Another place to visit when I go back to Japan.
During the 3rd phase of the PlayStation China Hero Project press conference, Dark Star Games announced the development of the action RPG 'Daba: Waters of the Land' (PS5/PS4/PC).
The game is a soul-like action RPG where players control clay figurines resembling humans on their adventurous journey. Set in a world on the brink of collapse, the game features various locations, including ruins, the grand Guge Kingdom (a kingdom that existed in western Tibet from 842 to 1630), gloomy prisons, gigantic canyons, vast snowy plains, deathly forests, and floating castles. These diverse and non-linear stages are intricately interconnected, creating a complex and immersive experience."
"ButoBird" is a competitive action game where players control birds equipped with jetpacks and firearms to knock each other out of the sky. Up to four players can participate, and the trial version was available for Nintendo Switch.
The game's rules are straightforward - within a time limit, players earn points by knocking out their rivals. Before each match, players can choose a bird type and pair it with a weapon of their choice. The trial version offered balanced and speed-focused bird types and various weapons like missiles, Gatling guns, and chain guns.
Controlling the birds involves using the stick for direction and simple actions like dash, brake, and shooting. The intuitive controls make it easy to spot and chase rivals, and players can execute technical maneuvers like sharp turns using brakes and dashes.
To score points, players must first shoot opponents to make them dizzy and then dash into them for a "blast-off." Successfully blasting off rivals earns points, while the knocked-out players respawn after a few seconds. Players can also find items on the stage to recover health and manage an overheating gauge.
"ButoBird" offers easy-to-understand and engaging gameplay, with various strategic elements. The stages feature obstacles and holes to navigate, allowing players to evade enemies' pursuits or create opportunities for themselves.
Additionally, the game introduces a twist with the appearance of a special item called the "Megaphone." When collected, it triggers a mode where players must work together to take down the current leader. If successful, players other than the leader receive a substantial point boost.
The combination of exhilarating speed, simple rules, and the cooperative twist makes "ButtoBird" a fantastic party action game suitable for players of all ages. The game offers well-balanced gameplay, swift action, and abundant support for various actions like shooting and dashing, resulting in intense and enjoyable battles that kept players excited and engaged throughout the event.
"Sagres" is an adventure game set in the small city of Sagres, Portugal, historically known as the location of Prince Henry the Navigator's navigation school. The story follows a young man named Fernando, who graduates from the navigation school and embarks on a journey to find the missing father of his friend Lucia, who vanished during a voyage.
The game is based on the Age of Discovery and revolves around maritime activities such as exploration, trading, shipbuilding, and combat. Notably, the game features a language system where characters, including the protagonist, possess specific languages they can speak. In regions where the player doesn't understand the language, communication becomes challenging, hindering the acquisition of essential clues.
Players expand their navigation range by undertaking quests in ports, hiring crews rooted in local cultures, gathering information from local taverns, and exploring trade and ancient ruins to earn money and fame. As reputation grows, players can receive special requests from countries and other entities.
The game's uniqueness lies in its inclusion of both maritime and inland exploration, where players may need to venture into uncharted territories, requiring supplies like "jerky" for land exploration. Discoverable elements range from ancient ruins like the Karnak stones to notable landmarks such as Hylida's Tower in Spanish cities, offering a variety of experiences and mini-games.
The ship customization allows players to convert unused ship rooms into cargo or cargo holds, and combat employs a rock-paper-scissors-like system, offering an accessible yet engaging gameplay design.
Developed as a solo project by Ooze Games, "Sagres" emphasizes the importance of communication through its distinctive language system, where crew members' language skills significantly impact the gameplay.
Though** currently available in Korean during its Steam Early Access phase**, Japanese language support is planned for the full release, with high-quality translation work expected from Ooze Games.
An exploration action-adventure set in a world surrounded by a dangerous "cloud sea." Players take on the role of a cloud-sea hunter's apprentice living in a small settlement on the edge of the cloud sea. They venture into the town of Calm and the cloud sea, unraveling mysteries hidden within the world. The game features beautiful landscapes and detailed graphics that evoke a fantasy atmosphere with a touch of familiarity. Players can explore the town, engage with various characters, craft items, and cook meals while navigating dangers and mysterious creatures in the cloud sea. The game is scheduled for release on PC (Steam) and Nintendo Switch.
Developer, Sting, has announced a remaster of Riviera: The Promised Land. This is genuinely exciting because Riviera is a true cult classic, and a remake is long overdue.
One of the more interesting qualities of this game is that you don’t really have free movement around the world. Rather, it plays out a little like a point-and-click adventure, where you’re given several options in any given area for how you’d like to progress.
This different navigation system is backed up by a highly technical combat system and an intriguing, intelligent narrative. It’s the kind of game that you would never in a million years recommend to a genre newcomer, but veterans owe it to themselves to check it out.
The game was originally released on the WonderSwan Color, before getting ports to the GBA and PSP.
We don’t have a release date or platforms for this new release just yet, but rest assured, we’re going to be covering this one closely. This is another of those games that we’ve been hoping against hope to be able to play emulator free again.
Original game looked like:
WONDERSWAN COLOR ORIGINAL:
Denkiworks, a developer based in Kyoto, announced the adventure game "Project Tanuki," where players work as a tanuki postal worker. Set in a summer town, players ride bicycles to deliver packages, creating a love letter to Kyoto, the home base of Denkiworks. The teaser video showcases the cute and charming visuals with a toon shader and subdued color palette. The game draws inspiration from the culture of animals delivering mail, driven by homing instincts like carrier pigeons, which emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. While specific gameplay details are unknown, a video posted on Twitter by Dave Oshry of publisher New Blood Interactive reveals the dynamic running of the protagonist tanuki.
I don't usually like free to play gacha stuff, but this one looks nice. Alson anime trailer <3
"Snowbreak: Containment Zone" is a free-to-play 3D futuristic shooting RPG. Players control a team of awakened individuals, switching between characters and using guns and special skills to defeat enemies. The game features stunning graphics, a deep story, and over 10 playable characters with unique stories. Character information and progress are synced across platforms. The game also introduces an "Employee Dormitory" for interactions and bonding. With over 2 million pre-registrations, players can receive limited weapons and characters as rewards. Completing the main story unlocks a rare character. Expect an immersive gameplay experience with intense shooting and RPG elements.
