NEWS! Clockwork Aquario coming to PS4 and Switch!

 

The treasure from the arcades - Finally restored and ready for release! 

 *Clockwork Aquario - coming to Switch and PS4*

Stuttgart, November 24th, 2021. ININ Games is excited to announce the release of the lost arcade game gem Clockwork Aquario from legendary developer studio Westone as digital version for Nintendo Switch and PS4 on November 30th, 2021 in Europe, followed by North America on December 14th, 2021!

After being lost for almost three decades, the colorful side-scrolling action game, and last, but never released arcade title of legendary developer studio Westone, will finally come to life! To set the mood, a brand new trailer shows you the amazing, colorful gameplay that awaits you! 

Clockwork Aquario presents imaginatively created levels with beautiful, colourful, pixel graphics. Easy to pick up, the addictive side-scroller action and intuitive controls ensure you will instantly be immersed in the action as you face a host of baddies! Choose your favorite character and conquer various enemies and unique bosses with Huck Londo, Elle Moon, or the giant robot Gush - alone or together with your favorite Player 2 in co-op mode! Complemented by an amazing soundtrack by Westone legend Shinichi Sakamoto, Clockwork Aquario has been well worth the wait.

“Clockwork Aquario is a great piece of 2D art, into which the pixel artists put their hearts and souls. I would like to express my heartfelt respect and gratitude to those who have worked so hard to restore it."  - Ryuichi Nishizawa (chief publisher, and co-founder of Westone)

For more information about the game, visit https://www.iningames.com/games/clockwork-aquario/ 

NEWS: Cotton Fantasy Incoming!

 

    

Cotton Fantasy - A brand-new, “modern” Cotton Game
Both digital & boxed releases for Switch & PS4 in the pipeline

Stuttgart, November 9th, 2021. ININ Games is proud to announce the continued partnership with SUCCESS, in the West, with an exciting brand new title, Cotton Fantasy for Nintendo Switch and PS4. Our partners at SUCCESS will release the game in Japan under the name “Cotton Rock 'n' Roll”. ININ Games will handle both the digital and physical retail release of Cotton Fantasy in the West, with ININ pre-orders kicking off this winter, exact details to follow. Eager collectors can already pre-order a physical Limited or Collector’s Edition from Strictly Limited Games, starting November 13th.

Cotton Fantasy: Cotton Fantasy is a brand-new addition to the Cotton series that sees Cotton and Silk embark on another adventure, this time in HD graphics! The game adds several new shoot 'em up mechanics to the iconic Cotton playstyle, providing a modern gameplay experience, more precise than ever. Featuring 6 iconic playable characters, 16 colourful and varied scrolling stages, with vertical, horizontal and 3D movement, and an exhilarating soundtrack with iconic remastered tracks from past games, Cotton Fantasy offers a lot of variation and replayability on your hunt for the high score. Packaged with a light-hearted story full of charming, fun cutscenes, fully-voiced in Japanese, this is a great and accessible new shoot 'em up game for fans of the series and newcomers alike.

For Collectors:

Cotton fans looking for exclusive collectibles should consider grabbing a Limited or Collector’s Edition, from the Strictly Limited Games Partner Store with pre-orders kicking off on Saturday 13th of November - 9 AM PST / 12 PM EST / 6 PM CET. Shipping of these unique editions with limited supply is expected for March 2022.

Check out the trailer for these editions, including some new gameplay footage here: https://youtu.be/qzb2hNovPl8 

The Limited Edition will cost the same as the upcoming ININ retail version, at 39,99€ and with 3,000 Nintendo Switch and 1,500 Playstation 4 copies available.

The Collector’s Edition will be available for 109.99€, limited to 2,000 copies for Nintendo Switch and 1,000 copies for PlayStation 4.

The Collector’s Edition will include the following items:

• Game for Nintendo Switch or PlayStation 4

• Premium Collector’s Edition box with magnetic clasp

• Colourful game manual

• Numbered certificate of authenticity 

• Nata de Cotton Nendoroid figure (approx. 10cm)

• Yunomi ceramic Japanese tea cup (230ml)

• Hardcover art book (Din A5)

• Large, 2-sided poster (Din A2)

• 8 character cards (Din A7)

• Original soundtrack on CD

• Metal collector's coin

• Rubber keychain in willow-shape 

• 2 stickers

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Ultimate Edition PS5 Review

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Ultimate Edition PS5
Developed and Published By: Wayforward
Date of Release: November 2, 2021
Price: $39.99

Hey everyone! Our favorite half-genie is back! From the time that the original Shantae launched back on the Game Boy Color up until the last release, Shantae and The Pirate's Curse, this series has been known for awesome metroidvania gameplay, an amazing soundtrack, bouncy beauties, and a familiar pixelated charm. However with Shantae: Half-Genie Hero things have majorly changed on the latter front, pixels are out and gorgeous hand drawn HD sprites are in! Thankfully all the series other hallmarks are still there (including Jake Kaufman's signature jams), all that has changed is the visual aesthetic.



From the first level of the game (which features an AMAZING vocal number by Shantae's voice actress, Christina Vee.) where you face off with the Part Omni-Organic, Partially Titanic, Ocean-Optional Tinkerslug (don't call it P.O.O.P. T.O.O.T.!) it's clear that the team at Wayforward have not lost their touch, and that Half-Genie hero is definitely not Half-Baked. The game runs at a smooth 60fps, and scales nicely all the way up to 4k. On top of that the controls are tight with zero discernible input lag. All the good stuff is still here in full form, and the new visuals just add a nice feel to the whole experience. Also, giant-ass mermaids are freakin' awesome!



Of course it wouldn't be an Ultimate Edition without a shipload of extras, and this edition delivers the booty! All of the original DLC is included, and a whole raft of extras like concept art and formerly backer-exclusive content is there. The game is majorly extended by all the new game modes that have been added, I've already sunk about 30 hours extra into everything after clearing the main scenario. It feels just as good to play it on the PS5 as it did on PS4, and the new haptic effects are a nice touch. 

 

My only complaint about the Ultimate Edition is that it feels a bit overwhelming at first. You've got a damn lengthy main game, a remixed version where you play the villain, a hardcore mode, and three costumes to mix things up. The added costumes even have their own playstyle and rulesets that pretty much change the game completely. There's a helluva lot of stuff there, and my complaints really aren't a negative. So if you love platformers, metroidvanias, bouncy babes with bodacious bods, and counterfeit mermaids, Shantae: Half-Genie Hero on PS5 is the game for you. The best part is if you already have the PS4 Ultimate Edition it's a free upgrade!

Cotton 100%/Panorama Cotton Switch Review

Cotton 100% / Panorama Cotton

Developed By: Success/Ratalaika

Published By: ININ Games

Date of Release: October 29, 2021

Price: $14.99 Each

 

 

The Cotton series of SHMUPS has always been an adorable franchise, a Cute-Em-Up if you will. Starring the cute-as-a-button candy-obsessed witch named Cotton, the series has been a gleeful romp through various fantasy worlds with no signs of slowing down at all. And now with ports of two of the best 16-bit entries in the Cotton universe, it's easier than ever to experience these titles for yourself, no need to import any cartridges!

Cotton 100% for the Super Famicom is a fine entry in the series, basically a brighter more colourful remake of the original Fantastic Night Dreams: Cotton. It featured better level designs, tight controls, and an absolutely fantastic soundtrack. It has incredibly vibrant graphics and perhaps slightly overly detailed backgrounds that can be distracting at times, but the eye candy isn't too distracting. This port from Ratalaika matches their other retro ports in quality and scope of options, though the video aspect ratio menu is bugged and has no effect. Still a solid port, and the definitive way to play this classic title.

 

 

Panorama Cotton for the SEGA MegaDrive on the other hand takes an entirely different approach to the formula. The best way to describe it would be Cotton in Space harrier form. It's a massive departure from the rest of the series with it's over-the-shoulder view of oncoming enemies and hazards, but it somehow manages to work. All the fancy options that are present in Ratalaika's other ports are present here, and the aspect ratio does actually take effect properly this time around. My only real complaint with both of these titles is they are untranslated, sticking to the original Japanese script. Still completely playable, but it would be nice to know what is going on. All in all though, both titles are amazing, and worthy of a place in any SHMUP fan's collection!

Forza Horizon 5 Review

Forza Horizon 5

Developed By: Playground Games

Published By: Xbox Game Studios

Date of Release: November 4, 2021

Price: $59.99

I'm going to admit that I've never been terribly good at serious racing games. I've always given them a fair try, but all the simulation style racers like Gran Turismo and the like are way above my skill level. Arcade racers on the other hand, those I can do well in. That's why ever since the beginning I've been in love with Microsoft's Forza Horizon series. The Horizon games take a more arcadey, open-world design to the standard racing formula, with a greater focus on exploration and car collecting. 

I'm glad to say that Forza Horizon 5 lives up to the pedigree of the franchise, starting off rather bombastically with a parachute landing on the rim of an active volcano in Mexico while driving a 2021 Ford Bronco. And the insanity doesn't stop there as you'll soon be exploring ruins and jungles, chasing storms, and finding classic cars stashed in barns all across the country. Forza Horizon 5 takes the precedents set by the previous entries in the series and just turns everything up to 11. You'll always have something to do

                      . 

Despite being a cross-generation title across the Xbox One and Series consoles, Forza Horizon 5 looks AMAZING on the Series X. I personally played in the performance mode, as the slight reduction to the visuals is worth it for a locked 60FPS. I've had an absolute blast collecting cars and racing against my friends and their Drivatars, and I can safely say that this is my favourite Forza experience to date. Anyone who is a fan of driving games, or collecting cars in general should give Forza Horizon 5 a spin, it's really worth it.

NEWS! Deathsmiles I and II coming to the Switch and PS4!

 

Deathsmiles to Those Who Fail! + Boxed versions for pre-order  +

Stuttgart, Germany - November 5th, 2021 - Strictly Limited Games, together with City Connection, are happy to bring some side scrolling, shoot 'em up arcade action from legendary developer studio CAVE, to the Strictly Limited Games Shop! Deathsmiles I・II coming for Nintendo Switch and PS4 as Limited Edition and Collector’s Edition. Both Editions of the acclaimed Shoot ‘Em Up series will be available for pre-order from November 7th, 2021, only at Strictly Limited Games. 

Through the Gates of HellFire!

With its heavily influenced occult and gothic horror presentation, Deathsmiles’ ambient, anime styled and sinister presentation is already very much venerated. The Strictly Limited Games editions bring a rich package of Deathsmiles action to your home console, including:

• Deathsmiles

• Mega Black Label Edition

• Deathsmiles II

• Gothic wa Mahou Otome DLC (on cartridge/disc)

Enter the world of Gilverado, a kingdom plagued by hideous monsters and tortured souls. Players can select from several different angels with unique powers and battle against a storm of enemies pouring out of Hell’s gates! As with the best of shooters, skill, hand to eye coordination, along with total concentration are essential as you fight your way out of tight spots when you are surrounded by enemy units and bullets from both sides of the screen. Deathsmiles I・II will keep you on your toes as you dodge and weave through complex enemy fire, beautifully crafted by the modern masters of shmup. 

• Horizontally scrolling bullet-hell madness across multiple game modes!

• Spooky good fun! Battle ghosts, demons, man-eating plants, and giant cattle! You can even take on demon Santa!

• Six (four in Deathsmiles) playable angels to choose from, each with their own faithful familiars.

• Play a great variety of gothic-themed stages in the order of your choosing.

• Supports two-player local cooperative play. Banish the forces of Hell together!

Get yourself an awesome limited Edition for pre-order at the Strictly Limited Games Shop.

The Limited Edition comes with a manual and is available for 49,99€ and limited to 2,800 copies for Nintendo Switch and 1,500 copies for PS4.

The Collector’s Edition Features:

 

• Game for Nintendo Switch or PS4

• Collector’s Edition Box

• Acrylic Graveyard DIY-Orama

• Wall Scroll with Main Visual

• Large, reversible poster (DIN A2)

• Character Sticker Set

• OST with Arrange DLC Tracks

• Set of 6 Postcards

• 4 Character cards

• 3 Marquee Stickers

• “Deathsmiles” Enamel Pin

• Set of Keychains

• Deathsmiles Arcade Flyer

The Collector’s Edition is available for 89,99€ and limited to 2,200 copies for Nintendo Switch and 1,000 copies for PlayStation 4 - each comes individually numbered.

Advanced Busterhawk Gleylancer Switch Review

Advanced Busterhawk Gleylancer

Developed By: Masaya

Published By: Ratalaika Games

Date of Release: October 15, 2021

Price: $6.99 

 

When it comes to the venerable Shoot-em-up (SHMUP) genre, one system always comes to mind for me, and that is the SEGA MegaDrive/Genesis. The little 16-BIT powerhouse of the 90s was home to a massive library of SHMUPS, and so many of them still hold up today. And MASAYA's Advanced Busterhawk Gleylancer is one of them for sure. Featuring some impressive graphics for the time with some absolutely amazing parallax scrolling that pushed the system to the limits and really gave a glorious sense of 3D space. The number of sprites visible on the screen is massive, and the details on the enemy ships really can't be matched.

Gleylancer also features a rocking score by none other than Noriyuki Iwadare, who composed for a lot of amazing JRPGs and SHMUPS of the 16-bit and 32-bit era. Add to that an arseload of digitized speech and meaty sound effects, and the soundscape absolutely blows away the vast majority of competing titles. Gleylancer would have easily looked at home on the early days of 32-bit consoles such as the PlayStation or Saturn.

 

As for this new port, the emulation is absolutely flawless on the Switch, and the controls are tight an responsive with zero discernible input lag. Add to that a well done translation, various tweaks and enhancements to make the game accessible to newcomers, and some amazing CRT shaders, and it's clear that a lot of love has been put into this offering. At $6.99 it's pretty much a steal for what you get. Every switch SHMUP fan should add Gleylancer to their collection immediately. And if you're just starting out with the genre, it's an amazing title with which to start out on your journey into the world of SHMUPS.