GLOBAL GAMING PHENOMENON FORTNITE RETURNS TO THE
MELBOURNE ESPORTS OPEN
ESL and TEG Live have today
announced that this year’s Melbourne Esports Open™will feature the
return of the smash hit from Epic Games, Fortnite.
Across the weekend of Saturday 31
August and Sunday 1 September, Fortnite fans will be able to join the
action on an expanded “Fortnite Stage” in Margaret Court Arena, with action
from the stage being broadcast in front of a live audience and online. Fans
will also have the chance to play alongside popular content creators including
‘The Misfits’ on stage, with open tournaments running throughout both
show days.
Melbourne & Olympic Parks is
fast becoming an epicentre for Fortnite after the successful running of
the “Fortnite Summer Smash” at this year’s Australian Open.
Fortnite will also be
featured with the “Fortnite Free-Play Field” – an area within the “JB Hi-Fi
Game On Zone” which in 2019 expands into Melbourne Arena – offering attendees
the chance to get hands-on with one of twenty consoles that will be available
for play across the weekend.
Each day, an all-ages dance
competition will give entrants the chance to get up on stage and perform their
favourite Fortnite dance moves, with prizes up for grabs for the best
performances.
Senior Vice President of ESL Asia-Pacific Japan, Nick Vanzetti said;
“Fortnite was a massive part of the Melbourne Esports Open last year, with
players of all ages competing on stage in Margaret Court Arena. We’re
excited to show Fortnite fans what we have in store for MEO 2019.”
Following the success of the
inaugural Melbourne Esports Open™ in 2018, which saw 12,000 esports fans attend
across the two days, the 2019 event will expand to include activities within
Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne Arena and Grand Slam Oval.
Ticket Information
Fans can enjoy a weekend at the Open from as little as $37.90
(Junior 2-day Ground Pass), with single-day tickets starting at $19.90 (Junior
Saturday Ground Pass). For tickets and further information head to the
Melbourne Esports Open website http://melbourneesportsopen.com.au or ticketek.com.au.
The
Melbourne Esports Open is presented with the support of the Victorian
Government via its tourism and major events agency Visit Victoria.
Mindfreak Wins MTN DEW® AMP® GAME FUEL® Open BracketAmateur Tournament
2019 Call of Duty® World
League Championship Returns to Los Angeles, Aug. 14 – 18
SANTA MONICA, Calif. – June 17, 2019
–With a massive crowd of Call of Duty esports fans in attendance, 100 Thieves
rallied through strong competition to capture the CWL Anaheim Cup, the team’s
second major event victory of the 2019 CWL season, presented by PlayStation®4.
Gen.G, OpTic Gaming and and FaZe Clan rounded-out the remaining top four
placing Pro teams. The thrilling three-day event set at the packed Anaheim
Convention Center featured teams from around the world competing in Call of
Duty®: Black Ops 4.
100 Thieves took home the
championship led by the impressive play of Austin ‘SlasheR’ Liddicoat, who was
named CWL Anaheim MVP following the team’s victory on Sunday.
Over 100 amateur teams competed for a
dedicated prize pool in the CWL Anaheim MTN DEW® AMP® GAME FUEL® Open Bracket. Mindfreak emerged as amateur
champions of the event. Both 100 Thieves and Mindfreak have each won
back-to-back events; both earning titles the May 2019 major tournament CWL
London.
During the event broadcast, the Call
of Duty World League announced Los Angeles will be the destination for the 2019
Call of Duty World League Championship. Taking place from August 14-18, 2019,
at the UCLA Pauley Pavilion, the final event of the 2019 season will feature 32
teams from around the world as they compete for prizing and a chance to etch
their name into the storied Call of Duty World League Championship trophy. All
16 teams in the CWL Pro League will compete at the Championship event, with the
remaining 16 teams determined through final placements at the CWL Finals,
taking place in Miami from July 19-21, 2019.
CWL Anaheim action was streamed live
to fans worldwide on MLG.com/CallofDuty and Twitch.tv/CallofDuty, as well as, in the live event viewer center within Call
of Duty: Black Ops 4 exclusively on PlayStation 4. Call of Duty:
Black Ops 4 is published by Activision®, a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI) and developed by Treyarch.
Visit CallofDuty.com/esports and follow the
Call of Duty World League on Twitter and Instagram for more
information and the latest updates related to the CWL, including the start date
for ticket sales to the 2019 Call of Duty World League Championship. For live
broadcasts and Video on Demand, visit MLG.com/CallofDuty and YouTube.com/CODWorldLeague.
About Activision
Headquartered in Santa Monica,
California, Activision is a leading global producer and publisher of
interactive entertainment. Activision maintains operations throughout the world
and is a division of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI), an
S&P 500 company. More information about Activision and its products
can be found on the company’s website, www.activision.com or by
following @Activision.
Cautionary Note Regarding
Forward-looking Statements: Information in this press release that involves Activision
Publishing’s expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the
future, including statements about the expected dates, features and events of
the CWL Pro League, CWL Anaheim, CWL Finals, and the CWL Championship are
forward-looking statements, that are not facts and involve a number of risks
and uncertainties. Factors that could cause Activision Publishing’s actual
future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking
statements set forth in this release include unanticipated product delays and
other factors identified in the risk factors sections of Activision Blizzard’s
most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on
Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon
information available to Activision Publishing and Activision Blizzard as of
the date of this release, and neither Activision Publishing nor Activision
Blizzard assumes any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove
to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of the future performance
of Activision Publishing or Activision Blizzard and are subject to risks,
uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond its control and may
cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.
In Cadence of Hyrule – Crypt of the NecroDancer featuring The Legend of Zelda, each move the player makes – whether it’s moving, attacking, defending, using items or more – must be timed to the beat of the music, which features remixes of familiar tunes of The Legend of Zelda series. Players can choose to embark on their journey as Link or Zelda, each with different powers and abilities. They adventure through a randomly generated overworld map where classic areas like the desert or the Lost Woods will differ in composition, meaning no two playthroughs will be the same.
With just a wrong move, a player’s character can perish,
losing all their rupees, keys and consumable items. To help their ongoing
journey, Link and Zelda can visit the Oracle to purchase items to use in their
next life with in-game currency.
Players who want to play Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer
Featuring The Legend of Zelda their way
can also choose between various modes including Permadeath Mode, where any
wrong move could mean starting over from the beginning of the game. This is
your journey to undertake, so there’s no right way to endure it.
Cadence of
Hyrule – Crypt of the NecroDancer featuring The Legend of Zelda is now
available exclusivelyin Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch.
The latest title from Brace Yourself Games combines the move-to-the-beat
gameplay of Crypt of the NecroDancer with the characters, items, locations and
music featured in The Legend of Zelda series. Players can choose between
different game modes and characters for an individual gameplay experience.
CALL OF DUTY® WORLD
LEAGUE ACTION RETURNS TO ANAHEIM
Call of Duty® World League action
continues this weekend at CWL Anaheim. An annual event in the Call of Duty
World League schedule, CWL Anaheim features the world’s best Call of Duty
esports teams competing for the CWL Anaheim Cup.
CWL Anaheim runs from June 14-16. Mainstage
action begins at 2:00 PM PT on Friday. Check the official
schedule online. Attend the competition, held at the Anaheim Convention
Center, by registering
for media credentials.
Three different teams have captured
victory at each of the Call of Duty World League’s major events this season,
making it one of the most competitive seasons in the league’s four-year
history.
Can CWL London defending champions 100 Thieves win and go
back-to-back?
Will OpTic Gaming return claim the prize as they did at CWL Las
Vegas?
Is this the event that Luminosity shakes away its troubled CWL
Pro League record to win it all and repeat their CWL Fort Worth victory?
Waiting in the wings are eUnited,
FaZe Clan, Gen.G and Team Heretics, all boasting winning records in the CWL Pro
League regular season. Check out the season standings on the official
CWL Blog.
Amateur teams also have their own
event to compete in: the MTN DEW® AMP® GAME FUEL® Open Bracket, complete with a
dedicated prize pool. Beyond the glory of winning, the amateur event is a
platform for players to compete for a roster spot in the CWL Pro League. Can an
amateur hopeful make a name for themselves ahead of the roster lock deadline?
Watch the event on MLG.com/CallofDuty and Twitch.tv/CallofDuty, as well as, in
the live event viewer center within Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
exclusively on PlayStation4.
ATARI® UNVEILS ATARI VCS™ BRANDED USER EXPERIENCE, MODERN GAMEPLAY OPTIONS, 4K STREAMING VIDEO, AND PIXEL-PERFECT EMULATION IN E3 SHOWCASE OF UNIQUE OPEN SANDBOX MODE AND POWERFUL AMD RYZEN TECH
Atari® Focuses on What Makes its Modern Platform Different from Other Home Game and Entertainment Consoles; Debuts New and Exclusive Hardware Designs and Atari VCS Configurations Now Available for Presale in the US
NEW YORK, NY (JUNE 13, 2019) – Atari® — one of the world’s most iconic consumer brands and interactive entertainment producers — today makes additional announcements from the 2019 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) about its all-new Atari VCS™ (Video Computer System) home gaming and entertainment platform. With the Atari VCS Official Online Presale now underway for U.S. customers, Atari releases more information about the system, its capabilities and available accessories, including exclusive editions it has been sharing with press and partners in private meetings at E3 2019, going on now in Los Angeles.
Visitors to Atari’s demo suite during E3 were greeted by a display of the Atari VCS in its final pre-production form (as described in a recent development blog) and also verified several details including a confirmed starting price of $249.99 for the base model. The Atari VCS will launch in 800 (8GB RAM) and 400 (4GB RAM) models. Both models are fully user-upgradeable by easily swapping-in more RAM and expanding storage, and can be purchased in bundles that include an Atari VCS Classic Joystick and VCS Modern Controller. The Atari VCS is also available as stand-alone units, allowing users to connect their own existing Bluetooth and USB controllers and peripherals.
Most-exciting for many fans will be the debut of the Atari VCS 800 Black Walnut All-In bundle with a new woodgrain faceplate, exclusively available on AtariVCS.com. Atari also introduces the all-new Atari VCS 800 Kevlar Gold All-In bundle with a sleek woven fiber face, exclusively available at Walmart.com, while the dramatic and familiar black and red Atari VCS 800 Onyx All-In will be a retail exclusive at GameStop.com. Classic Joysticks priced at $49.99 and Modern Controllers for $59.99, created in partnership with PowerA, are also available now for preorder. All of these Atari VCS products are available now for consumers to preorder for 2020 shipping (see full list below of Atari VCS Official Online Presale pricing and availability sorted by retailer). In addition to the finished VCS models, Atari shared several items and images from its hardware engineering lab that showcase the evolution of the hardware’s development cycle.
The legendary brand is keenly focused at E3 on the things that set the Atari VCS apart from more established game consoles and the platform’s performance capabilities while distancing the hardware from any lingering “retro-box” impressions. Like the modern hardware that it lives on, the Atari VCS digital interface stands out with a striking and modern design, successfully taking inspiration from a vast and beloved heritage.
The Atari VCS launches into a color-splashed modern dashboard, which presents a selection of game and entertainment windows, plus a navigation menu of destinations like the Atari store, apps, and settings. The dashboard is anchored by a bold window in the center that can immediately reboot the system into the Atari Sandbox mode.
The Atari Sandbox Mode is what makes the Atari VCS a very different game and entertainment machine. Powered by an AMD Ryzen processor featuring Radeon Graphics technology, the VCS is an open platform capable of booting up and running multiple operating systems (Windows, Linux, etc.) to unlock the full power of a PC on your TV and the almost unlimited game, content, and apps available online.
Accessing familiar operating systems like Windows, Ubuntu, Chrome OS, and others is easily accomplished by simply attaching an external USB drive that has the desired OS installed. From there, users can download any existing game libraries and other entertainment or productivity apps. The Atari VCS is fully compatible with any standard USB or Bluetooth keyboard, mouse, controllers, and most other PC peripherals; at E3 Atari had working prototype versions of its VCS Classic Joystick and VCS Modern Controller connected to its demo systems.
The key features of the Atari VCS on display at E3 include:
Modern PC Games: Using the Atari VCS Sandbox
mode with a Windows or Ubuntu install, Atari is making a variety of
popular and demanding triple-A PC games, Atari first-party titles, and
cool Indie games available to play using the Atari VCS Modern Controller
prototype and/or mouse and keyboard. This makes porting, downloading, and
accessing existing game libraries easier while validating the high-performance
capabilities of the Atari VCS hardware. In addition, the Atari VCS comes
optimized for the future of cloud-streamed games.
4K HDR Movies and TV: Taking its place in the heart
of the modern living room, Atari VCS is optimized for streaming of users’
favorite video entertainment apps. Every Atari VCS 800 system is 4K HDR
capable out of the box for all apps and content types, while the Atari VCS
400 system delivers standard 1080p (4K available in certain apps and/or
via RAM upgrade). Popular video apps like Netflix, Hulu, and Showtime, and
browser-based channels like Twitch and YouTube come to life in vibrant 4K
HDR thanks to the powerful AMD tech.
The entire Atari VCS lineup of systems, bundles, and peripherals are available now for preorder at GameStop.com, Walmart.com, and AtariVCS.com, for deliveries starting in March 2020. Pricing starts at $249.99 for the Atari VCS Onyx 400 (4GB) Base model and goes up to $389.99 for one of three Atari VCS 800 (8GB) All-In system bundles that include an Atari VCS Classic Joystick and Atari VCS Modern Controller. Additional international presale dates and retailers will be announced.
The Atari VCS Official Online Presale is for products scheduled to start shipping in March 2020 and offers varied hardware configurations, exclusive new designs, and three online retail destinations to choose from:
GameStop.com features the following Atari VCS products:
Walmart.com features the following Atari VCS products: AtariVCS.com features the following Atari VCS products:
The Atari VCS is the new home gaming and video computer system aimed at transforming the TV-centric home entertainment experience. The Atari VCS blends the best of consoles and PCs to delight a whole new generation of gamers, fans, and creators who will “Discover What You and Atari Can Do.”
Atari plans to make several more product development updates and announcements this year that will include expanded details about games and entertainment content, software development protocols, expanded distribution and more. In addition, Atari will continue to provide periodic work-in-progress updates and product demonstrations via its Atari VCS Project Development blogs on Medium.com.
To stay up-to-date on all things Atari and retro-pop-culture, like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Atari, and follow us on Twitter @Atari and Instagram.
ABOUT ATARI
Atari is an interactive entertainment company. As an iconic brand that transcends generations and audiences, the company is globally recognized for its multi-platform, interactive entertainment and licensed products. Atari owns and/or manages a portfolio of more than 200 games and franchises, including world-renowned brands like Asteroids®, Centipede®, Missile Command®, Pong®, and RollerCoaster Tycoon®. Atari has offices in New York and Paris or visit us online at www.Atari.com.
Try
your hand at bounty hunting this weekend, free on Steam.
Frankfurt
(Germany), June 13, 2019 – Players
who have been thinking about giving Crytek’s online multiplayer bounty hunting
game a try can do so for free this weekend on Steam. During the free
weekend—which will begin on Thursday, June 13th at 10 am PT/1 pm ET/ 7 pm
CEST and run until Monday, June 17th at 10 am PT/1 pm ET/ 7 pm CEST—Hunt:
Showdown will also be on sale for 20% off.
Hunt’s free weekend follows the recently
released Update 6.1, which added the most frequently community-requested
feature: the FOV slider. Update 6.0, which was released in May, added a new
boss, new lore book, new weapons, and new traits, as well as a slew of
performance tweaks.
It has been over a year since Hunt’s initial
Early Access release, and during that time, the Hunt development team have
released 18 updates and patches. These updates have included a new map, two new
times of day, additional AI, Quick Play mode, challenges, and over a dozen new
weapons. As the game continues in its development journey, more additions are
on the horizon.
About Hunt: Showdown
Hunt: Showdown is a competitive first-person
bounty hunting game that packs the thrill of survival games into a match-based
format. Set in Louisiana in 1895, the game boasts a mixture of PvP and PvE
elements that creates a uniquely tense experience. It’s not just the creatures
who are a threat—it’s every Hunter on the map. In the classic game mode, a
match of Hunt pits ten players—playing solo or in teams of two—against each
other as they race to take out gruesome beasts for a bounty they must collect and
get off of the map, while Hunt’s quickplay mode offers a shorter match for solo
players to scavenge for weapons as they compete for a diminishing pool of
bounty. The higher the risk, the higher the reward–but a single mistake could
cost everything. Hunt
is available now on Steam. For more information, visit https://www.huntshowdown.com/.
About
Crytek
Crytek is an independent videogame developer,
publisher, and technology provider dedicated to pushing the boundaries of
gaming with its cutting-edge 3D game development solution CRYENGINE. With
headquarters in Frankfurt am Main (Germany) and studios in Kiev (Ukraine), and
Istanbul (Turkey), Crytek has created multiple award-winning titles, including
the original Far Cry, the Crysis series, Ryse: Son of Rome, The Climb, Robinson:
The Journey and Hunt: Showdown. Crytek delivers fun and innovative gaming
experiences for PC, consoles, and VR and continues to grow its reach in the
games-as-a-service market. Every Crytek game is created with CRYENGINE, which
can be used by anyone to create games.
ANIME-INSPIRED RPG KNIGHTS CHRONICLE CELEBRATES FIRST-YEAR ANNIVERSARY WITH FAN-FAVORITE EVENTS
Yo-kai Watch Collaboration with new
Heroes and Advent Dungeon Now Live for Players
LOS ANGELES
(June 13, 2019) – Today, after a year of
enthusiastic fan support, Netmarble Corp. is kicking off the first-year
anniversary for its anime-inspired mobile role-playing game (RPG) Knights
Chroniclewith all-new anniversary events, content, and collaboration
for players to enjoy. Starting now, players can explore the all-new
Labyrinth Dungeons, which offers three stages to choose from and conquer.
Players must choose Heroes carefully by examining a stage’s enemies and rewards
as they won’t be able to join in other Labyrinth Dungeons until it is refreshed.
Netmarble is also collaborating with LEVEL-5 Inc., on Knights
Chronicle’s latest collaboration with the mega-hit game YO-KAI WATCH™ to
feature fan-favorite characters in the game. Players have until July 2nd to
summon Jibanyan, Komasan, Komajiro, and Hoverryan to their party of Heroes. An
all-new Advent Dungeon is also available for players to defeat and collect the
Yo-Kai Blizzaria to their team.
Knights Chronicle players can also look forward to the following:
New
Awakenings for Electra and Edwin – Both
Electra and Edwin can now be awoken by using growth materials and a six★ version of either hero to achieve increased
statistics, a new Awakened Passive skill upon reaching max Awakening
level, and a new in-game appearance.
First-Year
Anniversary Event – By playing the newly added ‘Blizzaria’ Advent
Dungeon, players can acquire ‘1 Year Anniversary Summon Tickets’, which
can be used to summon individual Heroes.
Knights Chronicle features classic turn-based role-playing gameplay, a
beautiful Japanese animation-inspired art style and a compelling story showing
the same standard of quality as console and PC RPGs. The game also sports
standout features, including real-time party play where fans can form parties
of up to five members to challenge multiplayer dungeons, explosive 3D-animated
skills that demonstrate the game’s flashy and gorgeously detailed visuals, and
over 100 heroes for players to choose from.
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, Everybody’s
Marble, and Seven Knights. As a parent company to Kabam, a top mobile game developer
in massively multiplayer free-to-play games, and the largest shareholder to Jam
City, a leading casual social game developer, 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.
About LEVEL-5 Inc.
LEVEL-5 Inc. plans, creates, and markets video game software and
produces mega-hit IPs targeting kids around the world. The company specializes
in cross-media strategies and oversees corresponding counterparts (anime, toys,
manga, etc.) for its titles. The company’s flagship LAYTON™ series
has sold more than 17 million units worldwide, The Ni no Kuni™ series,
featuring animations created the Academy Award-winning Studio Ghibli, has sold
more than 2.3 million units worldwide and has received numerous prominent game
awards. LEVEL-5’s cross-media titles include INAZUMA ELEVEN™, Little
Battlers eXperience, and YO-KAI WATCH™ – which has sold over 13
million units worldwide. All forms of YO-KAI WATCH™ merchandise,
including toys and games, are universally popular among people of all ages.
While maintaining its foundation as a game company, LEVEL-5 Inc. continues to
actively explore collaborations with other media as it strives to flourish as a
world-class entertainment brand. To learn more, please visit http://level5abby.com.
Most importantly, full mod support is coming in the form of level editors and mod tools. New World Interactive is hoping to foster a bright and vibrant mod community for Insurgency: Sandstorm, much like the original Insurgency.
New weapons, equipment, and attachments are coming to the game. Night vision equipment is headlining the release as it will launch with night time versions of existing maps. For those more interested in playing tactical Barbie, brand new character customization options will also be coming for both Insurgents and Security.
Alongside the night versions of existing maps will be two brand new maps, PVP Frontline mode, Co-op outpost mode, and hardcore rulesets across all modes. Frontline is a tug of war type game mode. Outpost is Insurgency: Sandstorm’s take on the ever popular horde mode.
A world filled with magic, knights, and mystical creatures always sounds like something worth exploring when compared to our world but as we’ve seen through the years, the threats that exist in such a world are far greater than most of us could imagine. This is especially true when almost every element of such a fantasy world is at war with each other and that just so happens to be the case in Compile Heart and Idea Factory International’s Dragon Star Varnir. Does this interesting take on a fantasy realm create an intriguing storyline worth exploring?
Story
Set on the world of Varneria, humans, witches, and dragons all exist but continue to battle against one another. The Holy Empire of Varneria has proclaimed that all witches are evil while the dragons that they spawn lay waste to the lands and has formed the Knights of Requiem to hunt down both in an effort to keep the world safe. On the other hand the witches are cursed at birth with only two options left to them. Either feed on dragon meat and blood to sate their ever growing hunger only to have the dragon that was born within them at the time of their birth grow and eventually rip itself out of them and wreak havoc or starve the dragon and eventually go mad, becoming a hazard to all those around her and die as a result.
Our story begins with Zephy, a fresh member of the Knights of Requiem who lost his family to the dragons in the past, being chased by such a creature. Nearly killed by the dragon a pair of witches stumble upon him and after slaying the beast, choose to feed him dragon blood in an attempt to revive him. To their surprise not only does Zephy manage to make a full recovery but also becomes a witch in the process. Shocked at the first male witch they’ve ever heard of, the pair of girls wish to use him as a bargaining chip to recover their captured friend.
While this plan hits a few snags it does end up working out but Zephy now finds himself an outcast from the Empire as the knights will now hunt him and the witches that he used to hunt are the only people he can turn to. Through the appearance of a mysterious and risky ally Zephy and the rest of the witches in their den learn that there may be a way to lift the dragon curse and turn them back into humans, but with only rumors to go on, distrust among the group, and an ever ticking time clock in their body, this may be a journey that they won’t return from.
As one may surmise from that description, Dragon Star Varnir‘s storyline starts out rather fast and heavy by quickly introducing many of the characters in the game and the dangers that they will face. Thankfully things do start to slow down to a more reasonable pace a few hours in but players should be prepared for quite a bit of storyline as this game happens to feature an extensive amount of dialogue even by RPG standards.
Thankfully this doesn’t come as a negative, though it can feel like a bit much at times, by any means as the story does have some great foundations that are built on as players progress through the game. Initially none of the characters really want to trust one another as not only was Zephy someone who used to hunt the rest of the witches but one of their first new allies proclaims that they have slaughtered hundreds in the past. Watching these characters grow and eventually learn to trust one another while facing off against danger makes for a compelling storyline that sees every character get developed (including special scenes should the player give the witches appropriate gifts) all while unveiling more of the history of the world with various twists and turns, some of which are easy to see coming.
Rarely does it feel like a scene was unnecessary and considering there are actually dialogue choices to be made in this game players will want to keep a close eye on the story. These choices, as well as having characters fall in battle and suffer various traumas, can affect the group’s madness level. The higher the madness gauge fills the more random events occur and, potentially if you happen to get too high, can lock players out of a good ending in the game. While it does depend on the player, this shouldn’t be too much of an issue but be wary of it as certain events can be triggered beyond the player’s control should you take too long in the game.
Gameplay
In various ways Dragon Star Varnir plays similar to many other games from the developer as it only features one true hub area with no open world. This hub area serves as a shop, side-mission area, and alchemy shop. Instead players will leave the “den” and travel to various dungeons where they can explore the area and open treasure chests, harvest items, and face off against enemies that roam the map. In a bit of a unique fashion, each character has a special field skill that can be used to further explore certain areas of a dungeon at the cost of SP but this rarely feels limited. Should the player strike a foe before entering battle they will have an advantage but being touched from behind will give the enemy the first round of attacks.
Once entering battle players will immediately be able to see what sets Dragon Star Varnir apart from many other turn-based RPGs. Rather than fighting on the ground all battles are fought in the air with their being three levels of height though boss battles make use of all three levels at once. Physical attacks require the fighter to be on the same level as their target while magical attacks can strike from any level. Various skills can target enemies in a row or within a grid and players can even set various magical traps that they can strike foes into for extreme levels of damage and of course healing, buffing, and debuffing skills. Normal attacks can be chained up to three times or cancelled out of at any point should the player wish and enemies all have different elemental and weapon type weaknesses that allow for the player to deal extra damage should they target them. As the battle progresses a gauge will fill next to each fighter that, when filled, automatically sends that witch into a super-powered state. This state greatly boosts their stats and allows for them to use a special finishing technique that can devour their foes. Unfortunately this state is entered automatically and is immediately exited once players finish a fight so there is no way to properly save such a transformation for an important moment.
As you deal damage to foes and increase their “fear” by targeting weaknesses, players will be able to use a special “Devour” skill that has a certain percentage to immediately defeat an enemy and heal the user at the same time while giving them access to that enemy’s dragon core. Enemies that are fully “feared” can trigger a weak-point rush that sees all three fighters attack the enemy at once with the final unit attempting, and almost always succeeding, with a devour attack. These dragon cores each have specific skill trees locked inside of them that range from simple stat boosts to unlocking new offensive and defensive skills as well as passive buffs. Players can unlock these skills by using points obtained from every battle and it is worth noting that while the amount of skills each character can equip is limited, it is entirely possible that properly devouring enemies and boosting your characters in various ways can make them nearly unstoppable.
In fact, even playing on a harder difficulty will occasionally seem too easy at times outside of a rare difficulty spike so be wary of over-prepping yourself though the game does have a bit of a counter against that later in the game. You see, while initially it is possible to grind your characters for quite some time, players will need to also eventually take care of the witch’s little sisters. These girls are too young to fight against their fate and it is up to the player to make sure that they stay alive. As you play through the game and spend time fighting the girls will grow hungry in your asensce. Properly feeding them will keep them sane and happy but feed them too much and the dragon inside will murder them. This creates a unique balancing act that will see players needing to make sure they are eventually strong enough to progress but not enough that they may send the little sisters down a horrific path.
Visuals & Audio
Players will find that the character portraits that are used for nearly all of the dialogue scenes in Dragon Star Varnir are extremely well detailed with a solid variety of expressions to work with, though the mouth flaps are a bit tiny, while the actual character models on the field are also nicely detailed. The aforementioned transformation sequence does see each character strip down with various jiggles but outside of this bit of fanservice the transformations are a nice touch that can easily be skipped should the player choose. The battles are detailed enough with certain skills being very flashy and while enemy variety does feel rather high at the start, it doesn’t take long before they start to repeat a bit.
Players have both the English and Japanese voice track to choose from and the English cast does a swell job with their characters (outside of some cartoonish villains) here so players won’t miss out should they go with one over another. The soundtrack features a nice mix of orchestral pieces and other types of music that work great during battle and are varied enough per dungeon to keep things from feeling repetitive.
Overall
With an excellent combat system that may have too many mechanics that end up feeling a bit meaningless but a unique sense of style and set-up help bring it all together, even if players may end up a bit overpowered in the end. Delivering an engrossing storyline that helps draw players into the world and giving the lengthy story scenes enough room to breath and develop the cast of characters helps make Dragon Star Varnir a strong RPG with a number of unique little features and some limitations.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Beloved Point-and-Click Adventure Game Leisure Suit Larry – Wet Dreams Don’t Dry Launches on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4
Wet Dreams Are Made of This – Larry Laffer Returns Once Again in His Usual Fashion, This Time on Consoles
WIESBADEN, GERMANY (JUNE 13, 2019) — Publisher Assemble Entertainment is thrilled to announce that their wonderfully risque point-and-click adventure game Leisure Suit Larry – Wet Dreams Don’t Dry is now available as a digital download on Nintendo Switch in North America and Europe and on PlayStation 4 in Europe, with a North American PlayStation 4 release scheduled for June 18, 2019! Players can step back into the shoes of beloved gaming icon Larry Laffer and experience what it’s like to chase after love in the modern age.
The adorable lady killer…erm…hopeless romantic, Larry Laffer, has been conquering the hearts of players since the immensely successful release of Leisure Suit Larry – Wet Dreams Don’t Dry on PC last November. Now, Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 owners will finally be able to enjoy the charismatic lounge lizard’s inimitable charm.
We are excited and proud to bring the beloved Leisure Suit Larry brand to PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch for the very first time,” said Assemble Entertainment CEO Stefan Marcinek. “We know players are going to have as much fun with Larry Laffer as we have!”
Want to see more Larry? Check out the launch trailer here:
More about Leisure Suit Larry –
Wet Dreams Don’t Dry –
Hey ladies, I’m back in business! My latest adventure, Leisure Suit Larry – Wet Dreams
Don’t Dry, takes me – whatever the route or twist of fate – from
the end of the ’80s directly to the 21st Century and wow, how the world has
changed! While my view of the world and women from way back in the 1980s
collides with modern reality, I’m all set to date my way across the modern
world!
In a “point & click” adventure I’d call typical for the genre, we mutually
experience how I fall head-over-heels in love with Faith, the assistant to the
boss at Prune, a technology enterprise successful worldwide. Since even dating
is done digitally nowadays, the first thing I have to do is to work on my score
at Timber, the totally hip, can’t-get-anywhere-without-it dating app where I
date women, satisfy their needs, and accordingly pick up points for my Timber
profile. And whenever I get a chance in between, briefly check out a few new
bikini pix at Instacrap – the 21st century is gnarly!
Key features
include:
What a World!: Explore a lovingly designed,
non-linear game world set in modern times with over 30 hand-drawn venues
The Digital Age: Use “Timber”, the in-game app,
along with an innovative dating mechanism to date women, improve your
score at Timber, and ultimately clear the way to get to dating Faith, the
women of your dreams
Dating Can be Puzzling: Solve true-blue puzzles and interact with over 30 hand-drawn characters
Leisure Suit Larry – Wet Dreams Don’t Dry is available on the Nintendo Switch through the Nintendo eShop, on PlayStation 4 through the PlayStation Store in Europe, and on PC for $39.99 USD / £34.99. Retail versions are available in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, Austria, Belgium, Ireland, and other European countries.
Don’t miss out on a single innuendo by following Leisure Suit Larry – Wet Dreams Don’tDry on Twitter.
