SQYD.studio to unleash Big Goblin Energy in debut game
Ottawa, Canada (October 2, 2024) — Indie developer SQYD.studio is delighted to announce the 3D physics platformer Watch Out for Goblins! The team’s debut game will ragdoll its way into your heart and onto PC via Steam in 2025.
Become certified Goblin Royalty, exploring and collecting Cogs to repair Gobland, all while getting up to hijinks along the way. Blending motion capture animation and real-time physics, Watch Out for Goblins! allows players to slide, somersault, and soar through the air, all in the name of saving Goblinkind.
In Watch Out for Goblins! you can reach a level of mischief you never even thought possible. The game includes such sophisticated and intellectual features as running races while wearing loincloths, ripping the environment to pieces, succumbing to obvious traps, and yelling “parkour” before hurtling down ravines. WOFG! doesn’t just support your goblin scheming, it actively encourages it.
And what’s better than one Goblin in single-player mode? Two Goblins, of course! In split-screen multiplayer, you can plan out your ridiculous antics with a pal. Take on mini-games together and beat your friend at races or in games of Sacker, or just do as the Goblin Gods intended and use your Goblin Grabbers to throw your buddy off a cliff. Now that’s what we call friendship!
Key Features of Watch Out For Goblins!:
Actually Real and Totally Accurate Goblin Physics: Verified by the world’s top Goblin scientists (the game’s two developers), the precise controls, motion capture animation, and real-time physics mean that every fall, flop, fail, and flounder will be presented gloriously.
The More Goblins, the Merrier: Goblins come in twos, everyone knows that, and this game is no different. In split-screen multiplayer, play alongside your Goblin brethren and enjoy co-op and PvP gameplay.
Mini-Games, Maximum Fun: Goblins just want to have fun, or whatever Cyndi Lauper said, and so it’s packed to the brim with mini-games. Leave them eating dust in foot races, dive into traps headfirst, and get involved in many more silly antics for you to discover.
If It’s Shiny, It’s Mine-y!: Go on the world’s most unserious scavenger hunt — and explore and experiment around Gobland to locate juicy collectibles. Combine skillful parkour with your cunning Goblin noggin to uncover every piece of loot.
Don Your Goblin Garb: Make the other Goblins (literally) green with envy by dressing up real fancy! Collect silly hats and other items of clothing and deck your Goblin out however you‘d like.
Watch Out For Goblins! is coming to Windows PC in Early Access via Steam in 2025. A demo will be available from October 14 as part of Steam Next Fest.
About SQYD.studio
Founded in 2023 by brothers Joel and Conor Rochon, Canadian indie developer SQYD.studio is built on their shared childhood memories of playing games together on the SNES. They aim to capture that youthful sense of whimsy and mischief with their first game, the 3D physics platformer Watch Out for Goblins!
The isometric twin-stick shooter SlavicPunk: Oldtimer, set in the unique world of SibirPunk will be available on Xbox and PlayStation consoles starting November 6th, 2024. Prepare to dive into a dystopian cyberpunk world full of danger, intrigue, and moral dilemmas!
Watch the official trailer announcing the date for SlavicPunk: Oldtimer
Previously launched on PC, SlavicPunk: Oldtimer invites players to step into the shoes of Yanus, a private investigator with a troubled past, who must uncover the truth behind a stolen data carrier while facing urban gangs, corrupt corporations, and his inner demons.
Known for its unique mix of fast-paced combat, modular weapon customization, and immersive storytelling, the game blends elements of a good old shoot-’em-up with battle-hacking and puzzle-solving, into a gritty, dark future with a distinctly Slavic twist.
With its console debut, players on Xbox and PlayStation will experience the game’s deep narrative, post-soviet architecture, and biting humor, offering a fresh perspective on the cyberpunk genre.
Game features:
Isometric shooter action: Engage in fast-paced combat with modular weapon upgrades.
Hacking: Tackle a variety of challenging combat scenarios and environmental puzzles, by utilizing your hacking skills.
Unique cyberpunk setting: Explore a dystopian world filled with Eastern European influences.
Engaging story: Written by acclaimed Polish sci-fi author Michał Gołkowski, the author of the SybirPunk universe, offering rich storytelling and deep moral dilemmas.
SlavicPunk: Oldtimer is scheduled to launch on the Xbox Store and PlayStation Store on November 6th, 2024. Don’t miss out on your chance to uncover the dark secrets hidden beneath the neon glow and concrete streets of this one-of-a-kind cyberpunk adventure.
Red Square Games is responsible for developing SlavicPunk: Oldtimer. Gaming Factory S.A. and Red Square Games are responsible for the release of the game on consoles. More information about the game can be found on the Xbox Store and PlayStation Store.
Red Square Games
Polish company founded in 2020 by developers and investors. The main pillar of the company is the creation of indie games set in interesting universes, with the assumption of creating more and more ambitious titles. In addition, the studio’s ambitions go beyond video games, creating board games and role-playing games as well.
Gaming Factory
The company was founded in 2017. Its main goal is to find unique game ideas, support creative indie developers, and help them at every production stage.
Experience one hour of gameplay in the free demo, featuring an opening sequence, multiple floors, and a boss encounter.
Angouleme, France, 2 October 2024 | Indie studio Headbang Club has revealed their latest in-house project, DeathTower. The tactical RPG is coming soon to Steam, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 5, and a PC demo is available now for download.
Ascend The Tower
DeathTower is a 2.5D isometric roguelite tactical RPG. Experience this infinite megastructure as Ikarus, who is swept up in the mysteries of this tower after a parasite cleaning operation goes awry. Built thousands of years ago, the tower Megaryon is home to countless secrets, including those related to the true masters of this mechanical behemoth. As Ikarus sets off on this adventure to ascend the tower, he is accompanied by Phi, a mysterious wandering µbot created through Megaryon’s autonomous operations. Together, they will face biological parasites, trained soldiers, and degenerating µbots in their quest to uncover the truth of the tower.
Craft Your Kit
DeathTower combines elements of roguelikes, immersive sims, and JRPGs to create an engaging gameplay experience. As you climb the tower, combine stealthy infiltration and an arsenal of devastating weapons to reach your objective. A combative approach uses weapons, grenades, and ammunition to clear different floors, or stealth players can use environmental structures and resources to avoid notice. Four different biomes compose this tower, and numerous floors are scattered throughout each biome. Fight through each floor’s threats, use hacks in the tower’s programming to amplify your abilities and summon assists, or fall in battle and restart your run from the beginning.
Expansive Skill Opportunities
Hacks in the tower’s nanomachines are crucial to progression. Depending on your playstyle, ten classes are available for expansion, each boasting 75 skills upon completing the skill tree. Focus on mastering one class, or take a fluid approach by earning skills across multiple classes. To assist your climb, use elevators between levels to heal and use your resources to upgrade your abilities. Falling in combat does restart your adventure, but skills are saved so you can use your previously earned mastery to quicken your ascent. Beyond Ikarus and Phi, four other playable characters can be unlocked to fill slots in your four-person party. Choose wisely to reach your best runs!
Demo Out Now, Kickstarter Launching Soon
DeathTower is launching soon on Kickstarter, and interested parties can follow the campaign now. The game will come to Steam, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 5, and a 1-hour demo of DeathTower is featured now on Steam. Trial an excerpt of the game’s opening, explore the first few floors and test your skills in a massive boss fight. Are you ready to face the danger of the Megaryon and defeat the Kraken?
Gameplay Features:
6 playable characters are waiting to be unlocked as you ascend the tower and explore the game’s different biomes.
30 enemy types boast unique characteristics depending on their environment and class type.
10 mini bosses necessitate skill expansions and combat expertise to defeat and climb to the next level.
75 unlockable weapons, ranging from grenades to laser guns, let each player hone their perfect kit.
75 hacks in the megastructure’s operations system can be programmed to attack, defend, manipulate the battlefield and summon terrifying creatures.
10 fluid class trees, comprising a total of 75 skills, can be combined to create a well-rounded party.
Retro-inspired arcade rally racer, Parking Garage Rally Circuit, has slid into critics hearts since its recent release on Steam and to celebrate the praise the game has received, developer Walaber has released a new accolades trailer to show off all the lovely things they have been saying about it. You can check it out for yourself below! Parking Garage Rally Circuit is available on Steam for $9.99 / £8.50 / 9.75€ and is confirmed to run flawlessly on Steam Deck.
Designed to look, feel and sound like a lost Sega Saturn game that could have been released in 1998, Parking Garage Rally Circuit delivers delightfully fun racing using tight controls and chainable Mario Kart-style boosts. The game features 8 tracks for you to unlock, three progressively harder car classes to race with, a ghost system that pulls in ever-tougher ghosts based on the runs of other players on the leaderboards, online lobbies, an arcade-style ‘Endurance’ mode and cheat codes for players to discover and unlock fun modifiers, as well as special cars and tracks.
Sales of the title will determine its future, with Walaber pledging to release a Nintendo Switch version if the game sells 50,000 copies and a Sega Saturn version if it sells 100,000!
He’s working with PlanetPlay and Kwalee’s word puzzle game Text Express to support reforestation, renewable energy initiatives and ocean cleanups.
Leamington Spa, UK, October 2, 2024 – Kwalee is thrilled to announce that award-winning mobile game Text Express: Word Adventure, developed by Story Giant Games and published by Kwalee, has teamed up with PlanetPlay to support environmental causes this October.
In an exciting collaboration, global music sensation and actor Joe Jonas has shared his support for the Make Green Tuesday Moves project. He’s working with PlanetPlay, which partners with leading games studios to raise money for environmental causes, with new games uploaded to their platform on the first Tuesday of each month.
In Text Express: Word Adventure, players join adventurer Tilly aboard her trusty train to unravel the story and mysteries through mobile puzzles. For October, they also have the option to purchase the Green Planet Pack, which includes a unique train and outfit customisation. Each purchase will directly support certified environmental projects, making it easy for players to contribute to real-world eco-friendly initiatives while enjoying the game.
PlanetPlay is an organisation that harnesses the power of the $190+ billion games industry to promote conservation efforts worldwide. They’re supporting eco-friendly initiatives and lowering our carbon footprint through enjoyable and accessible in-game activities that prioritise sustainability and fun.
Joe Jonas Joins the Cause
In October 2024, Joe Jonas, an advocate for PlanetPlay’s cause, will help raise awareness for Text Express: Word Adventure. His role aims to increase the game’s presence on PlanetPlay by inspiring fans and gamers to interact with the in-game features and show support for environmental efforts.
Green Planet Pack & Make Green Tuesday Moves
During the PlanetPlay event, Text Express: Word Adventure will unveil the Green Planet Pack, offering players unique outfits and train customisation options. Each purchase made through this pack will contribute to certified environmental projects, allowing players to support real-world causes while enjoying their journey with Tilly and her train.
Furthermore, Kwalee is excited to be part of Make Green Tuesday Moves (MGTM), a global alliance of games, influencers, and environmental causes. Text Express features exclusive ‘green’ items that support sustainability initiatives, with the profits directed to certified sustainability projects by PlanetPlay.
Lottie Huggan, Senior Product Marketing Manager at Kwalee, shared: “We’re excited to see Joe Jonas on board for this amazing initiative. His support will help spread the word and encourage more players to get involved. Through the Green Planet Pack and the Make Green Tuesday Moves campaign initiatives, we are merging the fun of Text Express with positive change, and we take pride in contributing to PlanetPlay’s incredibly important global environmental work.”
Staying true to Kwalee’s mission of ‘Making Most Fun Games for the World’s Players’, this partnership with PlanetPlay reflects the company’s commitment to combining entertainment with a positive impact on the planet. Supporting initiatives like PlanetPlay is a key step toward aligning fun gameplay with real-world change.
About Kwalee
Kwalee is a global games publisher and developer with more than 1 billion downloads on mobile platforms, with games such as Draw it, Teacher Simulator and Airport Security. The studio also publishes a growing catalogue of PC and console titles, including games such as Wildmender, Robobeat, The Precinct, The Spirit of the Samurai, Hordes of Hunger, Voidwrought, In Sink and Space Chef.
Founded by games industry icon and Codemasters co-founder David Darling CBE, who is joined by a team of global games experts with studios in the UK, India, Portugal and China, Kwalee is on the lookout for high-quality games to publish on all platforms and encourages developers to get in touch.
Outside of its games, Kwalee is also highly active in the industry, as an ambassador of not-for-profit organisation Women in Games and a regular supporter of charities like Safe In Our World, GamesAid and SpecialEffect.
About PlanetPlay
PlanetPlay is a forward-thinking NPO leveraging the power of the $190+ billion gaming industry and its 3+ billion players to drive positive environmental change. By integrating sustainability into popular games, PlanetPlay makes it easy for players to support verified green projects simply by continuing to play the games they love. 100% of PlanetPlay’s revenue goes directly to initiatives that reduce and remove harmful carbon emissions, creating a seamless way for gamers to contribute to a cleaner, healthier planet.
About Text Express: Word Adventure
Text Express: Word Adventure, developed by Story Giant Games and published by Kwalee, award-winning, is a story-driven game that seamlessly combines engaging crossword puzzles with rich storytelling, inviting players to join Tilly, a brave and intelligent young woman, on her journey aboard a trusty old train. As players explore stunning destinations and unravel mysteries, they craft their own narratives through the power of words. Recognised with the Best Mobile Puzzle Game award at the Pocket Gamer Awards 2022 and nominated for Game of the Year in 2023, Text Express: Word Adventure has also been featured by Apple as the Game of the Day multiple times.
About Story Giant Games
Story Giant Games is a game studio that stands for great emotional storytelling in games. They pride themselves in creating characters players want to spend time with and worlds they want to live in. Story Giant Games is formed by people who worked on the successful time management series Delicious, Heart’s Medicine and Criminal Minds.
Descend to the briny depths where a whole new bubble shooting experience awaits in this spellbinding undersea puzzle game
Los Angeles—October 2, 2024—Legacy Games announced today that the popular color matching bubble shooter Pearls of Atlantis: The Cove has come to Nintendo Switch™, PS4® and PS5®. Color match in a whole new way as you drop, pop, swap and match magic pearls to collect the charms inside and rebuild the hidden Cove of Memories!
Face tricky underwater physics as you solve 1,500 addictive bubble popping puzzles. Navigate bumpers, wheels, and moving platforms as you go. Use power-ups like the explosive hammer, the friendly charm-grabbing jellyfish, and Triton’s frightful lightning to smash all the obstacles in your way. It takes strategy and precision to beat these unique and challenging puzzles.
Match three pearls of the same color to collect the charms inside. Then, use their magic to restore a once-beautiful part of Atlantis, the underwater city, and protect the mermaids! As you venture into the depths of the sea, you’ll discover the Cove of Memories, a once-glorious part of the hidden city, Atlantis. Now, it lies in ruins… but you’re not alone in your quest to uncover its secrets! You’ll meet Kaia, a bubbly mermaid who will guide you on your journey, along with her sidekick Nauty, a comical companion who’s always up for some fun. Don’t forget to watch out for the villains who lurk in the shadows, waiting to sabotage your every move!
For more information on Pearls of Atlantis: The Cove, visit Legacy Games.
Founded in 1998 in Hollywood, California, Legacy Games is responsible for creating many popular games based on brands such as Doctor Who, Crayola, Paranormal State, Sherlock Holmes, Criminal Minds, Law & Order, ER, Murder She Wrote and Twilight Zone, to name a few. Legacy sells casual hidden object, simulation, creativity, puzzle and adventure games through their digital web portal, at www.legacygames.com. In addition, while other companies turned away from retail, Legacy doubled down and captured market share, becoming one of the leaders in third party game distribution through ecommerce and retail channels, namely Amazon and Walmart.
Nintendo Switch is a trademark of Nintendo. PlayStation, PS5 and PS4 are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
Nintendo may sit on a lot of properties, but outside of Mario and maybe Pokemon, none are as distributed and beloved as The Legend of Zelda franchise. Earlier this year, the big N shocked a lot of people when they announced The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. More surprising is that it would be a top-down adventure, where players finally got to play as Zelda herself. Do a lot of tricks and new gameplay techniques make this adventure one to cherish, or is it a rare miss for this brand? Let’s find out.
Story
This plot is simple but in true form, adds quite a bit of new lore for fans to sink into. Link has disappeared through a rift, and Zelda must find him by searching Hyrule in a new adventure where a new enemy by the name of Null has appeared. Along with some fairy friends, she must utilize the new Tri Rod to save the day. Sure, it’s a bit basic compared to prior titles, but I think most would expect that as this doesn’t try to be some massive undertaking. While the game is large, the story stays as minimal as possible to push forth the “echo” gimmickry, which really is where the heart of the experience is held.
Gameplay
While this game looks like it was built upon the engine that we got within the remake of Link’s Awakening, the echo system is really what this game is all about – which is a huge positive for the franchise, while also a small issue in itself. Players control Zelda from a top-down perspective as she navigates the large overworld, with dungeons to be found that build progression throughout the experience as you explore. The Tri Rod’s “echo” ability allows Zelda to capture beds, tables, fauna, and even enemies and summon them in order to progress forward. It’s a smart mechanic that is in true Nintendo form here, where players must tap into their creative juices in order to solve problems. Sure, there is some minimal combat as you can gain Link’s abilities for short periods, but the bulk of Echoes of Wisdom revolves around creating echoes to solve puzzles and defeat enemies.
At first, the echoes are a welcome breath of fresh air that feels a lot like what we got within Tears of the Kingdom. That kind of sandbox approach to puzzle-solving feels brilliant when it works well and makes exploration enjoyable as there are stamps and other things to collect along your journey. The real problem here comes from the echoes being required for combat. Think Pokemon, where you control a monster, but take out the ability to control their character. That is really what this is about. There are times when the enemy you summoned works great, but most are weak, and even if they are strong enough to defeat another foe, it usually takes a bit of time after trial and error to find the right formula that will actually work.
Remember that first octorok that you see in the original game? Instead of slapping it with a sword, you have to pull up a menu that has all of your echoes, select a quick summon, and see if the enemy or even object now has the power to defeat that once simple foe. I get it, it’s very creative, but the stop-and-go nature feels a bit awkward here, and while I did get used to it, it almost felt like I was playing Mass Effect in a Zelda world with how often I would have to jump in and out of this system. Sure, it’s still fun, but it just doesn’t feel as streamlined and fluid as it could have been in terms of execution.
The boss battles feel far more intuitive, as the summons seem to hit their mark and make exploring to find more worth it. These fleshed-out moments are a highlight, as they really capture that feeling of satisfaction, making your exploration pay off in the long run. Sure, I enjoyed summoning pots and tables to platform throughout the world as well and it’s fun to make weird bridges and paths from nothing, but the combat moments overlaying with that just leave a bit to be desired as a whole.
Audio
Should we expect less from a Zelda soundtrack? Absolutely not, as this one is superb. Sure, it sounds familiar, but the atmosphere in a game so different is important to nail here, and this game is dripping with all of the beats and tunes to really capture the essence of the franchise. There isn’t a lot of voice acting, but again – it’s Zelda and the sounds everyone makes really do fine and bring some personality forth.
Visuals
The graphics are absolutely stunning, especially if you enjoyed that recent Link’s Awakening port. All the characters are charming, bursting with energy and life with fluid animation and bright, bold colors. I totally get why they went back to this design as it works and I couldn’t have seen this game with any other style in retrospect. That said, the game has an issue that a lot of recent Switch titles from Nintendo have had, which is some performance snags. The game can stutter and feel over-encumbered with its own weight, and while it isn’t common or even game-breaking, it is a bit surprising considering this is Zelda and polish is usually an afterthought.
Overall
Nintendo kind of swung for the fences to give us another game in this franchise, and ultimately, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is a fine break from the norm. That said, it’s sometimes bogged down by its own gimmick, leaving moments feeling awkward and slightly tedious. Yes, the adventure here is grand, but constantly accessing menus to summon objects and monsters isn’t as streamlined as it should be, and fans may be deterred by the mandatory usage of such. The game also isn’t as smooth in terms of performance as all of its predecessors, which really shows Nintendo may need a bit stronger hardware to handle such an intuitive design premise. Either way, we do have a solid game here and Zelda fits in well as its lead, making these Echoes of Wisdom just loud enough to make their mark.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Taking inspirations from some of the greatest pieces of media have resulted in just as wonderful games as a result, in fact there have even been times that these inspirations have turned into innovations, taking the new piece of media to new heights. Bloomtown: A Different Story from Different Sense Games and Lazy Bear Games is pretty blatant with where their inspirations lie as anyone familiar with the RPG genre or even other types of media will immediately see what the team is going for here. There is a saying that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and with Bloomtown drawing on numerous sources to try and craft its own story, has this indie game managed to pull itself together into becoming a great experience?
Story
Set during the summer break sometime in the 1960s, a pair of siblings, Emily and Chester, have been whisked away from their home in Chicago to spend time with their grandfather in the far smaller and quiet town of Bloomtown out in the sleepy suburbs. After meeting their crotchety grandfather and getting settled in though, it quickly becomes apparent that Bloomtown is anything but sleepy at night. Strange dreams haunt Emily’s sleep and she soon learns that a local child has gone missing and, while trying to investigate like any bored pre-teen would in the ’60s she manages to find not only a wooden sword but also a strange whistle while helping the local kids search for her. With a light blow on this whistle Emily finds herself drawn into a strange alternate version of Bloomtown, a realm called the Underside, where demons roam freely and the land is twisted and corrupted.
Despite managing to fend off a demon and escape, Emily quickly finds that her nightmares are reality and she soon finds herself signing a pact with a demon to hunt down three other powerful demons using her own guardian deity as well as those of her friends in an effort to save Bloomtown from the dangerous demonic beings that have started taking root in the townsfolk that live there, causing untold levels of harm to the populace over the years. Along the way Emily is joined by her younger brother, a hinted romance with the daughter of the local police chief Ramona, and even a talking corgi that morphs into a muscle-bound beast with a rocket launcher in a fight. Together these four, and eventually sort of a fifth, must try to clear the Undersides that have sprung up around Bloomtown to try and save their quiet little town from turning into a nest of demons.
Banding together a group of pre-teens to venture into an alternate reality from their own isn’t the most original, nor is pairing them with a talking animal that knows far more about the situation than anyone would expect, but despite the writing taking many hints from other pieces of media, Bloomtown: A Different Story actually manages to handle itself quite well and this is thanks to how down to earth and also how impactful the game’s writing is and a lot of it has to do with how well it handles its characters. It is worth noting that Bloomtown isn’t afraid to have a far darker storyline than its colorful pixelated world may showcase and not only are there a number of side-quests featuring solid writing but core story points as well have some very intense themes. It also helps that, similar to other games with party members such as this, players can bond with their party members and learn more about their backstories which, just like before, broach themes and topics that players wouldn’t expect and that is something that Bloomtown does excellently more often than not.
Gameplay
Bloomtown: A Different Story is almost a tale of two games as players will spend their day and even most nights simply living life as Emily and exploring the quaint rural town, solving people’s problems, taking part in various activities, and even working or reading books only to delve into the Underside and face off against the monsters that reside within in an effort to solve the mysteries that are currently abounding and put a stop to whatever demonic influence has currently started rearing its head. Interestingly enough, everything in the game runs on a day and night cycle with stores opening and closing, specific activities only being available at certain times, reading or cooking or even crafting requiring in-game time commitments, and more. In fact, there is even a weather cycle of sorts with some days being normal, rainy, misty, or downright scorchers and all of these elements come into play in minor ways. Such as having certain rare fish spawn in fishing locations, having to either not water crops or water crops twice to keep them alive. Oh, and there are crops players can plant as well.
This is a game with an absolute abundance of things to find and do as players explore the city to the point that it can feel a bit overwhelming at first, especially since the game is incredibly thin on tutorials. First of all, while time passes and Emily must sleep at curfew, there is no actual time limit on how long players have to advance the plot despite the game seemingly saying otherwise. Similarly, the title also features a very handy quick travel system that allows players to jump to or nearby locations that they have previously discovered. This means that tracking down a quest objective in a previously found location can be incredibly easy and simplistic, especially since the diary does a solid job keeping track of what objectives players need to complete and where to do them. That being said, there were two occasions that a quest was suddenly able to be completed instantly despite not apparently accomplishing the steps to the task and while they were marked successful it does beg the question as to how buggy some quests can be.
Now, as mentioned before Emily has plenty of things she can do in Bloomtown and nearly every activity she takes part in can help her raise a personality stat as well. This includes her Smarts, Proficiency, Guts, and Charms and all of these stats come into play on both sides of the game. During dialogue or interacting with objects Emily will occasionally be given a choice that utilizes one of these stats and the higher the stat, the better percentage she has at a successful dice roll. On the Underside, these stats can also increase status element affliction rate as well as the roles required to “subdue” a demon. Either way, it is unfortunate to note that while players can make use of these roles, they are one and done affairs and while this may not seem like much of an issue for some choices, sometimes very noteworthy items or pieces of lore are hidden behind a successful dice roll.
This also brings up an issue that plagues every aspect of Bloomtown: A Different Story and that is the save system. Rather than allowing players to save anytime or even create a manual save the night before going to sleep, the title relies solely on autosaves. While this works well for the most part as the title autosaves whenever fast traveling or even moving between rooms on the Underside, it can lead to significant issues such as failing an aforementioned dice role, overwriting a save file that coil have given players a chance to make a different choice instead, or in my case, completely hard lock the game to the point it is unplayable. This resulted in a bug that created a permanent loading state on all recent autosaves with no proper way to actually continue the game creating a hard progress lock. Currently the only way around this bug is loading from a far earlier save file as the title does make an autosave upon chapter completion though, depending on playstyle and how many side-activities players have done, could be hours of progress lost.
Anyways, once players travel to the Underside they will bring their entire party with them and will find a variety of simple puzzles to solve, treasures to obtain as well as doors and chests to unlock with crafted lockpicks and of course plenty of demons to fight. Demons are encountered in the field via black silhouettes and will either attack Emily or be attacked, there appears no difference who hits who in combat, and the combat itself then takes place in a turn based format with all members of the player’s party attacking and then the demons attacking in-turn. Players can use melee weapons to attack any enemies they wish in the front rows but any foes further back that are protected by a demon in the front will need to be targeted either by a firearm, which have limited ammo for each fight, or with a spell. In some interesting but also annoying fashion, many spells in the game have two variations, ones that directly attack an enemy with an element with a small chance of inflicting a status ailment and one that focuses solely on inflicting an ailment. While this may work well to chain together combos using elemental chains, it doesn’t help with the actual “downing” and subduing of demons.
You see, another aspect of the game that lacks a proper tutorial, is how to subdue a demon. All demons on the field must be downed by being struck by their weakness or incapacitated in some way and then players must succeed a roll to actually subdue the demon. This demon can then be equipped to any party member to help augment their spiritual guardian by providing that demon’s useful abilities to help expand the player’s offensive line-up. In similar fashion, captured demons can be “fused” sort of, using a special device but rather than actually fusion it’s more like simply sacrificing them to boost a favorite demon’s stats. There are no fusions to create new demons and even unlocking new abilities is rare and unreliable.
This makes capturing demons something of an annoyance more often than not as players will simply want to cover their bases with elements and that’s all, relying on their old favorites rather than the minimal stat boosts that acquiring a new demon may provide compared to simply equipping stronger armor or weapons, albeit ones that appear to have random numbers likely indicating extra effects that aren’t properly labeled. It is also worth noting that should players not want to bother subduing a demon they can perform an “All Together” attack to deal massive damage to any demons on the field. It also must be said that, while combat is far from a simple affair, eventually players can easily outclass standard demon encounters and the ability to just “auto battle” would be a great addition to help zip through fights. In fact, Chester even gains the ability to randomly one-shot enemies he is stronger than though this happens far too rarely and feels like something that should be expanded on to help speed up easier battles.
Audio & Visuals
Bloomtown: A Different Story has some truly gorgeous looking sprite work at times, especially in the Underside. While the general world of exploring Bloomtown is fairly straightforward with a number of great looking structures and solid enough character designs, including some rather expressive ones given the limitations of the pixelated designs, the game shines its best when in the Underside. Not only are the twisted versions of some locations far creepier than they have any right to be but many of the demon designs are rather outstanding looking and put some fun twists on predictable tropes when it comes to facing off against specific demons. The spells aren’t the most impressive looking, even the grand spells players can eventually gain access to but the aforementioned All Together attacks are decent looking though it would have been nice if there were some variations depending on which character initiated the attack.
While there are only minimal sound effects to go along with the gameplay and no actual dialogue being spoken it must be said that Bloomtown: A Different Story features some incredible background music. The game features a number of different battle themes that all have accompanying vocals to them that just sound outstanding in combat with even “elite” demons having special tracks of their own. Players can even obtain vinyls while playing the game to listen to the background music back in Emily’s room.
Overall
Bloomtown: A Different Story manages to wear countless references and inspirations on its sleeves but it still manages to pull itself together to put out an impressive, albeit flawed and buggy indie RPG. With turn-based combat that feel satisfying but tend to drag on and so many side-activities to take advantage of and explore in the grander world Bloomtown offers a solid, albeit somewhat unoriginal storyline that is tied together by some impressive character writing and themes that fans of RPGs, especially indie ones such as this, will delight in.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Halloween Inspired Terror Sweeps Across Red Dead Online – New Telegram Missions, Moonshiners Bonuses, and The Halloween Pass 2 Returns
Dark forces descend on the frontier, bringing a bounty of treats to Red Dead Online today that include new Bodyguard Telegram Missions, Moonshiner Bonuses, and more.
New Bodyguard Telegram Missions The beginning of October brings three new Bodyguard Telegram Missions. Escort a driver and client through hostile territory, guard a wealthy resident during a chaotic night out, and protect a novice hunter from poachers and wild animals to ensure their survival in the wilderness.
Put your skills to the test in both the city and the countryside, and earn 2X RDO$, Gold, and XP on these new missions and all Telegram Missions through November 4.
Double Rewards on All Hallows’ Call to ArmsDefend settlements from relentless waves of attackers, human and otherwise, and use the powers of the Night Stalker Mask to your advantage in All Hallows’ Call to Arms, paying out 2X RDO$, Gold, XP, and Ability Card XP all month long.
The Halloween Pass 2 Returns
TheHalloween Pass 2 returns to Red Dead Online this month, offering eerie rewards perfect for the month’s freaks and shrieks. This upgrade — available for purchase for a limited time only — spans 15 ranks and is available until November 4. Equip yourself with bone-chilling masks, blood-stained outfits, and sinister accessories to leave a grim impression on all who cross your path.
All items earned during the span of The Halloween Pass will remain yours even after it ends. Players who previously bought The Halloween Pass 2 will maintain their progress.
Moonshiners Bonuses
Keep the good times flowing by completing Moonshiner Story Missions and Moonshiner Sales, both offering 2X RDO$, XP, and Role XP through November 4.
Complete a Moonshiner Sale anytime through November 4 to receive the black Morales Vest and Destroy a Revenue Agent Blockade to receive 30 Repeater Express Ammo and a Reward for a Moonshine Mash Refill.
All Offers and Rewards will be delivered within 72 hours of completion.
Weekly and Monthly Rewards
Play Red Dead Online anytime this month to receive the orange Porter Jacket. Celebrate Halloween week by logging in anytime between October 29 and November 4 to claim the stylish black Folwell Hat.
October 1 – 7: Reach Wave 5 in All Hallows’ Call to Arms to receive the black and white Darned Stockings
October 8 – 14: Complete a Moonshiner Sale to receive an Offer for 40% off an Established or Distinguished Moonshiner Role Item
October 15 – 21: Win in the Featured Series to receive the red Strickland Boots
October 22 – 28: Complete a Moonshiner Sale to receive an Offer for 40% off a Poncho
October 29 – November 4: Reach Wave 5 in All Hallows’ Call to Arms to receive the black Concho Pants
2X RDO$ and XP on Featured Series
This month’s Featured Series brings back the ominous Fear of the Dark and Dead of Night modes. Dive into these spine-tingling modes and take on fierce competition to earn 2X RDO$ and XP:
October 1 – 7: Halloween Series 1: Fear of the Dark
October 8 – 14: Halloween Series 2: Dead of Night
October 15 – 21: Halloween Series 3
October 22 – 28: Hardcore Halloween Series 1: Fear of the Dark
October 29 – November 4: Hardcore Halloween Series 2: Dead of Night
Plus, win in the Featured Series this month to receive an Offer for 50% off any Weapon.
Community-Inspired Outfit
Turn heads this Halloween with this haunting outfit skillfully assembled by YouTuber xXx Queen Inferno xXx.
Get these clothing pieces for free from the Wheeler, Rawson and Co. Catalogue, while masks are available from Madam Nazar.
Add a touch of menace to the outfit with the Cartilage Gloves — available to unlock as part of The Halloween Pass 2. The Shaffer Chaps, Clymene Coat, Benbow Jacket, Squat Stovepipe Top Hat, Fanned Stovepipe Top Hat, and Cossack Hat also return for a limited time through November 4.
TOKYO —Oct. 1, 2024— Video game publisher and developer Cygames, Inc. (HQ: Shibuya, Tokyo; President: Koichi Watanabe, hereinafter referred to as “Cygames”) has partnered with Breeders’ Cup Ltd. to sponsor a race at the Breeders‘ Cup World Championships (hereinafter referred to as the “Breeders’ Cup”), one of the world’s most prestigious horse racing events. The Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint is scheduled for Saturday, Nov 2 (PT).
The Breeders’ Cup: A Proud 40-Year Racing Tradition
Breeders’ Cup administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred racing’s global year-end Championships, as well as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races through an 82-race series hosted by twelve countries. The 2024 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, featuring fourteen Grade 1 Championship races run during a two-day festival worth more than $34 million (USD) in purses and awards, will be held Nov 1–2 (PT) in Del Mar, California. The 2025 World Championships will also be held in Del Mar on Oct 31–Nov 1. The Championships will be televised live by NBC Sports.
The Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint to be Held on Nov 2
The Cygames Breeders‘ Cup Sprint, scheduled for Nov 2, is a 1,200-meter (six-furlong) race held on a dirt track for male and female horses, three years and older, and features a purse worth $2 million (USD). In addition, the company’s logo will be emblazoned on the starting gate and the saddle towels of the contending horses.
Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint Details
Race Name: Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint Date: 5:25 p.m., Saturday, Nov 2, 12th race* * Race order and time is subject to change. Venue: Del Mar Racetrack (California, USA)
“It is my great honor to announce our partnership with one of the world’s most prestigious institutions in horse racing, the Breeders’ Cup. Cygames’ mission is to bring ‘The Best in Entertainment’ to a global audience through our works and public endeavors,” said Koichi Watanabe, President of Cygames. “As part of that vision, we are releasing the English language version of Umamusume: Pretty Derby, a game heavily influenced by the world of horse racing. Our hope is to forge a relationship with racing enthusiasts through our partnership with the Breeders’ Cup and provide another avenue for potential fans to discover our content.”
Umamusume: Pretty Derbyis a simulation game and part of the Umamusume Project, a multimedia franchise produced by Cygames, which consists of anime, manga, music, and games that tell stories of characters inspired by racehorses. Along with their classmates and trainers, the Umamusume work towards every racer’s dream—winning the Twinkle Series. The English version of Umamusume: Pretty Derbyis currently in production.
Cygames, Inc. is a game company based in Tokyo, Japan. It is renowned for the development and management of numerous mobile and console game titles including Umamusume: Pretty Derbyand Granblue Fantasy: Relink, as well as various ventures in the animation and comics industries. The company’s vision of being the best in entertainment is reflected in its constant efforts to bring original and exciting experiences to the world.
For more information on Cygames please visit the website here. For information on the Breeders Cup visit the official website here.
