I dipped my toes in again, chased every rainbow, and had a much better time

PixelJunk Monsters 2 is a d??ivisive sequel ??to a modern-day tower-defense classic.

That's arguably too reductive a stance �I'm sure there are players who genuinely dig the new zoomed-in 3D style, with minor caveats �but it's always been tough for me to think about PixelJunk Monsters 2 without unfavorably stacking ??it up against the first game.

When I reviewed the sequel in 2018, I struggled with a lot of nagging thoughts that other PixelJunk ?fans are quick to mention. A few o??f them always seem to bubble up:

• The camera is too tight and we want to be able to see the entire map while we run around rather than have partial camera control.
• The up-close presentation also has repercussions for co-op â€?a series staple â€?in terms of how far players can physically get away from one another.
• Sluggish player movement, rough jumping and visibility, and sometimes-whacked-out physics for coins and gems can all be a bit much to deal with.

Three ye?ars later, I've c?ome around �to a point. I'm so glad I went back.

For starters, Q-Games addressed?? a number of common complaints after launch, including a fix for local co-op "warping" when you're too far apart from your bestie and the abili??ty to stand still and toggle a full-map view to see every oncoming threat at a glance.

I still think PixelJunk Monsters 2 has design issues, but their sting has softened over time, and I've learned to appreciate this game for what it is. Even if you aren't a PixelJunk player, I'm sure you can relate with another game you've revisited and ended up rediscoverin??g.

After more or less randomly getting the urge to try again, I'??m not sure what clicked, exactly, but something did �I've been hooked for the past fe??w weeks, night after night.

It's partially a "time and place" thing. I enjoy this game a whole lot more in a chilled-out nightly winddown state of mind where it's okay i?f it takes me an entire session �six, seven, maybe even eight attempts �to master a single 20-minute-long level.

I haven't been in a rush lately. Giving myself the breathing room to learn (but not necessarily memorize) which enemies appear on which path, and discover which risky strategies can generally pay off big, has b??een a blast. I love experimenting and refining.

For me, PixelJunk Monsters 2 is at its best when I'm trying to earn a rainbow token on the third and hardest difficulty (Mayhem) for not letting a single creep break through my defenses. I've had one slip through in the last five seconds! There's little room for error, and sometimes, even if you've done ??your homework, it feels like the towers' scatterbrained AI or the coins' explosive physics can undo everything. That randomness is a curse, but also a blessing. It's the secret sauce that has kept me so engaged.

There's just something about coming so close to perfection here that leaves me feeling motivated, not defeated. That, and the lit?tle rush you ?get whenever your Tikiman dances long enough to upgrade a tower to the next tier �my brain loves that shit.

The hardest level for me to perfect? Coco Valley Stage 2. It'?s the one with all the ballo??ons over chasms and hard decisions to be made about where to focus your limited time.

My recent replay culminated in the platinum trophy and a Season Pass purchase, which I had always been on the fence about getting. The Encore and Danganronpa Pack levels were over before I knew it, but if you can get them on sale, they're worth it. Speaking of which, PixelJunk Monsters 2 is $3 on Steam and PS4 right now, and the DLC is also cheap.

Will Q-Games take another crack at PixelJunk Monsters? I hope so, now more than ever.

I'd be perfectly happy with a continuation of the PJM2 style, even. That said, if they could bridge the gap �if the designers carve out a bit more of a unique identity and include some gameplay concessions for die-hard PJM1 fans �that just might work wonders.

The post I’m glad I gave PixelJunk Monsters 2 another chance appeared first on Destructoid.

Included with Stadia Pro starting March 1, 2021

In a rollercoaster ride of an announcement today, there's an otherworldly new PixelJunk game coming out on March 1, and it isn't a sequel, which excites me – but only Stadia players will be able to try?? it out.

This new roguelike action-adventure game, PixelJunk Raiders, will "launch exclusively" on Stadia. It'll be available on the streaming platform for $20, or freely playa?ble with a Stadia Pro subscription. Drat.

It's honestly a bummer to see one of my favorite studios tied down to a single platform like this, doubly so in the aftermath of Google unceremoniously ditching its internal Stadia development ??studios.

As for the game itself, I'm intrigued but not necessarily sold. The footage shown today depicts alien-slashing action gameplay in a vividly stylized procedural landscape. A little context: you're a "human replicant searching for habitable worlds and optimizing your DNA for survival." You know, the usual.

It's not a one-to-one comparison by any means, but I hope PixelJunk Raiders doesn't suffer a tragic fate like The Tomorrow Children, ??an unforgetta??ble communal PS4 game that lives on in our memories.

I'm happy as long as Q-Games can keep making games, I just hope this deal doesn't last forever.

The post PixelJunk Raiders is a roguelike action-adventure game and it’s only playable on Stadia appeared first on Destructoid.

Zen gaming with Baiyon

It delights me to see Q-Games add more entries to the PixelJunk series, especially a sequel to Eden.

It's arguably not the best of the bunch, but Eden – a minimalistic platformer about catching plumes of pollen to reinvigorate ??garden landscapes – has long been a favorite of mine. It's a hypnotic experience.

Whether you missed PixelJunk Eden on PS3 and Steam or you simply miss it, period, this is such a great way ??to close out the chaotic year. Turn on your Switch, pump up the volume, and melt into your chair.

PixelJunk Eden 2 (Nintendo Switch)
Developer: Q-Games
Publisher: Q-Games
Released: December 10, 2020
MSRP: $14.99

PixelJunk Eden 2 is a ?simple but effective game, one I see myself coming back to again and again. Playing alone or with a local co-op partner, you'll hop and swi?ng around abstract levels infused with the audio-visual essence of Baiyon. The techno music and visualizer-like backgrounds put a spell on me.

While some of the finer details are different for the sequel, in general, this i??s largely the same soothing experience as the original game. In each garden level – all of which have their own aesthetic and song – your goal is to collide with floating Pollen Prowlers to pop them open, catch the sinking remnants to grow nearby seeds, and use towering plants as platforms to ultimately reach a Spectra collectible.

Missile-firing and gravity-shifting foes appear in some situations, but largely speaking, PixelJunk Eden 2 doesn't push back all that much. You don't "die." There is a time limit in the main story mode (which you'll refill by flinging yours?elf into physical checkpoints), but it's rarely an issue if you aren't going for 100% seed completion, and there's a timer-less mode that's intended for more meticulous play.

I primarily played Eden 2 in co-op, and I think that's the way to go if you can manage it (although playing solo does h??ave its meditative merits). With two players, you'll collect pollen quicker, and it's?? a little easier to pull off risky maneuvers and leaps of faith. If someone falls too far off-screen, they'll reset at the other player's safe location. If both players plummet, there's just a short respawn to sit through.

PixelJunk Eden 2 feels subtlety snappier, faster, and more alive than Eden 1, but the sequel's biggest cha??nge is the way levels are doled out and how the Grimp protagonists vary from one to the next.

Each Grimp ??comes with its own set of levels and its own particular gameplay-affecting ability or trait, which you can further alter with one-time-use Spice items. The basic flow goes a little something like this: hop into a garden, explore to find the far-off Spectra, and rinse and repeat until you've cle?ared them all. Some Grimps come with a couple of levels, while others have a set of several to complete.

Aside from grabbing pollen to grow plants and reach new heights, you'll also want to collect crystals to unlock Spices. They're just temporary optional items (you can bring up to three of them into an individual level attempt), but they're useful. They have benefits like extending the length or duration of your swing-inducing silk s??tring, diminishing the effects of gravity, or adding more time on the clock. My go-to Spices helped me find the Spectra more easily and expanded my pollen-collecting range.

When you finish a set of levels, you'll get another Grimp to play as but not necessarily a "brand new" area –?? just a different batch of levels. (There are 10 total gardens.) As such, you can expect to see a lot of repeating stages, albeit with several alternate Spectra locations to mix things up a bit. I wasn't thrilled with this format – it started to feel repetitive toward ??the end – but it mostly works.

There are 20-plus characters to unlock in the main mode, and they all have a gameplay-modifying twist (some good, some decidedly less good) to help them stand out. One of the Grimps has unlimited jumps, but makes it so Pollen Prowlers are les??s plentiful. Another Grimp is heavy enough to "bend tall plants by swinging or landing." One of my favorites can only equip one Spice perk but won't "consume" the item.

This isn't a short game, and for some – particularly players who try to power through it in the span of a few evenings – it might outstay its welcome, but I didn't quite reach that point. Part of that is on the Switch itself (handheld play is perfect for Eden 2), part of that is on the relaxing gameplay style, and part of?? that is on Baiyon's talent as a game director, composer, and visual artist. He's a t?riple threat.

I spent close to a dozen hours with the main progression path in PixelJunk Eden 2, and I've hardly dug into the unlimited-time "choose your garden and Grimp" free-play mode. Whenever I feel the gotta-catch-'em-all collectat??hon itch, I'll be sure to head there first since that mode has its ??own achievements. You can't tell me the total number of seeds in each level and not expect me to hunt them down.

PixelJunk Eden 2 is one of 2020's few pleasant surprises, and I?'m so thankful?? it exists.

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

The post Review: PixelJunk Eden 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

Death and despair for everybody!

I have this weird relationship with Steam sales. The large seasonal sales offer so many games that I struggle to find anything of interest. But the smaller scale sales? I can't stop myself from falling for them over ???and over and over again, no matter how large my backlog gets.

The newest Spike Chunsoft sale this weekend is no exception, le??????????????????????????t me tell you.

The games offered are as follows:

• The Zero Escape series for 40-50% off.
• The Danganronpa series for 50-60% off.
• Steins;Gate for 60% off.
• Steins;Gate 0 for 33% off.
• PixelJunk Monsters 2 for 40-50% off.
• Fire Pro Wrestling World for 20% off.
• Mystery Chronicle: One Way Heroics for 90% off.
• Conception II: Children of the Seven Stars for 70% off.

As far as I'm concerned, the visual novel offering is the biggest draw here. Zero Escape's mystery narrative, and the literal puzzles themselves, shouldn't be missed by fans of point & click games. Danganronpa's an interesting twist on the murder mystery formula, where you get to befriend both potential victims and culprits between every case. Finally, while Steins;Gate doesn't have?? much gameplay on offer, the ch?aracter-driven science-fiction tragedy is a tale that I keep finding myself returning to over the years.

The Spike Chunsoft ??sale is live now and runs until August 20.

Spike Chunsoft Sale [Steam]

The post Take a? look at this killer Spike Chunsoft? Steam sale appeared first on Destructoid.

Undercooked

It feels like it's been ages since Q-Games dabbled in tower defense with the original PixelJunk Monsters. The studio has taken quite a few detours since then, all of which have have been interesting in their own right, but the time has finally come fo??r a sequel. Tikiman's back! And he's gone 3D!

I was surprised and delighted when I first laid eyes on PixelJunk Monsters 2. It seemed to have the same familiar components, albeit presented with a new, almost clay-like aesthetic. It's a significant departure from the old hand-drawn art, but it feels like the next logical step after the developer's last major release, The Tomorrow Children, which similarly used fancy real-tim??e lighting to great effect.

Despite the eye-catching new visuals, Monsters fans are stil??l going to feel right at home. On that note, things might actually be a tad too familiar for my tastes.

PixelJunk Monsters 2 (Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4 [reviewed])
Developer: Q-Games
Publisher: Spike Chunsoft
Released: May 25, 2018
MSRP: $14.99

The goal of PixelJunk Monsters 2 is to protect the adorable, innocent, too-pure-for-this-world chibis at your base from spiders, golems??, and other assorted critters. To ke??ep the lil guys safe, you'll need to think ahead and balance your time well. From the moment the first enemy wave begins advancing to the plodding ascent of the level boss, there's always something that needs supervision.

You'll start by placing a few structures in key locations -- maybe a jack-of-all-trades arrow tower (or two!), then a cannon for much-needed splash damage, and anti-air by your base when you can spare the cash. Next, you'll shake it. Dancing near a tower will slowly upgrade it (up to five tiers), or you can spend gems dropped by slain enemies. But gems can also go toward building more advanced structures, like a hive that fires off bees or a tower that summons a lightning storm, so dancing is vital. There are coins to manually collect, too. When most monsters die, they'll scatter coins across the map, and that gold isn't going to stick around forever. In PixelJunk Monsters 2, you're constantly having to switch gears between building, upgrading, collecting, scoutin?g, and occasionally using explosive fruit.

After you've tested the waters a few times in any given level, you should have a general understanding of which towers to prioritize and where to place them. You'll figure out your bottlenecks, and hopefully remember to account for that one particular enemy in that one particular wave that always seems to squeeze through your defenses. If not, it's back? to the drawing board. There aren't checkpoints to fall back on, and even if you know most of a level by heart, there isn't a fast-foward button to s??peed through the early portions. This can be a slog for high-score chasers hoping to top the leaderboards.

PixelJunk Monsters 2 is fairly challenging on even its middle difficulty, but that's for the best -- there are only 15 levels total spread across five different bi?omes, with some extra paid DLC stages also on offer. You're not meant to fly through the game, especially if you're trying to get flawless wins in order to earn rainbow pieces (one per difficulty per level). There are also unlockable masks and shells to incentivize you to continue playing past your first successful attempt. Gotta dress to impress.

Looking at the broad strokes, the sequel hit??s many of the marks I'd expect it to, but the more I play, the more its small annoyances seem to creep up on me and?? bog down the whole experience.

When coins and gems drop, they go careening across the ground, often landing in hard if not impossible to reach spots like rivers. Unlike the prior games which gave you a full view of the action, here, only part of the map is visible, so you'll need to pan the camera and jog around to see what's what. Platforming and movement, in general, can feel sluggish and squirrely; it's all too easy to hit snags. There's so little music in the game that it ends up feeling like an afterthought. Finally, in co-op, partn??er players can't move too far from the host player or they'll be teleported to their side. With how big the maps are and how zoomed in the screen is, this limitation severely impacts your ability to divide and conquer.

On their own, these individual issues don't break the game. Heck, even together, they don't ruin it either. But you do come to feel their unpleasantness over time. The more pressing problem with PixelJunk Monsters 2 is that it doesn't do anything terribly new or different or bold to help make up for these shortcomings. Switching to an up-close third-person perspective to take in the cool new visuals is novel at first, but it's just not practical considering how much map awareness you're giving up in the process. What we're left with is a game that ??feels like more of the same, only worse. It lacks an identity.

I still think there's fun to be had in PixelJunk Monsters 2, and I won't be surprised if Q-Games cleans up some of the minor frustrations. But unless the studio goes out of its way to expand and experiment with new content, I don't see this having much of a legacy. As it stands, it's an okay-at-best tower defense title that treads familiar ground. Coming off the original, that's ??a huge downgrade.

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

The post Review: PixelJunk Monsters 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

Danganronpa DLC you say?

So PixelJunk Monsters 2 is getting a season pass, and considering that I was going to absolutely des??troy it later this month and comb over every bit of it, I'm okay with more content on the way.

Publisher Spike Chunsoft confirmed earlier today that the season pass will run you $7.99, and will contain two DLCs -- the Encore Pack, and the Danganronpa Pack (due to Spike Chun?soft's ??collaboration with developer Q-Games). If you opt for the complete edition you'll get everything for $21.99, but for now, the DLCs will run you $4.99 each.

Both packs promise a new stage or challenge, with Encore providing a new missile tower and Danganronpa providing a mana tower. You'll also be able to nab free golden outfits from?? launch until June 7, and Spike Chunsoft is still working out the details for a li?mited edition physical copy.

DLC or no DLC I'm just happy the Monsters series is still alive after all this time. It would have been a shame if it was just relegated to the realm of Facebook or a fizzled mobile project.

The post PixelJ??unk Monsters 2 is getting a season pass an??d Danganronpa DLC appeared first on Destructoid.

It's so pretty

I was delighted to hear that Q-Games was making a sequel to PixelJunk Monsters. I like the whole PixelJunk line, but Monsters is a particu?lar highlight -- it's one of my favorite tow?er defense games ever.

The studio has released a demo for PixelJunk Monsters 2 on PlayStation Network (North America here, Europe here, Steam here) and while it's super short -- just a single level without co-op functiona??lity, as far as I can tell -- it's worth checking out for fans. You've got to see the cute little Chibis up close.

The game looks incredible?? and plays like you'd expect. I mean t??hat in a good way.

As Tikiman, you'll run around converting trees into towers (arrow, cannon, and anti-air). Slain enemies drop coins and sometimes gems, the latter of which can be used to buy limited-use fruit bombs or tower upgrades. Alternatively, you can dance! Standing near a tower will slowly upgrade it (up to five tiers), but since dropped coins only stay on the field for so long before disappearing??, your attention is always divided.? Figuring out where to be and for how long is the name of the game.

The demo lets you run around in a hub world, albeit with some gates to keep you from exploring too much, and you can spend currency earned from clearing levels and reaching milestones on new masks and shells. I feel like this game will shine the most in co??-op (local and online in the full version), but the demo makes a strong impression. The sequel's move to 3D feels like the right decision.

PixelJunk Monsters 2 is?? coming to PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PC? on May 25 for $15.

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There's two-player local co-op and four-player online

At long last, we're getting a full-fledged, honest-to-goodness PixelJunk Monsters 2. I'm thrilled! The tower defense sequel sports a new look and it's heading to PC, PlayStation 4, ?and Nintendo Switch.

Q-Games and publisher Spike Chunsoft are hosting a live stream today at 5:00pm Pacific with footage of PixelJunk Monsters 2 as well as Zanki Zero: Last Beginning and 428: Shibuya Scramble.

This game seems like a best-case scenario following the demise of The Tomorrow Children and the unsuccessful Kickstarter for the mobile-bound PixelJunk Monsters Duo. I'm so down for it.

The wait isn't long, either -- PJM2 launches May 25, 2018.

Q-Games [Twitter]

The post PixelJunk Monsters 2 is s??et for PC, PS4, and Switch appeared first on Destructoid.

I hope they bring back PixelJunk Monsters next

It's hard to name a favorite in Q-Games' excellent PixelJunk series, but the zen platformer PixelJunk Eden is certainly up there for me. You know, it might just be my number one. The studio is returning to that game concept with Eden Obscura, an "all new experience" designed ??for iOS and Android.

From the way Q-Games describes Obscura ("flick and spin and jump around with ease"), this wi?ll be a similar experience, albeit? with touch controls and a double-jump ability. That said, it will allow you to use your mobile device's camera to "change the atmosphere and feeling of the game."

Multimedia artist Baiyon, who returns as creative producer for this project, says "Eden Obscura is a title that realizes my own desires? by making use of modern smartphone technology to create something glittery and oddly see-through and as a result even as the director of the game I can't begin to predict wh??at visual delights people will discover."

It'll be demoed this weekend at BitSummit in Kyoto, ??which hopefully means its release isn't far off.

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Traditionally a Sony exclusive

While Q-Games isn't a first-party Sony developer, they've had a longstanding relationship, putting out tons of games on the PS3, PSP, and Vita -- so it makes sense that some people see it that way. But Q also has a good relationship with Nintendo, putting out a decent number of titles on DSiWare, and co-developing Star Fox 64 3D, so it also makes sense that PixelJunk Monsters was recently rated for Wii U.

If it's just the Deluxe version I'll probably pass (I already own it three times over), but if they manage to add anything new, I'm all over it. This is a fantastic series,?? and head and shoulders above? most tower defense games.

PixelJunk Monsters [PEGI]

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Discounts available for PixelJunk owners

Mmm, fluid dynamics. Double Eleven has brought PixelJunk Shooter Ultimate to Steam at long last.

This package repurposes Q-Games' darling twin-stick shooters into a cohesive, singular experience with an optional new visual style and improvements to scoring and treasure tracking. At $8.99, it's a good buy. These games are great! But Ultimate is even cheaper with loyalty coupons.

Folks who own PixelJunk Shooter on Steam will get a 20% off coupon (and that save data is compatible with Ultimate). There are also 5% off coupons associated with the other PixelJunk titles on Steam. So, if you own Monsters, Eden, and Nom Nom Galaxy, you're looking a??t an additional 15% off. These discounts stack, but they only last until November 3.

It just hit me that I never finished Ultimate on PS4. We'll have to do that after Yoshi's Woolly World.

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The great soup war

You really have to give it to Q-Games. With the notable exception of PixelJunk Shooter 2, it has tried something different with pre??tty much all of its releases, from slot car races, to tower defense, to music visualizers.

Not every game is a smash hit, but they all have something unique to offer, including the newly minted Nom Nom Galaxy. 

Nom Nom Galaxy (PC, PS4 [reviewed])
Developer: Q-Games
Publisher: Q-Games
Released: May 12, 2015
MSRP: $9.99

Nom Nom takes on the concept of capitalism head-on, with one major resource sought after across the galaxy: soup. You fill the shoes of an Astroworker on behalf of Soupco, a company ?hellbent on domina?ting the universe with market share. So hellbent, in fact, that you'll sabotage enemy competitors, and defend your base from deadly onslaughts. So a lot like real life. Jolly capitalism! It's a silly plot, but it sufficiently motivates you for the events that unfold over the course of the story.

As for the gameplay, think Terraria. It's a platformer at its core, but it also features a hefty amount of exploration on uncharted planets, seeking out resources, building new structures, and battling the hostile inhabitants within. To survive you'll ??have to covet pockets of air and utilize weapons like a buzzsaw to chop up foes. The Astroworker also has a number of tricks up its sleeve, like the power to build ladders, and so on.

It's pretty open-ended, even in story missions that have succinct objectives. Your ultimate goal ??in most cases is to build soup machines, gat?her ingredients, craft the soup, and then ship it out on soup rockets to the rest of the galaxy. A part of the HUD in the top-right corner is dedicated to tracking to your competitors, who are also working "behind the scenes" to ship out more soup than you. It all meshes with the story, and although it gives the proceedings a sense of urgency, it never evokes feelings of dread.

Building out a base is often times an enjoyable experience, as you can design elevat?ors to get around easier, and turrets to defend your base at specific chokepoints. Think of the latter strategy like defending the WWE Championship Belt -- sure, you're at the top, but now you need to keep it that way. It's definitely fresh and rewarding the first few times you do it, but by the 10th or so invasion, it starts to l??ose its luster.

Exploration is often filled with new experiences, including boss fights, but base defense is usually a static affair. This is especially true in sandbox mode, where mission parameters cannot be met, bringing about an end to the cycle of repetition. In addition to? the campaign there's also multiplayer on any given map, though I haven't had much success with getting it to work a week after launch on the PS4. Whether this is a result of poor netcode or a lack of community is up in the air, but suffice to say that you likely won't be enjoying this feature that often.

There's also a selection of weekly ?challenges, from strai?ght-up races to combat challenges. Races can feature gadgets like pogo sticks, and are actually pretty fun to play when you're not wrestling with the jumping physics. It's one thing to have weak jumps in an easy-going open world format -- another in a pinpoint-precision challenge. Since they feature online leaderboards and two-player co-op (four online if you can muster them up), they serve as a nice distraction.

Nom Nom Galaxy isn't particularly exciting, but it's a whimsical little journey that does a decent job at world building. Despite the fact that people are probably clamoring for "more PixelJunk Monsters" as we speak, I'm glad that Q-Games continues to try new things??.

_{[This review is based on a ret?ail build of the game provided by the publi?sher.]}

The post Review: Nom Nom Galaxy appeared first on Destructoid.

As for PS Vita, 'never say never'

Q-Games' Nom Nom Galaxy (previously PixelJunk Inc.) is coming to PlayStation 4 on May 12.

The game is a mel??d of platforming, exploration, building, and base defense. Broadly speaking, players are on a mission to expand their galactic soup company by setting up factories on alien worlds. They can go it alone, or with a friend in split-screen, or with up to three in online co-op.

Having spent way too much of my life digging with pickaxes in games, I'm glad to see a new tool: the astro-buzzsaw. Nom Nom Galaxy has been on Steam Early Access since last year. While it was also planned for release on PlayStation Vita, Double 11 "had to stop work on it so that we could focus on providing the best possible console experience on PS4," according to design manager Gareth Wri??ght. "We love Vita as much as you all. Never say never."

I've been holdi??ng off on the Early Access version, so PS4 it is!

Nom Nom Galaxy Lands on PS4 Next Week [PlayStation Blog]

The post More PixelJunk! Nom Nom Galaxy hits PS4 next week appeared first on Destructoid.

Clear some space on your PS Vita

Tomorrow is PixelJunk Monsters: Ultimate HD day for PlayStation Plus members. They're getting the game for fre?e on PS Vita once the PlayStation Store update ro??lls out.

This is a tower defense game -- among the best, if you ask me, and one of my personal favorites right up there with Immortal Defense and Defender's Quest -- that has updated visuals, touch-screen controls if you?'d like, the content introduced in the?? Encore expansion, and more.

Speaking of reasons to hop onto PlayStation Network, I hope you took full advantage of the weekend flash sale that had a bunch of games on sale for $0.99 each. I got Everyday Shooter!

PlayStation Plus: PixelJunk Monsters ??Ultimate HD Free for Members [PlayStation Blog]

The post This week’s PS Plus freebie is PixelJunk Monsters: Ultimate HD appeared first on Destructoid.

Pay $6 or more and you'll also receive Critter Crunch, Hotline Miami, and PixelJunk Monsters Ultimate!

We've partnered up with the fine folks at Humble Bundle, along with a bunch of our indie pals, to present to you a very special Destructoid-curated Humble Bundle! Pay what you want and you'll get Little Inferno, Super Hexagon, and Natural Selection II along with each of their soundtracks.

Pay $6 or more and you'll also receive Critter Crunch, Hotline Miami, and PixelJunk Monsters Ultimate (plus soundtrack). Both Critter Crunch and PixelJunk Monsters Ultimate are making their first appearance in a bundl?e with this promotion too.

All the revenue raised here will go to the developers behind each game, and you can also choose to have some of the money go towards two great charities: Child's Play and Watsi.

The Humble Bundle presented by Destructoid will be live until April 10 at 11AM Pacific. We'll be giving away some codes for this collection over on our Twitter and Facebook pages, plus we'll livestream all these games on our Twitch channel t??hroughout the entire promotion?? run starting today!

Six great games, six wonderful de?velopers, and two great charities. Thanks again to the crew at Humble, and developers Unkno?wn Worlds, Capybara Games, Terry Cavanagh, Tomorrow Corporation, Q-Games, and Dennaton Games!

The post Pay what you wan??t for Little Inferno, Super ??Hexagon, and more appeared first on Destructoid.

For a select few

Q-Games' Nom Nom Galaxy, formerly PixelJunk Inc., will be available on Steam's Early Access program today at 9:00 a.m. PST. The time's significant because it will be offered to the first? 1,000 buyers at a discounted rate of $9.

While this is the first time that Q -Games has put a game on Early Access, it's also the first time it's played around with a crowdsourcing model to help fund a title. The team has updated? its development blog to outline several different reward tiers, all the way from the aforementioned $9 download to a $9,999 Galactic Executive level??.

If you aren't sure what Nom Nom Galaxy is, that's okay, because most people can't quite pin it down. It's sort of a competitive, explorative sandbox, real-time strategy, tower defense game about building an intergalactic soup empire. Sort of. Whatever it is, it's good enough that we named it one of our top games of BitSummit.

Nom Nom Galaxy on Steam Early Access! [Nom Nom Galaxy]

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More fitting of the aesthetic, I'd say

Ahead of BitSummit this weekend, Q-Games has announced a name change for its upcoming PixelJunk Inc., a 2D sandbox game about building a soup empire coming to Steam Early Access on March 13, 2014. (You've seen the .gifs, yes?) Going forward, the new title is Nom Nom Galaxy.

"While we've loved the name former name, during development this past ye??ar we've wanted a name captures the spacey deliciousness of the game," said Q-Games. 'Nom Nom,' which is an onomatopoeia for enjoying delicious food in both English and Japanese, fits this perfectly."

Change isn't always easy, but after seeing the new logo for Nom Nom Galaxy, I'm rapidly starting to come around. Both it and PixelJunk Shooter Ultimate will be playable at BitSummit.

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Yeah, okay!

Double Eleven will continue working on Q-Games' PixelJunk franchise with PixelJunk Shooter Ultimate, announced today for PS Vita and PlayStation 4. If everything goes according to plan, the revamped game -- which is really two games, combined to form a single comprehensive tit??le -- should be an obvious purchase this summer for new players. The original ??releases were great.

But what about folks who have played through Shooter and its sequel? Besides the obvious new artwork, there's Cross-Play and Cross-Save support, a more "balanced" scoring system, a revised heads-up display, 60 frames pe?r second on PlayStation 4, and a new, 3D look for the ship.

Still PixelJunk Shooter 1 and 2, in other words, but more work was put into updating these games than one might expect. To me, the most interesting bit here is that it's seamless: "In PixelJunk Shooter Ultimate, you can enjoy an uninterrupted and complete experience, with all the new features introduced in Shooter 2 -- such as the sup?er spin -- across all chapters."

PixelJunk?? Shooter Ultimate Coming to PS4, PS Vita This Summer [PlayStation Blog]

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The power of Steam sales

Do you want to see the power of a Steam sale? Wh??at happened this week for Q-Games is a perfect example. 

Their PixelJunk Eden (amazing game, by the way) is part of a flash sale on Steam, priced at 75 percent off the normal price. Q-Games' Dylan Cuthbert said that the sale was so successful that they managed t?o double their to-date income from the game in the first eight hours of the sale.

So, in eight hours the??y've made just as much as the game had earned to date. Wow. 

Damn. I need to sell something on Steam.

We just made our income to d??at?e, again, in just 8 hours [Gamasutra]

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Fun with physics

Double Eleven is bringing another Q-Games title to PC this year following its work on PixelJunk Monsters for Steam. Next up is the previously PlayStation Network-exclusive PixelJunk Shooter.

It's coming to digital distribution platforms like Steam (Windows, Mac, Linux) on November 11, 2013. The price -- $8.99/£5.99/€6.99 -- is a bit easier on the wallet this time, too. Playing around with the game's mesmerizing fluid dynamics is something you should look forward to, if you've yet to try Shooter. It's a lovely game made by lovely people.

I like where this trend of porting is going. Q-Games' PS3 library was ?one of the major reasons I wanted to get the console originally, and having those titles release on more platforms -- especially one with as big of an audience as PC -- is t??errific.

And our next PixelJunk release is.......... [Double Eleven]

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Become a space soup mogul

I feel comfortable going out on a limb to venture that PixelJunk Inc. will be the best game about intergalactic soup empires for a long while. I'd have felt fine with that declaration before my hands-on time with the game at PAX Prime 2013 -- the basis is a bit out there, after all. After being given a demo, I'd like to further suggest that PixelJunk Inc. will be a damn fine game regardles??s of its premise.

PixelJunk Inc. is the next installment in a long line of PixelJunk titles, but it's poised to be the best of the franchise. It's completely centered around the manufacturing and exportation of soup, but it's so much deeper than that. It'd be impossible to shoehorn Inc.? into a particular genre of games, because it has serious elements of sandbox, real-time strategy, and tower defens??e.

At the beginning of the game, the objective is simple: make some soup. To do this, you might need to start building different facilities to streamline the process. As you gather more materials, it becomes simultaneously easier and more difficult. The operation has expanded, and you're now expected to manage the robot crew that'??s carrying out your tasks. You probably need to do some of the legwork on your own too.

That's where the sandbox elements come into play. PixelJunk Inc. has completely destructible and terraformable worlds that can be used in whatever way you want. As you scout out materials for y?our brothy product, you can also build your base however you like. Just make sure that it lends itself to the most efficient method of getting your delicious soup on a rocket ship.

The most impressive aspect of PixelJunk Inc. may be the fact that the worlds are completely living, regardless of wha??t you're doing. A cavern may slowly become filled with poisonous gas if left unattended. What was previously a pair of enemies may be an? entire nest of the buggers upon return. Leave your base unattended while you search high and low for new ingredients? There's a fair chance that aliens will be ripping it to shreds when you get back.

Oh, by the way, aliens will totally destroy your operation if you don't tend to the tower defense characteristics of Inc. As if it weren?'t enough to be burdened by the logistics of soup manufacturing, you also need to build machines and manually defend your base. I spent most of my time with the demo trying to wrap my head around how anyone is going to possibly be able to keep track of everything they need to do.

The build that Q-Game??s brought to PAX eventually dropped us into a fully automated base that's probably representative of several hours worth of play. I simply couldn't fathom the attention to detail that it'll take to build something of that scale. I'm sure it'll be easier to grasp as you work your way up to that degree of magnitude, but going into? it blind was incredibly overwhelming, yet impressive.

At least you won't need to go at it alone if you don't want. PixelJunk Inc. allows for four player co-operative play. It looks fun enough to take on solo; it seems downright glorious to tackle as a team. The thought of delegating tasks to make the whole affair even more efficient sounds like it'll on?ly add to the experi??ence.

PixelJunk Inc. isn't the type of game that you can pick up for a 30-minute demo and imm??ediately get into the swing of. Lead designer Rowan Parker openly lamented as much. However, it is the type of game that you can immediately recognize will resonate with a whole lot of people due to its sheer addictiveness. All this becaus??e of soup.

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It's right up there with PixelJunk Monsters

Before playing PixelJunk Inc., I thought it looked like a much more visually appealing take on the Terraria formula. That's not wholly inaccurate -- I mean, you can see it too, right? -- but this lovely cooperative P??C game about robots and soup has a style all its own.

Jonathan and Spencer (and a bunch of us on staff) got a chance to play and fall for Inc. at PAX Prime 2013. It's an exciting new direction for Q-Games that, at the same time, still feels familiar if you've been with the studio since the very beginning. Long live PixelJunk!

Guys. You can do this in PixelJunk Inc. Guys!

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Yet another re-release, but ... co-op!

Even though I'd rather get my hands on PixelJunk Inc. than double dip on yet another Q-Games title, PixelJunk Monsters Ultimate is tempting. It's coming to Steam on August ?26, 2013 with local and online cooperative play, gamepad support, an island that spits out randomly-generated levels, and other miscellaneous extras.

Now, here's the thing. It's $19.99 regularly, or $16.99 right now during pre-release pricing. That's not an unfair price to pay for what i??s a terrific tower defense game but, in the land of Steam sales -- especially so soon after the summer promotion -- I can see it being a tough sell.

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PixelJunk Monsters also discounted

This week's addition to the PlayStation Plus Instant Game Collection is Dokuro, a PlayStation Vita puzzler-platformer from Game Arts. It's got skeletons and an?? art style reminiscent of children's books -- and it's regularly $13.99, so "free" ??sounds terrific to me.

Elsewhere in the store update, PixelJunk Monsters: Ultimate HD is discounted to $11.99 for Plus members, while Max Payne 3 is $7.99 (or $9.99 for everyo??ne else) and the Ultimate Edition is $11.99 (or?????????????????????????? $14.99 for all users). Those are some mighty fine prices.

PlayStation Pl?us: Doku?ro Marches to PS Vita’s Instant Game Collection [PlayStation Blog]

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Release info locked down for revised Monsters

Double Eleven is giving PixelJunk Monsters a fresh coat of paint for PlayStation Vita later this month. PixelJunk Monsters: Ultimate HD will? la??unch on July 30 and July 31 for North American and European PlayStation Network users, respectively.

At $14.99, the price is a bit high for those of us who already own PixelJunk Monsters in one or more forms, but that's worth paying if you happen to be a first-timer. Ultimate HD includes the content introduced in the Encore expansion and Deluxe edition of Monsters, so you're getting what?? should be the definitive version here.

Still one of my favorite tower-defense titles ever, due in part to the sh??eer challenge presented.

PixelJunk Monsters: Ultimate HD on PS Vi?ta July 30th [PlayStation Blog]

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Well, that's my day made

This is the exact news I was hoping I'd get to cover following word of Q Games' collaboration with Double Eleven. The latter studio is indeed porting a beloved PixelJunk title to PlayStation Vita. PixelJunk Monsters: Ultimate HD will bring updated visuals, optional touch-screen controls, and all of the content found in the Encore expansion and Deluxe edition of Monsters.

Double Eleven COO Mark South says there were discussions about lowering the difficulty with checkpoints and the like -- this is a rather challenging tower defense title, if you haven't played -- but they decided against it in the end. Swee??t, sweet satisfaction will be upheld.

And for the one guy who thinks Monsters wasn't hard: "We also designed the Trophies to be an extra treat?? for those wanting even more challenge: Our best in-house players have taken three days solid to complete the game on the hardcore setting!"

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What a pleasant pairing

Double Eleven, the team responsible for bringing games like Frozen Synapse, Limbo, and LittleBigPlanet to PlayStation Vita, is teaming up with PixelJunk studio Q Games, reports GamesIndustry International. The two a??re said to be ?collaborating on multiple new game projects.

"Double Eleven has an outstanding track record in video game development, and we like their way of thinking when it comes to publishing," said Q Games president Dylan Cuthbert. "[We're] about making memorable experiences for everyone, and Double Eleven are the perfect partner to see our vision through." According to Double Eleven COO Mark South, it's "pretty clear that we would hugely complement each other's plans for making great g?ames."

Mmm. That awkward sound is the only reaction to this news that feels appropriate. As a fan of the studios' work, I'm super curious to see where this deal will take them both.

Double Eleven signs with Pixel Junk? developer Q Games [GamesIndustry International]

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Not necessarily in that order

In case you aren't aware, PixelJunk Inc. looks to be the raddest game ever. Imagine Castlevania, Metal Slug, Pikmin, and a tower defense all rolled into one.?? Also, soup everywhere. Naturally, when I got the opportunity to talk to the minds behind this game I jumped at the chance. 

Rowan is a delightfully assuming man with a charming accent. Look forward to that. We both got to stand in direct sunlight so please ign??ore the awkward faces we make. 

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You should own at least one of these

Did hearing about PixelJunk Inc. put you in the mood for some of Q-Games' other titles? From now until April 9 in North America (and April 10 in Europe), the entire line-up of PixelJunk games is half price. On Steam, it's the lone PixelJunk Eden ($4.99) and its soundtrack bundle ($7.49), but on PlayStation Network there's:

• PixelJunk Racers: $4.99
• PixelJunk Monsters and PJM Deluxe: $4.99
• PixelJunk Eden: $4.99
• PixelJunk Shooter: $4.99
• PixelJunk Shooter 2: $4.99
• PixelJunk SideScroller: $4.99
• PixelJunk 4am: $4.99

Despite only just getting SideScroller a couple weeks ago, I'm not even mad! Love supporting the studio. This promotion seems like a great opportunity to grab the two Shooters -- should I start with the first or dive into its se??quel straight away?

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A better look at the game formerly known as PixelJunk 1-6

For a while now, Q-Games has been releasing bits and pieces of information on PixelJunk 1-6 with regular development updates on its blog. Today, we've got a trailer and screenshots for this project, which is now being called PixelJunk Inc.

According to the studio, the video shows "two intrepid explorers building the foundation of their interstellar Soup Co. Empire." This is seemingly a 2D sandbox platformer, for lack of a better term, though it looks as if there's perhaps more of an end goal to achieve with the soup company premise. Intriguing stuff, to say the least.

This is only a hint of things to come -- combat, for instance, is tiptoed around -- and I very much want to see what's next. If Q-Games can put as much care into PixelJunk Inc. as it has in prior series entries, we could be in for a real tr?eat. Look for it first on Steam for Windows this year, followed by Mac and Linux releases.

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