We play through the entirety of GameMill’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade: Wrath of the Mutants, seeing how each of the four turtles fight across the few new added bosses and extra stage compared to the original 2017 physical arcade release.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade: Wrath of the Mutants – Full Playthrough
Re-experience the 2017 arcade classic with 3 additional stages and 6 additional boss battles! Take control of Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello or Raphael in this classic beat-em-up inspired by the cult favorite Turtles in Time. Play with your friends through 4 player local co-op
Join Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo from the 2012 Nickelodeon series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in this exciting arcade beat ’em up inspired by beloved hits like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time. Battle your way across Coney Island, Dimension X and more on a mission to defeat the Foot Clan and your arch-nemesis Shredder!
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade: Wrath of the Mutants Developer: Cradle Games Publisher: GameMill Entertainment Platform: Windows, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 Release Date: 24 Apr, 2024
Not Recommended – “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade: Wrath of the Mutants expands on the 2017 arcade game but it’s simple and safe style and lack of replayability leave this brawler best left in the past.”
The complete 19-song OST will be available as part of Heading Out’s Deluxe Edition, launching May 7 on Steam
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – April 25, 2024 – Don’t touch that dial! Saber Interactive and indie developer Serious Sim have released a new EP for Heading Out, the narrative-adventure driving game launching May 7 on Steam. Available to stream today on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube and more, the “Heading Out Soundtrack EP” features an eclectic mix of six original songs from the game’s full soundtrack, which will be included in the Heading Out –Deluxe Edition.
The complete Heading Out soundtrack features 19 original tracks ranging from folk and funk to hard rock and trip hop, covering the wide range of human emotions you’ll experience on your journey down America’s winding highways, including denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. The soundtrack will also be available for purchase individually on Steam as DLC.
Heading Out is a narrative adventure with roguelite elements inspired by cult-classic road movies like Thelma & Louise and Vanishing Point. It’s you, your car, and the road, as you take off down America’s cities, highways and backroads on an emotional trip of discovery blending white-knuckle racing, strategy and storytelling. Grab the wheel and choose your own route across the USA on an unpredictable thrill ride shaped by the decisions you make. It’s not about the destination – it’s about your journey.
Key Features
Your Adventure: Each trip offers a unique balance of high-speed chases and races, treacherous hazards and challenges, and colorful characters and stories, brought to life with stylish graphic novel visuals. Outrun your fears and the law, pursue your dreams, and risk the consequences at the end of the road.
Your Choices: Every journey is yours to define. Strategically plan out your route and resources in advance on the map, or hit the gas and fly by the seat of your pants. Each decision shapes the road ahead, including your narrative encounters, fuel consumption, car condition and wanted level.
Your Legend: Your unique story unfolds with every pit stop across the heartland. Meet strangers, oddballs and lost souls who will influence your tale, but don’t linger too long – you’ve got to keep moving. Listen to radio hosts spread your myth to the people as it grows while an eclectic Americana soundtrack carries you down the horizon.
Heading Out launches on May 7 and is available to wishlist now on Steam. For more info, visit headingout.games, and follow the game on X and Facebook.
About Serious Sim
Serious Sim – skilled craftsmen who want to tell exceptional stories. Our games focus on humanism, inclusivity and important topics like responsibility or freedom.
We like to talk about difficult issues and work together to give them justice. We’re embracing uniqueness in all its glory! Our previous game – Radio Commander – was a bold move to redefine the genre in a mature way. It sold over 400k units. For more information, visit SeriousSim.net.
About Saber Interactive
Saber Interactive is a worldwide publisher and developer consisting of 13 studios in the Americas and Europe. Creating games for all major platforms based on original and licensed IPs, Saber’s titles include Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando, Jurassic Park: Survival, World War Z, SnowRunner, and Expeditions: A MudRunner Game. Founded in 2001, Saber is known for two decades of development partnerships with leading developers and publishers, including producing The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt for Nintendo Switch, Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Crysis Remastered, and many others. Learn more at https://saber.games.
As EVE we begin our attempt to take back the planet from the mysterious Naytiba that have destroyed the planet only to find out that some of humanity has managed to survive against even the increasingly strange and powerful alien-like creatures in the incredibly stylish Stellar Blade.
From the crumbling buildings of Xion, to the vast Wasteland and Great Desert beyond, journey to breathtaking science fiction-inspired environments, brought to life by the graphical power of PS5.
A once bustling metropolis, Xion is now populated by a scattering of human survivors, many in dire need of EVE’s help. Its streets, alleys and piazzas are filled with rusting relics and malfunctioning machines. Naytiba lurk around every corner. And outside the city limits, the sinister wilderness that stretches far into the distance is every bit as dangerous…
Battle through this semi-open world on your way to EVE’s next objective, or leave the beaten track to tackle side quests, scavenge items, and uncover more of the intriguing secrets behind Earth’s downfall.
Stellar Blade Developer: SHIFT UP Corporation Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC. Platform: PlayStation 5 Release Date: 26th April, 2024 Price: $79.99 USD
Recommended – “Stellar Blade combines slick and challenging action combat with an engrossing, albeit not wholly original, story wrapped together in a gorgeous package with plenty of optional eye-candy.”
ANGOULÊME, France — April 24, 2024 —Baladins, the whimsical tabletop RPG-inspired co-op fantasy developed by Seed by Seed and published by Armor Games Studios, embarks on a magical, time-sensitive journey on PC via Steam on May 15, 2024. Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5|4 versions will join the party at a later date!
Choose from five distinct classes — Cook, Pyro, Dancer, Luxomancer, and Bard — to rise as the hero of this combat-free narrative adventure in the magical world of Gatherac. Adventure alone or form a party of up to four in local and online co-op to spread joy across the land. But beware, Colobra the time-eating dragon lurks in the shadows ready to thwart the heroes’ plans.
Weave a wondrous tale through choice-based dialogue and dice rolls, witnessing various scenarios unfold depending on crucial decisions. Each combination of choices throughout questlines leads to a different outcome, making no two encounters the same!
Traverse the four regions of Gatherac — Mouliac, Hortegarde, Mercazon, and Lumensac — all full of countless areas to explore. Trek through the greenery of Cork Forest, or gaze in awe at the stunning Castle of Hortegarde. Encounter wonderfully quirky NPCs along the way, each with their own beliefs and desires. Fulfill various quests, resolve townsfolk’s disputes, and help them celebrate one another despite their differences!
Use action and movement points each turn to travel to new places, accomplish tasks like brewing potions or taking a nap, gain experience, and upgrade characteristics. At the end of six weeks, bear judgment from Colobra, who determines if the heroes’ actions from the previous loop satisfy its hunger for mirth and adventure. Fail to do so, and Colobra sends the adventurers back in time to start their journey anew!
“With Baladins, we want to provide a whimsical twist on the classic CRPG while making it as accessible as possible to genre newcomers,” said Dan McNeely, CEO & Founder of Armor Games Studios. “We encourage players to embark on this approachable and inclusive choose-your–own-story melding time loop mechanics with colorful, fantastical charm.”
Baladins arrives on PC via Steam on May 15, 2024 for $24.99 USD in English, French, and Japanese. For more information, follow Seed by Seed and Armor Games Studios on Twitter/X, and visit the official game website. Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5|4 versions will arrive at a later date.
About Seed By Seed
Seed by Seed is a French studio from Angoulême founded by eight friends. They launched their studio around their first project, a family-friendly, co-op adventure called Pile Up! Box by Box. Today they continue to build innovative games that are full of imagination, bring people together, and push boundaries for all kinds of players around the world.
Seed by Seed values ethical production. They respect their players and their team. Creating bonds is important to them, and they put that into practice in how they make and market their games.
About Armor Games Studios
From its roots as a popular portal for online gaming, Armor Games Studios is a publisher that aims to work directly with and help foster talented indie developers to create unique and engaging games of all types for all platforms. For more information, visit www.armorgamesstudios.com, and follow the company on Twitter @ArmorGameStudio.
Publisher Midwest Games makes a new addition to game night on PC
Green Bay, WI – April 24, 2024 – Floor is…What!?, the four-player party game with 50+ minigames from developer Pyramid Lake Games and publisher Midwest Games, brings family-friendly mayhem to Steam this fall.
Get ready for an epic competition where only the best of the best (or perhaps the most ruthless) will survive! Invoke unrelenting carnage across more than 50 minigames designed to test contestants’ patience, coordination, and of course, friendships – mwahaha! Competitors, ready those reflexes to go head-to-(bobble) head in a wide array of chaotic four-player challenges in both online and local multiplayer.
Say goodbye to Grandma as you push her into a deadly lava pit from your dungeon perch – haha nerd! Better luck next time to your roommate who got toasted by a falling bomb on the “relaxing” sandy beach. Put to rest that sibling rivalry as you best each opponent with snowballs to the face on slippery ski slopes. In Floor is…What!? you don’t need to be ashamed of how good mayhem feels.
Everyone’s welcome: simple controls, adjustable difficulty modes, and CPUs accommodate all skill levels. Test diabolical strategies in practice modes before hopping into competitive three vs. one, two vs. two, or total free-for-all matches. Don’t forget to submit your craziest character name for our fast-talking announcer to call out during the match!
Enter the arena as a mischievous bobble-head made from more than 200 different collectible components. Create hilarious characters with bear, duck, and dinosaur heads with matching or mismatching bodies. Add some serious style with funky hairstyles, facial hair, flashy accessories, and fun voice lines to torment taunt the competition. Rank up to unlock mystery toy boxes, collect new pieces, and assemble more entertaining contenders.
“We welcome all types of buddies, family members, skeletons, and dinosaurs to a ‘friendly,’ chaotic competition of wit and reflexes,” said Josh Garity, Studio Head of Pyramid Lake Games. “Challenge close pals, vicious rivals, or imaginary friends. We can’t wait to see the hijinks competitors create when the game is unleashed later this year!”
Floor is…What!? will be available on PC in Q4 2024, with support across more than 10 languages.
For more information, check out the game’s official Twitter, and please visit Midwest Games on Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram, join the community on Discord, and search #FloorisWhat!? on all social media platforms.
About Pyramid Lake Games
Pyramid Lake Games is a game design and development studio out of Wisconsin, focused on leveraging over 20 years of award-winning user experience and creative expertise to the gaming space.
For more information, visit Pyramid Lake Games on their official website, and follow the team @Pyramid_Lake on Twitter.
About Midwest Games
Based in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Midwest Games is a video game publisher focused on creating opportunities for the abundant talent across the Midwest and other underrepresented regions. Led by industry veterans and entertainment enthusiasts, Midwest Games believes that great games can come from anywhere. For more information, please visit www.midwestgames.com.
For more information, visit Midwest Games on LinkedIn, and follow the team @midwestgames_co on Instagram, @midwestgamesco onTwitter, on Discord, and @midwest_games on YouTube.
Valorware, the crafty indie studio founded by British dev Tom Au, is returning to the first game in the 9th Dawn saga with 9th Dawn Remake!
A full reimagining of the original 9th Dawn title, 9th Dawn Remake is filled with surprising upgrades such as 2.5D graphics, a first-person mode – and even 2-player local co-op, allowing friends to play through the entire game together.
9TH DAWN REMAKE – NEW FEATURES
New 2.5D graphics
Completely remade dungeons with bigger maps
Sprites cleaned and reworked with improved animation
Rewritten story and quests
Combat replaced with more fluid, action-based gameplay
First-person mode added
Two big mini-games included:
Fishing Survivors, a bullet-heaven fishing game
Deck Rock, a deck-building card game
In the comedic fishing mini-game Fishing Survivors, the amount of fish players defeat directly affects the fishing yield – making for a fun time with the fishies. Fishing Survivors also features a number of different missions to complete that are locked behind overworld map exploration – along with a couple of extra worm warriors to unlock.
Players can also enjoy Deck Rock – a deck-building card mini-game that was inspired by Slay the Spire and Roguebook. Taking control of medieval paper champions, players are tasked with beating game dungeons using the maps found in the main campaign. This turn-based strategy game provides countless hours of fun while players unlock all cards, level up paper champions, and complete dungeons.
DEVELOPER QUOTE
“The original 9th Dawn was my first finished game, after eight previous failed attempts at making an RPG – which is the reason it’s called 9th Dawn. Since it was my first game, the quality was fairly of-its-time and didn’t really capture my original vision. It also had its fair share of unresolved bugs! The state of the original 9th Dawn game has bothered me for years, and I always had plans to remake it. Now 12 years later – after many more game releases, including the successful 9th Dawn III – I was ready to take on the remake. I’ve finally managed to finish it and give it the love that it deserves.”
– Tom Au (Founder & Solo Developer, Valorware)
KEY FEATURES
Massive Open World: Explore more than 45 new hand-crafted dungeons – each brimming with deadly creatures and loot.
Design Your Build: Unlock spells and abilities, assign attribute points, and upgrade your equipment.
Raise Monster Pets: Hatch friendly creatures from eggs and raise them into powerful allies.
Side Quests: Aid the villages of Montelorne by partaking in a range of side quests.
Loot & Prizes: Collect a vast amount of loot and fill your collecting journals for rewards.
Craft the Best: Forge weapons, brew potions, and upgrade your weapons to become a champion!
Fishing Survivors Mini-Game: Take control of powerful worm warriors and survive deadly waves of enemy fish.
Deck Rock Mini-Game: Collect maps, level up your card champions, and create an epic deck.
Valorware is a UK-based game development and publishing company led by developer Tom Au that is focused on producing content-rich RPGs. In addition to 9th Dawn Remake, Valorware has released Valkyrie Champions, Throne Quest Deluxe, and the 9th Dawn series. To learn more about Valorware, please visit http://valorware.com.
Commits to 90% absolute reduction in emissions and 55% intensity reduction in indirect emissions as it transitions to clean renewable energy and incorporating recycled materials into products. All new product lines across three core PC categories of mice, keyboards and headsets to include up to 85% recycled materials in the base model.
IRVINE, Calif. – Razer™, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, announced significant progress in its ambitious 10-year sustainability roadmap in commemoration of Earth Day 2024. Razer’s roadmap outlines a comprehensive set of goals focused on minimizing environmental impact across product lifecycles, operations, and supply chains. Razer also announced restructuring of its manufacturing lines to integrate up to 85 percent recycled materials across three core PC categories of mice, keyboards and headsets in the base models.
Razer’s target for a 1.5 degree Celsius reduction pathway means the company’s greenhouse gas emission reduction goals are consistent with the ambitious goal of the Paris Climate Accord. The 2030 targets have been validated by Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) as aligned to the 1.5-degree Celsius pathway, demonstrating its leadership in driving real climate action that is aligned with the latest climate science. In addition, Razer furthers the agenda of forging a sustainable future for gaming through innovative breakthroughs and committed sustainability solutions by utilizing recycled materials in its products.
“By making recycled materials the standard across our entire PC peripheral portfolio and aligning with the Business Ambition for 1.5°C commitment, we are committed to using our platform to drive the positive change millions of gamers want for our planet,” said Kenneth Ng, Global Sustainability Lead at Razer. “The cumulative effect of incorporating recycled materials into a wider range of products significantly expands Razer’s positive impact on the environment. This is done in the hopes of empowering every player to make conscious choices for a more sustainable gaming experience.”
Razer has committed to the SBTi’s Business Ambition for 1.5 degree campaign and started company-wide emission reduction, encompassing all scopes of emissions, which is a testament to its commitment to tackling climate change across all operations and throughout their value chain. This ambitious move positions Razer among a dedicated group of global companies pushing towards a sustainable and equitable future. This commitment extends beyond aligning with international standards through a rigorous validation process, SBTi has confirmed the ambitious nature of Razer’s science-based targets, solidifying the brand’s leadership in driving real climate action.
Razer’s validated targets address emissions across its entire business, including anticipated growth. For operational emissions, Razer has set a staggering 90% target of absolute reduction in emissions from a 2019 baseline. Additionally, the brand aims for a 55% intensity reduction in indirect emissions within its upstream and downstream value chain by 2030, also measured against the 2019 baseline. To achieve these impactful goals, Razer is implementing a comprehensive strategy, including transitioning to clean renewable energy for all corporate offices, incorporating recycled materials into products, prioritizing less carbon-intensive transportation methods (like sea freight), and actively promoting participation in its takeback and recycling programs. Recognizing the importance of collaboration, Razer is actively engaging its supply chain, encouraging the use of recycled plastics, and establishing clear communication channels for data reporting and progress tracking.
Under the #GoGreenWithRazer banner, the Razer’s 10-year sustainability roadmap seeks to preserve nature and protect the environment – ensuring a cleaner, greener world for future generations to continue gaming in.
The incorporation of recycled materials across its entire PC peripheral suite is just one step in Razer’s ongoing sustainability journey. It is projected after one year of implementing engineering change in incorporating recycled materials, 65% of Razer’s annual shipped volume will comprise recycled materials. Razer has also gone beyond its own operations, actively leading industry-level sustainability efforts. This includes collaborating with suppliers who share the brand’s commitment, setting a new standard for responsible sourcing throughout the supply chain.
Backed by a strong gaming community equally passionate about a better future for our planet, Razer is dedicated to empower gamers to be part of the solution. By eliminating plastics from packaging, optimizing packaging size, minimalistic designs and utilizing FSC-certified paper with soy ink, Razer has continuously minimized its environmental footprint. Razer is also offering accessible recycling options and reward programs to incentivize responsible disposal of its products. Recycling options differ across markets.
For more information about the #GoGreenwithRazer 10-year sustainability roadmap, please visit https://www.razer.com/go-green.
ABOUT RAZER
Razer™ is the world’s leading lifestyle brand made For Gamers. By Gamers.
The triple-headed snake trademark of Razer is one of the most recognized logos in the global gaming and esports communities. With a fan base that spans every continent, Razer has designed and built the world’s largest gamer-focused ecosystem of hardware, software and services.
Razer’s award-winning hardware includes high-performance gaming peripherals and Blade gaming laptops.
With over 200 million users, Razer’s software platform includes Razer Synapse (an Internet of Things platform), Razer Chroma RGB (a proprietary RGB lighting technology system supporting thousands of devices and hundreds of games/apps), and Razer Cortex (a game optimizer and launcher).
Razer also offers payment services for gamers, youth, millennials and Gen Z, through Razer Gold – one of the world’s largest game payment services.
Razer is committed towards a sustainable future and is taking responsibility through its #GoGreenWithRazer movement. The brand aims to minimize environmental impact through its various initiatives, which includes using recycled materials, responsible design, and encouraging responsible product disposal.
Founded in 2005, Razer is dual headquartered in Irvine, California and Singapore, with regional headquarters in Hamburg and Shanghai and 19 offices worldwide.
Get the ball rolling (literally!) in dynamic local multiplayer for up to four players from Mindscape and Lakeview Games!
AMSTELVEEN, Netherlands – April 24, 2024 – Love to hang out with friends? Throwing a housewarming? Want to let off some steam? Whatever your motivation, Pool Party will be there to the rescue when it launches on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch on May 16, 2024!
Developed by Lakeview Games and published by Mindscape, Pool Party is a laugh-out-loud arcade game where up to four players can go head-to-head in chaotic physics-based sports and brawl modes. Fight to become the king of the party using your cat-like reflexes to take down the competition.
Watch the Pool Party Release Date Announcement Trailer below for Proof!
Dive into a wave of fun at the Pool Party resort, as you battle in game modes like free-for-all, football, pool and more! These pool balls aren’t just adorable – they’re also surprisingly agile, reaching ridiculous speeds as they roll and bounce around the arena! You’ll be amazed by the sheer power of a perfectly aimed kick, propelling a rival ball all over the place. So what are you waiting for? Gather your friends, grab a cue, and duke it out in chaotic physics-based party games in Pool Party!
Key Features
Enjoy chaotic physics-based sports and brawl games.
Battle with up to four players in local multiplayer – or play solo!
Add bots to fill out teams or practice your skills.
Easy to learn, hard to master – anyone can join the fun!
Master a variety of game modes like Pool, Idol, Sumo, and Free-for-All.
Pool Party’s physical edition for Nintendo Switch (code in box) and PlayStation 5 will hit shelves in Europe on launch day, with the North American release coming later on June 14.
For those who can’t get enough of a good time, Pool Party is heading to TwitchCon Europe! Mindscape is bringing the game to Rotterdam from June 29-30 in the Indie Game Zone, Booth 2206-IND.
Check out the first hour of Minishoot’ Adventures, where we explore and attempt to save colorful world riddled by Corruption, and dodge plenty of bullets in the meantime.
Fly into a charming handcrafted world and go on an adventure that mixes up open exploration with crispy twin-stick shooter action. Fight your way from the shiny overworld to the deepest caves, improve your ship and overcome the dungeons’ bosses to rescue your friends!
Minishoot’ Adventures Developer: SoulGame Studio Publisher: SoulGame Studio, IndieArk Platform: Windows Release Date: 3rd April, 2024 Price: $14.99 USD
Recommended – “Minishoot’ Adventures is a charming bullet hell shooter that successfully elevates the genres it takes inspiration from, earning it a solid recommendation.”
When someone hears about the developer SHIFT UP they likely either don’t know who they might be, or know exactly the type of developer the South Korean team is. The development team became known for their over-the-top Destiny Child mobile game that, despite being censored initially, was given a fully uncensored release after some time. Then the company brought out their second mobile game and kicked the jiggles up a notch with Project NIKKE. Primarily known for their mobile games that offered plenty of fan-service, it came as something of a surprise that the developer would be taking a step into the console market with Sony at the helm no less but here we are with Stellar Blade. There’s been plenty of talk about Eve”assets” and various costumes but now that Stellar Blade has arrived to deliver its own take on post-apocalyptic/future action, does it have more to bring to the table than a pretty face and SHIFT UP’s signature jiggle?
Story
Humanity has long been driven away from Earth after the powerful and seemingly endless creatures called Naytibas appeared and overran their defenses. Most of humanity has fled to a space colony by the bidding of the “Mother Sphere” in an attempt to keep humanity alive but that doesn’t mean that they have abandoned the planet. Eve is deployed as part of a special airborne squadrone in an effort to help eliminate the Naytibas to the best of their abilities and try to drive the monstrous creatures into extinction only for nearly their entire team to be eliminated before they barely reach the ground with the Naytiba forces quickly slaughtering most of the team members. Eve, despite the damage she’s received, manages to struggle to the end with the help of the best member of her squad, Tachy, only for Tachy to sacrifice herself in an attempt to keep Eve, and hope, alive.
Eve is rescued by the scavenger named Adam who helps her track down the nearby “Alpha Naytiba” and supports her with his drone only to rescue a long-waiting drop-squad member from three divisions prior, Lily. Lily, who serves as a mechanic and support unit, eagerly joins Eve as Adam reveals that humanity is still doing its best to eke out a living in the city of Xion and that their elder, named Orcal, might be able to help her accomplish her mission to slay the Master Naytiba in an effort to reclaim Earth, but he’ll need plenty of help from Eve to be able to point her in the right direction, the only problem is, the more Eve explores and experiences the world left behind and digs into the past, the stranger and darker things become.
Stellar Blade tackles a number of philosophical questions over the course of its roughly forty hour runtime (dependent on skill level and side-quest thoroughness of course) while also detailing the various origins of the Naytiba, why Earth is the way it is now, and much more. Anyone that happens to be a fan of science-fiction will likely be familiar with these elements but it must be said that Stellar Blade handles the way these elements are told incredibly well thanks to Eve being the naive “Angel” that has descended from the sky to save the remaining members of humanity but knows nothing about the world other than that she should kill Naytiba and the solid feed of information that continuously reveals new and darker elements of the intriguing narrative that is told throughout the game.
Some of this is hidden away either through side-quests that players will need to complete to unlock tidbits of information about the world, including it appears an entirely missable stage if players end up rushing, and inside journals or “memorysticks” that are found during exploration. This creates an entertaining and highly memorable plot that, despite maybe being a bit similar in theme to a certain Yoko Taro game, has more than enough legs to stand on its own. Combine this with the solid character interactions and the fact that the game actually offers a number of different ending options depending on player choice, including some that require extra effort be put in, and Stellar Blade tells a stellar story that really manages to stick the landing.
Gameplay
Stellar Blade may have an interesting storyline that will keep players going through a variety of locations and even revisit areas to try and complete side-quests that appear later in the game, taking advantage of the game’s feature that allows players to automatically return to the quest-giver once completed or making use of the pay-phone fast travel system but where the game truly shines is its combat system. It is worth noting right off the bat that despite having a pretty face Stellar Blade isn’t afraid to put Eve through the ringer.There are difficulty options available and even an assist of sorts for “Easy” mode that occasionally pulls up properly timed dodge or parry prompts but the game can be crushingly hard if players don’t take the game seriously. Players have a limited number of healing items that refill when resting at camps (though some extra potions can be carried and used, though these cost gold to replenish) though the ever familiar feature of having all standard enemies respawn when resting may make things difficult sometimes.
In combat Eve can unleash a number of combos mixing together light and heavy attacks in various combo chains with different animations and damage output though players will need to make sure that they are always on the move as the Naytiba rarely flinch from taking standard damage and will power through Eve’s attacks do deal out their own punishing attacks. This creates a sense that combat is almost always fast-paced feeling, even against individual enemies as stronger simple foes still can be a threat and properly timing a “Perfect Parry” rather than simply blocking or a “Perfect Dodge” other than avoiding an attack can lead players to dishing out the punishment instead, this includes even destroying an opponent in one blow if they happen to be parried enough. Along these same lines, players will eventually gain access to additional combat abilities such as Blink and Repulse, with Blink being an ability that allows Eve to snap behind a foe unleashing an undodgeable attack to punish them from behind or Repulse them by kicking them away to create some space and leave their weakness exposed. Oddly enough, despite pressing the timing exactly, it seemed like both Blink and Repulse only worked around three quarters of the time, the others either simply seeing Eve dodge normally or take the, often grappling, blow right to the face.
It must be said that, while standard enemies are often a delightful dance of death where players balance their skill against a set of normal foes, and the lesser mid-range bosses are a challenge that they can struggle to overcome, the main bosses of the game are absolutely outstanding. The first one players battle against barely holds a candle to any of the other major boss battles that players will find themselves taking part in throughout Stellar Blade and each one of these is not only incredibly challenging but feels amazingly rewarding once they’ve been overcome. Obviously, we cannot go into the specifics regarding these bosses to avoid spoilers but these combat encounters are some of the best players can ask for.
Besides Eve’s hair-accessory turned sword that is generally her main weapon, the drone that Adam pilots can be used as a handheld firearm with various upgrades allowing different types of ammo to be used, this can include firing a chargeable ray beam, shotgun shells, explosive rounds, standard slugs, and even mini-rockets. These may seem a bit less effective at times, especially since ammo must be gathered or bought, but targeting weakpoints with this can be quite effective and, since the game does feature a few areas that force players to only use the firearm, it is good to get used to the mechanic even if it isn’t the most exciting.
Back to the sword fighting, Eve has a number of skills that she can also use by building up a “Beta Meter” through standard fighting, perfect parrying, and perfect dodging, with these four skills offering useful effects of their own, such as firing off energy blades, crushing a single target, dealing sweeping damage to the area, or even focusing on crushing an enemy’s shield. Activating these Beta skills aren’t quite as easy as one might think unfortunately thanks to it requiring a trigger and face-button to be pushed and this is an issue in other areas as well. Swapping ammo types requires aiming the drone gun and holding down, leaving Eve open to attack, and even the eventual Rush Gauge that players unlock late in the game with its own set of unique abilities features the same similar mechanic that is a pain to use effectively in combat. Trying to do a bit too much with too few controls to work with. Of course, this doesn’t even touch upon a certain “overdrive” style mode that players can unleash that gives Eve a massive boost to her power and abilities that we won’t spoil the details about here.
As players battle it out against the Naytiba, complete side-quests, and solve little puzzles to gather collectables ranging from literal Cans that unlock additional item slots when players gather enough to the countless costumes players can dress Eve up with to more vital items like upgrade materials for Eve’s stat-affecting equipment, players will earn SP. These Skill Points can then be applied to obtain some of the aforementioned skills, though a few unlock naturally, and improve the effectiveness of other skills. It is worth noting that while players can use in-game items to reset their skill point distribution, playing through the title normally and completing nearly every side-quest saw my Eve unlocking every skill before a certain story point. As for the aforementioned gear, players can eventually unlock up to four gear slots that provide various boosts such as increased combo damage, reducing incoming melee damage, boosting Beta energy received, etc. Changing these up before a difficult fight can be vital, especially if a foe ends up being far too challenging. This is especially true when it comes to Exospines that are not only rarer but also provide a number of extra boosts even if it takes near the end of the game to actually unlock the second slot. Exospines can offer additional extra boosts such as boosting damage of firearms, combo damage, having critical damage radiate out to hit other enemies, increase the effect of healing items, and more.
All of this, including Eve’s “Tumblr” that serves to contain her refillable healing item, can be upgraded and often these come as a result of exploring the world and seeing everything that it has to offer. In an interesting sense, some of Stellar Blade’s more open world aspects and puzzles are designed to ensure that players actually have to commit to solving them properly. Need a code to open a locked door? Can’t even guess unless you’ve found the actual code. Have to catch a fish? Better find the proper bait and fishing area to actually do so. That being said, some of the world exploration could use a bit of extra work and most of this involves the platforming and climbing aspects. Not too far into the game Eve gains the ability to double-jump and, besides unlocking the ability to reach areas in previous areas that weren’t previously accessible, can be rather floaty at times. This means that there are times that a jump should have worked just fine and ended up with Eve slipping off the side to her death as fall damage is incredibly punishing in Stellar blade. Even climbing ledges or swinging on bars can sometimes send Eve jumping in a random direction for no strange reason.
It is also worth noting that, while not a major issue in and of itself, Stellar Blade shockingly lacks a New Game+ option. Considering the game features multiple endings, multiple costumes players have to actually put the work into to unlock, and missable side-quests, this comes as a surprising oversight for an action RPG such as this, especially since, beyond upgrading Eve’s blade and overall Exospine, going through old stages as a powered up Even isn’t as simple as one might expect.
Audio & Visuals
Now, one of the biggest talking points for many leading up to Stellar Blade was Eve and her character presentation and it is a real shame that this happens to be the case as the game is visually impressive. Yes, Eve does wear skin-tight costumes and even playing the game as intensively as we did we located outfits ranging from a bunny-girl swimsuit, a bikini, racing queen uniform, and others, most of these costumes are shockingly less-revealing than one might expect, including baggier clothing and a full body costume that anyone will struggle to find offensive. Sure, there are jiggle physics but they are realistic, ironically with some of the more supportive costumes seeming to keep things in place better, and some of the costumes can be quite “baring” but since they are completely cosmetic players can choose whatever option they feel like at the time, especially since the crafting material to make Nanosuits as they are called are completely separate from everything else. Players can also obtain various types of eye-glasses and earrings for Eve that are also strictly cosmetic. Both Adam, Lily, and the drone are also given a few extra costumes here and there though these are far rarer and don’t have to be crafted. It is also worth noting that there is still plenty of gore here and there including some cutscene gore occasionally as well as plenty of chunks of Naytibas flying apart when they are defeated in combat.
There is also quite a lot of variety when it comes to the various Naytiba that players do battle against. Some make frequent appearances even in other zones but almost every zone has their own unique set of Naytiba to battle against and tactics that players will need to employ to take them down. This includes some incredibly impressive looking boss-designs, with a few in particular being downright stunning in presentation. This means that players will rarely feel bored as they battle throughout these numerous new enemies types. Since Stellar Blade is set in a post-apocalyptic world it makes sense that most of what players will explore happens to be ruins, deserts, or a mix of the two but the game does a very solid job keeping things varied. There are smaller more streamlined stages that are separated by larger more open locations, where most side-quests take place though a few also do appear in the more linear ones as well. It is also nice to note that, both as rewards for completing these side-quests and simple exploration, there remain spots of beauty even amongst the rubble of civilization.
The English voice work throughout the game is handled quite well with Eve’s voice actress handling the role nicely as the naive “Angel”, especially during some of the bigger revelations, as well as the other two primary characters, Adam and Lily. The rest of the cast is also handled fairly well though are a bit less memorable. It is also a bit unfortunate to say that there is something of a missed opportunity to only have perfect parry and other combat sound effects play through the PlayStation 5’s DualSense controller speaker when the drone and either Adam or Lily could also have spoken through it. As for the soundtrack, fans of vocal background music will find themselves in for quite a treat here in Stellar Blade. Not only does nearly every single stage, with the exception of a few dungeon-like locations and a bonus area, feature its own unique background music with a vocal track to support it, even the bigger action sequences feature incredible pieces of background music, making Stellar Blade’s original soundtrack one that fans will likely find themselves listening to long after completing the game.
Overall
Stellar Blade feels like it had an uphill battle against it thanks to Shift Up’s previous works and the general conversation surrounding Eve but not only has the developer proved that they can put out a console quality game, they can do a… stellar job at it. While perhaps not the most innovative, the story throughout Stellar Blade is an engrossing one that combined with its slick and challenging action combat is highly entertaining all wrapped together in a gorgeous looking package with plenty of fan-service and eye-candy that fans can enjoy if they so wish. It might have a few rough edges here and there and surprisingly lack a New Game+, but this serves as an impressive step into the console market for Shift Up and anyone sleeping on Stellar Blade is doing themselves a disservice.
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