Rabbid Luigi jumps into view in the latest Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle trailer

Posted on August 16, 2017 by John Scalzo

Ubisoft is back with another Character Trailer for Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, and this time they’re spotlighting Rabbid Luigi. Apparently, the green-clad character is full of surprises and will play a very important role in the strategy game:

Rabbid Luigi is the most ingenuous of the Rabbid heroes. Easily scared, he would always avoid conflict given the choice. Despite this, he has very strong powers, even if he doesn’t really understand how to use them! He might not even seem very menacing at first, but his great defensive and elemental skills make him the wizard every team needs.

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle will be available exclusively for the Nintendo Switch on August 29.

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Meet the “Twisted, Deadly Photographer” in the latest trailer for The Evil Within 2

Posted on August 16, 2017 by John Scalzo

Bethesda unveiled a new trailer for The Evil Within 2 today that introduces fans to another character that populates game’s monstrous underbelly. This time, the publisher has put the spotlight on “The Twisted, Deadly Photographer,” a serial killer who uses his victims to create sickening “art”:

Not only will Sebastian have to contend with the myriad horrific creatures waiting for him in The Evil Within 2, he’ll also have to deal with the human “monsters” who have made their way into the new STEM world.

Wretched creatures like Stefano Valentini, an artist with dark proclivities and unbounded imagination. You’ll see examples of his work scattered throughout Union – from grisly photographs of his victims, to the “moment of death” tableaus he creates, capturing the last seconds of a person’s life in a tangible, looping scene.

The Evil Within 2 will be available for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One this October… on Friday the 13th.

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PS Store This Week: Agents of Mayhem, Sonic Mania, Undertale, more

Posted on August 15, 2017 by John Scalzo

It may be Summertime outside, but you wouldn’t know it after this week’s PlayStation Store update.

Today’s biggest new release is Agents of Mayhem, a new open world game for the PS4 from Volition. Set within the same universe as the Saints Row series, Agents of Mayhem will attempt to parody the current crop of superhero films as well as Saturday morning cartoons from the 80s. If you’d prefer to build big, Paradox Interactive will bring Cities: Skylines to the PS4 this week. The city-building sim will allow players to “manage the city of [their] dreams” as they design and build their own metropolis.

Aksys Games will embiggen one of their games this week with a PS4 re-release for Zero Time Dilemma on Friday. Originally released for the Vita last year, this console-ready version of the game will include high definition graphics.

Sega is also going big this week… but they’re doing it by shrinking down. The publisher has enlisted a team of indie developers to create Sonic Mania, a new side-scroller for the PS4 that pays homage to Sonic’s past.

Speaking of indie developers, a slew of teams got the chance to make the PlayStation Store a cozier place this week. PS4 owners can look forward to finding Undertale (also on the Vita), Tokyo 42, Matterfall, Nidhogg 2, and Night Trap: 25th Anniversary Edition on the digital storefront.

Finally this week, Telltale will check in with Jesse and friends in Minecraft: Story Mode Season 2 – Episode 2: Giant Consequences.

You can learn more about all of these titles (and a few other new releases) after the break.

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Hideki Kamiya believes Nier: Automata and Yoko Taro “saved” Platinum Games

Posted on August 15, 2017 by John Scalzo

Platinum Games has always operated in their own little corner of the game industry, but a string of bad reviews (for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan and Star Fox Zero) and bad luck (the cancellation of Scalebound) left the developer on the ropes earlier this year. Thankfully, their fortunes have been on the upswing in recent months thanks to the massive success of Nier: Automata.

Platinum’s Director, Hideki Kamiya, knows exactly how important Nier: Automata has been for the company’s bottom line. He recently wrote on Twitter that the game (along with it’s Director, Yoko Taro) saved the developer:

Nier’s success gave Platinum a different fan base, as well as a growing staff, a successful experience, an increased number of excellent employment candidates and immense benefits. Originally, I tried to do everything myself. It is a sad story, but Platinum was saved by Yoko-san. I can not thank him enough.

Nier: Automata was released for the PC and PS4 by Square Enix this Spring, and it’s an action RPG that features advanced cyborgs battling for control of Earth against a race of invading aliens. Even though it’s a sequel to a spinoff of a forgotten franchise, Nier: Automata’s distinctive visuals and wild universe resonated with gamers.

Platinum Games is currently hard at work on Granblue Fantasy: Project Re-Link for the PS4. A Western release for the game has yet to be announced.

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Rumor: Okami HD is in the works for the PS4 and Xbox One

Posted on August 15, 2017 by John Scalzo

Okami began life in 2006 as one of the last major releases on the PS2, and has since grown to become one of the most acclaimed video games of all time alongside re-releases on the Wii (in 2008) and PS3 (in 2012). But after talking to apair of retail contacts, Kotaku UK is reporting the game will likely come to the PS4 and Xbox One in December:

The evidence we’ve seen shows that two different European retail chains have recently added Okami HD to their internal upcoming physical releases calendar. Both retail chains are in different parts of the EU, and both list the game as releasing on 12th December 2017. The detail of the physical release is especially interesting, as the 2012 HD release on PS3 was only available as a download in the west (despite the Japanese boxed release featuring multi-region language support).

It’s easy to discount placeholder dates from retailers, but Capcom has shown a particular fondness for remastered re-releases in 2017. The publisher has re-released Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom 3 and Mega Man 7-10 on new platforms this year, with Dragon’s Dogma and Resident Evil Revelations still to come. I have no trouble believing an Okami HD re-release is also in the works.

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Sega releases Opening Animation and Launch Trailer for Sonic Mania ahead of tomorrow’s release

Posted on August 14, 2017 by John Scalzo

Sonic the Hedgehog is going 16-bit in his next adventure, Sonic Mania, and the retro-inspired platformer will be available to download for the PS4, Switch, and Xbox One on August 15. To celebrate this momentous occasion, Sega has unveiled the game’s Opening Animation (directed by Tyson Hesse) and a brand-new Launch Trailer.

Unfortunately, the publisher also announced (via Twitter) that Sonic Mania’s PC release has been pushed back to August 29 for “polish”:

Hi everyone,

In Sonic Mania, quality and attention to detail are some of the most important things for our team. We accept nothing but the best for Sonic Mania, and that’s why we want to spend a little more time to polish the PC version of the game’s release, which we plan to complete by August 29th. All other platforms (PS4, XB1, Switch) will still on August 15th as planned.

We know you’re all super excited to play the game on PC, and as a thank you to everyone has purchased the PC Collector’s Editon, pre-purchased the game on Steam, we will be unlocking Sonic 1 for free on your Steam accounts on August 15th. If you already own Sonic 1 on Steam, you’ll be given a gitable version that you can trade or send to a friend.

On behalf of everyone involved with Sonic Mania – thank you very much for your patience. We can’t wait for you to get your hands on Sonic Mania soon, and we hope you enjoy playing it as much as our teams enjoyed making it!

– Aaron

But in the meantime, be sure to check out Sonic Mania’s Opening Animation and Launch Trailer after the break.

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New Retail Releases: Agents of Mayhem, Zero Time Dilemma PS4, Cities: Skylines PS4, More

Posted on August 14, 2017 by John Scalzo

Volition is up to their old tricks again this week with Agents of Mayhem, a superhero parody that’s set within the even crazier universe of Saints Row. Set to launch for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One this Tuesday, Agents of Mayhem is also a loving homage to Saturday morning cartoons from the 1980s.

Also available on store shelves this week is a PS4 re-release of Zero Time Dilemma, the final game in the Zero Escape franchise. Originally released for the PC, Vita, and 3DS in 2016, Zero Time Dilemma comes to the PS4 with high definition graphics and both English and Japanese voiceover options.

If you prefer to do your shopping at GameStop, you’ll be able to pick up their retailer-exclusive PS4 edition of Cities: Skylines, a city building sim from Paradox Interactive and Colossal Order, this week.

Finally this week, gamers will get the chance to purchase World to the West (PS4, Xbox One), a 3D action-adventure from the creators of Teslagrad; Rogue Stormers (PS4, Xbox One), a dieselpunk side-scrolling shooter; Sudden Strike 4 (PC, PS4), a real-time strategy game about World War II; and Troll & I (Switch), a 3D action-adventure about a giant troll and his human buddy.

We’ll be back soon with details on the newest additions to the PlayStation Store, Xbox Games Store, and Nintendo eShop.

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Here’s the first trailer for Minecraft: Story Mode Season 2’s second episode

Posted on August 13, 2017 by John Scalzo

Telltale Games has announced the adventures of Jesse and friend will continue in Minecraft: Story Mode Season 2‘s second episode next week. So now’s the perfect time to unveil the episode’s first trailer, which introduces players to The Admin and The Arena:

Jesse and the gang survived the Sea Temple, but they brought home a little more than they bargained for: a lost adventurer, a powerful device, and a colossal enemy capable of grinding Beacontown to dust. There may be more to this fearsome foe than meets the eye, but to find out, Jesse — together with a few trusty friends — must embark on another adventure, this time into the icy unknown…

Minecraft: Story Mode Season 2 – Episode 2: Giant Consequences will be available to download for the PC, PS4, Xbox One, and mobile devices on August 15.

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