After the original 3DS version was released in the West last year it looks like fans of FuRyu’s The Alliance Alive won’t have to wait too long for The Alliance Alive HD Remastered to make its way overseas. Now handled by NIS America the game will be released physically and digitally for the PlayStation 4 and Switch as well as digitally on PC in North America and Europe.
Releasing sometime this fall the story of the game follows a group of unlikely heroes that band together to spark a fiery revolution after an age of darkness fell upon the world. The Dark Current, a cataclysmic event caused by the Daemons’ emergence, has decimated the population and divided land into separate regions, leaving the survivors to be subjugated by Daemonic overlords.
BUCKLE UP,
BUTTERCUP: SKYBOUND AND NMC STUDIOS’ VEHICULAR BATTLE ROYALE GAME notmycar HITS
STEAM EARLY ACCESS APRIL 5
Exclusive Vehicle Paint Job Up for
Grabs During Founders’ Week (April 5-12)
March
14, 2019 (LOS ANGELES, Calif.) –
From publisher Skybound Games and developer NMC Studios, notmycar drops players
onto a massive island battleground where they must outlast the competition to
remain the last car standing. Drop, drive and destroy with automotive fury and
an arsenal of brutal weapons and abilities in all-out vehicular battle royale
mayhem. You’ll need a tight ride and all the cunning, skills and guts you can
muster to win the fast-paced, tire-squealing chaos that is notmycar.
notmycar will be available to play for free on Windows PC on
April 5 via Steam
Early Access! Founders’ Week kicks off on launch day and runs through April
12, rewarding the game’s earliest players with an exclusive custom paint job
for notmycar’s
one and only pick-up truck of punishment – The Beast. Everyone that plays
during Founders’ Week will get The Beast custom paint job for free.
To celebrate the game’s upcoming early access launch, Skybound and NMC Studios have also just released a new video about The Beast here.
Game
Features:
Drop: Get a double-shot of adrenaline as you freaking glide
your car into each match. Pick the best landing zone on a massive island
battleground that gets smaller and smaller, driving all your enemies right into
your sights.
Drive: Customize your battle wagon to the nines so your
worthless enemies know fear as they spot you on the horizon and remember
exactly who blasted them into oblivion. Flags, paint jobs and more: it’s all up
to you.
Destroy: It’s pedal-to-the-metal as you race to snatch the
best weapons from caches all over the island. Second place is the first loser,
so show no mercy and fight your way to the top of the junk heap to be the last
car standing!
Players interested in the game can
register on www.notmycar.com
for up-to-the minute news, reminders and exclusive offers, as well
as follow notmycar
on Twitter.
About
Skybound Games
Skybound Games is a division of Skybound
Entertainment that publishes videogames and tabletop games, focusing on unique
and exceptional independently developed IP. Skybound Games expanded into the
videogames space in 2018, led by CEO Ian Howe. The current slate of games
includes Slime Rancher
by Monomi Park, The Long
Dark by Hinterland, Skullgirls
by Lab Zero Games, and Death’s
Gambit with Adult Swim Games and White Rabbit. Skybound Games also
took ownership of Telltale’s
The Walking Dead in October 2018.
Tabletop games include The Grimm Forest with
James Hudson and Druid City Games,
Pitchstorm with Ben Kepner, and Superfight
and Red Flags
with Jack Dire.
Steel Division 2 Beta Begins March 27,Final Launch Now Scheduled for May 2
Eugen Systems Delays Deployment for Steel
Division 2 for Steam Beta and Additional Player Feedback
Paris, France – March 14, 2019 – Independent developer and publisher Eugen
Systems (R.U.S.E., Wargame series, Steel Division: Normandy 44)
is excited to welcome players to phase 1 of the upcoming
singleplayer/multiplayer beta for Steel Division 2on Steam. With
phase 1 scheduled to begin on March 27 for 48-hours and open to players who
pre-order Steel Division 2 via Steam, Gamesplanet, or The Humble Store, beta testers can look forward to an advanced
look at a variety of Steel Division 2’s game modes, including
Breakthrough. This mode finds defending players holding control of the map
against an attacker – and makes heavy use of the brand-new Defense Structures feature recently highlighted on Eugen Systems’ developer diary. Deploy barbed wire, trenches, gun pits, and
bunkers to hold the line. Beta testers can also look forward to checking out Conquest Mode, an objective based mode that charges players
with pushing the frontline of battle forward by capturing objectives across the
map. Two divisions will be available to choose from for phase 1, starting with
the German 5. Panzerdivision and 2nd Guards Tank Corps – with more to come in future
phases.
Steel Division 2 fans can also look forward to regular updates and additional
48-hour multiplayer beta phases each week. For full details on the upcoming
beta phases for Steel Division 2, please head to the page on Steam. To make room for an extended beta on Steam and
to allow for further development work on Steel Division 2 based
on player feedback, Steel Division 2 is now scheduled to launch on May 2, 2019.
“We’re excited for Steel Division players to finally
experience what we’ve been working so hard on behind closed doors when the
Steam beta launches,” said Pierre-Yves Navetat, Marketing and Communication
Manager at Eugen Systems. “This beta will allow us time to incorporate player
feedback and ensure players the best launch day experience with Steel
Division 2.”
For full details on pre-order bonuses for Steel Division 2,
please head to the official website at buy.steeldivision2.com.
Steel Division 2 is the sequel to the critically acclaimed real-time strategy
title Steel Division: Normandy 44. Set during Operation Bagration on the
Eastern Front in the summer of 1944, Steel Division 2 pushes the
limits of the World War II tactical experience, delivering new 1:1 scale
Dynamic Strategic Campaigns. Command entire armies during Operation Bagration,
covering the Soviet counter-attack against Axis forces in Byelorussia. Battle
in the multiple skirmish modes on 25 maps and customize your battlegroups in
the brand-new deck system, allowing for an unprecedented level of customization.
To stay up to date on the latest regarding Steel Division 2,
be sure to visit the game’s official website and follow the developers at Eugen Systems on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. Fans can also interact with the Steel
Division 2 team at Eugen Systems and find the latest developer diaries
on the official Eugen Systems forums.
About Eugen Systems
Eugen Systems is a
French video game development studio founded in 2000 by Alexis and Cédric Le
Dressay in Paris, France. Over the years, the independent studio has become
renowned as masters of the real-time strategy genre, offering detailed and
intense tactical combat experience powered by their in-house developed IrisZoom
engine. Since their first title Times of Conflict (2000), Eugen Systems
has alternated between near-future warfare with Act of War (2005) to
historical conflicts in R.U.S.E (2010) and the Wargame series (2012).
Historical accuracy of their titles is paramount with the studio taking pride
in smart planning and execution, their in-depth simulation systems, and
realistic combat. Their latest games include Act of Aggression (2015)
and the critically acclaimed Steel Division: Normandy 44 (2017). Eugen
Systems is currently working on Steel Division 2 – their first game to
be self-published.
Daedalic Entertainment Aims to Revive Classic
Real-Time Strategy Genre with A Year Of Rain
Team RTS Will Go Into Early Access for PC
Later This Year
HAMBURG,
Germany: March 14, 2019 – Daedalic
Entertainment is delighted to announce its first internally developed
multiplayer real-time strategy game, A
Year Of Rain. The game features heroes, an extensive story mode
and a heavy emphasis on team gameplay. It will go into early access for PC
later this year.
A Year
Of Rain combines classic real-time
strategy elements with a strong focus on hero units. Both the co-op campaigns
and online and offline modes are being designed with a team of two in mind,
whether you play with a human or AI player. The classic 2v2 skirmish mode is
being developed for competitive matches from the very start. Meanwhile,
“Against all Odds“ is an innovation in the genre where two lone heroes face two
entire armies, who have full command of units and structures.
In this team RTS, you can choose one of
three rival factions and become immersed in gameplay mixing base-building,
resource-gathering, and unit-training. Structures and units can be upgraded in
order to enhance efficiency and power. With your carefully assembled army led
by a legendary hero, you will be able to fight alongside the noble House Rupah, the Wild Outcasts or join the Restless Undead. A battle
without mercy begins!
“A
Year Of Rain is set to be one of the largest games we have
developed to date and marks our first steps into the esports arena. We are
aware of the various complex challenges this genre entails. I am proud to be
able to support our dev team with their dream project,” says Carsten
Fichtelmann, CEO and founder of Daedalic Entertainment.
Features:
Complex real-time
strategy game.
Extensive co-op and PvP
modes.
Unique heroes with
individual abilities and skills.
Three factions: House Rupah, Wild Outcasts and Restless Undead.
Esports-ready at launch,
featuring a league system, competitive seasons, leaderboards, observer
mode, replays, and more.
Soundtrack by
award-winning composer Neal Acree (StarCraft
II, World
of Warcraft).
A
Year Of Rain will enter early access on PC in 2019
featuring one initial campaign and several multiplayer modes. The game
will continuously be expanded on and supported post-launch, including various
new features, content and more.
Further information will be made available
shortly.
About
A
Year Of Rain
A Year
Of Rain is a team RTS uniting
classical elements like base-building and expansive story campaigns with strong
hero focus and team-oriented gameplay. Apart from the co-op campaigns for the
three factions, A Year Of
Rain features additional 2v2 modes like “Skirmish” and “Against all
Odds.”
A Year
Of Rain is being developed by
Daedalic Entertainment internally and will go into early access for PC in
2019.
About
Daedalic Entertainment
Daedalic Entertainment publishes and develops
high-quality games for all platforms. The company has a diverse line-up and
offers a variety of high-quality titles, from classic adventure to strategy
games, multiplayer games and RPGs. Since May 2014, Daedalic is part of the
Bastei Lübbe group of companies.
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 Awards (including multiple accolades for “Studio of the
Year”) and 11 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.
With more than 80 employees, Daedalic is
currently developing a new line-up of innovative games across consoles, PC and
mobile platforms.
All-New Content Based on
Season 3 of the Award-Winning Anime
Hertfordshire,
14th March 2019 – KOEI TECMO Europe revealed today the latest entry in their colossal
action game series, based on the worldwide anime phenomenon ‘Attack on Titan’: A.O.T.
2: Final Battle. The new gaming experience follows Attack on Titan’s
Season 3 adventure through the actions of specific characters, capturing all of
the conflict of the popular anime series like never before.
Taking
place throughout Attack on Titan Season 3’s timeline, Final Battle’s
Story mode plays through selected characters’ points of view with major heroes
active in Season 3 – now playable for the first time – boosting the total
number of playable characters to over 40. In addition to the content covering
seasons 1-3 of the popular anime series, developers will also include original
episodes to create a more fulfilling ‘Attack on Titan’ experience.
A.O.T.
2: Final Battle
will feature two new gameplay experiences: A frenetic anti-personnel combat
feature using omni directional mobility gear and an all-new wall reclamation
mode focused on recovering outside territories. Here, players will have an
ability to choose a leader of their squad, pick out the members they want to
include – even members who were never together in the original work — and set
out to reclaim the lands from the Titans. Thunder Spears will also be equipped
for battle for the first time, taking down the Armored Titan when a normal
blade just won’t cut it.
A.O.T.
2: Final Battle
is being developed by OMEGA Force, and will be available on the 5th
July 2019 for the PlayStation®4 Computer Entertainment System, Nintendo Switch™, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft,
and digitally on Windows PC via Steam®. The title will be made available for
purchase as an Upgrade Pack to fans who already own A.O.T. 2, and will
also be available for purchase as a special bundle, combining the experience of
A.O.T. 2 alongside the new Season 3 content in one unique package.
KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD. is a publisher of interactive
entertainment software for current generation consoles, handhelds and digital
download content based in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, UK. The company is a
wholly owned subsidiary of KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD., headquartered in
Yokohama, Japan. KOEI TECMO’s best known for their signature ‘one versus
thousands’ Warriors series, the fan-favourite Ninja Gaiden and fighting
entertainment title Dead or Alive. Through collaboration with strong existing
franchises, such as A.O.T. Wings of Freedom (Attack on Titan), has brought
fan-favourite shows to life in video game form. The company’s desire for
innovation and diversity has seen the creation of the critically acclaimed
dark-samurai action title Nioh, which takes on new and unique gameplay styles.
The company’s acquisition of GUST, developer of a variety of heart-warming
titles, has seen their flagship Atelier series span generations of consoles and
fans alike. More information about KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD and its products can
be found at www.koeitecmoeurope.com
Tripwire Interactive and Darkest Hour Mod Team Celebrate 13 Years of Red Orchestra with
New Darkest Hour Update
Darkest Hour Mod for Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 Receives Big Update on the 13th Anniversary of Release of RO1, New Steam Price Set at $4.99 USD
ROSWELL, Ga. — March 14, 2019 — On the 13th anniversary of the release of Red
Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 (RO1), one of the first 3rd-party titles released on Steam, Tripwire
Interactive invites players new and
old to enjoy the latest update for the Darkest Hour mod. Darkest Hour is a completely
community-created mod for Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45, that was itself
released through Steam in 2009, has been continuously updated ever since – and
is still FREE to everyone who owns RO1.
To celebrate today’s milestone – and to encourage more people to
try out Darkest Hour – Tripwire Interactive is excited to announce a 75% off
sale starting at 10:00AM PDT for the next 48 hours! When the sale
concludes the classic Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 will move
to a reduced regular price of $4.99 USD on Steam. 13 years after launch, Red Orchestra
players can continue to look forward to new experiences with today’s launch of
the popular Darkest Hour:
Europe ’44-’45 mod.
Starting as a humble modification for Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45,
Darkest Hour: Europe ’44-’45 has grown into one of the most robust World
War II shooter experiences on Steam with an impressive roster of content,
unique squad and construction system, five playable nations, and more.
Today’s Darkest Hour: Europe ’44-’45 update introduces a
unique and fully-fledged Squad and Rally Point system that keeps players and
their comrades fighting, maneuvering and communicating together to crush
enemies and achieve victory. The update also introduces new Constructions and
Logistics systems, that allows players to build formidable defenses. Stonewall
the enemy with obstacles, such as Hedgehogs and Concertina Wire, dig-in with
sandbags, bunkers, and foxholes, deploy anti-tank guns to stop enemy armor –
and deploy logistics trucks to keep supplies flowing to the frontlines. For
full details on today’s Darkest Hour: Europe ’44-’45 update, please head
to the official Steam
page.
“As a company built by creators and gamers, modding is in our DNA
– and that mindset has helped us support successful games as service titles,
like Killing Floor 2, years after launch,” says Alan Wilson, Vice
President at Tripwire Interactive. “That’s why we’re excited to support
Darklight Games’ latest big update to Darkest Hour for Red Orchestra,
our company’s first title, which wouldn’t have been possible without the
existence and support of the modding community.”
The RO1 75% off sale on Steam starts Thursday 3/14 at 10:00AM PDT
and ends on Saturday 3/16 at 10:00AM PDT.
To stay up-to-date with the latest news and information for
Tripwire Interactive, please visit the official website.
You can also keep track of Tripwire Interactive on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and
on YouTube.
For the latest news and updates regarding the Darkest Hour: Europe
’44-’45 mod for Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 on Steam, please follow
the Darklight Games team on Steam, Twitter, YouTube, and Discord.
About Tripwire Interactive
Gamers want games that grab their attention and will keep them
coming back for more. Tripwire has been producing those types of games since
the first Red Orchestra mod that won the “Make Something Unreal”
competition in 2004. Since then Tripwire has won numerous Multiplayer and FPS
Game of the Year awards from top editorial sites—and millions have played a Red
Orchestra or Killing Floor game, with an average play time of over 40 hours,
per player, per game! Since it first launched for PC in 2009, Killing Floor has
sold over five million units worldwide. Tripwire has published select 3rd-party
titles (The Ball, Zeno Clash, Dwarfs?!), supported each title with free extra
content and taken their brand of winning gaming to console, to continuously
expand that base. Tripwire will continue to offer new and exciting gaming
experiences both to their millions of fans and to new gamers alike—including
Killing Floor 2 for PC, PlayStation®4, PlayStation®4 Pro, Xbox One, and Xbox
One X, Rising Storm 2: Vietnam for PC, Killing Floor: Incursion for Oculus
Touch and HTC VIVE in 2017—along with PlayStation®VR and Windows Mixed Reality
in 2018. In addition to developing their own games Tripwire announced a new
publishing division at E3 2018 designed to help other independent studios bring
their games to market through a truly collaborative publishing model. Road
Redemption for PC, PlayStation®4, PlayStation®4 Pro, Xbox One, Xbox One X, and
Nintendo Switch will be the first game to come from the new publishing arm in
Fall 2018 and Maneater for PC will be coming in 2019. Tripwire also
recently announced a partnership with Digital Lode to bring Espire 1: VR
Operative to VR platforms in 2019. To find out why millions of gamers spend so
much time playing Tripwire games and getting involved with Tripwire’s special
events for existing games, visit the website at www.tripwireinteractive.com for all the latest news direct from the studio.
DISCOVER
MAGICAL WORLDS AND ENDLESS ADVENTURES IN CLASSIC FINAL FANTASY TITLES
SYDNEY, 14th March 2019 – Square Enix Ltd., today unveiled a brand new
trailer showcasing the magical adventures and enchanting characters of the epic
FINAL FANTASY® series. With mysterious tales to be told, new and memorable
characters to love, unique gameplay mechanics to master and so much more, the FINAL
FANTASY series has something for everyone.
Within each unique adventure in the series, players can discover challenges and mysteries for themselves, and see why millions of players worldwide so fondly revere each title. Upcoming releases in 2019 include FINAL FANTASY VII, FINAL FANTASY X / X-2 HD Remaster, FINAL FANTASY XII THE ZODIAC AGE™, FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES® Remastered Edition and Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon EVERY BUDDY!™, all available for the first time on new platforms.
FINAL FANTASY X / X-2 HD Remaster will be available digitally and boxed for the Nintendo Switch, and digitally for the Xbox One family of devices,
including Xbox One X, on 19th April 2019. FINAL FANTASY XII THE ZODIAC AGE will also be available digitally and boxed for the Nintendo
Switch, and digitally for the Xbox One family of devices, including Xbox One X,
on 30th April 2019.
About FINAL FANTASY VII
Platform: Nintendo Switch™, Xbox One
ReleaseDate: 26th March
2019
FINAL FANTASY VII, the legendary RPG classic, tells
the story of the powerful ex-SOLDIER Cloud as he joins a group of loyal
companions in an attempt to save the world from destruction. Using innovative
character customisation options to create fun and interesting combinations of
their favourite party members, players can fight to save the planet and
discover the truth about Cloud’s mysterious past.
About FINAL FANTASY IX
Platform: App Store®, Google Play™, STEAM®
Playstation®4, Nintendo Switch™, Xbox One, Windows 10
ReleaseDate: Available Now
FINAL FANTASY IX tells a grand story of love, war
and betrayal in a world of incredible magic and larger-than-life characters.
Zidane and the Tantalus Theater Troupe have kidnapped Princess Garnet, the heir
of Alexandria, but to their surprise, the princess herself yearned to escape
the castle and see the world for herself. Together, they explore the world and
encounter new friends and enemies to make an adventure unlike any other.
About FINAL FANTASY X / X-2 HD
Remaster
Platform: Nintendo Switch™, Xbox One
ReleaseDate: 16th April
digital | 19th April 2019 boxed for the Nintendo Switch
FINAL FANTASY X / X-2 HD Remaster contains FINAL FANTASY X
and its sequel FINAL FANTASY X-2, renowned as some of the most popular
titles in the whole FINAL FANTASY series for their emotional stories and
stunning graphical quality. In FINAL FANTASY X, star athlete Tidus joins
powerful summoner Yuna on her pilgrimage to save the world of Spira. In FINAL
FANTASY X-2, Yuna and co. travel the world once more and meet friends new
and old, overcoming new challenges that threaten the world of Spira.
About FINAL FANTASY XII THE
ZODIAC AGE
Platform: Nintendo Switch™, Xbox One
ReleaseDate: 30th April
2019
Based on the 12th numbered entry in
the smash hit FINAL FANTASY series that has sold over 6 million units
worldwide, FINAL FANTASY XII THE ZODIAC AGE has re-worked the game’s
design and re-mastered their visuals in full-HD, making full use of current
generation hardware capabilities to improve the graphical and audio quality for
the ultimate play experience. Princess Ashe, the lone heir to the Dalmascan
throne, has devoted herself to forming a resistance to liberate her homeland.
The story begins when Ashe meets Vaan, a young thief who dreams of flying free
in the skies, as their adventure changes the destiny of the world’s greatest
nations.
About FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL
CHRONICLES Remastered Edition
Platform: Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation®4
ReleaseDate: 2019
The classic co-op action RPG FINAL
FANTASY Crystal Chronicles has been completely remastered, and now even
includes a new online multiplayer mode so that you and up to three friends can
adventure together! Playing with friends or solo, explore a stunning fantasy
world and make new memories with fantastic characters with fun action-RPG
gameplay.
About Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon
EVERY BUDDY!
Platform: Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation®4 ReleaseDate: 20th March 2019
Take one step forward and change
the world in this spectacular return to 2007’s FINAL FANTASY FABLES:
Chocobo’s Dungeon, specially designed for new gaming systems. The rules to
this mysterious dungeon are simple… every time you enter, the world around you
changes shape, but it only moves whenever Chocobo moves, whether Chocobo walks,
kicks, or uses an item.
Last year the original game in the Utawarerumono series was enhanced and released in Japan and now NIS America has announced that they will be bringing that game to the West in early 2020. The company will be releasing the game physically and digitally for the PlayStation 4 and digitally for the PS Vita where it will feature Japanese voice work and English subtitles.
Utawarerumono: Prelude to the Fallen as it will be called in the West will feature a special “Origins Edition” of the game that will include a copy of the game, a soundtrack CD, and a softcover art book while a special limited edition that is priced at $79.99 includes the game, hardcover art book, soundtrack CD, poster, collector’s box, and a metal key chain.
Utawarerumono: Prelude to the Fallen follows the story of a man with no memories who awakens in a strange world, and is taken in by a tribe of kindhearted villagers. He is raised as one of their own, eventually receiving the name “Hakuoro.” When neighboring nations begin to encroach on his village, Hakuoro rises up against the tyrannical invaders, setting off on an unforgettable journey that lives on in the songs of legend.
Among the few 3D fighting games that have stood the test of time and turned into popular series, Dead or Alive has always managed to set itself apart from the rest thanks to its unique take on combat and signature character designs. After multiple releases of the last iteration across a number of different platforms and a barred visit to the beach that required a little extra work to obtain, the series has returned once again in Dead or Alive 6. Offering a number of tweaks to the standard formula and a couple of new fighters, is this latest entry in the series worth your time?
Story
As before Dead or Alive 6 manages to offer a fairly solid story mode for players to enjoy. With eight chapters in total the story mode is laid out in a descending grid where players can follow the main story as well as take part in side stories for each of the characters in the game. Some do get more time to shine than others and while the story itself is a bit of an odd one it does manage to tell a cohesive enough tale that continues the story of the tournament and the ninja clans.
For the most part players shouldn’t expect too much challenge from this mode outside of occasionally being placed behind the controls of a fighter they may not be used to. It is nice to note that some of the newer characters such as Honoka and Marie Rose are given extra attention this time around to make up for their lack of attention in the previous game and both newcomers also get a solid amount of time to shine.
Gameplay
Players will find that, although two characters are already locked behind DLC at release, Dead or Alive 6‘s initial offering of twenty four playable fighters makes for quite an eclectic batch of characters with a mix of fighting styles to choose from. Nearly all of these fighters are returning from the previous entries in the series with the fresh faces of Marie Rose and Honoka now worked into the series in better fashion and as for the two new characters we have a powerful scientist named NiCO that is capable of using electricity in her attacks and a street fighter named Diego.
Those unaware of how to play the game or are rusty with some of their favorite characters will find that Dead or Alive 6 remains as accessible to newcomers as possible. There are numerous gameplay modes designed around teaching the player the ins and outs of standard gameplay mechanics through a tutorial to each character also having a specific pair of tutorials for them. These include command training that showcases every move that the fighter is capable of using as well as a much more difficult to complete combo challenge that focuses on stringing together these moves into devastating combos.
The standard fighting gameplay remains mostly the same as Dead or Alive‘s triangle style of combat remains true here, with strikes beating grapples, grapples beating holds, and holds beating strikes. Holds are handled similar to they were in the past with players attempting to grab an incoming attack and reverse it on their opponent. It is interesting to note that should the player want things a little easier, it is now possible to swap from the newer 4-Way Hold mechanic that requires mid-kicks to be input different from mid-punches to the 3-Way Hold of older games though this option is only available in single player modes.
A new mechanic has also been implemented in Dead or Alive 6 with the use of the “Break Gauge” that fills up while dealing or receiving damage. When filled the player has the option to drain the entire bar to perform a Fatal Rush that deals stunning attacks that finish off with a powerful blow that will send your opponent flying while also dealing cosmetic damage. Along those same lines it is also possible to burn half of the gauge to perform a Fatal Reversal that immediately dodges any incoming attack and puts the player in position to counter attack their opponent. There are also special side-stepping attacks that also utilize this but can be done by the player as well. All of these features are tied to one button that can also perform a standard fatal strike combo chain in an effort to make things easier for new players.
Players will be able to take their skills as well as their favorite fighters through a slew of different single player modes as not only are there the aforementioned story mode and training options but a number of other modes as well. This includes Arcade, Time Attack, and Survival modes that feature a variety of different difficulty levels that pit the player against the AI, a Versus mode that allows you to fight against a local friend or against the AI as well as a new DOA Quest mode. This latter mode introduces three challenges that players can complete in a match while using a certain character. These range from simply beating an opponent within a time limit, gathering enough Survival items, performing a certain attack or counter, and more. The rewards for these modes often come in the form of in-game currency as well as costume pieces if you manage to complete all three challenges. This also serves as yet another tutorial to help introduce some mechanics to the player in a more high-stakes fashion.
Speaking of fashion Dead or Alive 6 once again offers a multitude of costumes for everyone on the roster, with some characters getting a bit more love than others. These costumes range from being the classic outfits fans remember to new and unique ones that are a bit more titillating but it is unfortunate to note that many are also simple color swaps of one another. Another negative aspect happens to be the way these costumes end up being unlocked this time around. As the player finishes various fights they earn in-game coins, player experience, fighter experience, and costume pieces. The coins are used to fully unlock various pieces of background music, information, and titles that players obtain from playing the game while experience mostly is used to unlock additional difficulties and various titles.
The costume pieces are another thing entirely and although it has been patched already with another patch on the way, actually obtaining costumes for characters you play is a chore. Completing DOA Quest modes unlocks the most pieces of an outfit but outside of that players will need to grind by fighting in single player modes or online and hope they manage to get points that actually go towards a character they like to use. This is something that is unfortunately a difficult endeavor since it is entirely possible to earn costume pieces for characters that you have never touched before or, in the case of the two DLC fighters Nyotengu and Phase-4, don’t even have the ability to play as outside of a few specific fights. Throughout my time with the game so far only one costume has been unlocked for one of my main fighters while a multitude have been obtained for other lesser used characters, making for a frustrating grind that is hopefully addressed in the future.
Outside of the sizable single player content players will find that the aforementioned online multiplayer is currently rather anemic. Although promised to arrive later this month with lobbies, Dead or Alive 6 currently only offers online ranked matches with no hope of actually playing against your online friends outside of getting a lucky draw when searching for an opponent. Thankfully actually fighting online is an easy to use feature that works rather well and it is possible to try and challenge for a rematch a handful of times if you find a particularly challenging or fun opponent to face off against.
Visuals & Audio
Although there were some concerns leading up to the game’s launch it is rather easy to say that Dead or Alive 6 still holds onto the gorgeous looking character models and physics that the series is known for. The initial costumes may be a bit tame for some characters but there are still plenty of outfits available for unlocking that series regulars will be more familiar with. The fast paced fighting also returns in tried and true format with some extra impactful touches added into it as character models can now be scratched up or have clothing ripped up if they are hit with specific attacks alongside the return of sweat and dirt accumulating during a fight. It is a bit disappointing though that the actual stages where fights take place have been given a bit of a downgrade from previous entries. While there are still some crazy looking stages to fight on and stage transitions, the various stage hazards have been toned down immensely and even scene transitions are kept to a minimal basis compared to what was seen in the most recent entry.
The soundtrack features a wide array of tracks that fit the game’s theme perfectly and there are even additional pieces of music that, once unlocked and purchased in-game, can be swapped around so you can pick and choose your favorite songs. The voice actors for both the Japanese and English voice tracks perform their roles well even during some of the cheesier moments of the game’s story mode but it would have been nice for more fighters to have unique pre-fight dialogue with certain characters as some are kept at a minimum.
Overall
While there may have been some trepidation leading up to Dead or Alive 6‘s release there is no real cause for alarm for series regulars here as the game once again delivers a fast paced fighting experience unlike other 3D fighters in the genre and looks great while doing so. The numerous tutorial style modes help walk newcomers through the ins and outs of the game while returning fans will find that while not a whole lot of new features have been factored into Dead or Alive 6‘s combat system, it is still just fresh enough to feel like an exciting change of pace that will keep players entertained through a variety of single player modes and the online fights that will hopefully expand soon. There may be a few step backs in regards to stage details and costume unlocking but those looking for a fast-paced fighting game will find that Dead or Alive 6 certainly scratches that itch in a new enough fashion that feels just a bit anemic out of the gate.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Among the many visual novels that have been released in English, Steins;Gate is often said to be one of the most recognizable games in the genre. After an initial release in 2009 Japan fans were quick to pick up on the series once an anime adaptation aired a couple of years later. Years later Steins;Gate finally made an official appearance in English and has since arrived on a number of platforms but now the game has been given a re-release that makes it incredibly unique in the genre as it now features fully animated scenes with a more modernized feel. With Steins;Gate Elite offering something a bit different than the norm, is it worth revisiting or perhaps diving in for those unfamiliar with the genre?
Story
Steins;Gate Elite follows the story of Rintaro Okabe, who happens to be called Okarin by those who are closest to him and choose to ignore his pseudonym. Okarin believes himself to be something of a mad scientist and has created a lab dubbed the Future Gadget Laboratory that simply ends up being an apartment built above an old television shop in Akihabara. Despite suffering from a serious case of delusion, Okarin has a number of friends close to him that are willing to go along with his ideas but things start to get a bit out of hand when one of their experiments ends up working in a way that no one could have imagined.
When attending a science conference Rintaro manages to stumble across a number of oddities including a dead body. After attempting to let one of his friends know about what happened a strange phenomenon occurs around him, altering the reality of the situation. It isn’t long before the group end up realizing that they have invented a form of time travel. With the focus of the story being around the ethics of changing the past to alter the present and the various ripple effects that each change manages to create, this story eventually turns into an incredibly interesting one that will keep players engrossed for many hours at a time.
Despite the new visual style of Steins;Gate Elite it is worth noting that the game still features a rather plodding beginning sequence once the prologue is over with. This is alleviated eventually thanks to a number of factors such as the revealing of numerous plot points and major stakes but perhaps the most by how great the characters are in this game. While they may be a bit cut and dry archetype wise at the start of the game every character is eventually given plenty of time to grow and it is hard not to become attached to some of them. With such a great cast of characters and a storyline that only gets more gripping as you make your way to the finale, it is easy to see why this visual novel remains one of the most recommended in the genre.
This makes it more than worthwhile to play the game through multiple times in an attempt to see all of the different endings as there are some rather big differences depending on if you set down a character route or simply aim for the true ending. That being said it is nice to note that even with the anime style presentation it is still possible to skip through scenes if you are simply trying to push towards a new ending after finishing the game once before.
Gameplay
Players will still find that Steins;Gate Elite features a number of choices that must be made throughout the game. These choices generally come in the form of text messages and players must choose what they will say or if they will even say anything at all. The choices made during these cellphone scenes play a key role in determining just how the story of the game will unfold. Though it is often difficult to tell just how some choices will end up affecting the route the player ends up on, so be wary in that regard.
There are multiple endings that range from the “True” good ending to an incredibly bad ending with a number of others that focus more on sending the player down a specific character path. These alternate endings provide unique “what-if” scenarios that those unfamiliar with the source material or who have only seen the anime will have never seen before.
As you progress through the visual novel various terms will be unlocked in the Tips menu where various scientific terms, otaku style terms, game-specific organizations and wordplay, and more are featured in a way that allows players to look them up should they either be completely unaware of what the term may be or need a bit of a refresher course on some of the terminology used throughout the game.
Visuals & Audio
The biggest change in Steins;Gate Elite, and what makes it the “Elite” version, is that this visual novel has undergone a major rework. Rather than use the original artwork and sprites from the classic entry the game now features fully animated artwork and stills taken from the anime as well as scenes that weren’t in the anime. These new scenes are even created by the original studio that worked on the anime to make sure that everything retains the same visual flair. In a number of ways this creates a unique feeling game that can even be watched like an anime if left in auto mode. That being said, it also means that the unique style that the original game featured, including the color palette, have been left behind so be prepared for that if you happen to be a returning fan.
The voice work is handled just as well as fans may remember from the original game with the Japanese voice actors and actresses putting on a splendid performance. The background music also features a nice mix of tracks that work well for their given scenes.
Overall
Steins;Gate Elite remains an impressive visual novel with a new flair that has rarely been seen in visual novels in general, let alone translated into English. Fans and newcomers will both be able to appreciate the new anime presentation of the visual novel and while it may take a bit to get going the amazing storyline remains as gripping as ever in what ends up being a lengthy but incredibly enjoyable visual novel.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
