The Deadly Tower of Monsters… reviewed!

We tweaked the game poster art a little... only for the sake of review art.

Different experiences are a beautiful thing… especially when they’re fun! I say that to say… this is a new school blast from what is made to feel like the past that’s quite the fun experience. This game has a different feel from a lot of other games we play (thanks to the delivery); we respect the ambitions of the ACE Team with this game published by Atlus.

I really like how this game starts off (prior to the gameplay), and that’s not to say that I don’t like what I experienced afterwards, I just really like the way they did it. [Crash!] Don’t underestimate the game based on the cheesy delivery… its part of its charm, and if you’re a movie buff, this will most likely tickle your fancy.

This will be funny to some... and others, not so much.
It’s a game listed as “Indie”, and the flow of the game feels good. They took something that had the risk of being a cluster of unfocused crazy, and used it to their… crazy advantage instead of just giving us a bunch of monsters with no direction… and actually made it work in a logical way. They went B-Movie in a game about a movie plus something that I will not mention so that you can appreciate it yourself. One of my biggest questions is if it was their intention to deliver the game like this from the start, because if so… 2 thumbs up!

You’re playing out a B-Movie as Dick Starspeed, Scarlet Nova, and… Robot as you scale the tower of monsters on planet Gravoria (and beyond)… in 3rd person and even in a weird space invader angle also, which you will become familiar with when it happens (in more ways than one).
You have stop-motion, image compositing, etc. and I don’t know… (how should I put this), it just looks awesome. You’re playing a game of a movie that’s showcasing various things you’d see on a set… back in that time period… and it has interestingly weird commentary that’s tied into that. I thoroughly appreciated the creative and entertaining approach accompanying me throughout the adventure.

Could you imagine seeing something like this in real life?
You have various objectives to accomplish that increase the replay value of this game… so you aren’t just taking on enemies and bosses as you progress up the tower. Expect to go back and forth and up and down as you jump off the tower to handle your business… unlocking paths, items, objectives, and achievements. One thing that really (really) saved this game from being an exhausting experience… is the ability to teleport. It seriously saved the game for me so that I wouldn’t have to worry about going all the way back up or down the tower (keeps the steam going) as you work towards taking down… The Emperor (gwahahahaaaa).

You will be put to the test with over half-a-hundred monsters that also include boss battles.
 What types of monsters can you expect? Hmmm… robo-monkeys, squid people, dinosaurs-gone-wild, alien fan-men (you will know what I’m talking about when you see them), etc.

One thing I’d like to see improved is the transition from standard 3rd person view to the vertical (top-down) camera angle. The smoother the better because I feel that there are various situations that would allow the player to benefit/react a bit more if the camera were a bit more high and wide. This would allow for players to see the enemies approaching on the platform while taking on flying enemies in that top down view angle.

I see value in this game from nearly every… angle. Visually it feels like I’m playing with action figures that are reacting to my gamepad, the story is pretty cool even if it seems crazy… and they round it out in a way that I did not expect. The music fit’s the game… bringing a sci-fi spacey feel and it definitely enhances the adventure for me.

Yes... that is a pirate ship back there!
Gameplay has hack’n’slash, as well as shooting, with an RPG-like system that allows you to build up your character’s health, speed up the cool down time for special attacks, increase the damage of your weaponry, etc. and it’s optional with the ability to improve your character in a completely different way than a friend.

Replay value comes in multiple forms… because you have achievements you can obtain, hoop action (which are you jumping from various heights through rings to obtain them all), target hunting, and… the developer is still pushing to make the game even better. How? Well… the incorporation of a Hard Mode and a Co-op option (up to 4-players) is how. They aren’t going full online co-op, it’s going to remain local based on Q&A, and player 1 will control the main camera… but I give them props for giving more from an indie standpoint (because they could’ve moved on to the next project after the release was final).

To really drive home the word… value, this game is less than $20(USD). I’d say the game would be on target at $20 and up to that range of $25, but I wouldn’t dare argue about it being $14.99… that’s the cherry on top.

So if you want to get all old school sci-fi in a new school way… you may want to check this game out. We give The Deadly Tower of Monsters… 4 out of 5!


Fun factor: 4

Visually: 5
Replay value: 4
Price: 5

"4.5 / 5 Cool Points"


Brought to you by the... Baby Fu Clothing Co!


Like this review? Prove it, click that +1, share and all that good stuff! :p Game on!

From the Source: Xbox - Adventure On Clover Island

Now... this... looks like it could be preeeetttyyy fun! :D

Clover Island Hero image
Swedish studio Right Nice Games has teamed up with the folks at Grip Digital to bring you Adventure on Clover Island, a 3D action-platformer that’s wonderfully reminiscent of decade-old 64-bit greats like Jak and Daxter and Banjo-Kazooie. You play as Skylar, a feline heroine with a deadly mechanical arm. Her sidekick, Plux, is an owl that’s always flying by her side. And then there’s the lusciously vibrant world that you get to explore. It’s a welcome throwback to a genre that’s seen woefully few entries in recent years.
A beautiful place to have an adventure, the titular Clover Island is spread out beneath a bright, azure sky; a vast aquamarine sea surrounds its idyllic beaches. Everywhere you look, you’ll see a healthy supply of interesting rock formations, grassy outcroppings, and floating platforms to traverse, dotted with the sorts of shiny gems that we all love to compulsively collect (I know I do!).
The demo I played at this year’s Game Developers Conference ID@Xbox event started me out on the sandy beach, but I quickly made my way upward, toward an opening in the side of a rock face. Inside, I found a cave filled with spinning gears, disappearing platforms, and a few gauntlets that involved dodging some big, swinging hammers. The menacing, red-hot lava beneath me began to rise.
I easily punched my way through main villain CRT’s minions – little ambulatory TV screens and other droid-like creatures of his making – using Skylar’s spin attack to mop up any stragglers. Her mechanical arm is useful for more than destruction though; I attached a grappling line to anchor points floating in the air, which I used to swing across large gaps and pull out platforms that were previously retracted.
Skylar even has a jet pack, so she can hover and fly for short bursts, adding an extra layer of satisfaction and utility to the genre-staple double-jump. Just with my brief hands-on time with the game, I’m already eager to see how Skylar upgrades her mechanical arm (and associated abilities) as the game progresses.
If zippy platforming action in colorful vistas has been missing from your life, Adventure on Clover Island is one to watch for when it releases later this year on Xbox One. Alice Liang

From the Source: Nintendo... eShop action!


Logo
March 17, 2016 13:00 UTC

Nintendo News: Nintendo Download Highlights New Digital Content for Nintendo Systems

REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- This week’s Nintendo Download includes the following featured content:
Perform vivid Pokémon moves using an intuitive fighting system and unleash devastating attacks upon  ...
Perform vivid Pokémon moves using an intuitive fighting system and unleash devastating attacks upon your opponent to become the Pokkén Tournament champion! Pokkén Tournament will be available on March 18. (Photo: Business Wire)
  • Nintendo eShop on Wii U
    • Pokkén Tournament – Battle Pokémon like never before in new action-packed arena fights. Perform vivid Pokémon moves using an intuitive fighting system and unleash devastating attacks upon your opponent to become the Pokkén Tournamentchampion! Pokkén Tournament will be available on March 18.
  • Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS
    • Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games – Mario, Sonic and their friends head to the ultimate training grounds for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the streets of Rio de Janeiro! Train with Mario or Sonic in their own stories, then test your skills in 14 events. Soar high in BMX, blaze over 110m Hurdles, perfect your swing in Golf and field a team in Brazil’s favorite sport: Football (soccer)! Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games will be available on March 18.
  • Nintendo eShop on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS
    • Mutant Mudds Super Challenge – Renegade Kid’s beloved dimension-defying platformer is back with a new game – Mutant Mudds Super Challenge – featuring a host of exciting, fresh platforming challenges and boss fights. The game supports cross-buy for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, and offers a 15 percent Loyalty Discount for the first 30 days if you purchased the original Mutant Mudds game or downloaded the Nindies@Home Preview demo of Mutant Mudds Super Challenge.
  • Virtual Console on Wii U
    • DIG DUG II – Dig Dug has decided to take a vacation on a remote island, but the Pooka and Fygar won’t give him the chance to rest! In each round, clear out enemies by inflating them until they burst or digging up traps for them to fall into. But be careful that you don’t get too close to their attacks or fall into your own traps.
    • City Connection – City Connection is an NES action game in which you control a getaway car after stealing cans of paint. Drive on highways, avoid obstacles and ram into police cars to make a clean escape.
Nintendo eShop sales:
  • Nintendo eShop on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS
    • OlliOlli (Wii U and Nintendo 3DS), Stealth Inc 2: A Game of Clones (Wii U) and more games from Curve Digital are on sale until8:59 a.m. PT on March 31.
    • 3D Game Collection (Nintendo 3DS), Island Flight Simulator (Wii U) and more games from Joindots are on sale until 8:59 a.m. PT on March 31.
  • Nintendo eShop on Wii U
    • Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna) is 65 percent off (reduced from $14.99 to $4.99) until 8:59 a.m. PT on March 24.
    • Hold Your Fire: A Game About Responsibility is more than 50 percent off (reduced from $1.99 to $.99) until 8:59 a.m. PT onApril 7.
    • Blocky Bot and Paper Monsters Recut from Mobot Studios are on sale until 8:59 a.m. PT on April 7.
  • Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS
    • Parking Star 3DQuell Reflect and more games from Circle Entertainment are on sale until 8:59 a.m. PT on March 31.
    • Real Heroes: Firefighter 3D is 50 percent off (reduced from $9.99 to $4.99) until 8:59 a.m. PT on March 24.
    • Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker is 25 percent off (reduced from $39.99 to $29.99) until 8:59 a.m. PT onMarch 28.
    • SmileBASIC is 50 percent off (reduced from $9.99 to $4.99) until 8:59 a.m. PT on March 21.
    • Rytmik Ultimate is more than 40 percent off (reduced from $17.99 to $9.99) until 8:59 a.m. PT on March 31.
    • Runny EggNinja Battle Heroes and more games from Tom Create are on sale until 8:59 a.m. PT on March 31.
    • Johnny’s Payday Panic is 50 percent off (reduced from $3.99 to $1.99) until 8:59 a.m. PT on March 31.
New DLC:
  • Fire Emblem Fates – New DLC Map – Royal Royale, a new map in the Fire Emblem Fates games, is now available to download in the game for only $2.49.
  • Fire Emblem Fates – Map Pack 1 – As a reminder, anyone who owns either Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright or Fire Emblem Fates: Conquestcan purchase Map Pack 1 for $17.99 to get access to 11 DLC maps plus bonus content as it is released weekly through April 21. Map Pack 1 content is priced at more than $24 when purchased individually.
Theme Shop on Nintendo 3DS:
Also new this week:
  • Bird Mania Party (Nintendo eShop on Wii U)
  • U Host (Nintendo eShop on Wii U)

From the Source: TellTale - The Walking Dead: Michonne... action!

Ready for another episode of Michonne action? Gear up!

Conflict Heats Up in 'The Walking Dead: Michonne'
Episode 2 - 'Give No Shelter' on March 29th

Fellow Survivors,

Today we can share the release date for 'Give No Shelter,' the second of three episodes in The Walking Dead: Michonne - A Telltale Miniseries.

Episode 2: 'Give No Shelter' will be available starting Tuesday, March 29th on PC/Mac via the Telltale Online Store, Steam, and other digital distribution services, the PlayStation®Network for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3, the Xbox Games Store for Xbox One® and Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, for compatible iOS devices via the App Store, and for Android-based devices via Google Play and the Amazon Appstore. The miniseries will conclude with the third episode, 'What We Deserve,' in April.
 


The Walking Dead: Michonne - A Telltale Miniseries confronts players with tough choices. Today we can also share this new video above, which highlights some of the difficult decisions players were faced with in the premiere episode. 

The miniseries stars the iconic, blade-wielding character from Robert Kirkman's best-selling comic books, portrayed in-game by award-winning actress Samira Wiley (Orange is the New Black). Haunted by her past and coping with unimaginable loss and regret, the story explores Michonne across a three episode miniseries event. Players will dive into the mind of Michonne to discover what took her away from Rick, Carl, and the rest of her trusted group... and what brought her back.

In Episode 2, 'Give No Shelter,' a daring escape from the floating colony of Monroe sees Michonne, Pete, and Sam running for their lives. An all too brief reprieve is soon shattered; the leaders of Monroe don't forgive and don't forget. With memories of her daughters bleeding ever further into Michonne's blurred reality, her world is becoming increasingly fractured... just at the point when she'll need all of her skills to survive.

From the Source: Square-Enix - Heavensward FFXIV... New Developer Diary Entry!

Another diary entry for the Final Fantasy XIV fans!

Square Enix
LOGO
VISUAL DESIGN TEAM TAKES FINAL FANTASY XIV TO NEW HEIGHTS IN NEW DEVELOPER DIARY
LOS ANGELES (Mar. 15, 2016) – In the final entry of the FINAL FANTASY® XIV developer diary series, the visual design team details their approach in the creation and implementation of new landscapes and environments, as well as the introduction of flying mounts for the acclaimed expansion pack.

Key members of the visual design team include lead designer Takeo Suzuki, lead background artist Junichi Murata, character artist Yuji Mitsuishi, and lead animator Shinya Ichida. In this video, they explain their goals in creating an amazing player experience, the creative process from conception to implementation, and the challenges they faced in order to expand the world of FINAL FANTASY XIV.


FINAL FANTASY XIV Dev Diary Chapter Three: Visual Design can be viewed here:


From the Source: Square-Enix... Sky Fortress action!

This DLC expansion action will... be added to our upcoming review of Just Cause 3. The game is awesome, but this expansion really adds a few scoops of ice cream next to that slice of cake.

Square Enix
LOGO
JUST CAUSE 3: SKY FORTRESS CONTENT NOW ON GENERAL SALE
INCLUDES NEW WINGSUIT, NEW MISSIONS, CHALLENGES & MORE
JUST CAUSE 3: SKY FORTRESS, the first content pack from the Air, Land and Sea Expansion Pass which was previously only available to pass holders - is now on general sale for all players.

SKY FORTRESS contains a brand new set of missions that introduce a new threat – the eDEN Corporation and their huge and terrifying Sky Fortress, with its army of deadly robotic drones. To tackle his deadly new adversary, Rico Rodriguez will use a new upgradeable, rocket-powered, weaponised ‘Bavarium Wingsuit’ fitted with shoulder mounted machine guns and auto targeting missiles - alongside his new ‘Eviction’ personal defence drone and ‘Bavarium Splitter’ assault rifle.

“The new content will fundamentally alter how our players approach the game - we’re really looking forward to seeing how fans adapt to the new Wingsuit,” said Tobias Andersson, Senior Producer at Avalanche Studios. “The new story missions, challenges and gadgets that can be taken into the main game really mix things up, and we can’t wait for players to revisit Medici and start getting even more creative”.

The SKY FORTRESS pack is priced at $11.99 / €11.99 / £9.49 whilst the AIR, LAND & SEA Expansion Pass is available for $24.99 / €24.99 / £19.99. All three content packs will be available before the end of summer 2016 and released one week early to Expansion Pass holders.





From the Source: Square-Enix action!




Square Enix
[PRESS RELEASE]
Critically Acclaimed Rise of the Tomb Raider Leads DirectX 12 Integration


REDWOOD CITY, CA (March 11, 2016) - Square Enix®, Crystal Dynamics® and Nixxes Software announced that starting today, Rise of the Tomb Raider® PC will support DirectX 12 on Steam® and the feature will be coming soon to The Windows 10 Store.

By adding DirectX 12 support to Rise of the Tomb Raider, processors will be able to spread CPU rendering work over all CPU cores, without introducing additional overhead. This will enable users with high-end graphics cards but low-end CPU to run the game at higher frame-rates, graphical settings and other technical enhancements like never before.

The update is already integrated with NVIDIA’s GEFORCE Game Ready Driver: http://www.nvidia.com/download/driverResults.aspx/99512/en-us

Please visit the official Rise of the Tomb Raider blog for a detailed post from Nixxes Studio Head Jurjen Katsman that dives deep into this new technology.


LOGO
NEW SQUARE ENIX STUDIO TO REVIVE
CLASSIC JRPG HALLMARKS
‘I AM SETSUNA’ First Title for Tokyo RPG Factory

SAN FRANCISCO (Mar. 14, 2016) – At this year’s Game Developers Conference, the newest studio within the Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. (“Square Enix®”) group of companies, Tokyo RPG Factory, was on hand to reveal its debut title — I AM SETSUNA™.  The title is slated for digital release for the west this summer on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Steam®.



Led by director Atsushi Hashimoto, Tokyo RPG Factory aims to capture the narrative depth, impactful storytelling and masterful character development inspired by the golden era of Japanese role-playing games and bring them to current hardware and technology. With a battle system inspired by the classic hit CHRONO TRIGGER®I AM SETSUNA brings back authentic RPG gameplay, beautiful art design and a sorrowful story to the new generation.