Fly the furry skies

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

You can check out a new trailer for t??he pi??xel-powered cute-'em-up below.

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

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

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

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

Chocks Away!

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All-Terrain-Violence

At the start of March, we received wicked news that Blaster Master Zero III w??as currently in development, and getting set to bring its interstellar action to PS4, PC, and Nintendo Switch. Publisher Inti Creates has now confirmed that this climactic chapter will also release on Xbox One alongside its aforementioned brethren on July 29.

This thir??d and final entry in the resurrected retro franchise will see protagonist Jason get behind the wheel of the G-SOPHIASV battle tank one last time, going all-out in a do-or-die mission to save the life of his dear friend Eve. The new title will see the action return to the planet Sophia, as well as spanning several galaxies and dimensions. It sounds like an epic, and a great way to cap off a very enjoyable trilogy.

In Japan, Inti Creates will also release the Blaster Master Zero Trilogy: MetaFight Chronicle, which will include all three titles in the series, alongside their respective DLC. In addition, MetaFight Chronicle will feature newly recorded dialogue for the first two titles in the series. Unfortunately, there has ?yet to be any confirmation that this compilation will be headed west at any point.

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Arcade-action chaos returns in 2022

One of the most pleasing announcements from this week's New Game Expo Plus (NGPX) presentation was the confirmation that gorgeous pixel action series Azure Striker Gunvolt will be making its return next. Currently in development at Inti Creates, Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 will come exploding onto Nintendo Switch at s??ome point in 20?22.

A sequel to Nintendo 3DS releases Azure Striker Gunvolt (2014) and Azure Striker Gunvolt 2 (2016), the new title will bring a new slew of hyper-kinetic characters and missions, with series director Yoshihisa Tsuda teaming up with both LEVEL 5 supervisor Keiji Inafune and Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon director Hiroki Miyazawa to create an action-intensive, dramatic, and pulse-?pounding new sequel.

You can check out the announcement vid??eo below, along with a few clips of a demo build in action. It's looking pret??ty darn slick.

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Coming to PC and Switch this summer

Nippon Ichi Software (NIS) has announced the launching of a new retro range. Prinny Presents NIS Classics will tag-up titles from the NIS archives for release on modern platforms. The first volume launches on PC and Nintendo Switch this summer and will feature Phantom Brave: The Hermuda Triangle Remastered and Soul Nomad & The World Eaters. As for what Prinny the??mselves brings to ??the party... I'm not too sure.

Originally released on Sony PSP in 2010, Phantom Brave: The Hermuda Triangle is itself a remastered edition of the 2004 PS2 release Phantom Brave. The story follows the adventures of a young orphan girl and her ghostly guardian as they strive to protect their beautiful world from the wrath of a returning demon. The Prinny Presents edition of Phantom Brave is expected to be the same rele?ase that?????????????????????????? arrived on Steam back in 2016.

Soul Nomad & The World Eaters is a strategic adventure title that launched on PS2 way back in 2007. Fighting against an army of destructive giants, (the titular "World Eaters"), players are tasked with building an army out of the local townsfolk, training units, recruiting warriors, designating roles, and preparing the people for the incoming war that will shape the very future of the continent of Predesto. This Prinny Presents edition will be Soul Nomad's first western re-r??ele?ase since its initial launch.

Prinny Presents NIS Classics Volume 1 will launch this summer on PC and Nintendo Switch. A limited edition physical release is also in the works, which will include a copy of the game alongside a double-disc CD soundtrack, a hardcover art-book and two acrylic stands in a special presentation box. Pre-orders are now live at the NIS America store.

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Getting ready to roll out this summer

One of the most pleasing announcements from yesterday's New Game Plus Expo (NGPX) presentation was the surprise news that retro-infused sci-fi actioner Blaster Master Zero is getting ready to blast off for one final chapter. Blaster Master Zero III is ?in development for  PS4, PC, and Nintendo Switch, and is scheduled to laun?ch on July 29.

The third and final entry in the resurrected retro franchise will see protagonist Jason return to where it all began, the planet Sophia, in a last-ditch effort to save the life of Eve in the dramatic climax to the interstellar story. Once again piloting the sturdy and heavily armed G-SOPHIASV battle tank, Jason will face off against hordes of new enemies and boss characters in an adventure that will see our heroes not only cross the ??stars, but dimensions.

In addition to this second sequel, Inti Creates also announced that it is producing a compilation title, Blaster Master Zero Trilogy: MetaFight Chronicle. This release will feature all three titles in the Blaster Master Zero franchise, along with all previously released DLC. As a trilogy-exclusive feature, new voiceover work will be added to the first two titles in the series. It has not been made clear whether the trilogy release will be made available in the west, but is scheduled to launch in Japan alongside Blaster Master Zero III.

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Gothic hero brings her class 'n' sass to arena brawler

Miriam has sure been getting around lately. Fresh off of her recent jaunt to Blasphemous' grim world of Cvstodia, the Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night hero is preparing to bring her hack 'n' slash ways to the arenas of Forthright Entertainment's recently released brawler, Mighty Fight Federation.

As revealed during yesterday's New Game Expo Plus (NGPX) presentation, Miriam will arrive in-game this spring, joining a list of VIPs who have made guest appearances in the fighting title, including retro hip-hop heroes Toe Jam & Earl and platforming buddies Yooka-Laylee. According to developer Komi Games, Miriam will have one of the largest movesets in MFF to date, combining her mastery of multiple weapons with her cursed Shardbinder abilities. Bloodstained designer Koji Igarashi was on hand?? to ensure the authenticity of Miriam's inclusion.

While no in-game action has been made available, a short video shows off our gal's new character model and animations. She's lookin' cool, that's for sure. Hopefully, more developers will come to realize how you can immediately improve your game and optics by adding a solid dose of Miriam, and I won't rest until the Shardbinder is available in Super Smash Bros., Tekken, Puyo Puyo Tetris 2, and Madden.

Miriam from Bloodstained (@SwordOrWhip) is joining the Mighty Fight Federation! Check out the PlayStation Blog more information and a quote from @kojiiga himself!//t.co/Xnn1JTcvI6 pic.twitter.com/f7HNeI4cfm

— Mighty Fight Federation (@FightMighty) March 4, 2021

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