Tengo Project has had a solid track record with its remakes and follow-ups so far, and their love for the source material shines in new entries like Pocky & Rocky Reshrined. That adulation is on display once again in Shadow of the Ninja Reborn, which now has a release date locked in for August 29, 2024.

Simply described as "#4 of the 16-bit-style Remake" series, Shadow of the Ninja Reborn is shaping up to be a beautiful homage to the NES original. Back in January, we got a direct look at how it compares to its 34-year-old inspira??tion, and now there's so??me fresh footage in the release date trailer to show more of how far Natsume's humble ninja action game has come.  

Like Pocky & Rocky before it, there's a real level of pixel art mastery on display here. From the background details to the character animation and beefed-up enemy designs, Shadow of the Ninja Reborn is looking mighty sharp. It also just looks fun to play, with movement that pairs nicely with the visuals and a dynamic soundtrack from composer Iku Mizutani (Shatterhand, Rush 'n Attack).

When Shadow of the Ninja Reborn launches,?? it will be available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Ser?ies X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC (Steam). Japan and Asia are also getting physical versions of the game for PS4, PS5, and Switch through SEGA, with ININ Games handling PS5 and Switch physical releases in the West. If the third time's the charm, we're more than ready to see what Tengo Project is cooking up for the fourth. 

The post Shadow of the Ninja Reborn shows more of its ?lovingly crafted revival, sets launch date appeared first on Destructoid.

These winds might be blowing in a favorable direction

I think Natsume is pretty confident in Harvest Moon: The Winds of Anthos. After announcing the game was on its way last year with no video or artwork beyond a logo reveal, it started to ramp up interest in the upcoming title with screenshot releases on its social media channels. Coming off of Harvest Moon: One World, it didn't too bad. In fact, it looked like it could be the best Harvest Moon game since Bokujō Monogatari dipped. With the release of?? the first trailer, that's still a d?efinite possibility (even if it is a mighty low bar to clear).

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

Right now, the farming sim genre is as competitive as it's ever been. Stardew Valley remains the stalwart favorite of the category, but that hasn't stopped a trove of indie and established developers from their hats into the ring. Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life just dropped, and in the months ahead, we'll see titles like Fae Farm, The Ranchers, and Pixelshire. Despite the issues the series has had over the past decade, I think the Harvest Moon name still carries some weight in the industry, and with this trailer looking as good as it does, I wouldn't be surprised to see more people opting to give the Natsume series a shot this time around. This may end up as another misfire along the lines of Harvest Moon: One World, but I'm choosing to?? have a positive outloo?k on life.

Harvest Moon: The Winds of Anthos will launch? for Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S on Septemb??er 26, 2023. One thing to make note of if you're looking to get this on Switch is everything in the trailer was captured on a PS5. Just something to keep in mind.

The post The new Harvest Moon game looks pretty good (is something I haven’t said since 2012) appeared first on Destructoid.

Consider me mildly intrigued

Ever since the Harvest Moon franchise was forcibly uncoupled from the Bokujō Monogatari franchise from Marvelous, it's had trouble finding its footing in the surprisingly competitive farm sim genre. Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley and Harvest Moon: Skytree Village attempted to mix the traditional crop-raising gameplay with a Minecraft-inspired voxel world. The results were less than stellar. Harvest Moon: Light of Hope revisited the top-down feel of the original game with mixed results, and the less said about Harvest Moon: One World, the better. While I contend Harvest Moon: Mad Dash is a delightful gem, it's clear this series needs to turn things around. It may be able to do that this summer with Harvest Moon: The Winds of Anthos.

Announced late last year, The Winds of Anthos takes place in the land of Anthos, where years prior, a volcanic eruption separated the villages of this land. The people of the world were saved by the Harvest Goddess, who cast a magic key into the ocean with the last of that power. It's unknown what that key will unlock, but what we do know is that, visually, this is shaping up to be the best-looking Harvest Moon since Natsume had to go its own way.

A look at the New Harvest Moon

[caption id="attachment_372939" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Natsume[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_372938" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Natsume[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_372942" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Natsume[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_372940" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Natsume[/caption]

Natsume started sharing screens of the game in March over on its social media pages. While we're still waiting for a proper trailer to give us a look at the game in action, these screens are decent enough for me to not write the whole game off right now. Of course, it'll have some competition when it launches as we're also getting a remaster of Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life this summer.

We'll find out if this will be the Harvest Moon to break the series out of its slump when Harvest Moon: The Winds of Anthos launches later this year for Nintendo Switch, PS5, PS4, ?Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.

The post Harvest Moon: The Winds of Anth??os might be worth keeping an eye on appeared first on Destructoid.

The Winds of Anthos

You can hardly swing a controller in this industry today without hitting at least three different farming sims. The genre has absolutely exploded in the years following Stardew Valley and there seems to be no shortage of developers looking to have players out there hoeing with the best of 'em. In 2022, we saw some fine farm sims, including Harvestella, the Doraemon Story of Seasons sequel, and the absolutely resplendent Wylde Flowers. Looking ahead to 2023, we have Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life, Rune Factory 3 Special, Fae Farm, and hopefully the full release of Coral Island. We also have The Winds of Anthos.

Earlier this week, Natsume announced The Winds of Anthos would be the next entry in its Harvest Moon franchise, following last year's Harvest Moon: One World. That game wasn't exactly well received, something that has been a consistent theme of the Harvest Moon series since it was separated from Bokujō Monogatari. Though I found Harvest Moon: Mad Dash to be quite enjoyable, it's hard not to argue the once-dominant name in farm simulations ha??s fallen on tough times.

//twitter?.com/Natsume_Inc/status/1603058626398142467

We'll see if that can be turned around with The Winds of Anthos. Aiming f??or a summer 2023 launch, the game will take place in the land of Anthos, where 20 years prior, a volcanic eruption separated the villages of the region. The Harvest Goddess, using the last of her power to save the people, cast a bottle containing a magic key into the ocean. What that key unlocks will be discovered when the game launches next year.

Hiro Maekawa, president and CEO of Natsume, says the game will, "take players to new lands and include features that are completely new to the series. We are eager to reveal more in the new year, since we still have so many big surprises planned for this remarkable anniversary." The anniversary in question is the 25th anniversary of the Harvest Moon franchise. You'll remember Bokujō Monogatari celebrated its 25th anniversary last year with the release of Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town.

Hopefully, The Winds of Anthos will be a step in the right direction for Natsume. Then again, I said the exact same thing about One World, and that really didn't work out for me. But, because it's the holiday season, I choose to go w??ith hope and joy on this one?.

The post Natsume’s taking another crack at Harvest Moon next year appeared first on Destructoid.

Harvest McDoom

While "cozy" games are all the rage on the indie scene these days, perhaps one of the gold standards for relaxing, casual-grind-based gameplay is Natsume's iconic farming series, Harvest Moon �?And the franchise seems to have had something of a strange effect on YouTuber Cloudie McDoom, who woke up yesterday morning to find themselves occupying a live-action ??recreation of the beloved franchise.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8pCxPlryaI

Whilst I won't spoil the work that has gone into this short, but authentic take on Harvest Moon's hard-working world, Cloudie's video raises more than a few smiles thanks to its U.I implementation, use of flailing limbs and stop-start photography to truly capture gaming's classic "zero-turning-circle" animation style. The sounds, music, and fade-?outs only complete the effect.

There are no squawking chickens, fox attacks, or trips to the market, unfortunately, but I dig the real-life recreation of Harvest Moon's "square-by-square" gardening techniques. And if you enjoyed the Harvest Moon video, be sure to check out Cloudie McDoom's channel over on YouTube for mor?e parodies and recreatio??ns of classic video games.

The latest Harvest Moon title, Harvest Moon: One World, is available now on Nintendo Switch.

The post YouTube skit recrea?tes an average morning in Harvest Moon appeared first on Destructoid.

Shrine like a Star

Natsume Inc's long-awaited sequel Pocky & Rocky Reshrined finally hit PS4 and Nintendo Switch platforms last m??onth, bringing with it nostalgic visuals, great gameplay, and some classic, old-school adventure. It was well received by both ??critics and fans, for the most part.

While players heaped praise on the franchise's authentic return, many were left understandably frustrated by Natsume's baffling decision to lock the game's mul??tiplayer modes, only accessible once the player has completed Story Mode and bagged themselves 10,000 in-game coins. A bizarre choice, frankly, given Pocky & Rocky's natural propensity for co-op action and its fun cast of new characters. To this day, critics and players have been rendered utterly confuddled by the user-unfriendly decision.

Perhaps realizing the error of its ways, Natsume has released a new cheat code that will allow you to jump into the co-op action with your buddies immediately, (spotted by Japanese video game fan Gosokkyu/GSK).

All you need do is arrive at the Pocky & Rocky Reshrined main menu and enter the following inputs:

• Left, Left, Left, Left
• Right, Right, Right, Right
• Left, Right, Left, Right, Left, Right, Left, Right

Once you complete this sequence, the auto-save symbol should appear. Now you can access the Free Mode, giving you access to the full roster of characters, and two-player co-op. While I understand that purists might suggest that the multiplayer mode is a "reward" for finishing the game, it was simply a foolish move to lock such an intrinsic part of the Pocky AND Rocky experience away from the player base from day one. Still, it's a very cute, very fun, and very challenging?? sequel. Well worth a look.

Pocky & Rocky Reshrined is available now on PS4 and Nintendo Switch.

The post How to unlock Pocky & Rocky Reshrined multiplayer from the start appeared first on Destructoid.

Live stream scheduled for March 31

The New Game Plus Expo present??ation will return?? for its 2022 iteration later this month.

Fans will be able ??to tune into the live stream on March 31 at 08:00 PT / 11:00 ET and check out a fistful of reveals and updates for a range of titles currently in development at some stellar, bite-sized studios.

Scheduled to put in an appearance during this year's show are Aksys Games, Idea Factory, Inti Creates, Natsume, Neowiz Games, NIS America, PLAYISM, PM Studios, Rocket?? Panda Games, and Skystone Games. Viewers can expect plenty of footage from the studios' forthcoming releases, along with trailers, interviews, and some s??pecial guest appearances.

The New Game Plus Expo 2022 stream will be broadcast over on the official NGPX Twitch channel.

The post New Game Plus Expo set to return later this month appeared first on Destructoid.

Yet another title hist the spring schedule

Natsume Atari's adorable Pocky & Rocky Reshrined is the latest title to find itself pushed back down the slate to the increasingly cramped spring 2022 schedule. Developer Tengo Project simply cites "reasons" as causing the delay.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbGGQVvmg0k

Announced in late-2020, with the first gameplay footage appearing in early 2021, Pocky & Rocky Reshrined is, despite the title's connotations, a full sequel to 1992 SNES release KiKi KaiKai: Nazo no Kuro Mantle �?better known in the west as Pocky & Rocky. The new game will see the brave shrine maiden and her mischievous tanuki pal embark on another top-down arcade adventure, battling ghou?ls, demons, and other unholy beings in a cute 'n' colorful 16-bit world.

The initial gameplay video, which you can revisit above, demonstrates how Reshrined aims to capture the franchise's classic gameplay and visual style, with Tengo Project bolstering its mechanics, stability, and smoothness �?much the same way the studio approached Wild Guns: Reloaded and Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors. In a world of grim shooters and gloomy third-persons dirg??es, we could all use a little Pocky & Rocky. I'm certainly on board for the duo's ??return.

Pocky & Rocky Reshrined is currently in de?velopment for PS4 and Nintendo Switch.

The post Pocky and Rocky Reshrined ??pushed back to spring 202??2 appeared first on Destructoid.

Why do the cute ones always play hard to get?

I am lucky enough to have a mother who will play video games with me. It's always been that way. Ages ago, I spoke of our time together with Animal Crossing, but that’s just perhaps the more memorable games we shared. Really, though, we played Super Mario Bros. 3 (I made her play the hard levels, times have really changed), Donkey Kong Country, Stunt Racer FX, Paperboy 2, and on, and on, and on.

Buried way back there in the games we shared was Pocky & Rocky. We rented it a few times, but I don’t really remember get??ting past the second level. I also didn’t have a hope of understanding the game’s themes, but it was a lot of fun.

It would probably be difficult to convince her to jump back into it with me -- we mostly stick to four-player family games like Mario Golf, Overcooked, Moving Out -- so my husband has become my co-op partner. We have our games together, but I think our biggest conquest was Pocky & Rocky.

Pocky & Rocky is technically the sequel to an arcade game called Kiki Kaikai. I say “technically�?because it’s one of those words that I overuse, but also because the games are fairly disparate. It’s the same idea. A top-down shooter where you play as a Shinto Shrine Maiden (or Miko) that throws ofuda scrolls at various yokai and other monsters. Pocky & Rocky or Kiki Kaikai: Nazo no Kuro Manto differs from the arcade original in that it’s more colorful and actually fun. It’s a sugar-fueled update that leaves ??the original in the dust.

It was also made 6 y??ears later by a different ??company.

The biggest change is that there’s now co-op (though, the Famicom Disk System version of Kiki Kaikai also featured co-op), with Pocky being helped by the titular Rocky. It’s sort of a Ganbare Goemon Kid Ying and Dr. Yang butchering of the character names. Rocky isn’t even a raccoon, he’s a tanuki, but let’s not confuse the kids anymore than the pervasive Japanese visuals already do. No one can know about Rocky’s terrifying balls.

The great thing about Pocky & Rocky is its bright, expressive visuals accompanied by cute, chirpy sound effects. It’s not just a top-down shooter, it’s a top-down cuter, get it? It has all the intensity of Commando or Ikari Warriors, but most everything is smiling at you.

You can upgrade your cards in two ways, red and blue. Re??d turns up the firepower while blue upgrades the spread. You can’t use both, so pick one and avoid the other. You’re also given the ability to slide on your belly to avoid attacks or sweep with your tail or heisoku to destroy projectiles. There's also the obligatory screen-clearing bomb. It’s nothing groundbreaking, but it’s a solid foundation to build upon.

In fact, it’s fair to say that nothing in Pocky & Rocky was very innovative, but it’s the application that counts here. The game is adorable from tits to toes. The yokai ??that litter it are wacky and cute, and while there are definitely some darker designs within, there’s nothing too intimidating. Its traditional Shinto aesthetic is also a bit of a draw for anyone who digs Japanese folklore.

Don’t get me wrong, however, Pocky & Rocky is tough as nails. Natsume had a contest where you could send proof of completion and receive a t-shirt and certificate. Well, ??my husband and I did that, can we have our bragging rights,? Natsume? I don’t see an expiry date on your “Game Master Challenge�?and I have video evidence.

It’s not even unfairly tough. Your continues aren’t limited and you have a health gauge. It just constantly throws stuff at you until you’re worn down and fi??nally blow it. Do ??you save your bomb until the boss? Will you even survive that long?

Th?e whole game is a c??hallenge, and it ramps up quickly. Like I mentioned, I don’t remember beating the second stage as a child. There’s six altogether, and it can be an endeavor to see the end of them.

There was a sequel, Pocky & Rocky 2, that was decent fun, but I don’t think it managed to meet the standards of the Natsume’s first attempt, but it was close enough. Then the GBA got Pocky & Rocky With Becky, and that is a lot closer to the arcade original and kind of sucks. The entire localized ?series is ridiculously expensive these days.

Fear not, however. Natsume has a new one coming our way with Pocky & Rocky: Reshrined, which promises to return to the roots of the first (Natsume) title. It looks like a quasi-remaster in the vein of Wild Guns: Reloaded. I couldn’t be more excited. Hopefully, this will also mean a re-release of the original versions, as Wild Guns wound up being dropped on Ninte??n??do Switch Online some time after the remaster. The game is too excellent to be entirely lost to obscurity.

For other retro titles you may have missed, click right h??ere!

The post Natsume owes me a T-shirt for beating Pocky?? and Rocky appeared first on Destructoid.

Japanese-centric publisher stream returns

You might remember that during the months and months of E3's 2020 live stream showcases, (which I dubbed "Endless3" because I'm a talented man), the New Game+ Expo made its debut presentation - a special stream featuring a glut of news and reveals from Japanese-centric publishe?rs such as Arc System Works, NIS, Aksys, Natsume, and o??thers.

And it looks like the show is set to return, although this time you won't have to wait until the summer, as New Game+ Expo 2021 will be taking place as soon as next month, March 4 to be exact. Not all of the previously featured studios are returning, (SNK, Spike Chunsoft, and WayForward are among the mi??ssing names), but 10 studios will be on-hand to showcase some of their 2021 wares.

Tune in to the official Twitch channel on Thursday, March 4 at 08:00 PT / 11:00 ET / 17:00 BST and check out some of the colorful titles gracing PC and console platforms later this year. The full list of attendees fo?r New Game+ Expo 2021 is as follows:

• Aksys Games

• Arc System Works

• GungHo America

• Koei Tecmo

• Idea Factory International

• Inti Creates

• Natsume

• NIS America

• Playism

• PM Studios

The post New Game+ Expo set to return on March 4, 2021 appeared first on Destructoid.

Ee-Ai-Ee-Ai-Oh

"Can you imagine a world without cabbage, tomatoes, or even carrots?" reads a press release from Natsume, having not fully understood the state of post-Brexit Britain. Regardless, I'll at least be able to remember such rare delicacies via video games such as Harvest Moon: One World, which launches in the west on PS4 and?? Nintendo Switch this March.

Not only that, but it seems that the publisher has suggested the farmin' 'n' lovin' sim might also be heading to Microsoft platforms, as a recent New Year's message from Natsume CEO Hiro Maekawa contained the announcement that Harvest Moon: One World will indeed be hitting Xbox One in the west, d?espite no su?ch port being previously announced.

"Harvest Moon: One World is the biggest Harvest Moon game in its history having wide areas and exciting villages to explore while experiencing a farming life," said Maekawa in the end-of-year post. "Harvest Moon: One World will also be available for? the Xbox One in the U.S., with a release date a?nnouncement in the near future."

So it seems that whatever is your console of choice, you will be afforde?d the opportunity to plant crops, rear cattle, mend fences, fish, tr??ot off to market, and woo villagers, which will surely afford me the modest lifestyle that the government so begrudge me from enjoying.

Harvest Moon: One World launches in Nor??th Ame??rica on PS4 and Nintendo Switch March 2, with Europe to follow a few days later on March 5. A release date for the Xbox One edition will be announced soon.

Harvest Moon: One World adds Xbox One version [Gematsu]

The post Harvest Moon: One?? World?? also coming to Xbox One, notes Natsume in New Year message appeared first on Destructoid.

Can't be any worse than The Lost Valley

Since it split from the BokujÅ Monogatari franchise back in 2014, Natsume's Harvest Moon series has had a tough go keeping itself relevant in the surprisingly competitive video game farming genre. Story of Seasons, the current western moniker for the BokujÅ games, has been doing quite well, and it seems like ever??y?? month we're getting a new farming title in at least one of the storefronts.

Harvest Moon's next shot at reclaiming its former glory will come early next year with Harvest Moon: One World. The key feature of this title is the ability to completely move your farm to new areas of the world. Crops have disappeared from the world, and it's up to you to find the Harvest Wisps who hold the key to the different crops you'll grow on your farm. There are five areas to explore, as well as five bachelors a??nd bachelorettes to marry.

All of that sounds fine,? but I'm not really sure this new trailer is doing the game any favors. Something about it just looks so...empty.

Harvest Moon: One World arrives on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 on March 2, 2021. A $100 collector's edition is in the works at Limited Run Games.

The post Harvest Moon: One World may not be the return to form you’re hoping for appeared first on Destructoid.

If people forgot how to farm the human race would die quite quickly

Since losing the rights to the BokujÅ Monogatari franchise, Natsume's Harvest Moon series has had difficulty finding its grounding. The publisher has tried games inspired by Minecraft, a return-to-roots top-down experience, and last year's delightful Mad Dash spin??-off. But it's no longer the only farming game on the market. With the explosion of the genre from its niche origins, farm sims need to do whatever they can to stand out.

Harvest Moon: One World may be a step in the right direction for Natsume. The game was announced a few weeks ago, and during today's New Game+ Expo, we got ou?r first look at what the publisher has in store.

It's a start. Hopefully the rest of the game comes together by the time Harvest Moon: One World launches for PS4 an?d Switch later this year.

The post Here’s our first look at Harvest Moon: One World appeared first on Destructoid.

It's the stream that lets you keep all your equipment from the last one

With no E3 this year, the gaming community has had to make do with a hodgepodge of different streams, surprise reveals, and sudden announcements that have kept the writing staff of Destructoid on its toes. Some shows have been worth the wait, others not so much. We still have several more to go, but for my money, the New Game+ Expo stream has me t??he most excited. NIS America, Atlus, Spike Chunsoft, Inti Creates; these are some of my favorite publishers/developers, and to have them all in one show is worth taking a vacation day from my actual job to enjoy.

The organizers are promising new reveals, announcements, a?nd updates for upcoming projects. With the variety of publishers participating, ??there's no telling what is in store.

So sit back, relax, and find out the games some of Japan's finest gaming companies are bringing our way. And if anything catches your eye, be sure to stay tuned after the showcase for a full day of streams featuring some of the games and publishers featured in th??e show.

The post Let’s watch the New Game+ Expo stream together appeared first on Destructoid.

A whole day of games

The summer of gaming streams is going full steam as we head toward the back half of June. There are still many big presentations to come, including shows from Ubisof??t, EA, CD Projekt Red, and more. Of course, the one I'm most looking forward to features none of those publishers and most o??f the Japanese developers I love.

New Game+ Expo is happening next week, and today, organizers revealed the streaming schedule for the June 23 show. It kicks off at 8:00 am PST with a s?howcase featurin??g games from Sega, Inti Creates, Idea Factory, and more before switching over to streams from several publishers.

Now, if you're wondering which games will be shown, the official list of reveals and trailers is still under wraps. However, this show teaser put out earlier this week should give you an idea of which publishers are bringing new games, which are updating fans on existing titles, and which of them have sur??prises in store for viewers.

The entire New Game+ Expo showcase and post-showcase streams ??will be avai?lable to watch on the event's official Twitch Channel.

The post Here’s the streaming schedule for New Game+ Expo featuring Atlus, Sega, and WayForward appeared first on Destructoid.

Top Seeded

Publisher Natsume has confirmed that the next release in the charmin' farmin' Harvest Moon series will arrive on PS4 in North America this fall, alongside the pr??eviously announced Nintendo Switch release.

Natsume confirmed the NA localisation on Twitter, while giving us our first look at the new entry's inspiring box art. In an accompanying press release, the publisher spoke of the seri?es' prior appearanc??es on a variety of Sony platforms.

"We are excited to share the first look at the new art for Harvest Moon: One World, which gives you a sneak peek at the vast world filled with mystery, challenges, new friends, and farming fun that awaits players," said Natsume CEO Hiro Maekawa. "We are also excited to officially confirm it is coming to the PlayStation 4 alongside the Switch. The Harvest Moon franchise has a ??long history on the Sony platforms including releases on the original? PlayStation, PlayStation 2, 3, and 4 as well as the PS Vita and PSP."

Harvest Moon: One World will once again offer up a challenging-yet-tranquil farming experience, as players build up their land, grow crops, rear stock, ward off predators, and ensure deliveries to the local townsfolk, making friends and perhaps even finding a little romance. Powered by a brand new game engine, One World hopes to be the biggest Harvest Moon release to date, encompassing location?s outside ??of your humble little town for a true country-hopping experience.

Harvest Moon: One World launches this fall on PS4 and Nintendo Switch. The release did not denote a PS4 launch in territories outside of North America, but?? there is always the possibility that Natsume is just working out the red-tape for global localisation.

Harvest Moon: One World adds PS4 version [Gematsu]

We’re excited to confirm #HarvestMoon: One World will be l??aunching on both PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch in North America! :)

Missed out on our initial announcement? We've got details right here - //t.co/DMKB28g3PD pic.twitter.com/xV0XmAzrec

— Natsume Inc. (@Natsume_Inc) May 28, 2020

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Grasshopper will be there too

With E3 calling in sick for 2020, developers and publishers ar?ound the world are scrambling to find ways to get the word out about their upcoming games. Some, like Ubisoft, are prepping their own individual events. Others, like Nintendo, seem to be content just drip-feeding announcements to fans.

Those strategies are fine, but there's something to be said about having a great big show that brings together some of the finest developers and publishers from around the world. That's why I'm happy Sega, NIS America,? Spike Chunsoft, and more have teamed up for New Game+ Expo, or NGPX. Sixteen publishers and developers from Japan and North America will join forces for a day of streaming on Twitch, revealing new games and giving new information on previously announced titl?es. While the game lineup is currently unknown, the list of companies participating is impressive.

I don't know which of those logos excites me more. On the one hand, I won't say no to another dope-as-hell trailer for No More Heroes 3. On the other, the possibility of a new Shin Megami Tensei V trailer, however farfetched, is pretty damn enticing. Plus, I really want to see what Harvest Moon: One World is all about.

NGPX will go live on the front pa??ge of Twitch starting at 8:00 am PDT on June 23. The showcase broadcast will run from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm PDT and will include first looks at new titles, trailers, live demos, Q&A, and more. The entire presentation will then be made available on the NGPX YouTube page.

The post Sega, SNK, Arc ??System Works, and more join forces for New ?Game+ Expo appeared first on Destructoid.

But we can't look at it yet

[Update: A PlayStation 4 version is also coming in 2020, according to Natsume.]

Natsume is prepping another Harvest Moon, and despite showing up with little more than a logo in hand, this year's Switch entry – Harvest Moon: One World – is tou?ting an "all-new engine and graphics."

For now, you'll just have to use your imagination – or try to scour the log?o for hidden meaning.

"Over the decades, Harvest Moon has evolved but has always retained the traditional, family-friendly farming fun that the franchis?e is known for," Natsume president and CEO Hiro Maekawa noted in a press release. "The new engine and new graphics will upgrade this experience for 2020."

Another detail from Natsume's announcement: the world is somehow without tomatoes, strawberries, and cabbage, and "only an?? old book gives hints of what once was." In line with the title, the story will send you across the globe, from the "beaches of Halo-Halo to the snowy mountains of Salmiakki"

Harvest Moon: One World is launching this fall on Nintendo Switch. Marvelous, meanwhile, is readying Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town (a clutc??h Game Boy Advance remake) for Switch on July 10. If history repeats itself again – and I don't doubt that it will – then I'm siding with the latter game.

Are you b?urned out on farming sims yet, or are you happy to have so many to choose fr?om?

The post Harvest Moon: One World is out this fall and it’s using a new engine appeared first on Destructoid.

One week delay for arcade puzzler

It seems Natsume's Harvest Moon: Mad Dash isn't quite ripe just yet, as the fast-paced m?ultiplayer title has missed its launch date of October 29, and will now be releasing on PS4 and Nintendo Switch on November 5.

As previously reported, the latest spin-off title in the farming franchise sees players attempt to efficiently manage the f??astest-moving farm in horticultural history. Colour-matching gameplay sees each play??er plant and harvest crops, feed animals, fish, and pick up supplies as they attempt to produce the biggest bounty possible within the time limit. Watch out for hazards such as falling rocks, wild animals and... erm... molten lava (Here's a hint: Don't start a farm on a volcano).

Harvest Moon: Mad Dash launches on PS4 and Nintendo Switch November 5.

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More old school action coming your way

Natsume Atari has announced that their subsidiary Tengo Project has a third remake in the works, following on from Wild Guns: Reloaded and the recently released The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors.

There are currently no details whatsoever on what the next game would be, leaving only speculation and guesswork on our part. Given that the two previous remakes were of Natsume's own SNES releases, it's worth noting that the company also developed/produced Zennihon Pro Wrestling, Spanky's Quest and the Pocky & Rocky titles for Nintendo's 16-bit console. That said, this latest ?remake could be something else entirely from the publisher's back catalogue. For now, we'll have to wait and see.

The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors and Wild Guns: Reloaded are bot??h available now on PS4 and Nintendo Swit??ch.

A t??hird Natsume Atari Tengo remake is in the works [Siliconera]

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Grow up

Natsume has given us a look at the next title in the classic farming franchise Harvest Moon. Harvest Moon: Mad Dash sees the typically relaxed adventure series hit the gas for wild m?ultiplayer may??hem.

Headed to PS4 and Nintendo Switch this fall, Mad Dash allows one or more players engage in fast-paced farming? action, as you use teamwork and efficiency to grow and harvest as many crops as possible in a series of chaotic locations (which begs the question why ?they chose to farm there in the first place). 

Plant crops together in colour-matching gameplay in order to produce the biggest bounty in the time limit, feed animals to produce more supplies for market, even squeeze in a spot of fishing. But watch out for stampeding warthogs, falling rocks and even molten lava, which frequently threaten to ruin all of your hard work. It looks like fun, not dissimilar to the multiplayer action of titles such as Overcooked!

Harvest Moon: Mad Dash launches on PS4 and Nintendo Switch this fall.

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I mean, hey, at least it got my attention

2019 could finally be the year that I get into Reel Fishing. The series stretches back to the PlayStation 1 days, and it has since had stints on Wii, 3DS, and most recently PlayStation Vita. The latest game from Natsume – next month's Reel Fishing: Road Trip Adventure – has my attention for two reasons.

One: it's on Nintendo Switch (and also PlayStation 4). A few months ago, I ??d??ecided I needed a decent fishing game on my Switch, but after some false starts, nothing ever made it into my shopping cart.

Two: get a load of the Persona-as-hell character dialog art. They're really going for it, huh?

I don't have particularly high expectations here, and that's okay. I just li?ke the idea of leveling up friends while they're out on a road trip, snacking on hamburgers, and reeling in mahi-mahi like it's no big deal.

If you're cautiously interested like I am, you won't have to keep Reel Fishing on your mind for much longer. Road Trip Adventure is coming out on September 17 for Switch and PS4. The $30 price ??tag helps.

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It's an honest delight

Since it first launched, the Nintendo Switch has been home to some of the best co-op games on the market. On day one, you could pick up Snipperclippers, an inventive and hilarious game for couples and friends. The Overcooked series has absolutely sparkled on the console, and the pick-up-and-play nature of the hardware has sparked a renaissance of couch co-op games. Indie hits like Death Road to Canada and Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime have flocked to the system while bigger developers like ??Blizzard and S?tudioMDHR have found success porting their popular co-op games over.

Natsume is the next studio bringing multiplayer love to Switch. Its upcoming spin-off of the Harvest Moon series, Harvest Moon: Mad Dash, borrows liberally from its contemporaries to create one ??outstanding li?ttle puzzle game.

When boiled down to its very essence, Harvest Moon: Mad Dash is a color matching puzzle game. When you start a level, the puzzle field will be littered with two or more different types of crops. These crops will either be by themselves or linked with one or more crops. ??The object is to combine these crops into squares, at which point they blossom and become bigger crops. Combine those crops to make even bigger squares and you'll end up with fully ripened crops ready to be harvested. In other words, com?bine four small potatoes to make a big potato. Then combine four big potatoes to make a giant potato.

Like Overcooked, Mad Dash is divided up into stages where the goal is to get a high enough score to collect three stars. Each stage ??is located on an overworld map with settings that stretch from the farm and town all the way down to the underworld and up high into the sky. There is a story here, something about a broken lighthouse that needs fixing, by my attention was more fixated on creating as many massive crops as I could in the short allotted time.

For my hands-on with the game, I teamed up with one of the Natsume booth operators to see just how well two strangers can work toget?her in a game that requires good communication. On the first stage, we split our focus on our own individual crop. He handles the fish and I tend to the pumpkins. I get the hang of it quite quickly, years of puzzle experience no doubt bolstering my ability, but at the end of the level it's clear that just splitting up wasn't enough. We scored high enough to get two out of three stars but didn't come anywhere close to getting enough points for that final star.

On the next level I realize what I was doing wrong: I wasn't actually harvesting my plants, just making them bigger and bigger and until they wouldn't grow any more. On the next level, one that tasks us with handling fish and hay while feeding cows and avoiding falling coconuts, I stepped my game up. We still split the crops duties but communicated mo??re to help one another out. I kept tabs on where coconuts were about to fall to move both our crops so they wo?uldn't get destroyed.

As the hay piled up into larger and larger bales, the cows would mosey on over to eat. Well-fed cows produce milk and that was what I was focusing on harvesti?ng in this stage. Keeping everythin??g in check proved to be quite frantic, however, because I was now more familiar with how the game was meant to be played, I work in tandem with my partner rather than independently from him, building up a meter that initiates a "fever mode" where every crop can be harvested right away. Our score jumped up massively over the previous level, netting us all three stars in a single go.

Harvest Moon: Mad Dash may not be the biggest or most electrifying game I play at E3, but the 15 minutes I spent with it is easily the most fun I've had at the show so far. It's not as original as something like Harvest Moon Frantic Farming, but that really doesn't matter when the core gameplay is such a blast. Harvest Moon: Mad Dash launches this fall for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4, and it ??will retail for $29.99.

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Publisher to boost smaller studios' reach

Natsume Inc, publisher of the Harvest Moon and Reel Fishing titles, has announced a new program designed to help smaller developers get their wares out into the big, wide?? world. The Natsume Indie Program will see the publisher team with indie studios to "introduce creative, innovative games to a wider audience".

The first of these releases is set to be Cosmic Defenders for the Nintendo Switch. Developed by Tokyo's one-man-studio Fiery Squirrel, Cosmic Defenders is described by Natsume as "a 2D f?ast-paced revolving shooter about a group of unconventional heroes using the power of nature to stop chaotic aliens from taking over the universe"?.

Hopefully, through the Natsume Indie Program, more studios like Fiery Squi??rrel will be able to us?e the publisher's experience and resources to get their games out onto the market, allowing them a reach further than what they might achieve on their own. These projects are almost always beneficial to the industry and its creators. Good for you, Natsume.

More information on Cosmic Defenders will be available at this year's E3 event.

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But what could it be?

According to their official Japanese website Tengo Project - the branch of Atari Natsume that developed SNES steampunk remake Wild Arms: Reloaded - have begun work on a new project.

There is zero to go on thus far, and fans are asked to "look forward to more information in the future". Natsume and Tengo Project were responsible for several classic SNES titles in the '90s, including the dreadful Power Rangers one-on-one fighter and scrolling brawler The Ninja Warriors.

Of course, this doesn't necessarily mean they will be remaking one of their own titles again, or even another SNES release. There is nothing but pure speculation at this point. Regardless, Wild Guns: Reloaded is pretty darn good, so ??it'll be interesting to see what the developer has up its sleeve.

Tengo Project have begun work on Remake Project #2 [Gematsu / Official]

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Money makes Matrimony

Natsume Inc. has detailed a selection fo the post-release DLC coming to farming game Harvest Moon: Light of Hope Special Edition, which launches on PS4 and Ninten??do S??witch later this month.

The four DLC drops start from day one and continue through until July 31.?? Although there are some tools and decorative items in the mix, as well as some new chapters, there are a helluva lot of "Marriageable Characters" - whi??ch just sounds so dang romantic - included across the four packs. A Season Pass will be available for $10.

The DLC drops are as follows: (Descriptions from Gematsu)

Decorations & Tool Upgrade Pack - May 29 - $1.99

"Completely customize and beautify your farm with 7 different d??ecorative fence sets and 2 statu?es. You will also be able to upgrade your Hoe and Watering Can two additional levels, making growing crops easier and faster!"

New Marriageable Characters Pack - June 19 - $5.99

"Expand your experience with new and exciting content! Two new eligible residents have moved into Beacon Town! Shirlock,? a fledgling ?? journalist and self-proclaimed detective who is studying under the tutelage of Naomi, and Michelle, Doc’s research partner."

Doc’s and Melanie’s Special Episodes - July 10 - $5.99

"Help out Melanie and Doc in two side stories th??at will unlock new shops! Melanie is in a designing slump, and needs your help for inspiration! Meanwhile, Doc is having trouble in the romance department! Can you help him out? And what rewards will th?ey give you?"

Divine Marriageable Characters Pack - July 31 - $3.99

"Ever wonder what it’d be like to woo the Harvest Goddess or Gorgan? Well, now you can! Get to know the Harvest Goddess and Gorgan on a deeper ??level and marry them!"

And there you have it. All that actually matters here, of course, is?? that you can marry the Harvest Gorgan this Summer, which sounds like a pretty funky fresh relationship.

Harvest Moon: Light of Hope Special Edition is coming to PS?4 and Switch on May 29 in North America and June 22 in Europe.

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The crops are a little delayed this Spring

Publisher Rising Star Games have announced that cutesy farming sim Harvest Moon: Light of Hope will b??e coming to Europe on PS4 and Nintendo Switch in June, .

Using that interminable "Save the Date" motif, a tweet from the company announces that the latest edition in the (very) long-running horticultural saga will be available digitally and in stores from June 22. Originally, the game had been given a May release window for both the U.S. and Europe, so whether this slight delay affects both territories is unclear.

Light of Hope released on PC i?n Fall 20??17 were it was celebrated by its faithful fanbase. In keeping with previous titles, the game sees the player managing a successful farm, from the growing and selling of produce to rearing livestock. Budding farmers will even fend off destruction from predators and terrible weather, and build rapport and relationships with the local townsfolk.

Harvest Moon: Light of Hope is available now on PC. It is coming t??o PS4 and Switch in Europe on June 22, with its U.S??. release tentatively scheduled for May

SAVE THE DATE: #HarvestMoon: Light of Hope Special Edition will be available on PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch across Europe digitally and in retail stores on 22 June 2018! pic.twitter.com/yoEvdF5kT0

— RSG Team (@RisingStarGames) April 13, 2018

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April 17

Natsume has announced that Wild Guns Reloaded, their re-imagining of the SNES classic, will arrive on Switch on April 17. Since December of 2016 the game has be?en available on PS4, but it's since moved to PC ??in Natsume's first foray on the platform.

When it hits the Switch it'll be priced at $29.99, the same price it's currently going for on PS4, and $10 cheaper than the PC edition. It'll come with new modes, i?ncluding "Beginner Mode," ?that grants unlimited lives, and Boss Rush: Time Attack, a gauntlet of big bads.

$30 is steep and Nintendo doesn't have as many third party sale opportunities as the PSN, but eventually this?? one is worth checking out.

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Go fer your Joy-Con, Varmint

Natsume's steampunk-western remake, Wild Guns: Reloaded, has been given a release window for its ??Nintendo Switch debut. The fast-paced gallery shooter will see both a physical and digital release in April, priced around $3??0.

Wild Guns: Reloaded is an updated edition of the classic SNES game, Wild Guns (naturally). Reloaded hosts additional features missing from the 1994 release, including new characters, weapons,?? modes and stages. It also supports four player co-op for those who wanna take a compadre into battle against the endless army of outlaws and robots.

Wild Guns: Reloaded launches on Nintendo Switch in April and is availabl??e right now on PS4 ??and PC.

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Sowing seeds

It has been quite some time since the announcement of Harvest Moon: Light of Hope coming to consoles, but the day is finally nearing. Released on PC late last year, the game will be heading to PS4 and Switch in May for $39.99/€39.99 and will ?bear the "Special Edition" moniker to make up for the wait.

This new version wi??ll include additional content that is only available to console players. Natsume didn't have much else to say, with President & CEO Hiro Maekawa writing, "The Special Edition has new features made speci??fically for console gamers that we will be unveiling throughout the coming months." Could be interesting, at least.

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