It’s been just over twenty years since the adventure game Beyond Good & Evil first graced our screens. It originally launched in 2003, so technically, they could have called this the 21st Anniversary Edition – but for marketing purposes, 20th just sounds better.

I first played Beyond Good & Evil not long after it was released on Nintendo GameCube. While some of my memories of that experience have been lost to time, the feeling I had when playing it has never left. Beyond Good & Evil was, and still is, a brilliant game, and well deserving of it’s cult classic status.

An evil group called the DomZ are threatening the world of Hillys. You play as Jade, a photojournalist who has been caring for children orphaned by the DomZ with your uncle Pey’j. The world is protected by the Alpha Sections, but this doesn’t stop the DomZ from launching attacks. During one of these attacks, Jade is thrust into the fight. Along her adventure, she is recruited by Iris, an underground group who believe there is something more sinister happening. You’ll need to uncover the dark secrets, photograph key conspiracies, and shine a light on the truth.

Combat and More

Beyond Good & Evil has a nice variety of gameplay styles spread throughout the game. When you first start of the game, you’ll be introduced to combat, with Jade utilizing her Daï-Jo – a staff-like weapon. Soon after, other elements come into play, such as photography and platforming. You’ll be able to pilot a vehicle in the game, giving you access to the various levels spread throughout the open-world. Of course, you won’t be able to access every area immediately – you’ll need to follow the mission structure pretty closely, but there are a few opportunities to explore.

Within missions, you’ll spend a good chunk of time utilizing stealth to complete objectives. You can attack enemies head-on, but, even with a companion, you’ll find they’re just too overpowered – so navigating by means of stealth is usually the best option. Stealth works quite well – crouching from point-to-point, staying out of the line-of-sight of the Alpha Section guards. Each section feels a bit like a puzzle to be completed, which makes completing each section so satisfying.

While the game does an okay job at providing players with in-game instructions, there were a few tidbits that weren’t immediately obvious to me until far later into my adventure. For example, pressing down on the D-Pad brings up the character screen. Within that screen, I had no idea I could actually select each characters in-game “backpack”, allowing me to share items between them. Turns out, I was hogging the power-ups that increase character health.

Treats for Returning Fans

The 20th Anniversary Edition brings a wealth of improvements that should make most fans happy. Visually, the game is relatively unchanged, just higher resolutions and everything looks smooth & sharp. The soundtrack received a huge upgrade, with over 15 pieces of music re-recorded with a live orchestra. Another huge improvement is the inclusion of autosaves. No longer will you need to use an in-game MDisk to save at specific points – the game will autosave quite frequently.

But wait, there’s more! For those looking for a challenge, a new Speedrun Mode has been included that will keep track of just how long it takes for you to complete the game in one sitting. This mode does not allow for saves, so you better have snacks readily available.

And another addition worth mentioning is the incredible collection of images and videos from the Ubisoft vault showing the development of Beyond Good & Evil. This includes everything from conceptual work to cut content. It’s an absolute treasure trove of information.

Please Wait

Despite how amazing Beyond Good & Evil is – both the original, and this 20th Anniversary Edition – it’s not without it’s issues. The first thing you’ll notice when loading the game for the first time is the excessively long load time between the health & safety warning and the game’s title screen. It’s damn near close to a minute wait! Fortunately, with Quick Resume, you might not experience this too often. This new edition still has load times between areas – but they’re pretty quick and barely impact flow too much.

Like most games of the era, you’ll often have to fight with unruly camera angles – and these don’t seem to have been improved much with this edition. And probably the most bizarre issue was when the game would completely freeze for anywhere between 5 and 10 seconds. This happened a few times and caused me to wonder if I would need to quit to the dashboard and restart the game – only for the game to start chugging along again.

Stupid AI

In terms of the actual game, there were only a handful of moments that made me shake my head in disbelieve, particularly during the last hour of the game. The companion AI is often quite dumb and will block your path or get in the way of your attacks. During one sequence, my companions and I had to run past an active cannon firing lasers. One companion just stopped and stood in one place. I had to run back past the shooting lasers, bump into him, just to trigger his running sequence again.

The final boss of the game is also as frustrating as ever – I must have blocked out memories of it from my previous playthrough 20 years ago. Once you figure out how to beat the final boss, you should be good, but there is zero indication on how to actually do this correctly. It just makes the final bit of the game more of an annoyance than a satisfying conclusion.

Could We See A Sequel Finally?

It’s been 20 years since Beyond Good & Evil was originally released. Of course, that means that it’s been 20 very long years without the much anticipated sequel. Despite a number of announcements over the past decade or so, we’re still in the dark as to when Beyond Good & Evil 2 will even be released. Fortunately, it does appear that Ubisoft is still plugging away at the sequel and it will see the light of day at some point. Included in Beyond Good & Evil – 20th Anniversary Edition is a brand new quest that ties this game to the eventual sequel, which will actually be a prequel. The new quest isn’t much more than another fetch quest – but it’s still a worthwhile scavenger hunt just to get a taste of what to expect in the new game, and I’m grateful Ubisoft took the effort to include it.

Beyond Good & Evil – 20th Anniversary Edition is the absolute best way to replay a cult classic of a game. It still retains the look and feel of the original, while providing some much needed improvements like resolution, frame rate, controls and more. Hopefully this edition will create a new generation of fans. It truly is a must-play game.

Finish that sequel, Ubisoft!

***Beyond Good & Evil – 20th Anniversary Edition Xbox Series X key provided by the publisher.***

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Developer Artefacts Studio and publisher Microids have announced that Agatha Christie – The ABC Murders is back on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Players will finally get to revisit one of the most famous investigations of the renowned detective Hercule Poirot.

Additionally, this version offers the option to play in 4K at 30 FPS or 1080p at 60 FPS. It also features various visual enhancements for an improved immersive experience. Moreover, the game is available in both physical and digital editions for both platforms.

Agatha Christie – The ABC Murders is a third-person detective adventure game based on the classic novel. You will step inside the shoes of the famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot and try to solve a case full of mysteries.

Once more, the private detective faces a mysterious adversary, ABC. Your intellect will be tested as you investigate numerous crime scenes across various picturesque cities in the United Kingdom. Leave no stone unturned in your quest, tackling rigorous cross-examinations and deadly puzzles.

You must observe, question, and explore every possible detail to make the most intelligent deductions and uncover the murderer’s plans. Check out the launch trailer below to get a glimpse of the chilling challenges ahead.

SOURCE

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Every week, the cosplay crew at COGconnected dive deep into the world wide web to uncover the very best in cosplay. This week, our cosplay journey takes us to Sandusky, OH for ColossalCon 2024. So, I’ve never actually heard of Sandusky before, but apparently they have some pretty talented cosplayers! I’ll have to add it to my travel bucket list. Until then, I’ll enjoy their incredible cosplays from afar, and share those amazing finds with all of you.

Putting the Oh in Ohio!

And that concludes are journey to Sandusky, OH and the ColossalCon 2024. If you’re in the mood for more cosplay, be sure to check out some of these recent articles featuring Lady Kayleen, Naib, and Feisty Vee! We also had this spicy collection of cosplay clips from TikTok that you’ll probably really dig.

Images used in this article from DTJAAAAM Instagram.

The post The Colossal Cosplay from ColossalCon 2024 appeared first on COGconnected.

Since 2007, the Assassin’s Creed series has been a formidable force in the gaming industry. With unforgettable characters like Ezio Auditore and Edward Kenway, the franchise has captivated audiences by exploring new worlds at different points in time with each iteration. After numerous releases, Ubisoft revamped the series, incorporating RPG elements into the gameplay. While this shift was massively successful, many fans longed for the traditional adventure style, leading to the creation of Assassin’s Creed Mirage. Although the game was fantastic, it didn’t achieve the same popularity as the sprawling epic, Valhalla. The latest entry in the series, Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, aims to capture the best of both worlds by incorporating characters that represent the franchise’s rich history. Set to release in November, here are five reasons why you should be hyped for Assassin’s Creed: Shadows.

Hiding in the Dark

Naoe Fujibayahio is a shinobi assassin who is on a quest for revenge. Fans of the franchise will be instantly drawn to her as stealth is at the forefront of her combat style. Early gameplay sequences showcase a whole host of methods to take out your enemy without being noticed. Notable changes that make this look like a step up from previous titles are the ways that you can manipulate light. You can emit darkness in areas by shooting lanterns making it simple to dart across and silently eliminate foes. Other new elements include sneaking underwater with the help of bamboo to breathe and most impressively, the use of a grapple. While this was a feature in Syndicate, Shadows looks to include a more nuanced approach that gives flexibility with its implementation.

A Brutal Beating

An imposing figure, Yasuke is a loyal samurai for Oda Nobunaga. While his story is full of intrigue as he is the first and only non-white samurai, his method of combat looks to evolve the system established in the RPG titles. Brutality imbues his fighting style with visceral executions concluding battles. Each encounter looks methodical with counters and parries being an important aspect to be victorious. While the idea of two protagonists is not new in the franchise, the way that these differ is. Jacob and Evie Frye played very similarly with only a few differences whereas Yasuke and Naoe are completely different adding a ton of replayability.

It’s Alive!

Although there is hustle and bustle in the cities of Assassin’s Creed, it never feels like a living world. GTA 5 did this particularly well as it felt like the characters did things regardless of whether you were there. Hopefully, this will be added to Shadows as you can switch between characters freely. In the extended gameplay reveal, it was great to see how citizens in the world reacted to Yasuke. As he walked through the world, head and shoulders above the natives, they moved out of his way and respected his standing as a samurai by bowing. It’s a little feature but it could end up being something much bigger.

Your Choice

Historically, you would learn about your targets and gradually take them out in a linear fashion. Shadows looks to alter this, allowing you to investigate each target and assassinate them in the order of your pleasing. With its new approach to synchronization, you will need to actually scope areas to discover the layout of the land rather than having your map populate with a ton of icons instantly. Although the developers have yet to release the finer details, such as the existence and implementation of a leveling system, the concept is great and could lead to a brand-new way to engage with the game.

What Time of Year?

Built on the Anvil game engine, Assassin’s Creed: Shadows employs a new weather system that will alter how you tackle missions. The world alters depending on the season meaning that you can approach your objective in new and exciting ways. For example, in Spring there will be more places to hide due to larger bushes and longer grass whereas in the Winter, you will leave footprints and water will be frozen over. The dynamic weather adds an additional layer to the plethora of options available and could lead to the most varied and rich experience in the history of the franchise.

Assassin’s Creed: Shadows has the potential to be the greatest title in the franchise. After years of crying out for the series to visit feudal Japan, it looks to have done so in style. Will you be picking this up in November? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook or Twitter, and don’t forget to subscribe to us on YouTube for more great video game content.

Thank you for keeping it locked on COGconnected.

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Developer ChaoticBrain Studio and publisher Meridiem have announced that Neon Blood is now available for pre-order and wishlist on all digital platforms. Players, eager to get their hands on the neo-noir action adventure can now wishlist it on Nintendo eShop, Xbox Store, Steam, and PlayStation Store.

Meridiem also announced that a boxed edition of the game will be available in specialist stores in the fourth quarter of 2024. This Limited Edition will be coming out on PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch. It includes a metallic-textured cover, an art book, a city guide, and a downloadable soundtrack.

Neon Blood is a 2.5D cyberpunk action-adventure game that takes in the year 2053, at Viridis. At this point, the world has come to an end due to a war lost in time. Now inequality is everywhere in Viridis, the great city encompasses the dangerous Blind City and the luxurious Bright City.

You will step inside the shoes of Axel McCoin, a detective from Blind City. Driven by your ideals, you must rebel against the injustices stemming from the social divide between the two cities and societal inequalities, and become a symbol of revolution. Along your journey, you will encounter powerful allies who aid him in his quest. As well as formidable enemies who oppose him, such as Ruby Emerald, determined to thwart his plans at any cost.

Key features:

– Elaborate and deep story with a cyberpunk theme combined with a turn-based combat style like old RPGs with a strong strategy factor
– Two different realities of the two cities with complete 2.5D aesthetic, merging cyberpunk and sci-fi
– A big macropolis full of secrets to be solved with a complete dialogue-based detective system
– A lot of neons

SOURCE

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Get ready for the ultimate horror experience! JanduSoft has officially released the console edition of their latest first-person horror game, Scholar’s Mate today. It is now available on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4. Take a look at the official launch trailer below to catch a glimpse of the terrifying instances ahead.

Scholar’s Mate is a first-person horror escape room game. It takes place in a terrifying psychiatric hospital. Players will get a harrowing experience where their survival hinges solely on their wits. You will step inside the shoes of Judith, a victim trapped by Eddie, a deranged individual, in a chilling, abandoned psychiatric hospital.

You must solve a series of intricate puzzles to escape the dire situation. This task would be much simpler if the captor weren’t constantly lurking in every corner and corridor of this dismal place. Eddie, your captor can both see and hear you wherever you are. If you run, he’ll know your location. If you shine your torch, he’ll spot you and track you down. He is a relentless enemy with a single objective: to end your life.

Here are some key features:

– A first-person horror escape room.

– Explore and solve the hidden secrets of the hospital to escape.

– Relentless pursuit by Eddie.

– Experience the tension with an original soundtrack and immersive sound effects designed to create an eerie atmosphere.

SOURCE

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The Metal: Hellsinger VR Demo is a collaborative effort from game developers Lab42 and The Outsiders that takes the flat version of the game from 2022 and makes it virtual. Now your journey through hell blasting away demons in rhythm to metal music, you’ll be doing it full scale virtual reality.

You can get a taste of the game right now on Steam as the game devs have released a demo which includes the first two levels. The VR version of the game is more than just a straight port of the game. The devs are committed to using the new gameplay mechanics available in virtual reality.

Every weapon is retooled for maximum effect in VR. Each weapon will feel different to use. The developers have created a new hub dubbed The Unknown’s Lair for players to regroup and strategize before tackling the next level. The hub will also contain options for setting gameplay options as well as exploring lore. In keeping with the lair motif, the options take the form of arcane volumes.

Also available in the hub is weapon and level selection. Additionally, you can review your statistics. All of these functions are designed to work in a VR manner where you can reach and touch or grab items. The game devs are taking great pains to include a host of VR options that in today’s VR game market should be standard.

Hellacious Options

So there will be options for vignettes, snap/continuous turning, turning speed adjustment, head vs hand directional movement and more. For the game in particular because it is a rhythm based game, there will be options for beat indicator, aim assist, automatic/manual weapon pumping and height calibration.

Graphically, the game looks impressive when played on my Quest 2 using a AMD 7800 XT GPU. (Can’t wait to try this when the PC adapter for the PSVR 2 becomes available in August).The level design is such that even though the game is arena based, each stage visually flows into the next one. This approach gives a great feeling of more space than there actually is. The game depicts the hellish environments in an impressive array of colors, with the reds especially popping out.

The reds are notable because some enemies are winged demons that pulse internally with the red in time to the music. This provides a great visual aid when to time your attacks for maximum impact. From the levels available in the demo, there is a decent variety of enemy types that evoke, but do not copy, the Doom enemies.

One option available is a Beat Indicator, which is a reticule that overlays an enemy. It shows you the optimum moment to attack for optimal damage. String together enough maximum hits and you will get a prompt for a finishing attack. This is a combination dash and slash attack where you put down an enemy using your skull handled sword, the Terminus.

Metal: Hellsinger Weapons

Other included weapons in the demo are the Paz, a sentient skull that acts as a pistol. For the shotgun equivalent you have the Persephone, better known as the Queen of Death. For two handed firepower, there are the Hounds, Cerberus and Orthrus. The designers gave each weapon a demonic overall and they look very cool.

Two of the eight ‘hells’ are available in the demo and feature some of the music, which is a vital aspect of the game. For the first level, Voke, there are two songs by Mikael Stanne of Dark Tranquillity. Stanne along with Alissa White-Gluz from Arch Enemy each have a song on the second level, Stygia.

Music is a vital part of the game, and they have collected an impressive array of metal talent. The soundtrack includes work from such artists as the composer duo, Two Feathers plus vocalists like Serj Tankian from System of a Down, Matt Heady from Trivium, and Randy Blythe from Lamb of God.

As you move through a level, the music becomes more layered. It moves from simple rhythmic beats to add more instrumentation and then vocals. This is a great approach, as it heightens the tension as the enemies and action ratchet up.

Coming 2024

A specific release date has not revealed yet beyond sometime in 2024. Metal: Hellsinger will include most of the content from the original game except for the Leviathan mode. The game will officially support the Quest 2, Quest 3, PSVR 2, HTC Vive and Quest Pro. There will be DLC to purchase upon game launch.

Metal: Hellsinger comes across as a cross between Pistol Whip and Hellsweeper, both great VR games in their own right. Considering the positive reaction the flat game has received and what the demo shows, Metal: Hellsinger VR is ready to make a fun entry in the VR Rhythm game genre.

***Metal: Hellsinger key provided by the publisher.***

The post Riffing in the Abyss: Metal: Hellsinger VR Preview appeared first on COGconnected.

2024 has been a tough one for the PSVR 2. Many influencers post a constant stream lamenting that “PSVR 2 is dead” or “Sony has abandoned PSVR 2.” There is no denying things for VR in general have slowed down but that is expected given it is a niche market and overall gaming is in a downward trend.

The other popular misconception is that PSVR 2 has no games. With a robust library of over 200 titles, this simply is not true. Yes, the PSVR 2 library has a fair share of Meta ports but those ports also happen to be the BEST version of those games.  What the PSVR 2 library has is QUALITY over QUANTITY. Make a list of the top VR games and in the top ten, most of them will be PSVR 2 games. With the exception of Half Life Alyx, the most highly regarded games are on the PSVR 2.

To prove this claim, check out the top ten games on the PSVR 2. This list is based on Without Parole‘s recent top 25 list and my own personal preferences.

Top 10 PSVR 2 Games:

10. Walkabout Mini- Golf

Like golf? Social games? A variety of unique courses? Then check this game out. It is constantly getting new courses – some based on popular content such as Jules Verne’s – 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. The best part is that you can play them with up to 8 players.

9. Synapse

Want to know what it feels like to be a Jedi Knight? This non-Star Wars game comes the closest to letting you realize that dream. With it’s eye tracking based interaction, you can lift, move, throw, or destroy environmental objects. You can also do the same to enemies. Darth Vader, eat your heart out!

8. Red Matter 1 & 2

Few games can capture the awe and wonder of being in deep space better than the Red Matter series. In this alternate future series you must travel to other planets, moons, and space stations to solve the mystery of the elusive and dangerous Red Matter. The games are a mix of exploration, action, and puzzle solving set against some of the most beautiful and awe inspiring backgrounds in real life scale, you will ever encounter.

7.  Madison

Horror and VR go together like chocolate and peanut butter. Take the most scientifically rated scary game, put it in VR, and be prepared to be scared. Bring diapers!

6. Legendary Tales

Looking for a full fledged RPG in VR? Legendary Tales will fill that bill with a mix of melee weapons, magic, castles, dungeons, and hordes of enemies to battle. All of this in a lengthy campaign.

5. No Man’s Sky

One of the most successful turn around stories in gaming, No Man’s Sky has not only been resuscitated, it has been revolutionized with the addition of VR. The PSVR 2 version is the prime VR experience and Hello Gaming keeps on providing constant updates. This is an evergreen game you can keep on playing.

4. Saints & Sinners – 1 & 2

The best VR zombie games ever. Skydance has nailed weapon physics with weapons that have a great sense of weight, heft, and inertia. Setting in the wonderfully atmospheric Cajun vibes of New Orleans, this two zombie games offer a primo experience.

3. Resident Evil Village

Capcom has done an amazing job of converting their Resident Evil games to VR. Resident Evil 7 on the PSVR 1 was awesome and, in my opinion, remains the scariest one to date. On the PSVR 2, the level of detail for RE 8 and 4 rival their flat screen counterparts. One could easily flip positions with RE 8 & 4. RE 8 is the more VR interactive of the two but I prefer the story and the lighting of RE 4 more.

2. Resident Evil 4 Remake

Resident Evil 4 Remake in VR  is amazing. After playing RE7 in VR, I could never go back to playing these games, flatscreen. RE4 looks fantastic in VR with the only knock that some of the game interactions revert to flat screen experiences breaking the immersion factor. However, getting to play this game at a real life scale is a real treat.

1. Gran Turismo 7

VR and simulation games with a cockpit are a perfect marriage. To be seated in a dream car depicted in real life scale is just amazing. Add in a force feedback wheel and pedal set and you can really believe you are in a powerful racing machine. This is another evergreen game that you can play forever.

Top 10 PSVR 2 Games Conclusion

There you have it. An impressive list of PSVR games, indeed. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many other great PSVR 2 games for you to check out.

What are your thoughts on the list? Do you agree with my selection? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook or Twitter, and don’t forget to subscribe to us on YouTube for more great video game content.

The post Top 10 PSVR 2 Games So Far appeared first on COGconnected.

Kasedo Games and Bulwark Studios have announced that Ixion is coming out on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in Q1 2025. This sci-fi/city builder originally came out on PC in 2022 with a huge success and now it’s finally ready to leave its mark on other platforms. It is also worth mentioning that the game already won the Best Strategy title at the Gamescom awards.

IXION is a city-building game with survival and exploration, that turns into a thrilling space opera among the stars. As Earth teeters on the edge of ecological collapse, DOLOS A.E.C. spearheads the mission to discover a new habitat for humanity. By a twist of fate or fortune, its prototype space station, the Tiqqun, ends up adrift, serving as a fragile sanctuary for the last vestiges of the human race. You, the administrator, are in command of this floating ark.

You must face the dangers of space, uncover its secrets, and extract its resources. Perils will arise both from outside and within. You will need to establish, maintain, and develop the Tiqqun’s infrastructure while managing the station’s population. Balancing their needs and maintaining their trust in you and the mission will be crucial.

There are no easy answers; your actions will have consequences, whether now or in the future. How you handle those consequences will determine whether you thrive or face extinction. So, are you ready for the ultimate challenge of survival?

SOURCE

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OA Game Studio is thrilled to present its latest upcoming title, Anubis for PC and PlayStation 5. It is a unique title that combines elements of different genres such as simulation, action, adventure, and puzzle. It will be coming out in Q4 of this year, so stay tuned for more updates. In the meantime, check out the official PC trailer below.

In Anubis, play as the titular god of the underworld. You received an order from the god RA to destroy the army of the god Seth to stop his power. However, Seth has already built a mighty army of ancient desert monsters. These huge monsters even have the power to kill Gods. You can get stronger by defeating them and capturing the desert fire.

Here are some key features of the game:

– Starting a New Adventure: Experience adventures as the God Anubis reaches ancient Egypt.

– Exploration: Explore mysterious puzzles, deadly mazes, and caves in the Ancient Desert.

– Gain Mystical Abilities: Gain magical powers and solve puzzles.

– Huge Deadly Creatures: Fight deadly desert monsters from the ancient world.

– Survive: Destroy God Seth’s army and find the desert fire.

For more information regarding the game, make sure to visit the official Steam website right here.

SOURCE

The post Anubis Official Game Announcement for PC and PS5 appeared first on COGconnected.

We’re so happy to once again bring you the weekly COGconnected cosplay feature. In previous iterations, we’ve showcased the brilliant Raisor Cosplay, the beautiful Sailor Virgo, and some incredible holiday-themed recreations. We’ve even posted coverage on the best cosplay couples! This week, we turn our attention to Lady Kayleen.

Without further ado, here’s the work of this wonderful cosplayer!

Continue on to page 2 for more from Lady Kayleen.

The post Come Enjoy Cosplay Courtesy of Lady Kayleen appeared first on COGconnected.

Street Fighter 6 Year 2 has been announced, with a new Ultimate Pass to purchase. It includes 4 new fighters, their additional outfits and colors, 2 new stages, and 7700 drive tickets. With all these additions on the horizon, COGconnected thought it would be a good idea to look back on the triumph that has been Street Fighter 6 Year 1, and discuss the few ways Capcom can improve the game.

Maybe the important aspect of Street Fighter 6 is that it’s made Street Fighter really cool again. The Battle Hub is an online play space that has the feel of a high profile arcade. Player avatars can wader around and walk up to arcade machines to challenge opponents. It creates the feel of the Street Fighter II boom in the early 90s, where players would line up at arcade machines, to watch top players compete, or attempt to take a crack at them. Them whole game is dripping with a Japanese street style that’s very appealing in a post-Persona video game world.

The Pinnacle of 2D Fighting

The gameplay is still phenomenal. A new Modern combat system was introduced. It makes playing more accessible to newcomers, but the system is so effective that series veterans are enjoying using it. I still play with Classic Street Fighter controls in the Fighting Ground, which has the Arcade and Versus modes. But I use the new Modern style when playing in World Tour.

World Tour is my favorite new addition Street Fighter 6 has brought to the franchise. It’s basically like Street Fighter RPG, where players create an avatar, and play through a story that takes place in Metro City, and other smaller locations around the world. Every fighter in the game becomes a mentor in World Tour. The player gets experience points and levels up overall, but every mentor has their own set of levels for players to gain. As a player levels up with a mentor, they unlock that mentor’s move set. Every new character added to Street Fighter 6 is a mentor in World Tour, in addition to a playable fighter one would expect. New mentors also add additional quests and story content to World Tour, so every new fighter is a big deal.

4 DLC Fighters

The 4 fighters added over the course of Year 1 were Rashid, A.K.I., Ed, and Akuma. When Rashid dropped it was really interesting to play through World Tour and find out I had to play through some new quests in order to find him and begin his mentorship. All 4 fighters were thoughtful, quality additions. But story-wise, the only one fans were clamoring for was Akuma. Street Fighter 6’s core 18 fighters struck a great balance between classic fighters and new ones. The DLC fighters seem to be 3 deep cut past characters, mixed with one classic character.

The fighters coming to Street Fighter 6 in Year 2 are M. Bison, Terry Bogard, Mai Shiranui, and Elena. These are interesting choices. Bison was an inevitable addition, which would be obvious for anyone who’s played through the story in World Tour. I’m a little surprised he’s arriving so early, but very excited to play as him. He’s an essential franchise villain, and a classic charge fighter. He’s available right now, and his new design screams wanting to know what happened to create the change in appearance. When he was announced I was very curious to see how his presence affected Nayshall and JD. And after only a few days, Bison is already one of my favorite characters to use in the whole game.

Fatal Fury in Street Fighter?

Terry Bogard and Mai Shiranui are both from the Fatal Fury franchise. It sounds like Street Fighter 6 will have a Fatal Fury/ King of Fighters crossover storyline, which is fun. But I don’t think it was the right choice this early in the game’s existence. Elena is a deeper cut character. She’s traditionally been very fun to play, with her capoeira fighting style. But she’s not super essential to the ongoing central storyline. All of these new characters could be implemented well, but 3 out of 4 are strange choices when there are so few classic fighters absent.

There are still some changes Capcom could implement to turn Street Fighter 6 from a great game, into a perfect game. The biggest problem is that its DLC is way too overpriced. The Year 2 Ultimate Pass is $50 USD. That’s almost the price of a full game! There are also Character Passes that are slightly cheaper than the Ultimate Pass. They just have the characters, and not the new levels. But right now there’s no way to upgrade from a Character Pass to an Ultimate Pass, without paying the full price of the Ultimate Pass. Hopefully this is a change Capcom makes soon.

Fight Money is Too Expensive

There are also lots of options peppered throughout the game to get players to buy Fight Money with real money, to get cosmetic avatar items. I don’t mind this in theory, but the cost of the items is outrageous. Earlier in the year, there were skins of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which I would have loved to have gotten. When I went to buy them it turned out that these avatar skins were close to $20 each, which is absolutely outrageous. $5 per turtle would have been begrudgingly acceptable, but at the $20 price point a lot of people won’t ever consider cosmetic Fight Money purchases.

Avatar creation could be much more robust. The tattoo options are especially slim. Over the course of World Tour, lots of clothing items are unlocked, but it’s still not enough to make a fighter conjured from your imagination. The WWE 2K games have a phenomenal character creation system that I wish the Street Fighter devs would look at. The game is flawless when it comes to creating move builds, but some obvious work needs to be done in the appearance department.

And finally, I’d like to add that by the end of this year there will still be only 26 fighters. The game launched with 18, and 4 fighters per year seems like Capcom’s releasing the bare minimum amount. 6 fighters a year would make a much bigger difference, and would make the $50 price tag hurt less. They do require more effort to implement than in past games, because of the way they’re incorporated into World Tour, but right now, the price still isn’t right.

In Conclusion

Street Fighter 6 is a phenomenal 2D fighting game. Maybe the best ever. But Capcom is taking an approach that makes it feel like a premium product that puts quality over quantity. Everything they’ve done is great, but if they could make the few changes outlined in this article, they’d maybe have something to top Street Fighter II as the greatest fighting game of all time. Year 2 is offering some great content, even if Capcom keeps things more of the same. Mortal Kombat 1 and Tekken 8 were also phenomenal fighting game releases in the past year, but Street Fighter 6 really is the best of the best. See you in the Battle Hub!

What were your favorite parts of Street Fighter 6 Year 1? What are you most looking forward to in Year 2? Let us know in the comments.

Thank you for keeping it locked on COGconnected.

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DLCs are a bit like a second slice of pie. If the first slice was good, do you really need more? And if the first slice was mid, will the second make it better? Especially with a well-received game, fans have come to expect DLC. But often it disappoints, either by being too short or feeling superfluous. Then there’s the difficult choice of how players will access the new content. Make it available to everyone and veteran players will complain, but make it dependent on finishing some major portion of the base game, and you lock out potential new fans (and income). FromSoftware has always been masters of DLC. With Shadow of the Erdtree, they have released what is likely the best DLC for any game, ever. Hyperbole? Maybe, maybe not.

Shadow of the Erdtree is the first — and certainly only — expansion for 2022’s Elden Ring. Playing a FromSoft game has always been like solving a Rubik’s cube covered in thorns. Beating it becomes an obsession, but at the cost of bloody hands. In many ways, Elden Ring gave the player optional padded gloves to wear, and it opened the door to millions of players. It could be said that Shadow of the Erdtree takes those gloves completely off. While it makes hefty demands, however, it pays equally hefty rewards. The challenge is back, baby.

The Question of Difficulty

When it was revealed that the DLC was gated behind a pair of late-game — though optional — bosses, some casual players were resigned to never playing it (only 62% of Elden Ring players had reached the required boss). Others scrambled to complete the basic requirements. But FromSoft knew its core audience. After over two years, the developer assumed that most dedicated players had beaten the game, often several timers over. The core fans were more than ready for new and heftier challenges. 

And challenge it delivered. To the point where the chorus of “it’s too difficult” became hard for FromSoftware to ignore. So, the developer did something rare in its history. Miyazaki and company tweaked the balance post-launch. They made the DLC-only upgrade system even more helpful to players in the early hours of the game.

FromSoft games have never just been about skill or gear, however. Lack one, and you can rely on the other to see you through. Shadow of the Erdtree’s enemies — especially bosses — are often immensely challenging. As always, players with a mastery of mechanics will have the easiest — though not easy — time. But anyone with high-level gear and a smart combination of weapons, armor, and enhancements can muscle through. Shadow of the Erdtree drops some amazing new weapons, too. They’ll change things up in the base game’s PvP community for sure. 

Smart Quality of Life Improvements

Shadow of the Erdtree gives fans both long-requested improvements to the game as well as QOL changes they didn’t even know they wanted. Most of these transfer to the base game as well. First and foremost is the ability to quickly identify new loot. After two years, a player’s inventory is a bulging treasure chest of stuff that can take a long time to scroll through. Shadow of Erdtree tags new acquisitions, making it easy to find that shiny new weapon or talisman. It’s a small thing but much appreciated.

Difficulty scaling in the DLC is handled in a way that rewards high-level players without punishing those with minimum stats. Rather than change the stats on enemies, the game generously doles out two optional items that increase both offensive and defensive player stats. Use the items and the game gets a little easier. But players can opt to not use them and keep the challenge dialed to max. This system doesn’t carry back into the base game. As noted, since release the developer has made the upgrade system even more useful to struggling players.

Lore and narrative are often ignored, but in FromSoftware games, they are nearly always guides to where to go next and what to do. Players of Elden Ring complained that the story signposting was a bit too obtuse. That’s a shame, because the mythic, multi-layered story in Elden Ring is haunting and tragic. 

The story and progression in Shadow of the Erdtree are more clearly designated by a series of crosses, each with a bit of lore and NPCs with helpful maps. Of course, players who couldn’t care less about why they’re there and the backstory of the bosses can still have plenty of hack-and-slash fun. As always, there is a world of hidden content for players to stumble upon. 

Matter of Size and Scope

A lot of DLCs are small chapters of added content that can be completed in a couple of hours. They offer up a new area, a handful of new enemies or weapons, and call it good.

As befits FromSoftware’s sprawling masterpiece of Elden Ring, Shadow of the Erdtree is longer than the majority of action games, clocking in at a minimum of 30-40 hours. What’s not apparent from the map is that most zones have several vertical layers, underground dungeons, and hidden areas, so that the explorable map is much bigger than it already appears. Of course, just like the main game, Shadow of the Erdtree is filled with a huge amount of visual and artistic variety and environmental contrast.

While the DLC naturally recycles some enemy types from Elden Ring, it also includes well over 100 new bosses, dozens of new weapons, spells, incantations, and armor. It’s a great way to refresh the experience of the main game, as all of the new gear can be brought back into the base game to mix up familiar PvP play and make new game + runs more interesting. Generous is a serious understatement.

Nothing’s perfect, of course. Shadow of the Erdtree has a few performance problems and graphical quirks. The difficulty curve is a bit binary: either pretty easy or very difficult, with less middle ground than the base game. 

But small issues aside, Shadow of the Erdtree is everything FromSoftware fans were hoping for. Huge, complex, and challenging, Shadow of the Erdtree does what few DLCs accomplish. It gives the player a rewarding new experience by itself and enriches and even improves the base game. Yes, the wait was agony, but the reward is sweet. Like every FromSoft game, it raises the bar for other developers daring to release sub-par DLC.

Thank you for keeping it locked on COGconnected.

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June 2024 was a unique month for video game reviews. Almost all of the games covered in The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from June 2024 are releases mentioned in the Top 5 Video Games Arriving in June 2024. All three of the games from The Good section of this article were hotly anticipated. And one of the games from The Bad section of this article might be remembered a little too fondly by franchise fans. Without further ado, here are The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from June 2024:

The Good

Destiny 2: The Final Shape DLC

***click here for our review***

Bungie nailed it with Destiny 2: The Final Shape! It’s the narrative conclusion to all the events of all the expansions. The story is much more linear and focused than past expansions. But it’s a conclusion that ties up everything, and packs an epic emotional punch. With some of Destiny 2’s expansions being less than stellar, Destiny 2: The Final Shape greatly exceeded our reviewer’s expectations. They wrote “it’s perhaps the closest Destiny has come to feeling like vintage, Halo-era Bungie”, which is the highest praise an FPS can get.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC

***click here for our review***

There wasn’t any doubt in anyone’s mind that Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree was going to be excellent, and an obvious entry on The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from June 2024. It continues the quality of Elden Ring, but adds a new endgame area the size of two areas. The only critiques our reviewer had were that a few bosses were repeated, and to access the DLC, you basically have to have beaten the main game. They mentioned “to see everything plan in 60+ hours of playtime”. This is DLC the size of a full game, and a must play for all Souls fans.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance

***click here for our review***

Shin Megami Tensei V is an excellent monster collecting JRPG. It brought open world exploration elements to the dark monster collecting franchise. On first glance, it seems almost perfect, but after beating the game, a lot of players found the story felt a little hollow. Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance corrects this by adding a new plotline that adds fullness to the narrative that compliments the base game’s gameplay. Our reviewer wrote the new plotline protagonist “Yoko is a very engaging heroine in all her bitter glory”, so people who have beaten the original version for the Switch have a great reason to play this upgraded version. Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance easily deserves to be on The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from June 2024.

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July 2024 is such a cool month for video game releases. It seems like there’s something for everyone. There’s a few massive releases, several of which are new IPs. Similar to June 2024, our top spot is a major DLC drop. Our runner up this month is the long-awaited Earth Defense Force 6! For those who haven’t played an EDF game before, they’re dopey Japanese 3^rd person shooters that have more to do with spectacle than polish. Check out the trailer below. And without further ado, the Top 5 Video Games Arriving in July 2024 are:

5. Nintendo World Championships – July 18

The Nintendo World Championships took place in 1990. They were a series of events where players got a combined score in the NES games Super Mario Bros., Tetris, and Rad Racer. Finalists were given NES cartridges that had the games and scoring used in the competition. There are an estimated 350 of those cartridges in existence, and they are usually listed on eBay for around $25,000 USD. In honor of this most expensive and ridiculous NES game, Nintendo is releasing an official Nintendo World Championships game for the Switch! It will feature at least 13 different NES games, as opposed to the original 3. Expect lots of modern features, and an experience similar to the Wii U’s NES Remix games. Nintendo World Championships is kind of a goofy entry to the Top 5 Video Games Arriving in July 2024, but how could we not include it!?

4. The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak – July 5

The Trails series is almost caught up in North America! We’re only one game behind Japan now! The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak is the first game in the new Daybreak series. It’s the start of a new story arc that takes place in the Calvard Republic. This JRPG has been out in Japan for 3 years! Trails fans have been waiting for its release in North America for a long time, which makes it an obvious entry in the Top 5 Video Games Arriving in July 2024. The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak will be available for everything expect Xbox.

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Big Moxi Games has officially announced the demo release date for their upcoming title, Wardens Rising at Gamescom LATAM. It will be available for download starting from 29th July via Steam as a part of Tower Defense Fest. Additionally, the studio has released a brand-new gameplay trailer to celebrate this news.

This unique blend of action RPG, hero shooter, and base defense gameplay coming to PC and consoles in early 2025. So stay tuned for more updates in the future.

Wardens Rising invites players into the heart of a thrilling gameplay experience both in the single-player campaign or co-op with up to four players. You will become a Warden, humanity’s last line of defense against a relentless interdimensional threat.

Your main objective is to protect vital energy cores from massive invasions and to defeat mighty bosses, not only to save humanity but to attain everlasting glory. Build and manage defenses strategically, then unleash your unique abilities to defeat hordes of enemies and enemy hordes and come out victorious.

Key features:

– Unleash your inner Warden: Choose from five unique heroes, each with distinct abilities and playstyles. Master their skills and become the ultimate legend.

– Become a master strategist: Build and optimize your defenses, choosing from towers, traps, walls, and more; before each invasion. Carefully manage resources, tech upgrades, and positioning to create an impenetrable defense.

– Customize to seize victory: Unlock, upgrade, and customize your gear showcasing your unique style. Choose from six SPEC companions and a vast array of tactical items, each offering unique buffs and support, and experiment with different builds and defenses – no one size fits all!

– Infinite Fun: Blast your way through 24 maps and take on four bosses in the story campaign or delve into endlessly replayable co-op missions across 12 maps with random invasions for hours of thrilling and strategic fun.

SOURCE

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Prepare yourself to immerse in the amazing world of SPYxFAMILY. Bandai Namco has officially released its latest title, SPYxANYA: Operation Memories today. It is now available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. So, dive right into it to create and cherish joyful memories with the Forger family.

SPYxANYA: Operation Memories is a casual daily life simulator game. You will control Anya and create a photo diary of memories for her homework. Go to school on weekdays and once the class is over, head out to all sorts of exciting places to take photographs of treasured memories.

There are 10 outing places to explore, including parks, beaches, art museums, aquariums, and more. You can even enjoy 15 different minigames as well, all inspired by the series and originally designed for the game. The exciting part you can play 10 of these minigames offline with two players.

Along the way, you will have a chance to meet not only with the family members, Loid and Yor, but also Anya’s friends, Damian and Becky. Even Yuri and Fiona make an appearance in the game. Not only that, there are tons of customizations to explore for Anya, Loid, Yor, and Bond.

Check out the official launch trailer below to get a glimpse of the wholesome adventure ahead.

SOURCE

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11 bit studios has announced that the developers have decided to delay the release of Frostpunk 2 till 20th September 2024. This delay will allow the team to focus on delivering the best possible experience when it finally comes out this fall. The game will be available on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC, so stay tuned for more updates.

Here’s an excerpt from the Steam post by Design Director Jakub Stokalski and Art Director Lukasz Juszczyk:

“Based on the surveys we received after playing Beta, the average rating you gave us was 8 out of 10. We’re super grateful for that! At the same time, it was only a small slice of a work-in-progress, still-growing game. While our backlog is plentiful, it was an opportunity for us to listen to what you enjoyed, and what didn’t quite land yet”.

Further, it follows: “This allowed us to prioritise things better, and bring upfront the features and modifications we were already working on. But we also realised that to guarantee the best possible experience on launch, we need more time to finish the development of Frostpunk 2. That’s why we made the difficult decision to postpone its release to September 20th, 2024”.

The scope of the new updates includes enhancements to game mechanics, extensive UI and UX improvements, a highly requested city feature called Zoom Stories, and much more. For more information, take a look at the full version of the statement right here.

SOURCE

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JanduSoft has announced that the console edition of Scholar’s Mate is coming out on July 4th, 2024. It will be available on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4. Furthermore, the pre-orders on the Xbox are already open as well. So, make sure to check it if you are eager to get your hands on it.

Scholar’s Mate is a new first-person escape room game that takes place in a terrifying psychiatric hospital. Players will get a harrowing experience where their survival hinges solely on their wits. You will become Judith, a victim trapped by Eddie, a deranged individual, in a chilling, abandoned psychiatric hospital.

Along the way, you must solve a series of intricate puzzles to escape the dire situation. This task would be much simpler if the captor weren’t constantly lurking in every corner and corridor of this dismal place. Yes, Eddie can both see and hear you. If you run, he’ll know your location. If you shine your torch, he’ll spot you and track you down. He is a relentless enemy with a single objective: to end Judith’s life.

Key features:

– A first-person horror escape room.

– Explore and solve the hidden secrets of the hospital to escape.

– Relentless pursuit by Eddie.

– Experience the tension with an original soundtrack and immersive sound effects designed to create an eerie atmosphere.

Scholar’s Mate is already available on PC for those eager to try it out. Take a look at the official trailer below to get a glimpse of it.

SOURCE

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Maximum Entertainment and Polychroma Games have officially released their slice-of-life adventure game, Until Then on PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam. So, get ready to immerse yourself in a gorgeous, fictionalized version of the Philippines and explore the trials of a normal teenager with a twist. Additionally, the release came alongside a new trailer showcasing a glimpse of the game.

Until Then is a side-scrolling, cinematic adventure game. It tells a strange and intriguing story of inquisitive high school students living in a fractured existence. Players will get to explore and navigate through various environments that draw inspiration from real locations in the Philippines.

You will step inside the shoes of a regular teenager Mark Borja and follow everyday life such as school, piano practice, homework, and friends. However, something is off with the whole setting as a twist in fate will change his life. Will you be able to uncover the mysteries before all is lost?

Along the journey, you will meet vibrant, relatable peers navigating their own lives. Prepare to explore the world around you through everyday technology and play seemingly mundane minigames you won’t want to miss out on. The game features an awesome cinematic pixel art style and the soundtrack brings the world to life in unimaginable ways.

SOURCE

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There are a lot of ways to make money in Grand Theft Auto Online. Most of these forms of currency acquisition are less than legal. Yet, that’s about to change. That’s right, it’s time to make a hero’s compensation. Today, Rockstar Games and Rockstar North are happy to announce the latest update coming to Grand Theft Auto Online this Summer, Bottom Dollar Bounties. Interestingly, the update allows players to join the law as a bounty hunter, tracking down notorious criminals around Lost Santos. Of course, the update will provide players with a whole new host of content. For instance, players can look forward to a new customizable bounty office, vehicles, missions, and more. A trailer teases what’s to come.

Bottom Dollar Bounties introduce players to the daughter of legendary Los Santos bounty hunter Maude Eccles. Helping her to clean up the streets of this crime ridden town, players will be able to set up their very own customizable bounty hunting office. Of course, to start making some money, there are going to need to be bounties. Have no fear, players can chase down low level crime scum as much as they want and once a day can take on a “most wanted” target. Importantly, to chase down these scumbags, players will have access to a trio of new law enforcement vehicles. In fact, these vehicles are available now if you complete  the Slush Fund mission in The Cluckin’ Bell Farm Raid. 

Of course, there is even more for Grand Theft Auto players to look forward to from vehicles, to cosmetics for their character, and more. Interestingly, the trailer shows off a small glimpse of what players can expect. Check it out below. 

Grand Theft Auto Online: Bottom Dollar Bounties is out now. Check out Rockstar Newswire for more information.

SOURCE: PRESS RELEASE

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Although I’m several decades out of my teens, I can remember at least a little of what it was like. While the slang and tech have changed, navigating the treacherous waters of interpersonal relationships is still fraught with confusion and heartache. Joy, sorrow, and dashed hopes exchange places moment by moment. Then there’s the whole matter of finding meaning and direction. That formative and perplexing time forms the backdrop for Until Then, an interactive visual novel. But there are bigger themes and deeper mysteries than who is dating whom, and I’ll do my best not to spoil them.

B-Ball, Book Reports, and Crushes

Set in a fictionalized version of the present-day Philippines, Until Then’s main protagonist is Mark, a high school kid with more talent than ambition. Mark is the kind of kid who puts off school work until the last minute, risking the failure of his group’s presentation and the ire of Louise, a brainy, high-achieving classmate on whom he has a crush. Mark and Louise’s immediate friend group includes Cathy, a close friend of Mark who also has set her sights on Louise. In one series of scenes, we meet Louise’s secret best friend, the impetuous Sophia. We also learn that Louise has a secret boyfriend, an older student, and a budding rock star. For a moment, everyone’s romantic longings are dashed.

That all sounds pretty banal. Honestly, it takes some time for Until Then to pick up a little steam. However, by the end of the game’s first chapter, I was solidly invested in the characters. It was around this time that there were hints that things were not quite right. One character’s memories didn’t square with others, that kind of thing. As the narrative mysteries evolved, so did the characters, backgrounds, and their relationships.

Obviously, teens can be cruel, heartless, and unsympathetic. By and large, the kids at the center of Until Then are appealing, open-hearted, and aware that actions have consequences. I wish I could say more about the plot, but surprise and discovery are at the heart of the game. For a title in this genre, Until Then is a substantial game, clocking in at well over a dozen hours.

Point-and-Text Adventure

As engaging as its characters and story are, Until Then also plays with the visual novel format in a memorable way. A great deal of the dialogue is presented through real-time text chats that feel authentic and contemporary. While the text exchanges contain all the slang, erasures, and edits we’re used to, the teens in Until Then are considerably more literate, witty, and grammatically correct than their real-life counterparts. I suspect the Philippine education system might be to thank. As an aside, the game allows the player to “input” the pre-written texts in a way that’s a bit more immersive. Like any dialogue-based game, there are choices to be made, though I’m not sure how they impact the overall narrative. 

Aside from the texts, the story is mostly delivered through unvoiced dialogue, which means over a dozen hours of reading. Recognizing this can end up feeling repetitive, Until Then takes the format of a 2.5D action game, action being a very relative term for walking from place to place. There are also some simple mini-games, like a timed slider game to pick up fish balls from a street food cart. From buying a subway ticket to waking Mark with his alarm clock, these mundane tasks help bring the player into the character’s world. This becomes important later when the story begins to develop in more surprising ways. Still, don’t expect a lot of rewarding platforming or combat. Until Then is a visual novel, after all. For the player with a lot of time, there are a ton of optional interactions with NPCs and the environment. 

Move It Along

I have a couple of minor gripes about Until Then’s narrative mechanics. First, the game is too long by a couple of hours. I think this excess mostly comes from dialogue and texts that simply drag on a bit past their points of interest. There were a few times in the opening hours when I really wanted to move the story along. But then a new character or story development hooked me back in. 

Until Then has a retro, pixel art style that’s colorful and inviting. It took me a while to warm up to it, to be honest. I’m just a little tired of the aesthetic. However, the art is much more expressive and sophisticated than I originally gave it credit for, and the use of depth and detail kept the visuals interesting. There’s just enough visual information to portray emotion, and in this case, the reference to games fits the story naturally. The cities and countryside of the Philippines form a visually and culturally unique backdrop that integrates into the story without ever feeling artificial. 

Sound On

Any game without spoken dialogue depends that much more on sound design and music. Mark is a budding — if inconsistent — pianist, and his attitudes towards practice and music reflect larger emotional moments. Both Until Then’s musical score and diegetic music are well done and varied with the shifting moods of the story. The sounds of the environment, city noises, and nature are carefully crafted.

My feelings about Until Then evolved the longer I played. What at first seemed like a slow-paced visual novel with retro graphics gradually began to reveal itself as something much more sophisticated. Excellent character development and a surprising, emotionally varied narrative are at the heart of Until Then, but its storytelling mechanics are fresh and contemporary, too. Mark and his gang have interesting stories to tell, and so does Until Then.

***PC code provided by the publisher for review***

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Boris, the solo developer of Flocons Studio and publisher JanduSoft has announced the release date for their upcoming title, Prune & Milo. It will be available on Steam, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch on 11 July. Furthermore, Xbox users can pre-order the game a week before the official launch, so keep an eye out as well.

Prune & Milo is a charming 2D turn-based puzzle game. Players will join this awesome brother and sister duo on an enchanting journey during their vacation. Their adventure began when Milo accidentally fell into a mysterious cave. Soon after, Prune joins in and together they must navigate the puzzles in the cave, unravel its secrets, and prevent the end of the world as Christopher the Wise Owl forewarned.

The game offers an unforgettable experience with over 70 levels of turn-based puzzles with unique mechanics. You will travel across three different worlds, and encounter quirky characters while solving complex puzzles on the way.

Key features:

– Turn-based puzzle game: Strategically plan your moves and solve puzzles at your own pace.
– Three unique worlds: Explore diverse environments, each with its own challenges.
– 70+ levels: Engage in various puzzles with different mechanics in every world.
– Two playable characters: Switch between Prune and Milo to utilize their unique abilities.

Are you ready to immerse yourself in a vibrant pixel-art adventure, brimming with secrets, dangers, and unusual characters?

SOURCE

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The Dutch indie game developers Ewoud and Nils have finally announced the release date for their award-winning platformer, SCHiM. This awesome game will be coming out on 18 July on Steam Steam, Xbox One/Series X|S, PlayStation 4/5, and Nintendo Switch. The standard price will be $24.99, but it will vary according to the region.

The game enjoyed huge success in the Steam Next Fest, surpassing 200k Wishlists and with over 50k players trying the demo out. Rock Paper Shotgun praised the demo, calling it “pretty froggin’ delightful!”. Even IGN Benelux highlighted it, stating, “After playing SCHiM for only half an hour, I already realised it’s a very special game.”

SCHiM is a charming indie platformer about helping a lost shadow find its way back to its human by jumping from shadow to shadow. The game takes elements of light, shadow, and animation, and then adds them to the awesome 3D platformer gameplay, offering a unique take on the genre.

Here are some key features:

– Unique 3D platforming through shadows.
– Animated shadow platforms and environments.
– Each level has its scenery with small stories.
– A story of a person losing their shadow.
– A beautiful abstract world.

The free demo version is still available on Steam for everyone to get a first-hand experience. Nintendo Switch users can already pre-order the game on the Nintendo eShop.

SOURCE

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The Brazilian indie studio Wired Games has announced that Frogue is coming out on consoles on 27 June 2024. It will be available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch. For those eager to try this stylish turn-based action platformer, the game is already out on PC, so make sure to check it out.

Frogue is a stylish 2D turn-base action platformer with roguelike, bullet hell, and time manipulation elements. It is the fifth game from developer Thiago Oliveira, the independent solo developer behind Wired Dreams Studio. It is the fourth game published for consoles in partnership with QUByte Interactive.

In the game, you will step inside the shoes of a brave frog and dash through your enemies. You can even freeze time and throw your sword to solve every obstacle in your way. Every stage demands agility and precision in every move. The character can stick to walls and use special powers as well, giving the game a three-dimensional feel. It also opens up many possibilities for coming up with a solution to any challenge.

Take a look at the official release date announcement trailer below to get a glimpse of the gameplay.

SOURCE

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