Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 developer Saber Interactive has confirmed that Public Test? Servers are to be added to the game in a future update.

In a message spearheaded by Ga??me Director Dmitriy Grigorenko, i?t was confirmed that this will allow players to "try out major balancing updates and make your voices heard before they are pushed?? onto public branches."

Space Marine 2 rolls back balance changes, Public Test Servers confirmed

Last week, Space Marine 2 released its 4.0 patch, and to say players weren't happy is an understatement. Unpopular weapon nerfs and a higher difficulty curve all around had gamers up i?n arms, leading some to take to the virtual streets in a form of protest as old as time: Steam review b??ombing.

Space Marine 2 fans can officially put down their pitchforks; the new 4.1 u??pdate to the game rolls back those controversial changes, with Grigorenko claiming he "forgot that once the game comes out, it's no longer a dev's game. It's yours first and foremost."

To avoid repeating the mistake with future balance updates, Saber Interactive confirmed that the aforementioned Public Test Servers will be coming to Space Marine 2 in "early 2025." However, no further timeline has been give??n for this a?s of yet.

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KinnikuNeko: SUPER MUSCLE CAT is a side-scroller that lives up to its beefy subtitle, starring a character who looks like someone slapped a cat's head on a Cho Aniki screenshot. Following up on its ?March 2024 launch on Steam, developer Kamotach??i's absurd action game is now on the way to consoles.

There's no date in place at the moment, but KinnikuNeko is currently eyeing a release on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. Kamotachi promises "many improvements and features," and the console release will coincide wit??h a "great update" for the Steam version. 

We'll have to wait and see what all those improvements and features stack up to be. In the meantime, you can try it out for yourself on Steam, which has a demo available to download for free. The ful??l game is priced at $11.99 and has garnered "Very Positive" reviews since its March debut.

The premise of KinnikuNeko is about what you might expect after looking at a screenshot or two. The titular KinnikuNeko is very accurately described as "a cat with the body of a bodybuilder," and it's up to him ?and his friends Lem??on and Keita to stop a massive alien invasion of Earth. Naturally, KinnikuNeko will be using his absolutely explosive muscles to put the diabolical plans of General Pitaya and her henchmen to rest.

Honestly, all you really need to know is "cartoon cat have beefy body" and you're most of t?he way there. The wait for the console versions should give us plenty of time to get our own bodies in shape ahead of the alien onslaught. 

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Tears of Metal is a hack 'n' slash roguelike announced during its first official world premiere at Summ?er Game Fest 2024. Although no release date is currently known, we caught a glimpse at its gameplay and story elements.

Tears of Metal features co-op gameplay where you'll play as Scottish warriors taking back their land after a dragon meteor invasion struck. You'll prepare your forces and rally your warriors alongside four other players while following the war's story. Think of it as Scottish Dynasty Warriors with cartoonish?? charm.

In classic hack 'n' slash fashion, you'll also find yourself using swords, axes, and other weapons at your disposal to take out your foes, with more available to purchase as you progress through the game. The trailer introduces mechanics for strengthening your troops, optimizing your army, and obtaining various abilities to launch sp?ecial attacks. Above all else, you'll charge right in, slicing away at your enemies, and take back the land that's rightfully yours.

Tears of Metal will be available on PC via Steam. No official release date is currently known, bu??t it is live on the Steam storefront, where you can add it to your wishlist an??d keep up to date on its latest news.

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St. Valentine's Day Massacre

The sequence comes around an hour into the story and lasts approximately 95 seconds. Lieutenant Hannah Stone, freshly showered from another terrible, violent day on the job, walks into the cafeteria of her headquarters for dinner??. At the counter, she is handed fish soup, Bratwurst curry with potatoes, a blackcurrant jelly, and a steaming cup of coffee. Well earned.

Taking a seat at an empty table, Hannah stares at the bowl. Atop her soup is a severed fish head. It stares at her. Hannah looks it in the eye, which peers back into her soul. Hollow. Unblinking.? Accusing. Hannah discards the soup to one side, where even a hungry cat decides not to partake in the free meal. Picking up her fork, Hannah stabs it into the bratwurst, or at least attempts to, as the cutlery fails to even pierce the sausage's skin. Moving to the potatoes yields similar results, with the to?ts merely pinging violently off of the plate.

The jelly? Well, it scoops cleanly enough. Too cleanly, in fact, as it remains steadfastly glued to Hannah's spoon, refusing to budge, and looking far blacker now than it did in the dish. All that is left to rescue this sad meal is the coffee. And so, in the deafening silence of the hollow cafeteria, Hannah picks up the cup... Is that a literal skull she spies in the steam of the drink?

Hannah's dinner is ruined. The? meal ??has been a disaster.

The preceding sequence has no bearing on the plot, the characters, or the narrative themes of Wanted: Dead whatsoever??. But, with that scene of culinary di??sappointment, the game captured my heart.

Wanted: Dead (PS5 [reviewed] PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC)
Developer: Soliel Ltd.
Publisher: 110 Industries
Released: February 14, 2023
MSRP: $59.99

Wanted: Dead is a brand new third-person slasher/shooter, developed by Japanese studio Soliel and published by Swiss outfit 110 Industries. Described by its publisher as "a love letter to the sixth generation of video game consoles", Wanted: Dead wears its Spirit of '01 boldly on its sleeve, aiming to deliver a warts-and-all recreation of the clunky action, convoluted storytelling, and brutal, borderline unfair challenge of?? the run 'n' gun titles of the early-'00s.

The story, at least as much as can be discerned from an occasionally incomprehensible script, follows a week in the life of privatized Hong Kong Black Ops team "Zombie Unit" �a "Suicide Squad" of sorts, comprised of ex-war criminals tasked with taking on the dirtiest of deeds in Hong Kong's underworld. Led by Swiss agent Hannah Stone, the unit, despite the locale, does not feature a single Asian member, such is the way with almost the entirety of Wanted: Dead's cast, perhaps offerin??g the whiteist, most ridiculously Americanized version of the eastern world that fiction has seen in a long time.

This awkward anachronism forms the first of many mind-boggling aesthetic and thematic choices that infuse Wanted: Dead with its distinct identity. That is to say, Soliel's title openly embraces its own awfulness, while occasionally blowing minds with the arrival of a cool character, a satisfying spot of ultraviolence, or a top-tier bit of Carpenter-esque synth. All of the titl?e's high points are juxtaposed with inane, repetitive enemies, a barely relevant gun customization system, relentlessly long stages, and exposition-free dialogue that would leave Roger Corman asking for "A bit more script padding, please".

To be frank, Wanted: Dead is a modern atrocity of game design. And I love i??t.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6aeZnsBZBc&ab_channel=110Industri??es

Set in an alternate cyberpunkian future, Asia has thrived in the A.I. market post-Cold War, lorded over by humanoid (think "Replicant") developer Dauer Synthetics. However, a violent smash-and-grab at the company's headquarters forces Dauer to declare bankruptcy, leading to corporate fallout and mass rebellion by the synthetic populace. Because they're apparently really good at being completely awful people, Zombie Unit is dispatched to investigate the mayhem, guided by police chief stereotype Cpt. Simmons and assisted by TV chef-turned-gunsmith Vivienne Niermantsverdriet, (portrayed by Stefanie Joosten of Metal Gear "Quiet" fame).

What follows is a series of incredulous shooting galleries as Stone and her squad massacre their way through crime scene after crime scene �Hannah's expert marksmanship and samurai-level swordplay turning the opposition into complete mush. Wanted: Dead is violent. Verhoeven violent. Hannah's enemies peel apart like wet tissue, pumped full 'o' lead then sliced and diced. This results in sloshy crims??on fountains that leave everything and ever?yone in the vicinity looking like Carrie White's prom date.

There is an inherent "naughtiness" to Wanted: Dead's action, vulgarity, and narrative It knows that it's being crass, obnoxious, and shallow. And yet, even in our far evolved gaming world, there is something appealing about its simplistic coarseness. Wanted: Dead is real tough, with painful restart points, an awkward cover system, and sword fights that �while satisfying and dynamic �put Hannah in the morgue after just a few mistakes. At times, the game is almost comically difficult. It will set you up with a brutal mid-boss battle only to then not r?eward you with a checkpoint immediately after. A police station invasion? at the story's midpoint is merciless, and only the bloody-minded will see much further.

(Though a secret Easy mode is unlockable, Konami fans.)

Deadly Ammunition

I need to make one thing absolutely clear. The gameplay in Wanted: Dead is archaic by design. While the game is playable, enjoyable, and compelling, (I've already finished it on two difficulty settings), it is incredibly samey, long-winded, and seriously lacking in variance. You can never tell whether the title is aware of just how intentionally clumsy/old-school it is. Wanted: Dead chooses chaos every step of the way.

The abominable NPC banter, the bullet-sponge enemies, the "one appearance" mechanics, Shoot the Red Barrel for Explosion. Endless rows of unopenable doors. Characters repeating themselves in battle over and over again... "Grenaaaade!" "Reinforcements!" "Get that bitch!" "Grenaaaade!" "Reinforcements!" "Get that bitch!". One villain simply has Tom Cruise's likeness. Sure, why not?

Are they all in on the joke? They might well be... And if so, then we're the punchline, Jack.

Still, there is something so attractive about the simplicity of the whole affair, a flower of wanton indulgence grown from a plot of dirt. The characters are all universal dopes of dubious moral fiber, but they're still bizarrely warm and likable. Some of the dialogue has terrible "first take" cadence, (Tommy Wiseau/Barry Burton levels), yet becomes oddly endearing. As for the score, it's legitimately cool, featuring a host of original songs (some performed by Joosten herself) along with a handful of '80s covers. If you wanna eat ram?en to The Divinyls' "I Touch Myself", have I got the game for you.

It's this curious amalgamation of design that keeps Wanted: Dead's blood pumping. Whenever you begin to tire of the stringently old-school gameplay, one of Vivienne's cats will break the fourth wall, or you'll encounter a genuinely cool setpiece or boss character. Even the story cinematics are packed with variance, bouncing between in-engine machinima, FMV, and traditional anime. Which all adds to the?? title's frenetic "lucky dip" approach to style, tone, and thematic choice.

When not dishing out police procedure at the point of a katana, Hannah and friends can relax with a selection of unlockable mini-games. These include rhythm-action escapades based upon speed-eating ramen, or chilling out with Vivienne for a Karaoke duet. Hannah can also build up a collection of character figurines via some surprisingly authentic crane games, which are just as frustrating to play as the real thing. In addition, a full seven-stage shmup, Space Runaway, can be found within the Zombie Unit H.Q. and is, in itself, a fun endeavor that recalls genre classics such as Gradius and R-Type.

In order to improve her battle abilities, Lt. Stone can visit the shooting range for score-attack action, or take on VR opponents in sword-based showdowns. Mastering Hannah's abilities is a key component to enjoying Wanted: Dead. A skill? tree allows for the unlocking of new moves, better defense, and evasive actions, all of which are top priorities. Our girl is pretty underpowered from the off �which will potentially scare off impatient players �But the more you refine your headshots, frame-perfect parries, and gory finishers, the less frustrating your melee ma??yhem will be.

And, for everybody else, there are chainsaws.

Loose Canon

For all of its tongue-in-cheek "flaws by design", Wanted: Dead does have one major point of contention. Despite offering a cast of fun weirdos and a cool futureworld for its storytelling, the narrative actually goes nowhere. Multiple threads are cast and then instantly dropped, while exciting and intriguing characters �such as the cloaked assassin Kolchak, the sexy insurance agent Madam Wong, and the innocent synthetic, October �are introduced as main players onl?y to simply vanish a scene or two later.

Fatally, just as the threads of the plot are coming together... the credits roll. And while Soliel should be praised for not letting the unvarying gameplay outstay its welcome, (approx. 11 hours dependent on skill), there is so much left on the table in terms of the central thread and individual character arcs. Having gone through the game twice, I'm still utterly disoriented in regard to the main conspiracy, the villa?ins, their motives, and Zombie Unit's reasoning. Hannah herself leaves the tale riddled with questions, while several characters are simply M.I.A. by the halfway mark.

Insert "Scenes Missing" placard.

Clearly, Wanted: Dead has been produced as Act One of a possible three-act play. So y'all better go buy it, as ?I, and the rest of the gaming world, need more of Vivienne and her 11 cats in our lives.

//www.youtube.com/wa?tch?v=YJQYNrGUWQA&ab_channel=110Indus??tries

'Where's that fluffy bastard?'

Are you a video game fan who complains about mechanics such as free-to-play, always-online, gacha, games-as-a-service, forced multiplayer, empty open worlds, crafting, constant gear stat introspection, microtransactions, or the infamous "UbiBloat"? Well, guess what, they made a game that doesn't have any of those things. Not one. Admittedly, it doesn't have a lot of other things too: Ray tracing, a coherent story?line, co-op mode, varied gameplay/enemies, character shadows, or An Ending.

There is also the subjective, but important, point of pricing. How much is too much to pay for a game of this caliber? And does its "Bargain Bin" theme suggest that it deserves a matching price point? The ??answer is between you and your wallet. Read other reviews and weigh up the odds. Buyer beware, friend.

Wanted: Dead is the best worst game I've played in years, and is absolutely not for everybody. It's barely for anybody. It's antiquated in many ways, whether intentionally or otherwise, and it's also rock solid, throwing the player in the deep end and telling them to buckle up. Yet, in fascinating fashion, the PS2-era gameplay, wanton violence, narcotic atmosphere, and gratuitous scripting are just inexplicably appealing. I mean, we did all want a sequel to The Punisher, right?

You can question the necessity for such a title in 2023, but there's no questioning the passion and boldness with which it attacks the zeitgeist, leaving a beautiful mess in its wake. Other games whisper and tiptoe, terrified of not falling into the Exact Genre Parameters that constitute success in the AAA gaming space. By comparison, Wanted: Dead stumbles into the party uninvited �whiskey in hand, pants 'round its ankles, bellowing "99 ??Luftballoons". ?It takes the opportunity to flip the bird at a nearby Soulslike, before telling a billion-dollar shooter to eat shit. Then it falls over a chair and vomits.

A hangover of abandoned game design, dressed up in unruly aesthetics and powered by cyberpunk Pat Benatar. The unforgiving gameplay and repetitious action will leave some utterly appalled, but the radiant cast of reprobates, silly mini-games, baffling dialogue, and shameless commitment to the bit results in one of the most bewildering, hypnotic releases in some time. Simply put: Wanted: Dead is a fuck?ing train wreck, and you better get your ticket punched.

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

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Slash Fiction

D3 Publisher has released a 10-minute gameplay video of its anime hack 'n' slash adventure Samurai Maiden. Developed by Japanese studio Shade, the action-packed tale of swords and sorcery wi?ll hit PlayStation, PC and Nintendo Switch platforms in early Dece??mber.

Utilizing the time-honored marriage of anime schoolgirls and time travel, Samurai Maiden sees a young lass from the 21st Century whisked ?back to Sengoku era Japan where, accompanied by her newfound friends, our hero takes up steel against a deathly army of monsters and ghouls. As she battles her way through the underworld, our young maiden will mastery the ancient art of the samurai, defeating ungodly creatures on her journey to return to her own time.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZOnAzJOXvI&t

Despite the overall cheesiness of the characters and setup, I have to admit that I think Samurai Maiden looks pretty sharp (pun fully intended). I'm digging the super-colorful locations, the crazy-creepy enemy design, and the slick-looking com?bat. The visual effects also aren't t??o be sniffed at. The action appears to move both smoothly and with precision, and overall it looks like it could be a fun, low-key, way to spend a lazy weekend... Even if you do gotta roll your eyes a little at the game's "kiss other girls to power up" mechanic.

I? mean, that's never worked?? for me, and I've tried it over three times in my life.

Samurai Maiden laun??ches worldwide, December 8, on PlaySt??ation, PC, and Nintendo Switch platforms.

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Sharpen your blade...

As the Ghostrunner community eagerly awaits news of the cyberpunk hack 'n' slasher's upcoming sequel, publisher 505 Games has decided to throw them a bone in the form of some Ghostrunner 2 concept art �depicting the hi-tech towers awaiting Jack's next bout of high-speed slice 'n' dice actio?n.

The new art was revealed as part of a special live stream this weekend, which you can watch right here.

Currently in development at Polish studio One More Level, Ghostrunner 2 was first announced way back in May 2021, though very little has been revealed of the project to date �with plot details, locales, and mechanics still under wraps. One can only assume that the developer will stick with what brought it to the dance, offering highly adrenalized act??ion, wanton violence, and dizzying acrobatics set against the backdrop of a highly impressive future world and the A.I.-based power play that forever shakes its walls.

Originally published by Polish company All-In! Games, the Ghostrunner IP was eventually purchased by 505 Games �following an amusing bit of business where the company first refuted All-In!'s offer, then decided that, actually, they would like to buy Ghostrunner after it sold 600,000 copies and recouped its development costs in a single day. With 505 Games in its c??orner, One More Level hopefully has the extended resources and marketing power to make the sequel a real smasher.

While i?t has ??undeniably been very quiet on the development front, fans can hope that the studio is simply busy making another fantastic entry to one of the coolest franchises of the modern gaming generations. Gameplay video might still be some time away but, as the adage goes, the best things come to those who wait. And given the total radness of its predecessor, I'm more than willing to wait a little longer.

Ghostrunner 2 is in de??velopment at One More Level. Platforms or release date are yet to be announced.

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DiabNo

Publisher Line Games Corporation and developer Needs Games have announced that their hack 'n' slash adventure Undecember has now launched worldwide �The free-to-play monster masher is available to download on PC (via Steam) and mobile platforms iOS and Android in all territories.

Set in the high-fantasy realm of Traum �a benevolent land created by the arrival of 12 divine beings �Undecember sees the calm and tranquility of this world shattered by the arrival of the 13th ??being, Evil God Serpens. With the land now infested with ravaging hordes of demons, ogres, and other unholy hellspawn, it is up to a party of hardy adventurers to take up steel, axe, and bow, defeat the marauders, and offer Serpens a one-way ticket to oblivion.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=paXcwjTGDxY&t

As you can see from the trailer above, Undecember is a violent, action-packed dungeon crawler not dissimilar to Blizzard Entertainment's iconic series, Diablo. Offering up a 10-act story campaign, a selection of endgame challenges, Boss Raids, and a rock-solid "Chaos Dungeon", Undecember hopes to carve a niche out for itself, boas??ting some pretty attractive features including custom class building, a deep, rune-based skill system, cross-platform support, and co-op modes for up to ?eight players.

Dungeon-crawling fans waiting on the far-off release of Diablo 4, or mobile players who perhaps were not feeling Diablo Immortal, may do ?well to look at this contender and ??see if it ignites that fantasy fyre.

Undecember is now available to download on PC and mobile platforms. Any and all players who login during launch week will b??e able to take part in a special introductory event �offering up some exclusive gear, runes, and other in-game bonus items.

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Studio still set on producing live service titles

PlatinumGames has finally broken its silence on the uncomfortable and shocking collapse of its ambitious fantasy adventure, Babylon's Fall. Speaking in an interview with VGC, PlatinumGames CEO Atsushi Inaba noted that he was "extremely sorry" ??for any frustration or disappointment felt by the gaming community.

Speaking semi-candidly, Inaba said that he was not in a position to discuss the title's development or marketing strategies in any detail, due to the studio's commitment to its publishers. But, reading between the lines, Inaba expresses a sense of regret that Platinum was confined only to the development of Babylon's Fall itself, which would suggest he would've liked the team to take a stronge?r role in its release.

"Firstly, the important thing that I want to note is that we’re not able to comment on certain areas of games developed with our partners,�said Inaba. “And that’s one of the reasons we’re not fond of our current situation that only limits us to game development, to be honest with you�in terms of an??y concrete reasons or the process that led to this conclusion of the title, you’d have to go ahead and ask Square Enix about the details, unfortunately."

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0ZktpmoGrg

Inaba did, however, openly apologize to anyone who might have been expecting a better fate for the title, as well as to PlatinumGames fans who might feel that the title was below the expectations of a product coming from the studio behind mega-hits such as Bayonetta and NieR: Automata.

"Any disapp?ointment that we might have caused for our fan base is something we feel extremely sorry about, the fact that we ??led our dedicated fans to feel that way as a developer. Providing any sentiment other than enjoyment and fun in our creations to players is something that we’re not very happy about at all as a developer."

Following a lengthy and expensive development cycle, Babylon's Fall was released in February of this year with the intent of becoming a long-life "games as a service" title. Unfortunately, the player base collapsed almost instantly, with one particular day in the game's launch month seeing only 10 concurrent players on Steam. Despite PlatinumGames' desire to hold the line and see the project through, Babylon's Fall never recovered from its disastrous opening salvo. Last month, it was announced that Babylon's Fall servers will permanently clo?se on February 28, 2023.

PlatinumGames ha??s stated it still wishes to continue exploring the games as a service model.

Platinum CEO breaks silence on Babylon’s F?all closure: ‘We’re extremely sorry�/a> [VGC]

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Hell Yes

'Tis Friday, and, like clockwork, Epic Games Store has revealed the identities of the next free titles that it will be rolling out to store users over the next week �And it looks like there's something of a Very Metal theme to next week's fare, with the arrival of pixel actioners Rising Hell and Slain: Back from Hell (no relation.)

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-2q0rB6f-g

Fi??rst released in 2019 and developed by Indonesian deve??loper Tahoe Games, Rising Hell is a Gothic rogue-lite dungeon crawler that places a heavy emphasis on platform traversal and verticality. Players embark upon a seemingly insurmountable challenge to literally climb out of Hell, starting at the very pit of oblivion and working their upwards, battling horribly unholy demons and monsters en route.

As is to be expected from such a Devil's Horns-flinging release, Rising Hell has a very metal aest?hetic, with guitar wailing scores, vulgar visual design, and a relentless, head-banging challenge. Featuring a ton of epic boss battles, sever??al gameplay modes, and a roster of selectable characters, Rising Hell was well received by players on release, and might well be worth a weekend of redemption.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvmdRTk3B9A

Developed by Steel Mantis and released way back in 2016, Slain: Back From Hell could almost be seen as a distant cousin of Rising Hell, spor??ting similar pixel visuals, challenging platforming action and, of course, a hard-rockin' aesthetic. As doomed hero Bathoryn, players battle their way through another hugely Gothic world, on a mission to liberate the realms from the clutches of six malevolent overlords.

Between Rising Hell and Slain: Back from Hell, Epic Games St?ore fans have got a pretty unholy week ahead. But, if you dig that whole heavy metal retro vibe, then it's definitely worth keeping an eye on the calendar and ensuring that you bag next week's EGS freebies when? they are made available to all on October 6.

In the meantime, be sure to pick up current EGS offerings: Runbow and The Drone Racing League.

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The other bodysuited hack 'n' slash gal

During today's State of Play presentation, developer Shift Up released a new gameplay trailer for its previously teased hack 'n' slash adventure Project EVE, which has now been officially titled Stellar Blade. It will launch as a PS5 exclusive?? at some point in 2??023.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayek3ZzWb1E

Previously shown off during a State of Play presentation one year ago, Stellar Blade follows a powerful mercenary, Eve, as she spearheads a mission to bring humanity back to Earth, following a violent expulsion at the claws of a monstrous force known as "NA:tives." It is up to Eve and her military fri?ends to take back Earth from its occupiers.

Equipped with amazing acrobatic ability and cybernetic weaponry, Eve will slice 'n' dice her way through an army of enemies, while upgrading her weapons, skills, combat maneuvers, and high fashion with the expenditure of gathered XP, which in the Stellar Blade universe is known as "Beta Gauge." It looks suitably flashy and action-packed, with an opulent and special-effect-packed presentation style. One worth keeping an eye on for the Devil May Cry and Bayonetta crowd methinks.

Stellar Blade wil??l launch exclusively on PS5 in ??2023. Next year is filling up fast.

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Remember the Robots

Square Enix has released a new trailer for its upcoming Nintendo Switch port of NieR: Automata. The preview focuses on evocative protagonist 2B, the NieR hero who would become a legendary gaming icon.

2B �or to offer her full moniker YoRHa No.2 Type B �is a YoRHa all-purpose battle android created to aid humanity in its war with The Machines. Adept in all manner of fighting abilities and coded to operate with cold and ruthless efficiency, 2B is one of mankind's finest tools in its efforts to reclaim the planet. As NieR fans will be fully aware, how??ever, there is more than 2B than meets the eye, and her single-minded coldness will be put to the test on the battlefield when faced with the chaos, disaster, and "death" of her equally disposable friends and colleagues.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqHMMLn00ts

While NieR: Automata launched as something of a cult release, PlatinumGames challenging action-RPG would find itself pushed into the mainstream, thanks in no small part to 2B's elegant, engaging, and undeniably sexy demeanor. Operating as both the heart and the brain of NieR: Automata's narrative 2B �alongside her battle buddies 9S, A2, and not forgetting Pod �offer the only real semb?lance of actual humanity in a bleak, miserable, and seemingly endles??s war of attrition.

NieR: Automata The End of YoRHa Edition was first announced during June's Nintendo Direct. The port will feature a faithfully recreated adaptation of the 2017 modern classic, bundled with all of the RPG's post-release content which includes additional missions and character costumes. In addition to this DLC, the Switch port will feature a small range of exc??lusive skins for the trio of protagonists.

NieR: Automata: End of YorHa Edition launches October 6 on Nintendo Switch. Pre-orders for the physical release are now live at the official Square Enix store.

The post NieR: Automata Switch tr??ailer reacquaints us with the iconic 2B appeared first on Destructoid.

Valentine's Day Massacre

Publisher 110 Industries has announced that its dopey-looking action-adventure Wanted: Dead has been hit with an unfo??rtunate delay and will no longer meet its initial 2022 release window. It wil??l now launch on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox platforms February 14, 2023.

It has been a hot minute since we last talked about Wanted: Dead, but for those of you yet to hear of this quirky little release, develop??er Soliel is creating a delightfully po-faced action title that is seemingly fully coming to terms with its own sense of dramatic and technical clunkiness. Players step into the finely-hones biceps of Hong Kong cop Lt. Hannah Stone, whose black ops police unit attempt to uncover a?nd put an end to a dangerous corporate conspiracy in a dystopian, futuristic take on the capital city.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w4r9aOqlhA

While that might all sound a little by-the-numbers and rote, it appears that Wanted: Dead is actually leaning into its own 1980s bullshit, offering up cardboard characters, tired action movie tropes, and lashings upon lashings of unashamed visceral violence to power its paper-thin storytelling. Utilizing Lt. Stone's mastery of firearms, bladed weapons, explosives, and any other tool she can lay her hands o??n, players will wreak havoc throughout the syndicate, leaving a trail of guts and viscera in their wake.

And when not decapitating gangsters, or disemboweling mercenaries, players can also take time out with any number of side activities, including gacha games, karaoke, and some '90s arcade action. As you can see from IGN's trailer above �which features old-school U.S. cock rock, Asian influences, white-ass characters, anime cutscenes, FMV commercials, goofy dialogue, and even a random close-up of a cat �Wanted: Dead is a fucking train wreck of? design cultures and global infl??uence.

Will this bewildering-looking release hold it together to provide a delightful dose of satire, or will it simply be blissfully unaware that it is being laughed at, and not with? I guess we'll find out come spring, when Wanted: Dead launch??es, February 14, on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox platforms.

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Hack n Slash epic hits Steam platform

Publisher Koei Tecmo has released its period piece epic Warriors Orochi 3 Ultimate Definitive Edition on PC. The dramatic hack 'n' slash adventure, which was first revealed via a leak on the Australian Game Ratings Board, is available to purchase right now on the Steam platform priced at $39.99?.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6hyGafV8_g

As the lengthy title suggests, Warriors Orochi 3 Ultimate Definitive Edition features every last drop of content from all previous editions of Warriors Orochi 3, dating right back to the Xbox 360 and PS3 releases. This includes all main campaigns and scenarios, DLC scenarios and additional expansions, new modes such as "Gauntlet" and "Duel," revamped combat mechanics, guest stars from franchises such as Soulcalibur and Dead or Alive, and hundreds ??????????????????????????upon hundreds of custom cosmetic items.

Warriors Orochi 3 Ultimate Definitive Edition is an almost bottomless toy box for fans of the long-running series. If you've ever been intrigued to check out the franchise's famously chaotic "1 vs. 1000" warfare, then you probably can't do much wrong by picking up this new release. I'm sure that you'll find a character that appeals to your aesthetic. After all, there are over 145 of them.

Warriors Orochi 3 Ultimate Definitive Edition is available now on PC. For full details of all included content, visit the official Steam store page.

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What a pity, you don't understand

Last week, fans got the surprising but welcome confirmation that cult classic Lollipop Chainsaw was to receive a full remake. As revealed by Dragami Games�CEO Yoshimi Yasuda, the cheesecake 2012 adventure will be returning in 2023 sporting an updated look, a sparkly new engine, and all of the mon??ster-mashing, zombie beheading action that makes the original release such a fun curiosity.

In a new statement, Yasuda has directly addressed fan concerns regarding potential changes being made to the new version of Lollipop Chainsaw. In particular, worries regarding the loss of som??e licensed music, increasing studio censorship, and clarifying previous comments that this new take on Juliet Starling's escapades would feature a more "realistic" look, words that?? were severely misinterpreted.

"We have taken notice that there has been speculation that the remake will change the story," writes Yasuda. "We believe that Lollipop Chainsaw‘s story is a huge part of what fans love about the original?? game, and we, the development staff, feel the same. As such, the stor?y will not be changed in the remake. Additionally, we do not intend to change the aesthetics of the game."

"The mention of how the game will have a more 'realistic' look in the previous announcement was meant to refer to how we will make use of the advanced rendering technology available in current game consoles. We do not wish to change Juliet’s design, and the assumption that we want to is baseless. We were the ones who created Jul?iet’s model data after great trial and error 10 years ago, and feel attached to her more than anyone else."

//twitter.co?m/yasudaD5/status/1546970153069461510?s=20&t=1CBhEjRkNc4x_2IGMJyJS??A

Elsewhere in the statement Yasuda reiterates the team's disappointment in regards to losing some of the Lollipop Chainsaw soundtrack, but notes that some of the original music will be retained. On the thorny subject of censorship, Yasuda is a little more obscure, noti?ng that the team is "negotiating with platform holders" to keep the title "as close to the original version as possible. Hmm... That statement is unlikely to allay those partic??ular concerns.

I do think people are going a tad overboard with their worries here. This is simply a remake of an already pretty janky, middling title. Given that the Dragami Games team consists of many of Lollipop Chainsaw's original dev squad, then they already "get" the brand. This isn't their first rodeo. Pragmatically, the absence of Suda51 and James Gunn is mostly irrelevant. Sure, it would be great to have the duo on board if this was a genuine sequel, being writ?ten, designed, and built from scratch. But, ??as a remake, all the material required to make a quality release is already on the workbench, it simply needs reconstructing.

Lollipop Chainsaw is currently in development at Dragami Games.

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So long, suckers

[Update: As expected, James Gunn has confirmed that neither he nor Su??da51 are involved in the remake. It should still be noted that the development team consists of many team members from the original development squad.]

//twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/1544357353318797312?s=20&??amp;t=kbLUviW7E5Jj5zvBrFkJ7A

—Original Article�/strong>