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Edelweiss and Marvelous have announced Sakuna Chronicles: Kokorowa and the Gears of Creation, a spin-off of the hit action and farm simulation game, Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin. The spin-off follows Kokorowa after she meets a peculiar automaton named Takebina. Meet new gods and tackle this new adventure as Sakuna’s friend, Princess Kokorowa!

You can check out the announcement teaser below.

Sakuna Chronicles: Kokorowa and the Gears of Creation is currently in development. Platforms and a release timeframe have not been announced at this time. If you’re interested in the game, you can check out its official website and follow XSEED Games and Edelweiss on their official X accounts.

The first game in the franchise, Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin, is available now on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC. You can check out what we thought of the game HERE.

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Press Release:

Gensokyo Dreaming returns players to the magical world as powerful psychic Sumireko Usami travels across Gensokyo gathering allies to face the evil spirit Mima. As players progress through the new storyline, they will unlock eight new characters that players can freely change between to tackle the new challenges ahead. New stages will test players’ bullet-dodging skills in exciting locales such as factories once used by the kappa, the tops of abandoned trains, and even the inside of an abandoned space station! Those skills will be pushed to the limit in intense boss battles, where players will need precise movement and careful timing to stay alive and dish out a magical beat-down.

KEY FEATURES

Shrine Maiden Skills and Magician Moves – Enemies may unleash fountains of projectiles, but they can be countered by inflicting heavy damage with spell cards, dealing powerful blows with exorcism sticks, and slowing attacks with well-timed guards.

Get to Know Gensokyo – Help friendly Gensokyo residents by finding lost souls, investigating strange areas, and engaging in mock battles. Players will be rewarded handsomely, and they might learn a tip or two to aid them in their quest.

Customizable Action – Characters can be customized to suit nearly any playstyle. Their skills can be leveled up through use in battle, upgrading essential stats like health and attack power to help them overcome the odds.

Don’t Forget to Accessorize – Every weapon, piece of armor, and accessory found has randomized stats, so mix and match to make the most of them or reforge equipment to get the perfect combination.

An Expanded Cast of Colorful Characters – Eight characters from the Touhou Project universe have been added and are now playable throughout the game, once they are unlocked by progressing through the DLC. Play as Sumireko Usami, Koishi Komeiji, Reisen Undongein Inaba, Youmu Konpaku, Remilia Scarlet, Sakuya Izayoi, Flandre Scarlet, and Yukkuri Reimu!

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Press Release:

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Here is more from the Press Release:

Corpse Party II: Darkness Distortion follows three high school friends; Haruka Nanami, Nemu Takanashi, and Maria Hitsugi, as they explore the Amare Est Vivere Hospital, testing a local urban legend as the streamer Nemu seeks to boost her subscriber count. Unfortunately for the three girls, the legend of “Ayame’s Mercy” is true, and they trigger a decades-old curse that sends them into a dark realm. Together they must avoid the vengeful spirit of Ayame Kirishima and other horrors from the hospital’s dark past as they search for a way to dispel Ayame’s curse once and for all.

The cult-classic Japanese horror franchise returns with new characters, a new setting, a terrifying new curse, and a brand-new look allowing for more thrills and chills! Players can freely explore the fully 3D rendered halls of the Amare Est Vivere Hospital in both third- and, for those brave enough to take a closer look, first-person viewpoints as they try to keep the girls alive. This new perspective complements the series’ visual novel-style storytelling, pairing updated visuals with gruesome descriptions and spine-tingling binaural audio accompanied by the original Japanese voiceovers. Featuring six chapters, with eight additional scenarios and plenty of Wrong Ends for players to discover as they uncover the truth behind “Ayame’s Mercy” and escape with their lives, Corpse Party II: Darkness Distortion is the perfect entry point for new horror buffs while keeping longtime fans on the edge of their seats.

Developed by MAGES. and published in North America by XSEED Games and in Europe by Marvelous Europe, Corpse Party II: Darkness Distortion is scheduled for release for the Nintendo Switch system, PS4 system, and Windows PC via Steam this fall. The PS4 and Switch system physical “Ayame’s Mercy Edition” and standard versions will be available shortly for pre-order on the XSEED Games Store and at participating retailers for a MSRP of $79.99 and $49.99, respectively. Details on digital availability will be revealed at a later date. This title has not yet been rated by the ESRB.

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As I mentioned in my review, there are future free updates planned for Fashion Dreamer. XSEED Games has just released details on the very first free update the game will be receiving. Fashion Dreamer‘s winter update, version 1.2.0, will be releasing on December 4th, or more specifically, December 5th UTC. This update is only the first of various upcoming free updates the game will be getting. Feel free to check out the new trailer down below and read a little bit about the latest update and the overall game from the latest press release.

Fashion Dreamer is a creative-focused game where players can express their unique styles using their avatar, called a Muse. Create iconic looks from cozy casualwear to chic couture, choosing from hundreds of available options that can be customized to be a truly one-of-a-kind look. Once players find their signature style, they can show off their latest outfits across different areas, called Cocoons. There, they can also explore inspiring new fashions from other Muses whether playing on- or offline or display them in their showroom to garner even more attention and Likes for their brand. Players can also increase their influence by completing design challenges, unlocking even more customization options to elevate their brand. Featuring asynchronous multiplayer, the world of Eve is inhabited by Muses from around the globe, allowing players to find inspiration or earn Likes for their most iconic fit virtually anywhere!

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I have never played a fashion game like this before. I know syn Sophia is the developer behind the Style Savvy games that were on the Nintendo DS and 3DS, but I’ve never played them. What caused me to take on this review is the fact that, regardless of my lack of experience with games focused on fashion, I do love dressing up my character in various other types of games which allow it. I’m that player who will sacrifice a bit of stats to make sure my characters still look good. Thus, I was very intrigued by Fashion Dreamer and wanted to try it out. Not to mention this is yet another more chill casual game, which is what I’ve been tending to lean towards when taking on reviews lately.

Fashion Dreamer is a pretty basic fashion game. By that I mean, there aren’t a lot of concepts or things going on. At the start of the game, you get a Muse to dress up. A Muse is what your customizable character is called. You can pick your hairstyle, nose, eyes, height/body type, skin tone, hair color, lips, etc. There are quite a lot of options to choose from. I should mention, though, that the body type options are limited. You basically just pick a height from the selection they have available and certain proportions change a little bit depending on the height you choose. There aren’t any sliders to decide how slender or curvy your character is or anything else such as that. You can choose from a few different face shapes, however. Anyway, once you’ve created your first Muse, it’s time to jump into the virtual world of Eve.

The game takes place in this virtual world, Eve, where there are four different Cocoon areas to hang out in. Well, there is only one Cocoon to start and you have to unlock the other three. The goal of the game is to become a fashion influencer and spread your brand. You’re able to like other characters’ outfits to collect usable clothing pieces. There is also a pop-up area where the most popular clothes and clothes other people have shared show up, so you can also hit like on those to collect them as well. In the game’s offline mode, there are pre-made CPU characters who will be around town and ask you to create Lookits for them. A Lookit is essentially a new overall outfit. Sometimes they may also like what you’re wearing and copy your outfit. Either of these will give you random rewards, such as gacha and bingo tickets and color palettes. The color palettes you can use to create your own items. You’ll need E-Points to unlock and create different clothing pieces. Creating your own clothing essentially just requires you to change the colors of pre-existing styles of clothes, and the more color palettes you unlock, the more choices you have.

E-Points you’ll get for anyone liking your outfit, liking your shared clothing pieces that pop-up in their game, stuff shown in your showroom, and so on. Your showroom is a small space you can decorate and display clothing in however you like, in addition to other items you’ve collected. The game contains both an online and offline mode. While you can collect E-Points offline, the process is extremely slow. This game is a lot more fun and active if you play online. Online you’ll see other players’ Muses in your game and be able to create Lookits for them as well, plus you’ll be able to visit their showrooms and see clothing items they’ve shared which you can then collect. The CPU characters are also present in the online mode in addition to the real player Muses. Each Cocoon area has its own gacha machine and two bingo machines. The bingo machines simply give you E-Points as a reward. The gacha machines are different in each Cocoon. They all have their own unique styles of items you can unlock randomly from using your gacha tickets. This will unlock certain styles in the clothing creation menu, so you can recolor them how you like.

There honestly isn’t a lot going on in Fashion Dreamer. The more likes you get, the more popular of an influencer you become, and as you get to higher ranks, you unlock more Cocoons. You also have a brand rank to raise from creating items. You can customize your brand symbol that goes on clothes you create and the more you create, the higher that rank will raise, which will then unlock additional clothing styles you can customize. Oh, and you can take photos, both at a photo booth spot and wherever you’re at in the Cocoon. For the photos at the photo booth, or Photo Egg as the game calls it, you’ll be able to add little decorations to and save.

Like I was saying before, there isn’t a lot going on in Fashion Dreamer. You make a ton of outfits, you travel between the three different areas of each Cocoon, dressing up other people’s characters to fit their preferences, hit like on whatever you like or want to collect for yourself, and you create clothing items over and over again. Also, after collecting a ton of stuff and creating so many outfits, I found some of the options weren’t very vast or unique. Hats for example, there are a lot of beret looking hats. The variety isn’t super vast. Not to mention, there also weren’t any bags, nor any gloves or necklaces that are separate rather than stuck as a part of certain tops. The game is really fun as a short bursts type of game where you get on only for a little bit, as a break from other games with a lot more going on. I thought the music, sounds and overall atmosphere were pleasant too. But, I don’t see it as a good game for sitting down and playing for hours on end. I was really into it the first two days I played, but after a few days, it became something I only checked in on for a little bit at a time. I played for over 15 hours, reached the platinum influencer rank and saw the credits. I believe there may be a diamond rank seeing as I still saw other players at a rank higher than me, but I imagine that would take a very long time to reach in comparison to the lower ranks prior to the game credits.

Ultimately, in the game’s current state, Fashion Dreamer wasn’t bad. I had a ton of fun dressing up my character and collecting different clothing. But, it also didn’t have much of a long gameplay life, I simply wasn’t extremely into it for more than a week. Although, you should know that this isn’t the game’s final complete release. By that I mean, various upcoming free updates have been announced. These are simply my thoughts on the game as is, before any updates have come out. I had fun with Fashion Dreamer for what it is, but it could’ve been a lot better. I don’t think I would pay the full $49.99 price for this. As it is now, I definitely would recommend waiting for a sale if it sounds like something you would enjoy. I might possibly write a follow-up in the future, should the game be substantially different or receive a lot more substance after all of the updates are out.

Review Score
Overall

Review copy was provided by the publisher.

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XSEED Games and Marvelous Europe have announced a Digital Deluxe Edition (pictured above) for their upcoming release, Cuisineer, from developer BattleBrew Productions. Cuisineer is scheduled to launch for PC via Steam this upcoming November 9th, 2023. The press release states that the Digital Deluxe Edition will be available at launch. The Digital Deluxe Edition of Cuisineer will cost $39.57 and the Standard Edition will be priced at $24.99. However, both versions of the game will be 10% off for the first week after launch. Down below you’ll find more about the game from the latest press release. And if you’d like to know even more about Cusineer, feel free to visit the game’s Steam page.

One day, Pom returns to her hometown of Paell to see her parents only to find their restaurant closed for business and deep in debt. Now, she must re-open the restaurant and make it thrive. To collect ingredients from the land Pom pursues adventure in the world outside Paell, wielding her cooking utensils against giant chickens, artillery shrimps, fire-breathing peppers, and other pesky perils, sipping boba tea along the way. Cook up a frenzy and grow the derelict eatery into a sensational restaurant that will make Pom’s parents proud.

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Today XSEED Games announced a free demo is out now for their upcoming Action RPG adventure Silent Hope. The game is set to release on Nintendo Switch in North America and Windows PC via Steam worldwide on Oct. 3. The demo allows you to take on the first level of the Abyss, and is now available for download digitally on the Nintendo eShop  and Steam. The demo progress will carry over to full release on said platform.

Key Features

• Seven Heroes, Seven Unique Fighting Styles: Players can choose from a motley crew of characters like the well-rounded Wanderer, long-range specialist Archer, or heavy-hitting Warrior to find whose skills suit their playstyle, and embrace new roles and abilities as they gain more experience.

• A Home at the Edge of the World: Find new recipes and materials and return to the Base Camp at the edge of The Abyss, where each character has a unique job. From alchemist to blacksmith to cook, each hero brings something different.

• Engaging Exploration and Dungeon-Crawling: Experience a new layout each time players enter the enigmatic Abyss, keeping them on their toes every moment. Stay on the lookout for Memory Rifts, where greater rewards and challenges await.

• A Vibrant Storybook Aesthetic: With its mournful princess, spellbound kingdom, and everyday heroes, Silent Hope feels like a fairy tale come to life – right down to the mysteries waiting to be uncovered in the visually stunning underworld.

Pre-orders are now available for the Silent Hope physical Day 1 edition, which includes an artbook and soundtrack CD, at the XSEED Games Store and participating retailers for $49.99. The base game will be available digitally for $39.99 on the Nintendo eShop and Steam.

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Today XSEED Games have released the fantastic Touhou Action RPG, Touhou: New World on both the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 digitally. I took a look at the Steam version of the game a while back and had a blast with it. This version comes with all the updates the previous versions received and will set you back $24.99.

KEY FEATURES Shrine Maiden Skills and Magician Moves – Enemies may unleash fountains of projectiles, but they can be countered by inflicting heavy damage with spell cards, dealing powerful blows with exorcism sticks, and slowing attacks with well-timed guards. Get to Know Gensokyo – Help friendly Gensokyo residents by finding lost souls, investigating strange areas, and engaging in mock battles. Players will be rewarded handsomely, and they might learn a tip or two to aid them in their quest. Customizable Action – Reimu and Marisa can be customized to suit nearly any playstyle. Their skills can be leveled up through use in battle, upgrading essential stats like health and attack power to help them overcome the odds. Don’t Forget to Accessorize – Every weapon, piece of armor, and accessory found has randomized stats, so mix and match to make the most of them or reforge equipment to get the perfect combination.

 

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Developer: BattleBrew Productions
Publisher(s): Marvelous Europe, XSEED Games
Platform(s): Windows
Release Date: November 9, 2023
Website / X

Cuisineer is a game that you play as Pom, a young adventurer who has to manage the family restaurant, which is mired in debt, after her parents leave a note that they are going on a trip around the world. Pom takes this responsibility cheerfully on, but restaurants take a lot of work. Pom has to purchase and place furniture in the restaurant, pick out decorations, and of course…go out into the rougelite world around her to find ingredients. After all, if Pom doesn’t have ingredients, then she cannot make dishes for customers, and if she cannot make dishes for customers, then she cannot wipe away the restaurant’s debt. In the short 15 minutes that I spent with Cuisineer at the beginning of the game, I found a title that oozes cuteness and charm. Pom is extremely adorable, and I loved how her bubbly personality seemed ready to take on any and all challenges that come her way as she tries to bring the soon-christened Potato Palace to life.

There are two halves to Cuisineer: the cooking and city side of things, and the world exploration and combat side of things. You have the freedom to pick how you want to spend your days in Cuisineer: you can run the restaurant all day, you can farm items in the outside world all day, or you can do a mixture of the two by cooking in the morning and then going out exploring the procedurally-generated world after you close the restaurant.

The game functions as more of a restaurant management system than any kind of deep cooking simulator. For example, a customer would walk into my shop. If I had the ingredients for what they wanted to eat, they would come sit down and I would make the dish by pressing a button at the nearby cooking pot. In a few seconds, the dish is ready and you bring it over to the customer. The customer eats, pays, and leaves while you collect the money. This is not a simulator game like Cooking Mama where you have to actually prepare the dish. Instead, you’re running a restaurant and trying to make sure that you have the ability to give the customer what they want in an efficient manner. While I only was able to serve a couple customers in my short demo, I felt like this could be a hectic but fun aspect of the game once I’ve really expanded the Potato Palace and I’m trying to serve up 10 or more customers at once and give them that great restaurant experience they deserve.

However, you cannot just run a restaurant as you need to farm up cooking ingredients in order to make the recipes your potential customers want to buy, and this is where the roguelite aspect of Cuisineer comes out. I equipped my spatula weapon, which allows me to attack enemies, and I head into a world to slaughter whatever I can as everything gives me different ingredients I need. As I wandered around the map that has a 2.5D overhead perspective, I found myself quickly gathering a variety of ingredients while occasionally getting the random gear drop. In my run, I wound up with a nicer spatula that I obtained as part of the storyline and a pair of boots. The combat was very snappy and responsive, and I quickly learned the attack patterns of the cute enemies I came across. When I got damaged, I would down a bit of boba tea to recover my health. When I died in the field near the end of my demo, I did not lose all of my possessions but instead only lost some of them. All of this made me feel like the different mechanics, especially the death mechanic, makes Cuisineer is a fairly forgiving title that new players to the rougelite genre are meant to enjoy. I particularly liked that I didn’t feel pressured to run away from the slightest hint of danger, as I knew I wouldn’t lose all the progress and items I’ve gathered since the last save point if I did kick the proverbial bucket.

And honestly? All of this works.

The thing that surprised me the most about my demo of Cuisineer at PAX West 2023 was that I was more incentivized to go out hunting in the roguelite world around me not for gear drops to better fight with, but for ingredients to run my restaurant with. I can see myself easily opening the Potato Palace for a few hours, running low on ingredients, and then heading out into the world (I explored the Green Ruins in my demo) to fight and gather up what I need to re-open the next day. More sales means more money and that your restaurant’s reputation rises so that even more customers will come.

Roguelite games are all about finding that (slightly more forgiving) gameplay loop for players to explore as they work their way through the game, and Cuisineer definitely figured that part out. I absolutely adored the various inhabitants of Parell, the city your character is based in, and I wanted to push my exploring out as far as I could to the outer limits of the roguelike area. Cuisineer is definitely onto something potentially great here, and I am excited to see where Pom’s adventure sends her with this title releases in early November.

What kind of dishes do you want to serve to customers in the Potato Palace?

Let us know in the comments below!

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As I stated in my preview a while back, I’d never played a Rune Factory title until I decided to take this one for review. I had no idea what to expect going into this, I didn’t know if the farming would be too complicated, if I would enjoy the combat or if the story would be something I could get into. I’ve spent over 30 hours with Rune Factory 3 Special, and I have my answer to all of these questions. So let’s see how my first experience with this franchise went!

The game begins as a young girl named Shara is dragging a collapsed monster into the village. Her grandfather is very upset she has brought a monster into their home, since monsters and humans haven’t gotten along in a very long time in this world. She is very keen on helping the poor creature out, but the next morning the monster has disappeared! He transformed into a young man, and of course with any good RPG our protagonist has amnesia. The young man has no idea how he got to this town or that he can transform into a monster. As he leaves the house he encounters a red haired girl who is very quiet and named Raven. She is in front of a huge tree they refer to as the Sharance Tree. He attempts to talk to Raven but to no avail when suddenly, he sees Shara. She takes him to the heart of the tree, and explains he will be staying there for the time being. The tree hasn’t bloomed in a very long time. He will soon discover the mystery of why this tree hasn’t bloomed as he quests to recover his memories and more.

I have to say the mainline story here feels a bit thrown together. It’s interesting to learn about this world and why humans haven’t gotten along with monsters in a very long time, but everything plays out exactly like you would expect. It seems like an afterthought to the stories of all the game’s amazing Bachelorettes and other residents of the world. From Collette’s obsession with food to Pia and Sakuya or Sophia’s backward talk, everyone here is very interesting and I loved learning about them. The newly added Newlywed Stories will unlock once you complete the game, and features a cute after story for your new wife. These are pretty short, but include some new animations, and I thought Raven’s was especially cute since she was my girl of choice here.

Graphically, Rune Factory 3 Special looks great. The characters have a lot of detail and the little emotes that appear over them as they converse with each other add a lot of personality. There is some Live 2D work when the characters are talking as well that I feel really gives them more life. The monsters have unique designs as well and a good amount of variety. The dungeons found here each represent a different season, and the graphics very much reflect this. Vale River is the winter dungeon and is full of ice, while Sol Terrano Desert is blazing hot like the summer we’ve had in my neck of the woods. Shields and Weapons all have different looks as well, and I really loved some of their designs.

I think this game has one of the most soothing soundtracks I’ve heard in a long time. The comfy home theme is great and you will catch yourself humming it hours after you stop playing. The themes for each of the four seasons are great as well, and they really fit the vibe of each one. The summer theme is really upbeat and warm, which is a stark contrast to the winter theme that is much more laid back with a much cooler sound. The game is voiced in both Japanese and English and I think both casts do an excellent job of giving these characters life.

I had never played a Rune Factory game before, so I didn’t know what to expect in terms of game-play. What I found here was one of the most laid back and comfy games I’ve ever played, but with a surprising amount of depth. It’s pretty much left to the player how they want to spend each of their days. Players start out each day with a certain amount of RP (Rune Points) and every activity you do will consume some of these. You may want to do some farming, you may decide to crawl the dungeon, or spend the day crafting. The more you do each activity your level will increase, and this will decrease the amount of RP consumed by doing each one. You will also gain RP and HP as your overall level increases.

I didn’t do very much farming during my play-through, as I made most of my money crafting items since it was pretty easy to gather any materials you need in the dungeons, and that helped me build up my craft and smithing skills quickly. I was able to make better equipment for myself and do more upgrades to the weapons and accessories I had as well. Though if you want to go the farming route, recruiting some monster friends will help you greatly. You do this by giving them gifts in the dungeon and if you give them something they like, they will join your team. You can have them do chores on the farm, or have them help you in a tough dungeon. Just be sure to take care of them by brushing them and feeding them plenty of yummy fodder.

The combat here is done in a top down fashion much like the the classic 2D Legend of Zelda games. You have a few different types of weapons to choose from. These include a one handed sword and shield, axes, spears, two handed swords, rods and duel blades. Each one has a very different fighting style and special moves you can obtain by leveling up your skills. In addition to all the weapon types, players have a variety of spells at their disposal as well. These include attack spells, buffs, healing spells and some that will let you escape battle altogether. I mostly stuck with the healing spells and double blades, but there is no wrong way to go here, and I love how much variety this gives in making your character fight exactly how you want them to. In addition to all that, you can transform into your monster form and do combat as well. As a Wooly you only have some punching attacks, but you’re very fast and do a lot of damage. Some of the lovely Bachelorettes can accompany you in dungeons as well, but be aware they start at level one, so you will need to help build them up.

Overall, I really enjoyed my time with Rune Factory 3 Special. I can see why people love this series; its laid back game-play is welcoming but it has enough depth to keep you coming back for more. I had a blast figuring out the best items to give all the Bachelorettes, seeing their reactions to them, and watching their stories unfold. The combat here is a ton of fun, and I can certainly see myself wanting to take on the extra dungeons and challenges at some point down the line. The game is well worth the $39.99 asking price, and I think any fan of the series should jump on this day one. If you’ve never played one of these games you should give them a chance. I didn’t think this would be up my alley, but I was mistaken. I look forward to checking out Rune Factory 4 Special sometime in the near future.

Review Score
Overall

Game was provided by the publisher for review.

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Marvelous Europe and XSEED Games have announced an official release date for Cuisineer, an upcoming game developed by BattleBrew Productions. The game, which the latest press release describes as a food-focused action roguelite, will be launching for PC via Steam this upcoming November 9th, 2023. Also, it’s one of a few games that XSEED Games will have available to play at their booth at the Seattle Convention Center during PAX West tomorrow, September 1st, through September 4th. Feel free to check out the brand new Cuisineer trailer down below and read a little bit about the game.

One day, Pom returns to her hometown of Paell to see her parents only to find their restaurant closed for business and deep in debt. Now, she must re-open the restaurant and make it thrive. To collect ingredients from the land, Pom pursues adventure in the world outside Paell, wielding her cooking utensils against giant chickens, artillery shrimps, fire-breathing peppers, and other pesky perils, sipping boba tea along the way. Cook up a frenzy and grow the derelict eatery into a sensational restaurant that will make Pom’s parents proud.

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XSEED Games has put out a new trailer for their upcoming release, Silent Hope. This new trailer shows off some gameplay specifically featuring the seven heroes and how they differ in battle. According to the latest press release, XSEED has also uploaded their first installment of the Official World Guide, which is described as an online resource of information about the setting and characters of Silent Hope. The press release also states that it will be expanded with additional details, assets and tips from the development team before Silent Hope officially launches. When you’re done checking out the Official World Guide linked above, feel free to check out the new trailer down below and read a little bit about the game. Oh and don’t forget, during PAX West September 1st through 4th, Silent Hope will be playable at the XSEED Games booth at the Seattle Convention Center, North Hall #1325. Silent Hope is scheduled to launch for Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam, this upcoming October 3rd, 2023.

Silent Hope harkens back to the glory days of isometric dungeon-crawlers but with a modern flair. Players will take on the roles of seven unlikely heroes, each with their own unique weapon, fighting style, and non-combat job. After spending their days battling through enemies and collecting materials in The Abyss, the heroes will return to Base Camp to craft, improve gear, and prepare for their next excursion. Each journey into The Abyss will be a fresh experience, with procedurally generated layouts ensuring no two adventures are the same, with even greater dangers lurking the further the heroes dare to venture.

If you’d like to know more about Silent Hope, visit the game’s official website.

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XSEED Games has announced that you can now pre-order Fashion Dreamer, from developer syn Sophia, both physically and digitally. Digital pre-orders are now open in the Nintendo eShop. The press release mentions that if you pre-order digitally, you’ll get a 10% discount off the $49.99 price. Also, you’ll get early access to the Chic Outfit Pattern Set via DLC. This DLC unlocks four rare patterns, the Sailor-Collar Blouse with Mimosa Embroidery, Retro Rose-Print Shorts, 2-Color Mid-Heel Lace-up Shoes and Vintage Pearl Earrings, all of which can also be found in the game. The physical edition is full price at participating retailers. The press release also mentions that if you’re headed to PAX West in September, you can try out Fashion Dreamer at the Seattle Convention Center, North Hall #1325. Feel free to read more about the game from the latest press release down below and if you’d like to know more about Fashion Dreamer, visit the game’s official website.

KEY FEATURES

Create New Outfits to Rake in the Likes — The virtual space is bustling with Muses, fashion fans who are always on the lookout for new inspiration. Dazzle them with the freshest fits to earn their Likes and grow as an iconic fashion influencer!

Send Likes to Get New Items — Spot a Muse with impeccable taste? Let them know! Giving a Like will let players use their fashion items not only for themselves, but also when recommending outfits to other Muses.

Build a Brand with Customizable Items — When designing new clothing and accessories, the sky’s the limit! Customize over 1400 collectable items with your favorite styles and colors for a truly unique flair.

Interact Online with Other Muses Across the Globe — Connecting Eve to the internet opens a world of fashion possibilities! Muses will visit connected worlds, allowing players to snag whatever outfits they’re wearing for themselves or look for inspiration for their next ensemble. Anyone’s designs could make them the next international sensation!

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Earlier today, XSEED Games announced what their playable lineup of games will be for PAX West 2023. The press release states that XSEED will have hands-on demo experiences for Silent Hope, Rune Factory 3 Special, Cuisineer, Touhou: New World and Fashion Dreamer.

In addition to this announcement, also mentioned in the latest press release, is the fact that XSEED Games will be publishing Freedom Planet 2 as well, from developer GalaxyTrail. It’s stated in the press release that Freedom Planet 2, originally released for PC via Steam in 2022, will be headed to console platforms digitally in North America sometime later this year, 2023. Those console platforms include, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. A more specific release date has not yet been announced at this time. Freedom Planet 2 is also included in the list of games which will be playable at PAX West 2023. PAX West 2023 is scheduled to occur this upcoming September 1st through 4th, in Seattle. XSEED’s booth will be located in North Hall #1325 at the Seattle Convention Center. You can read more from the latest press release about the games in XSEED’s PAX West 2023 lineup, down below.

Fashion Dreamer [Nintendo Switch ‒ Nov. 3, 2023]

Fashion Dreamer is a creative-focused game where players can express their unique styles using their avatar, called a Muse. Create iconic looks from cozy casualwear to chic couture, choosing from hundreds of available options that can be customized to be a truly one-of-a-kind look. Once players find their signature style, they can show off their latest outfits across different areas, called Cocoons. There, they can also explore inspiring new fashions from other Muses whether playing on- or offline or display them in their showroom to garner even more attention and Likes for their brand. Players can also increase their influence by completing design challenges, unlocking even more customization options to elevate their brand. Featuring asynchronous multiplayer, the world of Eve is inhabited by Muses from around the globe, allowing players to find inspiration or earn Likes for their most iconic fit virtually anywhere! Developed by syn Sophia Inc., Fashion Dreamer will be released on the Nintendo Switch system on Nov. 3. This title has been rated “E for Everyone” by the ESRB.

Freedom Planet 2 [Multiplatform ‒ 2023]

Return to the world of Avalice to battle an ancient threat in Freedom Planet 2, the long-awaited sequel to the beloved 2014 action-platformer. In the years since the events of the original game, our three returning heroes have refined their signature abilities, making them more formidable than ever before. Take advantage of Lilac’s speed with her Dragon Boost, reach new heights with Carol’s Jump Disc or motorcycle, or take a more measured approach with Milla’s shield. And all-new playable character Neera won’t be left out in the cold, as she can use her powerful Frost Arts to punish foes. Like its predecessor, this fast-paced combat-driven platform adventure gives you the flexibility to take on each stage exactly how you want. With a carefully tuned balance of speed and exploration, and gorgeous 2D visuals featuring refined character sprites, Freedom Planet 2 expands on everything that made the original a modern classic for a bigger, better, and more enriching retro experience. Freedom Planet 2 will be published on console platforms in 2023. This title has not yet been rated by the ESRB.

Silent Hope [Multiplatform ‒ Oct. 3, 2023]

Silent Hope harkens back to the glory days of isometric dungeon-crawlers while infusing them with a modern approach. Players will take the role of seven unlikely heroes, each with their own unique weapons, fighting styles, and non-combat jobs. After diving into The Abyss to battle enemies and collect materials, the heroes return to Base Camp to craft, cook, and prepare for their next adventure. Each journey into The Abyss will be a fresh experience, with randomized layouts ensuring every excursion has the element of chance, with even greater dangers lurking the further the heroes dare to venture. Silent Hope is scheduled for release in North America for the Nintendo Switch system and Windows PC via Steam on Oct. 3. The title has been rated “E10+” by the ESRB.

Cuisineer [Windows PC – Fall, 2023]

Step into the shoes of Pom, a cook with a taste for adventure, as she returns to her hometown of Paell to find her parents gone and their beloved restaurant abandoned. Now it’s up to her to turn the eatery’s fortunes around! Armed with her trusty spatula and a supply of refreshing boba tea, Pom will need to venture through dangerous and diverse dungeons to harvest all the ingredients she’ll need before returning home to cook up tasty dishes. Serve her loyal patrons, customize her dining hall with the help of local artisans, and watch out for the lunch rush in this roguelite action title! Cuisineer is developed by BattleBrew Productions and will release for Windows PC via Steam fall 2023. This title has not been age rated.

Rune Factory 3 Special [Multiplatform – Sept. 5, 2023]

More than a decade after its original release on Nintendo DS, Rune Factory 3 returns, remade for a new generation on Nintendo Switch. All the classic gameplay returns with improved graphics and redesigned 3D character models, bolstered by brand-new features like “Newlywed Mode,” standalone adventures unlocked after marriage to each of the game’s 11 eligible bachelorettes; and a “Hell” difficulty level to challenge even veteran players! Whether it’s your first visit or you’re returning after a long time away, experience the unforgettable story of Rune Factory 3 like never before. Rune Factory 3 Special will launch globally on Windows PC via Steam and in North America on Nintendo Switch on Sept. 5. This title is rated “T for Teen” by the ESRB.

Touhou: New World [Multiplatform – Sept. 12, 2023]

Touhou: New World returns players to Gensokyo, a supernatural world that both humans and the spirits known as youkai call home. While far from idyllic, life for residents is relatively uneventful; that is until the mystical barrier protecting it is breached by an outsider harboring an obsession with the supernatural realm, bringing chaos to both Gensokyo and the world beyond. It’s up to shrine maiden Reimu and her magician friend Marisa to uncover the true source of the chaos and restore peace to both worlds, dodging magical bullet barrages and battling a menagerie of mystical creatures along the way! This fan-made title from developer Ankake Spa combines fast-paced action-RPG and bullet-hell elements for a magical combination. Touhou: New World launched for Nintendo Switch and Windows PC via Steam digitally on July 13, and will release digitally for PS4 and PS5 on Sept. 12.

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I’ve always been interested in the Rune Factory series, but I’ve never actually played any of them. I always wondered if the farming would be too much of a hassle or if I would like the dungeon crawling, so when I got a chance to check out a preview of the upcoming Rune Factory 3 Special, I jumped on it. Let’s see how my first Rune Factory experience went.

The game begins as a young girl is dragging a collapsed monster into the village. Her grandfather is very upset the girl has brought a monster into their home, but she is very keen on helping the poor creature out. The next morning, the monster transformed into a young man. He has amnesia, and has no idea how he got there nor any idea he was a monster the night before. He rushes out of the house and runs into a red haired girl that is very quiet and named Raven. She is in front of a huge tree they refer to as the Sharance Tree. He attempts to talk to Raven but to no avail when suddenly, the girl from last night appears. Her name is Shara. They take him to the heart of the tree where he is told he will be living with Shara for the time being. When they arrive at the field below the house, they are attacked by monsters, and our protagonist fends them off. He is told when monsters are killed they don’t perish, they are simply returned to The Forest of Beginnings. After learning more about the people of the town, you accept a quest to fight off a Raccoon monster that has been stealing food. After completing this quest you find a memory orb, this helps him remember a bit about his past, allowing him to transform into a monster once more. You soon discover a settlement of other monsters outside of town, and the mystery of this young man only thickens from there.

I’m pretty interested to see where the story goes from here. It’s been a while since I got invested in a world so quickly, but I think all of the amazing characters helped this along. Almost of all them have very unique personalities and quirks that make you want to learn more about them. The lazy store clerk, Karina, is a very cute girl, but don’t expect her to do much in the way of physical activity. I think this girl works harder at getting out of work. The bathhouse girl, Pia, is very innocent, and takes whatever anyone tells her to heart. I was pretty shocked when it turned out she was a mermaid when I saw her out in the rain one day, and I really wanted to learn more about this girl going forward. I could go on and on about each girl and the other residents with what little I’ve learned in my time with the game so far, but I want to experience more of this before I go into great detail.

I got sucked into the gameplay of Rune Factory 3 Special very quickly. I can see why players of this series say it’s so addicting. You start each day with a number of Rune Points. You consume these points as you do farming activities and combat. At first, I thought this was very limiting, but the amount of points used will go down as you level up in each respective area. So, after a little while, I felt like I could get a lot more done in a single day. The combat here is your standard top down action game style. Fans of old school Zelda games will feel right at home here. There are a variety of different weapons, and each one has different skills you can learn to make you more effective at slaying your foes. You can even get different skills in your monster form that add even more depth to this fun combat.

I feel like I have barely scratched the surface of everything you can do and see in Rune Factory 3 Special. I’m very much looking forward to learning more about all of the game’s amazing characters, and finding out more about our protagonist and all the other great features here. The game will be releasing September 5th for PC via Steam and on Nintendo Switch.

Preview build provided by the publisher.

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XSEED Games has just announced an official release date for Fashion Dreamer. Fashion Dreamer, developed by syn Sophia, is scheduled to launch exclusively for Nintendo Switch this upcoming November 3rd. It’s also been confirmed that the game will be getting a physical edition, which the latest press release states will be available for pre-order soon at participating retailers and cost $49.99. Along with this release date announcement, a new gameplay trailer has been put out as well. Feel free to check out the latest trailer down below and read a little bit more about the game from the press release.

Fashion Dreamer is a creative-focused game where players can express their unique styles using their avatar, called a Muse. Create iconic looks from cozy casualwear to chic couture, choosing from hundreds of available options that can be customized to be a truly one-of-a-kind look. Once players find their signature style, they can show off their latest outfits across different areas, called Cocoons. There, they can also explore inspiring new fashions from other Muses whether playing on- or offline or display them in their showroom to garner even more attention and Likes for their brand. Players can also increase their influence by completing design challenges, unlocking even more customization options to elevate their brand. Featuring asynchronous multiplayer, the world of Eve is inhabited by Muses from around the globe, allowing players to find inspiration or earn Likes for their most iconic fit virtually anywhere!

KEY FEATURES

Create New Outfits to Rake in the Likes — The virtual space is bustling with Muses, fashion fans who are always on the lookout for new inspiration. Dazzle them with the freshest fits to earn their Likes and grow as an iconic fashion influencer!

Send Likes to Get New Items — Spot a Muse with impeccable taste? Let them know! Giving a Like will let players use their fashion items not only for themselves, but also when recommending outfits to other Muses.

Build a Brand with Customizable Items — When designing new clothing and accessories, the sky’s the limit! Customize over 1400 collectable items with your favorite styles and colors for a truly unique flair.

Interact Online with Other Muses Across the Globe — Connecting Eve to the internet opens a world of fashion possibilities! Muses will visit connected worlds, allowing players to snag whatever outfits they’re wearing for themselves or look for inspiration for their next ensemble. Anyone’s designs could make them the next international sensation!

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Back in 2016, XSEED Games released one of the first Touhou games I’d ever really sat down and played through. The name of the game was Touhou: The Scarlet Curiosity, and it was touted as being a hybrid of a Bullet-Hell game and an Action RPG, which I thought was a bit crazy at the time. I ended up loving that game, and it’s probably what got me into checking out the official and fan games in the franchise. So, when I got to check out Touhou: New World, which comes to us from the same developer as Scarlet Curiosity, I jumped on it. Let’s see if I love this release as much as the previous one.

The story here beings as Reimu and Marisa discover the barrier between the outside world and mystical world of Gensokyo has been breached. Our protagonists end up in a world outside of their own, and soon encounter a girl named Sumireko. She is obsessed with Gensokyo, and ends up traveling back with our two wayward protagonists. This of course is not without incident, as both worlds are now thrown into chaos. Reimu and Marisa will have to solve the mystery here, and put this incident to rest.

I thought the story here was pretty good, and the localization team did a pretty good job giving these characters we know and love a lot of personality. There is nothing here that is gonna blow you away, but the story keeps the game moving along and is interesting enough that you will want to see how it all plays out. I was pretty interested to see which characters would be included here, as well, as I progressed.

Graphically, Touhou: New World looks pretty good. The world is nicely detailed with many of the different environments around Gensokyo being represented. These include the human village, ice caverns, Hell and many others. While the character models and enemies aren’t very detailed, they have a ton of style. This was the case in the previous game, Scarlet Curiosity, and I think it looks great here as well. Scenes with dialogue have some well done character portraits too. I didn’t see any real performance issues running this on my PC. There are some graphic options if you need to adjust things for your rig.

In the audio department, you will find some remixes of your favorite Touhou tunes here. Each stage has a wonderful theme, and the boss music is top notch, as you would expect. The sound effects here are nothing to write home about, but they get the job done. There is no voice acting here, which may be a bummer for some folks, but I don’t really mind the lack of it, personally.

The gameplay here hasn’t changed much since the last game. You run through stages, beating up enemies with normal attacks and special moves until you reach a boss. These special moves will level up the more you use them, and the enemies will drop a variety of equipment. As you would expect, this equipment will have a great impact on your stats, depending on which ones you equip. Some will give you more life, while others may get you better drops or increase your critical hit rate. How you build either protagonist is completely up to you. Completing both normal missions and side missions will earn you Power Stones that you use to upgrade your base stats or give yourself some more heals in battle, so be sure to use these wisely.

I felt like the boss fights in this game were a bit easier this time around, or I’ve just gotten better at dodging the Bullet-Hell. Either way, each boss is a very unique fight with different attack patterns and specials for you to navigate. You can also guard against striking attacks, and doing so perfectly will slow down time, allowing you to blast foes with your overpowered spell card, or use the time to heal up if things are going south.

All in all, I enjoyed my time with Touhou: New World. It had the same fun gameplay as the last game, the soundtrack is top notch and the story, while nothing amazing, is good enough to keep you interested. I would have no issue suggesting fans of Touhou: Scarlet Curiosity to pick this one up, you will find more of what you love here at the cost of $24.99. If you haven’t played the previous game and are a fan of Action RPGs that do something a little different, I think you should check this one out as well. You may just find it’s your first step into the bottomless pit of Touhou.

Review Score
Overall

Game copy provided by the publisher.

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XSEED Games has released another fantastic fan made game for the Touhou franchise, Touhou: New World. In this Action RPG with some Bullet Hell gameplay thrown in for good measure you will take on the role of Reimu Hakurei or the sorceress Marisa Kirisame as they try to save Gensokyo from disaster. This game comes to us from developer Ankake, you may know them from their previous title Touhou: Scarlet Curiosity.

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