Hello! I have an update about the upcoming title Star Gagnant from Regista, Be Brave and the legendary Meijin Takahashi. I have previously published a press release for this title, with details about the game which can be found (HERE).
Today I have some details about sales that will be available for both the European and North American eShop services, with links to both stores.
On May 11th, Register Co., Ltd. began pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch™ download version of the shooting game “Star Gagnant,” supervised by Meijin Takahashi. The release date is scheduled for May 25th,(Start date for gameplay.) Here are the details of the sale and game.
Title: Star Gagnant
Genre: Shooting
Number of players: 1 player (1-4 players in some modes)
Overview – developed by Sting, Idea Factory and Compile Heart, with publishing handled by Idea Factory International, Dokapon Kingdom Connect is a hybrid of digital board game and turn based RPG. Adventurers must battle it out with monsters and each other, with the victor saving the kingdom and claiming the Princess as their bride. This title is available exclusively on Nintendo Switch, with a link to the game at the bottom of this review.
Disclaimer: before I get into the review, I would like to thank Idea Factory International for providing the copy of Dokapon Kingdom Connect that was used for this piece. The provision of this software has not influenced the contents of this review, all thoughts and opinions contained within are my own.
Now with the introductions out of the way, let’s get into the review, starting off with the story of Dokapon Kingdom Connect. Please not I will only be covering the core aspects of this title, as there are many nuances and secrets that are best experienced first hand.
Story – Everyone in the Dokapon Kingdom loves money, however, one day in this peaceful land, monsters appeared and began attacking nearby towns. The economy collapsed from these attacks and people were at their lowest, with takes no longer being paid. So with this terrible situation, the king decided to take action.
He sent out a call for the bravest adventures to rescue the towns. In exchange for their service, the one who collects the most money will be rewarded with the princess’ hand in marriage and the throne of Dokapon Kingdom. And thus, an adventure to claim the most money begins, where absolutely anything goes.
Gameplay – Dokapon Kingdom Connect is a digital board game where at least 2 players (with COM players if playing alone) compete to earn the most money. The action is turn based, with players able to choose from several actions during each of their turns, with 7 turns being classed as a Week. When a week is completed, there will be a score ranking for the players, totalling up all the money that they have earned as assets. With positions being determined by the most wealth gained.
When starting the game, the player must pick the game mode that they want to play. There are three options for players to select from before they can get into the action. They are the story mode, where players can go through chapters that each have their own missions, dialogue events and can be played alone or with friends. The next is the normal mode, which runs for a set number of weeks with the goal to be gaining the most money before the turn limit is up.
The final game mode is Battle Royale, which has three distinct modes for a more varied experience separate from the standard modes. These sub games are Town Race, where players race to save a designated town, Kill Race, where a set number of player kills must be achieved and Shopping Race where a set of items must be obtained for the king. The different game modes can be played online with friends, allowing for players across the globe to join in the fun.
But before the fun can begin, players need to create their adventure with a selection of hair styles, faces and classes to choose from. The characters can be either male or female, with their own unique set of customization options to select from. Once characters have been created, named and adjusted if they are COM players, the game can start. At the beginning of the game the players must race to the castle, collecting starting gear and learning how to play.
When players reach the castle, they will be provided with any items they are missing, along with bonuses to their stats. The different stats that players have are related to the battle system, covering the traditional elements like health, attack and defence. The bonuses provided upon reaching the castle are vary depending on the order that they arrive, with the first player getting the most points and reduced with each other arrival.
At the start of a turn, the most common option that players can select is to move across the board by using the spinner. The spinner itself has numbers from 0-6 with players moving freely up to the number that they get. Players can also use items to affect themselves and their opponents, giving them an advantage over the following turns. The items are collected when landing on specific spaces (discussed further below).
Depending on where a player lands on the board several things can happen, with many of the spaces having the possibility for effects to occur. Here is a quick breakdown of the most common spaces on the Kingdom board;
Empty Space – these are the most common spaces that players will land on during their adventures. Landing on these spaces will most often result in battles, either with a random enemy or with another player if they occupy the same space. There is the chance for a special event or effect to occur on these spaces, so keep an eye out for those.
Equipment Space – there are different equipment spaces that players can land on, with the chance for weapons and shields for players to collect during their quest. The weapons and armor can provide additional bonuses depending on the class of the character chosen.
Item Space – these spaces will provide the player with a random item, which include bonus spinners, crystals that move a set number of spaces and special support items.
Magic Space – the magic spaces are identical to the item spaces, with a random magic item given to players either as battle magic or board magic depending on the variant of the space landed on.
Treasure Space – these spaces have to potential for great riches, as they can give money or loot depending on the icon that they land on. But beware that some of the treasure spaces can have negative effects, which will be a setback for players.
Shop Space – throughout the world of Dokapon, there are shops that adventurers can land on, providing the chance to buy weapons, magic or items from their stock. These shops can also be used to sell items that players don’t want to gain extra money.
Town Space – these are the most important spaces in Dokapon Kingdom, as they are controlled by powerful boss monsters and the adventurers must liberate the towns. The player that successfully saves the town will gain control of it, adding to their assets and allowing players to invest in them. The towns offer a safe place for adventurers to rest but if an opponent owns it the player must pay.
Castle Dokapon – this is where the king is found. Returning to this space will let players change parts of their adventurer, altering their job and hairstyle if they wish. The king will also heal the player and the player can give gifts in an attempt to impress the king.
When landing in an empty space, or a space occupied by either a boss monster or player, a battle will occur (this can vary with the empty spaces). The combat in these battles follows the traditional turn based formula that is synonymous with RPG titles. The order of attack is chosen at random, with the turn player selecting from two cards, with both sides selecting actions to be made during that round of combat.
The actions that can be made interact with each other, with each action having an opposing option that will reduce the damage the defending player will take. However, if the wrong choice is chosen, there is a significant amount of damage that can dealt to the defender, but if they are lucky, the attack will miss entirely. The battle actions and their responses are as follows;
Attack – this is the standard attack using the equipped weapon. The defender option for this is Defend, which will reduce the amount of damage that is dealt.
Magic Attack – there are many types of battle magic that can be used, each having a different effect on enemies. The defender response for this is Magic Defence which can protect the defender from some damage.
Strike – this is a quick attack that can deal a lot of damage to an opponent with this attack. The defender option is Counter, which will deal damage to the attacker while avoiding all damage to themselves.
Skill – this is for characters to use a special skill to prepare themselves for the next turn, the defenders option here is Give Up, where the player will surrender and be timed out.
If a battle continues after both sides have attacked, the words “To Be Continued” will pop up on screen and the next player will make their turn. The battle will resume when the players turn comes back around, continuing until there is a victor. If the battle is between players, the battle will occur during each of their turns while both players are still standing. At the end of a battle, the winner will receive experience and money if they are fighting monsters.
When enough experience has been gained, the adventurers will level up, being granted points to increase their stats and make themselves stronger. Their class can also level up at set milestones, providing the option for players to gain new skills and make themselves more powerful. But there is a caveat to this, as the adventurers can only have one skill at a time so the player must decide if they want to keep their current skill or swap it out.
However, if an adventurer is defeated in battle, they will be timed out for a number of turns before they can return to the board. This is shorter if the player surrenders in a battle, but they will still be penalized. A defeated adventurer can also suffer an additional penalty, ranging from losing money or liberated towns, to having their appearance changed by losing their hair. These punishments and penalties add some humor to the proceedings, but can result in frustration.
The kingdom of Dokapon is vast, with many different areas for players to explore. But some areas of the kingdom will initially be locked off, opening up as the adventure continues. There is also the chance for boss monster events to occur, which can affect the players by stealing money and inflicting negative effects. The player can also encounter NPC characters that can give them missions to do, as well as quests from the king like collecting an item for him.
The different special events add an element of surprise to the adventures of this release, with the chance events making each playthrough different from the last. There are many twists and turns that can occur in Dokapon Kingdom, creating a fun party experience that can be a lot of fun for players to enjoy. There is some frustration that can be had, due to the chance of encountering strong enemies or having a particularly spiteful AI opponent, but this isn’t a significant issue.
At the end of an adventure, the hero with the most money and assets will be crowned the winner, gaining the throne of the kingdom. There are additional bonuses that can be gained based on various factors, like gaining the most favour of the king by providing gifts or liberating the most towns. These additional bonuses for players can increase the tension of a close fought game, as the player in last place could suddenly jump up to the top of the rankings.
Now with the core gameplay experience covered, it is time to cover the other aspects of this release, starting with the controls.
Controls – the controls for this release are relatively simple, with all of the inputs that players can use appearing on screen to help keep the game running smoothly. When playing alone or online, the Joy-Con controllers are perfect for playing the game in handheld mode, providing a comfortable experience. The pro controller and Joy-Cons work equally well when playing the game on the big screen, as well as single Joy-Con support for players to enjoy a game anywhere they want.
Difficulty – as a digital board game there is the chance for a lot of fluctuation in terms of difficulty when playing against AI opponents. This is most noticeable when the player is in the lead, as the COM players can aggresively target the human players with effects and try to battle them. To compensate for this, there are several difficulty settings that the player can select from, adjusting the way that the COM will play during a game.
Presentation – Dokapon Kingdom has a very cutesy look to it, with super deformed characters in the chbi style for the adventurers, monsters and NPC characters. The environments and models are pleasing to the eye, fitting the board game setting very well and adding to the experience. The sound design for this title is very good, with music that has a very upbeat feel to it and the use of voiced dialogue in English which adds an extra layer of charm to the game.
Final Thoughts – I had seen Dokapon Kingdom in the past, when it was released on both the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo Wii. Unfortunately I never got a chance to play the previous releases, so I jumped at the chance to cover this version and I can safely say that I had a lot of fun playing this rather quirky party game. There are some frustrating elements to it, like the CPU opponents playing in an unnatural way, or outright cheating in some cases, but these aren’t deal breakers for me.
With that being said, I am happy to recommend this game to those who enjoy RPGs and party game titles, as there is a lot of fun to be had either alone or with friends. The inclusion of online play is an excellent addition with this, as it can let players from around the globe enjoy the weird and wacky shenanigans that can unfold. However, if you want to start a story mode game with friends, make sure you have a lot of free time, as the game can take quite a while to finish.
In the end, I give Dokapon Kingdom Connect a final score of 4/5. This is a fun and charming party game, with the unique feature of having RPG mechanics and turn based battles. There is a charm to this with the wacky shenanigans that can unfold, as well as the cast of characters that the player can meet, creating a fun party experience for all players. If you want to check this title out for yourself, a link to the game will be below.
Overview – developed by Route 5 Games and published by Ratalaika Games, Gematombe is an arcade style VS puzzle game based upon the Greek myth of Pandora’s Box. Using mechancs taken from brick breaker and bubble pop games, clear or crush your opponents to achieve victory in the puzzle battle. This title is available on all console platforms and Steam, with a link to each version of the game available at the bottom of this review.
Disclaimer: before I get into the review, I would like to thank PR Hound for providing the copy of Gematombe that was used for this piece. The provision of this software has not influenced the contents of this review, all thoughts and opinions contained within are my own.
Now with the introductions out of the way, let’s get into the review. I will be skipping the story segment as there are multiple plotlines that players can experience, so I will be going directly into covering the gameplay.
Gameplay – Gematombe is a competitive puzzle title, where the player must battle their opponent in puzzle battles. The objective of the battles are simple, clear the screen of all gem blocks before new ones can appear or make your opponents blocks reach the bottom. During these battles, the player must aim and fire their ball, trying to hit multiple blocks in combos to clear the screen as quickly as possible.
The blocks can be destroyed one by one, but if there is an active chain, multiple blocks of the same color can be broken if they are touching. In order to start a chain, multiple blocks must be hit at once, with the chance to preserve it by catching the ball. When big chains are secured, the player can send additional blocks to the enemy to try and crush them. However, if the player misses the ball when it returns, the blocks will move down risking them being crushed.
There are six characters that the player can choose from in this title, each of them inspired by the Greek myth of Pandora and the box. These characters have their own special abilities that they can use during battles, affecting the blocks on the opponents side of the field to try and gain an advantage. These character skills include generating more blocks, locking gems from being broken and even changing their colors.
The main game mode for this release is the story mode, where players can challenge all the characters in battles with a plot and ending for each of the characters. There are additional game modes for players to challenge, with a quick break down of all modes to round off this segment;
Story Mode – single player campaign with a unique story for each of the playable characters.
Practice Mode – take some time to get acquainted with each of the characters, hone your skills and prepare for battle.
Survivor mode – take part in endless battles against random opponents. Climb the tower to the sky, but if you are defeated, you must start again from the beginning.
Local Versus mode – take on a friend in head to head battle on the same console.
Now with the gameplay covered, it is time to move onto the other aspects of this release, starting with the controls.
Controls – this title has a control system that is easy to pick up, with only a few inputs needed to play this title. The controls are simple enough, with the launcher being moved/aimed with the D-pad and thumbstick, as well as the launch and move speed buttons on the face. The game is comfortable regardless of the controller that is used, but I would recommend an arcade stick to play this game for the authentic brick breaking experience.
Difficulty – this game is a mixed bag in terms of challenge, due to the competitive nature of this title the AI and block drops can be randomised. This unfortunately can lead to quick losses when the AI is able to clear the screen quickly at later stages, or if the player can’t chain combos and clear blocks fast enough. These minor issues can lead to some frustration for players, especially when losses are completely out the players control.
Presentation – the visuals are reminiscent of the titles it is inspired by, with sprites and character designs that are similar to that of Puyo Puyo, as well as other classic titles. These visuals compliment the feel of arcades that the game attempts to create, but there are some minor issues with slowdown at times during play. The sound adds to the experience, with music that fits each of the character themes, giving more depth and life to the overall presentation of this release.
Final Thoughts – I had a good time playing Gematombe, as the arcade style of the gameplay was a lot of fun to get to grips with. However, there is a level of frustration with the difficulty and semi random nature of the character skills. There is a lot of content on offer with this release, with secrets to discover and plenty of challenges with the different game modes which do make up for some of the frustrations.
I am able to easily recommend this release to everyone that likes arcade and puzzle titles, as this offers enough for players to sink their teeth into. The extra game modes increase the time that players can get from this release, along with the local multiplayer battles that can be enjoyed at home or on the go with a single system.
In the end, I give Gematombe a final score of 4/5, this is a fun and challenging arcade style competitive puzzler, with a feel that is reminiscent of the titles that inspired it. There is a plenty of content in this indie title, with more than enough for players to get their money’s worth. If you want to check this title out for yourself, a link to each version of the game is below.
Hello, I have some exciting information to share with you from our friends at Regista Co. about Star Gagnant, an upcoming title for the Nintendo Switch. Check out the information in the press release below to learn more about this title that will be released on May 25th. All of the details below have been graciously provided by Regista, along with assets and links to the Nintendo eShop for this title.
The company Regista Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tokyo) has announced the release of a new shooting game “Star Gagnant” supervised by the legendary Meijin Takahashi from the generation of Famicom, famous for his “16-shot”. The Nintendo Switch (Digital version) of the game will be released on Thursday, May 25th, 2023. Pre-orders and a demo version will be available starting on Thursday, May 11th.
About the Game
“Star Gagnant” is a 2D vertical-scrolling shooting game with a classic and simple gameplay reminiscent of the golden age of shooting games in the 1980s and 1990s. The title means “Champion of the Stars.” Players must dodge a barrage of incoming enemy bullets and unleash shots in all directions for an exhilarating experience. Once hooked, players are sure to become addicted to this game.
In this work, Takaaki “Kinoko” Takeaki Kunimoto, who was responsible for the BGM in the classic shooting game “Star Soldier,” provides some of the music, and ”Mr. Urban legends” Akio Seki participates in enemy character design, with a friendship with MeijinTakahashi. The game is only available for download, but the official website https://stargagnant.net/ also features a special flyer designed to resemble a packaged version, which is worth checking out.
The gameplay filled with love for “button mashing.”
The biggest feature of this game is undoubtedly the game system that utilizes button mashing. While adopting the auto button-mashing system that activates rapid fire attacks simply by holding down the button, which isfamiliar to most shooting games, players can intentionally “button mash” to power up their shots more and more when facing tough enemies or powerful bosses that they want to defeat quickly. This innovative system not only allows players to physically enjoy the button-mashing playstyle that is synonymous with Meijin Takahashi but also incorporates it as a solid strategic element.
A variety of game modes
This game includes four diverse modes.
Arcade mode – In arcade mode, you will clear seven stages along the story. The mission will be completed when you clear all the stages. There are 4 levels of difficulty. After finishing HARD difficulty, MEIJIN difficulty will be unlocked.
Caravan mode – In caravan mode, compete for high scores on a dedicated stage for only 2 minutes.
Challenge mode – In challenge mode, your control skills will be evaluated in each challenge, and your overall rank will be displayed at the end. You will be able to objectively evaluate your control skills and use them as opportunities for improvement.
Rapid Fire mode – In rapid fire mode, simply compete for rapid fire speed. Up to 4 players can play local matches.
Meijin Takahashi in-game！
In the game, the legendary gamer Meijin Takahashi appears as a character named “Master TAKAHASHI”. He is a former ace pilot who fought against the invading army ORBIT and is now the commander of the space defense force ALTAIR. He supports the main character in their fight against the re-invading ORBIT. Meijin Takahashi provides the voice for his character in the game.
The game development history
“We want to make a shooting game that you can enjoy by mashing buttons!” This project was born from Meijin Takahashi’s strong desire to create a shooting game that could be enjoyed by everyone from the Famicom generation to the Switch generation, while also being retro, simple, and brand new. Meijin Takahashi was a driving force behind the Famicom boom in Japan.
He teamed up with Register Ltd. to start the project and develop the game. To fund the game’s development, a crowdfunding campaign was launched in September 2022. Fans from all over Japan enthusiastically supported the campaign. The project raised more than double its funding goal within just one month.
Profile of Meijin Takahashi
Born in 1959 in Hokkaido, Japan. Meijin Takahashi joined the video game company Hudson in 1985 and made his debut as a “master” at a software PR event. He gained fame when his signature technique of “16-shot” was introduced in the children’s magazine “KoroKoro Comic”, and he became a hero for kids.
Since then, he made numerous appearances on TV shows, debuted as a singer, and starred in the movie “Game King Meijin Takahashi vs. Meijin Mouri : Showdown! The Ultimate Battle“, became a symbol of the age. After leaving Hudson, he continued to contribute to the development of the gaming industry also working as a talent.
Product Details
Title: Star Gagnant Genre: Shooting Number of players: 1 player (1-4 players in some modes) Release date: May 25, 2023 (Thursday) Price (DL version only):＄38 (including tax) CERO rating: “A” (suitable for all ages) Compatible platforms: Nintendo Switch/Nintendo Switch Lite Supported languages: Japanese, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese Star Gagnant official website: https://stargagnant.net/en/ Star Gagnant Twitter: https://twitter.com/StarGagnant
Link to the game on US Nintendo eShop can be found (HERE)
Link to the game on EU Nintendo eShop can be found (HERE)
Overview – developed by Idea Factory and Compile Heart, in collaboration with Cocone Corporation and published by Eastasiasoft, Mugen Souls is an anime-styled JRPG with a comedic edge. Join Chou-Chou on her quest to conquer the universe and its seven worlds, using her powers to turn the most powerful beings in the worlds into her servants. This title is available exclusively for the Nintendo Switch, with a link to the digital and physical releases at the bottom of this review.
Disclaimer: before I get into the review, I would like to thank Eastasiasoft for providing the copy of Mugen Souls that was used for this piece. The provision of this software has not influenced the contents of this review, all thoughts and opinions contained within are my own.
Mature Content Disclaimer: Mugen Souls has been rated M, this is due to the inclusion of sexual themes, content, partial nudity and interactive intimacy scenes. If the inclusion of this type of content is something that you find offensive or you are under the recommended age in your region, please proceed at your own discretion.
Now with the introductions out of the way, let’s get into the review, starting with the story for Mugen Souls. I will be covering the core elements of the gameplay to prevent spoiling the surprises that this game offers, covering the base components of the experience.
Story – In deep space, Chou-Chou was floating with no memories of her past, but she knows that she wants everything in the universe to be hers, especially the 7 Worlds because they are pretty. To achieve this goal, Chou-Chou, proclaiming herself to be the Undisputed God of the Universe, sets out to conquer these worlds with the assistance of her followers Altis and Ryuto. However, not everything is as it appears, with many twists and turns that occur along the way.
Gameplay – Mugen Souls is an anime-styled dungeon crawling JRPG, with the player taking the role of the Undisputed God of the Universe Chou-Chou as she seeks to take over the 7 worlds. The story takes place over several chapters, with the various twists and turns playing out in cutscenes and VN style character interactions. The gameplay loop is centred around dungeon crawling, turn based battles and the completion of objectives to push the narrative forward.
The majority of objectives in each chapter are shown as event markers, which are displayed on screen and the map to guide the player to them. When the marker is activated, an event will occur which can be a story scene or battle for the player to encounter. As the story progresses further, there will be the potential for players to alter the course of the narrative for players, leading to a different ending depending on the choices made.
While exploring the dungeons, the player will encounter enemies that are roaming the map. When these enemies make contact with the player in the field, battle will be initiated, with the possibility of an advantage being given to either side. During battle, the combatants take turns that are determined by the turn order at the top of the screen, split into enemies and allies. When the players turn begins, they have access to a range of skills and actions.
In battles, the player may encounter hazards, enemies and crystals that provide different effects on the field. During each turn, the player has the ability to move freely within a specific range, then an action can be made. Here is a breakdown of the main actions that can be used during a battle;
MOE KILL – this is the special skill that Chou-Chou can use in battle. If an enemy or Crystal is within the range of attack for the Ultimate Goddess, the player can activate Moe Kill before they make their main action, attempting to turn those in her reach into loyal servants called Peons. However, depending on the choices that the player has made, this can make the enemies stronger by enraging them.
Change Form – Chou Chou has multiple forms that she can switch into, with each of them tied to a different personality trait that she can use. These include a tall red haired form wearing a bondage themed outfit, a tsundere form with a waitress dress and a purple haired gothic form to name a few. The ability to shift forms in battle is limited in battle, with the number of changes reset when leaving the field zone.
Link Attacks – when a units turn occurs, the player may be able to perform a special attack with the other members of the party. These special linked attacks may not deal the most damage, but they each have their own unique animations when they are used. When a party member isn’t able to perform a linked attack, a standard physical attack will occur.
Skills – party members have access to skills that they can use in battle, with different character classes having their own unique skills. These skills use up SP, with different characters excelling at those tied to their class. There are some special attacks that can be used in the skill menu when requirements are met.
Blast Off – when using skills, the player can activate the Blast Off ability which will launch the target/s across the screen and dealing damage to everything that they make contact with. If a crystal is hit by an enemy being launched, there is the chance for the Crystal to be broken and additional bonuses to be activated. Be aware, the blast off skill has its limits and can be depleted if the player is careless.
Item – the active character is able to use items to perform a variety of benefits. The items that can be used include healing items, restoring missing health and curing party members of their negative effects.
Switch – the active character can switch with a reserve party member, allowing players to mix and match their party as they want to change their strategy mid fight. This can be done once a turn so make the switch count.
Retreat/Defend – if players don’t want to battle the enemies they have encountered, they can attempt to escape the battle by selecting the retreat option. If this fails, the turn will be skipped and the next unit will move. There is also the option to put a party member in a defensive position, which will allow the player to skip a turn while minimizing damage taken.
When all enemies have been defeated, or have been turned into peons, the player party will be rewarded with EXP, Money and Mugen Points. The rewards that are given are affected by the damage done, the special skills that have been used and the overall performance of the player party. There is also the chance for bonus rewards for the player to gain in battles, which will be added to the player inventory.
Outside of battles in the field, the player will come across item points that will provide treasures for the player to collect. There are also special points that can be targeted to be turned into Peons on the map itself. When these points are encountered, the player must attempt to use Moe Kill upon them, with success leading to the point being captured. However, if the player is unsuccessful with Moe Kill, a battle will occur before they can try again.
When the different points in a world are successfully Moe Killed, a world meter will be filled up and a special effect will occur when it reaches 100%. But bear in mind, the master points of a field will appear over time being locked until there is a requirement reached. The different points will have a unique requirement to them, including the need for a specific Chou-Chou form or an amount of money needed to make them a Peon successfully.
When not in the different Worlds the player will spend time a significant amount of time on Chou-Chou’s airship the G-Castle, which functions as the home base for the player. While on the G-Castle, the player can access a variety of different resources, stores and features. There are also high intensity battles that occur during the story between the G-Castle and the airships of other worlds, with the challenge increasing with each fight.
The facilities at the home base are key to the success of the player, as they offer the ability to buy new equipment for their party, buy support items and even create new specialised Peon units. In the G-Castle, the player is able to use Mugen Points to make custom units to add to their party in the Peon Salon. This is where unique units can be fully customized, with character classes, cosmetic items and even the face themselves can be customized.
While in the base the player should take the time to give themselves the best possible gear that they can, ensuring that they are ready for each battle ahead. The gear that can be equipped will alter the stats of each member of the party, with bonuses for those who are proficient in the weapons that they have equipped. All of the character units can be altered cosmetically, with accessories and costumes that can be added for extra visual flair.
The last thing to discuss is the Mugen Portal, the entrance to a special dimension where the player can battle enemies in several different routes, where some story threads can become clear. While inside the Mugen Field, the battles will be randomly generated and provides a chance for players to grind a lot of points and resources. This special dimension is split into different sections, with special requirements and restrictions based on the stage they are in.
The Mugen Field is made up of 100 floors, with preset points where the player will be given the choice to continue or quit and escape with earned rewards. In order to continue from the rest points, the player must reach the requirements for at least one route, or they will need to exit the Mugen Field. Also while at these points the player will be able to purchase special upgrades for the party, new classes and more using collected points.
To enter the Mugen Field, players must make a wager to gain access, with the amount of points paid in determining different factors of the battles that will be faced. This makes the almost endless dungeon environment one of the most useful tools for players who want to farm resources, experience and more. But be aware that defeat in the Mugen Field will come at a heavy price, with all rewards that are earned being lost if the party is wiped out.
There is so much more that I could discuss about the gameplay in this title. However, I feel that there are many things that players should uncover for themselves, including the titillating, lewd and saucy secrets that this special version holds. This is due to the restoration of content that was cut from the previous release, along with the inclusion of all additional DLC content, giving players the ultimate Mugen Souls experience in one complete package.
Now with that covered, it is time to discuss the other aspects of this release starting with the controls.
Controls – the control layout for this game has a comfortable feel to it, which is important for long play sessions as this title can demand a lot of time at once. All of the key features and functions are in positions that players can learn quickly, with on screen displays for functions that can be used as a guide during play. This title plays well in both handheld and docked play, using either Joy-Cons or pro controllers, with the only flaw being the lack of touch support for certain elements.
Difficulty – the difficulty curve for Mugen Souls is balanced well, making the game approachable for all players to get right into the action. However, the difficulty can escalate quickly depending on the decisions made by the player. This isn’t a significant stumbling block and can be remedied by grinding some earlier areas. But if players want to breeze through the majority of this adventure, the bonus DLC content will give a significant advantage from the jump.
Presentation – the visual style of Mugen Souls has that artistic charm that most titles from Idea Factory share, with character art and model designs that are pleasing to the eye. This is most noticable when it comes to the varied design aesthetics of each of Chou-Chou’s forms, with colors that match their distinct character traits. The environments are well designed with background art that compliments the settings and cutscenes that take place in them.
The sound for this title brings the whole experience together, with music from composer Tenpei Sato who uses his distinct style to knock the title up a notch. There are elements of the soundtrack that are reminiscent of his work in Disgaea, which work well to emphasise the off-beat nature of this release. There is English and Japanese dialogue available in this release, with the English VO featuring the talents of Johnny Yong Bosch (Trigun) and Kira Buckland (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean).
Final Thoughts – sadly I missed the initial release of Mugen Souls back on the PlayStation 3, but I am happy that I was able to fix that by getting to play it on the Nintendo Switch. The setting, story and characters all have a unique charm to them that really enhance the whole experience, making for a fun and engaging experience. The overall presentation and gameplay reminded me of Disgaea to a point, with the wacky attack animations and soundtrack which I really enjoyed.
There is a lot of content in this package, with all missing and extra content making for a solid JRPG offering, with the only flaw being some very minor slowdown after loading items in. The sexualised interactive scenes may border on the edge of bad taste for some, but as they are optional they can be skipped entirely. I have no issue recommending this title to fans of Japanese RPG titles, especially those who have played other titles within the genre as it is a fun and charming experience overall.
In the end, I give Mugen Souls a final score of 4.5/5. This is a fun and engaging JRPG adventure, featuring a story and characters that kept me pulled in for the entire play time. There is a wealth of content for players to sink their teeth into, with the inclusion of all missing/extra content making this the definitive way to experience the game. If you want to check this title out for yourself, a link to the digital and physical release will be below.
Overview – developed by Idea Factory, Compile Heart and Sting, with publishing handled by Idea Factory International, Fairy Fencer F: Refrain Chord is the latest entry in the fantasy JRPG series. Join the duo of Fang and Eryn, as they embark on a journey to collect relics known as Furies, battling dangerous threats along the way. This title is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation systems and Steam (out May 23rd), with links to the game at the bottom of this review.
Disclaimer: before I get into the review, I would like to thank Idea Factory International for providing the copy of Fairy Fencer F: Refrain Chord that was used for this piece. The provision of this software has not influenced the contents of this review, all thoughts and opinions contained within are my own.
Now with the introductions out of the way, let’s get into the review, starting off with the story (from the official website). I will be referring to the game as Refrain Chord during the review, while also focusing on covering the core systems to prevent spoiling any surprises this game has.
Story – long ago, the people were given knowledge by the Goddess, and civilization flourished. They built towers stretching toward the heavens, and a weapon so powerful they could pierce the gods themselves. However, that civilization was decimated shortly after a violent conflict between the Goddess and the Vile God. Ages have passed since then.
This story begins with a young man named Fang who has become a Fencer, a swordsman who has the ability to wield a special weapon imbued with a Fairy known as a Fury. Along with his companions, Fang is on a Journey to find the Furies and resurrect the Goddess. One day, he encounters a woman who can save people with her song, as well as one who can brainwash people with hers.
Along with the mysterious power of the women who call themselves Muses, Fang’s destiny begins to unfold.
Gameplay – Fairy Fencer F: Refrain Chord takes the established characters, setting and world, but puts them in a new strategy RPG system. This time, players will take part in grid based battles in a variety of locations, with familiar mechanics being used in a new way. In this title, the majority of the gameplay takes place split between visual novel style character interactions and stage battles. Between the battles, the narrative plays out in the through chaptered visual novel story segments.
These segments are divided into two types, main and side quests which are shown via a red or yellow marker in the game menus. The optional story segments give the player additional information about the games world, giving extra character depth to those that the player will encounter during the game. These VN segments can also provide bonus missions for players to play. These segments have many twists and turns as the player explores the world of Refrain Chord.
The main quests make up the core of the gameplay experience, with the player working their way through the different battle stages. These stages will increase as the player progresses, introducing new areas and enemies to fight in each chapter of the story. The stages that players can select appear in the world map, with each of the unlocked areas available for players to battle on. There are also extra battles that can occur in each stage for players to earn extra bonuses.
When the player selects a stage to battle in, a story scene will play out if they are tied to a quest. Then the win/loss condition is provided and the battle prep screen appears, where players are able to prepare their party, scope out the enemies and ensure they are ready for the battle ahead. The units in the party can have their equipment, skills and other aspects changed, giving the player more tactical options during battle stages.
While the player sets up their party for a battle in or out of battle, they can equip weapons, armor and more to provide a boost in combat. The player is also able to equip a Sub-Fairy where available, increasing the power that character units have, as well as providing access to skills depending on the characters that they are equipped to. Learning how to synergise the fairies and equipment of a character can provide an edge in battles.
The members of the party can be freely customized, but there are some units that are mandatory for use, like the Muse Fleur, who is an integral part of the game when she joins the player. Once the battle stage starts, the turn order will be determined based on several hidden factors and the action begins. In battle, players have access to a variety of options that can be used in combat. Here is a breakdown of the actions players can use during their turn;
Movement – the player can move the active unit around the field. The total movement distance is determined based on the movement stat of that specific unit, which can also be affected by the terrain and position of other units. The player can make one movement action during their turn, before or after using a skill.
Attack – the player can use a regular attack, dealing damage to the enemy without using SP. The attacks that units can perform will vary based on their weapon, with different power, range and reach depending on the weapon that is equipped by that unit.
Skills – each unit can use a variety of skills that are separated into four different categories, each with their own unique characteristics based upon the character themselves. The four types of skill are Physical, Magical, Trap and Special, with each skill requiring SP to be used.
Item – character units can use items in battle. The items can vary depending on the quality of them and the number of items that can be used per battle is limited.
Wait – this will end the turn without making any additional actions, when a turn ends, the player can choose a direction to face, this is important as damage against both enemies and allies will change if they are hit from behind or the side.
Fairize – when a Fencer unit fills up their Fairize meter they can activate a special skill, which will transform them into a powered up form for a limited time. This special mode can also increase the players base stats, provide special attacks and more for that player unit.
The Muse’s Song – this special skill is unique to the Muse characters, called a Fairy Aria. When this is activated, an area of effect appears on the map surrounding the Muse. The units within the range of the song will gain extra effects depending on the song that is used, increasing based on different factors in combat.
Avalanche – this is a very special attack that can be used when the Avalanche meter has been filled up by units making actions. When the meter is full, unleash a massive attack that will damage all enemies within ranched, with an enhanced version called a Harmonic Avalanche if activated with the Fairy Aria.
Throughout a battle, the player units will gain EXP points and FP points for every attack and skill that they use. When enough experience points have been earned, the unit will level up, increasing their stats and making them more powerful. The amount of EXP earned is dependent on the level of the unit that the action is made against, with the stronger the target the higher the reward. The EXP and FP will carry over if the player is defeated in battle and chooses to retry.
When a battle is completed, the player will be given rewards based on their performance, with the character that did the best earning a special bonus. There are also items, crafting materials (discussed further below) and more that can be rewarded when victory in a battle is earned depending on the quest that is being taken on. Players can earn a lot of rewards if they choose to take the time to grind out stages in free battle after clearing, which can speed up their growth.
The FP (called Fairy Points) that are earned in battle can be used to power up the Fairies that are paired with the main Fencer unit. By spending FP, the player can unlock new skills for a Fairy unit to pass onto their Fencer, increasing their power and overall level to increase their power while in battle. Increasing the level of a Fairy/Sub-Fairy can provide additional benefits during the course of the game, so it is important to make effective use of FP points.
Outside of the quest battles and story segments, the player can take part in other activities. The player can take part in Location Shaping, where they can hunt for treasures by using their Furies into locations on the world map, providing rewards if successful. These rewards can be increased based on the element that they use, with the potential for chains to generate more rewards from this system and even unlock hidden battle stages.
The player is also able to use various features in their home town, using different facilities that become available during the course of the game. Here is a breakdown of the different things that players can do while they are in the town;
The Pub – the player can go to the pub, where players can take on a variety of order quests, which are special missions that can provide special bonuses and increase the quest meter with each successful mission.
The Fountain – this is where the player can interact with side characters, adding a little comedy with humorous interactions, as well as gaining access to special side quests from time to time.
The Inn – while at the Inn, the player is able to take part in special interactions with the various characters, playing out through special VN segments that can have different effects and possibly uncover some special things about the characters in the party.
The Shop – the player can visit Tomoe’s shop and purchase items, equipment and more from her using the gold earned from battles, as well as selling items that the player doesn’t need. This is where players can also use materials to craft different items from recipies, which can be collected from missions and location shaping.
There is so much more that can be discussed and this only scratches the surface by covering the core gameplay, as this has a lot of complexity when it comes to the deeper game mechanics. So with the core of the game covered (so we don’t give spoilers), it’s time to cover the different elements of this release, starting with the controls.
Controls – as a Strategy RPG, the controls can appear confusing during play and navigation, however, the on screen display throughout has handy control icons to help players. This can be very useful when first starting to play the game as a learning tool, or for those who may take a while between sessions. The controls themselves work very well and are laid out in a comfortable manner for the most part, but some navigation can be a little sloppy at times when there is a lot on screen.
Difficulty – there is a fair balance to the gameplay in terms of challenge, with three selectable difficulty options for players to choose from. The three difficulty options offer something for all players, with easy for those who want to enjoy the story, normal for a balanced overall experience and hard for those who want a punishing challenge. There aren’t any severe difficulty spikes, meaning everyone can enjoy the game no matter their skill level.
Presentation – Refrain Chord has the distinct look that Idea Factory and Compile Heart are known for, with gorgeous artwork for characters and backgrounds throughout. The in game visuals are good for the Nintendo Switch hardware, with some good 3D visuals for the battle stages and animations. However, there are some minor issues with slowdown when there is a lot going on, especially during moments where there are a lot of visual effects on screen at once.
The sound for this title is of the usual high quality that titles from the team at ZIZZ STUDIO have, with excellent compositions that cover a wide range of musical genres. This is most present during the VN segments, where the music is perfectly tailored to the scene that is unfolding. The dialogue audio is entirely in Japanese, with voice over that is performed by a talented cast of actors, as well as a wide range of vocalists used for the different Fairy Aria songs that Muses employ.
Final Thoughts – I very much enjoyed my time with this game, due to being a fan of the other titles that I have played from Idea Factory and Compile Heart, I went into this with some expectations. These expectations were exceeded, not only in the way that the story pulled me in and kept me engaged, but the way that they made the Strategy RPG systems feel unique. This is most prevalent with the implementation of musical spells that the Muses use.
The whole package for me is another homerun for all involved, with the entire experience being enjoyable throughout the entire time playing the game. I have no issue with recommending this game to everyone who is either a fan of the developers or the genre. There are a few minor hiccups when it comes to performance, but given the limitations of the Nintendo Switch hardware this is not unexpected. However, these minor issues don’t interfere with the overall experience.
In the end, I give Fairy Fencer F: Refrain Chord a final score of 4.5/5. This is an excellent Strategy RPG with the importance of music/singing helping to make it feel unique, which combines well with the engaging story, characters and battle systems to create a cohesive experience. If you want to check this title out for yourself, a link to each version of the game will be below.
Overview – developed by Gold Skull Studios and published by Ratalaika Games, Ultra Pixel Survive is a 2D survival adventure where players must battle monsters, collect resources and survive each night. This title is now available on all console platforms after launching originally on android devices, this release also contains all content and a link to each version will be available at the bottom of this review.
Disclaimer: before I get into the review, I would like to thank PR Hound for providing the copy of Ultra Pixel Survive that was used for this piece. The provision of this software has not influenced the contents of this review, all thoughts and opinions contained within are my own.
Now with the introductions out of the way, let’s get into the review. There is no plot for this title, so I will be going straight into covering the gameplay.
Gameplay – Ultra Pixel Survive is an action RPG styled adventure, with a focus on surviving the hazards of the world for as many days as possible, featuring different environments to explore. When starting a new game, players will begin with no resources but they will have a safe haven house, as well as a selection of tools that can help them survive in this world. Here is general breakdown of the tools that players will have;
Weapon – the player has a weapon that they can use to battle enemies, these weapons range from the typical RPG fare of swords and staffs, to a shotgun and slime blade. Each of the weapons have their own benefits, with downsides that balance them out.
Axe – the wood cutter axe is one of the two key resource tools that the player has, the player is able to chop down trees to collect wood. The wood that is collected can create traps like spikes, walls and more.
Pickaxe – the player can use the pickaxe to mine materials, like stone, salt and ore to be smelted into ingots. The materials collected can be used to create equipment to upgrade other items, as well as create special defensive objects.
Special Skill – each character has a special skill that is unique to them, these items can be very useful in battle and help players get out of a tricky situation. The skills can be either offensive or defensive based on the character that is used.
As the player battles through each day/night, they will gain experience and collect money that is collected to be used in the in game shop. When enough experience is gained the character will level up and increase their base stats. Also, treasure chests can appear, providing the player with additional loot that can be used. When first starting the game, players are limited to the adventurer with the other characters needing to be unlocked over time.
In order to unlock the majority of characters, the player needs to use gems that are bought from the game shop. These gems cost between 100 – 300 coins each, which adds some replay value but also can make it feel like a grind to unlock all of the characters. There is also the ability to level up the characters with gold, increasing their starting level when the player starts a new game and giving a better chance of survival.
The player can also increase the level of their equipment, using the resources they have collected, making it faster to farm materials later. Resources aren’t the only thing that players need to keep in mind, there is a hunger system that will deplete over time. When this meter is fully depleted, players will start to lose health until either death or it is refilled. The only way to refill the hunger meter is to eat food, either from cooking after farming it or collecting it from trees.
During a run in the game, at different points the player will gain support from characters that will join them to help them to survive. These support characters will also level up and gain extra attack over time. There are also boss battles that can occur during a run after reaching a set day, with these battles having a health bar which can take a while to deplete. When the boss is defeated the player can get loot for succeeding.
So with the gameplay covered, it is time to move onto the other aspects of this release, starting off with the controls.
Controls – the control method for this game is easy to pick up, with the inputs for this release being laid out in a comfortable manner. All of the key inputs are easy to use, with the different keys for the different features, like attacks and skills being shown on screen for players to use as references during play. The game works well with both the Joy-cons and pro controller, regardless of the game mode that is being played.
Difficulty – this title can be difficult when starting out, as there is a lack of tutorials for players when they first start the game. This can be tough when the player is figuring out what needs to be done at the start, but the recipes for crafting and upgrades are listed on screen with color coding to help players. If players want an additional challenge, they can toggle the option of permadeath, meaning having to start from the beginning upon death rather than the last save.
Presentation – the visual style for this release uses a simple pixel art style, which may be reminiscent of Terraria for some players. This works well for the game as it is focused on simplicity, with both the graphical style and the gameplay experience. The sound for this title is implemented well, with contributions to the music from Kevin Macleod, Wingless-Seraph and Koichi Morita, adding the needed atmosphere to the tense battles.
Final Thoughts – when I first saw this game, I was not sure what to think as my first impression was that it would be similar to other titles of the genre. However, when I got into it I was pleasantly surprised, as it was much different from the others in the genre. The simplicity of the gameplay along with the unlockable content provides a lot of replay value, as well as an experience that players can get lost in for hours at a time.
I can happily recommend this title to players, as it offers a lot of content for a modest budget. The characters that the player can unlock provide a reason for players to keep going, as the player challenges themselves to get the highest score they can. The difficulty may be a little steep right at the beginning of the game, but it does ease up over time as players get used to the way that the game functions.
In the end, I give Ultra Pixel Survive a final score of 4/5. This is a simple yet engaging survival title, with a visual style that is reminiscent of others in the genre, while providing something that is different from the others on the market. If you want to check this game out for yourself, a link to each version of the game is below.
Overview – developed by Vanillaware and published by NIS America, GrimGrimoire OnceMore is an updated remaster of the original magical real time strategy title from the PS2. Experience the original story of GrimGrimoire, with updated gameplay, new features and remastered visuals. This title is available on the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation systems, with a link to each version of this game at the bottom of this review.
Disclaimer: before I get into the review, I would like to thank NIS America for providing the copy of GrimGrimoire OnceMore that was used for this piece. The provision of this software has not influenced the contents of this review, all thoughts and opinions contained within are my own.
Now with the introductions out of the way, let’s get into the review, starting off with the story of GrimGrimoire taken from the official website.
Story – Lillet Blan was very excited. She had been invited to a Magic Academy where only talented youths were accepted. The school was lead by the famous magician, Gammel Dore, who had once defeated the Archmage. The campus in which they study, the Silver Star Tower, was once the vanquished Archmage’s castle. The tower was still full of unsolved mysteries and dangers, attracting many who had their own personal agendas in mind.
Lillet opened her first grimoire, and began her studies. But only five days later, a terrifying disaster threatened the academy, and all lives were lost. All except she, who had traveled back through time without knowing why… Will Lillet be able to find the truth in 5 days? Will she be able to bring an end to the endless loop (of 5 days)?
Gameplay – GrimGrimoire is a fantasy RTS title that plays out in two distinct ways, the first is the story segments that occur before and after battles. These scenes tell the story of the GrimGrimoire, adding further depth to the narrative and expanding the world and characters the player encounters. The other is the battles that take place on large 2D maps within the tower, with various victory conditions that can be attached.
The main objective that players will encounter is to destroy the bases of the opponent, deploying forces from their own bases called Runes. Each of the Runes is tied to a grimoire that falls under one of four types called schools. The magic schools are classed as Glamour, Necromancy, Sorcery and Alchemy. These different types have unique themes to them, with Glamour being connected to nature/fairies and Necromancy featuring ghosts/phantoms.
The four magic schools also have their own strengths and weaknesses against other types of magic, in a paper/scissors/rock style of system. This can change the flow of battles as different matchups can sway the tide of battle, or make an objective more challenging for players. The different grimoires of each school also have different features to them, which provide unique options for tactical choices during the different missions when unlocked.
In order to use these Runes, the player needs to collect Mana from crystals that are positioned in different points on the maps. When a battle starts, there will be at least one Rune for players to use and a set of units called familiars to deploy. The familiars have unique skills, with more powerful units needing more Mana to summon, with two distinct forms called Astral and Substance. Astral familiars are weak to magic, but immune to physical attacks which can help in tense battles.
Knowing what units to deploy and using the correct grimoires can make a world of difference when battling the enemy. This is due to the special abilities that some of the units have access to. For example, the Grimalkin cat familiar is able to put enemies to sleep and the dragon can break through walls. Effective deployment of skills for units will make it easier during some battles, as the difficulty can escalate quickly later in the game.
When a player creates a Rune or summon a unit, it can take some time for these actions to complete. The Runes themselves can be levelled up in exchange for Mana, which will grant the player additional options during the battle stages. These options include additional power to different familiars, new units to summon and reducing the cost of deploying Runes. New skills for Runes are initially locked, needing to be unlocked in the skill tree (discussed further below).
During the early segments of the game, the player is given tutorials explaining all of the features and providing explanations of the mechanics. This is where the player will learn how to use the different systems of the game, allowing players to learn before being dropped into the deep end. It is important to plan out a strategy when starting a battle, as there are a limited number of units that can be deployed and Mana is limited per crystal.
All battles can be won by completing the stated objective at the start, however, there is one universal victory condition that all stages can have. This is to destroy all of the enemy runes that are on the map, which can be very challenging depending on the limitations and enemies that are against the player. Outside of the main game, there are special trials that the player can challenge, offering special unique battles for players to take at their own pace.
Now with the core gameplay mechanics covered, it is time to cover the new features that have been added to the release;
Updated Visuals – the visuals of the game have been overhauled, with more vivid and detailed artwork for the battle maps, story scenes and enemy sprites. The screen also has a new wider aspect ratio, which allows players to see more of the battlefield at once.
Grand Magic – this is a new special mechanic to help turn the tide of battles, but its use is limited. These new Grand Magic spells can help the player when they are in a pinch, with four different special abilities for players to use. The spells include Mana Burst which deals massive damage to enemies and Sands of Time, which rewinds the battle to a previous point.
Skill Tree – this is where players can spend coins to unlock enhancements to runes, new familiars and more during the course of the game. To unlock the levels of a rune, players will need to spend a set amount of coins earned during play. These coins are given as rewards for completing optional objectives and can be refunded to try different skill options.
Gallery – when playing through the game, the player will unlock images and special artworks that have been created by the team at Vanillaware. There is over 90 different images for the player to unlock and view, with beautiful artwork depicting various scenes.
Gameplay Enhancements – there has been several changes made to the game, with a fast-forward to speed up battles, the ability to save during battle and updates to the difficulty balance.
These changes to the overall game and the new mechanics create a fresh experience, allowing returning players to feel like they are playing the game for the first time all over again. There is a lot of content for players to enjoy, with the ability to return to previous stages and replay them to take on the different bonus challenges. This is alongside the bonus trial challenges for players to take on.
Now with the gameplay covered, it is time to move onto the other aspects of this release, starting with the controls.
Controls – the control method for this game is laid out in a way that works well for a console RTS, as the thumbstick controls the cursor, with the d-pad quickly switching between units. The activation and deployment of units is easy to do with shoulder buttons for navigation, as well as camera controls to zoom in and out of the battlefield. This title plays very comfortably in both docked and handheld mode, regardless of if Joy-Cons or pro controllers are used.
Difficulty – there is a fair difficulty curve to this release, with the tutorials at the beginning laying a foundation for players to take on the later challenges. There is also the option for the player to select different difficulty options, which will adjust the amount of Mana earned from crystals and the damage dealt by enemies. There is also a special challenge that can be unlocked upon clearing the game, ramping up the difficulty even further.
Presentation – the visual style for this release has a beautiful stylized design to it, with the artwork for the characters, familiars and environments having a painted look for the most part. This works very well for the dark setting, as well as familiar designs that contrast well against each other. The cuteness of some units compared to the grotesque look of others, which builds the overall atmosphere of the game further.
The opening and cutscenes further adds further depth to this release, combined with a soundtrack that creates excitement and tension during the gameplay experience. The music and visuals are complimented by the fully voiced dialogue through the game, with a Japanese and English VO to choose from. The English cast features voice talent from Anime and video games, including Yuri Lowenthal (Naruto), Wendee Lee (Cowboy Bebop) and Michael Sorich (Fire Emblem).
Final Thoughts – when GrimGrimoire first came out, I sadly missed out on it, but I am extremely happy that I have been able to experience this refreshed version of this title. The action and strategy is tense, with the deep tactical system that is present via the Magic School and Rune system. This makes for battles that can be approached in a variety of ways, which further adds to the replay value that the game offers along with the bonus challenges.
I am happy to recommend this to players that are newcomers to the RTS genre and veterans alike, as it doesn’t really feel like a traditional title within the genre. The atmosphere, story and engaging gameplay that this title offers really pulled me in. All of these factors combined well, making me excited to see what comes next which is something I don’t often feel with RTS titles. This is one I will return to time and time again.
In the end, I give GrimGrimoire OnceMore a final score of 5/5. This is a fantastic RTS that breaks the mould of what a traditional strategy game has to offer, with a story/characters that have an distinct charm to them, a relatively deep strategic gameplay system and a lot of content for players to enjoy. If you want to check this title out for yourself, a link to each version of the game is below (there is also a demo for players to try before they buy).
Overview – developed by Katsu Entertainment and published by Hound Picked Games, Dogfight: a Sausage Bomber Story is a multiplayer scrolling shooter, mixing humor, action and sausages based weapons. Take on wave after wave of men in your sausage bomber, with your arsenal of unlockable weapons and upgrades. This title is available on all major platforms, with a link to each version of the game available at the bottom of this review.
Disclaimer: before I get into the review, I would like to thank PR Hound for providing the copy of Dogfight: a Sausage Bomber Story that was used for this piece. The provision of this software has not influenced the contents of this review, all thoughts and opinions contained within are my own.
Now with the introductions out of the way, let’s get into the review, starting off with the story.
Story – the mysterious Vega Nation has ambitions of taking over the world, invading the neighbouring areas and attempting to conquer all. The Sausage Bomber Corps has deployed their best team, made up of 4 talented pilots to take on the threat of this enemy. Can these brave pilots take down the nefarious plans and destroy the war machines, on a daring mission to defend the nations of Relishtonia, Krautsbourg, Dijon Terre and more.
Gameplay – Dogfight is a 4 player scrolling shooter, inspired by titles like Metal Slug, where the player takes on waves of enemies in intense shooting action. The objective of the game is to make it through each level, taking down enemies forces and defeating the bosses at the end of the each stage. To accomplish this, players must dodge and weave through a hail of enemy fire, with attacks sometimes filling the entire screen.
During the stages, the player is able to collect power-ups which can increase their fire power, provide satellites for extra support and refill the ships total health. There are also medals that can be collected which add to the players total score at the end of the stage, adding to the arcade feel of the experience. When a stage is cleared, a ranking will be provided for the player out of a total of 5 stars, with different requirements to hit the highest ranking.
While in combat, if the player takes damage, they will lose a portion of their health with the chance for instant defeat if making contact with a giant foe. But if the player loses all of their health from enemy fire, there is a chance for recovery by hitting the button prompt on screen as fast as possible. When the player successfully recovers, they are given a low portion of health to continue to play and the chance of restoring health.
Before boss battles, there are cutscenes and on screen effects that add comedic elements to the action, with interactions from the bosses. The bosses are challenging as they take up a large portion of the screen, with multi direction attacks that can fill up the remaining spaces during battles. The player must hit all of the weak points of the boss, taking out their weapons while attempting to avoid the different attack patterns.
Outside of the missions, the players are able to select their next mission from the menu, as well as the option to change the weapons that have been unlocked, including bomb and shot weapons. The stages that have already been cleared can be replayed to improve their score. There is also an option for players to speedrun the game, offering different speed settings to speed up the action to get a faster time with each subsequent attempt of the game.
Now with the gameplay covered, it is time to cover the other aspects of this release, starting with the controls.
Controls – this is an arcade style shooter, with a very simple control layout consisting of a shoot, bomb and turn button letting players fire the opposite direction. The inputs are smooth with little if any input lag, allowing for fast and intuitive action when playing the game at high speeds. This makes for a solid arcade style experience, regardless of the controller being used be it a Joy-Con, pro controller or even an arcade stick (which I would recommend as the best option).
Difficulty – the difficulty curve for this release is fair and balanced, with adjustable options for the player to set the game to their own personal skill level. There are several difficulty options to select from, with multiple settings for lives and the option to change the speed that the game moves in speedrun mode. These options make the game accessible for players of all skill levels to be able to play the game at a level that suits them.
Presentation – the visual style for this release is similar to that of a Saturday morning cartoon, which looks right at home on the Nintendo Switch. The sprite work consists of relatively simple yet detailed art, with multi-layered backgrounds that have a hand drawn look to them. The cutscenes that are used look great, which combine with the energetic soundtrack to create an overall package that has its own delightful charm to it.
Final Thoughts – when this game was announced, I was rather excited to see more of it. Then when I got my hands on this I was pulled in right from the start, as the action, pacing and overall charm of the game really pulled me in, with the multiplayer being an extra bonus. I can see where the comparisons to titles like Metal slug come from, as this has elements reminiscent of them, like the complex enemy patterns and giant bosses.
I can happily recommend this to anyone who likes action titles, as it hits all the right notes in terms of fast paced arcade action, replay value and balanced gameplay that isn’t punishing to new players. I feel that this is an excellent scrolling shooter, with a lot of potential, in terms of sequels in the future and a possible speed running/challenge community growing from this. I just wish the main game was a little longer.
In the end, I give Dogfight: a Sausage Bomber Story a final score of 4.5/5. This is an excellent acrade style scrolling shooter, with plenty of variety to the action and a charm that gives the overall package its own identity when compared to its inspirations. If you want to check this title out for yourself, a link to each version of the game will be below.
Overview – originally developed by Mitchell Corp and ported by Ratalaika Games, with publishing handed by ININ Games, Cannon Dancer: Osman is an arcade title coming to console for the first time. As the Mercenary Kirin, the player will travel through a dystopian future where they must battle wave after wave of enemies and monsters. This title is available on all console platforms, with a link to each version of the game and the physical version from SLG at the bottom of this review.
Disclaimer: before I get into the review, I would like to thank PR Hound for providing the copy of Cannon Dancer that was used for this piece. The provision of this software has not influenced the contents of this review, all thoughts and opinions contained within are my own.
Now with the introductions out of the way, let’s get into the review. I will be skipping the story and going straight into the gameplay, this is because I want players to experience the full package for themselves first hand.
Gameplay – Cannon Dancer is a classic side scrolling action title, developed as a spiritual successor to the Capcom title Strider, with intense platforming, action packed combat and challenging boss battles. The player has three actions that they can use, there are standard combo attacks, a jump/slide and a special fatal attack that can damage several enemies at once.
The attacks can be used in the air and powered up, with special items that can be collected that add more power through “afterimages” of the player. When the attacks are powered up fully, there is even more damage that can be done with an air blade attack. However, when the player takes damage they will lose one of the power up levels they have collected, with all levels lost if the player loses a life.
The player starts each credit with a three hit points, a single extra life and three uses of the special fatal attack. As the game progresses a fourth point can be added to give the player a little more durability in battle, which is important as this is a very difficult game. If the player loses both lives, they will need to use a credit to continue which will be limited depending on the mode chosen (discussed further below).
This game is made up of six stages, with some having different phases to them. At key points in a stage, there are scripted events that the player will encounter, such as mini boss battles and a chase that needs speed and precision to survive. These events are difficult and can lead to repeated death, which can be a frustration for players but the casual mode has unlimited credits which helps with this.
While short, this game is very challenging and can be very difficult. This is made even tougher as there is a lack of access to the game settings, not allowing players to change the difficulty or increase the number of lives per credit. To compensate for this, the game offers settings known as “enhancements” which can add a double jump and invincibility to different actions.
There are also cheats that the player can add to the game, which include infinite health, full invincibility and permanent full power ups. These cheats and the enhancements are just a few features, as there is also the ability to rewind the game and make save states freely, letting players stop and resume when they want. All together these features can make the game much easier for players who may be struggling.
When playing the game, players have access to the international version of the game as Osman and the Japanese domestic version as Cannon Dancer. There is no difference between these two versions aside from the text language/title screen. There is also the option for two different game mode that players can play, with a causal mode where the player can freely add cheats/enhnacemnets, as well as a challenge mode with limited options.
Now with the gameplay covered, it is time to move onto the other aspects of this release, starting with the controls.
Controls – as an arcade title, there are limited inputs in this game with only movement and three actions. The different additional inputs like credits are laid out in a way that is comfortable, but if players need to reset the controls, the button layout can be altered. This is perfect for those who want to play the game with a different controller, like a classic game pad or arcade stick that lacks thumbsticks.
Difficulty – this game is incredibly difficult with only a single preset difficulty setting. The challenge can be punishing for players who aren’t used to games that are similar to its inspiration Strider. The enhancements and cheats can make the game more bearable for players who struggle, but it may be too much for others. I would recommend checking this game out via gameplay video, as that can give players an idea of what to expect.
Presentation – this title is a 2D side scroller with excellent pixel based sprite work, which look very good for the time. The music for this also adds to the atmosphere of an intense dystopian adventure, with crisp audio throughout. Since it is an emulation port, there are additional settings for players to add to the visuals. The additional options include screen size changes and filters that can alter the overall look of the game.
Final Thoughts – I always enjoy a good classic arcade game being brought to modern platforms, with this being no different. However, there are some flaws to this release that negatively impact the experience. While the developer added the additional features to the title via enhancements, the lack of access to the games dipswitch settings gives players less flexibility and freedom to enjoy the game.
The high difficulty level of the game can cause extended frustration to players, potentially putting them off from persisting with the player. This is a shame as the overall gameplay experience can be fun, as well as giving players a chance to play a title that was long forgotten many years ago. I am unsure if I can recommend this title to anyone other than those who enjoy brutal challenges, as the steep difficulty curve can likely hinder most players.
In the end, I give Cannon Dancer: Osman a final score of 3.5/5. This is a very challenging arcade title that has finally had a release after over 25 years of being stuck in arcades, which is really tough and can be a lot of fun. However, the high level of difficulty can be off putting for players who may lack experience with this type of game. If you want to check this title out for yourself, a link to each version of the game will be below.
W.Kohaku Media 