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Delve Into the Deadly Tombs of Terror in Hearthstone®’s NextSolo Adventure

Chapter I—available free starting 18 September—offers a full dungeon crawl filled with hero-specific signature treasures, over-the-top boss fights, and a mrrgl of murlocs

Pre-purchase the limited-time Deluxe Adventure Bundle to unlock the complete experience and receive a random Legendary card from the Saviors of Uldum expansion as well as a League of Explorers-themed card back

SYDNEY, Australia—4 September, 2019, The Year of the Dragon—Millions ofplayers around the world havetested their grit exploring all the new cards in Saviors of Uldum, the latest expansion for Blizzard Entertainment’s smash-hit free-to-play digital card game Hearthstone®. On 18 September, Hearthstone’s epic year-long story line continues when the opening chapter of Tombs of Terror, the deadly Saviors of Uldum Solo Adventure, is unearthed free for everyone. Starting today, brave adventurers can pre-purchase the Tombs of Terror Deluxe Adventure Bundle and reap bonus rewards for securing passage on the entire harrowing expedition. 

Tombs of Terror follows the events of the previous Solo Adventure, The Dalaran Heist. Players will step into the well-worn boots of the League of Explorers, Hearthstone’s heroic ensemble of adventuring archaeologists, and race through the cities and ruins of Uldum defeating unique foes to acquire all-new hero-specific signature treasures. These story-rich artifacts will “level up” our heroes before they face the four deadly Plague Lords—grueling multi-phase slugfests against persistent bosses who must be defeated across multiple runs.

Never fear, as no task is too daunting for the League of Explorers! Fully voice-acted and featuring a customisable loadout comprising unique Hero Powers and multiple deck options, Hearthstone’s first-ever dual-class heroes will present players with never-before-explored gameplay possibilities:

  • Elise Starseeker, the Enlightened, ventures forth from her library armed with centuries of knowledge as well as the restorative magic of a Priest and the ferocity of a Druid.
  • Dino-tamer Brann Bronzebeard unites the bravery and fortitude of a Warrior with the marksmanship and animal kinship of a Hunter.
  • Sir Finley Mrrglton of the Sands, a sophisticated gentle-murloc, rallies a Paladin’s knightly valour with the tribal Shaman powers of his amphibious brethren.
  • Reno Jackson, Relicologist, is a treasure-hunting Rogue with a heart of gold who has picked up enough mystic mumbo jumbo on his adventures to haphazardly sling Mage spells.

“We’ve always carried a torch for the classic dungeon crawl and with Tombs of Terror, we set out to create our deepest and most replayable Solo Adventure yet,” said J. Allen Brack, president of Blizzard Entertainment. “With so many new deckbuilding options to unlock for the dual-class heroes and all of the signature treasures to acquire, we hope players love exploring the Tombs of Terror again and again.”

Punch Your Ticket to the Tombs

Tombs of Terror’s first chapter, the Lost City of the Tol’vir, will be available completely free to everyone on 18 September AEST/NZST, and pits Reno Jackson against the Plague Lord of Murlocs. Chapters II, III, and IV each feature another playable dual-class League of Explorers hero and will be released, one at a time, in the weeks following launch. Defeating all four powerful Plague Lords will unlock a pulse-pounding final battle for the fate of the world. Individual chapters can be unlocked for 700 in-game gold (or $9.50 AUD / $10.99 NZD) each or all at once in a $19.95 AUD / $23.99 NZD launch bundle.

Players may also choose to pre-purchase the Tombs of Terror Deluxe Adventure Bundle (on sale today and available for a limited time*) that includes the full experience, as well as a random Legendary card from Saviors of Uldum and a League of Explorers-themed card back, for $26.95 AUD / $31.99 NZD.

Great risks yield even greater rewards: players who brave the Tombs of Terror can earn 3 Saviors of Uldum card packs for completing each chapter and the final encounter—15 Saviors of Uldum card packs in total—an additional golden Classic pack for clearing all four chapters, and unique card backs for finishing the entire Adventure in the normal and Heroic modes.

Point your web browsers to where X marks the spot and visit www.saviorsofuldum.com to dig up more information about Tombs of Terror.

* Tombs of Terror Deluxe Adventure Bundle is available for pre-purchase until 17 September AEST/NZST.

About Hearthstone

With more than 100 million players worldwide, Hearthstone is Blizzard Entertainment’s internationally acclaimed, free-to-play digital card game designed for novice and veteran card-slingers alike. Players can choose from nine powerful hero classes and customise their decks with minions, spells, and weapons based on the unique fantasy of the Warcraft® universe. Featuring a variety of game modes ranging from epic head-to-head duels to story-driven Solo Adventures, Hearthstone offers a vibrant and rewarding experience stacked with strategy, personality, and fun. Hearthstone is available globally for Windows and Mac PCs; Windows, iOS, and Android tablets; and iOS, and Android mobile phones.

About Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.

Best known for blockbuster hits including World of Warcraft®, Hearthstone, Overwatch®, the Warcraft, StarCraft®, and Diablo® franchises, and the multi-franchise Heroes of the Storm®, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (www.blizzard.com), a division of Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI), is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment software renowned for creating some of the industry’s most critically acclaimed games. Blizzard Entertainment’s track record includes twenty-two #1 games and numerous Game of the Year awards. The company’s online gaming service, Blizzard Battle.net®, is one of the largest online-gaming services in the world, with millions of active players.

Sales and/or downloads, based on internal company records and reports from key distributors.

TURTLE BEACH TEAMS UP WITH INTER MILAN STAR AND AVID GAMER ROMELU LUKAKU

TURTLE BEACH TEAMS UP WITH INTER MILAN STAR AND AVID GAMER ROMELU LUKAKU

Sydney, Australia – 5th September 2019 – Leading gaming audio and accessory brand Turtle Beach (Nasdaq: HEAR) today announced a new partnership with Inter Milan and Belgian international striker Romelu Lukaku. Turtle Beach and Lukaku are teaming-up to showcase the power and benefits of using high-quality equipment when gaming at home and on the road.

Romelu is a true international superstar with a lifelong passion for video games, and he joins our impressive and influential roster of pro athletes who’ve teamed-up with Turtle Beach for all their gaming needs,” said Juergen Stark, CEO, Turtle Beach. “We’re delivering products that align with his thirst for competition and his will to win, both on and off the pitch. We’re also thrilled to work with Roc Nation Sports Europe as they continue to expand, and hope Lukaku is the first of more footballers to join our roster.”

At the 2018 World Cup, Lukaku led Belgium to a third-place finish and was the second-highest goal scorer of the tournament, winning the Bronze Boot. Having played key roles for several world-class international football clubs, including Chelsea FC and Manchester United FC, scoring more than 145 career goals, Lukaku recently made the move to Italian giants, Inter Milan, in a $90 million-dollar deal on transfer deadline day. Known for his longstanding love of video games, Lukaku will be using Turtle Beach’s range of industry-acclaimed products in all his gaming activities and content.

I’m very excited to team up with Turtle Beach,” said Romelu Lukaku. “One of my biggest passions off the pitch is gaming, and Turtle Beach’s products are second to none.  Whether it’s gaming or football, I love to win. Turtle Beach always elevates my game.”

For more information on the latest Turtle Beach products and accessories, visit http://au.turtlebeach.com/ and be sure to follow Turtle Beach on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Turtle Beach Corporation

Turtle Beach (www.turtlebeach.com) is a leading gaming audio and 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-favourite 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.® The Company’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”, “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.

Pixel Game Maker MVLeaps Out of Steam Early Access with Version 1.0 Sept. 19

Pixel Game Maker MVLeaps Out of Steam Early Access with Version 1.0 Sept. 19

Engine’s Games Playable on Nintendo Switch in 2020

Tokyo, Japan – Sept. 3, 2019 – Pixel Game Maker MV, the action-game sister software to RPG Maker, which sold more than 2,000,000 copies worldwide, crafts new adventures with the 1.0 release on Thursday, Sept. 19. 

Aspiring and veteran game developers can take their games created in the intuitive yet fully-featured 2D game engine from Playism and KADOKAWA Corporation on the go in 2020, as the games made in Pixel Game Maker MV can be playable on Nintendo Switch and available in the Nintendo eShop.  

Pixel Game Maker MV brings accessibility to game development as it empowers all developers to create original platformers, metroidvanias, and action games without any programming experience. Innovation knows no limits, as the engine easily allows users to implement their own original material such as character animations, background maps, and sound effects.

The robust but easy-to-learn software’s leap from Steam Early Access will include a new trial version. Developers can dive into the trial, using the platform’s tools to create without fear of losing their hard work as they transition from the free trial to the full package. 

Potential partnerships with KADOKAWA will set Pixel Game Maker MV creators up for success on Nintendo Switch. Aspirant and seasoned developers interested in sharing their games on Nintendo Switch can submit applications for KADOKAWA to publish their games on the Nintendo eShop.

In celebration of Pixel Game Maker’s journey, KADOKAWA will hold a Pixel Game Maker MV Game Development Challenge, seeking out the best works of the platform’s creators to launch on Nintendo Switch. The contest will run from Oct. 3, 2019, to March 31, 2020. More details will be available here beginning Oct. 3.

Pixel Game Maker MV is available now via Steam Early Access (Windows only) for $84.99 USD/€71.99 and supports Japanese, English and Simplified Chinese.

For more information, please visit the Pixel Game Maker MV official website, Facebook page and follow @PixelGameMaker on Twitter.

About Playism

Known for bringing popular indie games from Japan including Touhou Luna Nights, La-Mulana 2 and One Way Heroics, Playism was created with the global indie community in mind. The company focuses on helping developers every step of the way, from localization to distribution of their games.

To learn more, visit the Playism official website, Facebook page and follow @PlayismEN on Twitter.

About Kadokawa Corporation

The core Pixel Game Maker MV team at Kadokawa Corporation consists of veterans who have been making consumer games for more than 20 years, many of whom have worked on the popular RPG Maker series with more than 2,000,000 units sold. Based out of Tokyo, the company’s mission is to create brand new stories.

FINAL FANTASY VIII REMASTERED AVAILABLE NOW

FINAL FANTASY VIII REMASTERED AVAILABLE NOW

SYDNEY 4th September 2019 – One of gaming’s most cherished RPGs returns today on modern platforms with the digital release of FINAL FANTASY® VIII Remastered on Nintendo Switch™ system, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One family of devices and PC (STEAM®).

Marking the 20th anniversary of the game’s original release, FINAL FANTASY VIII Remastered features newly rendered visuals that breathe life into the game’s characters like never before. Players step into the shoes of SeeD recruit Squall Leonhart and resistance fighter Rinoa Heartilly as they work together to save the world from the military nation of Galbadia.

The remastered version includes the following boosts to enhance the experience:

  • Battle Assist: The ability to always have maxed out HP and ATB, and trigger Limit Breaks at any time.
  • No Encounters: An enemy encounter option that allows players to enjoy the storyline uninterrupted. While enemy encounters are turned off, players can still enjoy the story’s event battles.
  • 3x Speed Boost: Play through the game with three times the speed.
  • The STEAM® version will also receive additional functions, including All Items (possess all items except for a few certain items), All Abilities, GF Max Level, Max Gil, Max Magic, All Limit Breaks, and All Cards (possess max number of Triple Triad Cards except for Rare Cards).

FINAL FANTASY VIII Remastered is digitally available now for the Nintendo Switch™ system, PlayStation®4 system, Xbox One family of devices and PC (STEAM®) For more information, visit http://www.ffviiiremastered.com

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Armello Dragon Clan DLC Revealed, Out Now on Steam

Armello Dragon Clan DLC Revealed, Out Now on Steam

First New Clan Introduced Since Early Access

MELBOURNE, VIC. – 3 Sept. 2019 – Armello, the award-winning digital board game from League of Geeks, welcomes a new story, characters, quests, items, and more with the Dragon Clan Update, announced and available today via Steam for Windows, PC, Mac, and Linux.

The Dragon Clan has risen again. Driven by a divine mandate, this ancient band of warriors will stop at nothing to claim what their god has promised to them. Lead by four new heroes, the update introduces new powers and playstyles that reinvigorate the playing experience.

The faction’s pilgrimage is guided by Volodar, “The Wormchanter,” a prophetic Komodo dragon capable of enthralling Banes. He is joined by Agniya, “The Revenant,” a venerable turtle who can self-heal after defeating opponents in battle, and Oxana, “The Sentinel,” an anti-mage iguana with the ability to destroy adversaries’ spell cards. The group is rounded out by Nazar, “Worm’s Will,” an illusionist gecko who can project apparitions of himself across the battlefield.

Alongside these four revolutionary new heroes, the Dragon Clan Update also includes six signets (Sulfur, Basalt, Axinite, Cinnabar, Tremolite, Serpentine), the Ruin amulet, The Dragon Clan Novella, and a brand-new quest system.

“Players have been asking for reptilian heroes since Armello’s launch, so we put in the time to do them justice,” said Darcy Smith, League of Geeks’ community manager and project lead on Armello. “The Dragon Clan expands upon Armello’s lore in a big way and is bound to excite experienced and new players alike.”

The Dragon Clan Update is available now on Steam for $9.99 USD / £6.99 / €9.99 / $9.99 AUD. All this exciting content and more will be available for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One alongside the Armello 2.0 Update when it is unleashed on consoles in 2020.

Armello is a digital board game that combines the tactical depth of card games with the strategic elements of tabletop titles. Players take turns exploring the vibrant and exciting land of Armello while attempting to depose the kingdom’s mad king and claim the throne for themselves. The game is available now on Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, iOS, and Android.  

To learn more about Armello, please visit the official site and follow the official Twitter account.

About League of Geeks

League of Geeks is a Melbourne-based Australian indie developer made of industry veterans. While Armello is the studio’s first game, the team members collective resumes include AAA franchises including Pokémon, Grand Theft Auto, Fallout, Bioshock, and Dragon Age.

League of Geek’s goal is to create innovative games in original worlds full of engaging stories.

To learn more about League of Geeks, please visit their official website.

Divinity: Original Sin 2 – Definitive Edition lands on Nintendo Switch featuring cross-saves with Steam

GHENT, 2019 – Larian Studios are excited to announce that the Metacritic Must-Play RPG Divinity: Original Sin 2 – Definitive Edition is finally coming to the Nintendo Switch system.

Originally released to critical acclaim on PC, Divinity: Original Sin 2 received a 93 Metacritic rating, and is currently one of only a few games to receive a 10/10 from Gamespot. It was recently awarded number one in the PC Gamer Top 100, updated for 2019. 

From right now, you can start your BAFTA award-winning adventure on the Nintendo Switch and enjoy near-limitless RPG freedom, wherever you are. 

For players who wish to continue their stories, Divinity: Original Sin 2 – Definitive Edition includes cross-saves between Nintendo Switch and Steam on PC, which means players are able to upload and download their save files and continue on the go. 

Join the battle for Divinity in a world that reacts to who you are, and what you do. Adventure as a flesh-eating Elf, or an imperial Lizard. Play as a mighty Dwarf, or lead your party as an Undead, risen from the grave! 

  • Choose your race and origin. Choose from 6 unique origin characters with their own backgrounds and quests, or create your own hero as a Human, Lizard, Elf, Dwarf, or Undead. All choices have consequences.
  • Unlimited freedom to explore and experiment. Go anywhere, talk to anyone, and interact with everything! Kill any NPC without sacrificing your progress, and speak to every animal. Even ghosts might be hiding a secret or two…
  • The next generation of turn-based combat. Blast your opponents with elemental combinations. Use height to your advantage. Master over 200 skills in 12 skill schools. But beware – the game’s AI 2.0 is our most devious invention to date.
  • Up to four-player online cooperative gameplay for the entire game, spanning over 100 hours of award-winning narrative. 

The Switch version is launching alongside the second Gift Bag: free DLC that includes content for new and existing players, on all existing platforms. This content is periodically patched into the game at no extra cost, with more to come over the year. 

Gift Big 1 released earlier in the year and included new character customization options. Gift Bag 2, called Song of Nature, includes:

Crafter’s Kit

Plenty of new recipes and unique items to craft! 

Endless Runner

Find a new icon in your Hotbar which you can use to toggle sprint on and off. Sprint increases your movement speed of your party and the movement speed of your followers.

Animal Empathy

Allows all player characters to talk to animals without having to spend a talent point. Also Changes Pet Pal talent to grant maximum positive attitude in all conversations with animals. 

Fort Joy Magic Mirror

Manifests a Magic Mirror in the Arena of Fort Joy, along with a new Character Creation level. This allows you to respec before moving on to the next act of the game.

8 Action Points

Increases the base maximum Action Points of hero characters to 8.

Herb Gardens

Plant your own herb garden! Take any herb and combine it with a bucket to create a seedling.Then just place your seedling in the ground and watch it grow.

Divinity: Original Sin 2 – Definitive Edition releases today at $49.99/49.99€ or your regional equivalent on Nintendo Switch. It is also released on PC, Mac, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Every purchase of Divinity: Original Sin 2 – Definitive Edition on each of the aforementioned platforms automatically grants you access to the Gift Bag DLCs released prior, and to be periodically released over the coming months. 

About Larian Studios Games Ltd.

Larian Studios is a game developer studio located in Gent, Belgium. Proud to be independent for 19 years, we create games for multiple genres and platforms. Thanks to our players, we get to spend our days making the games we love to play.

We have a passion for role playing games. Our Divinity series includes 6 games spanning over 13 years in multiple genres. Our first crowdfunded success, Divinity: Original Sin, won over 150 awards and nominations, and the recently-released sequel Divinity: Original Sin 2 launched with a 93 Metacritic rating, as well as over 50 awards and counting!

Tactical CRPG Solasta: Crown of the Magister Launches Kickstarter

Indie developers Tactical Adventures launched the Kickstarter campaign for their upcoming tactical CRPG Solasta: Crown of the Magister. The game seeks to replicate the tabletop RPG experience through responsive narrative, deep character creation, beautiful 3D game boards, and heavy emphasis on dice rolling.

Tactical Adventures has already secured enough funding to complete their basic vision for the game. They are seeking an additional €180,000 in funding to expand the scope of the game. The money will go to adding more quests, increasing the number of classes from the original four, and introducing new races.

The plan is to release the game on Windows only for now. Tactical Adventures may consider ports to other OSes and consoles in the future, but they have chosen to focus on what they can reasonably deliver now.

For those on the fence about backing the Kickstarter campaign, Tactical Adventures released a playable demo of Solasta on Steam. The demo is made from a pre-alpha build and sends players on an hour long adventure with four pre-made characters.

EXCLUSIVE REWARDS DROP INTO PUBG MOBILE LITE 14.0 UPDATE CELEBRATING THE GAME’S HIT SUCCESS

EXCLUSIVE REWARDS DROP INTO PUBG MOBILE LITE 14.0 UPDATE CELEBRATING THE GAME’S HIT SUCCESS

All-new in-game events and rewards in WinnerPass arrive for streamlined version of blockbuster mobile game  

LOS ANGELES – Sept. 3, 2019 – Last week, PUBG MOBILE LITE, the faster and lighter variant of PUBG MOBILE, received a massive content update. Mobile players in select regions around the globe dropped in to experience the classic tactical tournament game optimized for a wide number of devices. This week, players are getting their LITE-specific in-game rewards.

PUBG MOBILE LITE WinnerPass offers a system like PUBG MOBILE’s Royale Pass, allowing players to participate in and complete in-game challenges for a myriad of rare and collectable rewards. To celebrate PUBG MOBILE LITE’s hit success and massive 14.0 content update, there is an all-newin-game event. From now until Sunday, Sept. 15, players who log into PUBG MOBILE LITE for a total of 10 days will receive a WinnerPass Season Upgrade card to unlock Elite WinnerPass Season 4 for free.

The in-game event comes just a short time after PUBG MOBILE LITE earned the most popular mobile game on numerous global charts in its available regions including Turkey, India, Russia and certain regions of the Middle East. PUBG MOBILE LITE has already claimed the number one spot among free-to-download games in multiple regions and received a “New Game” recommendation and promotion on Google Play. PUBG MOBILE LITE also released in Russia and certain regions of CIS and the Africa on Thursday, Aug. 29.

Full details of the 14.0 PUBG MOBILE LITE content update include:

  • New WP theme and rewards
  • New outfits added
  • Updated system settings
  • Added customization guide
  • Added emotes
  • Improved UI & update pack size
  • Improved graphics
  • Battle parameters improved
  • Increased accuracy of RPG-7
  • Added bombing zones 

PUBG MOBILE LITE is now available to download and play on the Google Play Store in several regions of South Asia, Africa and East Europe. PUBG MOBILE LITE boasts a smaller download size and supports more mobile devices with less than 2GB RAM.

Key features for PUBG MOBILE LITE:

  • Elevated GameplayPUBG MOBILE LITEdelivers the classic tactical tournament experience on more mobile devices with smooth and stable gameplay
  • Detail Optimization – Characters, map details and more are improved for even better visuals
  • Building Areas/Supplies optimization: Building density and loot frequency has been increased to expedite the looting process and enhance battle progression;
  • RPG and New Gear – Players can now experience a new gear in select game modes
  • Combat ImprovementsPUBG MOBILE LITE enhanced aim-assist performance in more devices while preserving the classic experience, and the ability to heal while moving.

About PUBG MOBILE LITE

PUBG MOBILE LITE is developed by Tencent Games and PUBG Corp. following the success of PUBG MOBILE and is based on PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS, the original PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 gaming phenomenon that took the world of interactive entertainment by storm in 2017. Up to 60 players parachute onto a remote island to do battle in a winner-takes-all showdown. Players must locate and scavenge their own weapons, vehicles and supplies, and defeat every player in a visually and tactically rich battleground that forces players into a shrinking play zone.

For more information, please visit the official PUBG MOBILE LITE accounts on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, and the official PUBG MOBILEaccounts on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

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TACTICAL ADVENTURES LAUNCHES KICKSTARTER AND FREE PLAYABLE DEMO OF SOLASTA: CROWN OF THE MAGISTER ON STEAM

New Tactical CRPG Delivers True Tabletop Role Playing Experience. Play the Game and Become Part of the Solasta Community on Kickstarter Now.

You Make the Choices. The Dice Decide Your Destiny

PARIS, FRANCE – September 3, 2019 – French indie developer, Tactical Adventures, announced today its new project, tactical role-playing game Solasta: Crown of the Magister, has launched a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter, coupled with a free playable demo. As part of the Kickstarter launch, Tactical Adventures has released a completely free, one hour pre-alpha demo of Solasta: Crown of the Magister available now on Steam.

Watch the Solasta: Crown of the Magister Kickstarter launch trailer

The Solasta: Crown of the Magister Kickstarter campaign begins today and will end in one month, on October 4. Specifically created for Kickstarter the Solasta: Crown of the Magister demo sets players up with a party of four preset characters who will embark on an hour-long adventure into the mystical realms of Solasta giving players a sneak peek at a story that spans across multiple worlds.

“I have played Tabletop games for more than 30 years and Solasta: Crown of the Magister is something that I have always wanted to create. I believe that there are many people like me who feel that the experience hasn’t been captured quite right in the video game space, and we are striving to do just that,” says Mathieu Girard, founder of Tactical Adventures and Creative Director of the game. “With the playable demo, I want to show players that, with their help, it is possible to deliver a genuine dice and decision based tactical RPG and hope they share in our excitement.”

The dynamic and mysterious world of Solasta features new 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 not careful, it can also give away the party’s position. Solasta is a unique team-based adventure where each character plays a critical role in the campaign and can be a hero. Players must take advantage of each character’s strengths and weaknesses if they are to succeed.

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 dragons and creatures you 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 videogame
  • Kickstarter: Tactical Adventures is giving players the opportunity to be heard by joining the community and backing Solasta on Kickstarter. The campaign features an amazing tiered reward system and a free hour pre-alpha demo available to everyone.

Solasta: Crown of the Magister is now available to back on Kickstarter.

Stay up to date with Solasta: Crown of the Magister: visit the website and Steam, follow on Twitter, Instagram, like on Facebook, watch on YouTube, and Twitch, and join the conversation on Discord or the official forums.

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ABOUT TACTICAL ADVENTURES:
Tactical Adventures is a videogame development studio, created in 2018 by Mathieu Girard, who previously co-founded Amplitude Studios (acquired by Sega in 2016). Located in the heart of Paris, Tactical Adventures is a self-published studio, aiming to create immersive & tactical videogames within the RPG genre. One of the key strengths of the studio’s philosophy revolves around the recruitment of experienced team members, organized into agile teams, whose development process & decisions will be made in collaboration with their community.

Children of Morta Review

Children of Morta

Developer: Dead Mage
Publisher: 11 bit Studios
Platform: Available Now: Windows (Reviewed) – Coming Soon: PlayStation 4, Switch, Xbox One
Release Date: 3 September 2019 (PC), 15 October 2019 (Consolees)
Price: $21.99 USD/$35.95 AUD – Available Here

Video Review

Overview

An ancient corruption is once again spreading across mountain of Morta. The Bergson family have been protecting the land for centuries. They must now rally together once again to stop the corruption while navigating the ups and downs of family life.

Story

The bulk of Children of Morta’s story is told between dungeon runs, with a few side stories found within the randomly generated dungeons. The story is told completely through the narrator, similar to Supergiant Games’ Bastion. I am particularly impressed with how well Dead Mage manages the pacing of the story throughout. Rogue-lites are traditionally tricky due to the nature of the genre. Early in the game, almost every mission is capped with a cutscene. The story slows down a bit as players progress deeper into the game, but it is still at a rate that keeps the players hooked.

The plot is an enjoyable one, expertly mixing familial struggles that players can easily identify with and a more epic battle against the corruption. The twists and turns are excellent, hitting all the right emotional buttons. While there is a large cast of characters to keep track of, each character’s individuality is emphasized, making it easy to get to know, separate, and fall in love with the characters. I quickly found myself emotionally invested in the trials Bergsons faced.

Gameplay

Children of Morta is a rogue-lite that mixes elements of action RPGs like Diablo with traditional rogue-lite mechanics. There are six family members who wade into battle, each with their own unique playstyle and skill tree. Each run involves players attempting a randomly generated multi-level dungeon that is capped off with a boss battle. Dying at any time in the dungeon will send players back to the family mansion with only the experience and Morv they accrued in the dungeon. Any gems, runes, and items collected disappear. As a rogue-lite, there is some progress carried over between runs that will make future attempts easier. Uncle Ben’s workshop and the Book of Rea will offer bonuses to stats that affect all family members. As individual family members level, they will also unlock universal bonuses that will affect other members.

The Bergsons offer two ranged and four melee classes. The developers do an excellent job striking the right balance between classes that are similar enough that skills from one class will carry over well to another, while still being different enough that players will actually find a class or two that will become fast favourites. For example, Linda is an archer who has a low rate of fire but can shoot and move for short bursts. In comparison, her sister Mary can hurl fireballs like a machine gun but can only fire while stationary. The game not so subtly encourages players to try new classes out with Corruption damage that will slowly lower a character’s max health if they are played too often. Currently, the rate of corruption is at a good place, hitting the right balance of encouraging players to try new characters and add extra family wide skills, while still offering lots of opportunities to play a favoured family member.

The classes are generally well balanced. The first few levels are the most difficult as many abilities have yet to be unlocked. Most characters are good to go once they have unlocked their first special attack, but Joey and to a lesser degree Mark struggle a bit until all their abilities become available. The skill trees are well done, with most skills offering a noticeable improvement to the character’s gameplay. Even skills with a less obvious impact like Kevin’s dodge chance bonus still logically contribute to the character’s playstyle.

Children of Morta offers a fantastic gameplay loop. Since there are so many family members to try, the game is on the generous side for experience gain. There are plenty of side events that even if a player doesn’t gain enough levels for a new skill point, there is some feeling of progression from either saving some refugees or earning enough Morv to increase some stat for the next run.

The controls are excellent. Both controllers and mouse and keyboard work well. The developers even allow controllers to be rebound, which is an often-overlooked feature that should be added to more games. The controls are generally very responsive, though there is a slight dead period during special ability animations where basic attack inputs are not acknowledged. Since the basic attacks seem to be channeled when the attack button is held, it can result in no follow up basic attacks in this case. With a little practice, the issue is easily avoided, but I would have preferred if the dead zone was eliminated all together, so basic attacks pick up as soon as the special attack animation ends.

Visuals

Children of Morta offers eye-catching pixel art graphics. The artists do a great job contrasting the light and colourful world of Morta with the dark corruption. The sprite animations are excellent, with enemy attacks being clearly telegraphed with a bit of flair.

Audio

Children of Morta offers a fantastic audio experience. The sound effects are simple to match the game’s pixel art style but are still enjoyable. The soundtrack compliments the mood and the pace of the game well. The narrator’s voice acting is perfect. His skillful performance goes a long way in creating the bond between the player and the Bergson family considering the narrator is the only voice actor in the game. The narration easily shares a category with other legendary performances like Logan Cunningham’s work in Bastion.

Overall

Children of Morta is a fantastic game. It has an addictive gameplay loop that keeps players coming back run after run to see how the Bergson family cope with their ancient duty. The audio/visual presentation is top notch and pairs nicely with the game’s plot. While there are some extremely minor issues with the early game balance and the special attack dead zone, I can see the game being a solid contender as one of the best indie titles in 2019.

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