REVIEW / Tropico 6 “The Llama of Wall Street” DLC (PC)

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REVIEW / Tropico 6 “The Llama of Wall Street” DLC (PC)

I have been enjoying Tropico 6 immensely since its release in 2019 and I know I am not the only one. The Tropico series has been going strong for many years, and the latest iteration only build upon its success. If you are interested in reading my review of the sixth installment of beloved island sim, click through here.

Earlier this month, Kalypso and developer Limbic Entertainment released the first Tropico 6 DLC entitled “The Llama of Wall Street”, as well as the “Seguridad Social” update. The major focus of this DLC is a new mechanic that allows you to play and manipulate the stock market, which in turn affects the value of imports and exports. Most Tropicans know that this is how you generate the money to build your island. These mechanics can be used as a huge advantage to banking money in both your treasury and Swiss bank account, but only if you’re able to diversify your early exports. The DLC also includes new buildings and missions to help build your tropical empire, which you can tackle on a new map. The update also includes a new map, a new Warehouse building, and some new customization options.

 

 

I spent most of my time playing though the new “Llama of Wall Street” map since I had gone through most of the maps available in Tropico 6. It’s a large map with abundant natural resources, so I was able to tap into numerous assets early in the game to put away a large chunk of cash before the events started getting out of hand. Plopping down the Trade Institute building gives you the ability to change the course of the stock market, which is basically a means to either increase or decrease the value of several resources of your choosing, which players will need to strategically consider based on the maps resources. Since the map had tons of resources, I was able to flood the market with whichever goods were selling high and held onto items that weren’t as valuable via the new Warehouse building. The Warehouse allows you to store up to 3 different resources/processed goods at 10K units. So when you build toys via the new Toy Workshop and they aren’t selling that well, you can store them for future trade so you aren’t losing out on the potential profit.

 

 

The missions on this map were particularly entertaining and there is a twist that I had no idea was coming. I won’t spoil it, but I was happy to have spent some Swiss bank money stockpiling certain options that helped me get through those dark times.

In addition to the new buildings, maps, and missions, there are some new edicts to issue and customization options thanks to the “Seguridad Social” update. Interestingly, the Social Security edict was a community-driven addition that helps your elderly citizens (if you so choose). The customization options can give El Presidente new traits or allow you to add some new stuff to your palace. If you are feeling extra confident from your market manipulations, why not spice up your palace to show off your bank account? These are all fine additions and were completely free since Kalypso and Limbic don’t charge for updates for Tropico 6.

 

 

All in all, this is a fine first DLC for Tropico 6. While I would be interested in going back and replaying some of those maps that were particularly challenging based on available resources, this DLC alone won’t pull me back there. I’d wait for another DLC to entice me to revisit past scenarios. But if you haven’t played the game before or just started, this will add an extra enjoyable wrinkle to your playthrough as you navigate those murky financial Tropican waters.

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Ubisoft’s Gods & Monsters is nearly here

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Ubisoft’s Gods & Monsters is nearly here

Gods & Monsters is a lavish mythical adventure about a hero who’s on a quest to save the gods. Graphically reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, its rolling hills and lush landscapes entice you into a land long forgotten. Explore an open world with different biomes including the cavernous depths of the underworld and plenty of mythical creatures to vanquish.

Gods & Monsters is being developed by Ubisoft who also created Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey and it looks like they’ve followed the same format with another open-world epic. However, it’s not about a Spartan hero this time instead, you play Fenyx who has to save the Olympians from the deadly Typhon.

Battle epic creatures like the Minotaurs, Gorgons, and Cyclops to reach your ultimate foe, a grisly flame breathing monster with many heads; banished to the underworld by Zeus. Your quest is to seek and destroy it but there are puzzles to solve and rare items to find on the way like the boots of Hermes. There might even be some RPG elements to the video game as well.

There’s also advanced movement mechanics allowing you to double and triple jump when fighting baddies with your trusty sword and winged boots. You can explore the mythical world freely with no set order to the quests allowing you to roam the beautiful landscapes and discover new items.

Gods & Monsters sounds like an ambitious project with an expansive open world and similar cell shading aesthetics to Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Ubisoft is being tight-lipped about there new project but let’s hope that there’s some good gameplay and RPG mechanics to complement their mythical world.

Gods & Monsters will release on February 25, 2020.

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Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales now available for Nintendo Switch

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Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales now available for Nintendo Switch

 

Nintendo Switch owners and fans of The Witcher can rejoice as Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales is now available on Nintendo Switch. The game, created by CDProjektRed, has been ported to the Nintendo Switch by Crunching Koalas, who have been responsible for porting another CD Project Red property in Gwent: The Witcher Card Game to iOS, as well as 11 Bit Studios’ survival strategy game, Frostpunk, to the Playstation 4 and Xbox One.

With fans of The Witcher series, which began as fantasy novels by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, reaching new heights thanks to the release of the Netflix show last month, it is likely many will already be familiar with Thronebreaker, which originally launched on PC in 2018. Rather than following the adventures of the much-loved series protagonist, Geralt of Rivia, Thronebreaker instead tells the tale of Meve, the Queen of two kingdoms in the Northern Realms, Lyria and Rivia. The story is set against the backdrop of an imminent invasion from the Nilfgaardian Empire, who fans of the series will know to love nothing more than a good old invasion of the Northern Realms. The story features dialogue options that can impact how everything unfolds and includes animated cutscenes that help move the narrative along, in a manner similar to a visual novel.

The narrative isn’t the only thing that differs from usual entries in the series however, as the gameplay comprises a unique combination of point-and-click adventure and turn-based card games. Battles are settled in a manner similar to the series’ much-loved pastime, Gwent, which many Witcher 3 veterans if they are anything like me, will have likely sunk countless hours into before eventually progressing the games’ main story. When not taking place in turn-based battles, players will be exploring the world and solving puzzles with the goal of building Meve’s armies to repel the Nilfgaardian invasion.

The game is available now in the Nintendo eshop and is also available on other platforms, including PC, Playstation 4 and Xbox One.

Our review of the game on Playstation 4 can be found here.

More information on Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales can be found here.

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Box Kid Adventures announced for release

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Box Kid Adventures announced for release

 

I’m really enjoying 2020 so far. One of my favorite genres is getting loads of love and we’re seeing lots of new entries to its ranks, which is brilliant. The genre of which I speak is the puzzle genre and the boys and girls at T-Rex Interactive have just announced a new title that I can get my teeth into. It’s called Box Kid Adventures and it’s coming to Steam today, the 28th of January.

Box Kid Adventures is a top-down, dynamic puzzler. In this new brain-bender you’ll take on the role of Box Kid, a toy made of cardboard. You’ll then take him through various levels full of nasty enemies and challenging puzzles. To give you an idea of the play-style, this title falls in the footsteps of games such as Boulderdash, Chip’s Challenge and The Adventures of Lolo or Robbo.

To give you a wee taste of Box Kid Adventures’ plot … in the age of electronics toy robots became the favorite playthings of children. In trying to breathe life into the world of the imagination a young, ambitious designer created a toy. This toy was a kid, a box kid made completely out of cardboard. Unimpressed with the invention, the CEO of the designer’s company threw the little creation down the garbage chute. You will need to help Box Kid fulfill his destiny to find out the true reason behind his disposal.

Your journey will take you through 75 beautiful levels that truly capture the spirit of the 8-bit era. If you get hooked and find that 75 levels simply isn’t enough for you why not go and create some of your own with Box Kid‘s inbuilt level editor? You can also collect keys to unlock more characters and levels as you play so you should have plenty to go at.

I remember Chip’s Challenge well. I had a copy on my Atari Lynx and it got played to death. If Box Kid Adventures can even come close to the level of awesome that title holds for me it will absolutely be worth playing. T-Rex Interactive has also kindly released a trailer so you can have a little look-see and decide whether this is going to be the latest addition to the puzzle section of your library.

 

Images supplied courtesy of Games Press

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Zombie Army 4: Dead War is coming soon

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Zombie Army 4: Dead War is coming soon

Zombie Army 4: Dead War takes place in the 1940s when an alternate history sees you fighting Nazi zombies. The resistance has defeated that bad boy, Hitler. But the dead are rising again and they want to feed on your flesh. Use your sniper rifle and other WW2 weapons to save humankind from the supernatural carnage of the walking dead.

Zombie Army 4: Dead War is developed by Rebellion and contains the same gunplay mechanics as the Sniper-elite series. This grindhouse video game boasts spectacularly gruesome take-downs which will make you wince. It’s not for the faint-hearted and picking daisies with a friend while you skip along the Oranienburger Strasse isn’t its aim. Instead expect to explode, decapitate or otherwise dismember a multitude of dead Nazi soldiers.

This video game looks like it has deeper progression and customization than the previous installments with enhanced melee attacks and weaponry which you can upgrade Fallout-style, at any number of workbenches. You can customize your play style and there’s also a co-op option so you can have fun with up to 4 players.

The upgraded kill cam looks more detailed than the previous video games with a slo-mo internal view. This shows the damage that your shots make as you take down those walking worm-feasts. The gameplay looks extremely reminiscent of classic horror movies such as chain saw massacre and the variety of different undead weirdos is plentiful.

There are killer Zombie Sharks, Nazi storm troopers with rotary saws and biologically enhanced Zombie Tanks to take down. There’s also plenty of upgrade-able goodies and perks to unlock as you progress through the video game. All in all, it looks like there’s a lot of macabre first-person shooter fun to be had.

Zombie Army 4: Dead War will be released 4th February 2020 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

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Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire – Ultimate Edition now available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One

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Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire – Ultimate Edition now available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One

My favorite RPG of 2018 Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is now available for PS4 and Xbox One as an Ultimate Edition. This edition nets console players all the updates and expansions that were released on PC, which include Beast of Winter, Seeker, Slayer, Survivor, and Forgotten Sanctum. Publisher Versus Evil and developer Obsidian Entertainment have also confirmed a version of the Nintendo Switch, but a release date has yet to be announced.

“Console gamers can fully immerse themselves in an RPG adventure of exploration and discovery in what will be one of the definitive tabletop role-playing experiences available in 2020,” said Steve Escalante, General Manager of Versus Evil.

Apart from the expansions, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire – Ultimate Edition will also include the new turn-based combat mode. While I played both Pillars games with the classic real-time with pause combat mode, I am very much looking forward to trying turn-based combat. I’ll be posting my review on the PS4 version of the Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire – Ultimate Edition in the coming days, so keep an eye out for a more in-depth look.

 

 

While the game is available digitally, there are also physical releases available today. These include a Standard Edition and the Ultimate Collector’s Edition courtesy of THQ Nordic. The Ultimate Collector’s Edition will contain the following items.

• Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire [including the 5.0 PC patch], and all DLCs: Beast of Winter, The Forgotten Sanctum, Seeker, Slayer, Survivor
• 10″/25cm Od Nua Statue
• Spacepig Keychain
• Metal-optic 3D Sticker
• Premium Box

For more information on Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire – Ultimate Edition, head over to versusevil.com/deadfire and eternity.obsidian.net.

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Carly and the Reaperman escape onto PSVR

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Carly and the Reaperman escape onto PSVR

 

Gaming is one of those industries that’s full of fads. Things seem like a really good idea for about five minutes then get completely forgotten about as soon as the next half-baked appears. These can be anything from collectible figures that spend more time sitting on your shelf than they do connected to your console (if you don’t know what an Amibo is you didn’t miss much) to the Kinect: all of it. Every now and again, though, one of these ideas goes above and beyond and turns into a staple that with a little nurturing will only get better. In this particular case, I’m referring to VR and all the wonderful things that can still be done with it. Today we’ll be looking at Carly and the Reaperman: Escape from the Underworld. This game looks really cool, especially if you like playing with your mates.

 

 

Carly and the Reaperman: Escape from the Underworld is a co-operative VR game from Odd Raven studio and Perp Games, coming physically to PSVR on March 6th here in the EU. Those of you thinking that a co-op VR title sounds somewhat expensive with the need for a second headset and all must fret not. There will only be one player in VR land at a time while their companion plays along in good old fashioned real reality. If, like me, you have a healthy aversion to people you can play on your own too, so no problems there.

In this puzzle-platformer, you’ll find yourself changing roles between the titular Carly and the block building and throwing Reaperman. The two of you will need to avoid pitfalls, solve puzzles and build your way through various obstacles if you are to survive your fifty level adventure and escape the underworld.

Something that makes this game particularly cool is that those of you playing in multi-player will see something entirely different. What is going on in the VR helmet for the player assuming the role of Reaperman will not be the same as what’s occurring for Carly on the TV screen. This obviously means you’ll have to work together to succeed. This will involve rotating levels, gathering cubes and planks for stacking and earning collectibles along the way.

It’s nice to see a VR game where co-operative play isn’t just an afterthought, rather something that’s encouraged if not vital. There are several ways to complete a level and co-operation and out of the box thinking is something that’s rewarded.

Of the announcement of Carly and the Reaperman: Escape from the Underworld‘s physical release Johan Högfeldt said, “Doing a physical release of Carly and the Reaperman is truly a childhood dream come true! If you add the fact that we were doing it with Perp Games, who have a long and successful history of launching VR games on the physical market, we couldn’t be happier. We hope that this will allow more people to discover the magic of sharing a VR adventure with someone else.“

Rob Edwards of Perp games loves the emphasis of co-operative VR play in Carly and the Reaperman and stated, “Working together to solve puzzles with increased difficulty and new challenges emerging, Carly and the Reaperman is an exciting example of how effective co-operative gaming can be in Virtual Reality, and we’re delighted to be working with Odd Raven on their groundbreaking debut title.“

Personally, I’m a big VR fan and this looks like something I’d like to have on my PS4. Even better … I can play along with my friends without having to look at them. The world is full of little bonuses. Those of you who, like me, think owning a copy isn’t such a bad idea won’t have long to wait.

 

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Conan Chop Chop – Roguelike adventure

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Conan Chop Chop – Roguelike adventure

 

Conan Chop Chop is a chopping-ly good roguelike adventure that sees your stick-figured friend wearing a headband and loincloth as you battle through the searing land of Hyperboria. Yes, you’re Conan or a somewhat smaller version of him. You’re all brawn and no brain but this doesn’t stop you from chop-chop-chopping your way to victory – Okay enough chopping references.

Conan Chop Chop is developed by Mighty Kingdom in association with Funcom whose other titles include Conan Unconquered, Conan Exiles and Age of Conan Unchained. But this roguelike hack-n-slash adventure bears little resemblance to these with colorful cartoony graphics and quirky creatures that spurt pools of blood when you kill them.

Your adventure begins when the wizard Thoth-Amon devises a devilish plan to resurrect an ancient evil called Xaltotun. In true roguelike fashion, you have to defeat beasts and baddies in a series of dungeons with randomly changing environments. There are different weapons you can choose from and a selection of characters from the original franchise.

If you don’t like playing on your own then there’s a 4 player co-op option where you can play as Conan, Pallantides, Valeria, or Bêli. There are different NPCs you meet on the way who have individual quests for you to complete. All in all the videogame looks very playable even though the art style is quite basic.

If you enjoyed the original films with the thumpingly epic soundtrack and the fantasy stories then you’ll probably get none of that with this spin-off. However, if you like to slice and dice enemies with unique combos and weapons, not to mention plenty of bloody encounters then this quirky take on the Hyborian Age might be just what you’re looking for.

Conan Chop Chop is releasing February 25, 2020.

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The Dark Crystal Age of Resistance Tactics launching in February

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The Dark Crystal Age of Resistance Tactics launching in February

 

The Dark Crystal is finally coming to PC and consoles in the form of a tactical turn-based RPG. Based on the classic Jim Henson film and the Netflix series, you control a group of Gelfling fighters in the fantasy land of Thra. Your quest is to stop the spread of the darkening and the evil Skeksis who have seized control of the Crystal. Unite the seven clans in this nostalgic adventure that’ll get your 80s Nostalg-o-meter spiking.

The story follows the Netflix series where Thra is still populated by different Gelfling clans before the genocidal culling of the Skeksis. However, if you still want to hear Chamberlain’s creepy whimper then it looks like there are still plenty of Skeksis to see, as you lead a resistance against these oppressive overlords who begin to dominate the land of Thra.

There are more than 50 tactical turn-based battles for you to enjoy with 150 base abilities to use in combat. Choose from 14 playable characters that can be customized with unique gear for specific fights. The mechanics look similar to the Xcom style grid system where the environments are used to shield you from attack.

There are three primary jobs that your character can choose from which are soldier, scout, and mender. These can be leveled up as you progress to more advanced ones such as Strategist, Song Teller, and Grave Dancer. But don’t worry the squishy Podlings and fluffy Fizzgigs have their own abilities too. Aughra the cranky astronomer also makes an appearance in the gameplay, but it’s unclear whether she’s an NPC or not.

The Dark Crystal Age of Resistance Tactics looks like an enjoyable nostalgic romp for any lovers of the original dark fantasy film or Netflix series. However, you’ll have to wait and see if its RPG mechanics and gameplay can match its cult status.

The Dark Crystal Age of Resistance Tactics will be released on February 4, 2020.

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Pokemon Go live events and Lunar New Year festivities announced

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Pokemon Go live events and Lunar New Year festivities announced

Niantic has announced the first Pokemon Go live events occurring in 2020, with a promise that even more are coming. A special non-ticketed event in Taichung City, Taiwan kicks off the festivities. From February 6th to February 9th, during the Taiwan Lantern festival, Electric-type Pokemon will be especially common; trainers will also be able to pick up the otherwise region-locked Illumise and the rare Unown L (which first appeared at Pokemon Go Fest 2018). After that, there will be three Safari Zone events in the first half of the year. These will take place in St. Louis, Liverpool, and Philadelphia. Like previous Safari Zone events, these will feature appearances by Pokemon not normally seen in their respective regions. For more details on these events, check out the official blog.

Meanwhile, all players can take part in the upcoming Lunar New Year in-game event. From January 24th to February 3rd, red Pokemon will become more common in the wild (including shiny Gyarados if you’re extremely lucky, or the not-red regular Gyarados if you’re slightly less lucky), the newly debuting Darumaka will hatch from 7 km eggs, there will be a chance of receiving Rare Candies in gifts, and the odds of getting a Lucky Friend or Lucky Pokemon will be increased. Furthermore, an event within an event will take place from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM (local time) on February 2nd. This one focuses on another Pokemon appearing in Go for the first time, Minccino. During this period, there will be research tasks to encounter the new Pokemon, and it will also appear in 5 km eggs. And unlike most Pokemon that have been added to the game, it will be possible to find a shiny Mincinno right away. Given the limited time period and focus on special research, this event seems to be similar to the recent Regigigas event, except that it’s free for all players. The trade off is that we won’t be getting a new legendary Pokemon here, but a limited time event like this might at least get those of us dealing with cold winters to come out and play for a bit.

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Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous – Isometric RPG Kickstarting next month

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Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous – Isometric RPG Kickstarting next month

 

Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous is a new RPG in partnership with Paizo. Comprising in-depth role-playing strategies, this videogame will expand upon the world of Pathfinder: Kingmaker by giving you the option of different Mythic Paths and a revised kingdom management system, so take-up your sword and prepare to embark on a mythical adventure.

Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous is developed by Owlcat Games using a modified version of the Unity Engine. They crowdfunded their first videogame based on Paizo’s Publishing franchise and are set to do the same with this. Expect improved graphics and environments with rich lore and story-driven characters.

Similar to its predecessor, this videogame looks like a worthy addition to the RPG genre with new classes added including Witch and Oracle which are adapted from the tabletop game of the same name. There are also plenty of moral decisions that’ll change your gameplay as you journey through the demon-infested wasteland, the crusader cities, and murky dungeons.

Set in the mythical world of Golorion which contains eight continents and immense seas, you must help fight a demonic invasion of gruesome beasts. There’s plenty of material to expand the Role-playing gameplay to new levels, including the path of the immortal lich, the path of the angel, or the path of the trickster.

If you’ve played Paizo’s tabletop games before and enjoy the (D&D) ruleset in such videogames as Baldur’s Gate, you’ll probably find something to like in this new one. The graphics look amazing with nice environments to explore as you combat the deadly inhabitants of the continent of Avistan. However, if the thought of another role-playing spin-off with complex combat mechanics makes you groan, then I am sure there’ll be an easier setting to choose from.

Alexander Mishulin and Alexander Kozmov have reprised their roles as creative director and chief scriptwriter so expect a story-driven adventure with iconic characters, ready to accompany you on your dangerous journey into the unknown.

Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous launches on Kickstarter February 4th, 2020.

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Ministry of Broadcast coming to PC by month’s end

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Ministry of Broadcast coming to PC by month’s end

 

Ministry of Broadcast is a narrative-driven Indie platformer set in a dystopian future. You play a ginger-haired guy in a jumpsuit who’s trying to reach his family, the only problem is that they’re on the other side of a militarized wall. Complete environmental puzzles and avoid detection from the guards in this satirical platformer peppered with dark humor and Gorgeous pixel graphics.

MoB is developed by a small Indie company based in the Czech Republic. This videogame has killer animation and macabre humor which sees you climbing scaffolding, creeping through pipes and even sacrificing innocent NPCs to escape. All the while there are guards with dogs patrolling the area and government surveillance keeping a watchful eye on you.

It’s certainly no vacation summer camp as you wake up in a bunk bed in a Barracks with nothing on your feet. The weather is constantly snowing and military vehicles mow down poor unsuspecting NPCs – squished like Siberian roadkill. In fact, you’re in a sadistic TV show called the Wall which is broadcast by the ominously named Regime. There are no democratic rights in the arena, survival is the name of the game, and you must play it.

Use your run-and-jump reflexes to evade garbage guzzling incinerators and spiky pits. Wonder through rat-infested basements or climb scaffolding in a minimalistic gaming experience that has hints and clues meshed into the environment. There’s no need for maps or HP bars, all you need is a keen eye to spot the subtle clues throughout the videogame.

Ministry of Broadcast looks like a must for any fans of Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four and has a vibe that echoes The Hunger Games with its dystopian arenas controlled by the state. Its light-hearted humor offers a welcome respite from a videogame that revels in its dark depravity but will ultimately make you smile.

Ministry of Broadcast is out on PC this January 2020.

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REVIEW / Yaga (PS4)

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REVIEW / Yaga (PS4)

 

Yaga is a Slavic tale about a blacksmith called Ivan who’s cursed with bad luck after a witch, who’s trying to eat him, cuts off his hand. The cruel Tzar then commands the one-handed blacksmith to bring him strength beyond measure otherwise he’ll banish him from the kingdom. This poetic yarn is full of Eastern European charm with plenty of mischievous old hags with hooked noses.

 

 

In Slavic folklore, Yaga means an evil-looking old woman whose preferred mode of transport is a Mortar – not very Aerodynamic, but it’s better than walking I guess. In this videogame, she’s also manipulating the Tzar’s fate with some magical jiggery-pokery. “Yaga the bony, Yaga the great wants to manipulate the Tzar’s fate”. This videogame is full of poetic dialogue which adds an authentic flair to the story.

Yaga was created by Breadcrumbs Interactive, a small team of Romanian developers who have used articulated hand-drawn characters and 2D skeletal animation techniques which gives this Indie title a quick and jerky feel. There’s also a traditional soundtrack performed by Subcarpati. It offers an interesting blend of Hip-Hop and traditional Romanian music to bop along to while you’re playing

 

 

 

Once you set out on your quest you’re told by your Baba (Grandmother) who just wants to see you settled with a wife, that Yaga the witch can help you. But first, you have to bring her some gifts. No, I am not talking about some flowers and a knitting pattern she likes wormy bones and sweat from a poor man. “Eew!” You walk around the town and talk to its occupants quickly find the items you need.

However, once you set out on your quest the game loop is established quickly and Yaga feels more like a roguelike adventure than an RPG. There are procedurally generated levels which have NPC’s you have to fight and end of level bosses to defeat. Every time you die the layout changes but its basically the same one with the game assets generated in different locations.

 

 

There’s nothing special about this aspect of the videogame until you use Yaga‘s role-playing mechanics which offers a moral choice every time Ivan chooses a specific dialogue option. He can be Aggressive, Foolish, Righteous or Selfish. This affects his personality and skills as the videogame progresses. He can throw his hammer like Thor and have it return like a boomerang or carelessly bludgeon his victims with it.

As you progress as Ivan you get access to an arsenal of weapons and tools which you can attach to his stump or use with his free hand. You can upgrade items using the forge which is accessible when he’s resting. It also appears to be stowed on Ivan’s body and whipped out when he’s en route – convenient but chafing and also explains why he walks strangely.

 

 

Enemies drop loot when they die such as weapons, food and magical artifacts. These are stowed in your inventory and can be added to your quick access menu when you’re in combat. You can throw the chain fork and snag an enemy dragging them towards you for a bludgeoning or use it to drag yourself out of danger.

The combat mechanics are simple but there are a host of weapons you can customize using ore as your base metal. This is where Yaga shines and offers the most enjoyment as you forge new weapons. The difficulty does vary throughout the videogame from easy to very challenging. Other items include a wheel-shield, a sickle, and a shovel to name a few but Ivan’s hammer is the go-to weapon and the others aren’t really as efficient.

 

 

Yaga is a fun videogame which despite its Slavic lineage reminded me of a Grimm’s Fairy Tale. It has some nice environments to explore and a crafting system which allows for great diversity when you’re playing. As a unique story, Yaga is a triumph and the alternate endings offer some nice replay value but the roguelike gameplay feels too repetitive despite its diverse RPG mechanics.

 

 

 

This review is based on a retail copy of the game provided by the publisher.

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TVGB Vivestream goes back to the future with Doctor Who: The Edge of Time

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TVGB Vivestream goes back to the future with Doctor Who: The Edge of Time

 

Let me be totally honest with you guys: I recorded this video quite a while ago, and then life sort of got crazy, and I kept not having a chance to upload it, and…uh, I mean…I’m uploading this video to the future! While to you it’s been over a month since the last ViveStream with no explanation to speak of, in reality I’m uploading it from a month ago! Yeah, that’s totally believable, right? Just roll with me on this one, guys. The next episode will come sooner, I promise(?), so for now, let’s all enjoy some time-space shenanigans. You can watch the video below, or on our YouTube channel.

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Magic: Manastrike hits Pre-registration

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Magic: Manastrike hits Pre-registration

Although I absolutely love video games, I’m a huge fan of all things tactical gaming in general (I don’t just sit glued to a screen all day you know!). One genre I’ve been a fan of for many years is the CCG genre and I’ve been playing Magic: The Gathering since the early 2000s. There have been some excellent iterations of this franchise on our computer screens and I strongly recommend giving MTG Arena a crack if you’re looking for something fun and free-to-play on PC.

Yet, we haven’t seen anything particularly special come to mobile though. The folks over a Netmarble are working on changing this with Magic: Manastrike.

Magic: Manastrike is now in it’s pre-registration phase and if you think you might like to get in early you’ll get a raft of goodies for taking the time to put your name down when the game launches. Said goodies includes gold (the in-game currency), gems (premium currency), a player icon, and five emojis themed after Magic: The Gathering‘s Planeswalkers.

Those of you who know MTG don’t really need to know a huge amount about the lore or the way things work. Those of you that don’t know an artifact from an enchantment might want a bit of a heads up. This is a game about Planeswalkers, powerful individuals who can harness the five colours of mana to cast an array of powerful spells and summon deadly creatures to protect them. They can also travel between various planes of reality at will, hence their name. They then duel for mastery, which is about as simply as I can put it.

Googling the franchise will give you hours of reading and far more information than I can squeeze into an article. It’s definitely worth doing if you want any real clue what’s going on. Alternatively just go and read Peter Daubert’s Starter Guide here. In fact, go ahead do that (it’s good). While it’s technically for MTG Arena, it will still give you the gist.

In Magic: Manastrike, MTG‘s most powerful villain, Nicol Bolas (a particularly evil dragon Planeswalker), has created a parallel universe in which to test the weaknesses of his rivals. You will enter into a contract with him to provide combat data by controlling Planeswalkers and creatures in his universe. This dude is virtually a god so not complying to his demands is probably not a wise decision.

This is a game that’s easy to learn but fiendishly hard to master. You will engage in PVP duels with players across the globe as you collect cards and experience MTG‘s vast universe of original spells and characters who are presented with impressive animations in high-quality 3D. This isn’t just a game about collecting the most powerful cards to win – you’ll have to adapt the spells to your own unique strategy and play style if you are to be victorious.

Magic: Manastrike will be coming globally to the Amazon App Store and Google Play in the not too distant future. If you like what you see and want to get involved, you can go and pre-register here. If you’re a fan of collectible card games or just love a bit of tactical thinking it may be well worth your time.

Images courtesy of Games Press.

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Eclipse: Edge of Light, Award Winning VR game comes to consoles today!

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Eclipse: Edge of Light, Award Winning VR game comes to consoles today!

VR is still a baby in the gaming world, there’s a ton of potential there, but it still needs to grow on its own time. But while the technology may be limited, the wonderful people over at White Elk are still putting all their efforts into making quality games. Eclipse: Edge of Light came out in April 2017 for mobile VR platforms, but it’s now making the leap to PlayStation VR, PlayStation 4, Steam VR, and Oculus Rift. The game is also coming out on Nintendo Switch on January 30th. The game will be $14.99 and features an original score composed by Outer Wilds’ composer, Andrew Prahlow.

The game has been graphically updated to fully take advantage of the new hardware it will call home. Created by former God of War developers, Eclipse: Edge of Light is a first-person exploration game set on a sentient planet with a dark past. At its core is a mysterious story of a world filled with discovery and wonder. You awake after crash-landing to find yourself in a dreamscape environment, littered with the remnants of a failed civilization.

Eclipse: Edge of Light won multiple awards in the year ensuing it’s release, including Best VR game for Mobile at VR Fest 2018. It includes over 3 hours of gameplay, and features full locomotion. It is a story based game with an incredible track record of recognition from the mobile game and VR communities.

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Big news from the Pokemon Direct

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Big news from the Pokemon Direct

 

 Yesterday’s Pokemon-focused Nintendo Direct wasn’t quite what anyone was expecting, but it did deliver on big news for the franchise. First off, it revealed Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX, a remake of the original pair of Mystery Dungeon games that were released on the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS back in 2005. While I’m happy to see this series return, I do find it odd that the list of playable Pokemon hasn’t been expanded at all from the originals, meaning that only Pokemon through generation 3 are represented. Either way, if you want to give this game a try or return to a gem from your past, the remake will be released on the Nintendo Switch on March 6th. A demo is currently available on the eShop.

But this was just a preamble to the main announcement, one that should please a lot of fans. Rather than sequels or alternate versions that change little and make you start over from scratch (e.g. Ultra Sun or Platinum), an Expansion Pass was announced for Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield. The pass includes two DLC adventures: the first is called The Isle of Armor, releasing in June, and the second is called The Crown Tundra, releasing this coming Autumn. Each expansion will take players to new areas that are designed like the Wild Area, allowing for free exploration. They’ll also include brand new Pokemon (including several Legendary Pokemon), new Gigantamax forms (including ones for the starter evolutions), and the return of more than 200 existing Pokemon that were cut from Sword and Shield. What makes the last part extra exciting is that the returning Pokemon will be added in free updates, meaning that even if you don’t buy the DLC, you can still trade for the returning Pokemon or transfer them over from Pokemon Home. The only new information we learned about that service is that it will be released next month.

Personally, I’m thrilled by these announcements. They address practically every problem and concern that I and other fans had about Sword and Shield. Transferring the returning Pokemon for free will be a relief to the Dexit crowd, even if it still isn’t the full National Dex, with a new form of the cut Pokemon Slowpoke even available in the games right now. With more story, more regions like the Wild Area, and more legendary Pokemon, these expansions address pretty much every weakness I identified in my initial review of Sword. If you’re as excited as I am, you can pre-purchase the Expansion Pass now. It includes both expansions for a total of $30, and comes in separate versions for Sword and Shield. Doing so will unlock new clothing items in the game immediately, if that makes a difference to you.

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Inertial Drift racing towards consoles and PC in 2020

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Inertial Drift racing towards consoles and PC in 2020

 

Tear around bends at breakneck speed or drift through neon cities in uniquely crafted race cars. This game gives you total control over your vehicle’s maneuverability with twin-stick control. Choose from a host of colorful cars with bold black outlines in an intense 1-on-1 arcade racing experience.

Inertial Drift

Inertial Drift is developed by Northern Softworks and distributed by PQube. The videogame focuses on intuitive control with a twin-stick scheme for drifting and independent control for steering. Each car has unique capabilities that are influenced by throttling and braking to give a realistic gaming experience.

Inertial Drift is a retro arcade racer that seems to offer a different approach with more intuitive mechanics. The concept is simple, choose from a roster of 16 different vehicles and compete against each other on different tracks. However, this is something we’ve seen a thousand times before during the 1990’s with titles such as Ridge Racer and Sega Super GT.

Inertial Drift

The videogame looks like something you’d get on a PS1 with big bold pixelated graphics that recall the heyday of multiplayer racing. The new level of precision allows cars to drift a hair’s breadth away from the crash barrier and each other as you master every car’s unique driving style.

The videogame will also support split-screen gameplay for two players to race each other. Inertial Drift could revitalize the racing genre but does it have enough to set it apart from the classic titles that it’s trying to emulate?

Inertial Drift will be available on console and PC Spring 2020.

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ITTA announced for PC and Nintendo Switch

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ITTA announced for PC and Nintendo Switch

 

ITTA, a pixel-art bullet-hell title from developer Glass Revolver and published by Armor Games, has been announced for PC and Nintendo Switch. The announcement was accompanied with a new trailer showing off the fast-paced action and striking art style that can be expected in both versions when they release sometime later this year.

The game centers around a young girl, named Itta, who wakes up surrounded by her dead family including her cat, the spirit of which serves as her guide throughout the beautiful pixel-art world. Armed with a glowing revolver, Itta sets out on her adventure in search of answers, leading her to seek out powerful cosmic beings that are scattered throughout the seemingly peaceful world and defeat them in combat. Players can arm Itta with a multitude of weapons throughout the adventure, as well as enable player invincibility or damage multipliers at any time in the game to help ease the difficulty.

Fans of the bullet-hell games will be pleased to see the familiar fast-paced and frantic game-play that is synonymous with the genre very much a central part of ITTA. The gameplay, when combined with the art style and emotional backdrop, looks to be a unique combination that sets it apart from recent entries in the bullet-hell genre. While many games have utilized a similar art style in recent years, it’s clear, even at an early glance, ITTA makes use of this in unique ways, with its reserved use of color and somber aesthetic, which feed into the game’s central themes of hope and despair.

Jacob Williams, the sole developer at Glass Revolver, drew inspiration for the game from his own personal struggles, designing the game while staying in a psychiatric ward in 2016. This inspiration can be seen clearly in the early glimpses of the world and the central themes of despair and hope that resonate throughout the screenshots and footage of this game.

ITTA is so far looking to be a very interesting game and is certainly one that I will be keeping an eye on in anticipation of its release on both PC and Nintendo Switch later this year.

The Steam page for ITTA is now live and can be found here.

More information can be found on ITTA, as well as other games from Armor Games, here.

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Obversion introduces us to a new puzzle

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Obversion introduces us to a new puzzle

 

As most of you lot know by now the puzzle genre is one of my absolute favorites. When something new and brain-bending comes along I have to give it a go to see what’s what. This being said, I’m pleased to be starting my 2020 with something new and puzzly to go at. The game is called Obversion and it’s due to be hitting Steam on the 28th of this month.

Obversion is a geometric, first-person puzzler from developer Adrian Marple. This former Google dev is doing something a little different with his time and this title is said to reflect his love of geometry, philosophy, and thought-provoking puzzles.

As I’ve just mentioned Obversion is taken from a first-person perspective. Interestingly, this game has features such as auto-jump. This is actually really cool because a puzzler should always revolve more around problem-solving than mechanics, the fact that the game is doing some of the work for you grants you more headspace to enjoy the experience and concentrate on the task at hand.

The journey through the levels of Obversion is a coalescence of striking environments, philosophical quotes, and intricately woven puzzles. Every part of Obversion has been crafted in such a way as to give players a thoughtful, unique and intentional experience.

Portal fans amongst you should be right at home with Obversion, even though the graphical tone is obviously very different. It’s nice to see an indie title aiming for a very triple-A level of detail and quality.

Those of you that like using your brain as much as your thumbs will probably really enjoy having something new to work through. This is definitely one that’s piqued my interest so you may well be hearing more from me about this subject in the near future.

 

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REVIEW / WarpThrough (PC)

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REVIEW / WarpThrough (PC)

 

Almost all of the arcade platformers coming out nowadays requires you to always rush and get to the goal as quickly as possible. However, indie developer Roofkat wants you to somewhat stop and smell the roses with its debut game called WarpThrough. The catch? Well, you still have to rush, but you can’t just keep spamming attacks with a press of a button. You actually have to pause to charge your attacks.

 

 

If charged attacks seem like it’s not that bad, think again; WarpThrough places you in a small arena, full of pits and platforms and constantly spawning monsters in your direction. Luckily, you don’t have to worry about dying from falling in pits, since they’re just loops to the top of the arena. What sucks, however, is that there’s no double jumping.

The object of WarpThrough isn’t to kill the enemies in the arena. It’s actually getting to the green warp points that are also spawning around the map. Every time you get to the warp point, you earn warp energy. Collecting a number of warp energies in subsequent runs, enables you to purchase powerups. There are two of them: extra lives and a small field around you that slows time for monsters who are near it.

 

 

The only way you get a game over in WarpThrough is by getting hit by a monster. Thus, the time field is a great powerup, since it allows you more time to dodge an enemy or give you that extra time to charge an attack. Attacks are not all the same, by the way. After playing through the main story (a short 1-2 hour endeavor with an endearing story), you unlock all the playable characters for the arcade.

All in all, there are five characters: Charlotte with her fiery arm, Three with his sniper rifle, Ebbie and her puppy pal named Ball (who serves as the game’s charming mascot), Manor with his electric traps, and a secret character playable at almost the end of the storyline. Charlotte (or Char for her nickname) is obviously the novice’s character in WarpThrough. Her charged attacks send flames straight to the direction she goes. As long as you’re constantly pausing to charge attacks and don’t let her get too inundated with monsters, she will be the perfect character to learn the ropes. The other characters, however, have their own strategies.

 

 

For example, while it may seem that having a sniper rifle makes Three is a great choice for taking out monsters long distance, it’s his aim that’s a problem. First, not only do you have to charge his rifle, it then rotates clockwise (then counterclockwise at the next charge) for you to aim his attack. Second, it seemed to me that his long-range attack has a very slim hitbox, since most of the time, monsters weren’t getting killed, even though I aimed at it perfectly.

Manor, on the other hand, is the complete opposite of Char; his charged attacks leave volts of electricity where he goes. He is a character more for strategy rather than aggressive takedowns, since he will likely to get killed if he rushes to a monster. Ebbie is the complete antithesis of the game; she has to constantly move for Ball to attack. If Ebbie stays still for a short amount of time (i.e., charges her attack), Ball takes a nap and leaves her completly unguarded. Ebbie also doesn’t get to aim Ball towards where she’s going, but rather Ball randomly chooses monsters to attack.

 

 

WarpThrough definitely falls along with the arcade platformers that definitely require skill and strategy, but with a simple premise. It allows you to pick a character that fits your playstyle and see how much warp points you can get through without getting defeated by monsters. This is one of those games that are quick, fast-paced, easy to learn, but hard to master.

 

 

 

This review is based on a retail copy of the game provided by the publisher.

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