Fellow Traveller has announced the upcoming launch of Pine: A Story of Loss, a narrative-driven title about a woodworker grieving the loss of his wife. From the title alone, it already seems like this game packs quite an emotional punch, especially when coupled with the beautifully animated scenes and the evocative artwork.
In Pine: A Story of Loss, you can look forward to uncovering a reflective tale as you solve puzzles and dive into mini-games to recall memories of a time long past. The hand-drawn feels go well with the wordless storytelling, with a heartbreaking story of grief that’s meant to be told in a single setting. … [MORE]
We finally have some clarity on Honkai: Star Rail’s highly anticipated update, version 2.2, titled Then Wake to Weep. The latest patch is due in a couple of weeks and will finally lead to the grand finale of the Penacony adventure that began with v2.0. In addition, you can also take part in several gameplay events and get your hands on two new characters.
In version 2.2 of Honkai: Star Rail, you will be able to get your hands on two playable characters, Miss Robin and Boothill. The former is a 5-star character who uses the power of harmony and music to support her allies with various buffs. … [MORE]
If you’re an Apple Arcade subscriber, you’ve got plenty to look forward to this week as a slew of updates roll out for your favourite games on the platform. Whether you’re into puzzle games, solitaire, tower defence, or family-friendly adventures, there’s something new and exciting waiting for everyone in this series of Apple Arcade updates.
Kicking things off is Apple Arcade’s popular puzzler, Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop, which brings its first update to the table. Get ready to meet six new characters: Shezo, Accord, Draco, Lidelle, Risukuma, and Ally, each of which gets their own episodes. In addition, you can also explore a new Adventure mode map and engage in co-op battles while vibing to new soundtracks. … [MORE]
It’s always a bit weird to go back to a game you finished for story-centric DLC, especially when the base game had a pretty definitive ending. However, those that have just a little bit more left in the tank can take the opportunity to give a game you really loved one more high note to end on. I often think of the Mass Effect 3 Citadel DLC as the best example–an oddly placed, yet near-perfect send-off. Final Fantasy XVI: The Rising Tide evokes similar feelings in that I was just happy to have an excuse to revisit that world and spend a bit more time with characters I cherished. While it does largely play out like more Final Fantasy XVI content, The Rising Tide fills in a few blanks left behind and lets you wield two new Eikons in a questline that reaches similar heights of the original game.
The Rising Tide questline is slotted into FFXVI right before the main game’s point of no return, making it feel like an impromptu diversion at a critical point in the story. That said, it is necessary, as many of the events leading up to the DLC provide the context around its story. As Clive, you and the crew are invited to visit a region called Mysidia–a quiet area tucked away in the north and cloaked under the veil of powerful magic to both conceal itself from the rest of the world and maintain a facade of bright blue skies. It’s a new area for the game that has its own interesting, isolated society and lets you explore a relatively small but vibrant region, and its stunning views remind you of how FFXVI uses its technical strengths to paint a vibrant and enticing world.
Much of FFXVI was visually dour given its grim nature, so Mysidia’s tropical tinge is a refreshing contrast. But this isn’t a vacation for Clive–The Rising Tide revolves around the history of Leviathan as an Eikon that, like every other Eikon, was wielded in bad faith. Through the main scenario quests and sidequests, you learn about the people of Mysidia, their way of life, and their particular relationship with Leviathan. The people are self-sustaining and treat magic quite differently from the rest of Valisthea, and their leader, Shula, embodies their ethos as she accompanies you throughout the DLC. She’s not exactly a standout character in the grand scheme of things, but she is a solid anchor for The Rising Tide and provides a good enough excuse for dragging Clive off the beaten path. It’s a twist to the typical FFXVI plot beat and comes around to be a rather sweet story about breaking generational curses in a way that lends itself more to FFXVI’s softer side.
In the years since the explosion of game crowdfunding, a stigma has emerged surrounding these titles. Yes, there have been plenty of games that enjoyed great success after their crowdfunding campaigns, but more people remember the high-profile flops: games with big names and ambitious promises attached that, for a variety of reasons, betrayed the high hopes fans held for them. Many of these were revivals–spiritual or otherwise–of beloved series from ages past. Now we have Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, a crowdfunded game designed to carry the torch of the much-beloved Suikoden series from the PS1 and PS2–and, with such a high pedigree attached, there’s understandable trepidation: Will this be a glorious return to form, or another disappointment? Fortunately, for us (and all of the backers), it turned out wonderfully.
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Eiyuden Chronicle begins when a young man named Nowa joins the Eltisweiss Watch, a small militia unit under the command of Countess Perielle of the League of Nations. On a joint mission with a military team from the Galdean Empire, the Watch discovers a powerful, ancient artifact, the Primal Lens, earning everyone involved instant renown. However, it’s not long before squabbling between the Empire and League over the device, along with internal power struggles in the Empire, erupts into an invasion of Eltisweiss and a full-blown war. As the scope of the conflict expands, so does the story: Nowa rebuilds a resistance army in an abandoned castle, Imperial military prodigy Seign struggles with his feelings of obligation, friendship, and loyalty, and a young warrior woman named Marisa finds her clan caught in the middle.
The story doesn’t shy away from its similarities to games in the Suikoden series. In several ways, it outright embraces them: a story that branches into multiple viewpoints, loyalties among friends being tested during war, internal political intrigue, powerful magic runes being a crucial plot device, and, most obviously, the conceit of building a huge band of warriors to take on an even bigger enemy. The story was helmed by Suikoden creator and writer Yoshitaka Murayama (who sadly passed away shortly before the game’s release), and it brims with the warmth, wit, and plot twists that made the early Suikoden titles so engaging and memorable.
