#I want to play but I must wait for the pc release ;-;

[automatic-purification-system]

Happy Magia Exedra Release Day!

I'm excited to see everyone again :)

[felassan]

EA Press Release

"Dragon Age™: The Veilguard Launches October 31, 2024; Pre-Orders Available Now August 15, 2024 New Trailer Showcases Aftermath of Solas’ Interrupted Ritual as Members of the Veilguard Must Fight Back Against Ancient Elven Gods Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) and BioWare announced today that Dragon Age: The Veilguard will launch globally on Thursday, October 31, 2024 for PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam (Deck Verified), EA App and Epic Games Store. Additionally, fans can now pre-order * the Standard and Deluxe Editions to receive in-game cosmetics that can be used to further personalize their journey through the next chapter in the critically-acclaimed saga. View the brand-new Release Date Trailer for Dragon Age: The Veilguard HERE In Dragon Age: The Veilguard , players will step into the role of Rook, a fully-customizable protagonist who must rise up, unite their crew and become the hero Thedas needs in a time where legends are born or slain. Joining Rook in their fight against corrupt Elven gods is a cast of seven compelling companions, each of whom hails from an iconic faction from Dragon Age lore. In addition to their own personal storylines and motivations, companions Bellara, Davrin, Emmrich, Harding, Lucanis, Neve and Taash all bring unique combat abilities and equipment to the fray, which Rook must strategically implement in their fight for the future of Thedas."

“As someone who’s been working on Dragon Age for over 15 years, I know just how much our community has been looking forward to this day, and I’m equally excited to share and celebrate that the game will officially launch on October 31,” said John Epler, Creative Director of Dragon Age: The Veilguard. “We wanted to give you the choice to really express yourself, and do that in a world full of adventure and danger. So whether you’re a Warrior, Rogue or a Mage, we can’t wait for you to gear up, gather your party, and set out for another thrilling adventure through Thedas this Halloween.” As a character-driven RPG, Dragon Age: The Veilguard offers a crafted experience woven from the threads of rich storytelling and fantasy worldbuilding the franchise is known for. In this bold, heroic adventure, players will experience expansive and dynamic stories that navigate love, loss and complex choices that affect relationships and the fate of each member of the Veilguard. In true Dragon Age fashion, these bonds of fellowship are the foundation upon which Rook’s journey is built, and it will be up to the player to determine how their personal story unfolds. Fans who pre-order * the Standard Edition of Dragon Age: The Veilguard for $69.99 USD ‡ on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, or $59.99 USD ‡ on PC will receive cosmetic Blood Dragon Armor sets for Warrior, Mage and Rogue classes. Those who pre-order* the Deluxe Edition for $89.99 USD ‡ on console or $79.99 USD ‡ on PC will further receive the following cosmetics: three Rook armor sets, six Rook weapons, seven companion armor sets and seven companion weapons. EA Play Pro † members on the EA App will enjoy unlimited access to the EA Play Pro Edition starting October 31st. In addition, the BioWare Gear Store has been outfitted with a variety of new merchandise, including Rook’s Coffer. Available for $150 USD ‡ , Rook’s Coffer features a variety of unique physical keepsakes including a light-up Lyrium Dagger, Rook’s deck of cards featuring in-game art, and more (game not included). For additional information and to stay up to date on Dragon Age: The Veilguard , visit the official website , like Dragon Age on Facebook , follow the franchise on Discord , TikTok , Tumblr , Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) , and subscribe to its YouTube channel. Legal Disclaimer: *Conditions & restrictions apply. See https://www.ea.com/games/dragon-age/dragon-age-the-veilguard/disclaimers for details. ‡ Offers may vary or change. see retailer site for details. † Conditions, limitations and exclusions apply. See EA Play Terms for details. PRESS ASSETS ARE AVAILABLE AT EAPressPortal.com"

[source]

[mako-the-zora]

day 146 of yearning for the wind waker, today the evil (nintendo) hasn't seen fit to grant us the sea creature (link) either.

I plead with you, oh villanous corporation, that you consider us peasants (me) that don't own a gamecube or a wiiU. I was expiriencing some things at the time for when the gamecube came to be (not being born) and im afraid i did not understand the marvel of the wiiU (i was 8 and only wanted to play wiisports)

so please you wiked company, name the price and i shall pay 40€, 50€ even 60€ i will do it. everything to smell the salt in the breze, wonder at the infinite blue and navigate thru it.

hear my plead, oh evil lord, it would be such a shame if i were pushed to emulate, as i hate pc controls, and you love to make mony.

i plead that you soon release it for the swich, or i can wait for the swich 2, but either way, please consider gifting us the sea this year.

in exchange i promise to obtain a swich 2 as soon as you release it, and to consider playing your game with the wiked man with the mustache (mario)

i must depart now, but don't think i won't be back

[plottwiststudios]

Women of Xal II Kickstarter: Delayed?

Hey, have you heard of the overly ambitious visual novel titled "Women of Xal" for Steam and Itch.io? (PC/Mac/Linux) Because that plays into why we might need to shelf the series for a few years. Full breakdown under the cut. (No spoilers)

For those who have gotten the True Ending, you should be fully aware that the story is about to vastly expand outside of Xuna's castle. It's a narrative must where everything that happens, happens well outside the scope of the original game in so many ways. And let's talk about scope! Especially if you have no idea what's so staggering about the original Women of Xal visual novel:

600+ optional choices we painstakingly programmed

Branching paths that people are still asking for guides on

A dozen romance options

Poly and gay options that interact with one another

Voice acting from now VERY popular voice actors

A 15 hour story full of mystery, lore, and tense politics

110 track soundtrack

4 Endings

Animations

Thousands of art assets (Bless Cat)

Years of hard work and long nights

No AI Art

100% positive reviews as of this post

Recouped $6000+, or roughly a fraction of the cost of development. After 2+ years of being released

Note that very last bullet point. Doing things for the art and passion is amazing and all, but I can't be investing literal thousands of hours into creating a game for a subset of a subset of a subset of people. I have bigger projects I want to finally get to work on. Ones I really hoped Women of Xal I would help a bit with funding. But it's not. And because of certain facts about the game, it may never be able to do so. To no fault of any of the players.

When I made Women of Xal I, my time was more readily available and I was quite a bit younger. The cost of running a company and creating a game like WoX as the first product hadn't quite hit me. I was also silly enough to believe "if you make it, they will come" to a degree. That part makes me grin in a not fun way.

But these days I have a job that takes me away from creating, but does pay the bills and debts. Debts I don't want to get into again in order to create the sequel that will undoubtedly come with far higher costs due to the game's scope. I have a better understanding of the costs of hiring returning and appropriate talent necessary to create a game better than the last. (I don't personally believe in being satisfied with an intentional steep downgrade.)

Yes there is the Kickstarter option for Women of Xal II, but there are plenty of costs and time investment that makes it an unviable avenue to explore during this point in time. After all, who but the people who sat down and explored everything the first game had to offer would understand how we came up with a $50,000 Kickstarter price tag for a visual novel's sequel? Especially since too many will look at the first Kickstarter and believe we made the first game with only $14,000.

I have thought about giving Women of Xal I a modernized facelift with a smaller Kickstarter, complete with a ton of new features and fun ways to streamline and highlight the narration's strong points, but there's a LOT of baggage that comes with that, including not wanting to go backwards when I still want to create my "pipe dream" projects.

So I'm thinking we'll give it a bit more thought these next few days, and if we can't think of a solution that we haven't already tried, we'll officially announce the delay (and before you suggest your own ideas, know that there's a 99% chance we've already tried it).

A long, long post just to say I do sincerely apologize for having people wait longer, but I am literally still a few thousand dollars away from paying off all my debt that came from funding the first game. It's a micro-trauma I do not feel inclined to repeating again. When the franchise is in a better place, or I am emotionally/physically, I will return back to Women of Xal to finish the story. If I cannot, I will release a summary of events that transpire after the first game's true ending.

But for now, I'm going to focus on financial and emotional healing, and creating projects that I feel will be more appreciated by both myself and people who are turned off by what "Women of Xal" offers.

Thank you all for supporting our small company these past several years. <3

-John

[daitranscripts]

The Left Hand of the Divine Pt. 3

Natalie's Fate

Leliana Masterpost First: A Message Previous: Valence

The PC uncovers a hidden alcove behind a painting. Leliana turns on Natalie, drawing a knife and holding it to her throat.

Leliana: Sorry to keep you waiting.

Dialogue options:

General: Stop! [1]

General: Well played. [2]

General: It’s about time. [3]

1 - General: Stop! PC: Leliana, stop! What are you doing? Leliana: I’m protecting us. [4]

2 - General: Well played. PC: Good old Leliana was playing you the whole time. Didn’t you realize? [4]

3 - General: It’s about time. PC: Finally. I was getting tired of all these tricks. [4]

4 - Scene continues.

Leliana: They never sing the Benedictions here on Fridays, Natalie. Something so simple, and you got it so wrong. I wanted to believe, but you were lying from the start.

Natalie scowls.

Leliana: Keep that pretty mouth shut if you must, dear. You’ve already told me everything I need to know. The prickleweed burs on your hem, talking about the sun rising through the Breach. It all points to a single place: Morelle in the Dales. Grand Cleric Victoire’s bastion. She sent you, didn’t she? Victoire was always an opportunist.

5 - Dialogue options:

Investigate: Grand Cleric Victoire? [6]

Investigate: What were your plans? [7]

General: Join us, Natalie. [8]

General: We can’t let her go now. [9]

General: Good, we know our enemy. [10]

6 - Investigate: Grand Cleric Victoire? PC: Who is this grand cleric? I’ve never heard of her. Leliana: An experienced cleric. She never agreed with Justinia but kept her ideas to herself. I suppose now, with Justinia dead, she thought she could make her move. [back to 5]

7 - Investigate: What were your plans? PC: I want to know what this grand cleric planned here. Leliana: She sent Natalie here to see what Justinia was hiding, no? Natalie: The Inquisition has turned Thedas away from the true Chantry. It must be stopped. Leliana: Stop us? You must be joking. Natalie: Mother Victoire is well loved by many. The Inquisition has more enemies than you know. Leliana: And Victoire thinks she can ally with them? [11]

8 - General: Join us, Natalie. PC: We don’t have to be at odds, Natalie. You could come with us. Join the Inquisition. Natalie: I was called to serve the grand cleric. I will not betray her. [11]

9 - General: We can’t let her go now. PC: If we let her go, she’ll just run off to her cleric, won’t she? Leliana: Likely.

10 - General: Good, we know our enemy. PC: Good work. We know the name of our enemy. That’s half the battle won. Leliana: Exactly. [11]

11 - Scene continues.

Natalie: Kill me then. I’m not afraid to die for my beliefs. At least I still know what I believe.

Kill her. [12]

Let her go. [13]

12 - Kill her. PC: This has to be done. You know it. Natalie: I see what you’ve become. Natalie: “The righteous stand before the darkness, and the Maker shall guide their… ” (Gasps.) Leliana slashes her across the throat and she falls to the ground.[14]

13 - Let her go.

Leliana softened PC: Release her, Leliana. She is no threat. Leliana: The grand cleric… PC: She is one woman. We are the Inquisition. Leliana: The Inquisitor has spoken. Run. Tell your mistress that she has a choice. She lets go and Natalie leaves.[14]

Leliana hardened PC: We don’t have to kill her. Leliana: No, I must protect the Inquisition. She is an enemy. Natalie: I see what you’ve become. Natalie: “The righteous stand before the darkness, and the Maker shall guide their… ” (Gasps.) Leliana slashes her across the throat and she falls to the ground.[14]

14 - Scene continues.

Leliana rushes over to the hidden alcove and looks at the box.

Leliana: No. This can’t be it. There’s nothing here!

Dialogue options:

General: It’s not nothing. [15]

General: A hidden bottom? [16]

General: Damn. [17]

15 - General: It’s not nothing. PC: It’s not what you expected. That doesn’t mean it’s nothing. [18]

16 - General: A hidden bottom? PC: Check again. Perhaps the box itself is a puzzle. She seemed the puzzling sort. Leliana: No. It’s just… it’s just an empty box. [18]

17 - General: Damn. PC: Well, this was a waste of time. Leliana: I wish I could say this was more than an empty box. [18]

18 - Scene continues.

Leliana: There’s a message, carved in the lid. “The Left Hand should lay down her burden.” She… she’s releasing me. The Divine has a long reach, but it is always her Left Hand that stretches out. A thousand lies. A thousand deaths. Her commands, but my conscience that bore the consequences.

19 - Dialogue options:

Investigate: What she said in the Fade… [20]

General: Stop torturing yourself. [21]

General: It was necessary. [22]

20 - Investigate: What she said in the Fade… PC: She apologized in the Fade. She said she failed you. This is what she meant. Leliana: All this time, Justinia carried the fear that she was using me, just like I’d been used in the past. But Marjolaine’s games were trifles. Justinia gambled with the fate of nations. She needed me. No one else could’ve done what I did. She knows that. [back to 19]

21 - General: Stop torturing yourself. PC: Then you have to let it go. Let her go. You don’t owe her anything anymore.

Leliana softened Leliana: If it were not for you, I would’ve killed Natalie and called it a good thing. [23]

Leliana hardened Leliana: This? Now? After everything you’ve said and done?

Leliana (told to kill Butler in Haven): I hesitated with Butler, but you never did. You gave me confidence that killing him was the right answer. Leliana (PC said “sacrifices must be made” after reaching Skyhold): After Haven, we agreed that war requires sacrifices. “Whatever it takes,” you said.

Leliana: And my poor, dear Natalie. I called her sister once, but I couldn’t risk leaving her alive. Don’t tell me to let it all go after all I’ve sacrificed to get here. [23]

22 - General: It was necessary. PC: Sacrifices are necessary. You know that.

Leliana softened Leliana: I never thought I’d hear this from you, Inquisitor. You were always an inspiration. I looked at you and saw someone who knows the way through the shadows. I was like that once, you know. But everything changes, and things are never as simple as we’d like them to be. [23]

Leliana hardened Leliana: I know. And hearing you agree gives me the courage to do what must be done. [23]

23 - Scene continues.

She walks away from the alcove.

Leliana softened Leliana: Thank you for showing me what was right when I couldn’t see it for myself. There are things that must be said, but not here. I will see you back at Skyhold.

Leliana hardened Leliana: Justinia tried to save me, but all it’s done is made me realize I don’t need saving. There is work to be done. I’ll see you back at Skyhold.

Next: Rebirth (Leliana Softened) Next: What I Am (Leliana Hardened)

[suzuran777]

Review + Guide: Friendly lab - unlock(); (Tennenouji)

I was going to wait for the English translation of the PC version, but got a bit impatient and decided to play the Japanese version instead...! So here's my spoiler-free review in which I explain the gameplay mechanics and what the game's about. I also wrote a guide, as the ones I found online were a little bit confusing to me because some endings are a bit tricky to get. When the English version is released I'll replay it and update the guide.

In this game, you play the role of a researcher who's conducting a gentle experiment on two test subjects. The goal of the experiment is to measure what kind of impact the interference of the researcher has on the test subjects. The experiment must however be conducted safely, without harming the test subjects. A small locked room, two test subjects who suffer from memory loss. It's your goal to present a variety of items to them and to observe their reaction.

If you're here for the guide I recommend scrolling down a little bit! I'll start with a short summary of what the game is about and how to play it. This game was originally released as a mobile game in 2022 and I played a little bit of it, but I didn't reach any endings, so this was my first time completing the game. The gameplay of both versions is almost identical, but this time there are no in-game purchases and ads, which is nice! As the game's description mentions, you have to conduct experiments on the test subjects, Nishi (West) and Higashi (East), and observe how they react to them. Both of them don't remember how they got there and also don't remember much of their past lives, so it's up to you to slowly make them remember. This game is unvoiced and there's also no background music, so it immediately makes the player feel a bit uneasy. The only sound you hear is the sound of the clock ticking.

Gameplay and story

As the researcher, you can use 10 different sub-menus to interact with Nishi and Higashi: Spying, Meals, Special Items, Incident, Entertainment, a safe which becomes the Cultivation Room later, Questions, Paper and Pen, Bathing and Bedtime. At first the game does seem a bit confusing because you have to figure out which items trigger a reaction and it's a bit slow at first, but I did have fun slowly learning more about the characters! The goal is to gather as many keywords as possible, but you only have a limited numbers of actions each day, so use them wisely.

Both characters have completely different personalities. They don't remember their real names so they use the Japanese words for East and West (Higashi and Nishi). Nishi knows a lot about many topics, such as plants, medicine, animals and likes sharing fun facts about items shown to him. Higashi on the other hand, seems to be struggling with a lot of things, slowly remembering his dark past when certain items are presented to him. Throughout the story, Nishi helps him to slowly regain memories of his past, which sometimes get rather dark.

Almost the entire plot of the game takes place in a single room, so the characters and their stories are the most important part of this game. Through their interactions, you learn what happened to them, allowing you to theorize how they could have possibly ended up in a situation like this. Because of this, the gameplay sometimes feels a bit slow, but I recommend taking your time so you can learn more about the characters. The game auto-saves the current experiment so you can close the game whenever you want. It takes a while to replay the game a few times too to unlock every ending, but I had a lot of fun testing each option to see what would happen next. The only downside is that you can't really save, so if the experiment fails it's over and you have to restart.

A few more tips to get all endings ↓

Spoiler-free guide

I'm pretty sure the game always gives you a game-over during your first playthrough on day 10, so the choices don't matter, but I recommend using the cultivation room which unlocks on day 2. When you ask the characters questions, a pop-up will show up that you obtained either 10, 15, 20 or 50 ml of cultivation water, which you can use in the cultivation room. Make sure to complete the experiment, as it carries over to your next playthrough. After the first round, start a new game and follow the "route 3 hint" card, it will show a little light bulb symbol next to the options you should pick. You can skip experiments you've done before by double clicking it, it's faster than pressing the skip button.

Don't use all your daily turns immediately as some options only show up throughout the day and some are only available for a limited amount of time. I recommend using the on/off button next to the eye symbol to only display experiments you haven't done yet. You can still get the endings if you miss some of experiments, but make sure to not miss too many.

The bathing scene choices usually don't matter, so just pick the character you want. You have to replay the game at least 10 times to get all the endings, so you'll have plenty of time to pick each option.

The choices with the pink handshake symbol next to them increase the affinity between both characters, which is necessary to unlock some CGs, so make sure to select a lot of these.

I think there's still an unpatched bug that makes the game freeze on day 10 of your first playthrough no matter how many times you restart. It's a bit unfortunate, but when this happens you have to go to the main menu and terminate your current playthrough. This happened to me in both the Japanese and English version but after starting a new game it never happened again,

Ending 3 and 2: Follow the "ending 3" hints which will show up after your first playthrough and select the choices with the lightbulb icon. Prioritize the "Spying" option and occasionally check if any new options unlock throughout the day as it is possible to miss them and then the game ends on day 10 again. At the end of the game you're presented with a choice, pick the option to not tell the truth for ending 3. Afterwards start a new game, follow the "ending 3" hints again and this time pick the other choice for ending 2. In my case the skip button somehow skipped the entire choice, so if you replay to get ending 2, be careful to not use this too much near the end of the final day.

Ending 4: Automatically unlocks at the same time as ending 3 if you've completed the cultivation room in your first playthrough. It's not really an ''ending'' but more like an extra scene you'll get immediately after finishing ending 3.

Ending 7: Follow the "ending 3" hints and give the characters the "happiness gas" (or bliss gas in the English version) 8 times. With this item you unlock some of the only 18+ content in the game. You can obtain this item by selecting question cards, and sometimes the characters hint that they want to do something specific (eating, entertainment etc.) and one of the sub-menu buttons will light up, hinting that you should pick one of these options next. A choice to use the gas will pop up at night. Just use this every night and you'll get ending 7.

Ending 1: This one is a bit tricky because the game doesn't really give you any in-game hints for this one, but I eventually got it by following the "ending 3" hints again. On the final day after watching the "Cow Backpack" experiment, don't select the experiment after that which should be called something like "Letter from Nishi/West". You can get this ending in one of your first playthroughs too.

Ending 10: I accidentally got this ending when I was trying to get another ending, but you can get this one by picking as many choices as you can with a ★ symbol. I tried using all of the options like Spying, Meals, Special Items etc. This ending should also unlock the ending 5 hint if you start a new game after finishing it.

Ending 5: Follow the "ending 5" hints card. If this doesn't show up for some reason you might have to try playing ending 8 and 9 first. While following the ending 5 hints, make sure to avoid question cards as much as possible. Pick the experiment which looks like ""■□ヌ"■■_リ" in the "Incident" menu every time it shows up (in the English version it also looks like that). There's multiple parts and it seems to show up randomly throughout the day sometimes.

Ending 6: Exactly the same as ending 5 but this time, make sure to use all of your question cards every day, the game ends after playing the final "■□ヌ"■■_リ" event.

Ending 8 and 9: Follow the ending 3 or ending 5 hints again, but make sure to use happiness café au lait (or bliss coffee in the English version) 8 times. You unlock this the same way as the happiness gas mentioned above, though the coffee will show up directly in the "Special Items" menu. Also make sure to play the "lump of ???" (mystery lump in the English version) event, which is an experiment that also sometimes shows up in "Special Items" during the first days. Avoid the final "■□ヌ"■■_リ" event because that might trigger ending 5 or 6 instead. You can't always use the café au lait immediately, but just check the special menu item every now and then to see if it's there. After using this item 8 times, you can choose to give it to Nishi (West) which unlocks ending 8, or Higashi (East) which unlocks ending 9.

I recently started playing the app version of the game too because it still gets regular updates and some additional content, which is also pretty interesting. I do consider both versions two completely different games though, because the PC version feels more like a serious, linear story, while the app version has so many options I sometimes don't know what to do. In the app version of the game you can purchase all kinds of items to dress the characters up, and there's also a third (and later even a fourth) character you can summon to interact with, though the main pairing of the game of course stays the same. This version also has no 18+ content, but it does have some different romance scenes instead (another kiss scene for example). I recommend playing the PC version first but if you're looking for additional content you can always download it and check it out yourself.

Final impressions

The gameplay of this game is something totally different from what I'm used to, but I had fun! It takes a while to complete so I recommend just taking it slowly. The artstyle was a bit different than Yura's usual style, but I think it really suits the game's setting. I will of course not spoil the plot of the game but I think it was really good! The game gives you all these little hints and slowly but surely, you learn their backstories and what happened to them to end up in such a place. It's called ''friendly'' lab and while the experiments themselves don't directly harm them, I will say that some of the endings are anything but "friendly", so mentally prepare yourself for that.

Anyway, I recommend playing the game without reading spoilers, because the whole point of the game is that you're slowly learning more about these characters. Despite the dark plot, of course there are a lot of funny interactions between the characters too like any other Tennenouji game. At some point you can also ask the characters if they know Giancarlo for example, a reference to Luckydog1, which was funny because it seemingly came out of nowhere.

[satoshi-mochida]

Arcade-style beat ’em up game MARVEL Cosmic Invasion announced for PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC - Gematsu

Publisher Dotemu and developer Tribute Games have announced arcade-style beat ’emup game MARVEL Cosmic Invasion for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC (Steam). It will launch in 2025.

“MARVEL Cosmic Invasion celebrates a universe that’s enthralled our team since childhood, and the genuine honor of being entrusted with this incredible roster also begins a new era for Dotemu’s work with the best entertainment franchises in the world,” said Dotemu CEO Cyrille Imbert in a press release. “MARVEL Cosmic Invasion is truly a lifetime in the making – and after witnessing Tribute Games’ unwavering devotion to the fans and passion for beloved characters firsthand throughout the development of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, we knew teaming up with them for a modern evolution of arcade-style Marvel action was the only choice.”

Tribute Games CEO and co-founder Jean-Francois Major added, “I’m quite sure I speak for the whole team at Tribute Games when I say we are profoundly honored to work on MARVEL Cosmic Invasion. This project allows us to pay homage not only to the iconic Marvel characters but also to the classic arcade games that shaped our love for gaming. We approach this cherished license with the utmost respect, infusing every pixel with the care and passion it deserves. We once again set out to modernize and push forward the genre while respecting what made the classics great. We couldn’t ask for better partners at MARVEL and Dotemu who both understand and share our passion. They amplify our dream for this project.”

Marvel Games head Haluk Mentes said, “At Marvel Games we feel privileged to make games that we ourselves want to play. Our whole team are huge fans of Tribute and Dotemu’s work, so it was inevitable that we’d assemble with them to bring players the ultimate Marvel Beat’ em Up, MARVEL Cosmic Invasion—a game we can’t wait for players to dig into!”

Here is an overview of the game, via Dotemu:

About

Tribute Games and Dotemu are teaming up again, in collaboration with Marvel Games, to craft an original, fresh beat ’em up. Featuring dynamic combat combos and dazzling pixel art, this planet-hopping adventure stands as a love letter to the Marvel Universe.

Story

“The cosmos must fall, so that I might live!!” So swears Annihilus, the living death that walks! After an unprecedented attack is launched across the galaxy, all life hangs in the balance. Nova, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Phyla-Vell, Captain America and many more heroes, both earth-born and cosmic, will join forces in a star-spanning brawling adventure against the deadly Annihilation Wave. From New York City to the depths of the Negative Zone, the future of the Universe will be fought for across the stars in MARVEL Cosmic Invasion!

Key Features

15 Playable Heroes – Whether you’re an old-school expert or a first-time fan, you’ll find familiar faces and discover new favorites in a captivating roster of characters from across the Marvel Universe!

Master the Cosmic Swap Tag-Team System – With the Cosmic Swap tag-team system, choose two heroes for each level and switch between them instantly. Create unique combos and powerful special attacks. Each character’s abilities encourage creative team-ups and a more tactical approach to the action.

Amazing Retro Art Direction – MARVEL Cosmic Invasion is a tribute to one of Marvel’s most iconic eras, with stunning full-color pixel art designs.

Intuitive, Fun Multiplayer for Everyone – Whether you’re teaming up with friends or family, MARVEL Cosmic Invasion has you covered with local/online play and a drop-in/drop-out adaptive system.

A cosmic battle awaits!

Watch the announcement trailer below. View the first screenshots at the gallery.

Announce Trailer

[archoneddzs15]

Sega Saturn - Haunted Casino

Title: Haunted Casino / ホーンテッド カジノ

Developer/Publisher: SOCIETA DAIKANYAMA

Release date: 27 September 1996

Catalogue No.: T-21902G

Genre: Adult Casino Games

TRIGGER WARNING: This post and game are both STRICTLY NOT FOR KIDS! You have been warned. I also know there is a video of this game on YouTube by Saturn Memories but that one is age-restricted so knowing the nature of this game, this post may be age-restricted as well. In fact, this game is so hentai laden I almost feel obligated to censor it!

This game is probably every Japanese pervert's dream and probably for a lot of you Western guys as well. The truth be told that this is a sack of crap. The game is presented as one of those FMV-based adventures that press straight, left, right, or back to advance through the areas. The main problem is that it is just so slow!! You must wait over 2 seconds every time the screen stops before you can do anything. This really does kill any idea of movement. Add the fact that the FMV used within this game is poor is insulting since it spans 3 discs!! What on earth did all the space get used for?

Now, I know what you're thinking. You are thinking that maybe the actual games are good. Well, no, they aren't. These too are plagued by that awful 2-second pause every time you want to do something plus, they are full of really annoying speech that just repeats over and over again. Still, at least you can see the women get their tits out, or can you? Again, this is a problem. The computer AI just cheats like in every other game made by Societa. The first rounds will be so easy followed by an impossible to complete 3rd round.

I say if you buy this game for porn, just stick the discs into your PC and download the Cinepak codec to watch the movies. You'll save yourself a hell of a lot of time and frustration by playing this. Oh, and did I mention that for some odd reason, this title is very expensive in Japan.

I also forgot to mention this. Societa actually pulled this game and that Yakyuuken Special game out from retail stores in March 1998 due to Sega no longer allowing X-rated games to be sold.

Just for you perverts out there here are two scans from the instruction manual. (I had to censor the naughty bits since, y'know, hentai and all. I sorta got creative with four Sonic logos, haha. Channeling the inner Sonic fan within me.)

[relativelynormalgameshow]

GAMES I PLAYED IN 2023

I managed to chew through and bite into quite a few games during 2023.

The number of games I finished is much lower unfortunately.

In this summary I will try to sum up the interesting picks from MY last year.

I almost haven’t touched any of the games released last year as I still didn’t have a next gen system until December and I don’t really like playing on PC. That’s my last resort option to be actually honest… I will try to at least mention some objective stuff in the short bits of text that I dedicate to each game (Because trust me, my rants and reviews could go for ages...) but take it that the list is mostly my subjective feeling of me as a gamer. 

This list is divided into

- Honorable mentions

- Main mentions

- I ESPECIALLY LOVED THOSE GAMES

and

- MEH at BEST 

which is a category dedicated to the most of my personal disappointments of the previous year… Unfortunately featuring two great games due to… reasons.

Honorable mentions I don’t want to rant about for hours but would still recommend, even if I haven’t finished some of them: 

Super Mario Bowser’s Fury (8/10)

SIFU (8/10)

Astral Chain (Unfinished, Greatest prologue of all time tho)

No more heroes (Unfinished, 6.5/10 so far) 

Vampire Survivors (7/10) 

Marvel’s Spiderman Miles Morales (8.5/10)

Astro’s Playroom (9/10)

Observer (7.5/10)

Monster Hunter Rise (8/10)

Kingdom Hearts 3 (7.5/10) 

Attack on Titan 2 (8.5/10 Absolute must play if you love AoT Franchise ) 

________________________________________

1) Main Category! 

- - -

Game: Legend of Zelda: Tears of the kingdom Platform: Switch (Duh) Status: Unfinished Rating:  So far? 7/10 Recommend?: Play Breath of Wild first. 

This is one of the games, where if you didn’t like the first game, you won’t like this one as well quite probably.

The game is fun. I got a bit disappointed later in the game as I expected the sky islands to play a much bigger part in the gameplay, and the underground is just… meh after a while.

Still an amazing game without a doubt. It’s so intuitive and it really gets you hooked. The fuse mechanics are absolutely amazing. I like the story so far. The artstyle and OST’s are still amazing, as they were in BOTW.

- - -

Game: Persona 3: Portable Platform: Switch Status: 2/3 finished Rating: Amazing actually. Recommend?: Y E S !

This was a game I was gifted by my friend and I jumped right into it.

I’ve been having Persona 3 on my radar since I started playing Persona 5 years ago.

And for a good reason.

This game is edgy and emo as hell, and that’s why I am loving every second with the game. As with Persona 5, after the second third the game grows a bit repetitive as you are stuck in the same loop of dialogues - tartarus - social links - dialogues - tartarus - etc. So I got a bit of a break and still haven’t managed to get back.

Wanna finish the story at least. It really is an interesting game and I can’t wait for the remake hitting next gen’s in February 2024.

So far I’d definitely recommend the game. Even more on the Switch. Shame they used the compressed audio-files of the P3P but other than that, it is perfect for pulling up a bit of a game when waiting for a bus, or riding home etc. 

- - -

Game: NieR: Replicant ver.1.22474487139… Platform: PS4 Status: Finished the story (Without Route C) Rating: 7/10 Recommend?: … yeeeaaah? If you liked Automata in the first place tho.  

NieR: Replicant ver. THE PASSWORD THAT SHOULD FINALLY BE OK ENOUGH, is a difficult game to rate.

I love the same things I loved on Automata here. Interesting characters, AMAZING soundtrack, fun combat… But in comparison to Automata, this game severely lacks the interesting existentialism and deep meaningful insight that the later one has.

I mean, it makes sense! It's stuff that was added in the “Sequel” and it makes sense it isn’t here. This game focuses on other aspects, like human desperation, greed, etc. Also yeah, fair to note it dabbles into a bit of existentialism here and there, but it more focuses on the meaning of personal quests, villainy, antagonism etc.

Initially I wanted to get a platinum from this game, as I have platinumed Automata before and love the game so much I actually own it on both PS4 and Switch as physical releases. But honestly, Replicant is way more boring and slow paced.

Sure there are more action packed moments, and I must say that for example the bosses were fun. Also it was amazing to finally experience from where my most favorite game of all time stems from, but I just can't look at the game without peeking at Automata and treating Replicant with the parenting quote

“Why can’t you be more like him???” 

- - -

Game: Needy Streamer Overdose Platform: PC Status: Reached few of the endings Rating:  8/10 Recommend?: Not for the faint of heart.  

Since the mission Dream On in Cyberpunk 2077 I don’t think I ever experienced serious chills during a game.

Until I played NSO. This was a game that hooked me with its 2000s Tumblr aesthetic, its cute e-girl and goth lolita themes and with the fact I heard it's basically a Doki Doki Literature club with some extra steps.

(Fair to say, I haven't played DDLC, but I Saw a hefty bit of essays on how it handles horror.)

It’s possible this game in particular spoke to me because of things I was dealing with through my friends in the past… But from a game that is basically a streamer simulator, I didn't expect it would give me cold hands, force me to blankly stare into the screen and force me to close the game because it got me so depressed. 

I might dedicate a more detailed review to it once I finish all the endings…

But so far I just have to say that this cutely looking game is not for the faint of heart.

Having the life of another person, even if it's this pixelated double-faced creature, can lead to some very psychically harmful situations.

Ame-chan is both love-able and hate-able character at the same time. And since this game doesn’t fear to dip into su1c1de, s3lf-h4rm1ng, depre55ion, 4nx1ety, slut acts for attention and other kinds of attention desperation, it can make you feel very sick if these themes are hard to handle for you. It for sure made me feel sick from my stomach. And I thank this game for it.

I haven’t expected something so rough from it, but I must tip my hat to this game for managing to make me feel this way. 

- - - 2) GAMES THAT I ESPECIALLY WANNA PRAISE! 

- - -

Game: SIGNALIS Platform: Switch Status: Finished the story Rating: EXCEPTIONAL Recommend?: DEFINITELLY!

THIS SHIT BUTTERS MY BISCUIT SO DAMN MUCH! OH MY GOD! I WILL FOREVER LOVE THIS MASTERPIECE I WAS BLESSED BY! 

I tried the game when I was having a free trial of Game Pass on my PC and got a little bit over tutorial in the game.

Fell in love instantly so I later got it for the switch, where I binged the game pretty much.

I love the pixelated artstyle, the vibes, the lovecraftian space horror that combines Dead Space, and Silent Hill in this top-down view.

The story… is Heartbreaking. I mean depending on the ending you will get, as this game follows the basic structure of SIlent Hill-esque games and gives you multiple. I got an ending called Memory and I must say it will stay in mine for eternity.

Yes, I cried.

Yes, I don’t regret it.

Yes I will buy this game again for my PS5 and play through it again.

Might even attempt platinum… God damn do I love this game.

Go into it as blind as you can if possible and enjoy the ride.

It’s highly probable I will come back to rant about this game in the future.

- - -

Game: Neon White Platform: PS4 Status: Almost Platinum (2 trophies left) Rating: Hidden Gem! Recommend?: DEFINITELLY!

Neon White. A game I had on my radar for a while.

I knew nothing about it. Just that it's a parkour card based FPS… And that it is highly praised.

It didn’t take much for me to fall in love with this speedrunning madness.

This game is beautiful. And I mean ABSOLUTELY beautiful. That game is so f*ckin pretty it shouldn’t be possible! And so addicting as well! The story is basic, BUT, it’s put in a very captivating way, mainly because of its lead characters.

White, Yellow, Violet and Red are so loveable that there is literally no way for you to hate their stereotypes.

The game’s levels are interspersed with visual novel elements filled with either serious story elements, or goofy character interactions. I must say I laughed quite a lot at the stupid jokes these characters make.

But the biggest pro of this game are the boss fights.

There are three in the whole game but I’d say they are one of the best, most interesting and perfectly placed boss fights I EVER experienced. And it’s fair to note I finished Dark Souls 1 and 3 and Bloodborne. Every boss encounter is perfectly placed in the narrative. It has stakes, it feels like a battle between you and your enemy on equal levels, and each and every encounter between you two feels like you both got better and better. The culmination of your fight is amazing as well.

I needed to collect my dropped jaw from my lap quite a few times.

And the level design? Mesmerizing�� Simply, mesmerizing. From the first level to the last, the locations are distinct, they have unique themes and soundtracks and they are just gorgeous. I couldn’t recommend you Neon White more. It’s quite a short game. Go give it a try. 

- - -

Game: Unpacking Platform: PC Status: 100% Rating: Great! Recommend?: DEFINITELLY! 

This game is one of the most chill games I have ever played. I pretty much finished it over one evening and I had a blast.

The amount of care that went into this game is insane. I especially love the meta narration this game does. The whole story is said through the items a person owns.

You follow a character from childhood to adulthood as they move from place to place. And you can tell so much about their family, partners, life, travels and achievements just from the stuff they own.

SLIGHT SPOILER

For example when your character gets their first partner, you find out that NOWHERE in their apartment is a room for the certificate they got in school. Nowhere. So this thing your character should and could be proud of goes where? under the bed… I must say that when I finally moved away from them, this was the first thing I searched for in the various boxes only to basically GLUE it to the wall in my living room. I was proud about them :3 And I wanted everyone to see what they achieved. And mainly my character, because they should be proud of themselves! :3

END OF SPOILER 

So, I’d definitely recommend you to play through the game. It's short, but it leaves you with memories. And I think that's what the game is ultimately about.

- - -

Game: Corpse Party Platform: PS4 Status: Platinum Rating: Great! Recommend?: DEFINITELLY! 

I don’t usually play RPG maker-like games. Not a fan.

But this was a game I knew a long time about. The 4 episode long anime adaptation was one of the first animes I ever watched. So naturally, I wanted to play the OG. And oh boy it’s so good!

I Was surprised it captivated me so much I platinumed the game.

The additional stories that the new edition brings are great but the main story? Every character is distinct, has a great personality, and you genuinely care about each and every one of them.

It was insane to see how many emotions and feelings they put into a pixelated game. The game can even be quite terrifying and disturbing at times.

The port on PS4 I played was playing amazingly well. I would for sure recommend this game. I think I finished platinum in two days and I regret nothing. This game would deserve bigger recognition. 

- - -

3) MEH at BEST 

- - -

Game: Ghostwire Tokyo Platform: PS5 Status: Finished story Rating: 5/10 Recommend?: …Only if you REALLY WANT

So… Ghostwire Tokyo was a game I was looking forward to oh so much. You could say it was one of the titles because of which I got a PS5.

The setting looked interesting, the combat was a kung-fu based magic which was new and creative and I am a sucker for japanese folklore and horror. But this is probably the most lukewarm game I ever played.

One of my problems with it is the amount of blind mindless collectibles. This game is a disgusting collectathon. It’s insane how much crap they """force""" you to gather here.

On top of it, the story is kinda boring for the setting they made, and the combat is not as deep as it could be, so it gets boring and repetitive after a while.

If the game would be cut down to maybe like 10-ish hours, maybe it could get a higher ranking. But for it to have a completion rate of 100% at around 40 hours is a waste of time honestly.

I myself finished the game after 23 hours of a slight collecting and mainly story rushing and I was coming off of it bored as hell. I expected more from the creators of Resident Evil and the Evil Within series… Let’s see what will Slitherhead bring. Hopefully not another disappointment. 

- - -

Here I will get into some hot takes so… bear with me. 

Okay, I am scared of the hate so… the next two games I think are amazing games at their high points. It's just that PERSONALLY I have so many gripes with both of them that I can't help but be disappointed after not only the studio’s history… But also the hype the people give it. 

- - -

Game: Elden Ring Platform: PS4 Status: Trying to find my love for it Rating:  …meh(???) Recommend?: eh. I guess? But also no. But also yes.

I will probably dedicate a separate blog post to why I think Elden Ring is in theory two amazing games that just don't work together…

For short… The game is stunning. It’s responsive, it’s beautiful, it has AMAZING LORE (Duh, It’s Miyazaki and R. R. Martin), and it genuinely got me inspired to move my ass and work a bit on my own fantasy story…

But the game is so bloated, filled with filler stuff that becomes boring the second or third time you encounter it. The lack of direction that was amazing in previous entries is absolutely painful in this game, the exp drop from enemies is so low that basically the only thing you can do is grind out the roaming bosses, which will become boring so very quickly due to the repetitive nature of them.

I don't think ER is a bad game. Not at all. I just think calling it Fromsoft’s best is more than an overstatement.

I am still trying to find my love for the game. As I said, the world is probably one of the most amazing, beautiful and stunning worlds I have ever seen. Margit, the fell omen, is one of my most favorite bosses of all time and I spent hours just gawking at the views this game gives you… but there is so much crap that just doesn’t work that I can’t but be disappointed at what I was delivered after such insane praise this game got. Bloodborne still stands tall as the BEST FromSoft’s title. 

- - -

Game: Sekiro Platform: PS4 Status: Unfinished, abandoned. Rating: I have no idea tbh Recommend?: Try it out for sure. 

Another game that I was disappointed with because of the hype. My friend has beaten the game 4 times on release. He borrowed it to me, I got properly owned, returned the game and since then, my desire for revenge only grew.

I got the game, got owned pretty quickly again, and abandoned it again.

The third time I got into the game, something clicked and I stormed through the beginning of the game… But Very quickly I encountered a reocurring theme of me learning the boss patterns for hours, beating it, and then instead of being happy I finally did it, I only realized I will now go meet another roadblock.

I can safely say I hate the minibosses more than the bosses themselves.

I had a lot of fun with Lady Butterfly. Even so much I consider her one of the best bosses I went against as well. Genichiro was amazing too (Even though I hated how many times my butt was kicked), and Gyobu? Oh, that boss is amazing…

But the game simply didn’t click with me. I got all the way to Headless ape and then I figured this game won't be for me. It’s the type of game that either clicks for you and it’s a 10/10. Or doesn’t and it’s 3/10. And for me it’s the latter.

Amazing setting, mesmerizing and gorgeous locations, satisfying sound design of the parry and new interesting battle system buried under the fact that this is one of the most player-specific niche games out there.

Real shame.

I am sorry, Sekiro, I don’t know if I am disappointed in you or in myself… but I probably won’t be returning again… 

- - -

So, that was it. IF you read all the way here, I thank you so very much.

Those were my feelings for the games I was able to play through 2023.

I will gladly hear your opinions on anything I mentioned.

Or what is your favorite game you played last year?

It’s possible I will come back to some games from this list in the future in a dedicated post. A lot of them deserve more attention.

And I am still trying to love Elden Ring so…

[chaos64sprinkles]

Getting ready too early to see the movie in 3D! Scene 28

Sprinkles: Okay, I'm in the cinema playing on the PC right now while I wait and sleep inside this cinema, because I sneaked in, because this movie comes out tomorrow and I don't want to wait outside, that's why I sneaked in to stay one night there, in this gif, it summarizes what happened before, after I paid for the ticket and the owner hadn't paid attention to the date, I received it, then I received popcorn from an automatic machine, a soft drink in the fridge, so far everything was fine until I went down the hall and came across the film that I chose, because of the month we were in and it was called 'Pingu In 3D', well, because I didn't watch this film in 3D during Christmas, it must be good and if You saw what happened in that warehouse was that I couldn't take two shopping carts, so I had to keep them hidden so no one could steal them and I can already imagine the cleaner struggling to open the door, trying to get the containers needed to do a good cleaning. to the mall, anyway, I can't wait for when the film 'Pingu In 3D' releases!

[retrogamerj]

Retro Corner: The Elder Scrolls: The Arena (PC) Review

A new edition of Retro Corner Reviews is up and as Winter slowly dies down to make way for Spring, I have a classic WRPG to check out. This is the original Elder Scrolls: The Arena that was released in 1994 for PC. The Arena profoundly changed the game up for WRPGs and at the time was stuck being phased out for JRPGs. There are a couple of reasons this happened and first had to do with JRPGs casualizing the genre beyond the “nerd” stigma. The second reason is thanks to people giving the gritty and underground tone of WRPGs a displeasured attitude. Back in the 80s and 90s people always demonized those who were into D&D and Ultima. If anyone were into the western style of role play would be considered society’s near punching bag. It’s also ironic how someone was called a “nerd” for liking concepts that were often gritty and dark. Then turn around and have no problem with darker themes from Mortal Kombat and Doom. Sometimes this just shows how hypocritical society can act, especially from those people who thought they were being a “kewl” person. My first experience with the series was through Oblivion on Xbox 360 in 2007. I eventually upgraded to a gaming desktop a few years after and picked up a better version on PC.

Eventually, I did check out ES1: the Arena and ES2: Daggerfall once playing through Skyrim out of curiosity. It wasn’t surprising for these games to look similar to Doom and Duke Nukem 3D. The limitations of visuals from the mid-90s often went for the look unless they wanted Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire. No wonder Bethesda waited until ES3: Morrowind to go full 3D now that the genre had been tweaked. For its time, the Arena was a massive step from the often overhead 2D style. The game presented a massive open world and gave the player freedom to do what they wanted. You can stay on the path as a champion or become a villainous killer through evil methods. This was years before games like Fable would allow you to take either path. The story takes place forty years before Oblivion where a mage named Jagar Tharn usurped Uriel Septim VII. He was banished to the Oblivion Realm and disguised himself as Septim to trick the Imperial council from picking a new successor. Now, his chosen champion must find a way to gain strength and go on a quest to stop Jagar from completing his true objective of his conquest of Tamriel. The Elder Scrolls: The Arena (PC) Review

[linuxgamenews]

Oppidum: Discover the Future of Survival Gaming

Oppidum 3D co-op survival adventure game is due to offer support for Linux with Windows PC. Developer EP Games has poured their creativity into making this adventure. Due to make its way onto Steam. Get ready, because Oppidum is coming! EP Games has officially announced that their upcoming 3D co-op survival adventure — built for 1 to 4 players—is launching in 2025. To celebrate, they’ve also released a brand-new teaser trailer, and let’s just say — it looks inspiring. And also due to include a native port.

The game has been developed using Unity, but I must say, and you're going to love it, we have ported it ourselves to Linux as well.

EP Games already nailed it with A Gummy's Life, and we’re sure your community will like this one too. No surprise they’re using Unity 3D to bring it all to life This isn’t just another survival title. Oppidum takes the thrill of exploration, combat, and crafting and blends it into a story-driven adventure. Think Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but with multiplayer, survival mechanics, and a world full of mysteries waiting to be untraveled. You can play solo or team up with three friends, due to build your camp, battle tough enemies, and uncover the secrets of Insule, a strange island packed with surprises.

Oppidum | Official Teaser Trailer

What’s Waiting for?

Survive and Explore – Discover varied biomes, gather resources, and fight off dangers as you shape your own adventure. Every step you take reveals something new, pushing you to dig deeper into the island’s past.

Build Your Own Camp – Set up your base, expand it, and unlock new blueprints and tools. The deeper you explore Oppidum, the more ways you’ll find to survive and thrive.

Total Customization – You control everything—from how your character looks to how tough your adventure gets. Want a chill experience? Go for it. Prefer a brutal survival challenge? Crank up the difficulty.

Co-op Action – Whether you go solo or bring in up to three friends, the quest is built for teamwork. Work together, split up to cover more ground, or just mess around and see what happens.

A Living World – Oppidum isn’t just about fighting and crafting. You can grow crops, bake special treats, fish for rare creatures, and interact with the island’s inhabitants to shape the world around you.

Crossplay is Coming!

And here’s the best part — crossplay is in the works, meaning Oppidum is bringing players from all platforms together. Whether you're on PC or console, you’ll be able to team up and take on Insule together. So, if you’re into exploring, crafting, battling, and uncovering hidden stories, Oppidum should be on your radar. Keep an eye out for more updates as we get closer to 3D co-op survival adventure release on Steam in Q1 2025. Due to make its way onto Linux with Windows PC.

[lindsaywesker]

Good morning! I hope you slept well and feel rested? Currently sitting at my desk, in my study, attired only in my blue towelling robe, enjoying my first cuppa of the day. Happy Hump Day!

My goodness, I worked hard yesterday! No, I don’t want a round of applause or some kind of medal. I’m just telling you: I worked really hard and, at the end of my day, I deserved a treat. Hey, we all deserve treats! And don’t tell me you don’t love treats! I talked about wellness yesterday and wellness is all about treating yourself well. Why should I treat myself? Just like the tagline in that L’Oreal ad says … because I deserve it!

I didn’t do anything extravagant. In fact, I did nothing. I made myself a delicious dinner and watched football on the TV. Nothing flashy.

And I know you work bloody hard! The thing about my friends is that they’re like me: they’re conscientious and they take pride in their work. My friends don’t skive. My friends are not sloppy. My friends work bloody hard so you, my friends, deserve a treat. It’s Hump Day, almost the weekend, and you deserve a mid-week treat. Go on, treat yourself! You’ve earned it, so enjoy it. Life is too short not to enjoy a self-indulgent evening where you take care of you! Spend that extra few minutes soaking in the bath. Have another glass of wine.

While I was waiting for my lesson to begin on Monday, I watched YouTube videos on a PC in the study room. I watch videos by this American musician called Rick Beato, and he always has the most fascinating conversations with top musicians. On Monday, I watched him interview guitarist Steve Lukather, former member of Toto, top session musician and he even won a Grammy in 1982 for co-writing ‘Turn Your Love Around’ for George Benson. He had friends that were playing with Steely Dan when they were making ‘Katy Lied’, and his friends used to come home and actually play tracks from ‘Katy Lied’ LIVE in their house even before it was released! That must have been one cool house!

Have a wonderful and well-endowed Wednesday. I love you all. Yes, a crazy, bald man loves and cares about you.

[vnobscura]

Little Aid

Opening

Little Aid was released on the PC, PS2, and PSP by TAKUYO, the same company that made Cherryblossom. This game acts as a sort of sequel to Cherryblossom, but it takes place a couple years later, like about 10 years. After being ported to the PS2, two new routes were added and one route was taken out, but was implemented back into the PSP version along with updated graphics.

Story

There really isn't a deep story to tell here. It just feels like a slice-of-life story that doesn't really go anywhere. You play as Nishimura Akari who has a twin brother named Nishimura Fumi. A sort of culture festival event is being prepared by the school for tearing down an old school building and miscellaneous events occur in the school. There's a pendant that you find later that turns out to be your mother's and has special powers, but I forgot about it completely until the end. Apparently, it let's you see where someone is as well as their memories.

Gameplay

There isn't much gameplay to speak of. It's more akin to a visual novel than a dating sim. All you ever really do is make choices and that's it.

Art

Art was fine. There were some humorous CGs mixed in with the rest which was nice to see. The odd thing for me about collecting the CGs though was that you don't collect all the CGs after completing a route. You had to go on a different route to get the missing CG for that specific character. After collecting all endings, there is a "Special" page in the Omake section with different sketches of the CGs you see in the game. I thought the some of the other sketches looked much better than what was chosen for the final game, but that's just my opinion.

Music

I thought the music quality improved from its predecessor and enjoyed some songs at first. The audio mixing felt off though. The voices felt too quiet and the music was really loud. I had to adjust the volume of the game so there's that.

Replayability

There are a multitude of routes you can take so replaying the game is a must if you want the full experience. However, it can get tiring pretty fast. Going through one route meant going through already read dialogue that takes six in-game days just to pick the correct choices for that specific route. There are normal endings and good endings for each character as well as three more unlockable characters and two other routes. So unless you have a lot of time on your hands, going through all those routes can be a bit tedious.

Casual Thoughts

I sort of wanted Little Aid to be an improved version of Cherryblossom in terms of gameplay, but it acted more like a visual novel. The whole time, I had been waiting for a change in gameplay, but it never happened. This felt weaker compared to Cherryblossom and the lack of a strong, intriguing story made it a bit of a slog to get through. The voice acting was done with a lot of energy, but there were a couple characters who shared the same voice actors so it confused me at times. Unlike Cherryblossom though there was a lot less narrative in terms of actions and there was more dialogue which I thought worked better in these kinds of games. I found it strange how there were characters who were voiced but didn't have sprites and that just feels weird and confusing because there were already a lot of characters you had to remember. (Also, some of the voices didn't sound like they fit the character.) The guys that you were supposed to "romance" felt like an afterthought to me because the only real "romance" that you can do happens on the very last day and it doesn't really feel rewarding. I didn't enjoy Little Aid as much as I wanted to, but don't let my opinion detract you from trying the game yourself.

[junipaca]

jotting my thoughts on pokemon rejuv so far since im just finished battling hazuki.

likes:

hell yeah more utilization of double battle scenarios. those are my jam and butter i have so much fun calculating who's gonna target who and what the fuck should i go for. I'd like to thank my cinccino and weavile. fakeout helping hand combos so well with my tanky or fast sweeper pokemon.

the field options and crest system are cool as hell. its gen rlly creative and i had to get used to it and use my brain, it throws a wrench in usual pokemon play and style. it also lifts some underutilized pokemon! its manageable though. and the boss battles were gen rlly cool! rift pokemon my beloved. rlly hard in the beginning but i learned to cheese it eventually (curse + leech seed + whirlpool + toxic with corrosion)

the difficulty i think is spiked p well, its good enough that you aren't out of options, almost never, but you got to use your head around certain teams and foes. EV training is a MUST, luckily there are EV training centers. i hate IV hunting so i used the password for full 31 IVs all the way . you also need some basis of pokemon competitive i'd say.

speaking of passwords those are gen rlly nice to use, saves some time. i got a remote pc with me and that saves like 50% of the handling when preparing for a boss battle.

the aevian forms are so cool. my fav has been probably chandelure and leavanny so far but i just caught a feebas so who knows. i also have a gastrodon who's so silly i love that design

god the characters are so nice. i love the individuality of each character presented to the player, and you kind of got to twist one part to get to the other and know why the first part was twisted. that being said, if you asked who my favs are its adam ren and talon. silly dudes. but i also know i would EAT this up in my younger years a lot more. but even now i still adore them. found family is dear and nice, especially well done for a large cast jesus fuck

also worldbuilding. i don't want to say more but woah. good job.

i adore [REDACTED] very dearly and i have to apologize every time i see them. i wish i got to know them more. hopefully more appearances later??????

iffy stuff:

i want to like venam and melia's relationship a lot more than i do now. i think its just uncertainty with their previous known age gap before the time skip? eh.

I'm. very confused about Risa's whole schtick. i don't want to say more than now because spoilers and all. but i think too much information got laid on with that arc that my brain exploded there. wish it was just a bit clarified or so . (also is she 18 or 21??????? the internet and the game confuse me. this matters because i have to know whether to sock dylan or not)

some of the sidequest lines are misleading. they say "go to [here]" and when i go there nothing happens. its only when i search up the issue online is when i find out that i have to do Something Else first. just wish it was more clarified or such? if that makes sense? its like someone told you to go to the field or smth but didn't say you had to talk to the lady at the building first.

honestly i think the story confusions i have now are going to wait until The End of this game because rn it isn't fully complete. i will wait as long as needed until everything releases before i can make a full assessment. like. this has so much work put into this game. for FREE. NOTHING OF COST. like holy shit i can wait forever and ever. i have 130+ hours into this game. i can't believe this is nothing of cost. so a positive note here in this category.

comments:

honestly ive seen a ton of critique towards this game, so i was sort of jumping around trying to assess how hard it was going to be and whether or not i would be actually interested. i'm delighted to say i am. key note: don't listen to reddit when they say "too edgy". i know my edgyness. i i also quite enjoy some of it. i think its a matter of taste.

if you try out this game do have. a lil handful of pokemon experience in terms of speed, sweeping, and tanks. i think some basic knowledge there would go a long way. then again i played normal mode, there is an easier mode if i remember. either way, get ready to strategize.

also rec me more games im almost caught up w everything pretty please i need something to occupy my brain.

[thetoxicgamer]

Echoes of the Living Has That Classic Resident Evil Fixed Camera View

If you're a fan of the classic fixed-camera Resident Evil games and have been longing for their nostalgic return, the new Echoes of the Living demo featured in Steam Next Fest this week is tailor-made for you. After trying out the initial demo earlier this year and revisiting this upcoming survival horror game during Steam's demo festival, I can confidently say that developer Moonglint has implemented several impressive improvements, making it a game that will genuinely appeal to fans of Capcom's classic series. Echoes of the Living embodies all the hallmarks of those older Resident Evil titles: it features dual protagonists with distinct narratives, a fixed camera perspective, a focus on item management, a tense and eerie atmosphere, elements of backtracking and puzzle solving, an item storage box in the save room, and, naturally, hordes of zombies. If you've played any of the games between the original Resident Evil and Code Veronica, much of what Echoes of the Living offers will be instantly familiar to survival horror aficionados. Moonglint has made notable enhancements to the game since the initial Echoes of the Living demo. The most noticeable improvement is the vastly improved tank controls. In the previous demo, they felt unresponsive and cumbersome, but now they operate much more smoothly, resulting in far fewer instances of getting grabbed by zombies. Additionally, there is now a more modern control scheme available, but for purists, the tank controls remain the preferred choice. Both player characters, Laurel and Liam, have new introductions, and certain in-game events make the game world feel significantly more dynamic. Echoes of the Living already resembles a modernized version of the original Resident Evil Remake, making it a must-play for fans of that game. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dblll_L66w The most significant departure from the Resident Evil formula in the demo is the introduction of brand-new melee weapons. While you still have the trusty infinite-use knife (although it's not as overpowered as Code Veronica's), you now have access to baseball bats and pipes. These melee weapons break after a few uses but serve as both a reliable backup when you're out of ammo and an incredibly satisfying way to dispatch enemies with a single hit. Similar to how you could quickly dispatch zombies by aiming the shotgun upward in classic Resident Evil games, you can change the swing direction of a melee weapon to easily crush a zombie's head. The animation and sound effects combine to produce one of the most gratifying crunching noises I've ever encountered, and I genuinely felt a pang of disappointment when my baseball bat broke. The Echoes of the Living demo is only available during Steam Next Fest, which runs until Monday, October 16, so be sure to download and try it on Steam as soon as possible. The game is set to be released in the first quarter of 2024, so the wait for the full launch won't be too long. While anticipating the release of Echoes of the Living and the elusive Resident Evil 9, you might want to explore the best survival games currently available on PC and consider diving into some essential VR horror games to truly experience spine-tingling scares. Read the full article