Previously slated for the summer, a release date is officially in place for River City Girls 2's collaboration with Double Dragon. Billy and Jimmy Lee will make their way onto the mean streets as playable characters on November 12, 2024. 

The meat of the DLC is, of course, the ability to play as the hard-hitting protagonists of the Double Dragon series. Billy and Jimmy are totally unique fi??ghters, bringing their own special moves to the ?fray. Players will be able to bust out Hurricane Kicks and Rising Knees as they make their way through the beat 'em up's story mode.

As previously reported, Billy and Jimmy will also be fully voiced. In River City Girls 2, those voices belong to the Game Grumps themselves, Dan Avidan (Billy) and Arin Hanson (Jimmy). The two are also teaming up for a new vocal song featuring music by River City Girls composer Megan McDuffee. 

Brawlin' boyz

Rounding it all out is the new dojo, Master Boro. As the screens and footage so far indicate, it looks like WayForward put in a lot of work to smoothly integrate the two worlds. Being one of the staples of the genre, it's a no-brainer to throw Double Dragon into the mix wherever possible, but it's nice to see i??t being done with the right amount of care and respect. Even if it all first emerg?ed to the public as an April Fools' gag! 

When it launches, players can dive into the River City Girls 2 Double Dragon DLC on all available platforms.?? Crack your knuckles and get ready to fire it up in just six days on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. 

The post River City Girls 2 Double Dra??gon DLC release date set ?for November 12 appeared first on Destructoid.

Movies from the �?0s will never die, thanks to video games. Well, and all merchandising, really. And sequels and remakes. But they turn up in video game form with such regularity you’d think the movies had just hit. Ghostbusters, RoboCop, tonnes of various tie-ins. It’s apparently fertile ground.

Licensed movie games were once embraced by the big-budget sphere of the video game industry, but unless it’s a multi-billion dollar franchise, they’ve become rare. This has allowed them to slip into small-budget productions with crossovers galore. Some publishers have begun making it their business model to focus on licensed titles, like Devolver’s new Big Fan Games label and, according to an in-game video, Retrorealms’s publisher Boss Team Games.

Retrorealms, currently consisting of adaptations of Halloween and Ash vs. Evil Dead, has brought up a question in my mind?? that I hadn�?�t really thought of in-depth before. What is the goal of a licensed movie game? Not from a business standpoint but from a player’s.

RetroRealms (PC [Reviewed], PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch)
Developer: WayForward
Publisher: Boss Team Games
Released: October 18, 2024
MSRP: $24.99 each, $49.99 bundled

The most obvious business answer to the question of what a licensed game's purpose is would be a ?mix of profit and advertising. Movie games would often be released right alongside the movie itself as a way of building excitement. If you see something everywhere, regardless of how much you know about it, you’ll probably assume it’s pretty popular. If you’re a gamer, you might play the game and want to see the movie. If you’re a film�?person�?filmer, you might watch the movie and want to play the game.

But, as a player, why would you want to play a licensed game? The answer might be different for many people, but it would probabl??y involve wanting to further interact with the characters or universe they inhabit. Sometimes, we’re not ready to say goodbye to a beloved story, so we seek ways to further our experience. Other times, the reason might be to immerse yourself in the film’s world. Rather than simply live o?ut the plot of a movie, you play a part in a completely different story based on what is established in the movie. Or maybe you want a different perspective on things, to see how they are interpreted by the developer.

I doubt that you just want to look at things that resemble the property that you love. Personally, I don’t just want to play a game where the worlds just look like recognizable scenes and the characters appear as they do in a movie. I want the gameplay to be informed by the concepts in the movie. The N64’s Goldeneye gave a lot of thought to how it would make you feel like James Bond. It gave you objectives to complete beyond just shooting dudes on your way to the exit. RoboCop: Rogue City wasn��t ?just another FPS. The developers considered how to make you feel like both an anal-retentive police officer and a tank ??on legs.

Both the Halloween and Ash vs. Evil Dead parts of Retrorealms Arcade feel like pretty standard pl??atformers where you play as Ashley Williams and Michael Myers. That’s not the end of the world, but I feel they don’t capture their source material very well.

Backing up, Retrorealms Arcade is sort of a platform for other games. While right now, there’s only Ash vs. Evil Dead and Halloween, there’s an indication that more wi??ll be added later. You can roam a 3D interior, interact with 3D replicas of props from the movies, and view behind-the-scenes videos. You launch the games by stepping up to their respective arcade cabinets. This isn’t a complaint, but it looks less like an arcade and more like a �?0s fast food chain with the arcade cabinets in the foyer.

One of the things that interested me about Retrorealms was the hub. I like the idea of the games existing within a space, but unfortunately, the space isn’t used to add context and body. It’s just a dusty museum with an unrealistic layout. I’d be more interested if it actually lo??oked like an abandoned Chuck E. Cheese and gave some background on the machines themselves. Or a functioning Pizza Hut, I don’t care, but some 3D rooms with dioramas of the games aren’t that compelling.

But that’s just the hub anyway, forgotten when you jump into the games. And the games are�?fine. They’re purchased separately or in a bundle, and characters are functionally their own thing, so if you own both games, you can play as Ash in the Halloween machine or Myers in Evil Dead. There are two other characters you can buy separately: Laurie Strode from Halloween and Kelly Maxwell from Ash vs. Evil Dead. It��s a neat concept, and it ??would be a shame if this is how far we get.

Where I’m really down on Retrorealms is the fact that the games are just so basic. The fact that they’re set up as physical?? arcade cabinets is confusing, because they don’t feel like arcade games. They feel like DS tie-in games, the sort?? that Wayforward often had a hand in back around 2010.

In typical WayForward style, they’re certainly competent games. They feature some terrific pixel art and a great soundtrack. The problem I have is that 2D sidescrollers with terrific pixel art and a great soundtrack are a dime a dozen in the market today. We are so spoiled for choice to the point where I need a hook well beyond competent/pixel art/soundtrack, whereas that wouldn’t have been the case back when A Boy and His Blob came out on Wii. Now, I need something like an inventive twist on gameplay like Gunbrella, an infectious attitude like Pizza Tower, or era-authenticity like Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland. You can't slap the word?? retro on pixel art and think that's ?authentic. I can smell the difference.

With the only unique aspects being a 3D hub and the ability to buy more characters, the bruises on Retrorealms are only more apparent. The levels are boring. Only a single simple gimmick distinguishes each of them, and I’d have trouble recalling where eac?h one was placed. The bosses are terrible, all over the place in difficulty. The story is practically non-existent, and what is there would p?robably be better off actually not existing.

The only inventiveness really comes from being able to switch into the Nightmare Realm at will. This is a more brutal mirror of the stage you’re on, with harder and more frequent enemies. It will also change the positioning of some walls and platforms, which is usually used in puzzles where you can obtain a ticket to unlock items in the museum or collectible MacGuffins of no immediately discernable use. Unfortunately, these puzzl??es also waver in difficulty, and I found some of them to be more effort than they were worth.

The characters all play uniquely, but when they’re against such drab backdrops, they don’t have ??much chance to shine. Ash vs. Evil Dead and Halloween games are interchangeable: 10 levels across five backdrops. All the same boxy platf?orming, both visually similar. Not that I’d expect them to be vastly different, but that might have made the whole experience more interesting.

If anything, I found the included behind-the-scenes videos to be the most interesting part. Specifically, WayForward founder Voldi Way talking about his appearance in the 1980 film, The Changeling. There’s also a video where the developers cite their favorite horror movies, and none of them name Halloween or Evil Dead. Not that they need ?to, since that would probably indicate that they aren’t all that well-versed in the genre, but I found it amusing anyway. Unfortunately, there are only four videos as far as I'm aware. I’d assume more get unlocked throu??gh various means, but I got an achievement telling me I watched them all.

Aside from that, Retrorealms Arcade just feels so unspectacular. Competent, sure. It’s not a bad time. It’s just not a particularly memorable one, even if you’re a ??fan of the movies within. It feels like WayForward made?? sidescrollers and put the characters in them rather than having the games informed by the characters. So, if you wanted to play a platformer like Michael Myers, then that’s what you get and very little more. There isn’t much meat to sink a knife into.

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

The post Review: RetroRealms appeared first on Destructoid.

Hifumi Kono's original 1995 Clock Tower game is finally making its way over to the U.S., and it's doing so two days earlier than Japan. WayForward's Clock Tower: Rewind revival is now set to launch on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series? X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC in the Americas and Europe on Octob??er 29, 2024.

Outside of folks who have played the ROM or watched Shinya Arino brave its horrors on Game Center CX, most westerners likely fir??st encountered the series on PlayStation. WayForward's update takes the Super Fa??micom classic and breathes new life into its horrifying hallways. The original gameplay is still intact along with the graphics and sound, but now there are some quality-of-life improvements in the mix along with added features. 

That fresh content can be found in Rewind mode. There's a new animated intro, as well as functions like save states, rewind (hey, it's in the title!), a music player, art gallery, and vocal songs by Mary Elizabeth McGlynn and Emi Evans. There's also the aforementioned Clock Tower Commercial Sampler demo for a nice piece of video game history. You can get an idea of how it's shap??ing? up in a recent gameplay video:

It's very appropriate that Japan gets this one on October 31, but two days earlier ain't bad. Either way, it's the perfect time of the year to spend running l??ike mad from Scissorman. 

Beyond the Clock Tower update, WayForward set a release window for River City Girls 2's Double Dragon DLC. Bimmy and Jimmy will join the brawl sometime this fall, which is a slight delay from the original summer plans. 

The post ??Clock Tower: Rewind arrives in the west two days before Hallo?ween appeared first on Destructoid.

Wayforward has revealed that the GBA’s 2005 hidden gem, Sigma Star Saga, is getting ported to modern platforms via Limited Run Games�???proprietary Carbon Engine. On top of that, it will also be getting re-released on GBA.

Sigma Star Saga is an interesting hybrid of RPG and horizontal shoot-’em-u??p, which aren’t exactly the most compatible for crossover, but Wayforward was able to make it work. It’s sort of like a no?rmal JRPG, but the random battles are shoot-’em-up sequences.

Critics at? the time were pretty lukewarm on it. However, over recent years it has found a fanbase in peo?ple plumbing the GBA catalog for forgotten gems.

I’ll be honest, I’ve played only about 15 minutes of Sigma Star Saga, but my husband was pretty stricken with it. What sticks most in my memory is the vibrant graphics. The original Game Boy Advance had a really difficult-to-see screen. While the GBA SP alleviated it with its front-lit screen, developers developed the technique of using really bright colors to make things more visible. The most notable examples of this are Metroid Fusion and Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance. The style was born out of necessity, but it’s a unique aesthetic that stands?? out today.

While details are somewhat scarce, this seems to be planned as a pretty straightforward port. I’ve played a few of the LRG Carbon Engine re-releases lately, and outside of rewind and save states, they tend to be lacking in bells and whistles. It’s mostly just great to see olde?r games get new leases on life. I just really wish that they’d add in control mapping.

Sigma Star Saga will be released on PC and (unspecified) consoles sometime in 2025. It will also be getting a new physi?cal GBA release via Limited Run Games.

The post Wayforward?? i??s bringing the overlooked GBA title Sigma Star Saga to modern platforms appeared first on Destructoid.

Atari and Wayforward have announced that Yars Rising, a spin-off/reimagining of the 1981 Atari 2600 title, Yars�?Revenge has a release date of September 10, 2024. They’ve also released a n?ew trailer that covers the gameplay in better detail.

Announced back in April, Yars Rising is a gated exploration (Metroidvania) game that bases itself on Yars�?Revenge. It’s a weird way to reimagine a fixed-screen shooter from the early days of home games. While the initial trailer didn’t really show much relation to the original beyond some visual references, both the demo and the trailer show a more distinct link. I’m talking about the hacking mini-games that are essentially new configurations of the classic Yars�?Revenge gameplay.

It’s a better trailer overall, though I’m still not sold on the aesthetic. I say that as someone who actually likes Yars�?Revenge. However, Joseph Luster tried out the demo and came to the same conclusion that h??e’s curious, but not wild about the game. I’m just not seeing much of a hook here.

Yars Rising still fits into Atari’s business model of adapting old licenses into smaller-budget games. So far, a lot of what I’ve experienced from the initiative is solid but unremarkable. However, with the resurrection of the Infogrames label and Nightdive and Digital Eclipse at their side, they aren’t restricting themselves to one strategy. It’s a lot better than what we had a decade ago when they last tried to resurrect Yars Revenge and Star Raiders.

Yars�?Rising will be released for Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Se??r?ies X|S, PS4, PS5, and PC on September 10, 2024.

The post Atari and Wayforward’s Yars Rising is out in September and looks slightly more Yar appeared first on Destructoid.

Yars Rising was recently announced as a follow-up of sorts to Atari 2600 classic Yars' Revenge. Rather than taking the form of a Zorlon Cannon-blasting shooter, Yars Rising is a hacking-centric Metroidvania with a demo now live during Steam Next Fest. As odd as the concept is, after playing some of what WayForward has in the works, I'm willing to hear them?? out.

This time around you take control of Yar �?okay�?so far, so good �?which is the hacker handle for a young woman named Emi Kimura. A mysterious patron has hired Emi to hack her way into the shady corporation known as?? QoTech, and in true? Metroidvania fashion she'll do so through exploration that expands with every new technique she picks up along the way. It's all presented in a clean, but somewhat stiff aesthetic that's serviceable if a bit lacking in style and fluidity. 

As Emi jogs through corridors, she'll occasionally talk to herself. This can be cute at times, but it doesn't necessarily bode well if she's going to be doing it throughout the entire game. Yars Rising is also chock full of fully-voiced dialogue exchanges, so if you're into that there's plenty of it in this short jaunt. On the o??pposite end of the audio spectrum, the soundtrack slaps. 

Yar'd house

The real Yars' Revenge flavor comes into play during the hacking minigames. With flashing Atari-style visuals, hacking typically tasks you with breaking down a barrier so your Yar can fire its cannon. Some require shooting while others require nibbling, and they're all fast and fun enough diversions. Successful hacks can unlock doors, reveal new Biohacks �?equippa?ble pickups that augment everything from crawl speed to Emi's Zorlon Shot �?and unlock abilities. 

Stealth is also one of the game's bullet points, and you'll get to try one section out during the demo. It's very straightforward, with Emi waiting for guards to turn their backs before slinking past, or crawling through an nearby air duct. Thus, the jury is out on whether or not the stealth portion of Yars Rising will be a thorn in the side of those who aren't fon?d of sneaking missions.&n??bsp;

Metroidvania 101

I can't be certain of what WayForward is going for here outside of spinning the license title roulette wheel, but Yars Rising seems like it could make for a solid introduction to the genre. As presented in this bite-sized sampl?er, everything from the structure to the combat is pure by-the-numbers Metroidvania action. There isn't enough on display to give you a full tas?te of what exploration will be like, but you'll secure two early abilities, one of which is essential to opening up new areas. 

It all? closes with a battle against the Burning Sentinel, a rotund se?curity robot that puts both of Emi's current abilities to the test. Like the rest of the demo, it's a clean and uncomplicated affair, but it's enjoyable and manages to work the hacking minigame into the heat of combat in a novel way. 

At this point, we're stretching the meaning of spiritual successor so thin it's practically transparent, but there are enough nods to the source material in this demo to give it a pass. I may not be wild about what I've played of Yars Rising, but I'm curious. It has a deliberatel??y stiff quality to it, and general movement isn't quite as enjoyable as it should be given the genre, but I want to see more. Maybe it's the WayForward name that has me looking past some of its flaws, but I've got more terminals to hack and I'm keen to see how the rest of this adventure plays out when it launches sometime this y(e)ar. 

The post Yars Rising stretches its ties to the Atari classic??, but somehow ??kind of works appeared first on Destructoid.

Yars�?Revenge is one of the more interesting Atari 2600 games, and it has seen attempts at revival over the years. Wayforward and Atari are teaming up to take another crack at it with Yars Rising, and it doesn’t really rese?mble the original game much?

Yars Rising is a sidescroller where you play as a blue-haired girl who goes by codename Yar who is fighting against cyberpunk megacorporation Qotech. If you’re savvy, you’ll remember that Yars Revenge was about this weird bug thing that eats through force fields in order to take down the enigmatic Qotile. You can get the refrences, I’m sure. Even more so when the trailer shows off her Yars tattoo and she grows wings, and also there??’s, like, a ??hacking minigame (?) that features the 2600 graphics.

I don’t know. I’d have to see more of the game to really form a solid opinion, but what I see really isn’t doing much for me. T??hat art is ??okay, the animation is a little jerky, and I don’t see what separates it from other side-scrolling action games.

Yares Rising is coming to the PC and consoles sometime later th??is year.

The post Yars Rising is coming this year, doesn’t look very Yar appeared first on Destructoid.

It’s been rough for Contra fans. The last new title in the series we had really seen was 2011’s Hard Corps: Uprising. That was it, I swear. Don’t look it up. Just believe me.

However, Konami seems to be waking up from its gambling-induced stupor and has been coaxing developers to bring back their most venerated franchises. For Contra, they went back to WayForward, who were also the developers behind 2007’s Contra 4 on the DS.

I can confirm that Contra Operation Galuga is, at the very least, a Contra game.

Contra: Operation Galuga (PC [reviewed], PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox SeriesX|S, Switch)
Developer: WayForward
Publisher: Konami
Released: March 12, 2024
MSRP: $39.99

It has been so long since the last Contra game (trust me) that WayForward has made the assumption that you have forgotten the thrilling storyli??ne of the origi??nal arcade/NES title, and are retelling it in an entirely new way.

That’s right, Contra: Operation Galuga has a story mode with cutscenes, and it retells the story of Bill Rizer and Lance “Mean�?Bean as they visit Galuga island and shoot everything. The new approach also ties in an ancient artifact, and I kind of wish it didn’t. I wasn’t expecting a deep story, but Operation Galuga manages to tie in a few of my least favorite?? storytelling devices. If you look at it as though it’s trying to convey a Saturday morning cartoon vibe, then it might work. I’m not sure that was the i??ntention, however.

On the other hand, St??eve Blum is terrific as Bill Rizer.

The story mode is only part of the overall equation, however. It will probably take you an hour or two to topple it. In terms of difficulty, Contra: Operation Galuga is fle?xible. Beyond just having an easy, normal, hard setup, there’s a life bar you can ax?e in favor of the classic one-hit deaths and a variety of “perks�?you can slot to tailor your runs to your liking. 

I’m a simple girl, and tweaking my own difficulty always bugs me. Contra: Operation Galuga seems to intend that you pl?ay the Arcade mode repeatedly. The arcade mode has you attempt all of the levels to get as far as you can. It feels more like a typical run-and-gun, where memorization of the levels is key to pushing furt??her into the game.

However, the difficulty seems set?? up with the lifebars in mind. There are sections of the game, and even boss attacks, that feel like avoidance requires more foresight and luck than is reasonable. Maybe. This genre requires multiple replays to really get down, and while I have certainly done multiple, I hav??en’t done “flow state�?multiple.

But I don’t?? really want to, and that is a p??roblem of its own.

For a game to demand that a player keeps practicing for the simple sake of enjoying it more, it has to be damned good. I’ve played Metal Slug more times than I can count, and that’s because it’s an incredible, well-designed game. There's satisfaction in reaching for the bar games like Metal Slug set. The same goes for the original NES port of Contra and Contra: Hard Corps. Contra: Operation Galuga is merely okay.

While the original Contra was somewhat grounded aside from the sudden appearance of aliens, the subsequent games began getting weirder and weirder. Contra 3 and Hard Corps were incredibly imaginative with their settings and challenges. Contra: Operation Galuga ??is comparatively more grounded, which maybe fits its reboot intentions, but doesn’t d??o it any favors.

There are levels where you’re on a hoverbike, but you’re traveling throu?gh some bland areas. One of the levels takes place in a temple, and while it does a unique graphical effect to add some spice to its gameplay, I hate it so much. Every time I hit that level on a playthrough, my enthusiasm would just die. The enemies are annoying and boring, the hazards aren’t well placed, and the back??grounds are bland.

That one level kills the momentum of the?? game as it starts building to a climax. What comes after it is a?? smidge more interesting, but because it stumbles right before, I just can’t get excited.

Galuga's roster includes a bunch of playable characters, but I could only ever stand playing as Lance and Bill. Lucia has a grappling hook that is barely handy on the rare occasion that you’re climbing vertically, while Ariana has a slide kick that is useful only when the level is flat. Worse yet, playing as Lucia perverts the spread gun into a chargeable wave cannon that feels terrible i??n motion.

Completing the game unlocks more characters. The most exciting ones require you to save up a massive num?ber of ?in-game currency. I unlocked the one I was most interested in and found out that their moveset is based on Ariana, and she has the terrible Lucia spread gun. At that point, my disappointment had peaked, and I was done with the game.

I’m really trying to come up with some praise for Contra: Operation Galuga, but the best I can offer is that there’s an inter?esting end boss, there are multiple soundtracks, and Steve Blum puts on a good performance. The challenge mode can be some decent fun, but the rewards you get are poor. Aside from tha??t, it’s fine.

It’s slightly above par for a game in general and below it for Contra. Despite my complaints, I enjoyed swaths of the game when playing with Bill Rizer, but not enough to want to replay it endlessly. The Contra series has done much worse, but it’s also done much better. Contra: Operation Galuga manages only to be a run-and-shrug shooter.

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

The post Review: Contra: Operation Galuga appeared first on Destructoid.

Konami and WayForward’s Contra: Operation Galuga now has a release date. It’s coming to al??l platforms March 12, 2024. To hold us over, there’s a demo available right now.

Contra: Operation Galuga is a retelling of the original 1987 arcade (1988 NES port) narrative that sees Bill Rizer and Lance What’s-his-face storm the Galuga archipelag??o to take down the Red Falcon organization. This isn’t a remake, however. While references are m?ade to games in the series, everything is remade and modernized.

For example, beyond Bill Rizer and Lance Otherguy, there are a number of other characters in the mix. Each one has its own unique abilities. There’s Lucia, Ariana, Stanley Ironside, and Probotector (based on the censored European ports of the Contra series).

I had the chance to talk to the game’s director, Tomm Hulett a while back. This isn’t WayForward’s first try with the series, as they handled 2007’s well-received Contra 4 for the DS.

Okay, the demo finished downloadin??g for me, so I’m out of here.

Contra: Operation Galuga will lau??nch on March 12 for Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Limited Run Games will be handling the physical release, and preorders will open on March 1. The demo is available today.

The post Contra: Oper?ation Galuga is out March 12, demo now appeared first on Destructoid.

I am very happy that the River City/Kunio-Kun/Nekketsu/Downtown series has continued to this day. River City Ransom was a formative game for my modern tastes. River City Girls, as a game, I don’t love as much. Its art sty??le and soundtrack, on the other ha??nd, I dig with both hands.

To be honest, I was practically married to the NES/Famicom art style of the series. Whenever it moved away from those rectangular meaty-armed brutes, I always felt like something was lost. However, in recent years, we’ve seen that art style preserved. Some of those games that lean on the old 8-bit art style have even felt a little hollow behind the aesthetic, which is probably why I connected so well with River City Girls.

Misako and Kyoko have evolved from obscure side characters to headliners in their own right, and I love them for it. WayForward took the l??icense, injected their own pa?ssion and vision, and cut out their own slice of it.

The Art of River City Girls is an?? incredibly well put together demonstration of that.

The Art of River City Girls collects artwork from River City Girls 1 and 2, as well as River City Girls Zero, which was WayForward’s localization of Shin Nekketsu Kōha: Kunio-tachi no Banka. It’s a pretty all-encompassing look at the art, ?with concept art, sprite sheets, illustrations, and even versions of the manga-?style cutscenes.

All of this is packaged in a cover that resembles a classic yearbook. On top of that is a plast??ic slipcase that is a bit more product-y. I guess while we’re on the subject of actual product features, it’s over 300 pages (325 by my count).

It kicks off with a foreword by Adam Tierney. It’s the sort of introduction that starts with “It’s hard to believe,�?but after that, it gets right into some behind-the-scenes facts as it briefly recounts the initial pitch to Arc Systems Works, states that working on the River City/Kunio-Kun/Nekketsu/Downtown series was a dream project for WayForward and shows off t?he very first concept artwork depicting Kyok??o and Misako (which still gets used in promotions).

The introduction encapsulates what? I appreciate in this art book. There’s art, backgr?ound tidbits, and a vivid taste of the team’s enthusiasm for the property.

There’s another thing I like about The Art of River City Girls: abs. There are more six-packs than a liquor store in this tome, and I am absolutely on board. Of course, there’s Marian’s abs, the former damsel from Double Dragon and playable protagonist in River City Girls 2. There’s Kunio’s rival Riki who is too cool to wear his jacket and instead prefers to keep his midsection warm with worryingly tight sports tape. Really, though, I don’t think we get to see enough of Kozuki and her amazing washboard. ?Damn, girl. Mmm!

Most of the behind-the-scene information is done in brief blurbs alongside the artwork. They’re pretty interesting, providing context and background to many of the characters. This includes Sonny Lee being the third Double Dragon character (the Triple Dragon?) or Crash being based on the box art of Crash ‘N�?the Boys: Street Challenge (Bikkuri Nekketsu Shinkiroku! Haruka naru Kin-Medal).

Another great thing to see is the promotional artwork that introduce??s us to Pirate Kyoko, Vampire Misako, and Santa Abobo. These are pieces that I’m not even sure where they were originally posted or what they were used for, so it’s neat to have them preserved in this book.

When WayForward came to the River City/Kunio-Kun/Nekketsu/Downtown they brought a lot of their own style, and that’s reflected in The Art of River City Girls. While the overwhelming majority of the book focuses entirely on W?ayForward’s work, it helps give context to its place within the overall property.

Judging from playing the games, it was the art team that had the most fun making them. The style is incredibly unique while still paying tribute to the games that it sprang from. Characters were pulled from all over the Kunio-verse in a loving depiction of the games. The Art of River City Girls feels like h??aving them in your living room, excitedly pointing ??out everything you may have missed.

The Art of River City Girls is available at Fangamer.

The post The Art of River City Girls gives us a close look at the series’ many abs appeared first on Destructoid.

It’s hard to get excited for a new Contra game. It has been a series with some excellent ups and severe downs. As a publisher, Konami doesn't seem to be the most discriminating when it comes to handing their properties to outside developers. However, the fact that Contra: Operation Galuga is being handl??ed by the more reliable WayForward gives reason?? to be optimistic.

I was given a chance to talk to Operation Galuga’s director, Tomm Hulett. Unfortunately, my optimism has been dashed. My first question was the ever-important “What is the best Contra game?�?/p>

Hulett responded, “It's gotta be the NES original. The 16-bit games especially have some amazingly memorable moments, but when you want consistent run 'n' gun perfection, there's no surpassing original Contra (though we are trying, of course!)�?/p>

Tsk tsk. Everyone knows the correct answer is Contra: Hard Corps.

I’m joking, of course. While I love Contra: Hard Corps for its Treasure-esque variety and weirdness, the first NES Contra is a solid choice. It’s a terrific translation of the 1987 arcade original, but despite its more limited hardware, it’s better in most ways. There’s a mechanical feel to it that is just so satisfying, especially if you see it through without the “Konami Code.�?/p>

Contra: Operation Galuga isn’t even WayForward’s first experience with the license. In 2007, they handled Contra 4 for the Nintendo DS, which was well-received, even right here in primordial Destructoid.

For Operation Galuga, the series is going back to the beginning. According to Tomm Hulett, it’s a reboot of the series. It takes us back to the first game’s Galuga Island, “fighting a terrorist uprising before uncovering the true threat.�?However, it’s not at all just a remake of the first title. Even when it comes to narrative, Hulett says, “There are a lot of new characters and plot details to flesh out what was originally very straightforward.�?/p>

The trailer that hit during the September 14 Nintendo Direct also depicts a mix of classic Contra standards. There’s a hill stage reminiscent of 1990’s Super C, as well as one with hangbars like in Contra 3: Alien Wars and Contra: Hard Corps. According to Hulett, “Gameplay wise, it's all new. Well, obviously there are returning elements �?you're running, gunning, picking up Spread Shots, and so on. But we were not beholden to ‘well, let's keep this simpler because it's the first Contra�?or ‘we can't put that element in this stage because that's not what happened.�?There are original enemies and bosses, and the returning favorites will behave in new and exciting ways. Stage designs are completely new as well.�?/p>

Konami was a bit of a different company back then, however. These days, I don’t really know what to make of them. At all. I have no idea what’s going on with them, and I’m someone who watches pretty carefully. It sometimes seems like they just license their old properties to other studios. That feels like their current approach to Silent Hill, which is rather alarming.

That made me wonder how Contra: Operation Galuga happened. Do they just license to interested parties, or does Konami actively seek out partners? “Konami brought up the idea of WayForward returning to the series with the general guideline of it being classic 2D gameplay with modern 3D visuals,�?Hulett explained. “WayForward pitched some gameplay concepts, and it was full steam ahead from there.�?/p>

Okay, but was Konami just selling door-to-door? According to Hulett, “Konami was very specific about the overall story. They actually developed a full universe bible before even approaching us. It has been a very collaborative process, with Konami and WF workshopping the story of Operation Galuga specifically and how that drives the stages you visit and encounters you have. In my understanding, Konami really values reestablishing Contra as a key brand for old and new players alike, so they were very involved in how characters look and the overall brand direction.�?/p>

“For the gameplay itself,�?Hulett added, “they really let us at WF take the lead and develop concepts and encounters that we believed in. Obviously, there was some feedback and a lot of playtesting data, but they let us pursue our vision for the player's experience. Overall, it's been a great partnership!�?/p>

While the original story of Contra simply had Lance Bean and Bill Rizer as selectable characters, they’re maybe not as interesting as some of the later creations that became playable in the series. Specifically, I asked about that chances of seeing Fang or Sheena from Contra: Hard Corps.

“Several characters will join Bill and Lance on Galuga Island, and they become available as you progress through Story Mode,�?Hulett replies. “We’ve revealed a few, like Ariana and Lucia, already! There may even be some unlockable characters if players put in the time.�?/p>

Fingers crossed. In the meantime, both Ariana and Lucia sport some interesting designs. I’m down. I just hope they’re playable in story mode. Story mode only allows two players, whereas arcade permits up to four players. I hope that’s not because they insist on Lance and Bill being the only canonical participants in Operation Galuga. Although I ??could ??understand why, that’s just no fun. Lance and Bill are like the sugar glaze, whereas everyone who has come since is more like buttercream frosting. I’ll take glaze only when there is no other option.

By my count, this is the first time WayForward has worked with Konami since 2012’s Silent Hill: Book of Memories. A lot has no doubt changed since then, so it left me wondering what the chances were that this could lead to WayForward taking on other licenses. My initial thought was Castlevania, but that’s hardly the only property I’d love to see a new game from. Ganbare Goemon, maybe? Or dare I dream and wonder if Rocket Knight Adventures might get resurrected? Tomm Hulett was, after all, the Producer on 2010’s Rocket Knight. He also is credited with scenario.

“From your mouth to Konami's ears!�?Hulett replied. “I know exactly how I'd pick up from the ending of RK'10 so my fingers are firmly crossed. In the words of Sparkster, ‘Let's go!’�?/p>

For now, I’ve got my fingers crossed that Contra: Operation Galuga turns out to be a success. Considering the last console entry we saw in the series was, uh�?questionable, we could certainly do with a win. WayForward did a stellar job with 2007’s Contra 4, so here’s hoping they can duplicate? tha?t success.

While we’re at it, is a port of Contra 4 too much to ask for?

Contra: Operation Galuga is coming to Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC sometime in early 2024. A physical ??version will come afterward.

The post WayForward’s Tomm Hulett talks Contra: Operation Galuga and working with Konami appeared first on Destructoid.

WayForward announced a major addition to River City Girls 2 with the launch of a four-player online mode. Beat 'em up fans have been brawling with up to three friends locally for a while, but now online co-op extends to four players on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. 

This follows some recent patches that have been put in place to improve balance and performance. Animation was increased to 60FPS on PS4, PS5, Xbox, and PC along with upgraded Switch performance. Combos and juggles have also been adjusted for a more user-friendly experience. Those who already traversed the mean streets from end to end can continue to do so with repeat pl??aythroughs of New Game+.

[caption id="attachment_400060" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via WayForward[/caption]

Return to River City

To get everyone up to speed on the series, WayForward shared a River City Girls series trailer. The games flip the script on the River City Ransom story, this time tasking Misako and Kyoko with rescuing their kidnapped boyfriends. The sequel ups the stakes and has our heroes brawling with the yakuza to take the city back. It's all set to lively pixel art visuals and a scorching soundtrack by Megan McDuffee. The Sean "Jacksepticeye" McLoughlin-voiced Godai narrates the overview below. 

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

After the first game's 2019 debut, River City Girls 2 made its way to consoles and PC in December 2022. As as a spinoff to the Kunio-kun / River City Ransom series, WayForward carved a nice little niche of its own. If you're looking to get into the series, WayForward introduced new digital bundles that pack in all three games. River City Girls, River City Girls 2, and River City Girls Zero are all included for a $74.99 bundle price. 

The post River Cit?y Girls 2 update adds 4-player online co-op for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S appeared first on Destructoid.

Getting ready to embrace my inner Alexis Carrington Colby

Yesterday's stream from Limited Run Games certainly had its share of curious announcements for anyone still holding onto their GBA or who actually liked Gex. I told myself I wouldn't give it any thought this year as my backlog is already stuffed with old games LRG has resurrected over the years. But then they had to go and show off a Rose & Camellia collection. Now, they had my attention.

For anyone who forgot or is simply too young to even know about it, Rose & Camellia is a ridiculous flash game where you try to worm your way to the top of the pecking order by smacking the shit out of your competition. I remember playing this game one lonely night at work, completely enthralled by its ludicrous nature. Unbeknownst to me, it got an official sequel, and later a crossover with La-Mulana. All three of those games, as well as two new sequels, are being brought together by LRG, Nigoro, and WayForward for the Rose & Camellia Collection.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA6U2v-X9PI

With five games and more than 30 characters, your hands are going to be sore after slapping your way to the top of the household. What I'm most excited about are the motion controls. It just wouldn't feel right if you were pressing a button or flicking a control stick to Zsa-Zsa a woman. This is honestly the first time I've been excited about motion controls in a Switch game since...well, I guess the reveal of WarioWare Move It! from a couple of weeks ago.

Either way, this whole thing looks like a hoot and it's nice that a piece of my past, even if it was just for one night, is managing to make its way back into my life with this port. Rose & Camellia Collection will launch in late 2023/earl??y 2024 for the Ni??ntendo Switch.

Oh, I should mention it has two-player local versus. So you and your friends can stop settling it in Smash and settle it in slaps.

The post I can’t wait to get slap happy with the Rose & Camellia Collection appeared first on Destructoid.

WayForward is developing a “Port+�?of Clock Tower

In a world where games like Trials of Mana have official English translations, the pool of unlocalized SNES gems is shrinking. As someone who loves SNES games and grew up on fan translations through the 2000s, I am all for this trend. So you can imagine my reaction when I learned that WayForward will bring Human Entertainment’s horror classic Clock Tower West for the first time, with a slew of new features.

Announced during the Limited Run Games 2023 showcase, WayForward calls this a "Port+" of Clock Tower. It looks like a faithful recreation of the SNES original, with a fresh localization and bonus features. Extras in this new edition of Clock Tower include an animated opening, “motion-comic cutscenes,�?a vocal theme by Mary McGlynn (known for her work on the Silent Hill series), and some quality-of-life features like save states. In short, it looks similar in concept to last year’s River City Girls Zero.

While some may feel disappointed that Clock Tower won’t see a full remaster, the original visual style holds up well. There’s something about retro horror that really gets under my skin, like Capcom’s Japan-only classic Sweet Home.

//youtu.be/ZMzM9J20MOU

A partnership with Limited Run Games

WayForward’s Clock Tower will utilize Limited Run Games�?Carbon Engine, which specializes in porting vintage titles to modern hardware. As you’d expect, Clock Tower will also see a physical release t??hrough Limited Run Games on “select platforms�? Further details will be announced at a later date.

I’m incredibly curious to see how Clock Tower will fare with a new, modern audience. I honestly could never get far in the original back in my teenage years. Mostly because I couldn’t stand the oppressive feeling that all my bad choices were leading everyone to their deaths at the hands of the Scissorman. I also wonder if the original point-and-click interface will see any modernization. After all, fans have ??already done as much for the SNES original.

If you feel ready for some retro horror, Clock Tower will launch on the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStatio??n 5, Xbox, and PC in early 2024.

The post After 28 years, the? original Clock Tower is finally coming? West appeared first on Destructoid.

Re-Boot and roll out

Nintendo is rolling the Advance Wars remake back out, and arrives in just a few months. Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp arrives on April 21, 2023.

Originally revealed at last year's February Nintendo Direct, WayForward's remake was delayed indefinitely due to world events at the time. Now, almost a year after its originally scheduled releas?e date, Andy and the gang will hit the Switch.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=AF6n9-bqV8g

It's been a long time, but thankfully, Advance Wars fans won't have much longer to wait. Advance Wars 1+2: Reboot Camp arrives on April 21. You can find the Switch eShop page here.

The post Ad??vance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp is back, and arrives ??on April 21 appeared first on Destructoid.

Free Fightin'

Still waiting on River City Girls 2? Aren't we all??? Still,?? if you're a Nintendo Switch owner and need a little bit of schoolgal sluggin' to tide you over, then you're in luck, as WayForward's cartoonish brawler is now available to play for "free" as part of the Nintendo Switch Online Game Trial service.

From today until December 12, all Nintendo Switch Online subscribers can download and play the 2019 scrapper in its entirety, guiding Kyoko and Misako through the avenues and alleyways of River City on a mission to discover the truth behind the disappearance of boyfriends Kunio and Riki. Should you decide to bag the full game for yourself, then RCG is currently available on the eShop for a discounted price for the duration o??f the tr?ial.

As for River City Girls 2, well, Japan already has the long-awaited sequel, though seemingly not in its complete and fully featured form. WayForward announced earlier today that the western release will be blessing us on December 15. That's next week! So while the fist-throwing sequel might be hitting these shores a little later than expected, at le??ast we can expect to receive the title as nature intended �?complete with its roster of cool characters and its wild 'n' chaotic four-player mode.

River City Girls 2 launches December 15 on PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. Be sure to check out our previous write-ups on both River City Girls and River City Girls Zero, as well as our interviews with director Adam Tierney, and awesome composer Megan McDuffee.

The post River C??ity Girls now availabl??e on Nintendo Switch Online Game Trials appeared first on Destructoid.

The girls are back in town

River City's brawlers are back in action next week. River City Girls 2 has locked in a North American an??d European launch date of December 15.

The latest beat 'em up from WayForward is set to arrive digitally on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.

The sequel to 2019's River City Girls still follows Misako and Kyoko, as well as their boyfriends Kunio and Riki. Newcomers Marian (of Double Dragon fame) and Provie (from River City Ransom: Underground) also join the cast, rounding it out to six playable characters. And they'll need all t?hat extra help to take on the Sanwakai syndicate that's turning River City upside down.

River City Girls 2 has already launched in Japan and Asia, but the western version saw a bit of a delay. Thankfully, it hasn't taken too long for ??the brawler to get a launch date here.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIlPRmaIJL8

Heading on down to River City

In River City Girls 2, players can take on up to four-player co-op with more characters, moves, enemies, and a larger world to explore. A big appeal of River City Girls 2 is online play. While the original River City Girls only had co-op in local play, the sequel will let players brawl through the levels together over the internet. That will doubtless make those hang-outs a little easier to orga?niz??????????????????????????e.

WayForward is also teasing a nonlinear world and more RPG-like character growth for the brawlers. All that, alongside some serious vocal talent and a new OST from Megan McDuffee, seems like a major draw for River City Girls 2.

Me? I'm just ready to crack knuckles and bust heads in the streets of River City again. River City Girls 2 seems well-set to deliver just that.

The post River City Girls 2 will launch in North America and E?urope next week appeared first on Destructoid.

School bell getting set to ring

Tomorrow sees the launch of WayForward's double-fisted schoolyard sequel River City Girls 2... At least that's true for players in Japan, who will be taking Kyoko, Misako, and thei??r newfound friends on anoth??er rambunctious rumble through the mean streets of the trouble-filled 'berg.

And yet, western fans are still to receive an official release date for this side of the globe �?This is a curious development, given that WayForward is a U.S.-based developer and the game is seemingly ready to rock. To this end, the studio has released a new statement offering an update on the situation.

"We need a bit more time in the oven for the North America/European version in order to deliver the best, most full-featured ?experience possible," writes WayForward on Twitter. "As of now, we're still expecting to launch the game before the end of 2022. When we have an exact date naile?d down, or if anything changes, we'll let you know. We know you're all eager to battle your way back through River City [...] and we're just as eager for you all to play it."

//twitter.com/WayForward/status/1597742562902777862?s=20&t=jJd?QYvY6s0MQLI80EsDvHA

While the statement still does not provide full clarity, it can be perhaps taken that the Japanese version of River City Girls 2 might not feature all of the features planned for launch, such as the all-new four-player co-op modes. Previous advertising for the JPN launch did note that multiplayer action would "follow in a later update". So perhaps the game doesn't quite feature all of its expe??cted content, even this close to launch. The Japanese version has English language support, so it would seem that localization is not the prob??lem.

Whatever the reason, it seems that our favorite schoolgirl sluggers will have to remain in detention for now, eagerly awaiting the moment when they can take to the avenues and alleyways alongside Kunio, Riki, Marian, and Provie. Will we see RCG2 this side of the holidays? It's looking pretty tight, to be honest. But we can probably rest assured that th?e smack-'em-sequel is en route.

River City Girls 2 is in development for PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. Be sure to check out our previous write-ups on both River City Girls and River City Girls Zero, as well as our interviews with director Adam Tierney, and awesome composer Megan McDuffee.

The post Where is River City Girls 2? Still i??n detention for now appeared first on Destructoid.

Dance through your Desktop

While Good Smile Company's catalogue of delightful Nendoroid toys is well into three figures, it is staggering to believe that WayForward's cute genie gal Shantae was still yet to join the roster. After all, The Half-Genie Hero seems c?ust??om designed for such pint-sized stylization.

Well, after years of longing, Good Smile has finally opened pre-orders on the new Nendo of the purple-haired wonder, ready to come dancing out of the screen and ont?o your toy shelf. As is the case for all Nendoroids, Shantae stands arou?nd four inches in height and features dynamically poseable limbs, so you can have our gal cutting a rug in any way you choose.

In terms of accessories, Shantae comes complete with a stand and three separate faceplates, offering her a cute smile, a cheeky wink, or as much ??of an "angry face" as she can muster... Somebody gon' get a hair-whuppin'. Sha?ntae also has alternate arms posed for dancing, pointing, and fireball flinging, as well as a replacement ponytail in freeform whip action. As the cherry on the cake, Shantae is accompanied by a teeny figurine, reflecting her Monkey form from the smash hit series. Adorbs.

If you fancy inviting the Shantae Nendo into your home, then she is available to pre-order from the Good Smile Co. website and other dedicated merch retailers, priced at? ¥8,900, (roughly $57), not including shipping or any potential customs charges. The Shantae Nendoroid is expected to ship in summer 2023.

Now we just ne?ed to get Rotty, Risky and other friends in the mix.

The post Shantae is fina??lly getting her Nendoroid, and its inevitably super-cute appeared first on Destructoid.

Who needs Bimmy & Jimmy?

WayForward has released an eye-bruising new trailer for its upco?ming sequel River City Girls 2, which is currently waiting in the wings for its inevitable launch on PC and consoles �?The new video allows Kyoko and Misako to take a moment out of the spotlight, inst?ead focusing on one of the duo's new sister-in-arms, the mighty Marian!

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oIrSsN-MSE

You might remember the sexy slugger from her turn in the classic arcade brawler Do??uble Dragon, where Marian played the unenviable role of the Damsel in Distress. Bored of waiting for brothers Billy & Jimmy Lee to get the job done, Marian focused on honing her body, mind, and fighting abilities to ensure that if there was any future beatdowns to be dished out, she would be the one doin' the dishin'.

Marian appeared in the original River City Girls as one of a number of cameo shopkeepers, but is finally strapping on the gauntlets to take to the street herself. Armed with an array of ground and pound grapples and haymaker strikes, this former abductee turned MMA monster is ready to help Kyoko, Misako, and her other allies in another adventure, (or should that be "ABventure. God...DAMN), against the ruthless Sabu crime family.

If our heroes weren't tough e??nough before, then shit just got a whole lot toughe?r.

River City Girls 2 will launch later this year on PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch platforms. Be sure to check out our previous write-ups on both River City Girls and River City Girls Zero, as well as our interviews with director Adam Tierney, and awesome composer Megan McDuffee.

The post Marian is done ?with damsel schtick in River City Girls 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

But who will play Abobo?

River City Girls 2 director Bannon Rudis sent me a cryptic message on Friday. "There is a play in Japan. I have no info on this."

That's the kind of mystery I live for, so I got to researching, and eventually found out that a theater company called Solid Star (Heaven Eleven, Yu x You) is putting on a River City Girls play based on the original game. It's set to be performed live from December 7th to 11th, 2022. That's quite the limited run! And the cast is massive, maybe larger than that of the original game. Is that even possible? Bannon tells me that neither he nor River City Girls 2 writer Adam Tierney have anything to do with this production, so like Willie Scott once sang, "Anything Goes."

I'd love to see Bannon and Adam go to Japan to review this official(?) River City Girls play, but I'm not sure who'll pay to make that happen. Maybe Solid Star will? Even better would be if they shelled out some extra dough to cast my old Road Rules Northern Trail friend Bob Sapp as Abobo. Bob also hit me up just last Friday, for the first time in 25 years, to see how I was doing. Having Bannon and Bob come ??at me on the same day feels like more than?? a coincidence.

??Solid Star, if you're reading this, I will personally pay for Bob's airfare and lodgin??g if that's what it takes to see him hit the stage in your show. Abobo was the role he was born to play.

The post The Riv??er City Girls hit the stage in a new Japanese play appeared first on Destructoid.

Back 2 (old) Skool

Back in 2019, the global gaming community was introduced to two totes-adorbs, totes-dopey schoolyard sluggers: Kyoko and Misako, collectively known as the River City Girls. Essentially a rebirth of sorts for the legendary Kunio-kun series, WayForward's River City Girls revitalized the franchise for modern audiences, retaining the open-world nature and nose-busting brawling of its predecessors and dressing it up with dazzling colors, a badass soundtrack, slick artwork, and cool new characters. River City Girls reinvented not only the Kunio-kun series, but also brawlers themselves.

However, in news that still surprises folk today, River City Girls was not the debut adventure for Kyoko and Misako. No, our excitable and somewhat obsessive teens made their original video game debut way back in 1994, in Japan-only Super Famicom release Shin Nekketsu Koha: Kunio-tachi no Banka, which saw series leads Kunio and Riki team up with their respective gals to get to the bottom of a case of mistaken identity. One?? broken jaw at a time.

While many of the Kunio-kun titles are playable today via the Double Dragon & Kunio-kun: Retro Brawler Bundle, Shin Nekketsu Koha: Kunio-tachi no Banka remained unavailable to western players. Until now, as Arc System Works and WayForward has finally localized this lost sequel for these shores. So fire up the Switch, it's time to rumble with River City Girls Zero.

Our story begins with a hit-and-run tragedy, as a bystander is hit by two dudes on a speeding motorcycle, with one of the riders identified as Kunio-kun's titular hero and badass school boss, Kunio. Quick as a flash, our boys find themselves sped through the courts and thrown in the slammer, accused of a crime that they did not commit. This being the video ??game world, they quickly escape solitary via amusingly easy means, before setti?ng out on a cross-country jaunt to uncover the truth behind the hit -n- run �?a jaunt that will see a lot of fists and feet thrown before justice is ultimately served.

It should be noted, first and foremost, that River City Girls Zero is quite unlike a lot of the other titles in the Kunio-kun series. The 16-bit adventure eschews much of the open-city adventure and backtracking of its contemporaries, switching it up for sequential, linear stages as our gang of heroes follows the trail of breadcrumbs to the villains of the piece. For the most part, this consists o??f very straig??htforward 2D belt-scrolling action, as Kunio, Riki, Kyoko, and Misako throw down with the bullies, street thugs, gangsters, and other Bad Dudes that have the lowdown on the boys' mistaken confinement.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpJ-UYq9T1k

River City Girls Zero is a simplistic brawler. Immensely so. It features the typical punch/kick action that typifies the series' combat, complete with the classic back-attack, the satisfying ground-and-pound system, and ugly, unwieldy jump kicks. Each character can also put up their dukes to defend against incoming attacks, and all four fighters have their own cool special moves, activated by hitting block and then the requisite attack button. Misako gets her Street Fighter hurricane kick on, while Kyoko opts for seriously o?verpowered lightning legs.

For the most part, however, River City Girls Zero is a slugfest, exchang??ing finesse and skill for exploitation, tolerance, and patience.

Whereas the best brawlers, then and especially now, understand the flow of the fight, and the importance of smooth, rhythmic combat, River City Girls Zero is somewhat raw, with stiff movement and ultra-strict hitboxes. The "overlap dead zone" is in effect, and quite often victory is to be achieved through "working" the opponent (for example overlapping from above, walking the opponent into corners, or otherwise tricking the A.I.), rather than through smart combat, an admittedly clunky strategy style demonstrated in Technos' arcade brawlers such as Double Dragon and The Combattribes.

This stiffness is a problem with many early brawlers, but by 1994, the genre had already moved beyond what is offered in Shin Nekketsu Koha: Kunio-tachi no Banka, which, from a gameplay standpoint, feels years older than contemporaries such as Capcom's Cadillacs and Dinosaurs, or Sega's Streets of Rage 2, both ?of which had released over two years prior.

The cute Super Famicom sprites offer much personality to our heroes and villains, and the combat is meaty and relentless, but the game's design barely advanced from the earliest Kunio-kun titles, when other series had already begun experimenting with much deeper combat mechanics.  As a result, standard enemy encounters are incredibly samey, while boss battles an exercise in "trickery". The new engine utilized for River City Girls Zero does work to improve the notorious input latency of the ori??ginal Super Famicom release, making the action here a little more forgiving and responsive to the player.

In the title's favor, its nicely animated and colorful sprites, variety of citywide locations, and legitimately smooth SNES synth punctuate the action. The anarchic story is also a lot of fun, (you gotta love the police telling our gang of renegade high school kids that it's fine to take the law into their own hands). Aesthetically and narratively, River City Girls Zero lives its? cool and compelli??ng "outlaw" vibe, reminiscent of Toei's excellent array of '70s gangster flicks.

As the story progresses and our heroes travel around the country, the side-scrolling stages are linked with Road Rash style motorcycle sections, where the player guns the hog to the next location, while indulging in footsies with enemy riders. These sections are pretty disappointing, dated even by '94 standards. The overall problem with Shin Nekketsu Koha: Kunio-tachi no Banka/River City Girls Zero is that the title lacks a sense of "electricity", despite its fun story and great soundtrack. Stil??l, as is the case for so many brawlers, the enjoyment is increased with the addition of a second player.

Shin Nekketsu Koha: Kunio-tachi no Banka is, without doubt, a piece of gaming history. WayForward recognizes this, and has dressed up the title in a wonderful presentation package. We open with a fantastic anime sequence, (when's the OVA!!?) backed by an absolute fire song from series composer Megan McDuffee. We also get a delightfully meta manga sequence, as Kyoko and Misako pick up a copy of Shin Nekketsu Koha: Kunio-tachi no Banka for the Super Famicom and attempt to get it running on, (what must b?e to them), ancient hardware. Kids these days.

We roll credits with another awesome new tune, and scans of the original artwork and instructional manual are also available to peruse as a fun extra. In regards to localization, there are two English translations on offer: A "Literal" translation, which closely follows the original Japanese text, and a "New" translation which is a little tidier and omits the swearing and misogynistic language of the original script. A useful save state function also helps out in some aggravating boss battles. Ironically, River City Girls Zero fits the bill as a preserved historical ?relic better than it does? as a retro experience.

As both a Kunio-kun and a brawler aficionado, I think it's marvelous that Shin Nekketsu Koha: Kunio-tachi no Banka has been given this new lease of life. It's gaming history that needed to be archived, both for the legacy of Kunio-kun and for protagonists Kyoko and Misako, a duo who only have further fantastic adventures ahead. Fans of the series, who can better tolerate its gameplay shortcomings, will squeal with delight that this long-standing hole in their collection has finally been plugged �?though even they wouldn't deny that this entry is, ultimately, one ?of the series' wea??ker offerings.

River City Girls Zero is available now on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, PC, and Xbox. River City Girls 2? is currently in development for Pl??ayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.

_{[These impressions are based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post River City Girls Zero: Old-school Famic??om fisticuffs for die-hard fans appeared first on Destructoid.

And the gorgeous and deadly Sabuko returns

Developer WayForward has released a brand new trailer for its upcoming release River City Girls 2, which not only introduces us to the narrative's wretched hive of villainy, but also debuts the brawler sequel's chaotic, knuck?le-dustin' four-player co-op action.

River City Girls 2 will see schoolyard superheroes Kyoko and Misako take to the streets of gaming's most violent town in order to, once again, serve up their own brand of dopey, two-fisted justice. Standing in their way are a slew of familiar and not-so-familiar faces, including returning gangland boss Sabuko, her obnoxious step-brother Ken, (which die-hard fans will remember from River City Girls Zero), and River City's mos?t hated antagonist �?the sibling's murderous father Sabu.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OrWkuUfHlk

Fortunately, our hometown heroes will not be charging into battle alone. Not only will Kyoko and Misako be aided by long-time Kunio-kun protagonists Kunio and Riki, but Double Dragon's Marian and River City Underground's Provie will also be stepping up to the plate, bringing their own unique, hard-hitting combat styles. The trailer debuts RCG 2's four-player co-op action, w?hich will help the River City Girls even the odds further against armies of bullies, street criminals, gangsters, and other dangerous roustabouts that stand in the way of street justice. Put up yer dukes...

River City Girls 2 will launch later this year on PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch platforms. Be sure to check out our previous write-ups on both River City Girls and River City Girls Zero, as well as our interviews with director Adam Tierney, and awesome composer Megan McDuffee. For an exclusive look at the new sequel, check out this feature over on *checks notes* IGN.

The post River City ?Girls 2 shows off ch??aotic four-player co-op carnage appeared first on Destructoid.

Gonna be a borstal breakout

Fans of those schoolyard roustabouts, the River City Girls, will be pleased to hear that the pugilistic duo's series debut, River City Girls Zero, will be making its impact felt on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox this month, following on from its release on Nintendo ?Switch back in March of this year.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpJ-UYq9T1k

As a quick cram session, River City Girls Zero is a revamped remaster of the 1994 Super Famicom title Shin Nekketsu Koha: Kunio-tachi no Banka, which is the first title in the Kunio-kun franchise to introduce Kyoko and Misako as playable characters. WayForward's remaster sees the scrolling brawler officially localized for the west for the very first time, while sporting a freshly translated script, new manga cutscenes, and an amusing intro song by River City Girls series composer Megan McDuffee.

As a game... welllll... it has to be said that time has not been too kind to Shin Nekketsu Koha: Kunio-tachi no Banka, which was already quite dated by brawler standards even in 1994. But, as a little piece of franchise history, it's still nice to see the long-lost title get some time in the spotlight. This release, of course, will also serve as an appetizer to WayForward's long-awaited sequel River City Girls 2, which will be gracing? us with its presence at some point later in 2022.

River City Girls Zero launches on PlayStation and Xbox platforms September 13, with PC (Steam) to follow on September 22. It is available right now on Nintendo Switch. Be sure to check out our thoughts on the remaster right here, along with our recent interview with Megan McDuffee!

The post River City?? Girls Zero brings the pain on PC,?? PlayStation, and Xbox this month appeared first on Destructoid.

Sing-a-Song of Slugfests

Much like another of WayForward's top franchises, Shantae, River City Girls understands that the key to connecting with an audience is to imbue your characters and worlds with life, personality, and charisma. This can be achieved through storytelling, script, visuals, and, of course, music. For Ky??oko, Misako, their allies, and their enemies, music plays an essential part in setting the scene, with pulse-pounding beats, retro-electro, and dramatic vocals scoring the duo's fast 'n' furious town tear-up.

River City Girls' distinct sound was meticulously composed by Washington-based musician Megan McDuffee. McDuffee's work brings life and dynamism to RCG, affording its 2D visuals fullness of character, springing the game's heroes, villains, and locales to life. Now preparing to return for the upcoming River City Girls 2, we spoke with the award-winning composer about their sound, their influ?ences, and their thoughts on River City's most dangerous rockstar, NOIZE.

Destructoid: Hi Megan, and thanks for sitting down with us! I guess it'd be best to start at the beginning, which I've heard is a very good place to start. How did you get started in music? And, for those yet to hear your music, how would you personally define your unique, eclectic sound?

Megan: There was never a time when I was not in music �?it’s been part of my life since day one. I always knew I’d have a musically focused career. I’m an am??algamation of all the things I listened to both growing up and as a young adult. Rock, jazz, classical, pop, and electronic were on regular rotation in my collection. And while my sound varies between projects, the underlying thread is my electronic production and highly melodic sensibility. I’d say for my own personal artist releases, my style is best described as dark electropop with triphop influences.

Destructoid: I love the darkness in your music, melodically, lyrically, and aesthetically. Now, River City Girls was not your first venture into "music for media", as your work has been previously featured in a variety of films and TV series. How did you get into composing music for the screen, and how would you say the process differs from recording, say, an album? Are you at the behest of a lot of requests, or are you still able to maintain creative freedom?

Megan: I had a bit of an epiphany during my undergraduate studies while taking a film music course; I wasn’t totally satisfied with my vocal major, so I switched to Film Scoring. I always loved film soundtracks, ??and the lightbulb went of??f in my head to pursue that path. The process is pretty different between the two in the role that music plays. When scoring to picture, it’s most often about supporting the emotional threads of the film, and enhancing what’s on screen.

When composing an album, there’s far more creative freedom in what you want your "message" to be. Film music plays a supporting role, while an album is the story. My personal creative leeway varies greatly from project to project �?some directors/developers have a well-fleshed-out vision of their need??s, and some want me ?to just go nuts!

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=br4PStzUQIA

Destructoid: How were you approached by WayForward to compose the soundtrack for the first River City Girls release? What do you think it is about your previous work that the team thought would be a snug fit for Kunio-kun �?a Japanese video game series about rebellious schoolyard scrappers?

Megan: I call this my "networking miracle". A fellow member of the Materia Collective (a group of video game music arrangers, singers, producers, composers, enthusiasts, etc.) was friends with one of the directors at WayForward, and recommended me when he heard they were potentially looking for a composer with a "synthpop" vibe. WayForward reached out to me after hearing some of my other work and the rest is history. I think they were enchanted?? by my '80s-yet-modern style, and were definitely hooked when they found out I was also a vocalist.

Destructoid: River City Girls differs from many games in that much of the soundtrack contains fully lyricised songs with a regular song structure. This is one area in which the RCG soundtrack differs from the typical musical composition of most games. Was the choice to feature vocalized music made by yourself or the development team?

Megan: The idea to have a few fully-vocal synthpop songs was pitched by the game’s director; he really liked my voice, and thought it might be a cool idea to incorporate som??e vocals. I think it was a great choice. The fact that it ties into rockstar baddie NOIZE is such a fun little detail that I haven’t really see??n in other games before!

Destructoid: How far along in the game’s development do you begin your songwriting process? Do you have a lot of recon materials to work with, or do you essentially have the unenviable task of writing your soundtrack based purely on some basic narrative ideas, character art, and very little else?

Megan: For the first RCG, I was brought into the development process pretty early, from what I can tell. I was given artwork of some of the charac??ters, a general description of each area, and some musical style/genre references. I didn’t see any gameplay until the game was basically fin?ished. One recent project I worked with was the complete opposite, where I provided the final touches and was able to work with fully rendered gameplay. It depends on the project, really.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BtCtwyIlG8

Destructoid: How pleased are you personally with the finished score of RCG? What emotions were invoked in you when you first saw the finished game, with your music punctuating its charming but hard-hitting and chaotic action?

Megan: It was a dream come true to have finished such an enormous soundtrack, and one I was super excited about. I'm extremely pleased with the final result! Listening back now I hear a bunch of production issues I would do differently, but all in all, I’m still stoked with it.? Oh man, seeing it in action for the first time was totally surreal! It was during a visit to the WayForward office, where I got to play a bit of the game on the couch with the dev te??am... What a trip.

Destructoid: So, come release day, River City Girls received much critical and fan acclaim, with many reviewers and players citing your music as one of the key elements in regard to delivering character, charisma, and style to Kyoko and Misako’s adventure. While you’re already a successful recording artist already, did you find that RCG introduced a plethora of new fans to your other work?

Megan: One hundred and twelve percent. At the time, RCG was the biggest project I had worked on in terms of scope and visibility, so that brought a lot of people my way. I’d say a good three-quarters of people who follow me have found me through that soundtrack. I’m infinitely grateful for the ongoing exposure. I know without a doubt my first major artist release ("Inner Demons") would not have found the success it had without having worked on RCG.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQNDu0kCtuY

Destructoid: I'm very happy to have found your work through the continuing RCG saga. Has your experience with the first game helped with the design process of the sequel? Is RCG 2 a "difficult second album", or has your previous work with the franchise helped you immensely with the compositional process?

Megan: Thank you! I’m extremely excited as well. In regards to the process of writing the new score, I have essentially just continued where the first game left off. I had some slightly different references to work with, as well as some "genre-blending" challenges this time around. But this has kept things evolvi??ng and kept me out of a composition rut.

Destructoid: I believe that your personal work on the sequel has now wrapped, yes? Now that RCG 2 is in the books, what future projects do you have lined up?

Megan: Yes, I recently wrapped all the RCG 2 soundtrack production, and I have no shortage of other projects in the works. I’m continuing to work alongside Atari for their "Recharged" series. I’m crafting gnarly horror-cyberpunk tunes for the indie game Evolutis. I perform spooky narration for the CreepyPod podcast. I'm recording vocals for other producers, including a co-production with ALEX and a??n exciting collab with RichaadEB. I'm producing a bunc?h of music for a hugely popular MMO (that I can��t divulge yet)... I'm beginning production on another vocal artist release...

Destructoid: Yikes! That's a hefty inbox, but I'm glad to see that you're staying in demand! This also brings about an interesting question: If you could choose to score an entry in any video game franchise, which would you choose?

Megan: This is a tough one! I have so many favorites. I’d love to score something that could use an epic score with an electro edge... like Mass Effect... or BioShock.

And, since I love horror, maybe Dead Space or DOOM!

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=TA0yE1hlMRE

Destructoid: Thanks a lot for taking the time to chat with me today, Megan. It's been awesome learning a little about your history and the process in which you create these charismatic and resonant soundtracks. It would be outrageous for us to conclude this interview without referencing River City Girls�?very own electro diva: NOIZE.

You personally portray this, somewhat misunderstood, River City Superstar, who takes on Kyoko and Misako during a particularly creative boss battle. How does it feel to see your music literally personified as a character?

Megan: Again, it's totally surreal. I think of it as my "Jack Skellington" career moment, where I produced the soundtrack and also personified a memorable characte?r! So insanely cool!

Destructoid: She's certainly a fiery musician! Is that the only way that you and NOIZE are alike in character, or are you two very different? It feels as if she has a deeper story to tell, and fans would love to see her again. So... will she return to the stage in the continuing saga of River City?

Megan: I might not be as bitter as NOIZE, but I definitely have her energy! In real life, I probably would have hugged Kyoko, instead of fighting her. Perhaps one day I’ll have my own crazed fans rocking out at sold-out shows, haha! Also, although I’ve colored my hair almost every shade of the rainbow, I've never had fully green locks. I should probably try that sometime! As for NOIZE's return, I’ll err on the side of caution and say you may, or may not, be seeing her again�?/p>

Megan McDuffee's newest single "Villain" is available to purchase now on Bandcamp, alongside the album "Inner Demons", cyberpunkish EP "Barely Covered", and other works. For all news and updates on upcoming projects, follow Megan over on Twitter, Instagram, and her official website.

River City Girls 2 is currently in development for PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nint??endo Switch.

The post Bring?? the ?Noize: A chat with River City Girls composer Megan McDuffee appeared first on Destructoid.

You gotta dust her the right way

It has been 20 years since everybody's favorite Half-Genie Hero sashayed her way onto the Game Boy Color and into our hearts. From Pirate's Curses, to Risky's Revenges and even Seven Sirens, there's no denying that the magical gal and her fellow Scuttle Island d??enizens rank among ?the most likable, cheerful, and enduring characters of modern gaming.

To celebrate her 20th anniversary, boutiq?ue outlet Limited Run Games has opened pre-orders?? on this delightful statue. The figurine stands around 10 inches tall, (including the base), and spotlights shapeshifting adventurer in her classic genie garb and posed coyly at the viewer. There is no pajama Shantae variant, but we can't have everything.

As a fun addition, anybody who has been collecting the ongoing range of acrylic character standees will find that, once they are inserted into the base, that the statue lights up Shantae in all of her glory. It should be clearly stated that the acrylic figures are previous sale items and are NOT automatically included with the statue. An additional set of acrylics �?depicting five Shantae game covers �?are available in a bundle.

If you fancy a Shantae statue of your very own �?and who wouldn't? �?then she is available to pre-order now over at the official Limited Run Games store. The statue is $134.99 USD or $159.99 with the acrylic bundle, (not including shipping or any potential customs charges). Pre-orders will close on August 28, with the statue expected ?to ship in 2023.

The post Cute Shantae statue pre-orders live at ??Limited Run Games appeared first on Destructoid.

PAX East 2022 is already a catastrophe

I picked up my PAX East 2022 badge last night, and I found a strange note attached to it. The note, written in crayon, instructed me to go under the nearby footbridge for a meeting at 9PM. I know a lot of strange people in the industry, so this wasn't all that surprising. Also, I'm a 45-year-old video game blogger. The chances of me being seen as valuable enough to be kidnapped are (hopefully) pretty slim. So I packed up my valuables in my car, called my wife and son to tell them I love them, and headed unde??r the bridge.

There was a little door down there, about four feet high, with the words "KEBAKO'S MIGHTY MIGHTY MIGHTY PAX BOOTH" drawn on with sparkly puff paint. There was no doorknob, but I managed to ?pry it open with my fingernails. That was risky, as the door was very rusty. I crawled in and the door drifted shut behind me.

It was pitch black, so I whipped out my phone and used it as a crappy flashlight. I also hit the record button on my audio notepad app. If I was going to die down there, I at least?? wanted some record of my ill-advised final moments.

But I didn??'t die. Instead, I took the recording of what happened and turned it into a video. The visuals are just for reenactment purposes, but everything you hear is 100% real.

[embed]//www.y?outube.com/watch?v=b8dfBFKxEWM[/embed]

So what just happened to me?

My guess is that this was all to promote Limited Run Games' release of Cat Girl Without Salad: Amuse-Bouche. I have quite the history with the game, being one of the first people to report on it being a?? legitimate WayForward origi??nal, so I wasn't entirely surprised that I got some "special treatment" from the team behind it. But discovering that Kebako, the titular cat girl, is a real pe?rson? That was a shock to even me.

And the bonuses in the Cat Girl Without Salad Limited Run C??ollector's Edition are just as real. Real money. Real robot squids. Even real tattoos! For a game that many thought was ??just a joke, this is a seriously cool package.

The Collector's Edition and Regular Edition of Cat Girl Without Salad are both on sale at Limited Run until Ma?y 1, 2022, without salad or any plans for a future re-release, so grab this bowl of colorful brain candy by the tongs and dig in while you can.

The post Cat Girl Without Salad star claims to be real, tells you to ?buy her Limited Run game appeared first on Destructoid.

Reconnaissance Mission

In one of the strangest stories from the weekend, it seems that WayForward's anticipated strategy release Advance Wars 1+2: ReBoot Camp was rendered fully playable... by one single Swi?tch owner.

Twitter user "Rachael" (@killetheth) posted images pulled directly from the incoming release, which was seemingly available to lau??nch live from their Switch Lite unit, (though they are unable to access the title, from the same account, on their "main" Nintendo Switch hardware). While some responders raised eyebrows at the authenticity of the story, Rachael followed up with screens pulled from the Advance Wars 1+2 tutorial mode, as well as its Mission Select screens. ?It al?l looks pretty legitimate.

//twitter.com/killeth?eth/status/1512870820523167745?s=20&t=teruh9QpraKDdMO??BsRBevQ

The remake was expected to launch in December of 2020, but was initially delayed to April 8 for further tweaking, before then having its launch postponed in the wake of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. As such, Advance Wars 1+2 is likely long-gone-gold and ready to launch �?sitting on WayForward's servers and just waiting for the go-ahead from Nintendo. Thus it is completely possible that some bizarre glitch in the matrix opened the door for Rachael to somehow acc?ess the title.

Advance Wars 1+2: ReBoot Camp will off??icially launch on Nintendo Switch in 2??022.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7LTV2MJ3Zw

The post Postponed Advance? Wars re?make seemingly went live for lone player appeared first on Destructoid.

I Kaiju Choose You

On March 14, 2022, the world learned of the passing of Akira Takarada. While perhaps not the most recognizable name in cinema history, the Japanese-Korean actor holds a special place in the hearts of monster movie fans, having carved out a niche in myriad Japanese creature features. Takarada starred in the original Toho production of Godzilla (1954) as well as its many sequels, while also battling beasties in the similarly themed Invasion of Astro Monster (1965), King Kong Escapes (1967), and Latitude Zero (1969). Takarada would even receive a small cameo in Gareth Edwards' Godzilla (2014).

During his decades on the silver screen, Takarada came to understand the timeless natu??re of the "Kaiju" genre. There is a huge global community of fans who, no matter the generation, will flock to see gigantic neolithic monsters do battle within recognizable cityscapes �?fighting it out against a backdrop of broken human politics, capitalist greed, and man's inhumanity to man. You might be seeing a dude in a rubber suit doing a German Suplex, but y??ou're also being told, quite plainly, "Fuck Nukes".

Witnessing devastation and destruction, wreaked upon the world by a cast of scaly behemoths, remains an enthralling cinematic sub-genre �?and is as thematically relevant in the '20s as it was in the '50s. The kaiju movie has become a beloved and respected cornerstone of science fiction, equally recognized and celebrated in WayForward's brand new slugfest Dawn of the Monsters.

So p??ull on your big rubber feet, and let's?? Do the Stomp.

Dawn of the Monsters (PlayStation [PS5 reviewed], Xbox, PC, Nintendo Switch)
Developer: 13AM Games
Publisher: WayForward
Released: March 15, 2022
MSRP: $29.99

Storming out of Canadian independent studio 13AM Games, Dawn of the Monsters is a narrative-driven side-scrolling smash-'em-up �?blending the core of brawlers and fighting games w??ith the character build mechanics of roguelite adventures. Set in the far-flung future of 2036, the planet Earth has been all but conquered by a terrifying force of giant alien creatures, known to mankind as "The Nephilim". These behemoths have driven humanity underground, where they cower in fear of the devastation that rages above, as an ever-evolving battalion of beasts lays waste to the scorched earth.

All is not lost, however, as a resistance faction formed of the smartest, richest, and/or bravest hearts and minds is embarking on one critical push to reclaim the weary planet and push the invaders back into oblivion. Enter D.A.W.N., (Defense Alliance Worldwide Network), ?a body that has spent the past decade studying the enemy, gathering forces & resources, and creating its own army of towering titans. Operating out of its satellite headquarters, The Sunrise, D.A.W.N. prepares to return to the Earth's surface, executing a shattering do-or-die counter-attack with the fate of humanity itself at stake.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=GumQguL9RNw

While it would be easy to assume Dawn of the Monsters is a brawler of the Streets of Rage or Final Fight variety, that would be somewhat inaccurate. While DotM does feature the typical tropes of the beat-'em-up, it moves to the beat of its own drum, reflecting the heavyweight nature of its cover stars. The result is a blend of side-scrolling brawler and one-on-one fighter, with an emphasis on op?timized combos, parries, elemental effects, and prec??ise, tactical movement.

DotM's fisticuffs feel suitably epic, as our huge, screaming warriors smash it out above the bridges and skyscrapers of abandoned cities. Megaton by nature, our protagonists and antagonists can often leave the action feeling a little sluggish and perhaps "heavier" than many players would like from?? their belt-action brawlers. In fact, the deliberate pace can often work against the flow of action, sometimes leaving fights feeling more of a chore to push thr?ough, rather than an exciting dust-up with a city at stake.

This naturally heavyweight pace is balanced out somewhat by DotM's deep, defined combat, which rewards experimentation, timing, and smart screen awareness. When coupled with the title's array of defensive abilities, cinematic rage attacks, and super satisfying "Cataclysms" (essentially Supers), it is surprising and refreshing to explore just how intricate the DotM combat mechanics are.

For a game that is, essentially, all about dinosaurs smacking each other in the chops. Dawn of the Monsters is absolutely not a button-masher.

As the player racks up kills, executions, and ??extended combos, a ranking system will reward them with a selection of "Augments": effect-laden boosts that can be applied to your Nephilim between missions. These range from health and damage buffs, to increased ??meter gain, powered-up parries & counters, or the ability to add armor frames to certain attacks. This mechanic adds further depth to your chosen kaiju, making them even more dangerous as they romp 'n' stomp their way throughout the continents of the world. The only problem is... they're kind of powerful enough to begin with...

Dawn of the Monsters is a surprisingly easy title, especially once one has gotten to grips with its core mechanics. From its early missions, one optimized combo can put paid to essentially all enemies with relative ease. Once the Augment mechanic unfolds, your scal?y boy/girl can often feel overpowered to the point of game-breaking. By the second chapter, I already had a build secured that essentially allowed me to simply parry many opponents to death, racking up "S" rankings with reckless abandon.

The slim challenge offered is fine for those simply looking for an action-packed smack-'em-up to be enjoyed with a buddy but, as a single-player campaign, DotM lacks a sense of adrenaline. The combat is smart and creative and, with a little work, players will soon have Kaiju heads littering the streets. But the rock 'em sock 'em action is undermined by DotM's relaxed pace and lack of challenge. Whi?le undoubtedly fun, especially in co-op, the campaign ultimately runs out of steam before its final act.

One element of Dawn of the Monsters that defies criticism lies in its aesthetic. From its fantastic splash art to its dazzling in-game visuals, DotM masterfully reconstructs the visual style of yesteryear's comic books. The doomed cityscapes (and their respective doombringers) are beautifully designed, delightfully anima?ted, and awash with an amazing palette of pop-art color.

In addition, DotM has needle-sharp depth. The 2D action just pops off the screen thanks to some excellent shading, affording each stage an authentic sense of perception. Visually, DotM is o??ne of the finest 2D releases in year??s. See the image above for a prime example of its "living-comic-book" universe.

Backing up these fine graphics is an epic, foreboding, and bass-heavy score, suitably punctuating the "End-of-the-World" theme of Dawn of the Monsters' narrative. As Megadon and his pals throw down in abandoned neighborhoods, streams, and metropolitan districts, their strikes, blows, specials, and range of powerful space-age weaponry are all accompanied by suitably effective booms, blasts, and roars. Played through headphones, DotM offers a true cacophony of chaos, perfectly suited to the rampaging on-screen action. Dawn of the Monsters is an opera of nihilism. From an audio/visual standpoint, it's difficult to imagine how 13AM Games could hav??e better rep?resented its comic book apocalypse.

As a fun distraction between missions, players can learn more about DotM's intriguing world, lore, and cast of characters. Players can eavesdrop on fellow crew members �?a likable bunch of international agents who, while tropey, are both visually cool and well-performed by an enthusiastic voice cast. As the campaign progresses, further lore is unlocked, allowing the player to learn more about the fateful events that brought about this horrifying crisis. Additionally, players can also use in-game currency to purchase palette-swaps for the DotM roster ??�?each and? every one of them is a sartorial delight.

There is very little else in the way of unlocks an?d alternate modes, which finds the $30 price tag a little wanting. It should also be noted that co-op multiplayer is local only, there is no online to be had.

Dawn of the Monsters is something of a victim of its own ambition. No one would deny that 13AM Games has put a lot of passion and effort into its creation, offering up a chaotic, head-ripping, building-breaking action experience. But something in the final mix just doesn't quite gel. The core problem is that combat is deep, fun, and clever, but also somewhat redundant due to a lack of challenge �?a problem that also hurts the equally smart Augment mechanic. When you combine the low difficulty with DotM's generally unhurried pacing, you have a title that is fun, but not exciting.

That is not to say that DotM is bad. Far from it. It looks and sounds fantastic, it has an interesting world, smart customization options, well-designed bosses, and will most definitely provide hours of joy for two buddies on a lazy weekend. Importantly, it absolutely captures the spirit of its source material, presenting �?with great pride �?a worthy tribute to the legendary kaiju kulture. Fans of that timeless genre, or ??those just looking for a spot of co-op monster-mashin??g, will not feel too let down.

Dawn of the Monsters is a fine tim??e that is shy of greatness, though not for lack of trying. 13AM's tribute to a timeless cinematic genre captures the majesty, scale, and nihilism of its inspiration, stamping its ??own mark with smart combat and fantastic visuals. Unfortunately, repetitive missions, undemanding challenge, and slow pacing may dishearten solo players or those who prefer their scrappers on the speedier side. Regardless, anyone with a case of Atomic Breath should find some cataclysmic fun within.

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

The post Review: Dawn of the Monsters appeared first on Destructoid.

Apple Arcade action returns on PC and consoles

The fun-loving folk at WayForward Games have announced that cartoonish run 'n' gun title Spidersaurs is getting set to come blasting onto PC and console platforms this spring. The ??animated action-adventure fir??st launched on Apple Arcade way back in the fall of 2019.

There has been a breakout at the clandestine INGESTCorp facility, which has resulted in an army of *checks notes* half-spider, half-dinosaur hybrids, originally developed as *checks notes further* a new food source for humanity going on a devastating rampage. As the eight-legged reptiles, understandably pissed, tearing plant and man asunder, it's?? up to our gun-toting heroes Victoria and Adrian to clean up the mess, save the world, and see the dinos hit extinction for the second time in a lifetime.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=keH52lDOCVQ

Spidersaurs combines the frenetic, side-scrolling shooter action of a Metal Slug or a Contra with the colorful visuals, wisecracking characters, and goofy narrative of a classic Saturday morning TV show. As Victoria and Adrian, one or two players blast their way through a series of varied stages, taking on all manner of bizarre and terrifying crimes against God. Armed with an array of unique weaponry, while also utilizing individual character skills, Our heroes ??venture through volcanoes, jungles, and laboratories in non-stop blood-pumping, bullet-flinging action.

This new edition of Spidersaurs contains new elements not seen in the initial Apple Arcade release. The PC and console port features a new end-of-game boss, a revamped ending, new difficulty settings, a speedrun mode, and a complete rebalance of weapons and enemies �?all of which will hopefully see the title receive a better welcome than in its initial outing. Speaking of which, never fear,? AA players, as the new features will be added to the Apple edition vi??a an incoming update.

Spidersaurs will launch this spring on PlaySta??tion, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.

The post WayForward’s Spidersaurs is a dose of Saturday morning mayhem appeared first on Destructoid.