Psychological Thriller Intruders: Hide and
Seek
Out Now on PC
Experience Daedalic Entertainment’s
first-person stealth game in standard mode or in VR with HTC Vive, Oculus Rift
and Windows Mixed Reality
HAMBURG, Germany – Sept. 26, 2019 – Daedalic Entertainment and developer Tessera Studios have launched the psychological thriller Intruders: Hide and Seek on Windows PC via Steam. Playable in both standard and VR modes, the game is compatible with HTC Vive, Oculus Rift and Windows Mixed Reality.
Intruders:
Hide and Seek is a first-person
stealth game in which players grapple with the intense terror of a home
invasion from the perspective of a defenseless young child. Trapped in a
secluded home with three mysterious burglars who have your family restrained,
you’ll have to seek cover and remain undetected to uncover who these assailants
are and save your family.
Key
Features:
A realistic and nerve-wracking hostage drama with deeply gripping tension and atmosphere.
Experience thriller, mystery and horror gameplay that will make your heart race.
Two ways to play, either with or without virtual reality.
Stunning VR immersion on HTC Vive, Oculus Rift and Windows Mixed Reality.
Intruders:
Hide and Seek is also available on
PlayStation®VR and has already won several accolades, including a
PlayStation®Talents Award, “Best Gaming Pitch” and “Best Game for the Public”
at the Gaming Voice Awards at South by Southwest (SXSW), “Best University
Project” from the Fun & Serious Games Festival, and “Best Game for the
Public” at Gamelab.
About
Daedalic Entertainment
Daedalic Entertainment publishes and develops
high-quality games for all platforms. The company has a diverse line-up of
high-quality titles, including classic adventures, RPGs, and strategy and
multiplayer games. With more than 80 employees, Daedalic is currently
developing a new line-up of innovative games across consoles, PC and mobile
platforms.
Among the AAA titles in production at the
studio are the team-RTS A
Year of Rain (PC), as well as The
Lord of the Rings – Gollum (multiplatform). A Yearof Rain combines classical
elements like base-building and a comprehensive story campaign with
hero-focused and team-oriented gameplay. The
Lord of the Rings – Gollum is an action-adventure that tells the
story of Gollum from a perspective never witnessed before in any storytelling
media, all the while staying faithful to the legendary books of J.R.R. Tolkien.
Based in Hamburg, Germany, Daedalic is one of
Europe’s most acclaimed publishers and developers. With a total of 32 awards in
the German Developers Award (including multiple accolades for “Studio of the
Year”) and 12 German Computer Game Awards for genre-defining games such as Deponia, Edna & Harvey, Silence, Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun,
Ken Follett’s The Pillars of
the Earth, The
Long Journey Home, and State
of Mind, Daedalic is a record holder for the two most prestigious
games awards in Germany.
About
Tessera Studios
Tessera Studios is a young Spanish studio
founded in 2016 in Madrid. Even though the VR stealth thriller Intruders: Hide and Seek is
their first project, it has already won several prizes.
ROCCAT’S NEW KAIN SERIES ULTRA-RESPONSIVE PC GAMING MICE LET
GAMERS STAY ONE CLICK AHEAD OF THE COMPETITION – AVAILABLE AT RETAIL
STARTING FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2019
San Diego, CA – September 26, 2019 –
ROCCAT, Turtle Beach’s (Nasdaq: HEAR)
Hamburg, Germany-based PC accessories division today announced the highly
anticipated Kain series PC gaming mice will be available at
participating retailers across Europe and Asia tomorrow, Friday, September 27,
2019, and will be available in the U.S. via various channels during October.
Born from the vision of creating the best “click” and aimed to deliver maximum
precision performance, the Kain series mice feature ROCCAT’s innovative Titan
Click mechanism making it one of the fastest and most responsive series of
PC gaming mice available. Additionally, the Kain series delivers an
exceptional shape, weight, and feel for the perfect grip and ergonomics.
ROCCAT’s Kain 100 AIMO and the upgraded
sensor variant Kain 120 AIMO are available for a
MSRP of $49.99/ €49.99 and $69.99/€69.99, respectively. The wireless Kain 200 AIMO offers PC gamers the
cable-free version of its newest technology at a MSRP of $99.99/€99.99.
“Our all-new Kain series mice
offer PC gamers ROCCAT’s core values of precision and performance, wrapped in
an elegant shell that feels great right from the first touch,” said René Korte,
General Manager of PC Products at Turtle Beach. “And when used with our other AIMO-enabled
products, it creates the perfect PC gaming desktop ecosystem with a unique
lighting experience.”
Kain is ROCCAT’s latest
new series of PC gaming mice designed to be the fastest and best-feeling mice
on the market. PC gamers will have three models of the Kain mouse to
choose from – both wired and wireless. The Kain 100 AIMO provides
gamers with side grips for maximum control and 8500 DPIs. The Kain 120
AIMOfeatures a unique hybrid performance coating which is
durable, dirt resistant, grippy and feels great to touch. The variant also
hosts the updated Owl-Eye sensor offering up to 16K DPIs. Additionally, the
wireless Kain 200 AIMO will offer PC gamers the cable-free
version of its newest technology, and all three versions of Kain are
available in Ash Black and Arctic White.
For more information on ROCCAT’s lineup
of high-quality, German-engineered PC gaming accessories, visit https://roccat.org. For the latest
information on Turtle Beach products, accessories, and stories, visit the
Turtle Beach website at www.turtlebeach.com and the Turtle Beach
Blog at https://blog.turtlebeach.com. Fans can also
follow Turtle Beach on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
About Turtle Beach Corporation
Turtle Beach (www.turtlebeach.com) is a leading gaming
accessory brand, offering a wide selection of cutting-edge, award-winning
gaming headsets. Whether you’re a professional esports athlete, hardcore gamer,
casual player, or just starting out, Turtle Beach has the gaming headset to
help you truly master your skills. Innovative and advanced technology, amazing
high-quality gaming audio, crystal-clear communication, lightweight and
comfortable designs, and ease-of-use are just a few features that make Turtle
Beach a fan-favorite brand for gamers the world over. Designed for Xbox,
PlayStation®, and Nintendo consoles as well as for PC, Mac®, and mobile/tablet
devices, owning a Turtle Beach gaming headset gives you the competitive
advantage. Hear Everything. Defeat Everyone®. In 2019 Turtle Beach acquired ROCCAT,
a leading PC accessories maker that combines detail-loving German innovation
with a genuine passion for designing the best PC gaming products. Turtle
Beach’s shares are traded on the Nasdaq Exchange under the symbol: HEAR.
Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking
Statements
This press release includes
forward-looking information and statements within the meaning of the federal
securities laws. Except for historical information contained in this release,
statements in this release may constitute forward-looking statements regarding
assumptions, projections, expectations, targets, intentions or beliefs about
future events. Statements containing the words “may”, “could”, “would”,
“should”, “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “looking”, “plan”,
“estimate”, “target”, “project”, “intend” and similar expressions constitute
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and
unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ
materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.
Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current belief, as well as
assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management.
While the Company believes that its
expectations are based upon reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurances
that its goals and strategy will be realized. Numerous factors, including risks
and uncertainties, may affect actual results and may cause results to differ
materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements made by the
Company or on its behalf. Some of these factors include, but are not limited
to, risks related to the Company’s liquidity, the substantial uncertainties
inherent in the acceptance of existing and future products, the difficulty of
commercializing and protecting new technology, the impact of competitive
products and pricing, general business and economic conditions, risks
associated with the expansion of our business including the implementation of
any businesses we acquire, our indebtedness, and other factors discussed in our
public filings, including the risk factors included in the Company’s
most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the Company’s other
periodic reports. Except as required by applicable law, including the
securities laws of the United States and the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission, the Company is under no obligation to
publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement after the date of this
release whether as a result of new information, future developments or
otherwise.
All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
MOONSTONE SYSTEM ARRIVES IN
MASSIVE CONTENT UPDATE FOR AxE: ALLIANCE VS EMPIRE
Acclaimed highly interactive
open-world MMORPG earns new game systems, events and more for Android and iOS
Seoul –
Sept. 26, 2019 –
The epic war for control of the universe rages on in AxE: ALLIANCE VS EMPIRE
(AxE), the fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing game
(MMORPG) from NEXON Corporation, subsidiary of NEXON Co., Ltd. (“Nexon”)
(3659.TO), a worldwide leader in free-to-play online and mobile games.
Beginning today, mobile players worldwide can dive into one of the game’s
largest content updates yetfor free on the App Store and Google Play.
Players in western countries can download AxE here and player in southeast Asia can download
it here.
Since the
game’s launch earlier this year, AxE has continued to make a massive
splash as an innovative MMORPG boasting and explorable open-world rich with
unique and diverse characters, storylines and more. Today, AxE’s enchanted
warfare intensifies with an overhaul of new features, including:
Moonstone System – In this all-new in-game addition, players can obtain Moonstones
from the Area 4 “Ahl Pazo Spirit Forest” to the Area 11 “Adventus” by
slaying monsters. There are four tiers of Moonstones, each with their own
levels of power and rarity
Seeker Book Mission Log – All new and returning players will
receive their own Seeker Book packed with challenges. Every completed
mission earns players with special in-game rewards
Increased Artifact Powers – The maximum level cap for every Gem in
the ‘deisha’s Sacrifice, Aegis of Samrave, Tyr’s Renewal and Shedim’s
Favor Artificats have been raised
New Wings
– The powerful Mechanica Wings are now available, boasting a maximum level
of 60 and Passive Skill of two-second invincibility when HP drops below
15% (cooldown time set at 100 seconds)
Stylish Costumes – The Dark Nobility character outfit set is now available for
customization
Seasonal Event – To help celebrate today’s content update, players are invited to
collect corals during the Deep Sea Event for exclusive rewards.
AxE offers immersive MMORPG battles in
an enchanted yet world, rich with memorable allies, diverse locations and
daunting quests. Players are invited to join a guild and engage in all-out epic
battle with friends and challengers around the world in single-player, tactical
faction combat and large-scale competitive modes inspired by the best MMOs on
PC and console. AxE offers six highly customizable character classes,
along with an intricate weapon, armor and ability upgrade system for diverse play
styles.
AxE:
ALLIANCE VS EMPIRE is
available today for iOS and Android users worldwide. Additional information for
members of the press:
Like the official global Facebook page here and Thai page here
About NEXON Co. Ltd. NEXON Co., Ltd. (“Nexon”) (3659.TO) is a
worldwide leader in free-to-play online and mobile games. Founded in Korea in
1994, Nexon developed one of the world’s first graphics-based massively
multiplayer online games. Nexon also pioneered the concept of microtransactions
and the free-to-play business model, setting a new standard in which play is
free, and users have the option to purchase in-game items to enhance their
experience. Nexon currently services nearly 100 titles in more than 190 countries. The
Company is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan and its shares are listed on the Tokyo
Stock Exchange.
Atmospheric Platformer Stela Heads to
Xbox One on 17 Oct.
Launches on Apple Arcade in Coming Weeks, PC in
Q1 2020
VANCOUVER – 25 Sept. 2019 – SkyBox Labs, co-developer of Halo Infinite, will bring Stela, the cinematic platformer about a young woman witnessing the final days of a mysterious ancient world, to Xbox One on 17 Oct. It will come to Apple Arcade in the coming weeks and PC will follow suit in Q1 2020.
Traverse a decaying
forest, lifeless villages, mysterious temple dungeons littered with traps, a
huge cavern home to a gargantuan beast awakening as the world slips deep into
slumber, and more exotic locations. Run for your life from Shadows, the hungry spirits
haunting the world in its death throes, strange monstrosities, and other
creatures on a journey to a monastery high atop snow-peaked mountains.
The minimalist yet
poignant odyssey eschews dialogue in favor of cinematic storytelling amidst
sweeping landscapes. Solve massive puzzles in a world depicted in muted colors.
An original ambient soundtrack from the composers of Wandersong and Rogue
Legacy, the Vancouver-based studio A Shell in the Pit, fully immerses
wanderers in the bleak tale.
“We’re fortunate to have
such an amazing team of artists, designers and other game industry
professionals who have contributed to many of the biggest AAA IPs working on Stela,”
said Shyang Kong, Co-Founder, SkyBox Labs. “Stela’s atmospheric
soundtrack, gorgeous yet grim visuals, and brain-teasing gameplay will deliver
a cinematic platformer experience delightful to fans of the genre like
ourselves while inviting newcomers to join us as aficionados.”
SkyBox Labs is a game
development studio based in Vancouver, BC, Canada that has developed titles
alongside some of the world’s top publishers including Xbox Game Studios,
GungHo and Electronic Arts. Individuals at SkyBox Labs have experience working
on franchises including Dragon Age, Dead Rising, Dynasty Warriors, Need for
Speed, and more.
The company is currently
working as a co-developer on Halo Infinite, on projects in the Minecraft
universe, and an original title, Stela.
DEATH BATTLE! — ROOSTER TEETH’S
NEW CARD AND DICE GAME — LAUNCHES OCTOBER 14
Vanquish your friends with 100 unique
cards and six abilities across 50 dice in the new tabletop game based on RT’s
hit pop culture web series!
AUSTIN,
TX — Sept. 25, 2019 —
Rooster Teeth has announced that its new head-to-head tabletop game Death Battle! will
release on Oct. 14, 2019. Based on Rooster Teeth’s hit web series of the same
name in which pop culture’s deadliest characters fight it out in dream
match-ups come to life, Death
Battle! is a fast-paced card and dice game where players duel to
the bitter end…. of the deck!
To defeat your foe, you’ll have to outwit
their devious battle plans while building a devastating combo of dice and card
abilities to take them down. Devise a path to victory with 100 unique Armor,
Weapon, and Skill cards, as well as 50 dice with six different abilities.
Death Battle! comes packaged with 100 cards, 50 dice (with carrying bag), instruction manual and tons of fun!
The Death
Battle! web series is currently in its sixth season. Experts Wiz
and Boomstick analyze the weapons, armor and skills of some of entertainment’s
biggest brawlers to determine once and for all who would reign supreme. New and
old episodes of the show are available at https://roosterteeth.com/series/death-battle.
About
Rooster Teeth
Rooster Teeth is a pioneering media and
entertainment company responsible for some of the biggest online series in
history, such as the award-winning and longest-running web series, Red vs.
Blue. They also produce the globally acclaimed animated series RWBY, the first
western anime series to be distributed in Japan; the award-winning Rooster
Teeth Podcast; and Immersion, a reality format that brings video game theory to
the real world. Rooster Teeth has a massive global footprint of more than 45
million subscribers to its YouTube Network, five million unique monthly
visitors to its RoosterTeeth.com hub and three million registered community
members. The company was founded in 2003 and is now a subsidiary of Otter
Media, a WarnerMedia company. Discover more at RoosterTeeth.com.
CODE VEIN NOW
AVAILABLE FOR PLAYSTATION 4, XBOX ONE AND STEAM FROM BANDAI NAMCO ENTERTAINMENT
AMERICA INC.
Lust for
Blood and Live for Death in the Latest Action-Adventure RPG from BANDAI NAMCO
Entertainment America Inc.
SANTA CLARA, Calif., (September 27, 2019) – Leading
video game publisher and developer BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc.
today released CODE VEIN™ for the PlayStation®4 computer
entertainment system, Xbox One and PC via STEAM®. Adapt and overcome
challenging enemies, brutal bosses, and uncover the secrets of Vein in this
thrilling 3rd person action-adventure RPG.
In the not-too-distant future, a mysterious disaster has brought
collapse to the world as we know it. Towering skyscrapers, once symbols of
prosperity, are now lifeless graves of humanity’s past pierced by the Thorns of
Judgment. At the center of the destruction lies a hidden society of Revenants
called Vein. This final stronghold is where the remaining few fight to survive,
blessed with Gifts of power in exchange for their memories and a thirst for
blood. Give into the bloodlust fully and risk becoming one of the Lost,
fiendish ghouls devoid of any remaining humanity.
In CODEVEIN, players travel across
the interconnected dungeons of the world as they unlock mysteries surrounding
Vein and themselves. As they delve deeper into the game and come across tougher
challenges, players can switch battle styles and loadout of abilities as well
as their weapons to better handle the obstacles in front of them.
On their journey, players will encounter various characters that
will offer their friendship and services. Some will even team up with players
and help them throughout the game as A.I. controlled partners. Each partner has
their own unique traits to help complement a player’s playstyle or well suited
for an area. For those wanting a bit more challenge, they can go it alone and
tackle the game by themselves. A cooperative multiplayer mode is also included
for friends to team up and play through the game together. Special underground
sections of the game tuned for cooperative play are also available for an added
challenge.
“CODEVEIN combines the popular
‘die-and-retry’ genre of games with a strong and engaging vampire anime story,”
said Stephen Akana, Senior Global Brand Manager for BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment
America Inc. “The CODEVEIN development team
implemented a lot of options within the game to help newcomers to the genre
ease their way into the challenging gameplay while making sure fans of its
style of game are provided with a depth of combat options and character
builds.”
CODEVEIN is available now for the PlayStation 4 system, Xbox One, and PC with a MSRP of $59.99 and ESRB rating of “M” for Mature. For more information on CODEVEIN and other products from BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. please visit: https://www.bandainamcoent.com, follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS, or join the conversation at https://www.twitter.com/BandaiNamcoUS.
###
About
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc.
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc., part of BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc., is a leading global publisher and developer of interactive entertainment for all major video game consoles, iOS, Android, and online platforms. The company is known for creating and publishing many of the industry’s top video game franchises including PAC-MAN®, GALAGA®, TEKKEN®, SOULCALIBUR®, and ACE COMBAT®. BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. is the premier publisher in the Western hemisphere for anime based video games including NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™, DRAGON BALL Z®, and ONE PIECE®. More information about the company and its products can be found at http://www.bandainamcoent.com or www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS
The famous Greek philosopher Socrates once said, “There’s no such thing as too many cat-themed games” (just trust me on this one, don’t look it up). And I have to agree with him. He was a man of good taste and way ahead of its time. Also, I can’t believe it’s been already 2 years since I played the first Cat Quest. I suppose the sequel has been long overdue. For what it’s worth, I liked the first game. It had some minor hiccups in the design but it was a decent time killer. Let’s see what Cat Quest II brings to the table.
Story
There was once a great weapon known as Kingsblade. It was a great source of power but it also meant that many kingdoms in the world fought over it. Ultimately, the weapon was shattered into little pieces and scattered all over the world. Now that the great evil has risen again, it is up to you to reforge the Kingsblade and defeat a new villain. Besides the new villain, Cat Quest II expanded its offering of supporting characters so the game’s narrative doesn’t feel as desolate as the previous game. The world map is also larger, with more cat puns in the names of towns and areas (as it was expected).
Gameplay
But what’s new on the gameplay front, you ask? Plenty of things. For those who want to play it cautious, we now have ranged attacks. Staff weapons can send small balls of light (sometimes with elemental properties) at enemies. Some enemies are more susceptible to those kinds of magic attacks and some to melee, so sometimes you’ll have to switch your strategies. We also have “royal arts”, skills that give passive bonuses to your abilities, such as doing damage to enemies as you evade and roll through them. Weapon and armor upgrading is still there but the tastiest piece of Cat Quest II cake is definitely semi co-op play. Why do I call it semi co-op? Well, it’s there although with some restrictions. It’s local only so the second player needs to be present in the room with you. Or not, if you have a really really really long joypad cable. When playing solo, the AI-controlled player (a cute doggo, so there is something new for all the dog lovers out there) will help you with fighting, sometimes casting support spells on you of offensive ones on the enemies. I was pleasantly surprised that the AI player is not as dumb as I expected, they don’t rush in mobs, they know how and when to evade and I revived them maybe once or twice in 2 hours of play. So, props for that. And last, but not the least: way more sidequests this time around, which means longer play and more weapons to earn.
Visuals
Not much new here in terms of facelifting but plenty of new stuff in terms of content. As I said, a bigger world map this time which means more new and exciting locations. Also a new continent with a new animal type. I won’t say what kind of animal beside that’s it’s the same kind of your AI player and it rhymes with “log”. Such a puzzle. Caves/dungeons look prettier now, almost like trying to trick you that you might not die in them as often as you imagine. The new continent has a desolate, dirty and scorched earth look, which is pretty fitting for the kind of animals that inhabit it. New magic spells have more flair to it and leave traces on the environment (for when you miss the enemies with your spell, so you can take it out on the innocent grass nearby).
Audio
While some new music themes are present, I’m disappointed that caves and towers still feel eerily quiet as in the previous game. I could definitely use an occasional creepy tune here and there. But at least I have slashing of the sword and sound of spells hitting enemies to keep me company – if I imagine it as some free form jazz piece. Other than that everything is still the same as in Cat Quest before, so don’t expect to be surprised or impressed on this front.
Overall
Cat Quest II is definitely a meowprovement (sorry, had to sneak in at least one cat pun) over the previous game with new enemies, new areas, new gameplay mechanics and expanded selection of weapons an armor. The game also comes with an affordable price, which is a great deal considering that you get way more content and replay value this time. In short, if you’re looking for a good Zeldaesque RPG of the season, look no further. Picking up Cat Quest II is a no brainer.
Capsule Computers
review guidelines can be found here.
CI Games released a brand new Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts gameplay trailer featuring the Kolchak Harbour region. Senior commmunity Asim Tanvir walks viewers through the game’s contracts system and some of the new equipment players will be able to deploy on the battlefield. The 10 minute walkthrough features the same location as the Gamescom demo.
CI Games also released three preview clips from Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts‘ soundtrack. Composer Mikolai Stoinski is returning to provide the score for the game. He is probably best known for his work on The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and The Vanishing of Ethan Carter. The three tracks offer a mix of traditional instruments and electronic music. The soundtrack looks like it will be a very moody score.
Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts is set to launch on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on 22 November 2019.
Longtime fans of the Monster Hunter series know that almost every time that Capcom brings a brand new game to the franchise, it will likely be given a massive update sometime in the future. Since originally being released back in 2018 Monster Hunter World saw numerous collaboration events and even new creatures to hunt down added through various updates but now Capcom has released their first full expansion for the game in the form of Monster Hunter World: Iceborne. Often an expansion can offer plenty of new content while also tweaking the formula a bit but Iceborne blurs the line between an expansion and offering content rivaling the original release.
Story
Monster Hunter World: Iceborne picks up immediately after where the core game’s initially ended. The Fifth Fleet has managed to accomplish their task of learning more about the New World and slaying both the massive elder dragon Zorah Magdaros but also the incredibly powerful Xeno’Jiva that was disrupting the ecosystem and potentially a threat to the entire world. While the player’s hunter and handler have kept themselves busy slaying tempered monsters and other threatening creatures, it seems that a Legiana has appeared in the Ancient Forest, and being a creature that usually doesn’t leave its habitat, this is an odd event.
After some investigating that finds the forest nearly devoid of life, the hunter witnesses a massive flock of Legiana leaving the land and traveling across the seas, with a new unknown beast flying among them. With another mystery of the New World waiting to be unveiled and perhaps a new land to explore, the expedition quickly pursues the Legiana only to find a frozen land containing both familiar and brand new beasts to be slain. After setting up camp, naming it Seliana, and deeming the surrounding area as the Hoarfrost Reach players will find that the world once again slowly opens up to them one slain creature at a time.
As you may surmise, Monster Hunter World: Iceborne requires players to beat the original game before venturing forth into new territory and this is far from an issue as players will need to be well-prepared for the new dangers that will await them. As for the story, don’t expect anything too amazing to happen here as it mostly serves as a framing device to help establish the transition to the new world but it is nice to note that some of the support staff as well as the Handler are given more time to shine here and there.
Gameplay
Initially players may find that Monster Hunter World: Iceborne throws a bit too much new content at them right off the bat as a few new mechanics have been added, brand new gear as well as enhanced versions of previously gear are now available for crafting as both Master rank gear and with a rarity rank that goes up to twelve. A number of new moves have also been added to some weapon styles so be prepared to learn a few new techniques if your style has been modified improved, though a few weapons have only been slightly touched upon, such as my personal favorite the Hammer. That being said, the biggest mechanics are introduced at a solid enough pace though players may want to try and learn the new elements with a few easier hunts first before throwing themselves at a new Iceborne creature.
The biggest change to the core combat happens to be the addition of the Clutch Claw. While players have always had the ability to use ledges, sliding jump attacks, and even launchers with other equipment to find themselves on top of a creature and able to deal extra damage, the Clutch Claw now allows players to grapple onto monsters from a distance and, while not as effective as a standard mount, strike them to soften their hides up a bit or blast them with Slinger ammo stagger them or send them charging towards a wall for bonus damage. There is even the ability to ride on smaller creatures as mounts if the player’s Palico is properly trained by the Felyne tribes of each map, though this is generally used more for quick transport around the map than anything else.
Other than that, players will notice that, at least at its core, most of the combat in Monster Hunter World: Iceborne remains as solid as it ever was in the original game with these new additions only taking a bit to learn after their initial rush of information though players will need to note a few other new features. These include the fact that the Hoarfrost Reach is incredibly cold and now can inflict players with devastating stamina loss if not properly treated. This is handled through Hot Drinks to stave off long-term cold and even natural hot springs that dot the landscape.
A large number of brand new, or at least brand new to those who have only played World, large monsters have been added into the game, though it is worth noting that a little over half of the total new monsters that players will be asked to hunt are actually brand new. The other half happen to be variants of the creatures that were already available in the base game but with new attacks, weaknesses, and a few other special features that players will need to learn about. It is also nice to note that since all of these creatures are considered Master rank and can be quite difficult to take down.
In fact even with some of the best gear and ornaments the player can take into this expansion from the core game, the first few hunts can be a bit difficult and rather long. This is primarily due to the aforementioned fact that Master gear is now available as well as incredibly strong compared to the base game’s gear. Although weapons scale a bit better, players will find even the base armor available from the first few Iceborne monsters to easily outclass any previous gear, often with even more decoration slots to allow for an easier transition of your favorite set-up into the fresh gear.
When not in the field hunting all manner of new beasts players will find that Seliana is an incredibly streamlined base of operations that works both aesthetically given the frozen land that the hunters now must survive in but also one that doesn’t feel cramped despite having all of the players’ necessities closer together. Along these same lines the Gathering Hub, where players can find other players walking around and interact with them, also features nearly every shop and tool needed outside of Tailrider Safaris, who can also explore Hoarfrost Reach after some time. It is also nice to note that fans of the aforementioned Felynes will find that there are some new little bits of side-content that apply to the mascots of the series as players can locate unique events in the wild and take photos of them with a new tool and even partake in a simple steam engine game that turns often neglected fuel items gained from mining or gathering into far more useful ones.
Visuals & Audio
Players will find that Capcom has really excelled at creating a great looking frozen tundra that is filled with a number of neat looking features and traps that players can use to their advantage in the Hoarfrost Reach. The environment is a real joy to explore and although it may take a bit to get used to wading through snow sometimes, it rarely feels like a challenge. As far as the new monsters go, they really are a sight to behold and a number of them can feel incredibly imposing the first time they are faced down, though a few still hold this level of awe even after carving them apart a few times.
Customization still remains at an all time high as new gear types are introduced and even layered gear is available to give players a different outward appearance compared to the actual gear they are wearing. The sound effects still hold as true as one can expect in the series with a number of great sounding monster roars accompanying the new beasts. It is worth noting that the voice acting can still be a bit rough sounding sometimes, especially when the Handler pops-in while traveling through the map in a story mission, but the cast has all reprised their roles well enough here.
Overall
By coming rather close to doubling the content found in the original game Monster Hunter World: Iceborne offers an extensive amount of content for players to sink their weapons into. Sure a few too many foes are sub-species of already available monsters but by taking what was already amazing combat and a great reward cycle and making it even better Capcom has proven that the Monster Hunter series is one that can continue to strive forward and anyone who is a fan of the series should be more than ready to enter the frozen wastes and see what beasts await them.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Large sprawling Western RPGs tend to be something of a rarity in recent years as only a few more notable games have managed to fit this genre well enough and even then some of these entries stumbled a bit out of the gate. As such it is something of a pleasant surprise that Spiders, whose previous efforts earlier this generation were somewhat rocky with Technomancer, has returned with an RPG called GreedFall that may just scratch that unique itch.
Story
GreedFall drops players into a world stylized around 1600s Europe where magic and strange unknown creatures roam the lands despite mankind inventing various firearms and crafting large elaborate cities. All is not well however as players find themselves taking on the role of Lord or Lady De Sardet, a noble of the Merchant Congregation, who is tasked with traveling alongside their cousin to a newly found and settled island nation by the name of Teer Frade. While venturing forth into unknown territory is already dangerous, De Sardet’s journey is far more important than simply finding new land as a horrific plague by the name of the Malichor has ravaged the continent, killing anyone afflicted by the disease with even De Sardet’s own mother nearly on her death bed before taking the months long voyage across the sea.
Although the Malichor has hit De Sardet’s home city of Serene hard, the standard order has been held in check among the various factions that hold power in the world keeping the city a fairly safe place and although players are given a brief introduction to these factions, they hold much stronger sway in Teer Fradee with the scientific Bridge Alliance at war with the inquisition like Theleme Church who hold true to their beliefs in god, as well as the Nauts who hold sway over sea travel with strict laws, the mercenary like Coin Guard, and trapped in the middle of everything, the Natives of the island.
It doesn’t take long before De Sardet and the player find themselves wrapped up in the political turmoil that the land suffers and players are often given quite a lot of leeway in how they wish to handle the various situations they are presented with. Interestingly enough, even the Native faction, while categorized under a single banner, is made up of different tribes who each have different opinions about what to do with the people who have invaded their shores. GreedFall rarely paints in broad strokes when it comes to depicting these factions as either good or bad and, as mentioned before, player choice and action can play a role in how various story elements play out.
It is worth noting that players who want to really feel like they can change various elements of the story should invest early in non-combat based feats as being charismatic or being able to read the room can unlock new dialogue options that can help sway various factions and change elements of the story a bit, though a few of these changes can be done in a more roundabout way as well. It is also worth noting that the various companions that join De Sardet in the game also have their own feelings regarding each faction, mostly because each one belongs to a specific group, and will even talk to other companions or interject in dialogue with other NPCs. This helps make the player’s party feel a bit more alive in nature than simply being allies that tag along to make combat a bit flashier. There are even side-quests for each companion though the game can often gate some of these quests’ progression behind story advancement.
Alongside companion side-quests players will find that the land of Teer Fradee is absolutely teeming with side-quests that, for the most part, have various ways they can be completed. Often these little side stories help breath some more life into the world of the game and the story of each city is an interesting one. Those who are looking for a game that handles some heavy themes with a deft touch will find that GreedFall‘s lengthy and engrossing storyline filled with side content a perfect fit.
Gameplay
Of course navigating through the storyline and properly choosing your two party members at any given time plays a large role in the game, how the player chooses to build their character will also help in various ways. As players earn XP and level up they will unlock various points that can fall into three categories. Skills are fairly standard and reward the player with everything from new weapon attacks, spells to cast, or even the ability to use fancier weapons of a certain type while the Attributes and Talents are far harder to come by, to the point they can feel a bit stifling at times. Attributes can play a role in enhancing various stats further as well as allowing De Sardet to equip stronger versions of some weapons and armor. Finally we have Talents that play the largest role in what the player can actually do.
These points come in rarely and can allow the player to learn things such as lockpicking, smithing, vigor that can be used to jump gaps or climb walls to reach new areas, science to blow down weak walls and craft potions, charisma to talk your way through things, and even intuition to find new dialogue options. Some equipment and friendly relations with your allies can provide boosts to these talents but considering how valuable these points are, players will really want to think about how they want to invest in them, though there is the ability to rarely reset your stats if you’ve found your current build not working the best.
It is interesting to note that while GreedFall may often feel like an open world game at times, it instead takes place in a series of large maps that players will be able to fast travel through to various locations once they’ve been unlocked with each area having a variety of enemies that can be faced, NPCs to interact with, and quests to undertake. Players will always have the option of having two other companions with them, allowing for the real time combat to flow fairly smoothly albeit a bit easy even on harder difficulty levels.
Players will have a number of weapons at their disposal with melee types coming in a number of standard forms, long range combat handled either with firearms that use limited ammo or through spells that are restricted through recovering mana, they can even perform kicks that can unbalance a foe or, if unlocked, throw them to the ground allowing players to deal damage with no threat of payback. Players can dodge incoming attacks as well as parry blows to gain advantage on foes, though even beasts will have some form of armor protecting them. Whittling down an enemy’s armor before striking at their health directly is a nice touch and players can temporarily pause combat to select their next action at will, though rarely will this feel necessary outside of needing to use a potion in a pinch but even then this can be assigned to a D-pad shortcut.
It is interesting to note that almost every piece of gear in GreedFall can be customized in some way. Players can either do this themselves or pay extra at a blacksmith to provide various boosts to their gear with the proper ingredients, that range from dealing extra damage to an opponent’s health or armor as well as offering additional armor or balance to the player. These customizations have a visual effect on the gear which is a nice touch as well, though depending on how the player ends up specing out De Sardet combat can feel like a breeze at times, especially when paired with companions that properly accentuate their playstyle. This means that those who really want a challenge may want to dive right into extreme mode while even newcomers to the genre should be able to handle normal mode.
Visuals & Audio
Spiders has done a fairly interesting job when it comes to handling the way GreedFall is presented as some environments are amazing looking with some cutscenes featuring some great cinematic directing while other times it feels like a bit of a mess. While traveling the wilderness the world may load in properly while some assets will only appear half-loaded or suffer from severe pop-in and although some cities may look great on the outside, prepare for most buildings to feature the same exact layout and even decorations at times. Along those same lines, character models can feature some intricate clothing only for their faces to repeat on numerous NPCs or glitch out entirely. For hours on end, despite restarting the game, NPCs would refuse to open their eyes in conversation. It is also worth noting that enemy variety can be extremely repetitive at times, with most fights simply being against random bandits that even appear within city walls leaving the odd beast fights being the stand outs, though even then most of the smaller beasts rarely vary up their patterns.
On the other side of the coin, GreedFall offers some rather astounding voice work as every conversation, even passing interactions with basic NPCs, features spoken dialogue that fits the theme of the game and helps make the world a bit more believable. In fact, the Natives of the land even have their own unique dialogue and while it would be nice if the Native companion could translate at times, players will often need to use context to figure out what is being said and the best way to respond.
Overall
Although GreedFall‘s combat may be a bit too easy to master and is filled with a few janky glitches that can arise from time to time players will definitely want to persevere through any slight issues as GreedFall tells a grand tale of exploration that features some moral complexity and consequences that aren’t often found in large scale RPGs such as this one.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
