Cloth Cat Games’ chaotic multiplayer game is out now on consoles, inviting players to face off against their friends in fast paced horticultural combat for 1-4 players.
Thursday 29th October 2026, Cardiff, UK – Cloth Cat Games and Curveball Games have today launched chaotic multiplayer game Planted! on PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series consoles, with PC launching soon. Challenging players to take to the allotment (and volcanos, mountainsides and totally, 100% normal farmyards) to face off against their friends in horticultural combat, Planted! sees players sowing, growing and throwing freshly produced produce at goals, and each other, in order to wrack up points and be crowned champion.
From windy mountainsides and cavernous cave systems, to half built skyscrapers, and active volcanoes, no location is too remote (or dangerous) for our budding gardeners. Each of the eight multiplayer arenas offers a unique challenge to tangle with as players race to climb the leaderboard and reign victorious, but, there’s more than one way to peel an onion, and players will have an arsenal of power ups at their disposal to help them (h)edge out the competition including weed bombs, spud turrets, and eerily green clones!
Ready, Set, GROW:
Alongside the eight unique multiplayer arenas, playable in both local and online (crossplay supported) multiplayer, Planted! also offers a separate and specifically cultivated single player story mode that dives headfirst into the cutthroat world of competitive gardening. Taking players through different locations and putting their competitive gardening prowess to the test with exciting challenges and rewarding boss battles, Planted’s single player campaign allows player’s horticultural aptitude to flourish, with skills learned translating seamlessly to the multiplayer.
Ben Cawthorne, Creative Producer, Cloth Cat Games said:“We are super stoked that Planted! launches today on PC and consoles – what started as a fun prototype for us to test out our weird and wacky ideas on, has become a game the whole team has poured so much heart and soul into. We can’t wait to see players face off against their friends in extreme gardening, and we hope they have fun tangling with different tactics and flinging the produce they produce to score big points!”
Ed Gregory, Senior Publishing Manager, Curveball Games, Said:“Launching a game is always a momentous milestone – and the Cloth Cat team have created something really special with Planted! – the perfect game to boot up with your friends as you throw giant carrots (or onions, their choice) at one another.”
Planted! Key Features
Something for Everyone – Play with up to four friends in co-op chaos, or take to the gardens of Planted! solo in the cutthroat world of horticultural combat.
Grow into the Role – Learn the ropes, discover your favourite tactics and be ready to adapt to become an unstoppable growing machine!
Embrace the Chaos – Dodge spud turrets, detonate weed bombs, produce produce, and rack up the most points however possible to become champion.
Sow, Grow and Throw – Play across 8 diverse environments, each with unique twists, turns and challenges.
Play your Way – Choose from a cast of unlikely characters with their own individual personality and style.
Planted! launches digitally PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S now, followed by a physical PlayStation 5, and digital PC release in time for Christmas. The Nintendo Switch version will launch digitally in early 2027, with a physical release also planned for 2027.
About Curveball Games
Formed in 2025, Curveball games operates as the Publishing division of Curveball Leisure Group, providing digital and physical distribution for Indie and AA titles worldwide, aiming to uplift the games they love, and leverage their extensive experience and networks to bring them to the global market.
About Cloth Cat Games
Cloth Cat is an award winning indie dev and animation studio based in South Wales; crafting games and experiences for a whole range of platforms. Creating fun and games for over 12 years, they have a core team experienced in design and development, animation, filmmaking, and story. They utilise this diverse skill set and their collaborative experience to find niches in the way they tell stories, develop mechanics and bring characterful projects to life.
Marian: Queen Leads the Charge Alongside New Story Chapters, a Stellar Blade Music Collab, Live Special Events and Up to 259 Free Recruitment Attempts
PALO ALTO, CA – October 29, 2026 – Level Infinite and developer SHIFT UP today launched the massive 4th Anniversary Update for acclaimed sci-fi action RPG GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE, now available worldwide on PC, iOS and Android. The anniversary celebration introduces three powerful new characters, major story developments, a fully voiced event, new costumes, a Stellar Blade music collaboration, now with Spanish language subtitles and up to 259 free recruitment attempts. Part Two of the 4th Anniversary Update will be launching on November 5th with additional skins, unlocked stories and a bonus surprise!
Goddess of Victory: NIKKE 4th Anniversary Update features:
New Playable Characters & Upgraded Pilgrims
Marian: Queen: Having fulfilled her destiny to build a world of mutual love where her cherished companions no longer perish, Marian competes with the Space Queen for the ultimate prize.
Hongryeon: Goddeath: An upgraded, Eden-enhanced form of Hongryeon equipped with a reinforced body and a dark-matter-infused sword forged from her and Jang-hwa’s shattered blades, capable of cutting through Lilith’s body.
Rapunzel: Sanctuary (FREE SSR): Modeled after a Pope motif, this upgraded, high-mobility support form utilizes Red Shoes’ technology to swiftly move across the battlefield. Players can claim up to four copies for free via anniversary events.
Expanded Main Story & Special Narrative Events
Main Chapters 49–50: The defensive campaign ahead of the Ark’s surface advance escalates into the full-scale 3rd Surface Recapture War, where all forces clash to determine the fate of humanity. This chapter marks the conclusion of the Underground Ark plotline but a brand-new story chapter will be revealed…
“MARIA-n” Story Event: Explore a sprawling research facility as Marian awakens in unfamiliar surroundings and takes her first steps across the surface to uncover deeply hidden secrets.
NIKKE x Stellar Blade Soundtrack: Experience TRACING THE STARS x Stellar Blade, featuring a 22-track music collaboration (including 4 free tracks), custom note skins, minigame backgrounds, and a special character addition.
Four New Costumes:
Gacha Costumes:
Marian: Queen – Last Affection: With this wedding dress skin, Marian has attained happiness with her one true love.
Snow White: Heavy Arms – Lacrimosa
Battle Pass Costumes: Neon_Vision and Nayuta_Vision.
“Fading Affection” Minigame: A branching, choice-driven text-based visual novel adventure that invites players to revisit scattered memory fragments and unlock the untold conclusions of her past.
A Celebration of In-Game Rewards: Commanders can earn up to 259 free recruitment attempts throughout the event, alongside 4th Anniversary Nikke Selection Boxes (choose between Rapunzel: Sanctuary, Chime, Rapunzel: Pure Grace, or Snow White: Innocent Days).
For more details on the 4th Anniversary celebrations, patch notes, and community events, please visit the official website or follow GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE on X (Twitter), Facebook, and Discord.
Downloaded over 45 million times since launch, GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE is available globally for PC, iOS, and Android mobile devices. GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE continues to deliver regular updates and content expansions that keep players immersed in the game’s evolving narrative. Download the game on the iOS App Store, Google Play, and Windows PC.
About Level Infinite Level Infinite is Tencent’s global games brand, dedicated to delivering engaging and original gaming experiences to a worldwide audience, whenever and wherever they choose to play. The brand also provides a wide range of services and resources to a network of developers and partner studios around the world to help them unlock the potential of their games. Level Infinite is both publisher of breakout hit games like PUBG MOBILE, Honor of Kings and Goddess of Victory: NIKKE and a collaborative partner in games such as Dune: Awakening from Funcom, Warhammer 40K: Darktide and many more.
The Istanbul-Based Indie Studio Prepares for Full PC Launch in Q1 2027 With Overhauled Visuals, Refined Co-Op Mechanics, and New Gameplay Trailer
ISTANBUL, TÜRKİYE – October 29, 2026 – Independent game developer Ranke Studios today released an updated playable PC demo on Steam for its upcoming two-player cooperative puzzle adventure, Lost In Your Eyes. Drawing thematic inspiration from Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy, Goethe’s Faust, and the cinematic mystery of Roman Polanski’s The Ninth Gate, the game will test player’s communication and teamwork skills by forcing partners to solve puzzles through each others’ eyes… often with hilarious outcomes. Alongside the updated demo, Ranke Studios released a new gameplay trailer and officially confirmed that the full game will launch on PC via Steam in Q1 2027.
In Lost In Your Eyes, two players navigate symbolic, surreal environments representing stages of the afterlife. Progress requires constant verbal communication, coordinated creative teamwork, and spatial problem-solving. The game’s defining creative feature is its Camera Swap mechanic, where players retain control of their own character while viewing the action exclusively from a “second-person perspective” of their partner’s screen.
The updated demo provides a substantial overhaul of the early game, showcasing the studio’s technical and visual improvements across the opening chapter set within a monumental cathedral centered around the Tree of Life.
Updated Demo Features:
Overhauled Visuals & Environments: Experience rebuilt environments featuring richer atmospheric lighting, and updated character animations.
Camera Shake & Comfort Controls: Introducing new accessibility options, including a dedicated toggle to disable camera shake.
Refined Camera Swap Sequences: Polished perspective shifts that smooth the transition into second-person viewing mode.
Atmospheric Soundscape: Dynamic music transitions and audio mixing crafted by Turkish composer Aydın Sarman.
“We started developing Lost In Your Eyes with just a few people and an ambitious idea inspired by classical literature and the question of what happens when you must completely rely on someone else’s sight,” said Hakan Atçeken, founder of Ranke Studios. “This updated demo is the result of months of learning, polish, and optimization. We are excited to put these refined puzzles in front of players today as we count down to our full launch early next year.”
Lost In Your Eyes is available to wishlist now on PC via Steam, with the updated demo free to download today.
About Lost In Your Eyes Lost In Your Eyes is a narrative-driven, two-player cooperative puzzle adventure developed by Istanbul-based Ranke Studios. Guided by themes of morality, temptation, and the afterlife inspired by Dante’s Inferno and Goethe’s Faust, the game challenges pairs to communicate through complex spatial trials. Featuring its signature Camera Swap mechanic, players must navigate disorienting perspective shifts where seeing through their partner’s eyes is the only way forward. Lost In Your Eyes launches on PC via Steam in Q1 2027. For more information, visit the official website.
About Ranke Studios Founded in Istanbul, Türkiye, Ranke Studios is an independent game development studio uniting approximately 20 professionals across programming, 3D art, animation, psychology, and architecture. The studio emphasizes emotional storytelling, unique cooperative mechanics, and multidisciplinary design. Ranke Studios is currently developing its debut title, Lost In Your Eyes, alongside its second internal production, the 2D action platformer Feed the Circuit.
Special edition of acclaimed cinematic adventure includes physical game, art book and more
Gothenburg, Sweden – October 29th, 2026 – Wishfully Studios, Thunderful (acquired by Atari in 2025) and Microids have today released a special physical edition of acclaimed adventure Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf for PlayStation 5. Planet of Lana II: Kindred Spirits Edition includes a physical version of the game, exclusive box, 48-page artbook, a sticker sheet, 3 art cards and the supporters pack DLC. The Kindred Spirits Edition is available now on PlayStation 5 for $39.99 / € 39.99 / £34.99.
The Nintendo Switch 2 version of Planet of Lana II: Kindred Spirits Edition is releasing on November 12th and includes a redeemable Nintendo Switch 2 code, exclusive box, 48-page artbook, a sticker sheet, 3 art cards and the supporters pack DLC and will be available for $34.99 / € 34.99.
This news swiftly follows the announcement of iOS and Android versions of Planet of Lana II, announced yesterday. The game is now available in Early Access on Android, with iOS pre-orders coming soon.
As greed and power divide the tribes of their home planet, Lana and her little companion, Mui, must stand together against the forces reshaping their world – struggling not just for survival, but for the soul of their home. Perfect for new players and returning fans, Planet of Lana II features unique companion gameplay, clever puzzling, challenging action sequences and stealth, all set in a stunning and captivating world.
Embark on a journey that will see you conquer snowy mountains, dive into dangerous waters, encounter majestic creatures, meet friendly forest communities and more. Planet of Lana II builds on the original title in every way, offering deeper exploration, a wider array of collaborative physics-based puzzles, spectacular new creatures, thrilling action sequences, new factions and a more expansive story that remains rooted in Lana and Mui’s evolving bond.
About Wishfully Studios Wishfully is the indie game studio behind the critically acclaimed Planet of Lana. With a passion for creating stunning artwork, deep storytelling, and innovative design, they consistently strive to make games that leave a lasting impact.
About Thunderful Founded in 2017, Thunderful is a video game publisher headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden. Thunderful offers third-party publishing, co-development services and publishing support services. The company has published and/or developed award-winning and critically acclaimed titles such as the SteamWorld IP, Planet of Lana, Viewfinder, LEGO® Bricktales, Lost In Random and more.
Outlast your opponents in this battle royale card game
Seoul, South Korea — October 29, 2026 | CardMonster is thrilled to announce PUBG: Final Circle, a tabletop card game based on KRAFTON’s PUBG IP. PUBG is a global cultural icon that popularized the battle royale genre.
Watch the PUBG: Final Circle Teaser Trailer below:
PUBG: Final Circle is a trick-taking battle royale card game for 2-5 players that sees players fighting to be the last survivor standing after several rounds.
Each player is assigned a character with a unique ability, and a new battleground is revealed each round. Players draw cards to loot weapons and items and use them against the other survivors around the table in a series of combat encounters.
Combat is resolved through a popular card game mechanic called “trick-taking.” Players must match the colour of the first card played if they can, but the choice of card affects a player’s chances of winning and how much damage they’ll deal if they win. Higher-numbered cards are more likely to win, but deal less damage, while harder-hitting cards are tougher to win with.
Survivors who can’t match the lead player’s colour can still turn the tide by countering their opponent with a counter-colour card. Playing a card that matches the number of an earlier card could also trigger an Ambush, allowing the later player to deal damage immediately without waiting for Combat to end.
Once Combat is resolved, the winner chooses another survivor to attack. However, players can defend themselves by using their scavenged gear and character abilities, adapting to each new battleground and trying to outplay and outlast their opponents.
Combat continues as survivors are eliminated one by one, until the last survivor standing emerges victorious. Survive the final circle and claim a chicken dinner!
PUBG: Final Circle was playable at SPIEL Essen 2026 in Germany from 22-25 October. The PUBG: Final Circle Kickstarter pre-launch page is now live. Click ‘Notify me on launch’ to receive an alert when the campaign begins.
For all the latest updates, visit the official PUBG: Final Circlewebsite.
About CardMonster
CardMonster is a game studio and publisher based in Seoul, South Korea, creating tabletop games that bring people together through shared play. Working with IP owners and development partners, the studio adapts familiar worlds into new tabletop experiences, including PUBG: FINAL CIRCLE. For more information, visit cardmon.com.
Level 0, The Backrooms – 29 October 2026: Secret Mode, the independent UK publisher behind Star Wars: Galactic Racer, has today announced that viral co-op horror sensation Escape the Backrooms has launched a new Lost & Found update.
Watch the new trailer for the Escape the Backrooms Lost & Found update below.
As part of the update, all players will be able to play as the two new free cosmetics: Lost in Transit and Entity 67. Players will also be able to purchase the Lost & Found Cosmetic Pack that features Remodelling Co. Employee, The Actor, Party Crasher, Misprint and Black Knight. Available now, the Lost & Found update is priced at £4.99 / $5.99 / €5.99.
Escape the Backrooms
No-clip beyond the bounds of reality and find yourself in the Backrooms… a series of haunting liminal spaces, from iconic yellow hallways and echoing pool rooms to horrific hotels and bone-chilling birthday parties.
Either alone or with up to three friends, Escape the Backrooms challenges you to hunt for exits and descend further into the Backrooms.
Key game features:
Race for your life to find the exit across 30+ eerie Backroom settings
Run and hide from the terrifying entities that track your every move and use in-game proximity voice chat to track your conversations
Escape alone or with up to three friends via cooperative play
Maintain your sanity by finding exits quickly, and consuming nourishment along the way
Meta-progression features mean you can return to uncover secret levels and unlock new endings
Feeling confident? Test yourself in Nightmare Mode, where a single death leads to a full restart
About Secret Mode
Secret Mode is an award-winning UK publisher, headed by CEO Ed Blincoe and CPO James Schall.
The publisher behind the triple-BAFTA winning Still Wakes the Deep, Secret Mode more recently assumed publishing rights of viral co-op sensations Chained Together and Escape the Backrooms, which has added over 5.5 million players since launching on console in May 2026.
In October 2026, Secret Mode released Star Wars: Galactic Racer, the first Star Wars racing game in over 20 years to widespread critical acclaim.
About Fancy Games
Fancy Games is the developer of Escape the Backrooms, which launched in Early Access in 2022 and quickly became one of the most popular Backrooms games of all time.
Team17 and Wonderscope Games’ adorable cosy sandbox spin-off is now available just in time for those longer winter nights
Thursday, 29th October 2026 – Team17 and Wonderscope Games are delighted to announce that Hokko Spaces, a brand-new game set in the adorable and cosy world of Hokko Life, is now available on PC (Steam) and Nintendo Switch for £7.99 / $7.99 / €7.99. Hokko Spaces combines the colourful aesthetic of Hokko with a casual sandbox experience. Players can create their own relaxing dioramas tailored to suit the needs of its many anthropomorphic animal residents.
Hokko Spaces: Out Now trailer link:
Hokko Spaces features a broad set of options for players to build their perfect scenes, with over 300 decorative items available including campfires, benches, picnic baskets, planters, a wide variety of flowers, and picket fences. The game also has five different block types including stone cobbles, grass, and sand to shape the environment. Further customisation is available through the choice of the four seasons, each with two different weather options. 26 furry visitors are available to visit the spaces, unlocked through meeting low-bar goals like destroying 20 weeds in the diorama.
Players can also take the perfect images of their creations with Hokko Spaces’ easy-to-use Photo Mode, and share their photos on social media.
Lei’s Beachside Pack DLC is also available, which offers players an extra ray of sunshine to Hokko Spaces introducing Lei, a bright and cheerful new villager ready to bring laid-back beach vibes to your neighbourhood. Whether you’re creating a relaxing retreat or adding a touch of beachside fun to your latest creation, Lei’s Beachside Pack has everything you need to bring those holiday vibes home. Float the day away with a new selection of rubber rings, keep watch with the lifeguard’s chair or turn up the tunes with the boombox and get the party started. Lei’s Beachside Pack DLC will be available to purchase individually as a DLC as well as being included in the Hokko Spaces: Sunshine Edition which will include the base game and the DLC.
About Hokko Spaces
Hokko Spaces is a calm, casual sandbox that gives you fun tools to create beautiful, lively spaces inhabited by adorable characters. Unlock cute residents and watch them hang out, do some gardening, and enjoy the spaces you build for them. No rules, no stress, just cozy dioramas and chill vibes.
Hokko Spaces base game is available now on PC (Steam) and Nintendo Switch for £7.99 / $7.99 / €7.99
Lei’s Beachside Pack DLC is available now on PC (Steam) and Nintendo Switch for £1.99 / $1.99 / €1.99
Hokko Spaces: Sunshine Edition (Includes Hokko Spaces base game + Lei’s Beachside Pack DLC) is available now on PC (Steam) and Nintendo Switch for £8.99 / $8.99 / €8.99
About Wonderscope Games Wonderscope Games is a super tiny games studio based in London, UK, founded by experienced indie developer Robert Tatnell. The studio is currently working on Hokko Spaces, a follow-up to its debut title, the community life simulator Hokko Life.
About Team17 Founded in 1990, Team17 is part of Everplay Group plc, and a passionate and creative developer and publisher dedicated to its pioneering indie developer partners and games. Team17 has an extensive portfolio of over 150 titles that players around the world love for a lifetime, including DREDGE, Date Everything, and Overcooked!, together with multi-award-winning and award-nominated in-house brands such as Hell Let Loose, Golf With Your Friends, The Escapists, and the iconic Worms franchise.
HYPERyuki: Snowboard Syndicate brings arcade-style snowboarding, big air, and explosive tricks to Nintendo Switch 2 early next year
LOS ANGELES – October 28, 2026 – HYPERyuki: Snowboard Syndicate, Wabisabi Games and Acclaim’s hotly anticipated love letter to the SSX franchise and the classic extreme sports games of the Y2K era, is carving its way onto the Nintendo Switch 2 in early 2027.
Announced in a trailer during Nintendo’s Indie World Showcase, the Switch 2 version lets players bomb HYPERyuki’s over-the-top courses, perform death-defying tricks, and go for the gold against a colorful cast of riders—including a snowboarding taco and a giant kaiju—whether playing from the comfort of their couch or riding a ski lift high atop the mountain.
The latest footage for the game sends riders straight off the deep end and is packed with even more death defying-gameplay and nonstop speed. Players can catch massive air, string together explosive combos, and carve through a selection of crazy courses inspired by real-world locales, whether docked on the big screen or shredding on the go.
“Having Hyperyuki Snowboard Syndicate featured in the Nintendo Indie World Showcase is a dream come true for our team,” said Wabisabi Games’ CEO & Co-founder Anwar Noriega. “Growing up, the ‘Nintendo Seal of Quality’ meant a game was special, polished, and worth your time. To us, being included in an Indie World Showcase feels like the modern-day equivalent of that iconic badge. We can’t wait for players to get their hands on it!”
First revealed at last year’s Play Acclaim Showcase, HYPERyuki: Snowboard Syndicate is developed by Mexican indie studio Wabisabi Games (RKGK / Rakugaki). Inspired by the fast-paced gameplay and stylish excess of classics like SSX and Jet Grind Radio, the game delivers a modern take on white-knuckle arcade-style snowboarding.
Key Features
Challenge – Think you have what it takes to impress? In Challenge mode you’ll have to complete objectives to hit the highest score possible. Ride rails, collect trinkets and hit impressive tricks to hit the top rank on the leaderboard.
Race – Speed down the slopes against NPCs or other players in this fast-paced game mode. Tricks will increase your boost meter, making style and speed an important balance.
Chill – Enjoy a calm experience, hang around the tracks, and enjoy the view in this endless mode. Who knows? Maybe you’ll even find some secrets along the way!
Multiplayer – Compete against friends both online and in person! Play online with up to seven of your friends or play local multiplayer through split screen.
Shred – Bomb the slopes as a sentient snowboarding taco!
HYPERyuki: Snowboard Syndicate races onto the Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam in early next year. Players will be able to experience the Steam demo next month.
Originally founded in 1987, Acclaim established itself as a leading global developer, publisher, and mass marketer, bringing beloved franchises such as Mortal Kombat, Turok, and NBA Jam into homes worldwide. Today, Acclaim carries its legacy forward with an unwavering commitment to supporting talented indie developers and delivering high-quality, premium indie games to a global audience. Acclaim’s modern revival stands as a testament to the strength and enduring appeal of its iconic brand.
Nature beckons you in the most sophisticated hunting simulation yet
Lesquin, October 29, 2026 – When daylight illuminates the wilderness, the hunter’s eye sharpens as he searches for his next trophy. NACON and NACON Studio Ghent today announced the official release of Hunting Simulator 3 on PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Powered by Unreal Engine 5, the hunting simulation, which boasts two million fans, invites you to step into an adventure where your senses are put to the test.
Two vast expanses of 39 square miles each are stretching out before, from the high-altitude forests of Colorado to the windswept plains of Texas. After navigating the steepest trails behind the wheel of your Polaris UTV, you turn off the engine and slip silently into the underbrush. In this unspoiled sanctuary, more than 35 animal species move before your eyes with striking realism.
Every step demands absolute concentration: the crack of a branch under your boots or a shifting breeze would be enough to give away your presence. Because here, the wildlife doesn’t follow a simple script: thanks to the SimFauna system, it lives its own life and learns from your mistakes as the seasons change. If you hope to get close to a large stag or evade a predator’s watchful eye, you must be wary of their keen sense of smell, blend your silhouette into the vegetation, and think out each of your shots.
In this quest for harmony with the great outdoors, you’re never alone. With a simple flick of the command wheel, you invite your faithful canine companion to lift his nose to the wind; he picks up a fresh scent, guides you through the tall grass, and retrieves small game with exemplary devotion.
Whenever you feel the need for a little peace and quiet to admire your gear or hone your aim, you head back to your fully customizable hunting lodge. A true haven of peace, this place lets you display your finest trophies, purchase or customize gear from a collection of over 200 authentic items, including 75 firearms, scopes, and accessories from the biggest names in hunting, such as Remington®, Beretta®, Winchester®, and Browning®. Or, quite simply, to relax by the fire before the next expedition. It’s also where you take part in clay pigeon shooting sessions, armed with your favorite rifle or shotgun, where you shoot down targets within the allotted time to score as many points as possible and try to climb to the top of the global leaderboard.
***
My journey has only just begun. Hunting Simulator 3 is now available on PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
About NACON NACON is a company of the BIGBEN Group founded in 2019 to optimize its know-how through strong synergies in the video game market. By bringing together its development studios, AA video game publishing, and the design and distribution of premium gaming peripherals, NACON combines 40 years of expertise at the service of players. This unified structure strengthens NACON’s market position and drives innovation to create unique competitive advantages. www.corporate.nacongaming.com
About NACON Studio Ghent NACON Studio Ghent is a Belgian video game developer dedicated to crafting original gaming experiences. Founded in 2007 by passionate developers, the studio has successfully developed over 60 titles, ranging from small indie projects to large-scale games. In 2020, European video game publisher NACON acquired a 100% stake in the company. Today, NACON Studio Ghent focuses primarily on its hit hunting franchise with Hunting Simulator 3.
Sometimes it feels like Bandai Namco is throwing darts at a wall filled with various Tales games when it comes to selecting what title to target next for their “Tales Remastered Project.” Over the past two years we’ve seen Tales of Graces f, Tales of Xillia, and Tales of Berseria all remastered and now the company has chosen to go the furthest back they’ve ever gone with their project, all the way to the PlayStation 1 game Tales of Eternia. Not only is it a bit of an odd choice given its age, but also the fact that it was already ported once to the PSP back in 2006 compared to other titles that remain locked onto certain platforms or completely inaccessible to modern audiences. That being said, Tales of Eternia always had a decent following back when it was released, hyped up with an anime and even a short lived MMO, so now that it is getting a full remaster with Tales of Eternia Remastered, is the third time the charm?
Story
For as long as anyone can remember in history, the two planets of Inferia and Celestia have been held in perfect balance, one above the other, through the mystical Orbus Barrier that keeps the realms isolated but thriving. However one day a strange girl comes crashing down from the heavens into the small village of Rasheans where childhood friends Reid Hershel and Farah Oersted track her down and find out that her name is Meredy and not only is she accompanied by a cute little squirrel-like being known as Quickie, they also cannot understand a single word she says. With her unusual appearance, strange clothing, and triggering an attack by someone seemingly pursuing Meredy, the village elder forces Meredy to leave the village at once, with Farah vowing to help protect the innocent girl and Reid tagging along since he can’t let a childhood friend go off alone.
In an effort to understand what Meredy is saying, they track down a former friend turned scholar named Keele who figures out that she is speaking entirely in the language of magic, or at least the type of magical chants that Craymal Mage’s use on Inferia. After further pursuit of knowledge, the group manages to finally uncover a way to understand what Meredy is saying and allows communication between the group, but what Meredy has to reveal is far from good news despite the fact that the cheerful girl can finally interact with at least two of her fast friends. She informs the group that the gap between Celestia and Inferia is closing at a rapid pace called the “Grand Fall” and if something isn’t done it will result in both planets colliding with one another and annihilating everyone.
With Meredy only knowing that gathering the Great Craymal elements will help aid their cause, such as Undine, Sylph, Gnome, and others, the party begins to seek out these elementals before attempting to turn to a higher power, only to find out that the long held hatred for the Celestian’s by those down on Inferia is far stronger than they could have ever expected and the nobility of a nation is far more obsessed with their own pomp and circumstance than to declare an emergency. What starts out as a request for assistance turns into an execution attempt followed by a declaration of war on the planet of Celestia, saying that Inferia will find a way to invade the world above to put a stop to their plans, leaving Reid, Farah, and Meredy left scrambling to find the Grand Craymal’s first and outrun the invasion plan of the misguided fools.
Tales of Eternia Remastered‘s overarching narrative won’t be too surprising for many outside of a few late game twists and some revelations about Reid that have been hinted at since he first met Meredy, but other than that this is a classic type of storytelling about a group of unlikely heroes gathering up strength with the elements to overcome the great danger that is about to doom the worlds. Where the game’s narrative truly shines is with the characters and their interactions as Reid, Farah, Meredy, and to a lesser extent Keele all have their own little quirks and character arcs that see them develop throughout the course of the storyline. A lot of this is helped through skits that happen whenever the player camps out at a campfire or somewhere similar as it helps showcase elements of the characters that players otherwise would never see in the general storyline. That and Meredy is an absolutely adorable character through and through with her sheer positivity.
One unfortunate element about the game being so focused on the four primary characters that players are introduced to in the first few hours is that the other party members that eventually join the player’s cast of characters feel like they are joining an already established friend group and are often shuffled off to the side or made to feel less important. This is likely still an issue due to the game’s age but seeing the likes of Chat and Max still be given the same type of backseat treatment, especially since Chat has a lot of potential as being the oddball loner of a pirate captain, is a disappointment and it would have been nice to see at least a little extra touch-ups to make their inclusion feel more important beyond their narrative uses.
Gameplay
One of the first things that players will be able to notice in Tales of Eternia Remastered is that it does not feature the “Grade Shop” that most recent remasters have included which allow for various bonuses to stat growth, item count, etc. to be triggered right away. Instead, since the game seems to have come out before that system, these mechanics have been relegated to the option menu instead. This means that, should players prefer, they can activate various quality of life features to help make the game easier or less troublesome at times should they wish. These quality of life options include the ability to boost the maximum item carry limit, have “always run” triggered, boost the amount of XP, gald, item drop rate, and even weapon mastery learned per fight, making sure players won’t have to worry about needlessly grinding out a dungeon if they find themselves underleveled. In fact, there is even the option to turn off random encounters entirely to make backtracking through a dungeon or other locations, especially in the latter half of the game, far more tolerable than having to deal with random encounters.
Combat in Tales of Eternia Remastered is similar to what many fans of the franchise are familiar with but rather than being able to run around an open area, the fights happen entirely on a single 2D line. Here, the player’s controlled character and their party, will do battle against whatever enemy they come across and use standard attacks and Artes to finish foes off. Reid and Farah serve as the primary frontline fighters while Keele and Meredy are spellcasters, though it is worth noting that outside of large-scale spells and homing attacks, some magical strikes are quite difficult to hit, especially in the middle of fast flowing action that can send an enemy up into the air or flying backwards out of range.
Chat is another solid melee based fighter while Max makes use of his elemental skills through gunfire at a range, but since both of these characters arrive far later than the primary cast, players will likely already have developed a feel for the party dynamics and unlocked many skills with their primary team by then, unless of course players want to enjoy Chat’s unusual fighting style a bit over Reid. Reid himself is also a bit of an oddball as he can wield all manner of melee weapons such as daggers, swords, axes, spears, etc. that have slightly different stats, swing speeds, and reach, but ultimately come down to whatever players feel is best.
It is also nice to note that the game now features objective markers for not only primary missions and their destinations but also markers showing side-quests and timed missions that players can undertake. These were not available in the original and do wonders to help keep players moving through the world at a solid pace, especially when it comes to side-quests. That being said, exploring the open world map is a bit bland outside of ship travel, with the only exception being the Unnamed Soldiers that reward the player with combat strategies or unmarked fields with items inside.
The title also features a rather odd inclusion of numerous mini-games ranging from rafting down a river and avoiding obstacles, kicking a ball around at opponents, and more. These mini-games are incredibly strange to say the least and also don’t handle the best, feeling like a weird afterthought even though they were in the original game to begin with. Though this is likely due to the dated design of a game well over two decades old, trying to help pad the length with a few extra tidbits here and there even if they aren’t the best.
Audio & Visuals
Tales of Eternia Remastered has been given another once-over to help improv the smoothness and quality of the sprite-work from the 2006 PSP release and it shows, especially since players can choose to swap between the remastered visuals and the original visuals at any time in the options menu. The character sprites and enemy sprites are well handled and most locations look quite impressive without feeling repetitive. The open world is a bit of a drag but thankfully the skits more than make up for it as they provide the cleanest looking visuals for each character talking in the skit.
As for the game’s voice work it is interesting to note that not only does it appear that Bandai Namco has cleaned up the localization compared to the original, they have also provided a better English voice cast to match the characters. Those who prefer the Japanese dub will still find it right there and ready to access at any time. The background music is fitting for the genre but it must be said that the game makes excellent use of the opening theme song by using it throughout important story moments as well.
Overall
Of the many Tales games that fans were hoping to get a remaster of, Tales of Eternia likely wasn’t at the top of most lists but that doesn’t stop this from being a great story with a lovable main cast that stands the test of time, even if some of the characters get side-lined a bit. With improved quality of life features to help avoid grinding and backtracking issues and the same fast-paced combat fans are familiar with, albeit on a 2D plane, Tales of Eternia Remastered is a great nostalgic RPG even if its age remains a powerful factor despite the team’s best efforts.
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