Review: Liberté

Developer – Superstatic Publisher – Anshar Publishing Platforms – PC (Reviewed) Review copy given by publisher Step back in time to the tumultuous era of the French Revolution with Liberté, an enthralling deck-builder roguelite that immerses players in the heart of Paris. As the valiant protagonist, Rene, an ordinary Parisian caught in a web of intrigue involving the city’s most powerful factions, you’re in for an unforgettable adventure. The game seamlessly blends historical accuracy with a touch of fantasy, introducing the enigmatic Lady Bliss, an otherworldly invader shrouded in mystery. Lady Bliss came out of nowhere and nestled hidden in the Bliss – a Cronenbergian netherworld that only you can access. Guarded by the all-mighty Eldritches, the gardens of the Bliss are dangerous places. But as you do the monster’s bidding, you will uncover the mystery of who Lady Bliss is and why she chose you for her secret mission. Lady Bliss mysteriously emerged from the depths and took shelter within the enigmatic realm known as the Bliss – a Cronenbergian netherworld exclusively accessible by you. Protected by the powerful Eldritches, venturing into the perilous gardens of the Bliss is unwise. However, as you heed the monster’s commands, the enigma of Lady Bliss and her clandestine assignment bestowed upon you shall gradually unravel. The game’s deck-building mechanics stand as its primary advantage, providing a captivating and tactical encounter. While exploring the devastated streets of Paris, players will face numerous obstacles that demand careful consideration when selecting their cards. The progression offers opportunities to obtain new cards, enabling players to refine their deck according to their preferred approach and develop clever tactics to outsmart their opponents. Let me unveil the true essence of Liberté to you with a touch of lightheartedness! Picture yourself entangled in a marvelous web of alliances and relationships, oh the drama! Choose wisely as you align yourself with those oh-so-influential factions that passionately vie for control of the city. Your decisions, not only shape the story but also determine the perilous path you take through this thrilling game.Prepare to have your socks knocked off by the mesmerizing visuals of 18th-century Paris. The streets, my friend, are bursting with life, capturing the very essence of a city wrapped up in revolution. And oh, let’s not forget about the art style! It effortlessly complements the historical setting, sprinkling it with a touch of enchantment, especially when you come face-to-face with the enigmatic Lady Bliss. The narrative is gripping and full of surprises, keeping players on their toes as they unravel the truth behind Lady Bliss and her cryptic origins. Each playthrough offers a fresh experience, as procedural generation ensures that no two runs are ever the same. Despite its strengths, Liberté does have a bit of a learning curve, especially for those who are new to the deck-building genre. However, the tutorial is really easy to follow and the difficulty increases gradually, which makes it easy for both newbies and experienced players to get into the game. In a nutshell, Liberté is an awesome deck-builder roguelite that takes you on a thrilling journey through the French Revolution. It’s got everything – historical accuracy, strategic gameplay, and an engaging storyline. You’ll be hooked as you navigate through political intrigue, forge alliances, and encounter the mysterious Lady Bliss. So gear up for an adventure in the chaotic and captivating world of Liberté, where you’ll create your own destiny amidst the war-torn streets!
Review: Lunacy: Saint Rhodes

Developer – Stormling Studios Publisher – Iceberg Interactive Platforms – PC (Reviewed) Review copy given by publisher Indie horror games are a dime a dozen, but I had my hopes held high for Lunacy: Saint Rhodes since its announcement. If you’ve followed this title for some time, then you probably already know that it has gone through an extremely rough development cycle. The game was initially announced all the way back in 2018 with a 2019 release date, but got delayed multiple times, and even changed developers midway. Stormling Studios took over after Lazarus Studios decided to abandon the project. After a long and rocky 5 years, Lunacy: Saint Rhodes is finally coming out on PC via Steam, with no word on console ports. You play as a man named Rhodes, who has just been notified that he has inherited a mansion in his family’s name. A detective explains that there’s a connection between the property and a murder that happened many years ago. And thus begins your journey to Saint Rhodes, an abandoned town filled with rotting derelict buildings. There is a darker secret that lies within your family’s history, and the game doesn’t shy away from leading you into a narrative filled with tons of secrets. Like most other horror titles, this one delivers most of its hidden lore through objects, notes, and the occasional cutscene. It’s a bit of a stretch to even consider this game a survival horror experience, which is what the game markets itself as, because the gameplay boils down to a walking simulator combined with solving puzzles and avoiding an entity that aims to kill you. There are no weapons, combat, or an inventory to manage. A bit of a spoiler but you do get an item that allows you to temporarily impair entities to give you some more breathing room, but that’s about it. Categorizing it as a first person psychological horror would have been a better fit. However, Lunacy Saint Rhodes does add some spice and variety that makes it stand out a bit from other games in the same category. The game introduces this novel mechanic of pressing the spacebar to wipe away the rain on your glasses to make it easier to see. Several clever visual tricks are played when environments start to shift or change offscreen, resulting in an interesting experience. The greatest and biggest marketing push for this game is its “advanced AI” that watches your every movement and makes sure you never feel really safe. Yes the entity that stalks you is relentless, but not in a good way. The AI is always in the way of wherever you need to go, forcing you to run in circles and backtrack just to shake it off. Instead of being scary, it’s just unnecessary and extremely frustrating. This leads into what I can only call terrible pacing, as you are constantly stopped from progressing due to the aforementioned situation or another locked door or obstacle in the way. The audio design and visual effects ultimately make or break the atmosphere of a scary experience, so it’s pivotal for the developers to nail these 2 aspects. A horror game without a meticulously crafted eerie atmosphere ends up being one that lacks any terror whatsoever. Lunacy: Saint Rhodes, unfortunately, is lackluster and even borderline bad in both, featuring terrible sound effects and outdated visuals. All the environmental assets are tinted with a nauseous blur effect that causes my eyes to burn if I stare for too long, with little to no detailed textures. The lighting is also way too dark, so I recommend cranking up the brightness, as the game forces you to look for too many environmental details that you otherwise can’t even see. This was developed using Unreal Engine 4, but I’ve seen plenty of other titles built on UE4 that look way crisper. The audio effects are deafening and poorly implemented, with a notable example being the thunder effects that blasted my ears so much that it hurts. While you are navigating the city of Saint Rhodes, there is also little to no background noise that helps build tension. All you hear is your repetitious footsteps and the pouring of rain. The voice acting, on the other hand, is serviceable at best, but there are moments in which the dialogue is annoying, such as when the AI entity repeats the same phrase over and over again. Not only does the game not look or sound great, the performance is also shoddy and inconsistent. Considering this game started development back in 2018 or even earlier, you would expect that the hardware requirements wouldn’t be too taxing. The game frequently suffers from frame drops and stutters, with considerably long loading times. I often found myself needing to take a break as a combination of the blurry graphics along with poor performance made my eyes hurt if I played for too long. Surprisingly, the game is priced at a more than fair MSRP of $19.99, with a launch discount that brings the total to $15.99 until August 3rd. There are no difficulty settings to the game and the entire playthrough will probably run you around 3 to 5 hours, depending on how fast you are at solving puzzles and navigating around the AI that pursues you. You may find a bit more replayability through the two different endings the game offers along with a handful of collectibles to find. The immediate red flag about Lunacy: Saint Rhodes is its troubled 5+ year development cycle, numerous delays, and multiple developers. While I’m glad that the game has finally been released, I can’t recommend it due to how disappointingly unpolished it is. On top of its visual and aural shortcomings, it’s not even scary.
Lara Croft is joining Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II

Activision and Infinity Ward released all the information for its upcoming Season 5 for Warzone and Modern Warfare II. The new season celebrates 50 years of Hip Hop and will bring a Nicki Minaj, Snoop Dogg and 21 Savage bundle to the game. Along with those bundles there will be a others including one for Lara Croft. Lara Croft of the Tomb Raider franchise will be making her way to Call of Duty sometime mid-season they claim. Images or other information for Lara’s bundle has not been shared by Activision yet. Our guess is the bundle will cost $19.99 USD or 2,400 COD Points like all of the other Operator bundles. The information they gave was “Play as the legendary treasure hunter and video game icon Lara Croft in a new Operator bundle arriving in the mid-season.” Season 5 for Call of Duty Modern Warfare II and Warzone will release on August 2. When Call of Duty 2023 releases later this year, you’ll be able to transfer the Lara Croft Operator bundle to it. Activision confirmed all Operators, Weapons and Bundles will transfer over to the next Call of Duty.
Mortal Kombat 1 Pre-Order Beta begins August 18

The Mortal Kombat 1 Pre-Order Beta will begin on August 18 and concludes on August 21 for Xbox Series XlS and PlayStation 5. This is exclusively to those who already pre-ordered Mortal Kombat 1 and will provide players the opportunity before it releases on September 19. The Pre-Order Beta will begin Friday, August 18 at 11 AM ET / 8 AM PT and will run through Monday, August 21 at 11 AM ET / 8 AM PT. While the Beta will be downloadable before it goes live, players will not be able to access the game to participate until the mentioned time. If you try to launch the Beta you’ll encounter a “Sign in to enter this menu” error. How Can You Participate In The Mortal Kombat 1 Pre-Order Beta? Anyone who pre-ordered the Mortal Kombat 1 Standard, Premium or Kollector’s Edition for PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series XlS will have access to the Pre-Order Beta. NetherRealm Studios has an FAQ website where you can learn more. In recent Mortal Kombat 1 news, Homelander has been confirmed to join the game as a DLC fighter.
Everything We Know About Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2, the next evolution of the fighting game series was unveiled by GameMill Entertainment. The sequel is rebuilt from the ground up with reimagined gameplay and mechanics. Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 is a wholly new game experience that’s more accessible and competitive than ever before. Here is everything we know so far including its Key Features, Pre-Order Bonuses and the different editions for fans to choose from. Key Features A Totally New Fighting Game Experience: Rebuilt and reimagined from the ground up, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 redefines what a Nickelodeon fighting game can be with new and revamped visuals, audio, animations, modes, stages, mechanics, taunts and move sets, competitively tuned for all levels of play. New & Improved Brawlers: Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2’s roster is bigger and better than ever, with even more variety in how each unique character plays. Battle with brand new Nickelodeon fighters as well as returning fan favourites! New Brawlers include Jimmy Neutron and Squidward. Hit Hard With Supers: Power up your fighters with incredible new Supers, which can deal devastating blows to opponents. Single-Player Campaign: Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 will launch with a unique campaign featuring roguelike elements. Put your skills to the test as you fight to stop Danny Phantom archvillain Vlad Plasmius from taking over the Nickelodeon universe! Voice Acting for All Playable Characters: Feel the energy and excitement of every attack with a fully voiced cast of fighters, including the talents of Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants) and Bill Fagerbakke (SpongeBob SquarePants). Minigame Mayhem: This fighting game sequel introduces all-new minigames to play alone or with friends. Compete for global leaderboard high scores in Pinch the Blimps, Whack-a-Bot, and Irken Armada Bootcamp Survival. Full Cross-Platform Play: Battle it out with up to four players on any platform with seamless crossplay, utilizing enhanced netcode for consoles and PC. What Are The Pre-Order Bonuses For Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2? The Pre-Order Bonus for Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 is an exclusive Patrick Elastic Waistband Costume. Will The Game Have Limited Editions? All-Star Brawl 2 will come with a Digital Deluxe Edition, Ultimate Edition and a Season Pass. Pre-Order Bonus: Exclusive Patrick Elastic Waistband Costume Base Game: $49.99 Digital Deluxe: $69.99 [Contains Season Pass content at discounted bundle price] Ultimate Edition: $79.99 [Contains Digital Deluxe + 1 Extra Costume per Character] Season Pass: $24.99 [Contains all 4 New DLC Brawlers + Exclusive Spongebob Quickster Costume] At EVO 2023 on Friday, August 4th the developers, Ludosity and Fair Play Labs will be showing off the improved gameplay. They’ll be breaking down what’s new and the changes that were made to make the game better than its predecessor. Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 will release on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series XlS, PC via Steam, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The release date remains unknown, but it will be launching sometime this Fall.
Gran Turismo Gets Pushed Two Weeks, PlayStation Offering Early Viewings For PlayStation Plus Subscribers

Next month, the anticipated Gran Turismo film adaptation hits theaters. The upcoming motion picture will be part of the continued campaign by PlayStation Productions to offer movies/television translations of classic PlayStation properties. In one statement, head Asad Qizilbash told that the movie and other projects are to offer “the same care and formula” which Uncharted & The Last of Us already gave to its viewers. Previously, Sony Pictures/PlayStation Productions confirmed Stranger Things star David Harbour would be casted as a leading role for the new film. Additionally, the firm offered a trailer for the picture with an August release. It was later that PlayStation Productions verified the film would release on August 11th. However, a new report from The Hollywood Reporter confirms a delay has been casted on the film. Alongside other Sony pictures including Kraven the Hunter, Ghostbusters Afterlife sequel, and Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, Gran Turismo pushed its release to August 25th. A statement from a Sony Pictures spokesperson reads: “The stars can’t promote the film but the audience can.” The comment comes as part of the recent protests in Hollywood organized by the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) earlier in July. In response to the ongoing strike by the union, Sony’s actions to push its new films in hope the protest will end for stars to continue advertising for releases. Elsewhere, news broke out for Gran Turismo as early screenings are to be handed to select PlayStation Plus subscribers. Users online have shared emails being sent out offering first-look screenings for interested fans. “Buy tickets for Early Access Shows of Gran Turismo on August 8,” the email sent to @GamePittReviews reads. “See the new movie, starring David Harbour, Orlando Bloom, and Archie Madekwe, before it hits UK cinemas,” it says. Of course, there are other reports of users in different regions receiving the same email. “First come, first served. Get ready to be in the drive’s seat for the most anticipated movie of the summer.” New sneak previews will be scheduled for August 11 & August 18 weekends next month. Are you shocked by the recent turn of events for Gran Turismo? Gran Turismo hits theaters on August 25, 2023. Source: The Hollywood Reporter
“We Are Planning To Bring Our Games To Xbox,” Sqaure Enix CEO States In Recent Event

It is an ongoing tale in regards to Square Enix’s loyalty towards PlayStation. For a majority of titles for decades, the publisher has handed its properties to Sony Interactive Entertainment to release uniquely on PlayStation. Recently, we witnessed this with Final Fantasy XVI which is to remain exclusive on the platform for at least six months, it is clarified. However, there has been some exceptions in favor of Xbox. Previously, we witnessed this with Octopath Traveler as the game hit the platform and never made its appearance on PlayStation. Additionally, the firm also handed over a handful of titles for Xbox Game Pass in the past too which many players appreciated then. During the recent 2023 Final Fantasy Festival, Square Enix & Microsoft announced Final Fantasy XIV is officially coming to Xbox. As part of the presentation, it was also confirmed a continued campaign to support Xbox with more Square Enix games is underway, Gematsu transcribed. As CEO of Square Enix, we want to continue to deliver fabulous games to fans across the world, and of course we want to welcome the Xbox community as well, and starting with today’s announcement of Final Fantasy XIV coming in spring 2024, and whenever possible, we are planning to bring our games to Xbox for players around the world to enjoy. We’re really looking forward to working closely with Phil and the Xbox team to make this possible. Takashi Kiryu, Square Enix CEO “I think I can speak for myself, [Naoki Yoshida], and all of our Warriors of Light here watching the live stream when I say how excited I am to see Xbox support added, and for us to welcome countless new friends to the world of Final Fantasy XIV,” Kiryu added. “Final Fantasy XIV is only going to get bigger and better, so all the Xbox gamers out there, I urge you to give Final Fantasy XIV a try.” “The entire Xbox team is excited to see how our newest Warriors of Light will use the full capabilities of Xbox Series X and Series S to help save Eorzea. And I’m excited to partner with you, Yoshida-san, and your studios as you bring this incredible franchise to global platforms to enable more players to connect and experience the joy of gaming together,” Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer told during the show. What is your thoughts on Square Enix’s support for Xbox?
Final Fantasy XIV Online: Dawntrail Trailer Reveals Next Expansion For Summer 2024 Launch

Over the past year, Final Fantasy XIV continues to be one of the most successful online RPGs in recent times. While the game has remained prominent for nearly a decade, the title for recent months have overshadowed online competitors. In that, Final Fantasy XIV overtook World of Warcraft as the most played MMO then. Additionally, the game faced ongoing congestion with this new spree of players hopping into its servers. And with the following release of Endwalker launching at the time surely would not help this issue. And it became swiftly apparent that this issue manifested beyond Square Enix’s expectations as purchases for Final Fantasy XIV were temporarily halted at the time. This week, Square Enix revealed the next major expansion coming to Final Fantasy XIV with Dawntrail. You can watch the announcement trailer in the video below: “The new expansion brings with it a wealth of new content. Expect new story, multiple new jobs, sprawling new areas to explore, new allied tribes, new dungeons, new side quests, new Hunts, new Fates, new Treasure Hunts and much more,” Square Enix writes in the press release. “What’s more, Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail will introduce the game’s first graphical update for both the character and world visuals. “Among these enhancements, you’ll see improvements to the screen-wide aesthetic appeal, higher resolution textures and improved material qualities.” Even more, an official Xbox Series X|S version for Final Fantasy XIV is on the way as well – Square Enix confirmed at the same showcase this week. You can read the full report by heading here. What are you most excited for on the new ‘Dawntrail’ expansion? Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail ships sometime in summer 2024. Source: Square Enix
New Among Us VR Map, Polus Point Is Now Available

Innersloth, Schell Games and Robot Teddy announced Polus Point, a Polus-inspired map from the original Among Us game is now available for free in Among Us VR. It’s the latest update to Among Us VR, and includes nine new rooms, new tasks, and brand-new kill and ejection animations. “We know how popular the original Polus is in Among Us, and we can’t wait for players across the globe to experience the VR adaptation of ‘Polus Point’ in Among Us VR. It’s such a great map and lets VR players experience it in a whole new way,” Community Director for Innersloth, Victoria Tran said. New cosmetics include five FREEzing Polus Point Hats and five Among Us VR-exclusive hats in the Hat Pack: Polus Point Picks available for $4.99 on Meta and Steam. Among Us is also celebrating the launch of Polus Point in Among Us VR with the Brr-Bear-Y hat available for 500 beans in Among Us’ in-game shop. Among Us VR is available for $9.99 USD on the Meta Quest and Steam stores. Among Us VR was first announced at The Game Awards 2021 giving a new way to experience being the imposter.
Return To Monkey Island Is Now Available On Mobile

Return to Monkey Island has set sail for Android and iOS devices. Wannabe pirates and long-time fans of the legendary series can get their hands on Terrible Toybox’s lauded sequel via their phones and tablets from today for $9.99 For buccaneers new to the Caribbean, be prepared for mystery, intrigue and numerous info pamphlets. The tangled history of Monkey Island’s most famous secret began over 30 years ago in the mind of creators Ron Gilbert and Dave Grossman. Return to Monkey Island picks up the story of wannabe-pirate Guybrush Threepwood at the conclusion of 1991’s Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge, bringing the creators’ journey back full circle before setting sail for even wackier waters. You can purchase Return to Monkey Island on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.