ENDER LILIES: Quietus of the Knights Review

Info

Developed By: Adglobe.

Published By: Binary Haze.

Platforms Available On: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Reviewed on PC via Steam – a code was very kindly supplied for the purpose of this review.

Overview

ENDER LILIES is a dark fantasy 2D action RPG about unraveling the mysteries of a destroyed kingdom. On this sorrowful journey, encounter horrific enemies against whom a moment of inattention could be fatal. Overcome these hardships and seek the truth with the help of fallen knights.

Gameplay

Now I make no secret I’m a big fan of the old school 2D side scrolling platformers and love playing them in their many different guises, Ender Lilies is definitely different but in a real good way.

You play as Lily, a small child who can call upon your spirit companions to help you against the Blights that lurk around the many levels.

At first it took a while to get used to the controls as they aren’t configured as most PC games seem to be, so a few clicks of random keys was needed before I set off to get a feel of what does what. The game itself is immersive from the start with an indepth story that is told throughout with its various cutscenes and dialogue telling the story.

The eerie feel to the overall game really makes you feel fully invested into the story and grabbed into the game from the start, it isn’t a game that just clicks straight away, you do have to work with it and have patience but persevere and the spoils are there, in true metroidvania style the more you put into the game the more you get out of it.

As you go through the many different levels via the different passages you encounter various creatures, or badguys we can call them, each getting more difficult to defeat as you go calling on your spirit friends to help you when needed, the combat itself is good with lots of blood on show slightly weird how the main protagonist sent to wipe these out is a young girl but hey all power to her, she definitely knows how to kick some ass.

All in all I found Ender Lilies an enchanting tale with a dramatic graphical style, well worth checking out if you’re into metroidvanias with a difference, I would definitely recommend taking a look.

Graphics and Sound

The graphic style of Ender Lilies is definitely unique with its dramatic styling and tones. The graphics of when Lily calls in her spirit allies to assist are amazing and plenty of blood in the combat, the game worlds are very well put together and thought out all looks great.

The soundtrack is great, definitely adds to the overall feeling of the game. The in game sounds are great and give an overall magical feel to the game.

Summary

To summarise my thoughts of Ender Lilies: Quietus of The Knights, I enjoyed the overall experience at times it edged on the difficult but overall an enjoyable gaming experience.

Verdict-Out of 5🌟

🌟🌟🌟

Good

I give Ender Lilies: Quietus of The Knights a decent score of 3🌟 a good overall gaming experience.

Grab your copy of Ender Lilies: Quietus of The Knights on Steam click here

ONIRIKE Review

Info

Developed By: Devilish Games, Badlands Publishing.

Published By: Badlands Publishing.

Platforms Available On: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PC and Xbox.

Reviewed on Xbox – a code was very kindly supplied for the purpose of this review.

Overview

Dreams are fed by our own desires. They dwell within us since we are born and this is what we call them until they become real. But… have you ever wondered what happens to dreams that never come true? Onirike is an original 3D adventure, puzzle and platformer video game which takes place in an intricate open world, designed with a non-linear narrative and presented with a peculiar audio-visual aesthetic. Throughout the game, the player will take the role of Prieto, a strange being unaware of his own nature, but who has the rare ability to become invisible. Exploration, stealth and cultivating gypsophila flowers will be key to unveiling the story of Prieto and the orb in which he lives.

Gameplay

Normally I love a bit of a platformer or an adventure game,  takes me away from my normal racing and shooting games, nice to freshen up the pallet once in a while, Onirike is definitely in the different category with its psychedelic art style like something straight from a Tim Burton movie.

The story of Preito is a charming one full of discovery that you can’t help but fall in love with, he’s such a lovable character with strange quirks.

The game itself is basically a puzzle adventure game with plenty of puzzles for you to solve at first not majorly taxing on the old dark matter but that’s what gives the game it’s charm as it’s not overly difficult you tend to get into the game more and find more enjoyment in the game.

You play through eerie levels that play out dreams as Preito tries to discover his powers that he is yet to discover, eating gypsophila flowers as you go, the adventure itself is quite unlike anything I’ve played before certainly in a good way, I found the story a bit difficult to follow but the game played it out pretty smooth enough for me to work it out so all was well in the end.

Overall Onirike is a strong story driven game with mind bending graphics, well worth trying out if puzzle adventures are your thing.

Graphics and Sound

The graphic style of Onirike is like something I’ve seen, as I said before it is similar in style to a Tim Burton film, mind bending visuals with vibrant colours.

The soundtrack is equally as eerie as the gameplay, with dramatic music and voice-over commentary, all adding to the overall effect of the game.

Summary

To summarise my thoughts on Onirike, a eerie platformer with plenty of puzzles to keep you engaged, would fully recommend to anyone looking for a different challenge.

Verdict-Out of 5🌟

🌟🌟🌟🌟

Good

I give Onirike a decent score of 4🌟, good overall challenging gameplay and inspiring graphics, well worth checking out.

Grab your copy of Onirike on Xbox click here

Super Rare Games Venture Into LITTLEWOOD

Super Rare Games are proud to announce the partnership with SmashGames for a release of their relaxing RPG and town-building sim Littlewood, available in physical form for the first time on the Nintendo Switch.

Only 4,000 copies total will ever be printed, which go on sale August 5th at 6pm BST (10am PT/1pm ET) – available worldwide exclusively at superraregames.com. 

In typical Super Rare Games tradition, this rare print physical release includes all the current content on its cart, a full-colour manual, interior artwork, an exclusive sticker, and three trading cards randomly selected from the five-card set. Fans won’t have long to wait, as Super Rare Games titles ship soon after going on sale.

YouTube Trailer

Littlewood is the relaxing RPG that takes place AFTER you’ve saved the world, inspired by sim games like Harvest Moon, Animal Crossing, and Stardew Valley. Now it’s time to rebuild your town, master new hobbies, and forge lifelong friendships in this peaceful and relaxing RPG.

The hero who saved the world – Explore the vast world of Solemn; Enchanted Forests, Bustling Fishing Towns, & Dark Mining Caves are some of the few places to visit. Meet townsfolk and convince them to stay in your town – perhaps meeting people will unlock your memories of the past…

Customise your town – Harvest materials by chopping wood, mining ores, caching bugs, and fishing in rivers and ponds. Unlock new structures to build by meeting new townsfolk and fulfill their requests to win their hearts and unlock new relationship paths. Want a tavern or a lumber mill? How about a fishing hut or magical library? Your town’s design is up to you!

Master new hobbies & crafts – Pick fruit or weeds to raise your gathering skill, collect shiny ores and rare materials for crafting, and chop pesky trees and debris for building new structures and furniture. Fancy a relaxing spot of fishing? How about farming, cooking, or even tarot card collecting? There’s so much to keep you busy!

For more information, you can check out the official site. Follow Super Rare Games on Twitter for news and updates.

THE ASCENT Arrives On Consoles And PC Today

Publisher Curve Digital and Swedish indie studio Neon Giant are excited to invite gamers to make their mark in the brave new world of Veles, as the studio’s highly anticipated debut title The Ascent launches today on PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Xbox Game Pass at 6pm BST / 7pm CEST / 10am PDT.

A solo and co-op action-shooter RPG set in a sci-fi cyberpunk world, The Ascent is the first title from Neon Giant, a new 12-person studio composed of games industry veterans who were some of the minds behind iconic AAA titles such as the Gears of War, Bulletstorm and Wolfenstein franchises. 

The Ascent sees players dive into ‘The Ascent Group’ arcology, a self-contained corporate-run metropolis, stretching high into the sky and filled with creatures from all over the galaxy. Taking on the role of an indentured worker, the world starts to go haywire when The Ascent Group shuts down for unknown reasons. Life becomes a case of survival, with rival corporations and crime syndicates looking to fill the empty space and players having to take up arms to hold them off. 

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“About three years ago we founded Neon Giant; a small game dev studio with the belief that with the right focus and mindset, even just a few people can create grand experiences and high quality games,” said Tor Frick, Creative Director and co-founder of Neon Giant. “We have a passion for creating living worlds and action gameplay – it’s in our DNA from our shared history in the industry and The Ascent is the result of our team’s passion and hard work.”

Fellow co-founder and Creative Director of the studio Arcade Berg added: “In The Ascent you start off at the bottom of the food chain – that’s just the life of an indent – but as you progress, you will get to grow more powerful, find shiny guns, toys and augmentations making you able to live out your twisted power fantasies – if you choose – with robot tentacles coming out of your back. We will take you across the world, wide and high, in a megacity filled with turmoil and introduce you to characters who have found ways to thrive in this environment. We hope our game is as fun and exciting for you playing it as it was for us to make it.”

The Ascent is now available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One consoles and PC and Xbox Game Pass.

Buy today on Xbox: https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/the-ascent

Buy today on PC: https://store.steampowered.com/app/979690/The_Ascent/

Game price: £24.99 / $29.99 / €29.99

Wired Productions Release New THE FALCONEER: WARRIOR EDITION Trailers

Global video games publisher Wired Productions and visionary independent developer Tomas Sala launch The Falconeer: Warrior Edition on August 5^th, expanding the boundaries of the Great Ursee to PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch, alongside Edge of the World, a significant new DLC expansion for PC and the Xbox family of devices.

Check out the Switch and PS trailers below:

The Falconeer: Warrior Edition includes extensive new updates and features every single DLC pack released since its original launch on the Xbox family of devices and Steam. This includes The Kraken, The Hunter and Atun’s Folly, as well as the brand-new expansion, Edge of the World, which adds new mini campaigns, new missions, new locations and more Further additions and updates include the re-recording of significant voice-over work, and a streamlined prologue tutorial. Previously available exclusively to PC and the Xbox family of devices, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch owners can finally begin their journey, taking to the skies of The Great Ursee aboard a giant Warbird.

“I am beyond thrilled to bring The Falconeer to PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch players”, said Tomas Sala, Creator of The Falconeer, “I hope they enjoy exploring the world I have created and everything The Great Ursee has to offer.”

“The Falconeer: Warrior Edition is an extraordinary piece of work that Tomas Sala should be incredibly proud of, and we’re pleased that PlayStation and Nintendo Switch players around the world will finally get to experience the wonder of Tomas’ creation” said Leo Zullo, Managing Director at Wired Productions.

The Falconeer: Warrior Edition launches on August 5^th and is available to pre-order now at retail for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, for £24.99 / €29.99 / $29.99, and Nintendo Switch for £29.99 / €34.99 / $34.99 and can be purchased from all good retailers worldwide.

GRAVEYARD KEEPER /Game of Crone Review

Info

Developed By: Lazy Bear Games

Published By: tinyBuild

Platforms Available On: Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PlayStation and PC.

Reviewed on Xbox, a code was very kindly supplied for the purpose of this review.

Overview

Graveyard Keeper is the most inaccurate medieval cemetery management sim of the year. Build & manage your own graveyard while finding shortcuts to cut costs, expand into entertainment with witch-burning festivals, and scare nearby villagers into attending church. This is a game of capitalism and doing whatever it takes to build a thriving business. Face ethical dilemmas. Do you really want to spend money on that proper hotdog meat for the festival when you have so many resources lying around? Gather valuable resources & craft new items. Expand your Graveyard into a thriving business, go ahead and gather valuable resources scattered in the surrounding areas, and explore what this land has to offer.

I was lucky enough to receive the complete collection of the game that also came with the latest Game of Crone expansion, take a look below to see what I thought of the game.

Gameplay

I’ll be honest I have seen Graveyard Keeper a few times and kind of swerved it as it didn’t really look my thing, however when the lovely guys at tinyBuild sent over the game for me to look at I was pleasantly surprised, I think the age old saying works well here “never judge a book by it’s cover”.

With it’s retro styling and feel at first glance I started to get the feel of the game and it became enjoyable, its quaint gameplay definitely appeals as you delve deeper into the life of a grave keeper.

Once you get into the game it flows reasonably well as most of the jobs or tasks you are given kind of flow into each other, you have to do a certain task to enable you to do another that type of thing.

Completing all the tasks throughout the village is an immense task but it doesn’t feel like a chore it’s actually quite enjoyable, the game flows really well and there really is lots to do, the game is immense with many hours of gameplay lying within.

Game of Crone is the third DLC installment adding 6-12 hours of all new gameplay to an already massive game, going in a slightly different direction by building a refugee camp and bringing that up to prosperity.

Bringing all new mechanics to the game as well as new in game items such as new dishes, gravestones, fences, and teleportation scrolls.

You can begin the Game of Crone part of the game once you get to the level of making your first prayer, your main role is to keep the refugees happy and safe by bringing them food and water, improving resources over time so they can expand their camp. The game feels a bit of a graft at times but once you start building areas it feels like you’re achieving something. Like the base game there are many different tasks for you to complete such as hunting for a vampire that’s terrorising the village.

Overall I found Game of Crone a great addition to an already great game definitely one I’d recommend checking out if you haven’t already.

Graphics and Sound

I quite like the retro feel to the game, looking retro but with that modern polish,even the weather effects look pretty good.

The sounds are ok, music is great but the voice acting can get a bit annoying

All in all it works well together.

Summary

To summarise my thoughts on Graveyard Keeper/Game of Crone, it’s an in depth game that you literally can get lost in, definitely not a game you can have a quick go on.

The DLC brings more to the table and adds longevity to the game with fun aspects added.

Verdict-Out of 5🌟

🌟🌟🌟🌟

Good

I give Graveyard Keeper/Game of Crone DLC 4🌟 a solid addition to the game, definitely recommend you picking it up.

Grab your copy of Graveyard Keeper on Xbox click here

The Game of Crone DLC is available now click here

The ultimate edition with all released dlc is also available click here

GLITCHPUNK Hits Early Access On Steam

Enter the chaos-ridden streets of New Baltia! Do you have what it takes to handle the unbridled insanity of a world unhinged? Revealed to be coming to Steam Early Access on Aug. 11th, 2021, Glitchpunk, a cyberpunk-themed game with an old-school GTA 2 feel, will feature New Baltia as the first playable city in the game. Providing approximately eight hours of play at launch, it won’t be long before more content arrives.

Outpost Texas, originally intended to be included at launch, will arrive in three to four weeks as Glitchpunk’s first major update. Adding another six to eight hours of play, developer Dark Lord decided they wanted to give players their absolute best and chose to spend a small amount of time continuing to develop the second city.

A top-down action game where you shoot, brawl, drive, steal and sneak yourself through a neon-soaked world full of gangs and cults, forging cooperations along the way, Glitchpunk isn’t just about blowing things up – it also tells a compelling story of transhumanism, xenophobia, and religion. You can influence the world around you, make new friends, face off against more enemies than you can count – and perhaps, just perhaps, convert an enemy’s aversion to affection. 

Glitchpunk’s Early Access will launch with New Baltia available on day one and Outpost Texas arriving in three to four weeks. Two more cities — Neo Tokyo and Moscow — will be added during the Early Access journey. Each city has its own gangs and characters while also continuing the protagonist’s gripping story. Keep an eye out for more information on Glitchpunk’s Early Access updates as a detailed road map will be on the way soon after the game’s launch.

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In Glitchpunk you play as a glitching android going against your own programming and challenging the tyrannical governments and megacorps of the dystopian near-future. Forge your own path in several cities full of drug-crazed gangs, aggressive police, and irresponsible drivers that make each mission and playthrough unpredictable. Steal cars and lead your enemies on a merry chase, fight them with a variety of melee and long-range weapons, and upgrade your own body with technology that enables you to manipulate your surroundings or improve your capabilities. 

Key features:

• Brutal top-down action with a massive arsenal of weapons to choose from

• Hacking system allowing players to control the minds of pedestrians and affect various devices.
• Many different ways of locomotion, including trains, tanks, motorbikes, buses, trucks, and obviously tons of cars
• Frantic police chases and up to 10 escalations of mayhem-inducing wanted levels
• 12 gangs with their own stories, quests, and culture
• Four different cities, from the desert remains of the USA to cyberpunk Soviet Russia in a post-nuclear winter (New Baltia at Early Access launch, Outpost Texas 3 to 4 weeks post-launch, and two more to come!)
• Mature story with several endings
• Rare art style mix of 2D sprites in a 3D environment
• In-game radio with music by artists from all over the world, together with news stations and absurd commercials

Red Wings: Aces of the Sky Review

Info

Developed/Published By: All in Games.

Platforms Available On: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PC and Xbox One.

Reviewed on PS4 – a code was very kindly supplied for the purpose of this review.

Overview

Red Wings: Aces of the Sky is a dynamic action game that will show you amazing battles straight from the pages of history in a brand new arcade gameplay style.

Use your unique skills to take down your opponents, develop your deadly pilot aim, and become the true ace of the sky.

Witness the birth, rise, and fall of the Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen—the ultimate hero of the first World War, credited with 80 victories. Become a part of his squadron or his archrival.

Choose one of more than 10 historical warplanes of the Entente Powers or the Triple Alliance. Fly into a unique mix of historic events and over-the-top, comic book-style adventures.

Invite a friend to play and fly together. Sky-high thrills are waiting for you in cooperative mode!

Gameplay

You can’t beat the thrill if a good old dog fighting game, chasing enemies through the clouds dodging bullets as you go, Red Wings: Aces of the Sky is definitely that game made easily more fun and accessible to all with it’s cartoon styling but all the time feeling like a proper plane shooter.

I normally find these types of games tricky to get my head around and spend most of the time just aimlessly spinning about, but with Red Wing it felt different felt alot more easier to get to grips with in turn making the game far more enjoyable for me.

Although it does have a cartoon look to the game it still has an authentic feel to the gameplay, making it far more immersive than what I originally thought it would be.

Taking a break from the comfort of the clear blue skies the devs very kindly put in a few night flying missions, this makes it more challenging as you lose alot of your range of sight making it harder to track your enemy.

There is also a co-op mode which is fun where you can team up in the skies and take out your enemies together which is always good fun.

Graphics and Sound

As mentioned earlier on the devs have gone for a cell shaded cartoon style rather than realism and to be fair they pulled it off, although cartoony it feels realistic enough to enjoy.

The soundtrack is great and fits with the theme adds a load of realism to the game combining with the graphics making a good overall game.

Summary

To summarise my thoughts on Red Wings: Aces of the Sky, a good all round fun game with lots of action on offer, can’t see it being a top title I’d play everyday but still well worth having in the collection for that fun fix.

Verdict-Out of 5🌟

🌟🌟🌟🌟

Excellent

I give Red Wings: Aces of the Sky a well deserved 4🌟 a good fun game.

Grab your copy on PlayStation click here

Also available is the limited Baron Edition

The physical boxed edition of the game will include a specially created slip case, an art book containing some of the concept art from the developers and a poster featuring key artwork.

OBSERVER: SYSTEM REDUX Available On Consoles Now

Bloober Team is excited to announce both the launch of Observer: System Redux on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles and the retail release of the title. As of today, Observer: System Redux is now available in both digital and physical formats on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X | S.

PlayStation 4 and Xbox One Observer: System Redux owners can upgrade to the next-gen version for free any time after purchase.

Observer: System Redux revists the story of Observer, adding three new missions, revamped character models, improved mechanics, and quality of life features.

The Koch Media physical edition of Observer: System Redux includes the game, a softcover art book, and the soundtrack. Check out the official announcement trailer and accolades trailer below:

Observer: System Redux is the definitive vision of the award-winning cyberpunk thriller, rebuilt and augmented for the next generation. You play as Daniel Lazarski – an elite investigator of the future, portrayed by late cyberpunk icon Rutger Hauer.

The year is 2084.

The future has turned out much darker than anyone could imagine. First, there was the Nanophage. A digital plague that killed thousands upon thousands of those who chose to augment their minds and bodies.
Then came the War, leaving both the West and the East decimated and shattered. With no one left to seize power, corporations took over and forged their own crooked empires.

You are a tool of corporate oppression. Feared and despised, you hack into the darkest corners of your suspects’ minds. You creep into their dreams, expose their fears, and extract whatever your investigation may require.

You are an Observer.

System Redux PlayStation 4 and Xbox One Features
Veteran Observers can dive deeper into this dystopian reality thanks to three brand-new side cases to solve. “Errant Signal”, “Her Fearful Symmetry” and “It Runs in the Family” add another layer of depth to the game’s story while exploring thought-provoking themes of a future that soon might become our present.

On top of that, System Redux on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One offers expanded gameplay, which includes new game mechanics, new secrets to find, redesigned stealth, additional neural interrogations, and quality-of-life improvements made with the help of the Observer community. Experience one of the most thrilling cyberpunk stories in gaming in all its dark glory.

THE SIEGE OF PARIS DLC Reveal For VALHALLA

Ubisoft have announced that Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’s next major expansion, The Siege of Paris, will be available on 12th August. In addition, Season 3, Sigrblot Season, features exclusive rewards and activities accessible to all players. The Sigrblot Festival is live this Thursday, 29th July for all players until 19th August.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’s second expansion, The Siege of Paris, will release on 12th August. Set in Francia, this new adventure will set Eivor on a dangerous path full of gripping questlines across the Frankish countryside, towards one of the most infamous conquest battles in Viking history. Players will get their hands on new weapons, abilities, gear, and skills to take on new enemy types. The Siege of Paris will also mark the return of Infiltration Missions, directly inherited from long-time, fan-favourite Black Box Missions. Here, players will have the liberty to choose the best way to eliminate their designated target. The Siege of Paris will be available for all Season Pass owners or as a separate purchase by all owners of the main game.

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Along with the second expansion, the “The Siege of Paris” music album will release on 12^th August, giving all fans the chance to fully enjoy the complete soundtrack. From today, they can discover “Hásæti”, the first track of the album composed by Stephanie Economou. With this song, she wanted to evoke a sense of spirituality and depth in the music, and vocals felt like the right avenue to explore. The lyrics are in Old Norse, with “Hásæti” translating to “Seat of Honor.” To listen to the single, please visit:

Starting Thursday, 29^th July, players can celebrate summer in the time-limited Sigrblot Festival, a traditional Viking festival celebrating the start of the Raiding season. Until 19^th August, various festive activities will be available in the Ravensthorpe settlement around the traditional bonfire, including:

• Flyting, Fight Tournament, and Dice Game mini-games.
• Three new quests available.
• Exclusive rewards including settlement decorations, customisation items, and weapons. Notably, the one-handed sword Skrofnung can be acquired with Sigrblot tokens in the festival shop for a limited time before the festival ends.

To experience the Sigrblot Festival, players must reach England and complete one of the first narrative arcs – either Grantebridgescire or Ledecestrescire – and have their settlement reach Level 2.

An additional update is planned for later in the season and will bring a new River Raids map pack, with destinations scattered along the rivers of Francia and Ireland.

With development led by Ubisoft Montreal, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla offers players the captivating experience of playing as Eivor, a legendary Viking warrior, driven from Norway by endless wars and dwindling resources in ninth century AD. Players can relive the ruthless fighting style of Viking warriors with a revamped dual-wielding combat system and experience new gameplay features such as raids, assaults, and the settlement, as well as a revamped progression and gear upgrade system. Political alliances, combat decisions and dialogue choices can influence the world of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, so players must choose wisely to protect their clan’s home and their future.

 

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Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is available on Xbox Series X | S, Xbox One consoles, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, the Epic Games Store and Ubisoft Store on Windows PC, as well as on Stadia, Amazon Luna and Ubisoft’s subscription service, Ubisoft+.

For more information about Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, please visit assassinscreed.com.