Embrace Your Dark Side – Daedalic
Entertainment Announces New Tactical RPG Iratus: Lord of the
Dead
New dark fantasy game by Russian studio
Unfrozen hits Steam in summer 2019
HAMBURG,
Germany – Feb. 19, 2019 – Daedalic
Entertainment and new development studio Unfrozen invite everyone to embrace
their dark side in the new fantasy RPG Iratus:
Lord of the Dead. Players assume the role of the resurrected
necromancer Iratus who is trapped inside a dark dungeon prison and seeks
vengeance against those who imprisoned him.
An inversion to classic heroic tales, Iratus: Lord of the Dead lets players use heroes they vanquish to create fearsome monsters for their personal army. With a heavy focus on tactical combat, Iratus is set to be a complex and rewarding experience for those with dubious ethics and a love of dark fantasy.
In Iratus:
Lord of the Dead players use bones, flesh and other… squishy
parts from deceased enemies to create monsters which they personally control
and customize, with more than 50 different skills to choose from. As players
defeat enemies and venture further into the dungeon, Iratus’ power grows too
with different alchemy, magic and tactical talents to unlock and utilize.
Challenging turn-based battles are a matter
of life and (un)death in Iratus.
When defeated minions perish in battle they vanish from the game forever, so
you will need to proceed carefully in the gameworld and learn the strengths and
weaknesses of all enemies faced in order to succeed.
Key
Features:
Join the powerful undead
necromancer Iratus on his path to freedom and vengeance
Deep and challenging
turn-based combat with permadeath
Grimdark fantasy
atmosphere with stylish 2D graphics
Cyusing a powerful
crafting system
Choose from to enhance
Iratus’ combat abilities
Iratus:
Lord of the Dead will launch
into Early Access in summer 2019 on Steam.
The trailer and other press assets can be
downloaded here.
###
About
Daedalic Entertainment:
Daedalic Entertainment publishes and develops
computer and video games for all platforms. The studio focuses on interactive
literature and character- and narrative-driven games like adventures and RPGs.
Daedalic Entertainment has a staff of more than 70 employees. Since May 2014,
Daedalic has been part of the Bastei Lübbe group of companies.
Daedalic has won the German Developer Award
31 times (“Studio of the Year” 2009 and 2013, among others). In 2013, the
studio won the prestigious German Games Award for “Best German Game” with
“Chaos on Deponia”. Daedalic Entertainment is also the eleven-time winner of
the German Video Game Award and the European Games Award.
Tickets
Now Available for Ghostbusters™ Fan Fest Presented By Wizard World
Aykroyd,
Reitman, Hudson Among First Stars Announced
First-Ever
Extraordinary Live Event at the Sony Pictures Studio Lot Created to Celebrate Ghostbusters’
35th Anniversary
Stars of
the 1984 Original Film, ‘Ghostbusters II,’ and ‘The Real Ghostbusters’ Series
Including Maurice LaMarche, Frank Welker, Dave Coulier To Attend; Activities
Planned Include Photo Ops, Autographs, Screenings, Costume Contests, Panels and
More
CULVER CITY, Calif., February 19, 2019—Are
you troubled by strange noises in the middle of the night? Do you experience
feelings of dread in your basement or attic? Have you or your family ever seen
a spook, specter or ghost? Well, if you have, Ghostbusters fans, get ready for mass
hysteria! Tickets go on sale today for the first-ever Ghostbusters Fan Fest,
presented by Wizard World, as Sony Pictures, Ghost Corps, and Wizard World
announce an initial lineup of special guests, events, and treats that await
attendees. The premier live event will be held June 7-8 on the famed Sony
Pictures Studio Lot in Culver City, California.
Stars Dan Aykroyd
(Dr. Raymond Stantz) and Ernie
Hudson (Winston Zeddemore), director Ivan Reitman and Ghostbusters theme song
singer-songwriter Ray
Parker Jr. are all confirmed to attend. The stars of The Real Ghostbusters
animated series (1986-91) will also be well-represented at Fan Fest, with Maurice LaMarche (Dr.
Egon Spengler), Frank
Welker (Dr. Raymond Stantz) and Dave Coulier (Dr. Peter Venkman)
scheduled to attend.
Ghostbusters Fan Fest
presented by Wizard World will be the ultimate celebration of the
franchise. For the 35th anniversary of the legendary film (and the 30th
anniversary of Ghostbusters
II), fans will participate in exclusive panels with the stars and
original crew members, meet the Ghostbusters
creators, talent and crew and experience Ghostbusters augmented
reality gaming. Other planned Ghostbusters-themed activities include a
screening of the original film, a special musical performance by Parker,
costume contests, meet-ups, documentary screenings, laser tag, interactive
photo booths, exhibitor booths, and much more.
Jeffrey Godsick,
Executive Vice President, Brand Strategy and Global Partnerships for Sony
Pictures said: “We’re thrilled to be opening up our doors to Ghostbusters fans for the
first time. For fans, this is the ultimate event – an insider’s look at the
franchise from the people who created it and are bringing it into the future.
As Winston Zeddemore might say, when someone asks you if you want to go to
Ghostbusters Fan Fest, you say YES!”
John D. Maatta,
CEO of Wizard Entertainment said: “The Ghostbusters Fan Fest is an
extraordinary homage to all that is great about the iconic Ghostbusters. It is
exciting news for Ghostbusters
fans that Sony Pictures and Ghost Corps have worked with us to
create this once-in-a-lifetime event.”
Following the event on June 7-8, Wizard World will continue its Ghostbusters touring
experience at its conventions throughout the country featuring a pop-up shop
featuring exclusive Ghostbusters
merchandise. Details will be linked at www.wizardword.com.
The original 1984 film starred Bill
Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, Rick Moranis, and
Ernie Hudson
and was directed by Ivan
Reitman and written by
Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis.
About Sony Pictures Entertainment
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony
Entertainment Inc., which is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation.
SPE’s global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition, and
distribution; television production, acquisition, and distribution; television
networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio
facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and
technologies. SPE’s Motion Picture Group production organizations include
Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems, TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation,
Stage 6 Films, AFFIRM Films, and Sony Pictures Classics. For additional
information, visit http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/divisions.html.
About Ghost Corps
Ghost Corps, Inc., a subsidiary of Columbia Pictures Industries,
Inc., is focused on expanding the Ghostbusters brand with live-action feature
films, animated motion pictures, television, merchandise, and other new
entertainment products. Ghost Corps is headquartered on the Sony Pictures
Studios lot in Culver City, Calif.
About Wizard Entertainment, Inc. (OTCBB:
WIZD)
Wizard Entertainment, Inc. (www.wizardworld.com)
produces comic, gaming and pop culture conventions across North America that
celebrate the best in pop culture: movies, television, gaming, live
entertainment, tech, comics, sci-fi, graphic novels, toys, original art,
collectibles, contests and more. A first-class lineup of topical programming
and entertainment takes place at each event, with celebrity Q&A’s,
comics-themed sessions, costume contests, movie screenings, evening parties and
more. Wizard Entertainment has also teamed with Sony Pictures Entertainment to
find the next generation of movies as well as to engage in a number of
strategic initiatives. Fans can interact with Wizard Entertainment at www.wizardworld.com and on Facebook,
Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and other social media services.
NELKE & THE
LEGENDARY ALCHEMISTS: ATELIERS OF THE NEW WORLD SENDS TOWN
BUILDERS ON A QUEST FOR RESOURCES
Team-Up With Alchemists From Atelier’s Vast
History and Battle Unique Foes!
Hertfordshire, 19th February 2019 – Today, KOEI
TECMO Europe and GUST Studios revealed the most in-depth details yet
surrounding the gameplay of Nelke & the Legendary Alchemists: Ateliers
of the New World. The 20th Anniversary title is slated for
physical and digital release on the 29th March 2019 for the PlayStation®4
Computer Entertainment System, Nintendo Switch™, and digital-only on
Windows PC via Steam®, and will feature everything from resource
management to town building to world exploration.
In order to successfully build a new town, Nelke
will be tasked with venturing out into Westwald’s surrounding lands to find raw
materials; perfect to entrust to one of the town’s alchemists to synthesize
into sellable goods. An adventure party of up to five characters from
throughout Atelier’s collection of fan-favourite games will be formed before
setting off on an investigation route, with each party member having a role:
Attack or Support. During an investigation, players will need to be mindful of
the Action Gauge. Running through an area too fast will not only rapidly
decrease the gauge, but there is risk of missing items and finishing the
exploration with less rewards. The Action Gauge is also used for special Field
Events where investigative teams will search for unique items critical to
success, like a shovel.
Exploration does come with its fair share of
danger, though. While venturing out on various investigative routes, players
will encounter perilous foes which must be defeated in order to proceed.
Utilising a collection of different skills, players will whittle down the
enemy’s HP bar during their time on the Turn Gauge. As attack and support
skills are used, the Burst Gauge gradually fills, enabling characters to
perform a more powerful ability, striking down enemies with a damaging blow, or
using the new power to boost defence. In addition, each character will have
their own Drive Gauge, a meter that will be filled from both attacks and the
use of the Burst Gauge. Utilising the Drive Gauge is of upmost importance as it
enables members of the party to speed up their normal attacks.
In addition to the gameplay details, which were
shown in a new gameplay trailer, KOEI TECMO
Europe also confirmed today that anyone in Europe who pre-orders the title, or
purchases it within the first two weeks, will be entitled to the Town
Building 5-Item Set Season Pass. This pack contains the Gust 25th
Anniversary Background Music Packs 1 & 2, the Atelier 20th
Anniversary Appreciation House, the ‘Mysterious Alchemist’ Statue, and an
additional resident ‘Gust-chan’.
Fans of the Atelier series will also be able to get
their hands on a delightful Collector’s Edition of Nelke & the
Legendary Alchemists: Ateliers of the New World, exclusively available
through the NISA
Europe Online Store. This must-have version of the game contains
a hardcover art book, the game’s official soundtrack, a deluxe cloth poster,
and an acrylic standee featuring the main character Nelke, all packaged into a
beautiful collector’s box featuring artwork of the famous alchemists which
appear in the game.
More
information for Nelke & the Legendary Alchemists: Ateliers of the New
World, including pre-order information, can be found at our official
website http://www.ateliergames.eu/nelke/. Be sure to
Like us on www.facebook.com/ateliergames and Follow us
on Twitter @koeitecmoeurope as well for all the
latest details.
ABOUT
KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD.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
Ubisoft
Unveils Tom Clancy’s The Division® 2 Live Action Trailer “The
Drawing”
“Drive”
Director Nicolas Winding Refn Creates an Immersive Atmosphere with Two Live
Action Trailers for the launch of Tom Clancy’s The Division 2.
SYDNEY, Australia — February 19, 2019 — Ubisoft®
has unveiled a new live action trailer set in universe of Tom Clancy’s The
Division® 2, directed by acclaimed film maker Nicolas Winding Refn (Pusher,
Bronson, Drive, Only God Forgives), in partnership with DDB° agency. The
short film is the first of two pieces, created for The Division 2’s worldwide
launch on March 15, 2019 on the Xbox One family of devices including the Xbox
One X, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Windows PC.
“The Drawing”, the first of the short films, focusses on the idea of being the hero in a collapsing nation and combines a unique visual design with dramatic silences escalating tension. With this live action film, Nicolas Winding Refn wants the audience to feel the desperate plight of a Division agent. Facing constant fear and chaos, the agent has hope for the future, motivated by memories of life before the collapse. Click below to view trailer.
Led by Massive Entertainment in
collaboration with seven other studios around the world*, Tom Clancy’s The
Division 2 is the next evolution in the open-world online shooter RPG genre
that the first game helped establish. Set seven months after a deadly virus was
released in New York City, Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 will bring players into
a fractured and collapsing Washington D.C. The world is on the brink, its
people living through the biggest crisis ever faced in human history. As
veteran Division agents, players are the last hope against the complete fall of
society as enemy factions vie for control of the city. If Washington D.C. is
lost, the entire nation falls. Building upon more than two years of listening
to and learnings from The Division community, Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 will
offer a substantial campaign that organically flows into a robust endgame, to
create a cohesive and meaningful experience for all types of players.
For more information on Tom Clancy’s The
Division 2, please visit: tomclancy-thedivision.ubisoft.com.
For the latest news on Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 and all of Ubisoft’s games,
visit Ubisoft News: news.ubisoft.com.
*Associate studios are Ubisoft Reflections, Red Storm
Entertainment, Ubisoft Annecy, Ubisoft Leamington, Ubisoft Shanghai, Ubisoft
Bucharest and Ubisoft Sofia
About Ubisoft
Ubisoft is a leading creator, publisher
and distributor of interactive entertainment and services, with a rich
portfolio of world-renowned brands, including Assassin’s Creed, Just Dance, Tom
Clancy’s video game series, Rayman, Far Cry and Watch Dogs. The teams
throughout Ubisoft’s worldwide network of studios and business offices are
committed to delivering original and memorable gaming experiences across all
popular platforms, including consoles, mobile phones, tablets and PCs. For the
2017-18 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of €1,732 million. To learn more,
please visit www.ubisoft.com.
LEARN THE TRUTH
BEHIND THE CHARISMATIC VILLAIN OF FINAL FANTASY XV
New Anime Video Delves into Ardyn’s Past Ahead of New
Playable Content
SYDNEY, 19th February 2019 – Square Enix Ltd., announced today that the downloadable FINAL FANTASY® XV content (DLC) “Episode Ardyn” will release on 26th March 2019. Before then, fans can watch FINAL FANTASY XV EPISODE ARDYN – PROLOGUE an animated short that serves as a prequel and is available to watch online now:
In FINAL
FANTASY XV: EPISODE ARDYN players can experience a brand new storyline from
the perspective of Ardyn Lucis Caelum. Set 35 years before the events of FINAL
FANTASY XV, follow the notorious villain through being freed from an extra-long
life of imprisonment and entering the world of darkness, to seeking vengeance
against the Lucian royal family.
Players can
utilise Ardyn’s villainous powers that can devastate his enemies in demonic
ways, as well as fly freely across the map, quickly moving around Insomnia by
Shadow-Stepping to map points. Fans of FINAL FANTASY XV will also enjoy
encountering familiar faces, albeit younger versions than have been seen before
as well as exciting and essential new characters such as the scientist Verstael
Besithia and the priestess Aera Mirus Fleuret.
FINAL FANTASY XV: EPISODE ARDYN is a single DLC
episode available to purchase for players of FINAL FANTASY XV and will
be available for Xbox One and Windows 10 on the Microsoft Store, the
PlayStation®Store, Origin and STEAM. For more information, please visit: http://www.finalfantasyxv.com
FINAL FANTASY XV is
set in an enthralling world where fantasy meets reality, where players will
embark on an adventure like no other. Join Prince Noctis and his comrades on an
epic journey of brotherhood, love and despair as they unravel Noctis’s destiny
and take up arms against the warmongering empire, Niflheim.
With a captivating cast of characters, breath-taking visuals, open world
exploration and thrilling action-packed real time combat, FINAL FANTASY XV
is the ultimate FINAL FANTASY experience for both newcomers to the series and
series fans alike.
Atlus USA has announced that they are going to be bringing Catherine: Full Body over to the West where it will be released for the PlayStation 4 with both English and Japanese voice tracks. The launch edition of the game will be priced at $59.99 and offer the game itself and a limited edition metal case while the pricier $79.99 Heart’s Desire Premium Edition will include both of the previous additions, a collector’s box, 5″ long sheep plush that is wearing Vincent’s boxers, a soundtrack CD, and a hardcover art book.
For those who have yet to hear about the game Catherine: Full Body is an enhanced version of the original 2011 game that features improved visuals and gameplay, new music, more multiplayer options, and a whole new set of branching story paths that center around the mysterious amnesiac Rin who is brand new to the game. With dozens of new cutscenes and animated cinematics players will delve deeper into Vincent’s past and complicated life in the present all while the game sees the return of all of the original English voice actors.
During EVO Japan 2019 Koei Tecmo had a couple pieces of news for those waiting for Dead or Alive 6 to release in a few weeks. The biggest piece happened to be the fact that a “Deluxe Demo” will be released through PlayStation Plus and Xbox Live Gold and be playable for two days from February 22nd to the 24th where it will feature tons of content. This includes Ranked and Lobby online matches, free training, tutorial, command training, combo challenges, and even the intro to the story mode where all twenty four of the playable characters with their hairstyles and glasses being available for the demo.
The other bit of news is that the company is aiming to have all of the “Season Pass 1” released before the end of June. This content will feature Mai Shiranui in June who will return as a guest fighter from SNK’s The King of Fighters as well as sixty two different costumes for the characters in the game such as wedding outfits and various other not revealed costumes. No price was revealed for the season pass at this time but you can keep an eye out for Dead or Alive 6 when it is released on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC on March 1st.
At EVO Japan 2019 this weekend Bandai Namco announced that they will be releasing the next two Tekken 7 DLC fighters at the end of February. Julia Chang, who has since retired as the masked fighter Jaycee to focus on expanding her reforestation efforts, returns to the fight on February 28th where she will be priced at $4.99.
As for the other character, we have Negan from The Walking Dead who was given plenty of footage in the new trailer that you can find below. Negan, likely due to being a crossover character or due to him having a brand new stage of his own, will be priced at a bit higher at $7.99.
Over the weekend Bandai Namco announced that the next character that would be added to Soulcalibur VI as DLC will be someone that Raphael fans will recognize as it is the returning character Amy. Amy uses her natural skills to outclass her enemies and while her reach is a bit short and does little damage she is a high speed attacker that specializes in close quarter combat.
No release date for Amy was given but the company did state that the first batch of character creation items will be available on February 19th. You can check out screenshots and a trailer showing off Amy’s combat style in Soulcalibur VI below.
Artyom is finally leaving the Moscow Metro as he leads a train caravan of survivors deep into Russia. The new setting opens Metro Exodus to new open world maps complimented by claustrophobic linear levels the Metro franchise is known for. Additionally, the firearm system has been completely overhauled in Metro Exodus, offering players more flexibility than ever before thanks to Artyom’s backpack and the many workbenches scattered around the world.
Story
Metro Exodus is inspired by Dimtry Glukhovsky’s novel Metro 2035 and picks up after the events of Metro: Last Light. For new comers to the series, Metro Exodus’ story works well as a self-contained tale. The plot is enjoyable ride, though not particularly deep. Each of the factions try to explore some heavy themes like faith and slavery, but the game never sticks around in one area long enough to examine the topic with any depth. The main character’s lines are very good, with only a few duds scattered throughout. The lines for random NPCs, on the other hand, are pretty bad, with plenty of uncreative and repetitive uses of swearing that makes little sense at times.
I am disappointed that Artyom is completely mute in game ala
Gordon Freeman of Half-Life. It doesn’t
work well for Metro Exodus as conversations
often feel one sided. The decision for a mute Artyom is all the more confusing
as he narrates during loading screen.
Gameplay
Metro Exodus’ level
design continues to be excellent. While the open world maps are not nearly as
big as true open world games, they are big enough to provide some opportunity
for exploration and side quests. Both the outposts and linear levels are well
crafted, offering multiple paths and lots of dark corners for stealth. The
linear levels offer a more intense experience. Levels are generally claustrophobic
and have a lot of great jump scares. The bunker with the spiders was one of the
best levels as it turned Metro’s concept
of light is dangerous on its head as mutated spiders would attack as soon as
they were in the shadows.
The gun mechanics in Metro
Exodus is great. The number of weapons has been cut down compared to Metro: Last Light, but the mod system
has been expanded significantly to compensate. Almost every gun in the game can
be modified to fit any playstyle, whether players prefer close combat with
plenty of firepower or sniping at the enemies from a distance. Guns become
dirty with time and exposure to harsh conditions. Built up grime kills accuracy
and causes guns to jam, so players must maintain their weapons at a workbench. Metro Exodus gets the rate of decay
right, as its enough to encourage regular maintenance without being a complete
nuisance.
The stealth gameplay is strong for the most part. Light is
the major mechanic, so players have a small light on their watch that signals
if they are in enough light to be visible. Since Metro Exodus introduces a day and night cycle to the game, players can
sneak into enemy bases at night to do their deeds undetected. Enemy AI tend to
have a pretty short hearing range, but their line of sight can be a little ridiculous
at times as they can spot players clearly through wooden fences or similar
materials with some holes in them.
Since there are no more vendors, everything must be crafted
or looted. The developers keep the crafting system simple with only two types of
raw materials. Finding materials was a bit tough in the beginning as lootable
objects are not very distinct. The metal detector mod for the armguard made the
game a lot easier. The high cost of health packs and the high level of damage
does encourage players to take a more careful, if not stealthy approach.
The PC port of Metro
Exodus is decent. The game ran well on my test system and is one of the
early adopters of ray tracing. On the other hand, there is no proper support
for borderless window mode and changing the FOV requires tinkering with the
config files. Key binding is brutal. It’s clear the menus were designed for a
controller. Some actions are insanely picky about what key the action can be
bound to. It’s not possible to overwrite an existing key binding, and there are
a few invisible binds that locks out certain keys until they are manually
removed in the config file. Worst of all, none of the key bindings carry over
to the menu. So if you’re not a WASD user, you’ll still have to fall back to
WASD to navigate certain menus.
Visuals
Metro Exodus is a
fantastic looking game. The artists do an excellent job of creating a world
that looks like it’s being held together with duct tape and ingenuity. The game’s
new setting offers a lot more environmental variety too, from the traditional
grimy metro tunnels to the lush forests of the taiga.
Audio
The audio experience has its ups and downs. The soundtrack
is excellent, subtly building tension without being distracting. The sound
effects are great. The guns pack the right amount of punch based on their size,
from the small pop of the Takhar air rifle the booms of the shotguns. The game’s
soundstage is excellent due to the implementation of Dolby Atmos.
The voice acting in Metro
Exodus is the weakest part of the audio experience as the quality of voice
acting struggles at times. Main characters like Anna and Miller generally have
higher quality voice actors, while the minor characters tend to range from
passable to downright horrible. Only a small handful of characters can maintain
a Russian accent. Anna and some of the minor characters struggle with the
accent, often falling back on American pronunciations.
Overall
Metro Exodus isn’t a perfect game, but it’s
a refreshing update to the franchise. The story is strong overall, although
some of the less important line and voice acting can be cringe inducing. The level
design, firearm mechanics, stealth, and art style are all well executed. The PC
port isn’t quite up to expectations, but the game is still very playable on PC
and will do well on consoles as it was clearly designed with controllers in
mind.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
