Schlagwort: Roguelike

  • Cowabunga! Essential Tips for TMNT: Splintered Fate

    Cowabunga! Essential Tips for TMNT: Splintered Fate

    Reading Time: 7 minutes

    Cowabunga! Essential Tips for TMNT: Splintered Fate

    • Daniel Stansens, Lead Game Designer

    The Heroes in a Half Shell have arrived on Xbox—and they’re ready to kick shell! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate brings fast-paced, roguelike action to your console, featuring chaotic co-op gameplay, powerful power-ups, and a cast of iconic characters. Whether you’re jumping in solo or teaming up with friends, we’ve put together some tips to help you get the most out of your first runs and beyond.

    From character selection to upgrade strategies, here’s everything you need to know to start strong in the streets (and sewers) of New York City.

    One of the best parts of Splintered Fate is its cast of playable characters. Each Turtle—and Casey Jones—brings their own combat style and strategic advantages to the fight. Not sure who to pick first? Here’s a quick breakdown:

    • Leonardo: The oldest brother and Leader of the Turtles. Leo is a balanced fighter with fast, reliable attacks and a focus on getting into and out of combat swiftly. Great for beginners.
    • Raphael: A hot head with a fiery temper. Raph is a heavy hitter who shines in one-on-one combat. His abilities pair well with critical damage upgrades.
    • Michelangelo: The soul of the gang that keeps them going through the toughest of times. Mikey is a crowd-control specialist. His fast nunchuck attacks and AoE damage work great with status effects like Ooze.
    • Donatello: The brains of the team. Donny is the toughest Turtle in the team and excels at manipulating the battlefield through the use of tools.
    • Casey Jones: The newest addition, Casey’s puck attack is the first true ranged attack in the game. He’s a brute of a fighter with a powerful melee combo and the ability to pick off groups of enemies at a distance with his hockey puck.

    Each character has powerful synergies depending on your chosen upgrades—don’t be afraid to experiment!

    Story Mode: Kick Back and Enjoy the Ride

    Not every player is here for high-stakes roguelike chaos. If you’re looking for a more relaxed experience, Story Mode is a great way to enjoy Splintered Fate‘s narrative at your own pace. With reduced difficulty, it’s perfect for soaking in the atmosphere—or playing alongside younger fans.

    Dash Like Your Life Depends on It (Because It Does)

    One of the earliest game-changers you’ll unlock is the Dragon Coin Station, where you can invest the Dragon Coins you’ve collected to gain permanent upgrades. We strongly recommend prioritizing getting that first extra dash.

    Dash is your best friend in Splintered Fate—it lets you avoid damage, reposition quickly, and escape danger. Upgrading your dash ability early will help you survive longer, especially in tougher rooms or boss encounters.

    Upgrade Smart: Damage, Health, and… Pizza?

    When it comes to Dragon upgrades, damage and health boosts are always solid picks. But don’t sleep on other options! Abilities like “Slice of Life” can be a game-saver, especially when you’re deep into a run and low on health having an enemy drop a slice of health boosting pizza is delicious!

    Look out for upgrades that complement your chosen Turtle’s strengths. As you progress through the game upgrades can be unlocked that boost each Turtles area of focus. If you’re new to the game, consider picking passives that boost survivability early on and add complexity as you gain confidence.

    Master the Power Combos

    Each run offers you new Turtle powers—some of which can evolve into legendary powers if combined correctly. Pay close attention to the synergy between the turtle powers, Fire, Water, Ooze, Utrom, Ninja and Astral.

    Here’s a hint: stacking turtle powers of the same element will unlock more powerful abilities but the most powerful abilities require combining two elements, like Fire and Water. You never know when your next reward could turn a good run into a legendary one.

    Boost Your Build: Tools, Inspirations and Masteries

    Beyond the Turtle powers, you’ll find tools (active abilities), inspirations (passive character buffs), and character-specific masteries. Here’s how to get the most out of them:

    • Tools are great for controlling the flow of battle but take a while to charge back up—use them strategically.
    • Inspirations are unique to each Turtle, each starting every run with their two inspirations defining their unique play style. Sometimes though you can be rewarded with the inspiration of another turtle, leading to game changing builds.
    • Masteries can be found during runs and boost the playstyle of your chosen Turtle. Many masteries are unique to each turtle and can change up how they are played.

    Don’t Ignore Artifacts

    Artifacts are powerful items that can give you major advantages during your run but you need to earn them. Some grant passive bonuses, while others trigger effects in battle. Unlocking and equipping them can make a huge difference, especially in later levels or co-op play.

    You’ll earn artifacts as you progress through the game. Keep them in your sight—they’re worth the effort.

    Shell Up and Dive In

    Whether you’re a TMNT superfan or a newcomer to the franchise, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate offers something for everyone: deep progression, tight combat, couch co-op, and nostalgic charm. With these tips in your arsenal, you’ll be ready to face whatever Shredder throws your way.

    So, grab your favorite Turtle (or Casey), power up, and jump into the action. New York City isn’t going to save itself! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate is available today on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.

    Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate - Launch Offer

    Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate – Launch Offer

    Super Evil Megacorp

    ☆☆☆☆☆
    ★★★★★

    Get it now

    FREE CASEY JONES DLC! We’re excited to announce a special offer: the Casey Jones DLC is free for all Xbox players for a limited time! There’s never been a better time to jump in, simply buy the Launch bundle for the price of the base game, and Casey Jones plus the Junkyard level are yours to keep forever. But don’t wait too long -the offer ends on July 8th, so don’t miss out! UNLEASH TURTLE POWER! Grab your friends, pick your favorite Turtle and jump into a roguelike adventure to save Master Splinter from the foot clan! Master ninja skills, unite in bodacious online and local co-op gameplay, and conquer iconic NYC locales. BODACIOUS CO-OP GAMEPLAY In Splintered Fate, brace yourself for fast-paced, roguelike action where no two runs are the same. With randomized power-ups, room layouts, and boss modifiers, the excitement never ends. Take control of all four Turtles, each wielding unique powers, and team up with friends for bodacious co-op gameplay. Explore iconic NYC locations, upgrade your Turtle powers, and prepare to face off against formidable enemies. BUILD YOUR POWER Master the powers of water and fire, utrom and ooze, light and darkness, and -most importantly- Ninja to create unique and bodacious builds for your Turtles. Every run brings new challenges and opportunities – explore and perfect your favorite builds, and combine them with allies to conquer your enemies. A THRILLING STORY When Splinter is kidnapped by Shredder, mysterious portals simultaneously appear across NYC. With April and Metalhead analyzing recovered artifacts for clues, the Turtles battle to recover their father from the clutches of the Foot Clan. However, as the gang gets ever ​closer to Splinter’s otherworldly location, an even greater threat lingers in the shadows… With additional settings, balance and tuning enhancements for PC, Splintered Fate promises to keep you engaged in the FIGHT, ADAPT, REPEAT portal loop. Be ready to restore peace to the city!

    The post Cowabunga! Essential Tips for TMNT: Splintered Fate appeared first on Xbox Wire.

    Website: LINK

  • A Journey Through For the Warp

    A Journey Through For the Warp

    Reading Time: 3 minutes
    • Rogue-like meets deck building in space.
    • Huge card variety suited for different play styles.
    • Tips for beginner players.

    For The Warp invites gamers to navigate through a procedurally generated galaxy, each playthrough offering a unique and unpredictable experience. Set in a pixelated universe, the game’s charming retro aesthetic belies the depth of its strategic gameplay.

    Customize Your Run

    FTW menu

    Start your run with one of seven ships, each with its unique deck, basic stats and equipment slots. Each nudges you into a different play style, that you can follow or ignore, the choice is up to you! Buy, find and trade equipment, allowing you to upgrade your spacecraft with more fire-power, durability or special traits!

    So Many Cards…

    FTW options screen

    The game has 120 cards and 34 equipment components, which you can find mix and match, full of synergies and gameplay opportunities. You can get them after clearing a level, during procedural generated events, or just by scavenging space waste, so remember to explore each system thoroughly.

    Tips to Help You Succeed

    FTW screenshot
    • The shields are preserved between turns, take advantage of this. Alternate between attacking and setting up shields.
    • Never underestimate the power of controlling your enemy’s intent! With cards that change the enemy’s intent you can stop them from attacking!
    • You can gain fuel after each combat or purchase it on space stations. So, feel free to explore around the entire map.
    • Don’t be afraid of scrapping cards that aren’t helping your current build.
    • Follow those beacons! In them you can find shortcuts, new cards and equipment and even entirely new systems!
    • Your HP is only refilled when you change systems, so manage it wisely.
    • The cards and equipment are shared between all ships, only the starter deck is different for each one.

    For The Warp was developed by Massive Galaxy Studios and it’s ImaginationOverflow’s first title as a publisher, all the team from both studios hope you enjoy this new entry on the Xbox family!

    For The Warp
    Xbox Live
    Xbox Play Anywhere

    For The Warp

    ImaginationOverflow

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    $17.49 $14.86

    For the Warp is a roguelike deck-building game in space! Discover and add new cards to your arsenal and increase your chances of surviving. Explore procedurally generated systems and fight your way to the warp gate Encounter allies and foes, ancient civilization ruins, unlock powerful technologies and ships. You assembled a ragtag team for a dangerous trade route, but suddenly the nearest warp gate was destroyed. You have no option but to take the longest route and deliver your valuable cargo to make a hefty profit… Just survive and reach for the warp gate! Features
    – 7 ships and more than 150 play cards
    – Explore procedurally generated systems and fight your way to the warp gate
    – Encounter allies and foes, ancient civilization ruins, unlock powerful technologies and ships
    – Discover and add new cards to your arsenal and increase your chances of surviving.
    – Pixelart by Kirokaze
    – Synth-pop music made by Martyn Stonehouse

    Website: LINK

  • Balatro Wants You to Play Poker – and Then Break It Apart

    Balatro Wants You to Play Poker – and Then Break It Apart

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    I’ve built decks where a simple pair is more powerful than a straight flush. I’ve built decks that mean straights no longer work the way they should, and allow me to create wild combos more frequently. I’ve built decks where I’ve experimented and discovered that there are valid poker hands here that don’t even exist in the real-life game – five of a kind, anyone?

    I’ve discovered a new way to play Balatro on every single run I’ve played, quite literally –and I’ve played a lot. This isn’t a game about working within the rules to succeed, it’s about changing the rules to help you redefine what success is. I’ve already hit point scores I didn’t necessarily think were possible when I started playing – and, looking in the unlocks menu, I’ve realised that there are point scores that still feel baffling this far into my time with the game.

    Speaking of unlocks, this is where Balatro offers you a meaningful sense of progression. Every new run is a total reset – you can’t keep abilities or receive passive upgrades, but hitting (often very specific) targets will unlock new cards for you to use in future runs. I’m now looking through menus between each run, working out what bizarre goal I want to hit next – a run where I somehow have 30 club cards in my deck? Let’s give it a try.

    Perhaps my biggest reservation going into Balatro is that there was no story to anchor this all to – I’ve loved roguelike deckbuilders’ many approaches to slowly but surely offering up a narrative through what amount to simple games of cards. But I’ve come to realise that part of the beauty here is that this game swaps story for atmosphere.

    Website: LINK

  • Trinity Fusion – Bring Down the Multiverse

    Trinity Fusion – Bring Down the Multiverse

    Reading Time: 5 minutes

    Hello, Hitchhiker.

    I’m Craig Hauser, level and combat designer at Angry Mob Games. We just released Trinity Fusion, an all-new action roguelite where the only way to save the multiverse is to end it. We’ve been working on the game for four years now, and we’re happy to finally get the game out there in the wild, available now on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S!

    TF screenshoty

    So, What’s the Story?

    Trinity Fusion is a 2.5D action rogue-lite set in a doomed, man-made multiverse. In it, you’ll play as Maya, a woman psychically connected with her three parallel selves.

    Their worlds are literally falling apart around them, and you and your counterselves are the key element in a plan to reconnect them, fusing each of their scattered worlds back together into one stable whole again.

    The story is put together in collaboration with Ada Hoffmann, author of The Outside, The Fallen and The Infinite, which we are big fans of.

    TF screenshot

    The Tricky Art of Hitting Things Good

    Trinity Fusion, more than anything else, is all about great-feeling combat. Mechanics focus on slashes, dodges and satisfying special moves. We’re taking everything we learned from building our previous platform fighting game, Brawlout, and applying it to a purely PvE experience. Every strike and stagger is beautifully animated, every hit giving just the right amount of feedback. This is, and I’m not trying to brag too much, probably some of the best hit feedback you’re going to get in this niche.

    TF screenshot

    Combine that combat feel with three characters that have their own unique weapons and abilities, the usual roguelike-ish interconnected systems of permanent and temporary upgrades and our new Character Fusions(!) and players will find that they have tons of flexibility to play the game the way they want to play it, and get rewarded for doing so.

    Get Amped Up

    The flexibility and power of our mid-run upgrades, called Amplifiers, is what we consider to be Trinity Fusion’s “special sauce”, the thing that takes our already great-feeling combat into an escalating endorphin rush as players get further and further into their runs.

    For each Amplifier you equip, you’re not only getting an immediate upgrade, but you’re making progress toward what we call synergy powerups, massive upgrades like Critical Vampire that heals you for a percentage of the critical damage you deal. These synergies can quickly change how you might want to set up your build going forward.

    By Your Powers Combined…

    Finally, let’s talk about character fusions, where you combine two of your counterselves to get access to both of their toolsets at once. Fusing your characters isn’t just about giving yourself an extra ability or two, it can be essential to crafting a powerful build as you get to the later stages of your run. Keeping that “Critical Vampire” upgrade from earlier in mind, let’s talk about how fusions can play into buildcrafting.

    TF screenshot

    As your run progresses, you’ll find more and more weapons that have bonuses like dealing guaranteed critical damage to enemies afflicted with specific status effects. Fusing your current character with Altara, whose Energy weapons can inflict Weak, Chill, Freeze, Electric or Fire effects, can make late-run, crit-focused builds significantly easier to plan for. Having a tool in your back pocket that automatically doubles the damage of your other weapons and feeds into any crit-powered Amplifiers can be devastating, and can keep individual weapons viable for much longer than they would have been otherwise.

    But I Don’t Want to Make Builds, I Just Wanna Hit Things

    Let’s say you don’t care about any of that build stuff and just want more combat options. You can do that too! The fusion of Kera and Naira is actually my personal favorite way to play, switching between Kera’s melee launchers that carry smaller enemies into the air for air combos and blasting the tankier units that I can’t launch by using Naira’s guns. Combining abilities like Kera’s Dash Uppercut and Naira’s Glitch Dash abilities lets me temporarily become a hypermobile, invulnerable human wrecking ball.

    TF screenshot

    Whether you want to work towards a specific build from the start of your run, want to try and complete the game with a single character, or if you want unmatched versatility in combat, Trinity Fusion is designed to ensure that there’s no “wrong” way to go about saving/ending the multiverse.

    We have a lot more planned for the near future, but for now, we hope that you check the game out, and that those of you that have already taken the plunge are enjoying the 1.0 release of Trinity Fusion. Have fun, and we’ll see you out there in the multiverse!

    Trinity Fusion
    Xbox Live

    Trinity Fusion

    Angry Mob Games

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 15

    ★★★★★

    $19.99

    Take control of your parallel selves on a mission to save the dying multiverse. Explore dark, sci-fi worlds and engage in fast-paced, smooth and precise combat. 𝐀 𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞-𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞 The various branches of the multiverse are always changing. Fight through a combination of procedurally-generated levels as well as hand-crafted challenges and arenas that will put your skills to the test. Levels with 3D graphics are seamlessly constructed out of hundreds of hand-made rooms. 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡-𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐭 With weapons and attack systems that leverage our previous experience working on fighting games. You’ll slide, dash and dodge between enemy attacks and strike back with an arsenal of satisfying special weapons and abilities. 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞 Each of your parallel selves has their own world with multiple biomes to explore, as well as their own sets of unique abilities and weapons. Travel through a universe of desolate wastes and caverns roamed by mutant creatures, escape the endless forges and labs of a world ruled by machines, and survive the dangerous sky cities of a post-human society. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 Unlock permanent upgrades in the Hub and discover new starting points for your run as you reclaim major locations in each universe. Finding yourself getting stuck in one area? Start your next run in a different one! No matter where you die, or which starting point you pick, you’re making progress somewhere.

    Website: LINK

  • Have a Nice Death Brings Roguelike Fun and Challenge to Xbox

    Have a Nice Death Brings Roguelike Fun and Challenge to Xbox

    Reading Time: 5 minutes

    Sharpen your scythe, Xbox fans, and show the underworld who’s boss. 

    We are so excited to see our game, Have A Nice Death, release on Xbox. For the anecdote, everything originated from a little sketch of Death scribbled by the Creative Director, Nicolas Leger, in the corner of a page during an Unruly Heroes meeting (our first game). This sparked a conversation about what it would be like if Death were in charge of the underworld and worked in a traditional office setting. With everything that’s been going on in the world, Death would probably be pretty busy processing paperwork for incoming souls and in desperate need of a vacation. 

     “I thought it had great visual potential: simple proportions, clean silhouette, an obvious and iconic weapon, and this concept of a shapeshifting cloak immediately gave me ideas for movement and combat,” Leger says. “It was just one or two months later that I made the next step with a staged gameplay video during my free time.” 

    And this is how it all started. Now, let’s dive deep into what might interest you: The gameplay of Have a Nice Death!  

    Have a Nice Death is a fast, action-packed hack and slash roguelike in procedural environments where you play as Death, and must go across unique departments (levels) to defeat the Sorrows (the bosses) until you reach your goal: The final elevator that lets you have a much-needed vacation. Acquiring and choosing the tools in your arsenal for this adventure is of the utmost importance! First, choose the kind of scythe you want at the beginning of each run as they all provide a different move set and gameplay. During your adventure, you will also find other weapons including fireballs, maces, and bows. We have short range, long range, easy-to-use, and hard-to-master weapons, totaling over 70 weapons for you to play and mix to fit your playstyle. 

    Have a Nice Death has many unique twists compared to some other roguelikes. The progression system in our game l gives you the opportunity to gain new abilities and upgrades, however, there’s a chance they might also give a boost to your enemies! We call these upgrades “curses” and to gain them, you will have to fight our menagerie of Sorrows & Thanagers (mini bosses)! 

    Try to think about the combination of these upgrades together as they are the key to completing the game and you will need to pick them according to the weapons in your arsenal. If you use a multi-hit weapon, we would suggest a green curse that spawns a deadly butterfly per hit you do. Did I say green one? That’s because Have a Nice Death’s curses are split into 3 branches (blue, red, green) on a random skill tree. They are ranked in accordance with the main pillars of Death, Inc.’s business philosophy: Red for Daring, Green for Excellence, and Blue for Innovation. Red curses focus on damage-based buffs, green curses focus on enhancing your ability to use spells, and blue curses focus on utility or defense-based buffs. Curses play an important role on how you want your character build to be like (e.g., have a more weapon-focused or a spell- focused build), so make sure to take curses that fit the build you’d like to have! 

    Another twist is the Anima system, the healing system in the game. As you explore Death, Inc., you’ll come across Blue Anima, which does heal you but it only heals your injuries!  So you’ll need to be on the lookout for ways to completely heal Death, such as finding and using Koffee or the very rare Golden Anima. Dodging every attack or killing stuff quickly works, too!  

    One of the goals for Have a Nice Death was to have a good mix of improvisation and foresight. We wanted the player to both be surprised by each run in order to give the feeling of what we call the “golden run,” but still be able to have agency and try to influence the run to feel the satisfaction of being overpowered. This occurs by offering the player many choices while switching up gameplay as to not encourage “save-scumming,” for example. 

    While Have a Nice Death is roguelike and we know you will die (I mean, “burn out”), you don’t have to be afraid of the difficulty. We have thought about everything. You will always find some gold to spend in your very own lobby with Joe to unlock new weapons or food to consume. He’s even nice enough to offer you a ridiculous discount if you have completed some objectives for him. For those who want an easier or a more challenging playthrough across Death, Inc., there are 15 difficulty levels to choose from, as we know roguelike players enjoy a nice challenge as they hack’n’slash away! 

    Have a Nice Death is available on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One now.

    Have a Nice Death
    Xbox Live

    Have a Nice Death

    Gearbox Publishing San Francisco Inc.

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 3

    ★★★★★

    $24.99 $19.99

    Welcome to Death, Inc.
    Discover and explore the darkly-charming, procedurally-generated departments of Death Inc., where you’ll meet a diverse cast of memorable characters—like your affable pumpkin-headed assistant, Pump Quinn—who are always willing to share the latest office gossip Reap What You Sow
    Sharpen your skills (and scythe) through fast-paced hack n’ slash combat, utilizing over 70 unique weapons and spells you can find and upgrade to create devastating combinations Death Never Sleeps
    Since Death can’t die, use what you’ve learned and earned to overcome the numerous minions and bosses in each department of Death Incorporated… over and over. A performance review after every run guarantees that you’ll unlock interesting items and upgrades that will help you progress on your journey When Death Gives You Curses
    Taking more power for yourself is a controversial move in Death Incorporated’s company culture. For instance, adopting a Curse upgrade for yourself might result in the Labor Inspector granting your subordinates enhanced powers, or worse, raising the cost of koffee and other items that are vital to your work output

    Website: LINK

  • How Endless Dungeon And Artist Lera Lynn Created The Perfect Space Western Refuge

    How Endless Dungeon And Artist Lera Lynn Created The Perfect Space Western Refuge

    Reading Time: 7 minutes

    Endless Dungeon launches on Xbox and PC next week, the long-awaited successor to 2014’s Dungeon of the Endless. This tactical, squad-based roguelike takes you on a journey through an abandoned space station, where your team is tasked with protecting a Crystal_bot and escorting it to The Core. 

    This is no easy task; even the most potent teams require a spot to recharge and respec. Enter The Saloon, the hub where you can take a well-earned breather, change up your loadout, or enjoy a skill-enhancing drink at the bar. This area is drenched in futuristic western vibes, complete with its own live band serving as the soundtrack to your respite. 

    The music that you’ll hear at The Saloon is composed and performed in-game by Lera Lynn, a Nashville-based singer-songwriter, whose work you may recognize from HBO’s True Detective. Lynn has written music for film and TV, but this is her first foray into video game music. We were lucky enough to sit down with Lynn to learn more about her experience getting into games, and why her particular blend of Americana lends itself perfectly to Endless Dungeon’s intergalactic watering hole.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y08XTwC6giQ?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

    Lynn tells us first and foremost that she loves a challenge, and composing for a video game sounded like a particularly fun, if not lengthy one. She shares that her work with Endless Dungeon is five years in the making, and the turnaround is much slower compared to her experience with film and TV. While this is Lynn’s very first experience with video game composition, she describes the partnership with developer Amplitude as “the most organic collaboration I can imagine.” 

    “The studio reached about to me because they liked my music,” Lynn explains. “They asked if I’d be interested in writing some songs for the game, and we went from there.”

    Lynn has composed music that was featured in season two of HBO show True Detective, and she also starred in the show as a recurring live performer in a bar. There are some parallels between this and her role as a cartoon saloon singer in Endless Dungeon, and we were curious about the differences.

    “The music plays a different role in the game than it does in film and TV, for example,” Lynn tells us. “I feel like in those, the music is meant to make a scene more emotionally compelling. I think in [Endless Dungeon] it’s more fun, and it’s more interactive, and that’s all new and very different to me.” 

    Lynn was also given some direction with what the songs should invoke. This ranged from upbeat tracks signifying a call-to-action, and a sentimental ballad about missing home. 

    “When I’m writing for myself, I could write about a million things,” she adds. “Having that direction actually makes it easier.” 

    Lynn doesn’t just provide the music for the Endless Dungeon saloon – the avatar that sings the tracks is modelled after her real face. The character went through a few interactions, including an ethereal floating octopus without a mouth – though Lynn felt that singing might be quite problematic with that concept. In the end, it felt right to have the character look like Lynn with a spacey outfit twist, but not without her signature on-stage beret. 

    “I asked initially whether I should be writing from my perspective, or I should put on a different character, and they wanted me to do my thing,” she says. “With that, I was able to bring a lot of myself to the game. We’ve created an interesting juxtaposition with my style combined with the sounds from the game, which is really interesting.” 

    However, you won’t see Lynn’s character straight away. The live band will appear more prominently as you progress through Endless Dungeon. 

    “When you initially get to the saloon, there’s just the guitar player playing the guitar parts of a song,” she explains. “And as you reach higher levels, you can unlock other musicians that are playing the songs. Once you’ve made it to a higher level then I will appear, and you’ll hear the singing. Hopefully, that’s a payoff for the player.” 

    Lynn doesn’t consider herself to be a gamer just yet, but she’s on her way, and hopes that her work with Amplitude will serve as a gateway into what she describes as a “whole new universe.” She’s also incredibly thrilled to add a video game project to her portfolio, and hopes that it can serve as inspiration to those wanting to get involved in the space.

    “It’s great to be enlisted as a female producer and composer in video games,” she says. “I think that’s a good thing for the world. There’s also no limit to the creativity here, there’s no limit to what people can imagine and then make, and I just want to be involved with more of it.” 

    Endless Dungeon launches October 19, and is available to purchase on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.

    ENDLESS™ Dungeon
    Xbox Live

    ENDLESS™ Dungeon

    Amplitude STUDIOS

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    ENDLESS™ Dungeon is a unique blend of roguelite, tactical action, and tower defense set in the award-winning ENDLESS™ Universe. Plunge into an abandoned space station alone or with friends in co-op, recruit a team of shipwrecked heroes, and protect your crystal against never-ending waves of monsters… or die trying, get reloaded, and try again. WE GOT TURRETS AND WE GOT GUNS You’re stranded on an abandoned space station chock-full of monsters and mysteries. To get out you’ll have to reach The Core, but you can’t do that without your crystal bot. That scuttling critter is your key to surviving the procedurally generated rooms of this space ruin. Sadly, it’s also a fragile soul, and every monster in the place wants a piece of it. You’re going to have to think quick, plan well, place your turrets, and then… fireworks! Bugs, bots and blobs will stop at nothing to turn you and that crystal into dust and debris. With a large choice of weapons and turrets, the right gear will be the difference between life and death. RIDE SOLO OR GIDDY UP WITH FRIENDS You can face the horrors of the Station riding solo, or squad up and run the gauntlet in 3 player co-op. Once you’ve got your posse, plan your moves. Pick their weapons from a wide choice ranging from flamethrowers to poison snipers. When you’re set, enter the Station to take on a character’s quest, take a stab at escaping, or just go loco on the locals. You’ll likely die trying, but hey, that’s the way it goes in this space dungeon! ASSEMBLE YOUR RECKLESS SQUAD Prepare to meet a cast of colorful heroes all gunning for the same goal: to get the hell out! Each brings their own cards to the table. There’s tanky Bunker who’ll soak up damage, fiery Blaze who loves to blow stuff up, or maybe Shroom who’ll heal her squadmates with her „unusual“ incense. Select your heroes to build the team that works for you. As you get to know them, you’ll learn that they all have their own particular motivations and secrets… MONSTERS, DANGERS, SECRETS AND TREASURES, OH MY! Escaping means overcoming all the dangers of the Station. Yup, all of them. Deadly robots, merciless monsters, loot, and giant beasts await you at every corner. The deeper you delve into this scrap heap, the more you’ll discover its tragic history. Why does the Station reel in any ship that flies too close? Why do you come back every time you kick the bucket? No matter how familiar you are with the ENDLESS™ Universe, the Station has more stories to tell. THE MORE DYIN‘, THE MORE GROWIN‘ Hate to break it to you, this won’t be easy and you might die… a lot. But that’s okay, because every time you do, you get reloaded back into the Saloon. Think of it as your center of operations (and beverages), where you can upgrade your heroes and weapons, unlock new paths to The Core, chat with the locals, listen to tunes, and drink boosting (and delicious) libations. Then, jump back into the Station and try to get out — again.

    Website: LINK

  • Nur noch eine Runde: 6 Roguelikes, die euch an den Bildschirm fesseln

    Nur noch eine Runde: 6 Roguelikes, die euch an den Bildschirm fesseln

    Reading Time: 7 minutes

    Wenn der Game Over-Bildschirm erscheint und ihr nicht einfach am letzten Speicherpunkt weiter machen könnt, sondern wieder ganz am Anfang beginnt, dann habt ihr es meistens mit einem Vertreter des Roguelike-Genre zu tun. Benannt nach dem Klassiker Rogue: Exploring the Dungeons of Doom von 1980, gibt es klare Merkmale,   was ein echtes Roguelike dem Spieler anzubieten hat.

    Dazu gehören prozedural generierte, also zufällig mittels Algorithmen erzeugte, Level, in denen sich ebenfalls die Position von Gegnern, Fallen und Beute bei jedem Neustart  verändert. So ist jeder Durchgang einzigartig, was mit den enormen Reiz ausmacht, es immer wieder zu probieren. Sterbt ihr, geht es ganz zurück auf Anfang und alles was ihr an Waffen, Fähigkeiten und sonstigen Verbesserungen mühsam errungen habt wird euch gnadenlos genommen. Was euch nicht genommen werden kann, ist die Erfahrung, die ihr sammelt und ihr werdet mit der Zeit automatisch besser. Ziel ist es, in einem Durchgang, auch Run genannt, das gesamte Spiel zu meistern. 

    Roguelike oder Roguelite

    Weicht ein Spiel von den knallharten Regeln ein Stück weit ab, dann trifft eher die Bezeichnung Roguelite zu. Zum Beispiel bleibt euch auch nach dem permanenten Bildschirmtod eine nützliche Fähigkeit, ein hilfreiches Werkzeug oder eine besondere Waffe erhalten, mit denen ihr den nächsten Durchgang entspannter angeht. Oder ihr schaltet eine Abkürzung frei, damit ihr nicht schon tausendmal besuchte Abschnitte immer und immer wieder durchqueren braucht. 

    Renaissance der Roguelikes

    War das Genre viele Jahre hauptsächlich bei Indie-Entwicklern äußerst beliebt, die ein packendes und spannendes Spielprinzip nicht unbedingt in teure High-End-Optik verpacken brauchten, erscheinen mit großen AAA-Titeln, beispielsweise Returnal oder Deathloop, auch immer mehr grafisch aufwändige Produktionen, die sich stärker mit den  spannenden Spielmechaniken auseinandersetzen. Es macht einfach Spaß seine Erfahrungen einzusetzen und immer wieder ein Stück weiter zu kommen. Das ist genau die Art von Motivation, die so manchem Spieler bei anderen Genres vielleicht fehlt.

    Wir möchten euch aus der üppigen Auswahl an genialen Roguelike-Games einige der besten Spiele für PS4 und PS5 vorstellen, die euch garantiert lange an den Bildschirm fesseln werden. Euer Lieblings-Genrevertreter ist nicht dabei? Dann schreibt uns euren ganz persönlichen Favoriten unbedingt in die Kommentare!

    Returnal

    Nur noch eine Runde: 6 Roguelikes, die euch an den Bildschirm fesseln

    Mit dem PS5-exklusiven Returnal liefern die ausgewiesenen Shooter-Experten von Housemarque ein Sci-Fi-Abenteuer der Superlative ab, das euch garantiert sofort packen und nur schwer wieder loslassen wird. Das Abenteuer beginnt mit der Bruchlandung der Astronautin Selene auf dem Planeten Atropos. Schon bei eurem ersten Erkundungsgang, stoßt ihr auf die Ruinen einer längst untergegangenen Zivilisation und Aliens, die euch nach dem Bildschirmleben trachten. Keine Sorge, wenn ihr zu Beginn gleich in die Kugelhölle der zahlreichen Angreifer geratet und euer virtuelles Leben aushaucht, ihr erwacht kurz darauf wieder an Bord des zertrümmerten Raumschiffs.

    Returnal ist eine echte Herausforderung an euer Können und eure Geduld, wenn mächtige Waffen nach dem nächsten Ableben wieder gnadenlos aus dem Inventar entfernt werden. Aber nicht  alles ist verloren, ihr behaltet zum Beispiel dauerhaft  Perks, die euch das Überleben erheblich einfacher machen. Zum Beispiel die enorm nützliche Sekundär-Schussfunktion der Waffen. Drückt ihr den linken Trigger nur zur Hälfte durch, aktiviert ihr  den Zoom und markiert Schwachstellen der Gegner, drückt ihr den Trigger ganz durch, löst ihr einen Spezialangriff aus, der je nach Waffengattung unterschiedliche, aber immer verheerende, Auswirkungen hat. Das grandiose Gameplay, die fantastisch düstere Umgebung mit vielen Geheimnissen, die es zu entdecken gilt sowie die spannende Story sind ein Garant dafür, dass ihr immer wieder einen neuen Durchlauf angeht.

    Deathloop

    Nur noch eine Runde: 6 Roguelikes, die euch an den Bildschirm fesseln

    In dem Next Gen-Zeitschleifen-Shooter Deathloop der Dishonored- und Prey-Entwickler Arkane Studios, schlüpft ihr in dir Rolle des Attentäters Colt, der auf der mysteriösen Insel Blackreef gleich acht Zielpersonen, die sogenannten Visionäre, ausschalten soll. Was für einen echten Profi nach einer machbaren Aufgabe klingt, hat aber einen fiesen Twist. Sterbt ihr, bevor alle acht Ziele eliminiert wurden, erwacht ihr wieder am Strand der Insel und alles was euch bleibt, ist die Erinnerung daran, was ihr wohl falsch gemacht habt.

    Ihr bekommt es dabei nicht nur mit einer ganzen Armee schießwütiger Schergen und den gefährlichen Visionären zu tun, zu allem Überfluss macht mit der geheimnisvollen Julianna Blake eine höchst gefährliche Rivalin auf euch Jagd, die natürlich immer zum ungünstigsten Zeitpunkt auftaucht. Um den Auftrag auszuführen, stehen euch ein reichhaltiges Waffenarsenal und übermenschliche Fähigkeiten zur Verfügung, die euch allerdings bei jedem Ableben genommen werden. Außer ihr sammelt fleißig das Material Residuum, mit dem ihr dauerhaft eure Lieblingsknarren und bevorzugten Fähigkeiten freischaltet.

    Hades

    Nur noch eine Runde: 6 Roguelikes, die euch an den Bildschirm fesseln

    Mit dem mehrfach als „Game of the Year“ ausgezeichneten Roguelite Hades haben die amerikanischen Indie-Entwickler von Supergiant Games einen echten Hack and Slash-Hit mit reichlich Rollenspielelementen abgeliefert. Übernehmt die Rolle von Zagreus, dem Sohn des Hades, versucht aus der Unterwelt zu fliehen, um den Olymp zu erreichen. Das passt Hades, der nicht gerade als liebevolle Vaterfigur glänzt, überhaupt nicht in de Kram und er schickt euch reichlich Höllenkreaturen auf den Hals. Also metzelt und schnetzelt ihr euch durch die prozedural generierten Dungeons und genießt dabei die fantastische Story sowie die einzigartige Atmosphäre und die liebevollen Details der im Comic-Stil gezeichneten Umgebung..

    Wie es sich gehört, werdet ihr natürlich immer wieder von Feinden überrannt und landet dann im höllischen Büro des schadenfroh grinsenden Papas. Also, auf ein Neues, irgendwann werdet ihr es dem teuflischen Erziehungsberechtigten schon zeigen, was in euch steckt. Auf eurem Weg findet ihr Waffen und Fähigkeiten, aus denen ihr euch mächtige Builds bastelt, mit denen ihr ordentlich Schaden anrichtet. Besonders die wertvollen Gaben von griechischen Göttern, wie Aphrodite oder Zeus, erweisen sich als ganz besonders hilfreich für euer Fluchtunterfangen. Hades macht einfach richtig gute Laune, jeder neue Run ist grundlegend anders und auch nach eurem hundertsten Versuch entdeckt ihr immer wieder neue Dinge. Und wenn ihr mal so gar nicht weiterkommt, aber die starke Story weiter erleben möchtet, dann könnt ihr den God Mode aktivieren, der euch deutlich überlebensfähiger macht.

    Enter the Gungeon

    Nur noch eine Runde: 6 Roguelikes, die euch an den Bildschirm fesseln

    Lasst euch bloß nicht davon täuschen, dass ihr in dem Dungen Crawler und Top-Down-Shooter Enter the Gungeon gegen den Kult der Geschosslinge antretet. Das klingt zwar irgendwie niedlich, aber die Herausforderungen, die euch bei jedem Durchgang erwarten, haben es in sich. Worum geht es? Ihr wollt in den Besitz des Schatz des Gungeons kommen und mit der ultimativen Waffe die Vergangenheit abschießen. Um das zu bewerkstelligen, wählt ihr einen Gungeoneere, einen von mehren echt schrägen Helden, aus und ballert euch Stockwerk um Stockwerk bis zum finalen Raum vor.

    Was Enter the Gungeon von anderen Roguelike / Roguelite-Vertretern abhebt, ist die schiere Masse an Waffen, die euch zur Verfügung steht. Von der normalen Pistole, über Raketenwerfer und Lasergewehre, bis zu völlig absurden Wummen, mit denen ihr Fische, Bienen oder Regenbögen abfeuert, ist wirklich alles dabei, was ihr euch nur vorstellen könnt. Das Arsenal habt ihr aber auch bitter nötig, denn ihr bekommt es mit einer Armee an Gegnern zu tun, die euch mit Salven überziehen und erschreckend clevere Taktiken anwenden. Da bleibt euch oft nur die Ausweichrolle oder ein umgestürzter Tisch zur Deckung, um dem sicheren Tod in der Kugelhölle zu entkommen. Was euch aber garantiert nicht immer gelingen wird und ihr den Schriftzug „Du bist Tot“ häufiger zu sehen bekommt, als euch lieb ist. Dann heißt es eben: Zurück auf Anfang und den nächsten Versuch starten.

    Darkest Dungeon

    Nur noch eine Runde: 6 Roguelikes, die euch an den Bildschirm fesseln

    Bei Grabungen unter eurem pompösen Familienanwesen wurde die Hölle angebohrt und jetzt bevölkern Monster und Dämonen die Katakomben und sind auf dem Sprung die Welt zu erobern. Als Erbe des höllischen Hauses ist es jetzt an euch, in die Untiefen abzusteigen, kräftig unter den Kreaturen aufzuräumen und das Portal zur Unterwelt zu versiegeln. Also macht ihr euch schnurstracks mit einer Party aus den bekannten Rollenspiel-Recken Healer, Damage-Dealer, Tank und Wizard auf in die düsteren Verliese und erfahrt schon in den ersten Minuten auf die ganz harte Tour, warum die Entwickler der kanadischen Red Hook Studios ihren Indie-Erstling Darkest Dungeon genannt haben.

    Das Spiel erweist sich schnell als eine düstere und beinharte Herausforderung mit erheblichem Story-Tiefgang. Auf euren Wegen erfahrt ihr eine Menge unangenehmer Details über euren machthungrigen Vorfahren und die Mischung aus Sidescroller und rundenbasiertem Schlagabtausch summiert sich zu einem gelungenen Kampfsystem. Ein Roguelike-Dungeon Crawler, der bei jedem Durchgang die Spielwelt aus Versatzstücken neu zusammenstellt und immer, wirklich immer, unberechenbar bleibt.

    Crypt of the NecroDancer

    Nur noch eine Runde: 6 Roguelikes, die euch an den Bildschirm fesseln

    Ihr wollt nicht nur Monster verdreschen, sondern dabei noch euer unschlagbares Rhythmusgefühl unter Beweise stellen? Kein Problem, dann schwingt in Crypt of the NecroDancer im Takt eines epischen Original-Soundtracks die Waffen. Die originelle Idee Rhythmusspiel und Hardcore Roguelike-Dungeon Crawler unter einen Hut zu bringen ist den kanadischen Indie-Entwickler Brace Yourself Games gelungen und ihr dürft euch auf eine besondere Herausforderung gefasst machen.

    Das Prinzip hat man schnell verinnerlicht: Mit jedem Takt der Musik bewegt ihr eure Heldin Cadence durch zufällig erstellte Räume und achtet darauf, dass ihr nicht den Gegnern in die Quere kommt, die ebenfalls passend zur Musik ihre Runden drehen. Landet ihr auf dem gleichen Feld wie ein Monster, nehmt ihr Schaden. Und davon vertragt ihr nicht allzu viel, bevor eure Herzen zur Neige gehen und ihr wieder im Startraum landet. Natürlich, ohne alle bis dahin gesammelten oder gekauften Waffen und Rüstungen. Lediglich Diamanten bleiben euch, mit denen sich dauerhafte Vorteile meist teuer erkaufen lassen. Habt ihr die Laufwege der Gegner verinnerlicht und landet auf einem Feld neben den Kreaturen, teilt ihr Prügel aus und macht euch den Weg mit Gewalt frei.

    Mehr Features zu Spielen

    Eine Übersicht aller Spiele der PS Plus Collection für PS5, die besten Soulslike oder  Einsteigertipps zu Genshin Impact: Wenn ihr euch für Spiele-Listen und Game-Guides interessiert, schaut euch unsere weiteren Blogposts an. 

    Website: LINK