For those that loved Cities: Skylines, this October is Cities: Skylines 2
Cities: Skylines II Key Features: Deep Simulation: Make choices that have ripple effects across the city. Intricate AI and economic systems mean players will need to strategize, problem solve and react to changes, challenges and opportunities. Epic Scale, Endless Possibilities: Build a thriving metropolis without compromise. In Cities: Skylines II, players will be able to build sky-high and across the map to realize their dream city like never before. Cities That Come Alive: Follow the lives of individual citizens, from love and loss to wealth and well-being. Player decisions will shape the lives of their city’s citizens. A Dynamic World: Pick a map to set the climate and biome of the city. These natural forces will shape the growth of players’ cities as they contend with rising pollution, changeable weather and seasonal challenges.
Some of you may remember when NIS America tossed me a review copy of the PS4 version of The Caligula Effect: Overdose back in 2019 when it was first released. They were kind enough to let me revisit The Caligula Effect: Overdose on the PlayStation 5.
Truthfully the game hasn’t changed drastically, while it certainly does play better with the increased power of the new generation console, with quicker load times for example. ( They were never bad to begin with)The game also didn’t suffer from any sort of frame rate issues, or poor graphical or sound quality. In fact, I will quote my original review.
The graphics and sound are great with the music being even more outstanding when the musicians are on a map. They all have their own distinct style that matches their characters.
Me 2019
I still enjoy that most of the characters are in fact not good people, the reason why will be explained throughout the story as you progress. This isn’t limited to the antagonist either, some of the party members themselves in the real world probably wouldn’t be invited into your home.
Kotaro has serious anger issues
The flaws in the characters are actually what makes them interesting, I am not even sure you are supposed to like half of these people and the game is better because of it. As you explore the world I found myself not knowing if I wanted the Go-Home club to win or the Musicians and this works out well since in Overdose you actually can join the Musicians. This and the ability to play as a male or female is new to the Overdose version of the game as opposed to the original Japan release.
The only real advice I have is with the combat, play on the harder difficulties and work your way backward until you find one you like. The battle system allows you to get a good idea of what each person will do and time your attacks accordingly. You can interrupt or defend at the last instant for example and on easy this allowed me to rush through the game with no issue or challenge and just enjoy the story. This really took away from the game for me however as the combat was very interesting at higher levels.
Seriously some of these characters aren’t what they look like
The game itself is a 7/10, and is still the perfect way to update a game. However, unless you are a die-hard fan there really isn’t a reason to update from the PS4 version to the PS5 version in my opinion. If you are still waiting to pick this game up, the PS5 version is the definitive version. Best wishes and may the gaming gods bring you glory.
Independent game studio Drop Bear Bytes, in partnership with Versus Evil, have an all new demo of their upcoming isometric RPG Broken Roads on Steam. This will give players a taste of the post-apocalyptic Australian Outback odyssey ahead of its release later this year on PC, Switch, Playstation and Xbox platforms.
Broken Roads is a narrative-driven RPG that brings exploration, strategic turn-based combat and meaningful philosophical choices to an all-new Australian post-apocalyptic setting. This demo puts players in the role of the Hired Gun, one of four origin stories available in the final game. Your starting story impacts your reputation, how people interact with you, and even where you begin your journey and which locations will be available to you. In the full game you’ll be able to choose a different origin story, including that of a Jackaroo, Surveyor or member of a Barter Crew.
For demo purposes, all moral choices will be visible. In the full game however, some of these will be hidden based on how you roleplay your character – though there will be a settings option to unlock all these for those who prefer to play that way. Your companions and other key characters each have their own hidden moral leaning, and will react to your statements, choices and general attitude based on their own world view.
“We decided to reveal all moral choices for this demo to give players an indication of other paths you can take when you create a character with a different world view,” said Craig Ritchie, Game Director at Drop Bear Bytes. “Broken Roads is a dense game, with each character having their own set of values. We want each NPC’s world view to reveal itself slowly as they react to the player, so your choices affect not only the path through the game, but how much you learn about – and connect with – the game’s cast.”
Broken Roads skillfully blends traditional and all-new role-playing elements on top of a classless system offering near-unlimited character development options built around four philosophies: Humanist, Utilitarian, Machiavellian, and Nihilist. Furthermore, the game presents players with an original morality system: the Moral Compass which sees dialogue options and questing decisions influence, and be influenced by, a character’s philosophical leaning and the tough choices they make along the way.
Broken Roads’ locations are all authentically recreated from the team visiting towns and landmarks in Western Australia and taking photos, videos and audio recordings for it to be as true as possible. Furthermore, even the game’s atmospheric soundtrack composed by Tim Sunderland is produced with instruments constructed from everyday objects which brings a wholly unique and distinctive tone to the game.
Embark on a journey of brotherhood and redemption in The Valiant, a squad-based RTS set in 13th Century Europe and the Middle East. Command and level up your medieval knights as you fight through an epic single-player campaign, then take your skills online in both cooperative and competitive MP modes.
Features: Squad-based RTS with a range of units, from tanky swordsmen to quick cavalry Select hero-squads and auxiliary squads across 15 exciting, hand-crafted Single Player missions, each with custom cinematics, narrated journals, difficulty levels, and more Six Hero Squads each with 3 different skill trees provide players with unique passive and active skills to choose from while leveling up their heroes Large array of weapons and armors to loot and equip throughout the campaign, each with their own stats and special skill options Combine hero skills and weapons/equipment for a huge selection of hero builds Play cooperative with friends in the 3-player “Last Man Standing” mode, where you face hordes of enemies and earn experience to level up your knights and unlock new skills and cosmetics Play competitively in multiple PVP game modes that support 1v1 and 2v2, with cosmetic meta-progression and special rewards for ranked play
Solarpunk is a survival game in a technically advanced world of floating islands. Alone or together with your friends, you can construct buildings, grow food, craft gadgets and explore distant islands with your own airship.
Use sunlight, wind and water to create an energy system and automate your processes like gathering resources and watering your plants.
Feature Multiplayer: Play alone or in co-op mode with your friends.
Building: Gather resources and build your own home in the sky.
Farming: Grow plants to secure your food supplies.
Crafting: Craft technical gadgets and automate your processes.
Energy: Use sunlight, wind and water and create an energy system for your gadgets.
Airship: Build your own airship and explore distant islands in the sky.
Drova is an upcoming RPG expected to come out in early 2024 from Deck13. Deck13 has a pretty great record for RPGs and this one is looking to be no exception. Enjoy the trailer and keep an eye on this beautiful looking game That is coming to PC, PS 4/5, Xbox one and of course Nintendo switch.
Welcome to the promised land of Drova, where the priests have praised this new world. Full of hope you travel through a portal into this new otherworld – just to realize that you are on your own and no one seems to appreciate the paradise. Instead, Drova is a grim world where every man is for himself.
Two factions – one trying to enslave the spirits of nature, one trying to save the spirits to keep the world alive – which path will you choose? And, more importantly, will you be able to survive in a world which will always try to kill you?
The new Gameplay Trailer gives players the chance to take a first look at the atmospheric open world, gruesome enemies and the harsh conditions where bandits might just knock you out to rob you. And maybe even a first look on the magic abilities players will be able to cast if they make use of the spirits of nature.
Replikator is the newest title from R_Games that they were kind enough to toss me a review copy of. This game is a small indy top-down roguelike shooter that is quite simple to get into. Just pop it on, run around the station, and shoot the enemies with one of your two weapons. You can choose from multiple characters, my favorite was the one that fires rockets.
Each character has pros and cons, one might be faster than the others or be immune to acid while another simply takes no damage from certain traps. None of them offer a huge advantage over the others to the point I felt that one was better than the others, but they were different enough that I had a preferred character for how I liked to play.
While Replikator is a fun game to mess around with, and at the price they are asking none of my complaints are major I do have a few. For example, the character movements all felt painfully slow to me. It felt like a chore at times to go anywhere if there weren’t enemies to be shooting. The four playable characters also feel quite generic.
The pros however do outweigh these complaints. The amount of different weapons and powerups is insane for an $8 game. I didn’t bother counting them but they are all laid out in a room to see and I still haven’t unlocked them all but there is at least a couple dozen. The game offers a challenge that can be overcome if you learn how to use these, but we aren’t talking about some insane amount of dedicating your life to learning the game either.
All in all, the price point of this game means if you like roguelikes or top-down shooters, Replicator is a great buy. it is a nice 7/10. I enjoyed spending about 20 hours with it so far and I will probably spend a few more with it. Best wishes and may the gaming gods bring you glory.
Indie developer Jenito Studios is today at Momocon 2023 showcasing their upcoming action-horror adventure game Limerick: Cadence Mansion to the public with a playable demo and a chance to win a free copy of the game. Limerick: Cadence Mansion is meticulously handcrafted using Unreal Engine 5 by solo developer Daniel Hall who will be in attendance; the game is due to be released later this year on PC via Steam. Solve puzzles, outwit evil creatures and explore the arcane halls of Cadence Mansion as you dive deeper into a story of manipulation and dark science.
In Limerick: Cadence Mansion, explore an abandoned mansion inhabited by monsters, both beast and man, and discover its secrets in your attempts to escape. Solve puzzles to progress through increasingly haunting environments, fend off or hide from evil creatures and tear through the fabric of reality in cinematic boss fights. Scavenge for resources throughout the forgotten mansion and use Panic closets to escape from harm.
A new ballad sounds across Nightsonnet Isle. Awaken, Proofreader, and solve the ancient writ.
The seas will swallow light with darkness. The boulders will shatter and shake. The Poets will be silenced and the Resplendent will rise.
Will you take the quill and right the wrongs of Splendor? Can you unlock the mysteries of its games and riddles? What will you learn of the Anachronism, of the Dissonance and Cacophony, of the Dark Refrain and Prism?
And when you face the darkness, will you be ready?
Replokator is the newest top-down shooter from Ratalaika Games and has roguelike elements, which we all know I love. As always I will be copy and pasting their official release to make sure there is no misinformation, and you can know exactly what to expect, and I am hoping to have a review for you guys in the coming weeks. Best wishes, and may the gaming gods bring you glory.
Death Walks Beside youReplikator offers shooter fans a sci-fi setting where gameplay centres around exploring the intricate labyrinths of space stations and fighting with hordes of enemies. Dozens of weapons and implants (passive skills) help the player but a sharp eye and evasive movement are also required to avoid hail of bullets and monsters that lurk. If the player’s character dies, then he will be reborn at the very beginning, but thanks to the resources found, he will be able to buy permanent improvements that will help him move forward in the next run.
Disaster StrikesIt appears that an accident occurred at the classified research complex, which led to the death of all personnel but all is not quite clear. A group of mercenaries led by the smuggler Khan will have to find out the reason for what happened. To keep explosive action ‘unpredictably’ challenging, station mazes and items in them are generated procedurally, so each attempt is essentially unique. Gradually, the player will find blueprints of new items as well as finding entries from the crew of the complex which will reveal what happened here. At the same time, the player has the main goal – to get to the Replicator and defeat it.
Inside InformationDynamic battles. You will have to constantly move and aim well to survive!Danger at every turn. Many different enemies and traps will not let you get bored.Dozens of upgrade items. Explore stations looking for new upgrades for your character.Meta progression. In this game, each death will only make you stronger, because after death you will be able to buy permanent improvements for your character and the hub ship.Procedural generation! The location of rooms, enemies and traps, as well as weapons and all items, are generated procedurally.Space raccoon! and three more playable characters. All of them differ in starting characteristics, preferred weapons and special techniques.Intriguing story. Explore the abandoned science complex and find out what happened here! The player needs to complete 12 levels, including 5 bosses and as the player progresses the challenge becomes harder so many attempts may be required! Constant battles with ‘bosses’ with new attacks and moves as they become stronger will have to be faced! During the exploration of the stations, the player will find nanocubes that remain with him after death. They can be spent on the purchase of permanent improvements – for example, you can increase the maximum supply of ammunition or open access to a new workbench to improve weapons. Replikator delivers masses of new content as the game progresses, and action is unashamedly fast, precise and deadly!. This twin stick shooter is red hot with hordes of crazy and blood thirsty enemies out to get you or one of the playable characters you select – of which there are 4! Top down action has never been so demanding, so can you win out? ‘The game is designed for one player. Approx 8-9 hours will be enough to defeat the last boss, however, it may take 30 or more hours to study all the content’ , R_Games.
Savior Gaming 