Those who have backed Coral Island on Kickstarter for a hopeful Nintendo Switch version can now ask the developer Stairway Games for a Steam code instead. This comes after its publisher Humble Games' recently revealed restructuring and reportedly laid off all of its staff, leaving Coral Island's console versions in a "place of uncertainty."

Stairway Games sent out an open letter on X/Twitter and K??ickstarter to everyone affected, claiming that the developer isn't in control of the console ports, Humble Games is. It has also said there have "been frustrations regarding the lack of a Nintendo Switch port."

When discussing the unreleased Coral Island Switch port, Stairway said, "Over the years, there's a lot we've wanted to say in the spirit of transparency, about m??any different things?, but continue to be unable to do so because of the publishing agreement and NDA we have in place."

For those who have waited a long time for the now uncertain Nintendo Switch port for Coral Island, the developer has taken measures into its own hands and is offering Kickstarter backers a PC Steam code in exchange for the Nintendo Switch ??version they've op??ted for. If you're one of these people, you'll have to email contact@stairwaygames.com.

Stairway Games is having some trouble with console updates

Stairway Games is also trying to push new updates, but says it can't get control of its console b??ackends. "We have an upcoming hotfix for the 1.1 update nearing release for St??eam," wrote Stairway Games. "We have no idea how to get this update out to other platform players as we don't have the backend permission on console platforms to push updates out." They can only handle the Steam backend at this point in time. Hopefully, that changes soon.

"We've been in communication with our lawyer since we found out about the restructuring on social media ?to figure out how to navigate this new situation," explained the developer.

Coral Island is a great game to play if you're looking for a Stardew Valley alternative. Unfortunately, it seems hindered by its current situation, and a Coral Island Switch port seems impossible now.

The post Coral Island studio is offering Switch backers Steam codes, amid uncertainty over H??umble restructuring appeared first on Destructoid.

Social media has lit up with reports of layoffs at Humble Games, the publishing arm of Humble Bundle, currently owned by Ziff Davis via its subsidiary IGN Entertainment. While the story is still developing, a representative from Humble Games has told GameIndustry.biz that the company is undergoing restructuring.

Nicola Kwan, business developer at Humble Games, posted on Linkedin that 3?6 employees lost their jobs. “All 36 employees of Humble Games were told that we were being let go and that th??e company is shutting down,�read Kwan's post.

However, in a statement Humble Games provided to?? GamesIndustry.biz, the company says:

“In these challenging economic times for indie game publishing, Humble Games has made the difficult but necessary decision to restructure our operations. This decision was not made lightly; it involved much deliberation and careful thought, with the goal of ensuring the stability and support of our developers and ongoing projects. Additionally, the restructuring of operations at Humble Games will have no impact on operations at Humble Bundle.�/p>

“Restructuringâ€?can sometimes just be another word for “substantial layoffs,â€?but it appears as though IGN Entertainment intends to keep the company going in some form. Humble Games stated tha??t they plan on continuing to support the develop?ers under their label, which seems to imply some continuation of the business. 

However, developers behind games published by the company, such as Signalis and Unsighted, seem to have not been informed of the decision beforehand. There are some questions about the listings for their games, as many of those under the shuttered label, Adult Swim Games, faced delisting earlier this year. Via Twitter, Tiana Pixel of Studio Pixel Punk said, “Who's gonna keep the store pages up? We don't know yet.�/p>

There are a lot of questions remaining that weren’t addressed in Humble Games�statement. However, the layoffs at the company are among the thousands that have hit the industry with seemingly no end in sight.

The post Humble Games reportedly?? faces layoffs, restructuring appeared first on Destructoid.

Humble Games has announced it has partnered with developer Catch & Release to publish the latter's newest title: a life sim-meets-restaurant management game called Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends.

The game see??s you take control of a sushi making robot called, well, Sushi Bot, who is so adorable-looking that I'm already prepared to burn the town of Rolling Hills to the ground if it doesn't appreciate Sushi Bot's hard work. Aside from running the local sushi restaurant, from serving customers to cleaning up after hours, you'll unlock new recipes, befriend the various residents, and help rebuild their town.

The premise of managing a sushi restaurant brings to mind Dave the Diver, except Rolling Hills somehow looks even more chill since you don't have to brave the dangerous depths of the ocean to catch fish. Judging by the trailer, all the ingredients you need are available from the supermarket, and it seems said ingredients can improve certain recipes, which should ?make your customers happier and thus earn you more experience. You'll also be able to fully customize and decorate the restaurant to your liking.

If Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends is the sort of low stakes, cozy game that appeals to you, you'll be pleased to know it's not that far off from release. Humble Games has confirmed it will launch on June 4 for PC via Steam and Xbox One. It'll also be available on Xbox Game Pass, so there's no harm in subscribers at least giving the game a try. There's no mention of a dedicated Xbox Series X|S version, but the console's backwards compatibility means Rolling Hills should be playable on it regardless.

The post Humble Games is releasin????g an adorable-looking sushi restaurant game this June appeared first on Destructoid.

It's not often that games immediately impress with the combination of their animation and presentation, but #BLUD is a straight-up stunner. Humble Games and develo?per Exit 73 Studios have locked the '90s cartoon-inspired action-RPG in for a June 18 launch on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

In #BLUD, it's not just the slick animation that looks better than most of the cartoons that inspire??d it. It's the way that character animation seamlessly melds with both the cinematics and the dungeon-crawling gameplay. You can see a sample in the release date trailer below.

#BLUD blends the horrors of everyday life with actual, tangible horrors â€?okay, real life horrors are also totally tangible â€?like vampire slaying. Lead character Becky Brewster just so happens to come from an ?ancient bloodline of magic-wielding vampire hunters, and as the new kid in town she'll have to juggle that with her daily routine, all while maintaining her social media presence. It may sound like something that's been done to death, but Becky's ad?venture is, at least as far as I've seen, visually hypnotic. 

Humble and Exit 73 put up a demo during Steam Next Fest, and I highly recommend you check it out between now and launch. #BLUD is fun enough as a top-down action-RPG??, but it's the way everything works in concert that leaves an impression.

Characters bounce fluidly as Becky strolls through a town packed with personality. She can bust out her phone and time a selfie to capture the most ridiculous moment of a looping? animation in the background. The in-game social media feed is more fun to play around with than it should be, really. 

If the demo is anything to go by, #BLUD is one to keep an eye on this June. I can't say for certain how well its hockey-stick-swinging combat? will hold up over the course of a full game, but it's at least more fun to look at than ??half of the '90s cartoons we remember with rose-tinted vision. 

The post #BLUD is a gorgeously animated dungeon-crawler that’s due out in June appeared first on Destructoid.

Competitive multiplayer Temtem battles

Humble Games announced today that their battle focused Temtem: Showdown is now available to download for free on Steam. The game is essentially a standalone variant of the Pokémon-like Temtem that released out of early access last year. You do not need to purchase the previous Temtem game in order to access Temtem: Showdown.

[caption id="attachment_388841" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Humble Games[/caption]

Gotta battle em' all!

Temtem: Showdown takes out the taming and leveling from the base game, and focuses purely on the combat. Dubbed a "free multiplayer battle simulator", players can build a team in seconds and dash into ranked matches with players from all over the world. At its core, Temtem's battle system features action-packed 2v2 battles. It'll feel familiar to anyone who's played a bit of doubles in online Pokémon matches.

Competitive play seems to be a huge part of the game, featuring a climbable ranked ladder system. Furtherm??ore, the game will have community-run tournaments as well as an official esports circuit called TemCS. According to to the Steam pag??e, the circuit will reward huge prizes.

Seasons will also be a thing in Temtem: Showdown. There will be a new season every few months, changing up the?? meta and introducing new combinations to play with when doing battle.

I haven't got a chance to play Temtem yet, though it's in my backlog to play on PS5. I have heard great things about its battle system though, so this seems like the right idea to make it accessible to more players. While Temtem is available on PC, Switch, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, it looks like Temtem: Showdown is only available via Steam for now.

If you want to give the game a try, you can check out Temtem: Showdown now for free on Steam.

The post Temtem: Showdown is a free, ??battle-focused Temtem game out now appeared first on Destructoid.

Even more wizards and legends

The spellcasting roguelite Wizard of Legend is getting a sequel. Wizard of Legend II is a follow-up to 2018's Wizard of Legend, and it's shifting from 2D to 3D.

Announced during today's Humble Games Showcase 2023, Wizard of Legend II is being published by Humble and developed by Dead Mage, the studio behind Children of Morta. The publisher confirmed during today's showcase that Wizard of Legend is now a Humble-owned IP. Original Wizard of Legend develo??per Contingent99 is "on board" and consulting on the project, according? to Humble.

One big difference between Wizard of Legend II and its predecessor is in their style. While you still have the robed rogue mage look, the sequel is o?pting for an overhead 3D view rather than the pixel 2D style fr??om the first.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdnI5FGQ2Sg

It sounds like other elements remain similar, though. Up to four players can hop in, maintaining the co-op appeal of the first Wizard of Legend. It's a roguelite adventure, with plenty of spell combinations to explore and interactions to discover. The adventure seems to evolve each time, so it's o?nce again aiming for a run-based dungeon dive.

Becoming legend

There's no planned release date at this point in time, just a confirmation that it's in development and a Steam page. I did like the original Wizard of Legend, so ??I'm curious to see what Dead Mages makes with the franchise.

I'm also curious to see what Contingent99 could get up to, as well. As much as I like a new take on the Wizard of Legend, Contingent99's action and art were a solid mix. I'm ho?peful that team's got something in the works, too.

You can follow and wishlist Wizard of Legend II here.

The post Wizard of Legend II has been announced for PC appeared first on Destructoid.

Flesh, frights, and gears

There are so many places I could start with Signalis, that it's hard to know just where. Mayb?e it's the long, ominous shadows that often hid an enemy from my ?sight. The horrifying creatures, waiting to shriek and charge at me. Maybe it's the incredible style, or the music, or the intricate, tactile puzzles.

It is really hard to succinctly explain what's so striking about Signalis. In a span of nine or so hours, I went on a trek d??eeper and deeper down, scraping through layers of steel and concrete until I reached the earth's flesh, to find the forbidden truths ??that both my avatar and I sought. It was perilous and emotional, gorgeous and terrifying.

For me, I keep thinking back t??o the tension I felt in save rooms. I'm standing over a storage box, counting how many bullets I think I'll need to walk out the door with to get through the next section.

It's often just barely enough.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFNRihUyo5o

Signalis (PC [reviewed], Switch, PS4, Xbox One)
Developer: rose-engine
Publisher: Humble Games, Playism
Released: October 27, 2022
MSRP: $19.99

Signalis is a survival horror game from indie studio ??rose-engine. It's the debut of the two-person crew, in the work??s since 2014.

It would be really easy to describe Signalis by the melting pot of influences you could draw out of it. From survival horror games like Resident Evil and Silent Hill, to its literary influences literally called out in the game itself. From symphonic performances to The King in Yellow, Signalis doesn't really shy away from its roots. Instead, it feels like a glowing call-back to?? the golden era of survival horror.

Into the abyss

The p?layer takes on the role of Elster, an android who's crash-landed on a snow-drenched planet in search of a lost companion. This quest leads her to a mining and re-education camp, falling apart from an unknown terror. Something's wrong here, which? becomes even more apparent as the residents warp and attack you on sight.

The bulk of Signalis is spent in a top-down, tilted view as you move room to room, trying to forge a path ahead. Managing health, ammo, and other resources is critical, even down to stomping o?n an enemy rather than spending an extra bullet. Because these foes, after enough time, do come back.

Thankfully, rose-engine provides some effective methods for dealing with things that go bump in the dark. There's a careful balance of tools and equipment. Stun batons give you a free knockdown on most enemies, and thermite fl??ares let you torch their bodies so they won't get back up. An arsenal that starts with a pistol expands to heavier and more powerful firearms.

But nothing in Signalis is too plentiful. It often felt like I was given just enough ammo and tools to skate by. A rigid amount of storage forced me to make tough decision?s. A?m I willing to run around with just a few rounds in my revolver, just in case I run across a key item? Should I backtrack to open space in my storage, or use a valuable Repair Spray to free up a spot now? 

While the right choice never felt certain, it was comforting that it rarely felt like there was a wrong way to play either. Rose-engine lays out just enough to keep you moving forward puzzle-to-puzzle, without making me feel I needed to reload an old save to undo pas??t mistakes.

The tactile puzzles are highlights of Signalis. Flipping fuses, turning dials, or watching as a box clicks open after a neat solution adds a little extra layer of connection to what's happening. Many aspects of Signalis feel extremely tangible in this way, from tuning dials to hast??ily opening the inventory screen to swap to another gun.

Earth's pores open

And Signalis effortlessly swaps between styles, too. While a large portion of the game is in the top-down view, some moments zoom the camera into a first-person mode, letting you wander much closer. In others, cutscenes play out, flipping between low-poly models and detailed, anime-inspired pixel art. There are even more fascinating stylistic choices that I wish I could talk about without spoiling; suffice to say, if you're a fan of clicky, analogue pieces of tech, you'll dig some sections of Signalis.

Where this perspective and art style swapping could feel inconsistent, it instead creates this unsettling tension. Broad strokes give way to fine, grim detail. Text violent?ly slams onto th?e screen, with fonts and words used as imagery to emphasize the drama. The cut-in to someone's face, often against a foreboding monotone background, can form punctuating moments of emotion, whether that's relief or terror.

Cold, distant space

It's hard to talk too much about the actual narrative behind Signalis without giving too much away, and even then, there are final details I'm still?? picking apart after the ending. The vision of a star system finally settled by humanity, thanks to the Replika workers like Elster, and the costs associated are fascinating to dig into. Rose-engine has put a ton of lore into the nooks and cranni??es of the world. Some of it is crucial, for puzzles or story reasons. Others are just welcome bits of detail, fleshing out their universe.

But the setting rose-engine constructs is both grim and beautifu?l. The nature of labor and work in this world, especially for ??androids like Elster, is a constant question. And as you both climb?? deeper into the abyss, who knows what truths you'll start to uncover?

To be more clear, there's a fair bit of cosmic, unknowable terror baked into the heart of Signalis' horror. It's an especially sci-fi, technologic kind of cosmic horror too. The kind where synthetic flesh and metal warp to create absolutely terrifying monstrosities. It's never an outright jump-scare kind of game, but moments in Signalis filled me with an absolute dread of what ??could be right around the corner.

Remember our promise

Even so, there's a heart at the center of Signalis that kept me and Elster going. As the thread unspools and I started to grasp just what was happening, I was absolutely magnetized to this setting. I'm frequently a clear-it-once player, but it was really hard to stop myself fro??m immediately starting up a new run after I'd rolled credits on Signalis. It's a testament to rose-engine that this has stayed in development for so many years, and yet still feels like it's breaking new ground 

It's honestly hard to find any drawbacks about Signalis; sure, sometimes the lock-?on gets a little finicky, or some areas feel a tad drawn out. Those feel like tiny slights against an overall fantastic?? experience.

For survival horror fans, and lovers of cosmic sci-fi terror, this is a no-brainer. Signalis is a fresh, reinvigorating take on the games that insp?ired it. Thinking back on each hour, through each locale and their mysteries, I'm repeatedly won ove??r by its impressive style-swapping, carefully balanced tension, brilliant art and sound design, and engaging puzzles. This is a promise worth keeping.

The post Review: Signalis appeared first on Destructoid.

It's been how many years?

The long-time-coming sci-fi metroidvania game Ghost Song is almost finished, and considering we first covered it nine years ago, that's a big deal! Developer Old Moon and publisher Humble Games are eying a November 3, 2022 release for Ghost Song across ??Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xb??ox One, and Xbox Seris X/S �including Game Pass.

If you nee??d a refresher, same. Mostly. I could immediately picture this game's gloomy bioluminescent vibe, as well as its protagonist,? but other details were long forgotten.

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

Here's a new trailer for the game showing some of the weapons, fro??m a familiar missile launcher, to a flesh-exploding metal fist, to a fast-stabbing spear. As you blast grotesque aliens and skeletal machinery, you'll generate heat that "empowers your mele??e attacks."

From a brief look at the inventory screen, we've got stats like Class, Level, HP, Stamina, Resolve, and ev??en Luck. So it's not strictly a matter of finding key items and abilities.

[caption id="attachment_342062" align="alignnone" width="1920"] _{A look at the player stats in Ghost Song.}[/caption]

Admittedly, I never backed Ghost Song on Kickstarter, and I haven't been keeping tabs in recent years. Voice acting is an interesting surprise, and I still like the idea of a "Deadsuit" �it just sounds cool. The Super Metroid-inspired antics will unfold on Lorian, a "desolate moon" with notes ??of "self-discovery, ancient mysteries??, and cosmic terror."

With this latest check-in, my expectations are modest, yet hopeful. It's challenging to stand out in this crowded genre, as "good" isn't always "good enough" in today's market. I do think Ghost Song has the right stuff?, conceptually �it's just a matter of execution.

If you've got a Steam Deck ready to go, this one seems like a snug fit �wishlist it here. Otherwise, between Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and Game Pass, there will be plenty of ways to check out Ghost Song in November. It's great to finally? enter the home stretch.

The post Ghost Song is out in November and Super Metroid fans shouldn’t miss it appeared first on Destructoid.

I really can’t keep the name straight

Violence in video games gets better and better as the years go on. I thought it was cool when you could shoot the hats off of enemies in GoldenEye and the guns out of their hands in Perfect Dark b??ut now�wa?it, those things are still cool. Why aren’t they done more often?

Anyway, video games have done ballistic violence well for decades, but physical violence only seems to have gotten enjoyable around the time of Batman: Arkham Asylum. Or was it Assassin’s Creed? It’s that punch-parry-t??hrow combat that makes you feel powerful and?? helps the action flow more cinematically. Maybe you’re just smashing buttons when the game prompts you to, but it feels impactful.

Midnight Fight Express is, concisely?, that. It’s a beat-’em-up that features a similar combat system whi?le adding a few twists of its own.

Midnight Fight Express (PC [reviewed], Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox Series X)
Developer: Jacob Dzwinel
Publisher: Humble Games
Released: August 23, 2022
MSRP: TBA

Thugs have taken over the city, and you’re an amnesiac protagonist who really likes the feeling of bone breaking against their knuckles. You’re guided by a drone that coyly tells you they k??now everything but tells you absolutely nothing. That’s okay! Who needs motivation when you have fists?

Midnight Fight Express is a level-by-level beat-’em-up. You know the type: you walk into a room, and all the doors get kicked in, signaling another wave of thugs. It’s probably better that they don’t knock since Midnight Fight Express is constantly judgin?g you and will score you at completion. The best way to rev up your score is to keep your combo going. Mercifully, that isn’t a matter of avoiding pa??in but rather just keeping up a solid pace and not dying.

That’s maybe oversimplifying the overall design, but Midnight Fight Express isn’t a particularly deep game. It has its sights set on Hotline Miami and John Wick. It wants to be fast and ??messy, and it largely succeeds.

[embed]//youtu.be/FfjaXFJNKdg[/embed]

Midnight Flight Express

Each level presents something new. The locations are your typ??ical city fighting spots, like subway tunnels and an airport. Gangs are swapped out as you proceed, so you go from fighting mutant rat people to corrupted priests. Some levels get a bit creative, and then some others get a bit annoying. There’s this one where motorcycle dudes drive in circles trying to run you down. They’re easy to take out if you have a gun, but if they run into a wall, they explode, potentially killing you outright. It’s just annoying and?? doesn’t tie into the combat system at all.

One issue with the combat is that a lot of it is locked behind upgrades. Most of the parries, for example. And it’s really unintuitive when you can parry somebody when they are unarmed, but not when they have a weapon until that ability is unlocked. You can never parry everything, which feels like it makes sense, but to have some of it merely locked away is unsatisfying. ?It also means that you need to go back to previous levels so you can get S ranks with your new repertoire of moves.

The skills also range from indispensable to detrimental. Finishers, for example, allow you to stylishly take down stunned foes. However, I stopped using throws pretty quickly because they can be easily interrupted and sometimes feel like they arbitrari??ly won’t work on some foes. Enemies back off while you perform a finisher, but grappling leaves you wide open. It doesn’t feel worth it.

Murder Fight Express

That’s not to say you can’t get into the flow of Midnight Fight Express. There’s definitely a learning curve here, and it feels rewarding to keep improving. Learning to cycle between dodging, attacking, and tossing weapons can lead to some great moments. Moments that Midnight Fight Express turns into gifs you can save after each level.

There’s also a favorite combat feature of mine: targeting priority. Some enemies carry the risk of dealing more damage t??han others, and you need to learn to deal with the most imminent threat. You need to spot enemies with guns and handle them first, or maybe it’s better to take out the little guy with the sledgehammer so you can better take on the bigger fish.

The point is, when Midnight Fight Express works, it really works. But when it doesn’t, it can be frustrating. Boss battles, in particular, really grilled ?me. A lot of your moves just don’t work on them, so you’re down to light attack, heavy attack, and dodge. If you’re lucky, there are weapons in the environment, but I always had more fun taking down hordes of thugs.

Fight Night Express

Speaking of getting grilled, the writing really got on my nerves. I’m already not a fan of the amnesiac hero angle, ??but then everyone acts coy with you for the entirety of the game. Yes, providing bits and piec?es of exposition throughout the narrative is an effective way of storytelling. However, when the characters are constantly telling you that you don’t know the whole story, but they aren’t going to tell you, it’s easy to just lose interest. It doesn’t even really pay off that well in the end, mostly because you’ve got an amnesiac hero devoid of personality, so why should I even care?

Midnight Fight Express also leans heavily on references. References to action movies, other games, and to memes. I found them somewhat annoying, even thoug?h I probably didn’t even notice half of them.? It just feels kind of lazy.

It also has heavy reverence for Hotline Miami, but then, everyone should. You can even get animal masks and wear a letterman jacket. There’s a group of dudes in animal masks asking if you’ve heard a payphone ringing. This feels most apparent with the soundtrack, which feels like an abridged version of Hotline Miami’s. Just maybe less weird and a little more cohesive. I don’t mean it’s bad, ?goodness no, it just feels really obvious.

Midflight Espresso

I have mixed feelings about Midnight Fight Express. There are times when it clicked with me, and I tore through the levels, and others when I found myself sighing and hitting the retry button. There was no real middle ground. I wa??s either entertained or completely annoyed.

Another pass of the floor polisher probably would have helped. There are 40 missions which equal about six hours of runtime with a lot of highs and lows. A tighter narrative wouldn’t have even been necessary if the moment-to-moment gameplay was a little more consistent. Midnight Fight Express is just a mi?xed bag. There’s a lot here to appreciate, but just as much is going to have you curling your fists.

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

The post Review: Midnight Fight Express appeared first on Destructoid.

There's a bad moon on the rise

Survival horror fans are getting another game to watch for, just in time for Halloween. Signalis is coming to PC, PlaySt?at?ion 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch on October 27, 2022.

The news shown today as part of the Guerrilla Collective stream also had some new gameplay of rose-engine's low-poly survival horror game. In a press release, publisher Humble Games confirms Signalis will be a day-one Xbox Game Pass game when it arrives in October. There's a demo arriving as part of Steam Next Fest, too.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=1okoqNHFlXc

Signalis follows Elste?r, a Replika trying to solve a dark and terrifying mystery. Along the way, she encounters nightmarish monsters and has to struggle to survive, while discovering her own lost dreams.

Cosmic horror

It's got some definite cosmic horror vibes, mixed with tech and sci-fi themes around seemingly artificial life. It all feels very space horror, which granted, there's been a decent amount of in the summer showcases so far.

What struck me about Signalis when I demoed it for last year's Tribeca Games showcase was not just the aesthetic,? though. (Granted, the aesthetic is fantastic.)

It's got some classic Resident Evil feel to it, with isometric viewpoints and carefully placing shots in slowly approaching monsters. It had a real "every bullet counts" approach that I dug. And the puz??zle segments that dove into first-person kept things moving between the survival horror s?ections.

Rose-engine's space-based scare fest has been one of my most-anticipated i?ndies for this year, and that hasn't changed yet. I'm looking forward to seeing the cosmic mysteries and horrors collide later this year.

Signalis will launch for PC, PlayStation 4,? Xbox One, and Nintendo Swi?tch on October 27, 2022.

The post Signalis brings the sci-fi su?rvival horror this October appeared first on Destructoid.

Digital PlayStation launch scheduled for May 10

Unpacking was one of the purest gems in the indie game space last year, and if you missed it on PC, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch, there's good news on two fronts: additional platforms, and a physical edition. Humble Games and developer Witch Beam are rolling out Unpacking on PS4 and PS5 on May 10, including a physical release ??from Limited Run Games.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeVCBPVlN9w

Pre-orders are open as of this morning, if ??you'd like to peek �the physical PS4, PS5, and Switch copies are $34.99 each, which is in line with prior Limited Run, err, runs.

The main extra is a "collector's sleeve," though I imagine the main appeal for fans is just having a chance to get this great game on? a shelf in an increasingly digital world.

Physical pre-orders are running until May 1

You've got until May 1 to make up your mind, and as a heads-up, physical games "are typically not expected to ship until 4-5 months after the pre-order windo??w closes."

[caption id="attachment_313950" align="alignnone" width="1600"] _{Unpacking physical editions for PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch with a "collector's sleeve."}[/caption]

Yes, Unpacking is "just" a game about pulling items out of a box and finding an appropriate space for them �but it's extremely resonant! The act of organizing everyday and eclectic stuff has this soothing qua??lity to it, and there's also a story unfolding quietly, almost behind the scenes, as you ponder what these possessions mean to their owner.

It's a contemplative game full of cute nods to gaming, pop culture, and life, some of which will go over players' heads, depending on their background. There's even a (legally distinct) GameCube that gave some folks a hard time; it's a funky-looking console, you know?

The little details make it. I distinctly remember playing Unpacking on a plane during the holidays �it's a "holiday game," through and through �and the guy next to me was surprised that this game even existed, conceptually. "Ooh, you're into that kind of stuff." He kept trying to get me to play Mario Kart 8 with him, but I wouldn't budge. I had to unpack!

The post Limited Run’s Unpacking physical edition is up for pre-order on Switch, PS4, and PS5 appeared first on Destructoid.

Uncover the truth next month

Mystery and detective game fans won't be waiting too long for something new to solve. Chinatown Detective Agency is coming to PC, Swi?tch, and Xbox next month on April 7.

Humble Games and developer General Interactive Co. announced the news as part of Humble's 2022 look-ahead today. Chinatown has popped up in a few showcases and trailers now, most recently yesterday's ID@Xbox showcase. But today, the team is putting a date on it.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIKnmd6Y6SU

Chinatown Detective Agency stars Amira Darma, a private investigator who quickly finds herself swept up in some big events. It's got some big Carmen Sandiego influence, alongside Blade Runner. And its main settin?g in Singapore is a really interesting venue to explore an??d solve mysteries in.

I checked out the demo when it was available during one of the many play-at-home demo fests over the last year or so, and dug what I saw. Part of Chinatown Detective Agency's draw is that it requires real-world investigation. Finding a solution to a puzzle might involve having to search-??engine some information, or remember the date or loca??le of something that has happened in the world.

It's a cool concept, and makes the solutions feel really well-earned. Plus, I love doing the dual-monitor setup for mystery games anyways. Hav?ing one screen dedicated to the game itself, and another to a Notepad wi??ndow and tabs upon tabs of research is a fun approach.

Hopefully the mysteries stay satisfying over the full run. Chinatown Detective Agency is hitting PC via both Steam and the Humble Store, as well as Xbox and? Nintendo Switch, on April 7, 2022.

The post Chinato??wn Detective Agency hunts for clues in April appeared first on Destructoid.

The highly anticipated indie title gets an update

The indie space is full of all kinds of unique titles that are constantly reinventing what we think games can be, and from the glimpses of it that we've seen so far, Stray Gods might just be another one of those games. For those who don't recognize the name, that's not without reason �a few years ago, Summerfall Studios launched a successful Kickstarter campaign for their new musical RPG project, then titled Chorus.

According to the studio's creative director David Gaider, the pandemic had a bit impact on their production, but they got a big boost by teaming up with Humble Games. Under the new name of Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical, the project is "bigger and bet??ter," thanks to the partnership, now with "full voice acting, more songs, and a longer play time."

In addition to announcing the new partnership, Summerfall Games also released the newest teaser trailer for Stray Gods, which doesn't let on too much by way of story, but definit?ely lays out the game's tone with sweeping landscape shots and a reverent ballad playing over top.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyFbt8dffKk

The story of Stray Gods follows a young woman named Grace, who is tasked with solving the mystery of the death of the Last Muse from Greek mythology in an unfamiliar world of gods, monsters, and the tumultuous relationships they share. And, of course, the whole thing plays out as an interactive roleplaying musical, which is just about one of the coolest game ideas I can think of as a long-time musical theater fan.

Stray Gods' premise alone is intriguing enough, but its development team also features a host of insanely talented veterans of the games industry, such as the previously mentioned David Gaider, who is best known for his work on the Dragon Age series, award-winning composer Austin Wintory, who wrote the music for games like Journey, The Pathless, and Assassin's Creed Syndicate, and prominent voice talent like Laura Bailey who is best known for being in, ?well, eve??rything.

The post Musical RPG? Stray Go?ds gets a chilling new teaser trailer appeared first on Destructoid.

You son of a.... I'm in.

The heist is back on. Pocketwatch Games has announced that it's working on a sequel to 2013's Monaco: What's Your is Mine, dubbed simply Monaco 2.

The new Monaco will still be a co-op heist simulator, with players taking on well-guarded levels in search of precious plunder. The first major change-up for Monaco 2 is that it's 3D. While the original Monaco was a top-down affair, Monaco 2 will be fully 3D, opening up potential for ?entering buildings via the Z-axis.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvcclLy2RXw

In the first dev log for the sequel, Pocketwatch goes into more differences. The levels in Monaco 2 will be procedurally generated, in order to keep pla?yers on their toes and adapting to every new situa?tion.

Composer Austin Wintory is also set to score the game. The first hint of it, spotlighted in the Monaco 2 dev ??log, sounds just like a heist-in-progress in a ve??ry good way.

Monaco: What's Yours is Mine was a bit of ??a hidden gem on PC and Xbox Live Arcade. It was a co-op heist simulator, full of rapidly evolving chaos and different job ro??les to change up gameplay. It feels like ages since the first time I broke through a window and set off every alarm.

Pocketwatch went on to develop the interesting animal-centric RTS Tooth and Tail, which put a quirky spin on strategy games. Now they're back in the heist game, and with a sequel, this could be a chance for this team to really showcase what shined about the original. I mean, I'm always in for a heist. We're stuck waiting on updates for now, but you can wishlist Monaco 2 on Steam here.

The post Co-op heist sim Monaco: What’s Yours is Mine is getting a sequel, Monaco 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

If only you could see what I've seen with your eyes...

Publisher Humble Games has released an electrifying trailer for its dystopian sci-fi RPG Unsighted, ?which launches next week on PC and console platforms. The new preview offers an overview of the indie adventure's explosive action.

In the futuristic, cyberized world of Arcadia, automatons hav??e achieved full sentience thanks to an element known as "Anima", which allows the androids to lead rich, full lives. But catastrophe strikes when Anima is suddenly forced into short supply, resulting in many automatons returning to the violent, drone-like designs - "The Unsighted". As Alma, it is up to the player to traverse the hazardous world, battle violent gangs and bosses, and uncover the truth behind Anima's disappearance, while also preventing her friends and allies from being lost to her forever. Ay, but there's the rub...

//youtu.be/HtXX9xGcPFc

As an automaton herself, Alma also requires Anima to complete her mission, and with so little of it available, she may be forced to make some tough decisions involving the rationing, hoarding, and even theft of the vital element. With the clock constantly ticking, time will be an important factor in Unsighted. Squander precious minutes, and friends, allies, and critical NPCs might fast become mindless machines. Alma's choices, speed, and efficiency will decide not only her fate, but that of perhaps the entire automaton ?race in numerous branched endings. Tick tock, tic??k tock...

Unsighted has a very intriguing premise, and beyond the trailer, a recent demo was positively received. In a month where the smaller titles are proving to be the biggest of hits, Unsighted could be the next low-fi release ready to take the gaming community by storm. We'll find out soon enough when Unsighted launches, September 30, on PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Ninte?ndo Switch.

The post Check out the pixelated sci-fi dystopia of Unsight??ed appeared first on Destructoid.

It's a day-one Xbox Game Pass title, too

If you're able to carve out some time in the busy fall gaming schedule, I'd urge you to consider Unsighted �assuming ?you like cool? sci-fi action-RPGs, I mean.

Studio Pixel Punk and publisher Humble Games announced a September 30 launch for Unsighted across Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PC, and Xbox One. In the latter case two cases, there's going to be day-one Xbox Game Pass support, so subscribers are covered.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ih4tw0Q9O7E

You might look at some of the moments in this footage and feel a bit of déjà vu, but the key takeaway is that Unsighted's badass-android action, which covers ranged and melee combat with ??pl??enty of room to fine-tune your preferred build, feels great. It's fun to parry.

"After a long war with the humans, the few androids that remain in Arcadia, once a populous metropolis, are running out of Anima, the energy that gives all robots consciousness," according to the team. "Players will navigate an expansive, interconnected world, filled with shortcuts and secrets where they will solve puzzles and unlock new means of navigation to recover Alma's memories before the clock runs out."

While I haven't played the full version yet, and I'm not sure when I'll be able to find enough of an opening to do so, the demo �which is still up on Steam �really convinced me.

Some demos lack enough meat on their bones, or fail to make enough of an early-going mark, to the point where sure, it's nice that they exist, but maybe it wasn't worth the trouble. Unsighted is not one of those well-meaning examples. The demo nailed it. As I said before, "fans of Hyper Light Drifter, Metroid, and Battle Angel Alita need to take a look."

As someone who hasn't even ~thought about~ starting Deathloop yet, I need more time!

The post Unsighted is squeezing ?into September and I need more time to play all of these cool games appeared first on Destructoid.

Coming this year to PC, Xbox One, and Switch

I realize that Steam Next Fest is wrapping up tomorrow, but I've got another demo recommendation �a last-minute, gotta-play-it pick. It's an action-RPG called Unsighted, and it confidently blends a lot of f??un concepts we know and l??ove into a cool android world.

Fans of Hyper Light Drifter, Metroid, and Battle Angel Alita need to take a look.

//youtu.be/vi4Fb9c56-Q

I hadn't seen the E3 2021 trailer until today, after I had wrapped up the half-hour-or-so demo, and now I'm even more stoked about Unsighted. The scope looks great.

Straight away, the demo �which seems to be the game's opening?? �sells a sense of sci-fi intrigue with a mysterious world of automatons who gained consciousness with a precious, now-dwindling resource. Brandishing a sword (and eventually a blaster), you'll explore a ruined ??city with light navigational puzzles and plenty of killer bots sprinkled in.

I'm already excited to see where the story is going just based on the early worldbuilding, a couple of short cutscenes (including a slick "elevator ride" close-up cinematic that calls to mind Metroid Prime), and some memorable character d??esigns. You even get a dog sidekick!

Even if I wasn't vibing with the narrative so far, I'd still be drawn in by Unsighted's action-exploration gamepla??y �it's surprisingly fluid and cr??unchy. I'm pretty impressed.

As you can see in this clip, Unsighted is all about balancing your stamina usage with every melee attack and dodge roll, keeping combos going to maximize your damage output, nailing those perfect parries to stun foes?, and really just keeping your cool under pressure.

Control-wise, it's nothing too t??axing, though things admittedly get trickier once secondary ranged weapons are introduced that have varying ammo counts and need to be reloaded in the heat of battle. (There's an "active reload" bonus to optionally keep track of, too.)

I had the best results with a gamepad over mouse and keyboard controls, and by the end of the demo, I was glad I went with the "recommended" middle-ground difficulty, Action Girl. It felt spot-on. I had enough breathing room to nail down the flow of combat ??without needing to constantly pop my one-time-use-but-refillable healing syringe.

Some of the elements, like blueprints and?? crafting, weren't featured in the demo. But I did smash open a lot of boxes for scraps and feed my fightin?' doggo some apples.

Outside of combat, it's a matter of pulling up your metroidvania-style map, making mental notes, and looping around to check for required items (like keys) and secrets (like equippable Chips to bolster your preferred playstyle). So far, the puzzles were short enough to keep the pacing up without being so easy that I'd sleepwalk thr?ough them.

From the look ?of the trailer, there will be even more interesting traversal upgrades to unlock, and the gear customization should open up to ke?ep everything fresh further in.

One oth??er thing I really appreciated is that the demo lets you jump into a later-game boss fight that, without practice and insight, will destroy you. It got me, at least. It got me good.

Another nice touch: the demo ends with a note that "there are many ways to get to the end." It closes out with a ?neat completion screen that shows your playtime, death count, and how many Meteor Shards you collected. Nothing felt like an afterthought.

If any of this game seems like it'd be up your alley, it probably is. At a glance, it would be dangerously easy to overlook Unsighted as "just another pixel-art ARPG," so I'm super thankful for the Steam Next Fest demo. It has single-handedly sold me. It's my ?favorite demo from Steam's play-at-home showcase, and I've played some fantastic stuff.

If the rest of the game can maintain this consistency, Studio Pixel Punk has a winner on its hands. Unsighted is scheduled for a 2021 release on?? Steam, Switch, a?nd Xbox One.

The post Unsighted ticks a lot of action-RPG boxes for me appeared first on Destructoid.

What stays and what goes

It's easy to trac?k life by the places you've lived. Wherever you call home becomes a flag you can plant, and when it comes time to go somewhere else, that means looking around and seeing what stays and what goes. That's the kind of feeling I got from Unpacking.

Developed by Witch Beam, Unpacking is a puzzle game, and ?also a decoration or sorting game. The demo, available as part of the Steam Next Fest, took place in two different time periods, as we—the player—unpack and arrange someone's room as they're mo??ving into a new place.

In the first scene, it's a single ??room; a child's room, complete with a lofted bed with a desk underneath and plenty o?f space for toys, books, and games. Stuffed animals and cheery posters line the boxes. A Game Boy look-alike helps place the room in its era of 1997, as shown in Unpacking's trailer.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYrdl3G07wk

One of the smart things Unpacking does is have you take each object out of a moving box one at a time, without being able to look inside or choose from a list. Every time you reach in, you uncover some new aspect of this person's life. They have a few different kinds of toys, ponies, and action figures, the kind you'd expect any kid to have. But there's also a notable amount of arts and craft supplies, hinti?ng? at a predisposition for creativity.

It's a solid start, and I spent a good amount of time arranging toys on the shelves and getting everything into its "right" place. Aside from a few specific items that you need to place in the right area, you have freedom to arrange the room as you see fit. Does the boombox go on the shelves, or next to the window? Where should all the books sit, and is there one you'd? like to leave more accessible than another?

The novelty was apparent in Unpacking's first room, but it really landed in the second of the demo's scenes. We jump forward seven years, and it's 2004. There are t??hree rooms to unpack boxes in now, in what is clearly a dorm or apartment setting.

It isn't all toys and games now. There's a bathroom and kitchen to stock up, things the kid never had to care about. And you can? tell there wasn't practice in the packing, as random items like a toothbrush or a keyboard end up in boxes where they shouldn't have been. Clothes need to be neatly sorted and put away, and I laughed out loud when I realized I'd have to rearrange the entire closet after finding more clothes in another box. This is where the one-at-a-time pull works so well, as every time you reach into the box, there's a surprise that might up-end your carefully laid plans.

It also gives you time to reflect on every item that comes out of the box, and what that says about the person whose possessions you're now unpacking and sorting for the second time. You get to see which stuffed animals and toys remain as sentimental keepsakes, and which ones didn't. You can see how ??their interests evolved, with higher quality art materials rather than crayons. I smiled when I reached into a box and grabbed a familiar stuffed pig out of a box, one that clearly still had value to the person who packed it.

Unpacking's demo was only these two scenes?, but it was an incredibly effective one-two punch. On its own, Unpacking is an enjoyable sorting sim, with a gorgeous art style and fun to be found in carefully arranging a room to make it visually appealing. It even sparks fun little discussions and trains of thought about where someone prefers to place their jeans in a closet, or where t??hey like to put their cups versus their bowls and plates.

The undercurrent of Unpacking is getting to intimately examine a person's life in the things they keep and carry with them. Moving usually isn't jus??t an arbitrary event, but a signal of a larger shift in someone's life. Unpacking's demo shows a drastic difference in time, moving from dependence to independence, and from ch??ildhood into the broader world, and that's all reflected in the items you h?ave to pick up and place down.

The idea of this stretching out across an entire narrative—telling the story of someone's life as they move to every new home—seems like it has some serious potential f?or emotionally devastating me. Much like in Gone Home or What Remains of Edith Finch, the physicality of objects can carry a surprising amount of narrative weight, and telling a story without words??, but instead with keepsakes and commodities, could be really incredible.

As for this demo, the core concept of Unpacking already has its hooks in me. Witch Beam's sorting-puzzle game looks like it could be one to watch for, as the team works towards a PC launch sometime in 2021. You can find Unpacking's Steam page here.

The post Unpacking, a ?game about moving, might just emotionally wreck me appeared first on Destructoid.

Dodge, duck, dip, dive, and...

Ever had a school day where you wish you could just play dodgeball all day? Well, Dodgeball Academia mi?ght just deliver that dream for you later this ??year.

There are many important things in life, but in the world of Dodgeball Academia, it's all about the schoolyard sport of dodgeball. Revealed yesterday, this sports RPG from developer? Pocket Trap and Humble Games seems like a school-setting battle anime that's all about dodgeball.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9h1g-nvTnY

It's a pretty rad concept and it has a look to it, but the dodgeball gameplay itself is what I'm really interested to see. The way characters move around on different sides of the field definitely reminds me a bit of Mega Man Battle Network, a?nd it looks like there some special abilities and throws to do some damage?? with.

If you're interested too, you won't have to wait too long to try Dodgeball Academia out. The developer has confirmed that a demo will be coming to the Steam Next Fest starting this Wednesday, June 16. Dodgeball Academia is currentl??y set to launch on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, and PC sometime this year.

The post Dodgeball Academia is a new sports RPG set in a world where d??odgeball is life appeared first on Destructoid.