Category: PC

New Steam Store Releases: Grandia II

Just in time for its 15th anniversary (and completely as a surprise to me), this week, Grandia II has come to the Steam Store. Already one of my all-time favorite RPGs, this version of the game is even better than I remember. That's because Grandia II Anniversary Edition features upgraded visuals, an extra difficulty setting, Steam Achievements, and an original Japanese voice option.

It doesn't include a soundtrack, though, unfortunately (my original Dreamcast version did). That one small oversight aside, this game is definitely worthy of a purchase. If you've never played it before (or even if you have), I would strongly urge you to give it a look.

Also out this week, Mega Man Legacy Collection (Boo-yah!), a very excellent (and dark) looking sci-fi action platformer, and an action RPG sequel featuring time-travel and evolving video game styles. Celebrate a very welcome 15th anniversary, then proceed further to see more of this week's new releases.

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The Ground Will Fall Out Beneath Your Feet, The Pillars Of Eternity Will Shatter And The Earth Will…Evo…Land…Twice?

A whole slew of news from the GOG front:

Perhaps the biggest news is that Bethesda Softworks has finally landed on their digital distribution shores, but the new Pillars of Eternity Expansion has also been released on the storefront and - my soft spot game - Evoland, finally got a sequel and it's on GOG now.

So, let's take a closer look at what happened, shall we? Read more

Got Graph Paper?

I remember a time when gaming was ridiculously difficult. There was no hand-holding or tutorials or any of that stuff. Just you, the manual, the game and your notebook - for taking notes, of course.

Well, that time has come again, because somehow GOG got the rights to the old gold box games - an AD&D standard from years gone by that is - since it was made in the 80's - sometimes ridiculously difficult. Read more

New Steam Store Releases: Trine 3

All things considered, Trine 3 is my pick for top Steam release of the past week. There were a few close contenders, though. There were also a few higher profile releases that just didn't quite measure up for one reason or another. The honorable mentions go to Velocity 2X, Volume, and Super Mega Baseball: Extra Innings. Proceed further to check them all out (and others as well).

  • Trine 3: The Artifacts of Power (Frozenbyte, Single-player & Co-op, $21.99) (Controller Support, Steam Achievements)
  • Velocity 2X (FuturLab, Single-player, $19.99) (Controller Support, Steam Achievements)
  • Volume (Bithell Games, Single-player, $19.99) (Controller Support, Steam Achievements)
  • Super Mega Baseball: Extra Innings (Metalhead Software, Single-player & Co-op, $19.99) (Controller Support, Steam Achievements)
  • Curses 'N Chaos (Tribute Games, Single & Multi-player, $9.99) (Controller Support, Steam Achievements)
  • Final Fantasy Type-0 HD (Square Enix, Single-player, $29.99) (Controller Support, Steam Achievements)
  • Reign of Bullets (Critical Bit, Single-player, $12.99) (Controller Support, Steam Achievements)
  • Shadowrun: Hong Kong (Harebrained Schemes, Single-player, $19.99) (Steam Achievements)
  • Planetary Annihilation: Titans (Uber Entertainment, Single & Multi-player, $39.99) (Steam Achievements)
  • Zombi (Ubisoft, Single-player, $19.99) (Controller Support, Steam Achievements)

[Image: Frozenbyte]

New Steam Store Releases: Toy Soldiers: War Chest

I'd like to start this post with a little disclaimer, if I may. I decided to feature Toy Soldiers: War Chest as the top game for this week, despite the fact that it is not the best release of the week. The reasons I am featuring it are because it is the third installment of a pretty good series, the overall gameplay is still solid, despite the fact that it may not be as good as it was in the previous two entries, and, most importantly, the nostalgia is strong with this one. Simply put, no other game from this week can claim to feature Ezio Auditore, He-Man, Duke and Cobra Commander! I just couldn't resist putting it front and center.

Please note that the game was published by Ubisoft and, as such, does require you to be signed in to their horrendous Uplay "service". For that reason, in addition to the fact that the game is absurdly overpriced, I would ask you not to interpret my featuring it here as encouragement to purchase the game. In all honesty, I would actually discourage a purchase unless or until they significantly lower the price and/or remove all Uplay requirements.

Now that that's out of the way, I can mention the real stand-outs. Also released this week, a highly-anticipated indie skateboarding sequel, a somewhat highly-anticipated E3 title, and a pretty great-looking ninja action platformer. Be blinded by nostalgia, then proceed further to see more of this week's new releases.

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New Steam Store Releases: Fairy Fencer F

Fairy Fencer F is the stand-out title on the Steam Store this week. A previously PlayStation-only release, FFF is a 2014 RPG from Japaneses developer Compile Heart. Compile Heart is probably best known as the co-creator of the Hyperdimension Neptunia games. Fairy Fencer F actually uses a modified version of that series battle system.

Also out this week, a PixelJunk action strategy game about an interplanetary soup company, a kind of scrolling puzzle game where you have to maneuver two orbiting spheres around a constant stream of obstacles, and a third-person exploration game in which you must get your wounded brother to safety whilst traversing a flooded city. Cross swords with some fairies, then proceed further to see more of this week's new releases. Read more

New Steam Store Releases: Legend of Kay

10-year-old PlayStation 2 platformer Legend of Kay has come to the Steam Store this week. Nordic Games has rereleased the game for modern platforms as a remastered anniversary edition. For those unaware, Legend of Kay is a martial arts themed action adventure game that takes place in a world of anthropomorphic animals.

Also out this week, the video game adaptation of a terrible 49-year-old B movie (developed by the same studio that made Angry Video Game Nerd Adventures), a Steam port of a 15-year-old PlayStation 1/PC World War I game in which anthropomorphic pigs take turns battling it out, and a brand-new shoot 'em up game with a puzzle twist. Everything old is new again. Proceed further to see more of this week's new releases. Read more

New Steam Store Releases: Tembo the Badass Elephant

Tembo the Badass Elephant is this week's highlight on the Steam Store. As mentioned earlier this week on the New PlayStation Store Releases, Tembo the Badass Elephant is a surprising new multiplatform property from long-time Nintendo developer Game Freak. Best known for their Nintendo-owned multimedia juggernaut, Pokemon, Game Freak has occasionally made games for other systems in the past. This, however, marks the first time that they have released a game simultaneously on multiple non-Nintendo platforms. The question is, will this be a one-time only affair or should gamers expect to be able to have more ways to play their great games in the future? Only time (and perhaps the success of Tembo) will tell.

Also out this week, an incredibly Japanesey shoot 'em up from a Swiss development studio (incredibly), a Bulgarian-made multiplayer demon hunting action RPG, and a puzzle platformer with an interesting mirror mechanic (origins uncertain). Break from tradition by going multiplatform, then jump past the break to see more of this week's new releases.

  • Tembo the Badass Elephant (Game Freak, Single-player, $14.99) (Controller Support, Steam Achievements)
  • Nandeyanen (Tchagata Games, Single-player, $1.99) (Controller Support)
  • Victor Vran (Haemimont Games, Single & Multi-player, $19.99) (Controller Support, Steam Achievements)
  • Retsnom (Somi, Single-player, $4.99) (Controller Support, Steam Achievements)
  • Terra Nova (Looking Glass Studios, Single-player, $5.99)
  • Five Nights at Freddy's 4 (Scott Cawthon, Single-player, $7.99)
  • Way of the Samurai 4 (Acquire, Single-player, $24.99) (Controller Support, Steam Achievements)
  • Olympia Rising (Paleozoic, Single-player, $4.99) (Controller Support)
  • Feist (Finji, Single-player, $14.99) (Controller Support, Steam Achievements)
[Image: Game Freak]

Andrew J Amideo

2009-06 O Small

New Steam Store Releases: Massive Chalice

This week, Double Fine drops a massive deuce (sorry, couldn't resist) onto the Steam Store with their second Kickstarter game, Massive Chalice. I actually don't know much about this game, but since it was made by Double Fine, I will be cautiously optimistic. Also out this week, a great-looking arcade shmup called XIIZeal, a pipe puzzler from the Mighty Switch Force series, and the highly controversial twin-stick shooter, Hatred (from the appropriately-named developer, Destructive Creations). Make a big splash and then venture out past the break to see more of this week's new releases.
  • Massive Chalice (Double Fine Productions, Single-player, $19.99) (Controller Support, Steam Achievements)
  • XIIZeal (Triangle Service, Single-player & Co-op, $11.99) (Controller Support, Steam Achievements)
  • Mighty Switch Force! Hose It Down! (WayForward, Single-player, $2.99)
  • Hatred (Destructive Creations, Single-player, $19.99) (Controller Support, Steam Achievements)
  • Sparkle 2 (10tons, Single-player, $7.99) (Steam Achievements)
  • Adventures of Pip (TicToc Games, Single-player, $14.99) (Controller Support)
  • Scribble Space (Coty Getzelman, Single-player, $1.99) (Controller Support, Steam Achievements)
  • Artifact Adventure (bluffman, Single-player, $6.99) (Controller Support)
  • SoulCraft (MobileBits, Single-player, $4.99) (Controller Support, Steam Achievements)
  • Star Hammer (Black Lab, Single-player, $19.99) (Steam Achievements)
  • Vektor Wars (Super Icon, Single-player, $6.99) (Steam Achievements)
  • Supercharged Robot Vulkaiser (Astro Port, Single-player, $4.99) (Controller Support, Steam Achievements)
[Image: Double Fine Productions]

Andrew J Amideo