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28 Sept 2020

Birthday Of Midnight - Launch Trailer

From the creators of Midnight, Midnight Deluxe, and 36 Fragments of Midnight comes another round of golf-like action fun!

Everyone’s favorite fairy is back and ready to be once again launched into the sky. But as always, treacherous obstacles like spikes, circular saws, and plenty of other dangerous hazards are par for the course. To earn a perfect score you must accurately complete each level in the minimum number of strokes, providing an additional layer of challenge.

Do you have the skill to swing for a hole in one?

Features:

70+ engaging levels that get progressively harder

New dangers to overcome

Piano soundtrack to complement gameplay

Birthday Of Midnight will be priced for 4.99$ / € for all platforms, and it will launch on:

PS4 America: September 29th

PS4 Europe: September 30th

Xbox One: September 30th

PS4 and Nintendo Switch (Japan): October 1st

Nintendo Switch (NA & EU): October 2nd

25 Sept 2020

Mafia: Definitive Edition - Launch Trailer "When All is Not What it Seems"


Tommy's life as a humble cabbie is forever changed after a fateful run-in with the mob. Now he's doing jobs for Don Salieri and gaining respect from the Family, but all is not what it seems in the criminal underworld.

Buy on Xbox - https://amzn.to/3mTOZA7

KEY FEATURES:

Re-made from the ground up, rise through the ranks of the Mafia during the Prohibition era of organized crime. After a run-in with the mob, cab driver Tommy Angelo is thrust into a deadly underworld. Initially uneasy about falling in with the Salieri crime family, Tommy soon finds that the rewards are too big to ignore.

Buy on PS4 - https://amzn.to/3hZY6LL

Play a Mob Movie:

Live the life of a Prohibition-era gangster and rise through the ranks of the Mafia.

Lost Heaven, IL:

Recreated 1930's cityscape, filled with interwar architecture, cars and culture to see, hear and interact with.

Re-Made Classic:

Faithfully recreated, with expanded story, gameplay and original score. This is the Mafia you remembered and much more.

Buy on PC (Steam) - https://amzn.to/3kRAAm9

24 Sept 2020

REVIEW: art of rally on PC

Review by Jon Donnis

I was sent a copy of "art of rally" by Future Friends Games.

"art of rally" is a rally game whereby you relive the golden years of rally using classic cars from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. And the first thing you will notice are the graphics, they are incredible, totally different from other games in this genre, the second thing you will notice is the outstanding soundtrack, I found myself playing the free play mode just enjoying the music.

You play in a top down view of sorts, but there is quite a bit of change from being directly above your car to more of a behind angle. There are 60 rally stages from around the world, daily and weekly challenges to complete, a full career mode to enjoy, and over 50 iconic rally cars to choose from.

As I mentioned earlier I found myself enjoying the music on the freeplay mode, in this mode you have the full area to drive around as you please, but to keep you busy you also have things to collect, giant letters that spell out RALLY and cassette tapes, as well a "viewpoints" to stop and take in the view, and by collecting these things you unlock items in the main game.

I played a couple of the daily and weekly challenges, in general these consist of you racing a stage and competing on a leaderboard against people around the world.

There is enough in this game to keep you playing for a long time, and although at first controlling the car seems really hard, you soon get the hang of it and find yourself mastering the art of the rally car.

And don't forget the photo mode, so you can capture your best moments forever and share them with the world.

The Good

The graphics and soundtrack are outstanding, something quite different to your usual rally games.

The Bad

To get the most out of the graphics you will need a pretty decent PC with a Graphics Card to match, but you can adjust the settings for lower powered PCs.

Summary

I really enjoyed this game, and will keep playing it moving forward. 8/10

Out now on Steam, Epic and GOG

USD $24.99

EU €20.99

GBP £19.49

https://store.steampowered.com/app/550320/art_of_rally/

PREVIEW: Space Crew! on PC


Preview by Jon Donnis

I was sent a preview key for Space Crew on Steam (PC) by Renaissance PR

The first thing you will notice about Space Crew is it is clearly a salute to Star Trek.

You take control of a small space ship, your job is to defend Earth and mankind, and to boldly go where no "crew" has gone before. Sound familiar?


This is the most important view you will have while playing the game, and it is the one that you will need to get a grip on. You click on various crew members and give them instructions, whether that be to control the weapons while fighting alien invaders, using the tractor beam, fixing the engines, tackle fires, repair systems and so on, you control the character by either directly clicking on them, or using the panel on the left side of the screen.

Each action you do does have an effect on parts of the ship, so if you put all your power into the shields, then you will lose gravity, engines and weapons, so sometimes you have to make a choice and decide how to balance your needs.

I have played through the first few missions in this Preview release, and my initial thoughts are that although the controls could be better, the game does have potential, you will fly between Earth and Mars on the initial mission, you switch between the internal view of the ship and an external view, on the external view you can select enemies to fire at, or warp gates that allow you to travel between areas, you will transport goods and so on.

Once you complete missions you can upgrade your crew with various equipment, appearances and so on.

You can also customize your spaceship, improve the shields, engine, weapons and so on.

The Good

The graphics are clear, and everything is perfectly fine in the looks and sounds department.

The Bad

The controls could be better, I wasn't keen on them and was forever trying to figure out what to click to get back to an option I previously had on screen, however the more you play the more you will get used to them, I just think they could be a bit more fluid from the start, although the game will "train" you how to play, what to click and so on as you go along.

Summary

The game has a lot of potential, but it also has a long way to go to be the finished article.

I am reliably informed that there will be a DAY 1 patch for Space Crew which will include bug fixes, quality of life improvements and additional gameplay content, so I look forward to seeing what extra they add to the game.

Strategy JRPG Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia Announced for PS4

In Runersia, a continent created by the Rune God, mana rains down endlessly.  Eons ago, five Mana Stones were brought forth by this continent and passes through history alongside human nations, eventually embedding into special Brigandine equipment to create Rune Knights – special individuals who can wield the mana power and stones embedded into their armor to cast skills and magic as well as summon and control ancient monsters. Six Brigandine nations of Runersia, each with conflicting ideals beliefs, histories, and faiths, are divided by Brigandines of Justice, Glory, Freedom, Sanctity, and Ego, while the sixth nation exists without Brigandine. The goal is to win battles to expand their nation’s influence until the entire continent of Runersia has been taken over by the player.

The PS4™ system version of Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia is currently in development by developer Matrix Software and will be published by Happinet digitally on the PlayStation®Store. The game will be playable on PS5™. This game has not yet been rated by the ESRB and rated “T for Teen” for the Nintendo Switch™ system. The Nintendo Switch version released on June 25 and is available on the Nintendo eShop for $49.99/ €49.99.

Featuring a Fantasy world conquest within the turn-based strategy genre, Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia will offer hundreds of hours of immersive gameplay in this stunning new campaign for conquest. Players choose one of six nations to assume the role of the ruler aiming to conquer Runersia. As a ruler, players will command more than 100 Rune Knights throughout the six nations leading various monster troops of various dragons, ghouls, and fairies, into fierce battles on hexagonal grid maps in the tactical turn-based battle system.

Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia Features:

Choose between six nations and enjoy the high degree of freedom- Players decide which nation to play as and which countries to invade and how to conquer the continent

Hundreds of hours of gameplay- A single nation’s plotline can take over 30 hours of playtime and content from the mainline with multiple endings, three difficulty levels, and post-ending content

Original gameplay and design from its predecessor- Combat is turn-based tactical RPG, with knights on each side leading three monster platoons into battle on a hexagonal grid to jostle for victory

Immersive gameplay and original artwork from talented veterans- Lead artist and character designer, Raita Kazama, known for his character and monster designs in Xenoblade Chronicles, Puzzle & Dragon and others, brings his artistry to the 40 base locations, over 100 unique knights, and 50 monster types in Runersia

Challenge mode- Battle in a combination of a sandbox and score attack experience where new missions are non-stop, challenging the player’s ability to change strategies on the fly as difficulty becomes harder the longer a player survives


23 Sept 2020

DIRTY LAND - Crowdfunding Trailer


Independent developer Naturally Intelligent today announced Dirty Land – a video game about salesmanship, crime and desperation, inspired by classic sales movies of the eighties and nineties. The studio today launched a Kickstarter campaign for Dirty Land, with opportunities for backers to appear as “leads” in-game.

Part drama, part satire, part life of a salesman and part murder mystery, Dirty Land is a story-driven adventure about desperate people and criminal behavior in an era when greed was good.

Dirty Land casts players as Frank Marsh, a newly-hired salesman for Pure Sky Properties – a real estate office where coffee is for closers and the goal is selling worthless swampland to unsuspecting buyers for a profit. Will you discard your ethics to make a quick buck for you and your family, or will you take the high road and find a way to carve out an honest living?

Key Features

The Birth of a Salesman. It is 1982. You are Frank Marsh. You’re a good man who made a bad mistake and you’ve ruined your family. You can't change your past, but you can change your future. 

Something New Every Day. Begin each morning outside your drab office in a run-down strip mall. Every day brings new characters to meet, new events to experience, and new stories to be told. Who knows what will happen tomorrow?

Always Be Closing. Every day you’ll have chances to make a sale or two. Learn what your leads like, study their habits, memorize everything you hear about them and make that sale! How many leads can you pitch and sell each day to get back on your feet?

Enter an office from hell. Thought your work environment was crazy? This is worse! A bizarre boss, wisecracking rival salesmen, an elusive owner, and more. Choose to be polite or rude, and make friends or enemies.

Play amateur detective. Immersed in a world of desperate men and shady characters, Frank will come face to face with crime, corruption, backstabbing, and even murder. Everyone is a suspect; even Frank. Can his connections and detective work help keep him out of jail?

Fans interested in Dirty Land can back the Kickstarter NOW and get involved from as little as $1. 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/naturally/dirty-land-thrill-of-the-sale

Additionally, an IndieGoGo campaign has been launched alongside the Kickstarter to give backers additional option in supporting Dirty Land: 

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/dirty-land

21 Sept 2020

REVIEW: Leisure Suit Larry - Wet Dreams Don't Dry on XBOX ONE


Review by Jon Donnis

I was sent a review code by Assemble Entertainment for Leisure Suit Larry - Wet Dreams Don't Dry.

Most gamers under the age of about 30 will have no idea who Larry Laffer is, well back in the late 80's and early 90's the Leisure Suit Larry games were some of the biggest games around, they featured adult humour, so if you were a kid these were the hottest things around. Well it is now 2020 and Larry is back, and I for one couldn't be happier, since I was playing these types of games all the way back in the 1980's.

Leisure Suit Larry - Wet Dreams Don't Dry is a classic point and click adventure following Larry as he wakes up in a dark room, he finds his way out, heads into a bar, and is told he has been missing for 30 years. But Larry hasn't changed at all. He still only has one thing on his mind, and that is sleeping with women.

As Larry you will end up with a new "Pi Phone" and an App called "Timber", but to sleep with his perfect woman (Faith) he needs the perfect score, and this leads you on an adventure whereby you will meet loads of people, find yourself completing tasks, and solving puzzles. 

This is a game that perhaps is a bit out of time, it is a risk to bring back a game that relies on adult humour especially in 2020 whereby everyone is offended at everything, however I think that this game is firmly aimed at people who played and enjoyed the original games. If you are under 30 you will probably hate this, and if you are over 30 then it will bring back fond memories.

The Good

Beautiful hand drawn scenes, plenty of fun interactions within the story, and a "satisfying" end.

The Bad

I enjoyed it, but I can imagine some people finding the humour just not fit for modern times.

Also the game did crash for me a few times, I have not heard of anyone else having this issue so it might just be me, but if it is a problem I am sure the developers will fix it asap.

Summary

Leisure Suit Larry is back at his filthiest and best, an enjoyable story, funny moments. I score the game a solid 8/10

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/p/leisure-suit-larry-wet-dreams-dont-dry/9p270ndwmq2h

REVIEW: Unrailed! on PC

Review by Jon Donnis

I was sent a review key for Unrailed! for PC by the good people at RenaissancePR.

Unrailed! is a simple game, you have a train, and the train is moving from point A to point B, and your job is to make sure it gets there safely, you accomplish this by building the track ahead of your train. As I said, SIMPLE!, well not quite, you need wood and steel to build the track, so you need to cut down trees and mine the steel, but the train has already started moving, but wait you now have a river flowing through the area and you need to get past it, and now there are cows on the track, and just when you think you know what you are doing the train is now on fire!

And that pretty much is the game, each time you play a level and fail, you will instantly realise how you messed up, so you will restart and try to get it right. Ideally this is a multiplayer game, up to 4 players all at once helping each other to complete the track, mine, and so on. There is a single player mode, and you have the help of a bot which you can send commands to, to help you along.

There are a few different modes, including a versus team mode, where you play against others and the winner is the one who makes the longest track, personally I played the single player mode the most, and just tried to get as far as I could.

As you earn gold you can upgrade your train so it can hold more wood and steel, buy extra wagons, a better engine and so on.

The Good

This is an addictive little game, regardless of if you play it alone or preferably with others, you will find yourself keep coming back to it.

The Bad

Retro style graphics are in fashion right now, but I think the blocky style in this game doesn't quite work, I think you could have had simple style graphics without going full block.

Summary

A fun addictive game, that you will keep coming back to.

8/10

Review by Jon Donnis

19 Sept 2020

REVIEW: Swordbreaker: The Game on Xbox One


Review by Jon Donnis
I was sent a copy of Swordbreaker The Game on Xbox One for review by Sometimes You.

As a kid did you ever play one of those "choose your own adventure books", also known as a Gamebook.
Basically it was a physical book, but you didn't read it in a linear way, there were no chapters as such, you would read a passage, and then make a choice, and depending on the choice you would then go to a completely different page of the book. You literally were creating your own adventure. Well Swordbreaker: The Game is basically that but on a Xbox.


You play as the hero who starts the game inside an abandoned castle, and your ultimate aim is to find the hidden treasure, but of course you have obstacles along the way and each screen you come to is another choice, make the wrong choice and you may lose one of your three lives, lose all lives and that's it, you have to start all over again. You may choose to help a Librarian or push over a bookcase, you might choose to help alien, or kill them, every choice matters.

This is more of an "interactive fiction book" than it is a game as such, and the ultimate aim of the game is to witness all of the endings, all of the deaths and all of the different screens that feature really great artwork.

The Good
The artwork is fantastic, which for what is interactive fiction this truly is the most important thing.

The Bad
Unless you have an incredible memory, to get through to one of the various endings you might find yourself getting so far and then making the same mistake and forcing you to replay the whole thing again, however if you have a pen and piece of paper it is easy enough to keep track.

Summary
Not since the 1980's as a child have I "played" a Gamebook, these really were a big thing back in the day, as we didn't have Smartphones, and computers back then were pretty poor, so you got your entertainment in other ways, Gamebooks were one of those ways, so to have one on a Xbox is definitely an interesting concept, as it allows glorious artwork to go along with a storyline.

If you are a fan of the old style Gamebooks (choose your own adventure) then give this a go, it is fun, plenty of gamerpoints to get which come along as you play through too.

7/10

Review by Jon Donnis


18 Sept 2020

Preview: Real-Time Tactics Game Partisans 1941 (PC)


I was given access to a Press Preview Build of Partisans 1941 and played through the first few missions, so any opinions I give on the game please keep in mind it is from a preview build and not the finished game.

You take control of a group of Partisans (a military force formed to oppose control of an area by a foreign power) to fight against the occupying German forces during World War II.

You start off alone but soon meet up with other resistance members. Each mission involves you planning a strategy to reach a certain location, usually by overcoming the enemy, but remember you are massively outgunned by the Germans, so instead of going in guns blazing, the main game involves stealth, patience and trying to set up an ambush.

The first thing you will notice are the graphics, they are incredibly detailed, you also get a choice of language for the enemy, so they can speak in German or English depending on your preference, or if you want subtitles. This all adds to the realism of the game. Once you get past the looks you have to deal with the controls. I hated the control system. I admit I am a console gamer at heart, but I have also been playing computer games since the 1980s, so I do not fear a mouse and keyboard. I would hope in the finished game they at the very least offer a simplified control system that is more user friendly. I also hope they have in place a better hints system and a better tutorial. The onscreen hints and suggestions just seem to blend into everything else on the screen and I found that it just didn't really help.

Now once I got past the terrible control system, I then had to deal with the camera view, now maybe I didn't figure out how to make it automatically follow your main character, but as far as I can see you have to manually control the view as well, so while trying to plan out your next step you are forever trying to get the screen centred or facing the direction you want, and then instead of having a solid isometric view, the camera also can swing around, which in theory is a good thing as it allows you to see things better, but I found it just makes life harder. When playing a game I hate having to keep looking down at the controls. So I just found it frustrating and time wasting, when a much simpler camera view would just make life easier and the game more enjoyable.

Once you get past these issues, the game itself is actually quite good, the stealth aspect is fun, whether it is sneaking up behind someone and putting them in a choke hold, or throwing a knife or shooting someone with a rifle, get it right and it all feels very good, get it wrong and luckily you can revert to a quick save and try again.

I think if you are already a fan of these types of games on a PC then you will very much enjoy this, however if you are a console gamer like me, you will probably find the whole control system a bit of a nightmare.

The Good

Everything looks great, and the game itself is a fun, if a bit overdone in the gaming market.

The Bad

The controls, the camera.

Summary

As a preview, the game has a lot of potential, I expect that despite an October release, the game will get constant improvements and hopefully if the game makers listen to the players, they can fix the issues I mentioned. If they ignore the complaints and just push the game to the niche market who already plays these types of games, then that would be a mistake.

RELEASE DATE: 14 Oct, 2020

Preview By Jon Donnis


King of Seas - Gameplay Trailer


What sets  King of Seas apart from other games in the genre is that each time you start a new campaign, the game engine will generate a whole new game world for you to explore. Each playthrough is a new and exciting adventure when you set off from shore. The dynamic world will also react to your every action, constantly adapting and throwing new challenges your way. Naval routes will change with each conquered settlement, the difficulty will adapt as you progress through your quests, and changes in weather will play a big part in your navigation and combat strategy. 

Your Pirate ship is more than just a vehicle, it's a home. You will be able to acquire and own five different classes of ship: the sloop, brig, flute, frigate and galleon, each offering plenty of customisation options to ‘deck’ out your vessel. With over 900 items available to collect and use, you can truly create a battle-ready vessel to be proud.

Naval battles are at the core of the King of Seas gameplay and learning how to navigate your way through the combat will be key to your success. The movement and handling of your ships will change according to wind direction, the ship class and the talent points acquired through levelling the gear equipped. In addition to the core battle mechanics, there are exciting unique abilities you can discover on your adventure that really mix up the action, such as flamethrowers, ethereal navigation or voodoo rituals!

Each battle won will raise the bounty on your head and you can even face off against some of the most feared pirates in history. The difficulty level adds a multiplier to the bounty you achieve in the game - so see how far you can take it in hardcore mode!

MAIN FEATURES

*Story: A series of quests guide you on your journey and uncover the intriguing characters of the King of Seas world who will lead you to the next path of your epic adventure.
*Procedural Generation: Dive into a lush, procedurally generated world that constantly refreshes the exploration mechanics within each new game.
*Dynamic World: The world reacts to your every action, naval routes change and with each conquered settlement the difficulty adapts to constantly give you a more challenging time.
*Map: A thick fog will ensure travelling towards objectives is not plain sailing, after all wouldn't you want to lose the joy of exploration !?
*Navigation system: Atmospheric effects influence gameplay. Sail during a storm at your own risk, escape the enemies and always remember to carefully watch the wind direction to stay in control during battles. The strategy starts here.
*Ship customization: Five types of highly customizable ships through an equipment and skill system, just as in any true role-playing game!
*Combat system: Not only cannon shots and nautical strategy but also speed and spectacle, thanks to a set of more than 20 skills to choose from and three branches of talents to suit any playstyle.

King of Seas will be available this holiday season for Windows PC via Steam, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.

17 Sept 2020

Air Missions: HIND Blasts onto Nintendo Switch


Košice, Slovak Republic - 17th September, 2020. Publisher Grindstone and developers Games Farm and 3Division are thrilled to announce that following a successful retail launch on Nintendo Switch in Japan, the action combat flight simulator game Air Missions: HIND is now available for European players. North American players will be able to play the game from 24th of September, 2020.

Air Missions: HIND puts players in the hot seat of the heavily armed Mi-24 Hind assault helicopter as they take to the skies in devastating air assault missions. Before each mission, the formidable Mi-24 Hind (also known as the ‘flying tank’) can be customised with different skins and weapon sets depending on the mission parameters and goals. Two weapons can be equipped on the wings, in addition to a machine gun mounted on the front of the helicopter, and players can choose from an arsenal of deadly weaponry including UPK 23 machine guns, GUV gun pods, FAB bombs and various rockets and missiles.



When piloting the helicopter, players can switch between a simulation style first person cockpit view, gunners seat view or external third person view depending on your play style or mission goals. Combined with three helicopter difficulty levels to master, Air Missions: HIND offers lots of replayability options across the various missions.

Fly single player campaign missions based on fictional conflicts in Central Asia, Eastern Europe, the Arctic Ocean and Southeast Asia. Buddy up with a friend and take the fight to the enemy in the action packed online co-op mode or test your mettle in thrilling multiplayer matches including deathmatch and instant action modes.

Nintendo Switch players will also receive three bonus Russian built helicopters to pilot in Air Missions: HIND including the Mi-28 Havok two seater anti-armour attack helicopter, the Mi-8 Hip medium twin-turbine helicopter and the Ka-50 Hokum single-seat attack helicopter.

Features: 
*Take control of the Mi-24 assault helicopter, a.k.a the flying tank.
*Campaign mode with fifteen missions based on fictional conflicts.
*Customise and equip your helicopter with an arsenal of missiles, machine guns and rockets.
*Four different environments to master: Central Asia, Eastern Europe, The Arctic Ocean and Southeast Asia.
*Fly combat missions in single and multiplayer modes including Deathmatch, Instant Action and Online Co-op.
*Master three different helicopter control difficulty levels.
*Three bonus Russian built attack helicopters to pilot.

Air Missions HIND is developed by Games Farm and 3Division and published by Grindstone and is available to buy now from the European Nintendo eShop for £22.99/€24.99 and from 24th September in the North American Nintendo eShop for $24.99.

For more information about the game please visit the official game website at www.airmissions.net and Grindstone at http://www.grindstone.sk 

Playstation 5 Showcase



Before PlayStation 5 launches this holiday, we wanted to give you one more look at some of the great games coming to PS5 at launch (and beyond!).

Our next digital showcase will weigh in at around 40 minutes, and feature updates on the latest titles from Worldwide Studios and our world-class development partners.

MXGP 2020 | Announcement Trailer


Your new MXGP experience is coming... More real than ever!

Get ready to live the Official 2020 Championship and find the new amazing features! #MXGP2020 will be out on December 10th. Mud, Sweat and Glory.

16 Sept 2020

Final Fantasy XVI Announced for PS5




LONDON (16th September, 2020) – During today's PlayStation 5 Showcase event, SQUARE ENIX® revealed that acclaimed creators Naoki Yoshida (FINAL FANTASY® XIV, DRAGON QUEST® X) and Hiroshi Takai (FINAL FANTASY XIV, THE LAST REMNANT™) are collaborating on an all-new standalone mainline FINAL FANTASY game, titled FINAL FANTASY XVI, for the PlayStation 5 (PS5™) system.
 
Comment from Producer Naoki Yoshida
FINAL FANTASY XVI producer (that’s right, just producer) Naoki Yoshida here. How did you enjoy the trailer? The exclusive footage, comprised of both battles and cutscenes running in real-time, represents but a fraction of what our team has accomplished since the start of development on this, an all-new FINAL FANTASY game. In that span, the team’s size has grown from a handful of core members to a full-fledged unit that continues to polish and build upon what they have created so far, all to provide players an experience unmatched in terms of story and gameplay.

Our next big information reveal is scheduled for 2021, so in the meantime, I expect everyone to have fun speculating, as we have a lot in store—not only for FINAL FANTASY XVI, but for FINAL FANTASY XIV, too. Needless to say, I’ll be working hard on both!

Comment from Director Hiroshi Takai
When FINAL FANTASY I was released, I was just another player─a young student with big dreams. By the time FINAL FANTASY V was in the works, I had earned myself a seat at the developers’ table... albeit at the very end. From there, I moved “online” leaving my mark on both FINAL FANTASY XI and XIV.

And now...XVI.

From the establishment of an all new development environment, to learning the ins-and-outs of the PS5, the team and I have taken on countless challenges during our journey to bring you the sixteenth chapter in the storied FINAL FANTASY franchise. And though we’re pouring our hearts and souls into this project each and every day, it may still be some time before we can get it into your hands. However, I promise it will be worth the wait!

FINAL FANTASY XVI is a single player action-RPG being developed for the PS5

The news was revealed via the FINAL FANTASY XVI "AWAKENING" trailer and can be viewed below

15 Sept 2020

Explore a Lonely Earth when The Uncertain Launches 8 October for PC


New Game Order and META Publishing today announced The Uncertain: Light at the End will launch for PC on 8 October 2020, and will arrive on PlayStation®, Xbox and Nintendo Switch™ in 2021.

The Uncertain: Light at the End is a story-driven third-person sci-fi adventure set in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity has been replaced by machines. A young girl named Emily must survive as a lone outcast and unravel the mystery behind humanity’s disappearance, travelling through the abandoned world while pursued by the same machines which once served humankind.

Created by independent developer New Game Order (formerly ComonGames), The Uncertain: Light at the End presents an all-new adventure set in the universe established by 2016’s The Uncertain: Last Quiet Day, which has achieved more than 1,000 reviews and a Very Positive rating from the Steam community.

Game Features
Welcome to a lonely Earth. Jump into an all-new and original story, in a world inexplicably abandoned by humans and dominated by robots.
Discover deep lore and embedded storytelling. Learn about the past and present of a machine-dominated Earth world through exploration and interaction.
Explore an abandoned world. Guide Emily through an empty and lonely city, filled with intricate details and hints at life before the disaster.
Solve entirely unique puzzles. Every puzzle in The Uncertain: Light at the End is a unique challenge with unique mechanics.
Lose yourself in Emily’s world. Immersive audio and a rich cinematic score bring The Uncertain’s lonely world to life.



Larry Laffer is back at it, and this time, he’s on Xbox One!


Today, publisher Assemble Entertainment announced that Larry Laffer is back at it — again — and this time, he’s on Xbox One! The world-famous ladies man is now available for your gameplay pleasure in the Microsoft Store in the form of Leisure Suit Larry - Wet Dreams Don’t Dry! Join Larry as he takes on the modern age — one explicit social media app at a time — to stumble his way to true love. The Xbox launch completes Larry’s multi-platform conquest as the infamous title stakes its claim on PC, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android, and now, Xbox One!

Hey ladies, I'm back in business! My latest adventure, Leisure Suit Larry - Wet Dreams Don't Dry, takes me – whatever the route or twist of fate – from the end of the '80s directly to the 21st Century and wow, how the world has changed! While my...somewhat antiquated view of the world and women collides with modern reality, I'm all set to date my way across the modern world!

In a "point & click" adventure I'd call typical for the genre, we mutually experience how I fall head-over-heels in love with Faith, the assistant to the boss at Prune, a powerful global tech company. Since even dating is done digitally nowadays, the first thing I have to do is to work on my score at Timber, the totally hip, can't-get-anywhere-without-it dating app where I date women, satisfy their needs, and pick up points for my Timber profile. And whenever I get a chance in between, briefly check out a few new beach pix at Instacrap – the 21st century is gnarly!



Key Features of Leisure Suit Larry - Wet Dreams Don't Dry:

What a World!: Explore a lovingly designed, non-linear game world set in modern times with over 30 hand-drawn venues

The Digital Age: Use the “Timber” in-game app, along with an innovative dating mechanism to date women, improve your profile score, and ultimately clear the way to dating Faith, the woman of your dreams

Dating Can be Puzzling: Solve true-blue puzzles and interact with over 30 hand-drawn characters

Developed by CrazyBunch and published by Assemble Entertainment, Leisure Suit Larry - Wet Dreams Don’t Dry is available for £33.49GBP as a digital download in the Microsoft Store and features a limited-time 25% launch discount. 

13 Sept 2020

REVIEW: The Suicide of Rachel Foster on XBOX ONE


Review by Jon Donnis
I was sent a copy of The Suicide of Rachel Foster by Renaissance PR for review

The Suicide of Rachel Foster is what is known as a "Walking Simulator" although "first-person investigation" is probably just as good a description, so the basic story is that 10 years ago, Nicole (the character you control) left the family run hotel with her mother, after they found out that the father Leonard had had an affair with a girl named Rachel, who he made pregnant and she then committed suicide. Both the parents have now passed, and Nicole has returned to the hotel in the hope to sell it, as was the last wish of her mother.

At the hotel the weather has turned bad, and she is stuck inside this large hotel on a mountain. Her only connection to the outside world is Irving, a young Federal Emergency Management Agency agent using an old cellular telephone to communicate with each other. Nicole starts to investigate the hotel, and keeps in contact with Irvine throughout. She knows that her father had a role to play in the death of Rachel, so she explores the hotel to see if she can find out exactly what happened.

I wont spoil any more of the story as there are some twists and turns involved.

This is a big hotel, and very easy to get lost as you walk around, but you do have a map to help you.

As I stated at the start this is a Walking Simulation, in other words this is not a classic game, there are no bad guys to fight, no real puzzles to solve, instead this is about experiencing a story that has very mature topics within the story, from child grooming, to child pregnancy and of course suicide. The general game play is walking around, examining objects, interacting with Irving, talking about the past of the characters. There is even some flirting too.

The story is intense, and you do feel immersed within it. The graphics are detailed, and the sound is great, I found playing the game with headphones improves the experience in a big way.

The Good
Detailed graphics and audio. Deep multilayered story line.

The Bad
In general I am not a fan of walking simulators, and i think people who play this game hoping for jump scares or ghostly encounters will be disappointed.

Also at the point of playing, no Gamer-Points were dropping, which is always a disappointment, hopefully it is just a bug, will get fixed and suddenly I will have 1000 points appear. This is a game you will only play through once however.

Overall
If you want to experience something different, and want to enjoy a story line, despite the very tough and mature subject, then you will find this quite an experience. As long as you understand what you are getting into, there is no reason why you wont enjoy this game.

I score The Suicide of Rachel Foster 7/10
Review By Jon Donnis


The Suicide of Rachel Foster is available for PlayStation 4 for £15.99/€19.99/AU$24.95 and Xbox One for £16.99/€19.99/AU$26.95 and PC via Steam.

The Suicide of Rachel Foster (Original Video Game Soundtrack)
https://amzn.to/32dNPqB - £7.99
https://amzn.to/2ZlxUEY - $8.99

Godfall - Combat Trailer | PS5


Exploit weakpoints, slay with friends, and dominate the battlefield in Godfall on PlayStation 5 this Holiday 2020.

Aperion is on the precipice of ruin. You are the last of the Valorian knights, god-like warriors able to equip Valorplates, legendary armor sets that transform wielders into unstoppable masters of melee combat. Tear through foes as you climb through the elemental realms and challenge the mad god, Macros who awaits you at the top. Ascend in Godfall, the first-of-its-kind, looter-slasher, melee action-RPG.

11 Sept 2020

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Breakpoint - Red Patriot Trailer | PS4


Trey Stone enlists Raven’s Rocks, a Russian separatist group and their agents, the Bodarks, to plan attacks on US soil. Nomad is assigned a simple mission: take down everyone involved in Stone’s plan. Red Patriot will offer a branching storyline and optional mission objectives. All players will get access to two free missions and can purchase the full adventure afterward, but Year 1 Pass owners can play the adventure’s 10 missions in full. Upon completing missions, players will unlock 26 high-quality rewards.

Buy from Amazon

10 Sept 2020

REVIEW: Golf Zero on Xbox One


Review By Jon Donnis
I was sent a copy of Golf Zero to review by Ratalaika Games

Although this has the word "golf" in the title, it is not a golf game in the classic sense, in fact this is a platform game with a golf twist, and it is a totally unique twist.

The game is a cute 2D retro looking game, the basic aim is for you to hit a ball into the golf cup (hole), but of course as you progress through each level, this becomes a harder and harder challenge to accomplish, now because I am stupid I didn't watch the trailer before I started to play, and I literally got stuck on the 2nd level for a good 5 minutes, you see I didn't realise that you can hit the ball in mid jump. (See photo below) As soon as I realised that, I managed to start passing each level pretty quick. But the game does get much harder. You also have the challenge of accomplishing other things in the levels, for example getting a hole in one, or bursting a balloon, or riding a cart over spikes, and so on.


As I mentioned earlier this is a platforming game first, so where the ball lands isn't that important, unless it is in the cup, so you can run and jump around the level, slide down walls, or jump up them, and then you just hit one of three balls wherever you are to beat the level. Run out of balls and you lose, hit a trap and you lose. But luckily the levels can be retried as many times as you like.

There are spikes to avoid, rolling boulders, saw blade, monsters, all sorts. And if you want to get Gold for passing the levels you need to achieve all of the challenges set for you.

There are over 40 levels and a speed run mode.

This is a fun game, it can be tricky and frustrating at times, but there is a great feeling of accomplishment when you finally get a level right and everything goes to plan. This game is addictive. And you will find yourself restarting a level over and over until you get it perfect.

The Good
Addictive, fun game-play, cute graphics, and lots of easy gamer-points for you gamer-point collectors.

The Bad
Could do with a better menu system in game just describing the controls and how to play.

Overall
This is a great fun game, I loved it. As cutesy golf based plat-formers go, this stands alone at the top of the hill.

9/10

https://www.ratalaikagames.com/games/golfzero.php


Tamarin - Launch Trailer | PS4


Explore, leap and shoot to save your family from the insect invasion! Leap with the agility of a tamarin as you journey into the Northern wilderness, in a world full of exploration, 3D-platforming and bug-splattering action!

Leap into action and discover nature in Tamarin, a third-person action-adventure game set in beautiful Nordic scenery, starring the world's cutest monkey. Pollution and destruction from ever-expanding insects sets the agile monkey into a fight for his family’s survival.

Explore an incredible interconnected 3D world, brimming with primate platforming and bug-splattering shooter action. Leap with the agility of a tamarin as you journey into the Northern wilderness on scenic routes through forests, fjords and mountains. Along the way you will chase mysterious electrical fireflies, discover a secret underground world of dancing ants, rescue innocent birds, and restore the tamarins’ once idyllic natural habitat.

Tamarin is out now on PlayStation 4!

9 Sept 2020

Inside the Xbox Series S


Learn about the tech behind the Xbox Series S, our smallest, sleekest Xbox ever.

With higher framerates, faster load times, and richer, more dynamic worlds, Xbox Series S delivers next-gen performance and speed in a compact, all-digital form factor at a great price ($299 ERP).


Horror thriller The Suicide of Rachel Foster is now available for PS4 and Xbox One



The Suicide of Rachel Foster is an intense first-person investigation, where melancholy and nostalgia meld into a thrilling ghost tale. This truly immersive gameplay experience with multilayered narrative, an ending influenced by player choice and binaural audio to keep anyone on the edge of their seats.

The Suicide of Rachel Foster (Original Video Game Soundtrack)
https://amzn.to/32dNPqB - £7.99
https://amzn.to/2ZlxUEY - $8.99

This unique and atmospheric first-person thriller tells the story of Nicole, a young woman driven by her mother’s dying wish to uncover her family's dark past. As she unravels the secrets behind the suicide of teenage girl Rachel, she is snowed in on a lonely mountain and explores the abandoned family hotel. Knowing her own father had a role to play in the downfall of Rachel, Nicole relies on the support of a young FEMA agent to unearth the truth once and for all.

Core features:
Explore the vast and detailed hotel, unravelling the dark secrets of the family's past
Binaural audio for a truly immersive experience
Intriguing, touching and mature storytelling
Multi-layered narrative thriller, combining elements of mystery and horror

The Suicide of Rachel Foster is available for PlayStation 4 for £15.99/€19.99/AU$24.95 and Xbox One for £16.99/€19.99/AU$26.95 and PC via Steam. 
For more details on the game, please visit https://www.tsorf.games/home/

REVIEW: Hotshot Racing on Xbox One - By Jon Donnis


Review by Jon Donnis
I was kindly sent a copy of Hotshot Racing by Curve Digital to review.
What do you get if you take all of the best 90's arcade racers like Virtua Racing, Scud Race, Winning Run, Daytona USA and Burnout, mix them all up and add 60fps? You get Hotshot Racing.

I reviewed Formula Retro Racing last June, a similar style arcade game in that classic 90's polygon style, and I loved that game, but I think that Hotshot Racing is even better.

The graphics are great for what they are supposed to be, for all of you young gamers, these graphics are a perfect representation of the 90's arcade racer. But when done on a modern console, with a high frames per second refresh rate, everything moves so much smoother.

There are 16 tracks spread across 4 distinct areas, coastal, jungle, alpine and desert, each track can also be mirrored.


There is your classic Grand Prix mode whereby you compete in a number of races to hopefully finish atop the podium, as well as your usual Time Trial, and Exhibition race modes, but there are also a few extra game modes thrown in to, which I did not expect, there is a Cops and Robbers mode, where you play as either a Cop trying to take down the illegal racers, or you play as an illegal racer trying to evade the cops. There's also a Drive or Explode mode, in the style of the film Speed, you have to stay above a certain speed or you blow up, but after every lap the minimum speed needed is raised. These are both genuinely fun modes, and never feel like they were thrown in at the last minute. In fact I played these modes more than the basic exhibition mode when I was checking out the tracks.

As well as the single player mode, you can also have up to 4 player split screen, or 8 player online. I was unable to try the online modes at the time of writing, but I did play the split screen mode with a friend and everything ran smoothly.


There are 8 racers to choose from, and as you progress through the game and earn more money you can buy new clothes etc for the characters, you can also buy upgrades to the cars, of which each character has the choice of a different 4 cars than anyone else.

As you play through the levels you will notice that drifting is a big part of things, not only does it look and feel great to effortlessly drift around a corner, it also charges your boost, another way to charge your boost is by slip-streaming an opponent, once your boost meter is charged you can then use it to give you that much needed catch up if you fall behind a competitor.


The Good
The game looks great, it is easy to get the hang of it, and it really is a game you will come back to.

The Bad
I really cant think of anything, the game is great, perhaps more cars or more tracks, although there already is plenty.

Summary.
This is a great arcade racer, one of the best I have played in a long time. This is better than Formula Retro Racing which I gave a 8 out of 10, so this I have to give a 9/10


Golf Zero to hit a hole-in-one on consoles - Trailer and Release Details



Golf Zero is a cute, fun and original little game with a mix of clever golf platforming gameplay.

What starts as a relaxing outing on a grassy 2d golf green soon builds into a crazy physics obstacle course!

To sink a putt you must jump, sprint or slide while avoiding unconventional hazards like brutal boulders, whirling saw blades, or zinging bullets as the challenge increases.

Do you have what it takes to earn the Gold Medal?

Features:
40 levels of golf platforming madness
Competitive speed run mode
Endearing pixel art

Golf Zero will be priced for 4.99$ / € for all platforms.

It will launch on:
PS4 America: September 8th
PS4 Europe: September 9th
Xbox One: September 9th
Nintendo Switch (NA & EU): September 11th

8 Sept 2020

Necromunda: Underhive Wars - Launch Trailer | PS4


Necromunda: Underhive Wars, the tactical RPG adaptation of Games Workshop’s legendary tabletop game, comes to PlayStation 4 today. Before you hurl yourself into the brutal gang wars of the Underhive’s endless halls, factories, and slums.

Deep below the nightmarish, polluted hive cities of Necromunda, in the twisted, vertiginous, dark tunnels of the Underhive, rival gangs fight to the bitter end for personal power, wealth, survival and the honour of their Houses. Only the strongest survive.

Lead, customize, and grow your gangs of Escher, Goliath, and Orlock. Specialize each member and send them to battle in hazardous dystopian environments. Exploit the terrain in tactical gunfights: climb raised walkways to take advantage, set traps, and ambush foes to force them into bloody melee engagements.

Learn new skills, loot equipment and bring your evolved gang to 4-player online gang fights.

Lead and evolve your gangs in this compelling tactical-RPG

Follow a rich narrative campaign in the Underhive

First video game adaptation from mythical tabletop game Necromunda, the most famous Hive World of Warhammer 40,000

Play solo or join thrilling 4-way online gang fights

https://store.playstation.com/en-gb/product/EP4133-CUSA12530_00-NECROMUNDAUHWARS

7 Sept 2020

Deleveled - Launch Trailer | PS4


What goes up, must come down! Deleveled is a momentum based puzzle-platformer inspired by Newton's third law of motion. As an added twist, there’s no jump button - so all of your vertical movement comes from bouncing or falling. Conserve your energy by controlling two squares at the same time as you move through the level to hit switches, complete puzzles, and bounce your way to the perfect finish! Learn to trust gravity as you solve 120 unique levels, each with multiple creative solutions. Flex your brain muscles in Deleveled, now available for PlayStation 4.

5 Sept 2020

The Riftbreaker - Base Building Trailer | PS4


Check out the latest Base Building trailer for The Riftbreaker.

The Riftbreaker™ is a base-building, survival game with Action-RPG elements. You are an elite scientist/commando inside an advanced Mecha-Suit capable of dimensional rift travel. Hack & slash countless enemies. Build up your base, collect samples and research new inventions to survive.

You play the role of captain Ashley S. Nowak, an elite scientist/commando inside a powerful Mecha-Suit. Enter a one-way portal to Galatea 37, a distant planet at the far reaches of the Milky Way Galaxy, with the purpose of building up a base that will allow travel back to Earth and further colonization. Ashley's Mecha-suit, which she calls "Mr. Riggs", can withstand the harshest environmental conditions and has a full range of equipment for base construction, resource extraction, gathering specimens and of course - combat. It is capable of traveling through rifts that connect space across vast distances.


3 Sept 2020

WRC 9 - Launch Trailer | PS4


The WRC license is back and even better this year with WRC 9. Take part in the Calendar's 3 new rallies (Rally Japan, Safari Rally Kenya and Rally New Zealand) and challenge the community with the customisable Clubs system. Feel the rally experience like never before with its improved physics, vehicle handling and intuitive driving endorsed by real WRC drivers!

WRC 9 is coming out September 8 on PlayStation 4, and at a later date on PlayStation.

Order from Amazon at
https://amzn.to/2EX2ZYq

2 Sept 2020

REVIEW: Road to Guangdong on Xbox One - By Jon Donnis


Review By Jon Donnis
Now if you said to me "here is a visual novel to play", I have to admit that I would be skeptical, I like my action games, I like life or death situations in my games, and a visual novel is something that I have rarely enjoyed, saying that I did give this game the benefit of the doubt.

You play as Sunny, a young art graduate who has just inherited her family's restaurant in Guangdong, South China in the 1990s the problem is that the restaurant is in trouble, so along with her old aunt Guu Ma you journey to find old family friends and relatives in an effort to find recipes and secrets that will help you bring back this restaurant to it's full potential.


As you play through the game you will realise this is about thecultural differences between older and younger Chinese people, you have to make tough choices which will decide in the long run where things will end up.

You also have an old car (Sandy) that you need to take care of, the car is falling apart and keeping it running is a serious part of the game, whether that is fixing the engine, or filling it up with fuel and so on. You will drive between locations, where you can listen to interesting Chinese music on the radio, you will stop at junk yards to get parts of the car, as well as petrol stations to fill up.

As you play through the game you will come across interesting characters that you will interact with and learn their stories, and that is the part of the game that you will get the most from, and that is where the term "visual novel" is mostly talking about.


Unfortunately the parts of the game I did not like were the driving and car mechanics, it just seems a bit boring for a game that is mainly attractive due to it's stories.

This is a hard game to score, the graphics are lovely, the sound effects are also great, and the characters are wonderful. The problem is, it is not a game that will ever raise your heart beat, it is more like reading a book with interesting characters, but you have to go through annoying bits to get to the next page.

It is a visual novel, it is advertised as such, but for me, I am just not that interested in visual novels, I kinda like my games to be games.

So although this game does have a market, and I think people interested in Chinese culture might find it enjoyable, I think outside of that demographic, it is hard sell.

I score Road to Guangdong on Xbox One a 5/10 - Not for me.


1 Sept 2020

Survival-Horror Cult Hit “Song of Horror” Lurks Onto PS4 & Xbox One on October 29


Barcelona, Spain - Tuesday 1st September 2020:
Having kickstarted its movement to both refresh and honour the survival-horror genre last Halloween with the very first episode of Song of Horror on PC, Raiser Games and Protocol Games have announced that the game will come to both PlayStation 4 and Xbox One as one single release on October 29th, 2020.

The release will comprise of all five episodes in one package, allowing console players to take on a thrilling paranormal story where the threat of The Presence, a dark entity that reacts to your way of playing, looms large throughout in one seamless flow, celebrating the first anniversary of the game's debut - a title that’s been in development for more than six years in total.

Song of Horror sees players set out to investigate the mystery of the disappearance of famed but now elusive writer Sebastian P. Husher - a man who, along with his entire family, has vanished without a trace. Taking on any one of 13 different characters, Song of Horror is a Lovecraftian, third-person adventure that pays homage to the classic masterpieces of the survival-horror genre.

"We have been blown away by the reception Song of Horror has had on PC, and now’s the time to broaden the game’s base and reach out to console players,” says studio co-founder Carlos Grupeli. “The survival-horror genre has such a history on both PlayStation and Xbox that it feels only right to bring our little ode to all that has gone before to an audience that truly appreciates real scares.”

At its heart, Song of Horror is a non-combat adventure where the focus instead is on running and hiding, staying silent in the midst of all the terror to avoid triggering unnerving manifestations, capable of bringing the game’s line-up to the brink of insanity. With the game’s ever-present foe The Presence keeping players on their toes from start to finish, Song of Horror’s mission to keep you severely spooked is one it never lets up on.

Song of Horror features: -
*A truly dynamic terror experience: its antagonist, the supernatural entity known only as The Presence, is controlled by an advanced AI (Artificial Intelligence) that reacts to your actions and decisions.
*Experience unbearable fear as this otherworldly being responds to your way of playing and hunts you down in unexpected ways, offering a unique experience to every player and gameplay where tension builds up naturally instead of coming from scripted sequences.
*Live this story through the eyes of a varied set of characters related to the story in their own way. Every character is different, and brings their unique point of view to the investigation, allowing them to approach clues and items differently.
*Their actions and decisions will shape the world: some of them will know more or less of certain aspects of the story; some will be more effective against supernatural manifestations, but all of them can die if the Presence gets to them – and death can be permanent. If they die, you will have to pick the story up with another one, and continue the investigation so their deaths are not in vain.
*A mysterious antique shop, a forgotten abbey, an abandoned mental hospital... Each location in Song of Horror is inspired by the classics of the genre. Explore and investigate these haunted places to gather clues and items that will help you solve challenging puzzles while enduring the agonizing tension of the game's atmosphere.

Song of Horror will launch on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One as one single release on October 29th, 2020.