Black Future ’88 is a Synth-Punk roguelike 2D action Shooter. Vertically climb an always evolving procedural tower to reach the top and kill its insane owner…before your heart explodes. Shoot, slash, dash and upgrade yourself to survive the endless waves of Homicidal AI, Traps & Colossal Wardens.
Half-Life: Alyx is Now Available for Pre-Purchase on Steam and is 10% off!*
Valve’s return to the award-winning series in virtual reality takes place between the events of Half-Life and Half-Life 2. Alyx Vance and her father Eli mount an early resistance to the Combine’s brutal occupation of Earth.
As Alyx, players battle to save the future of humanity: engaging in visceral combat, solving puzzles, and exploring a world decimated by a mysterious alien race. VR was built for the kind of gameplay that sits at the heart of Half-Life.
Review: Black Future ’88 – A Frantic Cyberpunk Classic
Everybody’s been bitten by the cyberpunk bug recently, with CD Projekt Red’s long-awaited Cyberpunk 2077 finally being unleashed on the world next year. There’s no word as of yet regarding whether the futuristic adventure will be following The Witcher 3’s leather-booted footsteps over to Nintendo’s machine, but those waiting desperately for their cyberpunk fix shouldn’t despair; Black Future ’88 may just fill that gap.
Much like the aforementioned epic from Poland’s most famous studio, Black Future ’88 has had a somewhat protected development. Indie developer SuperScarySnakes picked up the Game of the Show nomination for this outing at the Bit Awards way back in 2017, and the title has gone through a closed beta period before finally making its way to us on Switch. It has certainly garnered a huge amount of interest and support during this process, however, and it’s not hard to see why – the gorgeous pixel art visuals and thumping synth soundtrack are striking indeed, and bound to get even the most passive observer curious about what exactly the game is all about.
Black Future ‘88 is essentially a 2D platformer which borrows many cues from the roguelikes of old, albeit one set in a world reminiscent of Blade Runner. Being mechanically a platformer, the objective is to ascend up the procedurally-generated living tower known as Skymelt; you have to make it through the tower overcoming the numerous foes and bosses along the way all the way to the top. There’s a catch, however – you only have 18 minutes to live before your heart explodes. You might have a tad more or less time depending on which protagonist you choose, but either way, you’ve got to get as far as you can before your life comes to an end. Waiting for you at the top is the tower’s architect, Duncan, who is the one who created this world of darkness with his nuclear rain. Your heart’s ticking time-bomb means you’re unlikely to get to meet him unless you’re quick on your feet, however.
The game features a sizable array of characters which players unlock along the way, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. On a simple level, they may differ in terms of how much ammo and ‘blood’ they have; blood in this game is essentially synonymous with ‘health’, with a few additional caveats such as the possibility of blood becoming ‘dirty’ or infected through taking stims, as well as other side effects.
Other characters may possess special abilities, such as the ability to slow down time, be slightly older or younger (allowing them either less or more than the allotted 18 minutes before they meet their maker), amongst numerous others. The key thing here is balance; character strengths are set against their logical weaknesses, and players are encouraged to find the character which suits their specific style of play. For example, you might want to choose the character Runnels if you want the best weapons and trust yourself to be skilled enough to avoid damage. If this sounds complicated, the default character Hauer is designed to be perfectly balanced in all areas, albeit having little else of note to make him special. The point is that these are not simply visual variations; the character you choose will change the way you play the game.
Progress through Black Future ’88 sees players travelling through a procedurally-generated sequence of rooms up the tower. Not everybody is a fan of random levels, but in practice, the same selection of rooms appear frequently enough that it doesn’t feel at all arbitrary. The common complaint regarding procedural generation is that players would prefer to play stages carefully-designed by the creator rather than through an algorithm, and these stages certainly feel man-made.
All rooms feel like they have been tweaked and balanced to perfection, with some simply featuring robotic enemies to overcome while others require the pulling of switches and so on. Despite the direction of travel inside a tower naturally being vertical, players are greeted with a wide array of rooms in all directions which they can decide for themselves whether or not to explore. The rather helpful ‘boss’ marker makes it clear where the player should be going, and the ’18 minutes until death’ mechanic makes speed of the essence. And yet, exploring the other rooms to purchase vital weapons, ammo and blood is essential if you wish to overcome the bosses that hinder your progress.
Speaking of the bosses, they are excellent creations indeed. Ranging from sword-carrying villains with a huge flying robotic buddy to bullet-spraying spheres which wouldn’t be out of place in a classic shmup, there’s a decent variety in store here, each offering up unique strategies to beating them. Players are given ample warning when they approach a boss and plenty of opportunity to prepare themselves for what lies ahead. The game usefully lets you teleport back to previous rooms using the map interface, ensuring that you can easily go back to a weapon or stim seller to prepare, or even check out some unexplored rooms if you fancy risking the time. The (approximate) total of 18 minutes given for each playthrough probably makes it clear that this game is intended to be replayed, each time getting that little bit further through the tower and mastering the strategies required for each boss.
Ultimately, it’s most likely Black Future ’88’s visuals which will get people talking, and rightly so. The game obviously goes for the pixel art approach, and frankly, there is hardly a lack of games going for that visual style these days. Among the sea of pixel art games, the cyberpunk visual style used here stands out as being masterfully crafted. Right from when you turn on the game, the chromatic aberration used on the title screen to capture not merely a future but a 1980s future demonstrate the care which went into the visual makeup. This is accompanied by a thumping synth-punk soundtrack which is perhaps the loudest thing to come from your Switch’s speakers, ever.
As mentioned, the game derives its longevity through encouraging constant replay and mastering each room, much like most roguelikes. This would imply that the game is pretty darn hard, and it certainly is. It never feels unfair or cheap, though, and the game mechanics feel so natural that they’re almost invisible. Instead, you’re simply required to learn the best way to overcome each foe, avoid their attacks, and make the best use of the skills and arsenal at your disposal.
At the same time, there is no sense that the game is difficult for difficulties’ sake; Black Future ’88 features a rather handy assist mode designed to help players learn the ropes and get used to things before taking off the training wheels. Improvement could also be as simple as finding that character which suits your play style best. Either way, the game is certainly a challenge and this may frustrate those new to the genre, but Black Future ’88 also tries to be as welcoming as possible. For the genre veterans, the Daily Challenge mode also allows the best to show off their progress through said challenges on the leaderboards.
Conclusion
Black Future ‘88 is an intriguing, challenging but also supremely fun and rewarding game. It may be an audio-visual feast, but the tight gameplay, high degree of replayability and the sterling effort that has gone into overcoming many of the criticisms levelled at the genre mean it’s not just a pretty face. If you’re looking for a dose of intense cyberpunk action on your Switch, you can’t go wrong with this one.
Black Friday 2019: Deals On Nintendo Switch Online Service
The new Nintendo Switch Online service has become a growing part of the Nintendo Switch package in the last year. For $20 a year, you get access to the online components of multiplayer games, as well as treasure trove of classic NES and SNES games you can play for as long as you're a member. If you're planning on buying a new Switch or Switch Lite you should definitely consider picking it up, since some of the console's best games, like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Splatoon 2, all require it. At $20 the service is pretty cheap compared to its competitors Xbox Live Gold and PlayStation Plus, but that doesn't mean you can't find a couple of discounts on Nintendo Switch Online this holiday season.
The best (and only) Nintendo Switch Online subscription deal announced so far is at Target. You will be able to buy a 12-month subscription for $15, five bucks off the list price. That's a reasonably good deal, and it'd be surprising to see other retailers offer much better considering the relatively low price of the membership to begin with.
If you're more interested in a Switch Online family plan, which normally go for $35 and support up to eight users, it's likely we'll see that discounted as well. Target has a track record of offering Switch Online family memberships for $28 during major sales, so it's possible that deal will make an appearance at Target or elsewhere during Black Friday weekend.
Membership bundled with games
Walmart will have the Overwatch: Legendary Edition on sale for $25, which comes with a three-month subscription of Switch Online. One other game to look out for that could be on sale is the retail edition of Tetris 99 (which comes with the paid DLC). The Switch Online exclusive comes with a 12-month subscription of Switch Online for $30. It's possible that bundle will get discounted on Black Friday too.
Console bundles with Switch Online membership
Google Shopping will have a console bundle that comes with a Nintendo Switch Online 12-month family membership. Google hasn't announced when the deal will be available, but for $305 you'll get the Switch console with upgraded battery life, Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled, and the 12-month family membership ($374 overall value).
Where to find Switch Online deals during Black Friday
We'll be updating this article as more Nintendo Switch Online Black Friday deals are announced, but keep an eye on Walmart, Best Buy, GameStop, Amazon, and the Eshop, the Switch's digital storefront.
In addition to gaining access to online multiplayer, Nintendo Switch Online subscribers can play dozens of classic NES games and 20 SNES games, including Super Mario World, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, and Super Metroid. Switch Online members also get cloud saves for most games, which is an incredibly convenient feature.
Only a few months after the massive Blender 2.80 release, the Blender foundation have just released Blender 2.81. Blender is an open source 3D application that is gaining a ton of traction in both film and games media. The 2.81 release brings several new features including several quality of life improvements such as outliner and file dialog modernization as well as excellent new features like vastly improved sculpting and grease pencil brushes.
Highlight features of interest for game developers in this release include:
Massively improve sculpting with new brushes, masking support, better usability and more
Poly Build tool for rapid polygon creation and editing, excellent for retopology
Quadriflow and Voxel remeshing
Improved and more powerful mirroring support
UI improvements including:
Outliner selection improvements, easy to select, multiselect and deselect objects
Modern file browser that opens in a floating dialog window
Powerful regex powered rename feature (F2 key)
Grease pencil improvements including several new brushes
Denoising improvements
NVIDIA RTX support for realtime raytracing in Cycles
and much, much more.
You can learn more about the release in the Blender 2.81 release notes available here. Additionally CGCookie have put together a nice introduction to new features in this article. Blender 2.81 is available for download here.
If you want to see Blender 2.81 in action, including the new Poly Build, sculpting tools, file dialog, outliner and more be sure to check out the video below.
Nomad Games parts ways with Asmodee Digital, returns to Self-Publishing
By Joe Robinson21 Nov 2019
If you’re into digital board games, chances are you’re a fan of Nomad Games. They don’t always get it right, but generally they’re a decent company who know their way around a table-top game and know how to bring it to digital platforms, mobile or otherwise.
Since 2017 they’ve been in a publishing partnership with Asmodee Digital, who’ve also been aggressively active in the digital board games space. It seems that collaboration is now at an end, however, as Nomad yesterday announced they were flying solo once more.
There’s a press release where Asmodee and Nomad say nice things about each other, as you do, but it looks like Nomad’s being expanding their publishing department on their side. Despite still having the partnership with Asmodee Digital at the time, Nomad self-published their digital adaptation of Mystic Vale. I suspect it’s at a point where neither side need each other as much as what makes a deal like this worth it, although hopefully they’ve partnered on as good terms as is suggested.
What does that mean for you guys? Probably not much. The partnership actually ended on November 14th, it seems, so you’ll likely notice that Nomad Games will be listed again for certain games. The full breakdown as has been shared so far is as follows…
Nomad Digital will be self-publishing:
Talisman: Digital Edition
Talisman: Origins
Smash Up
Fighting Fantasy Legends and Portal
Asmodee Digital will continue to publish Love Letter. This might mean that Nomad will prioritise support of the games their publishing themselves, so I doubt Love Letter will get more than the most necessary of bug-fixes. I seem to remember there was some kerfuffle over using an Asmodee account to unlock certain things in Talisman. I imagine that’ll no longer be the case (if it even still was, I never checked).
Obviously any future Nomad-developed games will also be published by Nomad, bar any further publishing agreements.
As the holidays approach, everyone is on the lookout for the perfect gift for their family, friends, and coworkers. Here, we’ve compiled our favorite gifts under $100 that will be perfect for the Apple fan in your life.
Anker PowerPort III Nano
If your special someone has an iPhone or an iPad, they’ll likely love the Anker PowerPort III Nano (review). This compact charger is about as small as it gets but has enough power to fast charge their iPhone to 50% in only 30 minutes. With up to 18W of power, that will also fast charge their iPad or iPad Pro.
Priced at $19.99 on Amazon, this budget-friendly gift can be used as a stocking stuffer or Secret Santa gift easily. Just make sure they have a USB-C to Lightning cable if being used for their iPhone.
The 18W Anker PowerPort Nano III is a great gift idea, offering faster charging compared to Apple’s 5W charger
For even more power, there is the PowerPort III Mini which can output 30W of power in a similarly small design. That is easily enough to not only power an iPhone or iPad, but a 2018 or newer MacBook Air in a size smaller than what Apple bundled. The beefier high-speed charger is currently on sale for $25.99 on Amazon.
Anova Precision Cooker Nano
The Anova Sous Vide Cooker can be paired with an iPhone or iPad for enhanced precision
The Anova Sous Vide Precision Cooker Nano (review) is a fantastic sous vide cooker that can work on its own, or by being paired to an iPhone or iPad for more control and notifications.
Throw some protein or other food into a bag with seasoning and submerge it in a bath of water with the Anova set to the desired cooking temperature and wait. Not long after they’ll have a perfectly cooked piece of meat without losing any of the flavor.
There are a lot of sous vide cookers out there as the technique grows in popularity, but Anova was one of the first to bring it to the masses and the new Nano model makes it even more compact. The Anovoa Precision Cooker Nano is currently on sale for $97 at Amazon.
DJI Osmo Mobile 3
The powerful DJI Osmo Mobile III is a perfect gift for Apple iPhone users
Technically, the DJI Osmo Mobile 3 is a bit above our $100 price point but it is such an excellent device we couldn’t help but include it. It received raved reviews when we looked at it earlier this year and it still holds up as a great iPhone accessory.
While photographers and videographers will surely love it, casual uses will find use too as it stabilizes videos and helps shoot cinematic timelapse scenes. Retailing for $119, the DJI Osmo Mobile III is available at Amazon and B&H, with accessories also available bundled as a kit for $139.
Mophie Juice Pack Access
Mophie Juice Pack Access is available for all recent iPhones, including the new iPhone 11
There are a few battery cases available for iPhone users, but the Mophie Juice Pack Access is one of few available for almost any iPhone from the past few years.
It charges itself and the phone wirelessly and leaves the Lightning port at the bottom free for wired charging, headphones, or CarPlay. Now available for the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max, the Mophie battery case retails for $99.99, but is currently 20% off with exclusive promo code INSIDER20 at ZAGG.
Twelve South HiRise Wireless
Twelve South HiRise wireless 3-in-1 charging pad
Twelve South’s HiRise Wireless is a creative multi-use Qi charging stand that works well vertically, but can also be removed and used horizontally as a charging pad or tossed in a bag as a travel charger.
When we reviewed it, we were impressed with the build quality and unique design that simplifies the user experience.
Everyone loves AirPods, and like phones, many like to adorn their AirPods with protective cases. We looked at a huge variety of cases that will surely fit your giftee.
All of these cases fit both the original AirPods as well as the second-generation with wireless charging case.
Prices for AirPods cases can be found for as low as $7 with premium models covered in our roundup retailing anywhere from $29 to $79.
Nomad Base Station
The original Nomad Base Station wirelessly charges current iPhones with ease
Nomad has always produced some of the most sought Apple accessories and in 2019, its Base Station was top of our list.
The Nomad Base station has an aluminum body with a Horween leather pad for charging up an iPhone. A second USB-A port fits around back for connecting a second device such as an Apple Watch charging puck.
If you don’t mind shelling out a little more, Nomad also offers a version with an integrated Apple Watch charging puck as well as one made of genuine leather and walnut.
Prices for the charging stations start at $84.95 with exclusive coupon code INSIDER15 at HelloNomad.com.
Eve Light Strip
The Eve Lightstrip is the brightest of the bunch
Lightstrips are rampant on Amazon but when it comes to Apple-friendly HomeKit-enabled ones they don’t get better than the one offered by Eve.
It connects over Wi-Fi, can be controlled via Siri or scheduled to turn on and off when desired, and is the brightest of the lot.
Plus, light strips are incredibly versatile. It can illuminate under countertops, along baseboards, up stairs, under the sides of the bed, and more. The Eve Light Strip that works with Apple HomeKit sells for $77 at Amazon.
BentoStack Charge
BentoStack Charge is a useful Apple accessory
BentoStack Charge is a great accessory for dealing with all existing accessories. It has repurposed a traditional Bento Box into a travel case that can hold cables, chargers, memory cards, Apple Watch bands, an Apple Pencil, and more.
Compared to the original BentoStack, BentoStack Charge integrates a battery pack into the lid and allows to charge over USB or Qi, with a price tag of $89.95.
It won’t make it in time for the holidays, but Function101 did just launch an updated model with a USB-C hub as well.
Ember ceramic mug
Ember ceramic mug keeps itself, and beverages, warm with an iOS app
As the temperatures drop, more people turn to coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. Ember improves the experience by always keeping your drink warm. It comes in both a tumbler as well as a mug and can be controlled and monitored through Bluetooth and its corresponding iOS app.
It was even updated earlier this year with a thicker ceramic wall that helps keep it warmer for longer. Priced at $99.95 on Amazon, the Ember mug makes a great gift for coffee and tea enthusiasts, as well as those looking to curl up with a good book this holiday season.
UpperCase Space Saving MacBook Stand
The UpperCase Kradl saves space by holding Apple MacBooks in a vertical position
For the business professional or home office user that finds space ever elusive, the Aluminum Vertical MacBook Stand from UpperCase is the perfect solution. Available in your choice of Space Gray or Silver to coordinate with Apple finishes, the UpperCase Kradl is made to fit 13- and 15-inch MacBook Pros from 2016 onward.
Designed in California and machined from a single piece of aerospace-grade aluminum, the Kradl is up to 60% smaller than other vertical stands on the market.
Holiday shoppers can pick up UpperCase’s Kradl Aluminum Vertical Stand for $29.95 with free shipping on Amazon.
Langrisser I & II Lands A 2020 Release Date In The West
It has been confirmed that Langrisser I & II will launch on March 10th, 2020 in North America and March 13th in Europe, while Australia and New Zealand will get the game on March 20th.
A double-pack which remasters two classic Mega Drive SPRGs from the ’90s, this collection features new visuals and voice acting, as well as the chance to toggle between ‘Classic’ and ‘Remastered’ art styles, as demonstrated in the trailer above.
Originally developed by Masaya Games, the Langrisser series began life in 1991, and would make its way to North America under the title Warsong. Subsequent entries – which would arrive on the Super Famicom, PC-FX, Saturn and PlayStation – have remained exclusive to Japan. However, Langrisser Re:Incarnation Tensei changed all of that in 2015 when it was localised for western release (sadly, it was largely awful).
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The latest Nintendo Download update for North America has arrived, and it’s bringing new games galore to the eShop in your region. As always, be sure to drop a vote in our poll and comment down below with your potential picks for the week. Enjoy!
Nintendo Switch
Narcos: Rise of the Cartels(Curve Digital, Today, $29.99) Welcome to Colombia, 1980’s – the fires of El Patrón’s empire have been lit, its influence spanning borders, and expansion unabated. Influence and corruption is rife; cops, guards, politicians and those in between are falling into the pocket of the Medellín Cartel, and after years of production, America is finally taking notice. Narcos: Rise of the Cartels tells the story of the hit Netflix TV series, of the rise and fall of El Patrón. Choose your side and ally with the DEA or conversely side with the Narcos. Explore recognisable locations from the show and take a role in pivotal world-altering events and battles that will define and shift the war on drugs. Form your team from a variety of class-specific roles, join leading characters, upgrade your skills and take part in brutal turn-based combat, where your actions will have consequence. Plata o Plomo?
Switch eShop
The Touryst(Shin’en Multimedia, Today, $19.99) You are just arriving at the Monument Islands. Want to go swimming? Or rather take a dive into the deep sea? Or do you want to visit the amusement arcade, do some shopping, dance at the beach party? Fancy some surfing? Or will you talk with the strange old tourist and listen what he has to say about these ancient mysterious monuments.
Black Future ’88(Good Shepherd Entertainment, Today, $19.99) Black Future ’88 is a Synth-Punk roguelike 2D action Shooter. Vertically climb an always evolving procedural tower to reach the top and kill its insane owner…before your heart explodes. Shoot, slash, dash and upgrade yourself to survive the endless waves of deadly traps, homicidal AI and colossal Wardens standing in your way in a stylish alternative version of 1988. The world is reeling from a nuclear cataclysm, created by Duncan, the tower architect. The First of his bombs fell in the summer of 1988, and by December they had blacked-out the sun with endless rain. We decided to stop keeping time after this, and it’s been 1988 ever since. Everything that lived through the initial attack will die in the extreme floods that followed. These are the times after, where there are no more months, or even weeks…everything is measured in minutes left to live.
Arcade Archives Yie Ar KUNG-FU(HAMSTER, Thu 14th November, $7.99) “Yie Ar KUNG-FU” is an action game released by KONAMI in 1985. The main character, Oolong, joins a high-level kung-fu contest in order to avenge his father’s death. The game is one of the pioneers of the fighting game genre today. Players can enjoy authentic battles against martial artists who use different fighting styles. The “Arcade Archives” series has faithfully reproduced many classic Arcade masterpieces.
Baobabs Mausoleum Ep.3: Un Pato en Muertoburgo(Zerouno Games, Today, $5.99) After the macabre and horrific events suffered in the second chapter of Baobabs Mausoleum, here comes the final episode full of sordid stays in limbo, golf courses watched over by enchilada-shaped clouds, trips to the internet of the Marianas and a final outcome with a high risk of causing you very negative effects both in the eyesight and in the brain; the final episode of Baobabs Mausoleum is here ready to make you completely crazy. Welcome to Flamingo’s Creek. 64 inhabitants.
Biolab Wars(Forever Entertainment, Fri 15th November, $1.99) An alien lab experimenting on Earth? It’s time to call the mercenary team on duty to sweep the invaders by firing, beating and bombing. Inspired by the 8-bit games and by the movies from the 80’s, your goal is to blow things up, defeat aliens and fight bizarre bosses in this platformer 2D with classic mechanics.
Castle of no Escape 2(QubicGames, Fri 22nd November, $7.99) Countless heroes have tried and failed to destroy the ancient spell that holds the castle walls. Meanwhile, hundreds of monsters are roaming inside, guarding the sword shards — the last known thing to be capable of defeating the demonic castle owner, thus shattering its magical structure. Although you are not alone — some help could be obtained from the merchants, who, for reasons not truly understood, offer their services right inside the lair of evil. Though, it seems to be only a matter of time for them to disappear. . . Plan your every step carefully, because save points aren’t a thing in a rogue-lite game!
Chameleon(UFO Interactive, Tue 26th November, $4.99) Play as one of four magical sisters as you battle to conquer your territory for the chance to play against the ultimate puzzle master! Utilize unique special moves, power ups, and combos to get one step closer to becoming the champion!
Color.Motif Deluxe(Kodobur Yazilim, Fri 15th November, $3.49) New, polished, relaxing, artistic puzzle game with lots of motifs and various difficulty. Color. Motif Deluxe is an artistic puzzle game. It is a sequel of previous game award-winning Motif. Relaxing puzzle environment, create your color-motif with given pieces.
Fractured Minds(Wired Productions, Thu 14th November, $1.99) Fractured Minds is an immersive artistic short game, exploring anxiety and mental health issues. Winner of a 2017 BAFTA Young Game Designers Award, Fractured Minds is a game created by 17-year-old Emily Mitchell, with the hope of aiding understanding and awareness of mental illness. Embark on a journey through the human psyche and experience six atmospheric and thought-provoking chapters, each symbolising a different aspect or challenge associated with mental health issues; from isolation to anxiety, with everyday situations being distorted beyond recognition.
GREEN(Studio Green, Today, $2.99) Survive in a world overrun by genetically altered vegetation. Humanity is an endangered species and only you can save it. Welcome to G. R. E. E. N. The Life Algorithm, an adventure through spectacular natural scenarios in which you will face the threats and challenges of lethal plants that dominate the earth. But beware, you can’t kill your enemies here, just petrify them and use them to your advantage, so choose wisely to survive. Use your skills to progress.
Groove Coaster Wai Wai Party!!!!(Taito, Thu 14th November, $59.99) Rhythm Game x Roller Coaster! Ride a roller coaster of sound with simple controls, and get grooving in this exhilarating rhythm game! Exhilarating active controls! With Active Controls, you can play by shaking the Joy-Con controllers. Experience the groove in a variety of songs, only possible on Nintendo Switch! You can also play with Standard Controls, using the buttons and control sticks! Groove together! Play together with up to 4 friends and family members in Play With Others mode!
Lots of Slots(Dispatch Games, Fri 15th November, $7.99) Start with 25,000 coins – win more with free bonus spins and huge rewards when you level up. Plenty of big wins, free spins and amazing themes to choose from. 15 different machines to play including, Gladiators, Aliens vs Slots, Cats and Dogs plus many more! Just sit back, spin and win, win, win!
Marblelous Animals(BLG Publishing, Fri 22nd November, $4.99) Marblelous Animals is a fun and cute adventure in which you’ll be in charge of leading these chubby animals to their home.
Monster Bugs Eat People(QubicGames, Fri 22nd November, $1.99) You are a bug and you’re born in a laboratory. Your purpose is to look for food to grow bigger. Beware – other monster bugs are also on the hunt and will fight you. In Monster Bugs Eat People you can play as 3 types of bugs: Deadly Red that draws strength from eating people, Vegetarian Green who feeds on flora and Terrifying Steel that eats… steel. Outside of your standard diet, you can eat other bugs. To gain an advantage over them, use your skills: quick dash and poisonous venom that immobilize your prey.
Monster Jam Steel Titans(THQ Nordic, Tue 26th November, $29.99) Real Trucks. Real Action. Monster Jam! Monster Jam Steel Titans delivers the complete Monster Jam experience for everybody to enjoy! All the trucks, stunts, stadiums, racing and massive air in one game! Play in various game modes including Stadium and outdoor Racing, various Stunt Challenges and Destruction modes!
Pine(Kongregate, Tue 26th November, $24.99) A STORY OF HUMANS Pine is an open world action adventure simulation game. Set in the beautiful world of Albamare, you take on the role of Hue, a smart young adult who will have to explore, trade, and fight his way through a vibrant world filled with creatures much smarter than humans. THEIR STORY BECOMES YOURS
Real Heroes: Firefighter(Golem Entertainment, Wed 27th November, $14.99) For the first time on Nintendo Switch™, Real Heroes: Firefighter gives you a realistic point-of-view experience of the challenges firefighters face. Experience raging infernos and explosive environments in this truly unique action game. Use the firefighter tools of the trade, like axe, hose and saw to rescue survivors and control fires.
SoccerDie: Cosmic Cup(Pipeworks Studios, Today, $6.99) SoccerDie: Cosmic Cup is a love-letter to classic arcade and bullet hell titles that features the most accurate soccer simulation specifically created to support land mines, giant brains, stompy dinos, colorful ghosts, unreasonable tanks, and at least one vampire. WIN AND YOUR PLANET BECOME FREEDOM!
Story of a Gladiator(Brain Seal Entertainment, Wed 27th November, $10.99) Story of a Gladiator is an arena beat ’em up where you take the role of a man in search of his destiny, only to find it in the sands of the colosseum. You are a common man who has lost everything in the war against the Roman empire. Your family is dead, your friends are dead, your house has been burned down and your land is now under Roman rule. Despite such misfortune you have managed to escape slavery or worse. You spend much of your time in the streets of Rome looking for some sort of meaning in your life and wondering why the gods have spared you. One day fate finally reveals itself, are you ready to accept it?
Strike Force – War on Terror(Polygon Art, Today, $13.99) Strike Force – War on Terror is a action oriented tactical shooter. Where you are a member of the Strike Force Unit. Your objective is to battle terrorism around the world! Nothing stands in your way. From vast outdoor environments to narrow bunker corridors, you are deployed to take out targets in the middle east and snowy mountains. Gear up with a modern arsenal of machine guns, assault rifles, sniper rifles and pistols and fulfill your objective.
The Unicorn Princess(Bigben Interactive, Tue 19th November, $39.99) From your village, the Dream World is just a step away! Befriend Unica the unicorn while exploring the real world and the world of dreams. You’re the only one who can help Unica save her world!
Tiny Gladiators(BoomBit Games, Fri 22nd November, $14.99) Tiny Gladiators swings you back and forth like a battleaxe: crush your rivals in 1-on-1 combat, then set out on your road to revenge, building up your magical arsenal as you seek your father’s killer. Now charge back into the fighting arena, armed with fearsome powers, to strike your rivals down! The more fights you win, the more weapons you can afford, and the further you can venture into the fantastic world of Tiny Gladiators. Grow your powers and skills, and watch your Tiny Gladiators rise into legends!
True Fear: Forsaken Souls – Part 2(Digital Lounge, Tue 19th November, $9.99) True Fear: Forsaken Souls combines the best of the psychological thriller with intuitive gameplay mechanics for a mind-bending mystery escape game. If you’re looking for a horror game that doesn’t sacrifice the story, this is the game for you! Skeptical that a point and click adventure can be compelling or scary?
Widget Satchel(Undefined, Wed 27th November, $14.99) You are Sprocket, an adorable ferret on a remote space station. Escape your playpen and make your way to the shuttlebay with the most stuff! Widget Satchel is a thrilling adventure for one little thief, with fiendish puzzles, joyous platforming, and dozens of hidden collectables. As you stumble deeper though the station evading your human caretakers, you steal things like widgets and socks. And you stash them, because you’re a ferret. It’s a ferretroidvania!
Switch eShop Demos
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020(SEGA) Join Mario, Sonic and friends for their greatest adventure yet at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, exclusively on Nintendo Switch! Go for gold as you compete in action‐packed sports games, including 4 brand new events to Tokyo 2020 Skateboarding, Karate, Surfing, and Sport Climbing, as well as a large selection of classic events. Read our Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 review.
True Fear: Forsaken Souls – Part 2(Digital Lounge, Tue 19th November, $9.99) True Fear: Forsaken Souls combines the best of the psychological thriller with intuitive gameplay mechanics for a mind-bending mystery escape game. If you’re looking for a horror game that doesn’t sacrifice the story, this is the game for you! Skeptical that a point and click adventure can be compelling or scary? Try the free demo!
Nintendo Mobile
’Tis the Season to Put Your Keys in the Ignition – A beautiful blanket of snow has descended in Mario Kart Tour during the special Winter Tour event, which runs until Dec. 3. Mario looks quite jolly in his Santa suit while staying warm with a Fire Flower. Meanwhile, Pink Gold Peach spreads some wintertime joy as she speeds past sparkling decorations. Additionally, with a new update, players can now drive with a dedicated “Drift” button now added in Automatic Drift mode, and a “Steer” button added in Manual Drift mode, there’s never been a better time to join the race!
Happy Second Anniversary, Animal Crossing Campers – Mail call! Your special invitation to Pocket Camp Club has arrived, a new optional paid subscription service exclusive to Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp. Have you ever wanted your own personal assistant to help around the campsite? With the Happy Helper Plan, priced at $2.99 a month, you’ll be able to set your favorite animal friend as your camp caretaker to help with animal requests and events like Scavenger Hunts, Fishing Tourneys and Garden Events. Or, with the Cookie & Depot Plan, priced at $7.99 a month, you’ll receive access to the members-only Cookie Shop where you can choose five fortune cookies each month.
So that’s your lot for this week’s North American Nintendo Download. Go on, be a sport and drop a vote in the poll above, and comment below with your hot picks!
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 11-22-2019, 03:14 AM - Forum: Lounge
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Half-Life: Alyx VR - Everything Valve Announced Today
Out of nowhere, Valve earlier this week confirmed that a new Half-Life game--the first in more than decade--was on the way. It made us wait until today, November 21, to get any details beyond the name, Half-Life: Alyx, and it's had a lot to share. But that information has come spread across numerous sources: different Valve websites, including Steam's store page, and interviews, such as one for Geoff Keighley's The Final Hours series.
With that in mind, we've rounded up all of our coverage from today's big announcement of the new virtual reality game. You can also stay tuned to our roundup of everything we know about Half-Life: Alyx, which we'll continue to update in the months leading up to the game's release next year.
As Half-Life: Alyx goes on sale as part of a special pre-purchase promotion through March 30, 2020, there's a way to get the game for free before it launches.
The first new Half-Life game in more than a decade is coming next March, and you can get some exclusive bonus content for it if you pick up an Index in 2019.
With development on Half-Life: Alyx beginning over a decade after the release of Half-Life 2, Valve did not want to tackle to expectations fans have for Half-Life 3.
Following the apparent silence with In The Valley Of The Gods, it's been revealed that the Firewatch devs are working on the upcoming Half-Life VR game.
