LET’S GET PHYSICAL: TERRARIA WII U MAKES ITS WAY TO RETAIL STORES IN NORTH AMERICA
Boxed Version of Action-Packed Sandbox Adventure Game Comes to Wii U
CALABASAS, Calif. — June 28, 2016 — Following the Wii U digital launch of sandbox action-adventure crafting game Terrariaearlier this month, the , both 505 Games and creator-developer Andrew Spinks’ Re-Logic revealed that the game is now available for purchase in retail stores across North America for $29.99.
The Wii U edition uses its native touchscreen controls for easy access to Terraria’s world, four-player local split-screen co-op and eight-player online multiplayer as well as the ability to post achievements on the Miiverse leaderboards to track progress.
“Terraria for Wii U offers a gaming experience that’s designed perfectly for the touchscreen controls of the Wii U”, said Dean Scott, Producer of 505 Games. “505 Games has continuously updated and refined the gameplay for nearly all consoles and devices, and now we’re bringing the wildly popular 2D crafting gameplay to the Nintendo Wii U community.”
With a combination of 2D combat and an innovative crafting system, Terraria offers hundreds of unique and craftable items and randomly generated pixel worlds with more than 150 enemies to encounter. Since launch, more than 18 million Terraria copies have been sold across all platforms.
Terraria is available starting today for Wii U in North America at major retailers such as GameStop, Walmart, Amazon, Best Buy and more. The game can also be purchased digitally via the Nintendo eShop on Wii U for $29.99. For more information on Terraria, please visit: https://terraria.org/
About 505 Games
505 Games is a global video game publisher focused on offering a broad selection of titles for players of all ages and levels. The company publishes games on leading console and handheld platforms as well as for mobile devices and social networks. Product highlights include, Sniper Elite 3, PAYDAY 2, Brothers – A Tale of Two Sons, Terraria, How to Survive, Defense Grid 2, ADR1FT and the upcoming ABZU.
505 Games has offices in Los Angeles, Milton Keynes, UK, Lyon, Munich, Milan and Madrid and a network of distribution partners within the Nordic territories and Australia. For more information on 505 Games and its products
Nicalis Launches Voodoo-Infused Roguelike Action RPG Full Mojo Rampage on PlayStation®4 and Xbox One
Hex Your Way Through Loot Filled Randomly Generated Dungeons Full of Mojo Mayhem
Santa Ana, Calif. — June 28, 2016 — Nicalis Inc., a publisher known for its work on critically-acclaimed games such as The Binding of Isaac, 1001 Spikes and Cave Story, today proudly announced that Full Mojo Rampage, the voodoo-infused roguelike action RPG is now available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One for $12.99 SRP. To celebrate the game’s launch on consoles, Nicalis has released a brand-new gameplay trailer.
Set in the mystical shoes of a knowledge-hungry apprentice, in Full Mojo Rampage players serve deities known as Loa in their pursuit of strange, dark magic. Utilizing abilities bestowed by Loa alongside an ever-changing array of enchanted items known as mojos, up to 4 players will venture together through randomly generated spooky 3D environments. Alone or co-op, players will slaughter, steal and summon their way to sorcerous splendor. Players can also engage in a variety of awesome online versus modes that support up to 8 players, including challenges such as Capture the Flag, Deathmatch and King of Mojo.
Slated to bewitch players with the brand new Endless Mode as well as a multitude of visual, content and gameplay improvements based on player feedback, the PS4 and Xbox One versions of Full Mojo Rampage are guaranteed to conjure up a hex of a good time!
Features of Full Mojo Rampage
Battle strange and challenging foes via intense, roguelike action RPG style gameplay
Tear through the Voodoo realm in vivid, randomly generated environments brimming with secret rooms, shrines and loot. Forcefully avenge the Voodoo gods known as Loa to earn special items and enhancements
Voodoo with up to 4 players cooperatively on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, featuring a multitude of improvements such as enhanced visuals, new content and gameplay adjustments based on player feedback
Play solo, or experience a wide variety of cooperative game modes including Campaign, Daily Quests, Survival Mode and Endless Mode, as well as up-to-8-player competitive modes such as Capture the Flag, Deathmatch and King of Mojo
Gain power and upgrade characters via earned experience and gold, which persist through death – dying is not an end, it is only a means of becoming a stronger voodoo soul!
Jam out to an original soundtrack composed by Alistar Lindsay of Prison Architect fame
Developed by Over The Top Games and published by Nicalis, Full Mojo Rampage is now available on PS4 and Xbox One for $12.99. For more information on Full Mojo Rampage, mojo on over to the official website at www.fullmojorampage.com. This game has been rated “T for Teen” by the ESRB.
About Nicalis, Inc.
Based in Southern California and founded in 2007, Nicalis, Inc. is an independent developer and publisher with a proven track record for developing and publishing well-polished games. More information on Nicalis can be found at http://www.nicalis.com. Follow Nicalis at: http://www.twitter.com/nicalis
DEVOUR GOD EATER RESURRECTION TODAY ON THE PLAYSTATION 4 COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM AND PLAYSTATION VITA HANDHELD SYSTEM
Team Up Online With Friends and Take Down Earth-Destroying Monsters
SANTA CLARA, Calif., (June 28, 2016) – BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. the premier publisher of anime videogames today released GOD EATER™ RESURRECTION digitally for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and PlayStation®Vita handheld system across the Americas exclusively through the PlayStation®Store. Join the ranks of an elite force of monster fighting God Eaters, take up arms with all-powerful God Arc weapons, and join friends to slay gigantic monstrosities threatening to bring about humanity’s extinction.
In GOD EATER RESURRECTION players take control of the newest recruit to the Fenrir Organization’s Far East Branch, a New Type God Eater with a rare ability to wield a God Arc capable of transforming between blade and gun forms. Players will be tasked with accepting missions from their home base to hunt down vicious Aragami, evil monstrosities with god-like adaptability. Immune to conventional weaponry, the Aragami have forced humanity into small decrepit pockets of civilization in a devastated world. The Aragami’s single known weakness is the God Arc, a living weapon constructed from Oracle Cells. Players can use the Oracle Cells within their God Arc to devour the essence of defeated Aragami to upgrade their weapons to take on more formidable opponents.
Players will have a variety of God Arcs to choose from before they head out on missions that best suit their play styles. Players will also be able to coordinate their loadouts with friends in the game’s online cooperative multiplayer mode. Team up with up to three friends online to take on story mode missions and use the team’s combined skills to topple Aragami and enjoy GOD EATER RESURRECTION’sstoryline together.
“The world of GOD EATER RESURRECTION is rich in story and combat, presenting colossus sized enemies to defeat with friends, enveloped in an engrossing dramatic storyline that pushes the action forward,” said Eric Hartness, Vice President of Marketing for BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. “The deep customization and progression systems along with over 100 hours-worth of gameplay ensures players will become attached to their own unique characters as they eviscerate the scourge of Aragmi threatening humanity.”
Players who pre-order GOD EATER™ 2RAGE BURST for the PlayStation 4 system digitally through the PlayStation Store will be able to receive instant access to a free version of GOD EATER RESURRECTION starting on June 28, 2016. Players who pre-order the physical limited Day One Edition of GOD EATER 2 RAGE BURST through participating retailers will receive a free download voucher for GOD EATER RESURRECTION when they pick up their copy of GOD EATER 2 RAGE BURST on August 30, 2016; while supplies last. This special pre-order offer enables players to fully engage themselves in the GOD EATER universe throughout the entire summer season.
About BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc.
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc., part of BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc., is a leading global publisher and developer of interactive entertainment for all major video game consoles, iOS, Android, and online platforms. The company is known for creating and publishing many of the industry’s top video game franchises including PAC-MAN®, GALAGA®, TEKKEN®, SOULCALIBUR®, and ACE COMBAT®. BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. is the premier publisher in the Western hemisphere for anime based video games including NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™, DRAGON BALL Z®, and ONE PIECE®. More information about the company and its products can be found at http://www.bandainamcoent.com or www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS.
London, UK – June 28, 2016 – Today, Ubisoft® announced that the Underground expansion for Tom Clancy’s The Division™ is now available on Xbox One and Windows PC. Underground is available with the Season Pass or can be purchased separately for £11.99, and will be released for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system on August 2.
In the Underground expansion, agents must fight a war on two fronts. Below the streets of New York, enemy factions are regrouping and preparing a large-scale attack. Players will confront these threats with up to three friends as they explore randomly generated dungeons comprised of subways, tunnels and sewers and recover powerful loot. While in Hell’s Kitchen, the Dragon’s Nest Incursion offers the biggest challenge to date where, the Cleaners are developing a devastating new weapon and have set their sights on the Base of Operations as their first target.
Additional Expansion I: Underground Feature
New Gear Sets
L.I.N.D. – Control the battlefield with an improved Pulse skill and flashbangs with this hybrid gear set.
DeadEYE – Dictate long-range engagements with powerful critical strikes or accurate headshots.
FireCrest – Set enemies ablaze with this offensive gear set.
Reclaimer – Boost the entire group with this ultimate support set.
In addition, starting today, Update 1.3 will add new free content for all players on Xbox One and Windows PC, and will then be available from July 5th on PlayStation®4 system.
Update 1.3
Find and equip nine new weapon types
Experience Hudson Refugee Camp and Queens Tunnel in Challenge mode for better rewards
Play the new Heroic difficulty to unlock top-tier rewards in incursions and select missions
Get the all new Alpha Bridge gear set
Discover the Terminal, a new shared social space inside the Base of Operations
For more information about Tom Clancy’s The Division, please visit thedivisiongame.com.
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, Watch_Dogs, Tom Clancy’s video game series, Rayman and Far Cry. 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 2015-16 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of €1,394 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.
BANDAI NAMCO ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA INC. BRINGS HIGH STYLE TO THE FIGHTING GAME GENRE WITH JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE: EYES OF HEAVEN
Strike a Pose with a Bizarre and Eclectic Cast of Characters Battling for the “Truth” in a Truly Unique Fighting Game Exclusively on PlayStation 4
SANTA CLARA, Calif., (June 28, 2016) – BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc., the premier publisher of anime video games today announced that JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE: EYES OF HEAVEN has officially launched in the Americas exclusively on the PlayStation®Network for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system. Players will have their turn at striking a pose while teaming up with friends in this ultra-stylish, two-versus-two, 3D action-brawler that features characters from each arc of the incredibly influential JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure anime and manga series.
Developed by famed Japanese videogame studio, CyberConnect2, creators of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle, the hit NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™: Ultimate Ninja® STORM series as well as many other fan-favorite franchises; JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE: EYES OF HEAVEN takes the world of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure in a completely new direction with an original storyline supervised by Hirohiko Araki, the creator of the original manga series.
“CyberConnect2 is famous for developing some of the best anime-based fighting game experiences in the world and JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE: EYES OF HEAVEN is the latest addition to its illustrious roster of great games.” said Eric Hartness Vice President of Marketing at BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. “We’re eager to see fighting game fans in the Americas immerse themselves in the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure universe and battle it out in the most over-the-top and stylish ways possible.”
Presenting a unique two-versus-two style of gameplay, players can select their team of combatants from over 50 different characters, each with unique signature attacks that fans of the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure series know and love. Characters in JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE: EYES OF HEAVEN are classified by specialized fighting styles, giving clues to the type of attacks a character may deploy along with specific strategies players may use in the midst of battle. The fighting styles can include summoning a fighting spirit to battle alongside the player’s character, harnessing energy to perform powerful attacks, fighting on horseback, and more. Players with an understanding of how each character operates will be able to tactically fight alongside their partner as they stylishly lay waste to their opponents. Knowledge of each character’s fighting style is especially critical in the game’s four-player multiplayer mode that enables two teams to battle each other in online matches where communication and teamwork will be key factors to achieve victory.
JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE: EYES OF HEAVEN is rated “T” for TEEN by the ESRB. The game is available digitally now in the Americas exclusively on the PlayStation Network at a MSRP of $59.99 for the PlayStation 4 computer entertainment system (prices may vary for other countries in the Americas). For more information about JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE: EYES OF HEAVEN or other games from BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. please visit; http://www.bandainamcoent.com, or join the conversation on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS/ or on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/bandainamcous.
About BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc.
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc., part of BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc., is a leading global publisher and developer of interactive entertainment for all major video game consoles, iOS, Android, and online platforms. The company is known for creating and publishing many of the industry’s top video game franchises including PAC-MAN®, GALAGA®, TEKKEN®, SOULCALIBUR®, and ACE COMBAT®. BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. is the premier publisher in the Western hemisphere for anime based video games including NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™, DRAGON BALL Z®, and ONE PIECE®. More information about the company and its products can be found at http://www.bandainamcoent.com or www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS.
“PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
‘7 Days to Die’ Crafts Its Undead Survival Phenomenon on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One
Telltale Publishing and The Fun Pimps Release the Hit Survival Horde Crafting Game on Consoles in North America and Europe for the First Time
SAN RAFAEL, Calif., and Dallas, TX, June 28th, 2016 — Telltale Publishing today announced the release of hit survival horde crafting game 7 Days to Die on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One for the first time, as a digital, and a retail product in collaboration with the Dallas-based independent developer, The Fun Pimps.
7 Days to Die is now available in stores at retail and digitally in North America on the PlayStation®Network for PlayStation 4, the Xbox Games Store for Xbox One®. The game will also be available starting July 1st both digitally and at retail for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in Europe.
Set in a brutally unforgiving post-apocalyptic world overrun by the undead, 7 Days to Die is an open-world survival game that is a unique combination of first person shooter, survival horror, tower defense, and role-playing games. It presents combat, crafting, looting, mining, exploration, and character growth, in a way that has seen a rapturous response from fans worldwide, generating hundreds of thousands of hours of community content on YouTube and other streaming video platforms.
“7 Days to Die has already proven to be wildly popular with over 1.5 million PC users worldwide, and we’re thrilled to be expanding this unique take on the survival genre to console players everywhere,” said Steve Allison, SVP Publishing at Telltale, Inc. “The Fun Pimps have created something special with this title. The way the game seamlessly combines elements from disparate yet complementary genres, it all comes together in a challenging, terrifying, and above all, enormously fun experience – one that we’re incredibly excited to bring to a whole new audience on consoles.”
“We’re still astounded and humbled by the amazingly positive reaction 7 Days to Die has received from Steam Early Access users on PC,” said Rick Huenink, Co-Founder of The Fun Pimps. “Working with Telltale Publishing to bring the game to even more players on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 has been fantastic. We’ve added some special features just for this console release, and beyond launch, we have some exciting DLC already in the works that we hope console players are going to love.”
The console version of 7 Days to Die adds a new multiplayer mode supporting local split-screen for couch play. The game will also be supported by exciting DLC content, beginning with a Walking Dead skin pack featuring characters from the Telltale series, set to release in the coming weeks.
7 Days to Die is rated is rated ‘M’ (Mature) for Blood and Gore, Strong Language, and Violence by the ESRB. The game is published by Telltale Publishing in partnership with The Fun Pimps.
7 Days to Die is also currently available for Windows, Mac OS X, and SteamOS and Linux in Early Access on the Steam platform.
The Fun Pimps are a small, dedicated group of highly experienced Game and Software developers, with a passion to make games that both our team and gamers really want to play. Our goal is to create a lasting gaming experience you can’t get anywhere else that we’ll all be playing, upgrading and supporting for years to come. It’s more than a game, it’s a labor of love! For more information on The Fun Pimps, visit www.7daystodie.com
About Telltale, Inc.
Telltale is a leading and award-winning independent developer and publisher of games for every major interactive platform from home consoles and PC to mobile and tablet devices, and is the pioneer of the episodic delivery of digital gaming content. By successfully developing games as an episodic series and frequently releasing in the format of a game season, they create longer consumer engagement than traditional games for each release. Founded in 2004 by games industry veterans with decades of experience, Telltale has quickly become an industry leader with numerous honors and awards from the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences, BAFTA, SXSW, the IMGA, and more, as well as being named Studio of the Year across multiple years. Telltale’s reputation for quality has been established across more than two dozen different product releases over the years with recognition and acclaim from publications like IGN, The New York Times, and Variety, including over 100 “Game of the Year” awards from publications like USA Today, Yahoo! Games, Wired, Spike TV VGAs, E!, Official Xbox Magazine, The Telegraph, Metacritic, and more. Telltale is a fully licensed third party publisher on consoles from Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo, and also publishes games on the PC, Mac, iOS, and Android-based platforms. For more information visit www.telltalegames.com .
ADVENTURES OF MANA now available for PlayStation Vita
LONDON (28th June 2016) – Square Enix Ltd., today kicks off the 25th anniversary celebration of the beloved MANA series with the digital release of the PlayStation®Vita version of the timeless action-RPG, ADVENTURES OF MANA.
Originally released as FINAL FANTASY® Adventure for the Nintendo Game Boy in 1991,ADVENTURES OF MANA is the epic story of trusted companions who journey to protect the sacred life-giving Mana Tree from the powerful Dark Lord of Glaive. This remastered version offers fans the enhanced visuals, revamped menus and a rearranged soundtrack from the game’s original composer. The background music for the original Game Boy version will be available on all platforms.
In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the series, the mobile versions of ADVENTURES OF MANA and SECRET OF MANA® will be available at a discounted rate until 27th July.
ADVENTURES OF MANA (iOS / Android): £7.99 / €9.99 (Regular price: £10.49 / €13.99)
SECRET OF MANA (iOS/ Android): £2.99 / €3.99 (Regular price: £5.99 / €7.99)
ADVENTURES OF MANA is available now through the PlayStation®Store priced at £10.49 / €13.99.
ADVENTURES OF MANA, the ADVENTURES OF MANA logo, CRYSTAL DYNAMICS,, DRAGON QUEST, EIDOS, FINAL FANTASY, IO INTERACTIVE, SECRET OF MANA, SQUARE ENIX, the SQUARE ENIX logo, SPACE INVADERS,TAITO and TOMB RAIDER are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Square Enix Group. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.
New artwork showcases the beautiful characters and environments of I AM SETSUNA
LONDON (28th June 2016) – In a selection of new artwork released today Square Enix Ltd.,showcased the characters and beautiful watercolour environments from the upcoming I AM SETSUNA, the debut title from the all-new studio Tokyo RPG Factory. The new artwork introduces some of the additional characters players can expect to encounter in the game, including the energetic Aeterna and the reliable Nidr who join Setsuna on her sacrificial pilgrimage.
Releasing in Europe and PAL territories next month, I AM SETSUNA introduces the authentic JRPG style of yesteryear to the PlayStation 4 and STEAM – with various features inspired by legendary titles from the golden era of JRPGs, including CHRONO TRIGGER®’s memorable battle system.
I AM SETSUNA will be available digitally in Europe and PAL territories on 19th July 2016 on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Steam®, priced at £29.99 / €39.99. Those who pre-order from the PlayStation Network will receive two dynamic themes – “Kuro” (meaning black, for a night-time theme) and “Shiro” (meaning white, for a daytime theme), as well as an exclusive digital track ‘Eternal Winter’, by composer Tomoki Miyoshi.
Pre-orders via STEAM will also include and exclusive digital track – ‘The Warmth of Hope’’. For more information, visit: http://store.steampowered.com/app/441830/ *Includes EN text only.
About I AM SETSUNA I AM SETSUNA tells the sorrowful story of Setsuna; a young woman of incredible inner strength and the sacrifice she must undertake to the save the people of her land. As Setsuna leaves with her two safeguards for the farthest land, players will be immersed in an emotional and unforgettable story of true bravery.
About Tokyo RPG Factory
Established in August 2014, Tokyo RPG Factory is a new studio within Square Enix specializing in Japanese RPGs. The studio revisits the ethos and practices used to develop for the 16-bit era and aims to re-introduce the classic JRPG style to current hardware, mixing the spirit of the past with technologies of today.
Taking inspiration from the golden era of JRPGs and their story telling, innovation and depth – the first title from the studio, I AM SETSUNA, will arrive in Europe and North America in 2016.
About Square Enix Ltd.
Square Enix Ltd. develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX®, EIDOS® and TAITO® branded entertainment content in Europe and other PAL territories as part of the Square Enix group of companies. Square Enix Ltd. also has a global network of leading development studios such as IO Interactive™, Crystal Dynamics®, and Eidos Montréal. The Square Enix group of companies boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY®, which has sold over 115 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 68 million units worldwide; TOMB RAIDER®, which has sold over 45 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix Ltd. is a London-based, wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
More information on Square Enix Ltd. can be found at http://eu.square-enix.com/en
I AM SETSUNA, DRAGON QUEST, EIDOS, FINAL FANTASY, SPACE INVADERS, SQUARE ENIX, the SQUARE ENIX logo, TAITO, TOKYO RPG FACTORY, the TOKYO RPG FACTORY logo, and TOMB RAIDER are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Square Enix group of companies. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.
2K and Firaxis Games today revealed that Queen Victoria will lead England in Sid Meier’s Civilization VI, launching on Oct 21st for Windows PC.
Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Empress of India and Defender of the Faith, Queen Victoria was heiress presumptive at a tender young age. Less than a month after her 18th birthday, her uncle, King William IV passed away, and Victoria became Queen.
She would go on to reign over the British Empire for 63 eventful years, a span of time that saw the Monarch greatly expand its international holdings through military conquest. Her reign is more commonly known as the Victorian era, a period of great cultural, industrial, political, scientific and military change within the United Kingdom, where national conviction and refined sensibilities of morality became the chief ideals of its citizens.
Unique District: Royal Navy Dockyard
The first shipbuilding dockyard, which dates back to 1496 AD, was located in Portsmouth, a town on the southern coast of England. At the height of its power, the British Empire owned the most advanced and intimidating naval force on Earth. The British Navy held a series of facilities around the world where commissioned ships could be docked, refitted, repaired and overhauled for battle.
Unique Unit: Redcoat
The famous (or infamous, depending on which side you stood) Redcoats, British infantrymen dressed in garish red ensembles, were Britain’s stalwart fighting force throughout the majority of its reign as a world superpower. Redcoats were shipped off to do battle for the Monarch in far off lands such as America, Zululand, India, Egypt and more. Even though the loud uniforms made these individuals easy targets for their foes, the rationale was that blood stains were disheartening to the men and so the red clothing would hide this. It did not, as blood does in fact show on red clothing as a black stain.
Unique Unit: Sea Dog
From 1560 to 1605 AD, Queen Elizabeth I gave permission to her “Sea Dogs,” a force of privateers – armored ships owned and officered by private individuals – to attack the ships and colonies of other nations, even if England was not officially at war with them. These “Sea Dogs” were little more than glorified pirates and many spent their lives raiding towns and other ships across the Caribbean.
When Keiji Inafune announced that he was holding a Kickstarter for a game that many Mega Man fans had been hoping to see the likes of for many years that project managed to set records at the time. Now after plenty of waiting that left many anxious as to whether Mighty No. 9 would ever actually be released, the game has arrived. Now the question remains, is Mighty No. 9 a fitting replacement for a series that many have fond memories of or does it fail to measure up?
Story
Set in “the current year” that takes place in an alternate world where robotic advances have put a stop to most of the world’s problems, the only real violence that takes place happens in an arena where robots battle one another. While issues in the past are mentioned, no one ever thought about what would happen if the robots suddenly started to malfunction.
That happens to be the core storyline of Mighty No. 9 as players take on the role of Beck, one of only two robots that are seemingly unaffected by a strange occurrence that has made everything from standard shipping drones to other “Mighty” style bots begin rampaging through the streets. It is up to Beck to take down these eight Mighty robots as well as help his creator Dr. White find the source for the robotic violence.
If this sounds fairly predictable then you are right in that regard and unfortunately you cannot expect much in the way of actual development here for any of the characters in the cast until near the end of the storyline and even these are simplistic in nature . This standard story style is also damaged by the fact that the characters present throughout the story range from incredibly bland to flat out terrible thanks to subpar writing and acting, but more on that later.
Gameplay
Mighty No. 9 plays almost as predictably as one could imagine as it borrows almost whole-heartedly from the Mega Man concept of traveling to different stages, fighting your way through enemies and platforming through dangerous levels only to face off against a boss that, when defeated, will grant Beck a new power that can be used on other enemies in fairly standard side-scrolling gameplay.
One element that does help set Mighty No. 9 away from the game it so obviously draws from is the fact that Beck has the ability to dash and it is through this dash system that players will be defeating most of their opponents. You see, after dealing damage to a robot they will enter a stunned mode that allows Beck to dash into them and absorb their “Xels” in order to fully defeat them. These dashes are a regularly used concept throughout the game as players will need to make use of it in order to jump larger gaps, slide through narrow passages, and of course permanently drop health from boss enemies that tend to recover otherwise.
As you absorb enemies, players will also slowly fill up a healing item that can be used either through the menu or at the tap of a button in order to try and save yourself from death. Various enemies can also have the chance to drop temporary buffs to damage, speed, etc. and the faster a player absorbs an enemy after stunning it the higher percentage they will receive, resulting in building up a combo that can reward the player with more points.
After making your way through each stage, which are at least decently varied and a few even throw a couple of twists into the standard formula though tend to be littered with incredibly cheap death traps designed in a manner not to challenge the player, but simply to slow them down, players will eventually face off against the boss at the end. Unfortunately these bosses range from dull to incredibly cheap as they demonstrate a number of moves that can flat out instantly kill Beck if the player can’t mash buttons quickly enough. The dull part comes from the fact that most bosses simply follow a standard pattern that is changed up only slightly after dealing a certain level of damage to them.
After defeating a boss Beck will gain their ability and can use it from then on in other stages. The problem here is that these special abilities rarely feel worthwhile to the point that, outside of using certain weapons to target a boss’ weakness, players will rely on the standard blaster more than anything else.
Outside of the standard story mode, players will find challenges that they can tackle as well as a multiplayer mode. Both of these feel incredibly simplistic in nature, with the multiplayer mode feeling like an afterthought as the addition of another player to a stage does very little to actually change up the gameplay other than provide players with something a bit different to spend their time on.
Visuals & Audio
As players make their way through the game they will explore a variety of different themed stages that often are designed around the type of Mighty robot that Beck is currently chasing down. The variety in these designs is quite nice but unfortunately the style in which they are presented is incredibly lacking. This is primarily due to the surprising re-use of cannon fodder enemy design detracting from the unique feeling for each stage, meaning that players will be less than impressed with what they are presented here, especially thanks to the overall simplistic design of most of the characters, with only a few Mighty robots feeling unique enough to stand out.
This problem is only increased thanks to the fact that every cutscene is presented using the game’s 3D models which are given barely any animation here. Characters will speak with no emotion or even lip movement showing on their model and this lack of enthusiasm is present even in the voice actors. Despite featuring a number of recognizable English voices, almost every character sounds downright terrible, ranging from poorly timed readings featuring large gaps in a sentence to simply sounding completely bored with their recordings. At one point a character even mentions that they should be more enthusiastic about the progress being made in the game but thanks to the lack of emotion in the rest of the cast, it made for the best joke in the title so far.
Overall
Mighty No. 9 is the type of game that feels like it tried to hit every possible check mark in a list but never went beyond simply checking off those boxes. While it does present a serviceable enough title with shooting mechanics and dashing providing a fast style of gameplay and unique feeling stages, everything else feels almost below average. Ranging from simplistic character designs that lack any animation, boring enemy designs and uninspired bosses, Mighty No. 9 fails to be anything more than a mediocre side-scrolling shooter. Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
