If you're a fan of the Mega Man Zero series but always thought it was a tad slow, you'll want to keep an eye on Berserk Boy. The action-platformer from the appropriately-named BerserkBoy Games is coming to Nintendo Switch and PC on March 6. 

Ahead of its release, the devs have shared a new trailer that confirms the launch date and shows off a bunch of fast-paced action. Throw in a mix of Saturday morning anime cinematics and you have a pretty compelling reason to go berserk yourself.

Berserk Boy is Mega Man meets Sonic the Hedgehog

True to its inspirations, which appear to range from the Mega Man series to Sonic the Hedgehog, Berserk Boy ticks all the expected bullet points. There's jumping, dashing, and sliding. There are different abilities to harness and toggle between, including Lightning, Fire, Earth, Air, and Ice. There's even a mad scientist and his "army of darkness" to contend with. I'm a simple man, I don't ask for much more of a setup than that. 

The tunes have a solid pedigree to them, too. The Berserk Boy soundtrack comes from Tee Lopes, known for work on Streets of Rage 4, Sonic Mania, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge, and more. The real standout for me, though, is the speed. It looks like there's a nice mix of combo-chaining, acrobatic challenges and, of course, rail-sliding. We'll see if it lives up to all the games that paved the way for it when Berserk Boy lands this March.  

The post Berserk Boy looks like a high-speed spin on Mega Man Zero appeared first on Destructoid.

If you thought the idea of a live-action Final Fantasy XIV series sounded like a massive undertaking, you'd be right. One of the executive producers, Dinesh Shamdasani of Hivemind Entertainment, recently confirmed that the project has been canceled. 

When asked about the status of the live-action Final Fantasy XIV on Twitter, Shamdasani straight up said it's "dead." While they had a "fantastic pilot script" by Ben Lustig and Jake Thornton (Winter's Knight) and a multi-season plan, everything was rejected. According to Shamdasani, it was the risk inherent to the "size and scale" of the project that ultimately did it in. Apparently, Amazon came the closest to footing the bill for this one. 

Writer Jake Thornton chimed in, as well, citing Covid as one of the culprits behind the decision. "We took it out just as studios began to zip up their purse strings," Thornton added. 

As for whether or not animation would be more suitable for something like Final Fantasy XIV, Shamdasani was quick to put an end to any further hope for the series, at least for now. Not only did he say that animation would be more difficult, he mentioned that they no longer have the rights to the title. 

Eorzea out of sight

Plans for the live-action Final Fantasy XIV were first revealed back in 2019, and had Square Enix teaming up with Sony Pictures Television and Hivemind. The initial announcement promised a new story set in Eorzea along with series mainstays like Chocobos, airships, and even the "live-action debut of Cid."

Hivemind previously worked with Netflix on The Witcher and with Amazon on The Expanse, so the experience and potential was there. For the time being, at least we'll always have Dad of Light. 

The post Live-action Final Fantasy XIV series canceled due to ‘size and scale’  appeared first on Destructoid.

While I wouldn't say I'm bad at games by any stretch, I know a game I'll be bad at when I see one. NanoApostle is one such game, and the frenetic boss rush actioner from developer 18Light Game (Pronty) is due out on PC in summer 2024. 

Who cares if I'll be bad at it, though. You might not be! It certainly seems exciting enough, and the intense boss battles at its core are on full display in the announcement trailer from publisher PQube. 

NanoApostle puts you in the role of a nanomachine-augmented child named Anita. As she attempts to escape a top secret facility, she comes face to face with a bunch of cybernetic experiments that certainly seem to have "gone wrong." Or maybe they've gone exactly as their creator intended? Either way, she has to beat 'em all up using a "Destruction Point" battle system. As the name implies, this involves using Anita's Apostle nanites to identify structural weaknesses in enemies and land decisive hits.

Destined to die

The stages themselves are something you'll have to contend with, too. Some of the environments will warp and advance as bosses become more aggressive. As one might expect from a game like NanoApostle, it results in the need for a lot of well-timed dodging and parrying. You'll also need to be strategic with the way you utilize skill points to decide upon your personal approach to combat. 

It all looks and sounds very cool, even if it smacks of a game that I'll pick up and get frustrated with almost immediately. For a lot of folks, that's a key selling point, and I can't say I'm not immediately drawn in by the promise of any game that falls in the Oops! All Bosses! category a la Furi. Hey, why not, bring on the punishment.

The post Sci-Fi boss rush game NanoApostle looks tough as hell, launches this summer appeared first on Destructoid.

We all know cats have nine lives, but Umbraclaw is on the way to prove they also get successively cooler powers each time they die. The latest side-scrolling action game from Inti Creates (Azure Striker Gunvolt, Blaster Master Zero) is set to launch on consoles and PC on May 30, 2024.

Specifically, Umbraclaw is coming to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. A demo is on the way to the February 2024 edition of Steam Next Fest, and you can see how much ass this little cat kicks in the release date trailer below. 

Umbraclaw follows a house cat named Kuon, who awakens in the Soulplane after dying in our world. In order to return home, she'll have to brave this realm of the dead, which has a really cool art style to it. While cats do have nine lives, those lives come and go rather easily. Whenever Kuon takes a hit she dies; simple as that. Thankfully, she has an "Anima Revive" power that can bring her back to life with a new skill each time, paving the way for different play styles and leading her toward multiple possible endings. 

Some of those skills are animal transformation skills like the Crow, Tyrannosaurus, and Elephant (take that, Mario). Kuon can also change into a humanoid form for "full fighting action," switching the focus from enemy avoidance to direct combat. Blaster Master Zero director Satoru Nishizawa is at the helm for this one, and hopefully, it's as fun to play as it is to watch. We'll see how the sampler pans out next month ahead of the May launch. We'll also find out more about the other mystery game Inti Creates is working on During PAX East 2024!

The post Inti Creates’ Umbraclaw proves cats have nine lives AND rad powers, launches this May appeared first on Destructoid.

Fans of Zelda music, take note, because Nintendo is bringing The Legend of Zelda Orchestra Concert online. The full pre-recorded performance will be available to stream for free via Nintendo's YouTube channel on February 9. 

According to the official website, viewers who tune into the concert can look forward to music selections ranging from the first Zelda to Tears of the Kingdom, all performed by a full orchestra. The video is listed as being around 30 minutes in length, and you'll be able to catch it starting at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time right here.

This particular concert was originally scheduled to be performed at the Nintendo Live 2024 TOKYO event, which was canceled due to unspecified threats. The event was planned for January 20 and 21 at Tokyo Big Sight before "aggressive" threats were made toward Nintendo staff and attendees. This also resulted in the postponement of national and world championships for Splatoon 3 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Beyond the concerts, the Nintendo Live 2024 TOKYO event was also going to serve as a showcase for the latest games from Nintendo.  

The Legend of Zelda Orchestra Concert isn't the only event that just announced its rescheduled plans. The Splatoon 3 Deep Cut concert was also lined up for Nintendo Live 2024 TOKYO, and now it will stream via Nintendo's YouTube channel on February 10. Hey, that's two back-to-back days of Nintendo concerts on YouTube! February's already lookin' up. 

The post The Legend of Zelda Orchestra Concert airs on February 9 appeared first on Destructoid.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is right around the corner on February 29, so Square Enix is capitalizing on the thirst for more Cloud and Sephiroth with special screenings of the CG-animated Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children film a week ahead of launch. 

Originally released nearly two decades ago in 2005, the Tetsuya Nomura-directed feature is a characteristically over-the-top look at the world of Final Fantasy VII two years after the events of the original game. The film's return to theaters is the result of a collaboration between Square Enix, Fathom Events, and Sony Pictures. It will mark the first time for the Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete director's cut version to hit cinemas.

The screenings will be in theaters for just two days. Those who want to see Cloud's Buster Sword in the largest format possible can check out the English-dubbed version on February 21, followed by the subtitled version on February 22. The director's cut is a whopping 26 minutes longer than the theatrical release, packing in various visual improvements and around a thousand updated scenes. The story finds a mysterious new illness spreading quickly throughout the world, bringing old enemies back out of the woodwork and forcing Cloud to pick up his impossibly heavy blade and get back into action. 

If you do decide to head to the theater for this one next month, Square Enix wants you to prepare for a history lesson before the lights dim. Folks who show up early will be treated to exclusive introductory content like the history of Final Fantasy VII, how it connects to Advent Children, interviews with Tetsuya Nomura and Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi, and more. 

The post Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children heads back to US theaters ahead of Rebirth appeared first on Destructoid.

Following some delays, Freedom Planet 2 finally made its PC debut in September 2022, and now it has its sights set on consoles. Publisher XSEED Games announced plans to bring developer GalaxyTrail's sequel to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch on April 4, 2024.

In addition to showing off the four heroines of Freedom Planet 2 and their high-speed exploits, the release date trailer previews a brand new mode. When Freedom Planet 2 hits consoles it will come with the oft-requested Boss Rush mode across all platforms, including a simultaneous update on PC. Split into two divisions with 17 boss challenges in each one, Boss Rush mode will be accessible via the in-game Battlesphere when it goes live. Beating the bosses in both divisions will unlock an in-game VIP room full of easter eggs that long-time fans should appreciate.

XSEED has digital releases set for all platforms, with the Switch eShop release offering 10% off pre-orders from now until a week after launch. The PlayStation release will include a bundle of both the PS4 and PS5 versions, and those who opt to check it out on Xbox will be able to take advantage of Smart Delivery to access the optimal version of the game on both platforms. 

I haven't played the sequel yet, but the first Freedom Planet was pretty much the ideal Sonic game I never knew I needed, so I'm psyched for this one to hit consoles. It all makes sense considering the series' origins as a Sonic the Hedgehog fangame by GalaxyTrail founder Sabrina DiDuro. If you can't wait until the console release, you can nab the sequel for the same price of $24.99 on Steam right now. 

The post Freedom Planet 2 zips to consoles on April 4, adds Boss Rush mode appeared first on Destructoid.

If you feel recent roguelite games have been missing that platform fighter touch, Spiritfall is here to answer the call. Developer Gentle Giant's action game takes notes from Super Smash Bros., Brawlhalla, and similarly hectic platform fighter fare, and it's set to launch in full on February 28, 2024.

Spiritfall has been available in Early Access since April 3, 2023, and has garnered 'Very Positive' reviews from players in the months since. The release date news came along with a new animated trailer that shows off some slick cinematics and a sample of the fast-paced action at the heart of it all. 

When Spiritfall shared its Early Access update roadmap back in November, the devs detailed a few of the additions on the way to the full version. These include the final region and boss fight along with a new optional boss, fifth alternate weapon form, all challenge levels, and "more surprises." Gentle Giant has stayed pretty active in updating the game since it became available, knocking out 10 monthly content updates on top of the usual intermittent hotfixes. 

Even if you haven't played it for yourself yet, you can certainly see that platform brawler style at work in the trailer. Spiritfall combines that frantic fighting with roguelite features such as randomly generated maps and the ability to unlock new powers, upgrade skills, and gather a bunch of weapons to make the going a little less tough for each successive run. Brawlhalla by way of Dead Cells will no doubt be enough of a hook for most to at least dip their toes in what this one has to offer.  

The post Smash Bros-inspired roguelite Spiritfall leaves Early Access on February 28 appeared first on Destructoid.

If you've been hankering for a new tactical mech shooter, the first game from KEK Entertainment fits the bill. Armor Attack is in the works at a team comprised of former EA and Ubisoft devs, and it's due out sometime this year.

Armor Attack is billed as a crossplay game with PC, Mac, iOS, and Android listed as its starting platforms. A console release is planned for an as-yet-undetermined date, and you can see how it looks in action in the announcement trailer below. 

At a glance, customization is going to play a large role in the tactics at hand. Each vehicle has its own advantages and disadvantages, and you can tweak your loadout in different ways depending on the desired playstyle. Abilities, weapons, talent systems, and other aspects will lend themselves well to certain objectives, and this combines with the different styles inherent to the three main factions. Naturally, everybody wants to rule the world, so these factions are all about trying their best to control the last remnants of a wartorn Earth. 

The key styles at play are defense, damage, and battlefield exploitation, the latter of which sounds like it might have something to do with the "game-changing mechanic" on each map. These range from changes to the overall layout to large boss enemies and the availability of vantage points that offer a competitive edge. KEK Entertainment CEO and co-founder Georgy Egorov says they want to offer the "ultimate mecha shooter experience for friends to enjoy across PC, mobile, and consoles without sacrificing caliber." We'll see how that pans out soon. 

The post Armor Attack is a new tactical mech shooter from former EA and Ubisoft devs appeared first on Destructoid.

Crime is a slippery slope. One minute you're evading taxes and the next you're joining a gang and pulling off the biggest heist of your little veggie life. That's where we're at now in Turnip Boy Robs a Bank, a sequel that delivers a heist both sprawling and suitably snack-sized.

Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion launched in 2021 as a cute and snappy Zelda-style adventure, clocking in at a breezy couple hours at best. It came off as both sendup and parody, frequently breaking the fourth wall in an almost "I'm a little nervous to be a video game" manner. Flash forward a few years and we're clearly working with a more confident team at developer Snoozy Kazoo. Turnip Boy Robs a Bank doesn't exactly turn the concept of the first game on its head, but it goes about its structure in a more novel and cleverly disguised way.

Turnip Boy Robs a Bank (PC [reviewed], Switch, Xbox)
Developer: Snoozy Kazoo
Publisher: Graffiti Games
Released: January 18, 2024
MSRP: $14.99

The heat is on

Gone are the halcyon days of traipsing through the Weapon Woods, passing sundry items from veggies to fruits and back again, and brazenly ripping federal documents in twain. If Tax Evasion is a bite-sized riff on The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, Turnip Boy Robs a Bank is Phantom Hourglass and the Botanical Bank is the Temple of the Ocean King.

After linking up with the Pickled Gang, Turnip Boy quickly starts the loop of crashing their van into the bank, snatching as much primo loot as possible, and escaping before the timer runs out and the peach fuzz drops in full force. Prepare to get very familiar with this place, because outside of the single-room hideout it’s the only location in the game. 

When I busted into the bank for my first few runs, I got the impression that this was going the procedurally-generated route. Turnip Boy does tout its roguelite elements, after all. That's not the case, though, and the bank is carefully designed and laid out such that you'll soon know every loot-filled corner like the back of your hand. The act of going deeper and deeper into what is, in actuality, a very simple and straightforward map is key to Turnip Boy's appeal. After the first dozen or so times you ram through those walls, the sense of familiarity becomes refreshing and the desire to find something new is invigorating. It doesn't hurt that it all goes down to the tune of a thumping soundtrack that's a far-cry from the quaint earworms of the first game.

Outside of this core loop, the progression system is actually pretty similar to Tax Evasion, with various food-based critters asking Turnip Boy for increasingly absurd favors. Some of them can be handled fetch-quest style, but the bulk of the problems can be solved by absconding with enough dough to buy new items from the dark web. Costs increase as you open up more of the bank, but so do the spoils as you reach the depths of what this mighty money bin has to offer.

Mr. Shakedown

Getting the goods goes beyond a little smash 'n grab action. You'll blow up vaults with C4, chisel statues to unveil the hidden gems within, and approach hostages to literally shake the coins and bills out of their shallow little pockets. You'll end bank runs with a few thousand dollars early on, but by the end you'll be pulling in hauls in the hundreds of millions. There's plenty of opposition, from snails and bunnies to baton-wielding bacon and gun-toting donuts. There are even more ways to dispose of them, starting with a standard sword-and-gun combo and moving on to everything from fish to music-blasting conch shells, lasers, and a rocket launcher that would fit right in with the climax of a Resident Evil game. 

Turnip Boy Robs a Bank puts the lite in roguelite with some very surface level, but still effective, genre trappings. Most weapons are found in the wild, and you can spend some cash to up the odds of finding the good stuff. It's all random, so some bank runs will yield more effective results than others. Taking new discoveries back to the hideout will give you a chance to offer them to one of the Twins for weapon research. The more you raise your research level, the more weapons you'll find permanently added to your loadout options. 

There are maybe a couple moments I would describe as moderately annoying at most over the course of the 4-5 hour campaign, but the combat is never grating. Even if the mighty grenade launcher has you dying repeatedly to yet another culinary cop, there are a handful of combat difficulty options available from the very beginning. There are also plenty of accessibility options in terms of how you approach the meat of the action. If you just want to chew on the expanded Turnip Boy lore and revel in the late-game twists, you can toggle God Mode on and off at any time. You can also change the outlines of enemies and interactive items, raise or lower the damage you deal, and turn on auto aim and an aim laser for more precise shooting. 

Four main bosses await in the bank to test those shooting skills prior to the final showdown, none of which require much in the way of thinking to topple. At the very least, they provide an opportunity to serve up more of the Turnip Boy-brand humor established in the first game. This is one of the key areas in which the team is clearly more confident. Even when the jokes don't land, there's no collar-tugging reliance on references to tired video game tropes. Instead, Snoozy Kazoo doubles down on the absurdity with a small group of central characters, with the gruff and determined Dillitini guiding Turnip Boy through the labyrinth that lies ahead. 

Turnip the volume

Turnip Boy Robs a Bank is a fast-paced steal 'em up that wears its purposefully repetitive hook on its sleeve. There's a genuine sense of discovery in these steel-reinforced walls, and it's nice to see Snoozy Kazoo improving upon the art of the first game to create a more unified pixel aesthetic that extends from the gameplay to the character art during dialogue exchanges. It’s also dumb as hell, which appeals to me in the most primitive way possible. 

I'm not quite sure how often I'll pay it a repeat visit, as the focus on earning money to purchase key items makes for a more predictable and rote means of making it from one area to the next. I'm very happy to have played it thoroughly at least once, though, and this vault is worth busting into regardless of whether or not you enjoyed the first round of food-based federal crimes. 

The post Review: Turnip Boy Robs a Bank appeared first on Destructoid.

If you tuned into Awesome Games Done Quick today, you might have seen one of the charity speedrunning event's biggest milestones as it welcomed its first dog speedrunner. 

Just as adorable as his name, Peanut Butter is a Shiba Inu who also happens to be an expert in assisting with Gyromite's Game B mode. Game B had Nintendo's short-lived robot assistant R.O.B. do the heavy lifting, pressing actuators to move pipes so Professor Hector can make it through each level unscathed. In this run, however, it was Peanut Butter who did all the hard work. You can see just how good this boy is right here.

The Peanut Butter Solution

While Peanut Butter makes it all look easy, speedrunner JSR spent a year training him to take over the role of the R.O.B. controller. He does so with a bespoke controller of his own, which allows him to press a few specific buttons on command with great accuracy (and with the looming promise of a delicious treat). JSR got the idea when he was trying to stream every game from every episode of Angry Video Game Nerd.

"It took us about a year of training, every single day," JSR said. "But I was able to get him to press and hold buttons down, and he's able to do it now for a long enough amount of time that he can speedrun games."

All that training resulted in a really cute run with a couple close calls. Much ham was expended to get the job done, and there's always the potential time loss hazard of an itchy belly. Even with the challenge of simply being a dog, Peanut Butter was able to blast through Game B of Gyromite and plenty of bonus kibbles in an impressive 26 minutes and 24.5 seconds. 

Those who want to celebrate Peanut Butter's accomplishment and donate to a good cause — further benefitting the Prevent Cancer Foundation, which AGDQ supports each year — can pick up a limited time GOOD BOY! t-shirt from The Yetee. Six bucks from every tee goes directly to the charity, and the shirt is almost as lovable as Peanut Butter himself. 

The post Games Done Quick’s first dog speedrunner is adorable, extremely good at Gyromite appeared first on Destructoid.

Shmup fans are gonna be eating good this year, because Red Art Games kicked off its first Shmup Week event with two announcements. Both Bullet Hell Collection: Volume 1 and Jets'n'Guns Complete Collection are set to launch on Switch sometime in Q3 2024.

Bullet Hell Collection: Volume 1 includes Void Gore, Project Starship, and Z-WARP, all of which are on screen-filling display in the announcement trailer below.

In addition to the standard physical release, the first Bullet Hell Collection will be available in a Deluxe Edition that packs the games with one of three keychains, a poster, and reversible cover art. 

True to its title, Jets'n'Guns Complete Collection includes both Jets'n'Guns games by developer Rake in Grass (Rampage Knights, Silent Sector). Those who opt for all the bonuses will get the game along with a keychain, reversible cover, and a CD containing Machinae Supremacy's original soundtrack. Like the standard versions, the Deluxe Editions of both games are priced at €39.99, but these are exclusively up for pre-order at the Red Art Games website. 

Here's a look at both games in action:

Beyond that, it sounds like Shmup Week has some more surprises waiting in the wings. Red Art Games teased an announcement "coming straight from Japan" for Thursday, January 11 at 5:00 p.m. CET. There's also the previously-delayed Shinorubi, which finally locked in a January 12 launch date from Red Art Games last month. That's right around the corner digitally with a physical Switch release to follow at a later date. 

The post Bullet Hell Collection, Jets’n’Guns Complete Collection coming to Switch this year appeared first on Destructoid.

After hitting Early Access back in June 2021, we finally have a date for the initial launch of Phantom Abyss. The trap-dodging asynchronous multiplayer game is coming to Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam and the Humble Store on January 25. 

Publisher Devolver Digital and developer Team WIBY let the latest announcement loose on Steam. You can see some lightning-fast snippets of Version 1.0 in action in the launch date trailer below.

For those just now seeing what Team WIBY has been working on, Phantom Abyss tosses players into procedurally generated temples with the straightforward but challenging task of retrieving sacred relics. As anyone who has ever traversed even the most modest of temples will tell you, that's just askin' for booby traps. From perilous chasms to temple guards, you only get one chance to survive and make your way through each temple, so you have to choose your relic path wisely. 

The asynchronous multiplayer comes into play as you explore the temples and spot the phantoms of fallen players who have come and gone in that temple before. You can observe the actions and deadly missteps of up to 20 phantoms — including Steam friends and total strangers — and try not to repeat the same mistakes. 

Fortune and glory

It's been a while since we checked the game out for ourselves, and a lot can happen in over two years of Early Access.

Among the updates to look for as we venture into 1.0 are a completely overhauled Adventure Mode, a new Abyss Mode, and changes to Whips. The Abyss Mode was previously known as Classic Mode and acts as the heart of the game, letting players roll the dice to make their way through all four areas of a unique temple to collect the relic waiting at the end.

We can all look forward to failing miserably at it together later this month. 

The post Trap-filled asynchronous multiplayer game Phantom Abyss has a release date appeared first on Destructoid.

All good Metroidvanias must eventually make their way to Nintendo Switch, and that's the next stop for GRIME. Publisher Akupara Games and developer Clover Bite announced that the side-scrolling action-RPG is coming to Switch on January 25. 

This version of GRIME is now being billed as the Definitive Edition, offering "the complete GRIME experience" on Switch. In addition to the main game, the Switch port comes with all free pieces of DLC, including the third and final offering in Parting Shade. The latest addition follows the act of previous DLC Colors of Rot and Tinge of Terror, all evocatively named in a way that suits GRIME's, uh, grimy style. 

The devs describe Parting Shade as their "parting gift to you, our players." According to an earlier tease, you'll need to use every ability you have at your disposal to survive their own personal take on the Path of Pain, presumably referring to Hollow Knight's absurdly challenging sub-area. The DLC was first announced in September as the last thing they needed to work on before switching their attention to the Switch port and GRIME 2. 

GRIME first made its way to PC via Steam in August 2021, and is also available through Epic Games Store and GOG, as well as on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. Back when the demo was on the way to Steam, we spoke with director Yarden Weissbrot about the surreal creature-absorbing game's unique progression style, difficulty level, and more. With this and the sequel on the way, it's a good time to be into GRIME.

The post Brutal action-RPG GRIME launches January 25 on Switch, includes all DLC appeared first on Destructoid.

Publisher Game Source Entertainment updated plans on a handful of titles, including deck-building roguelite Lost in Fantaland (via Gematsu). The isometric strategy game is currently in Early Access on PC, and it's coming to PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch this June. 

Developer Supernature Games first kicked off the Early Access run on Steam back in September 2022, and it has since garnered very positive reviews. You can see a sample of its pixel art style and card-based tactics in the previously-revealed trailer below.

Lost in Fantaland lets players explore its randomly-generated world as a Warrior, Mage, or Deceiver. Battles take place on an eight-by-eight isometric checkerboard, and Supernature promises a ton of cards, items, and secret treasures to help keep those strategic showdowns interesting. For those who want to check it out while it's still in Early Access, Lost in Fantaland is currently 20 percent off on Steam. 

Beyond Fantaland

In addition to Lost in Fantaland, Game Source Entertainment provided some more info on games spanning a few different genres. Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade is a roguelite fantasy action-RPG set during Japan's Edo period, and it's coming to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC this October.

On the boys' love visual novel end, there's Voice Love on Air, which developer Noisy Fish has lined up for a spring launch on Switch and PC. Finally, horror fans will get to soak in the frights of Softstar Entertainment's The Bridge Curse 2: The Extrication when it hits consoles, along with the previously-planned PC version, sometime this year. 

The post Lost in Fantaland takes its deck-building tactics to PS5 and Switch in June appeared first on Destructoid.

Sawaki Takeyasu and Ignition Games' El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron somehow came out over 12 years ago. Takeyasu's company Crim purchased the rights a couple years after launch, and now the HD remaster finally has an April 28, 2024 date for Nintendo Switch. 

Crim announced the date for the port along with publisher Rainy Frog. El Shaddai will hit Switch both physically and digitally in Japan, including a physical deluxe edition priced at ¥8,250 (about US$57). Paying a little extra nets you the game along with a drama CD that comes with a script. Whether this is your first time ascending or you've been looking for an excuse to do so again, you can see more in the release date trailer. 

El Shaddai made its debut in 2011 to somewhat mixed reactions. It's a uniquely stylized action game that isn't necessarily going to be for everyone, but those who vibe with it are probably still thinking about it today. It had a pretty big promotional and crossover push at the time, including one that saw Japanese clothing brand Edwin release some pricey 503 Zero jeans in both Enoch and Lucifel styles. Unfortunately, none of the Switch releases come with themed clothing, so you'll have to hit eBay for a gently used pair. 

Outside of the bonuses included with the Japanese physical editions, it doesn't seem as if there's much in the way of new content here. If good ol' reliable El Shaddai—complete with its rock, paper, scissors combat and blend of 3D and 2D sections—sounds like a solid enough hook in 2024, mark your calendars for April. 

The post El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron HD Remaster makes Switch debut in April 2024 appeared first on Destructoid.

Developer Eyeguys and publisher Santa Ragione released the "treacherous visual novel" Mediterranea Inferno on PC in August 2023, and now it has a date for consoles. The latest announcement has the game hitting PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch on March 5, 2024.

Mediterranea Inferno follows the act of Eyeguys' 2020 visual novel Milky Way Prince: The Vampire Star, which tackled similarly weighty themes. You can see some of its idiosyncrasies on display in the console announcement and launch date trailer below.

The story of Mediterranea Inferno kicks off as three young 20-something guys reconnect after a period of isolation that's all too familiar. This is a post-pandemic yarn that reflects collective trauma through the trio of Claudio, Andrea, and Mida, who are attempting to enjoy their Southern Italy retreat.

Along the way you'll get to choose what they do each day, from visiting the local cemetery to relaxing by the pool, soaking in an endless summer that paves the way for insight into their psyches and unlocks hidden fears, obsessions, and the reality of dashed ambitions. 

Coming to grips with inner demons is an inevitable side effect of rediscovery in Mediterranea Inferno, apparently. Creator Lorenzo Redaelli produced hundreds of illustrations for the game along with handling the writing and music, so much like Milky Way Prince, there's a very personal touch behind it all. We have a little ways to go before that March console launch approaches, but in the meantime Mediterranea Inferno is available via Steam and Epic Games Store. 

The post Mediterranea Inferno visual novel sets console debut for March 5, 2024 appeared first on Destructoid.

When Super Mario RPG first dropped, it showed the kind of magic that could happen when two of the biggest names in gaming — Square and Nintendo — combined their powers. The recent remake is a great reminder of how those creative decisions can introduce new players to a genre that otherwise never clicked for them.

I used to be among that crowd, appreciating the idea of role-playing games without ever quite grasping what made them work. Not to out myself as a Dumb Gamer™, but going from reflex-based to menu-based action was jarring for me. When you're a kid who almost exclusively plays platformers, beat 'em ups, and run-and-gunners, it can be difficult to make the leap to RPGs. It certainly wasn't for lack of trying, either. 

With turn-based RPGs, I felt both too much pressure and a discouraging lack of immediacy. Systems like Final Fantasy VI's Active Time Battles were slow cookers. The heat was there, but the execution and the outcome just didn't grab me quickly enough. When Super Mario RPG launched two years later, it finally managed to bridge that yawning gap. On its surface, the same turn-based trappings of other traditional RPGs remained. Once you leaped into battle, though, you were able to punctuate each decision with a timing-based action. You weren't just telling Mario to hop on a Koopa Troopa; you were telling him to hop on one and then personally giving that attack even more power. 

This spoke to me in a way that your average fantasy adventure hadn't been able to just yet. When I look back at my history with RPGs prior to 1996, it was a series of earnest attempts without ever being willing to meet the genre on its own terms. In 1990, NES kids who subscribed to Nintendo Power got a taste of RPGs whether they wanted it or not. They were literally giving Dragon Warrior (now Dragon Quest) carts away, and I was happy to get a free game in the mail. As much as I enjoyed the musical sting and visuals whenever a Slime appeared, though, the game itself didn't leave an immediate impression. To my young, obtuse mind, questing and taking on random battles was a grueling and lonesome endeavor. I probably played the first hour of Dragon Warrior a hundred times, but the menus never set my mind ablaze. The same goes for the original Final Fantasy. Even if the Nintendo Power strategy guide told me otherwise, I was convinced the game ended after the battle with Garland. 

Flash forward a couple of years, when there were a ton of alluring boxes on retail shelves begging to be purchased or rented. Seeing games like Lufia & The Fortress of Doom and Final Fantasy II (IV) was a real curiosity. Surely, with so much video game experience under my belt, these would finally unlock some latent desire to select actions while enemies patiently wait for their turn to attack. 

Seeing is believing

At the time, I was far more interested in the tales my friends had to tell about RPGs than I was in actually playing them. I distinctly recall a friend telling me about how he waited for Shadow on the Floating Continent in Final Fantasy III (VI), amazed as he dashed out at the last second to escape with the rest of the party. So you could add him to your team after that? Otherwise, he would just DIE? That sounded incredible, but the game itself hadn't wormed its way in enough to make me want to play that far. In fact, I found it pretty damn difficult to do so. 

When Super Mario RPG came out — in the very same year that Nintendo would launch its next console, Nintendo 64, no less — it represented many of the technological leaps that still made the Super NES such an enduring and successful beast of a machine. Following Rare's act a couple of years prior, Super Mario RPG used pre-rendered characters to give this incredible illusion of 3D, from the battlefield to the environments themselves. It's just one part of what made Mario's turn-based adventure so engrossing, but it helped lull me into the sense that I was playing a Mario game first and a role-playing game second. 

Live, learn, level up

With those visuals front and center, Super Mario RPG took familiar characters, introduced some fresh faces, and set them all out on a quirky adventure packed with humor. Throw in a fantastic earworm of a soundtrack by Yoko Shimomura, and you have an endlessly charming journey to find the seven stars and take down the villainous Smithy once and for all. You even enlist the help of Bowser along the way, setting the stage for the oddball team-ups that would come to define future Mario RPGs, from Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door to the Mario & Luigi series. 

With such an irresistible setup and all that familiarity fueling it, I was finally ready to see what RPGs had to offer. The timed attacks didn't always make it easier for me — I still recall having trouble with the final boss and some other areas — but it got my foot in the door. Every new move I learned, and every new party member I acquired had the potential to introduce an exciting element of action as that exclamation point I so desperately needed. Suddenly, strategizing started to make sense to me bit by bit. I had a better idea of who I wanted to attack, what moves I wanted to use, and how much damage I could deal with a little extra action on my end.

In a genre that made me feel like less of a player and more of a coach, this was crucial.  

Captain M: The Menu Master

Nintendo and Square's adventure wasn't the first RPG to offer up something more interactive during actions. Sabin's Blitz command in Final Fantasy VI lets players use fighting game-style inputs to pull off specific moves. I saw the appeal of this, but it was buried in so many of the typical genre trappings that I was never able to fully appreciate it. That was the case, at least, until I saw the credits roll on Super Mario RPG. By the time I had bested Smithy, I was a little more prepared to see what else the genre had to offer. 

Maybe my patience had leveled up, or maybe I finally just saw the appeal in sitting back and taking the time to think about what I wanted to do next. Either way, I was invested. To this day, I wouldn't say I'm "strategically minded," but Super Mario RPG helped me better appreciate the pace of role-playing. With some turn-based training wheels, I was able to see the appeal of letting a world unfold before me, focusing on story and characters, and gaining a new fondness for the way differences were settled on the field of battle. I started to really love the way enemies and characters lined up across from one another, each side waiting for the right opportunity to deliver a punishing blow before the other could so much as unsheathe their swords. 

This would even inform the way I played with my toys! I used to collect those Star Wars Micro Machines sets, and once I finally grasped RPGs, I found myself facing a party of Luke, Chewbacca, and Han across from a towering AT-ST boss battle. It all couldn't have happened at a better time. It's not as if it suddenly became my favorite genre, but learning to enjoy RPGs was essential for a few key reasons. Final Fantasy VII would make its debut on PlayStation a little over a year after Super Mario RPG launched on SNES, almost instantly becoming one of my favorite games of all time. I couldn't have done it without Mario, Geno, Peach, and some well-timed tapping.

The post Super Mario RPG made the genre click for me when Final Fantasy couldn’t appeared first on Destructoid.

I may not put much thought into Christmas lists today, but back when I was a kid they were practically an art form. From the presentation to the content itself, I pulled out all the stops to draw attention to whatever it was I coveted at the time.

Thanks to the magic of Never Throwing Anything Away, we can now take a trip back to 1994 to see how well my wants, needs, and frothing demands stack up today.

When I first found this relic, I was instantly transported to more carefree days. While it may indeed be "just another Christmas list," there's a certain element of time travel involved when you're staring down the barrel of crumpled yellow legal paper full of must-own games, consoles, and action figures. Ever the savvy child, my '94 list is ordered by priority, with the first page practically screaming Castlevania: Bloodlines at a visual volume my parents would never be able to ignore.

Bloodlines is a great example of a game I'd still be asking for today if I didn't already own it. With that logo so boldly emblazoned on the page, there's no way my folks could mistake it for anything else, but I'm willing to admit a prominent Belmont, skeleton, or Dracula himself could have made my plan even more foolproof. The rest of the first page is a mixed bag. The visual aids for the other two solid picks — Splatterhouse 3 and Shinobi III — have long since lost the battle with time. Rounding out the Sega Genesis page are X-Men and Aladdin, the latter of which earned an asterisk from, most likely, my mom. 

I could live without X-Men, but Aladdin was pretty great on Genesis. Splatterhouse 3 is my least played of the trilogy, but it was at least interesting and very grody. The rest of this page earns it a solid score overall.

PAGE ONE RATING: 8/10

Best Pick: Castlevania: Bloodlines
Worst Pick: X-Men

We bought a T-Rex

The Super Nintendo page is about as bare-bones as can be, with two very disparate outings front and center. Judging by my own memory, the asterisk, the "K-Mart" note, and the checkmark at the bottom, I can deduce that my parents went with Super Empire Strikes Back, which was not pictured. 

As for Ocean-published entry, it was 1994, one year after Jurassic Park hit cinemas, so you can't blame me for wanting to live that harrowing adventure for myself. As you'll see over the following pages, though, my greed knew no bounds. I didn't just want a single slice, I wanted the whole Jurassic Park video game pie for Christmas. 

Also, all the folks out there who've been complaining about 60 dollar games for the past decade can take that Mario All-Stars price point straight to the bank. 

PAGE TWO RATING: 6/10

Best Pick: Super Mario All-Stars
Worst Pick: Jurassic Park

That is one big pile of list

Here's a prime example of "one of these things is not like the other." On one end of the spectrum we have Jurassic Park and Mortal Kombat on Game Boy, both of which are not worth playing or owning for different reasons. On the other we have The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, one of the best Game Boy games of all time. The games might not all be created equal, but that on-page ranking speaks for itself.

Link, it would seem, found a way.

PAGE THREE RATING: 5/10

Best Pick: The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
Worst Pick: TIE - Jurassic Park / Mortal Kombat

Man creates batteries. Game Gear destroys batteries. 

If I were to tell you this is the last Jurassic Park related item on this list, would you believe me? I guess I didn't actually have a Game Gear just yet, but I sure wanted one. I also wanted Spider-Man: Return of the Sinister Six, Strider Returns, Sonic Chaos, and, yes, Jurassic Park. What, exactly, was I going to do with all this time spent on Isla Nublar? If we're taking asterisks as canon for this Christmas list, I was a real spoiled brat in 1994. 

PAGE FOUR RATING: 3/10

Best Pick: Game Gear? I probably put a bunch of Energizer employees’ children through college with this. 
Worst Pick: Jurassic Park? At this point I don't remember how bad this one was. 

God help us, we're in the hands of engineers.

"Finally," you shriek, "video game accessories!" Buddy, I'm just as excited as you are looking back at all this primo plastic from a time long-forgotten. Consider this the first of two bonus rounds, as we weigh the relative wisdom behind asking for some truly essential accoutrement. Looking back, SNES Advantage is absolutely not a controller that would have gotten much use in my household. The Game Boy Carry-All is certainly practical, as are the Game Gear Battery Pack, Game Boy Power Pak, and, no longer pictured, the six-button Genesis controller. 

The all-powerful asterisk tells the tale of a rotten little cheater, however. A game-breaking goober who absolutely, positively deserves to find rubbish like the X-Men: Project X Tiger LCD game in his stocking. 

PAGE FIVE RATING: 3/10

Best Pick: Game Gear Battery Pack
Worst Pick: Literally any Tiger LCD game

We spared no expense.

At this point, I'm just laying my obsession with Steven Spielberg's 1993 classic American film Jurassic Park — based on the hit novel by Michael Crichton — bare for all to witness. The "Toys and Boardgames" section is truly a depraved last effort to add to an embarrassment of indulgences. Just look at those Jurassic Park figures on order! Stegosaurus, Triceratops, Tim Murphy, and Ellie Sattler. TIM MURPHY? In my world, apparently you had to catch 'em all before that was even a thing. 

Beyond that we have a trio of X-Men figures, the Jurassic Park Compound Center, Jurassic Park Survival Chase slot car set, Lego Fire-Breathing Fortress, and The Omega Virus. I had to look up what The Omega Virus even is, and I think I own it. Apparently it's a board game. Wasn't there some Jurassic Park board game I could have swapped in its place to stay on theme? The box copy screams, "It talks! It taunts! It must be terminated!" If ever there was a time to sell me on a talking electronic board game, it was the early '90s. 

PAGE SIX RATING: 4/10

Best Pick: Ellie Sattler
Worst Pick: Tim Murphy

When the dust settles after blowing it off these ancient yuletide yearnings, it doesn't really matter what I think about them. I leave this overly ambitious list to the judgment of others, so that I, too, may be judged in turn. It might seem as if a key takeaway should be that I'm the biggest mark ever for the Jurassic Park Classic Games Collection, but that couldn't be further from the truth. I was a big dummy; those games stink!

The post Let’s see how my 1994 Christmas list holds up nearly 30 years later appeared first on Destructoid.

A pair of 2D horizontal shoot 'em ups are gearing up for another revival courtesy of ININ Games. The publisher announced plans to bring both The Legend of Steel Empire and Over Horizon to Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 in early 2024.

The Switch version of The Legend of Steel Empire will touch down first on Switch in January, then PS4 at a later date. Following the 1992 Sega Mega Drive and 2004 Game Boy Advance Steel Empire games by HOT-B, this one is an HD remaster based on the PC version with some additional features. These include reworked controls, high-definition visuals, and a leveling system that boosts both your strength and the resilience of your enemies depending on how many items you collect.

Also included in the physical Steel Empire Chronicles from Strictly Limited, The Legend of Steel Empire will be available physically and digitally on Switch. Here's a trailer: 

Over Horizon is a spiritual successor of sorts, with development from HOT-B and the co-director of Steel Empire. This entry wasn't released outside of Japanese and PAL territories, so fans of the series around the world will soon be able to check it out on Switch and PS4. Over Horizon is currently penciled in for sometime in early 2024 for both platforms. 

If you're looking for the most comprehensive collection, that Strictly Limited release still has a handful of LE Switch versions in stock. It includes the Steel Empire HD remaster, as well as the Mega Drive and Game Boy Advance versions, and the NES version of Over Horizon. You won't find the 3DS version there, though, so you'll have to stick to the second dimension.

The post Two Steel Empire shmups head to Switch and PS4 in early 2024 appeared first on Destructoid.

It's been eight years since developer MidBoss released 2064: Read Only Memories, but we're inching ever closer to a return to Neo-San Francisco. A new trailer arrived for Read Only Memories: Neurodiver with yet another updated release window, this time penciling the cyperpunk sequel in for sometime in the first half of 2024.

When Neurodiver was first announced in June 2019, it was planned for a 2020 launch on PC and Mac. More platforms were added as the release window slipped further. It was moved to Q1 2021, then Q1 2022, and finally Q3 2023 before the latest jump to spring 2024. That release is currently set for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. You can see some of the characters, story, and inspiration behind the series in the trailer below, complete with narration from creative director John "JJSignal" James. 

Neurodiver has ES88 attempting to track down a rogue psychic known as Golden Butterfly, who is hiding in the memories of others and slowly corrupting them. With an ever-changing form, Golden Butterfly's motivation is a mystery. It's up to you to use your own psychic abilities and your genetically-engineered Neurodiver creature to connect with the fragmented memories, repair them, and ultimately put a stop to Golden Butterfly.

These events are set about five years after the story that went down in 2064. As such, there are a handful of returning cast members you'll get to reunite with, like Lexi and Tomcat. MidBoss is once again attempting to deliver a loving sendup to the Japanese adventure games of yore, and that love is particularly potent in the FM synth-infused soundtrack. If you want to sample it all while waiting for launch, the "Pilot Memory" demo is currently available on Steam. 

The post Read Only Memories: Neurodiver eyes spring 2024 release, new trailer debuts appeared first on Destructoid.

If you're looking for a more constructive way to deal with a ruined wasteland, Terra Nil now has a date for Nintendo Switch. Devolver Digital is bringing the eco-strategy game from developer Free Lives (BroForce) to Nintendo's platform on December 18.

Terra Nil previously made the rounds on PC, iOS, and Android (via Netflix) back in March. Devolver Digital shared a quick trailer to go along with the Switch news.

In Terra Nil, players are tasked with doing the opposite of what your average city- or world-builder requires. Rather than constant growth and expansion, you have to take a ruined world, breathe life back into it, and make like a tree and leave. This results in a short and sweet experience that brings something new to the table with a side of some much-needed optimism. 

During your time with Terra Nil you'll encounter a few different biomes, each of which is procedurally generated. You'll assist with ruined cities, volcanic glaciers, and more, including alternate levels that act as unlockables. There's something innately serene about helping the world start over again, and it's fitting that you'll ultimately leave it all to thrive on its own as if you were never there in the first place. 

At the time of this writing, the reverse city builder is just due out digitally via the Nintendo eShop. If you're looking to take some time to wind down and bring a lifeless world back from the brink, this is the best way to reclaim the wasteland. 

The post Eco-strategy game Terra Nil aims to thrive on Switch starting December 18 appeared first on Destructoid.

The Shadowverse series is getting ready to expand with a new game for mobile devices and PC. Cygames announced Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond as a free-to-play card battler, with a summer 2024 release planned for iOS, Android, and PC.

In the announcement overview, Cygames noted that "international language support" is planned for the new Shadowverse. While the competitive online collectible card game will be free to play, there will naturally be optional in-app purchases, so we'll see how that balances out when it launches. 

Check out the first look at the direct sequel to Shadowverse: 

Players will be able to move around the world with custom avatars, interacting and battling with others they run into along the way. According to the footage, you'll also be able to kick a giant soccer ball around, play Mahjong, and fish, among other activities. There are also events and "other content" in the works, with more details to come on everything at a later date. The battles themselves promise fresh features like super evolution and new amulet abilities. 

Tournaments are already planned for 2024, including the RAGE Shadowverse Pro Tour and both in-store and online tournaments in Japan. For overseas players, there will be the Shadowverse NetEase Championship, Shadowverse Korea Open, Shadowverse Taiwan Open, and Shadowverse Open West/SEAO. There's also a Shadowverse World Championship scheduled for early 2025, with 10 million yen and a special Shadowverse: Evolve card up for grabs. Various slots are available for qualifying through the other tournaments in Japan and other regions. 

The post Free-to-play card game Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond revealed for summer 2024 appeared first on Destructoid.

GRYPHLINE has revealed that the next chapter in the Arknights series will soon make its console debut. A PlayStation 5 version of Arknights: Endfield has been announced, alongside an upcoming technical test for the PC version of the game.

Arknights: Endfield is an RPG that aims to deliver a blend Arknight's signature strategy with real-time combat. In a new trailer shown during The Game Awards, we can see the combat system in action alongside our first glance at the game's boss battles. As of writing, GRYPHLINE has not announced a date for the PS5, PC, or mobile versions of the game. However, players can sign up now for the PC technical test that will begin on January 11.

The PC technical test will have an English user interface and both Mandarin and Japanese voiceover options. The test puts you in the role of the Endministrator of Endfield Industries, who is rumored to show up whenever a crisis hits the company or the wider world of Talos-II. You'll get a chance to explore that world while leading a crew of nine playable characters, exploring the Endfield Industries tech tree, and dipping your toes in the battle system. 

The factory system — which lets you place factory buildings strategically and gain an edge in battle with items manufactured through your automated production line — will also be in play during the test period. Through this system you'll be able to directly impact Talos-II by modifying the terrain and surrounding environments.

Sign-ups will be live until December 23 at 7:59 p.m. PT. 

The post Arknights: Endfield reveals PS5 plans, PC technical test sign-ups appeared first on Destructoid.

If you've had enough of the rough and tumble adventure of Eastward, it's time to take a step back with the upcoming Octopia DLC. This one trades in a collapsing society for one full of fruitful farming fun, and developer Pixpil and publisher Chucklefish have it lined up for a January 31, 2024 launch. 

To shake the tribulation of Eastward, Pixpil set Octopia in a parallel world that is, to say the least, a lot more chill. This time around Sam and John get to bask in that sweet farming life in the countryside as they build up an old farmstead, grow crops, cook with neighbors, and attract more eager new folks to the town of Octopia. 

You can settle in yourself with the release date trailer:

The meticulous pixel art for which Eastward is known is one bond that this world and the other have in common. While Octopia is being released as DLC for Eastward, you don't have to complete the game to gain access. As long as you have a copy of Eastward you'll be able to venture to Octopia right from the main menu. Sam and John's peaceful new life will be available on Nintendo Switch and Steam for $5.99.

Eastward first launched in September 2021, delivering a journey adorned with gorgeous art and a soundtrack we won't soon forget. There's plenty of competition out there for farming sim games with nostalgic vibes, so we'll see how this one fits in early next year.

The post Eastward DLC expansion Octopia starts simple farming life on January 31, 2024 appeared first on Destructoid.

You may think you're done with Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, but Team Ninja isn't done with you just yet. Koei Tecmo revealed a date for the third piece of DLC, titled Upheaval in Jingxiang, which touches down on December 12, 2023.

If you're looking for new challenges, there should be plenty to go around in Jingxiang. Chief among the additions is a new story chapter that finds Liu Bei's forces fighting back against the chaos the Elixir has caused. As it continues to wreak havoc throughout the land following the death of Yu Ji, you'll be tasked with traveling to the Jing Province to put an end to its grim effects. 

Get a taste of the story in the DLC 3 trailer:

Upheaval in Jingxiang also adds new enemies and demons, a new Divine Beast, and new generals that include Guan Ping and Lady M, among others. That's on top of the new equipment and a new system — that's all the official site says on the latter — and higher difficulty levels for those who didn't find Wo Long tough enough already. Finally, there's a new weapon category in the Whip, which looks painful as all hell.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is currently available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. If you have Xbox Game Pass you can also check it out there. This has me hungry to get back to Wo Long, which I unfortunately fell off after clearing a dozen or so bosses. It turns out there are multiple dozens more beyond that, so I've got my work cut out for me. 

The post Next Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty DLC delivers more story and challenges on December 12 appeared first on Destructoid.

The delightfully short and sweet series of Momodora Metroidvanias is coming to a head with Momodora: Moonlit Farewell. Publisher PLAYISM and developer Bombservice describe it as "the culmination" of the series, and it's officially set to drop via Steam on January 11, 2024. 

You can see a glimpse of the latest in the exploration-focused series in the release date trailer: 

The original Momodora was released in 2010. Moonlit Farewell marks the fifth installment in Bombservice's series.

Moonlit Farewell maintains the detailed, meticulously animated aesthetic of previous entries with a Sigil system that helps customize each run. Sigils can be found while exploring, during events, or purchased at shops. Effects range from attack boosts to increased healing effects, weapon summons, and beyond, and they can be turned off and on at any moment. Using an effective mix of attacks and Sigils sounds like it's going to be key to defeating the assortment of boss battles that await along the way. 

Bombservice promises improved visual effects in this one, with the aim of bringing the already established mystical world of the Momodora series to life.

The story of Moonlit Farewell is set five years after the events of 2014's Momodora III. This time around Koho village's High Priestess Momo has to set out to save the world from demons after a mysterious bell summoned them. Beyond the main Momodora storyline, there was also the 2016 prequel Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight and Minoria, a spiritual follow-up with similar thematic elements. 

With just a little over a month to go before launch, we'll find out how the saga expands shortly. 

The post New Momodora trailer reveals the ‘culmination’ of beloved Metroidvania franchise appeared first on Destructoid.

Are you a bad enough crab to flip over another crab? You'll be able to find out all over again in Fight Crab 2, which PLAYISM and developer Calappa Games are preparing to bring to Early Access on Steam on February 13, 2024.

Brace your carapace for combat in the Early Access trailer.

Fight like a crab in Fight Crab 2

If the novelty of the first game is still strong with you, or if this is your first crab rodeo, there are some new features to grab onto this time around. Chief among them is Career Mode, which has you raising your own crab and growing along with it as you get ready to throw it into battle.

Throughout the campaign, you can raise your crab's stats, get new skills and weapons, and climb up the ladder of ranked matches. Once you've had your fill of fighting evil crabs or other crustacean warriors online, you can pass all the obtained skills to another aspiring crab fighter. 

There's also a new control scheme that hews closer to a traditional third-person action game, which is just one addition aiming to make Fight Crab 2 easier to play. Another is the ability for crabs to learn skills that let them automatically perform certain actions.

All the claw-crackin' confrontations feature live commentary, too, just in case you're not shouting over the action enough already yourself. You can see more of Fight Crab 2 on Steam while we wait for the Early Access period to begin. 

The post Fight Crab 2 takes crustacean combat to Early Access in February appeared first on Destructoid.

Ready for some sensory overload? Bullet hell shoot 'em up Shinorubi has officially fired off a release date and is now lined up for consoles and PC on January 12, 2024.

Red Art Games previously had Shinorubi penciled in for "early 2023," but clearly time is running out to make that cut. When Shinorubi launches it will be available digitally on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. Those looking to pick up a physical copy will be able to do so on day one for PS4 and PS5. As for the physical Switch release, manufacturing delays have pushed that one back to Q2 2024.

If you've properly steeled yourself for a full-on eyeball assault, you can see just how hellish these bullets are shaping up to be in the launch date trailer. 

The Deluxe Edition of Shinorubi, pictured below, is limited to just 300 copies per platform and available exclusively through Red Art's online store. Copies of the PS4 and PS5 versions are still available to pre-order, but the Switch Deluxe Edition is already sold out. There's also a Shinorubi Pink Edition for Switch, which packs the game in a steelbook case with a double-sided poster and soundtrack. That one is a little less scarce at 2,000 copies.

Shinorubi marks the first release from the development team at Last Boss 88, who are, as you might have guessed, huge fans of danmaku shmups. For anyone who wants a taste, the game has been in Early Access on Steam since January 2022. 

The post Shinorubi’s bullet hell shooting hits consoles and PC on January 12, 2024 appeared first on Destructoid.

Turnip Boy is through evading taxes; now he's taking things to a new extreme. Turnip Boy Robs a Bank was originally slated to launch in 2023, but publisher Graffiti Games announced a delay that pushes the heist back ever so slightly to January 18, 2024. 

This time around, Turnip Boy has joined the Pickled Gang to commit a whopper of a crime. In the process of delving deeper into the titular bank, you'll steal valuables, tangle with cops, hassle hostages, and get in plenty of shootouts. You can see the particularly pungent pickle Turnip Boy has gotten into in the new trailer below. 

The first game from developer Snoozy Kazoo, Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion, was released in April 2021, sending players out on a quest to take down a corrupt mayor. The sequel keeps the top-down perspective intact with the same delightful pixel art and even more felonies to commit. Roguelite elements are back, as well, and the many collectables available range from wearable hats to cassettes full of fresh jams. There's also the promise of the "deeper history of Turnip Boy's world," so if you've been following a character called Turnip Boy for the lore, you're in luck. 

Back when Turnip Boy Robs a Bank was first being shown at events like the ID@Xbox Fall Showcase in 2022, it was planned for this year. When it drops in January it will be available on Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. Those who want to try their hand at violent, veggie-based bank robberies will also be able to do so on Xbox Game Pass.

The post Turnip Boy Robs a Bank moves its heist to January 18, 2024 appeared first on Destructoid.