The Connoisseur's beat-'em-up is back

In recent years, the beat-'em-up, (or brawler, if you would prefer), genre has gone through a major renaissance. What was once confined to the golden coin-op age of the late '80s and early '90s �before falling short of expectations come the '00s �has found itself spraining fingers ??and cracking wrists once again �led by some bold new IPs and the return of some very familiar faces?? from the past.

In order to change with the times, these modern titles have been forced to add depth, variety, and longevity to what has mostly been a short-lived, quick-to-fatigue genre. In addition, the characters, worlds, and stories have been fleshed out to offer more context to the knuckle-dustin' action. And so, whether you're welcoming back franchises such as Streets of Rage 4 or TMNT: Shredder's Revenge, smashing up the playgrounds of Japan in River City Girls, or exploring new and exciting worlds offered in Mayhem Brawler, Final Vendetta, and Dragon's Crown. Beat-'em-up fans have it made.

But this renaissance did not, in fact, begin with any of the aforementioned games. It didn't even begin in the past few years. To look for a moment went the genre was reinvented with a roundhouse of vigor we should go back to September of 2017, and the quiet Steam release of Fight'N Rage, a game that wanted to not only capture the excitement of the games that came before it, but also offer players the excitement and dep??th expected of modern gaming. And it attempted to do all of the above with a single, solitary developer.

Six years later, Fight'N Rage is ready to do it, all over again, on PS5 and Xbox Series X. It's a game that is getting up there in years. But, as anyone who has watched the Rocky fra?nchise knows, a true fighter is always ready for one more ?round.

[caption id="attachment_379548" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image by Destructoid[/caption]

Fight'N Rage (PlayStation [PS5 reviewed], PC, Xbox, Nintendo Switch)
Developer: Seba Game Dev
Publisher: Blitworks
Released: March 1, 2023 (PS5), September 2017 (PC)
MSRP: $19.99

First released in the fall of 2017, Fight'N Rage is a passionate love letter to the heyday of arcade brawlers, developed and self-published by Seba Game Dev, which is a pseudonym for Uruguayan developer Sebastián Garcia. Garcia is the chief talent behind Fight'N Rage and created the world and its characters, crafted the in-game artwork, and?? coded the ti?tle itself all by his lonesome. Garcia's co-contributor is musician friend Gonzalo Varela, who composed and performed the scrapper's hard-rockin' soundtrack. The PC version was then ported to consoles by developer Blitworks.

History tells us that's it not impossible for one or two people to create something interesting, special, or at least intriguing, (for example Bright Memory by FYQD Studio), but it is rare for such a small project to not only pay effective tribute to a genre, but also to immediately present itself as one of the best offerings in that genre's history. And yet, Seba Game Dev readily handled this mammoth task, producing a title better than many of its influencers, while becoming an influence itself.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Z6fl_yeaw0

Bottom of the food chain

Set against the backdrop of a miserable and dystopian future, where a devastating electromagnetic event known as The Big Pulse has destroyed all of mankind's technology, Fight'N Rage presents a world now ruled by a strange evolution, where?? anthropomorphized mutants have enslaved the human race. A literal natural climax to The Law of the Jungle. Most of humanity has now found itself languishing at the bottom of the food chain, yet there are those who wish for a better tomorrow. Three such individuals are our player protagonists.

They are the banished ninja F. Norris, the runaway slave t?urned martial arts master, Gal, and the human sympathizer and rebel mutant minotaur Ricardo. Facing a world willing to kill them on site, and afforded only the abilities offered by their fists and feet, our Heroic Trio finds themselves in the middle of a prison break??out, the first act of a brutal, one-night odyssey that will lead them to the throne of The Boss �A militaristic lion maniac who has dubbed himself King of this urban jungle.

The slight story is all atmosphere and little in the way of deep and meaningful musings on the human endeavor, but it is endowed with a melodramatic emotion �not to mention some surprisingly bleak moments of cruelty, that give it the vibe of 80s/90s dystopia comics such as Heavy Metal and 2000 A.D. There is something about Fight'N Rage's cartoonish pixelated world that is nostalgic and inviting, wh??ile still ma??intaining an unnerving level of hopelessness and despair. I mean, we probably deserve it, right?

[caption id="attachment_379544" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image by Destructoid[/caption]

Contrast (and Brightness and Color) in Style

The aesthetic of Fight'N Rage is quite obviously that of the gorgeous pixelated paradises of yesterday, with delightfully drawn and animated characters popping out of the pixels in each and every encounter. Color-wise, there is a strange v?ulgarity to the visuals, with purposefully over-saturated colors and vibrant palettes that recall arcade monitors that should have been replaced a long time ago.

Various filters are available to enhance or decrease these effects �such as blur options, scanline emphasis, CRT curves on screen edges, muted color schemes, and even a moody black-and-white option. But however you choose to melt your eyeballs, Fight'n Rage has a dist?inctly unique style that captures the vibe of '80s in a "warts and all" fashion.

Tribute must also be paid to Varlea's utterly apocalyptic soundtrack, a wild, pulse-pounding mess of wailing guitars, moody pianos, and 16-bit synth. Each track is perfectly attuned to the mood and chaos of the stage, whether our heroes are picking the??ir way through dank caverns, fighting to the death in vicious thunderstorms, or even throwing down in a tropical paradise. Varela "understood the assignment", as the kids aren't wont to say, and his score is a key element to the brawler's overall success.

Varela's raw soundtrack demands your quarters. Hire this dude for more projects, ah'?m begging ya.

[caption id="attachment_379545" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image by Destructoid[/caption]

36 Crazyfists

The audio/visual package of Fight'n Rage counts for nothing if the gameplay doesn't deliver. And, as you might have gathered from the intro, Seba Game Dev's title is genuinely groundbreaking in that regard. Fight'N Rage filtered out the elements of brawlers that made them feel good in a Pavlovian sense, before adding key combat elements pulled?? ??from some of the finest one-on-one fighters ever made, including combos, oki, off-the-ground attacks, wall jumps, juggles, and parries —as well as multiple special moves and super attacks.

And while many modern brawlers, such as DotEmu's fantastic Streets of Rage 4, also understand this method of evolution, Fight'N Rage nailed this years ago, essentially setting a standard for brawler combat that all of its big??ger budgeted contemporaries have since adopted.

It should be noted, however, that Fight'N Rage is proud of its knuckle-destroying challenge. And while anyone can enjoy the title on its easiest setting, players battling waves of dominatrices and Dobermans on higher difficulties will be forced to master the combat's intricacies. This has, in ensuing years, turned some away from the game, but the difficulty on display here feels true to the tools afforded the player. Fight'N Rage is hard, occasionally rock solid.

You ??always have the capability of protecting yourself in battle, but it's on you to l??earn how to do so.

[caption id="attachment_379546" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image by Destructoid[/caption]

Downloadable Whatnow?

And you can do just that in one of the many modes offered outside of the standard story. Unlockable simply by playing through the game (win or lose), Fight'N Rage also offers a Combo Trials, Training Mode, Tutorials, Vs. Battle, Stage Practice, and Time Attack, as well as a metric ton of additional cosmetics including 15 costumes/colors for each character, playable vill??ains, a jukebox, unlockable game modifiers, hidden special mo??ves, and much more. Oh, and for Speedrun fans, a special Speedrun option adds an onscreen timer, and auto-skips all cutscenes for maximum frame efficiency.

None of these features, it must be pointed out, were paid DLC. Every mode, character, costume, and bonus feature is included with the title, which has always, generally, retailed at extremely low prices.

Perhaps this, more than anything else, is Fight'N Rage's greatest tribute to the gaming of yesterday.

[caption id="attachment_380513" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image by Destructoid[/caption]

Flaws? Unfortunately yes, there are flaws. Fight'N Rage's limited budget leads to a sense of repetition in some enemy patterns, though this again is at least reflective of the game's old-school inspirations. There is no online co-op/vs option, though a three-player local co-op is supported. Fight'N Rage is most assuredly an excellent beat-'em-up, one of the very best, but it is somewhat specialist, and its true depth lies in repeated playthroughs, meticulous training, and a commitment to its punishing challenge. While there are modes suitable for a quick Friday Night knock??a?bout with friends, some players may find it a little complex for their own hard brawlin' needs

Technically, the game runs extremely well, but the console port sweats a little with certain scenarios. Nothing game-breaking, but there are sporadic drops in frame rate, particularly during the ambitious, into-the-screen raft sequence. It's also important to note that the violent, flash 'n' shake heavy visuals will be rough on some players' peepers. Any video game fan who is affected by flashing imagery would do well to proceed with caution, as there is currently no option to reduce Fight'N Rage's range of full-screen flashes and possible ??strobe?? effects.

[caption id="attachment_379547" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image by Destructoid[/caption]

GO! GO! GO!

The beat-'em-up genre, almost as old as gaming itself, has been through two very specific "golden ages". The first happened in the very late '80s, and would see the arrival of Double Dragon, Final Fight,  Vendetta, and Kunio-kun. The second, well, we're in the middle of it right now, with modern classics such as Streets of Rage 4, River City Girls, TMNT: Shredder's Revenge, and the upcoming Toxic Crusaders all capturing the excitement of their forebearers, while adding t??he depth and enhancement afforded by modern gam?ing.

But in the middle of these two wonderful eras, there's a transitional bridge, and that bridge was built by Fight'N Rage. Seba Game Dev's humble release offers gratitude and deference to the past, while paving the way for a fantastic new era of scrappers f?or the future. It's affordable, it's feature-packed, it's compact, and it's available on almost every platform. If you are a beat-'em-up aficionado, you owe it to yourself, (and the genre) to pick it up as soon as possible.

But then, if you are a beat-'em-up aficionado, chances a??re you already h?ave.

Six years on from its initial release, Fight'N Rage retains its reputation as one of the greatest beat-'em-ups ever made, as well as a testament to the magnificent talent of its two-person development team. While its vulgar, neon nightmare visuals won't be to everyone's taste, and its rock-solid challenge is not to be denied, Fight'N Rage stands above many of its contemporaries as a lesson ?in retrofuturistic game design, bolstered by the power of a screaming guitar and a well-placed roundhouse.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: Fight’N Rage appeared first on Destructoid.

Posture check

It’s hard to believe that Backbone was a year and a half ago. My memories of it are suitably hazy outside some key scenes, but I remember the visual appeal, its interesting setting, and the fact that its narrative came so damned close to being satisfying and just falls slightly short. The important thing is I wanted more, so I was exci??ted when Eggnut announced their next game would continue the series.

Tails: The Backbone Preludes is exactly that: a set of four short stories that flesh out Backbone’s characters. While it gives more context to what goes on in the narrative of Backbone, what I feel is more important about it is it’s another excuse to descend into the discomforting, roiling pot of pitch-noir narrative that the series is going for. Tails: The Backbone Preludes doesn’t disappoint, but there are a few cave??ats to that claim.

[caption id="attachment_360937" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Tails: The Backbone Preludes (PC)
Developer: EggNut
Publisher: Raw Fury
Released: February 2, 2023
MSRP: $14.99

The four stories you’re presented with are all structurally different. You consume them one act at a time, with it alternating between each one until the end. You have Clarissa, the mob boss from Backbone, which follows through her?? life and rise to power. There’s Howard Lotor, the protagonist of the original title, as it explores his college days and friendship with Larry. Next, we have Renee, a struggling reporter with a comm??itment to the truth. Finally, there’s Eli, a scientist trying to make sense of his employer’s motives.

This is all set against the backdrop of post-apocalyptic V?ancouver, British Columbia. All the characters are anthropomorphic animals (except the geese for some reason), and they struggle beneath a ruling class of apes. Vancouver is held tightly behind sizable walls, beyo??nd which is a wasteland.

While the outside world was kept shrouded in mystery for Backbone, it plays a key role in Tails: The Backbone Preludes. I’m really not sure which should be played first. While Tails is helpful in strengthening the backstory of the characters before going into the central narrative, some of what is shown may weaken the revelations made toward the end of Backbone.

[embed]//youtu.be/GIsDSUPnEbw[/embed]

Chasing your tail

You make a series of choices throughout each narrative that somewhat affect the tone of the stories. While it seems like each story is inevitably going to reach the same end in a way to preserve its adherence to Backbone, you have a lot of sway in what truly motivates the characters, how much empathy they show, or how selfish they may be. It’s a bit like Kentucky Route Zero, where many of the choices are more flavor, though there are ??some w??here you’re deliberately attempting to convince a character of something.

The art style used in Backbone is still just as captivating. While it uses a pixel art aesthetic, it’s built on a 3D plane. At times, it looks like just clever use of parallax layers, but it’s enhanced by fog and environmental effects. It doesn’t necessarily replicate the feel of older titles, b?ut instead uses pixel art for its own means.

And like Backbone before it. Tails: The Backbone Preludes makes great use of a heavy atmosphere, both through the graphics and the writing. The fact that these characters are all oppressed by the upper class is prevalent, regardless of how empowered they are or their status in life. Despite being distinct narratives, they all feel thematically united. In a lot of ways, the story is a lot more even and better executed than it was in Backbone.?? While I could rate them on which I found strongest and weakest, they’re all enjoyable, thoughtful experiences.

[caption id="attachment_360936" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Hands on

One area where Tails: The Backbone Preludes disappoints is when it comes to gameplay. It’s clear that its primary focus is to be a visual novel sort of experience. It does make efforts to tie in some sort of interactivity, it just doesn’t do it particularly well. Sometimes you’re just walking. Sometimes there are simply puzzles to solve. Then there are situations where you’re just dragging objects around. They are all used for?? narrative purposes, which means it isn’t wasted effort, but they are undeniably weaker facets of the game’s design.

The audio design is improved from the first game. Most notably, there’s a lot more music, and it’s executed in striking ways. As a scene progresses, it almost seamlessly transitions to become more intense as the atmosphere calls for it. It fits so well with? the scenes that it greatly enhances the texture of the game. This is a huge impro??vement to the too-often silent situations of the first game.

[caption id="attachment_360935" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Standing on its own

The biggest, hardest-to-ignore caveat to all of this is that Tails: The Backbone Preludes feels like it relies heavily on Backbone. While each of the stories is interesting in its own way, they are clearly here to supplement the narrative of the first game. They don’t really succeed on their own, they work far better in allowing you to connect better with the world and characters of the series. It is very successful in that regard, but going into it, you should probably understand that this is a package deal. While you don’t necessarily have to play Backbone first, you should probably go into Tails with the intention of continuing on.

It’s a complimentary piece to Backbone, which can stand before or beside it but shouldn’t be set apart from it. However, in context, it’s a terrific addition to the series. While it isn’t as compelling or fully featured as the first act of Backbone, it is a much more solid experience. The series, as it is currently, is a lot stronger with the inclusion of Tails: The Backbone Preludes. It's a great collection of fiction. But without Backbone, it completely lacks the abil??ity to stand on its own.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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Cutesy platforming legend returns on PS4 and Nintendo Switch

A real Taito gem has been added to the Arcade Archives this week, as Hamster has re-released the veteran arcade developers' ultra-cute, ultra-challenging platform actioner The NewZealand Story, now available to download on PS4 and Nin?tendo S?witch.

Released to the arcade market in 1988, before swiftly being ported to a wide variety of home computer and console platforms. The story concerns a charming, dot-eyed kiwi known as Tiki, who is the sole escapee from a flock of his brethren, abducted by a huge, nefarious walrus. ??Seriously outnumbered and outweighed, Tiki donss his best pair of kicks, grabs his trusty bow-and-arrow, and ventures forth? across a highly-stylized "NewZealand", determined to rescue his party of pals and the love of his life, Phee-Phee.

You can check out the adorable action in the video below, courtesy of YouTuber Shadowserg.

//www.youtu??be.com/watch?v=kdyRIX4q0MY&ab_channel=Shadowserg

What follows is some delightfully cartoonish platform action, as Tiki navigates four distinct zones, each containing four stages. At the end of each zone, a huge level guardian awaits, who Tiki must defeat to save a pal and journey into the next sector. It's a wonderful example of the genre, recognized for its fun visuals, infectious music, and cute characters. As playable today as it ev?er was.

The NewZealand Story would be a smash hit in both the arcade and the home markets, selling an amazing amount of copies on platforms such as the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, and Commodore Amiga. Such is the legacy of Taito's '80s hit, our loveable her??o Tiki, despite only cameoing in a few titles since, is stillone of gaming's most instantly recognizable characters, even to those yet to experience his iconic adven??ture.

The NewZealand Story is now available to download? on PS4 and Nintendo Switch, priced at aroun??d $8.

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Furry Fighters Return

Developer CyberConnect 2 has announced a release date for its turn-based strategy sequel Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2, this highly dramati??c tale of war will open fire on PC and console platforms from May 11.

Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 is the sequel to the tightly-held cult hit from 2021, and represents the fifth chapter of the Little Tail Bronx franchise, which details the trials and tribulations of an anthropomorphic cast of characters, waging war in a troubled steampunk universe. Melodies of Steel 2 will see the surviving crew members of the first title as they continue their journey through the battlefields of an a?lternate Wor??ld War II �living out their lives in and around the aging battle tank, Taranis.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=hydneoxIkJ0&???;ab_channel=CyberConnect2OFFICIALCHANNEL

The original game was highly praised for its grim themes of loss, bravery, and sacrifice, portrayed by a cast of interesting characters and daubed in a fanciful art style. It is expected that Melodies of Steel 2 will retain the taut drama and never-say-die spirit of the original game, bolstered by improved and ex?panded combat mechanics, new characters, and hazardous new locales. One can likely assume that the powerful, all-consuming Soul Cannon will once again be ready to lock 'n' load. Wanna draw straws?

Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 launches May 11 on PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch platforms. It will arrive on Xbox Game Pass on launch day. In additi??on, a Digit?al Deluxe Edition will feature a selection of bonus items, including a digital art book and soundtrack and a variety of alternate skins, in-game items, and a "Dummy Soul", allowing for a single stay of execution when matters look bleakest.

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Meeces Pieces

Petoons Studio's long-in-development adventure title Curse of the Sea Rats is finally ready to up anchor and set sail on the indie seas �The "Ratoidvania" will finally launch on PC and console platforms April?? 6, bringing its animated anthropomorphic action to players everywhere.

Curse of the Sea Rats, as we have reported many a time, is the tale of a party of British colonial prisoners, who find themselves cursed by the wicked pirate witch, Flora Burn. Now morphed into rodent form, it is up to rebellious heroes Da??vid Douglas, Buffalo Calf, Akane Yamakawa, and Bussa to journey far and wide, battle their way across the Irish coast, locate Flora Burn, and have her return them to their human form.

//www.yout??ube.com/watch?v=GHnDFkc2Rto&ab_channel=PQube

Of course, the odyssey will be a difficult one, as our uniquely skilled quartet will face an array of dangers and an army of enemies �all itching for a bout of pint-sized pugilism. A brand new trailer, which you can check out above, introduces us to some of the boss characters that await David &a?mp; Co. including the killer crab Krabawaki, the sadistic Freddy Eightfingers, the beautiful but deadly Rama Cinnamon, and bad boys Fatso & Fatsie. It's gonna be a fight, that's fer true.

It's been three long years since we first wrote of Curse of the Sea Rats, and the team at Petoons has been plugging away at their challenging adventure ev??ery day, week, and month since. Supported by a passionate player community, and with a release date now on the horizon, here's hoping that the team's dedication and hard work will pay off, delivering a pint-sized epic for adventure fans, whiskers and all.

Curse of the Sea Rats launches April ??6 on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox ?platforms.

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We're off again, lil' buddy

Skunkape Games has announced that it has begun development of Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse Remastered, following on from its previously released remasters of Telltale Games classics Sam & Max Save the World Remastered and Sam & Max: Beyond Time and Space Remastered. This latest retr??ead will launc??h on unannounced platforms later in 2023.

First released on PC and PS3 way back in 2010, The Devil's Playhouse was the third of Telltale Games' Sam & Max adventures, and sees the Freelance Police investigate a series of strange phenomena linked to the powerful psychic machinations of the mysterious "Toys of Power". The original release of The Devil's Playhouse sported a fresh new ga?me engine, and allowed the player to take direct control of both Sam and Max independently �allowing for a shakeup of the title's puzzle elements and adding an extra em??phasis on synergy and teamwork between the two characters.

//www.youtube.com/w??atch?v=rYPuWAQvRyw&ab_channe?l=Skunkape

While Skunkape Games has not offered any official information on the new title, we can likely expect The Devil's Playhouse Remastered to feature updated character models and environmental textures, tauter controls, and slicker U.I. integration. If we're lucky, we might also see the new release include additional artwork, voicework, and music, as was the case for both Save the World Remastered and Beyond Time and Space Remastered. We'll be su?r??e to give you a heads-up when more information �including platforms and a release date �is forthcoming.

Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse Remastered is currently in development at Skunkape Games.

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The Year of the Lamb... like it or not

Devolver Digital has announced that one of the sleeper hits of 2022, Massive Monster's Cult of the Lamb, will receive a free major c??ontent update later this year, bringing a selection of new features, options, and a??ccessibility functions to the super-cute, super horrifying anthro roguelike.

While details are a little bit on the thin side, a tweet from the eccentric publisher notes that the update will be bringing a selection of twea??ks to add more overall depth to the title, with a short clip teasing an all-new "heavy attack" mechanic. In addition, new difficulty settings will be added to the sacrificial adventure as well as several unspecified accessibility options and "quality-of-life" tweaks. Neat!

//twitter.c??om/cultofthelamb/status/160889?1710570106884?s=20&t=P8Tt1BpocaS1mmEYZs46xA

Released in the summer of 2022, Cult of the Lamb blends cutesy visuals and ultra-dark humor in its tale of a young lamb who, having seemingly had their life saved by a sinister deity, goes about preaching the word of this supposed savior and building an ever-growing cult around its teachings. Cult of the Lamb would itself amass a huge fan following, eventually making its way onto several Game of the Year nomination lists, (including our own),? and even taking home several gon?gs at the Australian Game Developer Awards.

Cult of the Lamb is a??vailable now on PlayS?tation, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.

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What a load of bull

Farmyard fighter Them's Fightin' Herds is about to welcome its first stud into the field �As revealed by develope??r Mane6, beefy bull boy Texas will be joining the hoof-full roster on December 19, bringing with him what is easily the biggest slab of meat yet to hit the scrapper's colorful roster.

As you can see in his debut trailer, Texas is, well, massive. There's some nominative determinism for you. And while most fighting games would see their larger characters only offer threat at close range, it seems that Texas is able to cause plenty of damage from mid-range, lassoing his opponents via the ropes attached to his saddle. As the father of Them's Fightin' Herds OG star, Arizona, Texas has the boisterous yee-haw! attitude, and is quite possibly someone you wouldn't want to get?? into a political debate with around the Holidays.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPLt?UoTNEW8&t=32s&ab_c?hannel=ModusGames

So, if you fancy grabbing this particular bull by the horns, then you'll be able to purchase Texas from December 19 at the cost of around $5. Of course, players who have picked up the Season One Pass will find him ready and raring to go in their roster come launch day. In addition to Texas himself, players will get a matching lobby avatar and a brand new stage �The Caravan Cattledome. I can't deny he looks terrifying, especially when placed alongside his diminutive opponents. But never bet against my gurl Shanty. She is the GOAT, after all.

Them's Fightin' Herds is available now on PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and ??Nintendo Switch platforms.

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More fun merch from Fangamer

Not content with offering some super cool merchandise from indie smash Hades, Fangamer has lifted the lid on its latest collection of physical goodies, which are all based upon Finji's awesome fantasy adventure game, Tunic.

Tunic fans can visit the Fangamer store today to pick up this very cheerful shirt, emblazoned with new artwork of our foxy hero and their myriad enemies.  Designed by artist Jorge M. Velez, the new shirt comes in women's and unisex styles, and features a suitable "leafy-green" color palette. Additionally, a trio of additional clothing items �includin?g ?another T-shirt, a hooded sweatshirt, and a zip-up jacket �are all cu?rrently in the works, and will form a line known as the "Sacred Ge??ometry" collection.

In collaboration with Stumpy Frog and Mango Mage records, Finji is also planning to release Tunic's beautiful and evocative score on vinyl, with Terence Lee and Janice Kwan’s soundtrack pressed to a stylish and delightfully colored four-LP collection.  The set is available to order right now at the Mango Mage Records store, retailing for $119.99 USD, ?(not including shipping cos?ts).

Be awa??re that the vinyl se?t is not expected to ship until the third quarter of 2023.

Last, and by no means least, Fangamer has worked with designer Saber Murphy to create this absolutely adorable plush toy of our brave hero. Literally described as a "Huggable Fox Plush", the soft toy comes complete with sword and shield and brings one of gaming's dinkiest but most loveable heroes to light in squeezable glory. Having previously purchased plush toys from the Fangamer range, I've been very impressed with their quality, and this little dude will be a must-buy for the Tunic faithful.

A price and release date for the plush was not revealed, but you can sign up for notification right now. Be sure to visit the Fangamer of your nearest territory, be it the North American, or European version.

Tunic is available now o??n PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.

The post Feel?ing Foxy? Be sure to bag yourself this adorable Tunic plush toy appeared first on Destructoid.

Jump Scare

Kao the Kangaroo is one of many video game stars who will be getting into the spooky spirit this Halloween, with Tate Multimedia announcing a new paid DLC drop for the anarchic antipodean's recent comeback title. The Oh! Well DLC bundle w??ill launch on all platforms October 13.

The new DLC includes five all-new Eternal Well stages to conquer, each sporting creepy variants on its villains and a Burton-esque color scheme, adding to the supernatural vibe. As Kao punches his way through each stage, he will also unlock a selection of five freaky skins, which will be perfect for October 31, when yer bouncy boy goes trick or treating. You can check out the new content in the trailer below.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vp2YhX-23nQ

The Kao the Kangaroo sequel launched last summer, following a successful player campaign to bring the marvelous marsupial back to the world of mascot platformers. While the new title will be unashamedly over-familiar for fans of another 3D platform hero, Kao the Kangaroo is a fun, attractive, and charming adventure �definitely worth checking out for genre fans. In fact, from October 13, players can pick ??up the original game, all previous DLC, and the new Halloween bundle for a special $34.99 bundle price.

Kao the Kangaroo is available now on PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch �The Oh! Well Halloween DLC bundle launches October 13 on all platforms, priced at aro??und $7.

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Punch ’n�Click

Several years ago, back when covering PlayStation Vita games was still a viable option for gaming websites, I took a chance on a review for an indie adventure game called Demetrios: The Big Cynical Adventure. Not to rehash bad memories, but like many of the reviews I go out on my own to find, I didn’t care for it too much. Clearly, others did. The game has been ported to just about every major piece of hardware on the market, including a 4K version on the PlayStation 5 and Japanese localization on the eShop.

While the game’s creator, Fabrice Breton, and I didn’t see eye to eye on the game, several months after my review was published, he invited me to take an extremely early look at his next project. Squeezing out an unoptimized Mac version of the demo, I thought the concept of combining the classic point-and-click puzzle solving of Demetrios with a beat-'em-up action game showed some promise. It was a bit rough a??round the edges, but its potential was extraordinary. I wished him good luck with the project, not really knowing if I would even ??be writing for Destructoid by the time it came out.

Five years and some change later, I’m still here, and that little demo has blo??ssomed i?nto a full-fledged game that might be worthy of being on your wishlist.

BROK the InvestiGator (PC)
Developer: COWCAT Games
Publisher: COWCAT Games
Released: August 26, 2022
MSRP: $19.99

BROK the InvestiGator is an example of a game where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. It’s set in a dystopian world where society is divided into two groups: the Drumers, those who live in a domed city where life is pretty easy, and the Slumers, those poor unfortunate souls who have to survive in the toxic wasteland that surrounds the dome. Set over a tumultuous three-day period, players will take control of two characters whose fates are linked. Brok is an anthropomorphic alligator who works as a lowly detective for people in the slums. His adoptive cat-son, Graff, lives with him and is in the final week of exams at a school that will guarantee him a life in the dome if he passes. Over the course of six chapters, players will explore the lives of these two ch?aracters and the shared trauma that defines their relationship.

And actually, the game goes harder into the trauma than thought it would. Brok is continually haunted by nightmares of a fuzzy past he may not fully remember. Graff tackles unanswered questions about his parents while trying to escape the hell that is the slums. Their journey together will shine a light ?on some of the revelations of their past. I think the narrative handles these concepts with care even if the dialogue for some characters could use a little brushing up.

Except for RJ. He’s perfect in every way.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=pG6t21-Yfys

Fight with your brain and your fists

For both Brok and Graff, players will make their way through the world in classic point-and-click adventure fashion. You’ll talk to a lot of different characters, complete some intelligently conceived puzzles, and collect clues to solve the mysteries Brok is faced with. You’ll also need to find time to help strangers, pay bills, and do a little fighting, and I’ll be honest, getting the best ending for this game will probably require multiple playthroughs or extensive use of the game’s many save slots. BROK can be a bit brutal with how it doesn’t let you fix your mistakes, but it isn’t unnecessar??ily unreasonable??. Just be sure not to accidentally kill someone like I did.

That “whoopsie�death happened when I inadvertently hit the button to switch Brok to his action stance, which constitutes the “punch�of this punch ’n�click adventure. Brok and Graff can do a little fighting throughout the game and they’re pretty decent at it. Both characters feature a simple one-button combo with a few special attacks, but there are some significant differences in their abilities. Graff is far more capable of fighting in the air than Brok with a dive kick worthy of Iron Galaxy Studios. Most of the fights will have you squaring o??ff against the different robots that are meant to keep order ins?ide the dome, but you’ll fight some Slumers and cops as well. Or, you can do your best to avoid the fight.

At many points in the narrative, you’ll be given two paths on how to escape a situation: with intellect or with violence. Naturally, the violent path is far easier than trying to piece together the often too-many steps you need to take to avoid a confrontation. As I said, the fighting here is pretty simple, even simpler than what we got in Super Punch Patrol. But it ho??lds up well. And it would hold up a lot better if Breton approached this game from a different angle.

Not always a peanut-butter-in-chocolate situation

BROK the InvestiGator is?? primarily a point ’nâ€?click adventure title. It has the feel and presence of those classic Sierra games from the â€?0s. Beat-'em-up action is ?thrown in where possible, and for the most part, the adventure side of the game doesn’t get in its way. But when it does, it can be aggravating.

Let me give you an example. In the game’s second chapter, Brok will be in jail. One of the ways you can get him out is by fighting his way through the police station. Now, the jail and police station are designed in a way that m?akes them ideal for an adventure game with plenty of interactive objects and some great scenic design. But for a beat-‘em-up, they’re too clustered and claustrophobic to work that well. From the vantage point, it can be tough to tell if my characters are in the enemy’s attack line and I had to go through a lot of game-over screens to make it through this section. If you fail enough, you will have the option to lower the difficulty, but that wouldn’t be necessary if the action portion of BROK was a bit more fine-tuned with increased immunity frames and more useful dodge.

If anything, I wish this game were developed primarily as a beat-'em-up, rather than an adventure game, because I think the whole package would have benefitted from that approach. I know one of the themes of the game is ab??out avoiding violence, but when you are forced to resort to fisticuffs, it would be nice if the gameplay were the best it could be.

I want more of this

And that’s what I mean when I say BROK the InvestiGator is more than the sum of its parts. I charted little issues throughout the game (as well as one big one where it will consistently needle you if yo??u make a mistake in an investigation) but none of them overshadowed everything I enjoyed about it. I really like what Fabrice Breton has put together here. He did an outstanding job bringing this world to life with outstanding character art, ??a well-realized world, and a story that’s worth seeing through to the end.

I think Brok is a brilliant little creation, Graff could very well be the star of his own game, and Ott, Graff’s best friend who is a half-breed, is the perfect lit?tle sidekick for this adventure. When comparing it to Breton’s previous game, this is leaps and bounds better and I would love to see this mash-up of genres further explored and evolved in the future.

BROK the InvestiGator is very much an experiment, but it’s an experiment that ??works. As the second title out of COWCAT Games, it shows real growth and actually has me lo??oking forward to what comes next from this one-man studio.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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Studio broke ground for unionization in the industry

Independent developer Vodeo Games has revealed that it will be closing its doors in the near future. The sad news was announced on Twitter just yesterday and comes less than a year after the studio's debut release, anthropomorphic adventure Beast Breaker.

"The story is unfortunately a familiar one for small studios," explained the studio. "Despite a year of avid efforts, we've been unable to secure funding for our next project from publishers and investors. As such, we've run out of fun?ds and aren't able to keep the team together �and there is simply no Vodeo without our incredible team."

//twitter.com/VodeoGames/?status/1567581119608156161?s=20&t=KUHIarDvnW6dXeYOfUa7yw

While the closure of any indie outlet is an unhappy affair, Vodeo's departure stings in particular due to the fact that the developer was deep in the process of becoming the first-ever fully unionized studio within the games industry. The Communications Workers of America (CWA), which already cove?rs sectors including healthcare and telecommunications, made its debut in the games industry in December 2021, signing up for a voluntary recognition with Vodeo.

The newly formed Vodeo Workers United acknowledged the studio's closure on its own Twitter account, noting that it will continue to fight for workers' rights and to show solidarity with other gaming studios currently attempting to seek official recognition in the unionization market. It is incredibly sad to see Vodeo Games forced to call time after breaking such ground, but, sadly, this loo??ks like the team's only option.

Beast Breaker is available now on Nintendo Switch and Epic Game Store. A Steam port is currently in development and will release before studio closure. As previously noted, the fight for workers' rights �in any and all sectors �is a tough and arduous, but absolutely necessary fight. Kudos and solidarity to the sta??ff at Vodeo Games for taking such a groundbreaking step, and here's to wishing the talent all of the best in ??their respective futures in the industry.

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Stay Outta My Shed

Mane6 has announced a release date for the long-awaited console editions of colorful cartoon slugfest Them's Fightin' Herds. The indie hit will finally make its console debut on October 18, arriving on PlayStation, Xbox??, and Nintendo Switch platforms. The conso?le edition will be published by Modus Games.

As we have reported many, many times in the past, Them's Fightin' Herds is a one-on-one 2D fighting title that began life as an unofficial adaptation of the smash hit TV series My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. After Hasbro's lawyers came a'calling, the show's creator, Lauren Faust, kindly reached out to the team to help with the design of an all-new cast of characters, which allowed the develop??er to continue the project as an ??original IP.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kgaqb7RNb-0

Launching in Steam Early Access way back in 2018, before eventually receiving a full release in 2020, console players have had to sit pretty for almost five years for the console port, but now finally have a date with which to mark their calendars. With a charismatic roster, quality animation, and tight Marvel vs. Capcom-esque mechanics, TFH has successfully built a dedicated community of players, as well as a healthy com??petitive scene. This c?ommunity is only set to grow with the arrival of the console port.

Them's Fightin' Herds launches on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch platforms October 18, priced at $19.99. A Deluxe Edition �including a season pass hosting four additional characters, new stages, and a selection of lobby avatars �will retail for $39.99. Pre-orders for a physical release are now live at the Maximum Games Store.

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In a while, crocodile

Indie outfit COWCAT has announced that its fun-looking point 'n' click/brawler hybrid Brok the InvestiGator is almost ready to embark upon? its first case. The animated adventure will come busting out on PC August 26, with a bevy of additional console ports ?scheduled for winter 2022.

Brok the InvestiGator is set in an alternative anthropo??morphic universe and sees the down-on-his-luck boxer turned private detective eking out a living among the city's more downtrodden and repressed denize?ns. However, a new case looks to shed new light on the life of Brok and his stepson, Graff, with spiraling events that may lead to answers about the tragic events that took the life of Brok's wife and Graff's mother. Break out the detective hat and knuckledusters �We got ourselves a mystery to solve.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JKf3uNTl4A&t

As both Brok and Graff, players will embark upon a classic point-and-click adventure, conversing with the locals, solving puzzles, and gathering clues in order to progr?ess the intriguing narrative. These investigative moments will be frequently interrupted by ne'er-do-wells, forcing our heroes to engage in bouts of down 'n' dirty 2D brawler action, which makes for a fine mix of action, adventure, and mystery.

Packed out with a wealth of comic-style artwork, a fully-voiced cast of characters, and even multiple endings, Brok the InvestiGator is a very ambitious project from the y?oung studio, and definitely worth keeping an eye on for those of ?the point 'n' click, brawler, or furry persuasion.

Brok the InvestiGator launches August 26 on PC (via?? Steam and GOG). PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch ports will follow this winter.

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Barking up the wrong tree

Activision Blizzard has quietly pulled a new DLC skin from its billion-dollar shooters Call of Duty: Vanguard and Call of Duty: Warzone following accusations of plagiarism from an?? online artist.

The "Loyal Samoyed" skin is a bizarre conception that features a realistically depicted head of a Samoyed breed canine plastered on the body of a heavily armed mercenary. The strange look is part of a new range of in-game skins just released for Vanguard and Warzone �a pack that also includes looks stylized after characters from movies The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day.

However, artist and Call of Duty fan Sail Lin has expressed their disappointment, given that the Loyal Samoyed skin is, almost indisputably, pulled from Lin's portfolio of animal-based Call of Duty characters. The series, known as "Monster Army," features a Samoyed-based medic, who is depicted wearing almost the exact same gear as the new Call of Duty DLC skin �close enough to almost be 1:1.

"Even though I am also a COD player, I am very disappointed to see my work being plagiarized by a big company like Activision in this way," said a dismayed Lin on their ArtStation. "As an individual artist, I can only do so much, and I have to speak out about this to stop things like this [from happening??] again in the future."

Activision Blizzard removed the Loyal Samoyed skin from its storefront yesterday, co??mplete with a clunky apology that neither confirms nor denies that it openly co?pied the artist's original design.

"We have the utmost respect for creativity and content creation," wrote t?he publisher in a brief statement to Polygon. "We love the Loyal Samoyed, but regrettably we erred in our process and have re?moved this imagery from the game. We apologize for the misstep."

The Call of Duty franchise has been embroiled in plagiarism controversies  �some justified, others perhaps not so much. Regardless, Activision Blizzard is not the only publisher to openly copy the work of fans for profit without any credit or reimbursement �a reflection of the bizarre sense of entitlement that companies often believe they have to a??ny and all works that are readily available in any capacity.

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These cats don't need no stinkin' meow button

Developer Cyberconnect2 has released the first teaser trailer for its upcoming strategy sequel Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2. The anthropomorphic/steampunk RPG will bring its epic, tu??rn-based action to PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and? Nintendo Switch platforms at some point in 2023.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=OolRShEoq9I

The sequel to 2021's highly rated Fuga: Melodies of Steel and the fifth release in Cyberconnect2's Little Tail Bronx franchise, Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 will see our band of survivors continue their voyage aboard the rickety but technologically adept battle tank �Taranis. Set against the thinly veiled backdrop of an alternate World War II, Fuga: Melodies of Steel blended turn-based action with high melodrama and a storyline of loss, sacrific??e, an??d redemption. Themes that are expected to carry into the new sequel.

While the developer has not offered too much in the way of information regarding the sequel's mechanics, Fuga 2 promises to boast a boosted and improved battle system, stronger strategy elements, and a brand new, choice-based storyline that will leave players with a roused spirit, a broken heart, and an empowered soul. My words, not theirs. I should probably note that. While understan??dably niche, the first release was a real hit with the fan community, who will no doubt receive today's sequel reveal with much joy. Fire up the Soul Cannon... Who is the ammunition this time around..?

Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 will launch in 2023 on PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. The original game is available to purcha?se right meow on all aforementioned platforms.

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Shiny adventure to become shinier still

THQ Nordic has announced that it will release an upgraded edition of its zen-like adventure game Biomutant on PS5 and Xbox Series X this fall. The revamped release will be available to purchase on both platforms from September 6, with free upgrades offered to PS4 and Xbox One Biomutant players.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=PismKvxhFpc

Released in the spring of 2021 after a particularly lengthy development period, Biomutant is an ecological tale of a fantasy world under siege from a mysterious and creeping corruption. Players guide a fully customizable character through the anthropomorphic society on a mission to rescue the Tree of Life, the roots of which are decaying due to the corruption's presence. Developed by Experiment 101, Biomutant was an extremely ambitious project, that unfortunately launch to very middling reviews, though it was praised for its impressive visuals and interesting custo??m character mechanics.

This new edition of Biomutant will offer players three distinct visual modes on PS5 and Xbox Series X. "Quality," which will run at 30 FPS  at a 4K resolution; "Quality Unleashed," which will run at "40-plus" FPS at a 4K resolution; and "Performance," which will run at 60 FPS at 1440p. For Xbox Series S users, these three modes will run at 1440p, 1440p, and 1080p respectively. The PS5 edition will also be optimized for the DualSense, offering support for Haptic Feedback, adaptive triggers, and speaker sound. Both editions will support faster load times and will arrive fully updated in regards to patches.

Biomutant is available now on PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

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Mighty Metroidvania returns

It's been a bit of a wait, but soon Switch fans will be able to get their furry mitts on of 2021's most undersung releases. Publisher Astrolabe Games announced that dystopian Metroidvania F.I.S.T. Forged in Shadow Torch will finally arr??ive on Nintendo Switch on July 12, priced at $29.99. (Pre-order customers will receive a 10% discount on the price.)

I probably don't need to pour over this title once again to all y'all, especially those who have followed my coverage to date, but F.I.S.T. is a tough, creative, and surprisingly hi-tech adventure that sees a forgotten war hero forced to take up arms (literally) in order to save his friend from the sinister and oppressive regime that presides over the city and its downtrodden populace. Combining finely-detailed locations and animation, solid voice-acting, and a very deep combat system, F.I.S.T. was one of last year's slic??kest a??nd most engaging adventures.

//twitter.com/FISTthegame/s?tatus/1537430040031334401?s=20&t=apmaU3Y5J0BOYN4M5wJuAA

Despite its pulled-back camera and deceptive looks, TiGames' adventure is actually a pretty resource-heavy release, packed out with impressive special effects, fantastically "live" locations, and hectic, screen-filling boss battles. It will be interesting to see how it p??orts to the Nintendo Switch hardware and whether it leaves its humble processor sweating carrots. The publisher says that the Switch edition is aiming for 30 FPS at 1080p resolution docked, and 30??FPS at 720p in handheld mode.

F.I.S.T. Forged in Shadow Torch launches on Nintendo Switch July 12. It is available right now on PlayStation and PC ??platforms. Microids will release a physical edition on PlayStation and Switch in 2023.

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Fly the Anthro Airlines

Chocks away, my furry friends, AkSys Games has released its cute, anthropomorphic shmup Horgihugh and Friends on Switch, bringing its challenging but totes-adorbs sky fighting action to the Nintendo platform. It is available to download from the eShop today, pri??ced at around $30.

You can check out a trailer for the fun-looking arcade blaster below.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbFFTZ706ew

In the aftermath of a brutal world war, a fantastical, furry take on the planet has fully disarmed itself of all weapons in order to prevent such an atrocity from taking place again. Unfortunately, the skies are now under siege from an inv?ading intergalactic force, The Gozareans, and with nowhere else left to turn, it is up to a party of retired pilots to take to the air in their vintage battle planes, squaring up against the invaders despite being both outman??ned and severely outgunned.

Horgihugh and Friends boasts cheerful, cartoonish artwork by industry veteran Kou (Shantae, Mega Man X2) and a rousing soundtrack composed by Motoaki Furukawa (Metal Gear, Policenauts). As ani??malkind's last hope, players will blast their way through six stages of pew-pew action, gathering power-ups, swiftly dodging a skyful of projectiles, and taking on a seemingly endless army of drones, captained ??by no less than 13 unique boss characters.

I'd been hoping to get to this release for review??, but the relentlessness of the Not-E3 news season has unfortunately prevented me from doing so. Nevertheless, I'll be sure to check it out. Chocks Away!

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Stuffed Crust

Today sees the launch of nostalgic smack-'em-up Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge, (you can check out our review right here), but while the Heroes in a Half-Shell have only just r??eturned to the streets, fans are already poking the developer squad on the possibility of?? post-release DLC.

In an interview with Xbox Expansion Pass, Tribute Games' Yannick Belzil was asked about the possibility of alternate character skins, for example, the turtles' penchant for trilbies and overcoats. In a response that makes perfect sense, Belzil noted that the distinct animated style of Shredder's Revenge prevents the tea??m ?from altering the sprites too much, and thus alternate costumes are unlikely to be on deck, now or at anytime in the future.

//youtu.be/GemOAwU-9fo

However, following some misleading "No DLC at all"-style headlines, Dotemu's Cyrille Imbert took to Twitter to clarify that while there are currently no plans for post-launch content, factors such as public perception and player feedback could decide whether the team returns to Shredder's Revenge at some point in the future. I'm sure, right?? now, they'd just like to rest up after a job well do??ne.

Put simply: There are ??no ??DLC plans now. There could be in the future.

TMNT: Shredder's Revenge is a solid and fun brawler, but there is room, should Dotemu decide, for additional modes �such as Time Attack, Boss Rush, Endless, or 1CC. The TMNT lore runs deep, so should Tribute Games choose to add extra stages and/or characters, it would be understandably welcomed by fans. But all of this is putting the cart well before the horse. The game isn't even a single day old yet. But for those players who prefer the chase to the catch (seemingly all modern video gam??e fans), know that future content ideas ha??ven't been flushed down the sewer just yet.

TMNT: Shredder's Revenge launches today on PS4, PC, Xbo?x One, and Nintendo Switch.

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You'll love being a turtle

Somewhere, tucked away in a photo album at my dad's house, there lies a photograph of me playing Konami's Teenage Mutant "Hero" Turtles arcade, during a 1990 family vacation to the tropical paradise that is South Devon. I remember literally having "jelly legs" after playing, such was my complete, unadulterated excitement at my two greatest loves of the time combining. You see, my friends, what I was experiencing was the perfect marriage of the two most important elements of the 1990s for any 10-year-old: TMNT and arcade games.

While Eastman & Laird's iconic Heroes in a Half Shell have since dipped their two-toed feet into all manner of gaming genres, there is little argument that they will always be suited best to the beat-'em-up genre. From the aforementioned 1989 arcade classic, to the beloved 1992 SNES release Turtles in Time and its Sega Mega Drive compadre The Hyperstone Heist, the lean, green fighting machines are perfectly attuned to multiplayer mayhem. TMNT was made for brawling... More so than The frikkin' Simpsons.

And so, with the genre currently enjoying a major renaissance, publisher Dotemu and developer Tribute Games have decided it's high time that Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michaelangelo make their grand return to the mean streets. But in a whole new era, one where the brawler genre has advanced beyond its rudimentary beginnings, is the TMNT brand capable of regaining its button-mashing crown, or is it just ninja, ninja, c??rap? Let's check it out. And remember, the clock's tickin', dude.

TMNT: Shredder's Revenge (PS4 [reviewed], PC, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch)
Developer: Tribute Games
Publisher: Dotemu
Released: June 16, 2022
MSRP: $24.99

Describing the gameplay of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge is something of a monument to pointlessness, as we all know the score by now. You pick your favorite characters, and then take to the streets of New York City, laying down a solid green knuckle sandwich on the battalion of foolhardy Foot Clan members that stand in your way. Break some skulls, toss some bodies, face down an end-of-level guardian, and it's on to the next stage. It's a tale as old as time and, for the most part, Shredder's Revenge changes very little from the core gameplay of Konami's 1989 classic. You got??ta know what a crumpet is to understand cricket, and you also kno??w what you're getting yourself into here.

As it is no longer 1989, the brawler genre has, itself, gone through some serious evolutionary stages since those halcyon arcade years. And in order to bring Shredder's Revenge screaming into the terrible 2020s, developer Tribute Games has seen fit to widen each individual character's arsenal ??of attacks, combos, and specials, as well as ?fine-tune their individual strengths and weaknesses in battle.

For your hapless opponents, we now have tried-and-tested button mash combos; various anti-air counters; two forms of dash attack; jump and dive kicks; team attacks; and flashy, screen-clearing specials. The biggest addition is that of a tactical roll, which has invincibility frames and will prove to be a crucial tool in your battle with the robo-ninjas. Our heroes are also equipped with several very familiar throw?s, including the famous Mode 7 screen toss, the multi-slam, and Raphael busting out a German Suplex that would make Lesnar proud.

Shredder's Revenge has sublime controls, effectively designed so that beginners and younger players can get straight to dishing out vigilante justice, while offering hardened brawler fans elbow room for slick combos, juggles, and wall splats. While this makes for impactful and satisfying combat, it must be noted that Shredder's Revenge does not boast the same precision of a Streets of Rage 4 or a Fight'n Rage. These are titles that truly explore ?the marriage between brawler?? and fighter, presenting each and every enemy encounter as an individual problem to be solved.

While Shredder's Revenge is undoubtedly deeper than its TMNT forerunners, its role is that of a "Supercharged Turtles in Time," rather than a groundbreaking example of the genre's evolution. Crucially, however, Shredder's Revenge is committed to an all-out effort to ensur??e that you and your friends ?are having pure, unadulterated fun. A mission goal that the colorful scrapper achieves with ease.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=GemOAwU-9fo

Shredder's Revenge sets itself within the world of the 1987 TMNT animated series. The colors, style, humor, characters, and locations immediately recall memories of the classic TV show �the medium in which "Turtle Mania" became a global phenomenon. If the faithful appearance of the Fab Four (voiced by their original actors) wasn't enough, then fans will be giddy with excitement to hear that Shredder's Revenge is jam-packed with characters from the show, ranging from regular villains such as Bebop, Krang, Rocksteady, and The Shredder himsel?f, to a wide variety of deep-lore ??cameos.

When some of these lesser-known characters popped up, my jaw dropped, having not had them enter my sphere of reference since I first saw them on TV all those decades ago. I was expecting to see Bebop & Rocksteady �and was spoiled with an appearance of Best Girl Irma Langenstein �but I had completely forgotten about one-off characters such as... well... why would I spoil the surprises? Tribute Games, true to its moniker, has gone above and beyond to make Shredder's Revenge a celebration of the show's legacy, filling its games with references to the series that will please the most dedicated TMNT fans.

As you might expect, Shredder's Revenge sounds as good as it looks. The action is soundtracked with an excellent score from artist Tee Lopes, which is punctuated by appearances from vocal legends Mike Patton and The Wu-Tang Clan. There's also a fantastic mullet-rock song, complete with lyrics, that helps to capture the game's nostalgic Saturday Morning vibe. Lopes has made the smart decision to replicate the legendary "Konami sound," vibrant tones that scored the days when Konami was king of both the arcades and the hearts of the vide??o game community. No, honestly,?? it really was.

Where Shredder's Revenge shines brightest, however, is in its personality, utilizing awesome pixel-based animation to afford life and charm to the characters and their world. It's the little things: Individual run cycles, taunts, and celebrations; goofy background characters; and nods to previous TMNT games, shows, and movies. Adding April O'Neil, Splinter, and an unlockable Casey Jones as playable characters is inspired, providing welcome variety in multiplayer games. (April, in part??icular, has some of the cutest sprite animations in the genre, including some suspiciously familiar Street Fighting maneuvers.)

From hazardous open manholes and fire hydrant traps, to promises of Turtle Soup, the return of those irritating "Do Not Resist Us" bots, and even a sequence that references another famous Konami brawler, Tribute Games knows what the audience wants to see, hear, and experience, then goes out of its way to deliver. And while it doesn't always work, (the?? vehicular sections have some irritating forced perspective issues, for example), the flaws are swiftly forgotten in the energetic, joyful?? spirit of the gameplay.

As a beat-'em-up Shredder's Revenge is, ultimately, a shallower experience than one might expect in the current climate, though it does add depth with its great range of moves and minor fetch quests. Outside of the TMNT fanbase, I don't think Shredder's Revenge will offer the same long-term replay value as some of its contemporaries. For party play, however, the six-player co-op mode will provide some enjoyable, accessible action for any group of friends. Shredder's Revenge isn't really a title to be "mastered," it's more a lazy afternoon rio?t, to be enjoyed with good company. A true arcade ex?perience.

[Note: Shredder's Revenge features both online and local six-player co-op. As of press time I was unable to test the online multiplayer capabilities. I will return to this review following launch with my findings. The PlayStation version, curiously, is strictly limited to four-player local co-op.]

TMNT: Shredder's Revenge delivers exactly what one expects. It's a great-looking, great-sounding, and great-playing love letter to one of the most beloved franchises of all time. It lacks the top-tier polish and scalpel-precise intelligence of Streets of Rage 4, instead choosing to present itself purely as a retro multiplayer masher �albeit one with a far expanded moveset than its predecessors. As a brawler aficionado, I think Shredder's Revenge is good, delivered with a passion that veers into great. I don't think it topples the best examples of the genre, but I defy any TMNT fan to play this game without sporting a massive gr??in on their face. And, ultimately, that's the highest praise it can receive.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge is a delightful celebration of the Heroes in a Half-Shell. More importantly, it's simply a helluva lot of fun to play. It breaks little in the way of new ground, remaining rooted in old-school cool, but it does offer wild, satisfying combat, packed out with personality and charm. For anyone who ever jumped off a schoolyard wall �tree branch in hand �shouting "Cowabunga!", Shredder's Revenge is absolutely worth shelling out for.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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Update 3.0 brings balance tweaks and flashy finishes

Mane6 has released the long-in-development Update 3.0 for its equestrian smackeroonie Them's Fightin' Herds �the update, now live on PC, brings with it a fresh balance of bug fixes, a balance overhaul, and, best of all, some ??lovely looking Level 3 cinematic Supers for the entire roster!

Each and every character can now activate a new Super when their super meter is stocked to its third stage. The new Supers take Them's Fightin' Herds to a whole new level, with gorgeous, cartoony, and very amus?ing attacks to put a big, dramatic finish on your beatdown. From Arizona's lasso-crazy multi-slam, to Paprika's ultra hug of death, Tianhuo's demonstration of their martial arts expertise, and Pom's Akuma-esque touch of death �these new supers are packed with personality and character.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEsG0DYF1yo

In addition, all current and future TFH players can now download DLC character Shanty free of charge. Incidentally, the G.O.A.T. herself has perhaps my favorite super, featuring a barrage of cannonballs from her nearby ship, ending in a spectacular explosion. Them's Fightin' Herds has spent the past four years building upon its great foundation, determined to prove itself a major contender among its big-budget contemporaries. It's a great fighter, no doubt, and the console release �officially called for later in 2022 �will be sure to add more than a few new disciples t?o the herd.

Them's Fightin' Herds is available now on PC. It will launch on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch platforms this fall.  You can check out the full list of balance tweaks and bug fixes over on Steam.

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Ba-dawm, bawm-bawwwm... Fox-yyy

Fun news for adventure-loving PlayStation fans this morning, as indie outfit Finji has announced that its celebrated adventure title Tunic will bring its adorable brand of expl??or??ation and mystery to both PS4 and PS5 this September.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKlcpXPvB2o

Released on PC and Xbox platforms back in March of this year, Tunic is the tale... tail of an intrepid young fox who goes on a dangerous quest to free the soul of a once-legendary hero known only as The Heir. Our nameless hero explores the dense forests, ancient ruins, and dark, dingy caverns of a strange, fantasy kingdom, gathering the all-important pages of?? an?? ancient document that is said to contain the power to free The Heir from their prism prison. Battle monsters, solve puzzles, and uncover myriad secret pathways en route to glory.

Tunic received almost universal praise from critics and the video game community, praising its stylish but cute visuals, challenging combat, and its seemingly endless array of secrets and mysteries to be unfurled. With great boss battles, a fantastic and immersive soundtrack, and a compelling story of bravery, courage, and determination, Tunic won over almost all players and critics wh??o encoun??tered it, and is now getting set to spread its fine spirit among a whole new audience of players on PlayStation.

Tunic launches September 27 on PlayStation platforms. It is available to purchase right now on PC and Xbox. For further reading, you can check out our own Zoey Handley's thoughts on the pint-sized adventure right here.

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Horsepower coming to consoles

It's taken almost five long years, but indie outfit Mane6 has announced that its equestrian hoof-'em-up is kickin' the dirt, snortin' steam, and getting ready to let rip on console platforms �Them's Fightin' Herds will finally?? come galloping onto PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch platforms this fall.

Originally released for Steam Early Access way back in 2018, before receiving its full PC release in the spring of 2020, Them's Fightin' Herds is a hyper-stylized 2D fighter that sees some very silly mares duking it out in some hard hoofin' one-on-one action. From crazy-eyed alpacas and magical unicorns, to yee-hawing ponies and even a grumpy lil' goat, TFH combines cartoon quality art and animation with solid, old-school m?echanics for a unique fighting game experience.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=92rTB2wyPPo

Originally conceived as a My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic fan game, developer Mane6 quickly readjusted its design plans when Hasbro lawyers came a'callin. This proved to be the best thing that could happen for the project, however, and with fresh designs from Friendship is Magic creator Lauren Faust at hand, the Mane6 team embarked on its own original scrapper. A true passion project, Them's Fightin' Herds has seen more intensive and p??assionate developer support than many fighters 50 times its size an??d popularity.

The console edition of Them's Fightin' Herds will launch for $19.99. A Deluxe Edition, available for $39.99, includes a season pass for four new upcoming characters, as well as new stages and other cosmetics. You can check out all of the details by moseying on over to the Maximum Games Store.

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Polygonal Phantasies

In a little over a month's time, we will be welcoming old-school gaming hero Klonoa back into our humble little lives. Bandai Namco is preparing for the release of the remastered Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series on PC and consoles, and has dropped a short, nostalgia-sparking clip from the retro adventures.

As previously reported, Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series is a compendium containing remasters of the 2008 Wii release Klonoa: Door to Phantomile (itself a remake of the 1997 PlayStation original) and the 2001 PS2 sequel Klonoa: Lunatea’s Veil. Developed by Monkeycraft, the two games have been lovingly restored with sharp HD visuals, 60 FPS gameplay, and boosted with new features, including rebalanced difficulty options and an all-n?ew two-player co-op mode.

2022 sees Klonoa celebrate their 25thn birthday, so now is the perfect time to release this delightful looking retrospective of their most memorable adventures. Sadly, the compendium will not contain all of the Klonoa titles �so you won't find their Game Boy Advance or Wonderswan adventures herein �but it will at le?ast be fun to visit the charming world of Lunatea, looking fresher and more colorful than ever before.

Klonoa is one of a number of somewhat forgotten gaming heroes making a grand comeback, so it's a pretty rad time to be a fan of classic platforming adventures. Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series launches?? July 8 on PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch platforms.

//twitter.com/BandaiNamcoEU/status/1526956304140587009?s=20&t=5??d04ZoEat3YvwIRds0YKWQ

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Family Affairs

This month sees the grand return of long-lost Dreamcast superstar Kao the Kangaroo, who is set to make a big comeback in a brand new sequel, passionately developed by indie developer/publisher Tate Multimedia... And, you know what? It's really not looking too shabby at all.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg3sCKX7JuU

The latest trailer for the retro-spirited 3D platform adventure introduces us to La Casa Kao, as we meet our hoppity-hero's clan members. Aside from the fist-swing kanga himself, Kao the Kangaroo will also feature his father Walt, his mother Marlene, (?known in social circles as "The Iron Lady"), and Kao's best pal, the wily inventor Gadget. But where is Kao's lovely sister? Well, that's what we're going to find out, as we guide Kao across the globe, utilizing his acrobatic abilities and knockout fighting skills to negotiate dangerous terrain and u??ncover the truth behind his sibling's disappearance.

Kao the Kangaroo will see our old-school star come up against some of the world's foremost warriors, using his father's training and guidance to leave them all looking at the lights �crowning himself the greatest fighter on the planet. As I've noted before, this new sequel bears more than a passing resemblance to the latter-day Crash Bandicoot releases, but that's fine. As long as Kao the Kangaroo equally captures the polished gameplay??, fun characters, and creative worlds of its inspirations, then Tate Multimedia's new title could prove to be one of the year's most fun platfor??ming adventures

Kao the Kangaroo l??aunches May 27 on PS4, PC, Xbox One, an?d Nintendo Switch.

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Wascally Weaponized Wabbit Weturns

[Update: According to Game Source Entertainment, (via Gematsu), the Nintendo Switch edition of F.I.S.T. Forged in Shadow Torch will launch in Japan Jul?y 14, suggesting that a ??western release will not be far behind.]

Publisher Microids has announced that it has signed a deal with bilibili to produce a physical edition of 2021's excellent but under-the-radar release F.I.S.T. Forged in Shadow Torch. In addition, it was announced that a Nintendo Switch port of F.I.S.T. is in the works, with a scheduled late?-2??022 release window.

Any Destructoid regular will know that yer boy Moyse is very much a proponent of F.I.S.T., which was one of, if not my actual favourite release in 2021. Set in a dystopian, steampunk, anthropomorphic world, F.I.S.T. sees an old war veteran don what remains of his well-worn bat??tle armor to take the fight to the oppressors of Torch City’s slum-dwellers. What follows is a stellar metroidvania sporting impressive visuals, deep and satisfying combat, and an air-punching tale of anarchy and redemptio?n.

//youtu.be/ngNZBo8rpw8

"After the launch of F.I.S.T. Forged In Shadow Torch we’ve received many good reviews from players worldwide, and one of the frequently asked questions was about its physical release in Europe and America,�said TiGames CEO Zhang Tao. "Thankfully, with the help of bilibili and Microids, the?? question can finally be answered. We hope the physical versions will provide challenge-hungry players with an enjoyable adventure in Torch City. Thank you as always for the warm support!"

While F.I.S.T. has previously received a physical release in Asia, the title has only been available in the west in digital form. Microids hopes to publish a localized physical edition on both PlayStation and Switch platforms in alignment with the release of the new Switch port. I have to admit that, despite how it might look in screenshots/trailers, F.I.S.T. Forged in Shadow Torch is a deceptively hefty release from a tech standpoint, so it will be interesting to see how the epic adventure is sca?led down for Nintend??o's hybrid platform.

F.I.S.T. Forged in Shadow Torch is available now on PlayStation and PC. Check out our review right here.

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Tanuki Patootie

Publisher Deck13 has announced a release date for retro-inspired 3D platformer Lunistice. The anthropomorphic adventure game will launch on PC and Nintendo Switch on September ??2.

Developed by super-indie outfit A Grumpy Fox, Lunistice recalls the early efforts of the 3D platforming genre, and is reminiscent of the sort of titles that would appear on the PlayStation and Sega Saturn in the genre's formative days. The game concerns our fuzzy hero Hanna the Tanuki, who will run, jump, and fight their way through seven of their own wild and characterful dreams. Lunistice was ?originally designed with the speedrunning community in mind, so look forward to fast & fluent gameplay that rewards precision movement and smart stage tr?aversal.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=wb-tQGSnDvQ

Lunistice has taken a long and twisty road to completion, having started out as a 2D platformer, then becoming an N64-style rail shooter, and also running through several different game engines and even titles! But it seems that both A Grumpy Fox and Deck13 are happy and confident with the game's current development direction, and have thus dropped a fresh new trailer along with a final launch date. It certainly looks authentic to the Crash Bandicoots and Jumping Flashes of old, so fans of polygonal action might want to keep an eye out for Hanna'?s eventual debut.

Lunistice launches September 9 on PC ?(on Steam and GOG) and Nintendo Switch.

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Rabbity Cat Dog Thing returns

Bandai Namco has announced that Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series �a duet of the for??gotten platforming hero's adventures �will launch worldwide on PC and conso?le platforms in July.

The new compendium features remasters of the 2008 Wii release Klonoa: Door to Phantomile (itself a remake of the 1997 PlayStation original) and the 2001 PS2 sequel Klonoa: Lunatea's Veil. The various other releases in the Klonoa series, such as the Game Boy Advance and Wonderswan titles, will unfortuna??tely not be putting in an appearance. Developed by Monkeycraft, the two featured titles will boast improved 60FPS visuals, rebalanced difficulty settings, and a new two-player cooperative mode.

//youtu.be/fVvjFTDuIDw

While this particular series has never set the sales charts alight, it has garnered itself a dedicated fanbase thanks to its colorful and charming worlds, intuitive use of genres, and spirited, good-natured protagonist. The Klonoa series will be celebrating its 25th anniversary this year,? so 2022 is as good a time as any for The Dream Traveler to make their grand return.

While it is admittedly disappointing that the collection is not a true retrospective of Klonoa's en??tire gaming career, the fanbase will no doubt be stoked to experience their greatest adventures once more, looking, and ?playing, better than ever before.

Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series launches July 8 on PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch platf?orms.

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Fly the furry skies

Thursday's NGPX presentation brought with it a selection of reveals, release dates, and localization windows for a slew of pint-sized Japanese releases. Among the many super-cute titles added to the calendar was an official western release date for the delightfully titled anthro shmup Horgihugh and Friends, which will take to the skies on Nintendo Switch?? June 16.

Yo?u can check out a new tr?ailer for the pixel-powered cute-'em-up below.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=PINUm8ljrJw

Set in a colorful fantasy universe Horgihugh and Friends focuses on a population of cute critters who decided to fully disarm their countries in the aftermath of a miserable and lengthy world war. Unfortunately, sometime later, the world is invaded by a strange unknown entity known as the Gozareans. In this newly weaponless society, it is up to retired ace pilots Hugh and Figaro to dust off their vintage hobby planes and take to the skies, outnu??mbered and overpowered, in a last-ditch effort to save civilization.

Horgihugh and Friends is a retro-style horizontal shmup that tasks one or two players with taking down the Gozarean invaders. The title boasts six challenging stages, punctuated by 13 intense boss battles, unique power-up mechanics, multiple difficulty settings, and an exciting cast of critters to meet and befriend. All of this action is stylized ?in classic pixel visuals, with artwork by Mega? Man and Shantae veteran Kou and a score composed by Motoaki Furukawa of Gradius II and Policenauts fame.

Hogihugh and Friends will launch in the west on Nintendo Switch June 16. The Japanese version is also available right now on PC via Steam.

Chocks Away!

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