Barcelona, Spain – 6th May, 2025. Publisher SelectaPlay and solo developer Rat Cliff Games dare you to step into the unsettling world of Among Ashes with the announcement that a special physical edition will release for PlayStation 5 this summer.This exclusive boxed edition includes the full PlayStation 5 version of the game, along with a CD of the haunting original soundtrack, bringing the chilling atmosphere of Among Ashes beyond the screen and immersing you deeper into the horror.
Set in the early 2000s, Among Ashes begins with a mysterious message from a friend and a strange download link to a retro horror game called Night Call. What starts as a late-night curiosity quickly turns into something far more unsettling.
As you explore Night Call, an eerie, lo-fi world filled with puzzles, hidden rooms, and monstrous threats, you’ll also start noticing strange occurrences in your apartment. The lines between game and reality start to blur, and something about Night Call feels… wrong.
A Game Within a Game
Among Ashes offers a layered horror experience where you play a first-person horror game inside another first-person horror game! In the eerie world of Night Call, you’ll venture through a decaying manor filled with secrets and shadows. Outside of it, in the “real” world, you’ll uncover the disturbing story behind the game’s creation, and the forces it may have awakened.
Some mysteries don’t want to be solved. But if you’re going to survive the night, you’ll have to try.
Among Ashes will launch as a physical for PlayStation 5 this summer. Pre-orders are available now! Check local retailers for pricing and availability.
About Rat Cliff Games
Rat Cliff Games is a one-man independent games studio founded in Lanzarote, Spain. Founded by game designer Daniel Ferrer, Rat Cliff Games aims to craft memorable story-driven experiences with engaging gameplay.
About SelectaPlay
SelectaPlay is SelectaVisión’s video games publishing branch. The company works with talented studios on unique video games and helps them publish their titles in both physical and digital formats worldwide.
About SelectaVisión
SelectaVisión is a media entertainment distributor company founded in 1984. Based in Spain, SelectaVisión’s catalogue includes anime and live-action feature films, TV shows, and movies. Publishing both anime classics and the latest Japanese productions since 1997, SelectaVisión has built a long relationship with fan-favourite Japanese producers and distributors, becoming the major publisher of anime content for Spanish audiences.
Explore a world of legendary Yokai on the magical island of Seikyu later this month
LONDON, UK – May 6, 2025 – Discover a fantastical world of Yokai, harness legendary powers of shapeshifting and settle into a magical new life in Tales of Seikyu, an enchanting fantasy life sim launching May 21st on Steam Early Access.
Set sail to the island of Seikyu, a haven hidden far from the human world, and sanctuary for Yokai residents longing to freely express themselves in human form. Start your journey across this legendary island with your sister Kon, and begin a new life as you move into a once-thriving farmhouse passed down from your Fox Clan ancestors.
Shapeshift into magical Yokai forms to build your dream farmstead and explore the world on an adventure to uncover the secrets of your long-lost family. Soar freely in the skies as the majestic Crow Tengu, dive deep for sunken treasure as a slippery Slime, or till the farmland as a powerful Boar. Cultivate crops, raise livestock, craft furniture, and cook meals from locally sourced ingredients, while renovating your ancestral farmhouse, expanding its rooms, and decorating it to your liking.
Meet extraordinary villagers, experience the island’s seasonal changes, help the townsfolk with quests, and find your soulmate with a variety of romanceable partners, each with their own unique personalities and heartwarming stories.
“We can’t wait for players to discover the magical world of Tales of Seikyu later this month and take their first steps into this fantastical new life sim,” said Katie Clark, Senior Product Manager at Fireshine Games. “Right from the start of Early Access, players will have a huge amount of content to explore, including the opening story quests, farming, house decoration, celebrating at the Carp Festival, blossoming relationships with 6 romanceable characters, and much, much more. And this is just the start. We have huge content updates planned throughout Early Access, introducing brand new story quests, additional romance partners, new Yokai transformations, major new gameplay features and lots more exciting new content. We are so excited for Tales of Seikyu’s incredible community to join us on the game’s journey through Early Access.”
ACE Entertainment is a game development team with a passion for crafting compelling new experiences within the life simulation genre. The studio’s next title, Tales of Seikyu, aims to bring fans into a life sim experience that incorporates the team’s own culture and personality, in an exciting and surprising world of yokai. For more information on ACE Entertainment, visit the official website at gamewithace.com.
About Fireshine Games
Fireshine Games is a global publisher of digital and physical video games based in London, England, with a focus on finding fun and bringing innovative indie gems to players around the world. Originally established in 2014, Fireshine Games has built a portfolio of digital titles and indie sensations, including award-winning titles Core Keeper and Shadows of Doubt, while partnering with studio giants to bring digital hits to physical release, including The First Berserker: Khazan from Nexon, Atomfall from Rebellion, and Balatro from Playstack. Fireshine Games is part of the EG7 group of companies.
PARIS – May 5, 2025 – Today, Focus Entertainment and Saber Interactive shared the penultimate trailer before the launch of RoadCraft, the next-gen heavy-machinery simulation and sandbox game where players reshape the Aftermath. Only two weeks to go before the May 20 release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, and as much to pre-order and get the vehicle DLC bonus Aramatsu Bowhead 30T. RoadCraft taps into construction sandbox fantasies fondly remembered by many.
From backyard toys to next-gen physics simulation
Boasting breathtaking CGI, courtesy of Digic Entertainment, the same studio responsible for Space Marine 2’s epic The Angels of Death CGI trailer, RoadCraft’s “Sandbox Memories” trailer stays true to the game’s technical and graphical prowess. As its majestic visual setting blends with the familiar images of a child playing with construction truck toys, prepare to get that magical feeling back in an advanced version of your childhood backyard playtime – where the only limit is your imagination, and that of your playground partners! Collect impressive vehicles, dispatch your fleet as you see fit and invent stories and scenarios with your friends.
RoadCraft releases May 20, 2025, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The Standard and Rebuild Editions are available for pre-order now on Steam, the Epic Game Store, PlayStation Store and Microsoft Store.
Wholesome Meta Quest and PSVR2 sim cares for fuzzy clients on more VR headsets
RIGA, LATVIA – May 5, 2025 – Pets & Stuff, the cozy veterinarian and groomer VR sim from HyperVR Games where players help and pamper animal friends, opens its next shop on SteamVR Friday, May 23.
Befriend, groom, and heal pets, farm animals, and wildlife at a local pet clinic! Offer tasty treats to earn the trust of dogs, cats, pigs, raccoons, bear cubs, and more. Keep patients clean and healthy by removing parasites, administering medicine, and cleaning their teeth and fur. Provide plenty of pets to new furry friends and become the best clinic on the block.
Fashion clients into runway-ready styles with a rainbow of dyes and fun accessories! Create perfect patterns or opt for a monochrome makeover with pet-safe colors. Choose from dozens of dazzling accessories – give goats glittering gold chains, put flower collars on foxes, and create hipster hamsters! Prepare them for their close-ups and snap instant-print pics of their latest looks.
Enjoy additional content with the “Angry Pets” and “Glove Shelf” updates, coming to SteamVR and PSVR2 on May 23. Keep a level head as rambunctious critters bear their teeth in “Angry Pets,” working carefully to soothe patients before treating them and accessorize your digital hands with the “Glove Shelf” update that adds new gloves with exciting abilities like painting in the air and more!
Travel to different locations to help animals everywhere. Upgrade the Clinic, Forest, Farm, and Fantasy Land clinics with a satisfying progression system and cozy up each colorful environment. Level up the surrounding decor to repair walls and furniture, renovate birdhouses, grow crops, and more, so every workstation feels more like home.
“Pets & Stuff is a simple, yet engaging introduction to VR for animal lovers of all ages,” said Aivars Neihefers, Producer, HyperVR Games. “We’ve wanted to make our adorable sim as accessible as possible, and launching on SteamVR and all of its supported headsets helps us spread the furred!”
Pets & Stuff will make new furry friends on SteamVR on May 23 and is available now on Meta Quest and PlayStation VR 2 for $14.99 with English language support.
HyperVR Games is a virtual reality game development and publishing company based in Riga, Latvia, focused on creating immersive and interactive casual experiences. Its titles include Shave & Stuff, Pets & Stuff, Titans Clinic, and Hide the Corpse.
Raccoon Logic also reveal the addition of a DAVE THE DIVER outfit to their intergalactic misadventure, with the standard edition landing on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC on 8th May, bringing both singleplayer and co-op fun to the far reaches of deep space.
Montreal, 5th May, 2025 – Independent DeveloperRaccoon Logic have today launched the Cosmic Hoarder edition of sci-fi adventure Revenge of the Savage Planet on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 51, and PC – with the standard crash landing on 8th May. Playable in both singleplayer and co-op (couch and online), Revenge of the Savage Planet sees you abandoned on an alien planet with no job and no plan, after Alta Interglobal, your now former employer, deems your mission to colonise space too costly, leaving you to scavenge your way across four unique (and savage) planets in an attempt to return home.
Pioneers heading into deep space today with the Cosmic Hoarder edition will receive the Cinco de Mayo Trash Panda skin (First Month Only), Shama Lama’s D.I.A.P.E.R (Ding Dong Influencer Accelerator Program Extreme Routine) 4 New Missions, HR Enforcer Deluxe Suit, Gold Lamé Space Suit, and the Official digital Soundtrack and Artbook.
As you jump, slide, and shoot your way across alien worlds, trying to put all thoughts of unfair dismissal aside, you’ll need to salvage what you can from the vibrant landscapes, craft equipment, capture abhorrent adorable critters, upgrade your gear, and scan every single thing as far as the eye can see on your intergalactic adventure.
Alex Hutchinson, Creative Director, Raccoon Logic said: “It almost doesn’t feel real – we’re so honoured to share that Revenge of the Savage Planet has now launched on PC and console! What was once a glimmer of an idea from a team who’d been kicked to the curb, is now a real, tangible thing that we can’t wait for you to explore. We hope you have half as much fun playing this game as we had making it, if it weren’t for you, the players, we wouldn’t be able to keep creating these weird (and hopefully wonderful) stories, so from the bottom of our raccoon hearts, thank you. Now go play, there are savage planets to explore!”
Trading the Deep Sea for Deep Space, DAVE THE DIVER can romp his way through Revenge of the Savage Planet, allowing you to explore the far reaches of space dressed as your favourite scuba diver. Transported from the Blue Hole to a blue sphere in the far reaches of space DAVE has been visualised in all his 3D glory as a homage to the beloved and charming game, and will be available with both the standard and Cosmic Hoarder editions of Revenge of the Savage Planet.
Reid Schneider, Studio Head, Raccoon Logic said: “We knew we wanted to do a big surprise collaboration for launch but we needed to find the right IP that would work for the game. After an introduction from Amir Satvat, who incidentally had the idea to put Dave in the game, I got to know Jaeho Hwang (Mintrocket CEO) pretty well. We had a bunch of calls, and talked about doing a crossover with Dave the Diver. The collaboration emerged from there and we’re super grateful to Jaeho (and his team) for entrusting us with Dave.”
Revenge of the Savage Planet Key Features:
Third-Person Online Co-Op & Crossplay – Play with your best friend, partner or hellspawn on/or between any platform and now in third-person! You’ll be tasked with fully exploring and understanding these beautiful alien landscapes and uncovering its secrets.
Couch Co-Op with Split Screen – Experience the nostalgia tinged joy of sitting on the same couch and playing on the same screen with someone you love, like the olden days but with 100% more corporate satire
Survive a FOUR Savage PlanetS – Populate your Kindex by exploring four large, vibrant worlds each with their own weird and wonderful plants and creatures. Scan everything, catalog everything, hopefully increase your clearance level… and you might even unlock new (yet still 4th best) gear! Plus… there may be more than four planets. Maybe.
Habitat & Character Customization – Alien plants! Exciting gear! Weird rocks! Each planet is packed with nooks and crannies hiding all manner of rewards and secrets. While you’re at it you can even customize yourself, and your tiny habitat-like corner of the universe.
Collect Alien Creatures – Intergalactic Hoarders can also use their Lasso to Capture and Collect dozens of strange creatures, then go visit them once they’re relocated “happily placed” in Pens outside your customizable space trailer in scenic Nu Florida. After all, who is the real dangerous enemy, the corporate profiteers who fired you or a slimy exploding alien creature?
For more information on Revenge of the Savage Planet check out the official website.
1 The PlayStation 4 version of Revenge of the Savage Planet will be available in the coming weeks.
About Racoon Logic
A friendly pirate crew having fun making indie games, and sometimes causing mischief. Hand crafted. Super spicy. Irreverent and earnest. We make games we want to play, for people who love discovering new wacky worlds, messing around with surprising and fresh mechanics, and playing games their own way.
Take command of the forces of life itself in BioGenesis, Stellaris’ new expansion, and enjoy significant improvements to performance and gameplay with the free 4.0 “Phoenix” update
STOCKHOLM — May 5, 2025 — Paradox Interactive today released the BioGenesis expansion and the free 4.0 “Phoenix” update for their grand sci-fi strategy game Stellaris. Available now on PC, BioGenesis offers players the opportunity to take command of the forces of life itself, adding overhauled genetic ascension, biological ships, a new player crisis path, three new origins, a new megastructure, and more. The free 4.0 “Phoenix” update, also available now for all players, refines core systems and adds more features to enhance both new and seasoned players’ experiences.
Players can purchase BioGenesis now as part of the Season 09 Expansion Pass, offering a 20% discount compared to purchasing separately, or individually for $24.99.
Highlights of BioGenesis include:
Overhauled Genetic Ascension: Choose from three distinct paths, Cloning, Purity, and Mutation, and customize your evolution.
Biological Ships: Command living starships that evolve alongside your empire.
New Player Crisis Path: Behemoth Fury: Unleash an unstoppable Behemoth on the galaxy.
Three New Origins:
Evolutionary Predators: Push the boundaries of Species Traits by unlocking and combining unique phenotype abilities to craft the ultimate adaptive empire.
Starlit Citadel: Solve the mystery of your empire’s biological attackers while boosting hyperlane choke-point strategies with early access to the Deep Space Citadel megastructure.
Wilderness: Begin as a sapient planetary ecosystem, a living gestalt of countless lifeforms united in harmony, seeking to spread its consciousness to the stars.
New Megastructure: Construct the Deep Space Citadel to defend your territory and better control hyperlane choke points.
And More: Seven new Civics, Phenotype Species Traits (16 new traits), two Biological Ship Sets, City Sets and Diplomatic Rooms, Reactive Species Portraits, new music, and 65 new events.
The free 4.0 “Phoenix” update brings new mechanics, quality-of-life updates, and other improvements, including:
Performance Improvements: Major overhauls to the population and trade systems keep gameplay running smoothly, even in massive, late-stage galaxies.
New Player Guidance and Game Pacing: Notifications and event systems have been refined to ease the cognitive load and make early-game choices more focused and impactful.
Quality of Life Improvements: From ship and species design to empire customization, many of the game’s core systems have been enhanced to increase player enjoyment and efficiency.
For more information about Stellaris, please visit www.stellaris.com.
About Paradox Interactive
Paradox Interactive is one of the premier developers and publishers of strategy and management games for PC and consoles. The players are located all over the world but some of the biggest markets are North America, Western Europe and Asia.
The game portfolio consists of popular franchises such as Stellaris, Europa Universalis, Hearts of Iron, Crusader Kings, Cities: Skylines, Prison Architect, the Surviving games, Age of Wonders and Victoria. Paradox Interactive also owns the World of Darkness brand catalog.
Two iconic brands have created one legendary tribute to the DOOM Slayer’s relentless spirit, which will be given away alongside an in-store unveiling at Culture Kings George Street Sydney
Sydney, Australia, 5 May 2025 – Bethesda today revealed its one-of-a-kind custom Harley-Davidson Sportster S motorcycle inspired by the fast-paced, medieval aesthetic of upcoming video game, DOOM: The Dark Ages. Visually designed by the incredible artists at id Software and created with the support of Harley-Davidson, the build merges the legendary power and craftsmanship of the historic motorcycle brand with the raw, demon-slaying energy of DOOM, to deliver the ultimate fusion of power and style.
Australian fans can witness this engineering and design marvel during an exclusive launch event at Culture Kings on George Street, Sydney. The motorcycle will be given away to one lucky person, allowing them to ride like the Slayer.
Forged in fire and built for ripping and tearing to Hell and back, the first-of-its-kind Sportster S motorcycle features a custom-built dash around the fearsome head of the Slayer’s new DOOM: The Dark Ages new mechanised dragon, Serrat, with its mouth agape to house the front headlight. Ethereal neon emanates from the heart of the vehicle through considered lighting, while custom LEDs project the dragon’s glowing wings onto the ground. The entire build includes menacing demon rune decals as well as meticulously recreated Slayer armour details, all featured in the upcoming game. The experience of riding this dragon wouldn’t be complete without matching helmet and leather jacket, equally inspired by the medieval hellish aesthetic of the latest entrance to the DOOM franchise.”
Nigel Keough, Managing Director of Harley-Davidson ANZ, said “It is fantastic to see the transformation, of what is already an iconic motorcycle, into something out of this world. The team at Bethesda have done an amazing job in the creation of a custom design Harley-Davidson Sportster S, inspired by the DOOM Slayer’s dragon. We’re thrilled to be able to provide the opportunity for a lucky fan to ride this piece of gaming history on two wheels.
“Creating this DOOM: The Dark Ages motorcycle with the support of Harley-Davidson is truly a match made in Hell,” said Simon Alty, VP and Managing Director (APAC) at Bethesda Softworks. “The iconic motorcycle brand is renowned for its power and style, much like our legendary DOOM Slayer. What better way to celebrate the launch of the latest DOOM instalment than with an incredibly powerful mecha-dragon motorcycle. We’re thrilled for all the fans to witness this mythical beast brought to life”.
To celebrate the launch of DOOM: The Dark Ages and the exclusive DOOM clothing range, available at Culture Kings, Bethesda is hosting an in-store unveiling of the motorcycle at the George Street Sydney location on Friday 16th May 2025 from 7pm-9pm AEST. Attendees will step into Hell and bask in the majesty of the Harley-Davidson build in person, while enjoying a range of themed activities including photo moments, metal music, art, and more. DOOM fans, both new and old, won’t want to miss this chance to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the Slayer’s world.
Local fans will have the opportunity to win the custom Sportster S motorcycle, bespoke leather jackets, helmets, and limited-edition tees alongside DOOM: The Dark Ages Collector’s Editions. For more information on how to enter, or to attend the Culture Kings launch event, please keep an eye out on Bethesda ANZ social media channels X, Instagram, and Facebook.
DOOM: The Dark Ages launches May 15, 2025 for Game Pass, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PC. For more information, visit DOOM.com.
Marvelous Europe today revealed “Combat Basics,” the first in a series of gameplay system introduction trailers, for their upcoming dark sci-fi action game, Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion, ahead of its release for Nintendo Switch™ 2, PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows PC via Steam on 5 September, 2025. Offering a detailed view into the armored suit known as the Arsenal, as well as useful on-field tactics, it provides fans an exciting look at the fast-paced combat, as well as a glimpse of some of the titanic bosses waiting to challenge players’ skills.
Accompanying the latest video and to help fans prepare for the sequel, Marvelous Europe announced that the preceding game, DAEMON X MACHINA, is on sale on Steam with the deepest discount ever of 80% off its RRP through May 12. There’s never been a better time to suit up and experience the exhilarating action of the Daemon X Machina series!
Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion “Combat Basics” gameplay system introduction trailer
Created and produced by Kenichiro Tsukuda and featuring stunning mechanical designs from Shoji Kawamori, Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion takes the franchise in a dramatic new direction. Join the Reclaimers in their fight against the Axiom. Humanity’s battle for liberation begins now!
KEY FEATURES
A Titanic Evolution – Daemon X Machina’s high-octane armored action debuts on a new generation of platforms, bringing with it an epic sci-fi adventure, gameplay that’s accessible to newcomers, and an expanded scope sure to satisfy returning fans.
Build a Better You – Now a nimble suit of armor, each Arsenal can be fully customized both in design and in loadout, with the ability to craft or salvage new elements.
Together You Can Make a Difference – Cooperative and asynchronous multiplayer means players never truly fight alone. Team up with friends online to tackle the epic story and battles together.
Beautiful and Deadly – Explore an alien planet in an Arsenal as players battle against mechanical and organic enemies. Trek through the vast open world on foot, fly through the skies, or when all else fails, gallop on horseback across plains, swamps, mountains, and more.
Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion is available for physical pre-order through participating retailers via the Marvelous Europe website in a standard physical edition with the full game on the physical disc or cartridge on Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S for an RRP of €69.99, and a physical Limited Edition for the Nintendo Switch 2 system only including a copy of Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion, an original soundtrack CD with 15 tracks, an art book, a set of three flight tags, a set of three patches, and an acrylic standee for an RRP of €99.99.
The title will also be available digitally on all platforms in a standard edition for €69.99; a Digital Deluxe edition, which includes the game and an expansion pack DLC featuring new story content and customization options for your Arsenal and Outer, for €89.99; and a Super Digital Deluxe edition, which includes the game, the expansion pack DLC, a digital soundtrack, and a digital art book, for €99.99. Digital pre-order options will be available soon.
The title will be published in Asia by Marvelous Inc. and in the Americas by Marvelous USA. More information can be found on the official website and on X @DXM_Game.
About Marvelous Europe
Marvelous Europe is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Marvelous Inc., developer of beloved Story of Seasons and Rune Factory games. Established in 2012, Marvelous Europe’s varied portfolio includes both third-party titles such as Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin, Leximan, Cuisineer and Moonlight Peaks in addition to select Marvelous Inc. content.
Combining classic horror monsters and masked luchadors we dive right into the arcade mode of Oribe Ware Games’ Mostroscopy and see how this indie fighter plays as we run through multiple unique characters’ endings.
Mostroscopy – Gameplay
Mostroscopy is a fighting video game that takes up the aesthetics of the horror and Luchador films of Mexican cinema from the 1950s, with an eclectic roster of monsters and masked Luchadores and a simple gameplay style with a retro presentation.
Mostroscopy Developer: Oribe Ware Games Publisher: Seashell Studio Platform: Windows, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4/5, Nintendo Switch Release Date: 31 Oct, 2023 (PC), 31st Jan, 2025 (Console) Price: $19.99 USD
Not Recommended – “Mostroscopy’s wild mix of fighters dazzles, but limited modes, no online play, and combat that’s easy to master despite poor instruction makes it fade fast.”
Back in the ’90s for every fighting game that managed to pull in enough of a fan-base to survive through the generations, there were five or more that did not. In fact, even spin-offs of popular franchises still failed to take off at the time but this time allowed developers to experiment with strange and unique ideas. This led to game’s from popular publishers like Capcom’s Darkstalkers being fondly remembered but sadly abandoned and even some real strange creations such as ClayFighter from Interplay.
With a focus on absurdity and unique styling, ClayFighter never had a chance in the long run but that doesn’t mean it should be the end of experimentation. Now, Mexican development team Oribe Ware Games is looking to make their own mark with a Mostroscopy, a fighting game that looks to mimic the horror and Luchador films from the ’50s in a simple but stylish package. Is this unique presentation enough to pull off a victory or will Mostroscopy be shamefully unmasked?
Story
Mostroscopy appears to have a fairly interesting storyline to tell, especially since every fighter in the current roster, sixteen in total at the time of this writing, is made up of all manner of creatures and beings, but it just lacks any form of coherence. This is partially due to the fact that the only story mode that players actually can enjoy featuring these characters happens to be Arcade mode and even this lacks cohesion as we will go into momentarily, with each character having a starting comic-book style intro about their situation or why they are fighting, various winning dialogues against specific opponents, and then an ending comic-book style outro. The only issue is, almost all of the context for the scenarios are missing, with only one character, La Mujer Vampiro, having a note in her intro that players should read the comic first for context. The only problem is, the comic is not included in the game anywhere and is only available online for an extra $2.
This is an annoying limitation topped onto the already lacking cohesion of character stories. One character will start their storyline stating that they need to track down a book to seal a demon they made a deal with in order to get themselves out of that deal, only to end up teaming up with a “superhero” from space in the end instead. Or not solve anything at all, with a female werewolf Kitty hunting for someone to end her curse only to skip ahead to her descendants talking about her in front of a family painting with only two panels. Or even in the oddest of cases, a demon being told to “fix” a deal she made only to end her story burning down a party full of rich people.
That isn’t to say it is all bad, Mostroscopy is a real delight when it comes to seeing such an eclectic cast of characters coming together and fighting or making quips at one another, and once players complete enough arcade storylines, players can get the general gist of what is going on, but unfortunately even this is kept rather minimal and doesn’t make the best use of what the cast has to offer, especially since many of the introduction scenes do feature short visual novel style interactions as well, leaving us to wonder why most endings were kept so barebones.
Gameplay
Mostroscopy is a very simple 2D fighter that offers a roster of sixteen characters currently available for use. The developers have kept the game’s control mechanics as basic as possible to keep things accessible, but it might be a bit too basic even for those only vaguely familiar with the genre. Nowadays, many mainstay fighting games have implemented various easier controls for newcomers or those who want to pull off flashy combos without too much extra input under the guise of “Modern,” “Smart,” or “Simple” controls but Mostroscopy goes a step further by only having a basic attack button, special attack button, taunt, and a dedicated block button.
Despite the simple controls and standard attacks needing to connect to trigger auto-combos, there is actually quite a bit of depth still here for those who really want to master some characters. It is also worth noting though that some are absolutely busted balance wise, making them far superior to other characters. This includes a personal favorite, Luzbelle, whose fast movements and chargeable supers can not only fire off near undodgeable fireballs but even has a fully neutral charged special that can eliminate a third of an enemy’s health if landed, even if they are guarding or in the air. As mentioned, charging special attacks is something players can do, with each direction having a special that is unique to it and two levels of charge. Some are simply enhanced versions of the same attack while others will vary depending on the character. If a move is fully charged it will automatically go off and can deal devastating damage to the opponent.
The “Monstro” gauge that players build up during matches carries over between rounds and has a few uses though its best use is for triggering “Monstro Mode.” While in this mode all specials immediately are activated to their highest level, allowing players to dish out tons of damage with ease and some characters can even stunlock an enemy to the point of annihilating an entire round’s worth of health with a properly executed Monstro Mode and super use. Kitty’s ice-breath being the best example. Players can also expend portions of their gauge to guard-counter an enemy attack or push through an attacking opponent to attack from behind, using either two or one portion respectively to do so.
There are some variations and little mechanics that players can learn through the limited training mode, but unfortunately no actual training is really offered. No character combo strings are available to look at or even a proper input screen to the point that it took me looking through Steam, to find the aforementioned comic, to even learn how to perform a grab as was never stated anywhere within the game itself. Why taunt is given a button of its own when it only seemingly boosts the player’s Monstro gauge when completed twice instead of grab is anyone’s guess, let alone the numerous buttons that go unused on the Xbox’s controller. Anyways, as mentioned before, training mode is barebones and simply has players beating down a dummy enemy of their choosing and there is some more extensive training in the form of combo challenges.
Unfortunately some of these combo challenges seem to have incredibly poor tracking to the point that even nailing the full string of combos, which can still be quite varied despite the game’s simplistic nature, can lead to some hits not registering properly or not at all. It is also unfortunate that all combo challenges have to be completed in one go, no chance to stop and come back later to mix things up or take a break without starting from the first combo. Outside of this unfortunately, and the aforementioned arcade mode, the only other game mode available at the time of this writing is local versus mode where players can fight against one of their friends locally, against the computer, or watch two computers duke it out. There is no time attack mode or survival mode of any kind nor is online currently available, though it might be sometime in the future.
Audio & Visuals
One thing that Mostroscopy has in spades is style. By drawing inspiration from horror films from the ’50s and old luchador films the eclectic cast of characters is everything someone could hope for when it comes to bringing monsters and putting them up against masked men and women pulling off wrestling moves with style. There are countless stages to battle on, though some appear to be a bit smaller than others, and every stage has at least two variants. These include a technicolor style that is filled with grainy but effective coloration mimicking an old television while the other is a black and white presentation that is stylish but kind of detracts a bit from some character designs and special moves.
Mostroscopy does not feature any kind of voice work and instead only offers visual novel style or comic-book style dialogue depending on the sequence. Unfortunately, the English version of the dialogue has more than its fair share of spelling and grammar errors as well as missing punctuation. The soundtrack is incredible, offering a vast array of tracks that vary depending on the fighters as well as the stages they are battling on and if players happen to like a specific song they can access it at any time via the Jukebox in the main menu.
Overall
Mostroscopy has a lot of style and flourish, making the most of what it can with its insane sounding premise of pitting everything from undead, monsters, aliens, and more against luchadors in a 2D fighter but even though this is a fairly cheap fighter, it is also one that is rather lacking. While fun in short bursts, lack of any real modes outside of arcade and combo challenges at the moment means that even playing against a friend locally can lose its charm quickly. Combine this with a lacking storyline, no online play, and combat that, while a bit deeper than it seems, isn’t too hard to master, and Mostroscopy taps out far too quickly.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
