Following on the heels of the mighty TAITO Milestones, the sequel of ten incredible games drops on August 31st 2023.

ININ and TAITO offer up an absolute monster compilation of classic retro smash hits in this 10 game sure-fire winner:

• NewZealand Story (1988)
• Kiki Kaikai (1986)
• Darius II (3 Screen Arcade Version) (1989)
• Gun Frontier (1990)
• Ben Bero Beh (1984)
• The Legend of Kage (1985)
• Liquid Kids (Mizubaku Adventure) (1990)
• Solitary Fighter (1991)
• Dinorex (1992)
• Metal Black (1991)

This stunning collection comes exclusively to Nintendo Switch in both physical and digital formats, offering an unparalleled retro gaming experience.

For more information please visit: Taito Milestones 2 for Nintendo Switch – Nintendo Official Site

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Highrise City, the ambitious city builder from FourExo Entertainment and Deck13 Spotlight will be leaving Early Access later this year – after releasing countless huge updates, implementing community feedback and new features.   A rapidly growing PC wishlist and gamers eager to experience the final release of this epic experience, focus is on ensuring this meets everyone’s high expectation.

More Power!

Today the final major update before leaving Early Access has been released for Highrise City, introducing a new research system, an overhauled UI, smaller visual improvements, new milestones and tons of smaller quality of life improvements. A fresh Trailer gives an overview of what to expect in the game: A modern city builder with a strong focus on economy systems.

More Content!

During the Early Access phase Highrise City received tons of new content. New maps were released, a building editor found its way into the game, the complete visual look was enhanced, new production lines were introduced and countless quality of life features were introduced. And yet the journey has just begun.

More Focus!

The Release Update is currently being worked on and has already been in preparation for a long time. The result: An update which will introduce more features and improvements than any previous update before. Public Transport will be available via buses, substations and required electric lines will be introduced, Missions during the gameplay are coming as well, mega skyscrapers, a new Map and a multi staged mega building project. 

With the release of today’s update we are also announcing that Highrise City’s price will change shortly after the Summer Sale in preparation for the full release later this year.

Highrise City is out now in Early Access on Steam and Good Old Games. The game will leave Early Access later this year. A fresh Update is out now. Get the game during the last two days of Summer Sale at a reduced price. For more information visit the games Page in the Focus Store.

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Over 30 years since the Nintendo handheld device which changed the world came out, the Game Boy is still having new physical games released for it.

The latest forthcoming title is Kudzu – developed by designer Chris Totten using GB Studio engine, a game set in a world awash with biologists, in which you, Max, must overcome mother-nature to find your master gardening mentor, Zoen, who has mysteriously gone missing.

Presently sat on Kickstarter and having achieved its initial target easily and smashed a couple of stretch goals, the team and publishers Mega Cat Studios are seeking your help to push it that little bit further and hopefully fund not only a Nintendo Switch port, but also a colour version of the game.

We were lucky enough to have been sent a prototype cart from Mega Cat Studios and have instantly fallen in love.

The game is a zelda-esque puzzle action title and a total delight to play. We livestreamed the first half hour and had a wild time.

If you’re interested in backing this fantastic project simply head on over to Kickstarter and search “Kudzu”, or click here!

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Strayed Lights is a forthcoming title from a studio named Embers. We got our hands on the 1 hour preview, so here are a few initial thought.

Strayed Lights is a mysterious 3rd person action title which aims to put all of its focus into its somewhat unique battle mechanic.

Waking up under water, perhaps drowning – we’ve no idea how we got there or indeed who (or even what) we are. Clambering our of the water only adds to the mystery. Press releases inform me that we play an ‘unbalanced being of light and darkness on its path towards awakening’, which genuinely does very little to clarify anything.

I’m some sort of anthropomorphic soul, powered / made from light. The backing sound effects whip around my headphones, creating hostility through a chilling wind howl and pattering of rain in a sparce, beautifully lit world.

I move onwards, steered into a fairly obvious area – the game feels linear, yet not entirely guided enough to not cause confusion. This is a 3D realised world with no apparent navigation tool.

The opening section serves to slowly introduce us to the controls. First we learn how to sprint using the B button. Then jump with the A button. Jumping feels somewhat superhero like – it’s a little exaggerated, I figure this may come in handy later in the game. We then find out how to duck by clicking in the left stick. All rather entry level game control introduction so far.

My character suddenly evolves. I change shape. Become more human-like. I see my reflection, it breaks free from its reflective prison and presents itself as hostile. Bang on cue I partake in a battle, and this is where we begin to learn the true beauty of Strayed Lights. Not as at first thought its use of light to illuminate our surroundings and show off this wonderfully unique world, but its combat twist.

Tapping the left shoulder button swaps my characters light source from orange to blue. Pressing the right shoulder button introduces a parry mechanic. Strayed Light seems to have found heavy influence from a 2001 Shoot ‘Em Up by the name Ikaruga in this regard, you see, your enemy combatant can also freely swap between orange and blue. In battle you must match the colour of your enemy and parry their attacks, which will serve to not only block the attack, but fill up your health meter whilst doing so. Parry in the wrong colour and you will only block the incoming attack. But wait, that isn’t all, because that would be way too easy, right? The enemy can also switch to a third colour – purple. If they switch to purple, that indicates an unblockable mega attack, so you’ll need to dodge to survive.

Enemies chain together patterned attacks which will see you furiously yet rhythmically tapping buttons to match, parry and dodge. You will also be able to attack using the right trigger. On top of this should you parry enough attacks you will fill a special attack meter. Once full you can release this attack dealing huge damage. This attack will trigger quicktime events which although look very pretty did seem to highly impact the pace of the battle.

There’s a heap to keep in mind when battling, but it is learned very quickly.

A skill upgrade tree adds plenty of additional depth and customisation to later battle opportunities too.

I only had a one hour preview build of the game which saw me take down one boss, which I did so on my first attempt. The fighting is unique, feels satisfying when chaining together a string of successful parries, but equally did feel a little on the long side towards the end of my hour.
I was pitted against some sort of wildlife devouring beast. I had the upper hand on it instantly, and delivering several good hits it decided to run away, sort of like a huge beast in Monster Hunter might, but nothing quite so monumental – beasty just ran a small distance. I caught up to it and instantly we fought again. I dealt it damage and off it popped once more. I chased it down again and finally defeated it.

Summary:

A beautifully atmospheric experience, lighting, enemies and sound effects are all outstanding and helped hugely to give this world character. Seeing the skill tree fills me with joy as I wonder what attack buffs I’ll be able to employ. Equally, I ponder the future enemy types. Being confronted by such a huge beasty (albeit a rather easy one) so early on can only suggest even bigger / scarier things await.

Keep your eyes peeled for more on Strayed Lights, coming to Steam, GoG and Epic for PC, PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox One, Series X & S and Nintendo Switch on April 25th 2023.

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WanadevStudio delighted fans of their VR Viking rhythm game Ragnarock by releasing it on PSVR 2 on the hardware’s launch day.

Check out the official Ragnarock PSVR 2 official trailer here:

In Ragnarock, players play as Viking captains who compete in a frantic longboat race. Equipped with their hammers, they must strike runes in rhythm to a musical register ranging from Celtic rock to power metal, in order to make their ship go as far as possible. From Wind Rose to Alestorm or Gloryhammer, find the complete tracklist and the 38 tracks (plus an additional 26 DLC) available via this link.

Following the tradition of arcade games, Ragnarock is easy to play, hard to master. To advance, only your sense of rhythm counts. The most experienced players will be able to collect all the gold medals, beat the high scores and put their name on top of the leaderboard, but be warned, Ragnarock is a physically demanding (albeit incredibly fun) workout.

The games take place in different environments for an immersion in the heart of the worlds of Norse mythology: Asgard, Nidavellir, Muspelheim, Alfheim, Midgard and Helheim.

For its strong multiplayer component (up to 6 players), Ragnarock and its innovative racing concept was awarded the prize for the best multiplayer VR game developed by a French studio by the ETR community at its release.

We’ve played a whole heap of Ragnarock on the original Meta Quest headset and have clocked in an average 600 calories burned per 60 minute play session (taken using an average from Garmin and Fitbit trackers).

Ragnarock benefits from an adaptation to the specificities of the new PS VR2 headset. Côme de Percin, Creative Director of WanadevStudio, explains: “The entire team is very proud to bring our work on Ragnarock to the Playstation community. The experience of playing Ragnarock on PS VR2 is going to be a great experience and we can’t wait to challenge all the new Vikings in multiplayer races. We would also like to give a special thanks to all of the amazing bands that have come on board with us for the Ragnarock adventure.”

Ragnarock is available on PSVR2, Steam, Meta, Pico and Viveport.

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The SEGA Astro City Mini V is shipping across the EU as of today 1st February 2023.

Already released in North America, the SEGA Astro City Mini V arrives in the EU, delivering 22 incredible arcade classics on dedicated hardware right to your home.

The Astro City Mini V is a 1/6 size faithful reproduction of the original Astro City arcade cabinet that dominated arcades in the 1990’s. The system reproduces the vertical screen specification common to many Shoot ‘Em Up classics, some of which have been packed in to the incredible roster of games included with this mini arcade classic.

A love-letter to arcade history, the SEGA Astro City Mini V is a must for retro fans and collectors, bringing the classics back to the living room in a stunning form factor complete with 4.6-inch LCD monitor, ball-top joystick and action buttons which perfectly replicate the genuine arcade feel. With many of the classic shooters featuring two player options, gamers can plug in up to two SEGA Astro City USB controllers (sold separately), allowing simultaneous two-player play. For those craving the big screen experience, gamers can even play on their home TV thanks to the HDMI output and included cable.

The SEGA Astro City Mini V features the following arcade classics:

MOON CRESTA
ZAXXON
TERRA CRESTA
COSMO POLICE GALIVAN
ACTION FIGHTER
TRUXTON
WRESTLE WAR
FIRE SHARK
RAIDEN
OUT ZONE
SONIC WINGS
TRUXTON II
DOGYUUN
DESERT BREAKER
BATSUGUN
GRIND STORMER
SAMURAI ACES
KINGDOM GRANDPRIX
GUNBIRD
STRIKERS1945
ARMED POLICE BATRIDER
BATTLE BAKRAID UNLIMITED VER.

The SEGA Astro City Mini V is distributed across the EU by Game Outlet Europe® and is available now at Amazon and other leading game retailers SRP of €249.99.

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EPOS have announced a flash sale pricing on bestselling, award winning EPOS | SENNHEISER headsets. The following headsets have all had huge price drops:

GSP 670 – from $249 down to $169 (save $80) // £219 down to £149 (save £70)

GSP 370 – from $149 down to $99 (save $50) // £129 down to £89 (save £40)

Game Zero from $179 down to $99 (save $80) // £159 down to £89 (save £70)

GSP 670

The GSP 670 is the premium wireless gaming headset for the demanding gamer. Customize 7.1 surround with the EPOS Gaming Suite and adjust chat and game audio independently. Intelligent battery management preserves battery life and Bluetooth® lets you switch seamlessly between your game and phone.

About the GSP 370

The GSP 370 wireless gaming headset delivers reliable, lag-free audio with up to 100 hours of play on a single charge. Personalize your game audio through the EPOS Gaming Suite with 7.1 digital surround sound processing. The headset features a microphone with a lift-to-mute flexible boom arm and high wearing comfort.

About the GAME Zero

The GAME ZERO is the classic closed acoustic headset designed for the gamer seeking a competitive edge. Original transducer technology delivers extreme audio clarity for exceptionally detailed realism and positional accuracy. Lightweight, yet robust, the headset folds for convenient portability.

Snap them up before the sale is over.

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Studio Led by Ken Levine, Creator of System Shock 2, BioShock and BioShock Infinite, Unveils First Trailer of New Game in Development at The Game Awards 2022

Ghost Story Games, the development studio led by game creator Ken Levine, today announced that Judas, an all-new single-player, narrative first-person shooter is in development for the PlayStation®5 computer entertainment system, Xbox Series X|S console systems, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store. The new project was revealed at The Game Awards 2022 as a world premiere unveiled by Geoff Keighley. In conjunction with the project reveal, Ghost Story Games has launched the official pages for Judas on Steam and the Epic Games Store where fans can now add the game to their Wishlist.

A disintegrating starship. A desperate escape plan.

You are the mysterious and troubled Judas. Your only hope for survival is to make or break alliances with your worst enemies. Will you work together to fix what you broke – or will you leave it to burn?
 

Watch the Judas “Official Reveal Trailer”

“We founded Ghost Story Games to build upon the legacy of System Shock 2, BioShock, and BioShock Infinite,” said Ken Levine, President & Creative Director. “With Judas, we’ve created an entirely new world and set of characters while exploring different approaches to single-player, narrative first-person shooters.”
 

Ghost Story Games was founded by Ken Levine (Creative Director of System Shock 2, BioShock, BioShock Infinite) and former Irrational Games developers. The studio’s mission is to create narrative-driven experiences rooted in immersive world building and gameplay. Their passion and pedigree have resulted in genre-defining experiences for more than 25 years.
Ghost Story Games is deep in development on Judas and will self-publish the game. More information will be made available in the future. Players can add the game to their Wishlist on Steam and the Epic Games Store starting today. For continued updates on Judas development, fans are encouraged to follow the developers on their official website, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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Horizon Chase 2 releases this 9th of September on Apple Arcade and coming to PC and Consoles in 2023.
The sequel to the award-winning Horizon Chase, one of the most successful arcade racers of the last decade is coming to….. Apple Arcade.

On 9th of September those on Apple devices will be able to play Horizon Chase 2, exploring online multiplayer (across all game modes), with an overhaul across the entire game to “considerably improve the experience of the first game in every aspect”.

Race across 55 tracks over 5 countries around the World in a “unique, entirely 3D art style”, unlocking 10 different cars. From the vibrant colors of each landscape to the immersive conditions of different weathers, all enhanced by a thrilling soundtrack made by Top Racer composer Barry Leitch, this game evolves the arcade racing experience to the next level.

The Garage Shop area of Horizon Chase 2 will allow players to easily customize several parts of their cars, choosing amongst a wide variety of options, to customise them to your hearts desire.

Major updates will bring further rewards; the Playground Mode will offer a brand new challenge every two days, the Tournament Mode challenges players to be the best across several modified races from the World Tour mode. Both modes can be enjoyed alone or in groups of up to four players.

Keep an eye out for more information soon.

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Premium audio brand EPOS (from Sennheiser and the Demant group) is introducing a limited-edition product bundle that will level up players’ gaming audio experiences. The bundle includes the award winning H6PRO Closed or Open Acoustic Gaming Headset and the popular GSX 300 External Soundcard – both in sleek, black color variants.

This bundle is designed for gamers who want to enhance their audio experiences beyond their PC’s on-board capabilities. When combined with the EPOS Gaming Suite, the H6PRO headset and GSX 300 external sound card deliver outstanding digital sound processing and customizable 7.1 EPOS Surround Sound. Superior performance across the full audio spectrum is now for the taking in this limited-edition bundle.

The bundle is available for purchase at EPOS’ official website in both an Open and Closed Acoustic version for $199 / £179.

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