Schlagwort: playstation games

  • Away: The Survival Series Takes You on a Journey into the Wild

    Away: The Survival Series Takes You on a Journey into the Wild

    Reading Time: 4 minutes

    Three years ago, our team set out to make the game we had always wanted to play. One where you could not only play as an animal, but actually step inside a wildlife documentary and experience nature from an entirely new perspective. Today, we are excited to announce that Away: The Survival Series will be coming out on PlayStation 4, and we can’t wait to tell you more about the game!

    Set in a distant future, Away takes you on the adventures of the Sugar Glider. As natural disasters threaten the survival of every species on the planet, you must venture deep into the wilderness in search of safe sanctuary. Your journey will take you across breathtaking environments filled with dangerous creatures as you uncover the mysterious origins of your world.

    Bringing Nature to Life

    In order to feel truly immersed in nature, we set out to create a visually stunning world filled with colourful, vibrant environments. Given the Sugar Glider’s small size, we made sure every plant, leaf, and blade of grass was accounted for, and this attention to detail pays off when you navigate the wide variety of landscapes in Away.

    We also designed the environments around the Sugar Glider’s ability to jump, climb, and glide through its surroundings. This flexibility allows you to navigate the world around you in any way you see fit. Whether you’re wandering through the forest, exploring a dark cavern, or gliding through a canyon, each part of your journey will immerse you in nature in a way you’ve never experienced before.

    Enter the Animal Kingdom

    As you make your way across the world of Away, you will encounter living, breathing ecosystems filled with predators and prey of all shapes and sizes. From small insects to large mammals, the animals you see in the wild each lead a life of their own, interacting with each other independently of your adventures.

    Of course, you will also be able to interact with these animals as you encounter them throughout your journey. Whether you’re hunting down small critters or avoiding large predators through stealth and agility, you get to choose how you want to approach each situation. But be careful not to bite off more than you can chew…

    Crafting an Immersive Atmosphere

    If you’ve ever watched a nature documentary, you know just how captivating it is to dive into the wilderness and follow an animal’s quest for survival. We wanted to achieve this same feeling with Away, and a big part of this involved creating a soundtrack that would complement the narrator throughout your adventures.

    Having worked on the soundtrack for nature documentaries such as Life and Planet Earth II, we partnered with award-winning composer and audio director Mike Raznick to compose Away’s orchestral score. Both epic and atmospheric, the game’s enchanting soundtrack punctuates every step of your journey and makes for a truly captivating gameplay experience.

    After three years of hard work, we are delighted to announce Away: The Survival Series for PlayStation 4! We can’t wait to share more gameplay with you, so feel free to check out our for more updates as we take you deeper into the animal kingdom.

    Website: LINK

  • MediEvil is Unearthed October 25, 2019

    MediEvil is Unearthed October 25, 2019

    Reading Time: 3 minutes
    MediEvilMediEvil

    Citizens of Gallowmere, rejoice! Sir Daniel Fortesque, the legendary knight with the toothy grin makes his return to the land of the living (and dead) when MediEvil launches on PS4 October 25, 2019!

    Take a look at our new story trailer, revealed during today’s State of Play, to get an updated glimpse at what awaits you this Halloween.

    Whether you’re avoiding the boulder-spitting gargoyles of the Hilltop Mausoleum, outrunning the menacing famers of the Scarecrow Fields, or fending off giant worker ants in the Ant Caves, Sir Dan’s certainly got his work cut out for him.

    But fear not! Although the journey will bring you face to face with hordes of unspeakable enemies, a whole host of heroes will be there to help guide you on your way and provide Sir Dan with an ever-expanding repertoire of weapons and shields to aid him in his quest. Everything from enchanted swords to gigantic hammers, crossbows, throwing knives and axes are at your disposal, but you’ll need to use them wisely, lest you lose your head. (Again.)

    MediEvilMediEvilMediEvilMediEvil

    MediEvilMediEvil

    MediEvilMediEvilMediEvilMediEvil

    And make no bones about it, even if you’re familiar with Dan’s first outing, everything you remember (and a lot that you don’t!) is back in ways that will make your head spin. In addition to a complete graphical overhaul, an improved camera system, and a brand-new narrator (brought to life by veteran voice actress Lani Minella) we’re adding a whole casket full of secrets to this PlayStation classic that we can’t wait for you to dig up.

    We’ll scare up some more details for you leading up to launch, but in the meantime, feel free to crawl on over to PlayStation Store and preorder the game!

    Website: LINK

  • Creating a Sea of Rats in A Plague Tale: Innocence, Out May 14 on PS4

    Creating a Sea of Rats in A Plague Tale: Innocence, Out May 14 on PS4

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    arrives on PS4 May 14! Take a grim journey with two siblings into the darkest days of the Plague. Thrust into an uncaring and cold world, Amicia and Hugo must learn to trust each other to survive. While a cruel and vicious Inquisition seems to be all that stands against the Plague, a sea of rats continues to engulf the land. Read on to discover how Asobo Studio succeeded in displaying a veritable sea of rats on screen at once.

    The rats in A Plague Tale: Innocence are one aspect of the dual threats facing Amicia and Hugo. They are the physical manifestation of all that the disease represents: death, disease, and terror.

    Narratively, they function similarly to the antagonist in Jaws and Alien: they’re a known and constant threat, and the tension comes from when they decide to appear. But the idea is not enough. The development team needed the payoff — the visual representation and behavior — of the rats to inspire terror, and allow for interesting gameplay.

    The team at Asobo needed a way to show thousands of rats on screen at once, and for them to move and react in a believable way, while still allowing for good performance. The solution was to show more detail in the rats closest to the player, and slowly fading them into the shadows as distance grows. The result was four levels of detail.

    In the fourth layer farthest back, the rats serve as a background non-animated mesh, but as they get closer, they start to share the same animation loop (third layer). In the second layer, one hundred rats are slightly less detailed than those in the first layer, closest to the players, where the rats are fully animated and detailed.

    By merging calculations of the rats’ movement and reactions, the team was able to display more than 5,000 rats at once, and simulate an additional 5,000 behind the player. This was made possible by using multi-threading, with several processor cores working simultaneously.

    It was a true achievement for the team when they saw the rats begin to move a little like a liquid, with true swarm behavior. Reactions of testers and the public have varied from standing up in fear, to smiles of delight — and the team couldn’t be happier!

    A Plague Tale: InnocenceA Plague Tale: Innocence

    Website: LINK

  • Revisit a Legend in Unruly Heroes, Out May 28 on PS4

    Revisit a Legend in Unruly Heroes, Out May 28 on PS4

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    Hi folks! We’re excited to announce that our game Unruly Heroes will be available on PS4 starting May 28! We’d like to share with you what inspired us and how we created our first game as a studio.

    The Monkey King Legend

    “I’ve already seen this monkey somewhere before!” We heard that a lot during event shows and playtests for Unruly Heroes. Yes, you know this monkey. It’s Wukong, the Monkey King. A legend, particularly in Asia. He’s the anti-hero from the story Journey to the West. So, why did we choose an ancient, satirical Chinese tale? Firstly, because our creative director Yang Lu is Chinese and he wanted to make it more popular in across the West. Secondly, we thought it was an interesting background to create a unique interactive experience.

    That’s how Unruly Heroes was born. The game was developed over three years by a passionate team in Montpellier, South of France (very sunny, you should visit). The core team previously worked on many titles at Ubisoft while the rest of the team comes from the indie game sphere.

    Holding out for Unruly Heroes

    Instead of focusing on a specific genre or theme, we decided to create a combination of platforming and kung fu action, punctuated by puzzles.

    Each level is based on multiple gameplay experiences. We have more than a hundred different objects and forty enemy types in more than twenty environments. This represents a huge amount of work, but it also creates a variety of unique gameplay situations and gives players a feeling of discovery in each level (even in the loading screens). We even have one specific world that completely changes the rules: “Underworld,” a cartoonish version of hell based on a specific look and feel, mechanics, and cute kiddo character.

    Another challenge was the multiplayer aspect: it was important to playtest and adapt the cameras and gameplay, but also to balance each character for the game’s PvP mode. In order to do that, it was necessary to adjust the abilities and special powers of each character.

    Warm up your fingers

    Unruly Heroes is also designed to challenge speedrunners and achievers. In the Challenge Update (included in the PS4 version at launch) we implemented two new difficulty modes, optimized the Emerald rank and added the Diamond rank (only for hard mode). One tip: warm up your fingers.

    Capture the unseen

    One of the biggest jobs on Unruly Heroes was the art. We wanted to create a fantasy universe that would totally immerse players, and our artists are really picky about details and overall quality. But in some parts of the game, players will only spend a few seconds on a screen, which is a bit of pity. So, we developed a photo mode to let players capture places and characters they like or their most stunning kung fu moves (even funny mishaps). If you’re an aspiring photographer this could be just as fun as playing the game.

    We hope PS4 players will have a lot of fun playing our game and travelling to the West later this month.

    Website: LINK

  • 2 New PlayStation VR Bundles Hit Shelves Later This Month

    2 New PlayStation VR Bundles Hit Shelves Later This Month

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    We’re excited to announce that two new PlayStation VR bundles are launching later this month, featuring some highly-anticipated PS VR games that showcase a range of genres from action to sports to horror!

    Here’s a look at the bundles:

    PS VR Blood & Truth and Everybody’s Golf VR Bundle

    Battle through the crime-ridden London underworld as elite soldier Ryan Marks in your deadliest mission yet… to save your family from a ruthless criminal empire. Or step on to the course like never before in the most immersive Everybody’s Golf experience yet.

    Be the action hero or perfect your swing with the PS VR Blood & Truth and Everybody’s Golf VR Bundle available on May 28, same day as the launch of Blood & Truth, across the U.S. and Canada for $349.99 USD (MSRP) / $449.99 CAD (MSRP). The bundle includes:

    • A PS VR system
    • PlayStation Camera
    • The latest PS VR Demo Disc, with a sampling of PS VR demos such as Astro Bot Rescue Mission, Moss, and Thumper
    • Two PlayStation Move Motion controllers
    • Blood & Truth Blu-Ray Disc and Everybody’s Golf VR digital game voucher*

    PS VR Trover Saves the Universe! and Five Nights at Freddy’s Bundle

    From the co-creator of Rick and Morty comes Trover Saves the Universe! Your pups are missing. The cosmos are at stake. Only you and Trover can save everything in this comedy created by Justin Roiland. Meanwhile, survive terrifying encounters with horrifying killer animatronics in an immersive collection of new and classic Five Night at Freddy’s experiences. “Where fantasy and fun come to life!”

    If you’re looking for a good laugh or a good scare, PS VR Trover Saves the Universe! and Five Nights at Freddy’s Bundle is available on May 31, same day as the launch of Trover Saves the Universe!, across the U.S. and Canada for $299.99 USD (MSRP) / $379.99 CAD (MSRP). The bundle includes:

    • A PS VR system
    • A PlayStation Camera
    • The latest PS VR Demo Disc, with a sampling of PS VR demos such as Astro Bots Rescue Mission, Moss, and Thumper
    • Trover Saves the Universe! and Five Night at Freddy’s digital game vouchers**

    With a robust portfolio of hundreds of PS VR games and experiences worldwide, the platform will continue to expand with new titles on the horizon, such as Marvel’s Iron Man VR, Luna, Mini-Mech Mayhem, Vacation Simulator and more.

    Let us know which games you’re most excited about in the comments below!

    * Everybody’s Golf VR voucher code expires May 28, 2022.
    ** Trover Saves the Universe! and Five Night at Freddy’s voucher codes expire May 31, 2025.
    Account for PSN and internet connection are required to download content.

    Website: LINK

  • Batman: Arkham Knight and More Come to PS Now in May

    Batman: Arkham Knight and More Come to PS Now in May

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    Hello, PlayStation Now fans! Today we’re adding nine new games and one upgrade to the PlayStation Now library of more than 300 PS4 games to download, and more than 750 games in all to stream. This month the top games include Batman: Arkham Knight, Lego Ninjago Movie Video Game, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, the four-player party fighting game Brawlout, and many more! Subscribers can stream any game in the service to PS4 and PC, and download any PS4 game and PS2 game in the service directly to their PS4.

    Leading the pack this month is Batman: Arkham Knight. In the explosive finale to the Arkham series, the Scarecrow returns to unite an epic lineup of super villains including Penguin, The Riddler, Two-Face, and Harley Quinn. Soar across the Gotham City skyline, or rip through the city streets in the legendary Batmobile (available for the first time in the series).

    Batman: Arkham Knight and More Come to PS Now in May

    Find your inner ninja in Lego Ninjago Movie Video Game! Master the art of Ninjagility, unlock new combat skills, and defend your home island of Ninjago from the evil Lord Garmadon and his Shark Army. Includes Battle Maps where friends and family can battle it out in competitions for up to four players.

    Other new games this month in include Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance Ultimate Edition, where players take control of Raiden, a katana-wielding cyborg, as well as Brawlout, a competitive party fighting game for up to four players, and Dangerous Golf, an explosive physics-based destruction simulator with local and online team and competitive play for up to eight players.

    Here is the full list of the nine new games joining PS Now this month to download to PS4 (all PS4 games) and stream to PS4 and PC (both PS4 and PS3 games), as well as one PS3-to-PS4 upgrade:

    • 8-Bit Armies (PS4)
    • Batman: Arkham Knight (PS4)
    • Brawlout (PS4)
    • Dangerous Golf (PS4)
    • Lego Ninjago Movie Video Game (PS4)
    • Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom (PS3)
    • Metal Gear Rising Revengeance Ultimate Edition (PS3)
    • Miko Gakkout Monogatari: Kaede Episode (PS4)
    • Sherlock Holmes: The Devil’s Daughter (PS4)
    • Tales of Zestiria (PS4 Upgrade)

    Here are the most played PS Now games during the month of April:

    • NBA 2K18
    • WWE 2K18
    • Mortal Kombat X
    • Metal Gear Solid V The Phantom Pain
    • Mafia III
    • Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution
    • For Honor
    • The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited
    • Saint’s Row IV: Re-Elected
    • Red Dead Redemption
    • Bloodborne

    If you haven’t tried PlayStation Now yet, now’s the perfect time to give it a spin with the seven-day free trial for PS4 and PC. (Terms apply. New Subscribers only. Credit card required. See here for details.)

    Stay tuned for more updates on PS Now. Happy gaming!

    Website: LINK

  • For The King Out Today on PS4, Beginner’s Guide

    For The King Out Today on PS4, Beginner’s Guide

    Reading Time: 5 minutes

    For The King is a strategic RPG that blends tabletop and roguelike elements together in a challenging adventure that spans the realms, and it’s out today on PlayStation 4! To celebrate the launch, For The King is 20% off for PlayStation Plus users starting today. The world of For The King can be unforgiving, so here are six tips to help you survive on your first excursion into the wilds of Fahrul.

    Start with the ‘For The King’ Adventure

    When playing For The King for the first time, you should start with the ‘For The King’ base campaign. In this adventure, you will battle against Chaos as you try to solve the King’s murder and restore order to the land. For The King is absolutely bursting at the seams with content, so make sure to give yourself a fighting chance by learning the basics first!

    These are the rest of the adventures to choose from:

    • Frozen Expanse: Brave the cold and go beyond the Forest as you search for lost treasure in a frosty wonderland of terror.
    • Into the Deep: Explore the deep and its many hidden secrets in an adventure spanning the high seas.
    • Dungeon Crawl: Explore the lands of Fahrul in a free-form adventure to locate and destroy the Chaos generators deep within five deadly dungeons.
    • Hildebrant’s Cellar: How far can you explore Hildebrant’s Cellar and what awaits those who dare enter? Unlock unique Lore Store Items and Special Achievements by reaching new depths in this Endless Dungeon challenge mode.
    • Gold Rush Un-cooperative Mode: Brave the cursed Midnight Woods and its haunted crypts in this ‘friendly’, multiplayer-only competitive mode.

    If it’s your first time, definitely start on Apprentice Difficulty

    While Apprentice Mode may be seen as an ‘Easy Mode,’ the world of Fahrul is against you and with the tabletop influence, your rolls are defined in part by luck. If it’s your first time through the campaign, the Apprentice difficulty will scale things a bit more in your favor with more lives, less enemy health, and also give you better starting items such as the ‘Godsbeard’ for recovering health. Higher difficulties make the game harder by giving enemies more health, giving you fewer starting items, and increasing the economy inflation, but you’ll be rewarded with more Lore and payout.

    Expand your gameplay with the Lore Store

    Progressing in For The King by completing objectives such as quests, bounties or singular encounters will reward you with Lore points. Lore is a form of currency that carries between playthroughs and allows you to expand your gameplay options. This allows you to unlock helpful locations, special encounters, powerful items, and even special new characters (classes in the traditional sense). This keeps the game fresh through multiple playthroughs as you try your best to take down the various adventures.

    Choose your characters wisely

    When starting a brand-new adventure, you are asked to choose your starting characters, based on what are traditionally known as classes. There are 11 playable characters, with four available from the get-go:

    • The Blacksmith is your typical Tank character, wielding a Hammer and Shield. While they have the lowest speed, they have the highest vitality and when coupled with their ability Taunt, drawing enemy attention to themselves. It’s definitely required.
    • The Minstrel forms the basis of your support, serenading your allies with a lute to encourage and inspire them. Their fantastical performances have a chance to debuff enemies, confusing them for turns at a time during combat.
    • The Hunter, wielding a powerful bow and arrow, can perform devastating shots that allow their attacks to ignore armor, allowing you to directly attack the health points of armored foes to take them down quicker.
    • Rounding out the starting selection, the Scholar can fling powerful Area of Effect attacks hitting multiple foes at once, as well as casting spells that ignore any elemental resistances that the enemy may have.

    Each character offers various options to expand your playstyle with different abilities, weapons and stats. Some are better for defense or support, while others have devastating offensive capabilities. With a maximum of three, having a well-balanced team is extremely important.

    Head to a town for bounties and items

    When you start For The King, even after making informed choices about the classes you’re going to play, the world is going to be against you, and it’s good for you to immediately get to grips with your surroundings. Explore the locales around and especially in the towns. Towns will allow you to obtain Bounties that upon completion will give you some much needed coin. In Towns you will also find Merchants that will offer you the base healing item ‘Godsbeard’ — this is essential if you’re looking to survive the encounters ahead of you, so stock up!

    Manage your Focus

    Focus Points are a limited resource that allow you to guarantee interactions. For The King has a board game based approach, so think of a Focus as guaranteeing a roll in your favor, whether it’s a hit chance, a trap defuse or additional movement points. As said previously, however, they are limited and must be managed over the course of time between towns. Characters tend to have around four max focus points. These points can be recovered by staying at inns in towns, or resting in other locations such as friendly encampments, so use them sparingly!

    I hope you’re looking forward to delving into the world of Fahrul, and don’t miss out on the 20% PlayStation Discount for the launch of the title! If you have any questions about the game let me know in the comments below and I’ll be happy to answer them.

    Website: LINK

  • Rad Just Shapes & Beats Theme Coming to PS4 May 10

    Rad Just Shapes & Beats Theme Coming to PS4 May 10

    Reading Time: 4 minutes

    Hey dudes, I’m Mike from Berzerk and I’m super stoked to let ya’ll know that Just Shapes & Beats is finally coming to PS4 on May 10, so that’s like, in four days? Five if you count today? ANYWAY, m u c h  e x c i t e !

    IT IS WHAT IT SAYS IT IS

    Just Shapes & Beats is a game about shapes, and about beats.

    What.

    You thought I was going to tell you it’s some kind of narrative driven experience, a coming of age story revolving around a young underprivileged teen overcoming incredible odds in the face of insurmountable adversity? A game that makes you think about the meaning of life and our place in the universe?

    No. It’s a game about shapes, and about beats.

    THAT SOUNDS BORING

    Remember when you were a wee child, wandering the woods, a stick was a game, a rock was a game, a stick and a rock was a super advanced game. Did you lose your inner child at some point? That sounds terrible, you should play more games.

    WAIT, DID YOU JUST COMPARE YOUR GAME TO A ROCK

    Maybe I did, disembodied voice in my head, maybe I did, but you know what rocks? Music. We have gallons of that in our game. We got the top indie chiptune/EDM musicians we could find and created the entire game around their sick beats.

    OK, NOW THAT SOUNDS INTERESTING, WHY DIDN’T YOU OPEN WITH THAT

    I don’t know dude, my brain works weird, sometimes it just does its own thing, I’m still figuring this out.

    CAN YOU JUST ELABORATE ON THE GAME INSTEAD OF BEING ALL INTROSPECTIVE AND STUFF

    Right, I was doing something here. Yeah man, the entire thing was woven around making a game that looks like it sounds, remember those MP3 vizualizers from the 90s? Well like that, but playable.

    It all started with Danimal Cannon & Zef’s Chronos, Lachhh, the game designer, bought his CD out of impulse during a concert, then started seeing shapes. The next summer he went to a game jam on his own lonely self and decided to make that weird fever daydream he had in game form. Being a coder and being unable to draw to save his life, he made that beat game with only shapes that would do its darnedest to put the music on the forefront. Right from the get-go you have the track and artist in huge letters, and that’s setting the tone: this is an homage to the music, as opposed to using the music as background.

    NICE BACKSTORY BRO, BUT SERIOUSLY WE’RE LIKE 200 WORDS IN, WHAT IS JUST SHAPES & BEATS

    Just Shapes & Beats is a musical bullet-hell-ish? It’s weird to explain… you play a shape, you dodge beats, which are also shapes, you can play with up to three friends, who are also shapes. It’s not a bullet hell in the pure sense of the term since it’s a lot more based on dodging and surviving than attacking. It’s more like a dodge ‘em up I guess?

    …CAN YOU JUST SHOW ME

    Sure thing buddy.

    OKAY I’M HOOKED WHAT ELSE IS THERE

    The game is not just shapes & beats, there’s also a story mode, which serves as an introduction to all the game has to offer, like dipping your toe in the water. Sorry for saying there was no story, I pulled a sneaky on you.

    Once you are done with the 20 something tracks (no spoilers) of the story, or if you don’t really care for it and just want to play tracks, you can head into the challenge runs, a very arcade-y mode where you play gauntlets of three random tracks, you can play those alone, with friends, or with friends you haven’t met yet on the internet. Did I mention there’s online co-op multiplayer? Well, there is, and it’s awesome.

    HOW HARD IS IT

    Don’t worry my dude, if you find the game to be a bit too much of a challenge for you, or your terrible-at-video-games friends, you can always enable the Casual mode while playing the story, that will give you… I mean your friends… a bit more of a fighting chance against the musical barrage. And if that wasn’t enough, we also have a Party mode that has no difficulty at all, if you just want to enjoy the music in the background.

    I MEANT HOW HARD CAN IT GET, DO I LOOK LIKE A DANG CASUAL TO YOU M8?

    Of course, my good sir, you’ll be happy to know that the PS4 release also introduces HARDCORE MODE. We made our designer watch videos of things that anger him, like people cutting in line at the coffee shop because they know the staff, and dog owners not cleaning up behind their animal, and then let him loose in the wild. Every stage has been redesigned in some form or another to give you a whole new experience that will make even seasoned Souls-like players weep, longing for their mother’s warm embrace.

    OK THAT MIGHT BE GOING A BIT OVERBOARD, YOU OK BUDDY?

    Sorry, dunno what happened there. I went to a very dark place thinking about people who don’t pick up after their dogs.

    *looks at wrist* I THINK WE’RE OUT OF TIME, ANY PARTING WORDS?

    Who made you the boss here? Did you just say *looks at wrist* out loud? That’s not how any of this works.

    But yes, you might be right. I’d like to invite everyone still reading this to give our game a go. It’s a lot more fun than reading whatever this was, I swear. One could even say that it’s a game you should definitely try to beat.

    …GO WAIT FOR US IN THE CAR…

    JUST SHAPES & BEATS: HARDCORE EDITION COMES FIRST TO PS4 ON MAY 10 FOR THE LOW LOW PRICE OF $19.99 USD

    ALSO, HEADLINE WASN’T CLICKBAIT, THERE’S ALSO A THEME

    DON’T MISS IT, OR DO; ONE CANNOT ALWAYS GET WHAT ONE DESIRES

    Website: LINK

  • New State of Play Lands May 9 at 3:00pm Pacific Time

    New State of Play Lands May 9 at 3:00pm Pacific Time

    Reading Time: < 1 minute

    Hi all! Excited to share that State of Play will return for a new episode next Thursday, May 9 at 3:00pm Pacific Time. It’ll be a quick show (around 10 minutes), but we’ve got some PS4 updates we couldn’t wait to share with you.

    PlayStation Worldwide Studios will be showing off an extended look at MediEvil, as well as a first look at a new title. And we’ll have other updates and announcements from upcoming PS4 games.

    One note: Don’t expect any updates relating to our next-generation plans this time. Sorry!

    You can watch live on , , , and , as usual.

    As always, we’re always reading your feedback and comments, so please keep them coming! There’s lots more in store for State of Play: episode 3 will return later in the year with more news and updates.

    Website: LINK

  • The Drop: New PlayStation Games for May 7, 2019

    The Drop: New PlayStation Games for May 7, 2019

    Reading Time: 5 minutes

    The 16-bit world is yours for the taking in Shakedown Hawaii, coming to PS4 and PS Vita. Vblank’s souped-up follow up to Retro City Rampage promises an open world island’s worth of havoc to wreak and “legitimate” businesses to grow. Start building your empire Tuesday.

    For a full list of new games coming to PlayStation next week, read on. And enjoy The Drop!

    The Drop Logo

    The Drop Logo

    Doughlings: Arcade
    PS4 — Digital (Out 5/9)
    Doughlings brings unique gameplay mechanics through its interesting characters and the world while combining together the best that all known Arkanoid games have to offer, polished with a modern look and design.
    For the King
    PS4 — Digital
    For The King is a strategic RPG that blends tabletop and roguelike elements in a challenging adventure that spans the realms. Set off on a single player experience or play cooperatively both online and locally. None before you have returned from their journey. Will you put an end to the Chaos?
    Frane: Dragons’ Odyssey
    PS4, PS Vita — Digital (Cross-Buy)
    An odyssey to the world below! Set out for in search of a missing girl and venture out in a fantasy action RPG. Take on enemies with weapons and magic in quick-paced action battles. Explore dungeons, craft items, upgrade weapons, cook dishes and enjoy your quest with a variety of original and colorful characters.
    Lost Artifacts: Soulstone
    PS4 — Digital
    After the Soulstone is stolen during an auction in the national museum, Claire and her helpers witnessed the revival of the terracotta army and its Emperor. Go on a journey through a country full of myths in the exciting casual strategy game Lost Artifacts: Soulstone.
    Lovecraft’s Untold Stories
    PS4 — Digital (Out 5/10)
    Lovecraft’s Untold Stories is an action rogue-lite with RPG elements. Explore randomly generated levels based in H.P. Lovecraft stories, fighting cultists and monsters from the Mythos, improving your weapons and gear, solving puzzles, and looking for ways to defeat the Great Old Ones and the Outer Gods.
    My Big Sister
    PS4, PS Vita — Digital (Cross-Buy)
    My Big Sister is a game about two sisters trying to return home after being kidnapped by strangers. Across multiple chapters, players clear puzzles to advance through the game’s story. With many secrets and multiple endings, you’ll have your work cut out for you to get the ending the sisters deserve.
    Party Arcade
    PS4 — Digital (Out 5/8)
    Party Arcade is a family friendly party game set in a virtual modern arcade. Starting with 13 addictive games, players collect tickets, unlock equipment skins, and battle against family and friends at home, or online around the world!
    Puyo Puyo Champions
    PS4 — Digital
    Jump straight into fast-paced puzzle action with features fit for both friendly rivalries and competitive tournaments. Challenge your friends and family in local multiplayer or compete against players through online matchmaking. Built for all ages, this classic puzzle game has a surprisingly competitive edge.
    Reverse Crawl
    PS4 — Digital
    You’re dead already! But such a trifling inconvenience isn’t going to stop you, the Revenant King, from reclaiming your throne. Reverse Crawl is a fast-paced turn-based strategy RPG that lets you lead mobs of monster minions and back-from-the-grave goons into battle against the elite armies of the dastardly Red Queen.
    Shakedown: Hawaii
    PS4, PS Vita — Digital (Cross-Buy)
    Shakedown: Hawaii follows three protagonists through a 16-bit open world, filled with missions, sidequests, arcade challenges, and empire building. Build your own ‘legitimate’ corporation by sabotaging competitors, ‘re-zoning’ land, and more. The entire island is up for grabs… with the right business model!

    The information above is subject to change without notice.

    PlayStation Music LogoPlayStation Music Logo

    PlayStation Video LogoPlayStation Video Logo

    PlayStation Vue LogoPlayStation Vue Logo

    Website: LINK

  • Share of the Week: Days Gone

    Share of the Week: Days Gone

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    Last week, we asked you head out into the Farewell Wilderness and fend off some Freakers in Days Gone. While fighting for your life as Deacon St. John, you sent us some intense moments using #PS4share and #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:


    @ahmedzafar99 shared this detailed portrait of our hero Deacon.


    @ItsDVP focused in on the finer details of the road.


    Deacon and Boozer drift their way through the rain in this share by @Nick_Baker777.


    Deacon’s laughing through the chaos in this action packed share from @WarDragon989.


    If you’re gonna take your eyes off the road, might as well be to look up at this beautiful sky, shared by @alejandroalex65


    @PS4tographyuk shared this quality shot of a Freaker.

    We couldn’t help but share another great shot taken by our very own Justin Massongill:

    Search #PS4Share and #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme. Want to be featured in next week’s Share of the Week?

    Theme: Days Gone – Deacon’s Bike
    Share by: 9am Pacific on Wednesday, May 8

    Next week, we take a closer look at Deacon and his bike. Share moments of him on the broken road in Days Gone with #PS4share and #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

    Website: LINK

  • Days Gone: Rebuilding Deacon’s Bike in Real Life

    Days Gone: Rebuilding Deacon’s Bike in Real Life

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    Bend Studio’s post-apocalyptic biker adventure, Days Gone, is out, and players around the world are diving into the freaker-infested plains of Oregon’s heartland. Days Gone features an open world where everything is constantly trying to kill you. Whether it’s wild animals, marauder gangs or relentless freaker hordes, danger is always lurking. Therefore, you need something to get you out of tight situations. You need a bike!

    Deacon’s bike lies at the heart of Days Gone, and players can expect to form a bond with it that goes beyond simply man and machine. PlayStation Nordic set out to bring the bike to life in the real world.

    The Team

    A team of four Danes was assembled, each with their own area of expertise.

    Patrick is the project lead, and has been given the task of recreating the bike in real life. The garage manager Andreas has been responsible for a motorcycle repair shop for years and knows all the ins and outs of motorcycles. The team’s designer, Rakel, takes care of drafts and sketches. The fourth and last member is Fabian, a mechanic experienced in welding, metal works and building all sorts of vehicles.

    More than just a coat of paint

    Creating Deacon’s trusty bike takes more than just a coat of paint. It has to be quick, reliable and versatile — a last resort when everything takes a turn for the worse and freakers are pouring in from everywhere.

    To make matters even more stressful, the team only had 48 hours to turn an old wreck of a bike into the kind of machine that keeps Deacon from suffering a gruesome, painful death. The team spent day and night in the garage, tailoring the motorcycle to fit the needs of a post-apocalyptic wasteland.

    Denmark got a Motorcycle

    As for the final result of the bike, we think we’ll let the pictures speak for themselves. It’s good to know — if there’s ever a global pandemic, where millions upon millions of people are turned into mindless, cannibalistic beings, that there’s a bike cut out for the task somewhere in Scandinavia.

    Days Gone is out now, only on PlayStation 4.

    Website: LINK

  • PlayStation Blogcast 329: Puyo Puyoself Together

    PlayStation Blogcast 329: Puyo Puyoself Together

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    Email us at blogcast@sony.com!

    Subscribe via iTunes, Spotify, Google or RSS, or download here


    Warning: Game of Thrones spoiler talk from 36:30 to 47:55!

    We’re back! Well, most of us. Tune in to this week’s episode for a Days Gone progress report, a peek at next week’s new games, and a surprisingly detailed discussion about music games. Also, Kristen, Tim, and Justin were all on separate vacations recently so we talk about Japan and Hawaii a lot. Enjoy the show!

    Stuff We Talked About

    • Days Gone
    • Shakedown Hawaii
    • Mortal Kombat 11
    • PS Store’s big Golden Week sale (and Theme!)
    • VA-11 Hall-A
    • Music games
    • Tetris
    • Hawaii
    • Japan
    • Zion National Park

    The Cast

    Official PlayStation Blogcast: Justin MassongillOfficial PlayStation Blogcast: Justin MassongillOfficial PlayStation Blogcast: Kristen ZitaniOfficial PlayStation Blogcast: Kristen ZitaniOfficial PlayStation Blogcast: Tim TuriOfficial PlayStation Blogcast: Tim Turi

    Justin Massongill – Social Media Manager, SIEA
    Kristen Zitani – Social Media Specialist, SIEA
    Tim Turi – Senior Social Media Specialist, SIEA


    Thanks to Cory Schmitz for our beautiful logo and Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music.

    [Editor’s note: PSN game release dates are subject to change without notice. Game details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.]

    Website: LINK

  • Welcome to VA-11 Hall-A, Out Today on PS4

    Welcome to VA-11 Hall-A, Out Today on PS4

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    Well, it’s real. VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action, the little thing we made for the Cyberpunk Jam five years ago, is now live at PlayStation Store. Holy crap. As a bunch of you will be starting a new round of VA-11 Hall-A, let’s dig a bit into the roots of the game’s protagonist: the character that would evolve into our beloved Jill Stingray.

    During the original prototype of VA-11 Hall-A, we made the main character some random guy named Gillian as a reference to Gillian Seed from the game Snatcher (developed by Hideo Kojima). But as the idea of the game became more and more concrete, we started debating what sort of main character the game should actually have.

    During the production of VA-11 Hall-A’s Prologue demo, we toyed with the idea of the protagonist having no name and being referred to just as “bartender,” so as to make them a non-descript self-insert for the player. This idea would have made the game more similar to one of our original inspirations. In Araki Joh’s “Bartender” manga, the titular bartender is mysterious and non-descript for the most part, simply serving as a vehicle for the stories inside the bar to take place.

    However, in the middle of the full game’s development, we decided to make a leap in a different direction. What if the main character gave a vibe like that of a mysterious bartender… but in reality was anything but? Not only that, with the scope we wanted to keep — one where the player only interacts with the world through serving drinks — we figured our audience would benefit more from interfacing with a protagonist whose character is properly established.

    If I had to describe Jill as a character, she’s a lonelier version of myself (or indeed a self-deprecating image of myself that comes back to haunt me from time to time). Many elements of Jill’s story draw upon elements in my own life in an effort to make her whole story feel more intimate and grounded. Things like her growing up with no friends, staying at home with her grandfather, and so forth.

    After all, our main focus with VA-11 Hall-A was to take typical fantastical cyberpunk characters and make them as down-to-earth as possible in the process. It only makes sense that the main character would be the most down-to-earth of the bunch where their story was concerned. For those who have yet to experience VA-11 Hall-A, we hope you enjoy spending time with Jill and relate to her hopes, struggles, and much more.

    Website: LINK

  • Atmospheric Survival Horror Game Darkwood Creeps to PS4 May 14

    Atmospheric Survival Horror Game Darkwood Creeps to PS4 May 14

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    Hey there! I’m Gustaw, the co-founder of Acid Wizard Studio, the creators of Darkwood. Darkwood is an open world survival horror that does not rely on jump scares. Instead, it aims to provide a unique and terrifying experience utilizing the fear of the unknown. Why no jump scares, you might ask? To answer that, we need to go to the studio’s beginning.

    It’s 2012. One evening, three college buddies meet up, decide that they’re tired of their jobs and want to pursue something they always dreamed of: making video games. Thus, Acid Wizard Studio was founded.

    Having no experience in the matter, they decide that the best course of action is to make a very simple tower defense game that would be done in about a month of working after hours. This very simple game concept got a bit more complex over time and in the end, it took us around five years of development to complete it. It evolved into a procedurally generated, open-world survival horror game with RPG and roguelike elements, known to you as Darkwood.

    Darkwood did not start off as a horror game. As a matter of fact, we were always too afraid to play most horror titles or watch horror movies and very much disliked the horror genre trends from several years ago, which revolved around cheap jump scares.

    But, as the game grew, we saw the potential to create something more ambitious with our top-down perspective. By putting a heavy emphasis on sound and music design, tricking the player with our light and field of view mechanics, and making them get lost in a mysterious world; we achieved a dense, creepy atmosphere that’s enjoyable even by wimps like us.

    From a game design perspective, Darkwood is a bit like Frankenstein’s monster — a patchwork of ideas and parts of games the three of us loved and cherished: it’s a top-down survival horror, with a procedurally generated open world, nonlinear storyline with choices and consequences, detailed NPC interactions, roguelike elements, skill trees, crafting, a dynamic day and night cycle and a dynamic weather system. We cannot imagine a more complicated mix of features.

    If we knew several years ago what we know now, and how much of a headaches during development they will give us, we would have decided that they are totally at odds with each other and would have cut most of them.

    Thankfully, we were much more naive and ignorant back then, and thanks to this approach Darkwood is a beautifully weird blend of genres.

    Inspiration

    For inspiration, we turned our gaze outside of the game industry, mainly to the works of the old masters of cinema like Tarkovsky (Stalker) or Kubrick (The Shining). We were also heavily inspired by Slavic lore, books by Stanisław Lem, Strugacki brothers and games like Fallout or Dark Souls.

    On a side note, many players describe Darkwood as Lovecraftian, and they are actually right as the game shares many (sometimes striking) resemblances with the works of the master of weird fiction. But the thing is, we only started reading his stories at the very end of Darkwood’s development, so all the similarities are the result of some sort of cosmic coincidence.

    Thanks for reading! We are thrilled that Darkwood will creep onto PS4. If you want to experience a different perspective on the horror genre, be sure to look for it at PlayStation Store on May 14!

    Website: LINK

  • PlayStation Plus Free Games for May: What Remains of Edith Finch, Overcooked

    PlayStation Plus Free Games for May: What Remains of Edith Finch, Overcooked

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    Greetings, PlayStation Nation! We’ll be adding two new titles to your monthly PS Plus on May 7: one is a slow-burning exploration of family tragedy, and the other a red-hot couch co-op mashup of cooking, puzzles and chaotic, laugh-out-loud fun.

    Let’s take a closer look:

    What Remains of Edith Finch

    From the creators of The Unfinished Swan, the award-winning What Remains of Edith Finch is a highly original and often surreal experience. As the last of the cursed Finch family line, visit your family’s old family home and discover more about your relatives’ untimely deaths through unique interactive storytelling.

    Sombre, thought-provoking and at times deeply moving, What Remains of Edith Finch is one of this generation’s most understated gems. If you missed it the first time around, now is your chance to experience it. Winner of Best Game 2017 from the British Academy Games Award (BAFTA), Best Narrative award at the Game Developers Choice Awards 2018 and more, developer Giant Sparrow’s follow up to their debut release, The Unfinished Swan, is a truly a special experience.

    Overcooked!

    Built specifically with local co-op play in mind, Overcooked! is a fun, frantic and often hilarious experience for up to four players. You and your friends will join forces to become a team of chefs and work against the clock to turn out dishes for hungry customers. With a strong emphasis on teamwork and timing, you’ll need to communicate with each other to chop vegetables, fry steak, stir sauces, plate-up finished meals, and more — all without the kitchen catching fire!

    With its cute and colorful stylings, huge range of dishes and kitchen layouts, easy controls, accessible gameplay and a focus on silly, over-the-top antics, Overcooked! is the perfect party game for gamers and non-gamers alike. Play solo or enjoy couch co-op and competitive modes for up to four players.

    Both What Remains of Edith Finch and Overcooked will be available to download from PlayStation Store on May 7.

    In the meantime, you still have a few days left to pick up April’s two PlayStation Plus titles. Conan Exiles is a wholly unique take on the survival RPG genre that transports you back to the very dawn of civilization, while The Surge is a brutal and rewarding action-RPG journey through a dark sci-fi dystopia.If you haven’t downloaded these yet, fear not: both will be available to download for PS Plus members until May 6.

    Website: LINK

  • Players’ Choice: Vote for April’s Best New Game

    Players’ Choice: Vote for April’s Best New Game

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    Welcome back! Whether you’ve been exploring the scenic Farewell Wilderness in Days Gone or fighting time itself in Mortal Kombat 11, you’ve probably still got your hands full with some of April’s new releases. PS VR owners got some new treats too, with Outerloop’s Falcon Age and Zoink’s Ghost Giant.

    But that’s not everything! Peruse the list below and cast your vote for the best new game of April 2019. Polls close Sunday night at 11:59pm Pacific!

    How does it work? At the end of every month, PlayStation.Blog will open a poll where you can vote for the best new game released that month. Soon thereafter, we’ll close the polls, tally your votes, and announce the winner at PlayStation.Blog. PlayStation Store will also showcase some top Players’ Choice winners throughout the year.

    What is the voting criteria? That’s up to you! If you were only able to recommend one new release to a friend that month, which would it be? In keeping with our long tradition in the Game of the Year Awards, remastered or re-released games won’t qualify. Ambitious, larger-scale rebuilds and remakes like Shadow of the Colossus and Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy will.

    How are nominees decided? The PlayStation.Blog and PlayStation Store editorial teams will gather a list of that month’s most noteworthy releases and use it to seed the poll. Write-in votes will be accepted.

    Website: LINK

  • Ghost Recon Wildlands Operation Oracle, Free Weekend Coming May 2

    Ghost Recon Wildlands Operation Oracle, Free Weekend Coming May 2

    Reading Time: 5 minutes

    There’s never been a better time to jump into Ghost Recon Wildlands as Operation Oracle brings new, free story content to PS4 players on May 2. Adding two new missions that you can tackle solo or with up to three friends in four-player co-op, Operation Oracle will task the Ghosts with rescuing a Skell Tech engineer being held hostage by Unidad forces. What begins as a simple rescue mission suddenly takes a turn for the complex when you meet Cole D. Walker, a Ghost Team Leader who will make you question the difference between friend and foe.

    If you want to try the game for free, including Operation Oracle and all other post-launch content, you’re in luck, as Ghost Recon Wildlands will be free for all PS4 players from May 2 to May 5. You can preload the game on May 1, and all progress you make during the free weekend will carry over if you decide to purchase the game afterwards. PlayStation Plus is still required to play any online modes.

    Operation Oracle is part of a series of free post-launch updates to Ghost Recon Wildlands, which have so far included the Ghost War PvP and Tier 1 modes, as well as Special Operation missions featuring crossovers with Splinter Cell’s Sam Fisher, Rainbow Six Operators, and even the Predator. Stéphane Boudon, Content Director at Ubisoft Bordeaux, sat down to chat about those previous missions, what it was like to bring them into the game, and what the Ghosts will face in Operation Oracle.

    Ghost Recon Wildlands has received a great deal of post-launch support with its Special Operations, starting with the Sam Fisher appearance in Special Operation 1. What have been some of your favorite parts of working on these?

    Stéphane Boudon: Developing a full-fledged Year 2 for Ghost Recon Wildlands was a great opportunity to expand the universe of Ghost Recon by inviting famous guests into the world. We are quite proud of the results and the community reception to the different Operations, and we are hoping to finish this with a bang with Operation Oracle! Year 2 was also a way for us to start teasing the future, as more clues may surface regarding Skell Technology.

    As a developer but also as a player, bringing [Ghost leader] Scott Mitchell back was one of my favorite parts of Year 2. Working closely with narrative designers and writers to make everything fit perfectly was so satisfying! One of our challenges was to visually recreate Scott, as the old fella never really existed in HD before. Speaking of Scott, you may discover some new clues about him in Operation Oracle.

    How important has community feedback been in shaping the content in the Special Operation updates? What are some of biggest tweaks and gameplay changes you’ve made in response to feedback?

    SB: Community feedback truly shaped the content of Year 2 and each Special Operation. While we wanted to surprise our players by bringing new guests to the Wildlands, everything else was dictated by what the community wanted, from the inclusion of a Photo Mode, to the development of Guerilla mode [in which players defend key locations by fighting off waves of enemies], to the release of new weapons, setting the time of day, new night vision goggles, and so on.

    Operation Oracle goes into some interesting territory. What makes this such a special mission for the Ghosts?

    SB: With Operation Oracle, we want to truly challenge players and their perception of Wildlands. The arrival of another Ghost Leader, Cole D. Walker, will cast a new light on the Ghosts’ CIA informant, Karen Bowman. We really cannot wait to see how players will react!

    What sets this special mission apart from the previous Special Operations in Wildlands?

    SB: While each Special Operation brought new PVE and PVP content, this update is slightly different, as it focuses on the two new missions in which players will get to encounter Cole D. Walker. What happens here might very well set the stage for the future.

    What type of content have you been able to deliver post-launch that wouldn’t have been possible around the time of launch?

    SB: For us, the greatest opportunity with this post-launch support was to be able to surprise old and new players with exciting content, but also to address their feedback and requests. Having this conversation with the community helped us grow as a team and evolve the overall experience of Ghost Recon Wildlands.

    The Photo mode is a great example. As developers, we are able to pause the game, move the camera, and change the weather or the time of day freely; it’s something very common for us. I frequently saw developers roaming and getting lost in the world we built, checking details, or playing with FX frozen in action. I do it myself frequently.

    Around time of launch, we recognized all the potential we had here, but obviously we had more important aspects of the game to address and we didn’t have the time to tackle all the technical issues of Photo mode. Post-launch gave us the space to bring it to the community, and now thanks to the players, we can see just how gorgeous the world of Wildlands is.

    If someone hasn’t tried out Wildlands yet, where should they start?

    SB: Jump into the main story, complete the first mission, and get your first sniper rifle. Once you’re there, head over to Montuyoc in the southwest of the map to unlock and start Operation Oracle. It might be a challenge, but you will be in good company!

    Operation Oracle is coming free to Ghost Recon Wildlands players on May 2. Ghost Recon Wildlands will also be free to download and try between May 2 and May 5 from PlayStation Store.

    Website: LINK

  • BoxVR Steps into the PS VR Ring Today

    BoxVR Steps into the PS VR Ring Today

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    BoxVR is a boxing-inspired PS VR fitness game that delivers a professional quality workout whether you’re a couch potato or a total gym rat — or anywhere in between. It was co-designed by me and a team of five other professional fitness instructors. We used our 50+ years of collective experience to build routines that deliver the same quality of workout you’d get in a top-tier fitness studio while still being incredibly fun — kind of a mash-up of Guitar Hero and Zumba!

    BoxVR is one of those games you’ll grasp in seconds, yet it never gets old. Throw hooks, jabs, uppercuts and other punches at coloured targets while ducking, bobbing and weaving to dodge other ‘attacks’. Each sphere indicates which hand to use and which type of punch to throw. Themed environments and a wide range of difficulty and intensity options add to the challenge and excitement.

    Each routine is choreographed to music ranging from hip-hop to electronica to disco and more. For the PS VR adaptation, we’ve more than doubled the number of music tracks, for a total of 110, and added 11 exclusive new routines, for a total of 45 — creating an massive variety of workout session combinations ranging in duration from six to 60 minutes. (We’ll be adding tons more routines and tracks over time.)

    How is BoxVR different from other movement/rhythm games? Well for starters, it’s the only game co-designed by me and several other professional fitness instructors. Our decades of experience helping people get the most out of their workouts were instrumental in choreographing the routines in the game, and you can feel the difference when you play.

    BoxVR workout routines gradually increase in intensity and challenge, but are never impossible – meaning players maximize their strength, endurance, timing and accuracy with minimum risk of injury. The routines include brief rest periods, deliberately designed to give players time to recover and lower their heart rate so they can go right back to giving 100% effort.

    The game tracks your caloric burn rate, session length and more by session, week, month and all-time. This not only lets players ramp up the intensity of their workouts gradually, it’s also motivational; seeing your ongoing progress and cumulative calories burned is pretty inspiring!

    As a professional dance and fitness instructor for many years, I’ve led thousands of group fitness classes all over the world, and I’ve been having a blast helping design and choreograph the routines in BoxVR. From the intensity level and duration to the music tracks, it’s easy to get the workout you want while having a great time honing your moves and racking up perfect scores.

    For the PS VR launch, we’ve even added a trophy system (including a Platinum Trophy) to help track your progress and celebrate your major milestones. There are lots of VR games that will get you moving, but only BoxVR delivers a pro-quality workout session tailored to your specific needs, from duration and intensity to style and soundtrack. We’re super excited to bring BoxVR to PS VR, and hope you’ll give it a try!

    Website: LINK

  • Black Paradox Update: Retro Shoot ‘Em Up Launches Tomorrow

    Black Paradox Update: Retro Shoot ‘Em Up Launches Tomorrow

    Reading Time: 5 minutes

    There sure are a lot of villains in space. And it’s up to Black Paradox, the space-car driving badass bounty hunter, to bring them to justice i.e. shoot them until they explode. So, buckle up space cadets, crank up the synth-wave, and blast-off into a neon-tinged, retro-stylish universe, where roguelite side-scrolling shmup adventure awaits! But before you do that, these five totally rad Black Paradox facts will help you become the boss of the cosmos…

    1. You can equip the Star Phoenix with up to six power-ups

    The first rule of intergalactic crime-fighting is looking good when you’re zapping through space. That’s why you get to warp through the quadrants in the Star Phoenix — a rocket-car with wing doors that’s hotter than a solar flare and just as sexy. Just don’t stand too close to the exhaust port.

    The base model Star Phoenix is already a head-turner, but the vehicle’s real beauty lies in its ability to be upgraded on-the-fly. After successfully beating a boss, you’re rewarded with a choice of two power-ups. These come in the shape of stat buffs, drone assistance, or other (usually beneficial) gameplay effects. Over the course of a single run, the Star Phoenix can be equipped with a total of six power-ups.

    In addition to the 37 different power-ups and 13 drone types to try out, there are eight super-secret power-up combos to discover — this is when two specific power-ups are both equipped on the same run and consequently creates a new effect. To get you started, here’s one of the eight: if you’re able to equip the Blade Drone and Barbed Wire power-ups together, it creates the Ripping Drone Combo.

    2. Chips provide permanent upgrades

    Power-ups are cool, but they only stay with you for a single run. For something more permanent, i.e. something that stays equipped to the Star Phoenix between runs, chips have got you covered. Available from the Garage, which you can visit between runs, chips are bought using credits earned by shooting down enemies. When equipped, a chip provides boosts to two of the Star Phoenix’s stat categories — Health, Attack, Speed, Fire Rate — and gives a special, additional effect.

    Initially, only two chip slots are available, but it’s a good idea to earn enough credits to spend on unlocking a further two as quickly as possible, so you can equip a maximum of four chips at once. The more chips you have equipped, the better your chances of success.

    When you first start playing, only low-level chips will be available — chips go from level 1 (min) to 13 (max). However, the chips made available to purchase are randomly generated based on the average level of the chips you have equipped. So, when presented with a choice of two chips, always try and grab the higher-level option. This is the quickest way to fully pimp the Star Phoenix with high level chips.

    3. You can play with 20 different weapons

    You begin every run with a basic gun equipped to the Star Phoenix. It’s effective enough as a starter, but you’re going to want to grab something more powerful and/or fun as soon as you can. Weapon crates are dropped by long cargo ships when they’re destroyed, so keep an eye out for them.

    The Star Phoenix can be fitted with two weapons, although you can only use them one at a time. If you have two weapons fitted and pick up a new weapon from a crate, the new weapon will replace whichever weapon you were using last.

    Be sure to familiarize yourself with all the weapons — there are pros and cons to all of them. My favorite loadout consists of a weapon with a large spread of fire/damage, balanced by one that requires more precision but packs a heftier punch. It’s then simply a case of switching between them as the situation demands.

    Handy tip: Some weapons slow you down when they’re being fired. This can be very useful for situations that require precision manoeuvring, such as when you’re faced with a barrage of bullets and need to weave between them.

    4. It’s not just Black Paradox that is called Black Paradox

    We’ve already established that the criminal-busting hero is called Black Paradox, but we haven’t mentioned that Black Paradox has a space-bending special move at his disposal that’s also called Black Paradox. When the special attack meter is fully charged and Black Paradox has been triggered, it warps a clone of Black Paradox, who is driving a clone of the Star Phoenix, from a ‘dark’ dimension to fight alongside you.

    Like most special attacks, it’s best to keep Black Paradox for emergencies, which in this case is usually during the boss fights that come at the end of each stage. The special attack meter doesn’t carry over and is reset to empty at the start of each quadrant. In other words, if the special attack meter is full during a boss fight, use it or lose it!

    It’s also worth mentioning that your health is reset to FULL at the start of each stage, so you can afford to be a little reckless during a boss fight, safe in the knowledge that you’ll be fully juiced before heading into the next area (as long as you beat the boss, of course!).

    5. Beat the game and you’ll unlock an alternate universe

    If you successfully steer the Star Phoenix through all seven quadrants, and defeat each of their respective bosses, then you’ll unlock Darkness Mode — a boss rush mode that takes place in the alternate ‘dark’ dimension that the Black Paradox clone inhabits. As it’s his territory, you play as the ‘dark’ Black Paradox, rather than the ‘light’ version of the hero that features in the main game.

    You’ll face off against alternate, more powerful clones of each of the bosses, all of which use a modified and deadlier version of their attacks. And when you use the Black Paradox special attack, the roles are reversed, so it’s the light universe Black Paradox who appears to temporarily lend his firepower.

    And, while we’re on the subject of modes, I should also point out that Black Paradox features two-player local co-op, so you and a buddy can team-up and take down the galaxy’s most nefarious villains together.

    Black Paradox launches tomorrow and we hope you’ll have fun cleaning up the cosmos one criminal boss at a time.

    Website: LINK

  • Figment is a Surreal Adventure Set in the Subconscious

    Figment is a Surreal Adventure Set in the Subconscious

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    Hej Hej! We are Bedtime Digital Games, an indie developer from Denmark. We have strived to create imaginative worlds for you to explore since 2014 and it is a real pleasure to be here talking about our latest game, Figment. Figment is an action-adventure game that invites you to explore a unique surreal universe filled with music, humor and a multilayered narrative.

    In Figment, we wanted to explore the subconscious, or more precisely where dreams are created. First, we asked ourselves “what do people dream of, and why?” But we realized it was more interesting to ask ourselves “where do dreams come from, and what might that place look like?” Which meant that the team had to take a deep dive into the mind and find a way to materialize thoughts and life events into real elements.

    Following the classical segmentation of the mind (logical left and creative right), we started working on Freedom Isles. You may have guessed from the name that this is the creative, right-brain part of the mind. The few rules to design this place were to give it a lot of space and make it green and lively, through visuals and sounds. We decided — as a way to reinforce the mood — to make it bright, as if it’s always noon there.

    Now that the right-brain part was made, it was time to take care of the left-brain part, often referred to as the logical side. We instinctively thought of a bland, cold place, made of boxes and cubes devoid of rich or vivid colors. But this didn’t feel right for us: visually speaking, it was too disconnected from Freedom Isles. Instead, we decided to turn it into a problem-solving realm, similar to a factory, full of steam and cogs.

    We had a lot of fun linking those two areas together, turning those two separate parts into one big, connected mind. Exploring the impact of our day-to-day lives on our subconscious became a great source of inspiration. Our subconscious is ever-changing, influenced by past and present experiences. The mind absorbs and uses recent events and images in thoughts and dreams. This gave birth to The Pathway, the bridge between the subconscious to the conscious. This place is disorganized, filled with all the recent emotions and experiences slowly trickling into the mind…

    But you’ll have to explore the game yourself. Grab your sword and get ready to dive into the mind! We are thrilled to finally share Figment with you and hope you will enjoy your time in the mind. See you May 14 at PlayStation Store. If you have any questions before (or even after) the release, feel free to ask in the comments.

    Website: LINK

  • The Drop: New PlayStation Games for April 30, 2019

    The Drop: New PlayStation Games for April 30, 2019

    Reading Time: 5 minutes

    Ahoy-hoy! Justin’s on the road, so I’m filling in this week. I know we’re all hip-deep in the grim, brutal world of Days Gone (not to mention Mortal Kombat 11), but next week sees some noteworthy new releases as well.

    Fade to Silence is a survival RPG set in a frozen post-apocalyptic hell populated by bizarre creatures. Developed by Black Forest games, this single-player and co-op adventure continually challenges you to stay one step ahead of the blizzard and do whatever it takes to stay alive.

    Read on for a full list of next week’s new releases. Enjoy The Drop!

    The Drop Logo

    The Drop Logo

    PS4 — Digital
    In Bird Game, a third-person flying adventure, a very special adventure awaits you. Complete with a serene soundtrack, a difficult yet relaxing adventure awaits all those who wish to be one with nature.
    Black Paradox
    PS4 — Digital
    Black Paradox is a fast-paced roguelite shoot ’em up. Unleash an arsenal of weapons, power-ups, drones, and other upgrades to survive waves of enemies, against a backdrop of vibrant pixel art and synth-wave soundtrack. Enter the cockpit, ready your weapons, and prepare for the ultimate galactic showdown.
    Bomb Chicken
    PS4 — Digital
    Play as a bomb laying chicken in this action puzzle platformer! Who doesn’t love chicken… especially when it’s smothered in delicious blue hot sauce? After a freak accident, a seemingly ordinary chicken becomes a bomb laying free range hero. Explore the versatile mechanic of laying bombs in this explosive exploration platformer.
    PS VR — Digital
    BoxVR brings music enhanced, boxing inspired workouts to Virtual Reality gaming. Leading fitness instructors help us produce a variety of boxing workouts, specifically designed to destroy calories in the most entertaining way ever devised! We are constantly improving BoxVR with new classes, music, moves and features.
    PS4 — Digital (Out 5/1)
    Take control of the latest line of robots and test their fighting capabilities, agility, and endurance in various arenas filled with dangerous obstacles, booby traps and enemies. In World mode, reach the finish line of each level before your battery runs out. In Endless mode, run as far as you can before your energy runs out.
    The End Is Nigh
    PS4 — Digital
    Follow Ash, one of few ‘things’ that have ‘survived’ the end of the world. Feel his stress levels rise as you throw him into an endless swarm of decaying, mutant creatures and aid his final epic quest… to simply make a friend.
    Fade to Silence
    PS4 — Digital, Retail
    Fade to Silence takes players into a frozen, post-apocalyptic world where defying nature’s threats and enemies is key. A compelling mix of a puzzling story, a constant strife for resources, balancing short term needs versus your long term goals, and a tense, atmospheric mood makes this game a unique survival adventure.
    Fell Seal: Arbiter’s Mark
    PS4 — Digital
    Fell Seal: Arbiter’s Mark is a turn-based tactical RPG with a focus on storytelling and strategic battles. Unfold a mature story as you progress through hand-crafted scenarios, controlling your own group of Arbiters, with each character customizable from a wide selection of classes and abilities!
    Giga Wrecker Alt.
    PS4 — Digital
    In the near future, where Earth has been ravaged by robot invaders, the fate of the planet rests of the shoulders of a young girl who becomes more than human. Saved from death and cursed with cybernetic powers beyond comprehension, it’s up to Reika Rekkeiji to save humanity from the evil Ajeet in this exciting new game from legendary developer Game Freak!
    Tower of Dragonasia
    PS4 — Digital
    Experience a unique action-packed adventure as a mythical dragon while fighting waves of dragons to ascend to the top of the Tower of Dragonasia. Play as five unique dragons as you venture through three worlds of carefully crafted levels and countless waves of enemies in order to climb the mysterious Tower of Dragonasia.
    Va-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action
    PS4 — Digital (Out 5/2)
    You are a bartender at VA-11 Hall-A, affectionately nicknamed ‘Valhalla.’ Although it is just a small bar in downtown Glitch City, it attracts the most fascinating people this side of dystopia. Keep your clients lubricated and you will be made privy to the most interesting stories.

    The information above is subject to change without notice.

    PlayStation Music LogoPlayStation Music Logo

    PlayStation Video LogoPlayStation Video Logo

    PlayStation Vue LogoPlayStation Vue Logo

    The information above is subject to change without notice.

    Website: LINK