The Age of Empires team has announced a special livestream event for February 24 at 4 AM AEDT/6 AM NZDT, which will feature a first look at Age of Empires Mobile, a sneak peek at the hotly anticipated Age of Mythology: Retold, and a host of other Age of Empires-related updates that will set the stage for 2024.
Additionally, the New Year, New Age livestream event will be hosted by YouTube star and Age of Empires super-fan Welyn. Along with hosting the livestream, Welyn will also be co-broadcasting it on his Twitch channel.
The broadcast will be available to watch on the following channels:
Full details on today’s announcement can be found here.
More information on the New Year New Age broadcast will be announced leading up to February 24, so be sure to stay tuned to Xbox Wire and ageofempires.com for all the latest news.
Another State of Play broadcast has wrapped with some epic reveals from Stellar Blade, Rise of The Ronin and more. See below for a round-up of the biggest announcements:
Helldivers 2
State of Play kicked off with another look at Helldivers 2 ahead of its February 8th launch with the new Report for Duty trailer. Helldivers 2 is available on PS5 and PC. Pre-orders are available now.
Stellar Blade
Stellar Blade arrives only on PS5 on April 26 2024.
State of Play featured a new gameplay trailer. This trailer features much of the content that you can experience firsthand in the game and is also designed to give you an understanding of the game’s mechanics and how the scenario unfolds, including its core combat. Stellar Blade comes to PS5 on April 26, 2024 with preorders available from February 7, 2024.
For more information visit the PlayStation blog here.
Sonic X Shadow Generations
Sega unveiled Sonic X Shadow Generations, the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog platformer delivering blistering platforming challenges at speeds only Sonic and Shadow can deliver. It’s a greatest hits playlist of iconic 2D and 3D Sonic levels from Sonic Generations, both remastered and expanded for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. But that’s not all – Sonic X Shadow Generations also introduces an all-new standalone campaign for Shadow the Hedgehog, making this the definitive blend of Classic Sonic, Modern Sonic and Shadow gameplay.
Check out the trailer below and full info at the PlayStation blog here.
Zenless Zone Zero
Hoyoverse confirmed that Zenless Zone Zero will be coming to PS5 this year. Zenless Zone Zero is a brand-new urban fantasy action-RPG. In the story, contemporary civilisation has been destroyed by a supernatural disaster known as the Hollows. New Eridu, the last urban civilisation that survived the apocalypse, managed to thrive by acquiring the technology to extract valuable resources out of the Hollows. However, there are perilous monsters roaming within the Hollows and only a special kind of people who contain resistance to Hollow corruption called Agents are able to go inside. Players in the game will take on the role of a Proxy — a professional who can guide agents in their exploration of Hollows.
Check out the new trailer below and the PlayStation blog for full info here.
Foamstars
Square Enix revealed Foamstars Season 1 content details. The bubbly 4v4 game arrives next week as part of the PlayStation Plus February Monthly Games lineup. From February 6, you’ll be able to join the party and take on your rivals in fast-paced foam-filled multiplayer action.
Check out the trailer below and full details at the PlayStation blog here.
Dave the Diver
Dave the Diver splashes onto PS5 and PS4 this April! Join Dave, a professional diver, as he catches unique and delicious fish during the day and serves hungry patrons at a seaside sushi restaurant by night. Dave the Diver is a highly praised game of 2023, by both players and critics alike. If you love diving and sushi, and are willing to take on thrilling underwater adventures with the protagonist, Dave, you won’t want to miss the debut of Dave the Diver on PlayStation.
The broadcast also announced a free Godzilla DLC will be released in May, introducing even more enormous threats lurking in the depths. Prepare to meet the King of the Monsters in the Blue Hole.
Check out the trailer below and full details at the PlayStation blog here.
V Rising
This year, players will be able to pick up a DualSense controller and delve head-first into dark gothic fantasy by taking the role of the vampire. Become the ruler of the night in V Rising, a solo or co-op vampire experience that combines the best of the survival and action-RPG genres. In the signature survival style, you climb your way from the bottom of the food chain all the way to the top through grit, cleverness, and force of will. In a narrative twist, you don’t start as vulnerable prey in the wilderness, aiming to evolve into a clever hunter. Instead, you take on the role of the weakened predator seeking to reclaim its position as the ultimate force in a dangerous, hostile realm. In a land of humans and monsters that no longer has a place for you, it’s your job to carve it out for yourself. V Rising will arrive on PS5 in 2024.
Check out the announcement trailer below and full info at the PlayStation blog here.
Silent Hill: The Short Message and Silent Hill 2 Remake
Silent Hill: The Short Message is a new, short-form Silent Hill title. In 2022, Konami announced a revival for the Silent Hill series, along with several new titles in development, and this marks the first of that new wave of games to be released. In a surprise announcement, Silent Hill: The Short Message is available free from today on PS5. Check out the trailer below, and grab the game on the PlayStation Store here.
And for everyone patiently awaiting news on a remake of Silent Hill 2, check out the latest trailer, with brand-new game footage below:
More information on both titles can be found on the PlayStation Blog here.
Judas
We also saw a new Judas story trailer from Ghost Story Games revealed. During the State of Play, Ken Levine, creator of the BioShock series, unpacked how Judas will be an experience where players influence how relationships and the story unfold. Check out the trailer below. More information can be found on the PlayStation Blog here.
Metro Awakening VR
Vertigo Games announced that the beloved post-apocalyptic shooter series will make its debut on PS VR2 in 2024. Inspired by the internationally best-selling novels by Dmitry Glukhovsky, Metro 2033, Metro: Last Light, and Metro Exodus delivered immersive first-person experiences at release. These games put players in the heart of a desperate battle for survival after nuclear Armageddon.
Check out the reveal trailer below and more information on PlayStation Blog here.
Legendary Tales
Urban Wolf Games confirmed that Legendary Tales is coming to PlayStation VR2 later this year. Legendary Tales is a dark fantasy RPG with medieval weapons, armour, dazzling magic, an RPG attribute system, skill trees, and dungeons. Not enough? Well, we’ve got crafting, potion-making, randomly generated items, collectable items, and a quest-driven storyline.
Check out the trailer below and full information at the PlayStation blog here.
Dragon’s Dogma 2
A new Dragon’s Dogma 2 trailer showcased the Warfarer vocation, the vocation maisters, and the mysterious dragonsplague. Dragon’s Dogma 2 will release March 22nd on PS5. Check out the new trailer below and see further information on the PlayStation Blog here.
Rise of The Ronin
State of Play featured a new Rise of the Ronin gameplay trailer showcasing combat, traversal, and player choice. The team at Team Ninja have crafted a liberating open world bristling with tense combat opportunities that are woven together with a complex storyline.
Embody a Ronin and forge your fate starting March 22, 2024, arriving only on PS5.
Check out the trailer below. Find more information on the PlayStation blog here.
Until Dawn
The State of Play also announced an enhanced version of Until Dawn. Until Dawn has remained a core, genre-defining horror experience for players since its release almost a decade ago. We are now taking these amazing foundations and adding more emotional depth, an enhanced look, and a completely new soundscape that a game with such a strong legacy deserves. Rebuilt in Unreal Engine 5, Until Dawn has seen enhancements across the board, all made with passion and care for the original from the team of horror lovers, film fanatics, and veteran game makers at Ballistic Moon.
The enhanced version of Until Dawn is coming to PS5 and PC this year.
Check out the trailer below, and for more information visit the PlayStation blog here.
Death Stranding 2 On The Beach
During the State of Play, we got our most in-depth look at the next Kojima Productions game. Death Stranding 2 On The Beach will release on PS5 in 2025.
Check out the feature-length story trailer below:
New Kojima Productions Action Espionage in development, coming to PlayStation
The show wrapped up with the announcement that there is a new Action Espionage IP, PHYSINT, in development at Kojima Productions, a new project coming to PlayStation. Production will begin post-Death Stranding 2 with the game promising to blur the lines between film and video games. Check out the full announcement here.
Next State of Play
There’s more State of Play on the way! Tune in next Wednesday, February 7 at 10:30am AEDT for an extended look at Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.
Unveiled at the PlayStation showcase, SILENT HILL: The Short Message is available now for Free on PlayStation 5; New SILENT HILL 2 remake trailer also revealed
SILENT HILL: The Short Message sends players down a new dark and twisted journey
Konami Digital Entertainment B.V. today announced SILENT HILL: The Short Message, a brand-new entry in the psychological horror franchise, is available now for free on the PlayStation™ Store. Plus, a new trailer from development studio Bloober Team for the highly anticipated SILENT HILL 2 remake showed off what players can expect from the improved and modernized combat.
Check out the launch trailer below:
Follow Anita, the main protagonist in SILENT HILL: The Short Message, as she is called by a friend to an abandoned apartment complex on the outskirts of town. As she explores her eerie surroundings, she comes face-to-face with a dark truth that she had tried to shut away. KONAMI previously announced several new games and other forms of media that would spearhead a new era of the SILENT HILL franchise.
SILENT HILL: The Short Message is a first, bold innovation for a new generation of SILENT HILL fans, and with its surprise reveal and free launch, it’s the perfect opportunity for new players to get into the psychological horror franchise. SILENT HILL: The Short Message is a short game with a complete story that is independent of the previous and upcoming titles in the series. The game is set in the present day and deals with the theme of slander and bullying on social networking sites – a contemporary theme familiar in modern day society. This is the latest entry in the series in over a decade. We hope that the new generation of players who have not been exposed to the previous games in the series will experience the world of psychological horrors SILENT HILL can deliver.
Take a deeper dive at the creative process that brought SILENT HILL: The Short Message to life via five behind-the-scenes videos with the director, cast, and development team.
• Development team interview
• Cutscene director and cast interview
• Sound team interview
• Level designer interview
• Cast interview
A new SILENT HILL 2 trailer focuses on combat, which has evolved from the original game. Iconic monsters make a return, including the Bubble Head Nurses, the Mannequin and more.
Check out the Combat Reveal trailer below:
About SILENT HILL
A tale of darkness, silence, deformed monsters, love and sorrow…
A psychological horror series whose first title was released on PlayStation® in 1999. The film has been highly acclaimed in many fields for its gripping terror and unique worldview, with many fans around the world.
About Konami Group
KONAMI GROUP CORPORATION was established in 1973, starting as an amusement machine manufacturer for arcades. Over the years, the company has grown to include different business units across various markets. Currently, KONAMI GROUP CORPORATION includes the Digital Entertainment, Amusement, Gaming & Systems, and Sports Businesses. The company went public on the Osaka Securities Exchange in 1984, the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 1988, and the London Stock Exchange in 1999. For more information, visit: www.konami.com/en.
About Konami Digital Entertainment
Konami Digital Entertainment, which is the core company of Konami Group, develops entertaining content for mobile, console and card games. The company is known for global franchises such as eFootball™, Metal Gear, Silent Hill, Castlevania, and Contra, as well as the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game series. www.konami.com/games/corporate/en/
About Bloober Team
Based in Krakow, Poland, and established in 2008, Bloober Team is an independent game development studio of around 200 people. The company focuses on creating mature horror games with a deep story and an eerie atmosphere, key ingredients of a chilling and memorable experience. Bloober Team has extensive experience and passion working on acclaimed horror games including Blair Witch, Layers of Fear, Observer: System Redux and the recently released The Medium.
Season One “Starry Pop”, 2024 FOAMSTARS Roadmap, and Seasonal Events Unveiled
SYDNEY (February 1, 2024)– Today, SQUARE ENIX® revealed further details on the seasonal content planned for its upcoming online 4v4 foam party shooter FOAMSTARS™. FOAMSTARS Season One “Starry Pop” was unveiled during the Sony Interactive Entertainment’s State of Play broadcast showcasing new limited-time seasonal events and season pass specific content and rewards.
Further, the FOAMSTARS 2024 Season Roadmap was also shared in a separate PlayStation Blog teasing additional characters, maps, and modes to be added to the game throughout the year.
“Starry Pop” is the first of many free seasons planned for the year ahead and will be available to all players from launch, beginning Tuesday, February 6, 2024, until Friday, March 8, 2024.
Season One highlights include:
Ranked Party: Rise in the FOAMSTARS’ ranks by competing in two limited-time seasonal events, the solo player-based Ranked Party Lonestar and team-based Ranked Party Tribe-Vibe. There are seven ranks to progress though – Bronze Star, Silver Star, Gold Star, Platinum Star, Diamond Star, Superstar and Party Legend. Earning enough Rank Points allows players to take part in the Rank-Up Trials.
Extreme Party: Challenge players in two special themed modes; the All Mel T Party – where every player battles it out as Mel T, and the Invisible Party, where everyone is invisible. The first team to score ten chills on opponent players claims the victory.
Happy FriYAY Party: A weekend-only party event with no winners or losers, just the opportunity to try-out next season’s FOAMSTAR, Coiff Guy.
In addition to “Starry Pop”, the unveiled content roadmap showed upcoming plans for Season Two to Season Six. A season lasts approximately five weeks and brings a selection of new characters, maps, events, and cosmetics. Each season includes a new Season Pass, testing players to progress through the ranks by earning experience points (XP) through gameplay such as battles, missions, and challenges to unlock various rewards. All players will immediately gain access to the new modes and maps to ensure they are always part of the FOAMSTARS’ party, while also having the opportunity to unlock the new characters by progressing through ranks and achieving challenges. A Premium Season Pass is available for purchase at $5.99, where players will immediately unlock new Season Pass characters and can earn additional season-specific cosmetics.
Watch the official FOAMSTARS Season Information Announce Trailer below:
Seasonal Event Dates*
Ranked Party
Ranked Party Lonestar Dates: Friday, February 9, 2024, until Monday, February 26, 2024
Ranked Party Tribe-Vibe Dates: Friday, March 1, 2024, until Monday, March 4, 2024
Extreme Party – All Mel T Party
Saturday, February 17, 2024, Sunday, February 18, 2024, and Monday, February 19, 2024
Extreme Party – Invisible Party
Saturday, February 24, 2024, Sunday, February 25, 2024, and Monday, February 26, 2024
Happy FriYAY Party
Event Timings: First Half
Friday, February 9, 2024, and Saturday, February 10, 2024
Event Timings: Second Half
Friday, March 1, 2024, and Saturday, March 2, 2024
*These are dates and timings for Japan (JST). For local event timings, please visit the FOAMSTARS website and social channels.
Launch Details FOAMSTARS will launch globally on February 6, 2024, exclusively for PlayStation®5 (PS5®) and PlayStation®4 (PS4®), as part of the February PlayStation® Plus monthly game line-up. All subscribers can redeem, download, and play at no extra cost until March 4, 2024. Players who redeem during this period will keep the game in their PlayStation Plus library and be able to continue to play for as long as they have an ongoing subscription. Beginning on March 5, 2024, FOAMSTARS will be available for purchase via the PlayStation® Store and requires a PlayStation Plus subscription.
– An internet connection is required to play FOAMSTARS. – PS Plus is an ongoing subscription with a recurring fee. Age restrictions and terms apply.
For more information on the latest news and updates, please visit the official website and follow FOAMSTARS social media channels.
About Square Enix, Inc.
Square Enix, Inc. develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX® and TAITO® branded entertainment content throughout the Americas as part of the Square Enix group of companies. The Square Enix group of companies boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY®, which has sold over 185 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 88 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix, Inc. is a U.S.-based, wholly owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
Sydney, Australia – February 1st, 2024: We sometimes conceive time differently when darkness surrounds us. However, we only need a minute of your time before we send you off into madness again! THQ Nordic has revealed a new trailer for Alone in the Dark. We have summarised the most important information for you in this 60-second video.
More than a mere battle for survival, this journey will challenge your core beliefs. But what exactly is Alone in the Dark? Join Jodie Comer (Killing Eve) and David Harbour (Stranger Things) in this cosmic horror tale set against a Southern Gothic backdrop. Experience the breakdown of reality through their characters’ eyes as you face countless challenges, from searching puzzles to scarce ammo, to uncover the truth at the heart of Derceto Manor.
Alone in the Dark is developed by Pieces Interactive in Sweden and published by THQ Nordic and will be coming to PC, Xbox Series S/X, and PlayStation®5 on March 20, 2024.
Alone in the Dark – Overview Alone in the Dark is a love letter to the ground-breaking original, allowing players to experience a haunting story through the eyes of one of the two protagonists: play as Edward Carnby, portrayed by David Harbour (Stranger Things, Hellboy), or Emily Hartwood, portrayed by Jodie Comer (Free Guy, Killing Eve) in this reimagined classic survival horror game, where Psychological Horror meets Southern Gothic. Explore your surroundings, battle monsters, solve puzzles, and uncover the unsettling truth of Derceto Manor.
The compelling story by Mikael Hedberg (SOMA, Amnesia: The Dark Descent), the exceptional monster design by legendary Guillermo del Toro collaborator Guy Davis, and the haunting Doom Jazz melodies by legend Jason Köhnen come together to create a chilling and atmospheric survival horror experience.
Alone in the Dark is being developed by Pieces Interactive in Sweden and will be coming to PC, Xbox Series S/X, and PlayStation®5 on March 20, 2024.
Explore Derceto Manor in this reimagination of Alone in the Dark, a love letter to the 90’s cult classic horror game! Set in the gothic American south in the 1920’s, Alone in the Dark features a noir-setting with classical Lovecraftian horror-elements, where the familiar meets the surreal.
Return to the roots of psychological horror and experience an atmospheric journey worthy of the game that started the genre.
Dive into a world full of sounds that make your skin crawl with a haunting, yet mesmerizing doom jazz soundtrack.
Enjoy the thrill of desperate survival in a world where reality starts to crumble, evil lurks in every shadow and ammunition is scarce.
Experience this nightmare from either Emily Hartwood’s or Edward Carnby’s perspective and unearth the dark secrets of a gothic mansion.
Immerse yourself in a deep psychological story that goes beyond the realms of the imaginable, by Mikael Hedberg, cult horror writer of SOMA and Amnesia.
Ghost Story Games, the development studio led by creative director Ken Levine, today released an all-new trailer for Judas, the single-player, narrative first-person shooter that is currently in development for the PlayStation®5 computer entertainment system, as well as Xbox Series X|S console systems, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store. Revealed during the Sony State of Play, the trailer marks the most recent update for the title since its reveal in late 2022, and features new, in-game footage captured on PlayStation®5.
The“Who is Judas” trailer offers a deeper look at the game’s setting aboard the Mayflower, a spacefaring city whose citizens are trained to tear each other apart for even the most minor infractions, and where machines control every aspect of business, art, and government. You, as Judas, are the driver of every event in a mysterious story with a new cast of characters to get to know – and to change – in a world where every decision you make affects how the story unfolds.
The leaders tried to turn you into something you’re not: a model citizen.And you sparked a devastating revolution to tear it all down.Will you fix what you broke, or leave it all to burn?
Ghost Story Games was founded by Ken Levine (Creative Director of System Shock 2, BioShock, BioShock Infinite) and former Irrational Games developers. The studio’s mission is to create narrative-driven experiences rooted in immersive world building and gameplay. Their passion and pedigree have resulted in genre-defining experiences for more than 25 years.
LOS ANGELES, CA – January 31, 2024 – Netmarble, a leading developer and publisher of high-quality mobile games, has released a new update for the mobile RPGSeven Knights 2 celebrating the Lunar New Year with several events, new equipment, and an expansion of the Celestial Tower mode.
New Exclusive Equipment has been added to Seven Knights 2 including Steel Gauntlets from Kris, a powerful equipment which increases DEF and Block Efficiency, decreases Skill Cooldown scaling with Transcendence Level, and so on. The new equipment also applies Instant Death when using basic attacks in PvP fields when equipped by Hell Adjutant Knox. The Rachel’s Boots, a Selected Rate Up Equipment, has also been added, which has additional effects applied based on class and revival. Players who enter the Celestial Tower’s normal mode can experience expanded floors to Level 105.
Seven Knights 2 is celebrating Lunar New Year with several in-game events that are now available through February 14, including:
Lunar New Years! Check-in Event: Checking in for 10 days during the event period will reward players with a Lunar New Year Gift Bundle and an event Globe.
Lunar New Years! Teo’s Phoenix’s Wings Special Mission: Clearing in-game missions in the Celestial Tower and daily missions provides the opportunity to obtain rewards including the Vanquisher of Evil Teo’s Phoenix’s Wings outfit, Hero Summon Tickets, and Lunar New Year Coins.
Cosette’s Lunar Shoot & Loot: Players can obtain multiple rewards including Rubies and Lunar New Year Coins using Cosette’s Bullets obtained through Daily Missions, crafting, and other events.
The official sequel to Seven Knights, a game enjoyed by 60 million players globally, Seven Knights 2 takes place 20 years after the original and introduces beautiful open world gameplay. The story centers on the Daybreak Mercenaries who embark on a journey to find the last member of the Seven Knights, “Rudy,” after a series of events involving a mysterious girl named Phiné. Stunning cinematics and graphics powered by Unreal Engine 4 will immerse players in this epic game story filled with unique characters and powerful bosses. Players can collect and develop their heroes and experience a new combat system with powerful ultimates and suppressors.
More information on Seven Knights 2 can be found on the officialFacebook page, YouTube and forums or by visiting Netmarble’s Global YouTube channel.
About Netmarble Corporation
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, The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross, and forthcoming PC games like Paragon: The Overprime.
It’s always fascinating to see publishers take risk. Nintendo have done that by re-releasing two pieces of an older, niche franchise with Another Code: Recollection on the Nintendo Switch. For a quick history lesson, this compilation features updated versions of Trace Memory (also known as Another Code: Two Memories) and its sequel, Another Code: R – A Journey into Lost Memories, which released on the Nintendo DS and the Nintendo Wii well over a decade ago. Can these two still attract an audience with an update, or is this one risk that wasn’t worth the reward? Let’s find out.
Story
At is heart, this franchise is your typical mystery/puzzle game, split into two games. The first is Two Memories, which has protagonist Ashley looking for answers to a mysterious letter from her thought to be deceased father, who helped pioneer research for human memories. She meets up with a ghost named D on a journey that brings her to a mysterious island, and has to help him restore his memory while finding out more about what happened to her famed parents in the process. The sequel takes place three years later, and brings her to another locale where she meets a runaway also looking for answers. Ashley’s stories are tied to the technology that only she can use to do research, which is basically her unique talent that brings the character full circle into her role.
Yeah, its a bit cookie cutter into the genre and fairly generic, but the story still manages to feel engaging throughout – despite its simplistic nature. I think the second game does feel more like a “episode of the week” more than a fully packaged release, almost as if it was originally thought of as a DLC chapter of sorts, but despite both being rather short, I do think there is something rather charming about Ashley and this world that the team have put together here.
Gameplay
If you are one of those who cherish either of these little hidden gems from the past, a lot has changed, but more-so for the better. The world is now able to be explored and fleshed out, as while these may be labeled as remakes, they’re honestly a new take altogether on both experiences. Players walk around, speak to characters, and participate in puzzles in order to progress the story. A lot of the game is a point and click, with moments that have you have to resolve the puzzles that come before you. Each puzzle is mostly unique, now featuring hints and prompts to guide you forward without frustration.
Because the touch controls are now a thing of the past, this version features both games with minor motion for puzzles and a standard button format for the bulk of the experience. The puzzles are all very simple to solve and most are spelled out rather quickly for the player, with indicators even guiding the way of where to go when prompted. However, there is still a sense of purpose to move forward and the tragically engaging plot keeps things rolling along without the player concentrating on things being too easy, rather focusing on the narrative over the actual gameplay. This means if you are someone that wants your adventure games to be a bit more gameplay-driven, you might be a bit disappointed as while the puzzles are satisfying, most are over quick and really only exist to keep that tale ticking.
I think with Another Code: Recollection, they could have went two different ways with this release. We could have seen a celebration of the original platforms with touchscreen integration, but instead this feels more of a side project, created by someone who really cared about the source material – simply bringing the best parts together for one updated and fluid package. Its very modernized and slick, and that may be for the best. There will be audiences that this title isn’t for as it is marketed towards adolescence. That said, there is definitely a place for this particular odd piece of history on the Switch, and this compilation has a smooth execution and very little to complain about, as the puzzles and story are just so lovely.
Audio
Newly featured voice casting adds a huge layer to both titles in this release and makes it feel modern. The performances are great, and the music comes with equal quality, bringing out an intense and memorable atmosphere that most will love sinking into. The sound effects also add to this, as no pun intended – the past games indeed feel like just a memory with how updated and solid the entire sound design is for this particular package.
Visuals
The most jarring and welcome change are the updated visuals. The art style here is fantastic, taking the classic look of both games and fleshing out everything with so much more detail. For some games, that would be just acceptable, but for an adventure title with so many little details sewn into the plot, it makes it super satisfying just to finally get to explore these locales on a whole new level. The animations are fluid and fantastic, and nothing really ever feels rushed or clunky, even though the original titles kind of fit in that whole “budget game” category.
Overall
This industry has a lot of surprises. Another Code: Recollection fits that description perfectly. While the original games were never the top tier of entertainment from their respective generations, the fact that this title exists in this format is truly fascinating and hopefully opens more doors for quality updates ahead for other “hidden gems”. New players may not have a lot of meat to chew on compared to the onslaught of other titles in this same genre, but returning audiences are sure to find a warm, nostalgic joy of simply checking back up on Ashley and reliving what was a light, gripping little tale from a team that truly cared about re-telling it to a new set of fans.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
When it comes to fighting games, fans can wait many years for a new iteration to be released. This is usually because the previous version has been given an “enhanced” release or supported through DLC over the past generation but even then for Tekken fans it feels like the wait for Tekken 8 has been quite some time. This is likely because it has been nearly seven years since Tekken 7 released on consoles and showed that the 3D fighting scene is alive and well. Now, with fans eager to see what a new iteration has to offer in terms of combat as well as perhaps seeing just where the story will go after the events of 7, has Bandai Namco managed to pull off a near perfect victory here in Tekken 8?
Story
While we won’t go too into detail about Tekken 8’s story mode “The Dark Awakens,” it does follow the events that happened at the end of the previous game with Jin Kazama still struggling to control his new abilities while Kazuya is in full control of his, capable of unleashing so much destruction at once that he brings the world to its knees and announces a new King of Iron Fist Tournament where entire countries will select fighters to represent them, the winners being rewarded and the losers severely punished. As such, Jin must grapple with his abilities while the various forces of the world, both good and evil, begin to move in response to Kazuya’s threats.
The entire storyline is dripping with seriousness despite the absurdity of some of the situations that play out. The cliche elements are worn openly and almost reveled in at times and the twists that are mostly obvious are still treated as major reveals and, perhaps due to the way it is handled by the writers, feels all the better for it. The over-the-top nature, the reveals, all of these elements make Tekken 8’s core storyline a bombastic tale that is as delightful as ever, especially for longtime fans and the newcomer characters being added into it, including a certain extremely familiar seeming girl.
It is worth noting that those who want to see a bit more of their favorite character’s storylines, who may end up getting only a brief appearance or lackluster showing in the core story can still enjoy some extra content in the form of the game’s Character Episodes that allow every character to have a unique ending of their very own alongside specialized fights for them. These work in a similar manner to arcade endings but are a delight nonetheless when paired with the high quality presentation of the main story. There is also “Arcade Quest” which serves as a tutorial and lets players take control of their own created avatar to play the freshly released Tekken 8 in arcades against other people as if it were the real world. This mode is simple at best and mostly seen as a tutorial but it does have some fun jokes from time to time, especially in a meta type of way.
Gameplay
The Tekken series has almost always felt like a game where defense is key to victory. The ability to properly space your character, side-step incoming attacks, crouch or avoid a powerful blow and then unleash a powerful punishing counter-attack that could lead into a juggling nightmare for your opponent were some of the key elements to succeeding against more difficult opponents. Sure, certain fighters benefited from a more active fighting style and putting the pressure on your opponent is always a good thing, but managing to punish a whiffed move could easily swing the fight in your favor or doom you to a nightmarish juggle if you play poorly. You see, despite the fairly simplistic control scheme offered by Tekken’s four-button attack system, every fighter in the game has dozens if not over a hundred different moves that they can unleash and choosing when to properly use these moves, the proper timing of combos, and which moves to chain together has always made Tekken a game that is a delightfully challenging fighter to master but one that has always been enjoyable thanks to the options it provides.
Now in Tekken 8 things haven’t been changed much as it is still as combo and air-juggle heavy as ever but a few new mechanics have been added to make fights more aggressive and reward this type of play. This comes in the form of the Heat System and recoverable health. As players take damage usually, their health bar will decrease but if they manage to find themselves getting juggled in the air or blocking special attacks, their health will still decrease but show a grayed out portion. This portion can be recovered should the player take an aggressive stance and start dealing damage to their opponent instead, giving them a chance to recover a bit of their health lost when they were punished by an air juggle or suffered through a crushing attack. This means that simply dodging left or right or simply blocking isn’t enough to recover, aggression is rewarded.
Along these same lines the Heat system is now a massive mechanic that can factor heavily into how a player wants to handle their character. Every round each fighter has a full Heat meter and can trigger it at any time and provide a wealth of benefits while it is active. Entering Heat mode can be done automatically simply through the press of a button or by unleashing a move that is usually one of the player’s current character’s more powerful attacks. Once in Heat mode, their Heat Gauge will begin to deplete and every single attack they will do, even if blocked, will deal chip damage to the opponent. At the same time, they will also quickly regain any of their recoverable health that might be available. Alongside these already useful benefits of being in Heat mode characters will also be able to use a number of special new attacks for every character, including a powerful Heat finisher that will end their Heat mode instantly but deal a ton of damage if it lands properly.
As mentioned before, every round this Heat gauge is restored, meaning players are encouraged to use it to make sure they win a round. Of course, when to trigger this can play a heavy factor in actually winning a match depending on the opponent… do you save your heat gauge to restore health because you ended up on the wrong-side of a whiffed punish or do you trigger the Heat mode and unleash a myriad of attacks capable of air juggling an opponent into near oblivion if done right or even take advantage of chip damage to wear down an opponent. For example, Aliza’s chainsaw attacks can deal plenty of damage to a defending opponent through chip damage alone, combining that with her abilities to air juggle make her a dangerous threat. Along these same lines, King and his powerful grapples can feel deadlier than ever if players play their cards right and trigger his command grabs alongside his combos properly.
If this sounds a bit challenging to learn, it is because it can be, but Tekken 8 has made the best effort we’ve seen in a fighting game to try and give players the tools to learn their favorite fighters and even how to fix their mistakes. Tekken 8 supports the most extensive training modes around with every character having combo challenges, training on when to punish an opponent, certain moves that work best in specific situations, and more. This is incredibly helpful since Tekken characters generally have a massive amount of moves available to them, usually far more than a standard fighting game and while players don’t need to know their favorite character’s every move, this makes doing so far easier. This is simply through training mode as well as the game’s Arcade Quest, a single player storyline involving the player’s created little character learning the ropes of the freshly released Tekken 8 in the arcade scene by slowly introducing mechanics and ramping up the difficulty to match the player’s current Quest ranking.
To take things a step even further, while replays in most fighting games can be recorded simply to relish in the player beating a challenging opponent or executing a “Perfect” victory, this time around replays have an actual real purpose. Players can record their replays automatically or save them manually as they fight against others and even view and download the replays of other online players but the catch here is, the player can actually pause the replay and take control of either character at any time they wish. This means that they can replay a challenging fight over and over again, trying to figure out the best way that they could have avoided losing or landing that combo they were aiming for. Even taking your skills against someone else’s online replays can be a learning tool even if it often can see players trying to punch far above their weight.
For players who want to play with style but also be far more limited, there is also a new control scheme accessible at any time during a match called Special Style. Similar to some other recent games, Special Style makes every character far simpler to control by making a menu appear in the bottom corner and automatically triggering their character’s special attacks, Heat moves, specific juggle combos, grapples, and more. This will allow players to pull off some flashy combos with ease and have fun, but it also cuts their move list down considerably. This means that while Special Style is fun to use and a great way to begin learning a character, truly mastering a fighter requires actually playing with their usual fighting style. Even basic things like unleashing Aliza’s chainsaws or triggering most of King’s command grapples, and even most of Reina’s familiar and intriguing move-set are unavailable in Special Style, so it is far more limiting than one would expect as a “New Player” friendly option and is meant as a teaching tool rather than a proper control method, though that doesn’t mean it can’t be pulled out in the middle of a match as a potential crutch.
Tekken 8 has launched with an impressive thirty two fighters available to choose from, and while a few longtime favorites may not have made the initial cut, with the likes of Eddy Gordo already being announced as DLC, or not hinted at all (my previous favorite Lucky Chloe) this roster features a number of characters for any type of fighting game player. Be it a rushdown fighter, grappler, defensive specialist, heavy hitter, nearly every type of playstyle can be found here and then some and thanks to all of the aforementioned training modes and ways to learn about a character’s moveset, Tekken 8‘s roster is truly impressive here. It is also fun to note that every single fighter has been released with a variety of different costumes to choose from, be it a classic outfit similar to what fans are usually familiar with or their new look. It is also worth noting that literally every character can be customized heavily with currency earned simply by playing the game. This currency isn’t hard to earn by any means and players can easily unlock multiple costume pieces for their favorite fighter and put their own unique twist on the character as they play either offline through the game’s single player offerings or taking their skills online.
As mentioned earlier, the game features an impressive cinematic story mode that features a variety of fights throughout the storyline and while players don’t really have much choice in the storyline, it is a solid gameplay mode. Those looking to see more of their favorite characters will find their aforementioned Character Stories far more entertaining as it provides extra details about their favorite characters and special endings for each one. There is also the standard arcade mode, versus modes, even Tekken Ball though the ball in this mode seems to really have a life of its own at times, with it acting incredibly strangely at times when struck. As mentioned before, the Arcade Quest serves as a mini-character created story that is simple and designed like a full-length tutorial to learn the game’s elements and a new Ghost Battle that allows players to download the “Ghosts” of other players and fight against a computer that will simulate their moves. Players can even choose to train their own ghosts by fighting against a variety of characters and see how well they can train their very own CPU fighter, though obviously playing online to test your skills is the way to go.
Online players will find that the Tekken Fight Lounge serves as the primary battle hub where players can take their customized avatar to run around and interact with other fighters as well as queue up for Ranked Matches, Quick Matches, create a Custom Room or just a Room for random players to join and test their skills and more. The lounge is a bit simpler than some may hope for when compared to some other fighting games recently released but it is still fairly nicely designed, though players can just search for matches directly from the online menu should they choose. As for the actual netcode, Tekken 8 is far better than its previous iteration with nearly all of the matches being handled quite well even when playing against fighters in other countries or even cross-pay. It isn’t quite as perfect as we have seen recently, as some matches did experience severe lag and even a few disconnects here and there, which I doubt were rage quits given the opponent had a round up at the time. These cases are few and far between however as the netcode does seem to work well more often than not and the rollback does come with some extra customization, just don’t expect the best netcode around at the moment.
Audio & Visuals
Tekken 8 marks the first time that the series has appeared in any way on the current generation of consoles and PC and has not limited itself to past consoles in any way. This has allowed the developers to take full advantage of the current consoles by offering incredibly detailed looking stages for players to battle on, including a number of which with destructible environments and different levels players can break through and that says nothing about the fighter models themselves. Every single fighter has been lovingly crafted to look as impressive as possible in motion with some truly outstanding looking animations to their movesets and, as mentioned before, every fighter has a variety of costumes immediately available for use. The in-game cutscenes shown during the main story mode are incredibly impressive and flow fairly well into the fights themselves while Arcade Quest’s simple design feels intentional but a bit lacking in comparison.
This entry continues the franchise tradition of every character in the roster being able to speak every language possible, including animals. This is because, even in story cutscenes, characters will only ever speak in their native tongue, meaning a French character will speak French to a Japanese fighter and be completely understood and even responded to in Japanese. This has always been a bit of cheeky fun with the Tekken series and that remains true here. The soundtrack consists of some incredible background music throughout all of the game modes and there is even a Jukebox option for players to select music from past games in the Tekken series to enjoy should they choose.
Overall
It was going to take a lot to impress fans after such a long period of time between releases and Tekken 8 has done a near perfect job doing so here. The amount of single player content available is a delight while the online mode is the best it has ever been in the franchise even if it still has some hiccups all while looking like a masterpiece in motion. Fights flow wonderfully as players take advantage of the new learning mechanics to master their favorite characters in an impressive roster of fighters that has something for everyone. There are some niggling issues here and there, mostly with Arcade Quest and some lingering online issues, but Tekken 8 impresses nearly through and through, showing that this franchise has reached new heights all while being as approachable as ever for newcomers and incredibly deep for longtime fans looking to dive into the new mechanics.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Looking back, it is kind of difficult to believe that it has been nearly fourteen years since a fully realized entry in the Prince of Persia franchise has been released. Sure, there have been efforts to remake one of the original games only for it to land itself in developmental hell and in many ways, Ubisoft’s own Assassin’s Creed franchise has taken on parts of the series’ mantle. Still, there was always something charming and endearing about the history of the Prince of Persia franchise and now being able to once again return to this storied series with a brand new metroidvania entry hopes to be a delight. Are these hopes dashed upon the sands or is Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown a worthwhile entry in the franchise?
Story
Sargon is a young hero and one of the most skilled members of the famed “The Immortals” that serve to protect the Persian Empire from any and all invading forces. After successfully defeating such an invasion, the celebration is cut short when the real prince of Persia Ghassan is kidnapped and taken away to the cursed citadel of Mount Qaf. With his fellow Immortals in tow, Sargon pursues his kidnappers only to find that the once sacred Mount Qaf that was seen as the home of the divine bird Simurgh has fallen into complete disarray and is now a land where time is not as it seems, the undead walk freely while magical beasts roam the hallways and those unlucky enough to survive find themselves trapped within a time that is no longer their own.
With only his skills to guide him and a bit of help from the other Immortals, Sargon must try to rescue the prince while also discovering the root of what happened on Mount Qaf, because resolving this issue might just be the thing that can save them all. Thanks to the flow of time being broken and easily meddled with on Mount Qaf, the story is able to take advantage of unique paradox style situations and allow for interesting setups that would otherwise be impossible. Along these same lines, the storyline is filled with some rather satisfying twists and turns that can be rather surprising. Sure, a few are a bit predictable, but many caught me off guard despite genre staples. There are also a number of simpler side-quests and extra bits of lore and storyline to discover should players choose to take them on. These bits of side-quest are optional and often reward players with talisman charms, tabs that can give Sargon more health, and more but the best part is often learning more about the plights of the humans still surviving within Mount Qaf despite being displaced out of their own time. This allows for a satisfying story that works narratively well alongside its gameplay to create a fulfilling tale for a metroidvania.
Gameplay
Ubisoft Montpellier has managed to craft a stellar metroidvania styled Prince of Persia game here by combining some expertly crafted platforming sequences, some challenging puzzles, and of course plenty of enjoyable combat with an ever increasing array of options available to players as they progress through the game. Initially, Sargon can only make use of his dual-blades, a simple combo and heavy attack, and the ability to dodge and parry blows. The parry happens to be one Sargon’s most powerful tools as it negates all enemy damage most of the time, though attacks that glow red must be dodged. Along those same lines, yellow glowing attacks can be parried into a punishing counter attack unique to each type of foe, capable of dealing massive damage to the enemy if pulled off correctly. Combat grows increasingly complex as players acquire more upgrades, extending Sargon’s combos, offering new weaponry for him to utilize, providing additional powers, and far more to make the already enticing combat all the more exhilarating.
Sargon’s combat flows fluidly thanks to the fact that he controls incredibly well here. Players will find that his snappy animations and the tightly responsive controls make it incredibly easy to make even some of the most difficult looking situations manageable if they have the proper timing. This of course comes in quite handy throughout the multiple platforming puzzles that see players needing to properly navigate trap-laden rooms to reach a switch or item needed to progress through the story or obtain an optional upgrade/unlock. Being a metroidvania style game, The Lost Crown is filled with hidden secrets and optional pieces of content that players can backtrack to uncover once they have obtained the required ability to reach it. In fact, the game offers a variety of options that make marking these locations down a bit easier. Not only does the map automatically update to show unexplored routes, players choosing to use the “Guided” exploration version will even be shown when a certain path is inaccessible without a proper ability. This type of help is minimal and doesn’t really affect much should players truly want the most authentic experience as it usually just points players in the general direction of their next goal.
Another option that is far more useful are Memory Shards. These reusable items allow players to take literal screenshots and mark them on the map of various secrets that they have found already but simply cannot reach at the moment. This could be thanks to players not obtaining the Bow yet or even a far more interesting ability that we won’t spoil here. This extra option to give players a way to keep track of secrets is extremely helpful in a metroidvania as well-crafted as The Lost Crown and makes exploration feel very rewarding. That being said, backtracking through the game still can be a bit annoying at times, even with the various tools on offer to make things a bit easier.
As mentioned before, exploration will often reward players with a variety of bonuses outside of the standard plot advancement. These upgrades include Soma Tree Petals, which when players collect four of will permanently increase Sargon’s health, amulet pieces which can be equipped at the Soma Trees that serve as save points, and even Anthra Surges (chargeable special moves) that can be equipped and changed around. Amulet Pieces come with a vast array of power ups ranging from simply boosting Sargon’s health or increasing the amount of damage he does to making the parrying window easier, slowing time when dodging an attack, or even triggering status effects on enemies.
The amount of amulet pieces Sargon can wear allows for players to customize it to fit their playstyle, whatever it might be. Along these same lines players can also use crystals they obtain throughout the game to upgrade their weaponry at blacksmiths to make their attacks more effective. These various upgrades, side-quests, and unlockables all give players countless options when it comes to exploration and tackling the various enemies and bosses they will encounter, including bosses that have fun and intriguing mechanics to take advantage of with some of the most unique looking bosses having some of the best mechanics, though a few are a bit too straightforward for their own good. It is also worth noting that while most encounters allow for players to immediately challenge their opponent again, a few require a lengthy trek back to the fight that can be a bit too annoying at times.
As mentioned before, the various platforming sections throughout Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown feel perfectly crafted for what players can handle at the time, and if they cannot, they likely don’t have the ability needed to clear an area. These platforming sequences are so well-designed at times that it is easy to simply flow through an entire dangerous section with ease only to look back and realize that you were within a hair’s breadth of hitting a spike-pit on at least three occasions but managed to avoid it due to how tight the control scheme is. This level of platforming is excellent but can be a little annoying when tied into the puzzle mechanic. This is because nearly all of the game’s puzzles revolve around the platforming system and, should players happen to miss a puzzle element or a jump, they may often have to start the entire thing over again despite the fact that they already know the solution.
It is nice to note that despite being a metroidvania, Ubisoft has made sure that Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is as accessible as possible for those who want to try their hand at the game. They have done this in a number of ways, one of which is mentioned before with a guided experience indicating the general direction of where players should go as well as a variety of difficulty options but things are far more in-depth than that. Should players choose, they can adjust enemy health, the amount of damage enemies deal, the parrying window, how long the invulnerability of the dodge can last, and while we never turned this feature on to even test it as it seemed like it went against the spirit of the game entirely, an option that will open up a portal to skip particularly difficult platforming sections. As stated, since we never tested this option it is unknown if this affects the more challenging platforming sequences that are often required to obtain special unlocks and hidden items but the option is there for those who may need it simply to progress the story. This level of accessibility in a metroidvania is a shockingly surprising one that feels like it should be offered a bit more from time to time, though perhaps not to the same extreme some options are here as it does feel like it goes against the spirit of the game a bit.
Audio & Visuals
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown features a stylized art style that may make it look a little bit dated at times but does allow the title to run perfectly smooth no matter what players are doing on-screen, even if they are pulling off a stunning looking counter-attack on a massive boss monster. The standard enemies players encounter are designed well-enough and the various places players explore are similarly well handled, though the game’s best designs come in the forms of the bosses that Sargon takes on. These enemies range from mythical beasts to powerful humanoid enemies willing to take the fight to Sargon in intense combat. As mentioned before, combat flows fluidly and looks exceptionally well, especially with how vibrantly colorful everything is in the game. There are a few times that strange screen effects can be a bit distracting though these usually only involve certain puzzle elements.
The voice work throughout the game is handled quite well, with the English cast sounding decent enough with Sargon being the best of the group. It is a bit odd to say that some of the members of the Immortals sound a bit off unfortunately which is disappointing. It is also nice to note that The Lost Crown does offer a large array of voice tracks to choose from should players choose to swap from English. The background music features a great collection of thematic tracks that work well given the exploration elements of the game and some great themes that play during boss battles.
Overall
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a stylistic and wonderful approach to a metroidvania style game that controls just as well as any fan should hope for. With satisfying combat and platforming, some decent puzzle solving that is a bit too simplistic at times, and some great accessibility options, Ubisoft Montpellier has managed to create a stellar brand new entry in the Prince of Persia series and hopefully a sign of things to come for this long missed franchise.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
