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Death Howl gets physical next year
Death Howl gets physical next yearSilver Lining Interactive has announced a partnership with developer The Outer Zone and digital publisher 11 bit studios to release a physical edition of Death Howl for PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch in early 2026. Death Howl combines elements of soulslike combat and deck-building strategy, inviting players into a world where spirits roam and sorrow shapes the journey. Set in myth-shrouded lands, the story follows Ro, a hunter and grieving mother, as she ventures into the spirit realm in an attempt to bring back her son. As players progress through haunted regions such as the Forest of Howling Shadows and the Meadows of Delusion, they will uncover hidden memories and long-buried truths tied to Ro’s past. Gameplay in Death Howl centers on strategic deck-building, resource gathering, and grid-based combat against spirits and formidable bosses. Players can collect ingredients, craft cards to expand their tactical options, and utilize shamanic totems that grant access to additional abilities. The combat system blends melee and ranged spellcasting, requiring players to balance offense and defense while adjusting their decks to suit evolving challenges. The physical edition will include a digital copy of the game’s soundtrack, and pre-orders will be available soon through Silver Lining Direct and select retail partners.
Nov 4
All Artifact Locations in Sons Of The Forest
All Artifact Locations in Sons Of The Forest One of the most important items in Sons of the Forest is the Artifacts, and these Artifacts have been split into seven pieces that are scattered all across the island. Recovering these artifacts will unlock powerful abilities, so we decided to make a guide on where you can find all the artifacts in the Sons […] This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
Nov 3
New Shonen Jump Manga Are Money Forest and Mage Next Door
New Shonen Jump Manga Are Money Forest and Mage Next Door Shueisha announced two new Shonen Jump manga series, both of which feature simulpub English releases, called The Mage Next Door and Money Forest . The former runs in Weekly Shonen Jump , while the latter is a Shonen Jump+ series. Each one will run on a weekly schedule, so the first chapters are live on MangaPlus now and the second ones will both debut on November 9, 2025. The Mage Next Door is a series from Hideaki Nabe, who previously worked on a number of one-shot manga. Toya Osoegawa is a mage from the human world who isn’t continually striving to get better and become a stronger master of magic. Instead, his spells focus on being happy and relaxed, like floating when reading manga and or easing sore muscles. He’s the Divine Magus’ student though, and his latest task is to head back to the human world to defeat evil mages. The series follows his adventures there. Meanwhile, Money Forest is a manga series from Kyohei Tawara, who previously worked on Rengoku no Toshi. (That ran in Shonen Jump+ too.) An elf named Rhodri is sent to a forest to deal with an infestation of greedy, violent humans attacking and enslaving elves and setting fire to their homes. But Rhodri is fighting back, using weapons and money. This is the second week in a row to feature a new Shonen Jump manga. At the very end of October 2025, Gonron Egg debuted. The next new chapters of Shonen Jump manga series The Mage Next Door and Money Forest will appear on MangaPlus on November 9, 2025.  The post New Shonen Jump Manga Are Money Forest and Mage Next Door appeared first on Siliconera .
Nov 3
Druid Rising invites you to nurture your own forest and engage in strategic battles, pre-registration now live on Android
Druid Rising invites you to nurture your own forest and engage in strategic battles, pre-registration now live on AndroidLUNOSOFT INC, known for Hunter Party: Idle RPG, Idle Keeper: AFK Universe RPG, and more, has announced that its latest idle RPG, Druid Rising, is now available for pre-registration on Android. Get ready for unpredictable strategic battles and a forest-bound journey Druid Rising is an idle RPG where your strength grows hand in hand with the … The post Druid Rising invites you to nurture your own forest and engage in strategic battles, pre-registration now live on Android appeared first on GamingonPhone .
Nov 1
Druid Rising blends forest nurturing with strategic combat, opens pre-registration on Android
Druid Rising blends forest nurturing with strategic combat, opens pre-registration on AndroidLUNOSOFT INC., known for Hunter Party: Idle RPG, Idle Keeper: AFK Universe RPG, and more, has announced that its latest idle RPG, Druid Rising, is now available for pre-registration on Android. Prepare for unpredictable strategic battles and a forest-bound journey Druid Rising is an idle RPG where your strength grows hand in hand with the forest … The post Druid Rising blends forest nurturing with strategic combat, opens pre-registration on Android appeared first on GamingonPhone .
Nov 1
DORA: RAINFOREST RESCUE LAUNCHES WITH ADVENTURE-PACKED GAMEPLAY AND BELOVED CHARACTERS
DORA: RAINFOREST RESCUE LAUNCHES WITH ADVENTURE-PACKED GAMEPLAY AND BELOVED CHARACTERSThe new console adventure featuring Dora is now available across all platforms, featuring interactive mini-games and 2-player family co-op Outright Games, the leading publisher of family-friendly interactive entertainment, in partnership with Paramount, today launches Dora: Rainforest Rescue, the highly anticipated puzzle-platform adventure based on the CG-animated DORA series. The game is now available in stores […] The post DORA: RAINFOREST RESCUE LAUNCHES WITH ADVENTURE-PACKED GAMEPLAY AND BELOVED CHARACTERS appeared first on Capsule Computers .
Oct 28
Chrono Trigger Orchestral Arrangement: Melodies Across Time Soundtrack Debuts in 2026
Chrono Trigger Orchestral Arrangement: Melodies Across Time Soundtrack Debuts in 2026 Square Enix announced that there will be a Chrono Trigger Orchestral Arrangement: Melodies Across Time CD based on new versions of songs from the game’s soundtrack. Those tracks will be performed during the concert of the same name during shows on January 17-18, 2026. The CD will debut in Japan on January 14, 2026nand worldwide in January 2026, and the official site already included a link to the North American storefront’s product page . It will cost $32.99/¥4,180. This comes after Square Enix confirmed there were projects in the works to celebrate the series' 30th anniversary . There’s no teaser video offering examples of what these new takes on songs from the Chrono Trigger soundtrack will sound like. However, we do know what the tracklist looks like. In some cases, the renditions involve medleys of tracks. 10 total will be available. Here’s the full list: “Presentiment / Chrono Trigger” “Secret of the Forest / Wind Scene” “Courage and Pride / Frog's Theme” “Lab 16's Ruin / Robo's Theme” “The Day the World Revived / Lavos' Theme” “Brink of Time / Delightful Spekkio / Fanfare 3” “Primitive Mountain / Ayla's Theme” “Determination / Wings That Cross Time” “World Revolution / Last Battle” “To Far Away Times” You can also see the cover art image of the album, which shows all the party members on stage performing with various instruments. Here's how that looks: Image via Square Enix The  Chrono Trigger Orchestral Arrangement: Melodies Across Time CD of songs from the soundtrack will debut on January 14, 2026 in Japan and in January 2026 worldwide. The JRPG is available on the SNES, DS, PlayStation, PC, and mobile devices worldwide. The post Chrono Trigger Orchestral Arrangement: Melodies Across Time Soundtrack Debuts in 2026 appeared first on Siliconera .
Oct 27
Bylina Gets Gameplay Trailer
Bylina Gets Gameplay Trailer During the latest Galaxies Showcase, Fulqrum Publishing and Far Far Games released a new trailer for action RPG Bylina . The minute-long trailer, titled Pump It Up, showcases the players taking on various foes. The game is planned to release later this year for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Bylina is based on Slavic myths and folklore. It follows Falconet, a young bogatyr (effectively a wandering knight) who is born without heroic powers and shunned by those around him. He finds himself in the Far Far Kingdom, where a mysterious spirit ends up sharing his body. The game sees players exploring various locations, from sunlit forests to gloomy dungeons and castles, that have their own strange inhabitants, challenges, treasures, and puzzles. Players have access to a variety of techniques, spells, and weapons.   The post Bylina Gets Gameplay Trailer appeared first on RPGamer .
Oct 26
Share of the Week: Ghost of Yōtei – Landscapes
Share of the Week: Ghost of Yōtei – LandscapesLast week, we asked you to share beautiful landscapes in Ghost of Yōtei using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights: ​​ ForgottenJasmin shares a forest of red-leaved trees framing a castle fortress SheikhSadi80 shares a sea cliffside view DeathStalker131 shares a mountain shrine view valeria_ame shares horses running past Mount Yōtei at sunset call_me_xavii […]
Oct 24
Mouseward Announced
Mouseward Announced Developer Finite Reflection Studios announced Soulslike RPG Mouseward . The title, billed as taking inspiration from 3D Nintendo 64 adventure games, is being developed for PC and available to wishlist on Steam . An early build of the game is also available on itch.io . Mouseward takes place in a kingdom ravaged following a starfall that came with celestial fragments, which warp the world and revive the dead. It follows a royal mouse guard brought back to life and tasked with collecting celestial fragments scattered through the kingdom. His perilous journey takes him to rat castles and foggy forests filled with hidden passages, cryptic clues, and environmental puzzles. The real-time combat requires players to manage their stamina while timing their parries, dodges, and strikes against corrupted foes. Players can customise their playstyle with a variety of weapons, armor sets, and arcane abilities.   The post Mouseward Announced appeared first on RPGamer .
Oct 24
Roguelike Deckbuilder Talespinner Gets Demo
Roguelike Deckbuilder Talespinner Gets Demo Publisher Kwalee and developer Flash Cat Games have announced a demo for roguelike deckbuilder Talespinner . The new demo is available to try out on PC via Steam . The demo includes one playable character and lets players experience the beginning of the game’s story. It lets players choose between two narrative paths that take them into the Bamboo Forests or the Rice Fields. It also includes twenty-four random events and access to over fifty companions, plus two twists designed for hardcore players. Talespinner sees players guide their chosen hero through an adventure inspired by Japanese mythology, with the narrative shaped by their decisions and deck construction. The game is planned to feature three playable characters and three distinct scenarios with over two-hundred battle cards, over fifty enemy types, sixteen bosses, and eight biomes.   The post Roguelike Deckbuilder Talespinner Gets Demo appeared first on RPGamer .
Oct 24
New Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy Trailers Show Cloud, Rinoa, Terra, and Krile
New Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy Trailers Show Cloud, Rinoa, Terra, and Krile Square Enix is gradually sharing videos of Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy characters on social media ahead of launch, and the next four focus on Krile from FFV, Terra from FFVI , Cloud from FFVII, Rinoa from FFVIII . This means the latest round of footage features a mix of Melee, Ranged, and Support footage. All of the gameplay teasers show the characters in their traditional costumes. Krile is a Support-type character in the game. She will be the youngest character in the game at launch. The post accompanying the teaser noted she can increase the Bravery of others in the party to ensure their attacks hit harder. That footage also shows her using the Legend of the Deep Forest UR Ability. https://twitter.com/DDFF_EN/status/1980833995496583383 Meanwhile, Terra is one of two Ranged DPS Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy characters to come up in the latest announcements. We see her first use Tornado, then the UR Riot Blade Ability in her video . https://twitter.com/DDFF_EN/status/1980924588038176914 Cloud is the lone Melee DPS in this Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy announcement batch. His video starts with him using Ascension, before then using the SR Sprint Ability. That’s followed up with an SR Finishing Touch attack. https://twitter.com/DDFF_EN/status/1981196379423715488 Finally, Rinoa is the second Ranged DPS in this batch of Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy videos . That clip begins with her using the Sorceress’ Leap move to close the distance between her and an opponent. Once close, she uses the R Frigid Rain Ability to attack. The next segment shows her using the UR Meteor Ability against enemies. https://twitter.com/DDFF_EN/status/1981286976209744374 Right now, Square Enix seems to be sharing these clips at a rate of two per day. The Warrior of Light from FFI and Kain from FFIV already showed up online . Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy  will come to Android and iOS devices in 2026, with the closed Android beta test taking place  between November 7-14, 2025 . The post New Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy Trailers Show Cloud, Rinoa, Terra, and Krile appeared first on Siliconera .
Oct 23
Chucklefish Witchbrook Life Sim Delayed
Chucklefish Witchbrook Life Sim Delayed Chucklefish announced that Witchbrook , the life sim about attending a school to learn magic, is delayed and won’t launch in 2025. Its new release window is 2026. The developer also noted that it is investigating additional platforms aside from the already announced Switch and PC versions. It also shared the game’s map online. Witchbrook has been in development at Chucklefish since March 2018 . Following that initial reveal, the developer took it slow and sparingly released screenshots and updates in 2020 and 2021 . In 2022, the product page debuted on Steam . It also noted in 2023 that the pacing was due to them shooting for no crunch. March 2025 is when the Winter 2025 release window finally came up, with a major trailer appearing during a Nintendo Direct . When discussing this delay, the developer noted a desire to ensure overall quality, more possible platforms, and maybe additional localizations. It also noted there will be updates on avatars and the world before 2025 ends. As for the Witchbrook Mossport map, that is on a dedicated site . Chucklefish confirmed that any area that is in color and not sepia-toned is a place we will be able to visit. It is possible to zoom in and out. There are also a few point of interest icons that include details and screenshots about specific places and attractions, such as Arcane Arts, Lecture Theatre, North Hallway, Shadhollow Forest, Tea-Making Class, and Witchbrook College.  Witchbrook is in development for the Switch and PC, and its release date is delayed out of 2025 into 2026. The post Chucklefish Witchbrook Life Sim Delayed appeared first on Siliconera .
Oct 15
Prop Haunt – Preview
Prop Haunt – PreviewRight in time for spooky season, we’re looking at Prop Haunt, a 4v1 multiplayer horror game by indie studio Silent Forest Games. Currently in Early Access, this horror experience leans more into the casual side, with four players taking the role of ghosts that haunt a building. The last player is a paranormal investigator who must evade the ghosts’ tricks and eliminate them all before they take over. It’s simple, but a lot of fun, especially if you can get some friends along for the journey. Settle in on a cold autumn night, and let’s see what kind of mischief we can get up to. Prop Haunt immediately charms with the straightforwardness of the setup, needing little in explanation of narrative or lore. A building is haunted by ghosts, and it’s the investigator’s job to exorcise them. If they don’t, the ghosts can gather up enough power to destroy full rooms and even pierce the veil between the living and the dead. And we probably don’t need to tell you why that has to be avoided. Overall, the game looks good, if a little bit rough around the edges. We can tell that Prop Haunt was made with downloaded assets. Still, they’re all utilized well to make for visually interesting rooms, with multiple maps allowing for some variety in the settings you get to haunt or investigate. Similarly, the user interface feels a little clunky to us, with the amount of text on screen and the constant button prompts. However, putting these small design flaws aside, the game’s graphics are nicely put together for somebody’s first official project. We feel similar about the music and sound effects. They’re far from terrible, but seem to mainly consist of stock audio. Nothing terrible about that, and some of the music was actually pretty dang good. The game encourages sitting in VC for proper communication between the ghosts that are working together, though the investigator is on their own for the run of the match. As mentioned, Prop Haunt is a 4v1 multiplayer horror game with pretty simplistic mechanics and more of a party game vibe, though that doesn’t mean there are no scares lurking around the corner. The game will be vastly different, depending on whether you’re playing as a ghost or the investigator. The ghosts work in a team of up to four players, though you can also play the game with one ghost and one investigator if you want a hard challenge. But due to difficulty scaling, we recommend making sure your ghost team consists of at least two players. As a ghost, you can move around the building into different rooms and haunt items. The nature of the haunting can differ, and you have free rein on what objects to haunt. Haunting items without being caught will allow you to increase your power, eventually leading to more tricks you can pull. A lot of these tricks will further impede the investigator’s progress. You can cut out their power, for example, or cause technical failures that prevent the investigator from catching ghosts. You can even jumpscare the poor guy if you’re feeling evil. While the ghosts do outnumber the investigator, being subtle and working together is still key, since the investigator can easily win by wiping all the ghosts out near the start of the game. Meanwhile, the ghosts need to bide their time, building up enough power through hauntings to destroy entire rooms. If they destroy enough rooms, they win the match. If you’re playing as the investigator, it’s your job to keep an eye on the cameras, cycle through different rooms, and catch ghosts in the act. The quicker you can catch them, the more you can prevent them from gathering their powers. But as the match progresses and the ghosts become stronger, they can start messing with you more. Sometimes, they even force you to get up from your desk and move around, which suddenly transforms the game into a more classic first-person horror. The game is obviously more tense and scary when you play as the investigator, but we recommend playing the game in either position at least once to see what you like more. It’s definitely a good time whichever one you pick. Conclusion Prop Haunt is relatively new on the scene of multiplayer horror, but we personally found it a nice change of pace compared to other games in the genre. We think it’s more fun playing this with friends and not strangers, as the rivalry between the investigator and ghosts is best experienced that way. But for an Early Access game, this already offers a lot, and we’re excited to see what more will be added.
Oct 13
Nice Day for Fishing Physical Release Landing in November
Nice Day for Fishing Physical Release Landing in November Silver Lining Interactive announced that it will be releasing a physical edition of FusionPlay and Team17 Digital's fishing RPG Nice Day for Fishing . The physical edition will release for PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch on November 21, 2025. It is available to pre-order now through Silver Lining's online store for £34.99, as well as selected local retailers. Nice Day for Fishing released digitally for PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch earlier this year. The game is a licenced title based on the Viva La Dirt League sketch group’s Epic NPC Man series. Players control the fisherman Baelin, who must defend the town of Honeywood through the only profession he knows after the world’s adventurers go missing. The game sees players engage in fishing battles to fulfil quests, grow stronger, and gain new spells and equipment. Players need to equip the right bait and time their attacks to succeed. Baeilin will travel through the Honeywood forest to the Azerim coast on his adventure, while finding resources that can be used to rebuild Honeywood to its former glory.   The post Nice Day for Fishing Physical Release Landing in November appeared first on RPGamer .
Oct 9
Fractured Worlds Playtest Underway
Fractured Worlds Playtest Underway Developer Laser Guided Games is holding a playtest for its upcoming action RPG Fractured Worlds . Those wishing to take part in the playtest can request access via Steam and the Epic Games Store . The playtest, which allows players to play through a part of the game, features online co-op, procedurally generated dungeons, dozens of skills, and boss encounters. Fractured Worlds is set in a dark fantasy world where a cataclysm fragmented reality into multiple realms. Players are tasked with exploring these realms and uncovering the truth behind the fractured state of the world. The classless progression lets players wield different types of weapons, each with their own weight, speed, and moveset. Exploration takes players to procedurally generated environments such as medieval dungeons, enchanted forests, and futuristic industrial cities. Players can share map shards with each other, which allows co-op gameplay in dungeons with random modifiers, riches, and encounters. Fractured Worlds is expected to release in 2026 for PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store.   The post Fractured Worlds Playtest Underway appeared first on RPGamer .
Oct 5
Pokemon TCG: The Best Mega Evolution Cards
Pokemon TCG: The Best Mega Evolution Cards You’ll never guess what the new Pokemon Trading Card Game expansion, Mega Evolution , adds to the game! Okay, yes, you will. But nevertheless, Mega Evolutions haven’t been in the TCG since the Sun & Moon days, so what’s changed and how do they fit into today’s game ? (Also, do any of them have really cool art?) We’ll answer these tough questions. The coolest Pokemon Trading Card Game Mega Evolution cards Perhaps most notable are the Mega Evolutions themselves , since in addition to being the marketing focus, they also work differently from before in Pokemon Trading Card Game . In their last iteration, they were extra evolutions, placed atop existing EX creatures and requiring you to end your turn unless you had a workaround. Now, they’re just a version of that creature. Kangaskhan is a Basic? Mega Kangaskhan ex is also a basic. Lucario’s a Stage 1 that evolves from Riolu? Then so’s Mega Lucario ex. Along with this, they’re now three-prize creatures, retaining a bit of risk in exchange for the easier play. There are ten Mega cards in this set, one for each energy type, and most of them do something interesting. For example, the new Venusaur brings back its ability from the Base Set, allowing you to move grass energy around at will. Mega Gardevoir can both load up other creatures with energy and attack using them, making it a powerful force once again for another generation of TCG players. Photo by Siliconera The most interesting Pokemon TCG Mega Evolution cards There’s a suite of ability creatures that might be situationally useful. Shuckle needs one energy attached to work, but it can heal for 30 every turn. Ninjask ’s Cast-Off Shell gets you a Shedinja directly into play, which has its own use as a zero-prize blocker. Cinderace is probably too much of a risk for high-level play, but if it’s in your opening hand, it can be played directly and has a tempting one-energy attack. Garganacl powers up Fighting types, but it’s a lot to play to do it. As the start of a new “series” for the TCG, Mega Evolution brings with it a refresh of some elements and accessories. For example, the Elite Trainer Box now has a recycled plastic insert to hold things more securely, a larger coin, and even new damage dice that help usability a bit by making the “100” side stand out. The new energy designs are fairly tame and inoffensive, and it looks like a standard alternate treatment for all the Megas will be a silhouette of their normal form in the background. Photo by Siliconera The most meta-relevant Mega Evolution cards Meganium is a project to get into play as a Stage 2, but its Wild Growth ability doubles all grass energy and could be a big part of any decks featuring that type. There are probably also some Megas that will break through. Mega Lucario ex and Mega Gardevoir ex seem like strong candidates, with both setup and sweeper moves. Mega Kangaskhan ex might also, with its card draw and no need for colored energy, but you better have some trainers ready to switch it out. We’re talking a lot about evolutions, so it’s a given that the reprint of Rare Candy will remain a factor in high-speed pro play. In fact, given that it’s a new series, a lot of the Trainer selection is staple reprints, leaving little room for new stuff. Still, there seems to be a focus on single-type-boosting Stadium cards , like the quick-evolve Forest of Vitality for grass or the card draw of Mystery Garden for psychic. There’s a chance one of these breaks through alongside a meta-defining sweeper. The cutest Mega Evolution cards The pickings are maybe a bit slimmer than we’d like in this expansion, but we still have some selections! Vulpix , Stufful and Pachirisu frolicking about are no-brainers, for sure, but they work better than usual with a softer aesthetic. Buneary is probably the most obvious, as its design looks like something the company would print on flowery accessories. There are also a few nice illustration rares . Vulpix again? Yeah, Vulpix again. Also a Stufful that has absolutely wrecked someone’s bedroom. And we’re not sure what’s going on with the full art Lt. Surge’s Bargain , but we like it! The latest Pokemon Trading Card Game expansion, Mega Evolution , launched on September 26, 2025 and is out now . For more coverage of the Pokemon TCG, check out our archive . The post Pokemon TCG: The Best Mega Evolution Cards appeared first on Siliconera .
Oct 4
Heart Of The Forest Is A New Interactive Horror Game Coming To PS5 In Q1 2026
Heart Of The Forest Is A New Interactive Horror Game Coming To PS5 In Q1 2026Interactive Horror game Heart of the Forest is coming to PS5 in Q1 2026. Get more details from Wales Interactive here. The post Heart Of The Forest Is A New Interactive Horror Game Coming To PS5 In Q1 2026 appeared first on PlayStation Universe .
Oct 2
How To Get Obsidiron Ingot In 99 Nights in the Forest?
How To Get Obsidiron Ingot In 99 Nights in the Forest? 99 Nights in the Forest is on of the best survival experiences in Roblox, because it constantly challanges you to gather resources and craft essential items in the game. Since the introduction of the Meteor Shower in game, we have decided to make a small guide on how we get Obsidiron Ingots in 99 Night […] This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
Sep 30
Super Robot Wars Y Review
Super Robot Wars Y Review Lady Zechs, Where Are My Keys?! I have been in a twenty-year relationship with a giant robot nerd. Over the course of our relationship, my husband has spent a large amount of time building my giant robot franchise knowledge, from the seventies classics to the current crop of new shows that have plenty to offer. I've watched him play multiple Super Robot Wars games, complaining in the background as to why he wasn’t using some of my favourite characters, or why JAM Project's "Heats" from Shin Getter Robo wasn't playing on repeat. It was to his surprise that he found me on the couch with a PlayStation 5, a copy of Super Robot Wars Y , and an intense, newfound addiction. That's right — I became addicted to Super Robot Wars Y , and I've learned the joys of smashing the robot toys together in what I believe are plotlines made up by children as a way for all these franchises to come together and create epic crossovers. Super Robot Wars Y begins with the player selecting between a male or female protagonist who is a member of a stealthy organization known as NINJA, which stands for New Infinity Neuron Japanese Assassin. They are tasked with protecting Echika, a wealthy young girl who, on her fourteenth birthday, learns that she is the official leader of the A. Advent, a mobile city-state. With her new bodyguard and crew in tow, Echika and her comrades must handle potential invasions from nefarious world organizations, kaiju attacks, and more. Along their journey, they meet and recruit fan favourite characters from popular anime franchises and thus begins this bonkers adventure. Part of the joy that comes with Super Robot Wars Y is being able to see how all the different characters from various franchises interact with one another. With twenty-plus series being represented, some for the first time, there are tons of fun and hilarious story beats throughout the game, such as adults wanting a break from the younger protagonists. Then all hell breaks loose, to the excitement of a pop concert being invaded by enemy forces. Nothing in Y ever feels normal, with every bit of the game's fifty-plus hour story maintaining its high Saturday morning cartoon energy from start to finish. There is so much energy and vibrancy in this cast, with some of the best interactions coming from Takuma from Getter Robo Arc and Domon Kasshu from Mobile Fighter G Gundam . Even if one is unfamiliar with a franchise on screen, the game does a great job of providing a wealth of information about the stories and characters within it. While this reviewer wasn't familiar with Reideen the Brave or Combattler V , the game's battles provide so much storytelling that it will make one want to explore those series after turning the game off. [caption id="attachment_166471" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Making her franchise debut... Suletta Mercury![/caption] There are so many stories being told at once throughout the fifty-plus hours it takes to complete a playthrough. It creates a story whiplash, as every franchise and original character gets their own main stories and side stories that must be completed. However, the game blends different franchises, particularly if they already have a connection (such as Mazinger and Getter Robo Arc being created by Go Nagai), together fairly seamlessly. One of the more fun elements is seeing how all the Gundam pilots across franchises react and interact with newcomer Suletta Mercury from Witch from Mercury , especially given her hard-loving Golden Retriever vibes. Many of the franchises have similar themes across the board, such as the horrors of war, the apocalypse, and fighting for those who cannot protect themselves. Even the original characters for Y are all likeable, charming, and play nice with all of the other franchises. Where the story struggles is more based on a player's preference for a particular franchise, in this case a personal dislike for the storylines focused on Majestic Prince or Macross . One's mileage will vary, as some characters and plotlines are just more engaging than others. What is notable to the Super Robot Wars franchise is the fact that a lot of the game's narrative is told during combat sequences, and Y is no different. While a lot of the story sequences are visually flat-looking with talking heads, the actual stories being told are interesting, with every story combat section having its own twists and turns, from different mustache-twirling villains appearing to new friendly units joining the fray. Part of the game's overall charm really boils down to the excitement of who is joining the team and the badass introduction they receive. Battles are tactical affairs wherein the player places a number of units onto the battlefield. During combat, players will be able to move, attack, use spirit commands, and assist links. While moving and attacking are straightforward, spirit commands are skills possessed by each unit, which allow them to power up, heal, move faster, or dodge better. As the game progresses and pilots level up, they acquire more unique spirits, such as the ability to take more turns or supercharge themselves to have all the spirits bestowed upon them. Every unit has a set amount of spirit points, and managing them is crucial to how combat players out. [caption id="attachment_166466" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Don't mess with Team Getter![/caption] As units take out enemies, they fill an assist gauge and, depending on the number of points in that gauge, they can also summon support help during battle, including healing, extra damage output, or energy refills. A lot happens during combat that players need to be aware of, and while it may be overwhelming at first, once it all clicks, specific mech units begin to feel like wrecking balls, mowing down enemy grunts. Combatants also have morale, and as it increases, so does their damage output or, in the case of specific units, allows them to move into their Super Mode, allowing them to harness specific abilities that cannot be used initially. Once morale has hit its peak, battles become a glorious, chaotic charge, and watching the damage output go up is hugely satisfying. That being said, there is a lot to manage during combat. Some missions will have players babysitting specific units, especially if the player likes to stick to the same few each battle. Therefore, it's important to bust out lower-level units to ensure that they level up and can stay alive when forced into action. Battle conditions can change on the fly, and players need to be able to adapt quickly, meaning having a good variety of long-range and close-combat units becomes important. During the enemy phase, players will need to endure onslaughts of foes, either using spirits to avoid taking a hit or trust in a unit's ability to tank them. There's a lot of risk and reward in Y 's battle system, and sometimes bad draws will occur. Still, part of what makes it so engaging is how unpredictable combat can be, and having to weigh one's options with a lot of thought and consideration. Unit placement plays heavily into strategy, and one distinct element to the series is that certain moves can only be done while standing still, but often have a much larger range. Units like Heavyarms Custom from Gundum Wing benefit from being stationary, as its range is larger than other units. The other thing to consider is how many enemies a player can hit in an attack, and that's where Map Attacks shine. There is nothing more satisfying than blowing up multiple enemy units in one attack, but the downside is that Map Attacks require specific placement to even become available to the player. There is so much to consider during combat; rushing in is almost always a recipe for disaster, but playing too methodically has its drawbacks as well. [caption id="attachment_166464" align="aligncenter" width="640"] V-V-V-Victorrrrrrrry![/caption] There is an intermission phase after each mission where players can level up pilots with new skills or upgrade mechs to have more mobility, sight, and even weapon power. Upgrading units to certain points will also grant them additional passive skills. Unfortunately, there are a lot of menus to comb through, and overwhelmingly so. These menus also don't do a great job for newcomers in terms of understanding what a lot of the game's jargon is, and having to reference the glossary frequently is not great. Clicking through so many menus to find specific information, be in a unit's equipped spirits or basic statistics, is a cumbersome experience. It also doesn't help that buying skills and upgrades is very expensive, meaning the player will need to play through some of the skirmishes that are meant for grinding, unnecessarily adding to an already long runtime. There are a lot of parts and skills that feel superfluous, and trying to weigh their pros and cons due to the game's jargon is boring to say the least, when all one really wants to do is smash the toys together. In keeping with the series, Super Robot Wars Y 's visuals are adequate, though it's clear the majority of the budget went to animating the attacks performed by the various mecha and super robots. These animations are stunning, rich with detail and colour, and do a great job of showing how absurd certain character attacks can be, such as Domon Kasshu and Rain from G Gundam performing Love Love Tenkyoden and having the dance animated while they yell the importance of both their love and how their hands are burning red. That being said, the still frame moments during the story portions are bland, with very minimal facial expressions, and while there are so many characters to keep track of, certain franchises look the same and uninspired. There are only a handful of different types of maps, such as space, mountain, and forest. There are only small changes to give them a bit of difference, likely in the form of a plot-related building, making them serviceable but uninteresting. In contrast, a lot of the robot spirits are distinct looking, meaning players won't get confused by who is who. [caption id="attachment_166467" align="aligncenter" width="640"] SHIIIIIIIIIININNNNNG FINNNNNGER![/caption] The game's soundtrack, however, is amazing. Not only are players treated to each unit's theme song, but the game's original music will have players rocking out and having a grand old time. Hearing "White Reflection" from Gundam Wing Endless Waltz while the Wing boys attack never gets old, while the cheeky 1970s-vibe Reideen and Combattler V theme songs are earworms that one will find oneself humming along to, even when least suspecting it. There is a fantastic mixture of theme songs, as well as more somber tunes for the game's more serious moments, and more upbeat and playful tracks when Y isn't taking itself too seriously. Listening to the game's soundtrack during all aspects, from combat to story, is easily one of the game's major highlights. While there is absolutely more to gush about, the bottom line is that Super Robot Wars Y is a high-octane ride from start to finish. There's so much to love here in terms of the game's robust combat system, the excellent mixture of franchises that are both new and old, and a soundtrack that absolutely slaps. Having never previously played a Super Robot Wars game, I can confidently say that while there are a lot of systems and franchises to understand, once everything clicks, it becomes an addictive experience, making it great for newcomers. While not every franchise feels equal in its inclusion, I have been begging my husband to find ways for us to watch some of the shows I am less familiar with, thanks to their appearance in Y . Despite some flaws, Super Robot Wars Y is a complete joy to play, and it definitely has me wanting to explore more games in this long-running franchise. Disclosure: This review is based on a free copy of the game provided by the publisher. The post Super Robot Wars Y Review appeared first on RPGamer .
Sep 30
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