PCGamesN checked out GreedFall 2:

Greedfall 2 is a beautiful fantasy RPG reminiscent of BioWare’s heyday

I sat down for a hands-on playtest of upcoming tactical RPG Greedfall 2 at Gamescom 2024 and was immediately reminded of old-school BioWare.

Playing Baldur’s Gate 3 was a nice reminder of how much I enjoy tactical RPGs. While the turn-based format is always welcome, however, I still have a craving for that particular brand of real-time action where you can pause at any time to direct each member of your party. So with the Greedfall 2 launch imminent, I sat down at Gamescom 2024 to try out a section of the early game, and it instantly took me back 15 years to Dragon Age: Origins, where BioWare emphatically reminded us just how fun that classic style of CRPG can be.

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

DSO Gaming reports about the Ciri Witcher Ending Restoration mod:

The Witcher 3: Next-Gen Mod Restores Ciri’s Witcher Ending

Modder ‘merigoldmaribor’ has released a cool new mod for The Witcher 3 Next-Gen that restores the extended ending that was cut off in Ciri’s witcher ending. This is a mod that a lot of die-hard TW3 fans will appreciate. So, if you are one of them, you should definitely get it.

Going into more details, there will now be a cutscene with Ciri’s dialogue after receiving the sword. In the next scene, Geralt and Ciri (depending on your romantic choices) will set off for Ellander and walk towards the inn’s door. The game will then play the ending scene here.

[...]

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Noisy Pixel reports that the development of Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake has been finished.

Thanks Couchpotato!

Couchpotato spotted a Blizzard origin story:

The Origin Story of Blizzard: The Golden Age

Couchpotato spotted an Reynatis Q&A on RPG Site:

Reynatis Q&A with TAKUMI, Yoko Shimomura, and Kazushige Nojima

When Reynatis was originally announced earlier this year, it gained a good bit of traction due to some of the key staff involved with the project, including Final Fantasy veterans Kazushige Nojima penning the scenario and Yoko Shimomura providing the soundtrack. Now, ahead of its release on September 27, RPG Site had the opportunity to send questions over to those same creators.

We were able to ask three questions to each of the following:

• TAKUMI, Creative Producer at FuRyu
• Kazushige Nojima, Scenario Writer (previous work includes Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts)
• Yoko Shimomura, Composer (previous work includes Live a Live, Super Mario RPG, Kingdom Hearts, and Final Fantasy XV)

You can find the responses below. You can look forward to our full review of the game in the coming weeks.

TAKUMI
RPG Site: How does Reynatis' combat or supporting mechanics stand out from other action/RPG games?

The biggest difference is the Hoodie System that players will use both in exploration and combat. Exploration is more of a side feature, but its use in combat sets it apart from just about every other RPG out there, so please pay special attention to that aspect!

RPG Site: What inspired the mode-switching mechanic that the combat is built around? 

These modes are related to the game's themes of feeling like you cannot express yourself due to peer and social pressure (Suppression), but wanting people to be able to express their own individuality as they see fit (Liberation). These two ideas are used for two different aspects of combat. This system is brand new and something that I think it is very unique compared to other games.

RPG Site: Did the idea for the combat come first, or did it stem from the game's themes, and how?

First I come up with a plan for the project, and then the themes, messages, and concepts. From there, we went to work adding the world setting, game systems, and so on that would best allow players to experience those things.

[...]

NME reports that Shattered Space will add 50 new locations to Starfield.

Thanks Couchpotato!

Couchpotato spotted an article about power progression in games on Gamedeveloper:

Power progression in games: Crafting rewarding player experiences

Within this article I will be exploring power progression, how it is a fundamental element of game design, and why it taps into the human desire for growth and mastery.

Within this article I will be exploring power progression, how it is a fundamental element of game design, and why it taps into the human desire for growth and mastery. I will presenting my own understanding and experiences as both a player and a game designer

Whether it's levelling up a character, acquiring new abilities, or unlocking powerful gear, the satisfaction of becoming stronger or more capable keeps players engaged and invested in the game world. Understanding the psychology behind power progression can help game designers create experiences that resonate with players on a deeper level, leading to more immersive and enjoyable games.

[...]

Mortismal Gaming checked out Enotria: The Last Song:

Enotria: The Last Song - First Impressions

Thanks Couchpotato!

Monomyth will enter Early Access on October 3:

Monomyth - Early Access Release Date Trailer

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Like every week the RPG Crawler sums up the computer and tabletop RPG news:

RPG News Roundup (9-14-2024)

The Turn Based Lovers checked out Stratagem Lost:

Stratagem Lost – A New SRPG With Unique Punk aesthetics – Overview

Another intriguing title I want to introduce today is Stratagem Lost, an SRPG in the style of Fire Emblem, developed by Hybrid Fiction Games, a two-person team based out of South Carolina. What immediately stands out in this strategy RPG is the unique art style, blending Pop Art, Expressionism, and comic book visuals that seem to come alive during character battles.

Beyond the striking visuals, Stratagem Lost includes many of the features that have made this genre a fan favorite: tactical combat on grid-based maps, the ability to forge bonds between characters, which then unlock shared skills and various bonuses. There’s still some work to be done by the American duo, as no official release date has been set.

However, just a few days ago, they announced that a playable demo will launch on October 14, 2024, on PC via Steam. In the meantime, check out the overview below, along with some screenshots and the trailer.

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

RPGamer looks back at the Valkyria Chronicles series.

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Couchpotato spotted a demo for Reynatis:

Download the REYNATIS demo and dive into the opening chapters!

Download the REYNATIS demo and experience the opening chapters of this stylish, spellbinding RPG! REYNATIS is an action RPG set in the painstakingly-recreated streets of Shibuya, Tokyo. In a world where fantasy meets reality, the citizens of Shibuya fear magic and the power it holds, forcing wizards to conceal their inhuman abilities or face oppression. Full game coming September 27, 2024 on Steam!

[Regarding the demo version bonus in the full version]
In the full version, select "DEMO VERSION BONUS" from the title screen menu and choose your demo save data. Bonuses will be awarded based on the demo's completion status (bonuses cannot be obtained from incomplete demo data). Please note, game progress from the demo is not carried over.

Monstervine checked out Kingdom Come: Deliverance II:

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Preview – Deep Dive into Medieval Bohemia

By the time Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 comes out, it’ll have been seven years since the first game’s release, which was a pretty impressive game upon release. It is an open-world, historical medieval RPG with a deep combat system emphasizing authenticity. So you may be wondering where you go from that, and the answer’s simple: double down on everything that worked and improve the things that didn’t.

The Return to 15th Century Bohemia
Set in 15th-century Bohemia, you’re once again in the shoes of Henry of Skalitz with the game picking up where the previous one left off with Henry on the way to deliver a letter to a nobleman. The sequel then deals with a civil war that plagues the country, but instead of delving further into that, my time with the game was focused on a smaller side quest.

My demo began with me meeting Menhard von Frankfurt, who’s supposed to be the new sword master of the town I’m in, only for him to butt heads with the current guild members due to some good ‘ol-fashioned bigotry. After a brief dialog where both sides met at an impasse, I opted to side with Menhard and he laid out his plan of showing off that he’s the best sword master in town. He simply needs to challenge the current master and defeat him, showing without a doubt he’s the best fit for the job. The only issue is the guild won’t accept his challenge, so to force their hand, Henry has to sneak into the guild’s manor, steal their ceremonial sword, and place it in the town square which will allow anyone to propose a challenge to the guild. Seems like a whole lot of ME doing things while this dude sits, but I suppose he is the sword master, not the “commit home robbery” master.

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

Dual Shockers reviewed Enotria: The Last Song - the game will be available on September 16:

Enotria: The Last Song Review

Creating a Souls-like can be a bit of a poisoned chalice for developers, mainly due to the immense success of FromSoftware and their insanely popular and refined RPGs that can act like an albatross around the neck of new kids on the block.

However, in recent years, we have seen new IPs take the Souls model and tweak it slightly to provide something that feels fresh and innovative while still paying homage to what has come before.

Just this year, newcomers like Nine Sols and Black Myth: Wukong have burst onto the scene and offer brutal Souls-like experiences well worth playing, and it seems it is now the turn of Enotria: The Last Song.

An Italian folklore-inspired epic that promises epic visuals, deep systems, and punishing bosses. Everything a sadistic Souls fan like myself could ask for. But the question remains, is this game a new Souls-Like hit, or a vague imitation of its predecessors? We find out in our review of Enotria: The Last Song.

[...]

Enotria: The Last Song is a Souls-like experience that takes a lot of big swings, and while there are a few hiccups along the way, a lot of these risks pay off. The freedom to experiment with builds, plan ahead with pre-set Loadouts, and take on the roles of your fallen enemies are all standout features that set this title apart. Which Enotria backs up with impressive visuals, a compelling Italian folklore-inspired world, and several memorable bosses. Sadly, performance issues, a lack of genuine, consistent challenge, and some systems that flatter to deceive stop this game from being a truly iconic game within the sub-genre, but when the curtain closes, and the actors take their final bow, I feel plenty in the audience will be throwing roses and applauding regardless.

Score: 8/10

Thanks Couchpotato!

Lost Pilgrims Studio explain their pricing policy:

Chunky DLCs and Price Increases

Hey everyone,

This week we’d like to broach a matter for the sake of transparency. Reality in the context of global gaming industry trends has set in, and the result is hard times for everyone. We are no exception and, since we have an insatiable desire for creating quality DLCs, this has left us in a rather precarious situation.

Financially, our DLCs need to break even for it to make sense for us to produce them. Indie game development is a passion, that’s true, but it’s also a business that needs to sustain itself and the developers. To that end, we have decided to increase the price of our Sunfire and Moonshadow expansion (SaM), along with the Season Pass, which will of course only affect future purchases.

A Little Background

We were halfway through the development of SaM when we knew that its scope had grown far beyond what we had originally planned. We were, however, happy with the path it had taken, and wanted to keep a consistent quality throughout as well as enough “bang for your buck”.

Player feedback has vindicated its length and quality, with some saying that the expansion’s breadth encompassed hundreds of hours of additional gameplay. We are happy for it to have had so much good feedback, but there remains an issue.

Sales

Our revenue predictions were spot-on, but due to the increased scope of the expansion, our costs were far higher than expected. With inflation ravaging our studio much like it has most of the world’s economy, the expansion was very expensive for us indeed. This is why we will be increasing its price.

Old Acquaintances

This DLC took longer than we expected, but by this point, we had already learned our lessons from the previous expansion. Again, we put in a great deal of extra time and added many additional features, as it would seem we cannot help ourselves. Thus, we set a realistic price – one that we intend to keep the same. Unfortunately, however, sales on this DLC were not as high as we would have hoped.

[...]

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Couchpotato spotted a new demo for BioSynth: Rising:

Update: Demo 2.1 Released and Many New Things

We have quite a few news and topics we want to talk about, let’s dive in.

First things first: the new version for the demo (2.1) is live. If you’re subscribed, you got the email to access the new demo. And if you aren’t, sign up to download the demo.

Bug Fixing
There were just a few bugs reported – more or less, all about the same few features.

This made us very happy: it means that the game is getting more and more polished.

Among the few bugs mentioned, there were a few bugs about the ladders. They seem fixed now and we have the impression that the ladders are getting smoother. Of course, the final verdict is up to you, so we look forward to hear your opinion about those!

Another bug worth mentioning was a rare one that locked the player in the Tutorial Map, which was especially unpleasant. Now that’s fixed.

[...]

What’s Next
We’ll be working on fixing the bugs reported for this Demo 2.1.

After fixing these and releasing the updated demo, it’ll be time for us to move towards the next goals. We have to build some cool things that I can’t anticipate… but once you see the results, you’ll love BioSynth even more!

One last thing before closing: don’t forget to follow the Kickstarter.

See you soon!

Twisted Voxel reviewed Visions of Mana:

Visions of Mana Review – Modern Brilliance Mixed With Nostalgia

I have always been a fan of traditional JRPGs and have particularly enjoyed the Mana series, including the recent release of Legend of Mana. So, when Visions of Mana was officially announced, I was eager to experience it. After playing the game, I can confidently say that it did not disappoint. This is one of the most enjoyable JRPGs I have played in recent years, staying true to a design rarely seen today, without trying to modernize it unnecessarily.

Visions of Mana is the fifth main entry in the beloved Mana franchise. To express how long fans have waited for a new mainline title is difficult, but to put it into perspective, the last new Mana game was released on the PS2. While fans have had the chance to enjoy various spin-offs, remasters, and re-releases of earlier games, the release of an entirely new game set in the Mana universe is a major event—at least for me. The long wait has been worth it. While there are some design limitations, the technical aspects of the game are nearly flawless, making it one of the most enjoyable Mana games available on modern platforms.

[...]

Summary
Visions of Mana masterfully captures the heart of traditional JRPGs with classic elements and stunning visual artistry. The main storyline and combat system shine with engaging characters and smooth gameplay, but the lack of meaningful side content and occasional performance issues hold it back from perfection.

Score: 8/10

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Couchpotato spotted some previews for Assassin's Creed Shadows:

IGN: Assassin's Creed Shadows - Official World Trailer

Eurogamer: Assassin's Creed Shadows developer on adapting Japanese culture, social media pressures and Ubisoft's controversial apology

Ubisoft: Assassin’s Creed Shadows – Building the Next Generation of Assassin’s Creed

Couchpotato spotted survey results for Rogue Trader:

Highlights from a Rogue Trader's journey through the Koronus Expanse

Lord Captain!

It's been over eight months since the game released. During this time, we've turned to you more than once for advice on how to make your journey more comfortable. The post-release survey was one such occasion. An astounding 15241 people took part in it, which, according to our esteemed Lexmechanics' calculations, took them a collective total of 335302 minutes to complete.

We immensely appreciate the effort you're putting into further improving the game. Based on the survey results, we've already fixed numerous “sore spots” such as the behaviour of the cargo interface in the game's third act, or the miscalculated difficulty levels in skill checks. As a thank you for the work you've done, we're going to share the most interesting community perspectives that were reflected in the survey results.

With a passion for all things precise, as is typical of any servant of the Omnissiah, our Lexmechanics have drawn up a report for you that is rich in intriguing correlations and captivating data tables:

Introductory Notes

Worth mentioning first is the fact that by four months after release, more than half of all survey participants had clocked over a hundred hours in the game. That might’ve been surprising if the player base didn't consist overwhelmingly of CRPG fans.

[...]

The Turn Based Lovers have collected 28 trailers:

All the Trailers for Nearly Every Major Turn-Based RPG and Strategy Game Release in September 2024

In case you missed it or haven’t checked out my YouTube channel yet, last week I uploaded a video where I compiled trailers for almost all the new releases coming in September. It’s kind of a follow-up to the article I wrote, where I highlighted all the RPGs, strategy games, and roguelites dropping this month.

It’s shaping up to be an impressive month with a huge number of releases. I gathered 28 games initially, but a few more were announced in the following days, so there’s plenty to check out.

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

IGN checked out Dragon Age: The Veilguard:

Dragon Age: The Veilguard – Exclusive First Hands-On Preview

We spent hours of time with Dragon Age: The Veilguard: here's what we thought.

It’s been ten long years since Dragon Age: Inquisition and the expectations for the next game in the series, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, seem impossible. A full decade, a bevy of behind-the-scenes changes, cuts at BioWare, and a somewhat divisive start when its unveiling began in earnest in June made me a little worried for my most highly anticipated game of the year. But one of my biggest concerns was my impression, based on early previews, that it was headed in the direction of being a linear action game rather than its more open-world predecessor. While Dragon Age is known for changing its style with each installment, I hoped dearly that it wouldn’t lose too much of the DA DNA I fell in love with.

After hours of hands-on time spread across two days, I’m pleased to say I walked away with excitement and curiosity, but mostly, relief to wave many of my concerns goodbye. My time with The Veilguard covered a wide smattering of things: the incredibly expansive character creator (more on that later), the introductory quests, a faction mission, and a companion quest a little deeper into the game. But I was mostly pleased with my ability to just explore Northern Thedas in all its gorgeously designed glory, experiencing a setting in Dragon Age lore that we’ve really only heard about.

[...]

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Mortismal Gaming checked out Flint - Treasure of Oblivion:

Flint: Treasure Of Oblivion - Early Preview

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Alrik Fassbauer spotted the new Special Program for Zenless Zone Zero:

Zenless Zone Zero Version 1.2 "Tour de Inferno" Special Program

Version 1.2 Teaser - "Tour de Inferno" | Zenless Zone Zero

Redemption Code:

TOURDEINFERNO

Soola spotted the final update of Roadwarden:

The Final Update

It's been a fantastic journey!
Dear Travelers,

It’s been two years since Roadwarden’s release. I can’t believe that over this time my humble game passed 3000 reviews on Steam - I’m honored to know that my stories keep reaching new ears.

For this anniversary I prepared a final bug-fixing patch. Nothing too large - most of the addressed issues were either typos or misplaced lines of text, like when the game used to display almost identical paragraphs in Creeks, or it put a “0” in the journal instead of a summary of one of the quests.

The other fixes include, but are not excluded to:

• When discussing the job, Photios now mentions correctly that he wants you to approach him right after dawn, instead of dusk,
• The healing ritual (available to mages only) now works as intended when you pay for rest in Gale Rocks,
• Foggy got slightly more responsive when asking her about one of the tribes,
• It’s now more clear that one of the dialogue options makes you abandon the “Missing Hunters” quest.
• All of these issues were kindly pointed out to me by the players. Thank you so much.

While it’s possible that, in the future, Roadwarden will receive some sort of a hotfix, right now I believe that this is the final version of the game and Roadwarden will not receive any new content.

I’m aware that every now and then some players encounter a bug related to drivers, operating system, or code processing that makes either launching or running the game impossible. I’m so sorry to read about these cases, and I tried my best to fix these issues, though I don’t have the capabilities to eliminate them properly. I’m sorry.

[...]

Alaloth: Champions of The Four Kingdoms will leave Early Access on October 30:

Mark your calendars, Alaloth is leaving Early Access next month!

Hello Champions!

We’ve been working on Alaloth for years, and it’s been one hell of a ride! We’re just a small indie team, a family business really, and we’ve faced some serious challenges along the way. We’ve dealt with the loss of one of our founders, survived the Avellone storm, a flood, a publisher who vanished, and a partner who walked away from its contract, leaving us to fight tooth and nail to keep going. But we did it. We pushed through every obstacle to bring a game to life that’s over 100 hours of unique gameplay, with a beautiful community behind it, and a promising future ahead. After a fruitful Early Access period where we gave 110% and did everything we could to make the game bigger and better, the time has finally come: Alaloth is coming out with its full 1.0 release on October 30, 2024!

And starting next week, we’ll begin unveiling all the new features, improvements, and surprises coming your way with 1.0. We’re beyond excited to share what we’ve been cooking up, thanks to all your amazing feedback. We’re not saying it’s been easy, but we're proud of what we've built, with no help, no marketing, no support, and less than 10 people on the team, all pouring our hearts into this project.

The game has grown bigger than we could have ever dreamed, and all we could do was keep working, hoping to get through the tough times. For now, we’re just going to take a moment to soak it all in. We'll be back before you know it!

Stay legendary, share the love!

Alberto & the Alaloth team

Thanks Henriquejr!

Farflame spotted two new videos of The Necromancer's Tale:

The Secret Strategy of Romance, Seduction, and Deviousness

Unleash the Power of Darkness and Raise Skeletons and Zombies

The action RPG Gedonia 2 has been announced:

Gedonia 2 - Gameplay trailer

Gedonia 2 is an online coop RPG, which allows up to 4 players to freely explore living open world and build absolutely unique characters. An expanded and improved sequel for RPG Gedonia.

Thanks Farflame!

Farflame spotted that a demo is now available for Trail of Ayash:

Devlog: Launch of the Trail of Ayash Demo and Our Path to Full Release

Greetings, warriors!

We are thrilled to announce a significant milestone in our journey with Trail of Ayash. After an incredible adventure through Early Access, we're now preparing to leave that chapter behind. But before we dive into the full release, we have something exciting for you today: a brand-new demo is now available!

Why a Demo Now?

The demo gives you an opportunity to explore the improvements we've made based on your feedback and our development goals. It's our way of allowing you to experience the enhanced gameplay before making a final decision on the full purchase. We want you to get a true feel for the world we've built, with all its updates and refinements.

What’s New?

• Improved Combat System: Combat feels smoother and more responsive than ever, thanks to refined mechanics and better hit detection.
• Enhanced World Design: We've revisited the game world, making it richer and more immersive with new areas, improved textures, and dynamic weather systems.
• Character Customization: We’ve expanded the options for personalizing your character, giving you more control over how you experience the game.
• AI Upgrades: Our NPCs are now smarter and more adaptive, providing a more challenging and realistic experience during battles and interactions.
• New Quests & Lore: Dive into fresh storylines and explore deeper aspects of the world’s mythology.

Try Before You Buy

We believe in the quality of the game, and we want you to experience it before committing to a purchase. This demo allows you to explore these updates firsthand and ensure it’s the right fit for you.
Your feedback from Early Access has been invaluable, and we’re confident these changes will make the experience even more compelling. We hope this demo will show you the heart of what Trail of Ayash has become as we prepare for the next phase: the full release.

Experience the thrilling world of Trail of Ayash in this free demo! Get a taste of the action before the full release, exploring key gameplay features, mechanics, and unique environments. Your feedback will help shape the final version, so dive in and let us know what you think! Stay tuned for the full release coming soon!

The Black Mark DLC for Caribbean Legend has been released:

Patch 1.3 and Black Mark DLC

Ahoy!

First, the important stuff:

• Patch 1.3 is available. We've never done anything like this before as a studio.
• Starting NG is not required. We recommend loading version 1.2.1 saves made while on land.
• Today marks the game's second 'release'—Steam will be actively promoting it for two weeks.
• To celebrate, we've set a historic low price—50% off.
• Now's the perfect moment to start playing if you’ve been holding off for any reason.
• Black Mark DLC is out now.

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato and Farflame!

Ye Old Entertainment looks back at Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic:

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Review. Forget Outlaws! This a Star Wars RPG and it rocks!

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Game Rant interviewed Maxime Josse about Flint - Treasure of Oblivion:

“A Pirate Life For Us!” – Savage Level CEO And President Talks Flint: Treasure Of Oblivion’s Pirate Fantasy

Whether in movies, TV, comics, or video games, the allure of a pirate's life continues to stand the test of time. However, the upcoming turn-based RPG Flint: Treasure of Oblivion seeks to present pirates in a different light with its approach to the pirate fantasy. Developed by French studio Savage Level, Flint: Treasure of Oblivion is a tactical RPG set in the Golden Age of Piracy that aims to show what it was truly like to be a pirate. Flint: Treasure of Oblivion also offers some intriguing mechanics with its comic book-style storytelling and a crew-focused combat system that blends chance and strategy.

In an interview with Game Rant, Savage Level CEO and President Maxime Josse spoke more about Flint: Treasure of Oblivion's approach to the pirate fantasy and how the studio hopes to tell some lesser-known truths about pirates. Josse also talked about why the studio chose the tactical RPG genre for Flint: Treasure of Oblivion, discussed its turn-based combat, and much more. The following transcript has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Making A Pirate Tactical RPG In Flint: Treasure Of Oblivion And Gaming Inspirations

Q: Why did you choose the tactical RPG genre to fulfill the pirate fantasy in Flint: Treasure of Oblivion?

Josse: Firstly, because it's a game genre that appeals to us. Also, the RPG part allows us to explore the pirate theme in greater depth, and the tactical part to explore the different specialties of pirate ship crew members, translating them into combat gameplay.

Q: I understand Flint: Treasure of Oblivion has influences like XCOM and Final Fantasy Tactics – could you talk briefly about how they influenced the game?

Josse: XCOM and Final Fantasy Tactics being references in the genre have naturally inspired our game system, such as cover mechanics and attribute management. However, we have added our own elements to remain original and respectful to the pirate universe.

Q: You’ve previously said that you wanted to make a pirate game to tell some unknown truths about pirates, with themes like fraternity and freedom being important – could you tell us more about that?

Josse: The world of pirates has often been portrayed in an erratic way. Pirates operated through codes and a structured organization for each crew. For example, it was pirates who created the world's first social security system. A pirate who was wounded and unable to return to sea was given a sum of money with which to retire.

Boardings and naval battles were avoided whenever possible, hence the use of the Jolly Roger to frighten the crew of the opposing ship into surrendering. There are a number of facts such as these which are unknown to the public and which we wanted to make known.

[...]

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The Koalition checked out Kingdom Come: Deliverance II:

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Hands-On Preview – Medieval Mastery

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II was announced by Warhorse Studios earlier this year. Described as a first-person perspective open-world action role-playing game, Deliverance II made me want to explore a medieval setting despite having never played the first entry in the series.

During PAX West, I finally played a lengthy hands-on demo of Kingdom Come: Deliverance II and walked away impressed. Here are more thoughts on the wildly ambitious sequel and what you can look forward to when it drops early next year.

An Epic Historic Drama
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II concludes the story of the lead protagonist Blacksmith Henry of Skalitz during the 15th century in Central Bohemia. After joining a resistance movement in the previous game, Henry must become a warrior fit for taking down Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund, the man responsible for killing his family. While most of the story is still being kept under wraps, Warhorse has promised an even more immersive action RPG experience that is authentically medieval in every way possible.

Fans of the first game can expect a more fluid combat system and improved level designs set within a world that is twice the size. The cultural landscape of Bohemian Paradise and the bustling city of Kutná Hora are two huge regions with tons of activities and mini-games to explore. It’s also worth noting that playing the first game in the series isn’t required to enjoy this entry. This is ideal for new players like myself and others to dive into the story without playing catch up on everything that happened before.

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

Couchpotato spotted a new trailer for Enotria: The Last Song:

Enotria: The Last Song - Moveset Showcase Trailer

Welcome Maskless Ones to the Enotria: The Last Song Moveset Showcase.

Learn more about seven different weapon classes that you'll be able to wield in Enotria, including the polearm, longsword, greatsword, saber, morning star, colossal greatsword, and colossal hammer, each one with its speed, strength, uniqueness and most importantly combos. Master them and 
unleash a devastating chain of attacks.

Did you know there are ways to speed up your attacks by performing them in a given order? This is up to you to discover when the game launches on September 19th.

IGN checked out Dragon Quest III:

Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake: The Final Preview

Thanks Couchpotato!

IGN checked out Crimson Desert:

Crimson Desert Echoes Zelda and Assassin's Creed With Its Action-Packed Open World

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Spiderweb Software announced a Kickstarter campaign for the remake Avernum 4: Greed and Glory:

Avernum 4: Greed and Glory

Avernum 4: Greed and Glory will be an epic, indie, turn-based fantasy role-playing adventure for Windows, Mac, and iPad. It continues the saga of Avernum, a nation in caverns far under the world, full of misfits, adventures, treasures to be found, and monsters to hunt (and that hunt you).

It will be a remaster of the indie RPG cult-classic Avernum 4, which came out way back in 2005. The original is a massive RPG, full of skilled warriors and wizards using a multitude of weapons, spells, and artifacts to conquer an enormous world. It is old and doesn't run well anymore. We will completely rework everything to make a great, modern game.

Thanks Couchpotato!

The Chinese Room posted a new developer diary for VtM: Bloodlines 2:

The Anarchs and Unbound

Developer Diary #17

In today’s dev diary we’ll introduce you to a few non-Camarilla Kindred you’ll meet in the game. As you might already know Seattle is primarily a Camarilla controlled city, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t non-Camarilla Kindred vying for power — or fighting to be left alone. Once again we’ve got Writer Cherish Goldstraw and Narrative Director Ian Thomas describing the profiles to you as they appear at the beginning of our story.

The Anarchs and Unbound
The unbound are all those vampires who fall outside the Camarilla. The Anarch Movement in its various forms is a subset of the unbound and their most visible manifestation. Many seek to escape from Camarilla control by hiding. But those loyal to the Movement have decided to fight back, attempting to conquer and control domains originally held by those who would claim themselves their masters.

The Anarch Movement is different in each city. Sometimes an Anarch city has a ruler called a Baron. More commonly, it’s led by gangs who each have their own territories. Some cities are currently divided between Anarch and Camarilla vampires — both sides itching to take over.

Where Camarilla vampires usually influence mortal society from the outside, Anarchs burrow deep inside. Many maintain mortal identities, perhaps even families and jobs. This makes them simultaneously more vulnerable and more secure. Vulnerable because they are in contact with their surroundings every night and are sure to make mistakes. Secure because the Anarch is never the vampire lord in a mansion on the hill. They’re the DJ in the nightclub, the terrifying cop from internal affairs, the junkie creeping outside your window.
- From 5th edition book

History of Thin-bloods in Seattle
The strength of each vampire Embraced is more dilute than that of their Sire. Thin-bloods have earned their name because their blood is seen as too distantly removed from the original progenitor, Caine. Most Kindred consider them a weakness and an embarrassment to their kind - or even a threat. Thin-bloods are not considered part of any clan, but rather the dregs of Kindred society.

Many view thin-bloods as a risk to the Masquerade due to their close ties with the mortal world, often leading to their being hunted and destroyed without a second thought. Overlooked and downtrodden, they band together in a form of resistance. Seattle acts as a haven of a sort. In this city, the weak-blooded are not destroyed out of hand. Instead, by order of Prince Campbell, they must be branded to set them apart from true vampires; only then will he allow them to remain.

Many have found shelter amongst those of Seattle's Anarchs; particularly under the watchful eye of the Brujah Katsumi, who leads one of the major Anarch groups, and has, because of her involvement with the Thin-bloods, been branded as one herself.

As newly-minted Sheriff Phyre must negotiate the delicate balance between Katsumi's people and the Camarilla - and deal with the fact that many Anarchs and thin-bloods don't respect anyone as leader. Seattle is a powderkeg and each faction waits for its opportunity. Some are more impatient than others. If Phyre is seeking Katsumi, she may find her at a bar called the Hole in the Wall with the other misfits of her cause.

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