PREPARE FOR AN AMAZING PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE WITH THE PET COLLECTION MMORPG STONEAGE WORLD
New Turn-Based mobile MMORPG Now Open for Pre-Registration on the App Store and Google Play
MAY 18, 2020 – LOS ANGELES – It’s time to go back to the Stone Age with Netmarble Corp, as the company announced it is introducing its internationally-known Stone Age IP to the West with the reveal of StoneAge World, a prehistoric turn-based pet collecting MMORPG for mobile devices. Rewards are now available for those that pre-register the game to download on the App Store and Google Play.
StoneAge World is a turn-based mobile reimagining of the internationally acclaimed Stone Age online RPG. In a world sent back to the prehistoric era, players take on the role of a “Trainer,” a powerful warrior in the land of Tectonika whose responsibility is to protect their land with the use of tamable Pets. Player trainers will have their hands full with over 250 pets to collect, tame and train, running the gamut from iconic prehistoric animals such as Dinosaurs and Wooly Mammoths to more domesticated beasts like Pigs and Wolves, as they explore and defend Tectonika against the threat of an up-and-coming Machine Civilization!
“In Korea, Stone Age originally started out as an online-only title. To date, the brand has grown to see over 200 million players for more than 20 years of collective service from a variety of different games, and we are thrilled to see this franchise come to global market as mobile MMORPG at long last,” said Joong Sun Chang, Executive Producer of Netmarble. “StoneAge World’s bestiary of dinosaurs and prehistoric animals, combined with the game’s colorful visual aesthetic, is perfect for those seeking an online world of prehistoric locales filled with powerful creatures to raise and grow alongside with.”
Anyone that pre-registers StoneAge World between now and launch will receive the following prizes:
1,000,000 Stones, StoneAge World’s main currency for those who pre-register at official website
50,000 Shells, additional StoneAge World’s premium currency given for those who pre-register at App Store and Google Play
At pre-registration website, players can also look forward to celebratory events, including:
Pet Gift Event – Players will be sent one of attractive hatched pets at launch. By collecting tickets when logging into the official website, or by sharing event news on Facebook one a day, players can hatch new pets from eggs by using 5 tickets at once. Complete all tasks to receive 13 tickets at once
Mini-Game Event –Players who successfully capture a pet will get 10 event tickets
About Netmarble Corporation Netmarble Corporation strives to entertain audiences of all ages around the world by providing great mobile gaming experiences. Established in Korea in 2000, Netmarble is one of the fastest-growing mobile game companies and consistently ranks as a top mobile developer and publisher worldwide. With more than 6,000 employees, Netmarble has been producing and servicing some of the most successful mobile games including Lineage 2: Revolution, Blade & Soul Revolution, MARVEL Future Fight, BTS WORLD, Everybody’s Marble, and Seven Knights. As a parent company to Kabam, a top mobile game developer in massively multiplayer free-to-play games, the largest shareholder to Jam City, a leading casual social game developer and a major shareholder of BigHit Entertainment, a music production and artist management company, Netmarble has a strategic partnership with CJ ENM Corporation, Asia’s largest entertainment company, Tencent Holdings, Asia’s largest internet company, and NCsoft, a prominent MMORPG company. More information can be found at http://company.netmarble.com
French independent developer Tactical Adventures has released a new features trailer for its upcoming Tactical RPG Solasta: Crown of the Magister, the first look at new features and gameplay since its successful Kickstarter last summer. The trailer dives into the character creator to assemble a team of four heroes, outfitting and preparing them to explore the uncharted world of Solasta, and engage in highly tactical and vertical combat.
Enjoy a first look at how to create a fully customized party, by choosing among a wide range of races, classes and subclasses, background stories and abilities, to maximize synergies and potential while adventuring. Wizards of the Coast has granted Tactical Adventures a license to use the Dungeons & Dragons SRD 5.1 content and rules in Solasta: Crown of the Magister.
Solasta is a team-based adventure game where each character plays a critical role in the campaign and can be a hero. The dynamic and mysterious world features elements of verticality, allowing players to use their surroundings as an element of strategy. Players can position ranged characters on high vantage points or send their thief down into shafts and caverns to scope out what’s ahead. In Solasta, light is a tool to explore the depths and hollows of dungeons or can be used as a weapon against the creatures of the dark, but if players aren’t careful, it will give away the party’s position to nasty creatures bent on their demise.
Solasta: Crown of the Magister Features:
Verticality: Solasta is a three-dimensional world, rather than a series of flat maps. Locations can be explored by climbing walls, flying, teleporting, crawling through tunnels, finding secret passages, or falling through unstable ground, allowing the player to use the environment to take on encounters in multiple different ways.
Team Based Adventure: Players will have many options to choose races, classes, backgrounds, and can even roll for stats as they create their party. All members are essential – together you will adventure through Solasta as a group, where you must work together in pursuit of your quest.
Tactical CRPG: Each encounter can be handled in multiple ways. Will you use the high ground to strike your enemies from above as a Darkweaver Rogue, or shove your enemies into deep chasms as a Mountaineer Fighter? Your choices alone will determine the destiny of your party.
Light: Light will not only help to see your surroundings as you explore deep underground or in a dungeon. It can also be used as a weapon against the light-fearing creatures you will encounter along your journey. Careful, though – light can also give away your position.
Created by Tabletop Players: Tactical Adventures is a team of highly experienced Tabletop players and veteran game developers who are passionate about the genre, striving to create the best Tactical RPG video game
PQube has announced that they will be working with developer IndieLeague Studio to bring their action RPG Zengeon to the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch sometime this year though those who want to can currently pick it up on PC. Zengeon is a roguelite style RPG inspired by Chinese culture and deities where players will uncover the mystical story by collecting Memory Fragments in levels that change every time they play.
There will be six playable characters, all of whom control a different Guardian Spirit with special abilities allowing players to pick a pair that best fits their playstyle while tackling the challenging and ever-changing stages in the hunt for Memory Fragments that can be tackled either solo or with up to three others online.
Nearly anyone who is familiar with Japanese pop culture has at least seen the green haired virtual idol Hatsune Miku even if they didn’t know who or what she exactly was. This popular Vocaloid has mainstreamed the digital forefront of her fellow Vocaloids throughout the years and has seen numerous games released over the course of the last decade but it has been a few years now since one was released. Now, her and a number of her pop star friends are making their first appearance on the Nintendo Switch in the form of Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega Mix. With a hundred and one songs, ten of which are brand new to the series, on offer, is this appearance on a new platform a successful one?
Gameplay
In many ways, Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega Mix feels similar to the 2017 release of Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Future Tone as it moves away from setting up a storyline and instead presents players with a massive list of songs to choose from and play in rhythm mode, customization options for all of the Vocaloids (including the likes of the UTAU Kasane Teto and a number of “derivatives” such as Yowane Haku and Akita Ner), and a playlist option to create a set of the player’s favorite songs to play as music videos in a row, something that is always great for some background music.
One of the main differences with Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega Mix is that there are now two different ways to play the rhythm game, the standard mode that everyone familiar with the series should be familiar with, and the new Mix Mode. Both modes are introduced to the player through a standard tutorial set to the signature “Ievan Polkka” as the various inputs are shown off before letting players jump into the deep end.
The classic gameplay style sees players needing to use the four face buttons on the Switch, the shoulder buttons for slide notes, and the analog sticks for flicking to the right or left when necessary all to the rhythm set by the game and to match with the hollowed symbols that appear on the screen. These can range from simple button presses to having to hold a button down and dthe more accurate the press, the more points the player will earn all while a gorgeous music video plays in the background. Missing a note or hitting it too soon or after will drain the player’s health meter, that refills slowly when successfully hitting notes, and players can fail out of a song if their health manages to hit zero.
Of the one hundred and one songs that are available in the base game it is worth noting that, while they are all available on Normal, Hard, and Extreme, roughly twenty songs are not available on the Easy difficulty option so players will want to practice their skills a bit to prepare for the challenge here. There are options to play using a “No Fail” setting that prevents the player from losing a song but only through clearing a song properly will they be rewarded with “VP” which is used to purchase customization items and modules for the Vocaloid stars. It is also worth noting that, at least for series veterans who are used to seeing the PlayStation symbols and not Nintendo’s alphabetical buttons, there is an option to change the presentation of what players will need to press, perhaps alleviating some initial concerns about the switch to the new platform.
For those who want something a bit different from the norm, the Mix Mode is where the game can truly shine on its own. While not as difficult, Mix Mode changes things up by making use of the Nintendo Switch’s motion controls and Joy-Cons. This does mean that this mode cannot be played unless the console is either docked or set down with a kickstand which is a bit unfortunate but it makes it so players can hold the Joy-Cons in their left and right hands, holding them upright and tilting them to the left and right to reach their colored destination. Once here the player can press either of the top buttons on the Joy-Cons to successfully hit the notes, or hold for long notes.
This mode does make most songs quite a bit easier to manage and in fact only offers three stages of difficulty: Easy, Normal, and Hard and all songs can be played in this mode right off of the bat on any difficulty, making the game more accessible to those who want to try it out. This is especially true thanks to just how accurate the motion controls are in Mix Mode and can really help Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega Mix stand out for newcomers who may be a bit too daunted to try and tackle more difficult songs in the standard gameplay mode.
As mentioned before, players earn VP from completing songs using either gameplay method and this VP can then be used to purchase customization items for the Vocaloids. This includes everything from simple accessories that can be placed as the player wishes, to different hairstyles, to entirely different outfits (called Modules) that can then be worn for any song the player wishes. There are recommended outfits that can be purchased to match the theme of the song the player has chosen but it is entirely possible to take a swimsuit wearing Kasane Teto into a song performed by Rin or Hatsune Miku cosplaying as Sonic into a song meant for Luka.
Another aspect that is exclusive to the Switch here happens to be T-Shirt customization. Players are given a number of T-Shirt slots that can then be drawn on in any way the player wishes using either the game’s controls or through the touchpad/stylus for those who really want to get in-depth. Unfortunately there does not appear to be any way to share T-shirt designs with others or download a design someone else worked hard on, something that feels like a missed opportunity given the large Vocaloid fanbase.
Visuals & Audio
Every song in the game features a unique music video accompanying it and these videos range from standard presentations featuring the Vocaloids singing, dancing, or acting out a performance to match the theme of the song, there are also a number of 2D animations that are even more unique simply because of how well gorgeously drawn they are. For the most part, all returning songs feature the same style of presentation found in the previous entry to the series though the character models and costumes have been touched up a bit with a softer anime-style and the new songs feature a number of great animations as well and feature an aforementioned mix of different styles of presentation and once again players will find there are numerous Modules to dress their favorite characters in, ranging from song appropriate outfits, swimsuits, other characters, and cosplay from other Sega properties. It is unfortunate that, just like the previous release, Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega Mix forgoes attempting to translate the lyrics of the songs into English like they did a few years prior and instead presents the lyrics with romanized letters only and it is also worth noting that these lyrics do not appear while playing in Mix Mode.
As with any rhythm game the key aspect happens to be the songs that players can enjoy while actually playing the game and thankfully the one hundred and one songs on offer in Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega Mix continue to feature some of the best hits that fans are familar with ranging from rock songs, pop tunes, up-beat tunes, and some that flat out defy being placed into a genre. These hits include the likes of “The World Is Mine,” “World’s End Dancehall,” “Blackjack,” “Tengaku,” and many more though it is a bit disappointing to see that a few familiar older songs are only available as separate DLC at launch. That being said, the numerous amount of songs available for players even in this base package is incredible and has something for nearly everyone.
Overall
Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega Mix lays out everything it has to offer right from the get-go as players immediately find themselves able to play through over a hundred of Sega’s handpicked Vocaloid songs through either the traditional rhythm game or through the more accessible but equally enjoyable Mix Mode as well as a customization option that unfortunately cannot be shared amongst the community. There may be a smaller selection of songs than what was previously released a few years ago for Future Tone but this large collection still features some of the best songs available as well as some brand new songs presented for the first time in a package that is not only great for Vocaloid fans but also for those who have waited to see a great rhythm game arrive on the Switch.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
‘Mythic Quest: Quarantine,’ Brings Ensemble Cast Togetherfor New Installment Filmed Remotely on iPhone
Apple today announced that its critically hailed workplace comedy series, “Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet,” will return Friday, May 22, with the debut of “Mythic Quest: Quarantine,” a special, new episode filmed entirely on iPhone.
“Mythic Quest: Quarantine” is a new, half-hour installment that finds the team behind the biggest multiplayer video game of all-time tasked with working from home. Poppy (Charlotte Nicdao) and Ian (Rob McElhenney) struggle with solitude, while Brad (Danny Pudi) and David (David Hornsby) start a charitable competition. Assistant Jo (Jessie Ennis) tries to explain video-conferencing to CW (F. Murray Abraham) with mixed results. To produce the episode, the cast and crew worked remotely in multiple locations across the country.
“Mythic Quest: Quarantine” is written by star, co-creator and executive producer Rob McElhenney, co-creator and executive producer Megan Ganz and executive producer and star David Hornsby; and, reunites the ensemble cast including McElhenney, Academy Award-winner F. Murray Abraham, Charlotte Nicdao, Danny Pudi, Imani Hakim, Ashly Burch, David Hornsby, Craig Mazin, Naomi Ekperigin, Caitlin McGee, Jessie Ennis and Humphrey Ker.
“Lots of workplaces are figuring out this whole working-from-home thing, and the gaming industry is no different. Virtual meetings are a new and special kind of hell, so I think people will relate,” said Rob McElhenney. “Yes we’ve all had low points, but there have also been incredible moments of triumph and we wanted to celebrate that.”
“We needed to shoot this episode fast without sacrificing quality. Thankfully, we’re living in a time when everyone’s got a camera in their pocket. Having an iPhone coupled with the ingenuity of our crew, allowed us to make this unique piece of television in just days. We hope people enjoy it as much as we enjoyed making it.”
Co-created by Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day, and Megan Ganz, “Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet” follows a team of video game developers as they navigate the challenges of running a popular video game. The complete first season is now streaming globally on Apple TV+, and has already been picked up for a second season. Since its premiere, the comedy has been hailed by critics as “funny, heartfelt, clever, fast-paced, and unexpected” anchored by “one of comedy’s best new casts” and recognized as “one of the best new shows of 2020.”
“Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet” is executive produced by McElhenney and Day under their RCG banner; Michael Rotenberg and Nicholas Frenkel on behalf of 3Arts; and Jason Altman, Danielle Kreinik and Gérard Guillemot, for Ubisoft Film & Television. David Hornsby (“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”) and Megan Ganz (“Modern Family,” “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”) also executive produce. The series is produced by Lionsgate, 3 Arts Entertainment and Ubisoft.
Apple TV+ is available on the Apple TV app on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iPod touch, Mac, select Samsung smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV and Roku devices, as well as at tv.apple.com, for $4.99 per month with a seven-day free trial. The Apple TV app will be available on LG, Sony and VIZIO smart TVs later this year. For a limited time, customers who purchase a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac or iPod touch can enjoy one year of Apple TV+ for free. This special offer is good for three months after the first activation of the eligible device.*
*One subscription per Family Sharing group. Plan automatically renews until cancelled. Restrictions and other terms apply; visit apple.com/ promo for more information.
Cosmo D Studios’ IGF-Nominated Adventure Now Available via Steam & Itch.io; Download Demo Today
Brooklyn, NYC, United States – May 15, 2020 – Cosmo D Studios is pleased to announce that its surreal first-person adventure title, Tales From Off-Peak City Vol. 1,is now available for PC, Mac and Linux via Steam and Itch.io.
The IGF-nominated title is priced $9.99 – with a 10% discount during launch week – or available in a deluxe bundle alongside its hypnotic soundtrack for $12.99. A free playable demo is also available serving up a slice of weird and wonderful gameplay.
A spiritual successor to critically-acclaimed titles The Norwood Suite and Off-Peak, Tales From Off-Peak City Vol. 1 sees players visit the unforgettable street corner of July Avenue and Yam Street, as they plot to obtain a saxophone from longtime pizza-maker (and former saxophonist) Caetano Grosso. This instrumental pursuit will set off a chain of events across the neighborhood, taking players deep into the hidden worlds and private lives of the people living there.
On the corner of July Avenue and Yam Street, all is not what it seems. What role will you play in a city’s fate? Head over to the Tales From Off-Peak City Vol. 1Steam or Itch.io store page and find out today.
Building on the momentum from developing and releasing The Norwood Suite, Cosmo D started work on Tales From Off-Peak City Vol. 1 in Spring of 2018.
For more information on the weird and wonderful work of Cosmo D, please head over to the official website at cosmod.net.
About Cosmo D
Cosmo D is a game designer based in New York City with a background in cello performance and music composition. One rainy night in June 2013, he was struck by a car while crossing the street and found himself unable to play or make music for several months. While convalescing, he took it upon himself to learn the Unity Engine. The result was Off-Peak, released in 2015. A homage to Cosmo D’s home city of New York, as well as a commentary on the commodification of art and music in the urban space, Off-Peak gained a cult following, with hordes of press nods, let’s plays on YouTube, and a fanbase eagerly awaiting the follow-up. With assistance from NYU Game Center’s Incubator program, publisher Alliance Digital Media, as well as the New York game development scene at large, Cosmo D released a sequel, The Norwood Suite, in October 2017.
For a Gibby Good Time, Jump Into the Epic Games Store For Huge Discounts Off Standard and Special Edition Versions of RUNE II
The life of a reborn Viking gets better and better with RUNE II’s newest update! Building upon last week’s massive ‘Lazarus Update’ that redesigned major gameplay systems – as well as additional streamer and community feedback updates to optimize visual and sound quality – the new development team for RUNE II continues to listen to community feedback and deliver content to fans. New weapon combos, Combat Moves and satisfying finishing attacks bring an intensified level of visual savagery and carnage in RUNE II.
For a list of new features and improvements from this May 14 update, full patch notes can be found HERE: www.rune2.com/may14update/
To celebrate this newest update, RUNE II will be part of the the Epic Mega Sale on the Epic Game Store for the following editions :
Standard Edition: $20.99 (30% off, normally $29.99)
Berserker Rage: $25.19 (37% off, normally $39.99)
God Slayer: $29.99 (50% off, normally $59.99)
Watch the new RUNE II Lazarus Update Gameplay Montage video HERE
Loki has been a royal jerk and screwed up Midgard – you’ve been chosen to kick his ass out of Asgard for good. Alone or with friends, tear each enemy apart limb from limb in this chaotic, open-world saga, filled with brutal melee combat. Collect rare resources, locate divine artifacts and battle through the unique Ages of Ragnarok as you seek to craft the very sword used by Loki himself and destroy the trickster god with his own blade.
RUNE II is now available on the RUNE IIwebsiteor on the Epic Games Store starting at $19.99. For keeping up on all things RUNE II, join the epic Viking war cry on Discord, read the latest update on our website, like us on Facebook and Instagram, subscribe to our YouTube channel, and follow us on Twitch and Twitter.
Be The First To Join The Spiritual Successor to the Zombie Game With 25 Million Downloads, Infestation: Survivor Stories
Los Angeles – May 15, 2020 – See if you have what it takes to survive the zombie apocalypse by joining the Alpha for open world, PVP looter shooter game Outbreak New Dawn. Launching today into Alpha, Outbreak New Dawn is the newest game from Free Reign Entertainment, veterans in developing online multiplayer titles. Outbreak New Dawn is the spiritual successor to Infestation: Survivor Stories (formerly WarZ), a game that pioneered the zombie survival genre and amassed over 25 million players worldwide.
Set five years after the undead took over the world, the planet lies in shambles with survivors taking up refuge in safe, highly protected camps. Explore the world claimed by nature, loot what remains of civilization, and battle over resources to endure another day. Outlast the constant threat of the undead and other, more desperate survivors, or face the ultimate end.
Major Features Include:
Intense PVP Looter Shooter Action – Experience a robust PVP experience that has you battle other players for resources, such as food, weapons and ammunition, and crafting supplies. Team up to take others down or trust no one and battle everyone and everything yourself. Be prepared to lose everything you had with you if you die.
Vigorous Zombie Battles – Tread lightly in a world filled with zombies seeking living, breathing flesh. Avoid the undead or take them on with elite firepower.
No Cheater Left Unpunished –Outbreak New Dawn features a vigorous anticheat systems built by a leading anticheat team. The game focuses on what matters – cheat free, skill based responsive and lethal shooting.
Beautiful World to Loot – The highly-detailed world of Outbreak New Dawn is beautiful yet dangerous. Navigate forests, grass plains and mountain ranges, explore abandoned overgrown cities, gather valuable loot and extract it to safe camps, where you can trade it with other players or vendors. Complete missions from numerous NPCs to get access to more powerful and rare gear.
For more information regarding Outbreak New Dawn please visit https://www.playoutbreak.com/.
About Free Reign Entertainment Free Reign Entertainment is an independent games developer and publisher dedicated to creating immersive worlds and games heavily influenced by their community. The studio creates original IP, specializing in developing massive online games.
Digital Pre-Order Bonus and New Website Content Announced
London, United Kingdom – 15th May 2020 – Marvelous Europe Limited are today happy to announce that STORY OF SEASONS: Friends of Mineral Town, which is a complete remake of the Game Boy™ Advance classic, FRIENDS OF MINERAL TOWN, is now available to pre-order digitally from the Nintendo eShop as well as physically from selected retailers across Europe and Australia.
STORY OF SEASONS: Friends of Mineral Town will launch physically and digitally within Europe and Australia on the 10th July 2020 and from today Nintendo Switch™ owners will be able to pre-purchase the game from the Nintendo eShop for £42.99 / €49.99 / $79.95 AUD. Those who pre-purchase STORY OF SEASONS: Friends of Mineral Town digitally from the Nintendo eShop will also receive the Cow Costume Outfit as a digital pre-order bonus.
Those who purchase the physical edition of STORY OF SEASONS: Friends of Mineral Town will receive an exclusive set of stickers featuring various characters from the game. This sticker set will be included with all new physical copies and is not exclusive to a specific retailer. Those wishing to pre-order the physical version of STORY OF SEASONS: Friends of Mineral Town can find a list of retailers on the official STORY OF SEASONS website. This Cow Costume Outfit included with digital pre-purchase on the Nintendo eShop will also be released separately and will be available to purchase from the Nintendo eShop on the games launch date of 10th July 2020. In addition, a selection of additional animal-themed outfits will also be made available for purchase from the Nintendo eShop. These outfits can be worn by your character and will allow you to further embrace the cute and wonderful farming lifestyle found within STORY OF SEASONS: Friends of Mineral Town.
In addition to the digital pre-order availability Marvelous Europe Limited have also announced that the official STORY OF SEASONS website has been updated and will be regularly updated with new and exciting content; so be sure to check back often.
About STORY OF SEASONS: Friends of Mineral Town
Originally released for the Game Boy™ Advance in 2003, STORY OF SEASONS: Friends of Mineral Town is a complete remake that will let series fans revisit the charming world of Mineral Town, while also introducing it to a new generation of farmers. In this peaceful setting, players will grow crops, take care of animals, and build relationships with villagers.
Key Features:
▪ Rediscover one of STORY OF SEASONS’ most beloved entries: This Nintendo Switch™ remake of the classic game preserves the compelling gameplay, colourful characters and rustic charm of the original 2003 Game Boy Advance release. With buttery-smooth HD visuals and a heartwarming reimagining of the iconic locale, series veterans and newcomers will soon find themselves welcomed by the gentle rhythms of Mineral Town. ▪ Live the simple life in Mineral Town: Tap into the power of nature as you breathe life back into your grandfather’s farm, tending crops and raising livestock to earn your keep. With more than 20 varieties of crops to grow, and animals ranging from alpacas to angora bunnies, no day is the same as seasons cycle and new skills await. ▪ Forge friendships with the townsfolk and win their hearts: Mineral Town is full of friendly faces willing to help you find your feet in your new hometown. Get to know the locals and learn their stories as you go about your daily life, and you might even find love along the way! ▪ Activities galore for days off from the farm: Whether it’s high-tailing in horseraces, catching a champion trout or showcasing your culinary creativity, the busy calendar full of festivals means that there’s never a dull day in Mineral Town. If you’re looking for a quieter time, take yourself away to the local hot spring, delve deep into the mines, or seek out the seasonal secrets of the town.
▪
Rediscover one of STORY OF SEASONS’ most beloved entries: This Nintendo Switch™ remake of the classic game preserves the compelling gameplay, colourful characters and rustic charm of the original 2003 Game Boy Advance release. With buttery-smooth HD visuals and a heartwarming reimagining of the iconic locale, series veterans and newcomers will soon find themselves welcomed by the gentle rhythms of Mineral Town.
▪
Live the simple life in Mineral Town: Tap into the power of nature as you breathe life back into your grandfather’s farm, tending crops and raising livestock to earn your keep. With more than 20 varieties of crops to grow, and animals ranging from alpacas to angora bunnies, no day is the same as seasons cycle and new skills await.
▪
Forge friendships with the townsfolk and win their hearts: Mineral Town is full of friendly faces willing to help you find your feet in your new hometown. Get to know the locals and learn their stories as you go about your daily life, and you might even find love along the way!
▪
Activities galore for days off from the farm: Whether it’s high-tailing in horseraces, catching a champion trout or showcasing your culinary creativity, the busy calendar full of festivals means that there’s never a dull day in Mineral Town. If you’re looking for a quieter time, take yourself away to the local hot spring, delve deep into the mines, or seek out the seasonal secrets of the town.
Published in Europe and Australia by Marvelous Europe Limited, STORY OF SEASONS: Friends of Mineral Town for the Nintendo Switch™ is available to pre-order physically from selected retailers as well as digitally from the Nintendo eShop, with further information available through the official website. This game has been rated PEGI 12, USK 0 and PG. Nintendo Switch is a trademark of Nintendo.
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. For more information about Marvelous Europe products, please visit www.marvelousgames.com. We can also be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/marvelousgames and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/marvelous_games
Arboria is a 3D rogue-lite action RPG. Players take on the role of a Yotunz warrior sent down to the depths of Durnar to save their village. The game emphasizes challenging skill-based combat that requires players to be flexible, adjusting tactics to reflect the enemy’s strengths and weaknesses. The game has just landed on Steam Early Access with a full launch expected in 2021.
Arboria is very much an early access that follows the original spirit of the program. It is nowhere near done. The basic gameplay loop is there, but a good chunk of audio/visual assets and playable content is missing. While it is far from a complete game, there is enough content to give players a very good idea of what sort of game Arboria is shaping up to be, and there’s plenty to be excited about.
The story behind Arboria is interesting so far. Players are chasing a fellow member of their tribe down into the depths of Durnar. The world is overgrown with plant life that has slowly consumed the remains of some lost high-tech society. There are a lot of lore questions to be answered and some good opportunity for some twists and turns. So far, it seems like the plot will be pushed forward between dungeon floors through short messages left by previous travellers.
Arboria offers challenging combat in the vein of The Surge and Dark Souls. Enemies are tough, and the players are squishy. Survival is reliant on a combination of evading enemy attack patterns, exploiting enemy weaknesses, finding better equipment quickly, and improving the permanent stats over time. Equipment is mostly scavenged from the depths of Durnar and are lost on death, making the early game very tricky. Weaknesses are generally in the form of attack patterns and elemental weaknesses. As the game progresses, players are able to purchase second slots for weapons that will allow them to switch to the best combination before engaging in a fight. Being able to exploit weaknesses is a big part of staying alive as players traverse deeper into the level.
The game sticks to the tried and true formula for rogue-lite games. Players will deal with randomly generated dungeons and character perma-death. As of publishing, there is only one setting with more in development. Map generation is decent so far but still needs some tuning before launch as some pointlessly long dead ends appear on occasion. While perma-death is a thing, players have access to an unlimited number of Yotunz warrior, so losing one is not a huge concern. After each death, players are simply prompted to choose from a pool of randomly generated heroes to take into their next attempt.
There are two main progression currencies. One unlocks new buildings and permanent upgrades for the player, while the other is split between paying for permanent upgrades and gambling for better rolls on the next set of randomly generated warriors. For what content there is now, currency progression feels like it is at a good place, with just enough sinks to prod the player forward.
The controls feel decent right now, though there is room for improvement. Options for rebinding the keyboard is missing and needs to be addressed soon. The controller layout should be familiar with those who played the God of War reboot. Everything is laid out logically, so those who are more used to the traditional hack and slash layout will be able to convert over after a short period of time. The only problem with the controller right now is targeting enemies with directional attacks. The game tends to be very fussy in terms of direction, so a light aim assist would be appreciated.
The graphical experience is unique to say the least. The art style will be a love it or hate it deal with its plant and troll inspired aesthetics. The animations are decent so far, though there are too many unnecessary cutscenes that could be skipped over in favour of a flat load screen and plain menus. The size of the partner is a bit large right now as she can get in the way at times. Shrinking her by 50% would be helpful for combat.
The sound experience is a work in progress. The sound effects are decent so far, but there are missing effects outside of combat. There is no voice acting. Considering the thick accents used in the game dialogue, I would prefer if the developers kept it this way unless they are able to snag an incredibly talented cast of voice actors.
Arboria is still in its early stages of development but offers a solid foundation for the developers to build upon. The combat is a fun challenge that rewards careful timing and thoughtful exploitation of enemy weaknesses. The gameplay loop has lots of room for player to improve their own skills and their characters in the course of progression. While the presentation won’t be for everyone, the art team should be applauded for a bold style. Arboria is not one of those extended beta Steam Early Access titles, so jumping into the game now might not be for everyone. Regardless, fans of challenging action games should follow Arboria on Steam and watch how the game progresses over the coming months.
