Warner Bros. Games today released a new MultiVersus trailer revealing the first look at gameplay for The Joker, who will join the roster as a playable character when the upcoming free-to-play platform fighter videogame launches on May 28, 2024. Voiced by actor Mark Hamill (Batman: Arkham videogame series, Batman: The Animated Series), the iconic DC Super-Villain is a Mage class character with a moveset that is full of diabolical utility befitting the Clown Prince of Crime, including a weaponized pogo stick, spring-loaded boxing gloves, a rocket launcher and more. The trailer also showcases “The Batman Who Laughs” and “The Dark Prince Charming” character variants for The Joker.
View and share the MultiVersus – Official The Joker “Send in the Clowns!” Gameplay Trailer:
Developed by Player First Games, MultiVersus will be available on May 28 as a free download for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 consoles, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One consoles, and PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), with full cross-play and cross-progression support. The free-to-play platform fighter features an ever-expanding roster of popular characters based on Warner Bros. Discovery franchises, including Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Harley Quinn, Black Adam, and The Joker (DC); Shaggy and Velma (Scooby-Doo); Bugs Bunny, Tasmanian Devil a.k.a. Taz, and Marvin the Martian (Looney Tunes); Arya Stark (Game of Thrones); Tom & Jerry (Tom and Jerry); Finn the Human and Jake the Dog (Adventure Time); Steven Universe and Garnet (Steven Universe); Iron Giant (The Iron Giant), LeBron James (Space Jam: A New Legacy); Rick Sanchez and Morty Smith (Rick and Morty); Gizmo and Stripe (Gremlins); and an extraordinary original creature named Reindog.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – March 14, 2024 – Today, Ubisoft revealed the title of the next instalment in the Assassin’s Creed franchise, Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Stay tuned for the full reveal on May 16 at 2AM AEST at youtube.com/@Ubisoft
In addition, starting today, a countdown has started on Assassin’s Creed social media channels. Players are invited to crack the Hourglass puzzle; those who succeed will be rewarded.
Set in Feudal Japan, the game was teased in September 2022 as Assassin’s Creed Codename RED during the very first showcase dedicated to the Assassin’s Creed franchise. To rewatch this showcase, see below:
For the latest on Assassin’s Creed and other Ubisoft games, please visit https://news.ubisoft.com.
About Assassin’s Creed
Since it first launched in 2007, the Assassin’s Creed series has sold more than 200 million games worldwide. The franchise is now established as one of the best-selling series in video game history. Recognized for having some of the richest, most engrossing storytelling in the industry, Assassin’s Creed transcends video games, branching out into numerous other entertainment media.
About Ubisoft
Ubisoft is a creator of worlds, committed to enriching players’ lives with original and memorable entertainment experiences. Ubisoft’s global teams create and develop a deep and diverse portfolio of games, featuring brands such as Assassin’s Creed®, Brawlhalla®, For Honor®, Far Cry®, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon®, Just Dance®, Rabbids®, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six®, The Crew® and Tom Clancy’s The Division®. Through Ubisoft Connect, players can enjoy an ecosystem of services to enhance their gaming experience, get rewards and connect with friends across platforms. With Ubisoft+, the subscription service, they can access a growing catalog of more than 100 Ubisoft games and DLC. For the 2022–23 fiscal year, Ubisoft generated net bookings of €1.74 billion. To learn more, please visit: www.ubisoftgroup.com.
May 10, 2024– Independent game development studios Fracture Labs announces that Decimated, a survival role-playing game, is now available on the Epic Games Store. The game will be launched on Steam in 2024.
Decimated is a third-person PvP and PvE online survival game set in a post-apocalyptic world, where players must scavenge for resources and navigate a fractured society while facing environmental hazards and rival survivors.
With support from an Epic Mega Grant and $3.5M investment from entities like Mechanism Capital and Polygon Ventures, Decimated integrates the DIO token economy on the Solana chain, revolutionizing economic gameplay and fostering a large community with 60k Twitter followers and 23k Discord members.
Players can earn currency through various means, such as salvaging and virtual market trading. As an official sponsor of Token2049 Dubai, Decimated demonstrates its commitment to blockchain innovation and immersive gaming.
The game’s listing on the Epic Games Store and the upcoming open alpha in late 2024 anticipate further community growth, aiming to redefine online gaming with its immersive world and dynamic player interactions.
Features
Salvage resources.
Technology and digital currency.
Repair vehicles, build bases, and fortify shelters.
Hunt, ambush, loot, and trade.
Multiplayer, 3rd-person combat.
3 classes with special abilities.
Grenades, jetpacks, hover/land vehicles, & AI.
About Fracture Labs
Fracture Labs are a team of Unreal Engine game developers with previous experience working on many successful AAA videogames for PC, console and mobile. Our team are distributed between Portugal, Ukraine, Russia, Romania, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Argentina, Brazil and more. We also work with some of the best production partners in the industry for art, animation and co-development.
Expansive Quality of Life Improvements and New Features Include Star Map 1.0 and New Cloud and Water Tech; Master Modes for More Intense Space Flight Combat
LOS ANGELES – May 13, 2024 –Cloud Imperium Games (CIG) today released the Star Citizen – Alpha 3.23: Adventure Beckons update, the largest patch to date featuring a diverse selection of content, feature, and systems updates and laying the foundation for a monumental year in Star Citizen. The ‘verse is brimming with life and now features the first native wildlife for the Stanton system; the small, bird-like marok and the more dangerous hound-like kopian pest can be found across habitable planets and feature their own unique behaviors as they’ve adapted to humanity encroaching on their territory. While nature holds its own beauty, pilots will have plenty to sink their own teeth into between the introduction of massive new Distribution Centers throughout Stanton where players can pick up a variety of combat and non-combat missions and an expansion to the Arena Commander mode adding new space, ground, and experimental objectives available to play. With expansive improvements across visuals and tech, the addition of the sleek new Mirai Pulse and Pulse LX hoverbikes, game-changing flight courtesy of Master Modes and a re-tuning of all ships currently in the game, a wide range of new features and improvements for ground-based FPS combat, and expanded support for the New Player Experience, the ‘verse has never been a more exciting and welcoming place for pilots to explore.
“Adventure Beckons is our most expansive patch to date, delivering on many of our commitments like Master Modes and the introduction of our first native wildlife, while continuing our rapid inclusion of content and features from Squadron 42 shown at last year’s CitizenCon,” said Star Citizen Creative Director Chris Roberts. “The year is just getting started for Star Citizen, and this patch lays the foundation for much bigger plans in the works for the rest of 2024. We’re all eager to share these exciting additions that will be arriving during our upcoming Invictus Launch Week and beyond!”
Star Citizen – Alpha 3.23: Adventure Beckons key features include the following and more:
Meet the Wildlife, Marok and Kopian: Life finds a way. Star Citizen’s first native animals have been added to the game, complete with bespoke behaviors fitting their evolutionary paths. Players will begin seeing the small marok bird soaring through the skies, using its proportionally enormous wingspan to travel vast distances with ease as it follows migratory fish. With the addition of humans to their habitat, they’ve been observed feeding on refuse and leftovers as well. While they present no threat to humans, the same can’t be said for the hound-like kopian. This pest creature is more than a nuisance, and brave citizens will be charged with dealing with wild packs of these hounds, just be sure to bring plenty of ammo.
Mirai’s Pulse and Pulse LX Hoverbikes Bring Portable Thrills: It’s about the journey, the thrill. Mirai adds its signature fusion of advanced technology and functional elegance with a pair of hoverbikes that offer an unparalleled connection between rider and machine. The Mirai Pulse pushes the boundaries for what an ‘all round’ hoverbike can be, combining integrated light weapons for defense with an ultra-light frame and extreme performance capable of outrunning almost anything it can’t outgun. Shedding its weapons to improve speed and handling, the Pulse LX is a visual spectacle that brings racing prowess and sophisticated styling. Both hoverbikes are extremely portable, fitting in almost any ship’s cargo bay for terrestrial exploration almost anywhere.
Master Modes Makes its Galactic Debut: Flying in the ‘verse will never be the same again. Originally tested in patch 3.20, Master Modes is designed to add further intensity and strategy to ship-to-ship combat and foster exciting dogfighting scenarios. All ships now function in either Navigation Mode (NAV) maintaining a spooled quantum drive for both manual quantum travel and quick-travel to specific locations while disabling most offensive and defensive capabilities, and Standard Control Mode (SCM), with full access to weapons, shields, and devices at the cost of considerable speed. Transitioning between modes takes the flip of a switch and a few seconds for systems to power down and up respectively. All ships have been re-tuned for this significant change to space flight.
Welcome to the Distribution Center: Adventure Beckons introduces the first iteration of distribution centers throughout the Stanton system. These massive structures can be accessed from the planetary surface, with underground levels to open in later updates, and serve as mission hubs for law abiding players. Personal ground transportation is recommended for traversing these immense establishments, especially as they expand with additional underground levels.
Fly, Shoot, and Problem Solve in Arena Commander: New maps and gameplay opportunities have arrived in Star Citizen’s ‘game within a game’. Miner’s Lament is a close-quarters dogfighter’s dream come true, or worst nightmare, as pilots fight through the asteroid-laden ring around Yela where the rocks are as deadly as other pilots.
Plot a Course with the Star Map: The Star Map has reached its 1.0 update, rolling out a full 3D view of the system to all pilots. Locations can now be searched by name, with additional functionality to automatically plot a course from the present location. The update marks the introduction of a brand-new FPS map for boots on the ground, aiding players to navigate sprawling landing zones or even the interior layout of their ship. With the Star Map, a citizen is never truly lost.
FPS Combat Upgrades Deliver More Immersion: Outside of the safety of a cockpit the ‘verse can be a dangerous place, and Adventure Beckons ensures that fighting and surviving is as engaging and enjoyable on foot as it is from ship to ship. FPS combat has never looked or felt more authentic thanks to a range of visual improvements including improved sprinting animations and a new dynamic crosshair option for a more realistic look of exactly where the muzzle of a weapon is aimed at. The feel of combat has been enhanced for additional immersion, with the inclusion of ‘backpack reloading’ for slower access to additional stored magazines, and procedural recoil for all weapons, ensuring every engagement is a truly unique experience.
New Cloud Tech and Visual Options: The volumetric cloud technology in Star Citizenhas been updated to improve both performance and visual quality, adding ground fog and volumetric shadows as visual options. Additional performance improvements come with support for image upscaling solutions including DLSS, FSR , and an in-house developed TSR solution. Following the addition of over 20 new hairstyles in Alpha 3.22, the character customization system has been overhauled with a new user interface and many new additional customization options.
Welcoming New Players to all Landing Zones: The improved New Player Experience, originally released for Area18 in Alpha 3.19, has been expanded and is now supported on all starting locations. While the same core skills are taught at each location, new players can now choose to begin high in the cloud city of Orison, in the mining town of Lorville owned and operated by Hurston Dynamics, on New Babbage which is both a bustling major trading hub and home to high-end electronic companies, or back at Area18’s urban downtown where bright lights attract commerce and entertainment.
Star Citizen combines classic space sim and FPS gameplay with boundary-pushing visuals in a massively multiplayer setting of unprecedented fidelity. Live how you want to live: shift paths from cargo hauler to outlaw, explorer, or any other role whenever you want. Explore multiple planets and moons, including vast cities and underground caverns, all created with a unique combination of procedural planet technology and complementary hand-crafted design. For further information, including how to download and play Star Citizen, visit theofficial website.
Enlist today and join this ever-expanding universe by visiting the game’sWelcome Hub andGuide System for tips on how to play. Keep up to date with Star Citizen development via the game’sProgress Tracker and Roadmap. Millions of players from around the world have already joined to help CIG build the most-ambitious game ever made. For continued updates, follow Star Citizen onFacebook,Instagram,Twitch,X, andYouTube.
About Cloud Imperium Games
Cloud Imperium Games is a new kind of independent studio dedicated to delivering AAA games outside the established publisher system. It was founded in 2012 by renowned visionary game developer Chris Roberts (Wing Commander series, Freelancer, Privateer), Sandi Gardiner, and international media lawyer and producer Ortwin Freyermuth (Carlito’s Way, Shattered, Das Boot – Director’s Cut), with industry veteran and studio director Erin Roberts (Lego videogame series, Starlancer, Privateer) joining the team in 2013. Cloud Imperium Games is creating Star Citizen, a record-shattering, largely crowdfunded space sim, and Squadron 42, a Hollywood-caliber, story-driven single-player game set in the same universe. Cloud Imperium Games operates in “open development” – sharing progress and updates in near real time. This paradigm-shifting development process (game development usually occurs behind closed doors) gives the community an unprecedented look at Star Citizen and Squadron 42’s development and allows direct feedback and interaction between players and developers, thereby ensuring that the games being developed are what players want to play.
Generally when someone thinks of a visual novel, they tend to either think of lengthy story focused games with static progression or some different routes as well as dating sims where players aim to date one of the heroines. As such when Sucker for Love: First Datedropped in 2022 and served to put an eldritch and comedic spin on the dating genre, it made quite a name for itself despite some flaws. Now Akabaka and DreadXP have returned with another entry in the Sucker for Love series with Sucker for Love: Date to Die For that focuses the target down to only a single eldritch being but expands beyond visual novel to that of a horror exploration game.
Story
Our protagonist awakens in the middle of a bookstore, seemingly fallen asleep while reading one of the many books available at the store and is quickly greeted by the store owner that hands her the books she picked out and hurries her out of the shop. After years away from her hometown, a letter from her family had drawn her back to Sacramen-cho only to find that the countryside town has undergone massive changes with countless people gone missing and many residents seeming to have been possessed by some type of cult as evidenced by their glowing eyes that has been called the “Sacramen-cho stare.” After seemingly getting lost in her hometown and seeing that the note from her family has transformed into a shopping receipt she happens to run right into one such cultist that begins to chase them and call upon countless others. In a panic, she runs and somehow manages to not only lose the group but stumble across her childhood home, only to find that, while it still remains similar to the home she remembers, has twisted in various ways and her own room has become the root of the problem, the summoning area for Shub-Niggurath, The Black Goat of the Woods with a Thousand Young.
Discovering an odd book of rituals in her belongings, she performs the first one and manages to summon the eldritch being right in front of her only to be greeted by an angry eldritch being with numerous tentacles adored with mouths and eyes attached to a humanoid goat form. Despite staring at the eldritch goddess of desire, the protagonist manages to stand true and prepares her plan to banish the god from this realm which only happens to delight the eldritch goddess. In fact, Rhok’zan is more than happy to help for she has found herself bound to the world by the actions of her previous summoner and, while she adores all of her followers, is tired of her woods and powers being used to summon the innocent to their possible demise. It is through Rhok’zan that we learn that our character is named Stardust as the two begin to undergo rituals that not only bring the pair closer together, but separate them forever by undoing the cult of a thousand.
Sucker for Love: Date to Die For tells a more focused narrative than the first as it focuses solely on Rhok’zan, Stardust, and their interactions with the few named members of the Cult of the Thousand. This is both a benefit and a hindrance however in the long run since, as players progress through the story and experience the different chapters, learning more about Rhok’zan and the way the world and her cult works, it reveals that some of the best characters aren’t actually even the main two but some of the side cast. It doesn’t help that, unlike the first game, there is a shockingly limited amount of interactions players can make with Rhok’zan who only talks to Stardust during plot moments and has a few lines when players select her as she rests in Stardust’s room. This leads to a relatively limited romance, though given that Stardust is “Ace” it does make sense romantically even if the two eventually do form a strong enough connection beyond that. In fact, a number of their interactions are downright sweet and better than those found in the first game, even with the heavier horror aspect that this entry carries.
It also reveals that Date to Die For is an incredibly short visual novel that clocks in at an even smaller size than the original release. Some of this may come down to luck and the times players may die during exploration, but it is easy to see all true endings in less than four hours, which makes isn’t bad for a bite sized visual novel with a unique blend of genre like this, but more options and variations of routes would have been nice to see, especially compared to the original that saw various routes and unique interactions only happening if players replayed routes after obtaining other endings and messing around with both Ln’eta and Estir in First Date. That isn’t to say that Rhok’zan and Stardust’s storyline doesn’t make for an engaging and thoughtful story, especially in the latter half, we just wish there were more interactions and more of it.
Gameplay
Unlike the first game that saw players only within the apartment building of a playboy, Sucker for Love: Date to Die For places players in the large home of Stardust that has been filled with various intractable objects that players will need to hunt down for rituals or examine for unique descriptions all while trying to avoid the potential death that awaits them should a cultist or something worse happens to see them. Rituals are mostly performed the same way, though they are far simpler than before as players barely have to fiddle with the sigils drawn on the chalkboard and only occasionally need to pay attention to the color of the candles they have lit. In fact, even the items called for in some rituals seem vague enough to let players use a variety of items instead.
While the rituals themselves have gotten easier, the exploration has been given a significant upgrade. As mentioned before, players now will find themselves navigating Stardust’s home and each chapter will see new threats and changes to the home that players will have to deal with. Initially players can freely open doors and travel between rooms but eventually they’ll need to slowly peek into rooms, closing doors quietly to avoid drawing suspicion from a cult member. Other times they may need to deal with someone or something directly hunting the player down or requiring the player to make certain actions or go to a certain spot in the house to avoid dying. This creates a bit of a unique element of horror where jumpscares can happen during exploration as well as through the story.
Speaking of which, it is worth noting that there really aren’t any choices to be made in Date to Die For as each chapter only has a Good and True ending depending on the actions players take. This is simple and also contributes a bit to the fact that we’d like to see more of Stardust and Rhok’zan’s interactions having more to do with the endings. That being said, there are some fun moments here and there that players can trigger involving a water sprayer to help cool down the horned goat woman they’ve summoned, though whether players want to let Rhok’zan flirt to their hearts content or spray her down doesn’t play a role in the endings.
Audio & Visuals
One of the best elements from Akabaka’s games is that they use a retro anime art style and this works perfectly here. Not only does it help add some dread to exploring the various rooms of Stardust’s home but also allows for some wonderful character designs. Rhok’zan, as a goddess that amplifies a person’s greatest desire, exudes erotic energy especially when flirting with Stardust and has plenty of great expressions when surprised by Stardust’s reactions or when sprayed down. Even Stardust has a great design, though it would have been nice to see it more, especially in later chapters where she undergoes certain changes. As for the other characters, they are also handled quite well and there are a number of scary creatures as well, though this mostly happens in the last chapter as well.
The entirety of Date to Die For, with the exception of Stardust, is voiced with Rhok’zan and a few of the other allies players make along the way sounding perfect in their roles. It is also nice to note that the game makes great use of atmospheric sounds to increase tension and warn players that danger may be nearby. This also includes a great set of background music that works to provide a great ambiance to the dangerous halls players will explore, including a fully voiced one.
Overall
Akabaka continues to succeed with their unique take of H.P. Lovecraft’s eldritch beings and placing them into an even more unique feeling game. Sure, the romance is a bit more simple this time around and we wish there were more interactions between Stardust and Rhok’zan but what is shown is great and there is plenty of horror to be had alongside some rather “horny” humor. With its great aesthetic and solid storyline, Sucker for Love: Date to Die For may be a bit more limited in romantic options, routes, and extra endings, but it’s expanded gameplay elements and strong writing for the paths that are there make this short length more horror focused entry in the Sucker for Love series an impressive offering.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Bandai Namco Europe S.A.S. today announced the launch of PAC-MAN™ MEGA TUNNEL BATTLE™: CHOMP CHAMPS, a fast-paced and furious take on PAC-MAN™ multiplayer featuring cross-play on consoles and PC for 64-player battles across a variety of colourful interconnected mazes. The game is available now in Standard and Deluxe editions on Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X | S, and PC via Steam®.
Watch the trailer below:
Everything except the maze is edible in PAC-MAN MEGA TUNNEL BATTLE: CHOMP CHAMPS, where players chomp their way through pellets, power-ups, GHOSTS, and even other PACs across multiple interconnected mazes to become the Chomp Champ – a.k.a. the last PAC standing at the end of each match. The title is the first multiplayer PAC-MAN game that is cross platform and features a Friend system that lets up to four players join the same match, track each other’s progress, and spectate their friends’ games. Game modes include Elimination Mode with arcade-style action where players of any rank can compete and earn Tokens to redeem on customization items, and Ranked Mode where players are paired with similarly skilled opponents from around the world and compete for their place on regional and global leaderboards.
In a game where players’ PACs can chomp other PACs, it’s only natural that almost anything goes. PAC-MAN MEGA TUNNEL BATTLE: CHOMP CHAMPS features a variety of Power Items that not only boost players’ abilities but can enlist the GHOSTS as allies of convenience. Players can gain power ups such as enhanced speed, shields, and more to help their PACs or help the GHOSTS chase down the competition. While game skills are the best way to stand out in a field of 64 players, the many customisation options in the game let players make their PAC their own, competing in a whole other field – style bragging rights. PACs in the game are customizable with a variety of body, head, and face cosmetics, opening the way for some of the most inventive and colourful variations on the iconic yellow mascot.
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™.
GUNDAM BREAKER 4 will launch on 29 August 2024 on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and PC via Steam. The game, developed by CRAFTS & MEISTER Co., Ltd, is the next entry in the hack and slash looter franchise and pre-orders are available now.
In this new GUNDAM BREAKER 4 trailer, players can discover more about the customisation, including the presence of SD Gundam, the possibility to change the size of all parts individually and to create their own colour preset based on either their preferences or their favourite Gundam.
Watch the new trailer below:
GUNDAM BREAKER 4 will have players fighting their enemies solo or with up to two friends in coop multiplayer. In addition, the game goes back to the roots of the franchise letting players create the Gunpla of their dreams with a large collection of mobile suits and parts, as well as a new diorama mode.
Digital pre-orders for the Standard, Deluxe and Ultimate edition of GUNDAM BREAKER 4 are nowlive on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and PC via Steam. Digital pre-orders on Nintendo Switch will come at a later date. Players can now pre-order to get the following bonus:
RX-78 Gundam Recirculation Colour Early Unlock
Builders Parts Early Unlock
The Deluxe Edition of the game contains the following:
Season Pass
Season Pass bonus – Gambarrel Strike Gundam parts (Gundam Breaker Ver.)
Early unlock for 15 Gunpla parts
The Ultimate Edition, in addition to the Deluxe edition includes:
Diorama Packs and Diorama Pack set bonus
In addition, a Collector Edition for the game is available on the Bandai Namco Store, this edition includes the Ultimate version of the game, along with a limited edition Gunpla, Gunbarrel Strike Gundam (GUNDAM BREAKER ver.), a digital soundtrack and a SteelBook
Robberies, assaults and gangster hijinks – that’s just part of what Crime Simulator, the new game from the makers of the bestselling Thief Simulator 2, has to offer. Crime Simulator will allow both to make a criminal career alone, as well as joint actions in co-op mode (up to 4 criminals). The PC release of the game can be expected in 2024/2025, with PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo console versions also planned. A free prologue of the game is available now on PC.
The Polish studio CookieDev, best known for the bestselling Thief Simulator 2, is working on Crime Simulator. Ultimate Games S.A. will be the publisher of the game on PC and consoles.
Crime Simulator is a unique simulator of criminal underworld activities with a first-person perspective (FPS) view. The game offers single-player and online co-op modes for up to 4 people at a time. The gameplay broadly depicts criminal life, also relying on elements known from other game genres.
A criminal career includes in Crime Simulator not only carrying out bandit jobs (such as theft and debt recovery) and fighting, but also, among other things, collecting raw materials, developing characters, upgrading equipment or gaining the right reputation among the factions present in the game.
“In Crime Simulator, players will find a fresh take on action simulators. It’s a game created both for players who prefer solo gameplay and those who like to interact with others. Among other things, the title will offer a new approach to combat, a system of gangster factions and, above all, gameplay that includes many intriguing and diverse elements.” – says COO of Ultimate Games S.A., Rafal Jelonek.
As of May 10, a free demo of the game is now available on Steam. In Crime Simulator: Prologue, players will find one smaller settlement with a construction zone and an abandoned farm that serves as a hideout for gangsters. The full version of the game will feature three larger settlements, desert areas on the outskirts of Mexico, national park areas in Canada and several additional locations, among others. The CookieDev team is also working on a whole lot of additional content.
In Crime Simulator, many tools await players to use in criminal actions. The developers offer, among others, baseball bats, crowbars, rods, wrenches, knuckles, knives, telescopic batons, pistols and various types of bombs and grenades. Specialized traps and turrets will also be available for use.
Crime Simulator – main features:
make a career in the criminal underworld;
execute orders and gain fame;
act alone or in cooperation (up to 4 criminals);
use a wide arsenal of weapons;
collect raw materials and create equipment.
The game is tentatively scheduled for release on PC (Steam) in 2024/2025. Crime Simulator will later also hit PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch.
LOS ANGELES – May 10, 2024 – Netmarble, a leading developer and publisher of high-quality mobile games, has released the “Sentry & the Challengers” game update for its blockbuster mobile RPGMARVEL Future Fight. This update continues the game’s 9th anniversary celebration by adding a new character, uniforms, tier upgrades and more.
Following a recent poll where agents voted for new heroes they would like to play, Sentry received the #1 spot and has now become the first native Tier-3 character. He can be to Tier-4 with a new Striker skill and the All-New Sentry uniform. Additionally, agents can now equip Hulk and Thor with new uniforms, and Anti-Man can max out at Tier-3 with a new Ultimate skill and uniform. Fandral, Volstagg and Hogun will receive Awakened Skills as part of this update.
Other updates to enhance the overall gameplay experience include improved Challenge rewards and a greater variety of Daily Trivia. Agents will receive rewards for setting new records from the Alliance Battle.
MARVEL Future Fight continues the celebration of its 9th anniversary with several time-limited events. Players who complete in-game missions through May 14 will receive Selector: Tier-3 Character, a 9-Year Anniversary Comic Card and more. Agents can also obtain Selector: Potential Transcended Character by simply logging in to the game from May 15-23. Additional event quests are available from May 15 through 28, that awards agents with a Tier-3 Advancement Ticket, a Level 8 Potential Enhance Ticket and more.
MARVEL Future Fight has over 150 million players across the world with the game currently available worldwide in the App Store® and Google Play™.
Established in Korea in 2000, Netmarble Corporation is a leading developer and publisher of top-grossing mobile games worldwide. Through powerful franchises and collaborations with acclaimed IP holders, Netmarble strives to elevate the gaming experience and entertain audiences globally. As a parent company of Kabam and SpinX Games, and a major shareholder of Jam City and HYBE (formerly Big Hit Entertainment), Netmarble’s diverse portfolio includes Lineage 2: Revolution, MARVEL Future Fight, Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds, The King of Fighters ALLSTAR, and The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross. More information can be found at http://company.netmarble.com.
About Marvel
Marvel is one of the world’s most prominent entertainment brands, built on an unparalleled library of iconic characters and stories that have shaped pop culture for 85 years. The Marvel brand spans entertainment, including film, television, publishing, licensing, games, live events, digital media, and more.
App Store is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the US and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Google Play is a trademark of Google Inc.
Some games come and go, while other leave a lasting legacy. In some ways, the Endless Ocean franchise was forgotten in a sea of Wii releases, as its niche appeal – while welcome, was never deemed a massive hit with fans. Nintendo are odd about their IPs though and have decided to take another stab at the underwater exploration game on the Switch, with some online features in tow. Does Endless Ocean Luminous float to the surface, or will it sink due to its limited appeal? Let’s find out.
Story
There is a narrative in Endless Ocean Luminous…sort of. Players take the role of a diver who is assisted by a rival of sorts by the name of Daniel and an AI named Sera, and must take to the sea to discover wildlife and complete objectives. The story is fine as it highlights the dying coral reef and other mysteries of the deep, but never really acts as anything other than a tutorial as the chapters are buried behind high walls of scanning XX amount of fish before moving on. When I say scanning fish, I mean scanning a lot of fish, sometimes up into the hundreds before progression can be made. Sure, there is a plot, but it feels a bit flat and lifeless as this game really doesn’t need a story and it seems the team who created it just pasted it in to give it a sense of direction. There is an audience for this game, and one that is looking for a tale of excitement and lavish adventure will be disappointed, as these chapters play out like a slow-moving nature documentary. That is not a bad thing to someone like myself who understood what I was playing prior, but keep that in mind before snagging onto this hook.
Gameplay
The gameplay here is very simple. You dive, you discover, you swim. That is really it. There are objectives to complete and a ton of well-researched underwater knowledge, so most will initially be quite impressed by how deep this knowledge goes, as it can be quite soothing just to dive in and feel around for actual marine wildlife and facts that you never knew existed. Dives are the heart and soul of this game, and while the story feels a bit linear, being able to just paddle around underwater leads to lovely moments where you can befriend species who will follow you as you discover underwater wreckage and locales – which is really where the meat of the game is found.
The large addition here is the online functionality, as up to 30 players can dive and a communication system has been implemented to let players tag their discoveries for other players. The ocean is large and dives are generated randomly, so each dive is likely to lead to something new. Sure, its a lot of fun poking and prodding around with other players, but I don’t know if it is something that really is needed for this game. Do we need to dive with 30 players in a game that sets a tone on humanity’s negative impacts on the sea? Not really. That said, if your friends are down for a change and have an open mind, there is some fun in this mode to be had.
I want to take a moment to reflect on how this all sounds, as on paper, Endless Ocean Luminous sounds boring, but it really isn’t. Video games are an escape from reality and I get what they are going for here. You just escape. You dive, you find, and yeah, you actually do get lost in the underwater wilds here and can spend hours doing nothing with a calming sense of satisfaction. The controls are tight and work well, and the performance is fine. This is a well made game but it just isn’t going to engage someone looking for what they can get in more involving experiences found elsewhere. This is a liquid sandbox where you just go and find your own lore and mysteries. I do think Nintendo could have added more charm and character to the world to make it shine, but I could see future marine biologists possibly crediting something like this for inspiring them to follow that path from this title. Again, eye of the beholder in that sense.
Audio
The music is gorgeous for what is here. The soothing soundtrack bodes well for the threat-less experiences found in the ocean, and the small sound effects work well to create a ton of atmosphere for a realistic diving feel. This is kind of a vibe type game and not much else, but the sound and audio really amplify that and make Luminous stand out from your standard diving fare in other parts of the market.
Visuals
Endless Ocean can be a dazzler when it wants to be. While the character models are a bit flat and generic, the sea looks amazing and the color work here is outstanding, making some parts of the game feel haunting and even enchanting at times. I was actually surprised as to how well the game’s online mode functioned as well. Never did I see much if any slowdown, as the frame rate seemed to be consistent throughout both online and offline dives without much issue.
Overall
Endless Ocean Luminous is a hard one to review as if you don’t “get it”, you won’t enjoy it. Its black and white and there is no grey area. This is a game where you just explore without much substance or reason, in search of fish facts, locations, and whatever else you can conjure up underwater. The reward is the journey as there is not much of an end, and in my own experience, that was fine. This is the kind of game you keep in your library and turn on during a rainy day just to escape for a bit, or just to unwind. Its not going to thrill you, but might fascinate a player who is open minded enough to just go in and explore. Nintendo took a risk to even bring out a title like this and I appreciate it and welcome the variation offered. It may not be an adventure, but Luminous is still a worthwhile addition to one’s library as we wind down the console with our last year of major releases.
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