Game of the Year 2023 - Most Memorable

Most video games are designed to immerse you during your actual gameplay. They want you to enjoy the times you’re sitting with them, controller in your hand, absorbed by what is taking place on the screen. Every once in awhile though, there’s something about a game that sticks with us after we’ve turned off the television and put the mouse and keyboard away. Maybe it a song with a sticky quality in the back of your mind, or a character you adored or a story that meant so much more than just getting to the end credits These are the titles we want to celebrate here.

NICK

Fuga: Memories of Steel 2

The original Fuga surprised me when it came out. The art style and animorphic characters didn’t much appeal to me at the time. That being said, I finally played it and quickly found myself caring about the characters and enjoying both the music and setting while eating up the strategic gameplay. Fuga 2 really did not change up the formula much, but it didn’t need to as the things that I enjoyed so much of the original did. That being some, there were some pretty emotional character and narrative notes in the second game that stuck with me well after I finished playing it.

SUSAN N.

Oxenfree II: Lost Signals

Night School Studio splashed across my screen when I was watching a bunch of world premiers several months back and I shouted, “NO WAY. ARE THEY RELEASING ANOTHER ONE?!” I heard familiar audio and jumped out of my seat in excitement. 

Oxenfree II: Lost Signals takes place many years after the first game, though has ties to it. As I went through the story, I was shocked when I heard some familiar names. This instantly hooked me because I couldn’t contain my theory crafting about how and why this game would connect to the first. What it would all mean. Why are the spirits coming after us. Heck, on stream, I’m sure my viewers were confused because they didn’t know anything about the games. Hearing me prattle on about some of the characters, laughing at some references, and griping about certain events, must have been quite interesting without any context. Halloween was the perfect time to play the game and I had a blast. It sticks out in my mind as one of the most memorable and impactful games of the year for several reasons and I’m not ashamed to say that I love everything about it (even if the ending was a bit strange.) If you’re looking for a mind melting experience, go in without any preconceived notions and try it. It may surprise you!

RICHARD

Crymachina

Now, I was debating putting this in guilty pleasure, but it made its way here for a few reasons. First of all, it has a rather deep introspective into what it means to be human, and at what point do we either become or stop being human. Can advanced enough AI become human? What even is the defining factor of "what makes a human, a human"? Add to this a little bit of a meta requirement for getting the true ending, a bonus boss that was the first truly serious boss fight I've had in a while, as well as some interesting backstory on major enemies and the references they represent and it's a game that'll stick in my mind for quite a while.

PIERRE-YVES

Disgaea 7

While a new Disgaea is in and of itself a guilty pleasure, Disgaea 7 was memorable for multiple reasons. It was back to a lot of basics but it didn't sacrifice all the strides that the series has made over the years. It had a great cast of over the top characters which were fun to all see together dood, but may have needed more Prinnies. And as always, it had an addictive turn based strategy gameplay that just makes you want more.

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Sega Reveals Updates to Popular IPs Like Jet Set Radio!

IRVINE, Calif. - December 8, 2023 – At The Game Awards 2023, one of the largest annual video game industry events in the world, Sega of America unveiled an initiative to produce brand new titles from the publisher’s treasure trove of beloved IP. New games are currently in development for five of the company's legacy franchises: Crazy Taxi, Golden Axe, Jet Set Radio, Shinobi and Streets of Rage – all reimagined for modern audiences.

“In recent years, Sonic the Hedgehog has forged new paths for SEGA, bringing the franchise to life and reaching new audiences in ways we had only dreamed of in the past. Building off that success, we are digging into our legacy and reimagining several franchises to bring these games to more audiences around the globe,” says Co-COO of Sega Corporation and CEO of Sega of America, Shuji Utsumi. “Today's announcement is just the start of our initiative. First and foremost, our ambition will be to create great games with memorable characters and worlds. We hope fans of all ages will look towards our future with anticipation as we release these projects in the coming years.”

The upcoming projects, spanning a range of genres, are currently in different stages of development and will release over the next several years. The first of these games will be based on the following legacy franchises:

• Crazy Taxi franchise – A whacky, high-octane driving adventure series where players must weave through traffic in an open play environment to deliver passengers to their destinations before time runs out.
• Golden Axe franchise – A "hack and slash”-style series with close melee combat set in a fantasy world of beasts, swords, and magic.
• Jet Set Radio franchise – This franchise combines action packed traversal around vibrant Tokyo-to with skating, self-expression through graffiti, street culture and rebellious themes.
• Shinobi franchise – A series that utilizes ninja shuriken, ninjutsu, special attacks and more to defeat enemies in a mix of side-scrolling action and challenging environments.
• Streets of Rage franchise – A “beat 'em up”-style series that pairs fast-paced fist fighting with fresh music set in a lawless urban environment.

More details on each of these upcoming games, including official game titles, release dates and platforms, will be shared in the future. To stay in the loop, fans can visit nextlevel.sega.com to sign up and receive all the latest updates on these SEGA projects and more.

For more information on SEGA of America and their titles, please visit  sega.com.

 

About SEGA of America, Inc.

SEGA of America, Inc. is the American arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA CORPORATION, a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment. Established in 1986, SEGA of America publishes innovative interactive entertainment experiences for console, PC, mobile and emerging platforms. In 2020, SEGA ranked #1 among Metacritic's Annual Game Publisher Rankings. Its globally beloved franchises include Sonic the Hedgehog™, Like a Dragon™, Virtua Fighter™, Super Monkey Ball™, and Phantasy Star Online™, along with Atlus' Persona™ and Shin Megami Tensei™ series. Since its debut more than three decades ago, Sonic has become a pop culture icon featured in dozens of games, TV series, and movies. SEGA of America has offices in Irvine and Burbank, California. Visit www.sega.com.

ⒸSEGA. All rights reserved. SEGA is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. SEGA, the SEGA logo, Crazy Taxi, Golden Axe, Jet Set Radio, Shinobi and Streets of Rage are registered trademarks or trademarks of SEGA CORPORATION. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are property of their respective owners.

Article by: Susan N.

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Visions of Mana Coming to PlayStation, Xbox, and PC in 2024!

LOS ANGELES (Dec. 7, 2023) – At The Game Awards, SQUARE ENIX®, revealed a brand-new entry in the beloved Mana series, Visions of Mana^™, the first mainline instalment in more than 15 years. Visions of Mana will return to the series action-RPG roots and take players on a new adventure with protagonist Val, a soul guard assigned to protect his childhood friend, who has been chosen by the Faerie as the Alm of Fire to travel to the Tree of Mana and rejuvenate the mana flow. Visions of Mana is coming to PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC and PC via STEAM® in 2024.

Square Enix released a new trailer which provides a first look at the newly imagined world of Mana in the all-new Visions of Mana. The trailer features action-packed gameplay and showcases a vibrant world where players will be able to journey across a range of breathtaking environments, battle with an array of enemies and monsters, including fan-favorite Rabites, while exploring a world where the powers of nature and elemental spirits connect. Fans and newcomers alike will also get to experience new and evolved gameplay with real-time 3D combat.

Since the series’ debut in 1991 as FINAL FANTASY^™ ADVENTURE, a spin-off of the FINAL FANTASY series, Mana games have immersed players in bright vibrant worlds, breathtaking environments, heartwarming characters and high fantasy storylines across many genres and platforms. Fans of the series can expect new designs of the series’ beloved creatures from Mana series Illustrator Airi Yoshioka and a new captivating musical score composed by Mana series composers Hiroki Kikuta, Tsuyoshi Sekito and Ryo Yamazaki.
 
“I am delighted to finally be able to reveal Visions of Mana, the first mainline instalment to Mana series in over fifteen years” said Mana Series Producer, Masaru Oyamada. “The development team have been working hard to ensure that Visions of Mana remains faithful to the series that players know and love while also offering fans and newcomers a fresh new experience with an all-new story, characters, and gameplay mechanics. We cannot wait to share more details about the game with you soon.”

To celebrate the reveal of Visions of Mana, popular series artist HACCAN created new teaser artwork which gives players a glimpse of the iconic Tree of Mana against one of the game’s enchanting vistas and a variety of the heartwarming characters that players can expect to encounter within the game.

Visions of Mana will be launching in 2024 for PS5®, PS4® consoles, Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC and Steam®. For more information, visit https://www.square-enix-games.com/.

 

Related Links:

X: https://twitter.com/managame
Facebook:  https://facebook.com/ManaGame
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/squareenixna
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/managame
Threads: Threads.net/@ManaGame
#VisionsOfMana

About the Mana Series

Originally released in 1991 as “FINAL FANTASY ADVENTURE,” a spin-off title for the “FINAL FANTASY™” series, the game’s positive reception established it as its own standalone action RPG franchise.​​
The unique elements that make a true Mana game include; an emotional narrative about the power of mana, the legendary Mana Sword, a quirky cast of characters, memorable music, and a weapon-based battle system. The Mana series has released 17 titles over the last 30+ years and sold over 9 million copies/downloads worldwide. The demand for the franchise from its fans has seen several Mana games re-mastered and re-released in the West over the last console generation.​

About Square Enix, Inc.

Square Enix, Inc. develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX® and TAITO® branded entertainment content throughout the Americas as part of the Square Enix group of companies. The Square Enix group of companies boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY®, which has sold over 185 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 88 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix, Inc. is a U.S.-based, wholly owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
 
More information on Square Enix, Inc. can be found at https://square-enix-games.com

© SQUARE ENIX
 
© 2023 Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC. "PlayStation", the "PS" Family mark, “PS5” and “PS4” are registered trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. Xbox, Xbox One, the Games for Windows logo and Xbox logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies and are used under license. ©2023 Valve Corporation. All rights reserved. Steam and the Steam logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Valve Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.

Article by: Susan N.

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Experience Aurora Borealis in Mini Motorways Today!

Bask in the Northern Lights in Mini Motorways’ New Aurora Borealis Update Out Now!

 

Mini Motorways, the award-winning minimalist strategy traffic management sim with more than four million players from developer Dinosaur Polo Club, travels to Iceland on holiday in the new Aurora Borealis update out now!

Snuggle up with a cozy blanket and a piping cup of tea as winter arrives in the north!

Explore a new map filled with glistening peninsulas and craggy coves. Set a route for Reykjavík and discover all the northernmost capital of the world has to offer.

"Winter has arrived, and whether your December is one for family and exchanging gifts or just an excuse to step away from the grind, we've been tinkering away for a few months on our stunning new Aurora Borealis update to try to capture a bit of winter coziness," said Casey Lucas-Quaid, Community Manager, Dinosaur Polo Club. "This is our final update of 2023, and we're thrilled to share what 2024 and beyond have planned for Mini Motorways!"

 Mini Motorways, the award-winning minimalist strategy traffic management sim with more than four million players from developer Dinosaur Polo Club, travels to Iceland on holiday in the new Aurora Borealis update out now!

 

Plan the layout for streets and roundabouts with a beautiful backdrop of a map inspired by the northern lights and world-famous landscape. Experience the elegant beauty of the Northern Lights in Reykjavik with endless gameplay options.

Check out new Achievements, plus new Daily, Weekly, and City Challenges, as well as various minor bug fixes and performance improvements.

The brand new update is available now for free across all current platforms for Mini Motorways, including Apple Arcade, Nintendo Switch, and PC and MacOS via Steam.

For more information, please visit the Dinosaur Polo Club website, follow the studio on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, or search for #MiniMotorways on social media.

The Dinsoaur Polo Club team would also like to acknowledge the current threat of volcanic eruption faced by the town of Grindavik, Iceland. “Our thoughts are with the people of Grindavik during this stressful time and we hope that this update can serve as a celebration of the beauty of Iceland’s beloved capital, Reykjavík.”

About Dinosaur Polo Club

Dinosaur Polo Club is an independent game development studio based in beautiful Wellington, New Zealand. Founded in 2013 by brothers Peter and Robert Curry, the studio first made waves with their award-winning and BAFTA-nominated debut Mini Metro. Created in collaboration with Disasterpeace and Jamie Churchman, Mini Metro explores relaxed and minimalist subway design. The second game developed by Dinosaur Polo Club introduces a brand new type of city management with colorful road-building and resource management found in Mini Motorways. Combined, Mini Metro and Mini Motorways make up two parts of an expanding Mini Collection. 

With an inclusive and supportive culture that believes in giving back to its creative community, the studio has grown and is now home to over 30 dinos as it works on new titles with relatable simplicity.

Article by: Susan N.

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Double Dribble - Retro Reflections

Double Dribble by developer and publisher Konami—Nintendo Entertainment System retro reflection written by Nick.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

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Double Dribble represents the first basketball video game I ever played. It was an incredibly basic title too, which is what you’d probably expect from a sports game from the 80’s. As a product of its time, Double Dribble is a serviceable take on the game. It’s traditional five versus five gameplay where you pass, shoot, steal, block and rebound. It covers all of the basics, even if it has few of the frills found in the more modern basketball games.

Now I remember this game incredibly fondly. It was a gift from two of my grandparents the year I got my NES (also a Christmas gift). I guess that would make this a holiday edition of Retro Reflections. Now, I’ve talked about a few of the other games I got to play right off of the bat that year, having received Elevator Action and Dragon Power from my parents as well. I was only just starting to get into sports around this time, most notably basketball and football, and I enjoyed some snowy days off of school learning my way around Double Dribble.

For one, it’s not a licensed product. That leaves us with four teams that are meant to resemble their real-life counterparts without running afoul of the actual NBA. The Double Dribble teams are the Chicago Ox, Los Angeles Breakers, Boston Frogs and New York Eagles. These fictional teams leverage the colors of their real-life counterparts (green for Boston and red for Chicago), but that’s really about as close as we get to the real thing. There’s no recognizable players here, you’re not getting Larry Bird from the Boston team for example. In fact, your players don’t show any distinctive traits at all, and you have no roster or substitution control here. 

The gameplay is similarly simple. That makes it easy to pick up, but the lack of nuance can make things feel a bit finicky as well. You only have two buttons on the old NES controllers, so Konami did what they could with the game. Fouls happen early and often as I figured things out, but once I got the hang of things, I was able to keep that to a minimum. Your AI teammates are pretty erratic as they move around, with little to no rhyme or reason to their on-court movement. But, like the fouling, I learned my way around it and was able to win far more often than not, even at the higher levels of difficulty once I got a feel for things.

The game starts off well enough, with some garbled ‘Double Dribble’ spoken, fans filing into the stadium and a quickly shown anthem to set the stage. From there though, the presentation gets dramatically more spartan. There’s no in-game music, just the sound of a repeatedly bouncing ball and some squeaking sneakers creating a sort of repetitive backdrop that does very little to excite after the first five minutes or so. 

The visuals aren’t a whole lot better, with one exception. The characters look fine given their age, but the arenas are pretty dull and lifeless. Perhaps the worst part of the presentation is that the NES was not known for being able to handle tons of sprites on the screen at once and by having ten total players on the screen, there was a lot of flickering that occurred. The only time Double Dribble’s visuals really come to life is in the sort of close-up cutscene-like dunking animations when you jump close enough to the hoop to trigger one. These look pretty great and add a cinematic touch, though with only a few variations to play out, they can lose their luster after a handful of games. 

Despite all of these flaws, there’s an undeniable charm to Double Dribble. Does it hold up to more modern basketball games? No, not in the least. However, I have some rosy tinted holiday glasses I can put on and comfortably enjoy this title despite it’s flaws. Heck, flaws doesn’t really feel fair to say – but limitations. Double Dribble is a product of its time, and I spent a lot of hours enjoying it. Even if that first night, while the family was gathered around in the living room as I played it, I recall them asking me to turn it off or at least turn down the sound because the sound effects were kind of driving everyone bonkers. I opted to turn down the sound, at least until they all left. Then I turned it back up and went back to enjoying my first sports video game.

Article by: Nick

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Cupid Parasite: Sweet and Spicy Darling Limited Edition Coming Soon!

LOS ANGELES, CA., November 29, 2023 – We are excited to announce that the long-awaited fan disc in the Cupid Parasite universe, Cupid Parasite: Sweet and Spicy Darling, will launch physically and digitally on Nintendo Switch™ in 2024. The highly anticipated follow-up to the divine romantic comedy otome is localized for the west. Fans can now experience a new original story introducing a brand-new character, Merenice Levin. 

Return to the rich romantic scenery of Los York as Lynette, Gill, Shelby, Raul, Ryuki, Allan, Peter, and Merenice indulge in the sweet and spicy side of town. 

 

View the official website here.

Cupid Parasite: Sweet and Spicy Darling will be getting a Limited Edition, offered exclusively through the IFI NA and European Online Stores. The contents of the Limited Edition, as well as the preorder date, will be revealed at a later time. Those who purchase either the Standard Edition or Limited Edition at the IFI Online Stores will also receive an EXCLUSIVE trading card!

Fans can wishlist the Cupid Parasite: Sweet and Spicy Darling Standard or Limited Edition on the IFI NA Online Store today! 

• Standard Edition (NA)
• Limited Edition (NA)
• Limited Edition (Europe)

Story  

While working for a major marriage agency named Cupid Corporation, Cupid the goddess of love herself, strived to become the top bridal advisor. She was assigned five hopeless clients known as the Parasite 5!

Even after guiding them through mock dates, matchmaking seminars, and the reality show "Parasite House," all five abruptly canceled their memberships!

Yet their departures brought all their personal challenges to the surface. As she confronted these issues with them, they overcame many unexpected obstacles...

And she fell in love with "him."

This is the continued love story of the goddess of love, Cupid, experiencing love firsthand. It's the tale of when she becomes a goddess "only" for him.

Marriage wasn't the end goal, but the start of a new chapter. Whether they began dating or got married, the only thing awaiting them is a series of unexpected challenges!

A mysterious new creature has appeared in Los York! Could it be a divine message or evidence of an unknown civilization?

A love story so sweet, it'll make your heart melt! The whirlwind of feelings taking the world by storm is far from over!

An endearing, joyful, and chaotic tale that's richer and more exhilarating than ever! This romance featuring a former goddess is so sweet and spicy, it'll make your teeth ache and set your soul ablaze!

And in Merenice Levin's route, her days as Cupid are far from over! A romantic and comedic story in the world of matchmaking is set to unfold!

Key Features

Sweeter and Spicier! – Return to Los York with the original cast of Cupid Parasite, plus an all new-character Merenice Levin. Rendezvous with seven of the sweetest and spiciest bachelors in up to 3 game modes and unlock over 80 CGs, including some that may be too hot to handle!

All Different Flavors to Choose From – Pick from three different modes that can satiate anyone with a sweet tooth. Select “After Drama” mode to follow-up with the original Parasite 6 and pick up from where you last left off. Go with “New Parasite” mode for a chance to experience Merenice Levin's perspective of the events that take place after the common route of Cupid Parasite. You can also explore routes you unlocked in “Bonus Episode” mode for six bonus episodes with their own unlockable CGs!

In Sweetness and In Spiciness?! – You must choose the flavor of the next course. Will you go with the sweet? Or will you go with the spicy? When prompted with the choice during gameplay, select between sweet or spicy to impact the ending of your selected route. Manage to balance the flavors for a chance at something really appetizing.

Rich, Decadent Visuals and Savory Scenarios – The original scenario writer and illustrator of Cupid Parasite return! Ririka Yoshimura (scenario writer) and Yuuya (illustrator) join forces once again to bring fans a delectable addition to the Cupid Parasite universe.

Article by: Susan N.

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Game of the Year 2023 - Guilty Pleasure

Not every game sports AAA visuals and voice acting, or has the most intricate story or even the best systems baked into its gameplay. That’s okay. In the end, we just want games to be enjoyable, and while a Game of the Year has a tendency to do a lot of things at an incredibly high level, sometimes we just need a bit of video game comfort food to sit back and enjoy instead.

NICK

Antstream Arcade

As an old-timer gamer, this massive collection of old titles just appealed to me on every level. Sure, the interface could use some touching up, and the performance is not always ideal, but the games tend to rotate pretty frequently and it’s just an incredible variety to choose from. I’ve sunk so many hours in this title, and it’s often just in bite-sized play sessions.

SUSAN N.

My Time at Sandrock

Over the last couple of years, I’ve had the opportunity to participate in closed and open betas of My Time at Sandrock before it’s official release. The My Time series has always been a cozy game that I could enjoy building cool structures to help foster the town. It has elements of romance, ruin crawling, friendly competition, fantastic graphics, and an excellent story. The game also has a unique multiplayer mode that doesn’t conflict with the single player campaign! Your friends are encouraged to help build different features of the town and go ruin diving together. What’s cool is that there are community goals (for you and your friends) and there are personal goals. Even if you pick up commissions on your own, you can improve your skills without worrying about holding the others back. I’ve had a blast trying out various iterations of the game before it released, and I’m genuinely happy with how the game has developed. I play My Time at Sandrock (and Palia) off stream all the time. If you are into cozy games like Stardew Valley and such, I highly recommend giving this one a try. It’s a not-so-guilty guilty pleasure for 2023.

RICHARD

Akiba's Trip: Undead and Undressed Director's Cut

Alright, let's be honest here: stripping vampires in the middle of a busy street is surprisingly fun. Even moreso when the game barely takes itself all that seriously. With a wacky cast, a lot of customizable equipment, and some pretty hilarious finisher moves, Akiba's Trip: Undead and Undressed Director's Cut is definitely my guilty pleasure.

PIERRE-YVES

Final Fantasy Theatrhythm Final Bar

Ah guilty pleasures. We all have them and from a gaming perspective, Final Fantasy Theatrhythm was mine. Chibi-esque renditions of characters from every series, loads of musical tracks to listen to, and, andddddd, plenty of adjustable settings for players of every type. Want it to be easier? Done. Harder? Done. It doesn't lock anyone out of the fun.

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Custom Mech Wars - PS5 Review

Custom Mech Wars by developer and publisher D3 Publisher—Sony PlayStation 5 review written by Pierre-Yves with a copy provided by the publisher.

Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes. 

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EDF! EDF! E…D…F… what? This isn't our latest Earth Defense Force? I could have sworn… 

Welcome to Custom Mech Wars! Brought to you by the amazing minds behind the B Horror Level experience of Earth Defense Force. The world is under attack by a rogue AI picking up any and all mobile suits known as G-Mechs to lay waste to humanity. It's up to you, and potentially your friends if you have them close by, to stop them and save humanity!

If you’ve ever played an Earth Defense Force, you know what you’re in for when it comes to Custom Mech Wars. Forty stages with varying objectives against rising odds as there’s generally only one of you and HORDES of them. For everyone else, the gameplay is that of a third person shooter where you’ll be fighting against a variety of different shaped enemies in cities, deserts, lush green plains and calm looking mountain ranges.

Where Custom Mech Wars is different, is that you aren’t just a human with a weapon. You are a human with a weapon and PLENTY of customizable mechs that can be called into a mission. The Gunpla (Gundam Plamo (Plastic Models)) nerd in me was overjoyed at this as I’m also currently going through Gundam Breaker 3 (physical import as it’s sadly not on our PSN) where you get to customize your own units. Why this is relevant is that while your Gunpla is stuck to the core pieces of Head, Chest, Legs, Arms, Back, Custom Mech Wars? How many of each do you want?

Starting off conservatively and using the starting units as a base, which had your traditional human looking machine, I was soon going right off the rails. Where Custom Mech Wars differs from even that of Armored Core (VI), is that there’s only one limit. No, not imagination, but weight limit. AND imagination. So I had a core, and the core had six arms (four attached to the torso, two attached to the other arms), but this wasn’t enough armament for the foes I was facing, oh no. I continued on with shotguns in the shins, miniguns on the shoulders, and then a giant ray gun sticking out of my chest all before adding on… 16 missiles and 8 rockets to my back. 

Overkill? I wish it had been but more often than not, especially by the end game, it was just enough to get by and even then. I had to summon in my starter mech which I had kept around to pull off a finale worth Gundam 00 when Setsuna comes back in the Exia. So satisfying. Both that final fight and the game as a whole. The mech building itself is rather easy as everything you have access to contains nodes. Each node can have multiple things attached and then moved around an X, Y, Z axis.

So all those missile and rocket launchers? I had them all superimposed onto one another so that visually for me it looked like one and took up less of my screen. All of this can be done with whatever you have on hand. Whether you build new parts with money and materials, or use what you pick up on the field, as long as you have it, you can use it.

In terms of gameplay, it’s smooth. Your mech’s default speed is decent and if you need to go fast? You can boost. If you need to fly a bit, you can also use your boost but through a second button. You have one button to fire any and all weapons that are attached to arms or other body parts. Your firing all goes pretty well towards your target as long as you are aiming at it. Missiles, rockets, and grenades have their own button that can be held down for target locks. Finally, you can also attach automatic weapons that will act independently of you.

In the case of Custom Mech Wars, you’re only as good as your mechs. Yes, plural. Once you’ve built one, you can build a second and a third and a forth and a… you get the point. Each of these can be summoned onto the battlefield to relieve the previous one. Out of ammo? Lost parts? Need a different configuration? Hop on out of one mech and summon down the next. It can take a few seconds so it’s a good thing that you’ve got a bazooka that can potentially freeze an enemy machine, or if you’re not feeling lucky, use your personal boost and zip on right out of there.

If I were to have a complaint, it would be the same one as normal with games in this genre. Unskippable dialog. You can skip the main intro from the mission select and skip the outro to get back to the menu, but at the start of certain missions, especially if you've already done them or you're going back to do them on a harder difficulty, forces you to sit there and wait for the talking to end so that the mission can start. This makes re-doing certain missions a real slog especially if they have the right amount of enemies to grind for new materials. 

Now for an actual serious complaint? With all of the parts and pieces that you’ll be picking up, there’s no ability to either sell scrap gear or even break it down. It just starts to clutter your hanger’s inventory and doesn't actually give you anything in return as there is a lot of junk that you'll be picking up on this wild ride. I wish it could be used to break it down as there is an option to buy pre-built mechs like this gaudy golden wonder shown right above (and new weapons and parts like mentioned above), however, cash isn’t that easy to come by as you’re normally getting all of your new gear through the missions that you take on.

Custom Mech Wars is fun. If you like D3’s Earth Defense Force series you should find plenty to love here. If you like mechs, you should find plenty to love here. And finally if you love customizing the hell out of things and then working on custom paint jobs? You know it, plenty to love here!

Score: 8 / 10

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Sparking DragonBall Z Game Announced by Bandai Namco Entertainment!

LOS ANGELES – Dec. 7, 2023 – Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. blasted global audiences with a Kamehameha by announcing DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO – the first entry to the DRAGON BALL Z: BUDOKAI TENKAICHI series in more than years – at The Game Awards. The debut trailer, which showcased in-game footage, revealed a visually stunning, authentic continuation of the BUDOKAI TENKAICHI series alongside faithful recreations of legendary characters and their special powers as they fight epic battles on massive and destructible fighting arenas. DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO is coming exclusively to PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X, and PC via Steam®. For more information, visit the official website.

Developed by Spike Chunsoft, the developers behind the original BUDOKAI TENKAICHI series, DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO brings the series forward to a new era by harnessing the power of Unreal Engine 5 and pushing the envelope for gameplay and features in an arena brawler. DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO also brings the franchise back to the original Japanese naming convention, where the original DRAGON BALL Z: BUDOKAI TENKAICHI was titled DRAGON BALL Z: Sparking!

“This is the DRAGON BALL fighting game players have been waiting for, bringing a new sequel for one of the most beloved game series based on the franchise to a new generation of players,” said Mike Chang, VP, Marketing and Digital Business, Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. “It has been more than 15 years since DRAGON BALL Z: BUDKAI TENKAICHI pioneered arena brawlers, and DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO continues the legacy while adding new genre-defining features made possible only with the latest game platforms to deliver one of the most immersive anime game experiences of all time.”

The game’s gravity-defying fights promise to ‘shake the earth, break the heavens’, with each DRAGON BALL character’s signature destructive powers and Ki abilities showcased in stunning detail with damage capable of destroying entire parts of the arena.

See the full-length announcement trailer for DRAGON BALL: 

Visit the official website for more details:

www.bandainamcoent.com/games/dragon-ball-sparking-zero


For information on this title and other products from Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc., please

visit www.bandainamcoent.com. Join the conversation on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/BandaiNamcoUS and check us out live on Twitch at https://twitch.tv/bandainamcous,

Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS.

About Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.

Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc., part of the Bandai Namco Group, is a leading global publisher and developer of interactive entertainment for major video game consoles, PC, online, and mobile platforms. The company is known for creating many of the industry’s beloved classic franchises such as PAC-MAN®, GALAGA®, TEKKEN®, SOULCALIBUR®, and ACE COMBAT®, and publishing the critically acclaimed DARK SOULS™ series and the blockbuster title ELDEN RING™. Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. is also the premier publisher in the Western hemisphere for anime-based video games including GUNDAM™, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™, DRAGON BALL™, and ONE PIECE®. Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. is headquartered in Irvine, California. More information about the company and its products can be found at http://www.bandainamcoent.com.

Article by: Susan N.

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Game of the Year 2023 - Biggest Surprise

Admittedly, not all surprises are good. No one enjoys having a car breakdown with no notice, for example. However, there are plenty of times a surprise is a welcome thing, and when a video surprises us for all of the right reasons, it’s something to celebrate. Maybe you stumble onto a gem you never heard of but can’t put down. Perhaps you went into a game with low or moderate expectations, and it surpassed all of them. That’s what we’re talking about here – those pleasant surprises.

NICK

Fate/Samurai Remnant

This one was a surprise on several fronts. For one, I wasn’t even aware this was releasing. Secondly, while I’ve been pretty caught up on Fate/ games and anime in the past, this setting was a new one for me as well. Then when it came to the game itself, I found the improvements across the board a major improvement over the prior two titles in the series.

SUSAN N.

Sea of Stars

Earlier this year, I spied a neat indie RPG game that had all the makings of something I would enjoy reviewing. I wasn’t wrong. Sea of Stars grabbed me by my hand and took me on an epic journey. This brilliant game has excellent writing, combat, decent pacing, and a useful fishing mechanic! Unlike other games where you can hold all the potions and all the consumables to heal, Sea of Stars forces you to make critical choices in every fight. It even has a neat little mini game that I found myself oddly addicted to. Needless to say, I enjoyed absolutely everything about the game (except the somewhat slow beginning), and it was a pleasant surprise. Thus, here it sits in my list of 2023.

Cyberpunk: Phantom Liberty

The second entry to our category of the biggest surprise is none other than Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty. From the ashes came a phoenix in this DLC, which not only made people realize how good the game ACTUALLY IS, but it revitalized the company that dropped the ball so very hard on launch back in 2020. With the continuous updates, bug fixes, and complete overhaul of many features of the game (including the tech tree), CDPR knocked this one out of the park. (They also won best ongoing game at The Game Awards which is interesting because they canned the idea of multiplayer a while back - but I digress.) Recently, patch 2.1 dropped which included a ton of bug fixes, additional challenge to races and gigs, and some key features like ongoing romances, it’s safe to say that I’m 100% invested. Phantom Liberty itself added new characters, villains, a new area to explore, additional gigs, and tons more! It helps that the introductory quest to Dogtown keeps you at the edge of your seat. Not only keeping it interesting for experienced players, but hooking new players as well. I would almost have it competing with GOTY, but suffice it to say, the improvements that have been made to CP77 on EVERY level have pleasantly surprised me. I loved the game to begin with, but now I’m fully invested in a world that I had already dumped about 300 hours into. It is the definition of biggest surprise, in my opinion. 

RICHARD

Ripout

For Biggest surprise, I'm going to have to go with Ripout. While technically still in early access, and with a few bugs to iron out at the time of writing this, Ripout was an interesting title I wasn't really sure I'd enjoy the first time I picked it up. Luckily for me, and anyone else who snagged a copy of Ripout, I was pleasantly surprised. A weird sort of combination between horror, first-person shooter, and roguelite, Ripout was a fun trek through mutant filled space stations, with a lot of spooks, a few jumps, and a lot of bullets.

PIERRE-YVES

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

The latest entry into The Legend of Zelda series is always a big thing for me. Having grown up exploring Hyrule, there has always been an excitement whenever a new one is announced but this one came with a bit of doubt.

Direct sequels are a bit rare in this series and come with a big question. How do you honour the previous entry while not doing the same thing? This was my biggest concern as Breath of the Wild was the first open world experience for this series and I didn't want to do more of the exact same for a sequel. 

Well, taking a week off of work for the launch, sinking over 70 hours, I was pleasantly surprised that the two couldn't have been more different from the three planes of sky, ground and underground alongside the building mechanics with their intense physics. While contradictions are a plenty with it's predecessor, it was still loads of fun with plenty to do!

 

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Bethesda and Marvel Working With Arkane Lyon on New Blade Game!

Bethesda Softworks and Marvel Games have announced that Arkane Lyon, developer of the critically acclaimed and award-winning DEATHLOOP and Dishonored series, is creating a new mature, single-player, third-person game based on the comic book hero Blade.

“In honor of Blade’s 50th anniversary, we have found the perfect match for the Daywalker in Arkane Lyon, a studio of uncompromising artists who continually push the boundaries of game design and innovation,” said Bill Rosemann, VP and Creative Director of Marvel Games. “In addition to their award-winning talent, it’s their personal passion and bold vision for our half-human, half-vampire iconoclast that makes this collaboration a perfect fit.”

Arkane Lyon has just begun development on the game which will feature an original story with the studio’s signature immersive gameplay and world-class narrative. 

“As a kid of mixed origins, I felt a special connection to Blade – a hero with a dual heritage himself,” said Dinga Bakaba, Game Director, Arkane Lyon. “The opportunity to put our spin on this character is a dream of mine and a challenge that our team embraces with a passion. We couldn’t be happier to put players in Blade’s boots, as he becomes the champion of my hometown of Paris, one stake at a time.” 

Marvel’s Blade game will take players to a quarantined section of Paris in the middle of a supernatural emergency. Vampires have emerged, terrorizing the city of lights and forcing Parisians to shelter inside their homes at night to wait for sunrise.  

“From his trench coat to his iconic sunglasses, Blade is a slick, stylish, and driven character,” said Sebastien Mitton, Co-Creative and Art Director, Arkane Lyon. “This project is the perfect opportunity to push Arkane’s art style into an even more modern and bold territory. The essence of our work lives at the junction of impactful ideas and innovative know-how.” 

About Bethesda Softworks LLC 

Bethesda Softworks LLC, part of the ZeniMax Media Inc. family of companies, is a worldwide publisher of interactive entertainment software. Titles featured under the Bethesda label include such blockbuster franchises as The Elder Scrolls®, Fallout®, DOOM®, QUAKE®, Wolfenstein®, Dishonored®, The Evil Within™, Prey®, RAGE®, DEATHLOOP®, Redfall™, Ghostwire™: Tokyo and Starfield™. Titles are registered trademarks or trademarks of ZeniMax Media Inc. in the US and other countries. For more information on Bethesda Softworks’ products, visit www.bethesda.net. 

About Marvel 

Marvel is one of the world’s most prominent entertainment brands, built on an unparalleled library of iconic characters and stories that have shaped pop culture for 85 years. The Marvel brand spans entertainment, including film, television, publishing, licensing, games, live events, digital media, and more. For more information, visit marvel.com. © 2023 MARVEL 

Article by: Susan N.

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