STOCKHOLM – September 2nd, 2024 – Today Paradox Arc and CoolAndGoodGames unveiled a new trailer for their upcoming game Starminer. In Starminer, players design and build an interstellar mining fleet to harvest valuable minerals from deep space and sell them for profit. However, unchecked greed can attract dangerous attention. Players must deploy warships and defense platforms to protect their fleet and push the boundaries of space. The new trailer introduces mining and exploiting space.
About Paradox Arc
Paradox ARC incubates and publishes deep, replayable games from studios with great ideas, including the titles Across the Obelisk, Mechabellum and Starminer.
Our mission is to cultivate long-term relationships with talented teams from around the world, build an exciting portfolio for players to enjoy over many years, and find future video game franchises for Paradox Interactive.
Paradox Arc is an initiative that is wholly owned and financed by Paradox Interactive.
MONTERREY, Mexico – September 2nd, 2024 – Funky Can Creative returns with PopSlinger Vol. 2 – Loveless, the highly anticipated sequel to the vibrant musical shooter that captured the hearts of fans worldwide. Launching on Nintendo Switch and Steam in October 9, 2024, this new chapter builds on everything players loved about the original, delivering a fresh and evolved experience with a bold new story, enhanced mechanics, and an all-new coffee-powered twist.
Take control of Agent Cooper McLaren of the Juncture Against Various Anomalies (JAVA) and Akane 2.0, a reformed digital idol, as they embark on a mission to rescue Ria, the heroine of the first game, who has mysteriously disappeared. Their journey takes them into the bizarre and unpredictable Purple District, where they must face off against the powerful Loveless Sisters in a battle for control. But this time, the fight isn’t just fueled by soda—Cooper brings an all-new coffee-based arsenal to the table, adding a rich new flavor to the action.
PopSlinger Vol. 2 – Loveless introduces an evolved combat system that expands upon the foundation of the original. Players can now unleash powerful new abilities like enemy-stunning summons and utilize an improved Dream Time system integrated into a beat ‘em up-inspired special bar. With the introduction of black and white enemies and the ability to switch between digital soda and coffee-powered attacks, the game offers fresh challenges that push strategic play to new heights. Multiple difficulty settings allow players of all skill levels to enjoy the game, while a new Time Attack mode offers additional replayability by challenging players to beat the clock in increasingly difficult scenarios.
Explore the Purple District, an evolved and more chaotic version of the original game’s Purple Lounge. Traverse crazier, more imaginative environments—from shrine-like baseball stadiums to Thunderdome-esque kingdoms—all brimming with unique enemy types. The game’s expanded retro-tech theme shines through, with Cooper’s coffee-themed weapons and Akane’s virtual pet-inspired design adding layers of nostalgia and innovation to the game’s aesthetic.
The sequel also takes the series’ iconic music to the next level, blending City Pop, Future Funk, French House, New Jack Swing, and now Punk/Pop Punk to create an electrifying and immersive audio experience. With more vocal tracks and diverse genres, the soundtrack plays an even more integral role in setting the tone and enhancing the game’s rhythm-driven gameplay. PopSlinger Vol. 2 – Loveless also introduces a Latin American Spanish dub, expanding its accessibility and appeal to a broader global audience.
PopSlinger Vol. 2 – Loveless is more than just a sequel; it’s an evolution of everything that made the original game special. The “New Retro” art style has been upgraded to bring even more life and color to the game’s world, while the narrative dives deeper into themes of family drama, mystery, and retro-tech, all wrapped in a vibrant, Saturday morning cartoon aesthetic. This is PopSlinger as you’ve never seen it before—bigger, bolder, and more stylish than ever.
“We’ve taken everything that players loved about the first PopSlinger and evolved it to new heights,” said Jose Luis Abreu, founder of Funky Can Creative. “With fresh characters, upgraded mechanics, and a groovy soundtrack, we can’t wait for players to experience this next chapter in the PopSlinger universe.”
To learn more about PopSlinger Vol. 2 – Loveless, visit the game’s official website, follow @FunkyCanDev on X/Twitter, @funkycancreative on Instagram, and like the studio’s Facebook page.
About Funky Can Creative
Based out of Mexico, Funky Can Creative is an award-winning studio founded in 2020 as a way to create an outlet for expressive developers during difficult times amidst lack of opportunities. The team’s main goal is to create expressive, memorable and musically-charged titles with influences of both Latin American and Japanese culture. PopSlinger Vol.2 Loveless is the studio’s second title.
Explore 663 Games’ new dark narrative-driven detective game and get a first look at ‘The Shadow’.
Guangzhou, China – 2nd September 2024. Publisher 663 Games and developer Shadowlight Sanctuary invite you to explore the dark world of the upcoming narrative-driven detective role-playing game Kill the Shadow in an all-new gameplay trailer.
Coming to PC in late 2024, Kill the Shadow transports you to an alternative post-war divided city brought to life with a mix of highly detailed 3D environments and 2D pixel art characters. Take on the role of Detective Ah’Guang as you investigate a series of murders. Use your eloquence, intelligence and the ability to rewind time (or even violence) to piece together the evidence of the bizarre cases and unravel the shocking secrets lurking behind them. Justice or love? The decision is in your hands.
This new trailer immerses you in the gritty streets of Darkwater as Ah’Guang uses his powers of deduction and persuasion to investigate a series of bizarre murders plaguing the city. But there are more profound mysteries revealed with the first look at the sinister ‘Shadow’ which clings to the detective’s back. . .
Fans can also get some firsthand experience with Kill the Shadow by downloading the free Steam playable demo! Head over to the Steam page and download now!
Watch the new Kill the Shadow gameplay trailer below
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X331F1jAjp0
Kill the Shadow is a suspenseful narrative-driven detective role playing game. Investigate a series of bizarre murders in different areas of the Darkwater city: the missing Master Ruan at the temple fair, the sudden death of Wangcai, the grudges at the Shipwreck, and the dismembered limbs in the sewers.
Find the lost memories of the city and piece together the truth of its division from ten years ago. Unravel the truth – kill, judge, or even kiss (?) the mastermind behind it all.
Features:
Hints and Evidence – Freely choose how you enhance your abilities—strength, spirit, charm—and select your own methods to investigate cases—psychological warfare? Bribery? Or simply beating your suspects? Deduction System: Collect, analyze, and connect related clues to create your own unique investigation path
Seeing the Past – “The Shadow”, a strange creature attached to you that reads memories and reconstructs the traces of the deceased “Don’t worry, Ah’Guang, we’re just using each other. You use me to find the culprit, and I, well, I love tasting those bizarre stories, hahaha!”, says the Shadow.
The Ways of the World – Meet various characters in the city: the energetic girl with a camera, the elegant Mrs. Ruan, the rumoured goddess who can cast spells, and the elderly fish-selling lady. Discover the stories behind them. Encounter characters like the self-righteous Captain Wang, Lao Citou’s son Xiao Citou, the foul-mouthed Little Rascal, and the deceased Master Ruan. Earn the hearts of your favourite characters by completing certain events!
Retro and Neon – The combination of 3D environments and 2D pixel art characters creates a unique artistic style with a striking contrast between modern and retro aesthetics. Explore a variety of diverse and freely explorable scenes: the dilapidated steel forest factory, the muddy shipwreck dock built on water, the Zhulong Walled City blending the fictional traditional Ma Island and Imperial culture, and the bustling old city district.
Kill the Shadow will be released for PC via Steamin late 2024. Fans can add the game to their Wishlist now and try the free demo from Steam. Join the Kill the Shadow Discord channel for all the latest news.
About 663 Games
663 Games is a newly established publishing label committed to premium and indie game publishing on PC, consoles, and mobile platforms. The company, headquartered in China, was founded by a team of passionate gamers and industry veterans. The team had a proven track record of achieving global success with several titles previously, offering extensive experience and resources for worldwide publishing, along with unique advantages for a strong presence in the Chinese market. The team empathises with the financial challenges that independent developers and small teams often encounter, and 663 Games is dedicated to providing them with funding support to help bring their creative visions to life. As a new, ambitious and trustworthy global publisher, 663 Games collaborates closely with developers to ensure commercial success.
Yumia and friends set out on a quest to discover the truth behind the fall of the Aladissian Empire in the game’s spectacular first trailer
Hertfordshire,2nd September 2024 – Today, KOEI TECMO Europe and developer Gust are proud to unveil the latest instalment in the fan-favourite Atelier series, Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land. To celebrate the announcement, an action-packed trailer was released, giving fans their first glimpse of the story, characters, and gameplay awaiting them in this new magical JRPG adventure. The stunning main artwork by beloved artist Benitama was also revealed, giving players an insight into the tone of the upcoming game. Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land will be available on 21st March, 2025 for Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Windows PC via Steam® and, for the first time in franchise history, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.
Discover the first trailer of Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land on YouTube.
In a world where alchemy has become taboo and is considered evil, Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land follows the adventures of Yumia Liessfeldt, and her companions as they seek to uncover the truth behind the fall of the Aladissian Empire, which once thrived with alchemy, and the memories of a lost history. Yumia’s quest will take her across a ruined continent and despite the uncertainties of confronting her past, she will need to create her own path if she hopes to unravel the mysteries behind the cataclysm that destroyed Aladiss.
Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land takes players on a journey exploring the theme of memory. Playing as Yumia Liessfeldt, a young alchemist who lost her mother in an accident when she was young, players set out to uncover the forbidden art of alchemy while also learning the true intentions of Yumia’s mother, who hid her identity as an alchemist. Along the way, Yumia joins the Aladiss Research Team where she meets Viktor von Duerer and his younger sister, Isla von Duerer. There, they are also joined by an assorted cast of characters including a mysterious woman, a timid demi-human, and a former adventurer with spectacular experiences.
Together, Yumia and her companions will travel across the vast continent that was once the Aladissian Empire, where all civilization has perished. Players will have a wide range of actions and items at their disposal throughout the adventure, allowing them to explore a vast open world made up of different biomes as they make their way through these unknown lands. As they explore, players can gather materials and synthesis items, which can be used to synthesise and craft new items for use in their quest, both during exploration and combat. Not only fans will be able to craft items without having to return to their base thanks to the “Simple Synthesis” feature, but for the first time in the series, fans will be able to build, furnish and decorate their own base with the “Building” feature.
To help the game come alive, KOEI TECMO and developer Gust have teamed up with the brilliant artist Benitama to create the main visual and all of the character designs. Specialising in creating illustrations and character designs for various fantasy game titles, Benitama incorporates references to paintings and reliefs in his work while striving to balance both persuasive depth and cuteness. His design, characterised by a monochrome based style, gives a cool impression while bringing out the charm of the Atelier series.
Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land will be available on 21st March 2025 for Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Window PC via Steam®. The game will include Japanese voices with English, French, German and Spanish texts. For more information, visit the official website, Like us on Facebook, Join us on the KOEI TECMO Europe Discord server, and Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
ABOUT KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD.
KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD. is a publisher of interactive entertainment software for current generation consoles, handhelds and digital download content based in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, UK. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD., headquartered in Yokohama, Japan. KOEI TECMO’s best known for their signature ‘one versus thousands’ Warriors series, the fan-favourite Ninja Gaiden and fighting entertainment title Dead or Alive. Through collaboration with strong existing franchises, such as A.O.T. Wings of Freedom (Attack on Titan), has brought fan-favourite shows to life in video game form. The company’s desire for innovation and diversity has seen the creation of the critically acclaimed dark-samurai action title Nioh, which takes on new and unique gameplay styles. The company’s acquisition of GUST, developer of a variety of heart-warming titles, has seen their flagship Atelier series span generations of consoles and fans alike. More information about KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD and its products can be found at www.koeitecmoeurope.com
M2 — the same developers responsible for Castlevania Adventure Rebirth for the Nintendo Wii in 2009 — did a great job porting these highly requested Nintendo DS classics to current systems. We take a brief but thorough look at all three DSvanias (Castlevania Order of Ecclesia, Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin, Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow) and show how their dual-screen gimmicks were adapted for use with modern controllers.
Castlevania Dominus Collection – Gameplay
Haunted Castle (JP) & Haunted Castle Revisted – Full Playthrough
Haunted Castle is heavily criticized within the Castlevania fandom, and rightly so. It had potential but was released as a game that felt clunky and incomplete.
Haunted Castle Revisited completely overhauls the old pixel art, giving it a fresh and crisp new look. The gameplay also feels new, with rebalanced mechanics and remade stages and bosses. We showcase full playthroughs of both games so you can draw your own conclusions.
Haunted Castle (JP) & Haunted Castle Revisted – Full Playthrough
Three incredible action adventure games from the Castlevania series have finally returned, for the first time! But wait, there’s more! Haunted Castle Revisited, a redesigned version of the very first Castlevania arcade game, makes its debut!
Castlevania Dominus Collection Developer: KONAMI Publisher: KONAMI Platform: Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S Release Date: 28 Aug, 2024 Price: $24.99 USD
Recommended – “As a long-time fan, I’d pay the price of admission for Haunted Castle Revisited alone. The fact that players also get three of the best metroidvanias ever released is just too good a deal to pass.”
Immerse yourself in a fascinating paper world, where every fold and shadow tells a magical story of courage and mystery
Madrid, Spain – 2nd September 2024. Meridiem is pleased to announce that Papetura Craft Edition, will be launching for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5 on November 5 as a physical retail edition across European specialist stores.
Developed by Petums and digitally published by Feardemic, Papetura is an intriguing adventure and puzzle game handcrafted from paper cutouts offering players a unique visual gameplay experience.
Meridiem is responsible for the design and manufacture of this physical version of Papetura, and the release of the Craft Edition will include a specially designed case containing an exquisite art book and a code to download the original game soundtrack.
Players control Pape, a small paper being who, along with his friend Tura, must save their world from a mysterious fiery threat. The gameplay is based on interaction with the environment, using Pape and Tura’s unique abilities to solve various challenges and advance the story.
Watch the trailer for Papetura below
Puzzle design and narrative intertwine to create a cohesive and fluid experience. The puzzles are designed to be intuitive, integrating naturally with the paper environment. The narrative unfolds without dialogue, using animations and the visual environment to tell an emotional and immersive story.
Papetura received positive reviews for its unique visual style and handcrafted design. Critics praised Tomasz Ostafin’s creativity and dedication in creating the paper world and Floex’s atmospheric music. In addition, Papetura has received several awards and recognition in the video game industry.
Features
Experience a unique point & click experience, where the story is told through unique animations and sounds. There is no dialogue.
Everything is made of paper, from small insects and creatures to strange monsters, and truly magical places.
A beautiful and ambient soundtrack composed by Floex and Tomas Dvorak
The puzzles are part of the story, as they unlock the intriguing narrative
Papetura Craft Edition will be released in a physical boxed version for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5 on 5th November 2024.
We are Meridiem, a video game publisher and distributor in love with its culture, which we protect and pass on in order to preserve it. We do this by fostering talent through investment in independent projects with potential, bringing back classic titles, promising indies and AAA games while continuing to support the physical format.
When we stop working on video games, we celebrate by playing video games.
About Petums
Little one man studio, hand-crafting and designing games, putting heart and soul into paper.
About Feardemic
Feardemic is a publisher of computer games and their related entertainment products. The company is a specialist in the publishing of games that contain a strong horror narrative. Feardemic publishes predominately games developed by third parties and publishes games on PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo consoles.
Warner Bros. Games have debuted a gameplay walkthrough trailer for Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions, giving fans an in-depth look at the game’s PvP (player versus player) Mode, customisation, skill tree, Broom upgrades, Career Mode and more.
In PvP, each player controls one of their team’s Chasers as well as a role of their choice from Chaser, Keeper, Beater or Seeker.
In Career Mode, players begin their Quidditch careers at the Weasley Burrow in the Garden Cup, then take on the challenge of the Hogwarts House Quidditch Cup, where they’ll choose their Hogwarts house and face off against familiar characters such as Cedric Diggory and Draco Malfoy. From there, players will represent one of the three great wizarding schools, Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, Durmstrang Institute, or Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the renowned Triwizard Schools Quidditch Cup. Finally, players will take on the ultimate Quidditch challenge on the global stage competing in the Quidditch World Cup.
Players can tailor their playstyle by earning skill points to boost their stats and learn special moves. They can also upgrade their brooms to improve maximum speed, agility, and more. All game content is only earnable through in-game progression and cannot be purchased with real-world currency.
View the Official Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions Launch Gameplay Walkthrough
Featuring iconic wizarding world locations, characters, and references that fans will love, Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions highlights the rush of flying across legendary arenas as either a Beater, Chaser, Keeper, or Seeker in a variety of modes including single player career mode, competitive multiplayer and online co-op. From backyard battles in the Weasley Burrow to high-stakes showdowns at the Quidditch World Cup, players will soar into legendary arenas playing as – or against – iconic characters such as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Ginny Weasley, Draco Malfoy, Cho Chang and many others. And as a special gift, players who own Hogwarts Legacy will receive the Bonus Legacy Pack* when they download Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions and connect to their WB Games account.
Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions releases on September 3, 2024 for the Digital Standard and Deluxe Editions on Xbox, PC (Steam and Epic), & PlayStation. The Physical Deluxe Edition will be available for PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One on Nov. 8, 2024. The Nintendo Switch™ system edition will be released this holiday season. Players can check with their preferred retailers for pre-order availability for the Physical Deluxe Editions.
Additionally, the Standard Edition of Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions** will be available at no extra charge to all PlayStation®Plus members from Sept. 3 to Sept. 30, 2024. The Firebolt Supreme Broom Skin will also be available as a redeemable pack, available during this time for PlayStation®Plus members. PlayStation®Plus members who download the game during this window will continue to have access to the game for as long as they remain a member.
*Exclusively in Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions for all Hogwarts Legacy players. You must own a copy of Hogwarts Legacy and connect it to your WB Games account.
**Standard Edition available from 09/03/24 – 09/30/24. Monthly Games accessible for duration of PS Plus subscription only. PS Plus is an ongoing subscription with recurring fees until cancelled. Age restrictions apply. Full terms: play.st/psplus-usageterms.
Bandai Namco Europe today announced that GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE-Nintendo Switch Editionwill arrive on Nintendo Switch on 23rd January 2025. Pre-orders for the physical edition have also started today.
Click here to watch the Nintendo Switch trailer:
The GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE-Nintendo Switch Edition includes the game’s 28 characters (from the base as well as the 3 Season Pass) as well as the graphics and fast-paced gameplay that the 3 million players that have joined the game since its release have come to love. The rollback netcode is also available allowing players to have smooth online battles in all parts of the world.
For more information about GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE-Nintendo Switch Edition and other titles from Bandai Namco Europe please visit: https://www.bandainamcoent.eu. Follow us on Facebook,Instagram, Tik Tok or join the conversation on X.
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About Bandai Namco Europe S.A.S.
Bandai Namco Europe S.A.S. is a leading global publisher and developer of entertainment content for platforms including, but not limited to, all major video game consoles and PC.
Bandai Namco Europe is producing intellectual property for a global audience and is building its reputation with franchises such as LITTLE NIGHTMARES™, PARK BEYOND™, and the upcoming UNKNOWN 9™ Awakening – developed by the recently acquired Reflector Entertainment based in Montreal, QC.
Bandai Namco Europe serves as the Headquarters of Bandai Namco Holdings Inc. for mainland Europe, which is known for creating and publishing many of the Toy & Entertainment industry’s top franchises, including PAC-MAN™, TAMAGOTCHI™, GUNDAM™, TEKKEN™, DARK SOULS™ and the recently released ELDEN RING™.
There have been a wide-array of Star Wars games ever since the incredibly popular franchise started licensing itself out. One thing that nearly all of these games had in common though was the fact that if players weren’t playing as a pilot controlling a star ship the whole time, they were almost always a Jedi of sorts instead. There have been a few different games that have explored various elements of Star Wars‘ vast potential, including an MMO followed by an even grander MMO, but few that actually placed players into the boots of an everyday character trying to survive in a world where entire planets can be destroyed by space stations. As such we find ourselves here with Star Wars Outlaws that looks to set itself apart a bit by doing just that, telling a story about a roguish lead looking to make her way through the galaxy by any means necessary.
Story
Kay Vess has had a fairly hard life, eking out a living doing small crimes and other odd jobs when she can land them on the streets of Canto Bight. While Canto Bight might be a luxury world for the rich where they can gamble on races and party away, it is also a hive of scum and villainy down below where a rising crime boss has solidified himself as a newly feared face in the underworld.When Kay, along with her little Merqaal companion Nix, hear of a big score that might finally allow them to get off of the world they’ve found themselves trapped on since Kay was a child it seems almost too good to be true.
Of course, when things go wrong, Kay still manages to escape with a star ship of her very own but unfortunately a Death Mark as well, with a high enough bounty on her head that Kay’s plans to retire on a fancy planet somewhere nothing more than a fleeting dream. With a damaged ship, a bounty on her head, and only the few credits she had on her, Kay eventually finds some help, a bit of backstabbing, and another chance at a score that might just put her life back on track, even if it means assembling an entire crew herself and going for one big heist yet again with the help of yet another mysterious character.
Star Wars Outlaws manages to blend together the classic “heist” formula and the Star Wars lore together in rather exceptional fashion here even if some of the parts of the story itself are a bit lacking. As Kay puts together her crew for the heist by tracking down experts she’ll travel to various signature planets and locations that any Star Wars fan should be familiar with and, since the game is set between The Empire Strikes Back and The Return of the Jedi, there are plenty of references to events that happened over the course of the films, things happening that will be referenced in the next, some namedrops, and of course plenty of little easter eggs for fans to enjoy all while they chart Kay’s own journey through the stars.
The unfortunate part here is that while Kay herself is a pretty solid character that has a quick wit and charisma that makes her just as likely to take someone’s hand as she is to stab them in the back as well, a lot of the other characters players interact with don’t. This is mostly due to the fact that while these characters may seem interesting when interacting with Kay, they rarely end up actually interacting with one another in any meaningful way. This is likely due to the fact that, after a certain point, the game’s “open world” nature allows players to recruit characters in any order they see fit but it does feel like a missed opportunity. It is also worth noting that Nix is a wonderful little companion both story wise and mechanically. Not only are Kay’s interaction with her companion always fun, be it taking part in a gorgeously overdone mini-game involving street food, following Nix towards a treasure it wants to collect, or siccing it at an enemy’s face, a companion animal/creature is always a bonus in a game and it certainly is here in Star Wars Outlaws.
One thing that is nice to note is that Star Wars Outlaws really manages to feel like it takes place in the universe itself, a lived in and breathing set of locations where players can even gather intel for small side-quests by finding datapads or eavesdropping on conversations. Alongside the various characters that Kay meets she will also have to make plenty of deals with the various criminal factions and run into Imperials as well. The factions system is unfortunately rather underwhelming, especially in regards to how it actually plays into the grander tale. Again, this is likely the writers not wanting to deviate too hard depending on who players are working with the most, but some more variation here would have been nice.
Gameplay
Star Wars Outlaws is, at its heart, an open world game that takes quite a bit of time to actually open itself up to players. Once players are finally free to do as they please they’ll find that many of the worlds they can explore are filled with optional tasks, little set pieces to explore, and quite a bit more. This is mostly handled through gathering intel by listening in on conversations, reading datapads, or even purchasing it from merchants, taking contracts from contacts at local cantinas and even just zipping around on Kay’s land speeder. Of course, a lot of these optional activities and exploration will also bring players face to face with the faction system involving the various criminal syndicates.
These syndicates all have their own territories that will differ from world to world and, depending on Kay’s status with the faction, will either allow her to fast travel and freely walk into the location and trade with special traders or shoot her on sight. Oddly enough, even with the maximum reputation with a faction each location still has areas that are completely “restricted” and will possibly trigger a fight. Along these same lines, there are actions players can take completely out of sight of anyone else and still suffer reputation loss, such as stealing or knocking out a guard when no one is looking. That being said, there really isn’t much of a punishment for actually having a low status with a faction and since players can sell certain types of data to each faction and contracts for them even if they hate Kay, fixing a bad reputation is incredibly easy. Of course, since most of the rewards for having high reputation are rather simple outside of some exclusive items, the faction reputation system feels surprisingly lackluster at times, especially in regards to the story as we’ve mentioned before.
When players are actually out exploring the fastest way outside of fast travel is with Kay’s speeder. The speeder, which has its own set of upgrades and even a skill tree related to it, is fairly impressive though players might get a bit frustrated at the fact that some of the slightest ridges can send Kay flying off the speeder and taking damage. It is also incredibly strange that players cannot pull out Kay’s blaster while on the speeder and instead she must simply run away from any pursuing enemies, take enough damage to build up her time-slowing instant kill shots, or just get off the speeder and shoot them. Why? No idea. As for space combat, players will find that it is actually quite impressive as Kay’s spaceship has a fittingly in-universe targeting computer that will highlight where players should aim to properly hit enemy ships and even lock onto them with missiles.
Once players find where they need to go the on-foot traversal is mostly simple and features plenty of climbing sections. Kay can travel up walls and ledges with the best of them and swing across anchor points as well as use them to ascend and descend to reach various locations. In fact, there are even little hazards from time to time, especially during longer sections involving the platforming and climbing sections, that help keep things feeling fresh and dangerous. It is also nice to note that while players can choose to have the game highlight traversal objects with signature paint or even have Nix highlight some things, there is the option to turn it off entirely should they wish.
While it was pretty clear that Star Wars Outlaws would see players taking a more stealthy approach to some encounters, it is a bit shocking at just how much of the game’s primary missions and even side-missions focus entirely on stealth. While this wouldn’t be too bad, these are the type of stealth missions where getting caught at all results in an instant failure and a loss of some significant progress at times thanks to the fact that players cannot save during these moments and must rely on an unreliable checkpoint system instead. It also doesn’t help that the actual tools players have for stealth, especially right at the start, are incredibly shallow. Kay’s blaster has a stun-shot that takes forever to recharge, standard stealth takedowns, and of course Nix to either distract an enemy or even attack them so Kay can rush them for a fast and dirty elimination. Of course, when the game isn’t forcing an instant failure on players caught while sneaking or fearing that an enemy might reach an alarm panel, there is always the option of going loud with some similarly shallow feeling combat.
Kay will only ever carry her blaster during a fight and while it can be upgraded over time with different modules such as electric shots to deal more damage to shields or droids or rapid fire blaster rounds to turn her blaster into an automatic, any other weapon must be grabbed when it occasionally drops from an enemy and even then these weapons have a limited ammo count. As mentioned before, Kay will build up adrenaline during fights that can be used to activate a slow down skill that allows players to mark multiple enemies and, unless they are a heavy enemy or shielded, instantly kill them with a chain of shots. Players can make use of tools before and during combat, with binoculars that have a signature Star Wars feel to them that can mark various enemy locations as well as grenades and smoke grenades. Unfortunately actually using these during combat is incredibly annoying as it relies on using the D-Pad to select one and use it, halting the flow of battle entirely.
Through everything in Star Wars Outlaws Kay will have one certainty at her side, her pal Nix. This helpful little guy is a jack-of-all trades that is useful in almost every single aspect of the game be it pointing out enemy locations, vents, and even grapple points during stealth and exploration, even unlocking the ability to highlight chests eventually, he can even take part in a wide array of actions of his own. Nix can be commanded to roll around like a playful pet to distract guards while Kay sneaks by, sent to attack their face for Kay to takedown a foe, tear apart an alarm panel or even set things up to explode. When not out in the field there are also lovely little moments where Kay can take part in elaborate street food segments with Nix, hunt down treasures that can be turned into accessories for the little guy, or even be used to cheat at the fairly elaborate Sabacc card game that is fully realized here as an optional mini-game.
Players will also be doing plenty of mini-games involving “splicing” computers and “data picking” locks. The rhythm based lockpicking is a unique choice but one that feels more annoying than rewarding after a while and splicing is also an interesting take on hacking. The accessibility options available within the game, the same one that can be used to adjust the exploration helping paint, can also be used here to make these actions trivial if needed and allows for a shockingly high level of customization for player experience. Players can make things incredibly easy or crank the difficulty to eleven by turning settings higher than even the highest difficulty allows should they wish. As far as bugs go, we did experience a few though each of them were solvable through reloading a previous save. This includes a few instances of clipping into, and getting stuck inside, rocks while exploring and an instance that a forced stealth mission saw Kay with an invisible and non removable Wanted level from the Imperials right at the start, insta-failing the mission every time.
Audio & Visuals
It is pretty clear that a lot of attention has been paid to make it feel like Star Wars Outlaws takes place within the setting proper as players will encounter a wide array of aliens, droids, and of course other humans that look just like fans of the franchise expect them to look. This includes the grander designs of starships, Imperial bases, other smaller vehicles, and of course the designs of the planets themselves. Zipping along on Kay’s speeder on Tatooine and seeing a sandcrawler in the distance or dipping into a cantina to gamble with numerous other races feels like a perfect fit for the Star Wars galaxy. That being said, while we did play on the “balanced” graphic setting to try and maintain solid frame rate and graphics at the same time, the character models aren’t the best looking in-game though this is likely due to how amazing they are presented in cut-scenes as they were designed separately.
The voice work for the game is handled well enough with Kay’s voice actress putting in a great performance for her character, especially during some of the few emotional moments that happen throughout the story, while other characters are also given the same level of treatment even if they often feel underutilized. As for the soundtrack, fans of the franchise will feel right at home with most of the background music throughout the game including the signature sounds of the blasters, TIE fighters, and other Star Wars elements.
Overall
Massive Entertainment has taken the Star Wars galaxy and done their best to put a new spin on things with Star Wars Outlaws by offering a more unique approach to the usual Ubisoft open world game. Traveling through the worlds, be it in space, on speeder, or even jumping from ledge to ledge is enjoyable and the world’s themselves are just dripping with everything that fans of the franchise will love, but unfortunately the gameplay itself often feels lackluster in places or simply too simple. This means that while Star Wars Outlaws might feel and look just like the open world Star Wars game oozing with charm that fans have been waiting for, it doesn’t quite deliver. At least Nix is still a permanent highlight.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Experience a whimsical journey in Closed Beta Test, pre-register on mobile platforms today
SINGAPORE – 21 Aug. 2024 – A new trailer for Infinity Nikki, the latest installment of the beloved Nikki series with more than 100 million downloads worldwide, debuted today at Gamescom’s Opening Night Live. Signups are now open for the (UE5) cozy open-world RPG’s global Closed Beta Test. Developer Infold Games will open pre-registration on Google Play and the Apple App Store today ahead of the official launch on PlayStation 5, PC, Android, and iOS.
Watch the Opening Night Live trailer here! Check out the new demo featuring a full English voice-over as well as German localization on the Gamescom showfloor from 21-25 August at Hall 10.1, Booth A030.
Embark on a fantastical journey across the vibrant and expansive nations of Miraland as the courageous stylist Nikki and her fearless feline companion Momo. Sink into an immersive world with boundless opportunities including cozy open-world exploration, fun platforming, puzzle-solving, gorgeous style possibilities, and much more brought to life by former The Legend of Zelda director Kentaro Tominaga. Meet memorable characters, complete engaging platforming challenges, and create stunning outfits for every occasion, each with its own distinct abilities.
Don the fabulous Floating Outfit to leap gracefully atop vine-covered ruins, soar effortlessly over enchanted forests wearing the glamorous Gliding Outfit, and explore tiny, crystal-filled caverns while sporting the sweet Shrinking Outfit. Create new ensembles by collecting and transforming precious materials through an intuitive gathering system.
Solve intricately designed puzzles and ward against dark energy with Nikki’s adventurous spirit. Commune with playful creatures and create specific outfits to fish in the river, catch bugs in the fields, and travel between lands. Uncover every magical secret Miraland has to offer and use Momo’s camera to capture every heartwarming moment along the way.
Registration for Infinity Nikki’s global Closed Beta Test and mobile pre-registration are open now. The official launch will feature text support for English, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Japanese, Korean, German, French, Thai, Spanish (Latin America), Portuguese (Brazil), Italian, and Indonesian as well as audio support for English, Chinese (Simplified), and Japanese.
Infold Games is an international business brand created by Papergames. Based in Singapore, Infold Games strives to develop creative projects with strong emotional connections and immersive experiences to inspire and encourage players around the world. It is well regarded for the Nikki series with more than 100 million downloads worldwide, and the Love series with more than 10 million downloads worldwide. The team is currently developing AAA projects including Ballad of Antara and Project: The Perceiver as well as the next installment of the Nikki series, Infinity Nikki, a whimsical open-world dress-up adventure.
For more information on Infold Games, please visit the official website.
