Austrian video game publisher THQ Nordic has announced its acquisition of the Carmageddon intellectual property from the creator Stainless Games. The vehicular combat series first started out on the PC in 1997 and was later ported to multiple other platforms. It also received a number of follow-up titles including a reboot in 2015.
Nintendo gamers will most-likely remember the series for the 1999 release Carmageddon64, handled by Software Creations. It was considered as one of the worst N64 titles of all-time. The publisher behind the port – Titus – was also responsible for the release of Superman 64.
In the past, the Carmageddon series has been targeted by classification boards around the world for its violent gameplay, allowing players to run over pedestrians. In Germany and the UK the game was censored and in other countries, it was banned completely.
THQ Nordic’s acquisition of this IP is to enhance its presence within the global video game market. The company now has more than 100 franchises, ranging from Saints Row, Darksiders to Time Splitters. Deep Silver / Koch Media and Coffee Stain are divisions of the THQ group and in total there are fifteen internal development studios engaging close to 2,000 people.
At this point in time, there’s no information about what the publisher plans to do with the Carmageddon IP.
Would you like to see a new entry in this series now that THQ has the rights to it? Tell us below.
The turn-based tactical genre has had somewhat of a resurgence in recent years. The Swedish development team known as The Bearded Ladies is continuing this trend, with its latest release Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden. For the uninformed, this Funcom-published video game is based on a classic pen-and-paper RPG and inspired by the gameplay in the XCOM series.
During a recent interview with Wccf, the CEO of the development team was asked about the chances of Mutant Year Zero making its way across to the Nintendo Switch, as the game runs on Unreal Engine 4. This was the reply:
“That is something we will look into soon.”
Previous releases on the Nintendo Switch like this game include Into The Breach and Ubisoft’s Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, which has now shifted more than two million copies. The team that worked on Mutant Year Zero is also comprised of former Hitman leads and the designer of PAYDAY, so there’s plenty of experience behind this release.
Would you like to see this game appear on the Switch eventually? Let us know below.
In preparation for the Christmas period later this month, Nintendo has rolled out a new firmware update for the Nintendo 3DS. Version 11.9.0-42 is by no means a game changer.
Once again, it’s a minor update that aims to enhance the overall user experience and prevent any nasty exploits. Here’s what you can expect in this latest update:
Further improvements to overall system stability and other minor adjustments have been made to enhance the user experience.
Have you downloaded this update yet? Will you be spending time with your 3DS over the holiday season? Tell us in the comments.
As the latest installment in the Wonder Boy in Monster World series, Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom brings a colorful new action-adventure game to you!
Help a young hero defeat challenging enemies, discover hidden locations, upgrade powerful equipment, and more. You can also unlock a variety of forms— each with its own distinct skill. Inspired by the original classic, Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom delivers a fresh, modern adventure with memorable music and hand-drawn animation.
Features
Six forms with distinct combat and platforming abilities to make your adventure exciting from start to finish.
Unlock new paths and secrets with special equipment.
Explore the new Monster World in a vast interconnected environment— with over 15 hours of gameplay.
Characters and enemies come to life with detailed, hand-drawn animations and lively facial expressions.
Soundtrack developed by iconic Japanese composers, including Yuzo Koshiro, Motoi Sakuraba, Michiru Yamane, Keiki Kobayashi and Takeshi Yanagawa.
Feel the action with high performance HD rumble support.
The release of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is just around the corner. With it, the perennial revival of the greatest controller of all time is upon us. As usual, Nintendo has brought back the GameCube controller to please the most hardcore of Smash fans, and alongside it, multiple third-party manufacturers are offering up their own versions. Today, we’re taking a look at HORI’s take on the classic controller: the Switch Battle Pad GameCube Style Controller. Let’s just call it the Battle Pad for short.
As its name implies, the Battle Pad takes most of its design cues from Nintendo’s original, but calling it a copy would do a disservice to the work HORI has put into creating something unique. Some design changes are apparent, like the addition of the home and screenshot buttons on the new controller, the translucent shell, or the changes made to the shoulder buttons, removing the GameCube controller’s Z button and replacing it instead with similarly shaped ZL and ZR buttons, with a more traditional L and R button configuration behind them.
Other changes will become apparent once you have the controller in your hands. It’s a bit wider than the original, almost imperceptibly so, but once you’re holding it in your hands the distance between your right thumb and the buttons feels greater than before, which is good news for those with larger hands. The controller’s handles are also textured, meaning they’re less likely to slip during longer play sessions. We’re fans of the change, but purists may be turned off. Everything else about the Battle Pad is a bit larger, too: the D-pad is absolutely massive, the analogue sticks are both a bit larger, too and the handles are slightly elongated.
The D-pad is, to put it bluntly, terrible. That isn’t a big problem for Smash fans, as the D-pad is at best an afterthought in Sakurai’s opus, but if you’re trying to use the Battle Pad in other games, it could pose a major problem. The Switch ‘sees’ the controller as a Pro Controller, meaning you can use it any game that supports it. Unlike the stock Pro Controller, the Battle Pad doesn’t sport motion controls, NFC or rumble, which is a recurring theme with budget-friendly pads. The rest of the controller is pretty great. The analogue sticks feel quite a bit looser than the GameCube original, and while we prefer the feel of the original in this regard, the difference is only truly noticeable when you have the real deal to compare against.
One design choice we did take exception with, however, is the placement of the shoulder buttons. As we mentioned before, the ZL and ZR buttons are on the top of the controller, with the L and R buttons being placed behind them. On official Switch controllers, the ZL and ZR buttons are situated behind the L and R buttons, and Smash Ultimate assumes this is the default configuration, which means you’ll grab when you mean to block and block when you mean to grab without a little bit of retraining. For its part, HORI did include the ability to change the functions of these buttons by holding the L and R buttons as the controller is plugged into the Switch dock’s USB port, but the decision to have the buttons reversed by default is strange as it feels unnatural in just about every game we tested. That said, once you’ve changed the shoulder button mapping it’ll persist, even when you turn the Switch off, so it’s only a minor headache.
As with Nintendo’s own offering, the Battle Pad is wired meaning that it’s not easily usable in tabletop mode. The USB cable is a decent length and unlike Nintendo’s own offering you won’t need an adapter to use it. Personally, we’d prefer a wireless version of the GameCube controller but that doesn’t look likely at the present moment in time. Thankfully, HORI rival 8BitDo does offer a solution of sorts, but it relies on an external device so the pad isn’t totally wireless.
HORI’s Battle Pad is an excellent version of an already excellent controller, but it’s unlikely to change the minds of the most diehard Smash fans. For the rest of us, this controller offers some interesting tweaks that will certainly win some over. The slightly increased size, inclusion of the home and capture buttons, much lower cost when accounting for the required GameCube adapter and ability to use HORI’s controller with nearly any Switch game are all major pluses. If you’re looking for a GameCube controller that can do more than just Smash, the Battle Pad may be the right choice for you.
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Looking for more controller options that harken back to Nintendo’s lovable purple lunchbox? Check out this excellent rundown of the rest of the available options by our resident Lovely Person, Alex Olney, and be sure to comment with your favourite Smash Controller below.
Since its reveal in September, all signs have pointed towards the idea that World of Final Fantasy MAXIMA would be a digital-only release on Switch. Rumours started to circulate in October when physical editions for the Xbox One appeared with no Switch version in sight, and there were still no physical copies available when it finally launched last month.
As it turns out, though, Square Enix has now reportedly revealed a later-than-expected physical release on Switch. The news comes from the folks at NintendoSoup, who mention that “there will be no physical release in North America, Europe, and Japan”, with the physical copy instead being released exclusively in Southeast Asia. The situation gets more and more strange every time we hear about it.
The site also happens to be offering pre-orders for the game worldwide, with international shipping expected to commence in February 2019. You’ll have to hand over $59.99 of your hard-earned cash to get it (as opposed to the digital version’s $39.99 asking price), but you can find it right here if you’re interested.
Despite being sold only in Southeast Asia, the game supports English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, French, Italian, German, and Spanish and is region free.
Were you hoping to snag a physical copy of this one? Are you happy sticking with the cheaper digital copy? Let us know your thoughts below.
Indie developer Happy Corruption has revealed that its upcoming twin-stick shooter Space Cows will be heading to Nintendo Switch next year.
In this fast-paced twin-stick shooter, you’ll be playing as a friendly farmer who happily lives at a farm with his beloved cow Betsy. Unfortunately, Betsy gets taken away to an infested milk station, leaving you with no choice but to go on a journey saving cows and fighting “mootants” with a laser-scoped toilet plunger. As you do.
If you feel up to the challenge, check out these screens and feature list below. If you’re not excited – or at least slightly amused – by the thought of battling an “epic endgame boss to rescue your beloved cow”, then there’s just no helping you.
Features:
– Whack some mootants with a toilet plunger! – Wibble wobble in zero gravity. – Clash with champions – bigger, smarter, deadlier! – Look for and save cows by mastering minigames. – Overrun by swarm?! Dash your way out or unleash bullet-hell of Fire Plungers! – Catch a breath while collecting milk and avoiding obstacles. – For precise hits use SlowMootion! – Enjoy obligatory vehicle and stealth sequences – Use the environment – lure or smack enemies onto deadly hazards! – Push and pull objects out of your way – Battle Epic Endgame Boss to rescue your beloved cow
A specific date for the game’s release hasn’t been shared just yet; the news comes from this teaser tweet below.
Does this sound crazy enough to go on your Switch wishlist? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
If you’ve updated your game to version 2.0.2 (or version 1.0.2 for Torna), you’ll now be able to get your hands on the “Massive Melee Mythra” outfit – a slightly less revealing number worn by Mythra’s spirit in Smash Ultimate. If you want to get your hands on this new outfit, make sure your game is up to date and follow the steps below.
If you’re playing the main game, make sure you’ve reached Chapter 4 and then head to the Salvage Deck at the Argentum Trade Guild in Goldmouth. You should be able to spot Brobro – simply talk to him and he’ll hand it over free of charge.
If you’re playing Torna – The Golden Country, you’ll need to track down the Nameless Wanderpon at the Feltley Village Camp. Once again, talking to him is all that’s needed to be given the Massive Melee Mythra Aux Core. Easy.
Do you plan on tracking down this exclusive outfit? Have you already managed to find it for yourself? Let us know in the comments.
With the rush of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals just starting to truly quieten down, the UK charts should now start to even out once more. One million physical game sales generated another £32.6 million last week, but which games are sitting at the top of the pile?
Well, you probably won’t be surprised to hear that FIFA 19 is still leading the charge in first place; sales are down by 39% week-on-week, but that’s not enough of a drop to see it lose out. The whole top five is looking almost identical to last week, too, with just one little swap hidden in the mix.
Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! are still performing strongly in the region, with the Pikachu version selling considerably stronger. The Pikachu edition is still sitting in eighth place this week, with sales for the two games now tracking higher than what Pokémon X and Y achieved after their first three weeks on sale. Considering the 3DS had a larger install base when those games were released, that’s some pretty good going for the new titles.
Here’s a look at this week’s top ten all formats chart (physical sales only):
1. (1) FIFA 19 2. (3) Red Dead Redemption 2 3. (2) Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 4. (4) Battlefield V 5. (5) Forza Horizon 4 6. (9) Spyro Reignited Trilogy 7. (8) Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! 8. (11) Assassin’s Creed Odyssey 9. (10) Mario Kart 8 Deluxe 10. (12) Fortnite: Deep Freeze Bundle
Of all the genres out there in the wonderful world of video games, very few games showcase the heart and soul of their creators quite like the point-and-click adventure. Perhaps it’s the slower pace or the need for memorable characters and an engrossing story, but everything from background art to dialogue becomes a canvas on which a developer can really showcase the personality that makes the game distinctly theirs.
NAIRI: Tower of Shirin – the latest addition to the growing number of titles representing this still very niche genre on Nintendo Switch – is a perfect example. From the tense moments of its opening to the humorous interactions and eye-opening revelations that are woven through its story, this plucky indie offering never stops excitedly trying to show you another beautiful piece of hand-painted art, a clever puzzle design or a pithy line of dialogue. Even with its faults, you’re almost always going to be charmed by its childlike enthusiasm.
The story, alongside the puzzles, is the core of any adventure game, and NAIRI’s is full of surprises. It starts out innocently enough, with the titular Nairi finding her life among the city of Shirin’s elite suddenly turned on its head as she flees an attack on her family. Thrown into a world of bandits, conspiracies and forgotten civilisations, the once detached young girl slowly grows into a confident heroine determined to solve the mystery behind the Tower of Shirin once and for all. It’s a plot that keeps changing its stripes the further you progress, morphing from coming of age story to fantastical mystery and beyond.
Talking of puzzles, NAIRI never strays too far from the formula that’s served the likes of Broken Sword and Grim Fandango Remastered before it. You’ll collect items as you explore different areas, which can be combined to complete quests or solve certain riddles. The sheer variety of puzzles to solve – ranging from pressing a series of buttons in a single room to conundrums with multiple parts that span myriad rooms – means you’ll find plenty of brainteasers to break up the non-voiced-over dialogue and animated cutscenes. Some of these puzzles can get a little obtuse, especially towards the end of the game, but they’re nowhere near as frustrating as some of Riven or King’s Quest’s toughest head-scratchers.
Talking of animation, one of NAIRI’s biggest selling points is its quaint art style. Rather than using rendered assets, every single frame is hand-painted to create a storybook quality with a colour palette that really sells the dingy poor quarters or Shirin, the elitist rich district and the hidden world below. The simplistic approach to animation isn’t going to be everyone’s tastes, but there’s a lot to like about the game’s low-fi presentation, such as how characters fade from view when they leave a scene, or how cutscenes move from one static image to another like the turning the pages of a book. Considering the art style was also the work of one talented artist, it’s impossible to fault its aesthetic ambitions.
The whole game has a consistently chill vibe about it, which even extends to the eclectic soundtrack that mixes together a variety of styles into one relaxing score. It suits the bedtime story style Home Bear Studio is going for with this whimsically little indie, and it makes for a low-intensity and relaxing experience overall. Some voice-over dialogue would have helped sell the broad cast of witty anthropomorphic characters, but this is an indie title built by a small team on a tiny budget, so it’s a concession we can live with.
Home Bear Studio has also taken full advantage of Switch’s unique hardware traits and offered three ways to play. You can play with the analog sticks and face buttons on your Joy-Con or simply rely on the console’s touchscreen to fully interact with NAIRI’s world. Or, if you want to go one better, you can hark back to the good old days of the Wii and point your Joy-Con at your TV while in docked mode. There’s even the option for a left-handed version. It’s great to see a developer making an effort to really embrace Switch’s qualities, and being able to use your Joy-Con as a cursor on-screen turns NAIRI into an even more engrossing experience for younger players.
Conclusion
There’s a good chance you’ve probably never heard of NAIRI: Tower of Shirin, but that doesn’t mean this hidden gem should pass you buy. Sure, it doesn’t have the pedigree of a Double Fine game or the licence exposure of something from TellTale’s back catalogue, but it still offers up a safe and engaging world full of quirky characters, challenging puzzles and all the screen-tapping backgrounds you could ask for. It’s no great reimagining of the genre, but it’s still a curio worth playing nonetheless.
