Rayman fans are over the moon after the announcement that the limbless hero will be featured in the next Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope DLC. However, there might be more to look forward to. The game's director, Davide Soliani, teased a return to glory for the French platforming mascot Wednesday. He also confirmed there will be a secret message if you finish the DLC with a 100% completion rate. The prospects of the first Rayman game since 2013 might come to fruition.

According to fan community leader ItzalDrake from Rayman Together, Sparks of Hope director Davide Soliani sent a message to the character's fanbase just before the launch of the Phantom Show DLC:

"I hope that all the community and all Rayman players support us as much as possible because I'm on a mission: my mission is to be able to bring Rayman back to the glory he deserves."

https://twitter.com/RaymanTogether/status/1694386555723342118

When was the last Rayman game released?

The limbless hero has been absent for a long time, which is strange as he was an important mascot for Ubisoft during the beginning of the studio's history. The last true game in the series was Rayman Legends, released back in 2013: a decade ago this month. If you want to go all the way back, the last 3D platforming adventure Rayman 3 came out in 2003. A fourth entry or even a follow-up to the 2D platforming subseries would be a dream for many fans of the series.

Soliani did not outright confirm a new game in the series, but as previously mentioned, he has teased a secret hidden message for those who 100% complete the DLC. "I hope for your support and I hope you like it!" he concluded in his message to the fans.

The post Sparks of Hope director teases return to “glory” for Rayman and secret DLC message appeared first on Destructoid.

In my eyes, Blasphemous 2 is a story of redemption.

Throughout the blighted lands in this sequel, you will find no shortage of denizens hoping to be redeemed. Condemned to often dark, grisly fates by the entity called the Miracle, these people graciously accept their punishments, hoping that their pain will absolve them of sin. Similarly, Blasphemous 2 strikes me as a game that wants to absolve itself from its predecessor’s shortcomings. I briefly played Blasphemous before taking on this review, but I honestly couldn’t get into it. I felt the combat was stiff, the platforming was aggravating, and the story absolutely did not grab me with its ornate, often vague prose.

On two of those counts, Blasphemous 2 marks an inspired improvement. In a world where even Mickey Mouse needs a Metroidvania, games of this genre require absolute excellence to stand out. I didn’t expect Blasphemous 2 to give me the same highs as all-time genre greats like Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, but that’s exactly how I felt playing much of this one. Blasphemous 2 truly shines with the love of its creators.

It's unfortunate, then, that this otherwise immaculate sequel didn’t completely cleanse itself of the first game’s sins. But I must admit that where I see imperfections, Blasphemous fans may find profound beauty instead.

Blasphemous 2 (PC [Reviewed], PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch)
Developer: The Game Kitchen
Publisher: Team17
Released: August 24, 2023
MSRP: $29.99

[caption id="attachment_397051" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Free will

Our story kicks off after the original Blasphemous’ Wounds of Evertide update. Set against the backdrop of dark religious imagery, our hero, the Penitent One, must battle through enemies both fierce and grotesque as they unravel a new mystery surrounding the Miracle. That said, I found the tone of Blasphemous 2 was established more by the first major choice players make.

Blasphemous 2 presents one of three weapons to bring into battle. You have the balanced option in the sword Ruego Al Alba, which should feel familiar to fans of Blasphemous. But players who prefer a nimbler option can instead opt for the Sarmiento & Centella rapiers, which rewards evasive dashing and consistent attacks. And then there’s my mainstay throughout the adventure, the Veredicto. As a Claimh Solais wielder in Dawn of Sorrow, I felt right at home with this huge ball-and-chain. Its wide attack arc makes it great for aerial enemies, but the longer animations and lack of a block button makes your positioning especially important during boss battles.

I love how Blasphemous 2 lets players tackle combat with their own playstyle. While you do eventually collect each weapon to switch between later on, I never felt like I had to use one specific weapon to win. Even in fast, fierce boss battles which looked impossible without a dedicated block button, I still found ways to dodge and deal damage with the Veredicto. I will say I didn’t find much use for the Sarmiento & Centella rapiers, as they play a bit too similarly to the Ruego Al Alba. But I’m willing to bet some players will absolutely tear the game apart using them.

[caption id="attachment_397052" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

The valley of the shadow of death

The weapons don’t just add nice variety to the combat; they expand the level design too. As you make your way through the game, you’ll encounter gimmicks that use each weapon in unique ways. For example, you can hit large bells with the Veredicto that send out shockwaves that make platforms appear for a limited amount of time. Or you can stab mirrors with the Sarmiento & Centella to instantly launch a short distance in a specific direction.

This doesn’t sound like a lot on paper, but Blasephemous 2 uses these concepts to create some great platforming sections between battles. More than a few sequences actually require flipping through your weapons in rapid succession to interact with their gimmicks. I never got bored of these moments, and they’re a remarkable improvement over the platforming sections I saw in Blasphemous.

Exploration also feels great in general due to the infusion of new progression systems. Like before, you can find rosary beads and similar equipment that can grant certain passives. However, Blasphemous 2 adds Marks of Martyrdom, which functionally work like skill points. Whenever you earn one, you can invest them into your weapons to strengthen them, or expand your carrying capacity for Altarpieces that can help you specialize your playstyle. You’ll find Marks both from exploration and an EXP bar that fills while fighting enemies, which gives combat more meaning without overwriting the impact of exploration.

Blasphemous 2 does a fantastic job of dishing out meaningful upgrades without undermining its own difficulty. I always felt like the battles in front of me required skill over grinding, no matter how strong my character was at any moment. Which is good, because the challenge in Blasphemous 2 is well worth savoring.

[caption id="attachment_397053" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Gnashing of teeth

Virtually every enemy in Blasphemous 2 is a delight to take down. Most foes have distinct attacks and movement patterns, so you can’t steamroll the game with one surefire tactic. At the same time, I never felt bogged down by tanky, annoying enemies. This is a delicate balance that many Metroidvanias stumble on, so it’s refreshing to see Blasphemous 2 handle it so well.

Similarly, almost all the boss fights were an absolute joy to play. For most encounters, I often found myself getting slapped hard at first. However, incoming attacks always have clear telegraphs you can watch out for, so repeated attempts felt like opportunities to learn from my mistakes. I typically took down bosses within three attempts, usually stomping them hard once I mastered their quirks.

Blasphemous 2 consistently gave me that hard game rush without ever really feeling like a hard game. It’s a challenge, especially if you aren’t well-versed in this genre, but I never felt particularly frustrated. At the same time, victory always gave me that “heck yes!” feeling. I will say the game does weirdly dip in challenge shortly after the midpoint. It gates a few upgrade systems despite letting you find their applicable items throughout the adventure, so bosses right after this big stat jump for me didn’t have quite the bite that prior bosses did. Fortunately, the game does come back around near the end, with some especially great encounters near the final act.

[caption id="attachment_397054" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Walking by faith

The only piece of Blasphemous 2 that I never quite fully got on board with is its storytelling. Before I go any further, I will acknowledge that anyone who enjoyed piecing together Blasphemous’ lore will almost certainly enjoy Blasphemous 2. Vague, minimalist stories like this are often divisive, and I'm just not a fan of them. If my thoughts don’t resonate with you in this regard, take these words with a grain of salt. The story is still framed as a key part of Blasphemous 2 though, so it did impact my overall experience.

Blasphemous 2 makes no effort to catch anyone up if they didn’t finish Blasphemous and its Wounds of Eventide update. If you don’t know what the Miracle is going into this one, good luck. And even if you do, Blasphemous 2 strikes me as a game that expects you to only know what’s going on after its intended community solves it. All the dialogue is incredibly wordy, often saying in 15 words what could have been said in five. I followed the broad strokes just fine, but so much between the big story beats just felt meaningless.

That said, I eventually wondered if that feeling of meaningless was the point of Blasphemous 2. I don’t need to tell you that this game leans heavily on its religious imagery, and against that backdrop, it does make sense that everyone talks like they’re reading scripture. Yet in a world in which so many of its denizens attribute their meaning to the Miracle, my protagonist succeeded in spite of it. I charted my course through these lands, I acquired power through my own actions, and I decided how to use the prayers and rosary beads I found along the way. My play experience was at direct odds with the other characters, which made their dark fates all the more pitiable.

In short, my take away from Blasphemous 2 wasn’t necessarily a religious commentary. Instead, I interpreted it as a story of agency versus submission. That’s not the deepest theme to focus on, but it did kind of work for me on that level.

[caption id="attachment_397055" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

The ends didn’t justify the means

Though I felt happy with this interpretation, I still think the story's execution is a bit at odds with itself. For reference, when FromSoftware does vague, minimalist storytelling, I generally think it works because it mostly stays in the background. It’s there for the lore folks to unpack, but it otherwise kind of blends in with the atmosphere.

Blasphemous 2, meanwhile, gives its story a bit more prominence. The plot is presented like you’re already invested without ever making an effort to draw players in. For example, one secret I found late in the game hit me with a horror stinger sound effect, like I just discovered something that should blow my mind. Yet while I grasped the implications, I just didn’t really care. It made the moment feel weirdly comical for me, even though that clearly wasn't the intention.

Honestly, I could forgive that on its own. But for as consistently fun and engaging as Blasphemous 2 was for me, I felt really underwhelmed by the end. I won't say more than that for spoilers sake, though the final act did have one standout moment for me. I wanted to compensate for this by doubling back and exploring to get that sweet 100% completion. But after chasing down clues and wondering how the heck to uncover secrets in rooms that apparently hid them, I realized I could be doing literally anything else with my time. So my time with Blasphemous 2 kind of ended on a whimper, but that fortunately didn't ruin the experience.

[caption id="attachment_397056" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

A book of revelation

I want to reiterate that these hang-ups for me will likely be selling points for other players. If you fall into this camp, then I’m happy to tell you you’re going to absolutely love Blasphemous 2. Even with these loose ends left on my save file, I hope I can return to get that 100% completion after the community properly solves the game. Not as a critic, but just as a fan.

Even with a few grievances, I still came out really enjoying Blasphemous 2. The challenge was consistently on point, the variety of areas in the map felt consistently fresh, and I had a great time powering up and uncovering secrets. Not counting my postgame wandering, Blasphemous 2 took me roughly 15 hours to clear. I'd have been happy if it continued for another 10, which I mean entirely as a compliment. I forgot at times that I was even reviewing the game, I just looked forward to laying back with my Steam Deck and seeing what I could uncover next.

Anyone who likes Metroidvanias should absolutely make time for Blasphemous 2. Aside from an underwhelming final act, I had nearly consistent fun with this one from start to finish. From the gorgeous visuals to the customizable combat, your journey as the Penitent One will be filled with steady highs and only occasional lows. It’s a great sequel, a great game, and just a great time in general. If you were a fan of Blasphemous, you’re in for a treat with Blasphemous 2.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: Blasphemous 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

Sonic Superstars is attempting to recapture that classic Sonic feeling, though it will be bringing a few new elements to the franchise. A villain named Trip is preparing to make her debut, and though she's decked out in spiky armor, she won't be your typical Sonic enemy. In an interview with Game Informer, Sonic Team creative officer Takashi Iizuka discussed a bit more about Trip’s origins and role in Sonic Superstars.

[caption id="attachment_394939" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Sega.[/caption]

Trip and her trouble

Not much is known about Trip yet, though the official site for Sonic Superstars reveals that she has been enlisted by Fang and Dr. Eggman to protect them as they venture through the Northstar Islands. She has a striped, furry tail, and she is completely covered in metal armor that has prevented us from seeing her face.

In the interview with GI, Iizuka revealed that Trip was created by him and Naoto Ohshima, the creator of Sonic the Hedgehog and Dr. Eggman. In order to have a truly new story, they felt that a new character would be necessary. When designing her, they bounced around a few ideas, including an armored lizard and the ouroboros. Some of the ideas made it into the final design, as the “base of her character is a sungazer lizard” - literally an “armored lizard” in Japanese.

Trip's personality and backstory will also be an important part of her character. Instead of a one-dimensional character, they were aiming to create something that would “stand out and be a character that people can kind of relate to and empathize with and enjoy as a character in the world.” Unlike your average Sonic villain that is presented as a formidable foe, Trip—at least initially—is quite clumsy and she even “falls on her face in the very first scene that you see her in."

Of course, Trip won’t be there alone. Dr. Eggman and Fang will also be present, presenting a nice blend of both old and new. Though he is also an iconic villain, Iizuka confirmed that Shadow won’t be making an appearance.

The platformer is expected to launch on PC, Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox in late 2023.

The post Sega reveals more about Trip, Sonic Superstars’ new villain appeared first on Destructoid.

When a game like Disney Illusion Island puts "Illusion" in its name, it immediately evokes a rich legacy of Disney platformers.

Growing up, I wasn’t exactly a Disney kid. I had nothing against the mouse’s house, I was just more interested in mascot platformers with tragic backstories. Regardless, I loved the heck out of so many 16-bit Disney platformers. Games like Sega’s Castle of Illusion didn’t engage me because of the license, but because they offered their own unique spin on the world of Mickey Mouse. I still remember how Castle of Illusion could effortlessly transition from feeling whimsical, to mysterious, to kind of ominous when it wanted. Heck, it did all of that in the first world!

To its credit, Disney Illusion Island does not wear the “Illusion” brand lightly. Though it bares little similarity to Sega’s seminal title, I could tell how much the developers at DLALA Studios wanted to create a game that could sit alongside the greats in Disney's video game canon. In some respects, Illusion Island accomplishes this goal. I just don't think I’ll reminisce about it 30 years from now.

[caption id="attachment_393537" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Disney Illusion Island (Switch)
Developer: DLALA Studios, Disney Games
Publisher: Disney Electronic Content
Released: July 28, 2023
MSRP: $39.99

Everybody's busy bringing you a Disney Afternoon

Illusion Island starts on an unexpected high note. Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy meet up for a picnic on the titular island, each believing the event was planned by someone else in their crew. But just as many afternoon outings go, the picnic was not planned by friends, but by a race of hamster people who are in desperate need of help. It turns out that calamity is imminent for said hamsters if they don’t collect some magic books, and they need help from heroes who can do the job for them.

Naturally they turn to Mickey and friends to handle that adventuring. And I mean, as someone who grew up playing The Magical Quest Starring Mickey Mouse, I must admit the mouse does have some heroic chops.

As basic as this plot sounds, it’s told in a fully voiced, fully animated scene that I found charming. It has a Disney XD vibe, but I genuinely laughed at some lines here. Unfortunately, outside of the final act of the game, most story bits don’t employ this level of production. You’ll mostly stare at unvoiced dialogue boxes that lean heavier on fourth-wall breaking jokes that just don’t land quite as well, whether you’re a Disney fan or not.

This is a small, arguably inessential disappointment. The story obviously isn’t the focus here, I just liked the fully animated stuff so much that most everything after it felt disappointing. It’s a bummer for younger audiences, but I get the vibe that Illusion Island caters more to Disney adults. Especially when you realize what type of game it is.

https://youtu.be/QiUG1YWiMIY

Mouse-troidvania

Disney Illusion Island is technically a Metroidvania. If you told me 15 years ago that the exploratory platformer genre would become so popular that Mickey Mouse would throw his hat into the ring, I would have called you crazy. Regardless, here we are. Mickey and friends will traverse interconnected biomes across the island to recover the missing tomes, earning valuable movement upgrades along the way. At the start, the mouse's party can do little more than run and jump. By the end of the game, they can double jump, wall jump, and even ground pound to access new areas.

Control and movement lay the foundation for any good platformer, and luckily Disney Illusion Island nails this. It doesn’t lock off your best movement options for long, and everything from jump arcs to movement speed feel great. The game lacks any combat mechanics, so a surprisingly nimble move set keeps the experience feeling fresh. I really enjoyed the game when it simply focuses on testing your platforming prowess.

At its best, the level design throws you at challenge rooms that utilize all your abilities. While the game’s hardest is maybe 1/10^th of what something like Celeste throws at you, the difficulty can ramp up nicely in the second half. Platforming newbies may choose to play with infinite health, so no one should expect to get stuck necessarily. But as someone who once spent a summer playing Ninja Gaiden to see if I could beat it without any continues, I was shocked that I died in certain sections of the game. Granted, this was mostly due to my own impatience, but more on that in a bit.

While swimming in the latter part of the game can feel a little loose, I felt surprised by how tight Illusion Island controlled. Movement just feels good, with a level of polish typically reserved for top-shelf platformers. This is fortunate, since this counteracts several small stumbles that Illusion Island makes along the way.

[caption id="attachment_393538" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Bouncing here and there and everywhere

The biggest, most substantial question that could not leave my head during the entirety of Illusion Island’s runtime was one I’d never thought I’d ask: why is this a Metroidvania?

Look, I grew up on enough Metroid and Castlevania to absolutely love this genre. I’ve also enjoyed non-violent exploratory platformers too. The thing is, these games only work if they give you incentive to explore, and Illusion Island just… doesn’t have that. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot of stuff to collect here. I’d go so far as to call Illusion Island a collect-athon. It’s just that the things you hunt for don’t really matter.

You have Tokuns, a basic compendium of characters and enemies in the game with some banal flavor text. There’s Mickey Memorabilia, which is literally just Disney references drawn by the art team. Hidden Mickeys are, again, just small pieces of art you can find by spotting Mickey Mouse icons in the wild. And finally we have Glimts, the game’s equivalent of coins which unlock health upgrades. While I’m glad something impacts the play experience, these feel relatively insignificant since the game’s difficulty settings already determine how much health you start with.

I don’t think Illusion Island needs a robust RPG system to encourage exploration. But in a game that has precious few fast travel options until criminally late into the game, why would I want to backtrack just to unlock a picture of the wheel from Steamboat Willie? Honestly, that’s all this format really adds to the game: backtracking. Considering you can't even collect one category of unlockables until you've already explored the first few areas, I did occasionally feel that the game was just trying to pad its runtime.

To be clear, I didn't think the backtracking was necessarily egregious. But I did wish the game would have gone with a simple level-to-level progression instead.

[caption id="attachment_393539" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

D-d-d-danger! Watch behind you!

I also have to discuss the enemy design, which became more and more of a sticking point as I progressed.

As mentioned above, Illusion Island is a nonviolent platformer. I’m cool with this decision, but you'll still find plenty of enemies determined to smack you. And without combat, the game’s only way to escalate challenge from enemies involves making you wait. In the late game, I felt an alarming amount of enemies simply existed to interrupt a player’s natural forward trajectory. You can use acrobatics to dodge some foes, but many just want you to wait until they move or finish attacking. No platforming, no strategy, just waiting.

Like the level design, this isn’t game breaking. However, I eventually reached a point where I racked up deaths just because I was tired of waiting for enemies to move and tried to cheese my way past them. Sure, dying over and over to restart at the frequent checkpoints isn’t an efficient way to progress. But I'd rather die on my own terms than let Walt Disney's grunts control how I live.

After a certain point, I felt Illusion Island wasn’t necessarily getting harder as much as it was making it easier to get hit. I’m sure if I didn’t play on the hardest difficulty setting, I probably could brute force through all these obstacles. I just would have liked to have seen more exploration of the core controls over abrasive enemy placement. The developers put all this work into making movement fun, so why would they want players to not move?

[caption id="attachment_393544" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Side by side wherever we go

I do want to touch on the multiplayer in Illusion Island. While major platforming series like Rayman and Super Mario have embraced local multiplayer, I was still excited to test out how it handles here.

I had my girlfriend join my nearly complete playthrough for a session, and the results surprised me. Though she's generally unfamiliar with 2D platformers, she was able to wall jump and rope swing at my pace within minutes. This really is a testament to how natural Illusion Island feels to play, and we had a lot of fun running around together.

The problem, again, is that I don’t know why this is an exploratory platformer. While I don’t think anything of frequently opening and closing my map to track where I’m going, that constant pausing really disrupts multiplayer. Illusion Island doesn’t have a mini-map either, so even small forks in the road feel more troublesome than necessary. I mean, at several points in the game, you’ll find several branching paths. But three paths will lead to keys, all of which you’ll need to unlock a door blocking the critical path. Our takeaway joke while we played was "in Illusion Island, the only illusion is that we have any freedom."

I did like that each player could specify their own difficulty level via the health they start with. It makes Illusion Island easy to play with less experienced players when they can just turn on infinite health for themselves. But beyond that, I don’t think Illusion Island stands out as a multiplayer experience unless you specifically want to get someone into platformers. My partner and I enjoyed our session, but we didn't talk about it after we put our controllers down. And that kind of sums up the game in general.

[caption id="attachment_393541" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

I’m Timothy Monbleau from Destructoid, and you’re reading a Disney review

As much as I’ve focused on nitpicks, I could overlook them all if Illusion Island offered a charming, unique experience like the 16-bit Disney classics. But outside those fun animated scenes, I never saw anything in the game that really stuck with me. All the biomes in the game just kind of blur together, with somewhat differentiated but ultimately unremarkable visuals separating them. Outside of a water zone, the whole thing just feels like one long level.

Yet despite everything, I still played Illusion Island to 100% completion (which took me just under ten hours). And even after I was left with one small incentive to replay the game, I started a second save file. Illusion Island is undoubtedly a fun game. It plays very well at its core, which is hard for me to wax poetic about. But the game does deliver on that, especially when its level design lets those core mechanics shine.

I’d compare my experience to getting a burger from a nice fast casual restaurant. It’s not the best you’ve had, but it’s good in a pinch and you’re glad you had it. And sometimes you need a diversion to entertain you and possibly a family member for a weekend.

Disney Illusion Island won’t go down in history like the best Disney platformer classics have. But it’s still a fun, if not forgettable, romp starring Mickey and friends. Those who are newer to platformers or want to get someone in on the genre will be primed to enjoy this title. Also, while I don’t think the exploratory angle does the game any favors, it may appeal to collect-athon fans. Otherwise, Illusion Island is just a reliable game for a rainy day. A perfect seven if there ever was one.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: Disney Illusion Island appeared first on Destructoid.

Super brawling robot

Strap on your robo-boots, Domesticated Ant Games has dropped their retro-inspired platformer, Gravity Circuit, today.

What’s Gravity Circuit? I’m just learning that right now, myself. Past me really dug it since I put it on my wishlist and forgot about it. I can totally see why! It looks like a missing link between the classic Mega Man series and Mega Man X.

You play as metal hero Kai, who is trying to stop the evil doings of the Virus Army. Gravity Circuit barely tries to hide its influences behind a fake mustache. There’s ride armor and upgrade chips. However, there seem to be more combat options, as hand-to-hand plays a big part. It claims to have action “dialed to the max.” Its trailer sure makes it look like that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnwIQ3hpDTk

The graphics are done in a way that emulates the NES color palette. Obviously, a lot of the effects would be extremely difficult to pull off on the actual 8-bit hardware, but the aesthetic is there.

Mega Man X is my comfort food, and I feel there’s more room in the world for platformers that can nail that same pace and feel. I’m not sure Gravity Circuit can do that, but I’m willing to find out.

You can find out yourself on Switch, PS4, PS5, or PC. Gravity Circuit is available today.

The post Rockin’ retro platformer Gravity Circuit launches today appeared first on Destructoid.

Lots of penguins in Penny's Big Breakaway too

Today's Nintendo Direct is full of surprises. In addition to some excellent RPG news, we've got some info about interesting original titles as well. A prime example of this is Penny's Big Breakaway, a new 3D platformer from the team behind Sonic Mania.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hAgpRYM2M8

While the game itself doesn't have too many similarities to the typical Blue Blur video game, it does promise a speedrun-centric slant with its Time Attack mode. More importantly, we got lots of yo-yo based attacks, which the titular Penny can modify with various snack-based power-ups. We can already find mentions of unlockable bonus items and secret stages, so it looks like this one will lean heavy on replay value.

Fortunately, this title won't be a Nintendo Switch exclusive. Penny's Big Breakaway will launch on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch in Early 2024.

The post Penny’s Big Breakaway is a new 3D platformer from Sonic Mania team appeared first on Destructoid.

Don't Pay to Play

Gaming can quite quickly become an expensive hobby. The non-stop conga line of fantastic games this year has made it harder than ever to play without hurting your wallet. Not every worthwhile experience has a price tag on it, however. With the following PS5 titles, you'll have a blast without spending a cent.

[caption id="attachment_387340" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image by Respawn Entertainment.[/caption]

10. Apex Legends

When it comes to free-to-play games, fans of first-person shooters have more than enough to pick from. Apex Legends is a battle-royale style game featuring a cast of characters serving as either Recon, Support, Skirmisher, Assault, or Controller. With a good variety of guns and maps, it is a title that easily hooks players for hours at a time.

[caption id="attachment_387345" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image by Bungie.[/caption]

9. Destiny 2

Yet another first-person shooter appears on the list in the form of Destiny 2. It has managed to remain relevant thanks to constant expansions, including Lightfall in 2023. With Sony's acquisition of Bungie, it appears the franchise will be supported for a long time to come.

[caption id="attachment_387344" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image by Digital Extremes.[/caption]

8. Warframe

The third-person shooter Warframe was first released in 2013, and it has maintained popularity since. It uses a mix of both procedurally generated and fixed levels that have players using guns and stealth. With new expansions regularly released, it's always a good time to start playing Warframe.

[caption id="attachment_387342" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid.[/caption]

7. Sky: Children of Light

Sky is a game that is best experienced instead of described. Players who enjoyed titles like Journey and Flower will instantly fall in love with Sky. Much like the aforementioned titles, Sky features a minimalistic style of storytelling along with multiplayer elements implemented in unexpected ways. Play Sky, it may be the best thing you do all week.

[caption id="attachment_387339" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image by Maxis Studios.[/caption]

6. The Sims 4

The popular life simulation game The Sims 4 went free-to-play in 2022, breathing new life into a somewhat dated game. Although the controls on consoles are occasionally awkward, The Sims 4 is definitely worth playing. It has earned its longevity through its expansive gameplay, detailed character creator system, and quirky humor that has characterized the franchise for years.

[caption id="attachment_387343" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image by Epic Games.[/caption]

5. Fortnite

It's hard to make any free-to-play list without including Fortnite. Over five years after its initial release, it has since grown into a phenomenon encompassing celebrities, music concerts, and various other gaming franchises. Nevertheless, it remains ol' reliable when it comes to exciting battle royale gameplay.

[caption id="attachment_387359" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image by Blizzard.[/caption]

4. Overwatch 2

The first-person shooter Overwatch 2 is one of the most popular games of its type around. Gameplay is fast-paced and fun, with a learning curve that's not too steep. The player base is very active, ensuring you can jump into the action at any time.

[caption id="attachment_387341" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid.[/caption]

3. Rocket League

When it comes to addictive gameplay, it's hard to do better than Rocket League. Released in 2015, it has players playing soccer with rocket-powered vehicles. It has since developed a competitive scene, though casual players can still easily join at any time. In 2020, it went free-to-play, opening the game to an even wider audience.

[caption id="attachment_387338" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid.[/caption]

2. Fall Guys

Fall Guys launched in August 2020, and it was an immediate record-breaking hit. Though it may not make as many headlines in 2023, Fall Guys is still a silly battle royale game with an active user base. Much like the show Takeshi's Castle, players are tasked with completing an assortment of games and obstacle courses. Little beans are the competitors, which makes things all the more sillier.

[caption id="attachment_387336" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

1. Astro's Playroom

Astro's Playroom is bundled with the PS5, and it familiarizes players with the features of the DualSense, as well as the blinding speed of the console's SSD. It is, without a doubt, a must-play for every PS5 owner, and years later it remains one of the best showcases of the PS5's abilities.

The game features gorgeous visuals that reference many classic PlayStation franchises, and the platforming gameplay is both fun and varied. The only wish now is that the PSVR 2 receives a similar title.

There is a good variety of free-to-play games available on PS5, and they'll satisfy fans of sports games, shooters, and platformers. Upcoming free-to-play games to look out for include the soccer game UFC, as well as the MMORPG Throne and Liberty.

The post 10 best free games to play on PS5 right now appeared first on Destructoid.

No quarters necessary

Veteran coin-op developer Taito and publisher ININ Games announced a release date for a second compendium of arcade classics — Taito Milestones 2 launches on Nintendo Switch August 31.

Taito Milestones 2 revisits the studio's golden era, and contains 10 titles from the late-'80s and early-'90s. Among the games on offer are the excellent platformer The NewZealand Story (1988), the super cute Liquid Kids (1990), and the cult classic Kiki Kaikai (1986). Joining these hits are shmups Metal Black (1991), Darius II (1989), and GunFrontier (1990), and frankly baffling fighting games Dinorex (1992) and Solitary Fighter (1991). DOGOOOON!.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmWboBjoIoo

It's a neat little collection of classics, and it will be rad to have some of these releases on the go, but I still feel we're chasing the ultimate Taito compilation, that marries the excellent Taito Legends games of the PS2 era with the addition are the hard-to-emulate releases such as Chase H.Q., Special Criminal Investigation, and Under Fire. We live in an era where retro comps and re-releases are perhaps more common than they have ever been. But there are a lot of gaps and a lot of crossover between them all, and it all gets a little exhausting after a while.

Regardless, for completionists, Taito Milestones 2 launches August 31 on Nintendo Switch. The original Taito Milestones is available on the same platform right now.

The post Taito Milestone 2 revisits another batch of arcade classics in August appeared first on Destructoid.

Gal Panic

Inti Creates has announced that it will be retitling its recently released platformer Grim Guardians: Demon Purge as Gal Guardians: Demon Purge in all English-speaking countries. The action-packed Gothic adventure will be briefly removed from storefronts while the name change takes place.

The need to pull the ol' switcheroo comes in response to a legal claim from the owners of fantasy franchise Grimguard — a series that utilizes the similar sounding name for its range of tabletop and mobile titles. It's no doubt a frustrating situation for Inti Creates, but given the Demon Purge is part of the Gal Gun series, the name change is still a snug fit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7uWrjl95k4&ab_channel=INTICREATES

Released last month on PC and consoles, Grim... Sorry, Gal Guardians: Demon Purge is a metroidvania-like title that weighs in a little heavier on the arcade action over the RPG elements. As noted in our review, it offers dynamic and engaging co-op action, punctuated with good humor, and dressed up in lovely pixel art and a cool, Castlevania-lite soundtrack. For fans of the classic Konami series, as well as SNES aficionados everywhere, it's definitely worth checking out.

Gal Guardians: Demon Purge is available now on PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. A physical edition is also in the works, though no doubt it will now be delayed while the artwork is changed to reflect the new title.

The post Grim Guardians is to be retitled Gal Guardians following legal claim appeared first on Destructoid.

Gnome Sweet Gnome

For this week's Arcade Archives entry, publisher Hamster is returning to the seemingly endless catalog of coin-op kings Taito — Now available on PS4 and Nintendo Switch, it's one of the studio's many, many cutesy co-op platformers: Don Doko Don!

Released to the arcade market in 1989, before eventually being ported to the Famicom and PC Engine platforms, Don Doko Don is a co-op single-screen platformer, in keeping with Taito's similar releases Bubble Bobble, Tumble Pop!, and The Fairyland Story. One or two players don (no pun intended) the pointy hats of hard-working gnomes Bob & Jim, who have taken it upon themselves to rescue the abducted king and princess of Merry Land. And so, with mallet in hand, the non-plumbing bros. set out to face an army of particularly angry-looking mushrooms. They're certainly not fun guys...

...THEY'RE CERTAINLY NOT FUN GI s

...THEY'RE CERTAINLY NOT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McvI_KpSv7o&ab_channel=HAMSTERCorporation

As they make their way through the kingdom, Jim & Bob use their mallets to stun the opposition, before tossing the confuddled baddies into each other to knock them out, where they will be replaced with point-boosting fruits. If this all sounds familiar... Well, a lot of these Taito platformers were incredibly similar, albeit with their own adorable sense of style, punctuated by fun pixel art and jolly soundtracks. Oh, and — of course — if you dawdle too long on a stage, an unkillable villain appears. Though clearly not as frightening as the notorious Baron von Blubba.

Don Doko Don was followed by a single player side-scrolling sequel in 1992, titled Don Doko Don 2, naturally. This title would not see the neon of arcade centers outside of Japan, and was also not featured in the excellent Taito Legends retro compilations, rendering it something of a rarity today.

Don Doko Don is available to download now on PS4 and Nintendo Switch, priced at $8.

The post Taito’s cutesy Don Doko Don joins the arcade Archives appeared first on Destructoid.

Exorcise Class

For the students of Sakurazaki Academy, it looks like school's out — outta luck, outta time, outta this dimension. The discovery of a dusty old mirror by mischievous demon girl Kurona has led to the popular place of learning somehow fusing with the dark arts, resulting in both the interior and the exterior of the building forming a cavernous, gothic castle, while replacing textbooks, playgrounds, and chalkboards with iron maidens, candlelit chandeliers, and a mass menagerie of demons, ghouls, and specters.

That Kurona... what a dickhead.

And while one would imagine that, for any young student, these events would be a positive boon, rivaling even the longest of snow days, it seems that most of Sakurazaki's students and faculty have found themselves trapped within this nightmarish world, lost deep in its centuries-old design and perpetually hounded by unholy creatures. However, all is not lost. The brave and noble Kamizono sisters were yet to arrive for class when the strange phenomenon first occurred. And, fortunately for our damsels in distress, Shinobu and her younger sibling Maya also happen to be part-time professional demon hunters — duly honed in the fine art of kicking serious monster ass.

And thus, armed with an array of ancient magical arts, some surprisingly violent origami skills, and more than a round or two of good, old-fashioned lead, the Kamizonos don their finest demon-hunting armor (i.e. Goth Lolita outfits) and set out to teach Kurona and her newfound army of minions a lesson they won't soon forget. One thing's for sure, it's going to be a hell of a semester for our girls.

Grim Guardians: Demon Purge (PlayStation [PS5 reviewed], PC, Nintendo Switch)
Developer: Inti Creates Co. Ltd.
Publisher: Inti Creates Co. Ltd.
Released: February 23, 2023
MSRP: $24.99

Developed by anime-lovin' studio Inti Creates, Grim Guardians: Demon Purge is a spin-off title to the cheesecake series Gal*Gun, specifically Gal*Gun: Double Peace (note the initials). There is an irony here in that the Gal*Gun franchise was originally intended to fit within a 2D adventure genre, before the executive decision was made to make it a super-sexualized rail shooter instead. As such, Grim Guardians arguably sees the franchise experiment with what could have been, should the initial design plan have been followed.

And, in something of a double irony, it just might be the best game in the series.

At first glance, Grim Guardians looks to be a dyed-in-the-wool metroidvania, with a design that openly — and happily — apes the aesthetic of Konami's much-loved vampire hunting franchise. But while there are certainly elements of backtracking and exploration at play here, Grim Guardians is an arcade platformer first and foremost. It chooses to focus on forward momentum, level negotiation, and bullet-pumping action, rather than attempting to mimic the RPG elements of its inspiration. Grim Guardians is, in many ways, quite comparable to Castlevania — in debt, even — but is more content to focus on '90s style platforming action, than single map exploration. Much to its own benefit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7uWrjl95k4&ab_channel=INTICREATES

Gals 'n' Guns

One or two players step into the frilly skirts of The Kazimono Sisters, Shinobu and Maya. While younger sister Maya uses mythic origami arts — creating weapons and familiars out of paper with which to slay the enemy, Shinobu favors real-world weaponry such as machine guns, grenades, and rocket launches. This makes the elder sister better for ranged, long-distance combat, while Maya offers up powerful melee attacks, while also holding the key to traversal, thanks to her skill at making platforms, stairwells, or, *checks notes* umbrellas.

Both characters synergize as they make their way through the castle's stages, combining their offensive and defensive abilities as best serve the given situation. In single-player, the characters are played simultaneously, tagging in-and-out as the moment requires. Additionally, if one of the girls falls in battle, then her sister can get her back in the action with a handy dose of button-mashing CPR. It's no River City Girls' "Kick their souls back into them", but it gets the job done.

And so, the Kazimono sisters race through several distinct areas of the ghastly castles, battling a multitude of monsters, as well as end-of-stage bosses, while pressing ever closer to the ultimate showdown with Kurona in the castle's tower. As they press through the dingy realm, our heroes are also tasked with rescuing their schoolyard chums, all of whom will be very familiar to Double Peace fans, and some of whom reward Shinobu and Maya with new weapons, skills, and abilities. It is with these additional items that exploration elements come into play, with the girls able to revisit previous stages and uncover various secrets, bonus items, and the most sequestered of their lost friends.

Monster High

If this all sounds simplistic, then it's by design. Grim Guardians, at least initially, has no aspirations of being anything less than a simple platform actioner. In fact, for the first few hours, it almost seems a little too simplistic. An enjoyable game in its own right, but a little humdrum. In addition, the challenge also leans way too far on the side of easy, (I implore you to play on "Veteran" mode, and even then you shouldn't have too much of a struggle.)

Intriguingly, however, Grim Guardians does actually evolve as you play it, offering up a little more adventure, exploration, and mystery than what appears to have been initially on offer. To say more would give a little too much away, but while Grim Guardians seems a little bland on its first viewing, the game does expand somewhat, with some fun surprises and gameplay tweaks rearing their head as our sisters venture deeper into its splatteriffic kingdom.

Importantly, Grim Guardians is simply a joy to play. Uncomplicated? Absolutely, but it offers fun and dynamic action — especially in co-op — while wooing players with some wonderful pixel visuals, very cooly-designed monsters, and a variety of different locations and scenarios. While the storyline itself is thin, the dopey dialogue is great — often laugh-out-loud funny — and is accompanied by attractive character portraits and top-quality splash art. Speaking of splashes, Demon Purge is also surprisingly gory, at least in pixelated fashion, with buckets of the red stuff as well as a penchant for head-splitting and body scissoring.

'Not a Scooby Clue...'

Grim Guardians wears its love for the games that inspired it on its sleeve, with many a familiar "stand-in" for that series ghouls, stages, mechanics, locales, and effects. (Yes, Virginia, there are Medusa Head variants). A cool score replicates the famously smooth basslines and frantic piano bashing of Super Castlevania IV, while stages set in underground waterways, labyrinthine libraries, and moonlit clock towers come off as a tribute to, not a rip-off of, the Belmont family adventures. Hell, even a floating orb closes out each stage, only it has its own fanservice twist. Naturally.

Grim Guardians loves Castlevania, and that certainly counts for something, at least where its own design is concerned. It might not have close to the epic scale, dramatic weight, or prestige class of a Symphony of the Night, but, importantly, Demon Purge does not attempt to overreach, instead choosing to focus on its own, more attainable goals.

Outside of its main campaign, Grim Guardians: Demon Purge does not have many extras to offer. Completing the game on Veteran unlocks a "Legendary" difficulty setting — which, frankly, should have been available from the get-go. Grim Guardians retails at a relatively easy price point, and while I initially thought it still might be a pinch too high, I changed my mind as more of the game's secrets unfurled. Players can choose from English and Japanese voice tracks, (although the cutscenes are only available in Japanese). Both tracks feature fun, quality voice acting, imbuing life and personality into the game's cast of comical heroes and villains. I really want to join the curry club.

Class is in Session

Grim Guardians isn't Castlevania, or Bloodstained, or even Gal*Gun, ironically. But it is easily recommendable for fans of all of the above... Perhaps just fans of video games. Capturing the aesthetic of a 16-bit horror platformer and marrying it with a questionable rail shooter franchise seems like a bad fit, and, indeed, Grim Guardians is not without its fair share of flaws. For the most part, however, this spin-off experiment has been a success, offering up a fine tribute to old-school platformers while still stamping a sense of its own identity onto the proceedings.

It's fast, cute, and funny. It has great co-op action, nostalgic visuals, solid sound design, and is ready to rock at a fairly modest price. It's just, as the idiom goes, good, old-fashioned fun. And in a world of billion-dollar budgets, HBO adaptations, legal acquisitions, and endless social media discourse, maybe gaming could use a little 16-bit exorcism right about now.

Grim Guardians: Demon Purge is a hearty tribute not only to early '90s platformers, but to video gaming itself, offering up stress-free thrills, comedic characters, cool co-op action, and even a fistful of secrets and surprises, all visually and aurally punctuated with delightful, nostalgic style. While not as deep, as complex, nor as prestige as its inspirations, Grim Guardians achieves its humble goals handily, offering up a cheerful dose of retro action while sporting a likable personality all of its own.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: Grim Guardians: Demon Purge appeared first on Destructoid.

Is mayonnaise an instrument?

When SpongeBob SquarePants debuted in 1999, I had just said goodbye to Nicktoons and Nickelodeon as a whole. Arguably, I should have parted with that part of my childhood a few years earlier, but I was a late bloomer. Nevertheless, the misadventures of the little yellow sponge that lived in a pineapple under the sea would fly under my radar for several years. It wasn't until my final year of high school that I, bored at home one afternoon, decided to give the show a go during one of its many marathons.

I remember the first episode I saw. It was "Graveyard Shift," the episode where SpongeBob and Squidward have to work 24-hour shifts at the Krusty Krab. If you've seen it, you know the episode goes for kid-friendly horror and ends with an out-of-left-field cameo from Count Orlock. It was bizarre, it was beautiful, and that was the day I realized I wasn't too old for kids' cartoons.

More than 20 years later, I'm still laughing. While I don't always have a chance to check it out when new episodes release, I always know that sponge will be able to put a smile on my face. And with SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake, I was smiling nearly every second I spent with it.

[caption id="attachment_360280" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake (PC, PS4, Switch [reviewed], Xbox One)
Developer: Purple Lamp Studios
Publisher: THQ Nordic
Released: January 31, 2023
MSRP: $39.99

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake sees everybody's favorite pineapple-dwelling sea sponge causing a ruckus for the people of Bikini Bottom. This time, while trying to enjoy a night out at Glove World, SpongeBob comes across the mysterious mermaid Madame Kassandra who absentmindedly sells him a glowing bottle of bubble formula that has the power to grant wishes. Cut to a few hours later, and SpongeBob has blown bubbles that'll grant wishes to everyone he knows. When those bubbles pop, the universe is torn asunder and his friends are scattered around several different universes that take recognizable locations from the show and mash them with a new theme. With a magic bubble wand in hand, SpongeBob must travel to each of these worlds with his balloon-ified best friend Patrick to get everyone back and restore Bikini Bottom.

Mechanically and structurally, The Cosmic Shake plays similarly to the licensed platformers of the GameCube/PS2/Xbox era. SpongeBob has a double jump, a spin attack, a jump-slam attack, a cartwheel dodge, a bubble projectile, and a weak pizza box glide ability. Throughout each world, there are specific areas where you can use techniques like hook swing and karate kick to access new areas or make it over deep chasms. Levels are linear, usually consisting of a few small open areas connected by long platforming or action sequences. It's somewhat similar to what we got a few years ago with the remaster of Battle for Bikini Bottom, also from Purple Lamp Studios.

That game, for whatever reason, didn't really work for me. The Cosmic Shake, however, does, and I am dumbfounded by how much I enjoyed going through it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KZFL20XDqM

Arguably, the game didn't make a great first impression. The opening tutorially didn't give me a lot of hope for things to come, and the first 20 to 30 minutes of the game's Wild West Jellyfish Fields threw me into some poorly controlled seahorse action sequences. Once it slowed down enough to let me get my footing, I started to realize the excellent job the developers did putting this game together and how they were able to keep things fresh and new throughout.

Each world brings with it a unique feel and presentation, from chasing down some cosmetics in Medieval Sulfer Fields to setting up a light show in Halloween Rock Bottom. It's truly wonderful to see just how much diverse gameplay Purple Lamp Studios are able to get out of Cosmic Shake's simple formula because they really do take it to fun and exciting places. Outside of the levels, you can explore the Bikini Bottom hub world that expands and populates as you work your way through SpongeBob's quest.

The platforming sections throughout the game are pretty top-tier for a licensed 3D platformer and the different jelly enemies you face provide enough of a challenge that I had to use every single tool in SpongeBob's arsenal to make it through several of its fights. That includes the boss battles, which can be mighty tough, but thankfully the game is generous with respawns, checkpoints, and auto-saves, so it was never really much of a hassle if I got knocked out.

The game's wonky nature, however, did prove to be something of a hassle, though the developers are aware it needs some work. The framerate is constantly in flux, some of SpongBob's actions weren't entirely reliable–there was a 1-in-50 chance his pizza box glider wouldn't work and the karate kick attack isn't always available when it should be — and it wasn't unusual for character models and objects to straight-up disappear during cutscenes. At one point when running around Bikini Bottom, everything on the screen beside the UI went black and I had to restart the game. As mentioned before, the seahorse controls aren't so great and there are more than a handful of jumps throughout the game that requires overly precise execution and timing of the double jump glide. Cutscenes can often feel like they all end with a smash cut, but I suspect that's intentional as it plays into the game's humor.

[caption id="attachment_360279" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

And what humor it has. The writer's behind Cosmic Shake have effortlessly tapped into the comedy of the show, bolstered by pitch-perfect performances from the SpongeBob SquarePants cast. I would argue the game could use an option to cut down on some of the repetitive soundbites, but beyond being constantly reminded that Krusty Krab pizza is the pizza for you and me, this is one funny game from beginning to end. It's also one with a soundtrack that is far better than I could have anticipated. I don't often pay attention to the music in games, but I couldn't ignore it here.

If there is one area of Cosmic Shake where I was slightly disappointed–outside of the Krabby Patty minigame that doesn't seem to do anything at all–it's with the game's costume system. Part of the gimmick of SpongeBob traveling to different worlds is he'll be given new costumes that blend him into the environment. These costumes look great, but that's all they do. There's no gameplay advantage to using one costume over another, and you don't even have to wear a costume that fits the theme of the world if you don't want to. There are a lot of costumes to unlock, and doing so is what I suspect will make up the bulk of the post-game experience. It would be nice if each costume had some unique ability tied to it, but it is what it is, and the simplicity of the feature didn't detract one bit from my enjoyment of this adventure.

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake is an astoundingly good game. There is so much creativity packed into its seven different worlds that I could not stop playing it over the past weekend because I was too excited to see what was next. This is, without a doubt, the best SpongeBob game I've ever played, and I hope Purple Lamp Studios keeps the keys to the license for years to come.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake appeared first on Destructoid.

Cutesy platforming legend returns on PS4 and Nintendo Switch

A real Taito gem has been added to the Arcade Archives this week, as Hamster has re-released the veteran arcade developers' ultra-cute, ultra-challenging platform actioner The NewZealand Story, now available to download on PS4 and Nintendo Switch.

Released to the arcade market in 1988, before swiftly being ported to a wide variety of home computer and console platforms. The story concerns a charming, dot-eyed kiwi known as Tiki, who is the sole escapee from a flock of his brethren, abducted by a huge, nefarious walrus. Seriously outnumbered and outweighed, Tiki donss his best pair of kicks, grabs his trusty bow-and-arrow, and ventures forth across a highly-stylized "NewZealand", determined to rescue his party of pals and the love of his life, Phee-Phee.

You can check out the adorable action in the video below, courtesy of YouTuber Shadowserg.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdyRIX4q0MY&ab_channel=Shadowserg

What follows is some delightfully cartoonish platform action, as Tiki navigates four distinct zones, each containing four stages. At the end of each zone, a huge level guardian awaits, who Tiki must defeat to save a pal and journey into the next sector. It's a wonderful example of the genre, recognized for its fun visuals, infectious music, and cute characters. As playable today as it ever was.

The NewZealand Story would be a smash hit in both the arcade and the home markets, selling an amazing amount of copies on platforms such as the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, and Commodore Amiga. Such is the legacy of Taito's '80s hit, our loveable hero Tiki, despite only cameoing in a few titles since, is stillone of gaming's most instantly recognizable characters, even to those yet to experience his iconic adventure.

The NewZealand Story is now available to download on PS4 and Nintendo Switch, priced at around $8.

The post Taito’s beloved The NewZealand Story joins the Arcade Archives appeared first on Destructoid.

Jump into a world of color

As far as beautiful, artistic indies games go, Gris has to be up there as one of the greats. It's got an elegant, watercolor-esque art style, and what the gameplay lacks in hardcore, traditional mechanics it makes up for in emotionally resonant, albeit vague, storytelling vignettes -- just how I like it. To boot, the game actually has some nice platforming sections, which absolutely gave me trouble as someone who is horrible at platformers. Gris certainly isn't a game everyone will enjoy, but I do think it's a game everyone should at least try. If you haven't played it yet, now you won't have any excuse, because Gris is finally getting ported to the PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One on December 13.

https://twitter.com/devolverdigital/status/1600173231360466945

The game follows the titular character Gris, a "hopeful young girl lost in her own world, dealing with a painful experience in her life. Her journey through sorrow is manifested in her dress, which grants new abilities to better navigate her faded reality." The Steam description also bills Gris as a game "free of danger, frustration or death," which is true in terms of it not having a fail state, but I have to admit that the aforementioned platforming sections did frustrate me a bit. That's more of a me problem, though.

Gris ended up winning a ton of well-deserved awards back in 2019 after its release, including Best Visual Art at the Game Developers Choice Awards and Games for Impact at the Game Awards. It's a short game, too, so you could finish it in an afternoon if you wanted to. Personally, I played on the Switch, and it made for a great lazing-on-the-couch-during-a-rainy-day game. I'll have no problems at all running on the most recent gen consoles, and I'll be interested to see if they use the DualSense to add some extra haptics to enhance the experience.

The post Gris is coming to PlayStation and Xbox this month appeared first on Destructoid.

Back in my day we just jumped

Sega, in an effort to win over those still sitting on the proverbial fence, continues to roll out new trailers for its upcoming 3D adventure, Sonic Frontiers — The studio's latest trailer focuses on the skills and abilities that our iconic hero will put to use as he battles through a strange and esoteric new world.

While most fans of The Blue Blur has been happy to throw a lil' spin dashin' in harm's way, Sonic Frontiers will see the high-speed hog adopt a wide variety of new combat moves, ranging from dash kicks and punches to homing attacks, head stomps, and the return of the famous "Drop Dash" ability. Given that Sonic Frontiers' army of guardians is particularly well armored, with varying weak points, it will be up to the player to adapt to each encounter, choosing the right spiny tool for the job.

https://youtu.be/I2tysfV9X18

As he progresses through this strange new world, Sonic will be able to upgrade his range of abilities, adding powered-up versions of his original moveset alongside new attacks and even defensive measures such as parries, like yer boy is getting his Third Strike on. Smart, flowing combinations of these attacks will fill Sonic's fight meter, eventually opening up the "Phantom Rush" ability — a flurry of moves and attacks that will allow him to take down even the mightiest of opponents.

Having spent a little time with Sonic Frontiers myself, I can say that I found the game's combat, controls, and movement fluidity very crisp and responsive. The early concerns about Sega's new epic remains its bizarrely juxtaposed tone, one that sees Sonic dropped into an aesthetic that doesn't quite fit his typical style. Sonic Frontiers has promise — it looks good, runs smoothly, and controls satisfyingly — but there is something about its core concept, style, and its marriage of wisecracking 16-bit hero with grim, monolithic landscaping that is yet to truly synergize.

Sonic Frontiers launches November 8 on PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch platforms. Don't forget to take a look at the fun Monster Hunter DLC which will arrive in-game soon after launch.

The post The Blue Blur gets fighting fit in new Sonic Frontiers trailer appeared first on Destructoid.

There are some strings on me

Ever wanted a living Cuphead for your very own? Well, merchandiser iam8bit has the next best thing, opening pre-orders on a special Collector's Edition of Studio MDHR's excellent 2017 platformer.

The Cuphead Collector's Edition offers up a boxed physical copy of Cuphead — complete with its Delicious Last Course DLC — on PS4, Xbox One, or Nintendo Switch, alongside several suitably old-school goodies. These include a membership card for The Cuphead Club; six art cards or newspaper-style "funnies"; a sweet, hand-cranked music box; a map of the Inkwell Islands, and an exclusive outer sleeve for your game case, all of which are in keeping with Cuphead's classic cartoon style.

The centerpiece of the collector's edition, however, is an utterly delightful marionette of old crockery skull himself. Standing eight inches in height and sporting a weathered design, the super cute puppet will allow Cuphead fans to entertain/frighten their friends and family members with fun little performances... Or just hang him on the back of your bedroom door. Whatever works for you.

As a fun additional touch, the collector's edition box doubles as a stage, complete with an "asbestos curtain", so you have a charming little ramshackle display case for your new string-based pal. The marionette was designed by legendary Prague studio Rici Marionettes, with the team's loving attention to detail reflected in the model's authentic look and turn-of-the-century build.

It's good day for a great pre-order, and if you want in, then you can bag the Cuphead Collector's Edition over on the iam8bit website right now, priced at $199.99 USD. The box set is expected to ship in the first quarter of 2023. For those of you who are simply looking for the game itself, then standard boxed editions of Cuphead will launch on PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch on December 6.

The post Cuphead Collector’s Edition includes this delightful marionette appeared first on Destructoid.

Jump Scare

Kao the Kangaroo is one of many video game stars who will be getting into the spooky spirit this Halloween, with Tate Multimedia announcing a new paid DLC drop for the anarchic antipodean's recent comeback title. The Oh! Well DLC bundle will launch on all platforms October 13.

The new DLC includes five all-new Eternal Well stages to conquer, each sporting creepy variants on its villains and a Burton-esque color scheme, adding to the supernatural vibe. As Kao punches his way through each stage, he will also unlock a selection of five freaky skins, which will be perfect for October 31, when yer bouncy boy goes trick or treating. You can check out the new content in the trailer below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vp2YhX-23nQ

The Kao the Kangaroo sequel launched last summer, following a successful player campaign to bring the marvelous marsupial back to the world of mascot platformers. While the new title will be unashamedly over-familiar for fans of another 3D platform hero, Kao the Kangaroo is a fun, attractive, and charming adventure — definitely worth checking out for genre fans. In fact, from October 13, players can pick up the original game, all previous DLC, and the new Halloween bundle for a special $34.99 bundle price.

Kao the Kangaroo is available now on PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch — The Oh! Well Halloween DLC bundle launches October 13 on all platforms, priced at around $7.

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Hell Yes

'Tis Friday, and, like clockwork, Epic Games Store has revealed the identities of the next free titles that it will be rolling out to store users over the next week — And it looks like there's something of a Very Metal theme to next week's fare, with the arrival of pixel actioners Rising Hell and Slain: Back from Hell (no relation.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-2q0rB6f-g

First released in 2019 and developed by Indonesian developer Tahoe Games, Rising Hell is a Gothic rogue-lite dungeon crawler that places a heavy emphasis on platform traversal and verticality. Players embark upon a seemingly insurmountable challenge to literally climb out of Hell, starting at the very pit of oblivion and working their upwards, battling horribly unholy demons and monsters en route.

As is to be expected from such a Devil's Horns-flinging release, Rising Hell has a very metal aesthetic, with guitar wailing scores, vulgar visual design, and a relentless, head-banging challenge. Featuring a ton of epic boss battles, several gameplay modes, and a roster of selectable characters, Rising Hell was well received by players on release, and might well be worth a weekend of redemption.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvmdRTk3B9A

Developed by Steel Mantis and released way back in 2016, Slain: Back From Hell could almost be seen as a distant cousin of Rising Hell, sporting similar pixel visuals, challenging platforming action and, of course, a hard-rockin' aesthetic. As doomed hero Bathoryn, players battle their way through another hugely Gothic world, on a mission to liberate the realms from the clutches of six malevolent overlords.

Between Rising Hell and Slain: Back from Hell, Epic Games Store fans have got a pretty unholy week ahead. But, if you dig that whole heavy metal retro vibe, then it's definitely worth keeping an eye on the calendar and ensuring that you bag next week's EGS freebies when they are made available to all on October 6.

In the meantime, be sure to pick up current EGS offerings: Runbow and The Drone Racing League.

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They all float down here

Retro-loving publisher City Connection has announced that it is to publish a newly developed remake of obscure arcade release Psychic 5. As reported by Gematsu, Psychic 5 Eternal is currently in development for Nintendo Switch and will be playable during this week's Tokyo Game Show festivities.

Originally developed by NMK and released to Japanese arcades in 1987, Psychic 5 sees a party of cute anime characters navigate a maze filled with hazards and perils, en route to a showdown with the nefarious Demon King. While all five characters have their own playstyle, gameplay places heavy emphasis on the smart control of incredibly "floaty" jumps, which require the player to glide their chosen hero around the various traps and obstacles that stand in their way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZEVd5Q2sQk&t

The odd little adventure would not receive a home port and was rarely seen outside its native Japan, but has garnered a devoted fanbase in modern times, with fans attracted to its tricky gameplay and fun aesthetic. Psychic 5 Eternal — developed by CRT Games — will sport improved visuals, a new widescreen option, co-op two-player action, and a fully rescored soundtrack, handled by the original composer, Shinichi Sakamoto. Players will be able to switch between the remastered and original versions of the game on a whim.

Psychic 5 Eternal is currently in development for Nintendo Switch. Given that it will be playable at Tokyo Game Show later this week, one would assume that an announcement of its release date should be relatively forthcoming.

1987 arcade game remake Psychic 5 Eternal announced for Switch [Gematsu]

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Do a wall-jump, Mickey

Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy are setting off on a new adventure for the Nintendo Switch. Disney Illusion Island is a new co-op platformer for Nintendo Switch, starring the Disney pals and arriving sometime in 2023.

Revealed during the Disney and Marvel Games Showcase as part of D23 Expo, Disney Illusion Island looks to be a 2D platformer where players can opt to play as Mickey, Minnie, Donald, or Goofy.

The art style is the same as the current run of Mickey's animated offerings. But the gameplay seems similar to something like New Super Mario Bros., in the way it has four players navigating the screen together.

Here's the trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pM_PCKwC484

The plot seems to follow the Disney pals helping out a group of adorable furballs who need some help. The team will need to unlock special abilities, solve puzzles, and take on bosses to save the island of Monoth. By retrieving all the books from all the biomes, they can save the day. And maybe run into some cartoon-y hijinks along the way.

Co-op platforming adventures

Disney Illusion Island is in development at Dlala Studios, whose previous work includes the 2020 Battletoads reboot. Although that got some mixed reception, I'm actually pretty interested in Disney Illusion Island.

The newer art style of Mickey, Minnie, and the gang has grown on me. Though that's probably due in part to some clips making the rounds on social media.

And a chill, family-friendly co-op platformer seems like a decent time too. I could see this being an obvious pick-up for Switch owners with one kids.

As it is now, we'll see more of what Disney and Dlala have in store sometime in the future. Disney Illusion Island is set for Nintendo Switch in 2023.

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Frog-gone it

The third dimension wasn’t very kind to the platformer. It was heavily ridiculed within its own medium, then quietly died shortly after the turn of the millennium. However, there were enough classic titles that linger in the minds of old people like me. It’s no surprise that we’ve seen a surge of callback titles in the indie circuit like A Hat in Time and Demon Turf.

Frogun knows what it’s about. With its lo-fi PS1-styled visuals and cute mascot character, it wouldn’t look out of place on the console’s collection of platformers. Of course, there’s more than just looking the part, and fortunately, Frogun acts the part, as well. Or is that entirely a good thing?

Frogun (PS4, PC [Reviewed], Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch)
Developer: Molegato
Publisher: Top Hat Studios, Inc.
Released: August 2, 2022
MSRP: $14.99 Complete

We’ve got a collect-a-thon here. Get ready to pick up a lot of rotating things in the environment. Your goal is really just to make it to the end of the level, but it stat-pressures you into collecting all the items, completing stages beneath a certain time threshold and without dying, and while you’re at it, finding all the bonus items. At least the gems buy you hats.

The story follows Renata, who, having been left alone at camp for a few days, ventures into some ruins to find her archeologist parents. Like when a child gets left in a hot car and has to venture into K-Mart. She’s equipped with her frog-like gun, that not only talks (for some reason) but also has a tongue that sticks to walls. It’s kind of like Chameleon Twist, only not as brave and, consequently, not as awkward.

[embed]https://youtu.be/OBYRevN1H5o[/embed]

Platformer with a capital P

Frogun is a platformer with a capital P. Most of its challenge comes from the traversal of gaps, with instant death if you miss. As you progress, gaps get harder, and it’s almost certain that you’re going to find death at the bottom of pits more often than you will at the hands of enemies. Finding secrets is mostly about being aware of your environment. In a way, it feels closer to Crash Bandicoot than it does Croc: Legend of the Gobbos. Renata is just not as limber as the bandicoot or a bear with a bird. In fact, she walks at a pace that makes you instinctively press harder on the control stick, as though that will make her speed up. It doesn’t, and my thumb is tired.

Crossing gaps by having your frog pistol lick walls is pretty straightforward. New techniques are thrown in occasionally to keep things from getting completely stale, but everything is kept simple enough that you can learn with only the briefest of tutorials. Frogun is less about constantly learning new skills and rather just getting proficient at the ones you have.

It’s not exactly a vast repertoire of skills, and I found the biggest challenge in Frogun came from trying to judge depth. I don’t mean that as a compliment. There’s very little clarity on when you should stick your tongue out. Do you drop a little first, or do you immediately send the next one out? There’s little time for you to decide in mid-air, so if you don’t time it right, you might hit the edge of the platform or whatever hazard is nearby. Forgiving, it isn’t.

Off to the races

Its lack of leniency clashes with the bubblegum visuals. Not that I want Frogun to be easy, but I also would have preferred fewer frustrations. Aiming is such a cumbersome task, that they added a special mode that locks you in place and gives you a laser pointer to find your target. Of course, this isn’t especially helpful when you have to make quick jumps. There’s an auto-aim, allegedly, but I found it about as useful as double-sided scissors. Smarter targeting is another way Frogun could have avoided needless frustration.

What really grilled me were those damned race levels. Some guy shows up with his snake out and challenges you to run to the end of the level. Nice twist, but touching him hurts you. He’s as slow as a hair clog but always stands in the way. Chances are, if you get ahead of him, you’re gold because he has the navigational skills of an escaped floating dock. Being behind him is like fleeing a wildfire and getting stuck in gridlock.

It’s not even that Frogun is particularly difficult. While there were sections I got stuck on for what probably was minutes but felt like an excruciating eternity, I mostly breezed through many of the levels (ignoring but often achieving some of the additional objectives). I just found that it would occasionally boil my biscuit.

Tongue-tied

In a way, this is pretty true to 3D’s awkward period. I’m not sure if Frogun is attempting to emulate the warts-and-all experience of early 3D platformers, but if it’s accidental, it’s convincing. You can even cycle through some pretty rad CRT filters. The soundtrack sounds the part, as well. In fact, if you had me listen to the soundtrack out of context, I’d probably guess it was composed during that era. So, kudos for really selling the experience.

What mostly breaks the experience for me is that Frogun doesn’t feature the variety of most platformers of the time. The ancient ruins aesthetic doesn’t do it any favors, even when it swaps the colors out for winter or lava. It just all feels the same. A few new enemies wandering around the environments don’t really excite. There aren’t many memorable puzzles or even narrative twists to make the game feel any more dynamic. Frogun could be summed up in a single image.

Back to the living room floor

With that said, Frogun isn’t poorly designed. While I ran into some unfortunate bugs, the actual level design is reasonable, even if you can’t easily tell them apart. There’s a lot to be said about its success in delivering on its thesis. It maybe is exactly what it wants to be. I can certainly see it clicking with some people, and those people will find a lot of enjoyment here.

On the other hand, outside its well-executed aesthetics, I found Frogun to be quite mundane. I kept going back to Chameleon Twist, another tongue-based platformer, and thinking about how much more freedom that game had with its mechanics. I’d never try to sell Chameleon Twist as a terrific game — both games in the brief series had glaring issues — but it’s a little more memorable than Frogun will likely be. Whenever it’s mentioned in the future, I’ll probably be able to visualize it, but not remember much of the content. Okay, I might also remember my frustration with that race jerk, but that, once again, is not a compliment.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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Say, you look mighty familiar...

Nope, you're not seeing things. These familiar little characters, whom you no doubt recognize from the 1986 hit Bubble Bobble, first made their gaming debut two years earlier. They were the enemy characters in Taito's formative platformer Chack'n Pop, which is, incidentally, this week's entry to Hamster's Arcade Archives range.

Released in arcades in 1984, before finding its way to a host of preliminary console platforms, Chack'n Pop is a painfully cute cartoon adventure starring a globular character with comically extendable legs. Players are tasked with guiding Chack'n, (for that is his name), through a series of mazes, utilizing his extra-long appendages to clamber over walls, attach to ceilings, and squeeze through small gaps. Standing in Chack'n's way is a posse of "Monstas" and Mightas," who must be either avoided or subdued with a supply of bouncing explosives. Chack'n is, it appears, a real demolition blob.

Chack out the action in the video below, courtesy of YouTuber Old Classic Retro Gaming.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zGVrPT3Bls

Chack'n Pop would be a hit in Japanese arcades thanks to its cute 'n' colorful nature, before heading into the home via a series of ports on platforms such as the Famicom, the SG-1000, the FM-7, and MSX. The game's true legacy, however, lies in its introduction of various famous sprites, that Taito would reuse as enemy characters in Bubble Bobble, arguably the title that truly put the developer on the global gaming map. Chack'n himself is considered an important part of company history and has since made cameo appearances in later releases such as Bubble Memories, NY Captor, and Ben Bero Beh.

Chack'n Pop is available to download now on PS4 and Nintendo Switch, priced at around $8.

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Gonna Stop Fast

[Update: Amidst recent criticism regarding the state of Sonic Origins, Sonic social media manager Katie Chrzanowski has noted that the Sega team is aware of players' issues with the title and that it is currently "working on fixing a variety of issues right now." More information will be forthcoming.]

https://twitter.com/KatieChrz/status/1547680495797800963?s=20&t=GfKPR3femFwg78J6oOM_LQ

A renowned modder has canceled their ongoing project to mod Sega's latest release, Sonic Origins, stating that the state of the title's game code is making their plans for the mod project unfeasible.

As reported by TheGamer, modder Xannan had been working on a homebrew project known as "BetterOrigins" — with the intent of mixing multiple in-game bugs, visual problems, misinterpreted text, and other off-key elements of the retro collection. Speaking candidly on mod website GameBanana, however, Xannan did not hold back their frustrations in working with the final release.

"Hey, so we decided to stop the development of this project. After really digging into the files for this game, it's become way clearer that this game is absolute shit," wrote Xannan. "We've fixed enough where the game is a bit more serviceable but really, especially without scripts, there's not a whole lot we can 'fix' without just redoing sprites [...] MAYBE I'll come back to this in the future, when script editing becomes a thing. But for now, screw this game."

While it would be easy to write off Xannan's brutal comments as them simply not being part of the original development team, the modder is far from the first person to speak ill of Sonic Origins' final release. Almost immediately after launch, developers Headcannon and Christian Whitehead (of Sonic Mania fame), both lambasted the compendium, opining that the final product was not reflective of the work the teams had produced — or wanted to produce — for publisher Sega.

"I'm extremely proud of my team for their performance under such pressure, but every one of us is very unhappy about the state of Origins," wrote Headcannon's Simon Thomley on Twitter. "We weren't too thrilled about its pre-submission state either but a lot was beyond our control. "We asked to do major fixes near submission but weren't allowed due to submission and approval rules. We asked about delays early and repeatedly but were told they weren't possible. We offered to come back for post-release fixes and updates — we do not yet know if this is happening."

While the "BetterOrigins" mod did not see completion, it does feature several updates to correct color, animation, and Museum mode text, while also offering a filter displaying a more authentic 1:1 pixel style.

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Get snared in Dotemu's fantastic remake

Epic Games Store users can bag themselves an absolute gem of a title for free, as Dotemu's Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap is offered up to all EGS customers gratis this week.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYXzXBbFKOY

Developed by Lizardcube and released in 2017, Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap is a remake done right. Based upon the excellent 1989 Sega Master System RPG, Lizardcube's title recreates the cart-based classic in a 1:1 capacity, switching out the 8-bit visuals for stylish and attractive hand-drawn visuals. In addition, the remake features a charming, rerecorded score, and includes new features such as additional difficulty options and a new playable hero, Wonder Girl.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMah9liwPyY

In addition to the Wonder Boy remake, Epic Games Store will also be giving away Baeloth's Gladiator of the Dark Pits expansion pack, for use with Dungeons & Dragons adventure title Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realm. Players need only log in to the D&D title from July 14 to automatically unlock access to the DLC expansion.

The new titles will be made available for all to download from July 14-21. Next week, from July 21-28, players can claim the shopkeeping sim Shop Titans and the 64-player WWI FPS Tannenberg.

If you do not have it already, be sure to pick up The Dragon's Trap. Without hyperbole, it is one of the most enjoyable, enduring, and compelling remakes ever made.

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You gotta dust her the right way

It has been 20 years since everybody's favorite Half-Genie Hero sashayed her way onto the Game Boy Color and into our hearts. From Pirate's Curses, to Risky's Revenges and even Seven Sirens, there's no denying that the magical gal and her fellow Scuttle Island denizens rank among the most likable, cheerful, and enduring characters of modern gaming.

To celebrate her 20th anniversary, boutique outlet Limited Run Games has opened pre-orders on this delightful statue. The figurine stands around 10 inches tall, (including the base), and spotlights shapeshifting adventurer in her classic genie garb and posed coyly at the viewer. There is no pajama Shantae variant, but we can't have everything.

As a fun addition, anybody who has been collecting the ongoing range of acrylic character standees will find that, once they are inserted into the base, that the statue lights up Shantae in all of her glory. It should be clearly stated that the acrylic figures are previous sale items and are NOT automatically included with the statue. An additional set of acrylics — depicting five Shantae game covers — are available in a bundle.

If you fancy a Shantae statue of your very own — and who wouldn't? — then she is available to pre-order now over at the official Limited Run Games store. The statue is $134.99 USD or $159.99 with the acrylic bundle, (not including shipping or any potential customs charges). Pre-orders will close on August 28, with the statue expected to ship in 2023.

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Fall Guys proves it has legs

Fall Guys has been one of the most successful online games over the past few years, and for good reason. After the flood of battle royale games we got, it was a nice change of pace to have one that was a colorful, goofy platformer that we could play with friends. I know I certainly got swept up in it when it first came out, and had a blast trying something new even if I was terrible. Now, Fall Guys is seeing even more success, and I couldn't be happier that a creative and genuinely fun idea is getting the love it deserves.

The official Fall Guys account tweeted this morning that the game has officially surpassed 50 million players! Exciting news for a game with such humble beginnings. If you're wondering why the game is just now garnering such a big player base, it's because Fall Guys just switched to a free-to-play model with battle passes and all that good stuff on June 21. The other significant change was that it moved off of Steam and onto the Epic Games Launcher, and was made available on Xbox and Nintendo Switch for the first time.

https://twitter.com/FallGuysGame/status/1544698314242793473

After the rerelease, Fall Guys garnered 20 million players in 48 hours, which is a pretty impressive feat for a game that's over two years old. Now it's more than doubled that after two weeks.

If nothing else, this scenario has proved that the free-to-play model can be pretty effective at getting players to try a new game, and because the outfits are such a fun part of Fall Guys, the battle pass system should work well for them. Here's hoping that the game continues to stick around for a while, because every time I see clips of it, it just makes me happy.

I guess now is a better time than any to jump back on the train, and try to claim a crown of my own once and for all.

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Full trilogy headed to Xbox One and Xbox Series X

Inti Creates has announced that the Azure Striker Gunvolt trilogy is headed to Xbox platforms over the coming months. The first title in the hyper-kinetic series will be available to purchase on Xbox One and Xbox Series X today, with its two sequels scheduled to roll out over the summer.

Already available on PlayStation, PC, and Nintendo platforms, Azure Striker Gunvolt is a fast-paced and highly electrifying platform adventure that found fame as a Nintendo 3DS release way back in 2014. It tells a tale of a highly-skilled, superpowered mercenary, (the titular Gunvolt), who embarks on a mission to eliminate a squad of equally skilled special agents, guided by their mysterious musical muse, Lumen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xp9wXNRP6A

Of course, this simple premise merely sets the stage for a dramatic tale of love, loss, revenge, and redemption — set alongside action-packed retro-infused gameplay. This popular release would be followed up by Azure Striker Gunvolt 2 in 2016, which continued the story while offering improved gameplay and other dynamic features. A second sequel, Azure Striker Gunvolt 3, is in its final production stages, with a release date scheduled for just a few weeks from now.

Azure Striker Gunvolt is available now on Xbox platforms, Azure Striker Gunvolt 2 will launch on July 14, while Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 will arrive on August 2, five days after its 28 July Switch date. The first two titles are already available on PlayStation, PC, and Nintendo Switch via the Azure Striker Gunvolt: Striker Pack.

Azure Striker Gunvolt trilogy coming to Xbox Series, Xbox One [Gematsu]

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Little mouse, big adventures

The Spirit and the Mouse is an upcoming narrative puzzle platformer from Alblune Games, an indie team made up of two developers, Lucie Lescuyer and Alex Strook. Players will take on the role of a mouse named Lila who lives in a quaint French village, making friends with little electric spirit friends and helping out the local townspeople.

The game's trailer shows off the cozy setting, some of the characters that we'll meet, and of course, some gameplay segments of Lila running along rooftops and using electricity powers. The Spirit and the Mouse looks like one of those games that gives you plenty to do, but lets you go at your own pace and chill out, which is a perfect combination in my eyes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5jpnShiiLs

I'll be interested to see what kind of narrative they have going on too, because we didn't get to see a lot of that from the trailer, but I have a feeling it's going to make me feel all warm and fuzzy (and not just because of the electricity). Another highlight from the trailer for me is definitely the music — I love an upbeat, jazzy score, so this might turn out to be one of those game soundtracks I have on a loop for a while.

I also never would have guessed just from looking at it that The Spirit and the Mouse was made by only two people. It looks great and well-polished — we'll have to see what it's like in practice when it comes out later this year. Alblune promises a wholesome, heartwarming experience with this one, and based on vibes alone, The Spirit and the Mouse feels like it might be in the same vein as the highly-anticipated Stray. Either way, we're always in need of more uplifting games out there.

The Spirit and the Mouse is set to electrify us sometime in 2022 on PC and Nintendo Switch, and a demo is available to play right now on Steam.

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Mighty Metroidvania returns

It's been a bit of a wait, but soon Switch fans will be able to get their furry mitts on of 2021's most undersung releases. Publisher Astrolabe Games announced that dystopian Metroidvania F.I.S.T. Forged in Shadow Torch will finally arrive on Nintendo Switch on July 12, priced at $29.99. (Pre-order customers will receive a 10% discount on the price.)

I probably don't need to pour over this title once again to all y'all, especially those who have followed my coverage to date, but F.I.S.T. is a tough, creative, and surprisingly hi-tech adventure that sees a forgotten war hero forced to take up arms (literally) in order to save his friend from the sinister and oppressive regime that presides over the city and its downtrodden populace. Combining finely-detailed locations and animation, solid voice-acting, and a very deep combat system, F.I.S.T. was one of last year's slickest and most engaging adventures.

https://twitter.com/FISTthegame/status/1537430040031334401?s=20&t=apmaU3Y5J0BOYN4M5wJuAA

Despite its pulled-back camera and deceptive looks, TiGames' adventure is actually a pretty resource-heavy release, packed out with impressive special effects, fantastically "live" locations, and hectic, screen-filling boss battles. It will be interesting to see how it ports to the Nintendo Switch hardware and whether it leaves its humble processor sweating carrots. The publisher says that the Switch edition is aiming for 30 FPS at 1080p resolution docked, and 30FPS at 720p in handheld mode.

F.I.S.T. Forged in Shadow Torch launches on Nintendo Switch July 12. It is available right now on PlayStation and PC platforms. Microids will release a physical edition on PlayStation and Switch in 2023.

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That throwing stick stunt of yours has boomeranged on us

As I played Belle Boomerang, my husband looked over my shoulder and asked if it was difficult. “Yes,” I replied, “but I have it set to retro difficulty.” He asked if I was going to review it, which I confirmed. “Why would you make it harder on yourself?” he asked.

There are a few reasons. The first is that I like the challenge. I also feel the need to play on the difficulty the developer “intended,” which is something that might not always exist. Finally, I have a chip on my shoulder. I’ve been strengthened in the crucible of retro games. I’ve climbed Castlevania and conquered Contra. Should be a cakewalk.

It wasn’t, but then, that’s what I enjoyed most about Belle Boomerang.

Belle Boomerang (PC)
Developer: Narwhalnut
Publisher: Narwhalnut
Released: June 3, 2022
MSRP: $9.99

The boomerang is often the worst side-scroller weapon you can handle. It often doesn’t travel very far, and then you have to wait for it to come back before you can throw it again. It’s an odd weapon to pick as the primary attack of the game.

Not much backstory is given, and you mostly wind up putting the pieces together through short snippets of text. Save the King and Queen. Save the Kingdom. It’s nothing too revolutionary for the era that it tries to slot itself into.

I have to keep reminding myself that Belle Boomerang is a new release and not something that I had previously overlooked on my shelf. It looks like something between a Game Boy Color title and one from the NES’ library. The color choices are bright and almost garish, but the palette is restricted to a few colors per tile. It sticks pretty closely to the limitations of the era. It doesn’t go nuts with the animations, nor does it incorporate mixed pixel resolutions or sprite rotation; just some unreasonable pet peeves of mine.

[embed]https://youtu.be/TtgySsWuBWY[/embed]

Beau belle

Belle Boomerang is extremely faithful to the era. You’re able to select your difficulty from the outset, with the less challenging one giving you three hearts and more checkpoints, while retro gives you two hearts, fewer checkpoints, and less opportunity to breath.

I haven’t felt this way in a game since Cuphead or maybe that time I tackled Batman on the NES. It’s merciless. It starts off easy enough, but by the end, you’re replaying sections repeatedly trying to get them perfect. Or at least blunder through well enough. I was starting to have flashbacks of that clock tower in Batman. You make it a little bit further each time and then it smacks you down with something new.

It’s not unfair, but it does expect you to get it right. You can attest to knowing how to dance all you want, but if you can’t put all the steps together at the right time, you’re headed back to the checkpoint. Which, again, in retro mode can be horrifically far between.

Pin-cushioned

The bosses play out similarly. They’re given short health bars, but you often have to jump rope for a while to get them to show their vulnerable side. As long as you didn’t miss your chance, they’ll move onto a different phase that you have to deal with on the fly, otherwise, you’re starting the battle over. It’s hard to stay mad at Belle Boomerang. Just when you think you’ve been pushed to the brink, you hit another checkpoint. It doesn’t want you to suffer, it just wants you to learn.

It kept me on the margins of frustration. I’d throw a hand up with every stupid mistake that would send me back. But every time I’d ring a checkpoint bell, it was a victory. Forward progression. Finally.

Each level is themed differently and entirely new. Power-ups are often introduced for that level alone, used specifically to navigate its unique hazards. Nothing gets recycled, chunks of stages don’t even resemble the ones that come before. It never lets up, you’re never given breathing room. I started praying that I had just hit a difficulty spike, and the next level would be easier, but no. It’s a gentle curve that reaches the stratosphere.

But then it’s so darned cute. Even the enemies are adorable with their little faces. As you cut through them with your throwing stick, you just meet them backstage after the level. They’re cursed, maybe, or perhaps the whole thing is a play. Whatever is the reason, it’s a wholesome reminder that you aren’t hurting anyone.

Your mileage is going to vary with Belle Boomerang. There aren’t a whole lot of levels, but if you keep bashing into walls as I did, you might be playing for a while. Its length is perhaps another facet reflective of its inspiration; most NES games could be beaten in an afternoon, but some of the best ones required you to practice before you see the credits. You can also collect roses in each of the levels for completion. They’re basically in your path in the first few levels, but eventually, you need to seek harder to find them.

New and old

Whether Belle Boomerang clicks with you is going to depend on how much appreciation for the challenges of yore. This isn’t a die-and-retry game like Celeste, this is Castlevania style, where getting knocked back into a hole means you’re trying large sections over again. You can soften the blow, but I didn’t, and my inner masochist thanks me for it.

You can throw a rock at the Steam Marketplace and hit a pixel art platformer that has heart but misses what made the era appealing. Belle Boomerang is not one of those games. It deserves attention, and I’m hoping that its charming visuals will help it achieve that. Don’t let this one get lost in the mix. It’s a tight experience, with its own unique challenges, and front-to-back variety. It may not completely reinvent the platforming genre, but it hits the target masterfully.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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