Magical girl action-adventure game features anime inspiration and co-op multiplayer roguelite gameplay
New York, New York (September 17, 2024) — Today, Pahdo Labs, an indie team that includes former Capcom, WayForward, and Riot Games developers, is thrilled to reveal its debut title: Starlight Re:Volver. Starlight Re:Volver will be released on PC in Early Access via Steam in 2025.
An anime-inspired action adventure with co-op multiplayer and roguelite gameplay, Starlight Re:Volver is set between the lush, cutting-edge city of Nishi Island Metropolis (NIM) and So Mi, the otherworldly dream-like realms that fuel NIM’s prosperity. Wielding mysterious devices called “Re:Volvers” to hop between NIM and So Mi, players become “Divers,” brave voyagers who crash through the walls of reality in pursuit of untapped riches.
As a fully-voiced cast of characters, including newbie Diver Effy, elite Diver Akira, laidback mentor Ren, and technical prodigy Violet, players will explore NIM’s bustling metropolis and So Mi’s fantastical world in search of treasure, admiration, and celebration. Embark on an unforgettable journey of self-discovery, uncovering the origins of Re:Volvers, at the risk of losing one’s self in the dreamy depths along the way.
Inspired by the magical works of manga artists Naoko Takeuchi and Rumiko Takahashi, Starlight Re:Volver is a love letter to the animes and games of the 90s and 00s that the Pahdo Labs team grew up with. The game mixes Japanese ARPG combat with elements of Western roguelites, all wrapped up in a charming social world inspired by classic online worlds.
Starlight Re:Volver features whimsical, hyper-stylized combat that lights up the world and makes each battle a spectacle, while each player is able to customize their character’s appearance and abilities, allowing them to create a build suited to their preferred playstyle and their co-op multiplayer team.
Key Features of Starlight Re:Volver:
Large-Scale Multiplayer: Bring friends to explore NIM’s lively cityscape. In online servers supporting dozens of concurrent players, play a variety of minigames inspired by Asian cultures, customize your character’s abilities and appearance, and celebrate with firecrackers and fanfare.
Playfully Explosive Combat: Engage in unique four-player co-op. Smash Twilight Crystals to dynamically alter terrain, garnering advantages in combat and uncovering hidden treasures. Trigger spectacular Magic Combos to break enemy defenses for satisfying team plays. Master these unique systems to gain the upper hand in combat and exploration.
Wide Character Progression: In this RPG, discover new combinations of Charms in each run, transforming your Diver’s skills in unexpected ways. Craft powerful gear, unlock new abilities, and customize your Diver’s appearance with fashionable skins and accessories.
Vibrant, Anime-Inspired World: Immerse yourself in rule-bent dream worlds filled with wonder and nostalgia. From floating islands to interstellar starbases, each area of So Mi offers a distinct visual and gameplay experience.
Signature Soundtrack: Get lost in the game’s electro-city pop sound, which perfectly complements the colorful, anime-inspired visuals.
About Starlight Re:Volver
In the vibrant city of NIM, a chosen few have unlocked the ability to activate Re:Volvers—enigmatic devices that open the gateway to So Mi, a limitless digital dreamscape. As a newly awakened Diver, players will embark on a thrilling adventure of self-discovery alongside a diverse group of characters.
Wander through NIM’s lively streets, where tradition meets cutting-edge technology, before diving into the fantastical realms of So Mi. Unearth the secrets behind the Re:Volver, confront extraordinary challenges and forge your own legacy as one of NIM’s renowned Divers. But tread carefully—delving too deep into So Mi’s mysteries could lead to being lost in its enchanting depths.
Starlight Re:Volver blends the social allure of classic online worlds with the exhilarating action of modern roguelite gameplay. Gather your friends and embark on an unforgettable journey in a world where the boundaries between reality and dreams blur!
Starlight Re:Volver will be released on PC in Early Access via Steam in 2025.
About Pahdo Labs
Pahdo Labs is a gaming startup dedicated to creating a social world built around a new anime-inspired IP. A small and talented team primarily based in New York and Vancouver, Pahdo Labs’ mission is to cultivate a memorable anime world that offers players a sense of belonging, a path to mastery, and the ability to transform their imagination into a tangible impact on a shared world.
London, UK – 17th September 2024 – Marvelous Europe today revealed the last and final addition to the new content coming in Potionomics: Masterwork Edition when it releases on the Nintendo Switch™ system, PlayStation®5, and Xbox Series X|S consoles on Oct. 22. Boss Finn, a wealthy potion dealer with connections to the underworld and rival of Sylvia, will receive a dedicated romance path, including brand-new story scenes. Furthering the relationship with Boss Finn will unlock all-new cards for Sylvia to use when haggling with her potion shop customers. In addition to his status as an eligible bachelor, he has taken up a side-hustle as Rafta’s newest “life coach” offering pep talks to Sylvia—for a price—that grant various timed buffs and debuffs useful during potion-selling gameplay.
Boss Finn will be included as part of the Masterwork Edition on consoles, and will be available on PC as a separate downloadable content priced at $4.99 / €tbc. This DLC will be available at the same time as the previously announced additional free Masterwork Edition content and features coming to the platform on Oct. 22. Publisher XSEED Games & Marvelous Europe has released a new trailer showing a first look at Boss Finn in his new role as Rafta’s “life coach” and snippets of new story scenes for Sylvia if she chooses to pursue this apex predator.
FEATURES
Can You Hear Me Now?: Sylvia’s story comes alive with all-new voice acting providing an added layer of depth and connection to Owl, Roxanne, Quinn, Mint, and other beloved characters. Additionally, new text languages will include German, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified and Traditional Chinese.
More Modes, More Fun: Make more of your time in Rafta with the new “Endless” mode, where the selling never stops. Test your sales skills with “Capitalism” mode, or don’t, and take it easy with “Cozy” mode for a more casual experience. Plus, the new “One Love/Free Love” options allow you to express Sylvia’s feelings with as few or as many suitors as you can handle.
Wheel and Deal: Negotiations can be tense when every coin counts, but you’ll manage Sylvia’s stress with ease by playing your cards right. Develop friendships with adventurers and other shopkeepers on Rafta to learn even more advanced negotiation tactics.
Recipe for Success: Choose the best ingredients to make even basic potions extraordinary, perfecting the taste and aroma to please your pickiest customers. But beware—if you aren’t careful, you’ll get some pretty gross results!
Fantastic Friends and Foes: Rafta, home to some of the world’s most potent magic, is packed with big RPG personalities, each seeking a leg up in their adventures. Befriend and recruit them to help you level up your own potion game, but don’t expect everyone to be friendly…
Developed by Voracious Games and published by XSEED Games, Potionomics was released on Windows PC via Steam, on Oct. 17, 2022. The “Boss Finn” downloadable content will be available on PC beginning on Oct. 22, 2024, for $4.99 / €tbc. The additional new features included in the Masterwork Edition will arrive in a free update for the PC version at the same time. Potionomics: Masterwork Edition is in development for the PS5™, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch™ system and will release on Oct. 22, 2024.
Potionomics: Masterwork Edition will be available physically and can be pre-ordered now through the Marvelous Europe website at participating retailers for an RRP of €39.99 and will also release digitally on the Nintendo eShop, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation®5 for €29.99.
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.
Get ready to dive into the hilarity, and hide bodies in hysterical locations across six wildly creative levels. The ultimate hide-and-seek just got crazier!
Paris, France – September 17th, 2024: After four thrilling months in Early Access, the highly anticipated physics-based VR game Hide The Corpse officially launches on Meta Quest today. Created by indie developer Realcast, this hilarious and one-of-a-kind VR experience is set to become a must-play for virtual reality fans everywhere. View the launch trailer below.
In Hide The Corpse, players must quickly and strategically hide a body in one of six locations within four minutes. The game’s quirky humor, physics-based gameplay, and VR immersion have been praised by Early Access players.
During Early Access, initial players enjoyed the first adrenaline-filled levels – with the official release, Hide The Corpse introduces new stages bringing the total to six diverse environments. Each level is filled with challenges and chaotic fun, including: Apartment, Garage, Museum, Diner, Shipwreck (featuring underwater physics), and Spaceship (zero gravity).
Key Features in the Full Release:
Six Full Levels: Explore the variety of levels with unique environments and physical challenges, from underwater mechanics to zero gravity.
New Sandbox Mode: Get creative by hiding the body anywhere using interactive physical objects in each environment.
Updated Scoring System: Players will be rated on a scale of S, A, B, C, D, E depending on how quick they hide the body, erase evidence like fingerprints, and conceal six different types of clues to boost their scores.
Unlockable Levels: A new unlock system allows progression through the game by successfully succeeding at least four hiding spots per level.
Fun Wardrobe Room: Collect and unlock six hilarious skins – Disco, Pajama, Pirate, Zombie, Superhero, Cyborg, and Joker – to add even more laughter and personality to your character.
Advanced tutorial: A complete tutorial to help players quickly understand the mechanics and immerse themselves in the action.
Full audio: New music tracks and sound effects enhance the immersive experience.
Continuous Community Engagement: Continuous feedback from Early Access players through the game’s active Discord community has shaped new features, with ongoing updates planned post-launch.
Developed over the past 18 months by Realcast’s dedicated indie team, Hide The Corpse is set to become a must-have in every VR library. The team look forward to continued community support and the potential for more creative updates in the future.
Join the fun and prepare for endless laughs and excitement as Hide The Corpse makes its official debut on Meta Quest today!
About Realcast
Realcast is an award-winning XR independent studio, founded in 2017 by video games industry veterans, with offices in Paris and San Francisco. Specializing in VR and MR games, as well as immersive and interactive experiences, Realcast is powered by a passionate team of 15 experts and creatives. Dedicated to innovation, the studio prioritizes community feedback to continuously enhance its cutting-edge projects.
Hop, skip, and jump your way past enemies and obstacles in this charming pixel platformer.
BRYN MAWR, USA – September 17, 2024 – Sour Lemon Studios is thrilled to announce their new game, Tower of Dreams, is releasing in Early Access on Steam this October 8th, with the anticipated Nintendo Switch release coming soon.
Hop to the Top
Tower of Dreams is a delightful roguelike platformer that challenges players with its exciting mechanics and technical skills. Embark on your adventures as the Dream Knight, wielding your sword against an array of enemies blocking your ascent up the Tower of Dreams. Featuring simple controls, ascend through the tower with well-timed wall jumps, boops, and leaps, besting the enemies and obstacles in your way. No two attempts will be the same, as you’re faced with a random selection of hand-crafted stages and mini-challenges with plenty of secrets to explore. 36 unique items await discovery alongside permanent upgrades and charming cosmetics.
Whimsical World of Color
Accompany the Dream Knight through a world of retro pixel art inspired by the Game Boy Color. A limited 13-color pastel palette gives the titular tower a nostalgic, ethereal feel, brought to life through three floors featuring their own unique mechanics and aesthetics. To clear each floor, players must complete three separate stages. Each stage is randomly selected from a pool, challenging players to adapt their strategies to overcome ever-changing obstacles. Fantasy settings, factory levels, and a sky garden set a distinct mood for each floor, each introducing new tests of technical prowess. With plenty of floors for a platforming adventurer, it’s up to you to lead your knight to victory!
If at First You Don’t Succeed…
While uncovering the tower’s secrets, players will find special items, passive abilities, and upgrades. These enhancements make each run in the tower a new expedition, encouraging tower-climbing hopefuls to experiment with different techniques and gameplay styles. Completing a level will provide players with a letter grade based on their performance, which they’ll be reminded of the next time they face the same level, challenging them to do better. Upon death, a small grave will be left behind containing an item the player had when they died, encouraging them to try, try again!
Features:
Genre-bending Gameplay: Experience the nostalgia of a retro vertical platformer combined with challenging roguelike mechanics.
For all the Glory: Conquer Tower of Dream’s floors, each with a unique set of obstacles, enemies, and challenges.
Knight-in-Training: 36 collectible items are available throughout the game, introducing new mechanics to your run and strengthening your knight’s skills.
Dress to Impress: Unlock and discover additional armor sets and cosmetics to customize your run as you explore what the tower has to offer.
Nightmare Mode: After completing the tower in normal mode, try your hand at nightmare mode, where players take double damage and face elite variations of enemies.
Progression Checkpoints: Those wanting to focus on platforming have the option to skip ahead to floors after reaching them for the first time.
Catchy Tunes: Inspired by classic games like Kirby’s Adventure and Sonic CD, energetic melodies aim to pump players up as they progress through the game.
Wishlist Tower of Dreams now on Steam to be notified when the game goes on sale on October 8th. More information about Sour Lemon Studios and their games can be found on their YouTube, Discord server.
About Sour Lemon Studios
Sour Lemon Studios is a Philadelphia based indie game studio featuring the talents of designer Alex Parrotto and composer Tom Sanborn. Our Company mission is to create fresh, innovative experiences that combine the quality of the classics with modern creativity. Tower of Dreams is our latest attempt to do just that, blending tight-as-nails platforming, a distinctive pastel pixel art aesthetic, and deep roguelike mechanics to deliver something truly unique. We hope you have as much fun playing it as we had making it!
Manchester, UK – September 17, 2024 | Celebrating the well-received launch of Selfloss on PC and console, Maximum Entertainment and Goodwin Games continue their voyage through Yord to the sound of hauntingly alluring music and invite you to join them on Steam or Spotify.
Leeway is the boundary between life and death, a world that offers sanctuary to lost souls like the healer Kazimir. Tasked with the quest to perform a Selfloss ritual to attempt to come to terms with his seemingly endless grief, he sets out on a journey through the land of Yord, exploring its vast rivers and fields, and learning the story of both its inhabitants and its deities – the beautiful and mighty whales.
And the soundtrack reflects everything this magical world has to offer, incorporating the sounds of real whales to create a soundscape so wistful it will be hard to take the headset back off. Check out a small taster of what to expect below:
“Selfloss conveys various messages and warnings regarding the state of ecology in our world, as well as coping with the loss of loved ones. The atmospheric music by Arigto really supports this emotional setting of the game. It’s been a pleasure to work with Arigto on creating such a dark but hopeful soundtrack.” – Alex Goodwin, creator of Selfloss.
The OST is now available for purchase on Steam for £6.69 ($7.99), the perfect addition to a playlist for those who cannot get enough of Selfloss.
About Maximum Entertainment
Maximum Entertainment is a global entertainment company dedicated to crafting indie to AA video game experiences through original content and licensed partnerships. A fully integrated group with a broad portfolio of content, the company emphasizes collaboration and inclusivity in its partnerships to produce the highest level of interactive entertainment. With more than 300 titles in its catalog, Maximum Entertainment has joined forces with talented creators and renowned franchises around the globe to deliver magic to the gamer in everyone. Maximum Entertainment employs experienced professionals across the entire value chain of video games including development, publishing, transmedia, sales, and operations.
About Goodwin Games
Goodwin Games is an independent game studio based in Almaty, Kazakhstan. We are a talented team of 3 creators. Our studio specializes in creating uniquely emotional beautiful games with whimsical mechanics, paying special attention to story, atmosphere, music, and visual design. Our journey began with one person – Alexander Khoroshavin, who created the initial prototype of the game Selfloss. Due to our small team size, we have a unique approach to development. Each member of our team strives to acquire a wide range of skills and thoroughly understand the development process. We are true indies!
BASED ON THE HIT ANIME SERIES “OVERLORD,” ‘LORD OF NAZARICK’ RPG TO LAUNCH GLOBALLY FROM CRUNCHYROLL AND A PLUS JAPAN
Culver City, CA (Sept. 17, 2024) – Crunchyroll and A PLUS JAPAN are joining forces to announce the English global release of Lord of Nazarick—a turn-based roleplaying game based on the hit OVERLORDanime. Releasing this fall on Android and iOS devices, Lord of Nazarick will bring mobile players to a fantasy world where magic and might clash. Starting today, fans eager to command their armies can pre-register for the game on the Google Play and App Store.*
Set to release around OVERLORD: The Sacred Kingdom’s global theatrical run beginning on November 8 in the U.S. and Canada, Lord of Nazarick allows new and long-time OVERLORD fans to catch up or relive the anime currently streaming on Crunchyroll with a fresh perspective. Crunchyroll previously announced that it has also acquired select international rights in EMEA and Latin America in addition to North America (theatrical dates for the international territories not yet announced).
Upon launch, Lord of Nazarick will be the first game to fully implement Crunchyroll Login—a new feature enhancing the free-to-play experience for Crunchyroll Premium members. Across all global versions of the game, players that log in as a Crunchyroll Premium member will receive special rewards, including in-game currency, a battle pass, and exclusive access to activations across Crunchyroll theatrical and ecommerce experiences.
Official LORD OF NAZARICK Details
After twelve years of playing his favorite MMORPG game, Momonga logs in for the last time only to find himself transported into its world playing it indefinitely. Throughout his adventures, his avatar ascends to the title of Sorcerer King Ainz Ooal Gown.
Epic OVERLORD Stories: Experience the game’s main story from a fresh perspective alongside all-new canon scenarios as you command every fight.
Iconic Characters: Recruit over 50 characters from the anime—guardians, pleiades, and more—in the game, with more to come in regular updates!
Strategic Battles: Build a party of fan-favorite characters across 5 classes and 3 unique attributes to the deadliest force in Lord of Nazarick.
Dynamic Gameplay: Beyond the story, take on roguelite dungeons, take on boss challenges, mini-games and so much more in this full-featured RPG.
Stunning Visuals: Experience the immersive world of OVERLORD completely re-imagined in stunning 3D with high-quality animation that brings fan-favorite characters to life
Immersive Exploration: Take your time wandering the world and visit the Great Tomb of Nazarick, Carne Village, E-Rantel, and other familiar locations from the anime. Who knows what surprises await you along the way!
Cooperative Play: Join with friends to create your own legendary alliance (just like Ainz Ooal Gown!) or join an existing one to take on powerful foes together.
PVP Combat: Challenge other players with your strongest lineup, climb to the top of the leaderboard, and earn plenty of rewards along the way!
OVERLORD fans find news and updates on Lord of Nazarick on the game’s Official Website and Crunchyroll News as well as on Discord and X (Twitter).
(*1) A PLUS JAPAN INC. publishes Lord of Nazarick in most European countries and the Middle East. (*2) Crunchyroll Games publishes Lord of Nazarick in the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, and Latin America.
About the OVERLORD franchise
Momonga is a regular salaryman who leads a guild in the MMORPG video game Yggdrasil. After twelve years of playing the game, the servers are finally shutting down. Momonga logs in for the last time, seeing the game to its end. However, after the clock strikes midnight, nothing changes…and Momonga finds himself playing the game indefinitely and is transported into its world. Throughout his adventures, he ascends to the title of Sorcerer King Ainz Ooal Gown.
Originally a web novel by Kugane Maruyama that was adapted into light novels and manga publications,the first season of the anime series debuted in 2017 and quickly became popular among fans. Currently, all four seasons are now streaming on Crunchyroll along with OVERLORD: The Undead King and OVERLORD: The Dark Hero, two omnibus films that serve as recaps for season one.
About A PLUS JAPAN INC.
A PLUS JAPAN INC. is a mobile game publisher with its headquarters in Tokyo and an office in Shanghai.
The company’s mission is to bring fun and surprise to the world by combining its globally influential IP titles with its mobile game development ability to deliver compelling content to the world.
With its strong presence in publishing high-quality and innovative games, A PLUS JAPAN expects to expand beyond its publishing area with more upcoming titles and a new branch office in Singapore.
About Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll connects anime and manga fans across 200+ countries and territories with the content and experiences they love. In addition to free ad-supported and subscription premium content, Crunchyroll serves the anime community across events, theatrical, games, consumer products, collectibles and manga publishing.
Anime fans have access to one of the largest collections of licensed anime through Crunchyroll and translated in multiple languages for viewers worldwide. Viewers can also access simulcasts — top series available immediately after Japanese broadcast.
The Crunchyroll app is available on over 15 platforms, including all gaming consoles.
Crunchyroll, LLC is an independently operated joint venture between US-based Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Japan’s Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., both subsidiaries of Tokyo-based Sony Group.
LONDON (Sept. 17, 2024) – Independent developer Indoor Astronaut today announced in a new trailer that fans can soon take part in the All Aboard! open beta weekend for their chaotic upcoming co-op game Unrailed 2: Back on Track, taking place Sept. 20 – 23* ahead of the game’s launch on Steam Early Access later this year. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2211170/Unrailed_2_Back_on_Track/
Watch today’s Unrailed 2: Back on Track open beta weekend announcement trailer here:
During the upcoming open beta weekend, creative conductors can play solo or alongside three other players for an off-the-rails adventure across two of the game’s unique and perilous biomes. Players will be able to get a sneak peek at some of the brand-new character and locomotive customization options available within the full game as they try their best to gather resources, craft tracks, gain new upgrades and overcome the wild world’s wicked challenges to reach the next station or risk becoming a total train wreck. The open beta weekend also gives players a first look at bosses, an exciting new addition to the series. To take part in the upcoming All Aboard! open beta weekend on Steam, fans can sign up to the Unrailed 2: Back on Track official newsletter via the game’s website at https://unrailed-game.com/.
Curious players eager to see more of the game can look ahead to the game’s upcoming release on Steam Early Access, which features even more diverse biomes and regions, additional permanent upgrades for their characters and trains, challenging boss battles against ferocious fiends and the new Terrain Conductor level editor tool which lets players create truly frantic and one-of-a-kind game worlds.
Unrailed 2: Back on Track will be available on Steam Early Access in 2024. Fans are invited to Wishlist the game now to stay updated for more information or follow theUnrailed! social channels for up-to-date news. For more information visit: https://unrailed-game.com/.
*Dates subject to change.
About Indoor Astronaut:
Indoor Astronaut is a super small indie studio located in Zurich, Switzerland with the goal to make co-op games more cooperative! Visit https://indoorastronaut.ch/
Before there was a “metaverse”, we got an unexpected delivery in the gaming world of Marvel vs Capcom. What started as a gimmick to attract quarters in arcades soon turned into a sensation that would take the world by storm. Despite its success, licensing, and other hiccups would get in the way of proper continuation for the franchise, as it’s been over two generations of consoles since the classic has shown itself in true form. Capcom has heard the aches and cries, however, and has delivered a large set of the classics into one set, dubbed Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics. Does this answer our prayers, or is this nostalgia grab one to leave in the past? Let’s find out.
MARVEL vs. CAPCOM Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics – Gameplay
Story
I suppose there are narratives to all of these games as each features a main antagonist that our heroes are uniting in order to defeat. While X-Men kind of started this crossover with Street Fighter, the franchise would evolve over time with the additions of more Marvel heroes outside of X-Men, with Capcom’s characters also following suit to broaden the roster. By the time we get to Marvel vs Capcom 2, the roster is jam-packed, featuring characters’ household names, as well as faces that have never seen much fanfare in the West. This is how I personally discovered Darkstalkers, and I would imagine it was the same for many others out there. Sure, the narrative isn’t the strong point as that is not what Capcom is known for, however, the gravity of this compilation of characters still feels just as important today, and this collection does well to celebrate that with its hefty inclusion of titles.
Gameplay
I am not going to go through every single aspect of every single title, as most will be buying this for the accessibility to all the games – rather than just to play one. I will state however that this is a very well-compiled slab of ports that all perform identically to how they did in the past. Marvel vs Capcom 2 is still a joy to play, even though it has a few technical issues compared to other, more refined releases that came afterward. As you go back and make it all the way back to X-Men vs Street Fighter, you will notice a dip in quality as the franchise was growing, but you will also notice several mechanics evolve. Playing these titles in succession is a fantastic history lesson, as while they may play a little differently, they still keep the same foundation intact that makes them a franchise.
The Punisher – Full Playthrough – MARVEL vs. CAPCOM Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics
This collection has also taught me one thing I seemed to forget over the years, and that is that I personally suck at fighters. A lot of us do, and that’s why this genre isn’t for everyone. That being said, with Marvel vs Capcom or whichever title you pick, you really don’t have to be good. This is a button mash-fest that revolves around luck and difficulty curves, and that is kind of what made it so appealing to start with. Sure, players can learn the combos and develop superior skills, but it’s easy to just jump in and play this title without getting your ego demolished.
As an example, I started this off with Marvel vs Capcom. I had played all of the fighters here in one form or another over the years, but this was the one I first played in an arcade. I picked a character, quickly got down the basics in the first few matches, and ended up making it to the final boss without much issue. Then I got to Onslaught. I was destroyed. Time and time again I was destroyed. That is where the strategy comes in however, as each character has their own unique feel, speed, techniques, and so on, so I mixed it up and went through almost the whole roster before finding the duo that would eventually conquer this foe. Sure, it’s a lot of button mashing to newcomers, but that becomes more nuanced and steady as you play, and then you organically learn combos and special moves without the need to mash. Has it aged well? Well, yes and no – it is an arcade fighter designed to gobble up quarters, and that hasn’t changed much, but it is a blast to play – as are all the games here.
If I had to pick my least favorite it would be Marvel Super Heroes, but rather than have complaints about the slower gameplay, my issues came down to the gem system that was never my cup of tea, as I felt balancing those gems slowed down the chaos and made it feel like I was treading water, despite my advancements in other titles played. The oddball of this collection is without a doubt The Punisher. It isn’t uncommon for Capcom just to throw in a random game “just because, and that is the role of this beat-em-up. However, it really is a gem here that acts as a pleasant break for the fingers. Players can go solo or with a friend for one of the most over-the-top brawlers in recent memory, and while the game is short, it truly is a joy to play this somewhat stiff but always charming game that I now have a special place for.
There are also the normal Capcom additions in this compilation. Galleries, jukeboxes, and so on, as well as wallpapers and filters to stylize any game to your liking. It’s quite a set and maybe one of the best in Capcom’s recent resume of re-releases, mostly due to how well these games balance each other out.
Audio
The music may be one of the most memorable elements here. From classic Capcom tunes to that infamous “Gonna take you for a ride!”, there is a lot to be happy about as the audio was preserved well and doesn’t miss a beat in keeping the experience fun and fluid. The voice work is all intact as well, and while it isn’t the best by modern standards, most will be fine with the little offerings this cast did years ago to bring these heroes to life.
Visuals
I think this may have been my most jarring part to start with as while these games are in “HD” or at least optimized for modern sets, I kept checking the filters to see if there was a way to make things a bit clearer at first. I don’t know, maybe that is just from my own time spent with crisper visuals without that haze attached, but once I got used to that look, I was fine and right at home again, though I can see why not updating that could push newer fans away. More importantly, the animations were solid and steady, and the net code thus far has not had much slowdown in any way on the PlayStation 5 version I played for this review.
Overall
Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics was really unexpected, but a very welcome sight to see. Sometimes it’s easy to forget about these dormant franchises as when gameplay evolves, they kind of get left in time. This one proves why its accessibility mattered, making for an infinitely enjoyable line of games with a lot to get excited about. The Punisher in this case is just the palette cleanser, but even it in itself is great, rounding out another solid set of re-releases from a publisher that has been really on a roll pleasing the fans that built it. Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is as great as you would have hoped it would be, and is sure to inspire another generation of fans as it dips its toe into a modern playing field.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
The Mana series is one that fans of RPGs have always held close to their hearts despite the fact that, compared to many other RPGs from Square Enix, hasn’t been given as much love throughout the years. In fact, while the beloved Secret of Mana and even Trials of Mana were given 3D remakes over the last few years, there has not been a brand new mainline entry in the franchise for over seventeen years. Thus when it was announced that Square Enix would release a new mainline entry called Visions of Mana with Ouka Studios as the developer, fans were delighted to see the series make a return. The question is, has this developer managed to capture the same magic that other entries have had?
Story
The world of Visions of Mana is a magical one where many species of people exist and thrive with the blessings of the elemental spirits. To sustain this way of living every four years a Faerie is sent around to the various villages throughout the land, each one tied to a specific element and selects a chosen one called the Alm. It is the duty of the Alm to travel to the Mana Tree and sacrifice themselves in order to restore the flow of Mana and continue the cycle of magic and it is the Soul Guard’s job to protect the Alms as they travel to the tree. This practice has continued for generations and Alms often rejoice in being selected as a sacrifice as failure to provide an Alm hangs as a heavy threat among the world since villages that have failed their duty have fallen to disaster and leaving no survivors.
Players take on the role of Val, the freshly selected Soul Guard, who is prepared to set out on his journey with his longtime friend Hinna who has been chosen as the Alm of Fire. Setting out on this journey the pair must travel to the other elemental villages and gather the Alm into their party as they march towards an inevitable sacrifice. Visions of Mana sets itself up as a very poignant tale of those who are cheerfully willing to sacrifice themselves if it means the world continues to spin as normal for their village but it unfortunately feels a little… bland at times as a result of this, especially with how normal most characters treat such a horrible fate.
Thankfully the title isn’t without its own twists and turns, revealing far more details about what is actually happening with the world, why the Alms are needed at all, and plenty of confrontations with those that are trying to make a change, even if it costs them their lives. This helps keep things interesting at fairly relative intervals, at least once the player gets past the slow beginning, and some of these twists end up being quite shocking even for a Mana game. It also helps that the cast of characters that players meet, the ones that actually join them in their adventure at least, are actually quite delightful. Every single one of them is given their own story arc throughout the game, making these characters far more than meets the eye, especially in later parts of the story.
For example, the half-dragon Careena is a brash loudmouthed girl that might seem off putting at first but quickly warms up to be a personal favorite among the cast, Palamena who is a rebellious princess that is also given plenty of time to shine and these are just two examples. In fact, all of the Alms including Val are given time to grow and watching them bond with one another makes for some of the best part of their journey. This colorful cast of characters helps make Visions of Mana’s storyline far better than it initially comes off as, especially thanks to how certain story events play out that we won’t spoil here.
Gameplay
Visions of Mana is an action RPG that will find players traveling through a large variety of surprisingly wide open paths that, while all lead to the same destination, offer plenty of ways to explore. This exploration can involve finding special treasure chests, taking on groups of monsters or even special stronger variants of monsters, and even secrets that players will need to return to later once they obtain better movement abilities. Thankfully the title has a fast travel system so backtracking is usually a very quick affair. In something of an interesting take, rather than having players perform an attack to start a battle or gain advantage, combat can be triggered just by being near an enemy, though it is possible to gain a surprise attack to kick things off.
Every fight happens right there in the environment and, if players are feeling overwhelmed, can flee to the edges for a few moments to run from a fight. That’s rarely ever going to be the case though as Visions of Mana is a surprisingly easy game when it comes to standard encounters and even most boss fights only offer a small level of challenge, so longtime fans of the genre may want to bump the difficulty above normal. That being said, since the game is an action RPG all characters in the party will control relatively the same way. Each one has a standard combo attack, heavy “special” attacks, and of course jumping attacks and dodging. What makes combat far more interesting than simply hacking and slashing at enemies is the fact that every character has a wide array of abilities and spells that are incredibly customizable to the point of excess.
Not only can characters bring three characters into a fight at a time that they can swap to with the tap of a button but these characters all can have unique attack styles and patterns despite the simple mechanics combat is based around. This is enhanced even further through the Elementals system that can be equipped to a character and vastly change their combat style. As players progress through the game they will ally with various Elementals and, when equipped to a character, will either change or enhance the class they are already fighting as. For example Val can wield a regular sword, a massive claymore, or even a spear and shield depending on the elemental he has equipped while Careena may start with simply a spear she can be one of the first drastic changes as, equipped with the wind elemental, she’ll fight using fan blades in a dancer class. As characters battle using these different classes they can unlock abilities for each class on their “Elemental Path” using points earned through fighting and, eventually, some of these abilities can even be used by all possible classes the character can use if invested enough.
This level of customization when it comes to party members is already an impressive offering, especially for an action RPG but Visions of Mana goes a step further. Not only can each elemental vessel be used to unleash a powerfully devastating attack that requires a fully charged gauge to unleash but every character can equip certain “seeds” that will improve their stats or offer bonus skills as well. These ability seeds contain various passive and active skills and can help augment a character’s health, strength, or resistances or provide a number of powerful magical skills or abilities that they otherwise wouldn’t have access to. Initially the amount of seeds a character can equip is limited to two but this limit expands quite a bit through the game and players will rarely find themselves wanting for seeds unless they skip out on exploration as seeds are often found within treasure chests or even obtained through completing side-quests.
It is a bit unfortunate however that, while there are many wide open areas to explore in Visions of Mana, including the eventual ability to use steeds to traverse certain areas even quicker, the side-quests that players can accept from characters in the towns they come across are some of the most run of the mill types of busywork around. If nothing else, players can see what the reward is for completing a side-quest and if it is even worth their effort beforehand.
Audio & Visuals
Visions of Mana is a rather gorgeous looking game with so many wonderful looking environments to explore and it also happens to thrive off of nostalgia at times. Many signature enemies that appeared in the classic games return here with updated models which is a nice touch. As for the character models themselves, the main cast has a great stylistic approach to their designs and it is nice to note that their clothing also changes with their class, giving players some extra variety besides simply changing the weapon and abilities they wield. It is a bit unfortunate to note that the cutscenes that feature characters actually talking to one another, despite how charming and interesting the interactions might be, the animations for dialogue are incredibly stiff and seem out of place in a game as nice looking as this one.
As mentioned a bit before, the English voice cast for Visions of Mana does a wonderful job with their characters and it is quite surprising to see some of the different accents the game plays with. This level of voice acting does wonders to make the character interactions even better, and, as said before, help carry the story. The soundtrack features a collection of solid background music with some real great tracks mixed in throughout, especially in more dire moments and boss battles.
Overall
Visions of Mana manages to survive the Mana series’ long time on ice and helps establish itself as a new solid entry in the franchise. With some very enjoyable and highly customizable combat mechanics and a great cast of characters that helps carry the somewhat lackluster storyline through to its end, this action RPG is one that manages to deliver a gorgeous looking experience despite its flaws.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
I recently covered The Plucky Squire in a preview, but now that I’ve had the chance to dive into the full version of the game, I’m back with a more detailed exploration. The timing of this deep dive couldn’t be better, as I’ve been craving a high-quality puzzle platformer lately. What caught my attention with The Plucky Squire is its intriguing mechanic of switching between 2D and 3D perspectives, which introduces a dynamic layer to the gameplay. Furthermore, I must reiterate that, as a fan of Devolver Digital, I have yet to encounter a game from this publisher that hasn’t lived up to expectations. With its stunning artwork, intuitive yet challenging puzzles, and some downright hilarious boss fights, The Plucky Squire seems to have all the makings of a memorable adventure. So, let’s journey back into the whimsical world of this magical picture book, shall we?
The Plucky Squire Gameplay
Story
I’ve already gone through most of the story in the preview so I’ll try to summarize it here. There is a nameless magical land in a picture book filled with magical creatures, scary monsters, and (of course) an evil wizard. The evil wizard Humgrump is destined to lose from our protagonist Jot over and over again. After all, every story needs to have a happy ending, right?
However, the plot takes a fascinating turn when Humgrump becomes self-aware of his existence within the book. In a desperate bid to change his fate, he rewrites the narrative, banishing Jot from the picture book and thrusting him into our 3D world, which is both bewildering and perilous. Jot now finds himself navigating a strange new dimension, encountering quirky companions such as talking snails and perpetually hungry cats. It’s up to Jot to find his way back into the 2D realm, solve intricate puzzles, fend off adorable yet formidable monsters, and ultimately confront Humgrump to restore the story’s balance.
Gameplay
The gameplay of The Plucky Squire is a little bit of everything thrown in. You have your adventurous sections where you just have to swing your sword at the enemies and avoid their telegraphed attacks. Then there are puzzle sections where you have to jumble a couple of words in a puzzling text (puzzling heh, see what I did there) until you get a solution that will open you a new path.
As you might imagine, the combat in The Plucky Squire is nothing revolutionary. You try to hit enemies faster than they get a jump on you, avoid their attacks, go for openings, and win. It’s that easy! Boss fights are a whole different story (and they feel like they were taken from other games) since every one of them is a different mini-game where you either need to win in a boxing match against a badger, shoot some arrows a la Robin Hood or try to catch a slippery fish for the win.
Puzzles are also pretty straightforward once you get the gist of them. Let’s say you enter an area with a large closed door and there is a sentence on the ground saying “These doors are closed.” It’s describing exactly what you see, right? Except there is a word not far away that says “open”. What you need to do is to take that word and replace it in a sentence instead of “closed” and voila, the doors are open now. The more you progress the more intricate and complicated such puzzles are even though they all follow the same premise. Later on, you’ll have to find the necessary words in previous pages (by leaving the picture book yourself and flipping the pages to go back the puzzles will slowly “level up” as you move through the story.
Visuals
As I said, the game will often switch from 2D to 3D where the main goal will be pretty much to get back into the book. I have to say that I like the 2D sections much more since they seem designed with so many details and love while the 3D sections kinda look like they were cobbled together with free Unity assets. Every new chapter in The Plucky Squire feels like a story on its own while introducing new characters, and new platforming gimmicks, and all of that will often conclude in a hilarious boss fight or a mini-game.
Some 3D sections in The Plucky Squire occasionally steal the spotlight, such as the makeshift cardboard castle level, which is a delightful and visually striking departure from the norm but still, the picture book levels are where the game really shines.
Audio
As far as this segment goes, The Plucky Squire has some incredible voice work and the characters are all hilarious – no exceptions! It’s a shame that voice acting isn’t more present in the game since I really love that narrator. Everything else in The Plucky Squire, including some events that progress the story, will have the usual moving text bubbles and that’s pretty much it.
When it comes to music, the game features a charming soundtrack that complements its whimsical aesthetic. The tunes are catchy and fit well within the fantasy theme, though none of the tracks stand out as particularly memorable. The music serves its purpose effectively, enhancing the overall experience without becoming intrusive or repetitive.
Overall
What makes the overall formula of The Plucky Squire is that, as you play, the game tries a little bit of everything. A somewhat hectic mix of puzzle platforming and chasing collectibles that sticks the landing. One thing I would hold against The Plucky Squire is a bit disappointing length of The Plucky Squire and overall game difficulty that’s a walk in the park on both settings. In any case, in the end, it is a cute little platformer with unique gameplay gimmicks that’s definitely worth your time.
capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
