Dec 21, 2019News
For those of you that have been following along on Re:Legend’s progress, a cooperative JRPG simulation game by Magnus Games, this will probably be the most important news and update of all! I’ve been playing the game since its release on Steam Early Access in late August and have been enjoying the quests, but it was taking me a bit of time to get accustomed to the controls and to play around with everything the game has to offer from farming, crafting, fishing, taming Magnus, and more!
With update 16.0 available now, it brings much needed bug fixes and a large overhaul of the multiplayer feature. It also brings brand new and exciting content with a side of very bad news for early players. So let’s get that bad news out of the way right now; everyone’s save files have been wiped and we’re all starting from scratch. This is what the developers had to say on that matter: “We understand the frustration of the save wipe, but with the full rework of many systems in the game, the old save files were hard to recover.”
With that said, new players will probably have a much better experience with more polish and rework to the game, and interactive tutorials. In this new major content update, we’ll be getting new items, new recipes, new armor, new quests, new NPCs, and much more! The largest focus is on the new biome; The Everdust Desert. This whole new Desert biome will have more than 30 maps and quests to explore, and 30 new tamable Magnus too.
As for festivals and events, we got a limited time pop-up island for Halloween, now we’ll be getting one for this holiday season as well. What we know so far is that we’ll be able to explore a frozen landscape with new Magnus, and old ones with a new festive look, as well as some seasonal decorations. We can see in the trailer above that the new festival may coincide with this new island event because, in Japan, lighting up floating lanterns and placing them in the water is celebrated during the fall and sometimes also during New Year’s to guide the spirits of their ancestors and ward off evil. Perhaps I’ll take part and say goodbye to my previous avatar.
I’d like to hear from you what you think about all of these changes for Re:Legend and if you’ll be playing during the holidays. The developers have mentioned that they have taken steps to safeguard save files for the future so it should be fine to fully dive into the game now! You can even get Re:Legend at 15% off here, as part of Steam’s Winter Sale.
Dec 17, 2019Quick Bits
Melbits World is a cooperative puzzle platformer by Melbot and released for the PS4 as a PlayLink title back in February 2019. Thanks to the developers, I was lucky enough to test Melbits World Pocket the mobile version of the game. This was without the multiplayer feature and not to be confused with the mobile companion app for the PS4 game. I really enjoyed customizing my adorable virtual pixies with accessories and leading them to the end of several challenging levels.
Therefore, when Melbot recently announced that Melbits World is out now on PC (as of December 16th, 2019) and coming to the Nintendo Switch on December 19th, 2019, I got really excited to delve back into this charming world. A world all about “spreading the good vibes across the Internet.” Now due to the collaboration with publisher Plug in Digital, you can get the Melbits World on Steam (controller support only) for a 34% discount until December 23rd, 2019, and the Nintendo Switch version for only $12.59!
In Melbits World there are 4 worlds, each one with 9 levels where you can dodge evil viruses, collect seeds, rotate platforms, and utilize springs. It’s a family-friendly game you can play with up to 4 players and collaborate and communicate with each other! To find out more about Melbot’s upcoming projects, check out my article on the Melbits POD; a toy for mobile devices.
Nov 27, 2019News
As I mentioned earlier today, the 1.4 update of Stardew Valley is out now (November 26th, 2019) on Steam with the consoles update not too far behind. Creator ConcernedApe has posted a full Changelog here that includes many improvements, bug fixes, better controller support, some multiplayer changes and so much more! Let’s take a closer look at the biggest changes!
While there are tons of new changes that can be enjoyed at any point in the game, there is a new end game mystery for players who have been playing on the same farm for now… well years!
I don’t know exactly what the end game mystery entails but rumors have it that it involves an abandoned building! How exciting!
These have been teased for some time now! the new fish ponds can be build on your own farm and populated with fish! This is a wonderful addition to any fishing fan as you can now cast your rod right in your front yard and reel in some fish!
To further express your creativity and own personality ConcernedApe somehow managed to add a whopping 181 new Shirts, 35 hats, 14 pants and 24 new hairstyles. This will let you style your character with an almost unlimited set of possibilities.
Of course there are also new decoration items for your farm and your home. Eric added a more than 50 new decorative items including floors and other little things to make your farm even more beautiful!
If you haven’t already played Stardew Valley and this new update piques your interest, you may want to hop over to Steam now and get in on that 10% discount that ends December 3rd, 2019! Moreover, Stardew Valley is part of Steam’s Remote Play Together due to its multiplayer function. Download the Steam Link App for your mobile device and play together online!
If you are a fan of relaxing farming simulation games then you should take a look at this list of the most fun and wholesome farming games currently available!
Nov 21, 2019News
It’s been one month since Valve launched their beta for Steam Remote Play Together, and now they have announced that it is officially released to all Steam users! Moreover, they’ve added the feature to iOS and Android devices! Meaning, cross-platform now extends to Windows, Linux, Mac, and mobile!
Steam’s Remote Play Together is a new feature that allows one player to own and host a local multi-player Steam game and share it with up to four friends over the internet for free! To find out more about how it works, you can go here.
In celebration of this, Steam is hosting a Remote Play Together Sale & Streaming Event featuring streamers from around the world sharing games using Remote Play Together. In addition, hundreds of games that leverage the new feature are on sale through November 25th, 2019! Below are some wholesome multiplayer Steam games I think you’d be interested in!
Two of the most delicious games ever made, in one savory bundle! This explosion of flavors pair greatly together, whether you’re in the mood for an incredibly challenging escalation of skill to the alternate Zen campaign mode of the sequel and leisurely pace of the original, these games have you covered! Buying the pack here with Cook, Serve, Delicious! 2 and Cook, Serve, Delicious! will only cost you $4.98 CDN (80% off)!
Unrailed! is a chaotic online and couch co-op multiplayer railroad construction game where you work together with your friends as a team to build a train track across endless procedurally generated worlds. Master encounters with its inhabitants, upgrade your train and keep it from derailing! You can purchase the game here for $17.24 CDN (25% off).
Pikuniku is an absurdly wonderful puzzle-exploration game that takes place in a strange but playful world where not everything is as happy as it seems. Help peculiar characters overcome struggles, uncover a deep state conspiracy, and start a fun little revolution in this delightful dystopian adventure! You can purchase the game here for $12.54 CDN (50% off).
Here’s your chance to get these awesome family friendly games with a little extra discount on top of your discount. Whether it the frantic coop kitchen action of Overcooked, or exploring the vast open levels of Yooka-Laylee there’s fun here for everyone. Get the 3 games here for a total of $65.27 CDN (25% off).
It’s about TIME! Join your favorite Super Heroes and Super Villains from different eras and realities as they go head-to-head with the time-traveling Kang the Conqueror in the all-new, original adventure, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2! Buy the game here for $11.99 CDN (60% off). Most LEGO games on Steam are on sale if you want to check your particular favorite!
Nov 15, 2019Feature
Pokemon Sword and Shield is finally here for the Nintendo Switch as of November 15th, 2019! For those of you that will only be choosing one of those games and aren’t quite sure yet which one to go for, I’ve made a list of exclusives to help! There will be different things in either Sword or Shield which are as follows: Gym Leaders, Exclusive Pokemon, Legendary Pokemon, and Gigantamax Pokemon with a higher rate of appearance in Max Raid Battles.
You probably already knew that you’d have some Pokemon to choose from if you’re only purchasing one of the two games. However, did you know that you also have two exclusive Gym Leaders to choose from in each game? Consider which type of Pokemon you would rather battle against!
Probably one of the toughest decisions is to decide between the two Galarian exclusives of first generation Pokemon; Galarian Ponyta (Shield) and Sirfetch’d (Sword). However, there are also many other Pokemon to consider that can only be found in one or the other!
There are always two different Legendary Pokemon to choose from in every Pokemon title and this one is no different. Zacian is a fairy-type and Zamazenta is a fighting-type!
According to Pokemon’s official website, from Friday, November 15th, 2019, until early January 2020, players will be more likely to encounter Gigantamax Butterfree in Max Raid Battles. Below are the confirmed Pokemon that are more likely to appear for both games during that same time period.
If you aren’t even sure about purchasing Pokemon Sword and Shield at all today, take another look at everything we know and have covered on these titles here!
Nov 7, 2019Feature
Of course, you are probably all aware of this title that released just this past Halloween on the Nintendo Switch! I have been playing the game myself and do agree with other critics that it is the best game of the series to date in terms of graphics, gameplay including the new moves (Slam is my new fav), and Gooigi. Another significant addition that made all the difference, the game autosaves every time you walk through a door.
Playing with someone cooperatively as Gooigi reduces the time it takes to suck everything up and significantly helps in boss battles and when surrounded by ghosts. The best part, Gooigi can die via enemies and water, but he can always come back shortly after without using lives. With all of these exciting new features in Luigi’s Mansion 3, I wanted to take the time to focus on Polterpup, the star of the show, as he should not be overlooked.
During the end of the second game, Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon on the 3DS, Luigi actually adopts this lovable and hyper ghost-doggy, My heart melted when I started up the new title which has Luigi and co. riding the train to the Last Resort hotel along with the family pupper. Polterpup’s in-game bio is as follows: “A ghost dog who loves Luigi and is always by his side. He’ll come to Luigi’s aid when he’s in truly dire situations!” Every time Polterpup helps Luigi, I love to hear him respond with: “Aw, Polterpup” as lovingly as possible.
Instead of having to use your Dark-Light and chase this little troublemaker everywhere, his role is that of a guide. At the beginning, he will show you which buttons to press and when, as a sort of tutorial. Throughout the game your guide-dog will show you either the right direction to follow to complete your objective, or show you a secret spot with either money or gems to collect.
There still isn’t much to purchase with all of that cash you save up that is very useful, besides the Golden Bones again. Especially when you can only purchase so many until they’re sold out before needing to progress the story. When your health reaches 0 and you have a Golden Bone in your inventory, Polterpup will lick Luigi back to life and take the bone with him as payment. Although I know he would do it for free.
I had a lot of fun playing Luigi’s Mansion 3 and it was nice that this time around the levels were a little shorter, as well as the overall game. Which actually makes it perfect for the portability of the Switch. You can also use your joy-con motion sensors to make using your Poltergust G-00 surprisingly easier to use when changing directions. My only wish now is to get a spin-off all about Polterpup, and Polterkitty, on an adventure Homeward Bound-style!
I loved every minute playing this game from the wacky ghost shennigans to the sneaky Easter eggs, and of course every scene with Polterpup. I highly recommend you purchase the game on the Nintendo Switch eShop right now or you can grab it on Amazon for a small discount right here!
Nov 1, 2019Indie Highlight
It looks like I’ve strangely made it my mission to find multiplayer games where the premise is “chore-like” if it were a real-life scenario. Not only do I find these types of games hilarious, but I’m also certain that they’ll make for great fun with friends. Especially if they are anything like Overcooked. May I present to you, Tools Up, a cooperative game about renovating homes. Paint walls, lay some tiles, move a bit of the furniture around in some pretty weird places. Developed by The Knights of Unity and published by All in! Games, Tools Up is coming soon in late 2019 for Steam, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One.
Gather up to 4 players for this fun couch co-op experience for people of all skills! Renovate the apartments in the mysterious skyscraper while the tenants are away. Be sure to follow their wishes left behind on the blueprints. Tear off wallpapers, bring down walls, bust down doors, and cover the floor with vibrant carpets and panels – just be sure to do it in time and clean up after yourself!
For more information about this game, you can check out the official website here.
Oct 30, 2019News
Ever since I first discovered publisher Planet Digital’s article on their new acquisition of Cooking Mama, with a upcoming Switch game titled Cooking Mama: Coming Home to Mama and found that the Australian Classification filed for the rating of Cooking Mama: Cookstar by publisher Planet Entertainment and developer First Playable Productions, there has been some confusion with other news outlets scrambling for more information.
I have been in contact with the CEO of Planet Entertainment, Steve Grossman, and have received confirmation that Cooking Mama is coming to both PS4 and the Nintendo Switch in 2019 and that they will be publishing a press release in two weeks from now with new footage and a trailer. Hopefully this will clear everything up. Unfortunately, the European Amazon site has leaked some screenshots and information about the game as it is listed right here for pre-order. Although the information within the listings has since been removed, see below for the details and gameplay features from Google’s German-English translation I was able to get.
Cooking Mama is back with their awesomest and funniest video game adventure ever. Cooking Mama: CookStar is a brand new Cooking Mama experience designed specifically for console. Cooking Mama: CookStar offers over 90 incredible new recipes for players to master. The menu ranges from classic Japanese recipes to the most delicious home cooking and the culinary soul comforts of today.
Cooking Mama offers something for every taste. Not a carnivore? No problem! For the first time, Cooking Mama offers both traditional and vegetarian recipes: Burritos, Bibimbap, Bubble Tea, Baked Alaska, Poke Bowls, and much more. Explore the diverse menu to find out what suits your taste. Don’t think you have what it takes to become a master chef? Don’t worry, Mama will take care of it! Just follow Mama’s instructions to create delicious and decadent treats that you can share with your friends. Chop, mince, cut, and dice! With Mama’s help, you can become the greatest cook in the world.
I’ll continue to keep in touch with our contact and post when I have more information and when the official announcement is made!