The Smash Bros. franchise has had a huge following pretty much since the game first launched. This unique platform brawler offers a style of play that is unlike playing any other fighter like Tekken or Street Fighter. It is very surprising to me that no other developers have cribbed this idea and tried to build on that formula. At least until now, that is.

Developer Lunar Hare Studios is entering the fray with Earth Romancer, a tournament-grade platform brawler in development for Steam and consoles. Led by competitive gamer Blank Mauser, LHS is poised to take the competitive brawler world by storm.

“There have been many great platform brawlers, and I have played many of them, some, even competitively. I have always thought, ‘wouldn’t it be great if Smash Bros had this’ or ‘how awesome would it be if Marvel vs Capcom had that’, but instead of waiting for someone to create a truly all-encompassing platform fighting game, I decided to do it myself,” said Blank Mauser, CEO, Lunar Hare Studios.

“Earth Romancer stands on the shoulders of giants in this genre,” Mauser continued, “liberally taking what makes them great, and combining those features into a complete action-packed platforming fighting experience sprinkled with new mechanics I have always wanted.”

Earth Romancer will mold together familiar game mechanics such as flexible combo chaining of fighters, and the intuitive control scheme and movement of Smash Brothers, with new and inventive mechanics. Earth Romancer will offer a vibrant Nintendo-esque aesthetic and an original soundtrack inspired by old-school platformers and classic fantasy RPGs.

Game features will include:

PUBG has made its debut on consoles by coming to the Xbox One Preview Program, which is essentially a spot for people to come test the game before it fully releases in the future. The nice part about Game Preview is you are allowed a short hour free trial to decide if you want to help back the game or not.

Unlike other Preview games though, PUBG has no free trial. As of this time, anyone looking to give PUBG a try will have to shell out the full $30 price for the unfinished game. Anyone who is on the fence on whether or not to dive into the battle royale game has a decision to make.

PUBG is probably the most talked about game in the world at the moment, so I have to say it is pretty disappointing not everyone with an Xbox will at least have a chance to give it a try. Personally I already bought it, but the game does have some early performance issues that I most likely will address in the future when I write my review for it. I can definitely see why someone would be upset that on this one occasion there is no free trial and to play they are being forced to buy an unfinished game. My only guess is they thought with a game being as talked about as PUBG is that they will not lose out on too much money by refusing a free trial.

There is a chance though in the future that there will be a free trial for PUBG. A spokesperson told WindowsCentral,

“At the launch of “PUBG” on Xbox One in Xbox Game Preview, the one-hour trial period will not be available as we are prioritizing server stability for the game. However, we are looking to bring a one-hour trial period to the game once player concurrency and server stability are optimized; we’ll share more in the future.”

So there you have it. If you do not feel like paying out the $30 for the game now, you can have a chance to play PUBG for free in the future. You just will not be one of the first to try it on console.

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This past weekend, That VideoGame Blog was invited to attend the 2017 PlayStation Experience in Anaheim, California. If you’re unfamiliar with PSX, think of it like an E3 or PAX event dedicated to the PlayStation console and its related platforms. This was our second time there and, like last year, we left happy and with high hopes for the future of PlayStation!

Below is a list of some of the games we enjoyed the most at PSX this year. Many are actually indie games that took us pleasantly by surprise. Watch their trailers and read the descriptions to learn more.

The Adventure Pals

Although I missed the opportunity to gush about this game when it first released, Guerilla Games have given me another chance with the release of their first DLC, Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds. This is a game I get giddy about, so please excuse me if I seem to hyperbolize, but I will not apologize for getting excited about one of the most memorable gaming experiences in my life. Followed up by some of the most intricate storytelling and breathtaking scenery made for console, Frozen Wilds continues the story of Aloy. As she travels north into the frozen land of the Cut, Aloy searches for answers to expand her knowledge of the machines and the Old Ones.

Story

One thing I think most people agree HZD does well is tell a gripping story with the open world setting. Frozen Wilds is no exception. Frozen Wilds does an exceptional job of expanding the story we are familiar with from the base game by introducing new interesting characters through a new tribe called the Banuk. It establishes a new setting in which these people inhabit, the likes of which only previously hinted at. Finally, this DLC tops it all off by introducing new mechanical threats that require an apt level of skill and determination to defeat.

In my opinion, the flow is smooth enough that is nearly indistinguishable from the original content. This maintains the immersive experience players witnessed from the base game. In a sense, you can “dive right in” if you have been away from the game for a while. After a brief introduction, Aloy finds herself in Song’s Edge, a werak (tribe) of the Banuk where she quickly learns of the trouble in the region. Many skilled fighters died in a recent failed expedition to the mountain known as Thunder’s Drum. Furthermore, the story expands through the machines. In this region, they are apparently much more hostile and suffer from a “derangement.” Aloy arrives just in time as the chieftain of the werak, Aratak rallies his troops to once again trek into the dangerous mountain where the source of the derangement seems to originate.

Without going into more detail, the setup of this narrative is similar to how the quests from the base game are established. While this setup promises more of the same trekking, climbing, and fighting that is familiar, the layer of mystery surrounding this quest gives the player more conjecture. The derangement of the machines, the unfamiliar territory, and not to mention the completely new machine Aloy must learn to defeat. All of this culminates into a secondary story that feels like it could be the main story to another game. Of course, the story itself is just as entertaining as predicted. However, I found this aspect of storytelling to be most praise-worthy.

On top of this, we learn more about the Old Ones and gain more information on how the past connects to the present, including more side quests that feed into the story and intrigue. Overall, when it comes to the overarching plot, I see this as an extension more than a separate entity. Although this tactic may be limiting in some games, HZD does a phenomenal job through its seamless transitions.

Gameplay

I’m already getting sick of myself lauding all of the qualities of this game. As a reviewer, I try to separate myself from a game so I can present a more objective point of view. However, when a game gets it right, it gets it right. It deserves all the praise awarded to it. Frozen Wild’s gameplay makes no change from the base game when it comes to gameplay. Based on what I’ve previously said, it would make no sense. The continuation calls for the gameplay to be consistent with the original content. Essentially, “if it aint broke, don’t fix it.” So, when I speak on the specific gameplay mechanics, know that I speak for the game in its entirety.

The default button layout for battle and action sequences are spot on from the get-go. There was no need for me to make any major adjustments, and the fighting mechanics are very easy to pick up. Above this is one of my favorite aspects of the game as a whole. Ammunition crafting is a very risky mechanic to add to any RPG. However, HZD manages to execute it perfectly through slow motion. The pop-up weapons inventory UI creates a seamless avenue in order to create ammo on the fly. This makes for smooth and quick battle sequences that keep the player focused on the task. Essentially, it maintains the immersive experience of battle and makes them all the more enjoyable.

The game continues its skill-upgrade system from before; however, Frozen Wilds introduces the “Traveler” skill tree. Anticipating the long journeys made throughout Ban-Ur, these skills improve usefulness of resources and mounts. One gripe I had with the base game was the difficulty to manage and carry the resources necessary for battle. It seemed the over-saturation of resources necessary to craft different kinds of ammunition hindered the gameplay experience.

In an attempt to remedy this, the “Traveler” skill tree gives players abilities like “Shard Salvager” and “Hoarder.” Respectively, you can free up inventory space by disassembling resources and mods for shards and increase resource inventory slots by 20%. Although it may not have cured one of the few flaws in gameplay, the helpful treatment lead to overall improvement. Other aspects of gameplay are in most generic RPGs. I touched on a couple that stand out, but the other expected traits come with little to no issues.

Design

Finally, we come to perhaps the most significant portion of this game. This game…is beautiful. There is no denying that. The art style, the breathtaking scenery, the numerous settings, etc. I mean, the game comes with its own “photo mode.” Even if you aren’t as big of a fan as me, I think we can agree on the pristine aesthetic of Horizon Zero Dawn. Therefore, to get past the obvious, I will just touch on how Frozen Wilds adds its own flair to the design of the game.

As demonstrated with the story and gameplay, the DLC picks up right where it leaves off. However, at the same time, Frozen Wilds introduces an entirely new world. A frozen tundra of towering mountains that seem to stretch on forever. Furthermore, deranged machines that inhabit the land incorporate opposing senses of familiarity and brand-new.

Another example of this comes from the discovery of the EPSILON cauldron. The threat you face is a new and mysterious, but the familiarity of how to explore and maneuver in a cauldron from the base game gives you a strategic advantage. When it comes to design, that is what this DLC is: a combination of new and old. Familiarity and brand-new.

In my opinion, that is the only way it could work. The developers knew this too and fashioned a design that reflected the beautiful world known in the base game. At the same time, they introduced new elements which kept the player involved throughout.

Conclusion

Frozen Wilds successfully demonstrates what a solid continuation DLC is supposed to be. The open-world mechanic is perhaps the biggest advantage HZD has for this and any other planned DLC. The team has shown they know how to expand their world, and I would bet they are willing to do it again. As long as they maintain the system of keeping consistent aspects of gameplay, storytelling, and design, their world is their oyster. Introducing new and unusual features will keep fans coming back for more. Horizon Zero Dawn could prove to be one of the most lucrative games made for console. I can’t wait to see what they have in store next.

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Christmas is fast approaching and what better way to celebrate than to buy heaps of great games for all the gamers in your life? Natsume has gifts for everyone, including classic franchises such as Harvest Moon, River City, and Wild Guns available on PC and Nintendo, as well as a slew of plush and collectible special editions available now!

Harvest Moon: Light of Hope

This year, Natsume celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Harvest Moon series, releasing an all new title Harvest Moon: Light of Hope for Steam. This title was the first in the franchise to be available on PC. The game can be downloaded digitally on Steam. The eBay and Amazon Store also have a selection of game-related merchandise including original plush, mini figurines, custom t-shirts, collector’s editions, and more.

Harvest Moon: Light of Hope takes players to new surroundings when you set off on a voyage and the weather takes your boat to an entirely unexpected location. The town has been essentially deserted after being thrashed by the storm, but you won’t back down from the challenge! Players can make new friends, gather material for repairs, tend to livestock and grow crops – perhaps you’ll even start a family and save the town, your new home!

River City: Rival Showdown

One fateful night, two mysterious individuals attack Kunio. On the same night, Riki’s girlfriend disappears without a trace. It’s up to Kunio to find out the truth about what happened on that night, but he only has three days to unravel the mystery. In this entry in the series, you will take on some familiar faces from the River City games and meet new ones in this fast-paced beat-’em-up RPG.

A limited edition Riki keychain gift with purchase is included with retail versions: http://ift.tt/2zpPM6M

Wild Guns Reloaded

Wild Guns Reloaded is an arcade-style shooter, mixing Wild West with steampunk. You can play as Clint, Annie, Doris, or Bullet the dog with his sentry drone. You can play alone or with up to four friends, and each character can jump, dive, and roll to get out of the way of the barrage of bullets enemies let fly. Alternatively, you can shoot them down with their own gun!

River City: Knights of Justice

Another River City title from this year. The magical land of Riverandia is in a state of turmoil. Many years have passed since the rainbow Crystal Tower suddenly became shrouded in darkness. With the world plunged into horror and chaos, a lone knight appeared: Alexander Valford. In this strange new entry into the series, Kunio and his friends are transformed into heroes and villains that would be at home in any RPG. Use swords, staves, and even magic to bring peace back to Riverandia.

All of the games on this list are available now and can be located on Steam. Special editions and other goodies can be found at the links above.

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At The 2017 Game Awards on December 7^th there was a lot of celebration and jubilation; games that we loved here at That VideoGame Blog rightfully got their due recognition and we got a glimpse at what’s in store for 2018 and beyond. However, the event was extra special for the three winners of the Warframe “Tenno’s Greatest Trailer” contest whose work was recognized that night.

The trailer creators were tasked with submitting a 25 second video showing their love for the long running Free-To-Play game. Using in-game footage and music, the players were given free rein to express themselves and the end results proved to be something special.

1^st place winner – Benjamin Noisette (NihilVX) $10,000 prize

The artistic direction of Noisette’s video is apparent right from the get-go. The artistic blending of character shots superimposed on the close ups gives a stylish tone to the video. The use of sweeping slow motion pan shots ties the action into the narrative of the character reveals. Clearly Noisette had a strong vision and a perfect execution, which netted him the top spot of the contest.

2^nd place winner – Ryan Tam (Nyx53) $3,000 prize

Tam has a very interesting style in that he utilizes zooms and sweeping closeups to bounce in and out of action shots, giving the trailer a very distinct flow. The second shot is by far my favorite of the whole trailer; the pulled out pan shot revealing the beautiful atmosphere before diving head first and blending into an action scene using a motion blur effect was brilliant and felt very representative of the moment to moment action in-game.

3^rd place winner – Yegor Poustovalov (AQUA5) $1,000 prize

Out of all the winning videos, Yegor displays the greatest ability to utilize light sources for dramatic effect. The contrasting light sources and usage of shadow give this trailer the most cinematic feel of the bunch. Much like a film trailer, there is a story within this trailer that is able to be teased out and that does a solid job of building intrigue to a new Warframe player.

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Thirty years! Quite a few of the earlier games in the Street Fighter franchise won’t be remembered by some of you. Not because these games weren’t any good, of course, but simply because you either weren’t alive yet or weren’t old enough to be holding a pad when they came out. As someone who does remember every game on the list, including Street Fighter (yes there was a game before someone stuck a 2 on the end of it and birthed a monster,) I thought I’d bring you a bit of news about the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection.

So as I’ve just mentioned, this franchise is coming into its 30th year and Capcom want us to help them celebrate this milestone. As of next May, PS4, Xbox One, Switch and PC gamers will be able to get their mits on the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection. This compendium of games is comprised of no less than 12 iconic titles from the series’ past. These include Street Fighter, Street Fighter II, Street Fighter Alpha and Street Fighter III to name but a few.

To add a bit of arcade flavour you’ll be able to take the fight online in four of the twelve titles. If you happen to be playing Street Fighter II: Hyper Fighting, Super Street Fighter II: Turbo, Street Fighter Alpha 3 or Street Fighter III: Third Strike you will be able to queue into a lobby of up to four other gamers and test your mettle in arcade-style ranked matches. You will be able to go toe to toe against the computer just like we did back in the day while waiting for our next real-life opponent to join us. Can’t beat a bit of nostalgia right?

On top of all the brilliant brawling action, fans will be able to take a walk down memory lane with the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection museum mode. This will allow you to view stunning pieces of concept art, scroll through character bios and uncover little known facts behind each game release with an interactive timeline. Music fans amongst you will also be able to enjoy some of the most iconic themes from the series in the music player.

If you happen to be a huge fan of the Street Fighter series but were never able to play all the games this is a brilliant way to fill in the gaps. For slightly older gamers like myself this collection is going to bring back a hell of a lot of memories. Granted, the majority of these will be of me getting my behind handed to me by computer and friend alike, but I still had a massive amount of fun. If you’re craving this little walk down memory lane you don’t actually have that long to wait. Get all of your Christmas gaming out of the way and it’ll be May 2018 in no time.

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Sometimes, just because a video game looks a certain way, doesn’t always mean it will play that way. The Count Lucanor does exactly that. Most may find the 2D, almost LucasArts-styled point-and-click adventure game as a children’s game, but it’s definitely the opposite. Baroque Decay has seamlessly integrated horror story into a fantasy world.

In a time where co-op experiences are falling by the wayside, it is rare to find a game that bucks trends and instead requires you to play with a partner at all times. However, in Hazelight’s latest prison break experience, A Way Out, that is just the case. As stated by Hazelight writer/director, Josef Fares, “[A Way Out’s] story is a genre-transcending narrative that’s meant to be played with someone you know”.

As many gamers know, it can be tough to find a gaming buddy to meet up with, which makes online gaming a godsend. However, online gaming comes with a whole other issue; you need 2 copies of the game! For Hazelight, the studio that crafted the critical darling Brothers – A Tale of Two Sons, the co-op experience is so integral to their vision that they are doing something that has rarely been seen. The studio is offering a friend’s pass free trial to all buyers of A Way Out in order to ensure that you can always link up with a friend. From the mouth a Fares, the friend pass works as such:

”We developed the game to be experienced with a friend on the couch, but since that isn’t possible for everyone, those who download the friend’s pass free-trial will be able to play the entire game online with a friend who owns the full game and still get an awesome experience.”

Hazelight is literally giving this game away for free! That’s almost unheard of, especially in a day and age where it seems so many companies are nickel and diming us with a variety of loot boxes or microtransactions. I salute you, the good developers at Hazelight, for having a genuine vision and the dedication to stick to your guns and do everything in your power to deliver on that vision.

If you’re still unsure of A Way Out, you can read our coverage of the game’s reveal here.

A Way Out is making its way to the Xbox One, the PlayStation 4, and PC via Origin worldwide on March 23, 2018 as a digital download.

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So, today we’re all going to be looking at Frank’s big package. Please get your minds out of the gutter. I’m referring to the newest Dead Rising experience. Zombie enthusiasts might want to pay a bit of attention to this one. If you want to warm things up for Christmas by getting your kill on, Dead Rising 4: Frank’s Big Package is now available for the PS4 in North America and Europe.

This deliciously bloody little present will let you guys n’ gals unwrap all the previously released Dead Rising 4 content, including the main game and all DLC released thus far. On top of this, making it a gift that just keeps giving, you will also aquire a new Capcom Heroes mode. This is an all-new way to experience the Dead Rising 4 story that let’s Frank West wear a dozen different outfits from different Capcom protagonists. “Is this a cosmetic thing?” I hear you ask. Well, no, actually it’s not; each costume grants you the ability to perform devastating special attacks based on the character whose shoes Frank has stepped into.

Just to give you a run down of exactly what this pack consists of … As I’ve mentioned, you’ll get the game plus all downloadable content. This consists of the Stocking Stuffer Holiday Pack, Frank Rising and Super Ultra Dead Rising 4 Mini Golf. Then on top of all of this, you’ll get the bonus content which includes the Street Fighter Outfit Pack, My Bloody Valentine Pack, Candy Cane Crossbow, Slicecycle, Sir ice-A-lot, Ugly Winter Sweater and X-Fists. Wow, that was a mouthful, but clearly a bunch of stuff you’re going to want if you love the franchise. All this plus what we’ve already mentioned is a nice little recipe for zombie fragging fun.

If you’re an Xbox One or PC player and already happen to have Dead Rising 4, you’ll be able to grab the Capcom Heroes update for free, so don’t feel left out or anything. Get over to your respective stores and have a look. I think we can safely say that zombies definitely need to beware Frank’s Big Package.

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