. There is plenty to do as many of the game’s NPCs will need a favour or will barter with Koa. They almost always involve instructions to fetch, craft, or explore. The system works well, but the progression of the side quests is a bit uneven as they require items that haven’t been unlocked yet by the main quest line. The worst offenders are the quests involving flour and pineapples. The flour will be addressed in a future patch by having one of the vendors sell flour, according to the developers.
While there are several quality of life features that can improve Summer in Mara, the gameplay is enjoyable overall. It manages to strike the right balance of activities, without being wildly punishing if a player focuses slightly more on one thing or another. The rate of progression is set that players are getting a steady stream of new recipes and quests to keep them going. The pacing of the game is excellent, and it is easy to fall into a rhythm that makes hours go by quickly. As a fan of the Harvest Moon franchise and the sub-genre it spawned, Summer in Mara’s gameplay is the perfect blend of something familiar and something new.
Visuals
Summer in Mara has a bright and eye-catching animated look inspired by Studio Ghibli. Even the cut scenes are done in a similar anime style. The style, animation, and models are excellent. The only issue with the game’s visuals is some of the smaller, more desolate islands as they tend to look too similar and visually blend into a single mass.
Audio
The audio experience in Summer in Mara has its ups and downs. The sound effects are good, but the volume of some sound effects is quiet compared to the rest of the game. The mining sound and the breaking boxes sound are more extreme examples. The soundtrack is excellent. The music gently swings back and forth from relaxing tunes to uplifting songs. The problem is how the game decides to play music and when to stop. The game tends to choose a song, play the entire song, and then leave the player to contemplative silence until an event or a location triggers the next track. The end of the track can be very abrupt. At the bare minimum I would have preferred to hear the music fade out gently into silence, though I think I music backing the entire game would be ideal.
Overall
Summer in Mara is perfect for anyone looking for a relaxing game paired with a colourful, Studio Ghibli inspired look. While the game does struggle with some odd quality of life issues, these are mild nuisances, not game breaking experiences. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Mara and only wish I could have stayed longer.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
While we already knew that Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town would be heading to the Nintendo Switch in the West on July 14th XSEED Games has announced that PC players will also be able to revisit the classic game as the game will be coming to PC through Steam on that same day. To go along with this announcement a new trailer can be found below.
For those who haven’t been following the game, Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town is a rebuilt version of the 2003 Game Boy Advance release of the game and this new version features not only updated systems and character designs but also a number of brand new additions.
Quite some time ago Vanillaware announced that they were working on a brand new sci-fi game and now that game is finally heading to the West as Atlus has announced that 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim will be released on the PlayStation 4 on September 8th in North America and Europe. It is worth noting that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the game will only feature a Japanese voice track at launch but the company will be releasing a free English voice over patch sometime after the game is released.
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is a 2D sidescrolling adventure that will feature battles against kaiju in fast-paced top down battles where players will use an arsenal of mechsuit weaponry to defeat their foes. A new trailer to accompany this announcement was released and can be found below.
Last year during what used to be E3 Bethesda and Tango GameWorks announced a mysterious game by the name of Ghostwire: Tokyo and now a year later we have a new release window, some gameplay footage, and platform information.
Bethesda has revealed that the game will be coming to the PlayStation 5 as a console exclusive and on PC in 2021 and the game itself is a first person style game where a massive paranormal event causes the sudden disappearance of 99% of the population while spirits from Japanese folklore storm Tokyo. Players will harness paranormal abilities to solve the mystery of the disappearances and save the city.
Players will have access to supernatural powers to unleash devastating, otherworldly attacks and interact with the paranormal in a variety of ways—cleanse, banish, and destroy. Throughout their journey players will grow their newfound powers to suit their playstyle and take the fight to the supernatural, some of which so far include Amewarashi, Shiromuku, and Kuchisake.
Capcom has announced that they have a new, rather unique looking game, on the way called Pragmata though fans will have to wait a bit as the game is currently aiming to be released sometime in 2022 for the Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5, and PC. Pragmata is set in a dystopian near-future on Earth’s moon and will take players on an “unforgettable adventure” that will take full advantage of next-gen hardware.
No exact gameplay details were revealed but you can check out an extended reveal trailer below that shows off plenty of interesting world elements that will be part of Pragmata, including cyborg animals, strange supernatural occurrences, and more.
Last year Bethesda and Arkane Studios announced that they were working on a new game involving a timeloop called Deathloop and now the company has revealed not only a few more details about the title but also roughly when and where players can expect to pick it up.
Deathloop places players into the role of Colt, a man trapped in a time loop on the enigmatic island of Blackreef, doomed to repeat the same day for eternity. The only chance for escape is to break the loop by unearthing information and assassinating eight key targets before the day resets. However, lurking in the shadows is rival assassin Julianna, equipped with her own equally powerful abilities and weapons, on a mission to protect the loop by assassinating Colt, and restarting the cycle. Players can also choose to take control of Julianna, turning Deathloop into a deadly game of hunter-vs-hunted.
Deathloop will be released later this year during the holiday season and will be a PlayStation 5 console exclusive and also released on PC.
A new game with a “working title” of Project Athia has been announced by Square Enix and Luminous Productions for the PlayStation 5 and PC. It is meant to be an other-worldly adventure that was designed to work specifically for the console and will take players to a beautiful world where a thrilling story will be told in an adventure that will be “twisted, tempestuous and forbidding.”
Currently no release window for Project Athia has been given but you can check out the teaser trailer for the game below, which shows a snippet of gameplay though the developer has stated that more will be revealed in the near future.
Dive into an action game drenched in comic book aesthetic as you fight against the dehumanized bureaucracy that stole your identity!
Manchester, UK June 12th, 2020 — Combining a stunning comic book aesthetic and cyberpunk action within the stylistic framework of a graphic novel, Merge Games and Antab Studio are thrilled to deliver their stunning futuristic action shooter, Foreclosed. First premiered on IGN’s Summer of Gaming Show in spectacular fashion with a gameplay reveal and developer interview, Foreclosed is now in development for PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch.
Taking inspiration from titles such as the Deux Ex and Max Payne series, and Frank Miller’s graphic novel, Hard Boiled, Foreclosed is a striking display of narrative-driven action where the player takes control of brain implant abilities, hi-tech weaponry, and a diverse skill tree system all encompassed alongside a striking cyberpunk-graphic novel aesthetic.
Foreclosed utilizes a compelling combination of the interactivity of video games with the visual aesthetic of comic books, alongside diverse, hi-tech combat! Cutscenes are interactive and transition smoothly to and from alternative gameplay styles to allow the player to truly feel like a comic book hero. Keep an eye out on Merge Facebook and Merge Discord pages to keep up on all of the latest about the world of Foreclosed.
Key Features
Slick Cyberpunk Action – Foreclosed blends a striking comic book aesthetic alongside high-octane, cyberpunk infused action gameplay.
Hi-tech Combat – Modify your symbiotic pistol and use your brain implant abilities to manipulate your surroundings and fight back against the system.
Firmware Upgrades – Discover and unlock new abilities with an RPG-like skill system
Interactive Comic Book – Everything from gameplay to cinematics are experienced within the stylistic framework of a graphic novel to make you truly feel like a comic book hero..
Original Story – Follow the story of Evan Kapnos, his identity recently Foreclosed, stripped of his job, brain implants and access to the city Blockchain. He must now escape the city before his identity and implants are auctioned off…
About Merge Games Merge is an independent video game publisher based in Manchester, UK. The company publishes interactive software worldwide for personal computers and video game consoles. Merge also specializes in publishing collectible games for retail for independent developers. More information about Merge products can be found at www.mergegames.com.
About Antab Studio Andrea Tabacco and Lara Gianotti founded Antab Studio in 2016. They are avid gamers themselves and aspire to explore all aspects of videogames. From recreation to experimentation, they strive to develop polished and immersive experiences for their audiences to enjoy.
Paris, June 12th 2020 – Microids and PlayMagic are delighted to announce that XIII – the remake of the cult classic cel-shaded FPS – will be released November 10th 2020 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC/Mac.
With this announcement comes the premiere of the first gameplay trailer filled with action and adrenaline, as well as some cel-shaded screenshots.
The gameplay trailer unveils the artistic direction chosen, especially the cel-shading treatment, trademark of the original game! Discover the new look of two iconic environments of the game: Brighton beach or the FBI headquarters ; and get a glimpse of some of the weapons and useful items needed to progress through the game, hinting of the different play styles.
Will you play sneakily or choose the frontal confrontation?
While being faithful to the original material, the XIII remake is aiming to please the most sophisticated gamers of today. Players will also be delighted to know the team was able to remaster the original game soundtrack and the actors’ voices.
Play as “XIII”, the man with no identity fighting for his life while uncovering a vast conspiracy. Shoot your way through an intense solo campaign and challenge your friends for brutal multiplayer matches!
About the Story of XIII:
Who are you?
The country is still in shock after President Sheridan’s assassination.
You wake up injured and with amnesia on the shore of an east coast beach. The only clues about your identity are the number XIII tattooed on your collarbone and the key to a locker. Despite the memory loss, you realize not everything has been forgotten as you seem to have amazing reflexes comparable to a well-trained government agent. You will soon be on your way to uncover your past, discovering in the process your role in the murder of the US president and unveiling the most astonishing conspiracy in the country’s history.
Discover the content of the Limited Edition available as soon as November 10th, 2020
The Limited Edition will include:
The copy of the game
A two-sided metal case
3 art cards
13 in-game weapon skins
The Golden Classic Weapon Skins Pack (Pistol + Golden Knife) is a preorder item for all editions, at participating retailers.
Also shortly available for digital preorders.
***
Will you find out who you really are?
And the role you’ve played in this massive conspiracy?
The remake of XIII will launch on November 10th on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC/Mac!
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