Does your aptitude for tower defense games leave you yawning as you wipe out pitiful waves of enemies? Well, maybe you need a bigger target to protect - something like a group of towering mechanical Colossi, for instance. Burden follows a group of engineers trying to save Mhoroa, a civilization that's harvested enough of an ancient resource for its land to start tearing itself apart. Hoping to curb their extinction, the engineers heed dreams that lead them to the Colossi, machines built by their ancestors. The Colossi simply need to be brought to specific locations and Mhoroa's land will be saved. Simple, right?
Well, maybe not. How do you tell the towns you're passing by that the monstrous, looming machines you're guiding are vehicles of salvation rather than death? With the absence of an email tips line for Mhoroa, the remaining options aren't feasible. Villagers are going to react negatively to a group of mechanical titans stomping into their field of vision, and they're going to rally together to ascend the beasts and kill them.
That's where you come in - as an ally of the engineers, you'll fend off the attacks of Mhoroa's inhabitants across multiple attack lanes on the bodies of Colossi. Burden's chapters will follow the journeys of different Colossi as they travel across Mhoroa, taking on waves of their country's people and, as a post from publisher Surprise Attack Games notes, "major foes" preventing a Colossi's progress.
A fact sheet developer PixelPickle's Burden lists a "April / May 2014" PC launch date for Steam Early Access, with Mac and Linux versions also planned. While the fact sheet doesn't list a price, Surprise Attack's post from December lists a $15 Early Access price, with the final build going for $20 when it launches later on in 2014.
[Image: Surprise Attack Games]
It's a great week for fans of Japanese games and expansions for North American blockbuster hits. More Diablo III. More BioShock Infinite. Like, a hundred knights or something. That's a lot of knights. Read more...
When he isn’t hanging around in hotel beds with Nathan, John and assorted other folks, Hayden Dingman plays games and then writes about them. As GDC creaks to a halt for another year, he filed this report, detailing the fears and frustrations that arose during a hands-on experience with Creative Assembly’s Alien: Isolation. Is it the Alien game we want? Is it the Alien game we deserve? Is it gonna be a terrifying survival horror game, a standup fight or just another bughunt?
I had no idea what a Mixel was supposed to be when I first saw them on the shelf at Wal-Mart, but they fit my criteria for instant purchase: they were labeled "LEGO" and priced under $5.00. That's a small price to pay for love. Read more...
What's that we see on the horizon? Why, it's a trap! Haha, get it? We ... wait, is that ... a second trap? And a third? A fourth? Look here Tecmo Koei, this isn't how the reference is supposed to go. We know you've got a variety of traps to show off in your upcoming PS3 and Vita game Deception 4: Blood Ties, but we're trying to make a pop culture joke here!
Oh, alright. Since these new Deception 4 trailers show off how players can make their traps elaborate, humiliating, sadistic, or even "super" when they combine all three elements, we'll let it fly this time. Just don't place any secret doors or giant mallets in our local game stores when Deception 4 hits shelves on March 25.
As for anyone else reading this, you can check out Deception 4's elaborate, humiliating and sadistic traps after the break.
[Image: Tecmo Koei]
Endless Legend, the "civilization fantasy game" by Endless Space and Dungeon of the Endless developer Amplitude Studios, will enter Steam's Early Access program next month. The team told us at GDC that the plan is for the game to have its official launch by year's end.
The fantasy 4X strategy game features Civilization series-style empire-building gameplay, mixed with zoomed-in tactical turn-based battlefield combat. There will be orcs. Like, all the orcs.
[Image: Amplitude]
Hold up, everybody. Cease fire! Why are we shooting at each other, when we could be looting Titanfall's levels of booze, snacks, pizza, soda, and the odd Cup Noodles instead? Check out how much food Enjoy the Bits' Paul Yan has found in the game. Read more...
Tabletop games are pretty great, but losing pieces or having to play with faraway friends over video calls can be less than ideal. Digital adaptations with online mulitplayer solve both of these problems, as is the case with Hive, Bluepoint Games' translation of the Mensa Select board game.
In Hive, players swear allegiance to a queen and use their mess of bugs to surround the ruler of an opposing army. A turn consists of moving one bug to a new space. Each of the hexagonal pieces in play must be touching at least one other however, so no, you can't just gradually move your queen to a table corner while advancing the rest of your arsenal.
Each species has its own movement attribute, so cunning unit placement is crucial to victory. Ants can move to any open position on the outer ridge of the board, while the spider can venture exactly three spaces per turn. Grasshoppers can jump over any straight line of creepy-crawlies, but the one-space-per-turn beetles can climb on top of units from either team, allowing for a slow-but-straight shot for the opposing queen. You can also move the queen itself one space per turn.
Hive has made its nest on Steam for PC users and is currently on sale for $7.99, down from its normal price of $9.99. There's also DLC for the Pillbug, a critter that can pick up adjoining pieces and move them, regardless of which queen they serve. If your friends know better than to challenge your tactics, Hive also has AI opponents with five levels of difficulty, depending on the aptitude of your strategery.
[Image: Bluelight Games]
The critically-acclaimed, head-scratching puzzler Fez arrives on PS3, PS4, and PS Vita this week. Living in a quaint 2D world, Gomez’s perspective is torn asunder when he learns that his world is in fact a 3D space, and it’s being shattered. Embark on a colorful and unique adventure wrought with rotating pixels.
Craving some JRPG goodness instead? The Witch and the Hundred Knight launches on PS3, bringing with it a century-long conflict between two warring witches. Resurrect a legendary demon and use its power to best the Forest Witch and cover the world in swamp mud.
For a complete list of games coming to PlayStation this week, read on. And enjoy the Drop!
New PlayStation Releases This Week
BlazBlue: Chrono PhantasmaPS3 — Retail
The sizzling 2D fighter comes roaring back. Featuring new battle mechanics and a brand new story mode, Chrono Phantasma adds five new playable characters to the varied and eclectic cast. Dive into one of fighting’s richest and most frantic experiences.
Cabela’s Big Game Hunter: Pro HuntsPS3 — Digital, Retail
Bring home bigger game faster with advice from the pros. Delivering the most authentic hunting ballistics systems featured yet in a Cabela’s game, with maps four times the size of their predecessors. Track, scout, and target game in new ways.
Deception IV: Blood TiesPS3, PS Vita — Digital, Retail
As the Devil’s Daughter, indulge on the darker side of gaming and concoct deadly traps to slay human victims and fulfill a quest for retribution. Select from more than 120 traps and fashion new and humiliating ways to defeat enemies.
Destiny of SpiritsPS Vita — Digital
Build powerful spirits in this free-to-play, social strategy game. Work cooperatively with friends to defeat sinister Chaos spirits in turn-based battles. Unlock new spirits by traveling with PS Vita, and achieve great power through friendship.
Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme LegendsPS3 — Digital, Retail
A stand-alone expansion to Dynasty Warriors 8, face incredible odds and witness the exploits of legendary warrior Lu Bu. New playable characters, new scenarios, and new weapon types expand the Dynasty Warriors experience to incredible heights.
Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends Complete EditionPS4, PS Vita — Digital, Retail
Contains the original Dynasty Warriors 8, along with all the expanded content included in Xtreme Legends. Charge into battlefields thick with enemies and lay waste to the opposing forces with ancient martial arts and powerful weapons.
FezPS3, PS4, PS Vita — Digital (Cross Buy)
A dimension-bending puzzle platformer, Fez follows the charming quest of Gomez as he struggles in a rapidly changing world. Discover the award-winning experience with enhanced visuals and cross-save support.
TNN Motorsports Hardcore TRPSone Classic — Digital
The wildest trucks and hot rods face off in a competition that spans the country. Celebrate the connection between man and machine in ferocious challenges and drive for total supremacy.
The Witch and the Hundred KnightPS3 — Digital, Retail
Summon a legendary demon, equip five weapons simultaneously, and fight in the name of the Swamp Witch, Metallia. A dark fantasy, action RPG with colorful characters and tons of items. Cover the world in swamp mud!
Demos and Betas
Conception II: Children of the Seven Stars — PS Vita Demo
The information above is subject to change without notice.
Some games pit players against zombies. Some feature monsters. Still others go toe-to-metal-toe with robots. EnMasse Entertainment's Zombies Monsters Robotshas all three. EnMasse announced the game at this year's GDC, revealing it to be a free-to-play third-person shooter and spiritual successor to iOS shooter Mercenary Ops. Unlike Mercenary Ops however, ZMR will be coming to PC, with Steam Early Access starting in May.
In ZMR, portals have opened into alternate dimensions, unleashing zombies, monsters and, yes, robots. Up to eight players band together to stop the advancing hordes across multiple game modes, including a campaign and wave-based survival. Alternatively, if you can't - or don't want to - beat 'em, join 'em by playing competitively; the game also features a 16-player head-to-head mode where teams are split into monsters vs. humans.
Polygon reports that EnMasse plans to roll out extra content after the game is launched, including "Dino Island" DLC which features an map inhabited by dinosaurs with guns on their backs. Screenshots released for the game show off plenty of other baddies as well, so place your bets on which creature will be your undoing. Personally, we vote death by merman.
[Image: EnMasse Entertainment]
The image above comes from inFAMOUS: Second Son. The sword is found in the home of a character named Eugene. You learn in the story that Eugene loves video games. Put all that together and it's quite easy to surmise that this is Sucker Punch's subtle nod to the Zelda series!
The official website for Mistwalker has gone dormant. If you visit the site now, you'll get a GoDaddy page instead of a page detailing projects like The Last Story. The official Facebook page for Mistwalker is more active, so that's something positive. With that said, I can't see the lapse of the official domain name being a good thing.
Why are movie tie-in video games generally horrible? Maybe we're starting with the wrong movies. The folks at CineFix give Adam Sandler's golfing epic Happy Gilmore the 8 Bit Cinema treatment, and the result is magical. Read more...
.jpeg)
New PlayStation Releases This Week
BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma
PS3 — Retail
The sizzling 2D fighter comes roaring back. Featuring new battle mechanics and a brand new story mode, Chrono Phantasma adds five new playable characters to the varied and eclectic cast. Dive into one of fighting’s richest and most frantic experiences.
Cabela’s Big Game Hunter: Pro Hunts
PS3 — Digital, Retail
Bring home bigger game faster with advice from the pros. Delivering the most authentic hunting ballistics systems featured yet in a Cabela’s game, with maps four times the size of their predecessors. Track, scout, and target game in new ways.
Deception IV: Blood Ties
PS3, PS Vita — Digital, Retail
As the Devil’s Daughter, indulge on the darker side of gaming and concoct deadly traps to slay human victims and fulfill a quest for retribution. Select from more than 120 traps and fashion new and humiliating ways to defeat enemies.
Destiny of Spirits
PS Vita — Digital
Build powerful spirits in this free-to-play, social strategy game. Work cooperatively with friends to defeat sinister Chaos spirits in turn-based battles. Unlock new spirits by traveling with PS Vita, and achieve great power through friendship.
Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends
PS3 — Digital, Retail
A stand-alone expansion to Dynasty Warriors 8, face incredible odds and witness the exploits of legendary warrior Lu Bu. New playable characters, new scenarios, and new weapon types expand the Dynasty Warriors experience to incredible heights.
Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends Complete Edition
PS4, PS Vita — Digital, Retail
Contains the original Dynasty Warriors 8, along with all the expanded content included in Xtreme Legends. Charge into battlefields thick with enemies and lay waste to the opposing forces with ancient martial arts and powerful weapons.
Fez
PS3, PS4, PS Vita — Digital (Cross Buy)
A dimension-bending puzzle platformer, Fez follows the charming quest of Gomez as he struggles in a rapidly changing world. Discover the award-winning experience with enhanced visuals and cross-save support.
TNN Motorsports Hardcore TR
PSone Classic — Digital
The wildest trucks and hot rods face off in a competition that spans the country. Celebrate the connection between man and machine in ferocious challenges and drive for total supremacy.
The Witch and the Hundred Knight
PS3 — Digital, Retail
Summon a legendary demon, equip five weapons simultaneously, and fight in the name of the Swamp Witch, Metallia. A dark fantasy, action RPG with colorful characters and tons of items. Cover the world in swamp mud!
Demos and Betas
Conception II: Children of the Seven Stars — PS Vita Demo
